SmartLess

Oscar Isaac

October 27, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Oscar Isaac nearly joined the Marines via the buddy system before pivoting to Juilliard after being persuaded by a bandmate, though he ultimately chose acting after a final opportunity to record an album arose. 
  • Oscar Isaac has a notoriously poor memory for personal events and faces, contrasting with his ability to recall dialogue and specific dates/details from his career. 
  • Working with director Guillermo del Toro on *Frankenstein* was an intensely joyful, collaborative, and non-pretentious experience where the director encouraged actors to follow the film's needs rather than preconceived notions. 
  • Oscar Isaac and the hosts discussed the prescient nature of Alex Garland's work, particularly how themes in his films regarding data gathering are currently relevant. 
  • Oscar Isaac shared an anecdote about playing a prank on *Dune* director Denis Villeneuve by leaving his modesty sock (or 'cock sock') in the director's pocket, which allegedly ended up requested by MoMA. 
  • Oscar Isaac revealed that while he wasn't a huge *Star Wars* fan growing up, his family were massive collectors, and he now enjoys making up songs for his sons, who are starting to get into music and have seen some of his films, including *Star Wars*. 

Segments

Live Show Excitement and Nerves
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(00:00:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts are nervous about the upcoming live show at the Hollywood Bowl on November 15th.
  • Summary: One host expressed excitement and nervousness about the upcoming live show scheduled for November 15th at the Hollywood Bowl. Tickets for this event are available via smartlist.com/live. The nervousness stems from the venue size and the inclusion of new guests.
Podcast Recording Terminology
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(00:00:54)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts prefer using the term ‘record’ or ‘record a SmartLess’ over ‘pod’ when referring to their recording session.
  • Summary: The hosts debated how to refer to their recording process when speaking to others. The term ‘pod’ was considered to sound terrible by one speaker. They generally default to saying they ‘record’ or have ‘a SmartLess’ scheduled.
Upcoming Sunday Dinner Plans
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(00:01:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The three main hosts plan to have dinner together on Sunday night, though Amanda will not be attending.
  • Summary: The hosts confirmed plans for a Sunday night dinner, expressing excitement about seeing each other in person. One host requested specific chivalrous treatment, including having their door opened. The dinner location is confirmed to be Jar.
AI Thought-to-Audio Device Discussion
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(00:02:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts discussed a hypothetical AI device that translates thoughts directly into audio, viewing it as a potential nightmare.
  • Summary: A concept for an AI device worn in the ear that vocalizes thoughts was introduced. The hosts immediately recognized the potential for disaster if such a device were involuntary. They concluded that if thoughts were vocalized, jails would fill up quickly.
Gender Differences in Sexual Proposition Scenarios
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(00:04:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Women at a dinner unanimously rejected an advance from a ‘drop dead gorgeous’ man who exposed himself, while gay and straight men agreed they would accept the same advance from a woman.
  • Summary: A discussion arose regarding reactions to sexual propositions based purely on looks versus presentation. Female respondents found the scenario of a gorgeous man exposing himself disgusting and bizarre. Conversely, gay and straight male respondents indicated they would accept the proposition under similar circumstances.
Grandfather Joke About Desert Island
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(00:05:53)
  • Key Takeaway: A grandfather joke described a man on a desert island who, upon meeting a woman, assumed her offering of beer and cigarettes meant she also carried golf clubs.
  • Summary: The joke involved a man on a desert island receiving a beer and a cigarette from a mysterious woman. When asked about playing around, the man immediately inquired if she had golf clubs. The joke highlights a perceived difference in priorities between the sexes.
Sean’s Cat Steak Dad Joke
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(00:06:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Sean shared a very unfunny dad joke: ‘How does a cat like its steak? Rare,’ which required a physical gesture to be understood.
  • Summary: Sean attempted to tell a grandfather joke, which was deemed terrible by the hosts. The punchline required the speaker to make a gesture with their claws up. The joke was ‘How does a cat like its steak? Rare.’
Oscar Isaac Introduction and Background
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(00:07:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac was born in Guatemala, spent his teens in Florida playing in a ska punk band that opened for Green Day, and trained at Juilliard after nearly joining the Marines.
  • Summary: The introduction highlighted Oscar Isaac’s diverse background, including moving around the US while his father completed medical residencies. He almost enlisted in the Marines but pivoted to Juilliard, having previously played bass and sung in a ska punk band, including opening for Green Day.
Memory and Forgetting Past Encounters
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(00:10:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac admits to having a notoriously terrible memory for personal interactions, especially in overstimulated environments like award dinners.
  • Summary: The hosts compared their own memory issues, noting that actors often retain lines but forget personal encounters. Oscar Isaac stated he has erased a past meeting with one host from his memory due to the overstimulating environment of the event. One host admitted to having face blindness.
Oscar Isaac’s Musical Background
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(00:12:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac learned Travis picking specifically to audition for the Coen Brothers’ film, having previously played in ska punk bands like The Worms and the hardcore band Closet Heterosexuals.
  • Summary: Oscar Isaac confirmed he is a musician and played instruments in the Coen Brothers’ film, requiring him to learn Travis picking. He was previously in a ska punk band called The Worms and a hardcore band called Closet Heterosexuals (C-H). He stated he was straight edge until age 24.
Path to Juilliard and Dance Belt Requirement
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(00:18:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac secured a Juilliard application after the deadline by schmoozing an administrator and was required to wear a dance belt on the first day, which no other incoming student did.
  • Summary: After touring with his band in New York, Isaac impulsively sought an application to Juilliard, convincing a staff member to accept it late. The audition process included monologues and a movement class, and the dance belt requirement was enforced on the first day of attendance.
Near Enlistment and Buddy System
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(00:20:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac nearly enlisted in the Marines with a friend on the buddy system, aiming for combat photography, but backed out after the friend quit and they secured funds to record a CD.
  • Summary: Isaac and a saxophonist from his band planned to join the Marines together, training on weekends. When the friend quit, and they raised enough money to record an album, Isaac decided against enlisting. He was offered the role of anti-tank specialist if he pursued the reserves.
Last Audition and Mike Nichols Test
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(00:23:21)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac’s last audition was for Mike Nichols’ Broadway play Betrayal in 2014, where he was asked a trick question about whether playing the grief-filled role nightly would make him sad.
  • Summary: Isaac’s final audition was for Mike Nichols, where he tried to adopt a Harold Pinter accent while dealing with a divorce. Nichols asked if the role would make him sad, and Isaac answered honestly about the grief, which was the wrong answer as the production was intended as a comedy.
Oscar Isaac’s Upbringing and Father’s Influence
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(00:25:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac’s father, a Cuban doctor who filmed home movies, was a frustrated artist who inspired Isaac’s early interest in filmmaking and acting, citing Tim Curry as an early idol.
  • Summary: Isaac moved frequently as a child due to his father’s medical residencies, living in Guatemala, DC/Baltimore, and Louisiana. His father fostered creativity by showing him movies and making home videos. Isaac was deeply impressed by Tim Curry’s transformative performances in Legend and Rocky Horror.
Guillermo del Toro’s Directing Style on Frankenstein
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(00:32:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Guillermo del Toro directed Frankenstein with infectious joy, zero pretension, and specific instructions for a heightened, non-naturalistic performance, often communicating through Spanish jokes.
  • Summary: Del Toro treated the massive eight-month shoot like a ‘feast,’ communicating primarily in Spanish jokes and directing with high camp and melodrama. He encouraged actors not to second-guess their instincts, stating the movie tells the director what it needs. He also showed Isaac edited scenes with music the next day to guide performance adjustments.
Watching Playback and Director Collaboration
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(00:40:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac learns significantly from watching his own performances, contrasting with actors like Christoph Waltz who avoid playback because they fear thinking a bad take is good.
  • Summary: Isaac finds watching playback essential for identifying when his intended performance differs from the actual result. He noted that Christoph Waltz avoids watching dailies because thinking a bad performance is good is worse than realizing a good performance could be better.
Oscar Isaac’s Documentary on Hamlet Process
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(00:44:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac’s wife, Elvira Lindo, filmed a documentary about the intense period where he rehearsed Hamlet while they married and welcomed their first child after his mother’s death.
  • Summary: The documentary captures a confluence of major life events in 2017, including the death of Isaac’s mother, his marriage, the birth of his child, and rehearsals for a four-hour Hamlet. Lindo filmed the process initially as a way to cope, promising Isaac it would never be released, but later edited it into a film about how artists process life events.
Meeting Elvira Lindo
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(00:47:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac met his wife, Elvira Lindo, at a party after his manager insisted he attend while he was preparing for his Coen Brothers film, and he flirted by attempting to project warmth without smiling.
  • Summary: Isaac initially resisted going to the party because he was focused on preparing for the Coen Brothers movie. He attended dressed in character, attempting to communicate without laughing at his own jokes. Lindo approached him, asking if he was flirting, and he confirmed he was.
Relevance of Ex Machina Today
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(00:49:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The themes in Alex Garland’s 2014 film Ex Machina, particularly the gathering of data signals, feel alarmingly relevant to current technological realities.
  • Summary: The hosts noted that the film’s premise, where the character Nathan gathers data from cell phone signals, mirrors current surveillance capabilities. Isaac confirmed that he and Garland felt the script was perfectly ’locked in’ to the contemporary discourse on AI when they were making it.
Alex Garland Film Relevance
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(00:49:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac felt Alex Garland’s film script was locked into current world literature regarding data signals.
  • Summary: The character Nathan in the film gathers all signals from cell phones as his method of operation. Isaac noted that everything discussed in the movie regarding information gathering is happening in the present day. He and Garland ensured the script felt completely locked into the current literature while developing it.
Dune Prank and Modesty Sock
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(00:50:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac pranked Denis Villeneuve by placing his modesty sock in the director’s chest pocket after a nude scene.
  • Summary: The item worn for modesty during nude scenes is sometimes referred to as a ‘cock sock’ or ‘modesty sock.’ Isaac left his in Villeneuve’s chest pocket, later receiving a picture of the director holding it at dinner. Isaac claimed MoMA asked for the item for an exhibit.
Star Wars Fandom and Family
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(00:52:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac’s family were massive, collecting Star Wars fans, and his uncle once hung out in Carrie Fisher’s trailer on set.
  • Summary: Isaac visited the set of the new Star Wars movie directed by Sean Levy in London, visiting the creature shop. He noted that his children are tough critics regarding his performances. One acquaintance refuses to watch the Mandalorian and Grogu trailer to sustain excitement until release.
Rapid Fire Q&A
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(00:54:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac is affectionate, tells theater stories, and Ethan Hawke is predicted to win at Scrabble.
  • Summary: If roommates, Isaac’s unnecessary, impromptu hugs would drive someone insane, but his lack of cooking would be a positive for Sean Hayes. Ethan Hawke is favored to win Scrabble due to his background as a poet and writer. Isaac used to improvise lullabies for his sons, but they eventually asked him to stop.
Music and Children’s Ages
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(00:55:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Oscar Isaac recently bought a looper pedal and is now making music with his sons, who are aged eight and nearly six.
  • Summary: Isaac’s sons, Eugene (eight) and Mads (turning six on Sunday), are now engaging with music creation using a looper pedal. Isaac started playing piano around age five. The children have seen some of his movies, and Eugene recently asked about Star Wars.