"Kareem Rahma"
The SmartLess podcast hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes interview Kareem Rahma, the creator of viral social media shows 'Subway Takes' and 'Keep the Meter Running.' They discuss aliens, the Artemis 2 moon mission, and Kareem's journey from failed tech entrepreneur to successful independent media creator. The conversation covers his creative process, upcoming projects, and philosophy on authentic engagement.
Summary
The episode opens with the three SmartLess hosts discussing the Artemis 2 moon mission, debating its significance and whether the circumlunar loop without landing is worthy of excitement. This leads into a conversation about UFOs and alien life, referencing the Bob Lazar S4 documentary and the 'Age of Disclosure' film featuring former intelligence officials. The hosts speculate that the government may be deliberately conditioning the public through pop culture — including a rumored Spielberg film called 'Disclosure' — before a mainstream reveal about extraterrestrial life.
Guest Kareem Rahma is introduced as a comedian, media entrepreneur, and creator of viral interview content. He was born in Egypt, moved to New York from Minneapolis about 15 years ago chasing success, and worked at Vice and the New York Times helping build their video and digital content infrastructure. At Vice, he worked closely with Shane Smith, Eddy Moretti, and Suroosh Alvi in a 75-person room. At the Times, he helped launch Times Video before attempting to start his own media company, which failed multiple times.
Kareem describes how his show 'Keep the Meter Running' — where he hails a cab and tells the driver to take him wherever they want — became his first viral hit, gaining 2 million views overnight on TikTok and Instagram. The concept was inspired in part by losing his father at age 20 and finding fatherly wisdom in conversations with cab drivers. Due to the high cost of production (up to $2,000 per episode), he pivoted to 'Subway Takes,' a daily two-minute talk show on the NYC subway where he interviews guests who share a single hot take that he agrees or disagrees with 100%. He batch-shoots about 10 episodes per day.
Kareem also shares other creative ventures: a feature film called 'Or Something' available on MUBI, a punk rock band called Tiny Gun (described as Pixies meets The Strokes) that played Outside Lands and Newport Folk Festival, and a live version of Subway Takes. He reflects that starting this career at 33 felt late but has paid off, and that his greatest reward has been reduced anxiety about his professional direction. The hosts discuss the broader cultural value of Kareem's work in reviving authentic conversation, and playfully debate various hot takes including wedding dancing, street art, anonymous internet comments, and New York City pedestrian traffic rules.
Key Insights
- Kareem Rahma argues that losing his father at 20 drove him to seek fatherly wisdom from cab drivers, which became the emotional foundation for 'Keep the Meter Running.'
- Kareem claims he started his successful media career at 33, which he considers late compared to most social media creators, but views it as proof that prior failures provided necessary business and creative knowledge.
- Kareem contends that short-form vertical video shows on TikTok and Instagram had no real TV-style format or narrative structure before he attempted it, which he saw as a gap in the market.
- Kareem describes the monetization challenge of viral social media content: 2 million overnight views generated zero direct revenue, and brand sponsorship deals were the only viable path — something he didn't know how to pursue at first.
- Jason Bateman argues that if a government UFO disclosure were made, people would simply keep scrolling and seek out 'alien porn' rather than be destabilized, suggesting society has been conditioned into information apathy.
- Will Arnett argues that staying creatively engaged requires physically being out in the world rather than living in a bubble, claiming that performers who stay isolated have nothing authentic to say.
- Kareem claims that the 100% agree / 100% disagree format of Subway Takes is a deliberate demonstration that people can hold opposing views and still have fun, casual conversations.
- The hosts speculate that the CIA has historically used Hollywood films to shape public opinion, and suggest Steven Spielberg's rumored 'Disclosure' film may be part of a coordinated effort to condition the public ahead of a UFO reveal.
- Kareem describes batch-shooting 10 Subway Takes episodes in a single day as grueling physical labor — dealing with extreme temperatures, equipment challenges, and occasional confrontations underground.
- Kareem argues that anonymous internet commenting is socially destructive, and proposes that requiring real names, addresses, and photos for all online posts would immediately transform online discourse.
- Will Arnett suggests that 'Keep the Meter Running' evokes the spirit of Anthony Bourdain's travel work, while 'Subway Takes' draws comparisons to late-night talk shows like Fallon or Seth Meyers — giving Kareem access to two distinct creative worlds simultaneously.
- Kareem claims that working at Vice in its early 75-person era functioned as a real MBA, observing founders Shane Smith and Eddy Moretti operate firsthand in the same room — an education he found more valuable than his formal business degree.
Topics
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