Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
by NPR
Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture. Bullseye has been featured in Time, The New York Times, GQ and McSweeney's, which called it "the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world."
Episodes
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Murray Hill
Murray Hill is a drag king performer, actor and, most recently, memoirist. His new book Showbiz!: My Life as a Middle-Aged Man just came out last month and it’s great. Hill joined us to chat about the new book and what it was like to step away from his on-stage persona and tell his real life…
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Mary Gauthier on the song that changed her life
The country singer songwriter Mary Gauthier talks about Strange Fire by the Indigo Girls. In a driveway moment, the song spoke to her in a way she couldn't explain. The song eventually helped her come to terms with her sexuality and led to a road of sobriety. NPR Privacy Policy
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The Mountain Goats
John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats returns to Bullseye to chat about the band’s latest record Days, and even brought his guitar by the studio for a live performance. NPR Privacy Policy
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NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford-Artest
Hoops week continues on Bullseye! We're revisiting our conversation with NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford Artest. His larger than life personality often precedes him and has made him one of the most polarizing players in the history of the game. He talked to Jesse about how his upbringing shaped him…
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
We’re celebrating the “kick off” of the NBA season with a look back at our conversation with Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The NBA legend talked with us about playing alongside Magic Johnson and much more. NPR Privacy Policy
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Bullseye Halloween Special with John Carroll Lynch and Capturing Bigfoot’s Marq Evans
This week it’s a very special, very spooky Bullseye with Jesse Thorn! We’re joined by John Carroll Lynch of American Horror Story and Marq Evans, the creator of a brand new documentary about Bigfoot. NPR Privacy Policy
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Greg Proops on the craziest day of his career
The Craziest Day of My Entire Career is a segment where we talk with some of our favorite people in pop culture and ask them about some truly wild stories. This time around, we're joined by comedian Greg Proops. His latest stand up album is called Kidding. But Still. Greg is a very hard working...
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Maria Bamford is ambivalent about being your favorite comic’s favorite comic
Comedian Maria Bamford returns to Bullseye! She’s the subject of an upcoming documentary called Paralyzed By Hope: The Maria Bamford Story. Maria joins us to talk about the film, how she feels about other comics praising her work, the influence her parents had on her comedy and more. NPR Privacy...
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Bob Mould
Bob Mould has influenced countless acts over nearly five decades of making music. His bands Hüsker Dü and Sugar helped create the sounds that became grunge, pop punk and indie rock. Sugar reunited last year, for the first time in three decades. We talked with Bob Mould about being openly gay in…
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Angélique Kidjo
In a career that’s spanned several decades, Angélique Kidjo has, through her music, personified what it means to be a citizen of the world. Earlier this year, she released Hope!! It’s her first record in five years, and it features guest appearances from Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Nile Rodgers…
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Comedian Ms. Pat
Ms. Pat’s standup comedy is direct, clever and raw. She headlines shows all over the country and she’s got her own TV show – The Ms. Pat Show on Paramount+. We’ll get into her Emmy nominated sitcom, her extraordinarily difficult road to success and why she decided to take a chance on standup in…
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Remembering Bob Mackie
Bob Mackie died on September 14, 2026. He was 87. Mackie made a career out of dressing big personalities in kinetic, sparkling garb. When he joined us last year, his life and career were profiled in the documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion. The film covers the era-defining design work he did…
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Bonus: Bullseye's 'Put You On' with Tonya Mosley
Did you know that folks that support Bullseye directly get access to a monthly bonus podcast? Put You On is the show where Jesse and a guest answer recommendation questions from our audience members on just about anything: movies, albums, ways to cook, books and more. We wanted to give you a…
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David Letterman
This week, our guest is David Letterman. The one and only. The legend of late night television talks about the Late Show, about his triumphs and failures, and his TV show: My Next Guest Needs No Introduction on Netflix. A version of this interview originally aired in November of 2020. NPR Privacy...
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I Wish I Made That: Eric Appel, director of 'The Breadwinner'
I Wish I Made That is a segment where we invite some of our favorite creative folks to dive deep into a piece of culture. We are joined by Eric Appel. He directed the biopic spoof Weird: The Al Yankovic Story from a few years ago. The thing he wished he had made? Eric dives deep into his love of...
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Walter Thompson-Hernández on his new film 'If I Go Will They Miss Me'
Filmmaker and writer Walter Thompson-Hernández joins us to talk about his new movie, If I Go Will They Miss Me. He shares why the movie has such little plot, and why Greek mythology plays such an important role in the film. He also talks about his time as a writer at the New York Times, some of…
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Elvis Costello
We've got a favorite from the Bullseye archives: Elvis Costello. The legend is celebrating the 49th anniversary of his debut album My Aim is True. Recently, a five CD box set was released to commemorate the occasion. The release features 104 tracks, with over 50 never-before-heard recordings on…
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Remembering Dolly Parton
We’re taking a moment to remember Dolly Parton who died on August 25, 2026. The trailblazing icon of country and western music joined us on Bullseye back in 2012. She’d just released a book called Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You. Dolly talked with us about her impoverished childhood, how...
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'Cookie Queens' documentary filmmaker Alysa Nahmias
Documentarian Alysa Nahmias has directed and produced films about PTSD, navigating the world with disabilities, the criminal justice system and other serious topics. Her latest film is called Cookie Queens follows the lives of four young girls as they sell Girl Scout cookies. It may seem like a...
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American Football
We’re talking with Mike Kinsella and Steve Holmes of the emo band American Football. The band just released their fourth full length album, simply titled: American Football (LP4). Mike and Steve join us to chat about their early years playing music together in high school, how they eventually…
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Geena Davis
Geena Davis is a genuine legend in show business: Beetlejuice, Thelma and Louise, A League of Their Own and many more. For over two decades, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media has gathered data on representation of not just women but of all marginalized groups and how they're being...
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Rakim
Rakim changed the rap game forever. He’s one half of the groundbreaking hip-hop duo, Eric B. and Rakim. And a legendary solo rapper in his own right. Rakim joined us on the show back in 2023. That year marked 50 years of hip-hop. He talked with us about how he met Eric B, shared stories about his...
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Dale Dickey on her Emmy nominated performance in 'Widow's Bay'
The character actor Dale Dickey has a career that spans nearly four decades and more than 150 roles. When she's on screen you know you're in for a treat. Dale's now in her mid-60's, and she's just been nominated for her first Emmy for her performance in Apple TV's Widow's Bay. She joins us on...
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Stavros Halkias
Comedian, podcaster and actor Stavros Halkias joins us on the latest episode! He chats with us about starring in the new Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, when he discovered a passion for joke telling, his distinct look and much more! NPR Privacy Policy
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I Wish I Made That: Kurt Andersen, author of 'The Breakup'
I Wish I Made That is a segment where we invite some of our favorite creative folks to dive deep into a piece of culture. We are joined by writer Kurt Andersen. Andersen is a longtime writer and editor, as well as co-founder the magazine Spy and former host of the public radio show Studio 360.…
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Isaiah Rashad
Isaiah Rashad, our guest, dropped his third album this past Spring. The record is called It’s Been Awful, and doesn’t take long into listening to it to tell that despite the obstacles life has dealt him – Isaiah’s thriving and maybe making his best work yet? Isaiah joins us to talk about the new...
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Bonus: Bullseye's 'Put You On' with Derek Guy
Did you know that folks that support Bullseye directly get access to a bonus podcast? Put You On is the show where Jesse and a guest answer recommendation questions from our audience members on just about anything: books, movies, cooking! We've had people like Linda Holmes, Alonso Duralde and…
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Podcaster and writer Sean Clements on 'The Dink'
Sean Clements is a writer for the big and small screen. His latest project is a feature film called The Dink. It's a movie about pickleball starring Mary Steenburgen and Jake Johnson. The movie was inspired by some of Sean's experiences with the sport – which he was very skeptical about at first…
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Meshell Ndegeocello
Grammy-winning bassist, producer and singer Meshell Ndegeocello is back on Bullseye! Earlier this year she produced a tribute album dedicated to the late blues guitarist BB King. She joined us to chat about the new record, her early days playing with go-go band Rare Essence, why she loves being a...
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John Early and Kate Berlant
John Early and Kate Berlant have been performing as a comedy duo for over a decade now – their brand of comedy is a little surreal, a little unhinged and always laugh-at-loud funny. John and Kate joined us on the program a few years ago.They talked with Jesse about their comedy special Would It...
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Rapper Jeezy
Rapper Jeezy helped bring trap music into the mainstream in the early 2000s alongside other pioneering rappers like T.I. and Gucci Mane. These days, Jeezy has his very own Las Vegas residency running throughout July and August at Planet Hollywood. When he joined us back in 2023, he’d just…
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David Wain
David Wain is a comedy legend. Alongside Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, Ken Marino and many other heavy hitters, Wain co-founded The State, the massively influential comedy troupe responsible for Wet Hot American Summer. Wain returns to Bullseye to talk about his latest project: Gail...
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Judy Chicago
Judy Chicago is an artist who works in sculpture, performance, needlework, and even fireworks. She has been making art for over 50 years and currently has an exhibition in conjunction with the Venice Biennale called 'The Materiality of Judy Chicago' She joins us to chat about the career-spanning...
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Guy Branum - Live at The Lyric Hyperion
Earlier this year, as a thank you to the many people who supported this show during the MaxFunDrive, the Bullseye team did something pretty silly and fun: we promised to crash an open mic. We showed up at the Lyric Hyperion Theater in Silverlake, Los Angeles. Jesse talked with Guy Branum about…
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Taskmaster’s Alex Horne and Greg Davies
We’re talking all things Taskmaster! The British game show in which comedians compete against each other through a series of odd, sometimes very funny, tasks. The show’s creator, Alex Horne, and his co-host, Greg Davies, join us to chat about some of their favorite past tasks, why most of the...
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Jinkx Monsoon
Jinkx Monsoon is a legend in the world of drag. For fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race she is often referred to as "Queen of All Queens" – she’s the only performer to win that competition show twice. Monsoon is set to make her debut on London's West End this August in London in Cole Escola’s Tony...
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Remembering Barney Frank
Barney Frank died earlier this year at the age of 86. He served in Congress for 32 years, representing Massachusetts’ 4th district. In December of 2015, Frank joined us at a live show in Boston to chat about a book he had written called Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex...
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"The Death of Robin Hood" director Michael Sarnoski
The Death of Robin Hood is the latest film from writer and director Michael Sarnoski. The film alternates between brutal violence and meditative, almost serene thoughtfulness. Sarnoski joined us to talk about the themes in his latest film and what it was like to shoot on 35 mm on location in...
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Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson joins us to chat about his new documentary series, Craig Ferguson: American On Purpose. He talks to us about his love for America and his experience with becoming an American citizen. He also talks with us about his time hosting the Late Late Show and how he dealt with the stress…
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Andrew Rannells
Hello! His name is Andrew Rannells. And we would like to share this amazing interview. It's an interview about The Book of Mormon, a long long time ago… Rannells played Elder Price, the lead role in the original run of the smash hit musical. We get into his journey to the Broadway stage and some...
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Allison Janney
Allison Janney has played many memorable roles, including CJ Cregg on The West Wing, Bonnie on the CBS sitcom Mom , and as Tonya Harding’s mother in I, Tonya. These days, you can catch her in the new movie Miss You, Love You, as well as the Netflix drama The Diplomat. When Allison Janney joined…
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'Widow's Bay' creator Katie Dippold
Katie Dippold created the new horror-comedy on Apple TV, Widow’s Bay. The show uses plenty of humor, and it nods to the horror greats, but it is not a spoof. It’s earnestly scary! She talks to Bullseye about maintaining the delicate balance of horror and comedy, writing movies that have been on…
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Ben Vereen
Ben Vereen is an actor, dancer and singer – a classic triple threat. His work in theatre is legendary: Sweet Charity, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin and countless others. These days you can catch him on The Gray House on Prime Video. Ben joins us to talk about the themes the show shares…
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Kneecap
Kneecap is an Irish hip-hop group comprised of three members: Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí. The band’s beats are pretty intense, and their lyrics are fierce and as political as they come. Kneecap joined us to talk about their new record Fenian, how they’ve been influenced by Irish rebel...
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Ann Wilson of Heart
Ann Wilson and her sister, Nancy, founded the rock band Heart. She’s also the subject of a new documentary: Ann Wilson – In My Voice. She joins Bullseye to talk about finding her voice while covering Led Zeppelin songs, navigating the masculine-centric world of 70s rock and roll, and maintaining…
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Pixies' Joey Santiago on the Hendrix song that changed his life
The Song That Changed My Life is a segment that gives a chance for musicians and artists to tell us about the song that made them who they are today. This week, we talked to Joey Santiago, guitarist for the Pixies. Third Stone from the Sun by Jimi Hendrix helped him understand the guitar in a way...
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Juvenile
Juvenile became a household name in 1998. That's when he dropped his breakthrough record, 400 Degreez, featuring Back "That Thang Up" among others. Earlier this year, he released Boiling Point – his first album in over a decade. He joins Bullseye to talk about touring with a live band, choosing…
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Poppy Liu
Poppy Liu joins us to talk about all things I Love Boosters and the message she hopes audiences take away from the film. She also chats with us about her upbringing in Minnesota, how she got into comedy acting, her role on Hacks, and much more! NPR Privacy Policy
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LaKeith Stanfield
We’re joined by LaKeith Stanfield! He’s reunited with rapper and filmmaker Boots Riley for the new film I Love Bosters. LaKeith chats with us about the movie and what it’s been like working with Boots on another project. He also talks with us about how he got cast on Donald Glover’s Atlanta, how…
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Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have been working together for 40 years, producing some of the biggest R&B records of all time. When they spoke to Bullseye in 2021, they had just released their first ever album as recording artists: Jam & Lewis, Volume 1. They talked about the album, the hits they...
About this show
Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture. Bullseye has been featured in Time, The New York Times, GQ and McSweeney's, which called it "the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world."
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