Beta

Follow Beta
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

"BETA" features playful and provocative profiles of the people changing our world through arts, culture and technology. The program is hosted by Doug Gordon and airs Saturdays at 9 a.m. on the NPR News & Classical Network and 11 a.m. on The Ideas Network.

Wisconsin Public Radio


    • May 30, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 208 EPISODES

    5 from 31 ratings Listeners of Beta that love the show mention: beta, book, interviews, fun, show, great.


    Ivy Insights

    The Beta podcast is a truly exceptional show that delves into the world of art and culture, providing listeners with a unique and insightful perspective. Hosted by Doug Gordon, this podcast is an excellent platform for discovering new artists in various mediums such as authors, musicians, and filmmakers, while also offering novel insights about familiar ones. Gordon's meticulous research shines through in each episode, captivating listeners and inspiring them to further explore the guests and related topics after the show. What sets The Beta apart from other podcasts is its ability to have in-depth conversations within a relatively short timeframe. The multifaceted content encourages multiple listens to fully soak in all the information presented.

    One of the best aspects of The Beta podcast is the well-placed and playful sound clips that enhance the entertainment value of the show. These clips add an element of fun and intrigue to each episode, making it an engaging listening experience. Additionally, Gordon's treatment of each guest is commendable. He approaches edgy topics with kindness and curiosity rather than cynicism or pretentiousness, creating an atmosphere where guests feel comfortable sharing their thoughts openly.

    On the other hand, despite its many strengths, The Beta podcast has a few drawbacks worth mentioning. While the format of the show allows for a wide range of topics and interviews, some listeners may find it challenging to keep up with the rapid pace at which information is presented. It can be overwhelming when trying to absorb everything discussed within each segment. Moreover, while the diversity of topics makes for interesting discussions, some episodes may lack cohesion due to their varied nature.

    In conclusion, The Beta podcast stands out as an exceptional show that offers a fresh perspective on art and culture from creators themselves. With its playful yet intelligent approach, it manages to entertain and educate listeners simultaneously. While it may occasionally overwhelm with its fast-paced nature, overall, The Beta provides a valuable platform for discovering new artists and gaining deeper insights into familiar ones. Kudos to WPR for supporting such a fun and innovative program that leaves listeners inspired and eager to explore further.



    More podcasts from Wisconsin Public Radio

    Search for episodes from Beta with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Beta

    Episode 804: Andrew DeYoung, Sarah Jarosz, Kyle Seibel

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025


    This week on "BETA," ...Andrew DeYoung joins us to talk about the very funny comedy, “Friendship,” starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd. Also, four-time Grammy Award winner Sarah Jarosz discusses the new album, “Wild and Clear and Blue,” from her folk super group, I'm With Her. And Kyle Sighbull on his hilarious, gritty, and bizarre debut short story collection, “Hey You, A-holes.”

    Episode 601: Susanna Hoffs, Atsuko Okatsuka, Kevin Wilson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025


    Bangles co-founder, Susanna Hoffs, joins us to talk about writing her debut novel and recording a new album. Also, comedian Atsuko Okatsuka intrudes on us to tell us about her […]

    Episode 803: Paul Hunter, Vijay Khurana, Alex Braverman

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025


    This week on “BETA, Paul Hunter talks about his very funny Apple TV+ comedy drama series, “Government Cheese.” And Vijay Khurana on his powerful debut novel, “The Passenger's Seat.”  Also, […]

    Episode 802: Yahlin Chang and Eric Tuchman, Christine Wenc, Felipe Torres Medina

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025


    This week on “BETA, “Yahlin Chang and Eric Tuchman join us to talk about the sixth and final season of Hulu's “The Handmaid's Tale.” And Christine Wence on her book, […]

    Episode 716: Mark Blake, Nora Lange, Charles Yu

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025


    This week on "BETA," ...music journalist Mark Blake on his latest book, “Dreams: The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac.” And Nora Lange joins us to discuss her incredible debut novel, “US Fools.” Author Charles Yu also discusses adapting his novel Interior Chinatown into a mind-bending Hulu streaming series.

    Episode 715: JD McPherson, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Ian Nathan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025


    Musician JD McPherson sits down with us to discuss his latest album – “Nite Owls.” Also, Jean Hanff Korelitz joins us to talk about the sequel to her best-selling novel, “The Plot.” It's called…”The Sequel.” And one of our favorite film critics, Ian Nathan, returns to share his thoughts on Steven Spielberg's movies.

    Episode 714: Nick Lowe, Emily St. James/Noel Murray, Dan Kois

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025


    This week on "BETA," ... Britain's greatest living songwriter, Nick Lowe, joins us to talk about his newest album, “Indoor Safari.” Also, Emily St. James and Noel Murray take us back to the island to revisit the significance of the TV series, “Lost.” And Dan Kois revisits selling newspaper subscriptions on a cold winter's night in Milwaukee.

    Episode 801: Joseph Patel, Sara Sligar, Phil Cook

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025


    Producer Joseph Patel joins us to discuss his documentary, “Sly Lives!” It pays tribute to the groundbreaking musician Sly Stone. And Sara Sligar takes us inside her modern gothic novel, “Vantage Point,” which has it all – wealth, status, power…and a curse. Also, musician and Wisconsin native Phil Cook talks with us about his latest album, “Appalachia Borealis.”

    Episode 713: Sarah Silverman, Gabino Iglesias, Jenny Slate

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025


    This week on "BETA," comedian Sarah Silverman joins us to discuss her stand-up tour, “Postmortem.” Also, Gabino Iglesias on his incredibly intense novel, “House of Bone and Rain.” And comedian Jenny Slate shares the complicated beauty of motherhood in her essay collection, “Lifeform.”

    Episode 723: Susan Morrison, Leah Kardos, Maggie Su

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025


    Susan Morrison joins us to discuss her definitive biography of SNL creator Lorne Michaels. Author Leah Kardos tells us why Kate Bush's album, “Hounds of Love,” is as fresh as ever 40 years after its release. Also, Maggie Su on her very funny and very moving debut novel, “Blob: A Love Story.”

    Episode 712: Eugene Mirman, Yael van der Wouden, Walter Chaw

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025


    This week on “BETA,” comedian Eugene Mirman joins us to talk about “Bob’s Burgers” and more. Also, Booker Prize nominee, Yael van der Wouden, on her debut novel, “The Safekeep.” […]

    Episode 722: Clay McLeod Chapman, Paul de Jong, Karen Russell

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025


    This week on "BETA," ...Master of horror, Clay McLeod Chapman joins us to discuss his latest novel, “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes.” And musician Paul de Jong talks to us about his captivating found sound music. Also, MacArthur Genius Karen Russell sits down with us to talk her about her incredible novel, “The Antidote,”

    Episode 711: Simon Rich, Helen Phillips, Chris Nashawaty

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025


    This week on "BETA," Simon Rich joins us to talk about his short story collection, "Glory Days." Helen Phillips explores Artificial Intelligence in her suspenseful novel, "Hum." And author Chris Nashawaty revisits the epic summer of 1982 - when Star Wars and Sci-Fi Fever hit it's peak.

    Episode 721: Alan Sepinwall, Rachel Yoder, Kris Delmhorst

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025


    Alan Sepinwall joins us to discuss “Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill: The Complete Critical Companion to “Better Call Saul.” And Rachel Yoder on her surreal novel, “Nightbitch,” which is now a major motion picture starring Amy Adams. Also, singer/songwriter Kris Delmhorst discusses her latest album, “Ghosts in the Garden.”

    Episode 502: Sarah Polley, George Pelecanos, Elaine Hsieh Chou

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025


    Actor and director Sarah Polley joins us to discuss her debut book, ‘Run Towards the Danger.’ Also, showrunner George Pelecanos on the HBO mini-series, ‘We Own This City.’ And Elaine […]

    Episode 720: Maclain and Chapman Way, Ripley Johnson, Richard Price

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025


    Documentary film directors Maclain and Chapman Way talk about their incredibly weird Netflix documentary, “The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga.” Also guitarist Ripley Johnson sits down to discuss the new record from his current project, Rose City Band. And novelist/screenwriter Richard Price joins us to discuss his explosive novel, “Lazarus Man.”

    Episode 424: Anaïs Mitchell, John Darnielle, Jeff Yang

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025


    Singer/songwriter Anaïs Mitchell talks about her first solo album in a decade. Also, the Mountain Goats’ frontman John Darnielle on his haunting novel, ‘Devil House.’ And Jeff Yang looks back […]

    Episode 719: Charlie Brooker, Kyle Chayka, Peter Ames Carlin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025


    Charlie Brooker sits down with us to discuss two of his incredible TV creations – the mind-bending “Black Mirror” and the hilarious documentarian Philomena Cunk. Kyle Chayka tells us how algorithms and social media are flattening our culture in his book “Filterworld.” Author Peter Ames Carlin talks about the trail-blazing band from Athens, Georgia that helped create alternative rock – R.E.M.

    Episode 710: Rachel Kushner, Sam Green, Carrie Courogen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025


    This week on "BETA," Rachel Kushner returns to discuss her latest novel, "Creation Lake." Documentary director Sam Green talks about his fascinating film "32 Sounds: Exploring the Audio World." And Carrie Courogen on her biography of one of the greatest comic geniuses of all time, Elaine May.

    Episode 718: Jim O’Heir, Jim Gaffigan, Craig D. Lindsey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025


    Jim O'Heir joins us to talk about playing Jerry Gergich on the beloved sitcom, “Parks and Recreation.” Also, comedian Jim Gaffigan brings the funny and the skinny with his new stand-up special for Hulu. And film critic Craig D. Lindsey revisits the best-selling soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's hit indie film, “Pulp Fiction.”

    Episode 709: David Schurmann, Erin Osmon, Paul Tremblay

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025


    This week on BETA, David Schurmann discusses his documentary My Penguin Friend. Award-winning music journalist Erin Osmon talks with us about music from the Midwest. Also, we'll hear from horror writer Paul Tremblay on his new book, Horror Movie.

    Episode 708: Paul Scheer, Mateo Askaripour, James Kaplan

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024


    This week on "BETA," comedian Paul Scheer discusses his candid memoir, "Joyful Recollections of Trauma". Author Mateo Askaripour on his sophomore novel "The Big Departure. Also, biographer James Kaplan tells us how three musical geniuses led by Miles Davis created the landmark album "Kind of Blue.

    Episode 717: Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, Adrian Tomine, Joe Boyd

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024


    This week on "BETA," ...Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen join us to discuss their critically acclaimed HBO series, “Somebody Somewhere.” Also, best-selling graphic novelist Adrian Tomine, on his latest book, “Q & A,” finds him answering questions from his devoted fans. And legendary record producer and writer Joe Boyd takes us on a journey through global music.

    BETA Episode 707: Chef Dan Jacobs, Griffin Dunne, Kaliane Bradley

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024


    This week on "BETA," Milwaukee chef Dan Jacobs shares his experience making it to the finals of Top Chef. Actor Griffin Dunne tells of his childhood experience in a Hollywood family and why he wanted to write his memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club. Author Kaliane Bradley talks about her debut novel and her unique twist on time travel.

    Episode 716: Mark Blake, Nora Lange, Charles Yu

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024


    This week on "BETA," ...music journalist Mark Blake on his latest book, “Dreams: The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac.” And Nora Lange joins us to discuss her incredible debut novel, “US Fools.” Author Charles Yu also discusses adapting his novel Interior Chinatown into a mind-bending Hulu streaming series.

    BETA Episode 706: Chris Stein, Ian Nathan on “Mad Max”, Holly Wilson

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2024


    This week on BETA, guitarist Chris Stein reflects on his pivotal role as a founding member of the rock band Blondie. Also, film writer Ian Nathan takes us on a post-apocalyptic tour of the Mad Max Cinematic Universe. And novelist Holly Wilson introduces us to one of the most intriguing female characters you'll ever meet.

    Episode 715: JD McPherson, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Ian Nathan

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024


    Musician JD McPherson sits down with us to discuss his latest album – “Nite Owls.” Also, Jean Hanff Korelitz joins us to talk about the sequel to her best-selling novel, “The Plot.” It's called…”The Sequel.” And one of our favorite film critics, Ian Nathan, returns to share his thoughts on Steven Spielberg's movies.

    Episode 705: Demetri Martin, Priyanka Mattoo, Alexandra Tanner

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024


    This week on BETA, comedian Demetri Martin deconstructs his Netflix special. Also, filmmaker Priyanka Mattoo tells all in her memoir, “Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones.” And Alexandra Tanner on her Seinfeldian debut novel, “Worry.”

    Episode 714: Nick Lowe, Emily St. James/Noel Murray, Dan Kois

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024


    This week on "BETA," ... Britain's greatest living songwriter, Nick Lowe, joins us to talk about his newest album, “Indoor Safari.” Also, Emily St. James and Noel Murray take us back to the island to revisit the significance of the TV series, “Lost.” And Dan Kois revisits selling newspaper subscriptions on a cold winter's night in Milwaukee.

    Episode 704: Glenn Kenny on “Scarface,” Julia Masli, Anne Serling

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024


    This week on “BETA,” film critic Glenn Kenny takes us behind the scenes of the 1983 gangster film, “Scarface.” Also, tragedienne, Julia Masli, is ready to solve problems. And author […]

    Episode 713: Sarah Silverman, Gabino Iglesias, Jenny Slate

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024


    This week on "BETA," comedian Sarah Silverman joins us to discuss her stand-up tour, “Postmortem.” Also, Gabino Iglesias on his incredibly intense novel, “House of Bone and Rain.” And comedian Jenny Slate shares the complicated beauty of motherhood in her essay collection, “Lifeform.”

    Episode 703: “Hacks,” Jahmal Mayfield, Aoife O’Donovan

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024


    This week on "BETA," we are joined by Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello, the co-creators of the Max original series, “Hacks.” Also, Jahmal Mayfield joins us to talk about his debut noir novel, “Smoke Kings.” And folk singer Aoife O'Donovan pays tribute to Wisconsin suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt on her album, “All My Friends.”

    Episode 702: David Duchovny, T Bone Burnett, Steve Almond

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024


    This week on "BETA," award-winning actor and director David Duchovny on learning from failure. Plus, a look at the long-awaited solo album from music legend T Bone Burnett and a crash course on writing from author, Steve Almond.

    Episode 712: Eugene Mirman, Yael van der Wouden, Walter Chaw

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024


    This week on “BETA,” comedian Eugene Mirman joins us to talk about “Bob’s Burgers” and more. Also, Booker Prize nominee, Yael van der Wouden, on her debut novel, “The Safekeep.” […]

    Episode 701: Nadirah Simmons, George Pelecanos, The Blues Brothers

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024


    This week on BETA, hip-hop historian Nadirah Simmons highlights the game-changing ladies that made history in pop music. And one of crime fiction's greatest writers, George Pelecanos, talks aout his most autobiographical work yet. And journalist Daniel de Visé on the history of The Blues Brothers.

    Episode 711: Simon Rich, Helen Phillips, Chris Nashawaty

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024


    This week on "BETA," Simon Rich joins us to talk about his short story collection, "Glory Days." Helen Phillips explores Artificial Intelligence in her suspenseful novel, "Hum." And author Chris Nashawaty revisits the epic summer of 1982 - when Star Wars and Sci-Fi Fever hit it's peak.

    Episode 624: Zach Woods, Steph Tolev, Scott Guild

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024


    This week on "BETA," actor and comedian Zach Woods on his pitch-perfect NPR parody, “In the Know.” Also, comedian Steph Tolev on being filthy and funny. And Scott Guild on his multimedia novel, "Plastic."

    Episode 710: Rachel Kushner, Sam Green, Carrie Courogen

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024


    This week on "BETA," Rachel Kushner returns to discuss her latest novel, "Creation Lake." Documentary director Sam Green talks about his fascinating film "32 Sounds: Exploring the Audio World." And Carrie Courogen on her biography of one of the greatest comic geniuses of all time, Elaine May.

    Episode 623: Moshe Kasher, Sloane Crosley, Tommy Orange

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024


    This week on "BETA," Comedian Moshe Kasher on being a "Subculture Vulture." Also, Sloane Crosley explores love, loss and grief. And "There There" author Tommy Orange on his long-awaited followup, "Wandering Stars."

    Episode 709: David Schurmann, Erin Osmon, Paul Tremblay

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024


    This week on BETA, David Schurmann discusses his documentary My Penguin Friend. Award-winning music journalist Erin Osmon talks with us about music from the Midwest. Also, we'll hear from horror writer Paul Tremblay on his new book, Horror Movie.

    Episode 622: Billy Dee Williams, M.D. Dunn on Bruce Cockburn, Ed Park

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024


    Legendary actor Billy Dee Williams talks about his lifetime in the arts and his landmark roles (including his famous turn as Lando in "Star Wars"). Also, author M.D. Dunn on the life and career of Canadian singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn. And Ed Park talks about his mind-bending novel, “Same Bed Different Dreams.”

    Episode 621: Ed Zwick, Laurie Kilmartin, Priya Guns

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024


    This week on "BETA," award-winning filmmaker and TV creator Ed Zwick on his fortysomething years in Hollywood. Plus, comedian Laurie Kilmartin on her new special and actor Priya Guns on her new novel, “Your Driver is Waiting.”

    Claim Beta

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel