Josh D’Amaro Opens His Disney Playbook

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break down the first week of Disney’s new CEO, Josh D’Amaro, who outlined his goals for the company in a memo to employees, emphasizing creative storytelling and the embrace of new technology. Meanwhile, the banter partners examine Wall Street’s negative reaction to the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger and why California Attorney General Rob Bonta has vowed to scrutinize David Ellison’s acquisition of the legacy studio.

'The AI Doc' producers Diane Becker & Ted Tremper fight for the users

This week, Kim talks to Diane Becker and Ted Tremper about The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist. The producers discuss how they managed to land big names in machine learning, including the CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic. Becker and Tremper also explain how they nearly got Elon Musk — until, surprisingly, he ghosted. They also share how they kept their brains from melting while tackling a subject as overwhelming as AI.

Chris Fleming: Is Comedy His Love Language?

Chris Fleming’s comedy is unlike anyone else working right now. His act is equal parts stand-up and interpretative dance. He’s constantly moving, grooving, and writhing all over the stage.

It’s all on full display in his new HBO special, Chris Fleming: Live at the Palace. He spoke with Sam about embracing imperfection on stage, and how he uses movement to become a ‘spectacle.’ Chris also shares how his supportive family helped him find his purpose — creating joy through stand-up.

Project Hail Mary directors on making outer space feel like home

Directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller got their start in animated TV as co-creators of the series Clone High. Their partnership continued on the big screen with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Lego Movie, and 21 Jump Street. Their latest is the adaptation of the Andy Weir sci-fi novel Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling. Lord and Miller talk about why this movie was the hardest project they've taken on, what the film has in common with The Lego Movie, and why sometimes the most subversive thing they do in a project is have people get along.

KCRW Listeners Can Enjoy $25 of $75+

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Every time you dine with inKind, you’re directly supporting the restaurants you love. Your purchase helps strengthen independent hospitality businesses nationwide, making it easy to turn a night out into meaningful impact.

As a KCRW listener, you can enjoy $25 off $75 at thousands of top-rated restaurants across the country. Download the inKind app to explore, book, and dine out knowing your meal supports restaurants with every bite.

WEEKEND FILM REVIEWS: Project Hail Mary, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, Late Shift, and Miroirs No. 3

In Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling plays a science teacher who travels to space to stop an alien microorganism from consuming the sun. Film critics Dave White and Alonso Duralde review the sci-fi flick based on Andy Weir’s best selling novel. Plus: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, Late Shift, and Miroirs No. 3.