The Romesh Ranganathan Show

Can you have a successful comedy career and a balanced family life?

Comedian and writer Sara Pascoe joins Romesh Ranganathan to talk about touring, parenting and why stand-up comedy can make balancing family life surprisingly difficult.

They get into Sara's early beginnings in comedy, wanting to be an actor and how the stand-up landscape has changed over the years. Expect stories of people pleasing in the entertainment industry, Sara's writing process (after winning the Dame Jilly Cooper Award) and her new travel series Zero Stars with Roisin Conaty, where the pair travel to some of the worst-rated holiday destinations in Europe including a chaotic cruise and a trip to Albania.

Plus: roast potato cooking tips, Sara’s “Dragon’s Den” business idea, a question from Shanthi and as always a round of Misquoted.

A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Platform.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:00 Selling out tours

00:00 Dealing with criticism

04:58 A gift for Sara

06:10 Roast potatoes and cooking tips

09:40 Sara’s comedy beginnings

12:04 The changing nature of the comedy game

13:33 Balancing family life

20:10 A question from Shanthi about being a mum

23:09 Rom and Sara on the role of parenting

26:11 The importance of reading

29:10 Comedy chat

35:38 Sara’s Dragon’s Den Idea

36:57 Sara on winning Dame Jilly Cooper Award

40:50 Sara’s writing advice

43:06 Zero Stars the new travel show

53:35 Rom’s Albanian tattoo story

55:45 Misquoted

01:05:37 Outro
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Can Shanthi read minds?

In this episode, Romesh and mum Shanthi talk about literally everything. From receiving negative comments, how to handle nightmares, Romesh's vaping problem and the chances that life is all just a simulation.

They also answer listener questions, giving their best advice for your dilemmas.

As always, it’s chaotic, honest and slightly unhinged.

A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Platform

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:55 Shanthi gets upset about the comments

04:45 Shanthi recieves a gift

05:54 A listener has a dreamy question for Romesh

07:15 Shanthi’s nightmare recovery

08:01 Romesh, vaping and nicorette dreams

12:29 A question on flatulence

21:16 Outro
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How did James McAvoy become one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood?

Actor and director James McAvoy joins Romesh Ranganathan for a very special episode talking about acting, accents and the difference from Hollywood to home.

James talks about accidentally getting into acting, why his philosophy is always “story first” and how he approaches building characters. Plus his skill at mastering accents, training as a pastry chef, bad reviews and being a part of the X‑Men family.

We also discuss James' new film and his directorial debut, California Scheming.

And as always, a question from Shanthi.

A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Platform.

00:00 Intro
00:20 James joke and the stereotype of podcasts
04:15 James and Rom discuss Jordan Peterson
07:32 A gift for James
09:07 A moment for some Monster Munch
10:22 Early beginnings and getting into acting
18:20 Training as a pastry chef & Bake Off
20:12 Accents, agents and acting
29:28 Crying and vomiting on request
31:20 James and his agent Ruth
32:56 Romesh’s dad’s brutal honesty
34:24 The X-Men Films
38:18 James and Romesh on bad reviews
45:30 Future work and legacy
48:01 A question from Shanthi
49:72 California Scheming
01:03:19 Misquoted
01:10:28 On getting older
01:13:22 Meantime and Frankie Boyle
01:14:24 Outro
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What does Shanthi really think about gentle parenting, ice baths and calorie counting?

In this episode, Romesh and mum, Shanthi take on a brand new segment: Shanthi’s Hot Takes. Nothing is safe from her opinions on WhatsApp and supermarkets to gentle parenting, air fryers and the modern obsession with ice baths.

From stories from the team, to listener questions and some very solid Ranganathan advice, be sure not to miss it.

A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Platform Media.

00:00 Intro

01:59 Shanthi on hats

03:25 Ben’s story

05:43 Shanthi’s Hot Takes

14:20 Questions from you

15:00 Shanthi’s advice on blending food and culture

18:15 How to deal with parents expectations

25:07 What do Romesh & Shanthi love about eachother?

27:37 Outro
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From sitcom Dad to Breaking Bad, how did Bryan transform into Walter White?

Bryan Cranston joins Romesh Ranganathan for a wide-ranging conversation about acting, creativity and the career pivots that changed his life.

Bryan talks about bringing Arthur Miller’s All My Sons to London, the acting lessons he’s learned over decades on stage and screen and why observing people is the key to building unforgettable characters. He also reflects on precarious nature of the industry, landing the role of Hal in Malcolm in the Middle, nearly losing the part and why the show still means so much to him, especially with a new season on the way.

And of course, they dive into the legacy of Breaking Bad from auditioning for Walter White to working with creator Vince Gilligan, the genius behind the show. Bryan shares how the character evolved, the pressure of its success, and whether we can expect a Walter White return.

Expect as always, gift giving, some perfectly timed jabs from Bryan, a question from Shanthi, and a thoughtful conversation about creativity, hobbies, fame, and why actors and audiences should approach AI with caution.

An insightful, funny and surprisingly personal conversation with one of television’s most respected actors in history.

A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Platform Media.

00:00 Intro

02:11 Bryan’s gift giving

05:30 Observing people and their traits

08:06 Coming to London for All My Sons

11:44 An actors responsibility and theatre

17:33 On Malcom in The Middle and the new season

23:09 Almost losing Malcom In The Middle

25:42 How Bryan found Hal

30:54 Success and pivoting in his career

34:44 Working with Vince Gilligan and his character development

39:14 Having faith in your career

40:45 The brilliance of Breaking Bad

45:48 Auditioning for Walter White

47:40 When did Bryan realise the importance of the show

50:38 The Pizza scene

52:10 Will Walter White be back?

54:29 Shanthi’s question to Bryan, hobbies and growing

58:37 Bryan’s opinion on AI

01:01:59 A game of Misquoted

01:05:48 Dealing with fame

01:10:10 Bryan’s marriage, advice and life balance

01:14:36 An exclusive

01:17:30 Outro
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