Podcast Summary: This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von — Episode #640: Chris Hemsworth
Date: February 17, 2026
Guests: Theo Von (Host), Chris Hemsworth (Guest)

Episode Overview

In this engaging, thoughtful, and often humorous episode, Theo Von sits down with actor Chris Hemsworth to discuss life, adventure, growing up in Australia, the realities of fame, family, aging, and finding meaning. The conversation weaves together Hemsworth’s personal stories, philosophical reflections, and lighter moments about Australian culture, all in the context of his new film, Crime 101, and the lessons he's learned from recent documentary work.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Australian Adventurous Spirit

• Australian Risk-taking & Travel
  • Theo observes Australians seem more "risque" and adventurous by nature (00:33).
  • Chris attributes it to the country’s isolation and “a sense of adventure,” noting that backpacking after high school is a cultural norm (02:42).
  • Chris recounts growing up both in Melbourne and in a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, which deeply impacted his outlook (04:12).

2. Celebrity & The Cost of Fame

• Romanticizing Freedom & Limitations
  • Both recount wishing they could travel anonymously and experience the world as regular people again (05:35–08:58).
  • Chris: “The world’s your oyster, but... there is such a restriction to how much you can really involve yourself in it. ...It becomes very observational.” (09:02)
  • Fame offers opportunities but also comes with new and unique challenges, similar to challenges in any profession (10:04–11:40).

3. Reflections on Midlife & Purpose

• Identity, Achievements, and “The Middle Passage”
  • Chris shares struggles with reevaluating goals as he ages, referencing James Hollis’ The Middle Passage and Jungian psychology (17:37).
  • “You gather your identity as a child... to fit in. Then you get to a certain point, and that mask starts to wear thin... there’s a deeper truth here” (18:05).
  • The importance of embracing uncertainty, enjoying the journey, and “living in the questions, not the answers” (22:39).

4. On Connection, Longevity, and Family

• Lessons from ‘Limitless’ and Family Dynamics
  • Chris describes filming Limitless and learning he is genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s. The most profound takeaway from the show and life: “connection, support group, and friendships” are key to longevity and happiness (31:10–34:07).
  • Blue zones (places with the most centenarians) share traits: strong social ties, purpose, natural movement, and low stress—not rigid diets or discipline (34:46–38:58).
  • Notable statistic: “Connection is the opposite of addiction” (34:16).

5. Health, Stress, and Simple Joys

• Stress as a Killer
  • Chris discusses his father's struggles with Alzheimer’s and how stress, more than anything else, worsens symptoms (43:30).
  • Humor about being overly disciplined: “When a birthday cake comes, I just smash it. What kind of life is that if you’re not going to enjoy those things?” (39:50)

6. Parenting, Education, and Culture

• Australia’s Social Media Ban
  • Australia recently banned social media for under-16s, a change Chris supports (46:54), acknowledging the difficulty of enforcing it but hoping for positive effects.
  • The wider discussion shifts to homeschooling, alternative education models, and the importance of time together as a family (90:17–92:02).

7. About ‘Crime 101’ and Creative Work

• A Return to Classic Heist Films
  • Chris describes his new film as a “character-driven crime thriller” in the tradition of Heat and Collateral, with layered characters facing moral ambiguity (59:49–63:59).
  • The film explores why people take the paths they do, the gray area between good and bad, and the importance of not judging until you know someone’s story (65:20).

8. Favorite Australian Moments and Humor

• Anecdotes about hitchhiking, kangaroo encounters, and legendary comic Chris Lilley (14:14, 66:58–70:13).
• Lighthearted banter about being “side of the road handsome,” schoolyard humor, and the joys of Fosters beer and Aussie cooking personalities (13:36, 77:21).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On adventure:
  “There’s an adventurous spirit... all the guys I grew up with, it was like, finish high school and go backpacking around the world.” — Chris (02:42)
• On the experience of fame:
  “You have this opportunity, but there’s a restriction... It becomes very observational.” — Chris (09:02)
• On the illusion of achieving it all:
  “Whatever industry, wherever you’re born, life has a way of throwing you the same sort of options... to appreciate things in its truest form.” — Chris (11:40)
• On modern challenges and midlife reflection:
  “That mask starts to wear thin... and Jung talks about, from the soul of the psyche rises up and says—there’s a deeper truth here.” — Chris (18:05)
• On happiness and uncertainty:
  “The most serious thing you can do is not take it serious, you know?... It’s just being okay with the ‘I don’t know’.” — Chris (22:39–23:08)
• On connection as medicine:
  “The most important thing I took away... was support group, friendships, and connection.” — Chris (34:07)
• On stress and health:
  “All the people who lived to 90, 100... the lack of—or the reduction in—stress due to support networks and friendships.” — Chris (34:07)
• On parent/child roles:
  “The changing of the guard was occurring... So I go to him now and I’ll ask him things that I may know the answer to...” — Chris (71:59)
• On teaching by example:
  “Nothing I say is really imprinted. It’s like they learn by example. If I’m not modeling that behavior, it doesn’t matter how many times I tell them.” — Chris (88:31)
• On enjoying ordinary pleasures:
  “When a birthday cake comes, I just smash it. I love a birthday... What kind of life is that if you’re not going to enjoy those things?” — Chris (39:50)

Memorable Moments

• Audience Laughter & Banter: Theo’s riff about “side of the road handsome” (13:51), and throwing out classic Australian banter (14:14).
• Stories about Hitchhiking & Kangaroos: Chris’ Vancouver hitchhiking story (14:40), Theo’s kangaroo park story (66:55).
• Australian Blue Zones: Exploring why Australia doesn’t have a blue zone (“Probably because of the dangerous species. The danger. All the things that try to kill us.” — Chris, 35:19)
• Limitless Documentary: Chris shares emotional reflections on filming with his father, who has Alzheimer’s, leading to intimate conversations and new insights about connection (31:10–34:46).
• Australian Humor: The affectionate and relentless joking about Fosters, Aussie icons, and childhood education (“Cheese Room!” — 69:45, “Stop touching my dick!” — 68:52).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:48 — Discussing the Australian spirit and travel culture
• 04:12 — Chris' upbringing and Aboriginal community experiences
• 09:02 — Restrictions of fame and public life
• 17:37 — Midlife, Jungian psychology, and “The Middle Passage”
• 31:10–34:46 — ‘Limitless’; family, Alzheimer’s, and the lesson of connection
• 34:46–39:50 — Blue zones and lifestyle factors for longevity
• 46:54 — Australia’s social media ban for under-16s
• 59:49–66:13 — Crime 101 film discussion: themes, characters, and moral ambiguity
• 68:52 — Memories from Australia, kangaroos, and comic Chris Lilley
• 71:59–76:34 — Parenting, roles, and caring for aging parents

Closing Thoughts

This episode balances lighthearted banter with profound reflections. Chris Hemsworth and Theo Von keep the conversation raw and human, welcoming vulnerability, exploring life’s big transitions, and celebrating connection and family. From Aussie travel tales to the nuances of midlife and the realities of modern parenting, the episode offers both wisdom and laughter, making it well worth a listen for fans and newcomers alike.

Crime 101 is now in theaters.
For more on Chris Hemsworth’s work and adventures, tune in to the full episode or check out ‘Limitless’ for a deeper dive into his perspectives on longevity and family.