Deep Noodle Podcast

EP 11 - Visual Artist Robin F. Williams - Monsters, Consciousness, and Gender

In this episode, host Nathaniel August Williams sits down with internationally recognized artist Robin F Williams to dive into: * The challenges of being a figurative painter in today’s art world * Gender, identity, and the body in contemporary painting * The evolution of Robin’s career from childhood inspirations to major museum collections * The intersection of AI, art, and consciousness — will artificial intelligence be a monster, an assistant, or something in between? * How artists can orient themselves toward reciprocity instead of extraction Robin’s work has been shown in major galleries and museums worldwide, including the Brooklyn Museum, ICA Miami, and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. This conversation blends art history, philosophy, humor, and sibling banter into a wide-ranging exploration of creativity and the future of consciousness.

EP 10 - From YouTube to SNL - Nick Rutherford's Unbelievable Hollywood Journey

Nick Rutherford (Good Neighbor, SNL, Rick and Morty) joins us for a funny, honest, and wildly insightful conversation about the rollercoaster ride of working in comedy and making it in Hollywood. We talk about how a group of friends making absurd YouTube videos became the sketch group Good Neighbor, how that led to Saturday Night Live, and what happened when the dream job didn’t turn out as expected. Nick shares stories from his time writing and performing at SNL, voicing characters on Rick and Morty, and creating the surreal world of Dream Corp LLC for Adult Swim. We also get into the pressure of making content in today’s attention economy, the strange psychology of pitching shows, and what it takes to keep going when the industry doesn’t always say yes. In this episode: * The rise of Good Neighbor and early internet fame * Behind the curtain at Saturday Night Live * What it feels like to be let go from your dream job * Writing and acting in Dream Corp LLC * Voice acting on Rick and Morty * The tension between making art and building a following * Mental health, mindfulness, and staying sane in comedy * Learning how to keep going when the path isn't clear It’s equal parts hilarious, heartbreaking, and hopeful—a perfect snapshot of what it really means to try and make something meaningful (and funny) in today’s world.

EP 9 - Jordan VanDina's Incredible Hollywood Success Story

Jordan VanDina didn’t break into Hollywood the usual way—and that’s exactly what makes his story so good. In this episode, Jordan shares how he went from writing full screenplays over a single weekend to launching a scrappy Kickstarter campaign, going viral on Twitter, and somehow turning that momentum into real-deal studio screenwriting gigs. Jordan’s journey is chaotic, hilarious, and completely his own—proof that there’s no one path into the industry. If you're a screenwriter, comedian, or just someone chasing a dream, this one will light a fire under you. We dive into: How writing entire feature length scripts in two days kickstarted his career The tweets that changed everything Turning a no-budget short into a calling card What he learned from launching a Kickstarter Writing for actors like Vince Vaughn and producing with heavy hitters His advice for writers trying to break in without connections

EP 8 - Animaniacs, The Last O.G., Where Religion Fails, Finding the Waters of Life | Andrew Barbot

Today’s guest is the hilarious and talented Andrew Barbot, an Emmy Award-winning writer whose credits include Animaniacs (Hulu), The Last O.G. (TBS), and Playing House (USA). He also writes for the Podcasts Even the Royals and This Job is History! We dive into everything from writing for TV, podcasts, karaoke bar antics, royal history, theology, where modern religion is falling short, how to find your personal fountain of immortality, facing your fears, and some wild conspiracy theories. We also talk about: 🎭 The joy of working with Tracy Morgan on The Last O.G. 🎶 The best karaoke songs and Andrew’s piano bar takeover 👑 Writing for the Even the Royals podcast & insane royal stories 🏆 What life is like after winning an Emmy 🦎 Lizard people, conspiracy theories, and Loose Change 📖 How religion, mythology, and the hero’s journey shape storytelling 🏀 Raising kids and the search for fulfillment in midlife

EP7 - Kite Man, Harley Quinn, & Veep with Matt Oberg + AI is a sham, No God, No Aliens!

🎙️ In this episode of Deep Noodle, Nate Williams sits down with Matt Oberg—actor, comedian, and voice artist known for Veep, Abbott Elementary, Hacks, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He’s also the voice of Kite Man and Killer Croc in Harley Quinn and the Kite Man: Hell Yeah! spinoff. Together, they dive into the absurdity of AI fear-mongering, the bizarre evolution of comedy, and surviving Hollywood’s chaos. 🔹 Topics Covered: 🎙️Is AI going to actually change the world, or is it another Silicon Valley hype cycle? 🎙️Why tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg keep betting big on failed ideas like the Metaverse. 🎙️Matt Oberg’s wild journey from Veep to voicing Kite Man and Killer Croc in Harley Quinn—and how Kite Man got his own spinoff. 🎙️The golden age of improv—how it shaped comedy, why it faded, and what comes next. 🎙️Why actors like Brando changed Hollywood, and why that era is over. 🎙️The best and worst parts of living in L.A. vs. New York as an actor. 🎙️Matt’s upcoming podcast, The Extraordinarians, with Kristen Schaal & Tony Hale, where they dive into the weirdest world records. 🎙️The surreal experience of attending Comic-Con as a voice actor. 🎙️UFOs, alien conspiracies, and why we still haven’t gotten real answers. 🎙️Uber drivers, weird recognitions, and why Metallica superfans are next-level. 🎙️Finding joy in comedy, kids, and the existential dread of it all.