Alchemy with Anthony Mason https://alchemy.show/ en-us © 2026 Alchemy Podcast LLC Welcome to Alchemy! This is a show about the craft and mystery of the creative process. It’s for anyone who’s ever been saved by a song, lost in a book, or enlightened by a painting. I’ve spent decades as a journalist interviewing artists in all creative disciplines. Alchemy is a new home for these conversations. Follow us. And be inspired. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/d397caf4-9678-11f1-9fcb-bb6b0da0ebb8/image/e559c3e5a7e98228c7eaad8a1a351ce6.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress Alchemy with Anthony Mason https://alchemy.show/ no episodic Award-winning journalist Anthony Mason with the artists who shape our culture Anthony Mason Welcome to Alchemy! This is a show about the craft and mystery of the creative process. It’s for anyone who’s ever been saved by a song, lost in a book, or enlightened by a painting. I’ve spent decades as a journalist interviewing artists in all creative disciplines. Alchemy is a new home for these conversations. Follow us. And be inspired. Welcome to Alchemy! This is a show about the craft and mystery of the creative process. It’s for anyone who’s ever been saved by a song, lost in a book, or enlightened by a painting. I’ve spent decades as a journalist interviewing artists in all creative disciplines. Alchemy is a new home for these conversations. Follow us. And be inspired.

]]> Alchemy Podcast podcasts@alchemy.show How Barbara Kingsolver gets past the fear of starting a new book Since 1993, every book by Barbara Kingsolver has made The New York Times bestseller list. Her last novel, “Demon Copperhead,” won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Her latest, “Partita,” the story of a Tennessee piano teacher, is the book Kingsolver says she’s been waiting her whole life to write. 00:00 Intro 01:26 Book No. 19: Does It Ever Get Easier? 02:25 Digging for Gold: Throwing Out 100 Pages 04:36 Meet Partita's Piano Teacher 06:27 The Substack Post That Sparked the Novel 09:27 How Do You Follow Demon Copperhead? 12:11 A Novel Told in Seven Days 14:32 Young Love vs. Mature Love 18:34 Lying on the Floor With Her Father's Records 20:06 "Music Is Made of Tension" 22:41 Why She Left Music School 26:46 What "Partita" Means and the Toni Morrison Quote 28:34 Writing About Her Mother 31:24 Carrying Grief on the Page 33:13 Outlines, Excel Spreadsheets and Dickens 36:57 Characters Who Serve the Plot 39:44 The "Thrift Shop File" 41:47 Living With Dupuytren's Contracture 45:08 Why She Won't Use Speech-to-Text 48:12 Wendell Berry and What's Next New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason Since 1993, every book by Barbara Kingsolver has made The New York Times bestseller list. Her last novel, “Demon Copperhead,” won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Her latest, “Partita,” the story of a Tennessee piano teacher, is the book Kingsolver says she’s been waiting her whole life to write. 00:00 Intro 01:26 Book No. 19: Does It Ever Get Easier? 02:25 Digging for Gold: Throwing Out 100 Pages 04:36 Meet Partita's Piano Teacher 06:27 The Substack Post That Sparked the Novel 09:27 How Do You Follow Demon Copperhead? 12:11 A Novel Told in Seven Days 14:32 Young Love vs. Mature Love 18:34 Lying on the Floor With Her Father's Records 20:06 "Music Is Made of Tension" 22:41 Why She Left Music School 26:46 What "Partita" Means and the Toni Morrison Quote 28:34 Writing About Her Mother 31:24 Carrying Grief on the Page 33:13 Outlines, Excel Spreadsheets and Dickens 36:57 Characters Who Serve the Plot 39:44 The "Thrift Shop File" 41:47 Living With Dupuytren's Contracture 45:08 Why She Won't Use Speech-to-Text 48:12 Wendell Berry and What's Next New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Since 1993, every book by Barbara Kingsolver has made The New York Times bestseller list. Her last novel, “Demon Copperhead,” won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Her latest, “Partita,” the story of a Tennessee piano teacher, is the book Kingsolver says she’s been waiting her whole life to write.

00:00 Intro

01:26 Book No. 19: Does It Ever Get Easier?

02:25 Digging for Gold: Throwing Out 100 Pages

04:36 Meet Partita's Piano Teacher

06:27 The Substack Post That Sparked the Novel

09:27 How Do You Follow Demon Copperhead?

12:11 A Novel Told in Seven Days

14:32 Young Love vs. Mature Love

18:34 Lying on the Floor With Her Father's Records

20:06 "Music Is Made of Tension"

22:41 Why She Left Music School

26:46 What "Partita" Means and the Toni Morrison Quote

28:34 Writing About Her Mother

31:24 Carrying Grief on the Page

33:13 Outlines, Excel Spreadsheets and Dickens

36:57 Characters Who Serve the Plot

39:44 The "Thrift Shop File"

41:47 Living With Dupuytren's Contracture

45:08 Why She Won't Use Speech-to-Text

48:12 Wendell Berry and What's Next

New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.

⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.

For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show

About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3133 Why Brandon Flowers trusts his own judgment over critics Brandon Flowers is best known as the frontman of The Killers. All seven of their albums have gone top 10 in the U.S. and to number one in the U.K. Flowers has also had a successful solo career and he’s back with his third solo album THRASHER, out August 21. 00:00 Cold Open 00:26 Welcome to Alchemy 01:05 Recording THRASHER Live in Nashville 02:38 Returning to His Nephi, Utah Roots 05:18 From Golf Course to First Songs 07:12 The Mentor Who Opened Up Music 08:48 Answering Dave Keuning's Ad and Becoming a Singer 12:36 Discovering His Frontman Persona 14:18 Family, Golf, and Finding His Own Lane 18:13 The Real People Behind THRASHER's Characters 22:06 Ambiguity and His Encounter with Elvis 26:46 Sponsor Break / The FLAG Art Foundation 29:01 Balancing Stage Persona and Family Life 30:15 22 Years Since Hot Fuss: Writing "Mr. Brightside" and "Human" 35:42 How Fan-Favorite Deep Cuts Emerge 38:06 Songwriting as a Daily Discipline 40:02 Two New Albums and Where The Killers Stand Now 42:38 Trusting His Own Judgment Over Critics 44:10 Vampire Weekend and Creative Competition 48:12 Closing Thanks New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:55:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason Brandon Flowers is best known as the frontman of The Killers. All seven of their albums have gone top 10 in the U.S. and to number one in the U.K. Flowers has also had a successful solo career and he’s back with his third solo album THRASHER, out August 21. 00:00 Cold Open 00:26 Welcome to Alchemy 01:05 Recording THRASHER Live in Nashville 02:38 Returning to His Nephi, Utah Roots 05:18 From Golf Course to First Songs 07:12 The Mentor Who Opened Up Music 08:48 Answering Dave Keuning's Ad and Becoming a Singer 12:36 Discovering His Frontman Persona 14:18 Family, Golf, and Finding His Own Lane 18:13 The Real People Behind THRASHER's Characters 22:06 Ambiguity and His Encounter with Elvis 26:46 Sponsor Break / The FLAG Art Foundation 29:01 Balancing Stage Persona and Family Life 30:15 22 Years Since Hot Fuss: Writing "Mr. Brightside" and "Human" 35:42 How Fan-Favorite Deep Cuts Emerge 38:06 Songwriting as a Daily Discipline 40:02 Two New Albums and Where The Killers Stand Now 42:38 Trusting His Own Judgment Over Critics 44:10 Vampire Weekend and Creative Competition 48:12 Closing Thanks New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Brandon Flowers is best known as the frontman of The Killers. All seven of their albums have gone top 10 in the U.S. and to number one in the U.K. Flowers has also had a successful solo career and he’s back with his third solo album THRASHER, out August 21.

00:00 Cold Open

00:26 Welcome to Alchemy

01:05 Recording THRASHER Live in Nashville

02:38 Returning to His Nephi, Utah Roots

05:18 From Golf Course to First Songs

07:12 The Mentor Who Opened Up Music

08:48 Answering Dave Keuning's Ad and Becoming a Singer

12:36 Discovering His Frontman Persona

14:18 Family, Golf, and Finding His Own Lane

18:13 The Real People Behind THRASHER's Characters

22:06 Ambiguity and His Encounter with Elvis

26:46 Sponsor Break / The FLAG Art Foundation

29:01 Balancing Stage Persona and Family Life

30:15 22 Years Since Hot Fuss: Writing "Mr. Brightside" and "Human"

35:42 How Fan-Favorite Deep Cuts Emerge

38:06 Songwriting as a Daily Discipline

40:02 Two New Albums and Where The Killers Stand Now

42:38 Trusting His Own Judgment Over Critics

44:10 Vampire Weekend and Creative Competition

48:12 Closing Thanks

New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.

⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.

For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show

About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.


]]> 2962 What Holland Taylor learned from Stella Adler after 15 years of acting The legendary Holland Taylor stars in the new Apple TV series Brothers, with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. It’s another iconic performance from the actress who also had memorable runs in Bosom Buddies, The Practice, and Two and a Half Men. We talk about all of those and her love of the stage where she got her start back in the ‘60s. 00:00 Inner Mansions 01:07 Playing Matthew McConaughey’s Mom 03:08 Building the Look: Wig, Tan & Jewelry 05:11 Bosom Buddies & Spotting Tom Hanks Early 06:35 A Theater Kid at Heart 07:42 First Broadway Show & Lamb Chops with Geraldine Page 11:07 Finding Stella Adler at 35 13:53 The Trouble with Method Acting 17:27 Broadway Debut in The Devils 19:38 Going On Unrehearsed for Janet Leigh 23:42 Replacing Eve Arden in Moose Murders 25:10 The Ann Richards Obsession 29:00 Opening in Galveston in a Tropical Storm 31:28 Why She Left Two and a Half Men 33:38 The Practice & Legally Blonde 37:13 Living Inside Ann on Broadway 41:19 “I Am Satisfied”: Her Final Performance 46:00 Life & Art with Sarah Paulson 49:14 Acidic, Alluring Women 52:30 Signing the Guest Book New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:26:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason The legendary Holland Taylor stars in the new Apple TV series Brothers, with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. It’s another iconic performance from the actress who also had memorable runs in Bosom Buddies, The Practice, and Two and a Half Men. We talk about all of those and her love of the stage where she got her start back in the ‘60s. 00:00 Inner Mansions 01:07 Playing Matthew McConaughey’s Mom 03:08 Building the Look: Wig, Tan & Jewelry 05:11 Bosom Buddies & Spotting Tom Hanks Early 06:35 A Theater Kid at Heart 07:42 First Broadway Show & Lamb Chops with Geraldine Page 11:07 Finding Stella Adler at 35 13:53 The Trouble with Method Acting 17:27 Broadway Debut in The Devils 19:38 Going On Unrehearsed for Janet Leigh 23:42 Replacing Eve Arden in Moose Murders 25:10 The Ann Richards Obsession 29:00 Opening in Galveston in a Tropical Storm 31:28 Why She Left Two and a Half Men 33:38 The Practice & Legally Blonde 37:13 Living Inside Ann on Broadway 41:19 “I Am Satisfied”: Her Final Performance 46:00 Life & Art with Sarah Paulson 49:14 Acidic, Alluring Women 52:30 Signing the Guest Book New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. The legendary Holland Taylor stars in the new Apple TV series Brothers, with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. It’s another iconic performance from the actress who also had memorable runs in Bosom Buddies, The Practice, and Two and a Half Men. We talk about all of those and her love of the stage where she got her start back in the ‘60s.

00:00 Inner Mansions

01:07 Playing Matthew McConaughey’s Mom

03:08 Building the Look: Wig, Tan & Jewelry

05:11 Bosom Buddies & Spotting Tom Hanks Early

06:35 A Theater Kid at Heart

07:42 First Broadway Show & Lamb Chops with Geraldine Page

11:07 Finding Stella Adler at 35

13:53 The Trouble with Method Acting

17:27 Broadway Debut in The Devils

19:38 Going On Unrehearsed for Janet Leigh

23:42 Replacing Eve Arden in Moose Murders

25:10 The Ann Richards Obsession

29:00 Opening in Galveston in a Tropical Storm

31:28 Why She Left Two and a Half Men

33:38 The Practice & Legally Blonde

37:13 Living Inside Ann on Broadway

41:19 “I Am Satisfied”: Her Final Performance

46:00 Life & Art with Sarah Paulson

49:14 Acidic, Alluring Women

52:30 Signing the Guest Book

New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.

⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.

For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show

About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3229 Carly Pearce reveals what success secretly cost her Over the past decade, Carly Pearce has been one of country music’s most successful female artists with half a dozen platinum singles. She's won four ACM awards and another three CMAs. Her new album, “Honest Woman,” takes a bold look at the price of that success.  00:00 "I lost the ability to see myself" 01:02 Dollywood at 16, Nashville at 19 04:46 "Dream Come True" and the house at the end of the cul-de-sac 07:27 The award, and the text messages the next morning 10:36 The heartbreak ballad that felt like career suicide 11:33 Cleaning Airbnbs in a ten-year town 13:32 The caveman and the diamond 15:32 "It was whiplash" 19:29 Was it all worth it? 20:53 Circus animals: the truth about touring 22:56 Going back to her bluegrass roots 25:30 "There's no timeline" 28:30 The weirdo music kid who started writing at 11 31:11 The songs that scared her 32:31 "Church Girl," faith, and the backlash 36:03 Finding her sound with Dan Tyminski and Molly Tuttle 38:20 Losing busbee and what he told her at the end 41:20 Kelsea Ballerini, her safe place 44:53 Her mom's note: "You are enough" 49:00 Finding the joy again New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:55:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason Over the past decade, Carly Pearce has been one of country music’s most successful female artists with half a dozen platinum singles. She's won four ACM awards and another three CMAs. Her new album, “Honest Woman,” takes a bold look at the price of that success.  00:00 "I lost the ability to see myself" 01:02 Dollywood at 16, Nashville at 19 04:46 "Dream Come True" and the house at the end of the cul-de-sac 07:27 The award, and the text messages the next morning 10:36 The heartbreak ballad that felt like career suicide 11:33 Cleaning Airbnbs in a ten-year town 13:32 The caveman and the diamond 15:32 "It was whiplash" 19:29 Was it all worth it? 20:53 Circus animals: the truth about touring 22:56 Going back to her bluegrass roots 25:30 "There's no timeline" 28:30 The weirdo music kid who started writing at 11 31:11 The songs that scared her 32:31 "Church Girl," faith, and the backlash 36:03 Finding her sound with Dan Tyminski and Molly Tuttle 38:20 Losing busbee and what he told her at the end 41:20 Kelsea Ballerini, her safe place 44:53 Her mom's note: "You are enough" 49:00 Finding the joy again New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Over the past decade, Carly Pearce has been one of country music’s most successful female artists with half a dozen platinum singles. She's won four ACM awards and another three CMAs. Her new album, “Honest Woman,” takes a bold look at the price of that success. 

00:00 "I lost the ability to see myself"

01:02 Dollywood at 16, Nashville at 19

04:46 "Dream Come True" and the house at the end of the cul-de-sac

07:27 The award, and the text messages the next morning

10:36 The heartbreak ballad that felt like career suicide

11:33 Cleaning Airbnbs in a ten-year town

13:32 The caveman and the diamond

15:32 "It was whiplash"

19:29 Was it all worth it?

20:53 Circus animals: the truth about touring

22:56 Going back to her bluegrass roots

25:30 "There's no timeline"

28:30 The weirdo music kid who started writing at 11

31:11 The songs that scared her

32:31 "Church Girl," faith, and the backlash

36:03 Finding her sound with Dan Tyminski and Molly Tuttle

38:20 Losing busbee and what he told her at the end

41:20 Kelsea Ballerini, her safe place

44:53 Her mom's note: "You are enough"

49:00 Finding the joy again

New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.

⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.

For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show

About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3052 Why everyone finds inspiration at Aaron Dessner's Long Pond Studio We traveled to a special place this week: Long Pond Studio in upstate New York. It's the home and workplace of Aaron Dessner, a member of the indie rock band The National and a GRAMMY-winning producer behind some of this year's biggest albums. We discuss the alchemy that's happened there with artists like Gracie Abrams, Noah Kahan, Marcus Mumford and Taylor Swift. 00:00 Welcome to Long Pond 01:03 Sleep Well Beast, the first album made here 02:11 Building a studio that lets nature in 05:58 How folklore put Long Pond on the map 06:57 The chance meeting behind Mumford & Sons' Prizefighter 10:38 Taylor Swift's out-of-the-blue text 13:08 "Cardigan" arrives at 3 a.m. 16:49 Making space for artists in the room 19:29 How Aaron starts a song 25:02 Dad's drum set and growing up with twin Bryce 28:44 Music as a refuge 30:21 Where does music come from? 34:35 Producing without "peeing on a tree" 38:46 Chasing hits vs. the "ugly ducklings" 42:24 Meeting Gracie Abrams and writing in the room 46:25 Pop pressure and making "That's So True" 50:55 "I still feel like a kid" 53:05 What's inspiring Aaron now New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason We traveled to a special place this week: Long Pond Studio in upstate New York. It's the home and workplace of Aaron Dessner, a member of the indie rock band The National and a GRAMMY-winning producer behind some of this year's biggest albums. We discuss the alchemy that's happened there with artists like Gracie Abrams, Noah Kahan, Marcus Mumford and Taylor Swift. 00:00 Welcome to Long Pond 01:03 Sleep Well Beast, the first album made here 02:11 Building a studio that lets nature in 05:58 How folklore put Long Pond on the map 06:57 The chance meeting behind Mumford & Sons' Prizefighter 10:38 Taylor Swift's out-of-the-blue text 13:08 "Cardigan" arrives at 3 a.m. 16:49 Making space for artists in the room 19:29 How Aaron starts a song 25:02 Dad's drum set and growing up with twin Bryce 28:44 Music as a refuge 30:21 Where does music come from? 34:35 Producing without "peeing on a tree" 38:46 Chasing hits vs. the "ugly ducklings" 42:24 Meeting Gracie Abrams and writing in the room 46:25 Pop pressure and making "That's So True" 50:55 "I still feel like a kid" 53:05 What's inspiring Aaron now New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. We traveled to a special place this week: Long Pond Studio in upstate New York. It's the home and workplace of Aaron Dessner, a member of the indie rock band The National and a GRAMMY-winning producer behind some of this year's biggest albums. We discuss the alchemy that's happened there with artists like Gracie Abrams, Noah Kahan, Marcus Mumford and Taylor Swift.

00:00 Welcome to Long Pond

01:03 Sleep Well Beast, the first album made here

02:11 Building a studio that lets nature in

05:58 How folklore put Long Pond on the map

06:57 The chance meeting behind Mumford & Sons' Prizefighter

10:38 Taylor Swift's out-of-the-blue text

13:08 "Cardigan" arrives at 3 a.m.

16:49 Making space for artists in the room

19:29 How Aaron starts a song

25:02 Dad's drum set and growing up with twin Bryce

28:44 Music as a refuge

30:21 Where does music come from?

34:35 Producing without "peeing on a tree"

38:46 Chasing hits vs. the "ugly ducklings"

42:24 Meeting Gracie Abrams and writing in the room

46:25 Pop pressure and making "That's So True"

50:55 "I still feel like a kid"

53:05 What's inspiring Aaron now

New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.

⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.

For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show

About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3448 MUNA on surviving a breakup while keeping the band together A few years ago, my daughter shared a song with me and said, “You need to listen to this band.” I've been a fan of MUNA ever since. Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson came together in college at USC back in 2013, and have since built a devoted following. The indie pop trio has supported Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves, & Taylor Swift on tour. We spoke about their fourth album, “Dancing on The Wall,” mental health, taking creative risks, and why bands still matter. 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Meet MUNA 01:43 Are Bands a Dying Breed? 04:09 The Band as a Mental Health Support System 05:21 The New Album: Dancing on the Wall 09:06 How MUNA Came Together at USC 12:33 Katie's Origin Story & Naomi Becomes the Producer 16:04 Early Validation 26:50 Conflict, Creative Process & Working Alone 31:37 Katie's Solo Project & the "Open Marriage" of a Band 35:25 Friendship vs. the Band – MUNA vs. boygenius 37:07 What Does Music Give Each of You? 49:44 Drive, Ambition & the Need to Be Seen 53:09 Building Community and the Song "So What" 55:17 Getting Dropped by Their Label 58:41 "Silk Chiffon," Artistic Integrity & Taking Risks 1:01:29 Signing the Guest Book New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:55:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason A few years ago, my daughter shared a song with me and said, “You need to listen to this band.” I've been a fan of MUNA ever since. Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson came together in college at USC back in 2013, and have since built a devoted following. The indie pop trio has supported Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves, & Taylor Swift on tour. We spoke about their fourth album, “Dancing on The Wall,” mental health, taking creative risks, and why bands still matter. 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Meet MUNA 01:43 Are Bands a Dying Breed? 04:09 The Band as a Mental Health Support System 05:21 The New Album: Dancing on the Wall 09:06 How MUNA Came Together at USC 12:33 Katie's Origin Story & Naomi Becomes the Producer 16:04 Early Validation 26:50 Conflict, Creative Process & Working Alone 31:37 Katie's Solo Project & the "Open Marriage" of a Band 35:25 Friendship vs. the Band – MUNA vs. boygenius 37:07 What Does Music Give Each of You? 49:44 Drive, Ambition & the Need to Be Seen 53:09 Building Community and the Song "So What" 55:17 Getting Dropped by Their Label 58:41 "Silk Chiffon," Artistic Integrity & Taking Risks 1:01:29 Signing the Guest Book New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. A few years ago, my daughter shared a song with me and said, “You need to listen to this band.” I've been a fan of MUNA ever since. Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson came together in college at USC back in 2013, and have since built a devoted following. The indie pop trio has supported Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves, & Taylor Swift on tour. We spoke about their fourth album, “Dancing on The Wall,” mental health, taking creative risks, and why bands still matter.

00:00 Introduction

01:31 Meet MUNA

01:43 Are Bands a Dying Breed?

04:09 The Band as a Mental Health Support System

05:21 The New Album: Dancing on the Wall

09:06 How MUNA Came Together at USC

12:33 Katie's Origin Story & Naomi Becomes the Producer

16:04 Early Validation

26:50 Conflict, Creative Process & Working Alone

31:37 Katie's Solo Project & the "Open Marriage" of a Band

35:25 Friendship vs. the Band – MUNA vs. boygenius

37:07 What Does Music Give Each of You?

49:44 Drive, Ambition & the Need to Be Seen

53:09 Building Community and the Song "So What"

55:17 Getting Dropped by Their Label

58:41 "Silk Chiffon," Artistic Integrity & Taking Risks

1:01:29 Signing the Guest Book

New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.

⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.

For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show

About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3747 Ben Schwartz shot an entire TV series with no buyer. Here's the plan On this week’s episode, we’re catching up with an old friend. Ben Schwartz is on tour with his improv show “Ben Schwartz and Friends.” He’s voicing Sonic in the upcoming fourth film in the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series. And he’s just completed a passion project – a new TV series that he’s written, directed and stars in based on his popular Funny or Die web series “The Earliest Show.”  00:00 Intro 01:06 Four improv shows in two days 03:03 Walking onstage with no plan 05:42 How to escape a dying scene 07:22 Listening, callbacks and four empty chairs 11:19 Ben interviews Anthony 13:00 What he learned as a Letterman page 14:27 The pre-show ritual 16:38 Why stand-up felt lonely 19:25 FLAG Art Foundation 20:29 The Earliest Show: making TV independently 25:41 Betting his own time and money 30:03 Selling 13 scripts and getting none made 35:48 How to keep hope alive 39:20 Why Anthony started Alchemy 44:42 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 46:44 Finding comfort in '90s movies 48:06 "Creativity eats darkness" New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason On this week’s episode, we’re catching up with an old friend. Ben Schwartz is on tour with his improv show “Ben Schwartz and Friends.” He’s voicing Sonic in the upcoming fourth film in the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series. And he’s just completed a passion project – a new TV series that he’s written, directed and stars in based on his popular Funny or Die web series “The Earliest Show.”  00:00 Intro 01:06 Four improv shows in two days 03:03 Walking onstage with no plan 05:42 How to escape a dying scene 07:22 Listening, callbacks and four empty chairs 11:19 Ben interviews Anthony 13:00 What he learned as a Letterman page 14:27 The pre-show ritual 16:38 Why stand-up felt lonely 19:25 FLAG Art Foundation 20:29 The Earliest Show: making TV independently 25:41 Betting his own time and money 30:03 Selling 13 scripts and getting none made 35:48 How to keep hope alive 39:20 Why Anthony started Alchemy 44:42 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 46:44 Finding comfort in '90s movies 48:06 "Creativity eats darkness" New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. On this week’s episode, we’re catching up with an old friend. Ben Schwartz is on tour with his improv show “Ben Schwartz and Friends.” He’s voicing Sonic in the upcoming fourth film in the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series. And he’s just completed a passion project – a new TV series that he’s written, directed and stars in based on his popular Funny or Die web series “The Earliest Show.” 

00:00 Intro

01:06 Four improv shows in two days

03:03 Walking onstage with no plan

05:42 How to escape a dying scene

07:22 Listening, callbacks and four empty chairs

11:19 Ben interviews Anthony

13:00 What he learned as a Letterman page

14:27 The pre-show ritual

16:38 Why stand-up felt lonely

19:25 FLAG Art Foundation

20:29 The Earliest Show: making TV independently

25:41 Betting his own time and money

30:03 Selling 13 scripts and getting none made

35:48 How to keep hope alive

39:20 Why Anthony started Alchemy

44:42 Sonic the Hedgehog 4

46:44 Finding comfort in '90s movies

48:06 "Creativity eats darkness"

New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.

⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.

For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show

About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3032 Nile Rodgers on band speak: the language only he and Bowie understood Our guest this episode, Nile Rodgers, has left an indelible mark on American music, as a guitarist, producer, and leader of the band Chic. Nile was just named one of the “30 Greatest Living American Songwriters” by the New York Times. He co-wrote the #1 hits “Good Times,” and “Le Freak,” for Chic. Nile also co-wrote “Get Lucky” with Daft Punk, “Let’s Dance” with David Bowie, “I’m Coming Out” for Diana Ross, and “We Are Family” for Sister Sledge. And his life has been as incredible as his musical catalogue.  0:00 Introduction 1:17 Diana Ross, "Upside Down," and "I'm Coming Out" 5:04 Working with Diana Ross 6:16 On songwriting: "I'm a good song rewriter" 8:32 The most Nile Rodgers song: "Everybody Dance" 9:27 The guitar lesson that changed everything 12:44 The art of chucking 14:09 Meeting Bernard Edwards 16:03 Growing up on the Lower East Side 18:00 His mother, his father, and a "variation on a Mormon theme" 21:50 A Thanksgiving Day drug overdose 23:47 Sponsor break – The FLAG Art Foundation  25:43 Writing songs alone on the NYC subway 27:13 Nina Simone's last concert 30:27 How his life shaped his music 31:54 Chic's success and why he didn't want to be out front  37:14 First big concert – 70,000 people and a Heineken 39:08 The night his heart stopped six times 44:27 What makes him such a great collaborator 46:40 Working with Bowie on "Let's Dance" 47:51 Being labeled a "disco producer" and proving them wrong 50:05 Still going strong at 73 New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:55:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason Our guest this episode, Nile Rodgers, has left an indelible mark on American music, as a guitarist, producer, and leader of the band Chic. Nile was just named one of the “30 Greatest Living American Songwriters” by the New York Times. He co-wrote the #1 hits “Good Times,” and “Le Freak,” for Chic. Nile also co-wrote “Get Lucky” with Daft Punk, “Let’s Dance” with David Bowie, “I’m Coming Out” for Diana Ross, and “We Are Family” for Sister Sledge. And his life has been as incredible as his musical catalogue.  0:00 Introduction 1:17 Diana Ross, "Upside Down," and "I'm Coming Out" 5:04 Working with Diana Ross 6:16 On songwriting: "I'm a good song rewriter" 8:32 The most Nile Rodgers song: "Everybody Dance" 9:27 The guitar lesson that changed everything 12:44 The art of chucking 14:09 Meeting Bernard Edwards 16:03 Growing up on the Lower East Side 18:00 His mother, his father, and a "variation on a Mormon theme" 21:50 A Thanksgiving Day drug overdose 23:47 Sponsor break – The FLAG Art Foundation  25:43 Writing songs alone on the NYC subway 27:13 Nina Simone's last concert 30:27 How his life shaped his music 31:54 Chic's success and why he didn't want to be out front  37:14 First big concert – 70,000 people and a Heineken 39:08 The night his heart stopped six times 44:27 What makes him such a great collaborator 46:40 Working with Bowie on "Let's Dance" 47:51 Being labeled a "disco producer" and proving them wrong 50:05 Still going strong at 73 New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Our guest this episode, Nile Rodgers, has left an indelible mark on American music, as a guitarist, producer, and leader of the band Chic. Nile was just named one of the “30 Greatest Living American Songwriters” by the New York Times. He co-wrote the #1 hits “Good Times,” and “Le Freak,” for Chic. Nile also co-wrote “Get Lucky” with Daft Punk, “Let’s Dance” with David Bowie, “I’m Coming Out” for Diana Ross, and “We Are Family” for Sister Sledge. And his life has been as incredible as his musical catalogue. 

0:00 Introduction

1:17 Diana Ross, "Upside Down," and "I'm Coming Out"

5:04 Working with Diana Ross

6:16 On songwriting: "I'm a good song rewriter"

8:32 The most Nile Rodgers song: "Everybody Dance"

9:27 The guitar lesson that changed everything

12:44 The art of chucking

14:09 Meeting Bernard Edwards

16:03 Growing up on the Lower East Side

18:00 His mother, his father, and a "variation on a Mormon theme"

21:50 A Thanksgiving Day drug overdose

23:47 Sponsor break – The FLAG Art Foundation 

25:43 Writing songs alone on the NYC subway

27:13 Nina Simone's last concert

30:27 How his life shaped his music

31:54 Chic's success and why he didn't want to be out front 

37:14 First big concert – 70,000 people and a Heineken

39:08 The night his heart stopped six times

44:27 What makes him such a great collaborator

46:40 Working with Bowie on "Let's Dance"

47:51 Being labeled a "disco producer" and proving them wrong

50:05 Still going strong at 73

New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.

⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.

For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show

About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3134 Tom Morello's new album is a Rage fan's dream Tom Morello is one of the great guitarists of our time, known for his epic albums with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. We talk about his many collaborations, with Chris Cornell, Bruce Springsteen, and now his 15-year-old son, Roman, on Tom's latest record, “Everyone Gets Everything They Want.” 00:00 Intro 01:02 Tom's first solo rock album after 22 records 02:02 Writing with his son Roman 05:44 Failed guitar lessons and the Sex Pistols 07:27 The Clash and "The future is unwritten" 08:45 Practicing 8 hours a day at Harvard 12:29 Finding his signature sound by accident 14:39 Lock Up, Geffen, and a vow to play only what he believes in 15:55 Growing up in Libertyville and his mother 19:13 Meeting his father, the Kenyan ambassador 27:21 Bruce Springsteen and "The Ghost of Tom Joad" 32:36 Chris Cornell and the birth of Audioslave 36:53 A word from the FLAG Art Foundation 37:44 The Nightwatchman and his most personal songs 41:42 Black Sabbath's farewell and why metal hooked him 44:36 The Power to the People festival 47:03 Why he's not slowing down 48:35 Guitar solos and "Holy Spirit" moments New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:00:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason Tom Morello is one of the great guitarists of our time, known for his epic albums with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. We talk about his many collaborations, with Chris Cornell, Bruce Springsteen, and now his 15-year-old son, Roman, on Tom's latest record, “Everyone Gets Everything They Want.” 00:00 Intro 01:02 Tom's first solo rock album after 22 records 02:02 Writing with his son Roman 05:44 Failed guitar lessons and the Sex Pistols 07:27 The Clash and "The future is unwritten" 08:45 Practicing 8 hours a day at Harvard 12:29 Finding his signature sound by accident 14:39 Lock Up, Geffen, and a vow to play only what he believes in 15:55 Growing up in Libertyville and his mother 19:13 Meeting his father, the Kenyan ambassador 27:21 Bruce Springsteen and "The Ghost of Tom Joad" 32:36 Chris Cornell and the birth of Audioslave 36:53 A word from the FLAG Art Foundation 37:44 The Nightwatchman and his most personal songs 41:42 Black Sabbath's farewell and why metal hooked him 44:36 The Power to the People festival 47:03 Why he's not slowing down 48:35 Guitar solos and "Holy Spirit" moments New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Tom Morello is one of the great guitarists of our time, known for his epic albums with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. We talk about his many collaborations, with Chris Cornell, Bruce Springsteen, and now his 15-year-old son, Roman, on Tom's latest record, “Everyone Gets Everything They Want.”

00:00 Intro

01:02 Tom's first solo rock album after 22 records

02:02 Writing with his son Roman

05:44 Failed guitar lessons and the Sex Pistols

07:27 The Clash and "The future is unwritten"

08:45 Practicing 8 hours a day at Harvard

12:29 Finding his signature sound by accident

14:39 Lock Up, Geffen, and a vow to play only what he believes in

15:55 Growing up in Libertyville and his mother

19:13 Meeting his father, the Kenyan ambassador

27:21 Bruce Springsteen and "The Ghost of Tom Joad"

32:36 Chris Cornell and the birth of Audioslave

36:53 A word from the FLAG Art Foundation

37:44 The Nightwatchman and his most personal songs

41:42 Black Sabbath's farewell and why metal hooked him

44:36 The Power to the People festival

47:03 Why he's not slowing down

48:35 Guitar solos and "Holy Spirit" moments

New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.

⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.

For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show

About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3340 How Sam Smith's songwriting changed on their new album Our guest this episode, Sam Smith, is one of the most popular singers in the world. Sam's music has more than 57 billion streams. We first met in 2014 in Sam's hometown in England, when their debut album was just blowing up. Now, a dozen years later, Sam came to my home to talk about their stunning fifth album, "Hazel Eyes." 00:00 "That's where I sat with you" 00:32 Welcome to Alchemy 02:13 A queer love album — and a radical one 03:51 Leaving the pop factory 05:08 The pressure of being a billion-stream artist 07:14 Inside "Thief" 12:08 A private relationship with singing 13:31 Church, gospel, and singing alone 14:33 Vocal surgery, cancelled arenas, and stage fear 17:20 The field in the countryside 19:34 Going back to school in 2014 22:14 Becoming a New Yorker 25:21 The Met Gala, and fashion as armor 31:22 The songs Sam won't sing anymore 35:35 Panic and an overactive imagination 37:10 The letter from Tom Petty 43:56 Pronouns, backlash, and being a political artist 48:10 The Pink House 50:32 Sam Served: the food vlog 54:05 How Sam handles the flak 56:08 What music gives Sam now New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:55:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason Our guest this episode, Sam Smith, is one of the most popular singers in the world. Sam's music has more than 57 billion streams. We first met in 2014 in Sam's hometown in England, when their debut album was just blowing up. Now, a dozen years later, Sam came to my home to talk about their stunning fifth album, "Hazel Eyes." 00:00 "That's where I sat with you" 00:32 Welcome to Alchemy 02:13 A queer love album — and a radical one 03:51 Leaving the pop factory 05:08 The pressure of being a billion-stream artist 07:14 Inside "Thief" 12:08 A private relationship with singing 13:31 Church, gospel, and singing alone 14:33 Vocal surgery, cancelled arenas, and stage fear 17:20 The field in the countryside 19:34 Going back to school in 2014 22:14 Becoming a New Yorker 25:21 The Met Gala, and fashion as armor 31:22 The songs Sam won't sing anymore 35:35 Panic and an overactive imagination 37:10 The letter from Tom Petty 43:56 Pronouns, backlash, and being a political artist 48:10 The Pink House 50:32 Sam Served: the food vlog 54:05 How Sam handles the flak 56:08 What music gives Sam now New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Our guest this episode, Sam Smith, is one of the most popular singers in the world. Sam's music has more than 57 billion streams. We first met in 2014 in Sam's hometown in England, when their debut album was just blowing up. Now, a dozen years later, Sam came to my home to talk about their stunning fifth album, "Hazel Eyes."

00:00 "That's where I sat with you"

00:32 Welcome to Alchemy

02:13 A queer love album — and a radical one

03:51 Leaving the pop factory

05:08 The pressure of being a billion-stream artist

07:14 Inside "Thief"

12:08 A private relationship with singing

13:31 Church, gospel, and singing alone

14:33 Vocal surgery, cancelled arenas, and stage fear

17:20 The field in the countryside

19:34 Going back to school in 2014

22:14 Becoming a New Yorker

25:21 The Met Gala, and fashion as armor

31:22 The songs Sam won't sing anymore

35:35 Panic and an overactive imagination

37:10 The letter from Tom Petty

43:56 Pronouns, backlash, and being a political artist

48:10 The Pink House

50:32 Sam Served: the food vlog

54:05 How Sam handles the flak

56:08 What music gives Sam now

New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.

⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.

For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show

About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3498 How Sara Bareilles became a Broadway writer, Sondheim star, and sitcom lead One of my favorite singers, Sara Bareilles, is our guest this episode. Sara's released five top 10 albums, written the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway show "Waitress," and starred in a Sondheim musical. She's back with her first new studio album in seven years, "Good Grief," and it's a beauty. 00:00 Intro 01:03 Juggling an album, a tour, a film and a musical 03:24 "Good Grief": an album born from loss 05:20 How "Forever" became a song for Gavin Creel 07:12 Morning pages and The Artist's Way 09:33 How writing Waitress changed her songwriting 12:42 Asking big questions without answers 14:17 "Capsize Me": a letter to God 16:41 "Wind Is The Weather" and feeling out at sea 19:05 Letting go of control in the studio 22:06 Finding herself in the music industry 26:05 Why being "somewhere in the middle" served her 27:41 A word from The FLAG Art Foundation 28:50 Jennifer Nettles and the musical that never was 31:01 Adapting "The Interestings" for the stage 33:58 Saying yes to Girls5eva 36:43 Working through anxiety 37:42 Grief is love 42:48 Putting lost friends into songs 44:13 Staying on the growth edge 46:36 Her first time on a Broadway stage 49:20 The chimney video that went viral New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:00:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason One of my favorite singers, Sara Bareilles, is our guest this episode. Sara's released five top 10 albums, written the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway show "Waitress," and starred in a Sondheim musical. She's back with her first new studio album in seven years, "Good Grief," and it's a beauty. 00:00 Intro 01:03 Juggling an album, a tour, a film and a musical 03:24 "Good Grief": an album born from loss 05:20 How "Forever" became a song for Gavin Creel 07:12 Morning pages and The Artist's Way 09:33 How writing Waitress changed her songwriting 12:42 Asking big questions without answers 14:17 "Capsize Me": a letter to God 16:41 "Wind Is The Weather" and feeling out at sea 19:05 Letting go of control in the studio 22:06 Finding herself in the music industry 26:05 Why being "somewhere in the middle" served her 27:41 A word from The FLAG Art Foundation 28:50 Jennifer Nettles and the musical that never was 31:01 Adapting "The Interestings" for the stage 33:58 Saying yes to Girls5eva 36:43 Working through anxiety 37:42 Grief is love 42:48 Putting lost friends into songs 44:13 Staying on the growth edge 46:36 Her first time on a Broadway stage 49:20 The chimney video that went viral New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. One of my favorite singers, Sara Bareilles, is our guest this episode. Sara's released five top 10 albums, written the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway show "Waitress," and starred in a Sondheim musical. She's back with her first new studio album in seven years, "Good Grief," and it's a beauty.


00:00 Intro

01:03 Juggling an album, a tour, a film and a musical

03:24 "Good Grief": an album born from loss

05:20 How "Forever" became a song for Gavin Creel

07:12 Morning pages and The Artist's Way

09:33 How writing Waitress changed her songwriting

12:42 Asking big questions without answers

14:17 "Capsize Me": a letter to God

16:41 "Wind Is The Weather" and feeling out at sea

19:05 Letting go of control in the studio

22:06 Finding herself in the music industry

26:05 Why being "somewhere in the middle" served her

27:41 A word from The FLAG Art Foundation

28:50 Jennifer Nettles and the musical that never was

31:01 Adapting "The Interestings" for the stage

33:58 Saying yes to Girls5eva

36:43 Working through anxiety

37:42 Grief is love

42:48 Putting lost friends into songs

44:13 Staying on the growth edge

46:36 Her first time on a Broadway stage

49:20 The chimney video that went viral


New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.


⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.


For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show


About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.


About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3137 Brittany Howard on the unexpected rise of Alabama Shakes Brittany Howard has been ranked one of the greatest guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone. Then there's that voice, which the New Yorker called "a mixture of Robert Plant and Marvin Gaye." Brittany's debut album with her band Alabama Shakes was a million-seller. Their follow-up went to No. 1. Now, after Brittany's two great solo albums, the Shakes are back with a record called "I Must Be Dreaming," out August 28. 00:00 — Welcome to Alchemy 01:25 — Reuniting with Alabama Shakes 04:31 — Musical Roots and a Metal Side Project 07:16 — Finding Her Voice 08:32 — Believing in a Music Career 10:04 — Seeing a Woman Play Guitar For the First Time 10:50 — What Made Her Unstoppable 12:23 — Losing Her Sister Jaime 14:36 — Honoring Jaime Through Music 18:07 — Finding the Band and Blowing Up 21:44 — Working Odd Jobs 22:08 — Writing "Hold On" on the Sanitation Job 24:50 — Chasing Inspiration Wherever It Strikes 27:36 — Rest, Risk, and Creative Renewal 30:14 — Getting Lost in the Music 32:56 — Duality, Identity, and Home 38:13 — A Night at Paisley Park with Prince 40:34 — Bill Withers and Treasured Moments 41:45 — Music as a Source of Answers 44:39 — Writing "Tea Time" and Chasing a Great Lyric New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:55:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason Brittany Howard has been ranked one of the greatest guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone. Then there's that voice, which the New Yorker called "a mixture of Robert Plant and Marvin Gaye." Brittany's debut album with her band Alabama Shakes was a million-seller. Their follow-up went to No. 1. Now, after Brittany's two great solo albums, the Shakes are back with a record called "I Must Be Dreaming," out August 28. 00:00 — Welcome to Alchemy 01:25 — Reuniting with Alabama Shakes 04:31 — Musical Roots and a Metal Side Project 07:16 — Finding Her Voice 08:32 — Believing in a Music Career 10:04 — Seeing a Woman Play Guitar For the First Time 10:50 — What Made Her Unstoppable 12:23 — Losing Her Sister Jaime 14:36 — Honoring Jaime Through Music 18:07 — Finding the Band and Blowing Up 21:44 — Working Odd Jobs 22:08 — Writing "Hold On" on the Sanitation Job 24:50 — Chasing Inspiration Wherever It Strikes 27:36 — Rest, Risk, and Creative Renewal 30:14 — Getting Lost in the Music 32:56 — Duality, Identity, and Home 38:13 — A Night at Paisley Park with Prince 40:34 — Bill Withers and Treasured Moments 41:45 — Music as a Source of Answers 44:39 — Writing "Tea Time" and Chasing a Great Lyric New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Brittany Howard has been ranked one of the greatest guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone. Then there's that voice, which the New Yorker called "a mixture of Robert Plant and Marvin Gaye." Brittany's debut album with her band Alabama Shakes was a million-seller. Their follow-up went to No. 1. Now, after Brittany's two great solo albums, the Shakes are back with a record called "I Must Be Dreaming," out August 28.


00:00 — Welcome to Alchemy

01:25 — Reuniting with Alabama Shakes

04:31 — Musical Roots and a Metal Side Project

07:16 — Finding Her Voice

08:32 — Believing in a Music Career

10:04 — Seeing a Woman Play Guitar For the First Time

10:50 — What Made Her Unstoppable

12:23 — Losing Her Sister Jaime

14:36 — Honoring Jaime Through Music

18:07 — Finding the Band and Blowing Up

21:44 — Working Odd Jobs

22:08 — Writing "Hold On" on the Sanitation Job

24:50 — Chasing Inspiration Wherever It Strikes

27:36 — Rest, Risk, and Creative Renewal

30:14 — Getting Lost in the Music

32:56 — Duality, Identity, and Home

38:13 — A Night at Paisley Park with Prince

40:34 — Bill Withers and Treasured Moments

41:45 — Music as a Source of Answers

44:39 — Writing "Tea Time" and Chasing a Great Lyric


New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one.


⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠.


For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show


About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.


About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 2845 Hozier: “My heart was just torn open” Welcome to the debut episode of Alchemy! For our very first guest, I invited one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Andrew Hozier-Byrne. Between his breakout hit “Take Me to Church” and his more recent smash “Too Sweet,” he’s put out three exceptional albums. Hozier talks with us about falling in love with Simon & Garfunkel as a kid in Ireland, the mystery that always brings him back to music, and taking the stage at Madison Square Garden for the first time – with his dad. 00:00 Introduction & Welcome to Alchemy 01:24 "Too Sweet" Going Viral & the TikTok Leak 04:07 Watching a Song Take On a Life of Its Own 06:09 First Time at Madison Square Garden & His Father's Return to the Stage 10:17 Growing Up in a Creative Household 13:25 Early Singing Experiences & the Band at 15 16:22 Nina Simone, Thin Lizzy & the Records That Shaped Him 18:09 The Mystery of Music & What Pulls Him Back 19:46 Watching Paul Simon Soundcheck at Love Rocks! 25:01 [Sponsor Break] the FLAG Art Foundation 26:33 The Thrill of a Song Coming Together 29:12 Making the TIME 100 & Speaking Out on Matters of Conscience 32:44 Noah Kahan & What Music Gives Him 36:44 Getting Out of Your Own Way When Creating 38:31 New Music: Three Years of Phone Memos 41:09 What's Most Thrilling About the Creative Process 44:48 Hozier the Beekeeper 48:54 Closing Remarks & Credits New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube so you never miss one. Sign up here to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ & Facebook. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on Instagram⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:50:00 -0000 full Anthony Mason Welcome to the debut episode of Alchemy! For our very first guest, I invited one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Andrew Hozier-Byrne. Between his breakout hit “Take Me to Church” and his more recent smash “Too Sweet,” he’s put out three exceptional albums. Hozier talks with us about falling in love with Simon & Garfunkel as a kid in Ireland, the mystery that always brings him back to music, and taking the stage at Madison Square Garden for the first time – with his dad. 00:00 Introduction & Welcome to Alchemy 01:24 "Too Sweet" Going Viral & the TikTok Leak 04:07 Watching a Song Take On a Life of Its Own 06:09 First Time at Madison Square Garden & His Father's Return to the Stage 10:17 Growing Up in a Creative Household 13:25 Early Singing Experiences & the Band at 15 16:22 Nina Simone, Thin Lizzy & the Records That Shaped Him 18:09 The Mystery of Music & What Pulls Him Back 19:46 Watching Paul Simon Soundcheck at Love Rocks! 25:01 [Sponsor Break] the FLAG Art Foundation 26:33 The Thrill of a Song Coming Together 29:12 Making the TIME 100 & Speaking Out on Matters of Conscience 32:44 Noah Kahan & What Music Gives Him 36:44 Getting Out of Your Own Way When Creating 38:31 New Music: Three Years of Phone Memos 41:09 What's Most Thrilling About the Creative Process 44:48 Hozier the Beekeeper 48:54 Closing Remarks & Credits New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube so you never miss one. Sign up here to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ & Facebook. For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on Instagram⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala. Welcome to the debut episode of Alchemy! For our very first guest, I invited one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Andrew Hozier-Byrne. Between his breakout hit “Take Me to Church” and his more recent smash “Too Sweet,” he’s put out three exceptional albums. Hozier talks with us about falling in love with Simon & Garfunkel as a kid in Ireland, the mystery that always brings him back to music, and taking the stage at Madison Square Garden for the first time – with his dad.


00:00 Introduction & Welcome to Alchemy

01:24 "Too Sweet" Going Viral & the TikTok Leak

04:07 Watching a Song Take On a Life of Its Own

06:09 First Time at Madison Square Garden & His Father's Return to the Stage

10:17 Growing Up in a Creative Household

13:25 Early Singing Experiences & the Band at 15

16:22 Nina Simone, Thin Lizzy & the Records That Shaped Him

18:09 The Mystery of Music & What Pulls Him Back

19:46 Watching Paul Simon Soundcheck at Love Rocks!

25:01 [Sponsor Break] the FLAG Art Foundation

26:33 The Thrill of a Song Coming Together

29:12 Making the TIME 100 & Speaking Out on Matters of Conscience

32:44 Noah Kahan & What Music Gives Him

36:44 Getting Out of Your Own Way When Creating

38:31 New Music: Three Years of Phone Memos

41:09 What's Most Thrilling About the Creative Process

44:48 Hozier the Beekeeper

48:54 Closing Remarks & Credits


New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube so you never miss one.


Sign up here to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ & Facebook.


For brand partnerships: partnerships@collective.media

For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com

For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show


About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠:

The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on Instagram⁠.


About Anthony Mason:

Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

]]> 3003 yes Introducing Alchemy with Anthony Mason A first look at Alchemy, where award-winning journalist Anthony Mason sits down with the artists who shape our culture. First full episode Wednesday, September 23. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe now. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:19:00 -0000 trailer Anthony Mason A first look at Alchemy, where award-winning journalist Anthony Mason sits down with the artists who shape our culture. First full episode Wednesday, September 23. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe now. A first look at Alchemy, where award-winning journalist Anthony Mason sits down with the artists who shape our culture. First full episode Wednesday, September 23. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe now.

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