About this episode

Louis Theroux interviews Mike D about his career, the Beastie Boys, and his new solo album.

Louis sits down with Grammy award-winning rapper, producer and former Beastie Boy Mike D. Speaking ahead of the release of his first solo album, Thank You, Mike tells Louis about breaking rap into the mainstream, the mechanics behind the Beastie Boys’ 20 foot hydraulic penis, and breaking up the band after Adam Yauch’s death.  Warnings: Strong language and adult themes.     Links/Attachments:    Song: Rapture, Blondie (1980)  https://open.spotify.com/track/1hQr0D1ZXbGHFcWLhusijv     Book: Everybody’s Fly, Fat Five Freddy with Mark Rozzo (2026)  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/775871/everybodys-fly-by-fab-5-freddy-with-mark-rozzo/     Song: Cooky Puss, Beastie Boys (1983)  https://open.spotify.com/track/7DZSImZVNfImxqehwNtPuB     Song: Rapper’s Delight, Sugarhill Gang (1979)  https://open.spotify.com/track/7sZDbHZiuHEzS00vzCuhqS     Song: Good Times, Chic (1979)  https://open.spotify.com/track/0PQFPcSK1gnBGlbV4CZCG0 &nbsp…

Topics covered

• rap music
• Beastie Boys
• mainstream music
• music production
• adult themes
• interviews

More episodes of The Louis Theroux Podcast

• S8 EP7: Olivia Wilde on the pitfalls of long-term love, her unusual family name, and the 'garbage disposal' of tabloid media · July 20, 2026 · 1h 20m
• S8 EP5: Melanie C on Spiceworld, comparing muscles with Arnold Schwarzenegger and why she’ll always be a Spice Girl · July 6, 2026 · 1h 15m
• S8 EP4: Cara Delevingne discusses getting sober, engagement rumours, and being Karl Lagerfeld's muse · June 29, 2026 · 1h 2m
• S8 EP3: Andrew Callaghan on the ‘cancelverse’, lizard people, and whether he’s being sued by Melania Trump · June 22, 2026 · 1h 26m
• S8 EP2: Marco Pierre White discusses his rift with Gordon Ramsay, retiring from cooking, and having lunch with Margaret Thatcher · June 15, 2026 · 1h 3m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Louis Theroux Podcast podcast page.