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City Arts & Lectures

City Arts & Lectures
San Francisco
Climate Change
Literature
Feminism
Supreme Court
Poverty
Racism
Grief
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes421Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Arts

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Latest Episodes

This week, our guest is David Szalay. His novel – Flesh – was winner of the 2025 Man Booker Prize. The story begins in Hungary, and it stays close to a protagonist who moves somewhat aimlessly through life, rarely exhibiting any self-reflection. Szal... more

This week, our guest is Elizabeth Pryor – a professor of history at Smith College, whose work focuses on the histories of race and slavery in the United States. Pryor’s memoir, Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me, is about grow... more

This week, our guest is Lena Dunham, best known as the creator of Girls, an HBO series about a group of 20-somethings that one critic called “a generational event.” Her most recent television series, Too Much, is about a New Yorker who moves to Londo... more

José Andrés is widely recognized for both his culinary achievements – including two Michelin stars, and 40 restaurants worldwide – and his humanitarian work. As the founder of World Central Kitchen, Andrés has fed tens of millions of people across do... more

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Recent Guests

Lena Dunham
Creator of Girls and author of memoir Famesick
Independent creator/author
Episode: Lena Dunham
Michael Lewis
Journalist and author; conducts the interview
Author and journalist
Episode: Lena Dunham
José Andrés
Celebrity chef and founder of World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen
Episode: Jose Andres
Ben Rhodes
Author; former deputy national security advisor; speechwriter for President Obama
Former White House staff; Author of All We Say
Episode: Ben Rhodes
Boots Riley
Oakland-based filmmaker and founding member of The Coup
The Coup
Episode: Boots Riley
Adam Mansbach
Author of the Go the Fuck to Sleep series
Author, Akashic Books collaborator
Episode: Adam Mansbach & Kamau Bell - PODCAST ONLY, EXPLICIT LANGUAGE ADVISORY
Mac Barnett
Author
Author of children's books
Episode: Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen
Jon Klassen
Illustrator
Illustrator of children's books
Episode: Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen
Jeff Hiller
Actor and comedian known for Somebody Somewhere
Somebody Somewhere
Episode: Jeff Hiller

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 502 ratings
  • Roz Chast

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    writemor
    United States3 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 States5 years ago
  • Miranda July!

    Great in-depth interview!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    riribex
    United States5 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
#97
Finland/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ben Rhodes
Q: What parallels do you see between the founding era and today's political climate?
The discussion draws lines from Franklin and the founding compromises to modern debates about democracy, governance, and the impulse to reshape institutions in response to new challenges, emphasizing that the core struggle is about how to balance ideals with political realities.
Ben Rhodes
Q: How did you decide which speeches to include to tell this larger story?
Rhodes discusses selecting speeches that exemplify the evolution of national identity, focusing on those that reveal authenticity, connect to movements, and demonstrate mastery of the evolving media landscape; the goal was to reveal enduring tensions, not just celebrate rhetorical brilliance.
Ben Rhodes
Q: So the first thing I want to ask is why this dialogue format, why now?
The speaker explains that tracing a dialogue across competing American stories helps illuminate how the past informs present debates about identity and governance; it's a way to show the breadth of the argument and the movements behind it, not just an anthology of famous speeches.
Jose Andres
Q: What role did your family play in shaping your approach to food?
He explains that his mother and father cooked despite tight schedules, instilling a belief that cooking is an act of care and family bonding, which later informs his humanitarian work and community-centered cooking initiatives.
Adam Mansbach & Kamau Bell - PODCAST ONLY, EXPLICIT LANGUAGE ADVISORY
Q: What impact has this work had on your relationship with your daughter Viv?
They discuss Viv's uptake of public attention, how Viv learned to navigate fame, and how the books reflect and respect her evolving relationship with her father.

Audience Metrics

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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. The New Yorker Radio Hour
2. Fresh Air
3. KQED's Forum
4. The Interview
5. The New Yorker: Fiction

How many episodes of City Arts & Lectures are there?

City Arts & Lectures launched 8 years ago and published 421 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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What guests have appeared on City Arts & Lectures?

Recent guests on City Arts & Lectures include:

1. Lena Dunham
2. Michael Lewis
3. José Andrés
4. Ben Rhodes
5. Boots Riley
6. Adam Mansbach
7. Mac Barnett
8. Jon Klassen

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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