The West Wing Weekly

4.9 (10K)
TV & Film
Updated Weekly

From The West Wing to The Diplomat to All the President's Men, we discuss works of political television and film. Co-hosted by Joshua Malina (The West Wing, Scandal) and Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder).

3d ago

The Diplomat 1.02: Don't Call It a Kidnapping

We’re digging into the dynamics of Kate & Hal, Eidra & Stuart, the breathless pace of the show, and its “no good guys” worldview. Josh has an important PSA about drugs. For more info and to discuss the episode, visit thewestwingweekly.com/thediplomat-102. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Oct 1

The Diplomat 1.01: The Cinderella Thing (with Debora Cahn)

Our discussion of The Diplomat begins at the beginning with the creator of the series, Debora Cahn, who tells us about the show's origin story. For more info and to discuss the episode, visit thewestwingweekly.com/thediplomat-101. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Sep 11

Introducing: The Diplomat

We’re very excited to announce a new series here on The West Wing Weekly, discussing the Netflix hit political thriller The Diplomat, episode by episode. Coming soon!Join us LIVE in London for the season 1 finale, on Saturday November 14. Tickets here: thewestwingweekly.com/live Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Aug 7

All The President's Men

We're discussing the 1976 Oscar-winning classic directed by Alan Pakula and written by William Goldman (one of Aaron Sorkin's screenwriting heroes). WOODSTEIN! If you'd like to watch the video version of this episode, subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/thewestwingweekly. Here are some extra tidbits: "Telling the Truth about Lies" - a featurette on the making of the film An article Gordon Willis wrote for American Cinematographer in 1976 about his work on the film, including his use of split diopters. Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later - which features Josh Malina in the role of Deep Throat Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Jul 28

A Few Good Men

Did you order the Code Red? You're goddamn right I did!—if by "Code Red" you mean an hour of Josh & Hrishi discussing this Aaron Sorkin / Rob Reiner classic. (We're not in the Marines, but we still like giving things code names.) We wanted to pay tribute to the late Rob Reiner and this film that, in some ways, would eventually lead to The West Wing. Plus, A Few Good Men was Josh's film debut, based on the play that was his Broadway debut, so he has lots of stories. We hope—we strenuously hope—you'll join us for this conversation about one of the all-time great courtrooms drama. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
01/16/2025

Bob Roberts (with Adam Scott)

We've got a bonus installment of the Film Fest—with special guest Adam Scott! In addition to his work on Severance, Parks & Recreation, Party Down, and so much more, he's just a genuinely thoughtful and kind person, so we are thrilled to have him back on the podcast. We're discussing the 1992 film Bob Roberts, a satirical mockumentary by Tim Robbins. Tim Robbins on SNL - October 3, 1992 (via Peacock) Tim Robbins 2017 interview in Entertainment Weekly Tim Robbins post on X - July 14, 2024 You can find The West Wing Weekly lapel pin, t-shirts, and more at thewestwingweekly.com/merch. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
12/03/2024

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

We're trying to savor the Capra-esque quality of this experience by wrapping up with Mr. Smith. Supplemental materials: James Taylor - You've Got a Friend Mr Deeds Goes to Town trailer Sokovia Accords debate from Captain America: Civil War Thank you so much for joining us again for this series! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
11/26/2024

Dave

Starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, and Kevin Kline. This one was a Patreon subscriber pick! Additional materials: an article about the making of Dave Kevin Kline plays Mr. Fischoeder in Bob's Burgers "clever" as an insult in Fight Club Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

See All (204)

Trailer

Introducing: The Diplomat

We’re very excited to announce a new series here on The West Wing Weekly, discussing the Netflix hit political thriller The Diplomat, episode by episode. Coming soon!Join us LIVE in London for the season 1 finale, on Saturday November 14. Tickets here: thewestwingweekly.com/live Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Normal Gossip delivers juicy, strange, funny, and utterly banal gossip about people you’ll never know and never meet. Host Rachelle Hampton discusses reader-submitted comedic gossip with guests, diving into the lives and decisions of complete strangers. The second-hand truth really is stranger than fiction. Produced by Se'era Spragley Ricks and Jae Towle Vieira. Created by Kelsey McKinney and Alex Sujong Laughlin. Show art by Tara Jacoby. https://normalgossip.komi.io/

4.6 (5899)

Comedy
Articles of Interest is a show about what we wear. Produced and Hosted by Avery Trufelman

4.9 (3579)

Fashion & Beauty
Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode features an artist discussing a song of theirs, breaking down the sounds and ideas that went into the writing and recording. Hosted and produced by Hrishikesh Hirway.

4.8 (5968)

Music
Mark Henry Phillips has spent twenty years making music for a living. Then one night he typed a few words into an AI music generator and it did his job better than he ever could. In ten seconds. Basically for free. Light Box is what happened next: a season-long investigation into what AI is doing to music and the people who love it. What happens when a machine can do the thing you thought made you, you?

5.0 (90)

Music Commentary
Only If You Get Caught is about how we can better understand sports and culture by appreciating the ways humans cheat in ways big and small. Hosted by Patrick Redford and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin, each episode will dive into the history and methodologies behind cheating scandals to explore what bending or breaking the rules tells us about ourselves. Created by Patrick Redford, Alex Sujong Laughlin, and Defector Media.

4.5 (135)

History
the memory palace

4.8 (6861)

History

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Hrishikesh Hirway

Host
Joshua Malina

Host
Debora Cahn

Guest
Adam Scott

Guest
Jeremy Larner

Guest

4.9

out of 5

10,433 Ratings

So great!

Oct 4

ME Henshaw

So excited to see my favorite podcasting team talking about The Diplomat— one of my favorite shows! I was afraid of running out of the old West Wing Weekly episodes and so excited to have new episodes coming!!! Please bring live show to Boston!
THE BOYS ARE BACK

Oct 1

Momalley10374739

Beyond thrilled to have Hrishi and Josh in my earphones again with Diplomat recaps. This podcast is my #1 comfort food. They just cannot be beat.
Great Companion to My Favorite Show

Apr 19

JodyA93

I’ve been watching The West Wing on repeat for the better part of the last 10 years (#JedBartletIsMyPresident) and just discovered this podcast. It’s funny and gives great inside information, even for an OG fan watching for the hundred-and-somethingth time. Love it!
Very informative podcast

12/29/2025

Penny4books

I am rewatching West Wing. I have found this podcast and for some of the WW episodes it has been very helpful. I like Josh Malina as an actor & it is fun to hear him talk about the show.

From The West Wing to The Diplomat to All the President's Men, we discuss works of political television and film. Co-hosted by Joshua Malina (The West Wing, Scandal) and Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder).