Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

Episode: Vince Vaughn ("Nonnas", May 2025)

Air Date: August 24, 2025

Main Theme and Purpose

In this episode, Willie Geist sits down with actor Vince Vaughn for an in-depth, warm, and often funny conversation at Enoteca Maria on Staten Island—the real-life Italian restaurant starring in Vaughn's new film "Nonnas." The interview explores Vaughn’s pivot to a role with more dramatic and heartfelt tones, his reflections on family, career evolution, and memorable moments from a life in comedy. The episode also features special moments with Joe Scaravella, the real-life inspiration behind "Nonnas."

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Story Behind "Nonnas"

• Enoteca Maria & The Real Joe Scaravella: Vaughn discusses his unfamiliarity with the real story before the film and his admiration for Joe Scaravella, who honors his mother by hiring non-professional "nonnas" (grandmothers) to cook at his restaurant.
  • "It was so moving ... these older women that got a chance to come and do something they had done to nurture their families through cooking ... and to be appreciated at a stage of life where sometimes that isn't happening."
    — Vince Vaughn, [03:16]
• Evolution of the Concept: The restaurant began with Italian grandmothers and later expanded to “Nonnas of the world.”
  • "He'll have a Greek grandmother come in, a Japanese grandmother ... sharing their recipes. It was just sort of refreshing that his driving force was creating an experience ... not really any kind of plan to monetize it, which is sort of odd in today’s culture."
    — Vince Vaughn, [04:20]

2. Working with an Iconic Cast & Personal Reflections

• Cast Highlights: Lorraine Bracco, Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, and Brenda Vaccaro star as nonnas; Vaughn describes collaborating with icons as inspiring and filled with mutual respect.
  • "Yeah, it was Murderous Row. And it felt like art imitating life."
    — Vince Vaughn, [06:27]
• Learning from Legends: Vaughn is candid about being a lifelong fan and continuing to glean wisdom from older generations of actors.
  • "We were always really had a lot of respect for the people that came before us. ... I've never lost that."
    — Vince Vaughn, [07:18]

3. From Comedy to Drama: Choosing "Nonnas"

• Personal Connections: Raised with his grandmother in the house, Vaughn was drawn to a story centered on wisdom, generational love, and the ongoing impact of maternal figures.
  • "I've always felt so connected to ... the sacrifices that came before me. Even being an actor, like, who would have thought ... So I always felt so grateful for the journeys they went through."
    — Vince Vaughn, [10:45]
• On Movies with Heart vs. Message:
  • "I'm not much on message stuff. ... But I like something that’s dealing with a stage of life and trying to explore it authentically."
    — Vince Vaughn, [11:28]

4. Family, Upbringing, and Early Inspiration

• Diverse Influences: Vaughn grew up in the Chicago area, played sports, engaged in theater, and embraced having varied interests.
  • "A real friend let you be who you are ... If you can avoid that [pressure to fit in], and say yes to the things that you're curious about ... it turned out that became useful."
    — Vince Vaughn, [16:33 & 17:09]

5. Hollywood Beginnings and "Swingers" Era

• LA Struggles and Persistence: Vaughn’s move to LA was met with years of challenging auditions, but he found resilience and camaraderie with fellow strivers.
  • "I was just committed to getting better. ... There was times I screen tested for stuff and didn’t get it ... but I kind of was just, no plan B. I’m going to keep trying to get better at this."
    — Vince Vaughn, [22:26]
• Creating "Swingers": The breakout film arose from necessity, a DIY ethos, and belief against the odds.
  • "There was a sound guy ... He said, 'No one's going to see this. This is fun for you and your friends. This is like a home movie.' ... But we knew our material so well ... we thought, what is he talking about? This is gonna be a movie."
    — Vince Vaughn, [24:16]

6. Comedic Legacy and Archetype

• Comedy Boom and the Archetype: Vaughn reflects on embodying and moving beyond his fast-talking, charming comedic persona, particularly in films like "Old School," "Wedding Crashers," and "The Break-Up."
  • "I consciously went to destroy that with The Breakup ... it was a way for me to kind of also break that Persona and give an odd twist of what your expectations would be."
    — Vince Vaughn, [31:33]
• On Being Recognized: The dynamic of being "Trent" in public, the emotional impact of comedies for audiences, and appreciation for fans.
  • "I didn't know ... people have a problem ... and the comedies make them laugh. ... You've already — you're a friend that they've already spent time with."
    — Vince Vaughn, [34:32]

7. On Fatherhood and Personal Growth

• On Watching His Own Films: Vince doesn’t show his movies to his kids, keeps things grounded at home.
  • "I don’t really watch my films, to be honest. ... I don’t have pictures up of myself or those things in the house. I don’t want that dynamic."
    — Vince Vaughn, [42:15]
• Parenting Philosophy: Encourages his children to focus on kindness and self-discovery over outcomes.
  • "Being thoughtful will give you better friends ... treating people kindly. ... My dad ... we were just conscious of other people, which ... is a good thing for kids."
    — Vince Vaughn, [43:16 & 44:00]

8. "Bad Monkey" and Ongoing Projects

• Season 2: Vaughn confirms a second season; credits writer Bill Lawrence and author Carl Hiaasen for the show's creative blend of comedy and action.
  • "It’s going to be fun and fun to have ... I always think, like, there would be three of these and that’s probably it. ... It’s nice to have the time to explore it more in storytelling."
    — Vince Vaughn, [45:49]

9. Special Segment: Joe Scaravella Joins

• Origins of Enoteca Maria: Scaravella shares how he recruited nonnas and the spiritual (and chaotic!) beginnings of the restaurant.
  • "We put an ad in the Italian newspaper ... for housewives to cook regional dishes. ... They all came to my home ... chasing me around the house with plates of food."
    — Joe Scaravella, [47:15]
• Helping Others Through Food and Grief: The healing power of purpose and being “seen” for the nonnas.
  • "We had a very interesting moment with our Greek nonna ... [her children said] 'we haven’t seen our mom this happy in a long time.' So there was… there’s that."
    — Joe Scaravella, [51:09]
• Emotional Reaction & Legacy:
  • "I cried through the whole movie. ... It's such an amazing cast and director."
    — Joe Scaravella, [52:29]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Acting and Life
  • “I think a sense of humor served me well in life. ... Not taking myself seriously was just a way that I enjoyed my life.”
    — Vince Vaughn, [37:47]
• On Success and Authenticity
  • "Once you get excited in an area, you'll meet people, you'll find jobs you didn't know exist. But you just have to commit to the area that you're interested in."
    — Vince Vaughn, [15:59]
• On Generational Wisdom
  • "These grandmothers, these matriarchs of a family ... did so much and loved people ... they get to continue that process, this craft ... and still loving to feed people."
    — Vince Vaughn, [10:45]
• Memorable Comedy Callbacks
  • “You’re money, baby.”
    — Vince Vaughn (recalling famous lines), [39:19]
  • “I've had people do [earmuffs] in front of me, not even realizing that it was from Old School. ... I don't think they even know it's from Old School.”
    — Vince Vaughn, [39:36]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:16] – Vaughn discusses learning about Joe Scaravella’s story and what drew him to the film
• [04:20] – Reflecting on the experience-based motivation behind Enoteca Maria
• [06:27] – Vaughn on working with Lorraine Bracco, Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, and Brenda Vaccaro
• [10:45] – Vince on his attachment to generational wisdom and family
• [16:33] – On the importance of saying yes to personal curiosity and avoiding group conformity
• [22:26] – Describing tough years in LA and the birth of “Swingers”
• [31:33] – Consciously pushing back against typecasting, especially with “The Break-Up”
• [34:32] – The emotional impact of comedy on fans’ lives
• [37:47] – Vaughn reflects on his own personality vs. on-screen persona
• [45:49] – Discussing the future of "Bad Monkey"
• [47:15] – Joe Scaravella on recruiting the original nonnas
• [51:09] – Story about the healing power of cooking and giving purpose to bereaved nonnas
• [52:29] – Joe Scaravella's touching reaction to seeing his story on screen

Tone and Style

The episode is conversational, thoughtful, and imbued with Vaughn's signature quick wit. Geist keeps the atmosphere respectful but lively, allowing Vaughn to share both moving reflections and humorous anecdotes. Joe Scaravella’s presence adds authenticity and heart.

Summary

This Sunday Sitdown episode offers a rich blend: a personal, introspective look at Vince Vaughn's journey from break-out comedic star to a more nuanced actor in "Nonnas"; the emotional resonance of food, family, and grief; and a celebration of mentorship and wisdom passed down through generations. Listeners gain insight into what motivates Vaughn now, what he’s learned along the way, and the culture-shaping power of both film and family kitchens.

Recommended for fans of thoughtful celebrity interviews, stories about family legacies, and lovers of Italian food and culture—while preserving Vince Vaughn’s trademark humor throughout.