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TED Radio Hour

The TED talk that put writer Pico Iyer in “Marty Supreme”

3/18/202615 min

“Marty Supreme” stars Timothée Chalamet as a young, brash table tennis player in the 1950s trying to hustle his way to a world championship. One of the characters standing in Marty’s way is played by frequent guest, Pico Iyer, a TED speaker and travel writer who’d never acted before. In this bonus episode, Iyer shares how a TED talk unexpectedly landed him the role and reflects on how this simple game can teach us to play with someone, not just against them.

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Clips

Ping-Pong With No Losers
Play As An Act Of Love
Questioning The American Dream
1952 And America’s Turning Point
Thrown Into Pure Improvisation
Hollywood’s Grueling Workdays
Why Cast Non-Actors?
From TED Talk To Casting

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Speaker 00:00

    This message comes from Capital Group. In a world full of noise, long-term thinking stands out. On the Capital Ideas Podcast, Capital Group leaders explore the decisions that matter most in investing, leadership, and life. It's a rare look inside a firm that's been helping people pursue their financial goals for more than ninety years. Listen to the Capital Ideas podcast from Capital Group, published by Capital Group Inc.

  2. Manoush Zomorodi· Host0:24

    Hey, it's Manoush Zomorodi, host of NPR's TED Radio Hour. I love going to the movies.

  3. Pico Iyer· Guest0:32

    Everything in my life's falling apart, but I'm gonna figure it out.

  4. Manoush Zomorodi· Host0:34

    And a few weeks back, I went to see Marty Supreme. That's the film starring Timothee Chalamet as a table tennis champion that's set in the nineteen fifties.

  5. Pico Iyer· Guest0:43

    But I'm telling you, this game, it fills stadiums overseas.

  6. Manoush Zomorodi· Host0:47

    So I'm watching this movie, right? And I do a big double take when I saw who was starring as the head of the Global Table Tennis Association in the movie.

  7. Pico Iyer· Guest0:59

    You're taking Ron, Ron Safti, right? S- Sorry, could you hold for a moment? You don't mind?

  8. Manoush Zomorodi· Host1:03

    It's a TED speaker who has been on our show numerous times.

  9. Pico Iyer· Guest1:07

    So good to see you again, Manoush.

  10. Manoush Zomorodi· Host1:08

    Hey, Pico. Writer Pico Iyer.

  11. Pico Iyer· Guest1:11

    I am finding this whole exchange really offensive. You're offended? I am offended.

  12. Manoush Zomorodi· Host1:15

    Not an actor. Pico writes about travel and so much more. He's been on the show talking about the day he lost everything, his house, every possession in a fire, and how that experience led him to become the soulful

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