The Louis Theroux Podcast

S6 EP5: David Byrne on clashes in Talking Heads, neurodivergence, and culture wars

04 Nov 2025

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Louis sits down with David Byrne, the musician, author and iconic frontman of Talking Heads. David tells Louis about personality clashes within the band, how his neurodivergence plays a role in his music, and being at the centre of a culture-war storm. Plus, they discuss whether Donald Trump stole his ‘big suit’. Warnings: Strong language and adult themes. Links/Attachments: Book: Bicycle Diaries, David Byrne (2009) https://www.waterstones.com/book/bicycle-diaries/david-byrne/9780571371266 Album: Who Is The Sky, David Byrne (2025) https://open.spotify.com/album/5xDqZQlSx2gRrAyAgHQ8AB Song: ‘The Book I Read’, Talking Heads (1977) https://open.spotify.com/track/4OT7Ndu29Z7JfhwRS2iCJX Song: ‘That’s the Way (I Like It), KC & The Sunshine Band (1994) https://open.spotify.com/track/0RQTbMBgSq7xgdZSHFZg4R Book: ‘An Anthropologist on Mars’, Oliver Sacks (1995) https://www.oliversacks.com/oliver-sacks-books/an-anthropologist-on-mars/ Song: ‘She Explains Things To Me’, David Byrne (2025) https://open.spotify.com/album/5f6f5JMGxgNa0LAJqtaUXY Song: ‘Psycho Killer’, Talking Heads (1977) https://open.spotify.com/track/7dSCxR4LqkmxoBrq9MzVSD Artist: Randy Newman https://open.spotify.com/artist/3HQyFCFFfJO3KKBlUfZsyW Artist: Alice Cooper https://open.spotify.com/artist/3EhbVgyfGd7HkpsagwL9GS Album: Talking Heads 77, Talking Heads (1977) https://open.spotify.com/album/0r7o2FeARRr23EZ0TJ0a8S Artist: Ramones https://open.spotify.com/artist/1co4F2pPNH8JjTutZkmgSm Artist: The Clash https://open.spotify.com/artist/3RGLhK1IP9jnYFH4BRFJBS Artist: Sex Pistols https://open.spotify.com/artist/1u7kkVrr14iBvrpYnZILJR 2002 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Talking Heads performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBr0FJsDk1g Stop Making Sense (1984) https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/stop-making-sense/umc.cmc.4qcn1p5rridjzo742xirf9j8m The Silence of the Lambs (1991) https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/the-silence-of-the-lambs/umc.cmc.vo1hrvp25kr64fq8irp5jx75?action=play True Stories (2016) https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/true-stories/umc.cmc.7ffwwfhraf765c0l9l1v7a4tw?action=play Weekly World News: https://weeklyworldnews.com/ David’s online magazine: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/ Credits: Producer: Millie Chu  Assistant Producer: Artemis Irvine Production Manager: Francesca Bassett  Music: Miguel D’Oliveira  Audio Mixer: Tom Guest Video Mixer: Scott Edwards Shownotes compiled by Elly Young Executive Producer: Arron Fellows     A Mindhouse Production for Spotify  www.mindhouse.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The Louis Theroux Podcast

S6 EP5: David Byrne on clashes in Talking Heads, neurodivergence, and culture wars

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

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S6 EP8: Jimmy Carr discusses the secret to his comedy, being a late bloomer, and controversial stand-up gigs

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