Podcast Summary: All Of It – Examining Obsessions with David Greene
Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Guest: David Greene (host of the podcast David Greene Is Obsessed)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Alison Stewart welcomes longtime NPR host and new podcast creator David Greene to explore the theme of obsession—why we fixate on certain topics, collections, or passions, and what these intense interests reveal about us. Drawing from his new show, David Greene Is Obsessed, Greene discusses stories from his guests, his own fixations, and takes listener calls, revealing the expansive, sometimes surprising world of personal obsessions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Is an Obsession? (01:39–04:25)

• Origin & Motivation:

  • David Greene explores his own obsessions, acknowledging a core one as die-hard loyalty to Pittsburgh sports.

    "There's no place I would rather on a Sunday at 1pm than in a Steelers bar with my people watching the Steelers game, screaming my face off and slamming beer bottles occasionally when the Steelers defense, like, is totally terrible." (02:13, David Greene)

  • Obsession can be deeply linked to identity, nostalgia, and formative relationships (notably with his late mother).

• Defining Obsession:

  • Greene references Merriam-Webster’s definition but believes obsession is highly personal.

    "It can be a passion and an obsession. It can be an uber passion that becomes an obsession. It's really to me just like a window inviting people to explore themselves and things that, that they get into and can't let go of." (03:16, David Greene)

  • Recognizes both the dark and joyful sides of obsession, including its role in self-exploration and vulnerability.

2. The Allure—and Risks—of Being “Haunted” by a Passion (04:25–05:40)

• Obsessions can verge on the addictive or problematic, especially when they tap into deeper psychological patterns.

  "...the whole obsession question, since I've been doing this show, has entered conversations with my therapist ... my own kind of... obsession or addiction to pleasing people, which can really be problematic in relationships..." (04:37, David Greene)

• Nonetheless, even lighthearted obsessions (like Bozo the Clown) often lead to heavier, more self-revealing conversations.

3. Listener Obsessions: Shared and Supported (05:40–07:25, 10:38–23:30)

Listener call-ins reveal the variety and universality of obsessions, providing mini case studies:

- Lisa, F1 Racing (05:49)

• Picked up during COVID, leading her to attend races, subscribe to magazines, and immerse in the F1 community.
• Greene reflects on pandemic-fueled obsessions, admitting to developing a lasting red wine fascination.

- Jim, Gavels (11:03)

• Semi-retired attorney who has spent 30 years studying and collecting historical gavels across the U.S., including the earliest-used gavel in American history.

- Shreya, Romance Novels (15:40)

• Developed her collection during the pandemic; now owns over 200 romance books.

- Carol, Raising Service Dogs (16:52)

• Has raised 17 service dogs for Canine Companions.

  "These people have now become my friends, and they are so grateful for their dogs. It's. It's awesome." (17:42, Carol)

- Kashish, Spirits Auctions & Entrepreneurship (18:10)

• Passion started with online whiskey/rum auctions and led to founding the Nepali Spirit Company. Now pursues vintage spirits and draws his wife into the obsession.
• Example bottle: 1903 Mount Vernon Rye from the J.P. Morgan cellar.

4. Why Do Painful Obsessions Persist? (07:25–10:38)

• Even persistent disappointment (e.g., Cleveland Browns fandom) can be meaningful because obsessions are often entwined with family and identity.

  "Sports were always an easy connection to the male figures in our lives." (09:18, Michael Symon, via podcast clip)

• Greene relates this to his own sports fandom and the powerful familial bonds built around shared obsessions.

• Karaoke as an analogy for shared vulnerability and instant connection in social settings.

  "Karaoke has just opened doors that nothing else can." (09:24, David Greene)

5. The Social and Identity-Building Power of Obsession (13:31–16:28)

• Greene describes interviewing a man with the world's second-largest Barbie collection—thousands of Barbies—highlighting deeper issues of masculinity, family expectation, and public identity.

  "We get into talking about marketing, we get into talking about masculinity. Kind of some hard moments that his family went through when people judged them for having a son who was obsessed with Barbie dolls. Like, it gets real." (13:55, David Greene)

• Greene finds interviewing guests about their private obsessions brings out a fuller, more unexpected picture of their personalities—beyond their public roles.

6. Obsession as a Force for Excellence (20:40–22:22)

• A clip from documentary filmmaker Marshall Curry describes the staff at The New Yorker as “completely obsessed” with every detail, tying obsession to quality and craft.

  "To me, that's what was so fun about making this film, was just watching this group of completely obsessed people put this magazine together every week." (21:13, Marshall Curry)

• Greene: “You kind of feel like you're in it with them...” (22:16, David Greene)

7. Shifting from Audio to Video Podcasting (22:24–23:30)

• Greene discusses the challenges and surprises of moving from audio-only (NPR) to video (YouTube), noting the heightened intimacy and vulnerability of face-to-face conversation.

  "There's a lot in facial expressions, a lot of emotions that come through. So it's been fun. It's a whole new thing." (22:41, David Greene)

8. Preview of Future Episodes (23:44)

• Episodes on political obsession—how passion for politics resembles addiction to high-stakes environments.

9. The Essence of Obsession (23:30)

• A listener texts a quote attributed to John Waters:

  "Life is nothing if you're not obsessed. And I agree. It's the mark of a passionate person." (23:30, Listener Text, read by Alison Stewart)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There's no place I would rather on a Sunday at 1pm than in a Steelers bar with my people watching the Steelers game, screaming my face off…” (02:13, David Greene)
• “An obsession is when you're preoccupied with or haunted by some idea, some interest, etc, and like—the etcetera is really important…” (03:16, David Greene)
• “Karaoke has just opened doors that nothing else can.” (09:24, David Greene)
• “He's number two [in Barbie collecting]. And he said he's cool with it.” (14:09, David Greene)
• "To me, that's what was so fun about making this film, was just watching this group of completely obsessed people put this magazine together every week." (21:13, Marshall Curry)
• "Life is nothing if you're not obsessed. And I agree. It's the mark of a passionate person." (23:30, Listener Text)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:39 – Greene explains his motivation for exploring obsession
• 03:16 – Defining obsession (Merriam-Webster & Greene’s perspective)
• 04:37 – Obsession as potentially problematic (addictive patterns)
• 05:49 – Listener Lisa: F1 racing obsession
• 07:25 – Why do people persist in painful obsessions? (Sports fandom)
• 08:23 – Clip: Michael Symon on Browns fandom and family connection
• 11:03 – Listener Jim: 30-year gavel study & collecting
• 13:31 – Barbie super-collector story
• 15:40 – Listener Shreya: romance novels
• 16:52 – Listener Carol: training service dogs
• 18:10 – Listener Kashish: spirits auctions and starting a business
• 20:40 – David Arquette and Bozo the Clown
• 21:13 – Marshall Curry (The New Yorker) on obsession and excellence
• 22:41 – Greene on video podcasting
• 23:44 – Preview of podcast episodes on political obsession

Conclusion

This episode of All Of It deftly examines the quirks, depth, and shared humanity found in obsession, whether the subject is trivial, creative, joyful, or deeply personal. Greene and Stewart, along with diverse callers, illustrate how obsession not only shapes individual identity but also builds unexpected bridges between people, revealing vulnerability, passion, and purpose.