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Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

Higher Ground
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominations
Film Industry
Barbie
Oppenheimer
Diversity In Film
Criticism
Poor Things
Killers Of the Flower Moon
Cultural Representation
Benny Safdie
Media Landscape
The Curse
Willem Dafoe
Maestro
The Wooster Group
Leonard Bernstein
Good Grief
Grief
Abbott Elementary

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly series of intimate conversations with artists, activists, and politicians. Where people sound like people. Hosted by Sam Fragoso. New episodes every Sunday.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes532Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTV & FilmFilm Interviews

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Artwork for Talk Easy

Latest Episodes

Today, we revisit our 2023 conversation with performer and director Ramy Youssef, one of the singular voices of the past decade.

We begin with his reflections on Ramadan, before diving into the third season of his Hulu show Ramy and the questions th... more

From BoJack to Batman, Will Arnett has made a name for himself with his signature baritone voice. This week the beloved ‘SmartLess’ co-host joins us to talk easy.

Watch this conversation on YouTube.

We begin with his latest role in Bradley Cooper’s... more

Patti Smith has been hailed as the Godmother of Punk, the people’s poet, a defining voice of her generation. She’s been inducted into the Rock & Roll of Fame. She won a National Book Award for her memoir, Just Kids. Last fall, she published her most ... more

Gwyneth Paltrow, now and forever, reigns supreme.

Watch this conversation on YouTube.

We discuss her return to acting in Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme (7:45), the personal parallels that shaped her portrayal of 1930s movie star Kay Stone (8:00), and ... more

Key Facts

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Ramy Youssef
Comedian, actor, and creator of the Emmy-nominated series, Ramy
Hulu
Episode: Play It Again: Ramy Youssef Tells a Muslim American Story
Will Arnett
Actor, writer, and co-host of the podcast SmartLess
Episode: Is Will Arnett Nailing This Interview?
Patti Smith
Acclaimed musician, poet, and writer, known as the godmother of punk.
Episode: This is Patti Smith
Gwyneth Paltrow
Actor and entrepreneur known for her diverse film career and CEO of Goop
Goop
Episode: The Return of Gwyneth Paltrow (‘Marty Supreme’)
Viola Davis
Acclaimed actress and producer, known for her roles in 'Fences,' 'How to Get Away with Murder,' and 'The Woman King.'
Episode: Viola Davis: What If We’re Enough?
Robby Hoffman
Comedian known for her Netflix special 'Wake Up' and roles in 'Hacks' and 'Dying for Sex'.
Netflix
Episode: Is Comedian Robby Hoffman the Last American Dream?
Kate Winslet
Award-winning actress and director known for her roles in films such as Titanic and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and for her work in television, including Mare of Easttown.
Episode: Kate Winslet Is Home for the Holidays
Renate Reinsve
Actor known for her performances in films by Joachim Trier.
Episode: Renate Reinsve Delivers the Performance of the Year in ‘Sentimental Value’
Noah Baumbach
Renowned writer and director with a career spanning over three decades.
Netflix
Episode: The Noah Baumbach Retrospective

Host

Sam Fragoso
Host of a series that features intimate conversations with a diverse array of guests, emphasizing storytelling and personal insights.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 3.7k ratings
  • Thoughtful Conversations, Done Right!

    Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is one of my favorite podcasts. You can tell how much thought and research goes into each interview, and the questions feel intentional and insightful rather than scripted.

    What I love most is how the conversations flow. Nothing feels forced, and every guest seems comfortable and at ease, which says a lot about Sam as an interviewer. He gives people space to really talk and be themselves, and it makes the episodes feel personal and honest. It’s the kind of podcast you... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kdanger011
    United States16 days ago
  • Jesse Eisenberg

    Love these in depth interviews. Although I enjoyed this interview I have to admit that his acute nervous energy prompted an anxious response me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    k!k!m@su
    United States18 days ago
  • Easily the best interviewer around

    I’ve started listening to Talk Easy in the last few months; first with Sam’s Mamet interview (kinda viral) and then many of his other 2025-2026 interviews. Sam’s research and insightful questions easily separate him from the pack - he’s like Teri Gross but with far more knowledge about the subject matter (and she’s no slouch). I can’t highly compliment Sam enough, and high recommend you check out his weekly interviews!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jklein100
    United States22 days ago
  • Wonderful interviews

    I absolutely love this podcast. Sam does his research and asks questions about things and people that you wouldn’t otherwise know about or hear about.

    His recent interview with Viola Davis was absolutely one of his best.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Myneatnickname
    United States22 days ago
  • Glad I found this pod

    Even the musical intro is mellow. The conversation delves into unexpected territories. Even the guests seemed to really be enjoying themselves.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Frog337
    United States25 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

There are positive comments regarding the variety of guests and topics, which appeal to audiences interested in arts and societal issues.
Many express admiration for the personal and emotional depth of conversations, valuing the authenticity and thoughtfulness reflected in the episodes.
A few critiques mention specific episodes where the conversation could benefit from more challenging questions regarding sensitive topics.
Some listeners express eagerness for more content while highlighting the host's engaging and approachable demeanor.
Listeners appreciate the insightful and respectful interview style of the host, noting his ability to create a safe space for guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is Will Arnett Nailing This Interview?
Q: Will, you mentioned earlier that there was a certain feeling of dissatisfaction set in, where were you at before taking this story on?
I just ended up in a place where I had sort of lost steam a little bit with where I was going in a lot of ways.
Play It Again: Ramy Youssef Tells a Muslim American Story
Q: You recently said that this new season was mostly about a crisis of faith. Well, what did you mean by that?
Ramy discusses the show's exploration of faith, focusing on the tension of wanting to adhere to tradition while questioning its relevance in today's context.
Play It Again: Ramy Youssef Tells a Muslim American Story
Q: You recently observed Ramadan, right?
Ramy explains how being in different places during Ramadan was grounding and connected him to the larger Muslim community.
This is Patti Smith
Q: When did you decide within yourself that you were going to leave?
I realized I had to stop, reflect, and learn more about the world, as I felt I had nothing more to contribute at that time.
This is Patti Smith
Q: What was the truth of your calling when you arrived in New York City?
I understood that I wanted to be an artist and to devote myself to art, despite cultural expectations for women at that time.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Talk Easy

What is Talk Easy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A series of intimate conversations featuring artists, activists, and politicians, this podcast emphasizes personal stories and human experiences. Each episode presents a platform for guests to share their insights and personal journeys, often touching on themes of identity, creativity, and societal issues. Listeners can expect a mix of emotional depth and humor, exploring the challenges and triumphs faced by notable figures across various industries. The host's thoughtful interviewing style fosters open dialogue, making it a unique space for reflection and connection among guests and audiences alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Talk Easy?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Talk Easy. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Talk Easy and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Talk Easy get?

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What are the audience demographics for Talk Easy?

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How many subscribers and views does Talk Easy have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Talk Easy has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Talk Easy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Talk Easy:

1. Fresh Air
2. Critics at Large | The New Yorker
3. The New Yorker Radio Hour
4. City Arts & Lectures
5. The Interview

How many episodes of Talk Easy are there?

Talk Easy launched 10 years ago and published 532 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Talk Easy?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Talk Easy?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Talk Easy from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Talk Easy?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Talk Easy. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Talk Easy?

Recent guests on Talk Easy include:

1. Ramy Youssef
2. Will Arnett
3. Patti Smith
4. Gwyneth Paltrow
5. Viola Davis
6. Robby Hoffman
7. Kate Winslet
8. Renate Reinsve

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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