Sunday Sitdown With Willie Geist

Trevor Noah is a comedian and host who stepped into one of television’s most iconic seats in 2015 and quickly made The Daily Show his own. In this sitdown from June 2021, Trevor joins Willie Geist in a park across from his studio to revisit the year he spent hosting from his apartment and how he navigated a news cycle dominated by the pandemic and nationwide protests. He opens up about finding humor in the midst of trauma, the global lens he brings to American politics, and why he decided to return to the road on a stand-up tour. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nate Bargatze is a stand-up comedian known for his clean humor and relatable storytelling, a combination that helped him grow from performing at small club sets to becoming an arena headliner. In this sitdown from February 2025, Nate joins Willie Geist to talk about his rapid career climb, hosting “Saturday Night Live” twice in one year, and what’s next for his expanding “Nateland” universe. Plus, he reveals his thoughts about his high school naming their gym after him. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sebastian Maniscalco is a stand-up comedian and actor whose family-driven humor and razor-sharp delivery have made him one of the most recognizable voices in comedy. In this sitdown from December 2022, Sebastian talks with Willie Geist about the real-life moments that inspire his act, his stand-up special Is It Me? and the surreal experience of watching Robert De Niro portray his father in About My Father. Plus, he reflects on his long climb from open mics to arena tours, the influences that shaped his point of view, and why family remains at the center of everything he does. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kevin Hart is a comedian, actor, producer and bestselling author known for his blockbuster films, sold-out stand-up tours and relentless work ethic. In this conversation from May 2021, Kevin joins Willie Geist to talk about his dramatic role in the Netflix movie Fatherhood and why presenting a positive Black father on screen mattered to him. He also reflects on performing stand-up at home during the pandemic, his turn toward dramatic acting, and his recovery from the near-fatal car crash that almost left him paralyzed. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tiffany Haddish is an actress, comedian and author whose breakout performance in the hit film Girls Trip launched her into Hollywood’s A-list. In this conversation from August 2019, Tiffany talks with Willie Geist about her journey from experiencing homelessness to starring in major movies like The Kitchen, landing high-profile TV roles and headlining her own stand-up specials. She also reflects on becoming the first Black female stand-up comic to host Saturday Night Live and how that milestone changed the course of her career. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Leanne Morgan is a comedian and actress who rose to prominence after a viral video catapulted her to fame following decades of hustling in the stand up world. Leanne sits down with Willie Geist to look back on the 25-year climb that took her from telling jokes in living rooms while selling jewelry to becoming one of the most beloved voices in comedy. Plus, she reflects on the Def Leppard and Journey moment that sparked her breakthrough, the excitement and nerves of filming her hit Netflix sitcom with Chuck Lorre, and the real life moments that shape her act, from motherhood to the unforgettable stories she shares about her husband Chuck Morgan. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bowen Yang is a comedian, writer, and Saturday Night Live cast member who stars as Pfannee in the movie musical Wicked and its upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good. In this conversation from April 2025, Yang sits down with Willie Geist to reflect on his extraordinary rise to fame, growing up as the son of Chinese immigrants, and the experience of coming out to his parents. He also talks about how a childhood trip to New York that included visiting Broadway, taking the NBC Studio Tour, and sitting in Studio 8H felt like an early glimpse of his future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Idina Menzel is a Tony Award-winning performer who originated the role of Elphaba in Broadway’s Wicked and later became a global sensation as the voice of Elsa in Disney’s Frozen. In this conversation from December 2022, Menzel sits down with Willie Geist to reflect on her journey from performing at weddings on Long Island to headlining some of the world’s biggest stages. She also opens up about her experience with IVF later in life, which is featured in the Disney+ documentary Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? and the resilience that continues to guide her through every chapter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Goldblum is an actor and musician who stars as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the movie musical Wicked and its upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good. In this conversation from July 2022, Goldblum sits down with Willie Geist to talk about returning as Dr. Ian Malcolm in Jurassic World: Dominion, reuniting with Laura Dern and Sam Neill nearly three decades after the original Jurassic Park, and leading his own jazz ensemble when he’s not on set. Looking back, he reflects on the creativity, gratitude, and spontaneity that continue to define both his work and his life. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cynthia Erivo is a Grammy, Tony, and Emmy-winning performer who stars as Elphaba in the movie musical Wicked and its upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good. In this sit-down from November 2024, Erivo talks with Willie Geist about stepping into the beloved role, the unforgettable moment of seeing her first Wicked billboards light up Times Square, and what it was like working alongside Ariana Grande as the pair built a meaningful friendship beyond the set. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michelle Yeoh is an Oscar, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actress who stars as Madame Morrible in the movie musical Wicked and its upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good. In this conversation from March 2023, Yeoh sits down with Willie Geist to reflect on her sweeping awards-season success for Everything Everywhere All At Once and what it meant to finally have her big Hollywood moment. She looks back on her groundbreaking career, from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to Memoirs of a Geisha and Crazy Rich Asians, and shares the gratitude and perspective that guide her today. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From a Long Island teen interviewing his comedy heroes on a high school radio station to the producer, director, and writer behind The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Anchorman, Trainwreck, and more, Judd Apatow is a modern-day comedy icon. He sits down with Willie Geist at New York’s Gotham Comedy Club to trace his rise to fame, from the tough early years and the mentorship of Garry Shandling to how the cancellation of Freaks and Geeks ultimately helped launch a generation of stars. Apatow also talks about his new scrapbook-style book Comedy Nerd, his love of stand-up, and his deep dive into documentaries, including new films on Mel Brooks and Norm Macdonald. Along the way, he reflects on how setbacks shaped his success, and the persistence that’s kept him creating for more than two decades. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For more than 30 years, Jim Gaffigan has been making audiences laugh with his signature blend of honesty, self-deprecation, and heart, cementing his place among the most beloved voices in comedy. In this conversation from February 2021, he joins Willie Geist to reflect on three decades in stand-up, the comedy of family life, and the unexpected quarantine hobby that kept him grounded: cross-country skiing. Want to be in the room when Jim and Willie catch up next? Sunday Sitdown Live returns to New York’s City Winery on November 10, and you can get tickets now at TODAY.com/FanFest. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Two decades after his breakout album It’s Time, five-time Grammy Award winner Michael Bublé sits down with Willie Geist at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club to reflect on his journey from Canadian fishing boats to global fame. Bublé opens up about the grandfather who introduced him to Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, the early gigs that shaped his craft, and the moment that changed everything in his career. He also talks about his love for Christmas music, the perspective he gained after his son’s illness, and his return as a coach on NBC’s The Voice, where he’s chasing his third straight win. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michael J. Fox is an award-winning actor, author, and philanthropist whose talent, humor, and heart have inspired generations. Four decades after Back to the Future made him a global star, Michael J. Fox sits down with Willie Geist to reflect on the film that defined a generation and the resilience that’s defined his life since. He opens up about the whirlwind of becoming Marty McFly at 23, the joy of rediscovering the movie as a fan, and the impact of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which has raised more than $2.5 billion for Parkinson’s research. Plus, through decades of challenges and triumphs, Fox shares why he still believes “everything is possible.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the past three decades, Matthew McConaughey has starred in more than 50 films, won an Academy Award for Dallas Buyers Club, delivered an Emmy-nominated performance in True Detective and topped bestseller lists with his memoir, Greenlights, but he’s still chasing something more meaningful. In his latest project, The Lost Bus, he tells the gripping true story of a school bus driver who risked everything to save 23 children during the 2018 Camp Fire, California’s deadliest wildfire. McConaughey sits down with Willie Geist to reflect on acting alongside his teenage son Levi and his 93-year-old mother in the film and how the project deepened his perspective on fatherhood, legacy, and what really matters. He also discusses his new book Poems & Prayers, the power of belief in a cynical world, and why risk-taking has defined his career. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Known for his early roles in Disco Pigs and Peaky Blinders, Cillian Murphy’s career reached new heights with his Oscar-winning performance in Oppenheimer, a script he calls one of the greatest things he’s ever read. Murphy sits down with Willie Geist to reflect on the cultural phenomenon of Oppenheimer, including his surprise that its complex structure and themes connected with such a massive audience and how Christopher Nolan’s bold decision to write the script in the first person shaped his performance. He also opens up about his latest project, Steve, a heartfelt story of a teacher fighting to hold his school together while grappling with his own struggles mirrored by the challenges of one of his students, as well as what fans can expect from the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is a Tony, Emmy, Grammy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist who revolutionized Broadway with his groundbreaking musical Hamilton. In this throwback conversation from November 2021, Miranda sits down with Willie Geist to reflect on the inception of Hamilton, the influence Rent had on his life, and how he paid tribute to Jonathan Larson in his directorial debut of Tick, Tick… Boom! starring Andrew Garfield. He also shares why he continues to push boundaries by blending theater, film, and music to create transformative stories. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nathan Lane is a three-time Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor beloved for his roles on stage and screen, from The Producers and The Birdcage to voicing Timon in Disney’s The Lion King. In this conversation from March 2023, Lane opens up to Willie Geist about his return to Broadway in Pictures from Home, his journey from theater to Hollywood, and the performances that have defined his decades-long career. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cynthia Erivo is a Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning powerhouse who first stunned Broadway audiences in The Color Purple and recently took on one of musical theater’s most iconic roles: Elphaba in Wicked. In this chat from October 2024, Erivo joins Willie Geist to talk about stepping into the emerald spotlight opposite of her friend Ariana Grande and the thrill of seeing Wicked billboards light up Times Square ahead of the highly anticipated film adaptation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.