Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of Severance, the Ben Stiller-produced workplace thriller on Apple TV+. I was a big fan when Season 1 came out a few years ago and throughly enjoyed Season 2 which just ended. It’s a smart, funny, creepy, weird, beautiful, well-crafted show that tickles all the right sensibilities. The acting is superb and the cast is top-notch. We’re talking about the incredible Adam Scott, John Turturro, Christopher Walken and Patricia Arquette; comedy actors Zach Cherry & Michale Chernus; and relative newcomers Britt Lower, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman and Tramell Tillman. Every single one of them are great. And then there’s the World of Severance, a beautifully conceived retro-futuristic med-tech office building and town full of spooky and often hilarious weirdness.

I really enjoyed diving back into Season 1 with the official Severance Podcast. Ben Stiller and Adam Scott host the show which follows each episode, from the pilot to the Season 2 finale. Both hosts are incredibly funny, low-key and thoughtful and each episode includes a guest, often a cast member, but sometimes someone surprising like John Stewart or Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell.

Severance is the brainchild of Dan Erickson, a brilliant first time show runner, but it’s Ben Stiller who greatly contributed to the casting, music and production elements of Severance. The podcast is a treat because we hear about how Stiller envisioned and integrated these different aspects from conception to screen. Not only is the plot of the show a fascinating puzzle box, the aesthetics are unique. Stiller and his team successfully created a distinct Severance vibe – you know it when you see it – and lately, it’s been everywhere. This show and podcast have been a smart, fun escape.