The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller & Adam Scott

All families tell stories about themselves. Those stories are passed down, and like an intergenerational game of telephone, the details sometimes change from fact to fiction. But have you ever wondered how much of the lore is actually true? Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family le...

It's a bittersweet day, because it's Ben and Adam's final podcast episode for awhile! For this special episode, Adam talks to Yul Vazquez, who plays Petey, Mark's best friend (but Mark is just Petey's very good friend). They talk about shooting the very first scene of the show and the joy of playing two guys who just really like each other. Then, Ben and Adam answer more fan hotline questions to c...

For the penultimate episode of the podcast, Ben and Adam are joined by their penultimate podcast guest: Alia Shawkat, who plays Gwendolyn Y from Branch 5X. They talk about Alia's early career as a child actor on Arrested Development, why she doesn't own a TV, and being type cast as an angry teenager. Plus, they discuss what it was like to be the first ones back on set for season 2 of Severance. Th...

This week, the podcast turns its focus to one of Severance's biggest influences: the science of the brain. First, Ben and Adam talk to one of their favorite fictional scientists, Karen Aldridge, who plays Dr. Asal Reghabi, about working with their science consultant on set and what it's like pretending to perform brain surgery. Then, they are joined by a real scientist, Carleton neuroscience profe...

This week, Ben and Adam welcome two incredible actors to the podcast to break down the craft of performing. First, they talk to Emmy-winning actress, Merritt Wever, about joining the cast as Gretchen in season 2, the dangers of over preparing for a role, and whether Gretchen had an affair with Dylan’s Innie. Then, the guys are joined by Ramy Youssef, a great comedian, actor, writer, director, AND...

On August 16, 2025, Ben Stiller and Adam Scott convened Severance's Emmy-nominated cast and creators for a live taping of the podcast. They welcome the great actor and comedian Patton Oswalt to step in as the host of the first-ever Tournament of Fripperies, a Severance-themed game show that tests contestants' knowledge of Severance and of each other. The all-star lineup includes Britt Lower, John...

Ben and Adam are back! And this week, they are joined by Severance's Emmy-nominated production designer Jeremy Hindle – aka The Man with All The Handles, because he's got a handle on everything. Together, they dive deep into the original lookbook for the show, how Jeremy expanded the world in season 2, and the importance of designing with emotion. Plus, Jeremy helps answer some of your burning fan...

Today is the Lost / Severance crossover we've all been waiting for. Adam sits down with Damon Lindelof, the co-creator of Lost, and Dan Erickson, the big brain who created Severance , for a wide-ranging conversation about fandom, how Lost inspired Severance , the origins of the "mystery box" show, and why Dan keeps getting sent 27 Dresses memes. Then, Ben and Adam answer some fan hotline questions...

This week, Ben and Adam welcome actor, musician, and world-builder Janelle Monáe to the podcast to talk about their creative process and how sci-fi influences their work. They share what inspires them to build futuristic worlds like the one in Dirty Computer , why they are drawn to the concept of duality, and how family parties can be a surprising source for material. Then, Ben and Adam sit down w...

Ben and Adam are joined today by Mike Schur, who has created or produced many of the best TV shows of the last 20 years, including Parks & Recreation, The Office, The Good Place , and, most recently, the Netflix series A Man on the Inside . They talk about the sticky philosophical questions that influence both Severance and Mike’s work, and the challenges of creating and defining a distinct to...

This week, Ben and Adam welcome longtime collaborators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who recently co-created the Apple TV+ series The Studio . They talk about what influenced their distinct style of comedy, making amateur movies as kids, and they try to get to the bottom of the age old question: Is falling funny? Then, Ben and Adam are joined by Severance’s brilliant Prop Master, Cat Miller, to ta...

It's been a few months since the season two finale, but Ben and Adam just couldn't stay away from the mic. For their first episode back, they sit down with Conan O'Brien, a Severance superfan, to discuss how he inspired a pivotal scene from the finale, the fear and risk involved with making creative work, and they try to get to the bottom of why Ben wasn't invited to Conan's Mark Twain Prize event...

The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller and Adam Scott is BACK this summer with five new episodes. Every week, starting Thursday, June 26th, Ben and Adam will unpack the movies and tv shows that have influenced Severance with very special guests. And they'll also talk with more Severance superfans about their burning questions. If you’ve got a question about Severance or the things that influenced...

The second season may be over, but the Severance Podcast is back with an extra special bonus episode, where Ben and Adam look at all of season 2 with some incredible guests. First, they welcome back everyone’s favorite brain-in-a-jar, Severance creator Dan Erickson, to answer your hotline questions and uncover the origin story behind how his brain got in a jar. Then, Ben and Adam are joined by the...

It is a momentous day — the season finale podcast is here! To break down Season 2 Episode 10, Ben and Adam are joined by Icelandic superstar Darri Olafsson, who plays Lumon’s very-own Mr. Drummond. He reveals how he balances playing a bureaucrat who is also an enforcer and how common it is to hang out with Björk in Iceland. Then, Britt Lower and Zach Cherry are back on the podcast to talk about He...

If you did a word cloud of this week’s podcast episode, the number one word would be PENULTIMATE. Because this week, we’re talking all about Season 2 Episode 9 — that’s right, it’s the penultimate episode of the season. For this momentous occasion, Ben and Adam are joined by Sydney Cole Alexander, who plays Natalie, conduit to the Board and conduit to our fan hotline. They discuss Natalie’s infamo...

For Season 2 Episode 8 of Severance, it’s the Harmony Cobel Show. And there’s no one better to break it down with Ben and Adam than Cobel herself — Patricia Arquette! They talk all about how she built Cobel’s backstory and how Newfoundland became the perfect Salt’s Neck. Then, Ben and Adam are joined by Severance superfan Jimmy Kimmel to answer some of the your burning hotline questions, including...

This week, it’s finally time to take the elevator down to the testing floor. To break down all the revelations in Season 2 Episode 7, Ben and Adam are joined by Dichen Lachman, who plays Gemma / Ms. Casey. She shares what it was like filming in a brand new location with a new cast of characters, how she and Adam built out the relationship between Gemma and Mark, and the origin story of Ms. Casey’s...

Legendary actor Christopher Walken, who plays Burt, is on the podcast this week to nerd out about acting with Ben and help break down Season 2 Episode 6. He reflects on the unique energy between him and John Turturro, playing two different sides of Burt, and why Bugs Bunny might be the greatest actor of all time. Then, Ben and Adam discuss the rest of the episode and the relationships growing both...

This week, Ben and Adam welcome Michael Chernus — who plays Ricken Hale, the visionary author of “The You You Are” — to help unpack Season 2 Episode 5. And while you might expect Ricken to host a podcast of his own, Michael reveals that Ricken is actually post-podcast, so today’s episode is a really big deal. Together, they discuss Ricken’s writing, his relationship with Devon, and the actorly imp...

For Season 2 Episode 4, Ben and Adam are joined by Severance’s Emmy-winning composer, Theodore Shapiro — or, Teddy Shaps, as his friends call him. He pulls back the curtain on his long-standing collaboration with Ben Stiller, going all the way back to 2004’s Dodgeball; the four chords that unlocked Severance’s ear-worm of a main theme; and the world of Kier folk tunes he discovered while scoring t...

To unpack Season 2 Episode 3, Ben and Adam are joined by Gwendoline Christie, who plays a mysterious new Lumon employee, for her first ever podcast. And she’s a natural! They talk all about her unique acting journey, the power of leaning into the absurd and obscene, and how protective her character is of her department -- the people and the goats. Plus, she reveals the three things she learned abo...

Everyone’s favorite brain in a jar, Severance creator Dan Erickson, is back with Ben and Adam to talk about Season 2 Episode 2. Dan reflects on creating an all-Outtie episode, wearing uncomfortable shoes in solidarity with actors, and the shared door-factory-universe between Severance and Monsters Inc. They also answer the question everyone’s been asking: what do you eat for lunch at Lumon?

The wait is over. Ben and Adam break down the Season 2 Premiere with the incredible Tramell Tillman — aka Mr. Milchick, aka Mr. Milkshake. Tramell shares what it means for Milchick to become the new Floor Manager and argues that he really isn’t all that bad, once you get to know him. Plus, the pod unveils a few new perks: the guys answer fan questions from the Severed Floor Post Box and clairvoyan...

Ben and Adam welcome Jon Stewart — a borderline obsessive Severance superfan — to unpack the suspenseful Season 1 Finale. And he is here to demand answers. Jon talks about his visit to the set, the challenges of taking creative big swings, his constructive criticism on season 1 (spoiler alert: it’s all about wingspan), and The Daily Show’s very own version of a waffle party.