Advertise on podcast: Earsay: The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club

David Sedaris has notes: on "welcome in," on the machine that took your coffee order, on the airport tip screen, on everyone under 40. But underneath the complaints in his new collection, The Land and Its People, is something softer: the person he married, the lost friends in his address book, the sense that he's entering the hard part of getting older. David joins the show to talk about manners and tastelessness, why he'd rather say "this is the person I married" than "husband," and what he learned about landing a joke from watching Whoopi Goldberg. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kal sits down with psychotherapist Elliott Connie — host of the iHeartPodcast Family Therapy — to talk about Kevin Hart's Audible Original memoir Kids Make Me Angry. It's a funny, heartfelt conversation about breaking cycles, healthy masculinity, and why the right question can change everything. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we're joined by novelist Daniel Mason to explore the quietly enchanted world of Country People, his warmest and funniest novel yet. An academic California family lands in rural Vermont for a year while the father takes up scything and seeks out the “country people” who can maybe inspire him to finish his dissertation. Daniel talks about the secret society of Hollow Earth believers at the story's heart, what drew him to writing a novel so different from his previous work, and why a man who has spent fourteen years not finishing his dissertation might not be a failure after all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re joined by comedian Emily Lynne to jump into the deranged fantasy world of Heads Will Roll: Heir Apparent, an Audible Original comedy she co-created with her sister Kate McKinnon. An evil queen must produce an heir before 40 or die by demon; her cursed-raven best friend gets cosmetic surgery and ends up a toad. Emily dishes about casting Richard Kind, negotiating with her therapist, and the tiny horrible real-life moments behind the jokes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earsay goes live at Audible Story House in New York for an episode about Dungeon Crawler Carl, the global phenomenon that started as a single line in a middle school notebook ("Alien Game Show") and grew into an eight-book franchise with a TV adaptation in the works. Kal was joined by author Matt Dinniman, and Jeff Hays, the narrator who brings this immersive world and all its characters to life in the audiobook. They get into where the story and the performance comes from, why Carl is a deeper character than meets the eye, and how maybe it’s the cats who are really in charge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re diving into Seek the Traitor's Son — the sweeping new romance/fantasy/sci-fi epic from Veronica Roth, author of the Divergent series. Veronica shares why she spent years steering away from the things that actually made her happy as a writer, how COVID shaped the story's central premise, and what it means to write a male romantic lead whose superpower is radical empathy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A forensic anthropologist who secretly writes cozy mysteries. An actress-turned-director who adapts his book into a film he hates. A media tour forcing them together. Just Kiss Already! Author Lily Chu joins the show and explores the book’s dual-narrator structure (voiced by Simu Liu and Phillipa Soo) — and how satisfying it is to hear two very different people experiencing two very different sides of the same love story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wil Wheaton starred as the main character in the 1986 classic Stand By Me, which was based on the Stephen King novella The Body. Forty Years later, Wil has narrated the new audiobook version of The Body in a real true circle moment. He joins Kal to jump into the differences between the darker novella and the film, and we hear about a vivid flashback to filming with River Phoenix that hit Wil while recording this audiobook. He also gets into his own parallels with the character he voices, and explains how his fellow cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation became the family he never had. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the premiere of our second season, Kal Penn dives into Andy Weir's interstellar epic Project Hail Mary with the man who narrated the audiobook: Ray Porter. They break down the challenge of performing dense science without losing the fun, finding real emotion behind the mic, and take up the new Ryan Gosling-led movie (as well as Ray's cameo). Plus: British comfort food in space, vocal warm‑up secrets, and the one thing Ray would not bring aboard a spaceship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earsay is back with host Kal Penn for all new episodes about the audiobooks everyone’s listening to and still thinking about long after the last chapter. In Season 2 of Earsay: The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club, Kal dives into the biggest stories, standout performances, and the moments that made us laugh, cry, or hit rewind. Expect great guests, behind the scenes insights, and plenty of audiobook love across sci‑fi, comedy, romance, fantasy, and more. You’ve heard the books, now hear Earsay! Season 2 premieres Thursday, April 16! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wonder where the Sorting Hat Ed would place Ed Helms? The answer may surprise you! We're closing out the season with Audible's spectacular full-cast audio edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Ed sits down with film and TV critic Rhianna Dhillon, a self-proclaimed Harry Potter superfan, to explore J.K. Rowling's wizarding world and what makes this new immersive production so magical. They get into which Hogwarts subjects they'd actually want to study and unpack why the pursuit of immortality holds such power in fiction. They also geek out over the audiobook's phenomenal sound design, and discuss why this production is the perfect entry point for both longtime fans and first-time listeners. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Earsay, we're diving into Remain: A Supernatural Love Story, a genre-bending collaboration between M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks. Kal sits down with author and podcast host Dana Schwartz (Noble Blood, Hoax!) to explore this atmospheric tale of an architect who falls for a beautiful young woman named Wren…while unraveling the mystery of her death. Together, they discuss how two masters of their respective genres surprisingly complement each other and geek out over the intimate details that make books feel alive — from ATM passwords to beef bourguignon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Earsay, we're turning it up to 11 with national treasures Rob Reiner and Michael McKean for a deep dive into A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap. They explore the making of the landmark 1984 mockumentary This is Spinal Tap and its long-awaited sequel, Spinal Tap Two: The End Continues. Together, they unpack the art of “schnadling” (their term for improvisational riffing), and Ed compares notes from another influential mockumentary — The Office. Rob and Michael reflect on why maintaining affection for these magnificently oblivious characters has made all the difference in the process of building a 40-year mythology around a completely fictional band.  This episode is dedicated to Rob and Michelle Reiner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Earsay, we’re exploring Mark Ronson's memoir Night People: How to Be a DJ in Nineties New York City. Kal sits down with legendary drummer, producer, and director Questlove to discuss Ronson's coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of New York's vibrant hip-hop scene. Together, they unpack what it means to be a "night person," share stories of growing up immersed in music from childhood, and explore the intoxicating sense of control that comes from commanding a DJ booth. Questlove reflects on his own journey — from cutting gels in nightclubs as a child to an ego-crushing moment DJing at the Obama White House — and how those experiences shaped his creative path. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Earsay, Audible's second season of the thrilling original series The Prophecy, where biblical stories collide with a present-day apocalyptic thriller. Kal sits down with show creator Randy McKinnon to discuss how he reimagined scripture for a contemporary audience, blending Old and New Testament figures into a high-stakes chase across a crumbling world. McKinnon reveals how the pandemic shaped his writing, explains his deeply personal relationship with biblical storytelling, and shares insights into the show's powerhouse cast including Kerry Washington, Lawrence Fishburne, and Giancarlo Esposito. Together, they explore the challenges of writing for audio, the redemptive themes woven throughout the series, and why faith-driven narratives resonate in times of chaos. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.