for the record sat down with the British-American host to discuss what makes his new show unique, the similarities between podcasting and his other work, and the “twists” fans can expect from the show’s intimate conversations. rice field.
Can you tell us a little bit about your new podcast?
This is my podcast.Given the title, I thought it should be about me Podcast by Louis Theroux. And I interview a wide range of guests from all sorts of different backgrounds and areas of life that I am fascinated with. But what ties them all together is that, in many ways, they’re all prominent and really good in their field.Whether it’s an iconic artist like Nick Cave or Craig David, or Samantha Mortonhe is a phenomenally talented actress.
No, this isn’t the first podcast I’ve interviewed someone on, so I can’t claim that. But hopefully, the conversations we have will have that combination of intelligence, sensitivity, and humor, as well as the fearlessness of journalism, that will make it truly distinctive. I hope that I think what we have is that we can take the conversation to places that are surprising, unexpected, intimate, difficult, yet ludicrous. I mean, it’s a difficult flavor combination, and if you can put it that way, I don’t think anyone does it exactly the same way we do.
What elements of podcasting do you like or dislike?
What I enjoy most is being able to speak to people I would otherwise never have spoken to, especially prominent and attractive celebrities and public figures.
In my normal job, when I’m shooting documentaries, I’m immersed in the hidden realms of life, but I’m not necessarily among those who have reached the top of their respective professions. big stars.and in my personal life, I don’t often go into high circles, so I’d spend two hours talking to Shania Twain or Nick Cave, Ben Elton This is just a real privilege and not something to take lightly for me.
The difficulty compared to my TV work is that it takes a certain level of focus and about the same level of anxiety to have a great match. Podcasting puts pressure on him because he only has two hours before he gets what he needs. And I’m a conscientious, anxious person by nature, so that’s sort of my main low-level concern in my head for a few days before an important interview. I think discomfort is part of life and there are ways to deal with it. But podcasting comes with more pressure than that.
You’ve covered a lot of extreme characters so far. What excites you about pushing the limits of human experience?
Like many people, I think I grew up feeling a bit of an outsider. It’s not an uncommon experience. Comparing your inner self with the outer appearance of others creates a mismatch. right? There are so many insecurities within us and a very confusing set of thoughts and impulses rushing through us.
And it’s this sense that we’re weird that I’ve explored, really unintentionally, without actually exploring it, in all my work. Without going into too much detail, the human experience is underpinned by a series of seemingly very inexplicable yet at the same time truly human psychological demands and behaviors.
So when I originally started appearing in the world of television, I wanted to have stimulating conversations and experiences. But what it really meant was talking to people on the fringes of cultures, people in cults and extreme groups, or people involved in marginalized areas of society.
And now I see a certain thematic consistency between that and Shania Twain talking about times in her life when she was under extreme emotional pressure. Oddly enough, Shania epitomizes exactly what I’m talking about. Because even though she’s an incredibly talented, very positive, life-loving icon, she’s on to all the same things that you and I are.
Who are the guests you’re looking forward to having?
In addition to the conversation with Shania, I am very much looking forward to hearing from you the interview with Shania. Craig David.when debut album born to do it It was a big cultural moment when it was released in 2000. he was everywhere And one of the pleasures for me in talking to these people is that it’s often the fulfillment of direct aspirations based on people I’ve been obsessed with over the years. Craigs has been out of the spotlight for some time and has also been grappling with his own mental health issues, but has made a surprising comeback in the last few years. He’s back now and is completely on top of his game in an amazing way.
Some I didn’t know until I started the podcast. Jennette McCurdywhose book glad your mom died It sold very well. She was a child star on Nickelodeon, but now she’s become this famous author. She was a great conversationalist.
there is also Amelia Dimoldenberg—Those in their twenties who became famous with her chicken shop date Appearing in a video series helped spawn an unlikely secondary career for me as a TikTok rap sensation. tan france, that too! People were saying, ‘You should check out Tan France, he’s great.so i watched a lot of episodes queer eye Then I got into his story and read his book. Again, it was a special conversation.
Only those who take me out of my usual stepping-stones and expose me to the unexpected, the things I didn’t know. And as an older man, it gives me great pleasure to be taken into a realm of culture that I may not be natively inhabiting.
After researching a topic, how does your relationship with it change?
I often approach subjects with certain preconceptions, but as I proceed with my research, those preconceptions are often overturned. But it’s also true that I do research, so I know how I feel about things.
I think the most important thing is building relationships. And when you make personal connections with contributors and interviewees on a particular subject, everything gets even more messy and complicated. Even if you don’t agree with them, if you find out later that you like them, you end up creating this weird cacophony. But to be honest, most of my best work is there.
You’ve really dabbled in all forms of media journalism, from writing to broadcasting to podcasts. Through your experience, have you found yourself enjoying certain media that tell certain kinds of stories?
I think different stories are suitable for different kinds of treatments. For someone who’s outstanding and attractive in their field and doesn’t have a lot of time, obviously a podcast would be a great space for me to join them. Because in 2 hours we can: Go very deep into their lives, mental processes, and artistry.
I think it’s more of a documentary scenario when talking to more or less ordinary people, or people who are interested in that lifestyle. And when it comes to written and printed interviews, they also have their own merits. But to be honest, I prefer working in live media such as podcasting and television. I don’t do it much these days because it’s more troublesome to write.
What would surprise a longtime fan to find out about you?
They might be surprised to find out I’m a Queens Park Rangers fan. I haven’t talked much about my football fan, but I’m relatively new actually.
I grew up in South London and my local club was Chelsea. But my father is American, so there wasn’t much of a ritual going to the games on Saturdays. My dad is from Boston and chased baseball and basketball, so his teams were the Red Sox and the Celtics.
However, now based in West London with his three boys, he has taken a more active interest in football. Now that I’m a Hoops season ticket holder, I go to Loftus Road as often as possible on Saturdays.
Why should new fans stop whatever they are doing to listen to your new show?
Now here is the beauty. They don’t need to stop what they are doing. Keep doing what you’re doing and listen to podcasts. It goes very well with many other activities.
Versatile. It’s a seasoning like Tabasco! You can also sprinkle it on your laundry. You can sprinkle while driving or commuting. Attach it to your smart speaker or headphones and it goes well with cooking.
You can even lull yourself to sleep while lounging at night. And the reason you should listen to it is because it’s intelligent, yet funny, and features long-form chats with people who interest and enjoy getting to know each other. There are twists and turns along the way, mixed with raw intimacy, lightness, and reflection on both the glory and the misery of life.
listen Podcast by Louis Theroux Currently only available on Spotify.
