The Great Creators with Guy Raz
by Guy Raz | Wondery
Become a more inventive, imaginative you. Every week, Guy Raz (creator of How I Built This) leads a deep dive conversation with someone at the top of their game. From conquering stage fright to learning to be more present and focused, you'll learn how each guest mastered their craft and ultimately became more successful in life. The result? An arsenal of tools and techniques you can apply to your own life and work, allowing you to harness your talent and become a better version of yourself. Listen to The Great Creators on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-great-creators-with-guy-raz/ now.
Episodes
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Sylvan Esso: Their Songwriting Routines, “Hey Mami”, the Durham Scene, and Creative Surprises
Ten years ago, Nick Sanborn & Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso) exploded onto the indie music scene with their unique electro-pop sound and mysterious aura. Since then, they’ve played some of the biggest stages in the world and have even created their own record label in their adopted hometown of…
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Ron Howard: Reinventing Himself After Child Fame, Henry Fonda’s Advice, and His New Sydney Sweeney Film 'Eden'
Ron Howard, the Oscar-winning director behind films like 'Apollo 13' and 'A Beautiful Mind,' sits down with Guy to discuss his remarkable journey from child actor to Hollywood heavyweight. Ron’s latest documentary – “Jim Henson: Idea Man” – about the creator of the Muppets, is available now on...
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Tyler Perry's TV and Film Empire Grew Out of a Single Act of Forgiveness
Actor, filmmaker, and playwright Tyler Perry is one of the most prolific and prosperous entertainers of his generation. Despite growing up in New Orleans with little money, no connections, and few entertainment role models, Tyler went on to build a billion-dollar business – totally bypassing...
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Kelly Clarkson: The Pop Music Megastar on American Idol, Her Album “Chemistry,” and Her Emmy Award-Winning TV Talk Show (2023)
Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol in 2002, released her chart-topping single “A Moment Like This” the same year, and almost instantly became a music megastar. Kelly talks to Guy about the hardships of her early life, and how they helped motivate her towards success, the…
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Josh Brolin: His Wild Childhood, ‘The Goonies’, and Trading Stocks to Survive Before ‘No Country for Old Men’
Josh Brolin (Dune, Avengers, Sicario) knows what it’s like to fall, rise, and live to tell the story. From his chaotic childhood on a horse ranch in California to teen stardom in 'The Goonies' to two decade without a big acting role, Josh pulls back the curtain on family, creativity, and a life...
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Tom Hanks Opens Up About His Career, Family, Self-Doubt, and the “Magic” That Shaped His Life (2023)
With a career spanning decades, Tom Hanks has embodied more unforgettable characters than most actors have roles. This episode brings back Tom’s inspiring conversation with Guy Raz from 2023, where he shares his journey through film—from early breakout roles to timeless classics—and his process…
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JR: The Artist Whose Mind-Bending Portraits Cover the West Bank, Louvre, and a Supermax Prison
JR is an internationally acclaimed street artist, photographer and filmmaker known for his massive photo-pasting murals that transform cityscapes into powerful messages of empathy and connection. In this episode, JR shares his journey from tagging buildings in Paris as a teen to using art to…
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Norman Reedus’ Wild Journey from Tennis Prodigy to Beloved Star of ‘The Walking Dead’
Norman Reedus is an actor, fashion model, and photographer best known for portraying Daryl Dixon on the wildly popular TV show The Walking Dead. He sits down with Guy Raz to talk about his nomadic upbringing, stumbling into serious acting, motorcycles, fatherhood, the bizarre nature of fame, and...
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How Anna Kendrick Went From ‘Pitch Perfect’ to Directing a Dark True-Crime Thriller, ‘Woman of the Hour’
Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, Up in the Air) is an Oscar-nominated actress, singer, and now, director. Anna joins Guy Raz to share her journey from Portland, Maine community theater at age six, through her breakout Broadway role at 12, to Hollywood stardom. She reveals her path to directing Woman...
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Lin-Manuel Miranda on "The Idea That Wouldn't Leave Him Alone" (with 'Warriors' Co-Writer Eisa Davis)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (‘Hamilton’, ‘In The Heights’) and Eisa Davis (‘Angela’s Mixtape’, ‘Bullrusher’) are writers, performers, and collaborators who are revolutionizing hip-hop theater. In this episode, Lin and Eisa join Guy to discuss their latest creative project, ‘Warriors’, a concept album...
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Julie Bowen: ‘Modern Family’ Success Came After I Gave Up on My Shakespeare Dreams
Julie Bowen is a celebrated actress and two-time Emmy winner who brought the iconic character of Claire Dunphy to life for 11 seasons. In this episode, Julie chats with Guy Raz about her childhood love of theater in Baltimore, waiting tables while studying acting in New York, breaking into...
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How Kenny G Became the Best-Selling Instrumentalist of All Time
Kenny G is a Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and the top-selling instrumental artist of all time, with over 75 million record sales, and 1.5 billion streams. Kenny joins Guy to discuss his creative journey, from being the kid who didn’t make the high school band to a global music icon. Listen to...
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10 Grammys and 2 Oscars: FINNEAS on Working with His Sister, Billie Eilish, Trusting His Taste, and His New Solo Album
Finneas is a Grammy and Oscar-winning producer, songwriter, and artist. He is best known for his close collaborations with his younger sister, Billie Eilish, and for being the youngest person to win the Producer of the Year award. In this episode, Finneas sits with Guy to discuss his unique...
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Diplo: From Working at Subway and the Zoo to Global Music Superstar (2023)
Diplo is one of the most successful and influential DJ/producers working today. He shares his journey from working odd jobs while grinding away on music to selling out festivals and generating billions of streams. Interested in a Visual Map tracing Diplo's creative journey? We made one just for...
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A Rare Interview with Ray LaMontagne, Carpenter-turned-Musician Who Resists Fame and Lives on His Own Terms
Ray LaMontagne is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter known for his raspy vocals and soulful, introspective lyrics. He also has an incredible life story that you rarely hear about, because he prefers to avoid the spotlight and let his music do the talking. But in this episode, Ray opens up about…
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Miranda Lambert: How Honky Tonks, a Pep Talk from Mom, and "Losing" Forged a Country Music Superstar
Three-time Grammy winner Miranda Lambert is a proud Texan who got her start performing during set changes at local bars starting at age 17. It was a “Honky Tonk U” education that would serve her well – igniting a career that would see Miranda become country music’s most award-winning artist of…
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Esperanza Spalding on the “Suffering” of Songwriting and Her Dream Collaboration with Milton Nascimento
From a lightning bolt moment watching cellist Yo-Yo Ma on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as a child to becoming a 5-time Grammy winner, Esperana Spalding’s journey has been driven by an innate love for music. But along the way, she’s often felt misunderstood and misrepresented in the press. Today,...
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Actor Giovanni Ribisi on Child Stardom, Favorite Roles, Marlon Brando, and “Strange Darling”
Giovanni Ribisi, the versatile actor known for his roles in “Saving Private Ryan,” “Avatar,” and “Friends,” reflects on his life growing up in the heart of Hollywood and his enduring passion for filmmaking. He also discusses the emotional toll of “living” in intense roles; why he thinks...
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‘Tiger King’ Creator on Joe Exotic and Watching a Murder-for-Hire Plot Unfold Before His Eyes
Eric Goode is a filmmaker, conservationist, and a former nightclub owner. His Netflix docuseries Tiger King, about zookeeper and convicted felon Joe Exotic, became a massive cultural phenomenon at the start of the pandemic. In this episode, Eric joins Guy to discuss his eclectic career path…
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Mark Foster (Foster the People): I Delivered Pizza and Worked Graveyard Shifts for Years Before ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ Blew Up
Mark Foster is the frontman for Foster the People, which rocketed to fame in 2011 on the strength of their very first single, ‘Pumped Up Kicks’. Mark talks about growing up as a pastor’s son in Cleveland; nearly joining the military but choosing instead to move to L.A. to pursue his music dreams;...
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Ellie Goulding: From Writing Acoustic Songs in Her Bedroom to Making Smash Pop Hits like “Burn” and “Lights” (2023)
Singer Ellie Goulding has had 35 different songs chart in the UK, the most of any female artist ever. In this conversation from 2023, Ellie shares how she first broke out of her shell performing original songs to her college classmates. She also talks about finding her own sound by using her…
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Kenan Thompson: How an Atlanta Kid “Manifested” a Mighty Ducks Role, Starred at Nickelodeon, and Became SNL’s Longest-Running Cast Member (2023)
Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live, Good Burger, Kenan & Kel, All That) is perhaps the most consistently funny TV performer of his generation. He’s the longest-running SNL cast member, and is beloved for early roles in Good Burger, D2: The Mighty Ducks, and the TV shows All That and Kenan & Kel....
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Bjork: The Icelandic Superstar on Being a Child Prodigy, the Power of Nature, and How to Stay Creative (2022)
Bjork, a singular artist whose work extends beyond music to include acting and conceptual art, discusses her career and artistic vision in this wide-ranging interview from 2022. She talks with Guy about forming her unique vocal style; recording her first album at 11 years old; her album, Fossora,...
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Jim Parsons: From Dreaming to Doing By Trusting Your Talent and Saying 'Yes' (2022)
Jim Parsons is an actor who’s best known for starring as Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory. While many know him as the on-screen super-nerd, he is also a classically trained stage actor. And in this conversation from 2022, Jim reflects on his entire creative journey: from playing the same character...
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Weird Al Yankovic: Achieving Massive Success by Leaning Into His True (Nerdy) Self (2022)
Alfred Matthew Yankovic, when he was six years old, was told by his parents to choose between accordion and guitar lessons. “And my parents being the visionaries that they were said, ‘Oh, young Alfred would love to play the accordion.’” Alfred, better known as the chart-topping musician…
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Rashida Jones Almost Gave Up on Acting Before Her Big Break on ‘The Office’
Rashida Jones is an actor, writer, and filmmaker best known for her work on ‘The Office’ and ‘Parks and Recreation’. She sits down with Guy to talk about growing up with dreams of being the President, how acting saved her during a bout of depression in college, and almost quitting acting right...
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Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Will Artificial Intelligence Destroy Art As We Know It?
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt spends a lot of time thinking about creativity, technology, and how the two collide. In this episode, Joseph shares his thoughts on a not-too-distant future in which AI-generated content will be able to “make people laugh, make people cry, and win all the likes and...
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Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard Worked a Temp Job and “Ate Mustard Sandwiches” in the Band’s Early Days (2023)
Ben Gibbard is the voice of the bands Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service. He talks about Death Cab’s scrappy start, recording their classic album Transatlanticism, how the band learned to defuse internal tensions, and how he approaches songwriting in middle age. This episode was recorded…
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Indie Icon Phil Elverum on Capturing His Life Story in Song
Phil Elverum has recorded more than 40 albums and documented decades of his life in song – first as “The Microphones” and then as “Mount Eerie”. In this episode, Phil talks with Guy about his musical beginnings playing the tuba, the 40-minute song that tells his life story, and the album he wrote...
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Storytelling Secrets from Michael Lewis (The Big Short, Moneyball, The Blind Side)
Michael Lewis is one of the most successful authors in recent memory. And in this episode, he dives deep into exactly how he tells unforgettable stories… from “Moneyball”, “The Big Short”, and “The Blind Side” – all adopted into feature films – to his newest bestseller, “Going Infinite” (about…
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Inside the Mind of Ben Platt, the “Dear Evan Hansen” Star 1 Oscar Short of an EGOT (at 30!)
Ben Platt is an actor, singer, and songwriter who’s quickly become one of the most decorated performers of his generation. He sits down with Guy to talk about his first professional acting role at age 9, breaking out in “Pitch Perfect” and the runaway success of “Dear Evan Hansen,” finding his...
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Seth Meyers: Lessons in Comedy from 20 Years Inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza (2023)
Seth Meyers was a key player in creating some of the best seasons of Saturday Night Live. Now he's hosting Late Night in the very same building. In this classic episode from 2023, you’ll hear how his two-person comedy show in Chicago randomly landed him in front of just the right person to get…
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Michael McDonald: I Went from “Couch Surfing” to Playing Arenas… in Just a Few Days!
Michael McDonald brought his legendary singing voice and songwriting talent to not one but two legendary bands: Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, the latter of which earned him a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Michael sits down with Guy to talk about writing classic songs on envelopes…
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“Bob Dylan Pushed Me Way Out of My Comfort Zone”: T Bone Burnett, the Mysterious 13X Grammy Winning Producer and Soundtrack Wizard
T Bone Burnett is one of the most accomplished music producers of the past 50 years. He sits down with Guy to talk about buying a recording studio at age 17; being pushed out of his creative comfort zone by Bob Dylan on the Rolling Thunder Revue tour; building soundtracks for the Coen Brothers…
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David Duchovny: His Journey from PhD Student to The X-Files, Why He Writes Novels and Music, and Failure as a "Rich" Experience
David Duchovny sits down with Guy to talk about his wide-ranging creative life. He describes the “gut instinct” that led him to drop out of a Yale literature program and pursue acting; his iconic roles as Agent Mulder in The X-Files and Hank Moody in Californication; why he writes novels and…
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Lainey Wilson: The Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Who "Felt Like a Complete Outsider Moving to Nashville to Chase My Dreams" (2023)
Lainey Wilson burst onto the country music scene in 2022 with her album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. But for seven years before that, she struggled to make it in the high-pressure Nashville music scene. And before that, she was a kid from a tiny town in rural Louisiana with a dream of being a…
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Billy Idol: “Underneath the Drugs and Acting Out is Someone Who Really Believes in What He’s Doing”
One of the first – and biggest – stars of the MTV era, Billy Idol is nothing short of a rock icon. He sits down with Guy Raz to share how the Sex Pistols inspired him to start a band instead of working for his dad; the stories behind the songs “Dancing with Myself” and “Rebel Yell”; his famously...
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Oskar Eustis: Bringing “Hamilton” to the Stage and Making Theater Accessible to All
Oskar Eustis is the Artistic Director at the Public Theater in New York City. He sits down with Guy to talk about “falling into the avant-garde rat hole” early in his career; convincing Lin-Manuel Miranda that Hamilton was more than a concept album; bringing theater to senior centers, women’s...
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X Ambassadors: How a "Fake Manager" and an Accidental Jeep Jingle Ignited the Band’s Massive Success
Sam Harris is the frontman for X Ambassadors, a multi-platinum pop rock trio from Ithaca, New York. Sam sits down with Guy to talk about his bond with his brother and bandmate Casey, who was born blind; how X Ambassadors felt “so not cool” and faced lots of rejection while trying to make it in…
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Natalie Merchant: Loneliness is My Signal to "Get Busy" and Create
Singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant shot to fame as the lead vocalist for the indie-folk band 10,000 Maniacs, then left the band at the height of their popularity to build a successful solo career. She sits down with Guy to talk about the political concerns that animate her work; what a dinner…
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Rainn Wilson on Becoming Dwight Schrute the “Nerd Bully”, Anxiety, and his Spiritual Reawakening (2023)
Actor Rainn Wilson is best known for playing Dwight on "The Office," but in recent years he has become a mental health and spirituality advocate through his books and production company, SoulPancake. He joins Guy to talk about auditioning for the role of Michael Scott, the deep anxiety he faced…
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From $100k in Debt to #1 Independent Country Artist (NO Record Deal) | Cody Jinks
Singer-songwriter Cody Jinks shares his journey from heavy metal frontman and part-time bouncer and forklift driver to country music’s top independent artist. He talks about enduring years of poverty in order to keep 100% ownership over his publishing (“it was worth it”); how he wrote the...
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Louis Cato: Stephen Colbert’s Soulful Band Leader on Spiritual Music, Lessons from a Near-Death Experience, and Becoming Himself on Stage
Every weeknight, Louis Cato performs live in front of a few million people as the band leader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He arranges the tunes, sets the tone, and plays multiple instruments himself; Colbert calls him a “musical genius”. Today, Louis talks about the multi-decade…
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Viral Music Phenom Jacob Collier: This “Life-Changing” Moment Unlocked New Creative Powers
Jacob Collier has been called the “Mozart of Gen Z” by the New York Times. As a teen, his one-man-band performances went viral and led to a cold email from (and friendship with) music legend Quincy Jones – something he discusses in this episode. He also talks about his childhood, where he gets…
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Songwriting Secrets Behind 70 BILLION Streams: Ryan Tedder (2023)
Ryan Tedder is the lead singer of OneRepublic and the producer and songwriter behind countless hits including Adele’s Rumor Has It and Beyonce’s Halo. Tedder even sold his own catalog for a reported $200 million. He joins Guy to talk about growing up in a religious family, tackling his…
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Hilary Swank: Moving to Hollywood with $75 and Whether She’d Do “Boys Don’t Cry” Today
Hilary Swank is one of just 14 women to win not one but two Academy Awards for Best Actress (Boys Don’t Cry, Million Dollar Baby). And as you’ll learn today, her life story just as remarkable as her career: from growing up in a trailer park (“it was no big deal”) to moving to L.A. as a teenager…
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Regina Spektor: From Temping as a Receptionist to Your Favorite Artist's Favorite Artist
Regina Spektor is one of the most critically-acclaimed and respected singer-songwriters of the past 25 years. She’s also one of the most thoughtful and open guests we’ve had on this show. Today, you’ll learn how Regina went from medical receptionist writing lyrics on post-it notes to rising star…
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Chef David Chang (Momofuku): “I’m Addicted to Creative Excitement”
David Chang is the founder of Momofuku, a culinary brand that grew from a single 600-square-foot location to include a Michelin-starred restaurant, a bakery and dessert chain, and a line of consumer packaged goods. David joins Guy to talk about opening his first restaurant after his epiphany…
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How Dan Aykroyd Created "Ghostbusters" and His Thoughts on the Female-Led Reboot
Dan Aykroyd was the youngest cast member on a brand new comedy show called Saturday Night Live when it premiered in 1975. In addition to iconic performances as Julia Child and a Conehead, Dan also created a real blues band called The Blues Brothers with fellow cast mate John Belushi. In this...
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Jake Johnson: His Creative Crisis on “New Girl”, Anna Kendrick Chemistry, and the “Dog” Mentality that Carried Him from Dropout to Director
Jake Johnson is an actor, comedian, writer, and director who is best-known for playing Nick Miller on the sitcom New Girl. He’s also one of the voices of Spiderman in the animated movies and he wrote, directed, and stars in the new comedic thriller Self Reliance. In this episode, Jake shares a…
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About this show
Become a more inventive, imaginative you. Every week, Guy Raz (creator of How I Built This) leads a deep dive conversation with someone at the top of their game. From conquering stage fright to learning to be more present and focused, you'll learn how each guest mastered their craft and ultimately became more successful in life. The result? An arsenal of tools and techniques you can apply to your own life and work, allowing you to harness your talent and become a better version of yourself.
Listen to The Great Creators on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-great-creators-with-guy-raz/ now.
Hosted by
Guy Raz | Wondery