The War on Cars3 Dec 2024

Changing Hollywood's Car Culture with Ed Begley Jr.

From mockumentaries to dramas to situation comedies, Ed Begley Jr. has done it all. His truly one-of-a-kind acting career has seen him work with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, and more. But beyond his impressive resume, Ed Begley Jr. is also known for his environmental activism. He's probably the most famous person to have owned some version of an electric vehicle for a lot longer than most people have even been aware of EVs. Ed has been been committed to environmental conservation since at least the 1970s, and he's designed his life so that it's as free of fossil fuels as possible, with solar panels on the roof, an e-bike in the garage, and a house chosen for its proximity to transit. Notably, he's taken the LA Metro to the Academy Awards, making a statement in an industry and a city where fancy cars and conspicuous consumption are signs of success. In this fun conversation, Ed Begley Jr. invites us into his home to talk about his work, his activism, and his philosophy about life.

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This episode was produced with the generous support of the Helen & William Mazer Foundation.

Check out the latest offerings from our friends at Cleverhood and Sheyd Bags.

LINKS:

Buy Ed Begley Jr.'s memoir, To the Temple of Tranquility…and Step on It! at our official Bookshop.org page.

Hayden Begley documented her dad's trip to the Oscars via LA Metro on TikTok.

The Actor Who Who Rides the Subway to the Oscars (NY Times)

Support Streets For All in Los Angeles by becoming a member.

Grab some podcast merch in our official store.

This episode was edited by Doug Gordon. It was recorded by Avishay Artsy. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear.

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