Talkhouse Podcast Creators & Guests

Darren Aronofsky is an American filmmaker and screenwriter, who is noted for his surreal, melodramatic, and often disturbing films.

Stephen Malkmus is a musician best known as the primary songwriter and lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Pavement.

Michael Kirk is a documentary filmmaker and partial creator of the PBS show Frontline, where he worked as a senior producer until 1987.

Rian Johnson is an acclaimed American filmmaker and writer known for his innovative contributions to modern cinema. He first gained recognition with his debut feature, "Brick," a neo-noir mystery film that won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Johnson's distinctive storytelling style and ability to blend genres were further showcased in "The Brothers Bloom" and the science fiction thriller "Looper." He achieved mainstream success with "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," the eighth installment in the iconic franchise, which received praise for its bold narrative choices. Johnson continued to impress with "Knives Out," a contemporary whodunit that garnered critical acclaim and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. His work is celebrated for its originality, clever dialogue, and subversion of traditional genre conventions.

Paul Reubens was an American actor, writer, film producer, game show host, and comedian best known for his character Pee-wee Herman.

Desiree Akhavan is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actress based in the United Kingdom. Akhanvan was the President of the Queer Palm jury at the Cannes Film Festival. She also worked in numerous TV series and documentaries.

Kumail Nanjiani, born May 2, 1978, is a Pakistani-American actor, comedian, and writer known for his sharp wit and diverse talent. He gained widespread recognition for his role as Dinesh Chugtai in the critically acclaimed HBO series "Silicon Valley." Nanjiani co-wrote and starred in the semi-autobiographical romantic comedy "The Big Sick," which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay and was praised for its heartfelt and humorous storytelling. He further showcased his versatility by transforming his physique for the role of Kingo in Marvel's "Eternals," expanding his presence in the superhero genre. Nanjiani's work consistently highlights his range as an actor and his ability to blend humor with poignant storytelling.

Chris Gethard is an American comedian, actor, and writer. Gethard gained a cult following with The Chris Gethard Show. He is also known for his critically acclaimed one-man show and HBO special Career Suicide (2017), where he candidly discusses his struggles with mental health. Gethard has appeared in several television shows and films, including Broad City and Don’t Think Twice (2016). He hosts the popular podcast Beautiful/Anonymous.

Alejandro Jodorowsky Prullansky is a Chilean-French filmmaker and artist.

Alexander Winter is an actor, film director, and screenwriter best known for his role as Bill S. Preston, Esq. in the 1989 film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and its 1991 sequel Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey.

Daniel Schechter is an American film director, editor, and screenwriter. His film supporting characters debuted at Tribeca Film Festival in 2012.

Andy Rourke is a bassist and guitarist known for The Smiths and D.A.R.K., currently signed to BMG as a writer & composer, and also working on a project named Blitz Vega.

Aidy Bryant is an actress, and comedian best known as a cast member on the late-night variety series Saturday Night Live.

Patrick James Carney is an American musician and producer. He serves as the drummer for The Black Keys, a blues rock band.

Paul Scheer, born January 31, 1976, in New Hyde Park, New York, is a SAG Award-winning actor, writer, producer, pod-caster, and director. Scheer is a series regular on the Emmy nominated Showtime series Black Monday opposite Don Cheadle. He also is known for his role as Andre on the hit FX show The League, as well as his role of Mitch in Fresh off the Boat, and Stevie on Veep. Scheer won the Screen Actors Guild Award (2018) for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in Veep. In 2019, he won the HollyWeb Festival award for best comedy in The Amazing Gayl Pile.

Louis Theroux is a British documentary filmmaker and broadcaster.

Vince Clarke is a synth-pop musician and songwriter, he has been the main composer and musician of the band Erasure since its inception in 1985.

Ari Shaffir is a stand-up comedian, writer, and podcaster. Shaffir gained recognition with his web series "This Is Not Happening" (2013-2017), which later became a Comedy Central show. His comedy often tackles controversial subjects with a candid and unapologetic style. Shaffir hosts the popular podcast "Ari Shaffir's Skeptic Tank," where he explores various topics with guests from different backgrounds.

Caroline Polachek is a musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer.