The Dinner Party Download featuring John C. Reilly

British actor John C. Reilly poses durin
British actor John C. Reilly poses at the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2011 in Cannes.
Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

Icebreaker: Charles Yu

Charles Yu won the National Book Foundation's "5 under 35" prize for his first collection of short stories. His latest meta-fiction novel is called How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, and this week he regales us with a meta-joke.

Small Talk: Choire Sicha

Choire Sicha, editor of online magazine The Awl, explains why New York City's geese are cooked.

A History Lesson With Booze: The First Woman Umpire and the "Past Time"

This week back in 1972, Bernice Gera became the first pro umpire in baseball history. Listen to the history and then steal home to mix a "Past Time," a custom cocktail courtesy of the Ravenous Pig in Winter Park, Florida.

Guest of Honor: John C. Reilly

John C. Reilly is one of America's best-loved actors. Equally at home in Oscar-winning dramas like "Gangs of New York" and mega-hit comedies including "Stepbrothers" and "Talladega Nights", this year he's focused on smaller indie films — the latest being "Terri," which hits theaters next Friday. John tells Rico why mean people suck, and about a bird named Charlie.

To hear much more from Reilly — plus a track from the band Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. [sic] — download the podcast at www.dinnerpartydownload.org.