Wild Card with Rachel Martin

Terry Tempest Williams often writes about what is easy to overlook – the “holy ordinary” as she calls it. Whether it's the beauty and plight of the natural world, or the silence and struggle of a loved one. She talks to Rachel about why women with big ideas get labeled “crazy” and how she tries to emulate her late mother.  To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus...

For Danny McBride, success in Hollywood has taken patience, hard work, and a little bit of delusion. That sense of delusion is also present in the characters he writes, who embody the hilarious extremes of masculinity. He continues to explore these themes in his new book, "Thrilling Tales of Modern Men." Danny also discusses writing unlikely protagonists and why he loves working in South Carolina....

John Cena didn’t become a WWE megastar and Hollywood leading man by accident, he worked at it, and he takes none of his big breaks for granted. He tells Rachel that a secret to his success is jumping into a challenge before he feels ready, or as he calls it, “courageous ignorance.” John’s new Netflix comedy, “Little Brother,” is out Jun 26. To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for...

Writer David Sedaris tells Rachel he doesn’t mind being humiliated, because he knows it will wind up as great material. David’s new book, “The Land and Its People,” is full of such material. In their conversation, David talks about his latest humiliations as well as the benefits of cleaning while angry and how a British radio soap opera reminds him of how lucky he is. To listen sponsor-free and su...

Dave Eggers isn’t about rushing creativity. His latest novel, "Contrapposto," has been on his mind for about two decades. And he tells Rachel he believes many artists do their best work in their 80s and 90s. Eggers also reflects on how he’s learned to slow down in middle age, what he sees as the greatest danger of AI, and shares a moment of appreciation he felt watching an apricot tree. To listen...

Maya Hawke is such a natural fit for Wild Card that she had several answers for many of the questions. The self-described “verbose” musician/actor talks to Rachel about her new album “Maitreya Corso,” and reflects on her identification with her character Anxiety in “Inside Out 2.” Hawke also tells Rachel about her “witch-adjacent” childhood with her mother, Uma Thurman.  To listen sponsor-free and...

From "Step Brothers" to “Chicago,” John C. Reilly imbues every one of his roles with humor, empathy, and heart. In his latest project, a vaudeville stage show called "Mister Romantic," he searches for connection in a disconnected time. He talked to Rachel about his independent childhood on the south side of Chicago, and being open to endless possibilities. To listen sponsor-free and support the sh...

Noah Kahan's breakthrough album, Stick Season , made him known to millions of fans. But he tells Rachel that experience left him feeling like he knew himself even less than before. Noah talks about finding his way back to songwriting with his new album, "The Great Divide.” He also reflects on how depression comes with sneaky superpowers and shares that Oreos and "The Office" are his cures for burn...

Rita Wilson tells Rachel that she was tired of always being cast in the same kind of “nurturing” roles. And so she decided to explore a totally different career  – one in music. Her latest album is “Sound of a Woman.” They also discuss the inspiration Rita draws from her immigrant parents and from older women.  To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wil...

Anne Lamott says she felt drawn to writing almost like it was a call to become a monk. She has also felt called to teach others how to write, to help them organize their thoughts on the page and to keep their priorities in check. “You’re not going to get self-respect from being published,” she tells Rachel. Her newest book, co-written with her husband Neal Allen, is called “Good Writing.” To liste...

After decades of releasing new albums every few years, Amy Grant went mostly quiet for the past decade. In the time since her last album of original songs in 2013, she’s survived several harrowing medical emergencies. Now she’s back with a new album, “The Me That Remains.” She tells Rachel she felt she was doing her audience a disservice by not writing about this phase of life. To listen sponsor-f...

Get your tickets for Wild Card live in Los Angeles with special guest Tracee Ellis Ross on May 7!  Lena Dunham tells Rachel that for much of her 20s and 30s, she took a vacation from who she was as a child. These days, though, she says she’s much more in touch with that part of her life. Her new book, “Famesick,” chronicles those tumultuous years during the rise of her hit show, “Girls.” In this e...

Bob Odenkirk says he was never supposed to be an action hero, but he’s grateful for the way his career has turned out. Starting out as a sketch comedian, he never could have foreseen roles like Saul Goodman in “Better Call Saul” or Sheriff Ulysses in his newest film, “Normal.” He tells Rachel he takes none of it for granted, as he retraces his path from his humble Illinois roots.  To listen sponso...

From "O Brother, Where Art Thou" to "Watchmen" to "Poker Face,” Tim Blake Nelson is the actor you call when you want a character’s face to tell a lifetime of stories. But Nelson’s storytelling isn't limited to acting; lately, he's turned to writing novels, including his latest book, “Superhero: A Novel.” He talks to Rachel about his delinquent childhood in Tulsa and the dangers of prioritizing the...

George Saunders isn’t sure what he believes about the afterlife, but he knows it’s fertile soil for a good story. In his latest novel “Vigil,” he explores questions of judgement, redemption and our ability to change. And at this stage of his career, Saunders is reflective about his own path, what he’s built through hard work and what he still longs for. To listen sponsor-free and support the show,...

In his stand-up, films and TV shows, Julio Torres considers the beauty and absurdity of the structures that make up the world around him, and tries to make sense of them. In his latest HBO special, "Color Theories," he explores the interior lives of colors. He spoke with Rachel about how his existential dread has changed over time and his excitement for the outfits he’ll wear in his old age. To li...

Christina Applegate doesn't need anyone's pity or approval. That’s the takeaway from her new memoir, "You With the Sad Eyes." She looks back at some of the toughest moments in her life, from abusive relationships to her recent multiple sclerosis diagnosis. But she also shares with Rachel the joys in her life, like raising her 15 year old daughter and watching Bravo reality television. To listen sp...

Chris Fleming takes his unique observations about the weirdness of everyday life and runs (and catapults and crawls and prances) with them. In his latest HBO special, "Live at the Palace," his manic physicality and singularly rich descriptions are the perfect recipe for comedy magic. He spoke with Rachel about overcoming skeptical industry gatekeepers, his love of dance, and his muse, Terry Gross....

At 41, Lena Waithe already has an impressive legacy, with dozens of writing, acting and production credits. She was the first Black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing (for "Master of None"). And she’s also the creator of "The Chi," which recently wrapped its seventh season. She tells Rachel one of her core beliefs is a lesson from "The Wizard of Oz." They also discuss being bad at being wrong...

When Weird Al’s debut single, “My Bologna,” came out, there wasn’t really a model for how a parody artist could have any longevity in their career. Yet Al's figured out how to stay popular for over four decades. Ahead of his “Bigger and Weirder” tour, he talked with Rachel about staying weird as he ages, parenthood, and his devoted (some might say obsessive) fans. To listen sponsor-free and suppor...

In an ever-growing world of mindfulness teachers and wellness influencers, Dan Harris has remained grounded with modest goals. One of those goals is baked into the name of his best-selling book and podcast, “10% Happier.” Dan talks to Rachel about his unconventional path from “self-centered journalist” to “alleged happiness expert,” and whether being a “good-ish” person is good enough. To listen s...

Wagner Moura doesn’t compromise when it comes to doing work that feels meaningful and aligned with his values. That much is clear in the politically-charged Brazilian film, "The Secret Agent," for which he's earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. He spoke with Rachel about getting better with age, the sacredness of performing onstage and why he's made seeking joy a priority. To...

Melinda French Gates has been through some painful and public transitions — ending her marriage of 27 years, stepping away from the foundation she built with her ex-husband Bill Gates and turning her professional focus to women’s health and social progress. She talks to Rachel about forgiveness, learning to trust, and her ex-husband’s association with Jeffrey Epstein. To listen sponsor-free and su...

Oprah could never just ignore her weight. Everyone else was always talking about it – from tabloids to late-night shows. She talks to Rachel about her weight journey and her new embrace of GLP-1s, the topic of her new book, “Enough,” co-written with Dr. Ania Jastreboff. Oprah also opens up to Rachel about her childhood in Mississippi and the lessons she learned from Maya Angelou and Sidney Poitier...

In her early 20s, Jennette McCurdy left her childhood acting career and turned to writing. In both her memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” and her debut novel, “Half His Age,” she confronts the kinds of abuse and power dynamics she had to navigate long before she was ready. But she tells Rachel she has been able to move past it and find acceptance on the other side. To listen sponsor-free and support...