Best The Rappers Guide Podcasts (2025)

1
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and AI: James Altucher on Smart Humans with Slava Rubin 55:14

8h ago55:14

55:14

A Note from James: I was honored to be on the Smart Humans Podcast. I’m a big fan of the show, and I was happy they asked me on—especially since I got to talk about things I don’t usually cover here. We discussed my specific predictions for investments like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tau, and stablecoin-related tokens like Curve and Aave. We also explored …

1
Akiva Schaffer on 'The Naked Gun' reboot , The Lonely Island and more 48:25

5h ago48:25

48:25

There’s probably nobody better to direct and write a movie like The Naked Gun reboot than Akiva Schaffer. He has a resume full of brilliant, dumb, joke-a-minute work. Together with Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone he is a member of the comedy trio The Lonely Island. Akiva wasn’t sure he wanted to direct The Naked Gun at first, he gets into why. Plus,…

1
Arooj Aftab 29:46

4d ago29:46

29:46

In 2021, Arooj Aftab became the first Pakistani to win a Grammy. It was a Best Global Music Performance for her single "Mohabbat" off of her 2021 album Vulture Prince. Her latest album is called Night Reign. Like Vulture Prince, It's ethereal and beautiful and kind of haunting. In this conversation, Aftab talks about the influence of Meshell Ndegeo…

1
Stoicism with Ryan Holiday - Part 2 42:41

5d ago42:41

42:41

A Note from James: We kept recording because the conversation wasn’t done. Part 1 was about writing and honesty. Part 2? It’s about consequences—what happens when people believe their own hype, when we confuse being loud with being right, and when storytelling gets weaponized. Ryan Holiday has written about ego, stillness, and obstacles. But this p…

1
Eugenio Derbez 40:34

7d ago40:34

40:34

Eugenio Derbez has arguably earned the title of most successful comedy actor in Latin America. And in 2013, his film Instructions Not Included helped make him a star here in the United States. These days you can catch Eugenio in the show Acapulco, which is entering its fourth and final season on Apple TV +. Eugenio joins us to talk about the new se…

1
Stoicism with Ryan Holiday - Part 1 42:01

9d ago42:01

42:01

A Note from James: Ryan Holiday is one of the few writers I consider a peer—not just because of the work he’s done, but because of the choices he's made along the way. We’ve both published a lot of books. We've both dealt with audiences, platforms, and the weight of having a “point of view” in a world that increasingly wants you to pick a side. Thi…

1
Megan Stalter 29:39

12d ago29:39

29:39

Megan Stalter is an actor and comedian. She plays Kayla Schaefer on the hit show Hacks. She's the wildly inappropriate, yet charming assistant to Paul W. Downs' manager character. When we talked last year, Stalter had just starred in the movie Cora Bora. She played the title character, a singer/songwriter in a long distance relationship that she se…

1
Crazy Finance: Episode 2 - Is College Still Worth It? 27:19

12d ago27:19

27:19

A Note from James: When I first said that college was a scam, people thought I was joking—or worse. But I wasn’t. If you’re 18 and listening to this, don’t go to college. And if you’re a parent, don’t send your kid without doing the math. College doesn’t guarantee a better life anymore. In fact, it could cost you years of freedom, tens of thousands…

1
Severance's Tramell Tillman 26:52

15d ago26:52

26:52

Tramell Tillman plays Mr. Milchick on Severance, the bizarre, fascinating sci-fi workplace show on Apple TV +. Tramell Tillman is great as Mr Milchick. He shares how he collaborated with Ben Stiller to create the character. He also talks with us about his upbringing in Baltimore, his experience being raised in the Baptist church, and his early appe…

1
Congress has voted to eliminate government funding for public media 2:01

18d ago2:01

2:01

Act now to ensure public media remains free and accessible to all. Your donation will help this essential American service survive and thrive. Visit donate.npr.org now. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

1
Folk guitarist Hayden Pedigo 40:52

19d ago40:52

40:52

Hayden Pedigo writes sprawling, beautiful songs around the acoustic guitar. Hayden just put out a new record called I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away. He stopped by the studio to talk about his songwriting process and even brought his guitar by the studio for a live performance. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices …

1
Crazy Finance: Episode 1 – Why Buying a House Might Be the Worst Financial Decision 25:52

19d ago25:52

25:52

A Note from James: Owning a home has been sold to us as the American dream. But what if it's actually a financial nightmare? In this episode, I talk with my friend Doug Hill about why I think buying a house is a bad idea—not just a little bad, but one of the worst investments you can make. Doug and I disagree on some points, and that's the fun part…

1
Richard Kind 38:03

22d ago38:03

38:03

This week's guest is Richard Kind. He is not a star. He does not want to be a star. He is perfectly fine with that. Richard loves to be the kind of character actor that shows up, lays down four pages of unforgettable dialogue... and goes on with his day. We share some laughs with Richard Kind. He gets into working with John Mulaney on Everybody's L…

1
Remembering Sly Stone with Music Historian Rickey Vincent 38:05

26d ago38:05

38:05

We're joined by music historian and professor Rickey Vincent to talk about the legacy of Sly Stone. He talks to us about what made the funk icon so special and why there'll never be another like Sly again. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

1
Michelin Stars, Tragedy, and the Discipline to Be Great | Chef Curtis Duffy 1:00:15

26d ago1:00:15

1:00:15

A Note from James: So Chef Curtis Duffy—he’s won Michelin Stars, a James Beard Award. He’s been on Netflix’s Iron Chef, was a judge on Top Chef season 21, and he’s even shown up in The Bear. He runs the Chicago restaurants Ever and Grace, and he wrote this incredible memoir called Fireproof: Memoir of a Chef. I could list all the accolades, but wha…

1
George Takei 39:55

29d ago39:55

39:55

This week on Bullseye, George Takei returns to talk about his new graphic-memoir: It Rhymes with Takei. His memoir focuses on his personal journey through discovering his identity as a gay man, hiding it, and how it felt to finally come out publicly. Takei talks to Bullseye about this, as well as his experience living in incarceration camps, and hi…

1
How UFC Champion Miesha Tate Overcame Rock Bottom with a Resilient Mindset 1:15:39

29d ago1:15:39

1:15:39

A Note from James: Miesha Tate—at first, I’ve got to admit, I didn’t know much about UFC or MMA. But Miesha was the World Bantamweight Champion, and she fought Ronda Rousey—probably the most famous female fighter in the sport. I watched one of their fights, and honestly, I don’t know how I’d survive even a quarter of a second. But the conversation …

1
Atsuko Okatsuka 38:22

1M ago38:22

38:22

Being able to make light of extremely heavy topics is what makes Atsuko Okatsuka a brilliant comedian. Her new comedy special Father aired on Hulu last month. Atsuko chatted with us about how recording videos on social media with her family brought them closer together, what it was like bringing her grandma on her honeymoon and much more! Learn mor…

1
Cole Escola 50:58

1M ago50:58

50:58

Actor and comedian Cole Escola has written and starred in some of the funniest TV comedies: Difficult People, Hacks, and At Home with Amy Sedaris. Cole recently took their writing from the small screen to the stage with Oh, Mary!, a one act play that examines the forgotten life and dreams of Mary Todd Lincoln. Cole joins Bullseye to talk about Oh, …

1
The Secret of Dave Barry’s Humor: Class Clown Memoir and Florida Tales 49:58

1M ago49:58

49:58

A Note from James: One of the funniest guys I’ve ever spoken to—Dave Barry. I always love talking to him. He’s been America’s top humorist since the early ’80s with a syndicated column in 500 newspapers and a long list of bestselling books. This is his third time on the podcast, and his latest book, Class Clown: Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass, i…

1
How Chess Saved Danny Rensch’s Life: From Cult Roots to Chess.com’s Success 27:38

1M ago27:38

27:38

Notes from James: I had no idea this conversation would go where it did. I thought we’d talk chess. Instead, we talked about life, trauma, manipulation, redemption… and how one of the world’s most popular games can be both a tormentor and a savior. Episode Description: In this raw and powerful episode, I sat down with Danny Rensch—International Mas…

1
The Stoic Capitalist: How Rational Thinking Creates Success | Robert Rosenkranz 1:03:14

1M ago1:03:14

1:03:14

A Note from James: Man, what a fascinating career Robert Rosenkranz has had—multi-billionaire, involved in virtually every part of finance and American industry. He wrote a book called The Stoic Capitalist, and what really stands out is how he's actively applied stoic principles to achieve immense success throughout his career. Even from a young ag…

1
Mark Hamill 54:16

1M ago54:16

54:16

The one and only Mark Hamill joins us this week. He chats with us about his latest role in the epic, life-affirming drama The Life of Chuck. He also tells us about what inspired him to take his acting skills to Broadway after Star Wars. Plus, he shares what got him into voice acting and does his iconic voice as the Joker from the animated Batman se…

1
How to Master Anything—at Any Age: Lessons from World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand 23:37

1M ago23:37

23:37

Notes from James: When I turned 40, I was depressed. I checked the top 50 chess players and saw only one person around my age: Viswanathan Anand. That moment gave me hope. Episode Description: I met one of my lifelong heroes—five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand—and got to sit down with him at the Norway Summit to unpack what it really t…

1
Documentarian Matt Wolf on 'Pee-wee as Himself' 44:41

2M ago44:41

44:41

What was it like to work with Paul Reubens? The man behind Pee-wee Herman. Pee-wee as Himself is a beautiful, touching documentary about one of the most talented and unique voices of our time. He died in 2023. We're joined by filmmaker Matt Wolf. He talks about what made Paul Reubens a dream subject for a documentary and how he got Paul to open up …

1
Gary Vaynerchuk: The Brutal Blueprint for Real Freedom 1:01:02

2M ago1:01:02

1:01:02

A Note from James: So I’ve been doing this podcast for a long time—over 1500 episodes—and I’ve spoken to everyone from billionaires to best-selling authors, athletes to entrepreneurs. But there are a handful of episodes that still ring in my ears years later. One of them was Episode 156 with Gary Vaynerchuk. I was just re-listening to it while pull…

1
Ego Nwodim 36:36

2M ago36:36

36:36

This week on Bullseye, we talk to Ego Nwodim! She just wrapped up her seventh season as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. She talks with us about her roundabout path to comedy, including nods to her hometown in sketches, and a whole lot about her incredible SNL character: Lisa from Temecula. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoi…

1
Obsession, Chess, and the Myth of Mastery | James & Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam on the "New in Chess" Podcast 1:02:12

2M ago1:02:12

1:02:12

A Note from James: So the question is, I really feel that in order to get not good at something, but great at something, you have to be obsessed. You can't just wake up and decide to be obsessed—it has to be deep, almost irrational. Obsession is like addiction. It throws your life off balance, and yet... there’s this insane joy when you enter the s…

1
I Wish I Made That: Mary Randolph Carter 13:55

2M ago13:55

13:55

Mary Randolph Carter is an expert on all things junk. She's written many books on the topic including her latest called Live With the Things You Love: And You'll Live Happily Ever After. We asked Carter if there was ever one piece of junk she acquired over the years that stuck with her so much and lived inside her head rent free for so long that sh…

1
Michael Dell vs. Wall Street: Dorm Room to Billion-Dollar Battles 52:43

2M ago52:43

52:43

A Note from James: Michael Dell. Founder of Dell. I remember in college, hearing about this kid who was building computers in his dorm and making millions. I thought it was a myth. It wasn’t. He’s the real thing—and he just kept going. I wanted to understand what drove him, what it felt like to deal with Carl Icahn trying to wrestle his company fro…

1
Questlove 48:53

2M ago48:53

48:53

Questlove, drummer and bandleader for The Roots joins us on the latest episode. The legend. Lately, he's been working on music documentaries: Sly Lives! and Summer of Soul were both fantastic. He joins us to talk at length about Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music. Questlove gets into his early memories of Saturday Night Live as a kid and g…

1
Carson Lund made Eephus, the best baseball movie in recent memory 33:18

2M ago33:18

33:18

This week on Bullseye, we talk to Carson Lund, director of the new slice-of-life baseball film, Eephus. The movie is about two rec league baseball teams meeting to play their final game on a field, which will be torn down the next day to make way for a middle school. Lund talks to Bullseye about representing downtime in baseball, and rejecting the …

1
Part 5: How to Write and Publish Your First Book in 30 Days - The Four Book Frameworks 33:32

2M ago33:32

33:32

Notes from James: Most people get stuck at the idea stage. That’s why I’m sharing frameworks—so you’re not staring at a blank screen. These techniques have helped hundreds of people (including me) go from idea to published book in just 30 days. Episode Descriptions: In Part 5 of my 30-day writing series, I unveil four of the most powerful book-writ…

1
Alexander Skarsgård 32:37

2M ago32:37

32:37

Alexander Skarsgård joins us to talk about the new Apple TV + sci-fi series Murderbot. He also gets into his upbringing and what it was like growing up around different artists and performers. Plus, he'll chat with us about some of his most memorable red carpet outfits. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Priv…

1
Shoveling Sh*t: Entrepreneurs’ Secrets to a $700M Exit with Michael & Kass Lazerow 1:03:13

2M ago1:03:13

1:03:13

Episode Description: James reconnects with entrepreneurs Michael and Kass Lazerow, whose journey spans selling Golf.com for $24 million, launching and pivoting Buddy Media into a $700 million Salesforce acquisition, and now investing in breakout brands like Liquid Death. This episode isn’t about startup clichés—it’s about emotional resilience, firi…

1
Part 4: How to Write and Publish Your First Book in 30 Days – Self-Publishing, Traditional Deals, and Making Real Money 35:08

2M ago35:08

35:08

Notes from James: Let’s be honest: most people who write a book never make money from it. Why? Because they stop at the last page. I want you to go further. In this episode, I show you how I turned my books into speaking gigs, consulting work, investment deals, and more. You don’t need a big publisher or a massive budget—just the right strategy. Ep…

1
Trump’s 2025 Tariff Revolution? Wilbur Ross Spills the Dirty Secrets on Trade, China, and Your Money! 47:00

2M ago47:00

47:00

A Note from James: Well, you can't get more information about tariffs and the economy than what I just got and you're about to listen to. Wilbur Ross, who was Secretary of Commerce under the first administration of Trump, just came on the podcast. I got to ask any question I wanted—about tariffs, the economy, everything. Don't forget, in Trump’s fi…

1
Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey 51:05

2M ago51:05

51:05

Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey will be forever linked together – thanks to one show: The Office. The sitcom is celebrating its 20th anniversary. They were strangers when the show started, but soon formed a friendship that has lasted long after the show wrapped, including their podcast Office Ladies and their book The Office BFFs. They joined Bulls…

1
How-to Thrive in the Future of Podcasting: Insights from PodcastOne Top Industry Executives, Kit Gray & Robert Ellin 46:31

2M ago46:31

46:31

A Note from James: So I’ve been podcasting for, gosh, 11 years—over 1500 episodes. And through that whole journey, PodcastOne always stood out to me. They recently went public, and today I’ve got Rob Ellin and Kit Gray joining me. What’s the future of podcasting? If you're thinking about starting a podcast—or wondering how to grow one you already h…

1
Author Jane Borden on 'Cults Like Us' 48:00

2M ago48:00

48:00

Jane Borden is a writer with bylines in Vanity Fair, the Washington Post, and the New York Times Magazine. Jane is kind of obsessed with cults. She enjoys reading books on them, watching documentaries, and vintage news pieces on the subject. Jane's obsession has become her latest book. She joins us on Bullseye to talk about Cults Like Us. The book …

1
Part 3: How to Write and Publish Your First Book in 30 Days - The 6 U’s, Clarity Tools, and Breaking Through Writer’s Block 48:37

3M ago48:37

48:37

Notes from James: This is where a lot of people quit—but you won’t. This episode is about pushing through the dip that comes when writing gets tough. I give you tools I’ve used across 25+ books to keep going, stay motivated, and write better. Episode Descriptions: This is Part 3 of my 30-day writing series—and we’re getting into the real tools that…

1
Rapper Dezzy Hollow's new wave of West Coast funk 35:56

3M ago35:56

35:56

Rapper and producer Dezzy Hollow is a master of modern day West Coast funk. Earlier this year he released an album called OCEANSIDE, which he named after his hometown. He chats with us about the record, what he hopes his music can bring to the city and much more. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Pol…

1
Part 2: How to Write and Publish Your First Book in 30 Days - Frameworks, First Lines, and the Craft of Storytelling 43:23

3M ago43:23

43:23

Notes from James: The biggest lie about writing is that it takes years. I’ve written multiple books in less than a month—including bestsellers. With the right system, anyone can do this. In this episode, I break down how to structure your first book and why your life experience, not your grammar, is your superpower. You’ll also hear my take on AI w…

1
Keita Takahashi created one of the most beloved cult video games ever 33:17

3M ago33:17

33:17

Video game creator Keita Takahashi joins us to talk about how he got into designing video games and how he pitched the idea for his popular game Katamari Damacy to the folks at Namco. He also talks with us about his new game, to a T, which comes out soon. A version of this interview originally ran in April of 2024. Learn more about sponsor message …

1
How to write and publish your book in 30 days: Part 1 - The Foundation of a Successful Writing Life 37:05

3M ago37:05

37:05

Notes from James: I’ve written 25 books—some huge hits, some total flops—and what I’ve learned is this: anyone can write a book, but not everyone gives themselves permission to start. This episode is the foundation. I break down the mindset, motivation, and structure you need to go from blank page to published book—even if you’ve never written a wo…

1
Lisa Kudrow 46:12

3M ago46:12

46:12

Lisa Kudrow's big break was on the massively successful sitcom Friends. She portrayed the street-wise, but kind of clueless Phoebe Buffay. She's one of Friends' most beloved characters. Before she broke out on that show she envisioned a very different future. Kudrow on her early career in science research, the cruelty of middle-schoolers that set h…

1
Jean Grae 46:12

3M ago46:12

46:12

Jean Grae is back on the show! The multidisciplinary artist just wrote a collection of personal essays called In My Remaining Years. She joins us to talk about the new book, why she distanced herself from rapping, her upbringing and much more. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

1
Bitcoin Meets Gold: Sunny Ray on Tokenization’s Future 57:44

3M ago57:44

57:44

A Note from James: Sunny Ray is working on an incredible project involving Bitcoin and his company, Matador. They’re digitizing gold—turning it into crypto—and he’s a Bitcoin maximalist. That’s different from my stance: I think there are many crypto tokens that are useful for specific purposes. But Sonny’s view is clear—Bitcoin is the foundation. W…

1
Dr. Mehmet Oz (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) on Food, Medicine, and the Future of Healthcare 36:04

3M ago36:04

36:04

A Note from James: So Dr. Oz—television personality turned government official—this is such an interesting thing. He's going to be the new administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS. He’s going to be in charge of all Medicare and Medicaid. What does he know or think about these parts of our government? Medicare and Medicaid…

1
Bob Mackie 40:35

3M ago40:35

40:35

This week, it's Bob Mackie! Mackie has made a career out of dressing big personalities in kinetic, sparkling garb. His life and career were profiled in an incredible documentary late last year. Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion covers the era-defining design work he did and the extraordinary life he's lived. Mackie talks to Bullseye about his early affini…

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