Bret Easton Ellis is still talking. If you thought the author of American Psycho would eventually run out of things to say or people to offend, you haven’t been paying attention to his Patreon.
Honestly, the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast is a strange beast. It’s been around for over a decade now, moving from the advertiser-supported world of PodcastOne to the walled garden of a paid subscription model. Some fans hated that move. They called it a "rug pull." But for Ellis? It was probably the only way to keep the vibe he wanted. No sponsors to please. No corporate HR types breathing down his neck about "problematic" takes. Just Bret, a microphone, and a very expensive-sounding monologue about why the latest Paul Thomas Anderson movie is "liberal mustiness."
The Monologue is the Message
If you’ve never listened, here’s how it usually goes. Each episode starts with Bret alone. He talks for thirty, forty, maybe fifty minutes. It’s a stream-of-consciousness deep dive into whatever is bothering him about the culture.
He has this specific way of speaking. It’s slow. Deliberate. A little bit bored, maybe? He uses words like "post-Empire" and "Generation Wuss" without a hint of irony. He’ll spend half an hour deconstructing a single scene in a movie from 1974 before pivoting to why current Hollywood is a creative wasteland.
It’s polarizing as hell.
Some people find it insufferable. They see a 60-something writer clinging to the provocateur label like a life raft. But for others, it’s the only place where someone is actually saying the stuff everyone else is too scared to whisper at a dinner party in Los Feliz. He isn't interested in being liked. He’s told interviewers as much. "If you're a misogynist—so what?" he once asked. That’s the energy he brings to the mic.
Why the Patreon Move Changed Everything
Back in the day, you could get the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast for free on Apple or Spotify. Those were the years of the big guests. Kanye West showed up. So did Marilyn Manson, Carrie Brownstein, and Quentin Tarantino.
But then, things shifted.
- The Serialized Novel: He used the podcast to read The Shards before it was even a physical book. It was an experiment in old-school radio storytelling.
- The Paywall: By 2026, the podcast is firmly a Patreon-first entity.
- The Community: He has thousands of "paid members" who basically fund his lifestyle in exchange for these weekly rants.
Is it worth the five bucks a month? It depends on what you want. If you want a standard interview show where an author asks an actor about their "process," this isn't it. Bret doesn't interview people; he has conversations. He interrupts. He disagrees. He tells his own stories over theirs.
One of the best examples was the Rose McGowan episode years ago. It was uncomfortable. It felt alive. They weren't just promoting a project; they were fighting about the soul of the industry. That’s the "insider-outsider" perspective that makes the show work. He’s been in the rooms. He’s done the drugs. He knows the players. But he’s also totally fine with burning the bridge down while he’s standing on it.
The Controversies That Won't Quit
You can't talk about the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast without talking about the "One Battle After Another" drama from late 2025. Bret went off on the film, calling it "dated" and "leftist sensibility" fodder.
The internet, predictably, lost its mind.
The thing about Bret is that he reads the room by ignoring it. He’s obsessed with the idea that we’re living in a "moral superiority movement." To him, every movie review and every Oscar win is just a reflection of political ideology rather than artistic merit.
It’s a lonely hill to die on.
But he doesn't seem to mind the isolation. He lives with a millennial boyfriend, Todd Michael Schultz, who is decades younger than him. Bret often brings up their disagreements on the show as a microcosm of the "generational war." It’s kinda fascinating. He’s watching the world change from his living room and reporting back like a war correspondent who forgot to go home.
Notable Guest Highlights (If You Can Find the Archives)
- Quentin Tarantino: These two are basically the same person in different fonts. Their episodes are marathon sessions of film geekery that require a notebook to keep track of the recommendations.
- Paul Schrader: The man who wrote Taxi Driver is one of the few people who can out-grump Bret. It’s legendary.
- Sean Baker: A rare moment where Bret shows genuine empathy for the struggle of an indie filmmaker who is "critically acclaimed yet flat broke."
How to Listen Today
If you’re looking for the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast in 2026, don’t bother searching the standard directories for new stuff. Most of what’s on Apple Podcasts is a ghost town of "best of" clips and old episodes from the PodcastOne era.
To get the real deal, you have to go to Patreon.
It’s a bit of a commitment. You’re essentially joining a cult of personality. But if you value "aesthetic" over "politics," or if you're just tired of the sanitized, PR-approved tone of most modern media, it's a breath of very smoky, expensive air.
He’s still the same guy who wrote Less Than Zero at 21. He’s just older now. He’s more cynical. And he has a much better microphone.
Actionable Steps for the Curious Listener
- Check the Free Samples: Before you drop money on the Patreon, look for his "White" book promo interviews. They give you a 90% accurate vibe check of what the podcast sounds like.
- Start with the Tarantino Episodes: If you can find the Season 1 archives of The Video Archives or his early Patreon stuff with Quentin, start there. It’s the most "accessible" version of Bret.
- Prepare for the Monologue: Don't skip the first 30 minutes. The monologue is the show. The guest is often just a secondary character in Bret's weekly movie.
- Listen for the Film Recommendations: Even if you hate his politics, his knowledge of 1970s and 80s cinema is encyclopedic. Keep a "to-watch" list handy.
The podcast isn't going away. In a world of "cancellation," Bret Easton Ellis has managed to build a fortress where he can say whatever he wants. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is up to you. But it’s definitely not boring.
Next Steps for You: To get started, you should head over to the official Bret Easton Ellis Podcast Patreon page to see his latest episode titles. This will give you an idea of which current movies or cultural "outrages" he is currently deconstructing before you commit to a subscription.