Pablo Torre Finds Out – "Why Listening to Action Bronson Makes Us Happy" (PTFO Vault)

Podcast: Pablo Torre Finds Out
Host: Pablo Torre (The Athletic)
Guest: Action Bronson
Date: January 1, 2026

Episode Overview

Pablo Torre sits down with the inimitable Action Bronson—rapper, chef, artist, and renaissance New Yorker—to uncover the magic behind why his music brings listeners so much joy. The conversation weaves through Bronson’s creative mindset, his New York identity, gym habits, oddball memories, and the unique, offbeat philosophy behind both his lyrics and his life. This episode, drawn from the PTFO vault, unpacks Bronson's unapologetic authenticity, revealing the delightful contradictions that make him such a compelling artist and personality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Essence of Action Bronson’s Music (06:51–09:10)

• On Creating for Himself:

  • Action Bronson explains he doesn't create music with the listener's experience in mind, but for his own gratification and personal breakthroughs.
    • “I don't really give a **** to be honest with you. Like, I'm just doing it for myself… I'm just in that. Like I've just come back from a new path.” (07:12 B)
  • Describes the creative process as "putting myself in a hole to dig myself out," highlighting the catharsis and constant self-challenge of artistry.
    • "It's definitely reinvigorated me… But I have to put myself in a hole to dig myself out right now." (09:01 B)

• How the Music Feels:

  • The music is described as cinematic, free-flowing, “acid jazz,” evoking vibrant imagery, and feeling both dramatic and relaxed.
    • "I'm a jazz instrument. Just like a goddamn saxophone or the Rhodes I am." (09:22 B)
  • Pablo and Bronson attempt to capture the indescribable magic of Action’s sound; a blend of New York edge, playfulness, and surrealism.

2. Being Unapologetically New York (05:31–06:50, 27:13–28:26)

• Discussing New York Roots:

  • Pablo describes Bronson as “oozing New York out of every pore,” contextualizing his energy and references.
  • Action praises Queens as “a mixture of every single life on earth in one place… a holy land.” (27:49 B)
  • Both reminisce about the diversity and comfort found in Queens, with Bronson underscoring Queens’ status as “the most diverse place… on earth.”

• Cultural Touchstones:

  • They riff on “Coming to America” as the iconic depiction of Queens, more so than “King of Queens.”
  • Neighborhood nostalgia, from Caldor and Compuserve to tales of VHS collections and dustbusters (“I have about 3000 [VHS tapes] in my house.” (15:22 B)) builds a tactile sense of place.

3. Style, Comfort, and the Philosophy of Stretchy Shorts (11:08–12:53)

• Bronson on Comfort and Body Image:
  • He hasn't worn pants in 15–20 years, preferring flexible shorts for utilitarian and body-positive reasons.
    • "The last time I put pants on, I had an accident and I never wore them again." (11:21 B)
    • "Everyone needs stretchy shorts… I don't think that anyone should wear a constricting situation." (12:06 B)
  • Relates his style choices to “agility” and “body construction”—melding self-knowledge, comfort, and athletic pride.

4. Childhood, Fighting, and Headbutts (12:53–15:22)

• Childhood Wildness:
  • Bronson recalls being a wild, Bambi-like kid: “You’re just kind of, like, drunk… you don’t know what the **** is really going on.” (12:59 B)
  • On playground scuffles: “Headbutt. I’m a headbutter.” (14:03 B)
  • Cites the movie “Gladiator” (with Brian Dennehy and Cuba Gooding Jr.) as a formative influence on using the "hardest part of the head" in fights.

5. VHS, Cinema, and Meeting Scorsese (15:23–17:59)

• Analog Affection:

  • Bronson expresses a deep nostalgia for VHS tapes, cherishing their “graininess” and imperfection as offering “comfort and warmth.” (15:30–15:42)
  • The transition from analog to digital is framed as a loss of artistry and connoisseurship.

• Film Cameo:

  • Discusses his role in Scorsese’s “The Irishman” as a casket salesman.
  • Meeting Scorsese was filled with “happiness and laughter,” a surprisingly mutual fan moment.
    • “He definitely showed enthusiasm and showed a lot of love. And it was nothing but happiness and laughter.” (16:28 B)

6. Calves, Gym Habits & The Rituals of Physicality (18:15–21:48)

• Leg Pride & Workout Tips:
  • Bronson is emphatic about not covering his “diamond-shaped” calves, encouraging others to “condition your shin also… the shin bone muscle is very important.”
    • “You flex your toe upwards. Do you feel that muscle?” (20:28–20:47)
  • Details his workout: loving squats, stone lifting, and MMA cardio, but hating bench press and long-distance running.

7. Tattoos, Barry Bonds, and PEDs (21:52–24:38)

• Unorthodox Tattoos:

  • Reveals he has the stat line for Barry Bonds’s 73 home run season tattooed on his body, though admits Bonds’s .370 average was more impressive to him.
    • “So the one that you have doesn’t mean a thing. Barry Bonds’ season doesn’t really mean a thing.” (21:54 A, 22:03 B)
  • Admits to youthful steroid use: “Yeah, 24 years old. I was juiced up… we was shooting it up.” (23:09–23:23 B)

• Humor & Honesty:

  • Discusses the absurdity and risk of “Project Juice,” with wry asides about injecting questionable substances.

8. Queensland Internet, Football Glory & Bronx Bomber Tales (29:20–32:00)

• 80s/90s Nostalgia:
  • Swaps tales of AOL screen names (“Ace Suede 56”) and early internet—explaining how his jersey number from Bayside High School became his handle.
  • Offers a tongue-in-cheek self-scouting report as a football center/nose guard: “Deceptively quick, hard-hitting, long lasting IQ… my awareness is 100 on Madden.”
    • “I know more than the quarterback does. I question his throws, I question his decision making.” (30:30–31:10 B)
  • Bronson’s childhood athletic hero: “Mike Tyson… he kissed me on the hands.” (31:39–31:50)

9. Absurdity, Joy, and the Culture of Accidental Bronson (42:06–48:49)

• “Accidental Bronson” Twitter Account:
  • Pablo introduces Bronson to @AccidentalBronson—a social account aggregating tweets that sound like his lyrics.
  • Bronson joins in reading and rating the tweets:
    • “Put me and Timothée Chalamet in the Oklahoma drill and I’m putting them in a hospital.” (44:05 B)
    • “12:00am on the Amalfi Coast. Watching the Raptors playing preseason in Edmonton.” (44:24 A)
    • “Ashing a sesame bagel like a cigarette in front of a Roomba.” (46:04 B)
  • Bronson delights in these odd, poetic non-sequiturs, validating how his influence seeps into pop culture.

10. Everyday Wisdom and Toilet Talk (34:44–37:10)

• Toilet Preferences:

  • A surprisingly endearing dive into toilet ergonomics, bidet skepticism, and the comfort of warm seats.
  • “You don’t really know life until you sit on a warm toilet seat, bro.” (35:04 B)
  • Old school approach: “I come from a grandma with no paper. Just a hand.” (35:55 B)

• Household Gadgets:

  • From Red Devil dustbusters to Roombas (which Bronson distrusts: “I fucking trip over it. It creeps up on you.”), the home is a battleground of tradition vs. technology.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "My third eye been popping for 8,000 years… I travel the stars like Obi Wan, but Star Wars, man, 'cause Indiana Jones is better." (09:02 B)
• "It brings out all the emotions of carnal desires… riding horses, on beaches naked, just things of that nature… watching fire burn, watching the ocean roar." (09:08–09:11 B)
• “I have about 3,000 [VHS tapes] in my house… He left me all kinds of crazy. Seen it all.” (15:22–15:28 B)
• “You flex your toe upwards. Do you feel that muscle?... Do front, you got to do back also.” (20:28–20:46 B)
• “Everyone needs stretchy shorts. I don’t think that anyone should wear a constricting situation.” (12:06 B)
• “So the one that you have doesn’t mean a thing. Barry Bonds’ season doesn’t really mean a thing.” (21:54 A, 22:03 B)
• [On meeting Scorsese:] “He definitely showed enthusiasm and showed a lot of love. And it was nothing but happiness and laughter.” (16:28 B)
• [On being described by “accidental” tweets:] “To think about it like this, real life is much crazier than anything that you could script.” (43:37 B)

Selected Timestamps for Important Segments

• 05:31 — Pablo introduces Action Bronson as a “physical embodiment of New York.”
• 06:51–09:10 — Bronson on making music for himself and the feeling of his sound.
• 11:08–12:53 — Shorts vs. pants philosophy and childhood comfort wisdom.
• 15:23–17:59 — Deep dive into VHS nostalgia, the analog-digital divide, and Scorsese cameo.
• 18:15–21:48 — Talking calves, flexibility, and a practical gym tutorial.
• 21:52–24:38 — Barry Bonds tattooed stats and stories of personal PED use.
• 27:13–28:26 — Explaining Queens, the "holy land" of New York.
• 42:06–49:10 — “Accidental Bronson” Twitter account and riffing on poetic, surreal everyday moments.
• 35:04 — Warm toilet seat philosophy; blending the sacred and the profane.

The Takeaway — Why Listening to Action Bronson Makes Us Happy

Pablo Torre sums it up: Action Bronson embodies the contradiction of being deeply serious and totally unfiltered at once, reveling in high-stakes scenarios adorned with lowbrow, day-to-day details. His music and personality are infectious because they’re honest, unapologetic, and endlessly creative—a soundtrack for walking around New York and savoring the absurdity of modern (and specifically New York) life.

As Pablo puts it:
“Action Bronson loves a high stakes scenario decorated with low brow details. He makes music for Don Corleone, if Don Corleone also loved the NBA… He is somebody who makes music to listen to while walking around New York City. Because New York City is the greatest city in the world. That also at times, is aggressively the opposite, which is why it is worth celebrating.” (50:39–51:16 A)

Episode MVP: Accidental Bronson

The playful reading and rating of the “Accidental Bronson” tweets becomes the centerpiece—it’s improv, poetry, and a testament to Action Bronson’s one-of-a-kind charisma. He is, as the show illustrates, “a Renaissance man in a way that is entirely sincere.”

End of Summary