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Society & Culture

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

NPR

Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture. Bullseye has been featured in Time, The New York Times, GQ and McSweeney's, which called it "the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world."

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  • 42 episodes
  • a few times a week
  • Avg 38 min
  • English

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Episodes 42

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  • Friday · 18 min

    Mary Gauthier on the song that changed her life

    The country singer songwriter Mary Gauthier talks about Strange Fire by the Indigo Girls. In a driveway moment, the song spoke to her in a way she couldn't explain. The song eventually helped her come to terms with her sexuality and led to a road of sobriety. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • November 3 · 51 min

    The Mountain Goats

    John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats returns to Bullseye to chat about the band’s latest record Days, and even brought his guitar by the studio for a live performance. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • October 30 · 40 min

    NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford-Artest

    Hoops week continues on Bullseye! We're revisiting our conversation with NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford Artest. His larger than life personality often precedes him and has made him one of the most polarizing players in the history of the game. He talked to Jesse about how his upbringing shaped him as a person and how downsizing his world rescued him. Plus, he got into the infamous NBA brawl dubbed the "Malice at the Palace." See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • October 27 · 35 min

    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

    We’re celebrating the “kick off” of the NBA season with a look back at our conversation with Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The NBA legend talked with us about playing alongside Magic Johnson and much more. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • October 20 · 1 hr 16 min

    Bullseye Halloween Special with John Carroll Lynch and Capturing Bigfoot’s Marq Evans

    This week it’s a very special, very spooky Bullseye with Jesse Thorn! We’re joined by John Carroll Lynch of American Horror Story and Marq Evans, the creator of a brand new documentary about Bigfoot. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • October 16 · 17 min

    Greg Proops on the craziest day of his career

    The Craziest Day of My Entire Career is a segment where we talk with some of our favorite people in pop culture and ask them about some truly wild stories. This time around, we're joined by comedian Greg Proops. His latest stand up album is called Kidding. But Still. Greg is a very hard working comic with a bunch of upcoming tour dates. His craziest day? It wasn't on the road or at a taping of Whose Line. Greg gets into the time he was cast in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and being on set with George Lucas. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • October 13 · 47 min

    Maria Bamford is ambivalent about being your favorite comic’s favorite comic

    Comedian Maria Bamford returns to Bullseye! She’s the subject of an upcoming documentary called Paralyzed By Hope: The Maria Bamford Story. Maria joins us to talk about the film, how she feels about other comics praising her work, the influence her parents had on her comedy and more. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • October 9 · 40 min

    Bob Mould

    Bob Mould has influenced countless acts over nearly five decades of making music. His bands Hüsker Dü and Sugar helped create the sounds that became grunge, pop punk and indie rock. Sugar reunited last year, for the first time in three decades. We talked with Bob Mould about being openly gay in the punk scene, sobriety and wrestling. Plus, what it was like to get the band back together with some of his oldest, and best buds. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • October 6 · 45 min

    Angélique Kidjo

    In a career that’s spanned several decades, Angélique Kidjo has, through her music, personified what it means to be a citizen of the world. Earlier this year, she released Hope!! It’s her first record in five years, and it features guest appearances from Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Nile Rodgers, and more. Angélique joined us to talk about the album, moving to France at a young age to continue pursuing. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • October 2 · 37 min

    Comedian Ms. Pat

    Ms. Pat’s standup comedy is direct, clever and raw. She headlines shows all over the country and she’s got her own TV show – The Ms. Pat Show on Paramount+. We’ll get into her Emmy nominated sitcom, her extraordinarily difficult road to success and why she decided to take a chance on standup in the first place. Plus, a bonkers story about the time she took an order from a U.S. President at a fast food restaurant. A version of this interview originally aired in July of 2024. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • September 29 · 39 min

    Remembering Bob Mackie

    Bob Mackie died on September 14, 2026. He was 87. Mackie made a career out of dressing big personalities in kinetic, sparkling garb. When he joined us last year, his life and career were profiled in the documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion. The film covers the era-defining design work he did and the extraordinary life he lived. Mackie joined us to talk about his early affinity for performance outfits, marrying costumes and comedy, and getting started in the business working with old Hollywood legends. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • September 25 · 8 min

    Bonus: Bullseye's 'Put You On' with Tonya Mosley

    Did you know that folks that support Bullseye directly get access to a monthly bonus podcast? Put You On is the show where Jesse and a guest answer recommendation questions from our audience members on just about anything: movies, albums, ways to cook, books and more. We wanted to give you a little taste from our most recent episode with co-host of NPR and WHYY's Fresh Air – we're joined by Tonya Mosley! Check out this full episode and listen to all previous and upcoming episodes of Put You On by clicking here. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • September 22 · 1 hr 4 min

    David Letterman

    This week, our guest is David Letterman. The one and only. The legend of late night television talks about the Late Show, about his triumphs and failures, and his TV show: My Next Guest Needs No Introduction on Netflix. A version of this interview originally aired in November of 2020. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • September 18 · 15 min

    I Wish I Made That: Eric Appel, director of 'The Breadwinner'

    I Wish I Made That is a segment where we invite some of our favorite creative folks to dive deep into a piece of culture. We are joined by Eric Appel. He directed the biopic spoof Weird: The Al Yankovic Story from a few years ago. The thing he wished he had made? Eric dives deep into his love of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and the time he got to work with Paul Reubens’ iconic character. Eric’s latest movie The Breadwinner is available to rent or purchase digitally now. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • September 15 · 42 min

    Walter Thompson-Hernández on his new film 'If I Go Will They Miss Me'

    Filmmaker and writer Walter Thompson-Hernández joins us to talk about his new movie, If I Go Will They Miss Me. He shares why the movie has such little plot, and why Greek mythology plays such an important role in the film. He also talks about his time as a writer at the New York Times, some of his favorite LA-based films and more. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • September 11 · 29 min

    Elvis Costello

    We've got a favorite from the Bullseye archives: Elvis Costello. The legend is celebrating the 49th anniversary of his debut album My Aim is True. Recently, a five CD box set was released to commemorate the occasion. The release features 104 tracks, with over 50 never-before-heard recordings on it. When Elvis Costello joined us he talked about his father's career and love of music, what inspired him to write a memoir and who knows him by his legal name: Declan McManus. A version of this interview originally aired in October of 2015. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • September 8 · 42 min

    Remembering Dolly Parton

    We’re taking a moment to remember Dolly Parton who died on August 25, 2026. The trailblazing icon of country and western music joined us on Bullseye back in 2012. She’d just released a book called Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You. Dolly talked with us about her impoverished childhood, how she had dealt with fame over the years, and some of the songs that could still make her cry. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • September 4 · 39 min

    'Cookie Queens' documentary filmmaker Alysa Nahmias

    Documentarian Alysa Nahmias has directed and produced films about PTSD, navigating the world with disabilities, the criminal justice system and other serious topics. Her latest film is called Cookie Queens follows the lives of four young girls as they sell Girl Scout cookies. It may seem like a departure from Alysa's previous work, but it's a story that's not just about cookies. Alysa joins us to talk about how she landed this subject to tell a story that's about the pressures of aging out of childhood, economic class and the harsh realities of capitalism. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • September 1 · 42 min

    American Football

    We’re talking with Mike Kinsella and Steve Holmes of the emo band American Football. The band just released their fourth full length album, simply titled: American Football (LP4). Mike and Steve join us to chat about their early years playing music together in high school, how they eventually came to cut a record in college, and reveal what happened to the house pictured on the cover of their debut album. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • August 28 · 47 min

    Geena Davis

    Geena Davis is a genuine legend in show business: Beetlejuice, Thelma and Louise, A League of Their Own and many more. For over two decades, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media has gathered data on representation of not just women but of all marginalized groups and how they're being represented in entertainment media. She gets into her work with the institute, her acting career and how she almost became an Olympic archer. A version of this interview originally aired in May of 2016. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Showing 1–20 of 42 episodes