Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Thing You Don’t Need to Know’s Ari Cagan

YouTube content creator Ari Cagan is adding host to his growing list of accomplishments. Taking his love for learning interesting, unconventional, and sometimes, useless information, Ari has created a podcast that you didn’t even know you needed. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to catch up with Ari to chat about this exciting new venture.

PC: How did you discover your passion for content creation and comedy?
Ari: I watched James Bond with my friend Max when we were nine or ten. We thought all the stunts and one-liners were super cool, so we decided to film our own James Bond film. As you can probably guess, it was terrible. It didn’t even have a plot, but there was something about making movies that really drew me in, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

PC: Tell us about Things You Don’t Need to Know, the inspiration behind the podcast, and how it came to fruition.
Ari: I’ve literally always wanted to host a TV show about learning new things and trying different jobs, so when [Adam] McKay pitched the idea for Things You Don’t Need to Know, I immediately knew that I had to host the podcast.

PC: How did the partnership with Adam McKay form? What has that collaboration been like?
Ari: I was visiting a set with my friend Leo, whose dad (John C. Reilly) was acting in the project, and I met Adam McKay there. A few days later, McKay watched my YouTube videos and invited me for a meeting. I really owe the whole thing to Leo and his dad—without them, I doubt Things You Don’t Need to Know would have happened.

PC: The idea for the podcast was formed over a year ago. What has it meant to you to have it finally come out? What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew back then?
Ari: It’s incredible. I truly enjoy making the podcast episodes, but seeing people’s reactions has been even better. One of my favorite things is to play new episodes in the car for my friends and family. When I started, I wished I knew to press the reply-all button on all emails…I’ve made that mistake too many times.

PC: What has the transition been like going from YouTube into the podcasting space? What are some of the major similarities/differences?
Ari: The biggest difference is having a team behind every podcast episode. YouTube is great because I’m a one-man-band and can do whatever I like. But having people, like my podcast producer Harry Nelson from Hyperobject Industries, giving notes on every episode and trying to expand my creativity has yielded some of my best work—work I never could have done alone.

PC: There are thirty episodes lined up. What are the topics you’ll be covering? Is there one in particular that you’re excited for listeners to hear?
Ari: Our goal right now is to create thirty episodes or more! The podcast’s topics touch on bomb disposal, working as an air traffic controller, and everything in between. So far, I’m most excited for people to hear episode ten, which is about tricking someone into believing something. The reactions to that episode have been the best—even the producers were shocked. It’s great.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Ari: Seinfeld, but I don’t have an ounce of guilt.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Ari: This is impossible so I’m going to give you my top five instead: Goodfellas, The Big Short, True Romance, North by Northwest, and Catch Me if You Can.

PC: Favorite book?
Ari: Stephen King’s The Shining.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Ari: The Oh, Hello Show. I’ve only ever seen The Oh, Hello Show and Mary Poppins.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Ari: Ludwig Göransson.

PC: Go-to podcast (besides your own)?
Ari: Surprisingly, I don’t listen to many podcasts, and I hadn’t listened to any podcasts before making Things You Don’t Need to Know. But I just went on Pete Holmes’ podcast, You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes, and have listened to a few episodes since. I recommend it!

To keep up with Ari, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Listen and subscribe to Thing You Don’t Need to Know here.