David Tennant is known for quite a few things. Perhaps you know him from his role as the Tenth Doctor in “Doctor Who,” or possibly you know him as the demon Crowley from “Good Omens.” Maybe you even know him as Barty Crouch Jr. from “Harry Potter” or Kilgrave in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, did you know he has a podcast?
The first series of “David Tennant Does a Podcast With” began in January 2019. In the first season, his guests ranged from actors to comedians to politicians. Some of his previous guests include: Olivia Colman, Whoopi Goldberg, Sir Ian McKellen, Jon Hamm, Gordon Brown, Michael Sheen, Tina Fey, Samantha Bee, James Corden, Krysten Ritter, Catherine Tate, Jennifer Garner and Jodie Whittaker.
Perhaps the most striking thing about his podcast is that it really isn’t an interview between a podcaster and a guest; it’s more like two friends who haven’t spoken to one another in years are catching up, and, in some cases, that’s exactly what happens. Each episode is full of good-natured laughs, jokes, anecdotes and even serious topics.
For example, Tennant’s podcast with Sir Ian McKellen manages to seamlessly switch from a very serious topic to a hilarious personal anecdote. The podcast begins by detailing McKellen’s experience coming out and his activism for LGBTQ+ rights in Russia and India, both of which he has visited to speak with their respective leaders. Sharply contrasting this weighty subject, McKellen then recounts a hilarious anecdote about being repeatedly mistaken for Michael Gambon.
Tennant keeps it humble; he doesn’t feel the need to be the star of the series, unlike many podcasts, which can come across as a competition between hosts and guests. Tennant lets his guests speak freely with minimal interruptions. The only time he interjects is when he asks another question, usually a question everyone is wanting to know the answer to.
The show even manages to make the advertisements worthwhile. Trust me on this, they are typically hilarious. Georgia (who also produces the podcast) and David Tennant record their own ads, rather than having a voice-over commercial. The advertisements usually feature jokes and a lot of teasing between the two.
Season two of “David Tennant Does a Podcast With” is currently in progress. Every Tuesday, a new episode releases. Up to this point, three episodes with three different guests have been released. The guests include: Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”), Stacey Abrams (former Georgia House Representative) and George Takei (“Star Trek”). The George Takei episode has definitely been a highlight.
George Takei spoke extensively about his and his family’s imprisonment in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II. His description of what they were subjected to is haunting; he highlights the serious injustices done unto his family and so many other people during World War II. His episode is a truly sobering experience.
Some upcoming guests for this season include: Dame Judi Dench, Dan Levy, Elisabeth Moss, Cush Jumbo and Brian Cox. Neil Gaiman has heavily hinted on Twitter that he’ll be featured. Tennant has expressed hopes that one day he will have former president Barack Obama as a guest on his podcast.
If this article has piqued your interest in Tennant’s podcast, I highly suggest you check it out. “David Tennant Does a Podcast With” is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Acast, with a new episode releasing weekly on Tuesdays.
