THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

Josh Johnson, American stand-up comedian and Daily Show correspondent known for sharp takes on race and culture. He talks about avoiding alcohol, growing up in Louisiana and tasting alligator gumbo. He recounts learning magic, responding to tragic current events in his comedy, and first impressions of the UK, including what tourists complain about.

Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self-Esteem, is a musician, actor and writer known for bold pop and West End roles. She talks Bake Off nerves, ambition and feeling out of place in the indie scene. She recalls theatre life in Cabaret, the pressure to follow a hit album, candid songwriting about booze and vulnerability, and struggles with social anxiety and therapy.

Jamie Hewlett, artist and co-creator of Gorillaz, brings iconic visuals and character design. Damon Albarn, musician and songwriter from Blur and Gorillaz, talks songwriting and production. They chat about growing up in the 70s and 80s, legendary collaborations, touring and studio gear, making The Mountain in India, mortality and how visuals and music collide.

Join Joe Cornish, a talented film director and longtime collaborator of Adam Buxton, for a festive chat filled with laughs and surprises! They dive into hilarious anecdotes, including a dog mishap during a job interview. Expect uproarious banter on made-up jokes, celebrity gossip, and Adam’s newfound K-pop ambitions. The duo also shares quirky gift exchanges and discusses their recent experiences at Sheffield DocFest, making for a delightful and amusing holiday conversation.

Richard Ayoade, a witty British writer and director, shares insights on his experiences with Wes Anderson and the emotional impact of film, while also revealing humorous stories about regrettable record purchases. Joining him is Frank Black, the iconic frontman of the Pixies, who discusses his respect for comedians in music and recounts a comedic yet traumatic audition for the film Zodiac. Frank also performs 'Calistan' live, blending music and storytelling that connects deeply to personal experiences.

Devendra Banhart, an American-Venezuelan singer-songwriter known for his quirky, psychedelic folk, joins the conversation. They explore the wisdom of cats and reflect on how music offers spiritual experiences. Devendra shares his love for rural life and memories of Caracas, while discussing therapy's profound impact on family relationships. They also giggle over The Greatest Night In Pop documentary and reveal the songs that bring them to tears. To top it off, Devendra performs two special renditions of his songs, adding a musical flourish to the chat.

Adam talks with British/American documentarian Lucy Walker about being at the same school, psychedelic drug therapy and whether life's happiness curve is not a downwards slide to the end, but is actually 'U' shaped.Conversation recorded face-to-face in London on 04 September, 2024Thanks to Séamus Murphy-Mitchell for production supportPodcast illustration by Helen GreenListen to Adam's album 'Buckle Up' Order Adam's book 'I Love You Byeee' Sign up for the newsletter on Adam's website (scroll down on homepage)RELATED LINKSLUCY WALKER WEBSITEWASTELAND Directed by Lucy Walker - 2010 (YOUTUBE)DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND Directed by Lucy Walker - 2002 (YOUTUBE)BLINDSIGHT (OFFICIAL TRAILER) Directed by Lucy Walker - 2006 (YOUTUBE)THE TSUNAMI AND THE CHERRY BLOSSOM (OFFICIAL TRAILER) Directed by Lucy Walker - 2011 (YOUTUBE)THE CRASH REEL (OFFICIAL TRAILER) Directed by Lucy Walker - 2013 (YOUTUBE)MOUNTAIN QUEEN: THE SUMMITS OF LHAKPA SHERPA (OFFICIAL TRAILER) Directed by Lucy Walker - 2024 (YOUTUBE)HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MIND (OFFICIAL TRAILER) Netflix 4-part series about the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic drugs presented by Michael Pollan, directed by Lucy Walker and Alison EllwoodFAMOUS SCIENTIST OF 5-MeO-DMT AND INTEGRATED INFORMATION THEORY - 2025 (YOUTUBE)IS LIFE'S HAPPINESS CURVE REALLY U SHAPED? by Daniel Freeman and Jason Freeman - 2015 (GUARDIAN)LYNCHIAN by John Higgs - 2025 (WATERSTONES) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish comedian David O'Doherty shares his low-energy whimsy with a live audience. He discusses his love of cycling and vintage bikes, revealing the practicalities of chamois cream. David recounts a hilarious story of vomiting on stage in Aberdeen and how he turned it into an unforgettable moment. He also reflects on intimate pub gigs versus larger performances, shares his essential album picks, and celebrates the vibrant Dublin comedy scene. The episode features David's delightful songs and witty takes on life, privacy concerns, and touring tales.

Adam talks with author Zadie Smith about fun, trivial things like Wordle start words, men who dress as if they're still young, and the sadness of podcasts becoming TV shows, and then not trivial things like the problems associated with empathy when it comes to politics, war and fiction writing. Plus, what is Zadie's problem with Generation X?Conversation recorded face-to-face in London on 7 October 2025 Thanks to Séamus Murphy-Mitchell for production supportPodcast illustration by Helen GreenListen to Adam's album 'Buckle Up' Order Adam's book 'I Love You Byeee' Sign up for the newsletter on Adam's website (scroll down on homepage)RELATED LINKSDEAD AND ALIVE by Zadie Smith - 2025 (PENGUIN)ZADIE SMITH ON FASHION NEUROSIS PODCAST WITH BELLA FREUD - 2025 (YOUTUBE)ZADIE AND DEVONTÉ HYNES ON 'HOLDING UP THE LADDER' PODCAST - 2025 (ACAST)ZADIE SMITH ON WILD CARD - 2025 (NPR)LISA THATCHER - THE BRILLIANCE OF WHITE TEETH - 2012CHARLIE KIRK WAS PRACTICING POLITICS THE RIGHT WAY by Ezra Klein - 11 September, 2025 (NY TIMES)CHARLIE KIRK REDEEMED, A POLITICAL CLASS FINDS ITS LOST CAUSE by Ta-Nehisi Coates - 2025 (VANITY FAIR)EZRA KLEIN AND TA-NEHISI COATES HASH OUT THEIR CHARLIE KIRK DISAGREEMENT - 2025 (YOUTUBE)PHILOSOPHERS DESCRIBED BY PEEP SHOW - 2025 (YOUTUBE)ZADIE SMITH ON HOW LANGUAGE UPSETS THE RIGHT - 2025 (YOUTUBE)THANK YOU VERY MUCH - ANDY KAUFMAN DOC (OFFICIAL TRAILER) - 2023 (YOUTUBE)CHRIS SMITH ON JIM CAREY AND ANDY KAUFMAN (ADAM BUXTON PODCAST BONUS) - 2017 (ADAM'S WEBSITE/SOUNDCLOUD) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam talks with British musician and artist John Foxx, about a few of the pioneers of electronic music, forming the band Ultravox!, working with legendary producers Brian Eno (Bowie, Talking Heads, U2, Coldplay, etc.) and Conny Plank (Kraftwerk, NEU! Cluster, Harmonia, etc.), the relationship between art, music and comedy, his encounters with Keith Richards and performance artist Leigh Bowery, what he and Fall frontman Mark E Smith would talk about on their drinking sessions together and how his parents didn't screw him up.Conversation recorded face-to-face in London on 11 March, 2025List of the music clips used in this episode on Adam's website HEREADAM TALKS 90s TV AND PLAYS MUSIC @ LONDON LITERATURE FESTIVAL @ Royal Festival Hall, Sunday 26th October 2025, 7.30pmThanks to Séamus Murphy-Mitchell for production supportPodcast illustration by Helen GreenListen to Adam's album 'Buckle Up' Order Adam's book 'I Love You Byeee' Sign up for the newsletter on Adam's website (scroll down on homepage)RELATED LINKSMETAMATIC - SIGNED 45th ANNIVERSARY GREY VINYL - 2025 (BURNING SHED)JOHN FOXX - UNDERPASS - 1980 (YOUTUBE)ELECTRICITY AND GHOSTS The Visual Art of John Foxx - 2024WENDY CARLOS - VOCODER QUESTIONS (WENDY CARLOS WEBSITE)STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR (TRAILER) - 2025 (YOUTUBE)LEIGH BOWERY - SOUTH OF WATFORD PT 1 - 1986 (YOUTUBE)LEIGH BOWERY - SOUTH OF WATFORD PT 2 - 1986 (YOUTUBE)LEIGH BOWERY - SOUTH OF WATFORD PT 3 - 1986 (YOUTUBE)MICHAEL CLARKE AND MARK E SMITH ON NEWSNIGHT - 2011 (YOUTUBE)THE DAMNED - NEW ROSE - 1977 (YOUTUBE)LEIGH BOWERY GIVES BIRTH AT WIGSTOCK - 1993 (YOUTUBE) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.