Michael Lewis is one of the most successful authors in recent memory. And in this episode, he dives deep into exactly how he tells unforgettable stories… from “Moneyball”, “The Big Short”, and “The Blind Side” – all adopted into feature films – to his newest bestseller, “Going Infinite” (about Sam Bankman-Fried).

You’ll learn how to “surf the world” for ideas like Michael; how to bring stories to life; how Michael structures narratives using a notecard system; and how he blocks out distractions and conquers procrastination. Whether your goal is to become a better writer or a more persuasive communicator in general, this is an opportunity to learn from a master.

Want to go deeper? Michael has a new MasterClass on how to tell a great story. You can find it here: https://www.masterclass.com/series/tell-a-great-story

Links from the Show:

• Liar’s Poker
• The Blind Side
• The Big Short
• Moneyball
• Moneyball Player Value scene
• Going Infinite
• The Premonition
• Michael’s MasterClass: Tell a Great Story

For more conversations like this – with guests ranging from Tom Hanks to Bjork to Jason Sudeikis – go to https://www.thegreatcreators.com.

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Ben Platt is an actor, singer, and songwriter who’s quickly become one of the most decorated performers of his generation. He sits down with Guy to talk about his first professional acting role at age 9, breaking out in “Pitch Perfect” and the runaway success of “Dear Evan Hansen,” finding his voice as an “authentically” queer artist, and the secret ingredient behind his success: “sacrifice”.

Buy Ben’s new album, “Honeymind”, here: https://interscope.com/collections/ben-platt/products/honeymind-cd

Ben’s current residency at the Palace Theatre on Broadway: https://www.broadway.org/shows/details/ben-platt-live-at-the-palace,842

Links from the Show:

• Ben performing “I’ve Got the Magic in Me” in Pitch Perfect

• Ben singing “You Will Be Found” (from “Dear Evan Hansen”) on America’s Got Talent

• “The Politician” on Netflix

• Ben’s duet with Lin-Manuel Miranda

• “Cherry on Top” Official Music video (from “Honeymind”)

For more conversations like this – with guests ranging from Audra McDonald to David Duchovny, Jason Sudeikis, and Tom Hanks – go to https://www.thegreatcreators.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seth Meyers was a key player in creating some of the best seasons of Saturday Night Live. Now he's hosting Late Night in the very same building. In this classic episode from 2023, you’ll hear how his two-person comedy show in Chicago randomly landed him in front of just the right person to get him an audition at SNL.

Seth also opens up about the anxiety he felt competing with his extremely funny co-stars. And he explains some of the ways he has managed to lead Late Night to new heights.

Links from the show:

• Seth in Northwestern's improv troupe in 1992
• Seth and his brother Josh on Late Night
• Seth at the 2011 White House Correspondent's Dinner
• Seth as David Zinger
• Compilation of Seth and Stefon
• A Closer Look from Late Night
• Seth doing standup
• Seth's Instagram
• Seth's Twitter

For more conversations like this – with guests ranging from Tom Hanks to Bjork to Jason Sudeikis – go to https://www.thegreatcreators.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael McDonald brought his legendary singing voice and songwriting talent to not one but two legendary bands: Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, the latter of which earned him a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Michael sits down with Guy to talk about writing classic songs on envelopes and forgetting about them for years; feeling self-conscious on stage as a frontman; his solo career; what he thinks of the term “yacht rock”; and how getting sober saved his life.

Michael’s memoir is called “What a Fool Believes”. You can buy it here.

Links from the show:

• I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near) music video
• Warren G: Regulate music video
• What a Fool Believes music video
• Sweet Freedom (1986)
• Michael talking about singing on Steely Dan’s “Peg”
• Rick Moranis SCTV sketch about Michael
• Three Michael McDonalds Sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (w/ Jimmy Fallon & Justin Timberlake): Tonight Show
• Family Guy having fun with Michael’s famous backing vocals
• Michael’s Instagram
• Michael’s Facebook page
• Michael’s memoir, “What a Fool Believes”

See all our episodes – including conversations with Tom Hanks, Jason Sudeikis, Bjork, and many more – at TheGreatCreators.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

T Bone Burnett is one of the most accomplished music producers of the past 50 years. He sits down with Guy to talk about buying a recording studio at age 17; being pushed out of his creative comfort zone by Bob Dylan on the Rolling Thunder Revue tour; building soundtracks for the Coen Brothers and True Detective; and why, at age 76, he’s the happiest and most creative he’s ever been.

T Bone’s new album, The Other Side, is available here: https://shop.tboneburnett.com/

Links from the Show:

• Rolling Thunder Revue documentary on Netflix
• True Detective Season 1 soundtrack
• Big Lebowski soundtrack
• Inside Llewyn Davis soundtrack
• George Clooney performing I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow in O Brother Where Art Thou?
• Los Lobos: How Will the Wolf Survive? Album
• T Bone’s Instagram

For more conversations like this – with guests ranging from Diplo to Jewel to Andy Garcia to Tom Hanks – go to https://www.thegreatcreators.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Duchovny sits down with Guy to talk about his wide-ranging creative life. He describes the “gut instinct” that led him to drop out of a Yale literature program and pursue acting; his iconic roles as Agent Mulder in The X-Files and Hank Moody in Californication; why he writes novels and makes music; and embracing failure as a critical learning experience in life and work.

David’s new podcast is called “Fail Better”, and his film Bucky F*cking Dent comes out in June 2024.

Links from the Show:

• David’s new podcast, “Fail Better”
• IMDb: Bucky F*cking Dent
• David’s books
• Live performance of his song Layin’ on the Tracks
• David’s music on Spotify
• David Duchovny Breaks Down His Career, from 'The X-Files' to 'Californication' | Vanity Fair
• Malice, the show David was shooting in London at the time of this recording:

For more conversations like this – with guests ranging from Hilary Swank to Diplo – go to https://www.thegreatcreators.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lainey Wilson burst onto the country music scene in 2022 with her album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. But for seven years before that, she struggled to make it in the high-pressure Nashville music scene. And before that, she was a kid from a tiny town in rural Louisiana with a dream of being a country star.

In this encore episode from 2023, Lainey joins Guy to talk about how she handled the hard times, what she’s learned about the art of collaboration during the making of two acclaimed albums, and what defines her unique style – which she calls “Bell Bottom Country”.

Links from the Show:

• Lainey Wins the 2023 CMA Award for Entertainer of the Year
• Tougher Music Video
• Things A Man Oughta Know Music Video
• Lainey’s French Bulldog Hippie Mae’s Instagram
• Hillbilly Hippie Official Lyrics Video
• Lainey’s Female Vocalist of the Year (2022) Acceptance Speech
• Lainey’s New Artist of the Year (2022) Acceptance Speech
• Tougher album (2016)
• Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ (2021)
• Bell Bottom Country (2022)

For more conversations like this – with guests ranging from Tom Hanks to Bjork to Jason Sudeikis – go to https://www.thegreatcreators.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the first – and biggest – stars of the MTV era, Billy Idol is nothing short of a rock icon. He sits down with Guy Raz to share how the Sex Pistols inspired him to start a band instead of working for his dad; the stories behind the songs “Dancing with Myself” and “Rebel Yell”; his famously edgy image and lifestyle; and the workout routine that allows him to tour internationally into his late 60s.

Buy the 40th anniversary expanded edition of Billy’s album “Rebel Yell” here: https://billyidol.lnk.to/RebelYellExpanded

Links from the Show:

• Sex Pistols swearing on TV with Bill Grundy
• Generation X: Kiss Me Deadly
• Dancing with Myself music video
• Rebel Yell
• White Wedding
• Eyes Without a Face
• Hot in the City
• Billy’s Instagram
• His YouTube channel

For more conversations like this – with guests ranging from Tom Hanks to Bjork to Jason Sudeikis – go to https://www.thegreatcreators.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.