Event Program
Padma Lakshmi and Friends, Padma's All American
PADMA LAKSHMI AND FRIENDS, PADMA'S ALL AMERICAN
MON, NOV 03 | 7PM
INTRODUCTION
Kerry Diamond
COMEDY
Marie Faustin
Ilana Glazer
Padma Lakshmi
Youngmi Mayer
Jaboukie Young-White
DISCUSSION
Michelle Buteau and Padma Lakshmi
Ask Padma Lakshmi a Question!
Look for the table with notecards in the back of the theater to submit your question and she just might answer it live on stage.
If you purchased a copy of Padma's All American with your ticket, please stop by the book sales table in the lobby to pick up your copy. Have your ticket ready to show proof of purchase.
Additional books are for sale at the back of the house; there will not be a book signing at this event.
Thank you to our friends at Librae Bakery and Diaspora Co. Be sure to stop by their table in the back of the theater for some yummy samples and products.
Tag us on Instagram @symphonyspace to be featured!
The Artists (in alphabetical order)
Michelle Buteau
Michelle Buteau is an actress, comedian, producer, and writer. The multi-hyphenate stars in the Netflix comedy series Survival of the Thickest, which she created and executive produced. Inspired by her autobiographical book of essays of the same name, the series was released in July 2023, the second season came out in March 2025, and it will be returning for a third and final season. Buteau received the 55th NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) for the series. In June 2024, Buteau taped her second Netflix comedy special, A Buteau-ful Mind, live at Radio City Music Hall, becoming the first woman to tape a special at the iconic venue. The special was released on Netflix on December 31, 2024. Her first Netflix special, Welcome to Buteaupia, won the Critics Choice Television Award for Best Comedy Special. Buteau also stars in the hit comedy Babes, alongside Ilana Glazer and directed by Pamela Adlon. The film premiered to rave reviews at SXSW and was released in theaters on May 17, 2024, with Variety praising the “unapologetically raw take on pregnancy and female friendship” and Rolling Stone lauding it as "the Bridesmaids of babymaking.” She recently wrapped production on the comedy Spa Weekend, opposite Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, and Anna Faris. Buteau is known as the host of the hit Netflix reality competition show The Circle, which released its seventh season in September 2024, as well as the second season of Netflix’s Barbecue Showdown. She has also hosted the 2024 Billboard Music Awards and the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party livestream. Buteau’s additional film and television highlights include Marry Me, First Wives Club, Always Be My Maybe, and Someone Great.
Michelle Buteau is an actress, comedian, producer, and writer. The multi-hyphenate stars in the Netflix comedy series Survival of the Thickest, which she created and executive produced. Inspired by her autobiographical book of essays of the same name, the series was released in July 2023, the second season came out in March 2025, and it will be returning for a third and final season. Buteau received the 55th NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) for the series. In June 2024, Buteau taped her second Netflix comedy special, A Buteau-ful Mind, live at Radio City Music Hall, becoming the first woman to tape a special at the iconic venue. The special was released on Netflix on December 31, 2024. Her first Netflix special, Welcome to Buteaupia, won the Critics Choice Television Award for Best Comedy Special. Buteau also stars in the hit comedy Babes, alongside Ilana Glazer and directed by Pamela Adlon. The film premiered to rave reviews at SXSW and was released in theaters on May 17, 2024, with Variety praising the “unapologetically raw take on pregnancy and female friendship” and Rolling Stone lauding it as "the Bridesmaids of babymaking.” She recently wrapped production on the comedy Spa Weekend, opposite Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, and Anna Faris. Buteau is known as the host of the hit Netflix reality competition show The Circle, which released its seventh season in September 2024, as well as the second season of Netflix’s Barbecue Showdown. She has also hosted the 2024 Billboard Music Awards and the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party livestream. Buteau’s additional film and television highlights include Marry Me, First Wives Club, Always Be My Maybe, and Someone Great.
Kerry Diamond
Kerry Diamond is the founder of Cherry Bombe, the media company that spotlights women in and around the food world. As host of Radio Cherry Bombe, she's interviewed everyone from Alice Waters to Ina Garten, Juliette Binoche to Olivia Coleman, and, of course, Padma Lakshmi. She's also the editor of Cherry Bombe's print magazine and author of The Cherry Bombe Cookbook. Previously, Kerry was an editor at WWD, Harper's Bazaar, and Yahoo, and co-owned restaurants in Brooklyn. She's fascinated by the intersection of food and culture, and loves supporting female-founded food businesses. One of the most delicious things she's ever eaten? Padma's kumquat chutney.
Kerry Diamond is the founder of Cherry Bombe, the media company that spotlights women in and around the food world. As host of Radio Cherry Bombe, she's interviewed everyone from Alice Waters to Ina Garten, Juliette Binoche to Olivia Coleman, and, of course, Padma Lakshmi. She's also the editor of Cherry Bombe's print magazine and author of The Cherry Bombe Cookbook. Previously, Kerry was an editor at WWD, Harper's Bazaar, and Yahoo, and co-owned restaurants in Brooklyn. She's fascinated by the intersection of food and culture, and loves supporting female-founded food businesses. One of the most delicious things she's ever eaten? Padma's kumquat chutney.
Marie Faustin
Marie Faustin is a New York–based comedian and actress well known for her storytelling skills, lightning-fast crowd work, and ability to turn a bad date into a good story. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, GQ, The Guardian, MTV, VH1, BET, and Comedy Central. Faustin is currently hosting a dating game show called Why Are You Single? and trying to figure out WTF is wrong with us all.
Marie Faustin is a New York–based comedian and actress well known for her storytelling skills, lightning-fast crowd work, and ability to turn a bad date into a good story. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, GQ, The Guardian, MTV, VH1, BET, and Comedy Central. Faustin is currently hosting a dating game show called Why Are You Single? and trying to figure out WTF is wrong with us all.
Ilana Glazer
Ilana Glazer is a comedian, actor, advocate, and creator best known for co-creating and co-starring in the acclaimed series Broad City. She co-wrote and starred in Babes, which premiered at SXSW 2024 to rave reviews before its Neon release. Her stand-up includes Ilana Glazer Live, which toured across the US and Canada, and her sophomore stand-up special, Human Magic. In 2025, she made her Broadway debut in the stage adaptation of Good Night, and Good Luck alongside George Clooney for a special limited run.
Ilana Glazer is a comedian, actor, advocate, and creator best known for co-creating and co-starring in the acclaimed series Broad City. She co-wrote and starred in Babes, which premiered at SXSW 2024 to rave reviews before its Neon release. Her stand-up includes Ilana Glazer Live, which toured across the US and Canada, and her sophomore stand-up special, Human Magic. In 2025, she made her Broadway debut in the stage adaptation of Good Night, and Good Luck alongside George Clooney for a special limited run.
Padma Lakshmi
Padma Lakshmi is an Emmy-nominated food expert, television producer, and New York Times bestselling author. She is the creator of the critically acclaimed Hulu series Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, and served as host and executive producer of Bravo’s Top Chef for nineteen seasons. She is co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, and an ACLU Artist Ambassador for immigrants’ rights and women’s rights. She is the author of Easy Exotic; Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet; The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs; her New York Times bestselling memoir Love, Loss, and What We Ate; and the bestselling children’s book Tomatoes for Neela. Padma's All American will be published on November 4th.
Padma Lakshmi is an Emmy-nominated food expert, television producer, and New York Times bestselling author. She is the creator of the critically acclaimed Hulu series Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, and served as host and executive producer of Bravo’s Top Chef for nineteen seasons. She is co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, and an ACLU Artist Ambassador for immigrants’ rights and women’s rights. She is the author of Easy Exotic; Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet; The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs; her New York Times bestselling memoir Love, Loss, and What We Ate; and the bestselling children’s book Tomatoes for Neela. Padma's All American will be published on November 4th.
Youngmi Mayer
Youngmi Mayer is a standup comedian, content creator, podcast host and writer. She is the author of I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying (Little, Brown 2024). She lives in New York City with her son, Mino Bowien.
Jaboukie Young-White
Jaboukie Young-White is a comedian, actor, writer, and musician. He first gained recognition as a stand-up comedian and made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. After his film debut in the black comedy Rough Night, he co-wrote the Netflix mockumentary television series American Vandal. His subsequent film appearances include Dating and New York, Someone Great, C'mon C'mon, and voice roles in Strange World and Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. On television, Young-White played recurring roles on Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Rap Sh!t, Baymax!, and Only Murders in the Building. His writing credits include Big Mouth and an upcoming animated feature inspired by music of the late rapper Juice Wrld. Young-White released his debut album, All who can't hear must feel, in 2023.
Jaboukie Young-White is a comedian, actor, writer, and musician. He first gained recognition as a stand-up comedian and made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. After his film debut in the black comedy Rough Night, he co-wrote the Netflix mockumentary television series American Vandal. His subsequent film appearances include Dating and New York, Someone Great, C'mon C'mon, and voice roles in Strange World and Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. On television, Young-White played recurring roles on Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Rap Sh!t, Baymax!, and Only Murders in the Building. His writing credits include Big Mouth and an upcoming animated feature inspired by music of the late rapper Juice Wrld. Young-White released his debut album, All who can't hear must feel, in 2023.
MORE INFORMATION
Diaspora Spice Co. is building a better spice trade, from small South Asian farms to your kitchen. Founded in 2017 by a queer, woman-of-color entrepreneur with a bold vision and a shoestring budget, Diaspora has grown into a global movement for equity, flavor, and transparency in food. Today, the company works with nearly 200 regenerative family farms and over 1,500 farm workers across 10 states in India and Sri Lanka, paying farmers 3-6x the commodity rate and over $3.1 million directly to partners so far. Every spice is single-origin, harvested for flavor first, and traceable to the exact farm and season it came from. With 30+ single-origin spices, 13 beloved blends, and a community of 125,000+ customers worldwide, Diaspora Spice Co. is redefining what it means to cook consciously. The brand’s work centers equality, cultural integrity, and joy, championing South Asian flavors and stories that have long been underrepresented. By partnering directly with farmers and putting money, equity, and power back into their hands, Diaspora Spice Co. is proving that the future of food can be both radically delicious and deeply just. Located at 35 Cooper Square in NYC’s East Village, Librae Bakery, a “third-culture” female run and owned artisan bakery blending Middle Eastern flavors — za’atar, loomi (black lime), rosewater — with Danish inspired fermentation and pastry techniques.
Located at 35 Cooper Square in NYC’s East Village, Librae Bakery, a “third-culture” female run and owned artisan bakery blending Middle Eastern flavors — za’atar, loomi (black lime), rosewater — with Danish inspired fermentation and pastry techniques. Librae reimagines classics like croissants, babka, and sourdough through a cross-cultural lens, creating pastries such as their famous pistachio rose and loomi babka that feel both familiar and refreshingly new. It is the first Bahraini owned bakery in the US.
This program is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Seedlings Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, Charina Endowment Fund, Charles D. Fleischman Charitable Trust, Susan Bay Nimoy, The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Society of North America, PECO Foundation, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Michael Tuch Foundation, Joseph and Joan Cullman Foundation, Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation, The Grodzins Fund, and the Seedtime Foundation.
Programming is also made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Symphony Space thanks our generous supporters, including our Board of Directors, Producers Circle, and members, who make our programs possible with their annual support.
Kathy Landau Executive Director
Peg Wreen Managing Director
Isaiah Sheffer*
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1990)
Artistic Director (1990-2010)
Founding Artistic Director (2010-2012)
Allan Miller
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1990)
Jennifer Brennan Director of Literary Programs
Drew Richardson Lead Producer of Literary Programs
Vivienne Woodward Senior Producer of Literary Programs
Mary Shimkin Director of Broadcast & Literary Initiatives
Matthew Love Consultant for Literary Programs
Magdalene Wrobleski Program Associate
Aileen Vasquez Literary Intern
Gabriela Weaver Literary Intern
*in memoriam
