Podcast Summary: “The Lowdown” Season Finale – All Of It with Alison Stewart

Podcast: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Guest: Sterlin Harjo (Creator, “The Lowdown,” “Reservation Dogs”)
Date: November 5, 2025
Episode: “The Lowdown” Season Finale

Episode Overview

This lively episode dives deep into the creation, themes, and local flavor of the new neo-noir series “The Lowdown,” helmed by acclaimed writer and filmmaker Sterlin Harjo and starring Ethan Hawke as rare bookseller/truth-seeker Lee Raybon. Host Alison Stewart explores the show’s inspirations, the real Tulsa context, character development, and the unique “hang” of Harjo’s creative style. The conversation blends insights on storytelling, community representation, and the realities of making art that’s both rooted and resonant.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origins of “The Lowdown” and Lee Raybon (02:47–05:17)

• Inspiration:
  Harjo reveals that Lee Raybon, while not based on a single person, was inspired by a truth-seeking, anti-establishment friend he worked with at This Land Press.
• Personal Connection:
  Harjo elaborates on his own career uncertainty and how watching someone dedicate themselves to the truth above money proved inspiring in his toughest years.
• Quote:

  “As long as I keep doing what’s truthful to me, someday the financial and everything else will catch up.”
  (Sterlin Harjo, 04:23)

2. Complexity and Charm of Lee Raybon (05:17–06:38)

• Character Traits:
  Stewart points out Lee’s contradictions—artsy yet broke, cherished yet exasperating—which Harjo attributes to Lee’s righteousness and honesty.
• Community Ties:
  Friends and family stand by Lee because they believe in his pursuit of the truth—even when he causes chaos.

3. Fatherhood, Motivation, and Martyrdom (06:38–07:37)

• Father-Daughter Dynamic:
  Lee’s devotion to his teenage daughter is central:

  “That’s who the work is for. That’s what he’s doing it for. He needs to show her that there are things that are bigger than us, that are noble to fight for.”
  (Sterlin Harjo, 06:47)

4. Tulsa as Character & Setting (07:37–10:22)

• Why Tulsa:
  Harjo discusses Tulsa’s layered, multicultural history—its tribal roots, diversity, and history of forced relocation—and his desire to authentically represent its present and past.
• Community as Central:
  Echoing “Reservation Dogs,” “The Lowdown” is as much about the collective as the individual hero.
• Quote:

  “I was raised by such a large community, and I’m interested in all the characters that make that community up.”
  (Sterlin Harjo, 08:29)

5. Truth-Telling, History, and Healing (10:22–12:22)

• Facing the Past:
  Harjo stresses the importance of honest history—using Tulsa’s own past (e.g., the Race Massacre) as an example—and its transformative role in healing and progress.
• Quote:

  “There is no healing without truth. And you have to face it. You have to hold a mirror up to yourself so you can see your flaws.”
  (Sterlin Harjo, 11:17)

6. Assembling the Cast & Working with Ethan Hawke (12:22–14:19)

• Oklahoma Roots:
  The cast comprises many locals—from well-known names like Jeannie Tripplehorn to new faces from Tulsa.
• Creative Partnership:
  Harjo describes an artistic kinship with Ethan Hawke—bonded by art, friendship, and music—which fosters trust and originality on set.
• Quote:

  “As soon as we met, it was like being in the middle of a conversation with an old friend, you know, and that conversation hasn’t stopped with us.”
  (Sterlin Harjo, 13:13)

7. Humanizing Details (14:19–14:39)

• Authenticity:
  Both Stewart and Harjo delight in the cast’s lack of “Hollywood” veneers:

  “It’s like, wow. It’s a real human being.”
  (Alison Stewart, 14:37)

8. Killer Mike’s Breakout Role (14:39–15:45)

• Killer Mike as Actor:
  Harjo takes pride in rapper Killer Mike’s commitment and vulnerability, reassuring him on set and celebrating his nuanced performance as “Cyrus.”
• Quote:

  “I will never let you look stupid. And…he gave me a big hug…and he was like, man, thanks for not letting me look stupid.”
  (Sterlin Harjo, 15:12)

9. Humor and Social Insight (15:45–16:35)

• Standout Line:
  Stewart quotes Killer Mike’s character:

  “Well-meaning white men, the saddest of the bunch.”
  (Alison Stewart, 15:52)

• Harjo’s Reflection:

  “…The bravery of a good white man, you know, will get you in trouble…they always get hurt, you know, and…it’s just like, I just think that he’s recognizing that, and it’s…man, I love you, but damn it, you’re going to get us all hurt.”
  (Sterlin Harjo, 16:15)

10. “The Art of the Hang” and Life Between Plots (16:35–18:19)

• Harjo’s Filmmaking Philosophy:
  He’s drawn to the “art of the hang”—the unstructured moments where characters simply exist, inspired by filmmakers like Jim Jarmusch and Richard Linklater.
• Quote:

  “There’s so much you can learn from people when they’re not kicking in a door or in the middle of some monologue…that’s the hang, right?”
  (Sterlin Harjo, 16:52)

11. Infusing a Noir with "Hang" and Visual Style (18:19–20:09)

• Balancing Action & Atmosphere:
  While “The Lowdown” incorporates more genre-driven, action-filled storytelling, Harjo ensures Tulsa’s pulse and the hang moments remain.
• Seventies Influence:
  Visual design is steeped in ‘70s aesthetics (e.g., “The Long Goodbye”), which he honors consciously:

  “…I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel. I am acknowledging my influences and then trying to do something new with it.”
  (Sterlin Harjo, 19:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Artistic Motivation:
  “Sometimes that went against the people with money… I just admired that. And at the time… I needed to feel that as a filmmaker and go, okay, I can do this no matter what.” (Sterlin Harjo, 03:24)
• About the Power of Place:
  “It has this diversity to it that not a lot of states in the middle of America or down south have. And I think people would be very surprised by that.” (Sterlin Harjo, 08:05)
• On Healing Through Truth:
  “There is no healing without truth. And you have to face it.” (Sterlin Harjo, 11:46)
• On Acting & Friendship:
  “We just keep continuing this conversation that feels like we’re always catching up…and it usually revolves around art, literature, music of some sort.” (Sterlin Harjo, 13:26)
• Humorous Acknowledgement:
  “They don’t have veneers? …It’s like, wow. It’s a real human being.” (Alison Stewart & Sterlin Harjo, 14:32–14:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:18]–[02:08]: Episode intro, show setup, Ethan Hawke cast clip
• [02:47]–[04:30]: Character and personal inspiration
• [05:17]–[06:38]: Lee’s endearing complexity
• [06:38]–[07:37]: Lee as a father
• [07:37]–[10:22]: Tulsa’s unique history and setting
• [10:22]–[12:22]: The importance of historical truth
• [12:22]–[14:19]: The Oklahoma-heavy cast and working with Ethan Hawke
• [14:39]–[15:45]: Killer Mike’s acting debut
• [16:49]–[18:19]: The “art of the hang” in storytelling
• [18:19]–[20:09]: Noir style and 1970s influences

Conclusion

This episode is a heartfelt—and frequently humorous—exploration of the rich context, creative choices, and values behind “The Lowdown.” Harjo’s conversation with Stewart opens up a world where place, history, communal bonds, and truth-telling shape how stories get made—and why they matter. The blend of genre action with lived-in local culture and layered character work ensures “The Lowdown” feels as much about the people and place as the mystery at its core.