Best Adam J Wilson Podcasts (2025)

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The Dems After the Trump Budget Bill: Harold Meyerson; Mamdani's Victory: Bhaskar Sunkara; Harvard v. Trump: E.J. Dionne 59:16

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2d ago59:16

59:16

Now that Republicans have done immense damage to working class and poor people, the Democrats are mobilizing to win the House next year and possibly also the Senate - Harold Meyerson comments. Plus: The surprise victory of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s Democratic mayor primary over a well-funded establishment candidate show…

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For George Takei, coming out has been a lifelong process 32:32

17m ago32:32

32:32

George Takei is one of America’s most beloved actors and activists, known best for playing Hikaru Sulu in the “Star Trek” franchise. In 2019, he released a graphic memoir, “They Called Us Enemy,” which detailed his childhood experience at internment camps during the Second World War. Now, he’s released a follow-up book, “It Rhymes with Takei.” The …

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Phil Rosenthal is the luckiest person in the world 32:49

5h ago32:49

32:49

Phil Rosenthal is the creator, writer and executive producer of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. But after the show wrapped in 2005, it took nearly 10 years for him to get his next dream project off the ground. Now, Phil’s food and travel show “Somebody Feed Phil” is in its eighth season on Netflix. He join…

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This post-apocalyptic thriller is a love letter to the director’s mom 20:46

1d ago20:46

20:46

In R.T. Thorne's directorial debut, “40 Acres,” the Canadian filmmaker imagines a post-apocalyptic world where food is scarce, society is in ruins and your family is under threat. It’s an intense movie about fighting for survival, but it also explores the complicated relationship between a mother and a son. R.T. joins Tom Power to share how his mot…

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Movie Mindset Bonus - Interview With Director Ari Aster 52:45

1d ago52:45

52:45

Will & Hesse sit down with Ari Aster, director of Hereditary, Midsommar, Beau is Afraid, and the upcoming Eddington. They rap on evil movies, mixing stupid slapstick humor with pain & discomfort, creating a contemporary western out of the recent past, some of Ari’s favorite films & filmmakers, and of course…the all-consuming sense of impending doom…

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Why Stephan James is “at risk of being great” 41:15

2d ago41:15

41:15

Born and raised in Scarborough, actor Stephan James has defied the odds and climbed the ranks in Hollywood. He’s made a name for himself by playing major historical figures like runner Jesse Owens in “Race,” and civil rights activist John Lewis in Ava DuVernay’s film “Selma.” After working with legends like Julia Roberts and Laurence Fishburne, Ste…

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Episode 19: I Didn’t Know Trauma Did This to My Mind Until Now | w/ Dr. Estera Borcsa 59:09

5d ago59:09

59:09

"Connect with us! Shoot a text to The Underdog Lounge. In this eye-opening episode, Adam sits down with Dr. Estera Borcsa—a trauma therapist, neuroscientist, and faith-based healer—for a transformative conversation on how trauma rewires the brain and how true healing requires more than talk therapy. Dr. Borcsa shares her personal story, groundbreak…

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How Jully Black uses her singing “superpower” to advocate for others 24:53

3d ago24:53

24:53

Jully Black is a powerhouse singer-songwriter from Toronto who’s often called Canada's queen of R&B soul. Earlier this year, Jully sat down with Tom Power to tell us how singing in church at age six put her on her artistic path, why she feels speaking out is always the right thing to do, and why her mother is her biggest influence.…

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Don’t call Jan Lisiecki a child prodigy 20:39

3d ago20:39

20:39

Calgary’s Jan Lisiecki was only nine when made his orchestral debut as a classical pianist. While most of us were still figuring out cursive, he was playing sold-out recitals — so, of course, he was called a child prodigy. But Jan has complicated feelings about that term. A few months ago, he joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his new …

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947 - Laugh Now, Cry Later feat. Larry Charles (6/30/25) 1:35:37

2d ago1:35:37

1:35:37

Comedy legend Larry Charles (Fridays, Seinfeld, Borat, Curb Your Enthusiasm & much more) returns to the show to discuss his new book Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter. We have a wide ranging discussion of Larry’s life in comedy including post-war Brooklyn as a comedy incubator, grinding out avant-garde sketch comedy with Andy…

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How Sorry, Baby takes a nuanced look at sexual assault 25:55

4d ago25:55

25:55

In just under five years, Eva Victor went from being a viral video comedian to writing, directing and starring in their own feature film, “Sorry, Baby.” The film tells the story of Agnes, a grad school student turned professor whose life was altered by an incident they refer to as “the bad thing.” What follows is a sensitive, fraught and often funn…

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Stephen Graham Jones is reinventing the vampire 28:15

4d ago28:15

28:15

According to bestselling horror author Stephen Graham Jones, good stories don’t happen in heaven — they happen in hell. His latest novel, “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter,” is a chilling historical vampire story based on real events that happened to the Blackfeet Nation in the United States. Stephen joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss the metapho…

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Weekend Listen: Ocean Vuong finds beauty in a fast food shift 37:22

6d ago37:22

37:22

Long before he became a bestselling writer, Ocean Vuong sold rotisserie chickens at Boston Market. In his latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness, he explores the meaning that can be found in the daily grind of a fast food restaurant. The book follows a young addict named Hai as he unexpectedly becomes caretaker to an elderly woman and makes unlikely…

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The Supremes Back Trump: Harold Meyerson; How E. Jean Carroll Beat Trump; 2024 Autopsies: Steve Phillips 57:21

9d ago57:21

57:21

The Supreme Court has issued a major victory for Trump, ending the ability of judges to issue nationwide injunctions – Harold Meyerson comments. Also: Donald Trump, found guilty of sexual assault and defamation, owes E. Jean Carroll $88 million. She explains how she beat him in court, twice, proving that he attacked her in a Bergdorf dressing room …

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Jerry Bruckheimer knows how to build a summer blockbuster 15:50

8d ago15:50

15:50

Jerry Bruckheimer is the Hollywood producer behind some of the biggest blockbusters of all time, including “Top Gun,” “Armageddon” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Now, he’s back with “F1,” which stars Brad Pitt as an aging Formula One driver who attempts to make a comeback 30 years after his career is derailed by an accident. Jerry joins guest host…

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U.S. Girls' Meg Remy is finally rooting for herself 26:12

8d ago26:12

26:12

American musician Meg Remy, the creative force behind the Toronto-based experimental pop project U.S. Girls, is back with a new record, “Scratch It.” She sits down with guest host Gill Deacon to talk about the process of recording the album live to tape in a Nashville studio, and why she says this is her first album to come from a place of love and…

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Anar Ali quit her corporate job and created a hit cop drama 25:15

9d ago25:15

25:15

Anar Ali was working as a business development executive at Procter & Gamble when she decided to quit her job to become a writer. After publishing her first couple books, she transitioned into working in TV, and now, she’s the creator and executive producer of the hit CBC police procedural “Allegiance,” which was recently renewed for its third seas…

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Tanika Charles confronts her complicated family relationships 28:22

9d ago28:22

28:22

You can’t choose your family. Even if they bring you joy or comfort, there’s almost always complexity too. On her new album, “Reasons to Stay,” Canadian R&B singer Tanika Charles explores all the hard conversations she’s wanted to have with her mom, dad and brother. The resulting record is raw, emotional, powerful and uplifting. Tanika sits down wi…

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596. God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert Review 1:46:26

12d ago1:46:26

1:46:26

Andrea Kail, Matthew Kressel, and Rajan Khanna join us to discuss God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert, the fourth book in the Dune series. Ad-free episodes are available to our paid supporters over at patreon.com/geeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy David Barr Kirtley

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How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell 32:44

10d ago32:44

32:44

“How to Train Your Dragon” is one of the most successful children's franchises of all time. A new live-action remake just hit the big screen and author Cressida Cowell, the creator of the original book series, has just released a new spin-off novel, “How To Train Your Dragon School: Doom of the Darkwing.” Cressida joins guest host Gill Deacon to te…

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How Refused’s New Noise became a global hit after the band broke up 16:10

10d ago16:10

16:10

It’s been more than 25 years since the Swedish hardcore punk band Refused released their seminal album, “The Shape of Punk to Come.” Their most famous song from that album, “New Noise,” has been called a political anthem and a protest song. It’s been used in the Palme d'Or'-winning film “Triangle of Sadness” as well as in the hit show “The Bear.” L…

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Episode 18: How Trauma Lives in the Body 41:56

12d ago41:56

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"Connect with us! Shoot a text to The Underdog Lounge. How Trauma Lives in the Body & What Real Healing Looks Like with Kyron (@ControlTheBasics) A lot of us are hustling through life, not realizing we’re holding trauma in our bodies—and it’s costing us our peace, health, and purpose. In this powerful conversation, Adam sits down with holistic heal…

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Episode 17: You're Hustling.... But Are You Aligned? 15:57

12d ago15:57

15:57

"Connect with us! Shoot a text to The Underdog Lounge. Welcome to The Hustle & Heal Podcast! Summary In this episode of Hustle and Heal, Adam discusses the importance of pivoting in life, sharing his personal journey from the Underdog Lounge to his new podcast. He emphasizes the need for healing alongside hustling, the significance of finding one's…

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Movie Mindset Bonus - Interview With Director Lexi Alexander 1:07:32

9d ago1:07:32

1:07:32

Will & Hesse sit down with director Lexi Alexander, whose works include Green Street Hooligans (2005), Punisher: War Zone (2008) & the new film Absolute Dominions (2025). We discuss how her experience in combat sports influences her filmmaking, creating comic book movies within the studio system, working as an outspoken Palestinian in Hollywood, an…

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Misty Copeland honours trailblazing Black ballet dancer Raven Wilkinson 31:49

11d ago31:49

31:49

In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first Black woman to become principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Her heartfelt memoir “The Wind at My Back” pays tribute to her mentor and fellow dance pioneer Raven Wilkinson, who performed in the segregated South as a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the 1950s. A few years back, Misty joi…

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Ribbon Skirt found inspiration in renewing her antiquated “Indian” status card 16:12

11d ago16:12

16:12

The Montreal band Ribbon Skirt just released their debut album, “Bite Down.” Lead singer Tashiina Buswa joins Tom Power to tell us how the record was inspired by grief and reconnecting with her Indigeneity, how her first exposure to music was in the church, and the difference between knowing you’re free and actually feeling free. Plus, she tells th…

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945 - Hashtag Fordow Fail feat. Libby Watson (6/23/25) 1:27:39

9d ago1:27:39

1:27:39

Libby Watson returns to the show! We discuss the weekend’s limited US strike on Iran and Trump’s baffling behavior around what already may be a winding-down conflict. We also talk Democratic & media responses, and where Iran might go from here. Then: all eyes are on Zohran in the NYC mayoral primary, voting is tomorrow, we discuss Zorhan’s campaign…

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Why the director of Materialists quit her past job as a matchmaker 25:14

12d ago25:14

25:14

Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Celine Song (Past Lives, Materialists) is back with a new movie that takes a candid look at the inhumanity of matchmaking and modern dating. As it turns out, Celine used to be a matchmaker herself. She sits down with guest host Gill Deacon to talk about her experiences in the field, why she says her “drug of choice is p…

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Lido Pimienta and Owen Pallett march to their own beat 27:28

12d ago27:28

27:28

It’s been five years since the Grammy-nominated musician Lido Pimienta made waves with her breakout album, “Miss Colombia.” Now, she’s back with “La Belleza,” which takes an entirely new musical direction. Canadian composer Owen Pallett co-produced the album, which was recorded with help from the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra. Lido and Owen sit d…

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BONUS: LA ICE Raids, Protests and Immigration Justice feat. Hugo Soto-Martinez 41:18

14d ago41:18

41:18

LA City Councilmemeber Hugo Soto-Martinez joins Will to discuss ICE raids in Los Angeles, how city government and community groups are responding, the recent protests, and marine deployments to the city. They also discuss the possibilities for a more positive rhetoric and policy around immigration, and the necessity for turning the framing back on …

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Trump and LA: Harold Meyerson; After 'No Kings': Leah Greenberg; the Medicaid Cuts: Ai-jen Poo 56:49

16d ago56:49

56:49

Trump's deportation plans have always faced a contradiction: he couldn't deport millions of immigrants without crippling essential industries and Republican business whose owners supported him. So Trump started granting exceptions; but that was before Saturday, the biggest one-day political protest in American history, protesting against him. On th…

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For Tantoo Cardinal, there’s no turning back 24:44

17d ago24:44

24:44

For more than five decades, Canadian acting legend Tantoo Cardinal (Dances with Wolves, Killers of the Flower Moon) has worked tirelessly to bring nuanced Indigenous stories to the stage and screen — and she says there’s no turning back. The renowned actor was recently honoured with the Equity in Entertainment Award at The Hollywood Reporter's Wome…

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This driving school sitcom is a celebration of Black culture in Nova Scotia 16:09

17d ago16:09

16:09

Steve Lawrence and Alexandra MacLean are the stars and co-creators of the Bell Fibe series “0-60 Driving Academy.” They speak to guest host Talia Schlanger about creating a show based on Steve’s real-life experiences running a driving school, and why they wanted to see a Black Nova Scotian family on the screen.…

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Domee Shi on Elio, aliens and one-dimensional moms 19:03

18d ago19:03

19:03

The Oscar-winning Canadian animator and director Domee Shi (Bao, Turning Red) is back with a new Disney-Pixar movie, “Elio.” It’s about an 11-year-old who’s obsessed with getting abducted by aliens. Domee joins guest host Talia Schlanger to share how her own childhood inspired aspects of the film, why the theme of alien abduction is a great way to …

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Playwright Tim Crouch doesn’t want his actors to hear this podcast 24:16

18d ago24:16

24:16

There's a reason why the British theatre maker Tim Crouch doesn't want his actors to hear this podcast — it’s because they’re not supposed to know anything about their role until an hour before the show. This year, Tim’s award-winning play “An Oak Tree” turns 20. It’s one of the strangest and most influential theatre experiments in history, and it’…

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Joshua Jackson had to make a tricky transition before Dawson’s Creek 21:47

19d ago21:47

21:47

Joshua Jackson rose to fame more than 20 years ago as a teen heartthrob on the show “Dawson’s Creek.” But his latest role relies solely on the power of his voice. The Vancouver-born actor joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about narrating the suspenseful Canadian audio series “Oracle 3: Murder at the Grandview,” embracing his Canadian roots, and …

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Endless Cookie is a psychedelic family portrait of two half-brothers 22:51

19d ago22:51

22:51

Imagine taking your favourite family memories and spinning them into a full-length movie. That’s exactly what the Toronto filmmaker Seth Scriver has done with the animated documentary “Endless Cookie,” which he created over nine years with his half-brother Peter. Though Seth and Peter lead radically different lives (they’re separated by age, cultur…

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Owen Wilson’s childhood was a real-life buddy comedy 22:27

20d ago22:27

22:27

Owen Wilson has played a misfit, a cowboy, a robber, a male model and now he can add pro golfer to that list. In the new sports comedy series “Stick,” Owen plays Pryce Cahill, an ex-pro golfer with a dark past who ends up coaching a troubled teen prodigy. Owen joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about the show, how his carefree nature seeps into h…

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Comedian Malik Elassal on why it's important to make fun of everything 21:44

20d ago21:44

21:44

The Calgary-born comedian Malik Elassal has already been getting noticed on the stand-up circuit, but with a starring role on the new FX and Disney+ series “Adults,” a lot more people are going to start hearing about him. Malik sits down with Tom Power in our studio to talk about the show, his journey in stand-up, and why he says you can talk about…

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943 - The Tehran Offensive feat. Séamus Malekafzali (6/16/25) 1:09:19

19d ago1:09:19

1:09:19

Seamus joins us to discuss last week’s “preemptive” Israeli strike on Iran, the damage done to Iranian command and infrastructure, Iran’s retaliation, America’s potential involvement. We also look at Trump’s big birthday Parade, one of the most pathetic & hilarious spectacles of American Military prowess any of us have ever seen. Read Seamus on the…

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Adam Richard: age is just a number ... until it's not 1:11:14

20d ago1:11:14

1:11:14

Adam Richard: age is just a number, until it's not The Fabulous Adam Richard is back to talk about something very special - his thesis on DEAR NELLY! Nelly and Adam also talk about aging, we get an update on Adam's new adventures in Ethical Non-Monogamy, life admin and some other stuff. Nelly and Adam take a raw and real listener call about se*ual …

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Adam Duritz wrote a song about wanting to be famous — and it came true 47:47

21d ago47:47

47:47

In 1993, Counting Crows’ debut album, "August and Everything After,” went multi-platinum, selling more than seven million copies in the U.S. alone. Lead singer Adam Duritz joins Tom Power for a wide-ranging conversation about “Mr. Jones” (the song that started it all), how there’s no going back after becoming famous, and what it was like playing hi…

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What made Graham Greene an icon? Talent, discipline and luck 33:09

24d ago33:09

33:09

Canadian icon Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves, The Green Mile, Wind River) is one of the most recognizable Indigenous actors in North America. Recently, he was honoured with a Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Governor General's Awards, which recognizes his prolific career on stage and screen. In this career-spanning interview, Graham …

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How Boxcutter celebrates Toronto, hip-hop and young artists 17:15

24d ago17:15

17:15

Reza Dahya helped shape the sound of Toronto hip-hop as the host of “OTA Live” on the iconic Canadian radio station FLOW 93.5. Now, he’s released his debut film, “Boxcutter,” which is a love letter to Toronto and all the young artists who are trying to find their place. Reza joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about the movie and how it pays tribu…

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Saturday's 'Day of Defiance': Ezra Levin; National Guard in LA: Harold Meyerson; Trump & Woodrow Wilson: Adam Hochschild 57:38

24d ago57:38

57:38

With tanks rolling down the street in DC on Saturday and troops being deployed to LA, it’s never been more important to come together in nonviolent action to exercise our First Amendment right to peaceful protest. That’s what the organization Indivisible says about Saturday’s National Day of Defiance – the nationwide “No Kings” protests – go to nok…

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What if Macbeth was set in the world of biker gangs? 36:39

25d ago36:39

36:39

Acclaimed Canadian theatre maker Robert Lepage is back at the Stratford Festival with a new take on Shakespeare's “Macbeth.” This new production tells the same classic story of greed, betrayal and murder, but it’s set during the brutal Quebec biker wars of the ‘90s. Robert joins Tom Power to talk about putting a new spin on this Shakespearean trage…