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City Arts & Lectures

City Arts & Lectures
San Francisco
Climate Change
Literature
Feminism
Supreme Court
Poverty
Grief
Racism
Angela Davis
Social Justice
Activism
Covid-19
Adoption
Mortality
Abortion
Werner Herzog
Belonging
Spirituality
Homelessness
Music

Since 1980, City Arts & Lectures has presented onstage conversations with outstanding figures in literature, politics, criticism, science, and the performing arts, offering the most diverse perspectives about ideas and values. City Arts & Lectures programs can be heard on more than 130 public radio stations across the country and wherever you get your podcasts. The broadcasts are co-produced with ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes415Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Arts

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Latest Episodes

NOTE: This is a PODCAST-ONLY program - the titles and contents of Adam Mansbach's books have NOT been bleeped!  

Adam Mansbach is a novelist, screenwriter, humorist, and cultural critic, as well as the author of the “children’s books” Go the F*** to... more

This week, a conversation about children’s literature with author Mac Barnett and illustrator Jon Klassen. Barnett is National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and the author of numerous children's books including “Sam and Dave Dig a Hole” an... more

This week, our guest is Jeff Hiller. The veteran comedian and actor is hardly a newcomer, but it’s his recent role on the television series Somebody Somewhere that has finally brought him widespread recognition. In 2025, he earned an Emmy for Outstan... more

Demis Hassabis is an artificial intelligence researcher, scientist, and entrepreneur.  In 2010, he co-founded DeepMind, an AI research lab which is now part of Google. In 2024, Hassabis won a Nobel Prize for using AI to predict the 3D structure of pr... more

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Recent Guests

Jeff Hiller
Actor and comedian known for Somebody Somewhere
Somebody Somewhere
Episode: Jeff Hiller
Demis Hassabis
Co-founder and CEO of DeepMind
DeepMind
Episode: Sir Demis Hassabis and Sebastian Mallaby
Sebastian Mallaby
Author and journalist, biographer of Hassabis
Author
Episode: Sir Demis Hassabis and Sebastian Mallaby
Sharon Brous
Founding rabbi of IKAR; author of The Amen Effect
IKAR
Episode: Sharon Brous
Michael Tilson Thomas
Conductor, composer and pianist
San Francisco Symphony
Episode: Michael Tilson Thomas (from 2009)
Emma Straub
Author and bookstore owner (Books Are Magic)
Books Are Magic
Episode: Emma Straub
Gina Gershon
Actor and author
Episode: Gina Gershon
Lauren Groff
Author of Matrix, Fates and Furies, and other works
Author
Episode: Encore - Lauren Groff
Abraham Verghese
Physician and writer, author of Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water
Stanford School of Medicine / Author
Episode: Encore - Abraham Verghese with Michael Krasny

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 500 ratings
  • Roz Chast

    Listening to a podcast of a slide show is like a Roz Chast cartoon. Absurdly funny.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    writemor
    United States2 years ago
  • Zamora great.

    Liked this interview a lot. Look forward to A. Davis, R. Reich and (fingers crossed) Patti Smith interviews…..so far enjoyable and timely.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Love theVibe
    United States3 years ago
  • Authors

    Why are all the authors female?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    gentle julia
    Canada4 years ago
  • Thiebaud - Lesser 2005 replay

    Splendid interview, a wide roaming, good personal insights on painters and painting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Linkin Steff
    United States4 years ago
  • Miranda July!

    Great in-depth interview!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    riribex
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and hosts provide thoughtful, nuanced conversations rather than quick hits.
Some listeners wish for more accessible pacing or lighter episodes, but many praise the rigor and breadth.
Listeners appreciate the depth and breadth of topics, from AI to literature to photography.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#234
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#115
Israel/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#200
Singapore/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#232
Philippines/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sharon Brous
Q: How do you approach conversations with people whose beliefs you strongly oppose, especially when they have harmed you or your community?
Differentiate between what makes us unsafe and what makes us uncomfortable, stay at the table, ask questions, and seek to understand the other person's journey to foster transformation rather than immediate judgment.
Sharon Brous
Q: If we could do one thing to help create more spaces for belonging, what could we do?
Start simple with concrete, repeatable actions like meeting neighbors, showing up for joyous and sad moments, and creating regular opportunities for casual, human connection to move from critique to bridge-building.
Michael Tilson Thomas (from 2009)
Q: What kind of music figure was Bernstein to you, and how did your relationship with him shape your career?
Tilson Thomas recalls Bernstein as a pivotal mentor and a complex, larger-than-life presence who challenged him, while also sharing intimate moments of musical bonding at the piano that reinforced their connection.
Gina Gershon
Q: What was the first indication you had a gift for performing?
I didn't see it as a guaranteed gift; I simply loved performing, felt drawn to acting from a young age after seeing magic on stage, and realized I could do it better than some peers, which pushed me to pursue it.
Sally Mann
Q: Did being a mother make you a better artist or a worse artist?
She believes motherhood made her more observant and helped her see opportunities for pictures she might have otherwise missed, while acknowledging the practical challenges it imposed on time and energy.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About City Arts & Lectures

What is City Arts & Lectures about and what kind of topics does it cover?

High-level conversations with leading writers, scientists, artists, and thinkers, spanning literature, AI, philosophy, neuroscience, music, photography, and social issues. Episodes frequently center on creative process, cultural impact, ethical questions, and the intersection of art and ideas, often featuring long-form dialogue, historical context, and personal storytelling that reveals how great work emerges. Notable traits include a track record of high-profile guests, cross-disciplinary topics, and a calm, exploratory interview style that invites deep reflection rather than quick takes.

Where can I find podcast stats for City Arts & Lectures?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for City Arts & Lectures. 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 City Arts & Lectures and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does City Arts & Lectures get?

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What are the audience demographics for City Arts & Lectures?

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How many subscribers and views does City Arts & Lectures have?

To see how many followers or subscribers City Arts & Lectures 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 City Arts & Lectures?

These podcasts share a similar audience with City Arts & Lectures:

1. Fresh Air
2. The New Yorker Radio Hour
3. KQED's Forum
4. The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker
5. Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

How many episodes of City Arts & Lectures are there?

City Arts & Lectures launched 8 years ago and published 415 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 City Arts & Lectures?

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 City Arts & Lectures?

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for City Arts & Lectures?

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What guests have appeared on City Arts & Lectures?

Recent guests on City Arts & Lectures include:

1. Jeff Hiller
2. Demis Hassabis
3. Sebastian Mallaby
4. Sharon Brous
5. Michael Tilson Thomas
6. Emma Straub
7. Gina Gershon
8. Lauren Groff

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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