logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
2h 9m

Joaquin Phoenix

Rick Rubin
About this episode

Joaquin Phoenix is widely regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, known for his intense and eccentric on-screen portrayals in period dramas, thrillers, and psychological films. He was raised among siblings who were largely involved in acting, including his late brother, River Phoenix, alongside whom he began his acting career in the 1980s. He made his big-screen debut in SpaceCamp (1986), and he earned his first starring role in the Cold War drama Russkies (1987). Phoenix is known for his commitment to embody each of his roles, particularly in his role as Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillips’ Joker, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. His filmography includes powerful performances in Gladiator, Her, You Were Never Really Here, Walk the Line–where he won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Johnny Cash–and most recently, Joker: Folie à Deux. In addition to his acting career, Phoenix is an animal rights activist and has taken up producing films like Gunda, and he continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of cinema.


------

Thank you to the sponsors that fuel our podcast and our team:


Squarespace

https://squarespace.com/tetra

Use code 'TETRA'

------

Vivo Barefoot

http://vivobarefoot.com/tetra

Use code 'TETRA'

------

LMNT Electrolytes

https://drinklmnt.com/tetra

Use code 'TETRA'

------

House of Macadamias

https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/tetra

Use code 'TETRA'

------

Sign up to receive Tetragrammaton Transmissions

https://www.tetragrammaton.com/join-newsletter

Up next
Aug 20
Bernard MacMahon
Bernard MacMahon is a filmmaker, most recently directing Becoming Led Zeppelin, a music documentary that holds the record for the highest-grossing opening weekend across IMAX theaters worldwide and is currently the highest-grossing documentary of 2025. He gained international acc ... Show More
2h 4m
Aug 13
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an artist whose six-decade career spans painting, photography, printmaking, film, and book art. His first artist’s book, Twentysix Gasoline Stations—featuring 26 photographs taken along Route 66—marked the beginning of his ongoing exploration of the interplay between ... Show More
1h 28m
Aug 6
Dr. Joe Dispenza
Dr. Joe Dispenza is an author, researcher, and lecturer whose work bridges neuroscience, epigenetics, and quantum physics to explore the science of personal transformation. Known for books like New York Times bestseller You Are the Placebo, Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, a ... Show More
2h 20m
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
The Joaquin Phoenix Interview
Joaquin Phoenix is one of the greatest actors of his generation. For three decades, he’s moved seamlessly between auteur-driven films (Her, The Master) and box-office sensations (Gladiator, Joker).  We sit today for a rare, long-form conversation with Phoenix, starting with his l ... Show More
1h 5m
Oct 2024
Bill Nighy
A star of stage and screen, Bill Nighy has enjoyed a fifty year career and is now among Britain’s most prolific and much loved actors. Acclaimed for National Theatre roles in plays by David Hare and Tom Stoppard, his popular appeal lies with scene-stealing appearances in films in ... Show More
42m 51s
Aug 2024
Gary Oldman on ‘Slow Horses’; Edgar Bronfman Jr. enters the Paramount chat
Matt Belloni and Alex Weprin discuss Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s unexpected bid for Paramount Studios, challenging the existing agreement with Skydance Media. Plus, Slow Horses kicks off its new season with nine Emmy nominations, including Best Drama Series and Best Actor in a Drama for ... Show More
30m 1s
Jan 2021
Ep125 - Matthew McConaughey | Greenlights
This episode is with Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, as he discusses "Greenlights", his new memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction. For more information about the book visit green ... Show More
34m 17s
Jul 2023
Mission Impossible, Herzog & de Meuron, Walter Murch
Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One - the long awaited seventh film in the series - and the Royal Academy's new exhibition about architecture practice Herzog & de Meuron. Ryan Gilbey and Oliver Wainwright review. Plus Walter Murch. The renowned film editor and sound design ... Show More
42m 19s
Dec 2017
Stanislavsky: Founder of modern acting
It was at the Moscow Art Theatre from the 1890’s onwards that Stanislavsky developed an innovative acting system that demanded actors really inhabit the role they are playing. This then inspired Method acting, which originated in the United States, and whose disciples range from ... Show More
39m 52s
Aug 2024
#2191 - Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe is an actor, director, and musician, best known for his roles in "Gladiator," and "A Beautiful Mind." He’s currently touring the U.S. with his band Indoor Garden Party promoting their new album "Prose and Cons." Look for him in the upcoming film "Kraven the Hunter," ... Show More
3h 13m
Apr 2025
Dibyendu Bhattacharya: Iconic Roles in Dev.D, Rocket Boys & The Railway Men | Award-Winning Actor
Dibyendu Bhattacharya, a versatile Indian actor with deep Bengali roots, has carved a niche in theatre, film, and digital media through iconic roles and artistic integrity. Born in Kolkata, his journey began with a shift from cricket to storytelling, followed by formal training a ... Show More
53m 16s