Werner Herzog is 76 years old with three films coming out in 2019. I don’t know how he does it, but I try to find out in this conversation. From a childhood encounter with god in the Bavarian mountains to sitting across from Mikhail Gorbachev, Herzog shares some pivotal moments from his decade-spanning life and career. In previous interviews he has expressed his disdain for introspection. This is not that interview. This is something different, something – I hope– that’s more representative of who Werner is in the world. Inquisitive, empathetic, principled, honest, and above all, warm.

Show-notes:

A trailer for Meeting Gorbachev, now out in theaters

Sam and Werner sat down for The New Republic, back in 2016.

Herzog has his own personal website, where you can learn even more about him and his decade-spanning career.

Into the Abyss, mentioned in this conversation, is available to stream on Netflix.

To learn more about ecstatic truth, visit his longer explanation posted on RogerEbert.com.

Lastly, Family Romance, LLC –Werner’s next film– will premiere at Cannes next week. You can watch a trailer here.

Illustrations by Krishna Shenoi. Music by Dylan Peck.

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