Best Rob Macfarlane Podcasts (2025)

1
Norway: Matt Hayes & Ann-Britt Bogen on the 2025 season & the future of the Gaula 1:11:16

Play Pause

2d ago1:11:16

1:11:16

Norway. The legendary land of the giant salmon has been struggling of late, not least in the face of so many salmon farms throttling its beautiful coastline, but fishery and lodge owners are fighting back, trying to do what they can to preserve the wild salmon in Norway. Ann-Britt Bogen from Gaula Fly Fishing Friends, and Matt Hayes, one of the UK’…

1
Patton Oswalt 47:46

4d ago47:46

47:46

Patton Oswalt has a certain fearlessness, whether he’s doing standup for a sellout crowd or speaking his mind about what he sees in the world. He talks with Ted Danson about the role of comedy in dark times, why he loved Ted in “Body Heat” and “Damages,” his worries for the next generation, and what’s been giving him hope lately. Like watching your…

1
Troll 2 (1990): Goblins, Growth & The Worst Movie Ever Made 56:52

1h ago56:52

56:52

This week, Ben and Rob chew their way through Troll 2 (1990), the infamous “worst movie of all time” that somehow became one of the great cult classics. Directed by Claudio Fragasso and billed as Italian horror, Troll 2 is a feast of wooden acting, baffling dialogue, and vegetarian goblins that has been confusing and delighting audiences for decade…

1
Rob Reiner 1:19:19

11d ago1:19:19

1:19:19

Listen to this episode to find out how Rob Reiner made Ted Danson cry! The legendary director and writer talks with Ted about the little-known origins of Spinal Tap, the long-awaited sequel, learning the ropes from his father Carl Reiner, how “Stand by Me” changed his career arc, meeting his wife on the set of “When Harry Met Sally,” and how he bec…

1
Cork’s Kevin McLoughlin on the good old days of salmon fishing 39:30

16h ago39:30

39:30

Kevin McLoughlin is a lifelong angler from Cork who joins us on this week’s Ireland on the Fly to talk about the good old days for salmon when the spring run was something to behold. Kevin talks about moving to Cobh, working in the fishing industry and even spending a year on the newly formed fisheries board in 1979. He has seen it all in Irish fis…

1
Rickey Laurentiis : Death of the First Idea 1:59:56

18h ago1:59:56

1:59:56

Ten years in the making, poet Rickey Laurentiis joins us to talk about her much-anticipated remarkable new collection Death of the First Idea. “In the past decade, as Laurentiis has transitioned, her ideas of the lyric and poetry have transformed, as has the America in which she lives,” says the back copy on this book, whose poetry fittingly resist…

1
The Toxic Avenger (1984): How Cult Cinema Took Over The World 57:04

1d ago57:04

57:04

Ben and Rob dive into The Toxic Avenger (1984), the gloriously trashy horror-comedy that turned an ordinary nerdy janitor into a mop-wielding mutant hero. Created by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, The Toxic Avenger is the ultimate mix of DIY guts, anarchic satire, and midnight-movie magic; the kind of cult classic that’s still shocking and oddly s…

1
Ben Goldsmith: Why rewilding must succeed 57:49

16d ago57:49

57:49

Rewilding. It’s about taking a step back and leaving nature alone. But, in the 21st century how can it be achieved? Ben Goldsmith certainly believes it can – and must be done - and he is one of its foremost champions. It was through tragedy however, after the death of his teenage daughter, Iris, when she was just 15, that, in grieving, Ben found so…

1
Kate Mara 1:04:56

18d ago1:04:56

1:04:56

Ted Danson is grateful for any chance to reconnect with his dear friend, actor Kate Mara. Kate talks with Ted about the correct pronunciation of her last name, what it was like acting with her sister Rooney in a Werner Herzog film, growing up in an NFL family, how she and her husband Jamie Bell got together, and more. Like watching your podcasts? V…

1
Event Horizon (1997): Gothic Sci-Fi Space-Hell Never Felt So Good 1:00:44

20d ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Ben and Rob board the Event Horizon this week, diving into Paul W.S. Anderson’s genre-bending science fiction horror that flopped hard at the box office; only to rise like a cosmic demon into cult classic territory. Featuring powerhouse performances from Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neill, Event Horizon remixes haunted‑house tropes, cosmic dread, and…

1
Tony Hale 1:00:59

25d ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Ted Danson catches up with his pandemic buddy, the fantastic actor Tony Hale. Tony talks with Ted about his “Arrested Development” break, co-starring with D’Arcy Carden in the new film “Sketch,” his unique character type, dealing with anxiety on stage, what faith means to him, and more. Like watching your podcasts? Visit http://youtube.com/teamcoco…

1
Richard Gorodecky, Throwing Feathers in the Wind 59:33

15d ago59:33

59:33

Throwing Feathers in the Wind is a new book out by Richard Gorodecky, a fly angler who moved full time to Ireland five years ago to be closer to the river fishing that he loves so much. Richard was a long-time visitor to these shores fishing all over the country before settling in south Munster but his obsession with fly fishing has also seen him f…

1
Together (2025): Why We Couldn't Tear Our Eyes Off The Screen 1:02:03

20d ago1:02:03

1:02:03

This week, Ben and Rob dive into Together (2025), a tangled, self-aware horror-drama that asks big questions about love, identity, and whether two people can ever really exist as individuals or if they’re doomed to dissolve into one another. It’s part relationship study, part metatextual puzzle, and part… something else entirely. Is Together a sens…

1
Stephan & Marina Dombaj: Risking it all for the salmon 41:44

30d ago41:44

41:44

Midst the doom and gloom about the future of wild salmon, we have to believe - and have faith - that our collective actions – be it through conservation efforts, awareness campaigns, political lobbying – can and will have an effect. And it is for the long term, for the next generation, that we really have to be thinking about wild salmon and for th…

1
Laynie Browne : Apprentice to a Breathing Hand 1:49:46

1M ago1:49:46

1:49:46

What does it mean to write toward or under the aura of another poet one admires, to write in homage, as a celebration of another? What happens to language when it hovers between two writers, between how they each separately inhabit it? What does it say about the self, or is discovered about it—within the poem and in the world at large—when that sel…

1
Charlie Day 1:09:44

1M ago1:09:44

1:09:44

Actor, writer, and director Charlie Day talks with Ted Danson about the process of creating “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” why he sometimes goes by “Charlie Trombone,” overcoming typecasting, meeting his wife Mary Elizabeth Ellis, his relationship with Guillermo del Toro, and working with Ethan Coen on the new film “Honey Don’t!” Like watchin…

1
War Of The Worlds (2025): It's So Much Worse Than You Think 1:02:54

23d ago1:02:54

1:02:54

This week, Ben and Rob suffer through War of the Worlds (2025), a baffling “screen life” style disaster starring Ice Cube and directed by Rich Lee. It’s a modern retelling of the classic H.G. Wells War Of The Worlds; except instead of tension, thrills, or coherence, we get glitchy video calls, insane leaps of logic, and a lead performance that sugg…

1
Grilse run update - from the bad to the sublime 54:01

23d ago54:01

54:01

We’re at the tail end of the grilse run now and with the summer conditions we’ve had, coming off the back of a poor spring run, we’ve been desperately looking for some good news on the salmon front. And we found it – or sort of – because this week Johnny Casey and Yamil Turcuman two passionate salmon anglers who we’ve spoken to before – join us to …

1
Judd Apatow 1:06:24

1M ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Judd Apatow has spent his life obsessed with the sweet science of being funny. He joins Ted Danson to talk about his upcoming book, working with Garry Shandling and Rip Torn, documenting the lives of his comedy heroes, executive producing “Freaks and Geeks,” and what it feels like coming up on the 20th anniversary of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” Like …

1
Black Bear (2020): Aubrey Plaza And The Chambe(a)r of Secrets 59:55

1M ago59:55

59:55

Ben and Rob head deep into the woods with Black Bear (2020), Lawrence Michael Levine’s tense, layered meta-drama starring Aubrey Plaza, Christopher Abbott, and Sarah Gadon. It’s part relationship breakdown, part filmmaking fever dream and maybe part psychological horror told in a way that proves three might actually be the magic number. What does t…

1
Sprats, overfishing, heatwaves & ecosystems in danger of collapse 55:46

1M ago55:46

55:46

You may have seen the recent campaign and news stories about the disappearance of sprat from our coastal waters and the government’s unwillingness to do enough to protect our marine habitats – but what has it got to do with you if you're an angler and only interested in freshwater? Well in the current environmental climate, pretty much everything, …

1
Will the Outer Hebrides be the UK's Salmon Stronghold? 57:51

1M ago57:51

57:51

We know salmon numbers are down and we know there’s an existential threat endangering their very future, but this week on the Last Salmon, Jim Murray finds out why the Outer Hebrides could be the UK’s salmon stronghold. Jim speaks to the chair of the Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust, Richard Davies, who believes that their engagement with fish farms …

1
Martha Anne Toll : Duet for One 1:54:02

1M ago1:54:02

1:54:02

Today’s guest is writer and critic Martha Anne Toll. Through a discussion of her latest novel Duet for One we explore the perennial mystery of writing and art-making, namely how to render something that lives beyond representation, and how words can become a vehicle to evoke what words themselves cannot adequately describe. In this case, we look at…

1
Seth MacFarlane 1:10:36

2M ago1:10:36

1:10:36

This week Ted Danson is joined by his friend, the multi-talented Seth MacFarlane. Seth talks with Ted about the boarding school they have in common, how his college years inspired “Family Guy,” singing lost Sinatra material on his latest album, and why he thinks Hollywood can do better at storytelling. Like watching your podcasts? Visit http://yout…

1
Warfare (2025): This Is Not A War Film, Let Us Tell You Why 57:28

1M ago57:28

57:28

Ben and Rob lock and load for Warfare (2025), the haunting, hyper-realistic war film co-directed by Alex Garland and former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza. Known for cerebral sci-fi like Ex Machina and Annihilation, Alex Garland shifts gears into combat territory—while quietly stepping back to share authorship in a way that feels as radical as the film itse…

1
Greg Kinnear 57:27

2M ago57:27

57:27

Oscar-nominated actor Greg Kinnear talks to Ted Danson about his pivot from talk show host to leading man, his expat years in Greece, their experience on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” why “Little Miss Sunshine” took him by surprise, acting on the Apple TV+ series “Smoke,” and more. Like watching your podcasts? Visit http://youtube.com/teamcoco to see ful…

1
Introducing: The Sarah Silverman Podcast 46:49

2M ago46:49

46:49

This week we’re sharing a special episode from The Sarah Silverman Podcast, where Ted’s friend Sarah Silverman shares her unfiltered thoughts on everything from politics to pop culture. No topic is off limits, and your voicemails help shape the conversation—though Sarah’s always behind the wheel. In this episode, Sarah welcomes her very first guest…

1
Titane (2021): What Is This Insane Movie Actually About?! 58:39

1M ago58:39

58:39

Ben and Rob strap in for Titane (2021), the brutal, brilliant body horror from writer-director Julia Ducournau. Following her breakout debut Raw, Ducournau returns with Titane, a genre-defying mix of horror, surrealism, and melodrama that left one host completely wrecked—in the best way, the other in the worst. Is Titane about love, loneliness, or …

1
The Last Salmon: Rob Macfarlane & why rivers are alive and should have rights 49:15

2M ago49:15

49:15

Is a river alive? What a question….it throws up so many if, buts, maybes, but most importantly, why not? They are our lifeblood, our circulation, our healing waters. But they also need saving now in these troubled times of extraction, industrialisation and pollution. To kick off Season 2, we’re taking the big picture view when it comes to rivers, a…

1
Rob Macfarlane: Why rivers are alive and should have rights 49:16

2M ago49:16

49:16

Is a river alive? What a question….it throws up so many if, buts, maybes, but most importantly, why not? Rivers helped save me, and I truly believe they are our lifeblood, our circulation, our healing waters. But they also need saving now in these troubled times of extraction, industrialisation and pollution. To kick off Season 2, we’re taking the …

1
Octavia Spencer 1:09:30

2M ago1:09:30

1:09:30

The Oscar-winning actor Octavia Spencer is up for a challenge—whether it’s executive producing films like Fruitvale Station and Green Book or even hosting a cooking competition show for the first time. She talks to Ted Danson about navigating the loss of her parents early on in life, how she almost became a lawyer, her love for Southern foodways, a…

1
Civil War (2024): What Does The Most Timely Film Alex Garland Has Ever Made Really Mean? 1:01:34

2M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Ben and Rob head to the frontlines with Alex Garland’s Civil War (2024), the film that he intended to be his last in the directors chair. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, and Nick Offerman, Civil War isn’t your typical dystopian epic. Instead, Alex Garland delivers a chilling, ground-level road movie where journalists race throu…

1
The Last Salmon: Season 2 Launching July 25th 1:13

2M ago1:13

1:13

Wild salmon are in a perilous state. But we can’t and won’t give up.The Last Salmon with Jim Murray is back for another season, launching July 25th, addressing the problems and hearing from all sides of the argument, to find the solutions to help save our wild salmon.It’s not too late, the salmon haven’t give up, and nor can we. The Last Salmon, pr…

1
Season 2 Trailer 1:13

2M ago1:13

1:13

Wild salmon are in a perilous state. But we can’t and won’t give up. The Last Salmon with Jim Murray is back for another season, launching July 25th, addressing the problems and hearing from all sides of the argument, to find the solutions to help save our wild salmon. It’s not too late, the salmon haven’t give up, and nor can we. The Last Salmon, …

1
Rob Macaisa Colgate : Hardly Creatures & My Love is Water 2:32:30

2M ago2:32:30

2:32:30

Today’s conversation with Rob Macaisa Colgate is about two books, his poetry collection Hardly Creatures and his verse drama My Love is Water. You could say these two books are approaching the same questions, but from opposite, if complementary vantage points. Questions of care and disability, of accessibility and community, of Filipino-American id…

1
‘If the rod doesn’t talk to you, you’re not doing it right’ Packy Trotter on a lifetime of fly fishing teaching and learning 59:03

2M ago59:03

59:03

We should never stop learning – and in fly fishing especially, we’re never done. This week we hear from Packy Trotter a life long fly angler, guide and instructor who epitomises the spirit of teaching and learning in the sport. STANIC and APGAI qualified, Packy then travelled to the Catskills where he took the FFF certified and FFF masters qualific…

1
Kristen Johnston 44:31

2M ago44:31

44:31

Today we’re joined by the talented and radiant Emmy-winning actor Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock from the Sun, The Exes, Sex and the City). Kristen talks to Ted Danson about her compulsion to be funny at all times, what she learned from working with John Lithgow, her advocacy for those fighting addiction, and her retirement plans. Like watching your po…

1
Raw (2016): Why Shouldn't We Call This A Feminist Horror?! 1:01:50

2M ago1:01:50

1:01:50

Ben and Rob bite into Raw (2016), the feature debut of writer-director Julia Ducournau. This French body horror classic follows Justine, a lifelong vegetarian who develops a craving for human flesh during her first year at veterinary school. With visceral imagery, unflinching performances, and gallons of fake blood, Raw made Ducournau one of the mo…