What is the true meaning of life? Actor, comedian and writer Justin Long ventures into the minds of celebrities to learn how they spend their time on earth in his new podcast “Life Is Short.” 

Through engaging, thoughtful conversations with everyone from actors to musicians to deep thinkers, Justin chats about the experiences that have led them to find meaning in their own lives. Accompanied by his brother, actor and producer Christian Long, the brotherly banter and fun discussions give the Wondery podcast a lighthearted and comedic tone.

As a longtime actor, Justin– recognized for his movie roles such as “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” “Waiting,” and “Galaxy Quest” — said he’s used to getting inside the heads of the characters he plays, so the interview format comes natural to him. Guests so far have included actor/producer Neil Patrick Harris, actress Anna Chlumsky, actress/director Olivia Wilde, actor Kevin Bacon and comedian Neal Brennan.

Justin chatted with us about favorite moments and guests, what it’s like to work side-by-side with his brother, the joys and challenges of running a podcast (including having to venture into the world of Instagram…) and more.

What was the initial inspiration of creating the “Life Is Short” podcast? 

I think it was turning 40 – which brought with it, as is common, a heightened awareness of how much and how quickly time is passing. It really snuck up on me and I started rethinking how I was using my remaining time and, more importantly, curious how others were using theirs. I also just really like talking to people and learning about them. So it was a combination of a midlife crisis and being super nosy (laughs). 

Who are your podcast heroes? What qualities do they have that have inspired you in your own podcast?  

I really love listening to Dax Shepherd’s podcast. He is incredibly bright and curious and has enough knowledge about most subjects that make his contributions really valuable and elevate the conversation. The first podcast I ever did was Anna Faris’s “Unqualified” which I also loved – Anna had a very easy, laid-back approach to her interviews that made me feel like a very engaged fly on the wall. Both Anna and Dax are very empathetic people which, I think, is the most important attribute for the podcasters I enjoy listening to. 

You’ve had a pretty diverse group of people on — Fran Drescher, Kevin Bacon, Wolfgang Puck, etc. — who has been the most:

Fun? Fran was fun because she’s so unpredictable and opinionated and… fun. But Cobie Smulders and Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell are all people whose company I so enjoy in life, so hanging out with them in front of a microphone was equally fun. 

Fascinating? Wolfgang Puck has a fascinating upbringing which I was almost completely unaware of. Jeremy Renner’s view of life and death fascinated me. I’m honestly fascinated by some part of every guest we’ve had so far. 

Thought-provoking?  I hope this isn’t a cop-out but I’ve also found every guest we’ve had to be thought-provoking to some degree but the interview with Roger McNamee (author of the book “Zucked”) was one I still think about – he opened my eyes to so many hidden dangers of social media. Jesse Eisenberg has such an open and empathetic worldview that he has made me reevaluate my own behavior towards people through a more understanding and forgiving lens. 

Has anyone made you nervous or anxious to talk to? 

Most of the guests I’m, at least, slightly nervous to talk to. But obviously the ones I didn’t know have been the most nerve-wracking. Wolfgang Puck, despite never having met him, really put me at ease – he was so disarmingly down to earth and sweet. Neil Patrick Harris is an old friend of mine but Neil is, himself, such a great host and deft conversationalist that I felt pretty nervous in the beginning of that one. Ditto for Lena Dunham. And in both cases they’re people I really admire. They were also two of our very first few episodes. 

What challenges have you faced so far venturing into the podcast industry?

I was saying “yeah” too much. Somebody pointed it out and as much as I wanted to disagree with it, I couldn’t. I’ve also had to curb an annoying instinct to talk over people if I get excited by something that springs into my head. I also had to start an Instagram account – which went from being a challenge to something I’ve begun to enjoy. 

What has been your most special moment since launching so far? 

I think the most special moments have been hearing and reading peoples positive feedback about the show. It’s something I’m so much more personally invested in than a movie or TV show I do. It’s really just me and my brother talking, so any positive reinforcement about that I take very personally. It’s also been really special getting to do it with my brother. 

I love that you have your brother by your side to “hold you accountable” the way siblings do and reveal a different side of you to your listeners. What does that mean to you to work with Christian?

We’ve been creative partners for a long time and have had many scripts never see the light of day, so it’s nice and deeply rewarding to see a creative endeavor of our’s come to fruition. It’s incredibly gratifying. He also brings out the best in me — I’m my funniest and most engaged when I’m interacting with him. I think we challenge each other really effectively and push each other to be as funny as we can be. And as much as we share a very similar comedic sensibility, we are different people and his criticism and commentary I find more valuable than anyone else’s. I suppose I respect him more than anyone else. 

What do you hope to achieve with this podcast?  

I didn’t have these ambitions going in but it would be really nice to just be a positive, fun, interesting, whatever presence in people’s lives. Selfishly, I’d always just hoped it would be fun, which it definitely has been such a fun creative outlet. But now the thought of having a positive impact on someone’s day, on someone’s life, is something I hadn’t considered but feels insanely gratifying. 

Discuss this interview with Backstage SoCal publisher Jackie Moe via Twitter at @jackieemoe

The post Actor Justin Long chats ‘Life is Short,’ new celeb-filled podcast appeared first on Backstage Socal.

Hopeless romantics, you may want to listen up: for all of those nights of wondering if you will ever find “the one” or if “happily ever after” is real, a new podcast is hopelessly devoted to telling true love stories that are sure to give you butterflies. 

Actress Ingrid Haas (Chelsea Lately, Key and Peele) is the host of “The Moment,” a podcast produced by Wondery which premiered on July 1 and drops every Wednesday. Ingrid, who just recently got engaged herself, explores the love stories from real couples to learn what went wrong, what went right, surprise engagements and tense wedding ceremonies. 

Ingrid chatted with us about her new venture into the smooth and rough waters of epic romance. 

What was the inspiration behind creating The Moment podcast?

I was inspired to talk about love after I got engaged. Mostly because I have so many questions about how love works. Especially now that I’m engaged. Mostly how marriage works for different people. A naive part of me always thought it all gets figured out after you find your person, but my experience was that I had more questions than ever! The producers who I work with, Leah Sutherland and Stephanie Jenz, find these incredible stories about love and relationships and at our core, I think we are a bunch of hopeless romantics over at Wondery. We all know people with wild, unbelievable stories about love and relationships and we hadn’t heard anything like this. So we made it!

What are some of the highlights of this first season?

Each episode is so unique and exciting and really focuses on a different couple’s story. We have an episode with Taylor Swift, another one about how a couple froze their embryos before they even had sex! I love the finances episode with Naomi and Andy because they are comedians and very fun to listen to, but also because money is still rarely talked about and we talk about it!

Who do you feel this podcast subject will appeal to the most?

Anyone who believes in the power of love. And my hope is that it’s appealing to people who’ve become a little cynical about love.

What has been your favorite part of podcasting?

I come from a writing and comedy background, so my favorite part is riffing in the studio with the producers. We have a lot of fun making each other laugh and I especially love getting the opportunity to rework jokes or fine tune stuff.

What challenges have you faced in creating the first season?

I would guess finding the couples who we interview. But overall, Wondery is a fantastic network and I am so lucky to be part of the family.

What is it about love and romance do you feel people are more willing to do a “grand gesture”?

I’m not a relationship expert by any stretch, but as someone who’s done some wild grand gestures in my life, I think falling in love with someone makes us feel so good. I always wanted to find a way to show love can make us go blind, crazy and everything in between.

What do you hope listeners will get from “The Moment?”

That love is out there. For everyone. It’s worth the wait and I think even moreso, worth the work.

Anything else you would like to readers to know?

We love our listeners and I read all your comments and feedback and read each of your emails. It’s genuinely so nice to hear that we are giving people hope to find their match and brightening people’s day. Being a part of something that brings light into the world has been such a gift for me.

For more info, visit: https://wondery.com/shows/the-moment/

The post Actress Ingrid Haas explores true love and heartache in new podcast appeared first on Backstage Socal.