Podcrushed: Riz Ahmed
Hosts: Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari
Guest: Riz Ahmed
Date: August 27, 2025
Overview
This episode of Podcrushed features actor, rapper, and storyteller Riz Ahmed. The conversation explores Riz’s formative years, particularly his middle school experiences and the challenges of code-switching and identity. The conversation ranges from his mischievous adolescence and navigating between cultures, to professional breakouts, career milestones, creative process, and what it really means to find acceptance and trust—in oneself and in the world. Together with the hosts, Riz delves into meaningful moments of vulnerability, resilience, and self-discovery—capturing the heart of what it means to grow up different, and how those differences translate into his art.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Dual Identity and Code-Switching
[07:10–11:12] Riz's World at 12
- Riz grew up in a British Pakistani immigrant neighborhood, immersed in South Asian culture and then moved to a posh private school hours away.
- He was a “scholarship kid,” navigating between two vastly different worlds—at home “Golu” with his community, at school “Ahmed,” blending in with elite British traditions.
- Felt constant tension and “cognitive dissonance” between home and school cultures:
- “At home, I was the kid from the posh school. At school, I was the alien.” (Riz Ahmed, 09:10)
- Clothing and language shifts were part of daily “costume changes.”
- “You know, I would go to school with a costume change in my bag.” (Riz Ahmed, 10:36)
Hosts Reflect on Code Switching
- Nava deeply relates: “Trying to, like, go between worlds and trying to figure out which one you fit into.” (Nava, 02:10)
2. Embracing Multiplicity through Acting
[12:33–14:48] Acting as Survival & Self-Expression
- Worlds began blending as he got older, but confusion remained.
- Acting helped make sense of shifting identities:
- “That was my sanity... Rather than getting a detention, get a round of applause.” (Riz Ahmed, 13:41)
- Struggled with discipline but found a constructive outlet in performing.
3. The Power and Evolution of Names
[14:48–17:05] Riz, Rizwan, and Belonging
- Different names (“Golu,” “Ahmed,” “Rizwan,” then “Riz”) for different contexts—each representing a facet of self.
- “Only very recently have I started thinking of what if I think of myself as Rizwan? What is that?” (Riz Ahmed, 16:49)
- Becoming a father made him reflect more on the “power of names.”
4. Mischievous Adolescence
[18:19–21:59] Shaytun Moments
- Hosts and Riz discuss the word "shaytun" for sweet mischievousness.
- Anecdotes:
- “We just all looked at each other, looked to the wall, and just kicked in the whole wall.” (Riz Ahmed, 20:06)
- “I threw a chair at them. They went through the window.” (Riz Ahmed, 21:10)
- Frequently in trouble—reflects restless energy and a need for movement.
5. Crushes and First Loves
[22:14–25:58]
- First “crush” came from the affection of older students during a school play; more about wanting to belong and be doted on than any one person.
6. Heartbreak and Cultural Boundaries
[25:58–26:53]
- Riz was a “late bloomer” regarding dating, reflective of traditional upbringing and community expectations.
- “There was just a gravity attached to romantic relationships in our minds... things you have to take very seriously.” (Riz Ahmed, 26:24)
7. Breaking into the Arts Professionally
[27:08–30:55] The Unconventional Path
- First paid role: script reading at Hampstead Theatre for £100.
- Breakthrough came with The Road to Guantanamo, a part he landed “by accident” due to a bad haircut—a literal case of “right place, right look.”
- Did not initially think a career in acting was viable because of how few people “who looked like me” he saw on screen.
8. Professional Doubt and Turning Points
[36:38–39:40]
- Saw art as a way to do something meaningful while supporting family; parents were “quietly supportive and quietly terrified.”
- “At every turn I was like, well, okay, it was a good run... I was constantly looking for the moment where the other shoe would drop.” (Riz Ahmed, 39:01)
- True career turning point: landing and filming The Night Of (HBO) after almost a decade of uncertainty.
9. The Making of Sound of Metal: Loss, Grief, and Acceptance
[41:27–52:59]
- Sophie and Penn express deep personal connection to the film.
- Riz shares he had experienced personal health crises just before the film, leading to grief, fear, and eventual acceptance:
- “When you're brought to your knees, you're halfway towards praying... when you're humbled, you become acutely aware of everything you have.” (Riz Ahmed, 44:35)
- Preparation included learning drums and American Sign Language.
- Profound learning from Deaf community:
- “We think you guys [hearing people] are emotionally repressed... We communicate with our entire bodies.” (Riz Ahmed, 50:14)
- Deaf culture taught him about true embodied listening.
10. On Trust, Surrender, and Roles in Relay
[58:23–65:43]
- Relay’s protagonist (as with Sound of Metal’s) wrestles with control, trust, and faith—mirroring Riz’s own journey and interests.
- “The hardest thing for this character... is surrendering control, believing in something bigger... The words ‘give up’ have such a negative connotation, but there’s such a power in those things.” (Riz Ahmed, 64:48)
- The film also features elements of deaf culture in subtle ways.
11. Tension and Atmosphere in Filmmaking
[65:43–68:03]
- David McKenzie (director, Relay) is “chaotic and freewheeling”—no closed sets, frenetic shooting, real public spaces, leading to authentic tension and energy.
12. Blueprint for Muslim Inclusion
[68:03–70:54]
- Riz discusses his production company (Left Handed) and the Blueprint for Muslim Inclusion initiative with Pillars, supporting up-and-coming Muslim filmmakers with funding, mentorship, and most importantly—community.
- “If you have a lone voice in a room, you’re much more likely to bite your tongue. But if your point of view is validated by those around you... you go a bit further.” (Riz Ahmed, 70:07)
13. If You Could Go Back to 12...
[71:09–72:38]
- “Stop drinking cola... Let me tell you about this thing called meditation.” (Riz Ahmed, 71:09)
- Importance of having someone believe in you:
- A teacher who “helped me find myself” and “allowed me to feel like... the place where you think you don’t belong is the place you needed most.”
- “Meeting that right person at the right time—just.” (Riz Ahmed, 72:25)
Notable Quotes
- “At home, I was the kid from the posh school. At school, I was the alien.” (Riz Ahmed, 09:10)
- “That was my sanity — that was how I could make sense of these shifting identities.” (Riz Ahmed, 13:41)
- “There was a lot of cognitive dissonance... A lot of misfit stuff going on in both worlds.” (Riz Ahmed, 09:10)
- “When you’re brought to your knees, you’re halfway towards praying.” (Riz Ahmed, 44:35)
- “The gift and the curse are always the same.” (Riz Ahmed, 52:59)
- “The hardest thing... is surrendering control, believing in something bigger... You get what you need, not what you want.” (Riz Ahmed, 64:48)
- “If you have a lone voice in a room, you’re much more likely to bite your tongue. But if your point of view is validated by those around you, it encourages you to go a bit further.” (Riz Ahmed, 70:07)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [07:10] Riz at age 12: Navigating elite school and immigrant community
- [14:48] “Golu,” “Ahmed,” “Rizwan,” and the journey to “Riz”
- [18:19] Mischievous stories (“Lord of the Flies” wall destruction, thrown chair)
- [22:14] First crushes and wanting to belong
- [27:08] Early professional breaks and doubts
- [36:38] Turning points: The Night Of, family reactions
- [41:27] Sound of Metal, deaf culture, and embodied listening
- [58:23] Relay and spiritual themes of trust, surrender
- [68:03] Blueprint for Muslim Inclusion initiative
- [71:09] Advice to 12-year-old self and the power of mentorship
Memorable Moments
- Nava gets emotional discussing food, code-switching, and her own essay tied to the themes Riz describes.
- Riz’s mischievous tales—destroying a classroom wall—elicits laughter and empathy from the hosts.
- Sophie’s personal attachment to Sound of Metal, and Riz’s candid sharing of his health crisis and acceptance.
- Deaf community’s perspective: “We think you guys are emotionally repressed.”
- Celebration of finding community—through Blueprint for Muslim Inclusion’s work.
Conclusion
This episode delivers an honest, playful, and deeply resonant conversation about growing up between worlds, the pain and beauty of multiple identities, and the ongoing effort to find artistic and personal grounding. Riz Ahmed’s journey from “mischievous Golu” to acclaimed artist is grounded in vulnerability, humor, and the meaningful drive to create spaces for others, always emphasizing the power of acceptance and belonging.