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The Louis Theroux Podcast

The Louis Theroux Podcast

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 Join Louis Theroux as he embarks on a series of in-depth and freewheeling conversations with a curated collection of fascinating figures from across the globe. The Louis Theroux Podcast is a Spotify podcast from Mindhouse, now available everywhere. Art Social Sciences
Episodes
  • S7 EP4: Stewart Lee on "Netflix comedians”, disastrous gigs, and Elon Musk

    S7 EP4: Stewart Lee on "Netflix comedians”, disastrous gigs, and Elon Musk
    Mar 24 2026
    In this episode, Louis speaks to comedian, writer and 41st best stand-up ever, Stewart Lee. Stewart tells Louis about taking aim at “Netflix comedians” in his new show, Stewart Lee vs. The Man-Wulf, what went wrong at a disastrous gig at the Royal Albert Hall, and what Elon Musk doesn't understand about comedy. Warnings: Very strong language and adult themes. Links/Attachments: Live Show: Stewart Lee vs. The Man-Wulf, Stewart Lee (2024 – 2026) ⁠https://www.stewartlee.co.uk/live-dates/ Easy Rider (1969) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064276/ Song: ‘Jiggle Jiggle’, Louis Theroux with Duke & Jones, (2022) https://open.spotify.com/track/1I4lCSP69P74nU3a6Su5L2 TV Show Episode: ‘Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends’, S3 EP6 “Rap” (2000) - BBC https://tv.apple.com/gb/episode/rap/umc.cmc.7a0aczr1rzkn7k9lhxgks08d1?showId=umc.cmc.1fujlj3xkbu70iu0kh0fmwgd0 TV Show: ‘Blue Peter’ (1958 – present) - CBBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006md2v/blue-peter National Security Strategy of The United States of America (November 2025) https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf Live Show: Stewart Lee on Brexit, (2017) https://www.stewartlee.co.uk/content-provider/satirical-standup-dissects-brexit-and-the-selfie-generation-as-only-he-can-with-mocking-exasperation/ Thelonious Monk’s Advice: https://www.openculture.com/2017/12/thelonious-monks-25-tips-for-musicians-1960.html Stewart Lee, Basic Lee: Live at the Lowry (2022) https://www.nowtv.com/ie/online/stewart-lee-basic-lee-live-at-the-lowry/A5EK6949itCVNKaChrDXN TV Show Episode: Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle, S4 EP5 ‘Migrants’ (2016) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5218362/ Song: ‘Comin’ Over Here’, Asian Dub Foundation ft. Stewart Lee (2020) https://open.spotify.com/track/4fZdsSko9ScgWoVN6oKUF7 Stewart’s Joke about James Corden: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_zjRzgj88HA Live Show: A Night of Comedy, Teenage Cancer Trust (2026) https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2026/a-night-of-comedy TV Show: ‘Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle’ (2009-2016) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1227802/ Book: How I Escaped My Certain Fate, Stewart Lee (2011) https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571254811-how-i-escaped-my-certain-fate/?srsltid=AfmBOor4Z6u2BWF9rR8s7qKz2unYdxREkzS7an0f3Le9r6Yoh0UOqbV4 Jerry Springer: The Opera (2005) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441324/ The Wizard of Oz (1939) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/ TV Special: ‘Dara Ó Briain: So Where Are We? (2023) - BBC https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31070622/ Elon Musk’s Speech in Trafalgar Square https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSETb5QRLW0 Elon Musk’s Tolkien Bit on The Joe Rogan Podcast https://metro.co.uk/2025/11/04/elon-musk-branded-dangerous-saying-people-small-town-england-like-hobbits-24609795/ Lord of the Rings Trilogy https://www.warnerbros.co.uk/movies/lord-rings-trilogy TV Show: ‘Star Trek’ (1966-1969) - NBC https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060028/ TV Show: ‘Star Trek: Next Generation’ (1987-1994) - CBS https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092455/ Live Show: ‘90s Comedian’ (2006) https://www.stewartlee.co.uk/merch_download/90s-comedian/ TV Show: ‘Seinfeld’ (1989-1998) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098904/ King Rocker (2020) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10451082/ TV Special: ‘Stewart Lee: Snowflake’ (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22030334/ TV Special: ‘Stewart Lee: Tornado’ (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22030350/ Album: Back Door, Back Door (1975) https://open.spotify.com/album/5j1apHg2nmljcLH2UIKPLq Credits: Producer: Millie Chu Assistant Producer: Mark Maughan Production Manager: Francesca Bassett Music: Miguel D’Oliveira Audio Mixer: Tom Guest Video Mixer: Scott Edwards Shownotes compiled by Elly Young Executive Producer: Arron Fellows A Mindhouse Studios Production for Spotify www.mindhouse.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 35 mins
  • S7 EP3: Lulu discusses alcoholism, marrying a Bee Gee, and David Bowie’s thighs

    S7 EP3: Lulu discusses alcoholism, marrying a Bee Gee, and David Bowie’s thighs
    Mar 17 2026
    Louis is joined in the Spotify studio by Scottish singer, actor and TV personality Lulu. The pair discuss her struggles with alcoholism, being married to a Bee Gee, and her intimate knowledge of David Bowie’s thighs. Warnings: Strong language and adult themes. Links/Attachments: Song: ‘Shout’, the Isley Brothers (1959) https://open.spotify.com/track/72VH13PSrYh963lzB5NzG4 To Sir, With Love (1967) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062376/ Book: Lulu: I Don’t Want To Fight, Lulu (2020) https://www.waterstones.com/book/lulu-i-dont-want-to-fight/lulu/9780751546255 Book: If Only You Knew, Lulu (2025) https://www.waterstones.com/book/if-only-you-knew/lulu/9781399744249 TV Show: ‘It’s Lulu’ (1970-1973) - BBC https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299320/ TV Show: ‘Lulu’ (1975) - BBC https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072537/ Song: ‘Getting To Know You’, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein III (1951) https://open.spotify.com/track/0aGN51LOR5E4zQAqhT1Ok7 (not 1951 version) Song: ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein III (1959) https://open.spotify.com/track/5ewWvQPbrBf8Z9TKmYaRY6 (not 1959 version) TV Show: ‘Happening For Lulu’ (1968-1969) - BBC https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063926/ Jimi Hendrix on Lulu’s show (1969) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usel2OAtQ_s&list=RDUsel2OAtQ_s&start_radio=1 TV Show: ‘Not Only...But Also’ (1965-1970) - BBC https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128004/ Article: Jimi Hendrix Banned from BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p032vp1d Song: ‘The Man Who Sold the World’, Lulu (1974) https://open.spotify.com/track/36jha42uJrGq7Ew9REPLIo Song: Boom Bang a Bang', Lulu (1969) written by Alan Moorhouse and Peter Warne https://open.spotify.com/track/67HolMSJIT9IMPhxieOHeu TV Special: ‘When Louis Met... Jimmy’ (2000) - BBC https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0304938/ Louis Theroux: Savile (2016) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07yc9zh TV Show: ‘Jim’ll Fix It’ (1975-2007) - BBC https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0197163/ The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (2020) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9850386/ Saturday Night Fever (1977) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076666/ Song: ‘Night Fever’, The Bee Gees (1977) https://open.spotify.com/track/4t2euPkyLUs5n5j1HDZ2Tr Song: ‘To Love Somebody’, The Bee Gees (1967) written by Barry and Robin Gibb https://open.spotify.com/track/0mbS3VwRbO6HVBMPXnzOGA Song: ‘Woman In Love’, Barbra Streisand (1980) written by Barry and Robin Gibb https://open.spotify.com/track/1pTGc8pwyo6xtgXBKCBcFn Song: ‘Chain Reaction’, Diana Ross (1985) https://open.spotify.com/track/1it9umP1j9qSqzKbSLLqqy TV Special: ‘An Audience with Lulu’ (2002) - ITV https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0788014/ Lulu’s Mental Health Trust https://www.lulusmentalhealthtrust.com/ Credits: Producer: Millie Chu  Assistant Producer: Mark Maughan Production Manager: Francesca Bassett  Music: Miguel D’Oliveira  Audio Mixer: Tom Guest Video Mixer: Scott Edwards Shownotes compiled by Elly Young Executive Producer: Arron Fellows     A Mindhouse Production for Spotify  www.mindhouse.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • S7 EP2: Kyle MacLachlan on his relationship with David Lynch, Showgirls, and viral stardom

    S7 EP2: Kyle MacLachlan on his relationship with David Lynch, Showgirls, and viral stardom
    Mar 10 2026
    In this episode, Louis speaks with Kyle MacLachlan, muse of iconic director David Lynch and internet “babygirl”. Kyle tells Louis about working with Lynch on Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet, why he will never watch Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls, and going viral on TikTok. Watch Season 2 of Fallout on Prime Video now. Warnings: Strong language and adult themes. Links/Attachments: TV Show: ‘Fallout’ (2024 - Now) - Prime Video http://amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0FLT3NNDQ/ref=atv_dp_season_select_s2 TV Show: Twin Peaks (1990) - ABC https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/shows/twin_peaks/ Blue Velvet (1986) https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/blue-velvet/umc.cmc.33lsrdtequl92bh2q4qufz09j?action=play Easy Rider (1969) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064276/ Apocalypse Now (1979) https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/apocalypse-now/umc.cmc.34p6g8esi62ncametagl3s7ao?action=play Eraserhead (1977) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074486/ The Elephant Man (1980) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080678/ Dune (1984) https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/dune/umc.cmc.7edgw5obp2gwx0xsyhla10zbc?action=play Instagram Post: Kyle about David Lynch https://www.instagram.com/p/DE5pC5RyH29/?hl=en&img_index=1 Dune (2021) https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/dune/umc.cmc.2l7qj9p33t3jww1roxi8cgiw5?action=play White Nights (1985) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090319/ TV Show: Portlandia (2011-2018) - IFC https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1780441/ TV Show: Desperate Housewives (2004 – 2012) - ABC https://tv.apple.com/gb/episode/pilot/umc.cmc.1nlhsa37c9fb3k7i79tls86l4?showId=umc.cmc.764fqtvvzfic5cig1ubycwn4&action=playSmartEpisode TV Show: Sex and the City (1989 – 2004) - HBO https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159206/ The Hidden (1988) https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/the-hidden/umc.cmc.xpfv9tdbmpijtg30s9sofdq7?action=play The Doors (1991) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101761/ Showgirls (1995) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114436/ Podcast: What Are We Even Doing? With Kyle MacLachlan - IHeartPodcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/4Q0EAcipmnanJtijhZR4Id Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071853/ Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/ TikTok Post: Kyle’s viral post https://www.tiktok.com/@kyle_maclachlan/video/7561193641553726750 TV Show: ‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005 – 2014) - CBS https://tv.apple.com/gb/episode/pilot/umc.cmc.3gahlb7gzcf4n4vm56n4et5um?showId=umc.cmc.hrenotb7pqaz2mo61vph1gwj&action=playSmartEpisode RoboCop (1987) https://www.itv.com/watch/robocop/ROBOCOP/CFD2301a0001 Inland Empire (2006) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460829/ TV Show: ‘The Last of Us’ (2023 – Now) - HBO https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3581920/ ‘Dennis Hopper’s Best Moments as Frank’ - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1CQgHeoe14 M (1931) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022100/ Credits: Producer: Millie Chu  Assistant Producer: Mark Maughan Production Manager: Francesca Bassett  Music: Miguel D’Oliveira  Audio Mixer: Tom Guest Video Mixer: Scott Edwards Shownotes compiled by Elly Young Executive Producer: Arron Fellows     A Mindhouse Production for Spotify  www.mindhouse.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 17 mins
All stars
Most relevant
Enjoyed everyone interesting despite not knowing half the people interviewed Louis always entertains and asks the best questions

Always on point

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Theroux is great at connecting with his interviewees which encourages them to open up. If you’re interested in exploring a person’s inner-world and motivation, then this is for you. I only vaguely knew of some of these people, others I was not aware of at all - but every episode I’ve heard so far has provided really interesting insights into life. Start at the beginning & work your way Theroux ;)

Theroux at his best

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he interrupts and asks another question before they have answered the previous one. it's unbearable.

Louis doesn't let his interviewee speak!

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Firstly, the audio volume levels are shocking. I was having to turn the volume up and down. Louis starts off by introducing the sponsors (second complaint) which have obviously been recorded separately but the volume goes quiet LOUD quiet. When listening to anything with earbuds you don't normally have to adjust the volume every 30 secs! Second complaint, the introduction is purely adverts. "This episode is sponsored by...this episode is sponsored by..." I got to my third sponsor and switched off.

I don't mind adverts. I understand how sponsors work. But for the love of all things audio, give us some content first? Space out the adverts?

And finally, Louis let's out a HUGE spoiler for a show that's currently out on TV. There was the usual "spoiler alert" then he blurted out "XXX dies" before you have chance to take heed of the spoiler alert.

Honestly, I cannot comprehend how poorly this was put together. Maybe I caught a bad episode? Dunno. Not gonna waste my time on it.

Louis needs to go back to his beginnings and interview non famous people in my opinion

Gave up after 10 mins

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