Graham Norton: The Story Behind the World's Biggest Chat Show

He's spent nearly 30 years getting the world's biggest stars to open up - but Graham Norton rarely sits on the other side of the mic. The most famous chat show host on the planet pulls back the curtain on his craft: the psychology of who sits where on that famous sofa, why the guests always outrank him, and the research ritual that's funnier than the show itself. He also goes somewhere he almost never does - the San Francisco hippie commune that set him on his path, nearly dying in his twenties, becoming a debut novelist at 52, and how a chance love of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc became millions of bottles with his name on it. Between Two Beers is proudly brought to you by One New Zealand. We believe that One NZ connects New Zealand, while Between Two Beers connects New Zealanders. And together, we are NZ's most trusted connection platform. Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers Clothing. Timestamps: 0:00 The lesson a 40-year-old hippie taught him about time 2:38 Meeting Graham Norton, and the Invivo wine story 9:00 Being the interviewer, for once, in the guest chair 11:46 The couch: who sits where, and why 14:05 The "weird alchemy" you can never plan for 19:13 Reading a guest by how they react, not what they say 28:09 Protestant in Catholic Cork: always the outsider 31:15 Broke in San Francisco, living in a hippie commune 33:47 Mugged, stabbed, and nearly dead in his 20s 1:00:10 What success actually means #grahamnorton #grahamnortonshow #podcast