ID10T with Chris Hardwick

It's Sparks! The Band!! Russell and Ron Mael are back on the podcast to talk about their new album, "Mad!" (available now), going out on their big world tour, and how it's possible to overthink things and STILL just move forward anyway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the first episode of a new era! And what better way to start than with the hilarious and wonderful Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog, Parks and Rec, The Afterparty) discussing improv and how you don't have TIME to overthink it. Find Ben's live show dates at rejectedjokes.com! Oh, and PS, the pre-show intro on this ep is probably a weeeeeee longer than it will normally be by just a few minutes, but it IS the first one of these after three years so hopefully that's okay. Thank you for listening! You're nice!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aaaaaaaaand we're back!! PHEW! That was a quick three years! Chris starts this new podcast chapter with a minisode that explains the decision to hit the pause button and focus on being a dad after the birth of his daughter in 2022, why he wanted to come back now, and what to expect with the new show. I mean, it's pretty much like the old show, but with new & improved thematic elements that really seal in the freshness! Anyway if you've read this much of a podcast description, you are a nice person and we appreciate you. :) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al Madrigal talks to Chris about touring, building a fulfilling career, and, of course, parenting! Al's new movie "Morbius" is in theaters April 1st and his comic book "Primos" is available right now!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Dastmalchian and Chris catch up and talk about dealing with loss, addiction, and the importance of having an emotional support system. They also talk about "Dune", David's comic book series "Count Crowley", and playing Polka-Dot Man in "The Suicide Squad"!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christina Ricci chats with Chris about how both their families are expecting babies soon (since this ep recorded, her baby was born! Congratulations, Ricci!!), how to negotiate device screentime with your kids, and what it was like to work on the new “Matrix” film. Her current show “Yellowjackets” on Showtime is amazing and “The Matrix Resurrections” is out in theaters and HBOMax on Dec. 22!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Karen David (Fear the Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time, Barry) chats with Chris about their mutual love of home renovation/restoration, how she's balanced careers in music and acting, and going from working on a Fairy Tale show to an Apocalypse show. Speaking of which, the mid-season finale of Fear the Walking Dead is Sunday, Dec 5 which you can watch on AMC or anytime on AMC+!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ron Funches is back on the podcast! He and Chris talk about voice-over acting, what video games Ron is currently playing and how he made his wrestling debut. Ron is currently on a terrific animated show called Poorly Drawn Lines (based on the popular webcomic) on FXX and Hulu!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dick and Angel Strawbridge are a charming British couple who are on one of Chris & Lydia's favorite shows, "Escape to the Chateau", which follows them on their amazing journey to restore a centuries-old French chateau and turn it into a stunning home/B&B/events location. The show is the perfect cross of DIY art and engineering! Even if you haven't seen it (and you should) it's a great conversation about embracing who you are, finding your purpose, and manifesting your creative vision. They also chat about Irish hats, using multiple disciplines in the creation process, and how to problem-solve when a task seems insurmountable. The newly-released season 7 (and all seasons) of "Escape to the Chateau" is on Peacock now!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Danny Elfman has a terrific chat with Chris about their mutual love of Victorian-era taxidermy, how Danny made the jump from science to music in high school, the early days of Oingo Boingo, and making the shift from band to film scoring. There are some really great stories! Danny will be performing 2 shows at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles on October 29th & October 31st for the live-to-film concert experience of Disney's timeless holiday classic “TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS! Tix available now! Also his first album in 37 years "The Big Mess" is also out now!!!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stanley Tucci chats with Chris about the process of getting dual Italian citizenship, how life can be viewed experientially through the food we eat, and his battle overcoming cancer. Stanley's new memoir "Taste: My Life Through Food" is available in bookstores now! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Director David Yarovesky--a.k.a. Yarvo (Brightburn, The Hive)--is back on the podcast! He and Chris talk about the ups and downs of directing, making your vision a reality, and finding the right balance of CG in a movie. They also talk about Chris & Lydia's recent baby announcement! Yarvo's new film "Nightbooks" is on Netflix now!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Creator and producer Brian Volk-Weiss has not only produced stand-up specials for some of the biggest names in comedy, but he also has given us such gems as Netflix's "The Toys That Made Us" and "The Movies That Made Us". His newest series is also a home run, Disney+'s "Behind the Attraction", which focuses on a different legendary aspect of the Disney parks each episode. Whether you're a die-hard or even casual fan of Disneyana or just someone who strives to turn their passions into their career, this is a great ep for you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Walking Dead" showrunner Angela Kang chats with Chris about the extended final season of "The Walking Dead", using creative writing to discover your voice, and how to organize your time with a mountain of responsibility! "The Walking Dead" is airing now on Sundays at 9/8c on AMC and this final season will extend into late 2022!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead, Euphoria, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) is back on the podcast! Colman talks about designing a meaningful career path as a creator, writer, director, and actor. Currently, he is in the new "Candyman," in theaters August 27, and "Fear the Walking Dead" which returns on October 17th! (Also SPOILER ALERT! if you're not caught up on Fear the Walking Dead they do discuss some events of the most recent season finale!)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon, Girls, Big Mouth) chats with Chris about his impressive career on Broadway, how he keeps his voice healthy for voiceover work, comedy acting, and moving into the director's chair. Andrew is on the new season of "Modern Love" on Amazon and also "Black Monday" on Showtime!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Connie Britton (White Lotus, Friday Night Lights, Nashville) is back on the show! She and Chris Zoom it up even though live a few houses away from each other. They talk about Connie's extensive career, how neither of them knows that much about investing, and their love for house restoration. Connie's current show "The White Lotus" is on HBO Max right now!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Cena is back on the podcast! John and Chris talk about different types of Hulks, goal-setting, the definition of success, returning to the WWE, and managing a non-stop work schedule. John is currently in "The Suicide Squad", on HBO Max, and in theaters now! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Damon chats with Chris about his process of writing, how his life changed after they sold the script for Good Will Hunting, and Matt's admiration for stand-up. Matt also talks about working with different directors, working with his best friend, and his new movie Stillwater, in theaters now!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rainn Wilson returns to the podcast! He and Chris talk about working on House of 1000 Corpses together, the phenomenon of "The Office", and not getting typecast as Dwight. They also come up with an idea for a Mork & Mindy reboot and Rainn talks about his new scripted podcast "Dark Air with Terry Carnation", now available wherever you get your podcasts!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show, This Way Up, Evil) returns to the podcast! He and Chris talk about mindfulness practice in performance, how TV is quickly adapting and evolving into streaming, and dealing with tinnitus. Season 2 of "Evil" is on Paramount+ and "This Way Up" is on Hulu!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sam Richardson (Detroiters, Veep) chats with Chris about working on Detroiters, his love of television as a kid, and his encyclopedic knowledge of TV history. Sam also talks about his writing style, the comedy editing process, and acting with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. His two new movies are "Werewolves Within" (in theaters and VOD) and "The Tomorrow War" (Amazon Prime)!Privacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

This episode welcomes director Edgar Wright and Ron and Russell Mael of the band Sparks! Edgar directed a documentary about them called "The Sparks Brothers" and it is truly FANTASTIC. In the podcast, they share some amazing stories about their 54 years in the music business and how they stay true to their artistic vision. This film is a must-see whether or not you're familiar with their work! Out now on VOD.Privacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

Michael Cudlitz (Walking Dead, The Kids Are Alright, Clarice) returns to the podcast to talk about choosing roles that allow him to live a balanced life and working through quarantine. Chris and Michael also talk about going to Disneyland in the 1900s! His current show, "Clarice", is on Paramount+ right now!

Lisa Edelstein (House, Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce) has a wonderful chat with Chris about acting, directing, and learning how to find things that are meaningful to you. Lisa also talks about growing up as the youngest child, her time in the New York City club scene in the 80s, and navigating fame. Lisa is currently on the new season of "The Kominsky Method" on Netflix now!

Garret Dillahunt chats with Chris about the best Zoom etiquette, dealing with negativity, and the importance of believing in yourself. They also go deep into Deadwood talk and OF COURSE cover some Fear the Walking Dead stuff (spoiler warning!). Garret’s new movie Army of the Dead is on Netflix right now!

Sean Hayes joins Chris to talk about the world of podcasting, feeling weird at fancy parties, getting a "busy" signal on the landlines of yesteryear, and how Sean started out as a concert pianist. Sean now has not one but TWO podcasts! Smartless, which he co-hosts with Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, and his new show HypochondriActor, a podcast about all things medical co-hosted with Doctor and comedian Priyanka Wali. Both are available wherever you get your podcasts!

Darren Lynn Bousman is back on the podcast talking about his new film "Spiral: From the Book of Saw" starring Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson! There is also much talk of horror films, horror props, and the best way to acquire the aforementioned props when you are a director. Spiral is out now!!

Billy Crystal returns to the podcast! He talks about breaking into stand-up, his first "Tonight Show" appearance in 1975, and maintaining a successful career/life balance. His new movie is called "Here Today" and he co-wrote, directed and co-stars in it with Tiffany Haddish. It's in theaters now! OH and a new "Monsters, Inc." series is on the way this year too! Details on the podcast.

Astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi returns to the podcast! He and Chris talk about science education, the Mars Curiosity Rover, and cross-pollinating your career with different interests. Hakeem also talks about his upcoming memoir, "A QUANTUM LIFE: My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars" out June 15th and the new season of "How the Universe Works", Wednesdays at 8pm on The Science Channel and streaming on Discovery+!

Kevin Bacon and Chris chat about their love of guitars, practice routines, and how live shows might change as things begin to open back up. Kevin also talks about the audition process, watching dailies as an actor, and how he and his wife Kyra Sedgwick made a movie at home during the pandemic. Check out season 2 of his show "City on a Hill" on Showtime!

Writer/Director/Actor Ben Falcone joins Chris to talk about spending the pandemic in Australia, getting his start at The Groundlings, his marriage to Melissa McCarthy, working with your spouse, and Jason Bateman's crab arms in their new movie "Thunder Force", now on Netflix!

Comedian Erica Rhodes joins Chris to talk about doing stand-up during the pandemic, the re-opening of comedy clubs, their wishlist of plans once life is back to normal, doing @midnight, Erica's cello skills, and filming her newest comedy special at the Rose Bowl, "La Vie en Rhodes", available April 13th from Comedy Dynamics!

Alan Tudyk is back on the podcast! He and Chris talk about the joys of moving, turning 50, collecting vintage science art, and what life in Canada is like. They also riff on Alan's amazing voiceover skills, come up with ideas for his Star Wars U character K-2SO, and discuss his show "Resident Alien", which is on Syfy channel and available to stream on Peacock!

Robert Kirkman is back on the podcast! Right out of the gate there is much talk about 1986's animated classic "The Transformers: The Movie" and how it actually influenced The Walking Dead. On the topic of TWD, Kirkman shares his original (but unused) ending for the comics. Also, whatever happened to waterbeds? They have theories! Robert’s brand new show "Invincible"--based on another of his bestselling comics--stars Steven Yeun and is now available to watch on Amazon!

Christina Hendricks and Chris reminisce about the days of dining at restaurants and the beginnings of reacclimating to public spaces after the last year. The conversation also covers Christina's passion for interior design, her time on Mad Men, and the new season of Good Girls, which airs Sundays on NBC!

Lou Diamond Phillips chats with Chris about his cross-country trip last year, his love of directing, his prolific resume, and how quickly his life changed after 1987's "La Bamba". Lou also talks about working simultaneously in TV, film, and theater, and how his love of The Walking Dead lead to directing an episode of Fear The Walking Dead. His new film "Adverse" is available today on Digital, On-Demand and DVD!

Eve Hewson chats with Chris about her new show Behind Her Eyes, their shared love of Ireland, and Chris & Lydia’s dream to rehab an old Irish castle. Behind Her Eyes is a really great and eerie psychological thriller that's available on Netflix right now!

Khary Payton (The Walking Dead, Teen Titans Go!) have a great catch-up that covers everything from starting an instrument later in life, surfing, skiing, finding your purpose, and a little show called "The Walking Dead", which returns to AMC (along with its energetic cousin "Talking Dead") Feb. 28th and AMC+ Feb. 21!

John Chester (The Biggest Little Farm) talks to Chris about what inspired him and his wife to start a farm, how they turned it into an incredible documentary, and the many life lessons that came from it. Topics range from sustainability and soil science to existentialism and the Circle of Life. Even if farming isn't in your interest wheelhouse there is plenty to take away from this conversation! "The Biggest Little Farm" is available to watch on several platforms including Apple, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.

Elisabeth Shue is a fantastic guest on the podcast! As someone who has been in some of the most iconic pop culture touchstones (Karate Kid, Back to the Future II & III, Adventures in Babysitting, Leaving Las Vegas, The Boys) there's a lot to talk about. In addition, she is very cool, kind, and open while sharing some great advice for staying grounded and keeping one's ego healthily in check. Watch her in season 3 of Cobra Kai, which is TERRIFIC and on Netflix right now! [Friendly SPOILER WARNING! Chris and Elisabeth do discuss some plot points of Cobra Kai season 3, so if you'd prefer to be fully caught up first go do that and then come back and listen!]

Matthew McConaughey is the dang best! In this super fun conversation, MM chats with Chris about learning how to go with the flow, living with technology, self-awareness, his initially quick rise to fame, how he "unbranded" to "rebrand", and maintaining that ever-important work/life balance. His new memoir is entitled "Greenlights", is available now, and we recommend listening to him reading it for the audiobook!

Writer/Director Chris Columbus (Gremlins, Home Alone, Goonies, Harry Potter) joins Chris and tells some fantastic stories about working on some of your favorite movies! Chris C also talks about how a chance moment with Steven Spielberg launched his career, why infusing heart into a story is vital, and how difficult it can be to connect with one's own successes. He also talks about directing Kurt Russell in "The Christmas Chronicles 2", which is on Netflix right now!

Bryan Cranston returns to the podcast and opens up to Chris about having had COVID-19, de-stressing in a stressful world, and the joys of launching "Dos Hombres"--a Mezcal business--with former co-star (and former podcast guest) Aaron Paul. Bryan's new show "Your Honor" is airing now on Showtime !

Karl Urban (Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, The Boys) chats with Chris about life in New Zealand during the pandemic, making movies and TV shows down there, and he shares some good fatherhood wisdom. Also, there's some great Star Trek talk! Seasons 1 and 2 of The Boys are on Amazon right now!

Nick Frost returns to the podcast! Nick and Chris chat about horror films, the process of writing them, and the experience of watching them growing up in the 80s. Nick's new show with Simon Pegg is called "Truth Seekers" and it's on Amazon right now!

Lin Shaye is back on the podcast! She and Chris talk about keeping up their creativity during the pandemic, what pigeons can teach us about life, the joys and frustrations of gardening, and what she misses most about being on set. They also talk about her legendary career, their love of horror movies and her new film, "The Call", now available on VOD. Also see Lin in "Penny Dreadful: City of Angels" which is out now on the Showtime app!

Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein started the amazing and wildly successful Instagram feed @CheapOldHouses which showcases architectural gem homes under $100,000. It was an offshoot of CircaOldHouses.com, which itself has stunning (albeit more expensive) homes for sale, many of which are historical. Chris was a huge fan of both of these so he invited them on to talk preservation, restoration, and finding that special quality in a home that speaks to you. Even if you're not a renovation or architecture nerd, Elizabeth and Ethan also talk about turning your passion project into a career and building it around the kind of life you want to create. Check out CircaOldHouses.com and give @CheapOldHouses on Instagram a follow to get swept up in the beauty of older homes!

Elizabeth Marvel (Fargo, True Grit, new show Helstrom) chats with Chris about embracing technology, what following the Grateful Dead on tour taught her about performing, and what it’s like living on a farm during the pandemic. Elizabeth also talks about her son’s obsession with Stan Lee, venturing into the Marvel universe and her new show Helstrom, on Hulu now!

The legendary Alan Arkin (Kominsky Method, Argo, Little Miss Sunshine, Slums of Beverly Hills, Glengarry Glen Ross, The In-Laws, and a million other amazing things) is on the podcast! He and Chris talk about meditation and self-reflection, his early days at Second City, and his new memoir "Out of My Mind", available now wherever books are sold!

The legendary John Cleese is back on the podcast! John and Chris talk about John’s process for writing his new book "Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide", how perfectionism roadblocks art, and how to set up an environment that fosters creativity. John also remembers the late Graham Chapman and recounts how they came up with some of their classic sketches. "Creativity" is available now wherever books are sold!