Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

Cynthia Erivo is a Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning powerhouse who first stunned Broadway audiences in The Color Purple and recently took on one of musical theater’s most iconic roles: Elphaba in Wicked . In this chat from October 2024, Erivo joins Willie Geist to talk about stepping into the emerald spotlight opposite of her friend Ariana Grande and the thrill of seeing Wicked billboards ligh...

Leslie Odom, Jr., who was Willie Geist’s very first Sunday Sitdown guest nearly a decade ago, is returning to Broadway to reprise his Tony and Grammy Award-winning role as Aaron Burr in  Hamilton . In this conversation, Odom reflects on why stepping back into the role ten years later feels like a homecoming and how the standing ovations take him back to his 17-year-old self who dreamt of being par...

Nathan Lane is a three-time Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor beloved for his roles on stage and screen, from The Producers and The Birdcage to voicing Timon in Disney’s The Lion King . In this conversation from March 2023, Lane opens up to Willie Geist about his return to Broadway in Pictures from Home , his journey from theater to Hollywood, and the performances that have defined his decades-lon...

Lin-Manuel Miranda is a Tony, Emmy, Grammy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist who revolutionized Broadway with his groundbreaking musical Hamilton . In this throwback conversation from November 2021, Miranda sits down with Willie Geist to reflect on the inception of Hamilton , the influence Rent had on his life, and how he paid tribute to Jonathan Larson in his directorial debut of Tick, Tick… Boo...

From fleeing Cuba as a young girl to becoming the Queen of Latin Pop, Gloria Estefan’s journey to prominence has been defined by resilience. In this sitdown from May 2025, Estefan reflects on her family’s story, her lifelong love with Emilio Estefan, and the global success of hits like “Conga.” She also opens up about returning to the stage after her 1990 bus accident, releasing her first Spanish-...

From her breakout role on Desperate Housewives to thriving today as an actor, director, producer, and entrepreneur, Eva Longoria has one of the most multifaceted careers in Hollywood. In this conversation from March 2025, Longoria opens up to Willie Geist about how her childhood in Texas shaped her journey, her perspective on fame, family, and longevity in Hollywood at 50, and her starring role in...

As the Emmy-winning host of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver has redefined political comedy with his wit and satire. In this sitdown from February 2024, Oliver joins Willie Geist at a pub to watch his beloved Liverpool football club and preview the 2024 season of Last Week Tonight. He also reflects on his bold decision to move to America for a dream job on The Daily Show , a leap that set the stage...

Nominated for an Emmy for his starring role in Shrinking , Jason Segel has proven his versatility across dramas and comedies over the last 20 years. In this sitdown from October 2024, Segel opens up to Willie Geist about working alongside Harrison Ford in Shrinking , his long run of comedies from Forgetting Sarah Marshall to How I Met Your Mother , and the life-changing advice he received from Jud...

A four-time Emmy winner for his legendary role as Walter White in Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston’s made a massive mark on Hollywood. In this conversation from December 2020, Cranston talks to Willie Geist about starring in Showtime’s Your Honor and reuniting with Aaron Paul to launch Dos Hombres Mezcal. He also reflects on the enduring legacy of Breaking Bad and why he’s often drawn to morally compl...

With her Emmy-winning role in Abbott Elementary , Sheryl Lee Ralph has become a powerful voice for educators while cementing her place as one of Hollywood’s most enduring talents. In this conversation from February 2024, Ralph sits down with Willie Geist to celebrate her career renaissance after decades in the business and shares how Robert De Niro gave her advice that kept her moving in her caree...

From  Rocky  to  Rambo  to his latest hit  Tulsa King , Sylvester Stallone has spent decades defying the odds. Long before Hollywood stardom, he was a struggling actor in a New York apartment, writing the script for  Rocky  that would change his life. In this Sitdown, Stallone reflects on the hardships that fueled his drive, why he refused to let anyone else play Rocky, and how receiving the Kenne...

Alicia Keys is a musical powerhouse, known for her timeless voice, soulful ballads and fearless artistry. In this conversation from April 2024, she joins Willie ahead of the Broadway debut of Hell’s Kitchen, the coming-of-age musical inspired by her life. Alicia reflects on the decade of work it took to bring the show to the stage, the personal stories behind it, and the enduring legacy of her mus...

Machine Gun Kelly has built a career on defying expectations, first breaking out as a Cleveland rapper, then reinventing himself as a punk rock star. In this chat from October 2021, MGK opens up to Willie about his musical evolution, his high-profile relationship with Megan Fox, and how music has carried him through fame, anxiety, substance abuse, and loss. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company...

Olivia Rodrigo skyrocketed to global fame with her record-breaking debut Sour, reshaping pop music with her voice, lyrics, and honesty. In this conversation from September 2023, she and Willie talk about the release of her sophomore album Guts, the way she tells stories through her music, and why she refuses to reveal the true inspiration behind her hit single “Vampire.” Hosted by Simplecast, an A...

Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny sat down with Willie Geist to discuss his historic concert residency in Puerto Rico and his foray into acting with his latest movie "Caught Stealing". Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Few artists have walked a path like Jelly Roll, who grew up surrounded by struggle and addiction before choosing redemption. In this sitdown from October 2024, Jelly Roll talks with Willie about his transformation from rapper to country star, the resilience that shaped his music, and the persistence that led him to selling out arenas across the country. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. Se...

Maya Rudolph knew early on she was born to make people laugh, but her run on Saturday Night Live cemented her place as a comedy powerhouse. In this chat from September 2018, Willie sits down with Maya inside SNL’s iconic Studio 8H to talk about her favorite celebrity impressions, working alongside icons like Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and how the show became her comedy boot camp, paving the way for...

Known for his quick wit, Vince Vaughn has been a fixture of Hollywood comedies for more than two decades, starring in hits like Swingers and Wedding Crashers . In this Sunday Sitdown from May 2025, Vince joins Willie Geist at Enoteca Maria on Staten Island, the Italian restaurant that inspired his new Netflix film Nonnas . They talk about his career of iconic roles and even meet Joe Scaravella, th...

Beloved for decades of iconic performances, Billy Crystal has left an indelible mark on comedy and film. In this chat from December 2024, Billy sits down with Willie at NYU Tisch’s Jack Crystal Theater, named for his late father, to reflect on his time studying under Martin Scorsese, the enduring legacy of When Harry Met Sally , and his acclaimed series, Before . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz c...

Known as one of the most relatable voices in stand-up, Nate Bargatze has gone from performing for a single audience member to headlining arenas across the country. In February 2025, Nate joined Willie for the first-ever Sunday Sitdown Live, where they talked about his rise in comedy, future plans for the “Nateland” brand, and took questions from the crowd.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company...

One of comedy’s most influential voices, Tina Fey has left her mark on entertainment in countless ways. In this sitdown from January 2024, she and Willie discuss her experience writing, producing, and starring in the Mean Girls reboot, and look back on her days writing and performing on Saturday Night Live , the launchpad that made her a household name. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. Se...

Willie Geist gets together with comedy icon Will Ferrell to talk about Ferrell’s time on SNL, the famous movie lines that are always quoted back to him and his new movie, "You're Cordially Invited" where he stars alongside Reese Witherspoon. (Original broadcast date February 2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal...

Willie Geist sits down with the host of "The Late Show", Stephen Colbert, to chat about Stephen's rise to fame and the pivotal moment he knew he would be able to make a career out of comedy. He also shares some of his favorite recipes from his cookbook, “Does This Taste Funny?” (Original broadcast date October 13, 2024) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information...

Willie catches up with "Captain America" himself, Anthony Mackie for a discussion about growing up as a theater kid in New Orleans and his rise from "8 Mile" through the Marvel Universe, and the latest season of "Twisted Metal". Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Willie sits down with actress and singer Nicole Scherzinger, fresh off of her Tony win for Best Leading Actress in a Musical with her Broadway debut in "Sunset Boulevard". She also looks back at her time with The Pussycat Dolls and talks about her new Netflix show "Building the Band”. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of pers...