Episode 70: Memories of Working with a Hollywood Genius

This week, two of the creators of the hit HBO Max comedy Hacks take Ashley and Mike inside the new season, as well as the show’s origin. In addition, AIR MAIL’s Books Editor, Jim Kelly, drops by to discuss a mouthwatering new history of Zabar’s, one of New York City’s most loved temples of food. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, it’s “Two Turntables and the Goldman Sachs Office Revolt.” What happens when the company’s big-bucks, 60-year-old C.E.O. (and part-time Lollapalooza D.J.) orders his Gen Z staffers back to the office … but they want to continue to WFH? It’s got all the makings of a hilarious culture war, and AIR MAIL Writer at Large William D. Cohan joins the show to share his reporting. Speaking of the problems of the rich: Ashley and Mike also speak with writer Hannah Seligson about the new diet drug that the .01-percenters are suddenly obsessed with. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Ashley and Mike look at the young Hollywood super-couple who lit a match for the cultural explosion in 1960s Los Angeles. AIR MAIL contributor Mark Rozzo joins the show to discuss his new book about Dennis Hopper and Brooke Hayward, and how their art-loaded home in the hills became the center of gravity for everyone from Warhol to Didion to the Hells Angels. There’s also a revealing conversation about why Parisians are grumpy about their city, a look at some unique new grooming trends, and a strange new body enhancement attracting everyone from soccer moms to influencers. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Ashley and Mike are joined by former editor in chief of British Vogue Alexandra Shulman, who tells us what we need to know about the new biography of Anna Wintour. From crying jags at her desk to her fierce loyalty, to how she has survived for so long, it’s a revealing conversation you’ll want to hear. Plus, there’s a look at the strange world of high-priced matchmaking services. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we look at the Bridgerton effect. From Princess Di’s brother to universities, everyone is trying to cash in on Great Britain’s legendary country estates. Rachel Johnson joins Ashley and Mike to discuss what she learned in one of the many university classes where students can earn a master’s degree in … crumbling old houses? Plus, Tim Bouverie reveals how Putin may be repeating one of Stalin’s epic blunders. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Ashley and Mike take a look at the Andrew Formerly Known as Prince, Queen Elizabeth’s ethically tainted, money-loving, ill-behaving son, who still manages to escort her in public. Will he end up tanking the Firm for Charles and William? AIR MAIL Writer at Large Stuart Heritage joins the show to share his insights. In addition, AIR MAIL contributor Bruce Handy discusses a new biography of Michael Cimino, the genius director behind one of Hollywood’s greatest masterpieces (The Deer Hunter) as well as one of its biggest bombs (Heaven’s Gate). All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is Vladimir Putin a secret fan of Love Actually ? It’s not the craziest theory to explain his crazy behavior. This week, writer Stuart Heritage tells Ashley and Mike that the rom-com helps decode some of the Russian leader’s erratic conduct. And speaking of leaders, there’s a look at Volodymyr Zelensky’s success as the new Great Communicator—and how it’s being orchestrated by show-runners from his days as a television star. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Ashley and Mike get up to some Oscar-style party crashing when they’re joined by Dana Brown, a former Vanity Fair  editor, who shares funny (and occasionally sordid) tales of what he witnessed in his 20 years inside what was Hollywood’s hottest party. In addition, Clara Molot discusses her report on how Yale University’s hunger for oligarch money led it into a potentially compromising relationship with a Kremlin-linked foundation. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we look at a legendary “band of brothers” who have re-united for Ukraine: the greatest photojournalists of the 20th century, some now in their 70s, who have come out of retirement to capture the images Putin doesn’t want the world to see. There’s also a look at Ukraine’s remarkable First Lady. In other news, Ashley and Mike are joined by journalist and screenwriter Mitch Glazer, who discusses the loss of one of Miami Beach’s architectural treasures. You’ll hear all this and much more. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we have a riveting conversation with Katya V., a young poet and teacher living in Russia who is also pro-Ukraine anti-Putin. Rather than flee for the West, she has decided to stay and protest—and risk imprisonment. It’s a powerful, moving interview. In addition, Ashley and Mike are joined by Bridget Foley, who discusses her profile of Romeo Gigli, perhaps the most-influential fashion designer of the late-80s who lost his label and vanished. Foley tracks him down and tells us what he’s been up to. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.