Lea Michele on ‘Chess,’ Motherhood and a Broadway Homecoming

Lea Michele on ‘Chess,’ Motherhood and a Broadway Homecoming

Author: Willie Geist, Sunday TODAY March 22, 2026 Duration: 52:47
Emmy-nominated actress and singer Lea Michele has spent more than 30 years performing, from her Broadway debut in Les Misérables at the Imperial Theatre when she was just 8-years-old to starring in hits like Spring Awakening, Glee, Funny Girl and Scream Queens. Michele sits down with Willie Geist backstage at the Imperial Theatre to discuss her full-circle return to the theater where it all began, how Chess has brought joy and creative spark back to her life, and why feeling fulfilled as a mother and wife has made this chapter feel especially meaningful. Plus, she steps back into the dressing room she used during Les Misérables and reflects on the confidence that first led her from an open call in Englewood, New Jersey, to the Broadway stage.

Each week on Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist, the familiar, thoughtful host of NBC's Sunday TODAY extends his signature interview style into a longer, more relaxed format. Here, you'll find the complete, unedited conversations that often have to be trimmed for television, allowing for a more nuanced and personal exploration of each guest's journey. Willie sits down with an impressive and eclectic mix of people who are actively defining our world, including leading actors, influential musicians, political figures, and transformative business leaders. The discussions move beyond simple career highlights to uncover the real stories behind their public successes-the pivotal moments, challenges, and ideas that truly shaped them. This podcast offers a unique blend of news and cultural commentary, delivered through the lens of intimate, one-on-one dialogue. It’s a chance to settle in and hear substantial, meaningful conversations that cut through the noise, providing depth and context to the headlines and cultural trends we all talk about. For anyone interested in the human experiences behind the names in the news, film, television, and society at large, this series feels like a weekly, in-depth masterclass conducted with genuine curiosity and insight.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist
Podcast Episodes
Luke Combs on Growing Fast While Staying Grounded (February 2026) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:03
Luke Combs has had one of the fastest rises in modern music, landing more than a dozen No. 1 country hits and going from bar gigs to sold-out stadiums in just a few years. Combs sits down live with Willie Geist at City W…
Tracee Ellis Ross on Broadway Debut and Solo Traveling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:27
Tracee Ellis Ross had her breakout television role in Girlfriends 25 years ago. Since then, she has starred in Black-ish and created a haircare brand called Pattern Beauty. The Golden Globe winner got together with Willi…
Jason Sudeikis on Season 4 of Ted Lasso [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:48
Emmy-winning actor Jason Sudeikis got together with Willie Geist to reflect on a career that has taken him from a decade at Saturday Night Live to creating and starring in the title role of Ted Lasso. Sudeikis details th…
Matt Damon on The Odyssey and Working with Christopher Nolan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:19
Matt Damon says playing Odysseus in the new movie The Odyssey was like nothing he has ever done before. Damon is working again with famed Director Christopher Nolan after the Oscar-winning blockbusters Interstellar and O…
Riley Green on New Music, Acting and Coaching The Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:34
Riley Green has been on the country music scene for more than a decade. The singer-songwriter has hit his stride selling out his North American tour, guest starring on the Yellowstone spinoff show Marshalls and now landi…