Shows / Wild Card with Rachel Martin
Wild Card with Rachel Martin
Life’s too short for small talk. Rachel gets right to the questions that matter most. Once a week, famous guests pull questions from a deck of cards and open up about the kind of stuff we all think about but rarely say out loud. Actors, authors, and thinkers are prompted to talk about everything from their insecurities and dreams to grief and God. Named one of the 10 best podcasts of 2024 by The New York Times, Wild Card stands out among celebrity interview podcasts. When modern life feels…
Episodes
Wild Card with Rachel MartinElizabeth Gilbert no longer believes she’s a bad person
Elizabeth Gilbert's 2006 memoir “Eat, Pray, Love” was about her journey of self-discovery in the aftermath of a painful divorce. It was a massive hit, but it…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinOcean Vuong doesn’t erase pain from beauty
The more Ocean Vuong writes, the more he sees his craft as less of a skill and more a condition. He feels compelled to pay attention to the small details…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinHarrison Ford knows how weird his life is
Despite being decades into a career that can only be described as iconic, Harrison Ford is still experiencing firsts – like his first Emmy nomination for his…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinOur favorite Memory Time Machine trips
At the end of each Wild Card episode, Rachel invites guests to take a trip in our Memory Time Machine and revisit a moment they wouldn’t like to change…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinLeVar Burton is learning to embrace the chaos (encore)
LeVar Burton has three roles he'll forever be known for: Kunta Kinte on the TV series Roots, Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation and host of…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinFather James Martin is okay with not being liked
Father James Martin has become one of the most well-known Catholic priests in the U.S, in part due to his appearances on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinAparna Nancherla doesn't know why she's here
Anxiety has always played a major role in Aparna Nancherla's comedy — whether she's joking about her internal preoccupations, or fighting stage fright. Her…
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Wild Card with Rachel MartinMarc Maron would still like some validation
Marc Maron can project cynical misanthrope, but those who have spent countless hours listening to him know that his secret weapon is his vulnerability. He…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinCeline Song is troubled by love
Celine Song's films, "Past Lives" and "Materialists," invite the viewer to just slow down. To take in the silence, a gaze, the moments in between words. In her…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinJenny Han insists on hope
Jenny Han feels like the same person as her teenage self – which might explain why her books and their adaptations connect so strongly with teen audiences. Her…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinMichelle Obama doesn't regret saying 'no'
Michelle Obama says she's never truly been able to realize her own ambition. But now she's changing that. She's saying "no" to what's expected of her and "yes"…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinWhat Kyle MacLachlan learned from his friend David Lynch
Kyle MacLachlan says he wouldn't have a career without his friend and longtime collaborator David Lynch, who died earlier this year. His first gig was on…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinKyle MacLachlan daydreams about the future
Kyle MacLachlan is known for his iconic roles in David Lynch classics like "Blue Velvet" and "Twin Peaks," but he's reinvented himself again and again…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinJason Reynolds Loves Being a Crybaby
Jason Reynolds writes stories that don't talk down to kids. In young adult books like "Long Way Down," "Ghost" and two Miles Morales Spider-Man novels, there…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinOrville Peck killed his impostor syndrome
Orville Peck is full of apparent contradictions. As a kid in South Africa, he went from dancing ballet to playing drums in a punk band. He loves musical…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinRamy Youssef wants to make it weird
Ramy Youssef's creative pursuits range from stand-up to his semi-biographical Hulu show, "Ramy," to his new animated series, "#1 Happy Family USA." In all of…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinMike Birbiglia doesn't think every setup needs a punchline
When Mike Birbiglia tells a story, he tries to make it relatable to everyone in the audience – whether it's tapping into his childhood anxiety, relating his…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinJonathan Groff lost his faith while spelunking
Jonathan Groff has brought his killer vocals and Disney-hero charm to Broadway hits like "Spring Awakening," "Hamilton" and "Merrily We Roll Along." He's…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinWanda Sykes is looking for higher stakes
Wanda Sykes life has been defined by one act of courage after another. Leaving a safe career for comedy, getting divorced, coming out and surviving breast…
Wild Card with Rachel Martin'Weird Al' Yankovic is the most normal person in show business
When Weird Al's debut single, "My Bologna," came out, there wasn't really a model for how a parody artist could have any longevity in their career. Yet Al's…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinJoy Harjo thinks writing can heal regret
Joy Harjo is one of the most revered poets in the United States, but she took a winding path to get there. The former U.S. poet laureate spoke with Rachel…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinBrett Goldstein avoids emotions at all costs
Don't be fooled by Brett Goldstein's grumpy exterior – he can't resist a big, open-hearted story. You see it in the TV shows he's acted in and helped create…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinJulianne Nicholson just wants everyone to take a beat
Anyone who has seen Julianne Nicholson in "Mare of Easttown" or "Janet Planet" knows she is really good at portraying grief. In her new show "Paradise," she…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinElizabeth Olsen idolizes idleness
Elizabeth Olsen is most famous for her role as Wanda Maximoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But she says her own taste is reflected in indie films she's…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinJohn Green still has hope
John Green keeps busy – from authoring blockbuster young adult novels like "The Fault in Our Stars," to running a YouTube empire with his brother Hank, to…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinUzo Aduba can do anything... except for the butterfly stroke
From a young age, Uzo Aduba's parents taught her that she could do anything. That confidence has led to some iconic performances – from Suzanne "Crazy Eyes"…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinFor Natasha Rothwell improv is like prayer
Natasha Rothwell can't help but collaborate. She honed her improv skills at the Tokyo Comedy Store which led her to roles in memorable ensemble casts on…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinZadie Smith lives more in the world than on the page
London today is very different from the one Zadie Smith grew up in and the one she wrote about in her debut novel "White Teeth." That is just one of the things…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinBowen Yang thinks being present is overrated (encore)
This week we're revisiting our episode with comedian Bowen Yang. The "SNL" cast member and "Las Culturistas" podcast co-host had a big year between being in…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinNatalie Morales is trying to shake the "should"
When Natalie Morales was a kid growing up in Miami, she didn't just have a mango stand, she ran an entire mango monopoly. She's dreamed big ever since, finding…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinRonny Chieng is still chasing the perfect joke
Comedian Ronny Chieng's original path wasn't to become a correspondent on "The Daily Show." Plan A was to be a lawyer in Australia. But when he couldn't get a…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinKe Huy Quan is still proving he's good enough
Ke Huy Quan was born in Vietnam, but his family fled the country and eventually settled in the U.S. as refugees. Not long after arriving, Quan was cast in…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinJesse Eisenberg sprinkles trouble throughout his day
Jesse Eisenberg plays characters who spend a lot of time in their heads grappling with anxiety, fear and insecurity. You can see it in "The Squid and the…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinMichael Shannon thinks you look ridiculous when you shout
Michael Shannon grew up a kid of divorced parents, shuttling between Kentucky and Illinois and never quite fitting in. In his conversation with Rachel, the…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinRemembering David Lynch — Producer's Cut
David Lynch, the visionary filmmaker behind "Mulholland Drive," "Eraserhead" and "Twin Peaks" has died. We're remembering him with a listen back to his Wild…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinThe light and dark of Ted Danson (encore)
We're listening back this week to our conversation with actor Ted Danson. Ted seems like he's everywhere these days. He's the host of the podcast, "Where…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinKate Bowler wants to tame her inner efficiency monster
Duke professor Kate Bowler was 35 years old when she was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. Her memoir about the experience, "Everything Happens for a Reason: And…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinMichelle Buteau thought she was too happy for stand-up
When you see Michelle Buteau perform, she gives off a blended vibe of, "Oh my god, I can't believe I'm here!" and also, "Of course I am here!" Last year, she…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinBONUS - Wild Card in the Wild
Usually for this show, Rachel is in the NPR studio in Washington, D.C., and the guests are famous people in another studio. But Rachel recently brought the…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinWild Card: Best of the deck
As 2024 winds down, we're sharing some of our favorite answers from the earliest Wild Card episodes. To listen sponsor-free, access bonus episodes and support…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinBarry Jenkins chooses to believe in chaos
Barry Jenkins is best known for indie films like "If Beale Street Could Talk" and "Moonlight." Now he's helming Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King." He talks to…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinIlana Glazer is connecting with their inner animal
2024 has been a big year for Ilana Glazer. First they co-wrote and co-starred in "Babes." Now, they have a new stand-up special coming out on Hulu, called…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinIlana Glazer on responsibility and a belief John Lithgow let go of
Comedian Ilana Glazer talks about being prepared at a young age for grown-up responsibilities and John Lithgow discusses a belief he had to let go of. This…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinJohn Lithgow just wants a good ending
Everyone has their own role that made them fall in love with John Lithgow. It could be "Footloose" or "Shrek" or "3rd Rock from the Sun." And as he approaches…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinIra Glass plays a nicer version of himself on the radio
In the world of podcasts and radio, Ira Glass is a legend. But he tells Rachel that he doesn't think about his legacy. He makes his show, "This American Life,"…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinBONUS - Sandra Cisneros is in her 'magical mystery period'
Sandra Cisneros is best known for her debut novel, The House on Mango Street, which follows a year in the life of a young Chincana girl. For the 40th…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinJimmy O. Yang can't take a compliment
Jimmy O. Yang finds his own success unlikely. He says as an Asian-American immigrant, he "snuck in" to show business. He's worked his way from bit parts to big…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinErykah Badu's goals are intentionally unreachable
Erykah Badu is best known for her music career, but her resume is much more diverse than that. She's an actor, who can be seen now in The Piano Lesson. She's a…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinAnn Patchett wants to be wrong
Ann Patchett's 2001 novel Bel Canto was a huge hit. She's continued to have success with her later work, including The Dutch House, which was a Pulitzer Prize…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinKathryn Hahn feels more powerful than ever
Kathryn Hahn can turn a supporting role into the most memorable part of a movie or TV show. In everything from Step Brothers to Parks and Recreation to…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinSeth Meyers likes being the punchline
When Seth Meyers started at Saturday Night Live, he saw pictures of famous former cast members on the wall and was convinced he had to become an actor. It took…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinMark Duplass is greedy for the little moments
Mark Duplass is known for his roles in The Morning Show and The League, as well as for writing, directing and producing indie hits with his brother Jay…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinGael García Bernal rejects certainty
Gael García Bernal was basically fated to be an actor. His mom and dad were both in show business and his first starring role was in a Mexican telenovela when…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinMargaret Atwood isn't surprised people find her scary
Margaret Atwood knows that she scares people. She says that's been the case since the beginning of her career, long before her dystopian novel The Handmaid's…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinTerry Crews likes feeling small in the universe
Terry Crews went to college on an art scholarship, played football in the NFL, and now stars in movies and hosts America's Got Talent. The key to his many…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinSterlin Harjo gets irrationally angry in Whole Foods
When Sterlin Harjo was growing up, he didn't see many Native Americans in mainstream media. But Sterlin's TV show, Reservation Dogs, changed that, depicting…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinHanif Abdurraqib is a 'genius.' His friends aren't impressed
Hanif Abdurraqib's writing has earned him a MacArthur "genius" grant. His most recent book, There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension, landed a…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinKacey Musgraves is trying to get right with time
From the beginning of her career, Grammy-winning musician Kacey Musgraves has been doing what feels authentic to herself. She sings about familiar country…
Wild Card with Rachel MartinJeff Goldblum invites the surprise
Jeff Goldblum has a special brand of charisma — the kind that seeps its way into all of his roles. Whether it's in The Fly or Independence Day or Jurassic Park…