Obsessed: The Podcast

What makes Larry David one of the most fascinating—and famously difficult—figures in comedy? On this episode of Obsessed, host Matt Wilstein sits down with Blake J. Harris, author of the new authorized biography Emperor of Nothing: The Making of Larry David, to uncover the stories behind the mind that created Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Harris reveals how Larry David’s real-life experiences inspired some of television’s most iconic moments, why his disastrous stint at Saturday Night Live nearly derailed his career, and how the pressure of making Seinfeld pushed him to the brink. Plus, they get into David’s complicated relationship with fame, his personal falling out with Cheryl Hines, and the surprising stories behind his creative clashes and career-defining decisions. If you’ve ever wondered how much George Costanza is really Larry David—or what it takes to get the comedy legend to open up—this is a must-listen conversation.

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Comedian and Emmy-nominated writer Nimesh Patel joins Matt Wilstein on Obsessed: The Podcast for a sharp, hilarious conversation about political comedy, free speech, and the line between provocative humor and controversy. Patel discusses his new Netflix stand-up special, By the Dip, including his jokes about FBI Director Kash Patel, the Trump administration, and why he chose to take on some political targets while leaving others alone. He also reflects on his time writing for Saturday Night Live alongside Colin Jost and Michael Che, the evolution of comedy in a polarized political climate, the backlash surrounding Shane Gillis, and his decision to reconsider performing at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival. Plus, Patel revisits the Columbia University controversy that thrust him into the spotlight and shares candid thoughts on censorship, cancel culture, and the business of comedy.

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Judd Apatow chats with Matt Wilstein about his new documentary, Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald, and the complicated, singular comedian at its center. Apatow explains why he chose to let Norm tell his own story through archival footage, stand-up, interviews, and the strange truths hidden inside his fake memoir, before revisiting Norm’s infamous firing from Saturday Night Live and the decision to keep going after O.J. Simpson jokes angered NBC executives. They also get into Norm’s complicated relationship with politics, the pressures facing comedians in the Trump era, his later clashes with cancel culture, and the clues Apatow found about the illness Norm kept private until his death. Plus, Apatow opens up about why he thinks Hollywood has become less willing to take risks on comedies, his hopes for The Comeback King, and whether Bridesmaids or Superbad could ever get a sequel.

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Kathy Griffin joins Kevin Fallon on Obsessed to explain why her New Face, New Tour shows can swing from facelift stories and celebrity gossip to a call for political action. She recalls the years she says she was shut out of Hollywood after her infamous Trump photo, the advice Jim Carrey gave her when she feared she might never find the funny again and the surprising kindness Kim Kardashian showed her at her lowest point. Griffin also dishes on her third facelift, why she still considers herself a D-lister and how Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List keeps her late mother Maggie’s jokes alive. Through it all, she’s determined to make audiences laugh, speak her mind and leave the theater knowing the people sitting beside them.

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Final Destination star Devon Sawa joins Kevin Fallon on Obsessed for a Halloween-season trip through the roles that made him a ’90s crush and a horror icon. He reveals the audience reaction that told him Final Destination was something special, how the movie led Dr. Dre to cast him in Eminem’s Stan video and why Casper still holds a special place in his heart. Sawa also talks about joining fellow ’90s favorite Tiffani Thiessen on the new Freeform series Coven Academy, the nerves he felt before filming a love scene with Jean Smart on Hacks and his pitch for a darker Casper sequel.

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NSYNC’s Lance Bass gets candid about his decades-long friendship with Joey Fatone, sharing how the two became inseparable and revealing hilarious behind-the-scenes stories from their time in the boy band, including a tour tradition involving Jack and Coke in water bottles. Plus, Lance spills stories from Cocktail Wars, discusses reconnecting with his former girlfriend Danielle Fishel, weighs in on the latest Dancing With the Stars cast, revisits his canceled space mission, and gives an update on an NSYNC reunion. From boy-band nostalgia to Hollywood secrets, Lance has plenty to dish about!

Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

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Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett joins Kevin Fallon on Obsessed to spill behind-the-scenes stories about playing Aaron Samuels, his reign as the Gay King of Christmas, and why he’ll never stop embracing his most iconic role. Bennett reveals how coming out transformed his Hollywood career, why he’s doubling down on LGBTQ+ love stories amid today’s political climate, and what it’s like to make history with Hallmark’s groundbreaking gay Christmas movies. Plus, he dishes on joining General Hospital, hosting Halloween Wars, and bringing more queer representation to mainstream TV. And, of course, we get to the question every Mean Girls fan knows: Does his hair actually look sexy pushed back?

Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

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Anna Camp is still living in the Pitch Perfect world—and she reveals why the franchise remains such a powerful part of her life, from fans playing the movies’ songs when she walks into restaurants to Steph Curry nervously singing Bruno Mars for her. On Obsessed, Camp joins Kevin Fallon to talk about hosting HGTV’s spooky new series A Very Haunted Renovation, the genuinely eerie experiences she had inside its haunted mansion, her roles in True Blood, You, Scream 7, Good Girls Revolt and The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, and her unforgettable reunion with Daniel Radcliffe. She also opens up about wanting to break out of the roles audiences expect from her, the lasting legacy of Pitch Perfect, and why she chose to make her coming-out story as casual and normal as possible.

Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

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Dane Cook opens up to Matt Wilstein about the shocking story behind his new documentary Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story, which explores how his own half-brother, Darryl, stole millions of dollars from him and disappeared. Cook reveals what it was like to discover the betrayal, the bizarre places the stolen cash was hidden—including $60,000 in empty Bagel Bites boxes—and why he waited more than a decade to tell the full story. He also gets candid about the impact the scandal had on his comedy career, the SNL opportunity he walked away from, watching Jimmy Fallon take the role, bombing in front of 15,000 Phish fans, his triumphant return to Boston Garden, and what could be next for this unbelievable story. Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story begins streaming on September 29.

Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

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On this episode of Obsessed, Kevin Fallon sits down with The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Angie Katsanevas for a candid conversation about the emotional new season, Mary Cosby’s tragic loss, her marriage to Sean, and how her life has changed since joining RHOSLC. Angie reveals what it was really like filming after the death of Mary’s son Robert Jr., opens up about the personal issues playing out in her marriage, and reflects on going from being an outsider on the cast to becoming one of RHOSLC’s central Housewives. Plus, Angie explains the story behind her iconic “I don’t do French fries, I do franchises” moment, her journey from bagging groceries to building a business empire, her new podcast School of Hustle with Angie K, and the Housewives she’d actually go into business with.

Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

Full tune-in: Listen to Angie’s conversation with Heather Gay for GoDaddy School of Hustle on Wednesday, September 9 with part 2 of the episode dropping September 16 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube and follow @godaddynews on Instagram for exclusive podcast content. 

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