Joy, a Podcast. Hosted by Craig Ferguson

Meet Denise Mina, a very close friend of mine and an absolute genius Scottish crime writer and playwright. She has won numerous awards for her writing, including but not limited to the John Creasey Dagger for Best First Crime Novel, The Martin Beck Award, and Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. We reminisce on fond memories and discuss why you should never sit in the sleepy chair. I laughed my ass almost completely off and also learned stuff. Win win. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Constance Zimmer, the talented and remarkable actress that you may know from shows such as UnREAL, House of Cards, and Entourage. This week we dig into why the business of show is currently a dumpster fire. From getting older to recent strikes, we really cover all the bases. It makes all sorts of sense plus she uses salty language, so it’s a win-win. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet George Hahn: humorist, urbanist, satirist, soloist, bicyclist, mid-century modernist, and all around fascinating NYC figure! Check out his podcast Hahn, Solo, a podcast that he does himself (solo). The topics range from city living, entertainment, media, style, dogs, wellness...whatever is on his brilliant mind. For everything George Hahn go to https://georgehahn.com/. Listen to George Hahn, and EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Rufus Wainwright, praised by the New York Times for his “genuine originality,” Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great male vocalists, songwriters, and composers of his generation. The New York-born, Montreal-raised singer-songwriter has released ten studio albums to date, three DVDs, and three live albums including the Grammy-nominated Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall. He has collaborated with artists such as Elton John, Burt Bacharach, Miley Cyrus, David Byrne, Boy George, Joni Mitchell, Pet Shop Boys, Heart, Carly Rae Jepsen, Robbie Williams, Jessye Norman, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Sting, and producer Mark Ronson, among many others. He has written two operas, numerous songs for movies and TV, and is currently working on his first musical for the West End and a Requiem. His latest GRAMMY® and JUNO nominated album of original songs, Unfollow the Rules, finds Wainwright at the peak of his powers, entering artistic maturity with passion, honesty, and a new-found fearlessness. His newly-released studio album Folkocracy features reinvented folk duets with artists like Chaka Khan, Brandi Carlile, John Legend and Anohni and many more. Catch Rufus on tour, dates available here: https://rufuswainwright.com/tour/. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet DJ Qualls, actor known for his memorable roles in films like "Road Trip “ and "The New Guy,” as well as popular TV series including "Supernatural," "The Man in the High Castle,” and "Z Nation." With a career spanning over two decades, Qualls has established himself as a talented character actor with a unique presence on both big and small screens. He also co-hosts a new podcast called “Locked and Probably Loaded with DJ and Kelly”. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Roxane Gay, the prolific and critically acclaimed New York Times-bestselling author, editor, essayist, respected academic and celebrated cultural commentator, whose intellect, charm and singular perspective capture the zeitgeist of our era. Roxane’s next highly anticipated book OPINIONS: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business, an exhilarating collection of her best nonfiction essays on culture, feminism, politics, and everything in between, will be published by HarperCollins on October 10th. Roxane is beloved for her bestselling books, including BAD FEMINIST, HUNGER, AYITI, AN UNTAMED STATE, and WORLD OF WAKANDA(Marvel). She has a widely read newsletter, The Audacity, AND an excitingnew imprint with Grove Atlantic, Roxane Gay Books. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The man, the legend, Thomas Lennon is back on the podcast, an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, director, novelist and Craig’s good friend. He plays Lieutenant Jim Dangle on the series Reno 911! Lennon is also an accomplished screenwriter of several major studio comedies, he wrote the Night at the Museum films, The Pacifier, Balls of Fury, and Baywatch. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet A.O. Scott, a critic at large for The New York Times Book Review. In the mid-90s, he abandoned academia for journalism, writing mostly about books for The Nation, The New York Review of Books, Newsday, Slate and The New York Times, which hired him as a film critic at the beginning of 2000. A.O. Scott spent more than 23 years in that job, reviewing thousands of movies, attending film festivals, making Oscar predictions and interviewing the likes of Robert De Niro, Jennifer Lopez and the Coen Brothers. in 2023 he joined the Book Review — a homecoming of sorts, and also a new adventure. Like every other journalist at the Times, He's committed to upholding the standards outlined in Ethical Journalism Handbook. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Valarie Kaur, a Sikh activist, author, lawyer, spiritual leader, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. Her children's book WORLD OF WONDER was released on August 20th followed shortly after by her book SAGE WARRIOR on September 10th released by Random House. Additionally, in this crucial election year, Valarie is taking the Revolutionary Love Project on a bus tour across 40+ cities in the United States from September – October. The tour will energize hearts, build community bonds, and equip thousands of people with practical tools to integrate Revolutionary Love into daily life. Here is fascinating conversation between Craig and Valarie. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian David Cross needs no introduction, Emmy Award winner and two-time Grammy Award nominee David Cross is an inventive performer, writer, and producer on stage and screen. Check out his highly engaging conversation with Craig. From July through December 2024, David will tour theatres in 50 cities across the U.S. with his new show, David Cross: The End Of The Beginning Of The End. Additional international dates are being planned for 2025. All tour dates and tickets available at David’s website. David also hosts the podcast, Senses Working Overtime with David Cross, available every Thursday on all audio platforms and video available on David’s YouTube page. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Natalie Cuomo, born and raised in Queens, NY, Natalie was named one of New York Comedy Festival's "Comics To Watch" in 2023 and has been featured in Time Out NY, LA Times, New York Magazine, Inked Magazine, and Metal Injection. She hosts her own podcast called Help! With Natalie Cuomo. She is also currently on tour, check out her full list of dates here. Listen to Natalie and Craig discuss all things comedy and life. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The amazing and charming Dr. Cerf is back! He is one of the world’s top thoracic surgeons and his peers have voted him one of America’s Best Doctors. He is also here to deliver the exciting news that NYU ranked number one in U.S. News & World Report in lung cancer surgery and lung surgery. EnJOY this enlightening conversation between Dr. Cerf and Craig! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Molly Kearney, an American stand-up comedian and actor best known for her work on NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live. Molly and Craig discuss growing up in religious environment, being an outsider and reasons why one might become a comedian. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Robert Smigel, a writer, producer, actor and director known best for his Saturday Night Live “TV Funhouse” cartoon shorts and as the creator and voice of Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, the foul-mouthed puppet who mercilessly mocks celebrities and others in the style of a Borscht Belt comedian. Triumph debuted on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, for which Robert served as the first Head Writer/Producer. Watch Robert’s latest live video from Triumph the Insult Comic Dog’s San Francisco performance of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog’s Let’s Make A Poop here. Robert is also starring in the film, Between The Temples, which will be out in theaters nationwide August 23rd. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Susie Essman who needs no introduction! She is best known for her role as Susie Greene on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Susie talks to Craig about her stand up career and why she is not doing it anymore, her growing up in the Bronx, the family dynamics and of course everything Curb Your Enthusiasm. Absolutely do not miss this episode and check out her podcast titled The History Of Curb Your Enthusiasm With Jeff Garlin & Susie Essman here. EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Reunion with Josh Robert Thompson who was Geoff Peterson the sassy robot and Joseph Bolter who was the Secretariat aka the sassy horse. This one is for all the late late show fans! EnJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Stephanie Boswell, an internationally acclaimed pastry chef, creator of the Faberge Egg, a signature dessert that has received worldwide recognition and the Foie Gras Candy Bar, which the late Anthony Bourdain called a “must-do in Las Vegas.” Catch her on first season of NEXT BAKING MASTER now, enJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Eric Mourlot. For onwards of 152 years, Fernand Mourlot (Eric’s grandfather) has been synonymous with the resurgence of lithography – a process which under his influence, attracted the greatest artistic masters of our time. The medium provided a new avenue of expression, a new realm of possibilities for the likes of Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Miró, Braque, Dubuffet, Léger, and Giacometti to enrich their own work as well as fine art in general. As a child, Eric Mourlot participated in the printing process, soon becoming enthralled with his surroundings in the printshop. It became a source of inspiration for him, quickly igniting a passion for the relationships and collaborations that took place between artists, printers, gallerists, and publishers. Today, 164 years later, Mourlot continues to promote the art of publishing and printing that his family pioneered. Stay up to date on everything Eric has going on at https://www.mourloteditions.com/, Today, Eric is talking art everything with Craig, enJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Scott Aukerman, the founder of podcast. He began his comedy career as a writer and performer on HBO’s Mr. Show with Bob and David. In 2009, he debuted a comedy radio show featuring real-life guests and improvised characters, which is now called Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast! In 2010, he co-founded the Earwolf Podcast Network. In 2012, he started a television series based upon his podcast, Comedy Bang! Bang!, which completed five seasons on IFC. Scott co-created and directs the Funny or Die series Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, for which he has won two Emmy Awards. Scott’s other credits include executive producer of the reality spoof series Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, and the sitcom Take My Wife, both now streaming on Seeso. He also executive produced and co-directed Michael Bolton’s Big, Sexy Valentine’s Day Special streaming now on Netflix. Do not miss this episode, enJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Guttenberg needs no introduction, an actor, author, businessman, producer, and director. His lead roles in films include Cocoon, Police Academy, Three Men and a Baby and many many others. Steve has a new book out titled ’Time to Thank: Caregiving for my Hero’ and you can buy it here. The book chronicles the fun journey Steve took getting to Hollywood to become an actor, but also talks about how he recently had to put all on hold when he tended to his father after he was diagnosed with kidney failure. He even became a dialysis technician so that he can treat his father at home instead of bringing him into the hospital every other day. Don’t miss this episode, enJOY! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.