Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

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

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

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

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

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

Hey TODAY fans! As a bonus for you, we’re sharing the trailer for Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder an all-new original podcast series from NBC News Studios. Hosted by veteran journalist Andrew Goldman, Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder, is sure to hook listeners, in the vein of Serial and Making a Murderer. Unfolding over 12 richly told episodes, the podcast will explore, in intimate detail, the twists and turns of this fascinating and confounding case as it hits its milestone 50th anniversary. The series is built upon a decade of original reporting, brand new investigative information, firsthand voices, and a half century of archival audio – as well as multiple interviews with Michael Skakel, who is speaking publicly for the first time ever. To start listening, search “Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder” and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, for new episodes every week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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

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

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

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

Hey Sunday Sitdown fans! As a bonus for you, we’re sharing the trailer for The Last Appeal an all-new original podcast series from Dateline and Lester Holt. In this series, Lester Holt takes listeners inside the urgent case of Robert Roberson, a Texas father set to be executed on October 16th for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter. Lester is on the ground in Texas, where he examines the evidence against Roberson and talks to the people closest to the case, including the lead detective, who now believes he helped put an innocent man behind bars. Lester’s exclusive interviews reveal critical information the jury never heard. This series will confront listeners with questions about justice and truth, and perhaps the most haunting question of all: Is an innocent man about to be put to death? To start listening, just search “The Last Appeal”. And remember to follow for new episodes releasing each day this week. For ad-free listening, subscribe to Dateline Premium on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or DatelinePremium.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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

Nicole Scherzinger is a Tony Award–winning actress and Grammy-nominated singer who made her Broadway debut in Sunset Boulevard, which earned her the 2025 Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. In this Sunday Sitdown from July 2025, Scherzinger joins Willie Geist over pizza to reflect on her run as Norma Desmond, her chart-topping career with The Pussycat Dolls and her new Netflix show Building the Band. She also opens up about her friendship with Liam Payne and working with him on his last major TV appearance before his passing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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

Leslie Odom, Jr., who was Willie Geist’s very first Sunday Sitdown guest nearly a decade ago, is returning to Broadway to reprise his Tony and Grammy Award-winning role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. In this conversation, Odom reflects on why stepping back into the role ten years later feels like a homecoming and how the standing ovations take him back to his 17-year-old self who dreamt of being part of Broadway. He also opens up about life beyond the stage as an author, singer and father, sharing how joy, healing, and intention continue to guide his latest chapter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From fleeing Cuba as a young girl to becoming the Queen of Latin Pop, Gloria Estefan’s journey to prominence has been defined by resilience. In this sitdown from May 2025, Estefan reflects on her family’s story, her lifelong love with Emilio Estefan, and the global success of hits like “Conga.” She also opens up about returning to the stage after her 1990 bus accident, releasing her first Spanish-language album in 18 years, Raíces, and her new musical, Basura. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey TODAY fans! As a bonus, we’re giving you a special preview of Jenna Bush Hager’s podcast, ‘Open Book with Jenna.’ In the season’s debut episode, Jenna sits down with three-time Grammy-winning artist, and lead vocalist of the Zac Brown Band, Zac Brown. From his humble beginnings playing in coffee shops at age fourteen to his upcoming residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, Zac reflects on the milestones that shaped his path. He opens up about fatherhood, founding Camp Southern Ground, and the creative process behind his upcoming album Love and Fear, which features collaborations with icons like Snoop Dogg and Dolly Parton. To listen to the full conversation, just search ‘Open Book with Jenna’ wherever you’re listening to follow now, or click here: https://www.today.com/open-book-with-jenna Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.