Stavvy’s World #163 — With Josh Safdie

Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Stavros Halkias
Guest: Josh Safdie (Filmmaker, Uncut Gems, Good Time, Daddy Longlegs, Marty Supreme)

Overview

In this lively, personal, and often hilarious episode, filmmaker Josh Safdie joins Stavros Halkias on the couch. They riff on everything from childhood food obsessions to the gritty realities behind filmmaking, casting characters from everyday life, and the intertwining of anxiety, art, and family. The conversation flows seamlessly from behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Josh’s new film Marty Supreme to tangents on fitness, eBay, consciousness, and advice for Stavvy’s World callers. The episode is packed with warmth, industry insight, and irreverent humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening Banter: Food, Childhood, and Popcorn Collectibles (00:47–05:00)

• Popcorn Memories:
  Stavros and Josh joke about limited edition popcorn buckets and how long snacks last in their households.

  • Stavros on candy organization vs. consumption:
    “Organization, and then it was all hands on.” (01:49)
  • Josh reminisces about Halloween candy stashes devolving into cockroach magnets when he was a kid.

• Body Image & Fitness:
  The hosts swap stories about food addiction, metabolism, and body types.

  • Stavros describes his ideal physique:
    “Bouncer body’s what I want… big ass arms, little titties.” (02:25)
  • Josh reflects on never gaining weight due to constant anxiety.

Growing up, Anxieties, and the Art of Being Present (03:14–06:50)

• Josh on Anxiety:
  “I’m so nervous and anxious and it just eats away at the calories.” (03:18)

• Family, Luck, and Body Types:
  Josh wishes he could be a big guy and discusses the possibility of becoming “skinny fat” with age.

  • On the Grinch’s body image:
    “You don’t want to be the Grinch’s body.” (04:13)

Filmmaking Stories: Hiring, Extras, and Gritty Aesthetics (05:11–07:35)

• On Paying Extras and Spontaneity on Set:
  Josh recalls giving extras unexpected speaking parts (and $1200) just for a certain look or energy—production disapproval aside.

  • Josh on surprise casting:
    "I just go around handing it out... you get $1200." (05:51)

• Origins of the “Gritty Aesthetic”:

  • Josh admits much of his early “gritty” style was dictated by financial necessity:
    “That gritty aesthetic was purely financial...” (06:50)

Childhood Mischief & Creative Pranks (07:35–10:23)

• On Pranks and Liquid Ass:
  Prank culture, including fart spray mayhem and principal confrontations.

  • Josh on fart spray:
    “Liquid Ass is worse... it was so bad, you had to keep it in a Ziploc bag.” (08:38)

• Suzanne Somers & Media Memories:
  Joking about celebrities’ dietary claims, old TV appearances, and childhood late-night influences.

Industry Anecdotes & Filmmaker Gossip (11:02–15:30)

• Working with Abel Ferrara:
  Wild snapshots of a legendary New York filmmaker in his party days—borrowing money, living above Mulberry Street restaurants, and losing track of colleagues.

  • Josh on Ferrara’s sobriety and change:
    “Now he’s a totally different guy. He sends me Buddhist scriptures.” (15:30)

• Immigrant Family Tech Preferences:
  Differences in connecting with family via WhatsApp vs. Viber; meme culture among relatives.

The Power of Memes & Evolving Friendships (16:12–22:39)

• Meme Communication:
  How memes serve as modern-day touchstones for family and friendships, even when loaded with passive-aggressive content.

  • Stavros on receiving admonishing memes:
    “It was like, this is how... you couldn’t just write that, you had to find the template!” (17:37)

• Long-Term Friendships & Changing Dynamics:
  The tradition of sending "you look like this guy" memes in group chats; the bittersweetness as friends physically grow into those punchlines.

Mail, Magazines, and Curated Clutter (25:33–29:04)

• Trade Mags and Collecting:
  Josh’s fondness for DGA Monthly, Japanese magazines, and the joy of physical mail—Amazon excepted.

• The Magic of eBay:
  Browsing sellers’ entire stores as portraiture of their lives, accidental shipments, and the tactile, personalized experience of secondhand buying.

  • Josh on eBay sellers:
    “Some people, they’re just selling out of their house. It’s like portraits of their lives.” (26:55)

Video Games & Childhood Nostalgia (29:04–30:00)

• Comparing favorite PC games, citing “You Don’t Know Jack,” Sim City, GTA escapades, and the joys of watching friends play as personal bonding.

Art vs. Commerce: Collectibles, Swag, and the Hustle (30:00–35:00)

• Selling Swag for Rent:
  The days when Josh was “cooler than he had money” and resorted to signing and selling posters or jackets.

  • Josh on the collector friend in his movies:
    “His collection is not for sale... One of one. No one like him.” (33:06)

• Movie Cameos & Local Characters:
  Colorful tales about casting autograph collectors, table tennis hustlers, and unique friends/alums from NYC’s vibrant creative community.

Howard Stern, Casting, and Howard’s Influence (35:50–38:41)

• Casting Real New Yorkers:
  Howard Stern show personalities featured in Josh’s films; behind-the-scenes tales of casting authenticity.
  • Josh on casting:
    “It’s my favorite part... Every character is the star of a movie.” (49:09)

Marty Supreme: Themes, Inspirations, and Emotional Resonance (38:41–49:28)

• Making of Marty Supreme

  • Exploring familial expectations, the pursuit of passion, and the paradox of chasing frivolous dreams.
  • Stavros on feeling seen by the film:
    “It’s kind of like a movie designed for someone who’s dedicated their life to their frivolous, kind of dumb dream that they have a random talent for.” (41:53)
  • Discussion of parallels between Marty Supreme and the documentary Lenny Cooke—talent vs. drive, and societal projection of dreams.

• Casting Kevin O’Leary (Mr. Wonderful) and Others:
  Kevin’s unique artistic sensibility; approach to acting and behind-the-scenes moments.

  • Josh on Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary:
    “He edits his own material... He has camera setups... He’s his own DP.” (50:26)
  • On the impact of a pivotal scene:
    • “You have no power here.” (54:06, Kevin O’Leary’s big line, with audio-mixing tricks for impact.)

Deep Dive on Consciousness, Legacy, and Immortality (70:17–76:20)

• Philosophical Digression:
  Theories on what consciousness is, potential brain transplants, time perception as a parent, and musings on immortality.

  • Josh’s theory:
    “Consciousness is a three—a holographic image—that is all of our senses coming in, touch, hearing, sight, sound, smell... creating this image, and inside that holographic image is consciousness.” (73:21)

• Stavros’s take:
  “Now this is podcasting... Two morons being like, ‘What is consciousness?’ I think it’s actually magic.” (74:16)

Advice Call-In Segment (59:29–91:03)

Memorable Calls & Responses

• Caller 1: Upset after learning his girlfriend is bipolar (59:29)

  • Josh: “That’s not long enough to be like, you don’t meet someone and just, ‘So you know, I’m bipolar.’” (61:18)
  • Both hosts stress destigmatizing being open and supportive.

• Caller 2: Changing minds about having kids after 16 years with a partner (64:18)

  • Stavros: “He's got really no case whatsoever... You did think about it. She did have a moment to really search her feelings, and you can’t get any more clear than how she feels.” (67:31)
  • Josh: “Is the relationship, you know, are you getting everything you want from life out of the relationship? Then you don’t... Maybe you don’t need kids.” (67:09)

• Caller 3: Girlfriend wants breast reduction, caller wants to (jokingly) sabotage it (78:16)

  • Stavros: “Unfortunately, you’re just gonna have to go with her desires about her own body. I hate to break it.” (81:12)
  • Comic riffs on body positivity and the autonomy of partners.

• Caller 4: Woman dog walker harassed by a doorman (82:20)

  • Stavros: “Call the police. This is over.” (83:16)
  • They offer practical advice: be confrontational, seek support, consider dropping the client, and criticize residents' lack of responsibility.

Closing Tangents: Lifting, Gym Etiquette & Bald Ponytails (89:01–91:55)

• Fat vs. Skinny Guys at the Gym:
  The relative status of gym-goers, ego vs. ability, and physical comedy of attempted deadlifts gone wrong.

• Bald Ponytails:

  • Stavros’ quest to bring back the “bald pony” as an aesthetic.
  • “I’m trying to single-handedly bring back [the bald ponytail].” (91:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stavros: “Big arms, little titties has always been my fitness goal.” (02:25)
• Josh: “That gritty aesthetic was purely financial.” (06:50)
• Josh: “He would call me his director only because he didn’t know my name... someone’s meeting—I’m like 25 years old—he’s like, ‘That’s my director right here.’” (12:43)
• Stavros: “You could do a, like, getting the team together montage of you casting your movies.” (38:41)
• Josh (on filmmaking): “Every character is the star of a movie.” (49:09)
• Josh (on Kevin O’Leary): “He edits his own material... He’s his own DP... He shreds the guitar.” (50:25)
• Kevin’s villain line (in the movie): “You have no power here.” (54:06)
• Stavros: “Two morons being like, ‘What is consciousness?’ I think it’s actually magic.” (74:16)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Popcorn, Body Image, Childhood Food: 00:47–05:00
• Childhood Mischief & Family Anxieties: 03:14–06:50
• Filmmaking & Casting Stories: 05:11–15:30
• Memes, Tech, and Friendship: 16:12–22:39
• Mail, Magazines & eBay: 25:33–29:04
• Collectibles, Swag, and Autograph Tales: 30:00–35:00
• Casting, Howard Stern, Movie Themes: 35:50–49:28
• Consciousness, Time, & Immortality: 70:17–76:20
• Advice Calls: 59:29–91:03
• Gym & Bald Ponytail Riffs: 89:01–91:55
• Wrap-up & Movie Plug: 92:16–92:47

Tone & Atmosphere

• Irreverent, intimate, and quick-witted.
• Mix of heartfelt vulnerability, creative confession, and classic Stavvy’s World banter.
• Plenty of thoughtful moments about art, family pressure, and what makes an authentic life—usually delivered with a wink and a punchline.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a Safdie fan, a Stavi regular, or love behind-the-scenes rambling from creative minds, this episode delivers a packed ride through the making of Marty Supreme and the eccentricities of being human. Amid comedic tangents and real advice, there’s a core curiosity—about art, people, and what happens when you keep saying “yes” to all of life’s odd opportunities.

Go see Marty Supreme. It’s Stavros’s movie of the year.