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Comedy
Hollywood
Stand-Up Comedy
Mental Health
Saturday Night Live
Star Wars
Acting
Parenting
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Selena Gomez
Entertainment Industry
Golf
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Superman
Tig Notaro
Bill Burr
Staying Alive
Theater
John Williams
Ozark

"SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laugh... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes365Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationComedy

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Artwork for SmartLess

Latest Episodes

No cheating nor stealing — it’s Timothy Olyphant. ‘A complaint of actors’ and other druthers: a hunch, being taken seriously, Mick’s vulnerabilities, cheap champagne and a pocket full of chips. “When he’s doing Taxi Driver, he knows that’s funny, rig... more

The posse gets a wonderful surprise from comedy royalty Will Ferrell (Old School, Step Brothers, Talladega Nights) popping-through for some fresh kombucha. The foursome discuss formidable history with the Columbia House records club, throwing their s... more

YouTube

It’s the ham of the family, a.k.a. Olivia Wilde. We dip into a bowl of mixed Pop Tarts: proxy film school, Tony’s mothballs, the Rockwell Technique, and of course a lil Hendrix pickleball. You’re born with it. Welcome to SmartLess.

Subscribe to Siri... more

YouTube

Keep talking to the hand— it’s our friend Ike Barinholtz. Hustling, trivia, college, bottle-service, true mirrors, and a Southwest flight home. “Hey guys, where did you go?” It’s an all-new SmartLess.

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

Recent Guests

Ike Barinholtz
Comic actor, writer, producer; Chicago/MADtv alum; created Running Point; The Studio cast
SmartLess guest; MADtv alumni; Running Point creator
Episode: "Ike Barinholtz"
Emma Thompson
Academy Award-winning actress and writer
Episode: "Emma Thompson"
Amy Adams
Guest on SmartLess
Actress
Episode: "Amy Adams"
Jennifer Lopez
Multi-haceted performer and guest of the episode
Actor, Singer, Producer
Episode: "Jennifer Lopez"
Tom Hanks
Actor known for a wide range of film and stage work, including dramatic and comedic roles
Playtone/Actor
Episode: "RE-RELEASE: Tom Hanks"
John Bernthal
Actor known for The Walking Dead, We Own the City, and various film roles
Actor
Episode: "Jon Bernthal"
Bowen Yang
Comedian, SNL cast member
Saturday Night Live
Episode: "Bowen Yang"
Nick Jonas
Singer, actor, member of the Jonas Brothers
Nick Jonas (solo career)
Episode: "Nick Jonas"
Justin Theroux
Actor and collaborator
Actor
Episode: "Sting"

Hosts

Jason Bateman
Host of the show; part of the regular trio with a long-standing presence in entertainment and executive producing.
Sean Hayes
Host of the show; known for quick banter and facilitating conversations with guests and co-hosts.
Will Arnett
Host of the show; contributes sharp wit and strong dynamic with co-hosts and guests.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 103.9k ratings
  • Ohio

    I wanted to like SmartLess, but after giving it multiple chances, it just isn't for me. The show feels derivative rather than original, borrowing the same celebrity interview format that's already been done by countless other podcasts without bringing much of a fresh perspective.

    The biggest issue is that the hosts spend so much time talking over their guests. Conversations constantly wander into unrelated tangents, and instead of learning something interesting about the person being interviewe... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    cocohoola
    United States15 days ago
  • Jumped the Shark

    I think the concept may be done. When the show new in COVID I didn’t miss an episode. I stopped today by after not checking in half a year. Still some good laughs in intro but the hyperbolic sucking up to guests reminded me why I stopped.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Golden-gator
    United States15 days ago
  • For the love of god

    Gave up because I got sick of listening to three hosts who are each convinced they are the funniest most fascinating main character to grab a mic. Then I saw Emma Thompson, and thought I would give it a try because I love her. Just spent the last 10 minutes torturously being forced to hear each of their most annoying fan encounters. Nothing says scintillating like three average middle aged white dudes waxing poetic while ripping on the people who have given them the success they really don't de... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Normalperson!2014
    Canada15 days ago
  • One small suggestion

    We absolutely love the Podcast. Super funny and fantastic guests. If we can offer some loving criticism to Jason, please, please, please don’t ask a question then give them 4 or 5 possible answers. The original question is great, so leave it at that. You don’t need to ramble on giving them possible responses. After you ask the original question, we often hit the fast forward 30 second button and you’re still going strong. Sean and Will used to do it as well but they’re slowly getting better. The... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LiveNSF
    United States17 days ago
  • Sean Hayes is great

    Sean Hayes is great, the other two fluctuate between too much and not enough.

    If there's a guest I really like, I'll download the episode and give it a listen, but it's not a podcast I listen to every time, like Lewis Black's rantcast or the Mythfits. those podcasts focus on content, whereas this one lives and dies by the guest.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Unami218
    United States18 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests bring real insight, and the banter adds a fresh take on career stories.
The hosts have standout chemistry, making even casual topics feel entertaining.
Some episodes feel too chaotic for deep interviews, with interruptions.
Consistently funny and high-energy, with memorable guest moments.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"Ike Barinholtz"
Q: What was Ike's educational path and when did he pivot to entertainment?
Ike describes starting at Boston University studying poli sci, realizing the freedom of college life was destabilizing, and ultimately pivoting to improv and performance, moving to Amsterdam with Boom Chicago, which solidified his commitment to acting.
"Bowen Yang"
Q: What initially drew you to comedy, given your background in science and pre-med plans?
I was drawn to comedy because it was the spark that felt most alive to me, and I saw more potential for personal expression and a future in performance than in a conventional chemical industry path.
"Sting"
Q: How did Sting's early life influence his approach to music?
Sting describes growing up near a shipyard, learning guitar in a self-driven, almost solitary way, and using music as an escape, which fostered a strong sense of identity and a drive to pursue a broad, ambitious career beyond a single band.
"Jonah Hill LIVE"
Q: How did you transition from MTV/early roles to big Hollywood projects?
Hill explains the importance of formative collaborations (like Judd Apatow) and the momentum created by standout roles, which opened doors to directing and high-profile films.
"Amanda Peet"
Q: What inspired Amanda Peet to pursue writing and produce her own work?
She talks about the support from her husband and surrounding community, plus how working on projects like The Chair demonstrated the value of taking control over a project from development to production.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About SmartLess

What is SmartLess about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A trio of hosts plays off each other with a rotating mystery guest, blending playful banter with candid conversations about careers in entertainment, music, and media. Episodes highlight origin stories, creative processes, industry shifts, and personal anecdotes, often weaving humor with thoughtful takes on fame, artistry, and longevity. A standout feature is the spontaneous, improv-driven exchange that keeps discussions light and entertaining, while still delivering substantive insights from big-name guests across film, television, and music.

Where can I find podcast stats for SmartLess?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for SmartLess. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to SmartLess and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does SmartLess get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for SmartLess, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for SmartLess?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for SmartLess, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does SmartLess have?

To see how many followers or subscribers SmartLess has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of SmartLess are there?

SmartLess launched 6 years ago and published 365 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact SmartLess?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for SmartLess?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for SmartLess from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for SmartLess?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of SmartLess. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on SmartLess?

Recent guests on SmartLess include:

1. Ike Barinholtz
2. Emma Thompson
3. Amy Adams
4. Jennifer Lopez
5. Tom Hanks
6. John Bernthal
7. Bowen Yang
8. Nick Jonas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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