S2E5: Trojan's Horse (with Michael Chernus)

Legendary actor Christopher Walken, who plays Burt, is on the podcast this week to nerd out about acting with Ben and help break down Season 2 Episode 6. He reflects on the unique energy between him and John Turturro, playing two different sides of Burt, and why Bugs Bunny might be the greatest actor of all time. Then, Ben and Adam discuss the rest of the episode and the relationships growing both inside and outside of Lumon. But wait — there’s even more! The guys also talk with Sarah Bock, who plays Ms. Huang, about how scary Ms. Huang can be and what the first year of college has been like for Sarah. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Ben and Adam welcome Michael Chernus — who plays Ricken Hale, the visionary author of “The You You Are” — to help unpack Season 2 Episode 5. And while you might expect Ricken to host a podcast of his own, Michael reveals that Ricken is actually post-podcast, so today’s episode is a really big deal. Together, they discuss Ricken’s writing, his relationship with Devon, and the actorly impulse to be liked. Then, Ben and Adam break down the rest of the episode and the challenges of crafting this soft-reset for the MDR team. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For Season 2 Episode 4, Ben and Adam are joined by Severance’s Emmy-winning composer, Theodore Shapiro — or, Teddy Shaps, as his friends call him. He pulls back the curtain on his long-standing collaboration with Ben Stiller, going all the way back to 2004’s Dodgeball; the four chords that unlocked Severance’s ear-worm of a main theme; and the world of Kier folk tunes he discovered while scoring this episode. Then, Ben and Adam talk about filming this monumental episode where the Outties go out-f***ing-side. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To unpack Season 2 Episode 3, Ben and Adam are joined by Gwendoline Christie, who plays a mysterious new Lumon employee, for her first ever podcast. And she’s a natural! They talk all about her unique acting journey, the power of leaning into the absurd and obscene, and how protective her character is of her department -- the people and the goats. Plus, she reveals the three things she learned about goats while filming Severance: they are highly intelligent, they eat everything, and they are little freaks. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everyone’s favorite brain in a jar, Severance creator Dan Erickson, is back with Ben and Adam to talk about Season 2 Episode 2. Dan reflects on creating an all-Outtie episode, wearing uncomfortable shoes in solidarity with actors, and the shared door-factory-universe between Severance and Monsters Inc. They also answer the question everyone’s been asking: what do you eat for lunch at Lumon? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The wait is over. Ben and Adam break down the Season 2 Premiere with the incredible Tramell Tillman — aka Mr. Milchick, aka Mr. Milkshake. Tramell shares what it means for Milchick to become the new Floor Manager and argues that he really isn’t all that bad, once you get to know him. Plus, the pod unveils a few new perks: the guys answer fan questions from the Severed Floor Post Box and clairvoyant Zach Cherry predicts what will happen in next week’s episode. Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the Los Angeles fires. Here are some links to organizations supporting the relief efforts: California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund World Central Kitchen California Community Foundation - Wildfire Recovery Fund Pasadena Humane - Eaton Fire Emergency Letters From Altadena: Wildfire Relief To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Adam welcome Jon Stewart — a borderline obsessive Severance superfan — to unpack the suspenseful Season 1 Finale. And he is here to demand answers. Jon talks about his visit to the set, the challenges of taking creative big swings, his constructive criticism on season 1 (spoiler alert: it’s all about wingspan), and The Daily Show’s very own version of a waffle party. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hollywood legend John Turturro, aka "Irving," joins the boys for their recap of Season 1 Episode 8, and he brought gossip! John gives us the skinny on his longtime working relationship with Christopher Walken, his friendship with Zach Cherry, and his missed connection with one of cinema's most celebrated auteurs. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This was Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell's first time ever being on a podcast! Just kidding, but their recap of Season 1 Episode 7 features what is probably the podcast debut of Kristen's uncanny Patricia Arquette impression. Come for an obsessively detailed deep dive into the Music Dance Experience; stay to learn what Dax and Kristen mean when they say "go to two." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For Season 1 Episode 6, Ben and Adam are joined by Emmy-award nominated editor extraordinaire Geoff Richman, who offers a window into the intricate post-production process and talks about watching the show evolve throughout the season. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices