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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.

This week on "BETA, Elias Weiss Friedman, also known as The Dogist, joins us to talk about his book, “This Dog Will Change Your Life.” And Dan Nadel on writing the first biography of cartoonist Robert Crumb. And we'll talk with Kate Folk re. her incredible debut novel, “Sky Daddy.”

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.”

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.”

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 […]

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, […]

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, […]

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.” […]

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,”

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.

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.”

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 […]

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.”

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 […]

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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 […]

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.”

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.”

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.

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.” […]

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.

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.

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."

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.

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."