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In this episode, Romesh Ranganathan is joined by Academy Award and Emmy-winning actor and musician Riz Ahmed to discuss his career, identity, and creative process. They explore Ahmed's journey into stand-up comedy, his struggles with people-pleasing and self-love, and the ten-year development of his new project, Bait. The conversation covers the nuances of code-switching, the impact of grief following the loss of his father, and the importance of prioritizing honesty over cleverness in art.
The host and the guest engage in a candid discussion about the exhaustion of living in response to external expectations rather than setting one's own terms. Ahmed reflects on why he changed his stage name from Riz MC and shares insights into working with Tom Cruise and navigating the complexities of fame. The episode concludes with a bizarre and dark anecdote about being impersonated by scammers, providing a balance of humor and depth.
Romesh introduces Riz Ahmed, highlighting his diverse career and upcoming collaboration.
Riz discusses dropping the 'MC' moniker to mature his brand.
Romesh presents Riz with a stand‑up voucher, sparking a candid talk about comedy aspirations.
Both discuss the importance of focusing on the process rather than external validation.
Riz details the decade‑long journey of turning his life into the series Bait.
Riz explains how vulnerability fuels authenticity in both acting and stand‑up.
Riz reflects on how self‑love and authenticity drive his creative choices.
Riz’s mother shares her view on his career, highlighting the intersection of fame and family.
The episode wraps up with final thoughts on growth, representation, and upcoming projects.
Riz discusses the surreal feeling of working alongside Tom Cruise and the gratitude he feels for the opportunity.
Riz reflects on his gratitude practice and how he tries to absorb learning moments during big projects.
Riz shares the emotional impact of his father's death and how it intertwines with his career milestones.
Dropping the Stage Name Riz MCstory
The guest explains why he dropped his old rap moniker, comparing it to what a 12-year-old would name themselves in the 1990s and noting that it ages you.
Getting a Voucher for Stand-Upstory
The host presents the guest with a special voucher that entitles him to do a five-minute opening set before one of the host's shows.
Why Crowd Work is Unnecessary Riskstrategy
The host advises against doing crowd work as a beginner, explaining that it introduces unnecessary uncontrollables when you need a reliable prepared set.
Using Rap Sets to Tell Jokesstory
The guest shares how he used to spend more than half of his 25-minute rap sets telling stories and cracking jokes because audiences did not expect it.
Defining Yourself in Oppositioninsight
The guest reflects on how he spent much of his adult life defining himself in opposition to hate and struggle, realizing it can become its own cage.
The Pollutant of Audience Perceptioninsight
The host and guest discuss how thinking about what critics or audience members will think acts as a pollutant to the creative process.
Tom Cruise Praising the Guest's Mumstory
The guest shares a surreal moment backstage at a royal premiere where Tom Cruise abruptly interrupted preparations to praise the guest's mother.
Mum Acting as a Strict Bouncerstory
The guest recounts how his mother went power hungry at the Emmys and started gatekeeping him by telling fans they could not take pictures.
“If you're bombing, you're bombing. If you're killing, you're killing, it's raw, it's unfiltered, there's no fourth wall, there's no safety.”
“All you can do is keep showing up. Some days the magic is there, some days it's not.”
“I feel grateful that I get to do this and work with the people I work with and be here chatting to you and I feel gratitude.”
“I think maybe it's partly this stage of life, you know, they say that, you know, you're you're grinding hardest in your career.”
“I do feel that kind of like, you know, that grief will never go.”
Is Riz Ahmed about to become a stand-up? This week, Romesh is joined by Oscar and Emmy-winning actor, rapper and writer Riz Ahmed. Romesh surprises him with a very special gift, and the two get into what it takes to create something as personal as Bait, the series Riz has spent a decade getting made. They talk about code-switching, finding the space to be yourself, and why it’s so hard to enjoy success when you’re in the middle of it. Riz also opens up about his dad, and what Tom Cruise had to say about his mum at the royal premiere of Digger. Plus, there’s a lot of hip hop talk (Biggie or Tupac?), a game of Misquoted, and a closing story that’s far darker than anyone expected. A Ranga Bee Production. Chapters: 00:00 Intro02:02 Why Riz changed his name02:34 A gift for Riz05:38 Why taste in stand-up beats ability11:45 Riz on SNL14:17 Riz's attempt at stand-up24:40 Why Riz hates being boxed in26:13 Bait and landing James Bond31:55 Putting your own life on screen38:09 A question from Shanthi39:11 Riz's mum, Tom Cruise and the royal premiere48:50 Losing his dad50:51 What Romesh's dad said after a gig54:59 Biggie or Tupac?1:04:19 Misquoted1:08:24 Riz's dark closing story1:10:59 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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