Actor Paul Giamatti and host Marc talk about their shared interests, including books, movies, late night talk show clips, and conspiracies. They also discuss their love for old sci-fi novels, growing up in New Haven, the impact of movies in childhood, challenges of public speaking, and the conveniences in movies. They delve into the movie 'The Phenom' and Ethan Hawke's preparation for roles, as well as their fascination with esoteric topics and conspiracy theories.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
The conversation covers the challenges of public speaking and the struggle to be authentic on talk shows.
The speaker reflects on his experiences in regional theater and his interest in the role of the character actor.
They explore the concept of typecasting and the role of natural curiosity in exploring esoteric subjects.
Paul Giamatti discusses his interest in esoteric topics and his podcast, which delves into subjects like ghosts, dreams, and psychedelics.
Deep dives
Growing up in New Haven
Mark Marin discusses his upbringing in New Haven, Connecticut, where he experienced the unique culture of the Italian neighborhood and the influence of the artsy environment created by the university.
Discovering Acting and Theater
During his time at Yale University, Mark Marin explored his passion for acting and theater through extracurricular theater productions. He performed in various plays, including "Indian Wants the Bronx" and "Glengarry Glen Ross."
Reflections on Shakespeare
While studying English at Yale, Mark Marin also delved into the works of Shakespeare. Although he struggled with the complexity of Shakespearean language, he found enjoyment in performing in Shakespearean plays, such as "Richard II" and "Hamlet."
Honorary Degree and Public Speaking
Recently, Mark Marin received an honorary degree from Yale University. However, he admitted to being terrified of public speaking, feeling uncomfortable and freezing up in those situations.
Summary
In this podcast episode, the conversation covers various topics, including the challenges of public speaking and the struggle to be authentic on talk shows. The speaker also reflects on his experiences in regional theater and his interest in the role of the character actor. The discussion touches on the nature of transformation in storytelling and the balance between comedy and drama in films. They also explore the concept of typecasting and the role of natural curiosity in exploring esoteric subjects.
Baseball and Conspiracy Theories
The conversation briefly mentions the speaker's father's role as a baseball commissioner, and his own experience in a baseball movie called 'The Phenom.' They also touch on the topic of conspiracy theories and the allure of fascism.
The Marginal Guy and Exploring Mystical Subjects
The speaker discusses his interest in esoteric topics and his podcast, which delves into subjects like ghosts, dreams, and psychedelics. They also touch on the challenges of managing one's mind and navigating the world of conspiracy theories.
Paul Giamatti and Marc have so many similar interests - amassing books, admiring marginal geniuses, taking jobs out of panic, reassessing classic movies, watching old late night talk show clips, wanting to be the guy in the coffee shop, the origins of conspiracies - that their conversation is a fitting representation of 1500 episodes of WTF. Paul also talks about the weirdest movie he made and goes into detail about his recent performance in The Holdovers.