Malachi Kirby On Toxic Masculinity: “The Pressure to Be 100% Masculine Is Destructive”

BAFTA-winning actor Malachi Kirby - known for Roots, Black Mirror, Small Axe, and now leading Disney+’s A Thousand Blows - sits down with Josh for an honest conversation about masculinity, identity, and ambition. In this chat, Malachi reflects on being warned about the “glass ceiling” for Black actors - and why he chose not to live under it. From the freedom and unwavering belief instilled in him by his mother to rejecting the idea that your circumstances define your future, this is a conversation about refusing limitation. He also dives into toxic masculinity, the pressure to be “100% masculine,” growing up as an introvert and lifelong observer, and why setting boundaries - in life and on set - might be the ultimate power move. ________ 00:00 Teaser Trailer 00:42 Podcast Intro 02:05 Malachi's Greatest Chat 02:58 The “glass ceiling” advice he chose to ignore 04:29 Why you shouldn’t internalise other people’s limitations 05:10 Dreaming big vs having vision 06:31 His mum’s belief changed everything 08:11 The introvert who never planned to be an actor 09:33 Finding a safe space in drama class 11:14 When acting became serious 11:31 Giving his BAFTA to his mum 14:25 Why being an introvert is a power 19:00 The moment he almost quit acting 21:06 Learning to set boundaries on set 24:19 What listening really teaches you 26:47 Toxic masculinity and redefining manhood 31:30 “No man is 100% masculine” 33:18 A Thousand Blows and daring to dream 37:17 Forgiveness, second chances and compassion 38:43 Why forgiving yourself matters 40:21 What we should be talking about more 43:10 Outro ________ Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show (@joshsmithsgreatchatshow) Brought you by Next Chapter Studios (@theNextChapterStudios) Host: Josh Smith (@joshsmithhosts) Creative Director: Carrie Rose Senior Producer: Bella Neale This podcast is part of the Spotify Partner Programme. Follow Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show on Spotify and tap the 🔔 to be notified when new episodes drop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices