DCummings January 05, 2012 at 6:31 am

I have greatly enjoyed listening to Russell Brand since his days on Xfm.  I realize his manner isn’t for everyone, but I find him to be a consistently fascinating and erudite person who is always willing to be painfully honest and transparent.  It’s a shame most people only know him from the tabloid bullshit that envelops him.

Hearing him with Marc was a real treat and these two razor sharp minds really fed off each other to craft a compelling and enjoyable interview.  Well done, Marc!

mooimabear January 05, 2012 at 11:41 am

Regardless of what sort of reputation he has with the general public, after listening to this interview I have a new found respect for Russell Brand. As DCummings put it, this was truly a conversation of two razor sharp minds going back and forth and feeding off of each others ideas. And of course, great interview as always Marc! :D

jimjim January 05, 2012 at 12:16 pm

this was a great one.  thanks Russell and Marc.  keep up the good work

Frank H Carter III January 05, 2012 at 2:13 pm

I always enjoy Russell Brand’s interviews but when the 2 of you got together - POW!  I shit my pants!  LOLOL!!  (I kid, I kid…)  I can honestly say this has got to go in to my top 5 list of favorite Marc Maron interviews!  Great work, guys!!!

GonzoT January 05, 2012 at 2:24 pm

Loved it. Sometimes you expect some “Hollywood” types to be more stuck up and act like they are doing some huge favor just by being on someones show. Russel shattered that stereotype. The interview was very natural and never seemed forced. This was one of my favorite WTF’s yet.

I think I can speak for all of your fans when I say that we really appreciate your ability to strip away all the bullshit and get right down to the human side of people you have on your show.  Great job Marc, keep up the good work!

Catseye January 05, 2012 at 2:34 pm

Russell Brand’s really not my cup ‘o tea.  Also, I don’t get the capitalism bashing.  If it weren’t for capitalism, these 2 wouldn’t have jobs.

Julian January 05, 2012 at 2:34 pm

What was up with that bizarre conspiracy theory about Call of Duty?

Scott January 05, 2012 at 7:30 pm

I think Russell Brand is one quick-witted fella.  I could listen to him for hours.  His dandy rock star image seems to be perfectly in tune with his personality at every level.  I guess I understand why he puts some people off, but I love those huge brainy testicles between his ears.

Chris Taylor January 05, 2012 at 8:14 pm

People will say what they will, but you can’t deny the interview chemistry on display here.  You guys are both quick and sharp, and played really well off of each other.  I couldn’t believe how fast the hour passed and how engrossed I stayed in the conversation for the whole duration.  Very candid, very open, and seemingly honest, Russell didn’t fall into the “stall mode” that some of your previous guests get trapped in when talking about personal subjects.  But hey, everyone’s different and that’s why you’re the master of getting people to talk, hats off to you for this episode.

Matt(midwest) January 05, 2012 at 9:12 pm

get rid of the facebook part

Richard Brixton January 05, 2012 at 11:56 pm

Fantastic interview. Pretty much the perfect combination of quick-witted Brit and Jew who’ve each tapped into a similar wavelength and life wisdom. This one has been a long time coming in a lot of ways - two culturally distant trajectories have finally crossed. Nice one boys!

Rhen January 06, 2012 at 2:30 am

Wow and wow.  Loved listening to listen to you 2 sync.  Thank you.

Crate&Trauma; January 06, 2012 at 3:03 am

This is easily in the top five of my favorite WTF’s ever!

You guys seemed to really connect and it was a lot of fun to listen to you guys just talk.

Joe Tily January 06, 2012 at 4:34 am

I remember Russell on Big Brother’s Little Brother - he’s come a long way since then. I loved this interview, there was great chemistry between you both - very honest and entertaining. As for Hemingway - start with The Old Man and the Sea - its such a great little book.

az January 06, 2012 at 10:02 am

this was such a great interview. i took my favorite (poignant) moments and added some music…and wa-la…made this: http://azeiger.podomatic.com/entry/2012-01-05T22_18_13-08_00

Felipe January 06, 2012 at 10:38 am

Great episode, Marc, Russell and you are hilarious…

grind January 06, 2012 at 11:39 am

marc - huge fan of the podcast, but am having troubles in china - often the podcast cuts off and says “buffering” - but never comes on again (it should read “bummering”)  :(  don’t know
if that’s a china thing or what.  things are sometimes sketchy here - internet and otherwise.
other times an interview will play all the way through - usually the older ones. it’s very frustrating, as i consume your interviews like nutrition (former comic, now teaching english).

also this:  i don’t have a credit card here, and can’t get one.  your “premium” interviews are only cruel teases for me.  can’t you cut a brother a break and have like an “amnest day” or weekend, when there are no restrictions on all archived podcasts?  maybe as a christmas present or a gift for “Year of the Dragon!”

your brother in big red.
into32 - out

Melanie January 06, 2012 at 12:04 pm

“They are just animals.” Is one of the fucking worst statements, right?!  And yes, I obviously get Maron is saying it in a facetious manner.

Beelzebud January 06, 2012 at 4:33 pm

Great episode.  Brand is a much more interesting person than I gave him credit for.

Todd January 06, 2012 at 5:23 pm

I tried to find out more about the Call of Duty statement that Russell made about it being invented/used to desensitize soldiers to violence and killing.  I haven’t been able to find anything online that backs that statement up.  Does anyone know what he is talking about?  I guess I’m looking for that use specifically and not just the abundance of anecdotal opinion that video game violence desensitizes kids to real life violence that exists online.

GonzoT January 06, 2012 at 7:37 pm

This is from the web page of the US Army

http://www.army.mil/article/11936/History_of_Military_gamin

I’m pretty sure the “Operation Flashpoint” games were funded and used by the military but not certain. They are more of a simulation though really, you have to use squad commands, one shot and your dead, adjust for wind and drop of the bullet, etc. They were designed to be as close to an in-field experience as possible, not in the sense of graphics, but in military tactics.

belly landing January 07, 2012 at 12:16 pm

I’m not sure why, but Russell Brand is the nails on the chalkboard of my brain. I couldn’t make it 15 minutes into the interview. Why is the UK always sending us their used clothing?

Crate&Trauma; January 07, 2012 at 6:23 pm

Did it ever occur that it might be you belly landing?

joe fox January 08, 2012 at 3:03 pm

Belly Landing - because you’re an idiot

Vadgeman January 09, 2012 at 7:48 am

If ever there was an indicator of trouble in the KP/RB marriage, it’s this interview. A whole hour about his life, interests, and career and not one mention of Perry or marriage or a wife. How the hell do you avoid talking about being married to an international pop superstar, even if it’s just something addressed in passing? Brand undoubtedly put that topic on the off-limits list. In fact, that was probably the only item on that list.

Julian January 09, 2012 at 11:33 am

@GonzoT

The military has definitely used first-person shooters as training tools. It seems pretty obvious to me that they’d do that—not because it “desensitizes” them to violence but because it can teach them the proper way to behave in a combat situation, while in a completely safe environment.

Of course, no commercial FPS would accomplish this, which is why the military contracts their own training simulations. As the article you linked to states, many of these simulations are based off of game engines built for commercial FPS, NOT the other way around. Brand’s statement wreaked of ignorant, tin-foil hat conspiracy theory and didn’t have the slightest basis in fact. Not a fan.

Russ McClay January 12, 2012 at 8:36 am

How wise to just have a good interview with Brand when certainly any other interview would hammer him on recent superficial headline news items.  Others will do that.

Evan Prodromou January 13, 2012 at 1:16 am

Yeah, once the monkey and the fat kid join forces, this podcast goes into the stratosphere.

Jackie January 13, 2012 at 2:37 pm

“We share cat pee.” LOL, so great. Cat pee is as good a reason as any to be brought to the literary genius of Ernest Hemingway!

barent estevez January 15, 2012 at 2:45 am

what a great introspective, yet light interview. i wish russell and katty the best. i think they are both cool people, who are above recrimination. some things just don’t last,and looking for fault is just plain stupid.

Wahku January 16, 2012 at 10:21 pm

This is the first WTF podcast I’ve ever listened to and only found it because Brand posted it on Google+. This show is amazing! I will be back. And I learned that I like Russell Brand even more. Thanks!

Ben February 05, 2012 at 4:56 am

I’ll admit I always thought of Russell Brand as a completely overrated, blabbering Hipster idiot and the least person who should comedy - I’d rather think of him as a London East End fashion boutique clerk who somehow broke into comedy.

So of course, I sat down and was all ready to be once again proven wrong by Marc’s interview magic, you know, question my own (premature?) conclusions about a person and maybe even come around to take a second look at Brand.

But this time, it didn’t work. My image of Brand was all but reinforced. He’s really the self-important, shallow moron with nothing original or new to say I supposed he was.

Ivanovic February 09, 2012 at 2:09 am

Russell Brand completely overrated. ..

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Ashley Cole February 09, 2012 at 2:10 am

Great information. w.r.t. Russell Branch

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sdfy4f February 09, 2012 at 11:18 pm

I have greatly enjoyed listening to Russell Brand since his days on Xfm.  I realize his manner isn’t for everyone, but I find him to be a consistently fascinating and erudite person who is always willing to be painfully honest and transparent.  It’s a shame most people only know him from the tabloid bullshit that envelops him.kotdeksui sg zhaenom fv jurijung 4r symptoms
Hearing him with Marc was a real treat and these two razor sharp minds really fed off each other to craft a compelling and enjoyable interview.  Well done, Marc!

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