Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

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.

As a bonus for Sunday Sitdown fans, we’re sharing the trailer for Deadly Engagement, an all-new original podcast series from Dateline and Josh Mankiewicz. It’s the story of Denita Smith, a promising young photographer with a bright future and engagement ring from a man she loved. But her future vanished in a puff of gun smoke when a mysterious assailant shot her dead outside her home. Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz takes us to North Carolina for a twisted story that reveals a love triangle involving sex, lies and an audio tape that had everyone guessing who really killed Denita. If you like what you hear, just search Deadly Engagement to listen to the first two episodes now, completely free. Or subscribe to Dateline Premium on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or DatelinePremium.com. Subscribers get early access to new episodes and can listen to all Dateline podcasts ad-free. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From her breakout role on Desperate Housewives to thriving today as an actor, director, producer, and entrepreneur, Eva Longoria has one of the most multifaceted careers in Hollywood. In this conversation from March 2025, Longoria opens up to Willie Geist about how her childhood in Texas shaped her journey, her perspective on fame, family, and longevity in Hollywood at 50, and her starring role in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip. She also talks about her work behind the camera and building her tequila brand, Casa Del Sol.

As the Emmy-winning host of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver has redefined political comedy with his wit and satire. In this sitdown from February 2024, Oliver joins Willie Geist at a pub to watch his beloved Liverpool football club and preview the 2024 season of Last Week Tonight. He also reflects on his bold decision to move to America for a dream job on The Daily Show, a leap that set the stage for his late-night success.

A four-time Emmy winner for his legendary role as Walter White in Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston’s made a massive mark on Hollywood. In this conversation from December 2020, Cranston talks to Willie Geist about starring in Showtime’s Your Honor and reuniting with Aaron Paul to launch Dos Hombres Mezcal. He also reflects on the enduring legacy of Breaking Bad and why he’s often drawn to morally complex characters.

Nominated for an Emmy for his starring role in Shrinking, Jason Segel has proven his versatility across dramas and comedies over the last 20 years. In this sitdown from October 2024, Segel opens up to Willie Geist about working alongside Harrison Ford in Shrinking, his long run of comedies from Forgetting Sarah Marshall to How I Met Your Mother, and the life-changing advice he received from Judd Apatow.

With her Emmy-winning role in Abbott Elementary, Sheryl Lee Ralph has become a powerful voice for educators while cementing her place as one of Hollywood’s most enduring talents. In this conversation from February 2024, Ralph sits down with Willie Geist to celebrate her career renaissance after decades in the business and shares how Robert De Niro gave her advice that kept her moving in her career.

From Rocky to Rambo to his latest hit Tulsa King, Sylvester Stallone has spent decades defying the odds. Long before Hollywood stardom, he was a struggling actor in a New York apartment, writing the script for Rocky that would change his life. In this Sitdown, Stallone reflects on the hardships that fueled his drive, why he refused to let anyone else play Rocky, and how receiving the Kennedy Center Honors has impacted his perspective on legacy.

Few artists have walked a path like Jelly Roll, who grew up surrounded by struggle and addiction before choosing redemption. In this sitdown from October 2024, Jelly Roll talks with Willie about his transformation from rapper to country star, the resilience that shaped his music, and the persistence that led him to selling out arenas across the country.

Olivia Rodrigo skyrocketed to global fame with her record-breaking debut Sour, reshaping pop music with her voice, lyrics, and honesty. In this conversation from September 2023, she and Willie talk about the release of her sophomore album Guts, the way she tells stories through her music, and why she refuses to reveal the true inspiration behind her hit single “Vampire.”

Machine Gun Kelly has built a career on defying expectations, first breaking out as a Cleveland rapper, then reinventing himself as a punk rock star. In this chat from October 2021, MGK opens up to Willie about his musical evolution, his high-profile relationship with Megan Fox, and how music has carried him through fame, anxiety, substance abuse, and loss.

Alicia Keys is a musical powerhouse, known for her timeless voice, soulful ballads and fearless artistry. In this conversation from April 2024, she joins Willie ahead of the Broadway debut of Hell’s Kitchen, the coming-of-age musical inspired by her life. Alicia reflects on the decade of work it took to bring the show to the stage, the personal stories behind it, and the enduring legacy of her music.