It’s not often that hosts, Chris Hardwick, Jonah Ray and Matt Mira, conduct interviews that have as much depth as the podcast that they recorded with their guest Shadi Petosky. Hardwick prefaces the show, in his intro, by saying that this particular episode contains one of his favourite conversations that he has had on this podcast. Considering some of the past guests that Hardwick has had on the podcast, such as Tom Hanks, Will Farrell, Mel Brooks and Dave Grohl just a to name a few of the more well-known guests, this statement does have some gravity to it.
The episode began the same way that most Nerdist podcasts start; with the guest and hosts riffing bits or catching up with one another. This generally digresses into an anecdote or more off the cuff riffs until the guest asks whether they have started recording and they work out any technical issues they have. It’s not only the content and charismatic hosts that draw me into to listening to the Nerdist podcast; it’s also their method of recording a freeform interview that is more conversational than a standard radio or talk show interviews. However, only 6 minutes into the episode Hardwick brings up the reason why he had invited Shadi on to his podcast. To discuss Shadi’s decision to go through gender realignment procedures.
Shadi is very open with everything that the Nerdist boys have to ask her. She goes through her experience of being a gay, young adult who was not supported by his parents or by teachers and that as a man he did not feel comfortable or happy in his own body. Hardwick’s role as host of the podcast is performed excellently, asking interesting and compelling questions. Meanwhile Jonah Ray and Matt Mira ask Shadi less probing questions to do with her animation company and some of the projects that they have worked on.
If this was your first time listening to the Nerdist podcast I would recommend an earlier episode that is lighter to get a feel of how the Nerdist dynamic gets along and to get a sense of how these three great comedians work together. That being said this podcast is one of the informative and entertaining of the entire Nerdist catalogue.
Foolishly Reasonable 