logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
1h 14m

Mark Foster (Foster the People): I Deliv...

Guy Raz | Wondery
About this episode

Mark Foster is the frontman for Foster the People, which rocketed to fame in 2011 on the strength of their very first single, ‘Pumped Up Kicks’. 

Mark talks about growing up as a pastor’s son in Cleveland; nearly joining the military but choosing instead to move to L.A. to pursue his music dreams; falling into addiction and getting sober; feeling afraid to perform on SNL after becoming famous overnight; and his process for getting into a flow state in the studio.

Mark also reflects on the meaning of ‘Pumped Up Kicks’, more than a decade later – and shares how current events influenced the themes on the band’s newest album, ‘Paradise State of Mind’.

Check out the new album here: https://store.fosterthepeople.com/products/paradise-state-of-mind-cd

Links from the Show: 

For more conversations like this – with guests ranging from Tom Hanks to Bjork to Jason Sudeikis – go to https://www.thegreatcreators.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Oct 2024
Lin-Manuel Miranda on "The Idea That Wouldn't Leave Him Alone" (with 'Warriors' Co-Writer Eisa Davis)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (‘Hamilton’, ‘In The Heights’) and Eisa Davis (‘Angela’s Mixtape’, ‘Bullrusher’) are writers, performers, and collaborators who are revolutionizing hip-hop theater.In this episode, Lin and Eisa join Guy to discuss their latest creative project, ‘Warriors’, a co ... Show More
49m 51s
Dec 2024
Sylvan Esso: Their Songwriting Routines, “Hey Mami”, the Durham Scene, and Creative Surprises
Ten years ago, Nick Sanborn & Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso) exploded onto the indie music scene with their unique electro-pop sound and mysterious aura.Since then, they’ve played some of the biggest stages in the world and have even created their own record label in their adopted ho ... Show More
39m 55s
Dec 2024
Ron Howard: Reinventing Himself After Child Fame, Henry Fonda’s Advice, and His New Sydney Sweeney Film 'Eden'
Ron Howard, the Oscar-winning director behind films like 'Apollo 13' and 'A Beautiful Mind,' sits down with Guy to discuss his remarkable journey from child actor to Hollywood heavyweight. Ron’s latest documentary – “Jim Henson: Idea Man” – about the creator of the Muppets, is av ... Show More
1h 1m
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2021
Jimmy Cliff on New Music, Working with Tarrus Riley, and the 50th Anniversary of The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff grabs some talk time with Kyle Meredith to tell us about his new single, “Human Touch,” and the upcoming album, Bridges. The reggae legend tips us on working with Tarrus Riley in the producer chair, reveals where his unending source of positivity comes from, and share ... Show More
11m 52s
Apr 2025
Eddie Benjamin: Truth, Fear, Working with Willow, Bieber, and Shawn Mende
Wildly talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Eddie Benjamin is a solo artist in his own right — check out his latest single ‘MANIAC’ and his 2023 EP ‘Weatherman’ — but he’s also working behind the scenes (and sometimes on stage, in the case of Shawn Mendes) with everyone ... Show More
1h 19m
Dec 2023
Jeff Tweedy
Singer and songwriter Jeff Tweedy discusses cherished memories from his childhood kitchen in Illinois, and the invaluable time he spent at his kitchen table with his mother, and he explains how his favorite home-cooked dish today–known simply as The Dish–became a Tweedy family hi ... Show More
40m 42s
Aug 2024
Jeff Tweedy (From Wilco) On: Music As A Lifeline, Shame, Schadenfreude, And Freaking Out On Weed
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. Dan dweebs out with a dad rock icon. Jeff Tweedy is the lead singer and songwriter of the Grammy award winning rock band, Wilco. The band have put out 13 albums… ... Show More
41m 57s
Mar 2025
Johnny Lewis
Johnny Lewis was an actor on many different shows. He was best known for his roles on The OC and Sons of Anarchy. He was a teen heartthrob who once dated Katy Perry. A motorcycle accident sent his life spiraling downward, culminating in an unbelievable tragedy. There was no doubt ... Show More
1h 4m
Jul 29
Daron Malakian
Daron Malakian first made his name as the enigmatic guitarist and songwriter behind System of a Down. Between 1998 and 2005, the band released five albums—three of which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. In 2006, System announced an indefinite hiatus. Eager to keep c ... Show More
1h 8m
Sep 2023
Ghost Story | 10
Michael Jackson spends his final days preparing for a series of comeback concerts, but tragedy strikes before rehearsals are even completed. In the aftermath of Michael’s death, a reckoning begins over everything he left behind.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and ... Show More
54m 53s
Jun 2025
Haim
The youngest Haim sister, Alana, started playing music with her older sisters, Danielle and Este, when she was just four years old. Back then, the three of them were part of their family band, Rockinhaim, playing charity gigs all over L.A. and the San Fernando Valley where they g ... Show More
54m 10s
May 2016
45. James McBride (Author) – Fear Sells Many a Car/James Brown is a Noun
“Fear is just a monster motivator. It sells many a car and harnesses many a vote.”  – James McBride, in this episode. Fear, says National Book Award winner and New York Times bestselling author James McBride, was the most powerful force in the life of James Brown, the Godfather o ... Show More
35m 10s
Apr 2025
d4vd Talks New Album 'Withered,' "Feel It," and the success of "Romantic Homicide"
Unless you’ve been living without an internet connection, you know d4vd — the Texas-teen-turned-newly-20 whose 2022 track ‘Romantic Homicide’ now has 1.5 billion streams and counting. It’s a song that he made on his phone, in his sister’s closet, in just 30 minutes and it changed ... Show More
1h 27m