'Shrinking' Actor Michael Urie; Author Adam Ross on 'Playworld' Novel; Grammy-Nominated Lakecia Benjamin Performs; Songs that Explain the 2000s

Actor Michael Urie is up for a Critics Choice Award for his role on the Apple TV+ series "Shrinking." He plays Brian, the best friend of Jason Segal's character, Jimmy, whose friendship has survived coming out, a death and estrangement. He joins to discuss the second season, which just wrapped over the holidays.

Author Adam Ross draws on his experiences as a former child actor in his new novel, Playworld. The novel tells the story of Griffin, a 14-year-old sitcom star who finds himself caught in an inappropriate relationship with an adult woman in 1980s New York. Ross joins us to discuss. 

Lakecia Benjamin is an alto saxophonist and composer who is nominated at this year's Grammy Awards in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Jazz Performance categories for her album, Phoenix Reimagined (Live). The project is a live performance of her 2023 album, Phoenix. Benjamin joins to perform live with her band and discuss her New York upbringing in music.

As we hit the first quarter of the century, let's bring things back to the early aughts. Rob Harvilla joins us to discuss the new season of his podcast, 60 Songs that Explain the '90s: The 2000s. We'll talk about the pivotal songs of the decade, from Amy Winehouse to 50 Cent, and take calls about what you think were some of the most important songs of that decade.