5 Things with Lisa Birnbach artwork

5 Things with Lisa Birnbach

172 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 92 ratings

A podcast about appreciating the little things.

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Episodes

Ep. 150 - Abigail Tucker - Brains, Placenta and The End of an Era

May 21, 2021 03:49 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MB

Abigail Tucker in her book, Mom Genes, explains how mothers’ brains are transformed during pregnancy. And as far as transformations go, this is the final episode of Five Things that Make Life Better.  All 150 episodes are available at lisabirnbach.com as well as on apple podcasts, google play, stitcher, Spotify, iHeart Radio etc. Watch this space for more from Lisa Birnbach! Lisa Birnbach’s 5 Things that make her life better: 1. The people involved with the Five Things Podcast, 2...

Ep. 149 - Al Franken - The Once and Future Senator ?

May 14, 2021 04:51 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MB

Senator Al Franken has returned to civilian life. He is a hands-on grandpa, a podcaster, a talker, and a policy wonk. When we met for breakfast recently -- duly separated by 6 feet -- he was interrupted constantly by supportive New Yorkers urging him to run for something, anything.  He still wants to help Americans, by providing help for the needy or by providing a laugh or two.  Does he want to talk about what happened to him? Not really. He is looking forwards, not backwards. Lis...

Ep. 148 - Kenneth Cole - A Cool New Voice for Mental Health

May 07, 2021 02:58 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MB

You already know Kenneth Cole from his irreverent messaging, cool footwear, and from his longstanding, passionate support for HIV-Aids research. But now Kenneth is trying to help people find the courage to deal with their mental health issues, through the Mental Health Coalition, a group of resources that you can find online at TheMentalHealthCoalition.org both to share your stories, and find some help. Lisa Birnbach’s 5 Things: 1. HUGGING my family, 2. Trying new foods, 4. Caring ...

Ep. 147 - Marla Aaron - The Bright and Shiny Jeweler Who Has Changed Lives, Starting With Her Own

April 30, 2021 03:33 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MB

Who is the cool jeweler on the block? It is Marla, whirlwind on Instagram. In real life she gave up a substantial career in Corporate America to make jewelry inspired by hardware -- tools and gizmos. Now she gives away charms to single moms and is raising money for the hurting restaurant business through a sterling silver chair. Lisa Birnbach’s 5 Things: 1. Communication, 2. My wonderful hair colorist, Angela Cosmai, 3. Everytown for Gun Safety, 4. Eating outdoors, 5. The vaccine....

Ep. 146 - Jennifer Taub - On The Chauvin Verdict

April 23, 2021 02:21 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MB

We may be two white women talking about this judicial moment, but the Minneapolis police brutality case was a crucible for everyone in this country, regardless of race. Is progress a victory? What about the hundreds of other police brutality cases from coast to coast?  How will the national curriculum change and how will that change affect the thousands of microaggressions and misunderstandings which happen every day if you are Black in America?  Jennifer Taub, author of Big Dirty M...

Ep. 145 - Nancy Jo Sales - Dating Apps. For Dates or Rapes?

April 16, 2021 02:42 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MB

Nancy Jo Sales is known for her ability to connect with “the youths” of America. Her new book, Nothing Personal: My Secret Life in the Dating App Inferno, is a window into how the apps have taken over our lives both from interviews, and from being a subject of her own experimentation with the apps. In this week’s podcast interview, Lisa Birnbach discusses what Nancy Jo has learned, and what she thinks these apps are doing to society – and more importantly to our kids. Lisa Birnbac...

Ep. 144 - Liz Garbus - Is Democracy Perishable ?

April 09, 2021 13:51 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MB

In her illustrious career as a filmmaker, Liz Garbus has made films that make you think, and often, make you act.  Her documentaries have earned countless awards, and she has added scripted films to her portfolio. Her newest movie, All In: The Fight for Democracy is of the moment. With Stacey Abrams as her guide, she shows us both historically and presently how entrenched voter suppression really is. See it on Amazon Prime now! Lisa Birnbach’s 5 Things That Make Her Life Better: 1...

Ep. 143 - Annabelle Gurwitch - Am I an AirBnB ? Who am I ?

April 02, 2021 04:00 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MB

The cards weren't stacked for writer/actor Annabelle Gurwitch when she divorced. If she sold her house, she would never be able to buy back into the real estate market, so she had to find a new way to earn. With trepidation, she began renting out a bedroom to strangers. As a funny, thoughtful, and woke writer, Annabelle writes about regaining her finances, her sexual mojo, and many other personal topics in her new book You're Leaving When? Adventures in Downward Mobility. Annabelle...

Ep. 142 - Gloria Reuben - Why is 'Krista from Mr. Robot" fighting for clean water?

March 26, 2021 13:07 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MB

You know her from her major roles in meaty tv series, but Gloria Reuben is one of the most prominent women of color to lead an international environmental organization, the Waterkeeper Alliance. With 350 groups under its watch, the goal of the alliance is to provide clean water to the people who live within its purviews. How does this busy actress/writer/musician do it all? Water helps. Gloria Reuben’s 5 Things: 1.  Swimming in the ocean, 2. Honest, deep, soulful and long-lasting ...

Ep. 141 - Joey and Daniella Pants - Crazy Is As Crazy Does .

March 19, 2021 03:48 - 43 minutes - 40 MB

Guests Joey and Daniella Pantoliano talk frankly and with humor about their own struggles with mental health. The award-winning actor (The Soprano's, Memento, The Matrix) and his daughter, a filmmaker have just launched a new podcast, “No Kidding, Me Too” to fight the stigma of talking about emotional troubles of all kinds.  Daniella’s Five Things: 1. Her family, 2. Her pandemic dog, David, 3. Her friends and boyfriend, 4. Nature, 5. Herself. Joey’s Five Things:  1. Coming ...

Ep. 140 - Joyce Vance - She's not just a lawyer, she also plays one on TV !

March 12, 2021 05:52 - 44 minutes - 41 MB

Meet Joyce White Vance, the MSNBC legal analyst, law professor, podcaster, and chicken raiser (among her many talents). You know her from tv where she uses her experience as a prosecutor to explain the consequences of the bad and very bad behavior we experienced for four years. An incredibly well-rounded person, the five things that make her life better are... Joyce Vance’s 5 Things: 1. Swedish baked goods, 2. Chickens, 3. Zoom drinks with girlfriends, 4. My German Shep, Bella, 5....

Ep. 139 - Mark Harris – On the Extraordinary Lives of Mike Nichols

March 05, 2021 06:02 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MB

Lisa Birnbach’s guest this week, Journalist Mark Harris, met the director Mike Nichols when he directed "Angels in America", the iconic play written by Harris' husband, Tony Kushner, for HBO. The Broadway and film director of "Barefoot in the Park," "The Graduate", "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf", "Carnal Knowledge", "Heartburn," "The Real Thing" and many others befriended the couple along the way, a friendship which endured until Nichols' death in 2014.  The biography is exhaustiv...

Ep. 138 - Casey Schwartz - Attention, Focus, and Adderall

February 26, 2021 03:41 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MB

Lisa Birnbach chats with journalist Casey Schwartz, who was offered her first Adderall during her first semester in college. The concentration! The ability to focus became the best thing in her life; more appealing than hanging with her friends. Eventually Casey had to tackle what had become an addiction. She decided to interview scientists in the field of attention and distraction. While writing her book, Attention: A Love Story, Casey's father, legendary American music radio host ...

Ep 137 - Norm Eisen - Impeachment Shmimpeachment

February 19, 2021 15:03 - 40 minutes - 37 MB

Lisa Birnbach invites Norm Eisen to remind us why the nation may still survive despite the acquittal of Donald Trump after his second impeachment. Norm's background, intelligence, and optimism make him the perfect guest for this week. Also, did you know that Norm was a first-generation American who grew up in Los Angeles with a dad who owned a hamburger stand? His example is a successful American dream, and his life story has many great ironies and coincidences. Lisa Birnbach’s ...

Ep. 136 - Chris Frantz - Psycho Killer "Qu'est-ce que c'est?"

February 12, 2021 11:47 - 40 minutes - 37 MB

Chris Frantz has it all — a great story, a wife he adores, and membership in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Drummer and co-founder of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, Frantz joins Lisa to discuss his new memoir. Travels with the Ramones, working and falling out with David Byrne, love, marijuana, and happiness with Tina Weymouth, and a recording studio in the Bahamas. Check out his book, REMAIN IN LOVE: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina. Chris Frantz's 5 Things: 1. My two beagles, P...

Ep. 135 - Mary Trump - Uncle Donald Trump: Not human like the rest of us.

February 05, 2021 04:47 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MB

After watching Mary Trump speak out for months on tv, it was terrific to have a longer conversation with the author, a psychologist by training and the niece of the former president. Which is her favorite of his three wives (so far), why was the Trump homestead so toxic, and after all is said and done, is Donald intelligent? You won't want to miss this episode. Mary Trump's 5 Things that Make Her Life Better: 1. Her daughter Avary, 2. Art of all kinds, performing and fine, 3. The S...

Ep. 134 - Frank Figliuzzi - The Secret Code of the FBI

January 29, 2021 13:04 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MB

If you think the oath of office of the president is sacred, wait until you hear the true meaning of "conservancy of the Union" as explained by Lisa's guest this week - former FBI special agent - and now MSNBC contributor, Frank Figliuzzi. If the FBI has been compromised, what happens to what Frank calls the 7 C's he lays out in his new book, The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau's Code of Excellence? Frank Figliuzzi's 5 (actually 7) things that make his life better: 1. Code, 2. Conservan...

Ep. 133 - Lisa Birnbach - It's a very good day!

January 22, 2021 11:24 - 13 minutes - 12 MB

This podcast was created as a hedge against the bad news and vitriol from every Twitter-filled day of our former (yes I can say it!) FORMER president - so this is a very good day. There will be no guest today, just my meditation about the inauguration of president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris. It's a short episode, so this is a great opportunity to check out http://lisabirnbach.com/welcom and listen to some of the great conversations with past guests on this podcast. ...

Ep. 132 - Paul Ollinger - From Start-up to Stand-up

January 15, 2021 13:12 - 45 minutes - 42 MB

Comedian, Paul Ollinger takes Lisa Birnbach on a journey from Business School to Silicon Vally to Stand Up Comedy. What makes Mark Zuckerburg laugh you ask? Find out on this weeks podcast. Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. Impeachment 2.0., 2. My 90 year old progenitor got her first shot this past week, 3. Sheila the puppy, 4. App Drive & Listen, 5. Codenames the game.  Paul Ollinger’s 5 Things: 1. Life Fitness Treadmill, 2. 5:00 a.m., 3. Brooklyn Brewery’s Special Effects Hoppy Amber, 4. K...

Ep. 131 - Noel Casler - Sex, Diapers and Donald Trump

January 08, 2021 14:54 - 1 hour - 59.3 MB

In one of the most compelling and revealing interviews of this series, Lisa Birnbach hears from former "Celebrity Apprentice" staffer Noel Casler - NDA be damned - about the details inside Trump's inflated celebrity world. Noel confirms stories about sex, drugs, diapers, and Trump's bottomless ambitions for power. Wow ! Lisa Birnbach's 5 Things that make her life better: Sheila - the puppy, 2. Her new mattress, 3. Saying "I love you", 4. The Washington Press Corps., 5. A hot bath....

Ep. 130 - Patricia Morrisroe - Beethoven and His Muse

January 01, 2021 01:26 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MB

Lisa Birnbach unravels the secrets of Beethoven's love life with Patricia Morrisroe, author of The Woman in the Moonlight. Join us for this New Year's episode. Something to think about besides you know who. Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. Great customer service, 2. Satsuma oranges, 3. My new chair pillow, 4. My Aunt Yona, who turned 94 this past week, 4. Our youngest family member: Sheila Evelyn. She’s a 10 week old Cavapoo. Patricia Morrisroe’s 5 Things: 1.  Beethoven’s 9th Symphony– Ode to ...

Ep. 129 - Joyce Carol Oates - 58 Novels... and Counting

December 25, 2020 02:44 - 44 minutes - 40.3 MB

Merry Christmas 2020. In November, Lisa Birnbach was invited to interview the incomparable author Joyce Carol Oates for the Covid challenged 2020 Miami Book Fair. This was their conversation. Unfortunately, this was not originally scheduled to air on 5 Things with Lisa - so even though we learn about Joyce's new book "Night. Sleep Death. The Stars." we didn't get to learn about the 5 things that make life better for her - but we bet that #1 would probably be her cats. Fortunately, ...

Ep. 128 - Sharon Coplan Hurowitz & Amanda Benchley - Art for the Pandemic

December 18, 2020 05:50 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MB

Just in time for the holidays! Join Lisa Birnbach as she discusses Open Studio: Do-it-yourself art projects by Contemporary Artists. The new book and home art project book by Sharon Coplan Hurowitz & Amanda Benchley. Sharon and Amanda's 5 Things: 1. The Met (Metropolitan Art Museum), 2. Central Park, 3. Sant Ambroeus 4. The Public (Theatre in NYC), 5. Friendships. Lisa Birnbach's 5 Things: 1. The Vaccine, 2. The Electoral College, 3. Dr. Jill Biden, 4. Clogs, 5. Creativity. S...

Ep. 127 - Dr. Bandy Lee - A Mental Health Warning about Trump

December 11, 2020 05:12 - 48 minutes - 44.3 MB

This week, Lisa Birnbach talks with psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee. She's the editor of the New York Times bestseller, The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, and she has a warning about the mental health of Donald Trump. With all her worries about the country, she also has the optimism to identify the five things that make her life better. Dr. Bandy Lee’s 5 Things: 1. Rembrandts, 2. Bach’s Chaconne, 3. Meditation, 3. Human thriving, 5. Learning to cook with my 8-year-old niece Lis...

Ep. 126 - Lawrence O'Donnell - Trumpism will die

December 04, 2020 13:46 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MB

You heard it here folks. Our guest, Lawrence O'Donnell from MSNBC's "The Last Word" promises our host, Lisa Birnbach, that Trumpism will surely die. Listen to find out why! They also talk about the Five Things that made their lives better this week. Lisa Birnbach’s 5 Things: 1. The United States Postal Service, 2. Reading glasses sprinkled around my apartment like bouquets of flowers, 3 My gift-giving skills, 4  HBO’s “The Undoing”, 5 Her measuring tape. Lawrence O’Donnell’s 5 Thi...

Ep. 125 - Lisa Birnbach - The Thanksgiving Special

November 27, 2020 13:57 - 10 minutes - 9.28 MB

Happy Thanksgiving 2020. While there are so many crazy things going on in November 2020, there are still MANY things to be thankful for. There will be no guest this week, just you and me, the thing I'm most grateful for at this moment - my listeners. Of course I still have the 5 things that made my life better this week. Lisa's 5 Things: 1. Rachel Maddow, 2. A cadre of good people in the Senate who get less attention than their colleagues, 3. Peking Duck, 4. Watching live conversat...

Ep. 124 - Chris Whipple - Gatekeepers and Spymasters

November 20, 2020 11:25 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MB

Chris Whipple, documentarian and author of Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency and The Spymasters: How the CIA Directors Shape History and the Future, joins Lisa Birnbach to talk about transitions - more specifically, White House presidential transitions. What could go wrong? Just in case they also talk about the 5 Things that make their lives better. Lisa Birnbach's 5 Things: 1. The Queen’s Gambit, 2. Christopher Krebs, 3. Getting a medical ap...

EP. 123 - Dahlia Lithwick - Defining Justice In the Current Dystopia

November 13, 2020 14:16 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MB

Lisa Birnbach is joined by legal journalist, Sr. Editor at Slate, and podcaster Dahlia Lithwick to discuss the squirrelly goings-on at the DOJ and the White House. (Hint, they are supposed to be separate). Also an insider's look at SCOTUS - - Clarence Thomas as you never imagined him! Lisa Birnbach’s 5 Things: 1. Joe Biden, 2. Kamala Harris, 3. The weather! 4. Tuna fish salad sandwiches, 5. Poll watchers, vote counters, Secretaries of state, and state election workers.  Dahlia L...

Ep. 122 - Barry Levine - The inside story of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

November 06, 2020 16:35 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MB

Lisa and investigative reporter Barry Levine get down to the nitty gritty in their conversation about Barry's new book The Spider: Inside The Criminal Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. There are new facts, details and explosive correlations between Epstein, Maxwell, and many high-powered and well-known figures. It's a must listen episode! But all is not lost, there are still the 5 Things that made their lives better this week. Lisa Birnbach’s 5 Things: 1. My Family, 2. ...

Ep. 121 - Alexandra Pelosi - Taking a hard look at 2020 America

October 30, 2020 13:15 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MB

A woman and her camera. Lisa talks with documentary filmmaker, Alexandra Pelosi, about her new film American Selfie: One Nation Shoots Itself. A look at America at a granular level in the midst of a presidential election and Covid-19. Lisa Birnbach's 5 Things: 1. Voting, 2.  Mom’s published humor article, 3. Decluttering, 4. Merino Wool, 5. Fake Melanias. Alexandra Pelosi’s 5 Things: 1. YouTube series - Johnny Harris and his wife Iz Harris, 2. Justin Bieber - Lonely, 3. NYC’s Wash...

Ep. 120 - Joe Conason - Shoe Leather & Guts; The Real Investigative Reporters

October 23, 2020 13:36 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MB

Lisa Birnbach talks with investigative reporter Joe Conason about his mentor, Wayne Barrett and what it takes (and what you can lose) to be a great investigator. Joe has written the intro to the new book called "Without Compromise: Wayne Barrett, and The Brave Journalism that First Exposed Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and the American Epidemic of Corruption" and you can tell from the conversation that Wayne was the real deal. The 5 Things that made Lisa Birnbach’s life better: 1....

Ep. 119 - Will Haskell - The 24 Year Old Senator

October 16, 2020 04:17 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MB

Let's hear it for young people. At age 23, Will Haskell is the youngest State Senator in Connecticut. Join Lisa Birnbach as she tries to discover what it is that compels a young man, or woman to work in the political system today - then hear about the five things made Will's and Lisa's life better this week. Lisa Birnbach's 5 Things: 1. Shipt, 2. Green plant for the kitchen, 3. Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris 4. Boom Again trivia game, 5. Dr. Fauci Senator Will Haskell’s 5 Things...

Ep. 118 - Andrew Weissmann - Inside the Mueller Investigation

October 09, 2020 04:27 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MB

Lisa talks with the lead prosecutor in the Mueller investigation, Andrew Weissmann, about his new book "Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation". Insider information, Robert Mueller, and the Mob! What else could you ask for beside the five things that make Andrew's and Lisa's lives better this week. Lisa Birnbach's 5 Things: 1. Journalism, 2. Artists online, 3. Facetiming with Le Bébé, 4. Cornmeal, 5. Hope. Andrew Weissmann’s 5 Things: 1. The FT weekend edition, 2. Carneg...

Ep 117 - Malcolm Nance - Counter-Terrorist Expert and Patriot

October 02, 2020 13:36 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MB

MSNBC Commentator, ex-military, author, cryptologist and terrorism expert Malcolm Nance joins Lisa Birnbach for a wide ranging conversation about the international compromises caused by the Trump Administration. Even with that, they find time to discuss the 5 Things that make their lives better this week. Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. Holidays online, 2. Being home in New York with a whole closet instead of 10 heavily-rotated pieces, 3. Peking Duck, 4. My mother, 5. Patriotism Malcolm Nanc...

Ep116 - Claude Taylor - Witty Resister and Room Rater

September 25, 2020 15:31 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MB

This week Lisa talks with witty political protester, Claude Taylor. Claude has spent the last 3 years in an effort to defeat Trump. He has created the Mad Dog PAC to plant clever billboards around the country. He's also the co-creator of "Room Rater", a twitter account which rates the zoom backgrounds of pundits working from home. Claude Taylor's 5 Things: 1. His Kids. 2. His Dog, Pipper. 3. His Friends. 4. His Twitter Friends. 5. His Fiancé, Jessie. Lisa Birnbach's 5 Thin...

Ep. 115 - Amelia Nierenberg - Thoughtful Food, Food for Thought

September 18, 2020 16:25 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MB

Lisa values her young friends. Lisa Birnbach's guest this week is Amelia Nierenberg, recent Yale graduate, the co-writer of the New York Times’ Coronavirus Schools Briefing newsletter.  A member of the first class  of New York Times fellows, she wrote on the Food Desk, and now continues on assignment for the Times. Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. Fruits and vegetables from one’s garden, 2. The Citizen App, 3. Vegan and Gluten Free bakeries, 4. Reading, 5. Science. Amelia Nierenberg’s 5 Thing...

Ep. 114 - Christopher Buckley - The Administration That Satirizes Itself

September 11, 2020 06:08 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MB

Author Christopher Buckley joins Lisa Birnbach on a fun discussion about the current administration, satire, and his new novel, the satire titled "Make Russia Great Again". And of course they relish the 5 things that make their lives better. Lisa Birnbach’s 5 Things: 1. Burgers Never Say Die, 2. Kismet restaurant, 3. Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles, 4. An afternoon visit with another family in their house and back yard, 5. #ExhibitBaby Christopher Buckley’s 5 Things: 1. Wi...

Ep 113 - Chef Kwame Onwuachi - The Future of Eating Out

September 04, 2020 14:25 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MB

Lisa Birnbach invites James Beard award winning Chef, Kwame Onwuachi, to discuss the future of Eating out, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. They also discuss what it means to be a black man, and a chef, in America - in these days of national reckoning and the Black Lives Matter movement, his book "Notes from a Young Black Chef" and to top it all off, they talk about the 5 things that make their lives better. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priv...

Ep. 112 - Kurt Andersen - Pt. 2: What about Trump?

August 27, 2020 08:00 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MB

Author and commentator Kurt Andersen returns this week to talk about one of Lisa and Kurt's favorite subjects, Donald Trump. Kurt, whose SPY magazine dubbed Trump as the "short-fingered vulgarian, and Lisa, who was the first correspondent to visit Mar-Largo when Trump turned it into a club, are uniquely qualified to explore the shyster that has become President. Of course, when it's all over - there are always 5 things that make Lisa's life better. See Privacy Policy at https://a...

Ep. 111 - Kurt Andersen - Recording current history

August 21, 2020 05:30 - 39 minutes - 36 MB

Writer Kurt Andersen joins Lisa Birnbach to talk about his important new book "Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History" and how we got to where we are. Then of course - The 5 Things that make their lives better. Part 1 of 2 (listen next week to episode 112) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 110 - Daphne Merkin - Writing about obsessive sex and love

August 14, 2020 04:30 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MB

Lisa Birnbach and author Daphne Merkin have a frank talk about obsessive sex and love, and Daphne's new book "22 Minutes of Unconditional Love". Strangely enough neither sex nor love are one of Lisa's or Dahpne's 5 Things that make life better. Listen to find out why. Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. Her friend Shelley’s sour cherry pie, 2. Her mother’s 90th birthday dinner, 3. Her Exhibits™, 4. Not wearing high heels anytime soon, 5. Dr. Fauci.   Daphne Merkin’s 5 (ok, 6) Things: 1. Discover...

Ep. 109 - Jamie Lee Curtis and Boco Haft - "Letters From Camp" - the podcast

August 07, 2020 05:00 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MB

Actress and creator Jamie Lee Curtis, and Lisa's own "Exhibit B", Writer Boco Haft, join Lisa Birnbach to talk about their new scripted podcast Letters From Camp. Hear how a long lost letter Boco wrote to Jamie from summer camp when she was 12, became the inspiration for their new family friendly podcast from Audible. And then - the 5 Things about summer camp that made their lives better. Lisa's 5 Things: 1. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health - Center for Public ...

Ep. 108 - Chef JJ Johnson - Cooking while Black, being an American Chef in 2020

July 31, 2020 15:46 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MB

Harlem Chef JJ Johnson joins Lisa Birnbach in a far ranging conversation about being a Black Chef in America in 2020. Join their conversation about the joys of cooking, the beauty of rice (yes RICE!) and what it means to be a black Chef in the year of the Pandemic, his restaurant - FieldTrip, and his cookbook Between Harlem and Heaven. Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. A great talk with Exhibit C, 2. Paying bills on time with checks, 3. No manicure in the time of Corona Virus, 4. No one is un...

Ep. 107 - Sheila Nevins - The Queen of Documentary Filmmaking

July 24, 2020 03:49 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MB

If you watch film or television documentaries , you've seen one produced by Sheila Nevins, long time president of documentary film at HBO and this weeks guest on 5 Things That Make Life Better with Lisa Birnbach. Join Lisa and Sheila as the discuss Sheila's new book "You Don't Look Your Age... and Other Fairy Tales" and the five things that made their lives better this week. lisabirnbach.com/welcome Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. Lloyd's Carrot Cake, 2. Method Antibacterial Spray, 3. Blue L...

Ep. 106 - Andy Slavitt - Pandemic expert. Believer in science.

July 17, 2020 07:46 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MB

Health expert Andy Slavitt joins Lisa Birnbach on a wide ranging conversation about Health Science, the Covid-19 pandemic, health insurance, and Andy's podcast (with his son Zach) "In The Bubble". Of course they also discuss the 5 Things that made their lives better this week. Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. Sitting at my desk, 2. Frozen pastry crust, 3. Reading offline, 4. Throwing out dead pens, 5. Dr. Fauci and Science.  Andy Slavitt’s 5 Things: 1. A morning with nothing he has to do, ...

Ep. 105 - Kari Lizer - Comedy writer, animal lover

July 10, 2020 02:04 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MB

Kari Lizer - Comedy writer ('Will and Grace", "The new adventures of old Christine"), memoirist, and animal lover joins Lisa Birnbach for a far reaching conversation about kids, empty nests, and chickens. What ! Oh, and they talk about Kari's new book "Aren't you forgetting someone - Essays from my mid-life revenge" Of course they also talk about the 5 things that make their lives better. Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. Framing mementos and souvenirs, 2. Covid Skin, 3. Preppy Face Masks fro...

Ep. 104 - With Susanna Styron - Migraine: The film that explains it all.

July 03, 2020 04:06 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MB

If you're like Lisa, you suffer from Migraine. Guest filmmaker Susanna Styron joins Lisa Birnbach to discuss her new film "Out of my head - Migraine. It's not just a headache" and explain why this condition that affects nearly a billion people world wide remains so deeply misunderstood. Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. Rhubarb 2. Going to the hair salon, 3. The Lincoln Project, 4. Shtisel, 5. Dr. Fauci. Susanna Styron’s 5 Things: 1. Coffee, 2. My daughter and her partner quarantining with me,...

Ep. 103 - With Stephanie ("Sweetbitter") Danler - Author, Memoirist, Survivor

June 26, 2020 04:14 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MB

"Sweetbitter" author Stephanie Danler joins Lisa Birnbach to talk about her new Memoir "Stray", Surviving her early life. Family, Neglect, Love and Life, it's all so complicated! Lisa’s 5 things: 1. Family, 2. Extended family, 3. Early voting, 4. Her kitchen scale, 5. Cured of shopping via Instagram disease. Stephanie Danler’s 5 Things: 1. Poetry, 2. Meditation, 3. Marcella Hazan 4. Sequoia National Park, 5. Her Meyer lemon tree See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy...

Ep. 102 - with Alan Zweibel - Comedy writer, friend to the stars.

June 19, 2020 05:50 - 34 minutes - 32 MB

Lisa talks to funnyman Alan Zweibel. He's written for Saturday Night Live, Billy Crystal, and Gilda Radner among many others, and now he's written a new book LAUGH LINES: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier. Lisa’s 5 Things: Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. Structure, 2. Regularly scheduled Zoom and conference calls, 3. Writing and receiving mail, 4. Buying books from independent bookstores, 5. Supreme Court Decision Bostock v. Clayton County Alan Zweibel’s 5 Things: Alan Zweibel’s 5 Thing...

Ep. 101 with Jeff Vespa - Documentary evidence: VOICES OF PARKLAND

June 12, 2020 03:32 - 55 minutes - 51.3 MB

Lisa speaks with photographer and director Jeff Vespa about his new film Voices of Parkland. With no distractions, the film allows survivors of the Parkland school shooting to express what they did and how they felt in that moment. February 14, 2018. (This interview was conducted in February 2020) Lisa’s 5 Things: 1. The Press, 2. Emotional Support, 3. Alan Arkin, 4. Farm To People, 5. Learning about being black. Jeff Vespa’s 5 Things: 1. Students and Families from Parkland, 2. ...

Guests

Erica Jong
1 Episode
Jamie Lee Curtis
1 Episode
Lori Gottlieb
1 Episode

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@darth 1 Episode
@drbiden 1 Episode
@cindyotis_ 1 Episode
@speakerpelosi 1 Episode