Alex Blumberg

Shows

Episodes

  1. Introducing Michelle Obama and Her Mentees

    09/15/2020

    Introducing Michelle Obama and Her Mentees

    What's it like to have Michelle Obama as your mentor? In this preview of The Michelle Obama Podcast, she sits down with some of her mentees to talk about the fear of failure, working in the White House and what it's like to be a Black woman in the workplace. Listen to the rest at spotify.com/themichelleobamapodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    14 min
  2. The Church of John Green

    02/17/2020

    The Church of John Green

    For years, John Green made a comfortable living as a writer and YouTube host, nestled right where he wanted to be: between obscurity and celebrity. But then he published The Fault in Our Stars and catapulted to fame. And being famous proved harder than he could have ever imagined. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    46 min
  3. The Secret to Writing a Children’s Book

    03/16/2020

    The Secret to Writing a Children’s Book

    Everyone thinks they can write a children’s book, but very few people actually can. Abby Hanlon, the author and illustrator of the beloved Dory Fantasmagory series, describes her unusual creative process—it involves eavesdropping and bribery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    42 min
  4. Groupon's Andrew Mason: Pt. 1, The Rise

    10/01/2018

    Groupon's Andrew Mason: Pt. 1, The Rise

    When Andrew Mason started Groupon 10 years ago he was in his mid-20s, fresh out of grad school, and running a company for the first time ever. Within 2 years Groupon was called the fastest growing company in history.  And then just as rapidly and just as dramatically, its fortunes changed. This dream rise, the nightmare fall, all in this incredibly short time-span, it’s like a startup fable. But it actually happened. To a real guy! In part one of this two-part conversation, Andrew talks with Alex about Groupon’s rise. How it started as a website designed for something completely different, what it felt like when it finally caught on and started to grow, and Andrew’s own conflicted feelings about being a CEO.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    35 min
  5. What’s Happening Around Gimlet: Reply All - The Attic and Closet Show 2

    04/06/2020

    What’s Happening Around Gimlet: Reply All - The Attic and Closet Show 2

    We’re taking a break from in-studio interviews to social distance. During this time, we’re going to share our favorite Gimlet episodes about Coronavirus. This week we’re bringing you “The Attic and Closet Show 2” from Reply All. Reply All hosts Alex and PJ are recording in their respective attic and closet (hence the name) and breaking away from the normal, heavily reported show format to take calls from listeners and find out how everyone is doing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    48 min
  6. Ira Glass: The Man Who Launched a Thousand Podcasts (Rebroadcast)

    10/21/2019

    Ira Glass: The Man Who Launched a Thousand Podcasts (Rebroadcast)

    In November 1995, Ira Glass quietly launched the first episode of This American Life. The rest, as they say, is history. Today his show is a colossal success and Ira Glass is a household name. But in the intervening two decades, Ira has left an indelible mark on the industry by helping to shape hundreds of podcasts as well as hundreds of podcasters — including Alex. On this episode, Alex sits down with his mentor and former boss to talk about the early days at This American Life, what Ira taught Alex, and how being a good boss means learning to set people free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    52 min
  7. Ira Glass: The Man Who Launched a Thousand Podcasts

    12/10/2018

    Ira Glass: The Man Who Launched a Thousand Podcasts

    In November 1995, Ira Glass quietly launched the first episode of This American Life. The rest, as they say, is history. Today his show is a colossal success and Ira Glass is a household name. But in the intervening two decades, Ira has left an indelible mark on the industry by helping to shape hundreds of podcasts and as well as hundreds of podcasters—including Alex. On this episode, Alex sits down with his mentor and former boss to talk about the early days at This American Life, what Ira taught Alex, and how being a good boss means learning to set people free. Without Fail is hosted by Alex Blumberg and produced by Molly Messick and Sarah Platt. Devon Taylor and Alex Blumberg edited this episode. The episode was mixed by Jarrett Floyd and Peter Leonard. Music by Bobby Lord. Thanks to our sponsor, Cole Haan. You can hear more of Alex and other Gimlet hosts in conversation at ExtraordinariesOnTheMic.com, produced in partnership with Cole Haan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    52 min
  8. Nina Jacobson: How to Make a Hit in Hollywood

    10/22/2018

    Nina Jacobson: How to Make a Hit in Hollywood

    Nina Jacobson is a force in Hollywood. She’s behind some of the biggest movies of the last 20 years: The Sixth Sense, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hunger Games, and most recently Crazy Rich Asians. She’s had a lot of success. But also some pretty big failures: a public firing, some box office flops. Nina walks Alex through her failure resume and talks about what it takes to make a hit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    44 min
  9. Being an A$$hole: The Final Frontier for Women on the Screen

    09/16/2019

    Being an A$$hole: The Final Frontier for Women on the Screen

    Aline Brosh McKenna got her big break as the screenwriter of The Devil Wears Prada. But even after successful box office hits and many years in Hollywood, she found herself having to compromise her vision over and over again. So she took matters into her own hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    38 min
  10. Exiled from the Industry He Helped Create

    05/13/2019

    Exiled from the Industry He Helped Create

    Jeff Ullrich was a struggling business manager with a drinking problem and a waning sense of professional direction when, in 2010, he saw an opportunity: podcasting. It was a brand new medium, and no one had really tapped its potential. Together with comedian Scott Aukerman, Jeff founded Earwolf, one of the first podcast networks, and developed shows like How Did This Get Made? and Comedy Bang! Bang!. Jeff was one of the biggest names in the industry — and then he made a decision that got him erased from the history books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    46 min
  11. How Anna Chlumsky Got a Second Act

    04/15/2019

    How Anna Chlumsky Got a Second Act

    Anna Chlumsky became famous virtually overnight at the age of 10, when she starred in the 1991 hit My Girl opposite Macaulay Culkin. And then, a few years later, she disappeared. She left acting completely and decided to become something else: an utterly normal college student, who set off on an utterly normal career. Anna tells Alex about that time in her life, about her eventual return to acting, and about playing Amy Brookheimer on the HBO show Veep. She’s earned five Emmy nominations in that role.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    39 min
  12. Introducing How to Save a Planet

    08/21/2020

    Introducing How to Save a Planet

    Does climate change freak you out? Want to know what we, collectively, can do about it? Us too. How to Save a Planet is a podcast that asks the big questions: what do we need to do to solve the climate crisis, and how do we get it done? Join us, journalist Alex Blumberg and scientist and policy nerd Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, as we scour the Earth for solutions, talk to people who are making a difference, ask hard questions, crack dumb jokes and — episode by episode — figure out how to build the future we want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    12 min
  13. How Megan Phelps-Roper Left the Westboro Baptist Church

    04/20/2020

    How Megan Phelps-Roper Left the Westboro Baptist Church

    As the granddaughter of Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps, Megan Phelps-Roper was raised in a culture of hate. Her family was known for their hateful rhetoric and practice of picketing the funerals of gay people and soldiers. For more than 20 years, Megan didn't imagine a life outside the church—until she got a Twitter account. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    59 min
  14. Golden State Warrior Andre Iguodala

    10/29/2018

    Golden State Warrior Andre Iguodala

    NBA player Andre Iguodala plays for one of the most dominant teams in the league, the Golden State Warriors. Before that, he was the number one option for the Philadelphia 76ers. Andre talks with Alex about playing for a team where everyone loves you...and what it’s like when they don’t. He says what he really thinks about teammate Steph Curry, and Andre answers an age-old question: are sports really a metaphor for life? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    30 min
  15. How Earlonne Woods Podcasted His Way to Freedom

    12/02/2019

    How Earlonne Woods Podcasted His Way to Freedom

    When Earlonne Woods was sent to prison in the late 1990s, there was a good chance he’d never walk free again. But then he made a visit to the media center at San Quentin State Prison. And that changed everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    41 min
  16. Premiering October 1: Without Fail

    TRAILER

    Premiering October 1: Without Fail

    Any big success requires looking failure in the eye. Without Fail is the new show from Gimlet Media that asks people who have pursued incredible things: What worked? What didn't? And why? Without Fail premieres October 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    3 min
  17. Michelle Phan: The Original Internet Influencer

    12/09/2019

    Michelle Phan: The Original Internet Influencer

    Michelle Phan became a viral sensation when she began posting beauty tutorial videos in the early days of YouTube. As YouTube's popularity grew, Michelle kept pace, racking up millions of views — and millions of dollars. But then, at the peak of her fame and fortune, she disappeared without a word. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    41 min
  18. How to Fire People

    03/18/2019

    How to Fire People

    In 1998, Patty McCord joined a new company called Netflix. Her title was chief talent officer. And over the next ten years as Netflix grew (and grew), she and CEO Reed Hastings built a new kind of workplace. They threw out all the usual rules -- no more expense authorization forms or vacation requests -- and focused on creating a culture of excellence. But that culture of excellence didn’t come only through hiring the right people. Patty had to get good at firing, too.  See the original Netflix culture deck here: https://www.slideshare.net/reed2001/culture-1798664 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    38 min
  19. What's Happening Around Gimlet: Science Vs - Will Chloroquine Save Us?

    03/30/2020

    What's Happening Around Gimlet: Science Vs - Will Chloroquine Save Us?

    We're taking a break from in-studio interviews to social distance. During this time, we're going to share our favorite Gimlet episodes about Coronavirus. This week, we're bringing you "Will Chloroquine Save Us?" from Science Vs. Science Vs is a show that pits facts against fads and fiction. In this episode, they uncover if chloroquine, the anti-malarial drug works and whether or not it's dangerous by talking to doctors, scientists and academics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    25 min
  20. The Woman Who Took On Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics

    12/16/2019

    The Woman Who Took On Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics

    For years, Larry Nassar, the team doctor for USA Women’s Gymnastics, sexually assaulted his patients under the guise of medical treatment. And that abuse might have continued had it not been for one woman: Rachael Denhollander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    53 min
Alex Blumberg on Apple