Live Banjo Music with Steve Martin & Alison Brown; New Film 'The Mastermind'; Jonathan Goldstein On Return of 'Heavyweight'; New Obama Musical Narrated By Biden

All Of It with Alison Stewart | Oct 20, 2025

Both Steve Martin and Alison Brown share a love of the banjo. Videos of the two playing together have gone viral online, and Martin's banjo videos during the pandemic were particularly comforting to many. Brown and Martin talk about their new album, Safe Sensible and Sane, and perform live in the studio.

In a new film from writer and director Kelly Reichardt, actor Josh O'Connor stars as a man planning an art heist at a local museum. But very quickly, everything that can goes wrong, does go wrong. Reichardt and O'Connor discuss "The Mastermind," in theaters now.

Despite consistently landing atop "best podcasts" lists from a variety of sources, "Heavyweight" was canceled in 2023 when Spotify cut their podcast division. Earlier this year, the production company Pushkin announced they'd be reprising the show, which launched its new season in September. Host Jonathan Goldstein discusses the new season and plans for the future.

A musical comedy called '44 The Musical' follows the rise of Barack Obama, as narrated by Joe Biden. Writer and director Eli Bauman talks about the show, alongside actor T.J. Wilkins, who plays Obama.

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

WNYC Homepage - Top Stories

Why single domestic violence survivors can't get shelter in NYC despite empty beds

More than half the callers to the city’s domestic violence hotline are single people, but few are getting shelter.

Gothamist |

The History Wars and America at 250, with the Historian Jill Lepore

Three prominent historians discuss a national milestone arriving in the midst of a politically charged conflict over how Americans see the past. It’s a “goat rodeo,” Lepore says.

The New Yorker Radio Hour |

What Péter Magyar's Election in Hungary Says About 'Strongmen' Today

Andrew Marantz talks about the new prime minister of Hungary, and OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman.

The Brian Lehrer Show |

Mayor Mamdani says he's balanced NYC's budget

WNYC News |

How they handle crises in Brownsville, often without police

At least twice a year, nonprofit workers from the neighborhood spend a week calming disputes and responding to most 311 and 911 calls on certain blocks in the neighborhood.