I am Chris Hardwick. This podcast used to be called Nerdist. Now it is not. It is still basically just me talking about stuff and things with my two nerdy friends Jonah Ray and Matt Mira when they’re available, and usually someone more famous and smarter than all of us. Swearing is still fun, so we still do that occasionally. I hope you like this new iteration which is the same as before, but if a name hangs you up unhealthily I’m sure you will not hesitate to unfurl your rage not only in the ‘reviews’ section but also now on all the various social media platforms that have popped up since we started in 2010, effectively murdering blogs.
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.
3/8/22 • 84:24
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.
1/13/22 • 70:42
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.
12/24/21 • 61:02
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.
12/4/21 • 78:01
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.
11/15/21 • 84:25
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.
11/1/21 • 70:01
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.
10/18/21 • 78:19
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.
10/12/21 • 59:50
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.
10/3/21 • 84:15
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.
9/22/21 • 90:57
"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.
9/10/21 • 81:14
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.
8/29/21 • 70:04
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.
8/24/21 • 69:06
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.
8/16/21 • 72:43
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.
8/7/21 • 64:38
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.
7/30/21 • 56:00
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.
7/20/21 • 80:52
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.
7/12/21 • 85:05
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)!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
7/2/21 • 60:47
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 in theaters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
6/28/21 • 70:08
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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
6/21/21 • 75:19
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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
6/12/21 • 70:33
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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
5/29/21 • 71:09
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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
5/22/21 • 75:47
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!!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
5/15/21 • 82:35
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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
5/8/21 • 79:00
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+!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
5/3/21 • 94:01
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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
4/24/21 • 74:56
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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
4/16/21 • 69:21
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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
4/10/21 • 88:40