Digest

This episode of the "The Michael Rosenbaum Podcast" features a captivating interview with Johnny Knoxville, the renowned stuntman and actor known for his outrageous antics in the "Jackass" franchise. The conversation delves into Knoxville's diverse career, from his early acting experiences as a stand-in and photo double for Gary Oldman in "Dracula" to his current projects and reflections on life. Knoxville recounts his childhood influences, including his father's struggles with alcohol, which shaped his own approach to drinking. He discusses his fearlessness and how he confronts bullies, attributing his aversion to being bullied to his childhood experiences. He shares anecdotes about working with difficult actors, like Tom Sizemore, and how he navigates uncomfortable situations on set. The conversation touches on Knoxville's approach to pain management, stemming from his numerous injuries sustained during his stunt work. He discusses his strategies for dealing with chronic pain, including medication and chiropractic care. Knoxville also talks about his passion for history and his podcast "Pretty Sure I Can Fly," which explores the lives of remarkable individuals who have pushed the boundaries of human potential. He shares his thoughts on influential figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Rock, and Jackie Chan, highlighting their positive attitudes and work ethic. The episode concludes with Knoxville reflecting on his fear of death and how it relates to his stunt work. He acknowledges the risks he takes but emphasizes the importance of family and finding happiness in simpler things. He also discusses the impact of his recent concussion on his future involvement in Jackass, revealing that he has told his children he won't be doing dangerous stunts anymore.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Johnny Knoxville's Early Career

Michael Rosenbaum introduces the episode featuring Johnny Knoxville, highlighting his fantastic interview and the emotional moments shared. Knoxville recounts his experience as a stand-in and photo double for Gary Oldman in "Dracula," describing the filming process, Coppola's direction, and his interactions with Oldman.

00:07:47

Childhood Influences, Fear, and Dealing with Difficult Actors

Michael and Johnny discuss their experiences with alcohol and how their childhoods influenced their drinking habits. Johnny shares his father's struggles with alcohol and his determination to avoid becoming like him. He discusses his approach to fear and how he manages it, revealing that he's not a "badass" but doesn't tolerate being bullied. He attributes his aversion to being bullied to his childhood experiences with his father. Johnny shares his enjoyment of being in uncomfortable situations, particularly on set with difficult actors. He recounts his experience working with Tom Sizemore, who was initially an ass to him but later became protective.

00:14:30

Sponsorships, Auditioning, and Confronting Tom Sizemore

Michael and Johnny discuss the benefits of therapy and encourage listeners to try BetterHelp. They also promote Qualia Mind, a brain-fuel supplement that has helped both of them. Johnny describes his experience auditioning for "Big Trouble" while injured and his fear of being fired. He relates this to Michael's experience as an executive producer and lead actor, highlighting the anxieties that come with those roles. Johnny recounts a tense table read for "Big Trouble" where Tom Sizemore criticized his Southern accent. He describes his initial fear and how he ultimately stood up for himself, leading to a change in Sizemore's behavior.

00:21:35

Aging, Ambition, Fatherhood, and Early Influences

Michael and Johnny discuss how their ambitions have changed with age. They both express a preference for spending time with loved ones and finding happiness in simpler things. Johnny discusses his experience coaching his son in baseball and his approach to fatherhood. He emphasizes the importance of being supportive and avoiding being overbearing. Johnny shares his childhood memories of watching movies with his family and how he decided to become an actor. He reveals that he wasn't particularly talented in singing or dancing but still landed the lead role of Danny Zuko in his high school production of "Grease."

00:33:41

The Appeal of Acting, Forgiving Tom Sizemore, and Jackass

Johnny discusses his motivation for pursuing acting, explaining that he wanted a job that didn't feel like work. He acknowledges that acting is still work but prefers it to other jobs. He also promotes Rocket Money, a personal finance app that helps save money. Johnny reflects on his relationship with Tom Sizemore and how he eventually forgave him. He also reiterates his enjoyment of uncomfortable situations, particularly when people are making fools of themselves. Johnny discusses his experiences with injuries from Jackass and how he manages chronic pain. He shares his pain management strategies, including medication and chiropractic care.

00:48:18

The Making of "Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia" and Pitching Ideas

Johnny shares the story behind the making of "Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia," a documentary about a one-man band named Hazel Atkins. He describes how the project came about and his involvement in it. Johnny discusses his process for pitching ideas and working with Jeff Yap, his partner in producing content. He describes their collaborative process and how they handle pitches, even the bad ones.

00:52:41

"Pretty Sure I Can Fly" Podcast, Historical Figures, and Pushing Limits

Johnny discusses his podcast "Pretty Sure I Can Fly," which explores the lives of remarkable and unhinged individuals who have pushed the boundaries of human potential. He shares his passion for history and his radio show, "The Biggest Happy Family Jubilee," which features tributes to historical figures. Johnny discusses Colonel John Paul Stapp, a flight surgeon who conducted groundbreaking experiments on deceleration in the 1940s. He highlights Stapp's bravery and his contributions to aviation safety, including the development of seat belts.

00:59:06

Addiction to Stunts, Influential People, and Finding Happiness

Johnny answers questions from his patrons about his addiction to stunts and the most influential people in his life. He shares his thoughts on working with Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Rock, and Jackie Chan, highlighting their positive attitudes and work ethic. Johnny discusses what makes him happy, emphasizing the importance of family and spending time with loved ones. He also shares his growing emotional vulnerability and how he's become more sensitive in recent years.

01:02:10

Fear of Death, Overcoming Fear, and the Future of Jackass

Johnny Knoxville discusses his fear of death and how it relates to his stunt work. He reveals that he worries about his own mortality and the risks he takes, but he also acknowledges that he has reached a point where he can't be afraid of death when performing stunts. He explains that fear can lead to hesitation and ultimately, a bad outcome. Johnny Knoxville talks about how he manages his fear when performing dangerous stunts. He admits that he experiences nervousness and tension, but he pushes through it and performs the stunt anyway. He describes how he often feels most scared in the days leading up to a stunt, but as the day of the stunt approaches, his fear subsides and he's ready to go. Johnny Knoxville discusses the impact of his recent concussion on his future involvement in Jackass. He reveals that he suffered a traumatic brain injury, brain hemorrhage, and broken ribs during filming, and his neurologist advised him against further concussions. He shares that he has told his children he won't be doing dangerous stunts anymore, but acknowledges the inherent risk in his line of work.

01:06:46

Pre-Stunt Rituals and Music

Johnny Knoxville shares his pre-stunt ritual of listening to music by his cousin, Raw Drownway. He describes how he uses music to get himself in the right mindset before performing a stunt, and he specifically mentions a song his cousin wrote for him called "Co-Hair, Co-Hares, Uh, Brainered Road." He also talks about how he listens to music from his hometown to connect with his roots.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was it like working with Gary Oldman on the set of "Dracula"?

  Johnny Knoxville describes Gary Oldman as a great actor but notes that he was drinking heavily on set, which sometimes made it difficult to work with him. He recalls Oldman's intense performance and how he would transform into the character of Dracula even when off-camera.

• How did your childhood experiences influence your drinking habits?

  Johnny shares that his father struggled with alcohol and that he was determined to avoid becoming like him. He describes his father's behavior when drunk and how it affected his family.

• How do you manage your fear, especially in situations where you might be confronted by bullies?

  Johnny explains that he's not a "badass" but doesn't tolerate being bullied. He attributes his aversion to being bullied to his childhood experiences with his father. He says he can manage his fear but has lost fights to multiple opponents because he's not a fighter.

• What are some of the challenges you've faced working with difficult actors?

  Johnny recounts his experience working with Tom Sizemore, who was initially an ass to him but later became protective. He describes how Sizemore's behavior changed after he stood up for himself during a table read.

• How do you manage chronic pain from your injuries?

  Johnny discusses his pain management strategies, including medication and chiropractic care. He describes the specific pain he experiences in his lower back and how he's learned to live with it.

• What inspired you to create the podcast "Pretty Sure I Can Fly"?

  Johnny explains that he's always been fascinated by historical figures who have pushed the boundaries of human potential. He wanted to create a podcast that explored the lives of these remarkable and often unhinged individuals.

• What are some of the most influential people you've worked with?

  Johnny shares his experiences working with Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Rock, and Jackie Chan, highlighting their positive attitudes and work ethic. He describes how they never wasted time and were always focused on their goals.

• What makes you happy?

  Johnny emphasizes the importance of family and spending time with loved ones. He describes how much he enjoys being at home with his kids, girlfriend, and dog. He also shares his growing emotional vulnerability and how he's become more sensitive in recent years.

• How does Johnny Knoxville manage his fear when performing dangerous stunts?

  Johnny Knoxville acknowledges that he experiences nervousness and tension before stunts, but he pushes through it and performs the stunt anyway. He often feels most scared in the days leading up to a stunt, but as the day of the stunt approaches, his fear subsides and he's ready to go.

• What impact did Johnny Knoxville's recent concussion have on his future involvement in Jackass?

  Johnny Knoxville's recent concussion, which resulted in a traumatic brain injury, brain hemorrhage, and broken ribs, has led him to reconsider his future involvement in Jackass. His neurologist advised him against further concussions, and he has told his children he won't be doing dangerous stunts anymore.

• What is Johnny Knoxville's pre-stunt ritual?

  Johnny Knoxville listens to music by his cousin, Raw Drownway, to get himself in the right mindset before performing a stunt. He specifically mentions a song his cousin wrote for him called "Co-Hair, Co-Hares, Uh, Brainered Road." He also listens to music from his hometown to connect with his roots.

Show Notes