Spanish podcast: David Figueroa talks about his family and career.

Linda Ronstadt is more than one of the stars of the San Jose Mariachi and Latin Music Festival –she’s also a consuluting advisor. She spoke to Mercury News arts and entertainment Mark de la Viña about the role mariachi in her childhood while growing up in Tuscon, Ariz.

Junot Diaz is more than a talented writer who in April won the Pulitzer Prize for his debut novel, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.” Like the title character in his book, Diaz is a huge fan of fantasy and sci-fi. He spoke to Mercury News arts and entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña about what warms his fanboy cockles.

Comedian Dana Carvey is in the midst of a comeback with a successful string of tour dates and a new HBO special, out on DVD on Aug. 19. The former “Saturday Night Live” star and San Carlos resident discusses his decade away from the limelight — until an earthquake interrupts his interview with arts and entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña.

Brian Regan is among the best stand-up comedians in the business — and his performance style is not one to easily offend. Regan spoke with arts and entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña about why clean comedians are so unsual in this day and age.

There’s already speculation that Heath Ledger, who died in January from a prescription drug overdose, will nab another Oscar nomination for his performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Less than a year before his death, the gifted actor spoke about landing the role to arts and entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña. Though this is shorter than the usual Mercury News podcast, the brief exchange reveals much about Ledger.

Comic Ralphie May is 392-pounds of comedic gusto, but it isn’t his weight that’s attracting attention. The performer spoke to arts + entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña by phone about his knack for finding the humor in the most prickly subjects.

Author, talk show host and stand-up comic Chelsea Handler spoke to Mercury News arts, entertainment and style reporter Mark de la Viña about covering celebrities — and how she is not above such scrutiny.

Oscar-nominated director Morgan Spurlock, who broke out in 2004 with “Super Size Me,” his movie about chowing exclusively on McDonald’s fast food for 30 days, talked to Mercury News arts + entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña about his new film, “Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?”

Actor and screenwriter Jason Segel could become the next member of the Judd Apatow (”Knocked Up”) mafia to break out. The “Freaks and Geeks” alum talked to Mercury News arts and entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña about the comedy and how he handled some seriously disquieting, full-frontal nude scenes.