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The Dinner Party Download

American Public Media

Welcome to The Dinner Party Download, a fast and funny hour of culture, food and conversation: “public radio’s arts & leisure section.” In every episode you’ll learn a joke; bone up on an odd bit of history and then wash it down with a themed cocktail recipe; meet artists of note; have your burning etiquette questions answered; savor an emerging food trend; and hear your new favorite song. Plus, unconventional wisdom from hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam.

Location:

St. Paul, MN

Description:

Welcome to The Dinner Party Download, a fast and funny hour of culture, food and conversation: “public radio’s arts & leisure section.” In every episode you’ll learn a joke; bone up on an odd bit of history and then wash it down with a themed cocktail recipe; meet artists of note; have your burning etiquette questions answered; savor an emerging food trend; and hear your new favorite song. Plus, unconventional wisdom from hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam.

Language:

English

Contact:

480 Cedar Street St. Paul, MN 55101 1-800-228-7123


Episodes

Introducing: Not Lost

5/3/2022
Brendan Francis Newnam was the host of a popular radio show, coasting through a happy adulthood when it all came crashing down. And so, like many before him, he decided to hit the road, but not on his own. In Not Lost, Brendan and a friend travel to a new place every week, meeting the locals in hopes of understanding their homes. And angling for an invitation to dinner. As they veer from Montréal to Mexico City, from New Orleans to Bozeman, they discover it's possible to find yourself in...

Duration:00:03:31

Introducing Safe For Work

7/16/2018
Rico and Brendan aren’t exactly back, but they’re here to tell you about their new projects! Brendan has been producing The Paris Review and Rico has a new podcast called “Safe For Work.” Rico and Liz Dolan (“Satellite Sisters”) will help you make the big decisions, sort through the small stuff, and get more fulfillment […]

Duration:00:12:00

How to Behave: Celebrity Edition

12/22/2017
Alas, this is our last audio treat for you (for now). In the final installment of the “How to Behave” series, you’ll hear some of the best of our favorite etiquette segments with celebrities. Master thespian Sir Ian McKellen offers a tip on how to deal with people who mispronounce your name (never correct the […]

Duration:00:31:48

How to Behave: Comedy Edition

12/15/2017
We’ve got another audio treat for you! Think of these as a companion to Brendan and Rico’s book, “Brunch is Hell.” In the second installment of the “How to Behave” series, you’ll hear some of the best of our favorite etiquette segments with comedians. Our guests include “Portlandia” stars Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen, Maria […]

Duration:00:30:29

How to Behave: Food Edition

12/8/2017
Surprise! You might’ve thought we posted our last DPD episode, but we’ve got a few more audio goodies over the next couple of weeks, starting with this inaugural episode of what we’re calling our “How to Behave” series. Think of it as a companion to Brendan and Rico’s book, “Brunch is Hell.” These episodes will […]

Duration:00:26:00

400: The Last Supper – LIVE in Seattle!

12/1/2017
It’s our final new episode! Featuring new music from Northwest phenom Kyle Craft… A tale of howling at the moon from Snap Judgement’s Glynn Washington… Unimpeachable holiday gift ideas from New York Times columnist Lindy West… Maddening song suggestions from Luke Burbank of “LiveWire”… And a litany of good – and bad – goodbyes for […]

Duration:01:30:55

The 2017 All-Food Show

11/24/2017
This week, we re-heat some of our favorite food-related stories EVER: Celebrated chef Anthony Bourdain gets tough and tender in our etiquette segment… New York’s “The Pickle Guys” don their horseradish hazmat suits… Chef Eddie Huang makes us rethink mac and cheese … Beth Ditto serves up a party soundtrack– and great gravy… Brendan discovers […]

Duration:00:50:53

269: Mel Brooks, Greta Gerwig, and AC Newman

11/17/2017
Encore Broadcast: Comedy legend Mel Brooks reanimates “Young Frankenstein” then offers priceless etiquette advice (warning: may include death threats, flatulence, gallows humor, and uncontrollable laughter)… Actress Greta Gerwig (“Frances Ha” and “Mistress America”) tries a love story on for size… AC Newman of indie rock super-group The New Pornographers spins a party soundtrack that’s so cool, […]

Duration:00:50:50

The Thank You Show

11/10/2017
The title says it all, folks. Thanks for lending us your ears, ideas, laughs, taste buds, pun tolerance, and everything else! We’re blessed to have you attending our party every week, and so we figured it was high time for some audio “thank you” notes.

Duration:00:30:25

399: Tig Notaro, Jon Batiste, and Real American Food

11/3/2017
Tig Notaro brings her life to TV… The Late Show’s Jon Batiste makes a case for a surprise at every dinner party… Chef Sean Sherman re-imagines indigenous American cuisine… Director Yorgos Lathimos on his follow-up to “The Lobster”… and more!

Duration:00:50:15

398: Abbi Jacobson, Whitney Cummings, and More Wonder Women

10/27/2017
Actor Abbi Jacobson remembers her past recycling bottles for spare change… Comedian Whitney Cummings talks about being polite when you’re codependent… Drummer Patty Schemel makes a case for why drummers shouldn’t be the butt of the joke… The director of “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women”… The best baguette you’ll ever eat… and more!

Duration:00:50:57

Speakeasy Special: DPD News and Comic Relief with Whitney Cummings

10/20/2017
Thought you were getting an encore broadcast? Surprise! It’s actually an all-new Speakeasy! First: Lots of news in the DPD universe including a big announcement about the future of the show. Up next: an almost-unedited chat with comedian Whitney Cummings! She stopped by to answer a few etiquette questions and ended up teaching us about […]

Duration:00:30:04

397: Willem Dafoe, Depeche Mode, Carla Hall Shares Her Grandmother’s Cornbread Recipe

10/13/2017
Actor Willem Dafoe explains what he learns from screen newbies… Electro band Depeche Mode on how travel has made their music more socially conscious… A former Obama speechwriter convinces us that ferns are the most romantic plant… Chef Carla Hall shares her grandmother’s cast iron cornbread recipe… Rachel Bloom takes on your etiquette questions… and […]

Duration:00:50:43

Double Take: Joel Kim Booster Reflects on the Evolution of His Career… and His Pony Stylist Dreams

10/11/2017
(Heads up: This week’s episode features adult humor. It is not suitable for young listeners.) We’ve got something entirely new for you today… introducing “Double Take”! A new podcast-only goody where you’ll hear comedians dissecting their craft, and then, they’ll talk us through the evolution of a single joke: from its first, usually pretty awful […]

Duration:00:33:43

396: ‘Blade Runner 2049’ director Denis Villeneuve, Brendan and Tobin Low Take Manhattan

10/6/2017
While Rico’s away, Brendan plays hooky with special guest co-host Tobin Low, of WNYC’s Nancy (but don’t tell Rico!) Also: Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve worries about the pressure in making the sequel to “Blade Runner”… Comic Joel Kim Booster breaks down a bad joke and how he made it better… Etiquette experts Lizzie Post and Dan […]

Duration:00:53:22

395: Shania Twain, Sterling K. Brown, Cheese Tea

9/29/2017
Shania Twain explains how a vegetarian can survive a country bbq… Musician Emily Haines challenges you to pick difficult music for your dinner party… Erin McCann makes a case for the mosquito emoji… The filmmakers behind “Battle of the Sexes” reveal why there was 40-year-old underwear on the set of their film… Rico drink tea […]

Duration:00:51:12

Dinner For One: Sterling K. Brown (‘This Is Us’) Enjoys Crying as Much as You Do

9/26/2017
We’re back with a digital treat this week! It’s another installment of our almost-unedited “Dinner for One” series. This time around, Brendan chats with “This Is Us” actor and recent Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown about the hit NBC drama, why he found the opportunity to explore Randall’s relationship with his father “intoxicating,” his new […]

Duration:00:30:33

Speakeasy Special: Depeche Mode, Margaret Cho, Flying Lotus

9/22/2017
Folks! Instead of reheating an encore episode, we’ve carefully baked a brand-new Speakeasy soufflé for you! In this episode: Margaret Cho tells morbid tales of graveyards, murder, and (gasp!) Norman Mailer. Flying Lotus shares how getting into an *ahem* higher state of consciousness helped him direct “Kuso.” “Strong Island” filmmaker Yance Ford recommends a few […]

Duration:00:16:39

394: Margaret Cho, Michael McDonald, And We Cover Your Kvass

9/15/2017
Comedian Margaret Cho lets listeners know when it’s OK to ask Asian-Americans where they’re from (Hint: never)… “Strong Island” documentarian Yance Ford re-examines his brother’s murder – and his family’s search for justice – 25 years later… Yacht Rock royalty Michael McDonald gives a soundtrack that takes him back to his childhood… Brendan tastes a […]

Duration:00:53:59

393: Jesmyn Ward, Matt Berninger, and Future Islands’ Pet-Friendly Playlist

9/8/2017
Author Jesmyn Ward admits to some guilty pleasures… The threesome behind Future Islands DJs the ultimate “grill and chill” playlist – pets allowed… Director Theo Anthony remembers what it’s like to have Werner Herzog as your teacher… The National’s Matt Berninger explains the perks of being a rock star *and* a dad… Librarian Annie Spence […]

Duration:00:52:20