Here We Go Again With Kal Penn

Hollywood is all about remakes. So, it probably doesn't surprise you to hear that the 2018 film, "A Star Is Born," starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, was its fourth -- yes, fourth! -- iteration. Why do we stick to stories that work? And what is it about this particular story that makes it so quintessential? Kal sits down with film critic, author, and You Must Remember This podcast host, Karina Longworth, to talk about why A Star Is Born... again and again and again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout history, certain moments have brought the fashion police and -- not to mention the acutal police -- around in full force. Why should schools, the government, our job, or anyone for that matter stay out of our closets? Kal talks to the poet, comedian, public speaker, and actor Alok Menon about the history of policing clothing as a way to control people's identity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voter turnout among young people is climbing, political affiliations are shifting, and the generation that grew up with social media is flexing their electoral muscle. Stacey Abrams is renowned for getting 800,000 people registered to vote in 2020. So, why is the youth vote so important? What's changed since 18 year olds gained the right to vote in 1971? And how have forces like Rock the Vote or TikTok shaped young people's POV on politics?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These days, it can sometimes feel like the terms Democrat and Republican are confusing -- that they've lost meaning over time. Former Speechwriter and Pod Save America host, Jon Favreau, actually wrote his college thesis about a concept called "realignment." Or, the idea that political parties frequently reinvent themselves and their values. But why do the parties keep changing their identities? Is it as alarming as it sometimes feels to us as voters? And what does that mean for the future of our country?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 2008, it seemed like everyone was talking about the financial crisis. And then came The Big Short, Michael Lewis' book-to-screen story that exposed the corrupt subprime mortgage industry and its impact on the 08 crash. Now, it seems like everyone's wondering: Are we heading towards another big recession? Who would you trust if you were that very man who exposed that broken system in the first place? Kal gets candid with journalist and author Michael Lewis about our financial future, who he trusts with his money, and why.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.