All Of It with Alison Stewart

[ REBROADCAST  FROM May 6, 2025] Author Laila Lalami discusses her new book, The Dream Hotel , which follows a woman detained after an AI algorithm analyzes her dreams and determines she's at risk of harming her husband. The novel was the April 2025 selection for our Get Lit with All Of It book club. Plus, at Lalami's request, we closed our event with music from Morocco as well. Hear performances...

[REBROADCAST FROM July 5, 2025] Author Zaakir Tameez  talks about his new biography, Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation . Sumner was a fierce abolitionist and statesman from Massachusetts who was a pivotal advisor to President Lincoln and an influential force during the Civil War. Image courtesy of Brady-Handy Photograph Collection via Wikimedia Commons Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company...

Actor, author, and woodworker Nick Offerman hosts "A Wonder Is What It Is," an audio series from All Of It with Alison Stewart celebrating poetry and inspired by Nick's love for writer, farmer and activist Wendell Berry. In each episode, Nick reads a poem and shares his reflections. Today's poem is "The Sycamore" by Wendell Berry. Produced by Simon Close Mixing by Amber D Bruce Music composed by M...

In the play " The Loved Ones ," a woman prepares to scatter her son's ashes alongside his widow at a remote farmhouse in Ireland. And then there's a knock on the door. Actors Maryann Plunkett , Alana Raquel Bowers  and Clare O’Malley  star, and they join us in person to discuss the play, which is playing at the Irish Repertory Theater through August 2. Production photo by Carol Rosegg Hosted by Si...

The Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour brings 2026 winners Cure for Paranoia  to Warsaw in Brooklyn tonight . The band stops by to perform and frontman Cameron McCloud  previews the show. Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images: Cameron McCloud of Cure for Paranoia performs in concert during NPR's Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour at Emo's Austin on June 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas Hosted by Simplecast, an...

A new exhibit at the Hessel Museum of Art features the work of artist and educator, Marilou Schultz. Combining traditional Navajo weaving techniques to resemble digital technologies, Schultz's work has sought to reflect the historic efforts of Navajo women as part of our collective, technological futures. Schultz and exhibit curator, Candice Hopkins, offer more insight into the inspiration of " Re...

In " Kathy Butterly: Assume Yes ," a practice spanning for over three decades showcases artist Kathy Butterly 's striking and distinctive ceramic sculptures. Butterly and curator Ian Berry  sit down to discuss the formation of the exhibit, which is currently open at the Tang Teaching Museum as part of the museum's 25th anniversary program. Installation photo by Mindy McDaniel: 'Kathy Butterly: Ass...

Allan Rohan Crite dedicated his career to the rich visual imagery of African American life in 20th century urban America. Brandon Truett , head of learning and community engagement at Mellon, remembers Crite's enduring legacy through paintings, which are now on display at the Zimmerli Art Museum. Painting by Allan Rohan Crite: Sunlight and Shadow, 1941 (Courtesy of the Allan Rohan Crite Research I...

A recent New York Times article explores how a new type of social club offers low-cost, low-pressure ways of interacting with others. New York Times  reporter Christina Caron  joins us to discuss her piece  about how people are finding unique opportunities to make new friends and some of the groups she has come across. Photo by Øyvind Holmstad via Wikimedia Commons Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...

The tile game Mah-Jongg has become incredibly popular among American women, spawning clubs, tournaments, and brands, and some have raised concerns about the Americanization and commercialization of the game. Atlantic staff writer  Ashley Parker discusses mah-jongg’s recent rise in popularity, as well as her own ‘descent into Mah-Jongg’, which she detailed in a recent article .  Photo by Eric Lee/F...

new ahead of his new children's book Night Ride . Myers discusses the exhibit, called ‘ Unbound ,’ which opens in the Grand Lobby of BPL's Central Branch on July 14. Image courtesy of Christopher Myers Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The All Of It Summer Reading Challenge has entered the second month! Producer Jordan Lauf provides recommendations specifically for the U.S. history or historical fiction category. Plus, listeners share what books they are reading for the Challenge.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Set in 1930s New York, A historical fiction novel follows two women on opposite sides of the law, a prosecutor and a madam, who form an unlikely partnership to take down a notorious mob boss. Authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray discuss their new book, A Pair of Aces . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of pe...

George McKenzie Jr. grew up around violence in Brooklyn before becoming one of the few Black wildlife photographers for National Geographic. Now, he shares his story in the short documentary film " The Book of George " McKenzie discusses the film and his career. Image courtesy of LA Times Studios: George McKenzie Jr from "The Book Of George" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...

On Friday, June 19th, the National Library of France announced the discovery of a 44-page notebook containing lessons and compositions written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The notebook, which belonged to one of the composer's pupils, yielded seven previously unknown works for flute and harp - a musical duo that is not well represented in classical music repertoires. Emi Ferguson , a flute player, c...

The new documentary " Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World " reflects on the life and work of the esteemed poet, who published more than 30 collections over the course of her career. Director Sasha Waters  discusses the film, and poet Gabrielle Calvocoressi  shares what Oliver's poetry means to them. "Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World" premieres at the IFC Center on July 2, an...

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Seaport Museum's latest full-floor exhibition traces how the nation's founding ideas have evolved over time through rare defining documents and pivotal moments in history. Captain Jonathan Boulware , president of the South Street Seaport Museum and Martina Caruso , curator and Director of Collections and Exhibitions, discuss “ The Promise of Liber...

When you think of the Revolutionary War, you may think of Philadelphia or Boston. But if you want to be where the fighting actually happened, head to New Jersey, where armies crisscrossed the state, neighbors were divided, and Washington's army turned things around. Sara Cureton , the executive director of the New Jersey State Historical Commission , and Mark Texel , the administrator of state his...

Writer and food columnist Yewande Komolafe  discusses her mission to rediscover  and reconnect with New York City as a wheelchair user, and listeners offer recommendations for accessible spots in the city.  Photo by Courtney Yates, courtesy of the New York Times Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertisi...

Janet Fash  became a lifeguard at Rockaway Beach in 1979, working her way up the male-dominated ranks to become the first-ever female chief lifeguard in NYC history. Fash shares her memories of her 40 year tenure in the new memoir Lifeguard: A Love Story .  Image courtesy of Simon & Schuster Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use...

This summer, All Of It will feature a guide for making the most of the nice weather in all five boroughs. Today Katie Honan from The City Reporter kicks off the series with the top attractions that Queens, also known as the World's Borough, has to offer this season, especially outdoor spaces like parks and beaches. Plus, listeners share their favorite summer spots in Queens. Photo by Kate Hinds/WN...

Garage sales, thrifting, and the art of discovering other people’s castoffs have come one of America’s most beloved rituals. Caity Weaver  from The Atlantic  discusses why the secondhand economy says more about who we are  than the stuff we buy -- and listeners shout out their all-time favorite garage sale finds. Photo by Cristina Arias/Cover/Getty Images: Sale of antiques at El Rastro of Madrid,...

As the country approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, many Americans are examining their own relationship to patriotism. How has patriotism changed in the wake of intense political divides? What does it mean to feel proud to be an American? Have symbols of American patriotism come to stand for the right more than the left? Yoni Appelbaum , deputy executive editor at The Atlan...

Pride Month is coming to a close, but the conversation about LGBTQ+ life continues. NYC Pride co-chair Kazz Alexander shares his reflections, and listeners call in to share what 'pride' means to them. Photo by Manoli Figetakis/Getty Images: Grand Marshal Peppermint attends the 2026 New York City Pride March on June 28, 2026 in New York City. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...

Soon, the famous orange and yellow seats that can be found on certain subway lines will be no more, as the MTA continues its process of upgrading and improving subway cars and equipment. The New York Transit Museum has organized a new exhibit, ' Ode to the Orange Seats ,' that bids farewell, but also looks at the history of the bucket seats that were first introduced on R44 cars in 1971. Curator J...