Best Fright Zone Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 34 - The Langoliers 1:56:26

2h ago1:56:26

1:56:26

The guys strap in for a long and frightening flight with 1995's "The Langoliers." Also, Hogan laments an epic vintage poster score that went wrong.By The Fright Zone Podcast

1
“Bob Dylan Pushed Me Way Out of My Comfort Zone”: T Bone Burnett, the Mysterious 13X Grammy Winning Producer and Soundtrack Wizard 57:46

2d ago57:46

57:46

T Bone Burnett is one of the most accomplished music producers of the past 50 years. He sits down with Guy to talk about buying a recording studio at age 17; being pushed out of his creative comfort zone by Bob Dylan on the Rolling Thunder Revue tour; building soundtracks for the Coen Brothers and True Detective; and why, at age 76, he’s the happie…

1
David Duchovny: His Journey from PhD Student to The X-Files, Why He Writes Novels and Music, and Failure as a "Rich" Experience 1:03:32

9d ago1:03:32

1:03:32

David Duchovny sits down with Guy to talk about his wide-ranging creative life. He describes the “gut instinct” that led him to drop out of a Yale literature program and pursue acting; his iconic roles as Agent Mulder in The X-Files and Hank Moody in Californication; why he writes novels and makes music; and embracing failure as a critical learning…

1
Lainey Wilson: The Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Who "Felt Like a Complete Outsider Moving to Nashville to Chase My Dreams" (2023) 49:30

16d ago49:30

49:30

Lainey Wilson burst onto the country music scene in 2022 with her album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. But for seven years before that, she struggled to make it in the high-pressure Nashville music scene. And before that, she was a kid from a tiny town in rural Louisiana with a dream of being a country star. In this encore episode from 2023, Lainey join…

1
Billy Idol: “Underneath the Drugs and Acting Out is Someone Who Really Believes in What He’s Doing” 1:15:52

23d ago1:15:52

1:15:52

One of the first – and biggest – stars of the MTV era, Billy Idol is nothing short of a rock icon. He sits down with Guy Raz to share how the Sex Pistols inspired him to start a band instead of working for his dad; the stories behind the songs “Dancing with Myself” and “Rebel Yell”; his famously edgy image and lifestyle; and the workout routine tha…

1
Oskar Eustis: Bringing “Hamilton” to the Stage and Making Theater Accessible to All 1:04:53

30d ago1:04:53

1:04:53

Oskar Eustis is the Artistic Director at the Public Theater in New York City. He sits down with Guy to talk about “falling into the avant-garde rat hole” early in his career; convincing Lin-Manuel Miranda that Hamilton was more than a concept album; bringing theater to senior centers, women’s shelters, and prisons; and why he believes performing ar…

1
X Ambassadors: How a "Fake Manager" and an Accidental Jeep Jingle Ignited the Band’s Massive Success 1:19:44

1M ago1:19:44

1:19:44

Sam Harris is the frontman for X Ambassadors, a multi-platinum pop rock trio from Ithaca, New York. Sam sits down with Guy to talk about his bond with his brother and bandmate Casey, who was born blind; how X Ambassadors felt “so not cool” and faced lots of rejection while trying to make it in the Brooklyn indie rock scene of the late 2000s; and ho…

1
Natalie Merchant: Loneliness is My Signal to "Get Busy" and Create 48:27

1M ago48:27

48:27

Singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant shot to fame as the lead vocalist for the indie-folk band 10,000 Maniacs, then left the band at the height of their popularity to build a successful solo career. She sits down with Guy to talk about the political concerns that animate her work; what a dinner with Allen Ginsberg and Philip Glass taught her about cr…

1
Rainn Wilson on Becoming Dwight Schrute the “Nerd Bully”, Anxiety, and his Spiritual Reawakening (2023) 1:01:39

2M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

Actor Rainn Wilson is best known for playing Dwight on "The Office," but in recent years he has become a mental health and spirituality advocate through his books and production company, SoulPancake. He joins Guy to talk about auditioning for the role of Michael Scott, the deep anxiety he faced as a young actor, his ensuing search for inner peace, …

1
From $100k in Debt to #1 Independent Country Artist (NO Record Deal) | Cody Jinks 1:10:14

2M ago1:10:14

1:10:14

Singer-songwriter Cody Jinks shares his journey from heavy metal frontman and part-time bouncer and forklift driver to country music’s top independent artist. He talks about enduring years of poverty in order to keep 100% ownership over his publishing (“it was worth it”); how he wrote the 2x-platinum track “Loud & Heavy”; finding sobriety; and evol…

1
Louis Cato: Stephen Colbert’s Soulful Band Leader on Spiritual Music, Lessons from a Near-Death Experience, and Becoming Himself on Stage 1:17:59

2M ago1:17:59

1:17:59

Every weeknight, Louis Cato performs live in front of a few million people as the band leader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He arranges the tunes, sets the tone, and plays multiple instruments himself; Colbert calls him a “musical genius”. Today, Louis talks about the multi-decade journey that led him here – from listening to “only Jesus …

1
Viral Music Phenom Jacob Collier: This “Life-Changing” Moment Unlocked New Creative Powers 1:05:28

2M ago1:05:28

1:05:28

Jacob Collier has been called the “Mozart of Gen Z” by the New York Times. As a teen, his one-man-band performances went viral and led to a cold email from (and friendship with) music legend Quincy Jones – something he discusses in this episode. He also talks about his childhood, where he gets his ideas, why doesn’t make pop hits, and his most rece…

1
Songwriting Secrets Behind 70 BILLION Streams: Ryan Tedder (2023) 57:34

3M ago57:34

57:34

Ryan Tedder is the lead singer of OneRepublic and the producer and songwriter behind countless hits including Adele’s Rumor Has It and Beyonce’s Halo. Tedder even sold his own catalog for a reported $200 million. He joins Guy to talk about growing up in a religious family, tackling his stagefright (“I was shaking backstage”), using personal experie…

1
Hilary Swank: Moving to Hollywood with $75 and Whether She’d Do “Boys Don’t Cry” Today 45:39

3M ago45:39

45:39

Hilary Swank is one of just 14 women to win not one but two Academy Awards for Best Actress (Boys Don’t Cry, Million Dollar Baby). And as you’ll learn today, her life story just as remarkable as her career: from growing up in a trailer park (“it was no big deal”) to moving to L.A. as a teenager and living with her mom in their car for a time while …

1
Regina Spektor: From Temping as a Receptionist to Your Favorite Artist's Favorite Artist 1:01:14

3M ago1:01:14

1:01:14

Regina Spektor is one of the most critically-acclaimed and respected singer-songwriters of the past 25 years. She’s also one of the most thoughtful and open guests we’ve had on this show. Today, you’ll learn how Regina went from medical receptionist writing lyrics on post-it notes to rising star in the NYC music scene; how she overcame her fear tha…

1
Chef David Chang (Momofuku): “I’m Addicted to Creative Excitement” 1:08:32

3M ago1:08:32

1:08:32

David Chang is the founder of Momofuku, a culinary brand that grew from a single 600-square-foot location to include a Michelin-starred restaurant, a bakery and dessert chain, and a line of consumer packaged goods. David joins Guy to talk about opening his first restaurant after his epiphany about ramen on a trip to Japan; the panic and anxiety he …

1
How Dan Aykroyd Created "Ghostbusters" and His Thoughts on the Female-Led Reboot 1:01:20

4M ago1:01:20

1:01:20

Dan Aykroyd was the youngest cast member on a brand new comedy show called Saturday Night Live when it premiered in 1975. In addition to iconic performances as Julia Child and a Conehead, Dan also created a real blues band called The Blues Brothers with fellow cast mate John Belushi. In this episode, Dan talks with Guy about playing drums behind Mu…

1
Jake Johnson: His Creative Crisis on “New Girl”, Anna Kendrick Chemistry, and the “Dog” Mentality that Carried Him from Dropout to Director 1:23:20

4M ago1:23:20

1:23:20

Jake Johnson is an actor, comedian, writer, and director who is best-known for playing Nick Miller on the sitcom New Girl. He’s also one of the voices of Spiderman in the animated movies and he wrote, directed, and stars in the new comedic thriller Self Reliance. In this episode, Jake shares a life story filled with hilarious and poignant moments –…

1
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Playing a Gay Parent on Modern Family Was a Lot of Pressure 1:03:07

4M ago1:03:07

1:03:07

Jesse Tyler Ferguson played one of the most important TV characters of the past 25 years. The role of Mitchell Pritchett – the openly gay lawyer and father on Modern Family – brought Jesse fame; praise; a deep sense of meaning; and as you'll hear in this episode, some criticism, too. In this wide-ranging conversation, Jesse talks about trusting his…

1
Jewel: When I Was Poor, I Rejected $1M and Built a Plan for My Happiness 1:27:21

4M ago1:27:21

1:27:21

Singer-songwriter Jewel shares her incredible life story, from yodeling in bars as a kid to becoming homeless as a teenager and shortly thereafter becoming one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. She tells Guy about the mental exercises and Stoic philosophy she relied on as she climbed out of homelessness; why she declined a $1 million…

1
Logic on His "Farewell" Album and Retiring to Rural Oregon 55:35

5M ago55:35

55:35

Bobby Hall -- better known by his stage name Logic -- first started making waves in the rap scene with his 2010 mixtape "Young, Broke, and Infamous". In 2018, he blew up and received two Grammy nominations for a song he titled 1-800-273-8255, which is the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. But just a couple years later, he a…

1
Andy J. Pizza: This Author-Illustrator Wants to Give You a Creative Pep Talk 58:43

5M ago58:43

58:43

Andy J. Pizza is the best-selling author-illustrator of Invisible Things and the host of Creative Pep Talk, his long-running podcast about building a creative career. In this episode, Andy talks about growing up as a hyper-creative but unfocused kid; his rocky journey to developing a unique artistic style; a medical diagnosis that changed his life …

1
DJ Shadow on Creating the First Ever Completely Sampled Album 1:05:04

5M ago1:05:04

1:05:04

DJ Shadow, aka Josh Davis, was and is a famous crate digger. He could spend hours in a record store collecting obscure albums, looking for interesting melodies and beats to sample and mix together on his turntables. And in 1996, Josh used this encyclopedic knowledge of music to create the first ever completely sampled album as DJ Shadow. The album,…

1
Brian Grazer: How Curiosity Led to $15 Billion at the Box Office 57:19

5M ago57:19

57:19

Brian Grazer is the award-winning producer of many iconic and successful films and TV shows, like Apollo 13, The Da Vinci Code, A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon, Friday Night Lights, 24, and Arrested Development. More than 40 years ago he co-founded Imagine Entertainment with director Ron Howard. Together their films have made more than 15 billion dol…

1
Sir Patrick Stewart: I Almost Turned Down Captain Picard on Star Trek 41:16

5M ago41:16

41:16

Sir Patrick Stewart is beloved for his portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Next Generation and its spinoff films. But Patrick was 47 years old when he took that life-changing role... and he almost turned it down! He sits down with Guy to talk about the extraordinary life that led to Picard: his working-class upbringing, how he learne…

1
James Blunt: How the “You’re Beautiful” Singer Saved Us From World War III 1:20:42

6M ago1:20:42

1:20:42

When James Blunt released "You're Beautiful" in 2004, it quickly became the most popular song in the world. The album it was on, Back to Bedlam, became the best selling album of the 2000s in the UK. But James was already in his 30s when that song broke, and before that he lived a completely different life. In this episode, you'll hear about James' …

1
Episode 33 - Thinner 1:42:29

6M ago1:42:29

1:42:29

The guys stuff their faces and talk about 1996’s “Thinner.” Also, Hogan makes a startling discovery on a VHS tape from an estate sale.By The Fright Zone Podcast

1
Jeff Tweedy: “I Loved It” When My Label Said Wilco Would Fail 1:08:16

6M ago1:08:16

1:08:16

Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo is an iconic indie musician and songwriter. He joins Guy to talk about Uncle Tupelo's unexpected breakup, how that inspired him to explore new musical territories, and the story behind the classic album that cost Wilco their record deal -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Jeff has a new book out, it's called "World Within…

1
Gavin Rossdale (Bush): The Failures That Led to 90s Rock Immortality 1:10:26

6M ago1:10:26

1:10:26

Gavin Rossdale and his band Bush were at the forefront of the grunge movement in the 90s. Their debut album Sixteen Stone was a huge success, selling over 6 million copies. Almost overnight, Bush went from playing pubs in London to headlining arenas across the US. But before that, during a time when Britpop was dominating the British airwaves, Ross…

1
Rob Thomas on Writing the #3 Most Successful Song of All Time 1:14:03

6M ago1:14:03

1:14:03

Rob Thomas is best known as the frontman and songwriter for rock band Matchbox Twenty. He initially dropped out of high school and considered joining the army before forming Matchbox Twenty with some friends in Orlando, Florida. They quickly were offered a record deal, but the very day they released their debut album, the label went bust and they o…

1
Jason Derulo: 11x Platinum (!) Singer Who Used to Hand Out CD’s in Strip Clubs for Free 1:15:00

7M ago1:15:00

1:15:00

It's hard to say Jason Derulo's name without singing his famous tagline too. Since 2009, Jason's 11 platinum singles have gotten a ton of radio air time, and he's recently played a huge part in transforming the music industry on TikTok. In this episode, Jason talks with Guy about his early beginnings in musical theater, how he willed his debut song…

1
Alex Gaskarth: How All Time Low Captured the Pop-Punk Zeitgeist by Staying True to Themselves 1:06:26

7M ago1:06:26

1:06:26

Alex Gaskarth is the frontman of pop punk band All Time Low. He formed the band with his friends when he was just a freshman in high school, and by the time he was a senior, the band already had a record deal. In time, All Time Low joined bands like Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance to define the emo-pop sound of the 2000s. In this episode, Alex…

1
Johnny Marr: The Smiths Legend on His Creative Chemistry with Morrissey, Playing with Modest Mouse, and Changing Guitar Music Forever 1:08:00

7M ago1:08:00

1:08:00

Johnny Marr of The Smiths went from working in a clothes shop to founding one of the most influential bands of the past 40 years... as a teenager! Widely regarded as one of the world's greatest guitarists, Johnny sits down with Guy to discuss his fruitful but short partnership with Morrissey, how he wound up joining Modest Mouse and making a #1 alb…

1
Episode 32 - Offerings 1:56:40

7M ago1:56:40

1:56:40

The guys celebrate Halloween by watching a movie that wishes it was John Carpenter's seminal holiday masterpiece, 1989's "Offerings." Also, Greg enacts what it would have been like if David Lynch would have directed Return of the Jedi.By The Fright Zone Podcast

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Melissa Etheridge: Her Scrappy Start, Coming Out as a Rockstar in the 90's, and How Cancer Changed the Way She Sees Everything 1:04:40

7M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

Melissa Etheridge is one of the most prolific singer/songwriters of the past three decades. She sits down with Guy to talk about her incredible career and life – opening up about her decision to come out as gay at the height of her fame, the reason she calls her 2004 cancer diagnosis "the best thing that's happened to me," and how, in her early 60'…

1
Bobby Berk: His Journey from Small-town Missouri to Queer Eye Design Guru, His Approach to Interior Design, and How He Turns Doubt into Drive 55:37

8M ago55:37

55:37

Bobby Berk is an interior designer, author, and co-host of the hit Netflix original Queer Eye. In this episode, Bobby tells Guy about the challenges of growing up gay in a small, conservative town, how he left home at a young age and bounced around the country before ending up in New York City, and how he went from retail management to owning his o…

1
Lainey Wilson: The Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Who "Felt Like a Complete Outsider Moving to Nashville to Chase My Dreams" 50:25

8M ago50:25

50:25

Lainey Wilson burst onto the country music scene in 2022 with her album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. That year, she won Female Vocalist of the Year and Best New Artist at the CMA’s. But for seven years before that, she struggled to make it in the high-pressure Nashville music scene. And before that, she was a kid from a tiny town in rural Louisiana wi…

1
Carly Rae Jepsen: How The Pop Superstar Handled her Meteoric Rise to Fame, Learned the Art of Collaboration, and Why She Says Friendship Is the Key to a Great Song 1:00:46

8M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

At the beginning of 2012, Carly Rae Jepsen was working as a waitress in Vancouver, BC, dropping off demo tapes and playing coffeeshops in her free time. By the end of that year, she was a global superstar thanks to her hit song "Call Me Maybe". Since then, Carly has become a pop fixture with four chart-topping albums. She joins Guy to talk about ho…

1
Mark Ronson on His Instant Connection with Amy Winehouse, Producing the Music for "Barbie", and Staying Relevant 1:07:44

8M ago1:07:44

1:07:44

Mark Ronson’s work has found its way into tons of the biggest pop hits in the world over the past two decades. And in that time he became a new kind of artist: a producer whose style is so distinct that his name became the marquee name. In this episode, Guy talks with Mark about his start DJing in New York, his instant connection with Amy Winehouse…

1
Kelly Clarkson: The Pop Music Megastar Opens Up about American Idol, Her Latest Album “Chemistry”, and the Drive to Host her Emmy Award-winning TV Talk Show 58:22

8M ago58:22

58:22

Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol in 2002, released her chart-topping single “A Moment Like This” the same year, and instantly became a music megastar. Kelly talks to Guy about the hardships of her early life, and how they helped motivate her towards success, the personal story of heartbreak while making her latest album “Chemist…

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Macklemore: Why He Never Signed to a Label, His Struggle with Addiction, and Making Art that Means Something (2023) 1:06:38

9M ago1:06:38

1:06:38

The rapper Macklemore and his collaborator Ryan Lewis had their first two singles go straight to number one (Thrift Shop and Can't Hold Us). Even more amazing, they did it without being signed to a major label. Macklemore joined Guy in 2023 to discuss why they stayed independent, his battle with addiction, why he feels indebted to the originators o…

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Episode 31 - The Faculty 2:15:59

9M ago2:15:59

2:15:59

The guys shove beef jerky in their ears and watch 1998's "The Faculty." Also, Greg recounts a recent run in with Tim Cappello.By The Fright Zone Podcast

1
Andy Garcia: From Havana to Hollywood, an A-Lister Who Still Feels Like An Outsider (2022) 56:10

9M ago56:10

56:10

Andy Garcia is an actor (Ocean's 11, The Untouchables, The Godfather Part III) who is best known for playing the suave leading man alongside other Hollywood greats like Sean Connery, Diane Keaton, and Al Pacino. He talked in 2022 to Guy about fleeing the Cuban Revolution, waiting tables for celebrities in Beverly Hills, and the best advice he got f…

1
Jason Sudeikis: His Winding Path from the Basketball Court to SNL, and How Ted Lasso “Saved” Him (2023) 58:04

9M ago58:04

58:04

Jason Sudeikis is the co-creator and star of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+. Earlier this year he told Guy about the origins of the football/soccer coach character, why the show has connected so deeply with audiences, and Ted's impact on Jason's own self-image. He also reflects on his Midwest roots, why his basketball coaches always knew he'd be a performe…

1
Shania Twain: The Best-Selling Female Country Artist of All Time on Harnessing the Power of Optimism (2023) 1:00:06

9M ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Shania Twain is often referred to as the Queen of Country Pop. And rightfully so - she's sold over 100 million records, more than any female country artist in history. But before she was Shania Twain, she was Eileen Edwards from a small town in Ontario. In this episode, Shania talked with Guy earlier this year about how she got her start singing at…

1
Tom Hanks: Telling the Truth, Letting Go of Self-Consciousness, and Embracing the Fun (2023) 1:12:03

10M ago1:12:03

1:12:03

Tom Hanks has had more iconic roles than most actors have had roles. From Big, to Forrest Gump, to Saving Private Ryan, to 2022’s Elvis, Tom has played countless characters spanning across different genres and different decades. In this wide-ranging interview from earlier this year, Tom discusses the trajectory of his career, the importance of brin…

1
Stephen Colbert: How “Breaking” on Stage Unlocked His Comedic Powers (2022) 52:11

10M ago52:11

52:11

Stephen Colbert has played many roles--an officious high school teacher in Strangers with Candy, and a bumbling blowhard on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Now, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he's facing his biggest challenge: being himself. Stephen talked in 2022 to Guy about working through that challenge, about the early and endur…

1
Nick Kroll: The Creative Breakthrough That Led to His ‘Exponential’ Growth (2022) 1:10:17

10M ago1:10:17

1:10:17

Nick Kroll is an actor and comedian (Kroll Show, Parks and Recreation) and the creator of Big Mouth and Human Resources on Netflix. He talked with Guy in 2022 about developing outrageous characters, playing over-the-top villains, his quirky writing process, why everyone can benefit from improv classes, and his thoughts on comedy vs. “cancel culture…

1
Zooey Deschanel: Stopping Stage Fright in Its Tracks and How She Turned a “Disorder” Into a Superpower (2022) 57:52

10M ago57:52

57:52

Zooey Deschanel is an actor (New Girl,Elf, 500 Days of Summer) musician (She & Him), crafter, and entrepreneur (HelloGiggles, Lettuce Grow). In 2022 she told Guy how being diagnosed with ADHD as a child affected her life and career, how the "loneliness" of the actor's life led her to songwriting and her collaboration with M Ward, and how – right be…

1
Gavin DeGraw: The Singer-Songwriter Behind Hits Like "Chariot" and "Not Over You" on Why He Won't Be Boxed Into One Genre 1:16:47

11M ago1:16:47

1:16:47

Gavin DeGraw is the singer-songwriter behind hits such as "I Don't Want To Be" and "Not Over You." He talks to Guy about why he doesn't limit himself to one genre, the low point in his life that inspired the song "Chariot," and why he thinks music should be "invisible." Links from the show: Video for "I Don't Want to Be" Video for "Not Over You" Vi…

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