The Untold Truth of Anthony Bourdain with TV Producer Tom Vitale

[@rodw4057]

No matter what, it still boils down to Tony is not here anymore. Doesn't matter how much we talk about him. The world is a much LESSER place now. He will be missed forever. Let him Rest in Peace. He deserves it. ❤😢

[@Kenobi_Cowboy]

There is a Bourdain sized hole punched into some of us and the world. Now we're stuck with competitive cooking shows.

[@liammachan7600]

Bourdain is gone, but not his message to the world!

[@GreenIslandWoodworks]

@@Kenobi_Cowboy His intelligence, insights, humor, commentary......sadly missed.

[@DeborahSmith-jm4fh]

Amen to that 😢​@@GreenIslandWoodworks

[@jadedwitness9840]

Selective aspects of a man seen only when he's aware of being watched isn't much of a judge of character. He was nice most of the time but also a very troubled and ignorant person.

[@agadozde]

Now there is a man with integrity , Respect to you Mr .Tom Vitale

[@marilynjarvis8228]

Favorite Tom Vitale moment. Congo flight in the rain and he cupped his hand to catch the rain from above coming through the plane fuselage. Those beautiful blue eyes were even bigger, and filled with genuine fear.

[@dantsonhebert3478]

'In the Weeds' gives incredible behind the scenes of this adventure. Joseph Conrad would be proud

[@lizafield9002]

This whole effort/creation of these guys was profound. I missed it all at the time, but am listening to the youtube episodes now. I'm fighting thru a life threatening infection of parasites, in constant pain as they exit, & can't eat or sleep. This man's team productions help me connect to tge goodness of life & a Zorba the Greek sorr who lived fully.

[@p_nk7279]

This was deep and revealing. Bourdain was unique - an American original!

[@vincentsantulli6664]

Dear Mark and Tom , Appreciated the interview, it was an opportunity to get insight of what it was like being there, filming those episodes. Which I believe will be viewed for many decades to come. It must have been especially difficult for you Tom , to recount those stories , but it was greatly appreciated, can’t wait to read your book!

[@maloudelosreyes661]

Tom vitale is a very sensitive emphatic individual.. Anthony bourdain was more of an intelectual than a great chef... Mark.. You did an amazing interview.. Asked the right questions.. Was on point!! Wow......

[@MarkDrager]

Thanks Malou, really glad you enjoyed this episode. It was an amazing and revealing conversation. - Jose

[@janiceharrell4260]

, Q😊 pp Q😊

[@AudreyWiggins]

I fell in love with Parts Unknown. After learning of Anthony Bourdain's death, I thought, the show title must have defined his heart. I was shocked and so sad. He really seemed authentic on the screen. Tom you told the stories well. Thank you.♥🎞📽

[@MarkDrager]

Thank you so much for taking the time to express your view and how it’s changed! We appreciate you #wedohardthings - Jose

[@rollingstones911]

I really miss Bourdain. He helped spark my interest in traveling all over the world.

[@RogerThat1977]

Parts Unknown, No Reservations, The Layover are all gifts left for us from an amazing human being and wonderful storyteller. Tony will never be forgotten. Heartbreaking gratitude I feel for having gotten to peak into this man's life. He made us fall in love with places we'd never been. Very few people can do such a thing.

[@micheletotton9342]

Awesome, loved hearing this from Tom. Tony was one of my favourite people

[@MarkDrager]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lynnhubbard844]

@@MarkDrager do a part 2???!!!!

[@jonnowocky8179]

To add - ‘the guest’ at the boxing match was Asia - Anthony’s girlfriend at the time, daughter of Dario Argento. According to Roadrunner she provided a significant headache via backseat driving a lot of the later episode production. I guess we will never really know all the ins and outs, but the crew’s love for Tony shows in how they persevered for him when perhaps they were being manipulated or put in awkward situations - even these later episodes came out beautifully

[@TheBent139]

Tom threw him an opening by admitting that Asia totally staged that scene in Rome. She clearly brought tension when she was around. But I just think they were all just exhausted in the end. If he would not stop, his crew would not desert him. And Tony had the depression underlying everything else. Maybe if he had just gotten those last episodes in the can? I am glad Tony was here, he motivated me to do my own travel and made me push my own boundaries in foreign lands and here at home.

[@susanborkenhagen58]

I have this book and Tom met with Asia and the first thing she asked him was, "Who got all of his money after he died?". That sums it up in a "nut"shell. She was a lying, manipulative narcissist whe is mentally ill. Tom told her that he didn't have that much money since Tony spent it freely, like giving his crew Rolex watches for gifts.

[@jonvia]

Tony was a true culinary rock star...RIP...then again legends never die

[@marcclement7396]

My first experience with Mark. Never again. You must let the guest talk. Its not about you. Stop interrupting and finishing sentences.

[@MarkDrager]

Thanks for the feedback. Mark

[@FreshHeat]

​@@MarkDrager you did great I thought it was well balanced

[@albertopereda1223]

@@MarkDrageragreed. Overall it was pretty good, but there were a few times where you would interrupt making Tom have to take a second to pick up where he had left off. Overall enjoyable.

[@FluffyBlub]

kind off painfull to watch him say what he did in 2 years, ´drank a lot, it was a tough time etcetera´ and then move on to, "you have enough money to do nothing?" but yeah, maybe he was uncomfortable going the emotional route. (When he was talking about dealing wit hafter the show)

[@jjf609]

Tom, thanks for sharing your stories. So glad you never signed a NDA.

[@MarkDrager]

Lol. I'm so happy he didn't either. Far too many amazing stories are never shared because of threat of legal action!

[@garyt7232]

Missing him and Robin Williams. Their humor, insight, and presence are sorely missed during these dangerous and frightening times.

[@dshowrocks]

thanks for this man so much...tony was our guy growing up as siblings before the net...i was devastated when he left us but kept it to myself...this one from Tom brought some tears in a good way and made some healing...amazing feeling...wow!!!

[@MarkDrager]

Thanks so much for watching, and taking the time to share your comments. The time I got to spend with Tom was special.

[@chewie1644]

I just finished the book in the weeds and now I’m binge watching Anthony Bourdain episodes.

[@justincoleman2740]

A terrific discussion. I have not read the book yet but a thoughtful and deeply respectfull account of the inner workings. Thank you so much fellas. Tony was such a gift in so many ways. May sound strange but I truly think Tony and his story are somehow cosmically connected to our present reality. His existance a symbol of some sort; and his passing.

[@mikedeadeye8215]

Thank you. Both of you. Thank you.

[@karonsky1]

Great interview!! Thank you! In The Weeds is an excellent read, even better than Kitchen Confidential for me, because it was about the real Tony. He was one of a kind, and sadly, deeply disturbed! He never saw how Amazing and unique he was! 😢🇨🇦

[@stephenprice1519]

Thank you for what you have done.

[@desmondtan3054]

Tom gave a great interview. Would have enjoyed it more if the interviewer did not interject every so often, over-explained stuff, i.e. overexplaning about filmmaking as if to prove he knows a lot about it etc Nuance. Some good questions got lost in his unnecessary "judgemental" tone, or making snarky comment as if he's TMZ, once again proving the notion that Americans do like to talk even when there isn't a need to.

[@jamesocallaghan9471]

Yeah good observation, it was a strange approach from the interviewer, not sure if his ego was involved or maybe he's not super experienced at connecting with people in an interview format yet? Benefit of the doubt as it was a decent interview overall, just a bit jarring at points.

[@jonnowocky8179]

he often asked a pertinent question, but then felt the need to embellish it to where it became dilute or 4 or 5 questions in one, which stunted Toms flow. It’s immediately obvious that Tom is deeply connected with the amazing work he did, and still processing the complex emotions brought by Tony’s death, which led to the catharsis of this book. I think it would’ve served well to let him more room to process and speak to us. I think this could’ve been more of a chance to get to know Tom, who seems fascinating in his own right, and it was crass of the interviewer to constant interject and suggest that he was very much a moon operating Tony’s brilliance - clearly he was much much more. Time to read his book…

[@TheBent139]

Would have really helped if the interviewer had a better knowledge of the shows. Tom was a good sport but the interviewer asked some pretty offensive questions. It's like the host didn't know his material. He wasn't even aware of specific dangerous situations like Beirut and Libya. They had to be taken out of Beirut by the U.S. military. If Tony was a cult leader, I was a follower too. I lived for each episodes. All magnetic things are not bad.

[@raisedfromperdition2x919]

@@TheBent139I think in many ways there is a cult of AB. His spirit lingers in us still, he still moves us. I know I was changed by his shows, I learned so much snd opened my worldview immensely. I also became very passionate about SE Asian cooking! Something I knew very little about and no exposure to living in my little town. He gave many a new window on human relations and different cultures. His suffering and ultimate sacrifice of his relationships to bring us this education is such a gift. I still look for the echoes of his voice and demeanor.

[@reginafromrio]

Hey, why do you have to bring all Americans into it? It's one person.

[@vinniekay0967]

Thank you for this interview! I've been thinking about this "What happened to the Team" after Anthony Bourdain's death. The 'ZeroPointZero Gang' were a absolute Dream Team.. And Tom Vitale is sò sincere and open in this interview.. Respect!

[@djrejs]

at 44:00, when he talks about the detachment provided by witnessing scary/emotionally charged things through camera lenses, like you're not really there, I relate so much. I got the opportunity to photograph the birth of my daughter, which I consider to be the most important and extreme thing that happened to me in my whole live, and yet I was so composed, like...I'm already all dressed up, ready, waiting for my cue at the next door room, listening to the noise of surgery machines and smelling the smell of burnt human flesh from my wife's body, and somehow I was planning my shots. I was setting my lens manual focus to match what would probably be the distance from me to my wife's open womb. Nurse came to take me in, I get on the spot, my wife looking at me, and throughout the whole thing I was thinking about photography, about how I could produce the best images. Everything went right, I held my child for a bit, then I left the room, changed my clothes and went downstairs looking for some place to sit down, sip a cup of coffee and look at the images I got. There, after put some music* though my earbuds, it all finally hit me, and only then I broke down on tears. *"Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires" by Cocteau Twins was playing. when Elizabeth Fraser sings "...rounder" she sounds like she's saying "Laura...", which is my daughter's name. No, it was not a coincidence, it was on my playlist because of it, but i thought you would like to know about it. this was such a great interview. you got a new subscriber, and I, a long time Bourdainian, am definitely reading Tom's book.

[@MarkDrager]

Thank you so much for being open and subscribing! We appreciate you here. Much love #wedohardthings - Jose

[@MakesomethinghappenTv]

♥

[@anndeeraney5401]

Romantic view of all the countries...something connected with us ...kept us tuned in...he is missed.

[@jamesphelps1958]

The book was fantastic to anyone who hasn’t read it - he reads it in the audible version and is great!

[@duranbodasing]

Absolutely brilliant episode Mark - I'm officially a fan sir ;)

[@MarkDrager]

Thanks man. Appreciate it.

[@margieclarke6165]

Love this guy , thanks to you both for this interview. Respectworthy.

[@MarkDrager]

Thanks for watching!

[@rogerfournier3284]

Great respect for Tom direction with the show

[@ellacamp2076]

Read that book twice..plan to read it again! Great book.Good writing.❤

[@jamesphelps1958]

The top gear crossover reference is on point. You can tell how they learned from this show. Their Mozambique show was clearly inspired by zpz

[@ReannenJ]

Tonys a classic when he was good he WAS good, when he was bad he was bad. He lived

[@lynnhubbard844]

I saw every episode those guys did all those years...Tom only barely mentioned Asia, but that is why Anthony wanted to do Italy again (not like the one he did with his wife's family). What a f'ing shock when the end came

[@Dr.ZoidbergPhD]

"I drank a lot" He didn't even hesitate. It takes a lot of work to say something with so many negative connotations attached to it, so easily. He went through it and dug himself out

[@MarkDrager]

I really appreciated Tom's willingness to share. Thanks for watching and sharing. Mark

[@andytraill]

I'd love to see the things which got cut put together as a form of tribute to him. As in the unseen stuff.

[@KeenosQuest]

Great Interview! Love hearing Tom's story! The NDA is pretty interesting, talk about slipping through the cracks!

[@Vikuku]

Tom Vitale is incredibly handsome

[@MarkDrager]

I am sure Tom will appreciate that! #wedohardthings -Jose

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

@@MarkDragerI hope he reads comments here. I loved his book “Into The Weeds”, mightily.

[@stanh24]

Mark and Tom, thanks so much for this interview! I’m about 60% through on the book, and it’s a rollicking read, to say the least. Bravo, Tom!

[@MarkDrager]

Thanks so much Stan, we appreciate the feedback. Thanks for putting your comments here, we appreciate you #wedhardthings - Jose

[@KhanJan-ee1vf]

@@MarkDrager UCXXX

[@KhanJan-ee1vf]

CXXX

[@KhanJan-ee1vf]

Sexy sexy

[@M.R.T.V.Videos]

Great show ❤ insightful

[@GreenIslandWoodworks]

It took me a few years after A B's death to be able to watch one of his episodes. Suicide....it's a permanent solution to a temporary problem (however deep and dark that problem was). it's impossible for a person who would never commit suicide to somehow make any sense of it, so don't try.......Most of us are unable to comprehend the absolute depths of despair and sadness that somehow makes ending your life the best choice and that those depths have a stronger pull than the love of a child.

[@MarkDrager]

Thank you for watching, and for sharing 🙏🏼

[@Mclem2k24]

For all: Suffering (depression) is related to an attraction to how things should be going Accept people and situations as they are and realize every problem is an opportunity in disguise And above all, validate your own life, don't rely on others or unsocial media to make you happy

[@MarkDrager]

Wise words. Thanks for sharing Mclem2k24!

[@bhagmeister]

You had a good guest and a great subject. Shame you didn’t let him tell the stories surrounding Bourdain.

[@MarkDrager]

Thanks for giving it a watch and I appreciate the feedback...like all of us, I'm learning as I go. It's just me in my basement studio trying to connect with amazing people.

[@bhagmeister]

@@MarkDrager Nicely done then. Thank you for taking the comment in such a positive spirit.

[@Julia-Yulik]

Amazing ❤good bless you

[@SembuaHumpdediddle]

"Tom Vitale" in English is "Twin Vital".

[@bassmule]

somewhere around the 20 minute mark I had to turn it off. I'm really not interested in Mark Drager's favorite song. (And, yes, I own "In The Weeds" and it's a terrific book.)

[@dantsonhebert3478]

Tom has the most joy-filled form of PTSD I've ever seen 😢

[@AndiB111]

MARK..great interview w Tom..thank you! TOM: excellent interview! Wondering which Ep.wasTony told they had the bessst burger, w say xx% of one meat, xx% another meat, etc.etc? (poss. not in Usa..) TY if possible! (subscribed.:)

[@dees9502]

Well done 👍

[@joec2174]

What was the last episode shown ?

[@LABoyko]

Dude looks just like Javier Bardem.

[@ursulina0]

Mark the interview was great to listen to Tom talk about Tony B. with admiration and love, I still miss Tony B. I have watched all of his shows what I never have is read any book or books that he wrote .but I notice that there was some jealousy from you, It's one person point of view.

[@LIVINGONTHEBITCOINSTANDARD]

Great Stuff!! Am reading that book

[@MarkDrager]

Tom Vitale is amazing. Thanks for watching!

[@martinvalencia798]

I think Tony was punk rock to the core. Do it your way all the way.

[@alexadey3413]

A furnace is clean but you are very wise and I suspect you will readjust given time.

[@thomasprince4992]

guy could tell a good story and or communicate on a normal level

[@tomkarnes69]

Yea that's the ticket, he just passed away, and get the media to say something like he hung himself from a fucking door knob, you know so suicidal, never mind the fact that every fucking interview he did in the years before his death was to say how much he loved is baby daughter.

[@MrRatherino]

real Tony real dead..a tragedy ..always brought a smile..RIP

[@reginafromrio]

There's a joke in Brazil.. someone is held hostage and the criminal says "give me 60 reais". Go ahead and keep them.

[@lisanovin4107]

Feel like someone who knew of Anthony’s impact would have felt…more reverent perhaps. Literally stated he was (coming from) like Fox News. The book I think will provide a bit of solace.

[@Vlerkies]

It was a cooking/foodie/travel show, well over seasoned with opinions on everything else. I liked the show, but turned it off more than once, because of this as the opinions seemed to take center stage to the rest. RIP Anthony.

[@branko4033]

My personal holy trinity of Keith Richards, Tony Bourdain and Kris Kristofferson is now down to Keith only.

[@nyccolm]

Oh there are always the morons making snide remarks from their mother’s basement. He seems like a very genuine guy and speaks truthfully, which leads me to think his book would be worth a read. Bourdain was a force for sure. It must have been a fun ride. But a sad end. “ How do you deal with those kinds of criticisms”? “I don’t care”. Prefect. And exactly. And precisely what Bourdain would have advised.

[@MarkDrager]

Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to share your thoughts. I do really appreciate it. Mark

[@conqueringlion420]

Why did you have to leave us Tony

[@elizabethstar-dylan796]

Please stop saying that he "passed away". "Passing away" is passive. Anthony never did anything passively. He exited life with great poignancy and passion. I understand the poignancy. I wish he would have dialed back the passion about 15% because maybe he'd still be here to tell his stories to us, and I'm selfish like that. He gave so much. I hold nothing against him, even though I loved him so much.

[@kengoff4658]

"Poignancy and passion"? He hung himself in a hotel room over a woman. Don't romanticize it. It was the ultimate betrayal of life.

[@eprohoda]

yaahoo.Mark, Yo, you did unreal -

[@MarkDrager]

Thank you so much Mark really appreciates the feedback always, much love #wedhardthings - Jose

[@VinylSpotlight77]

Everyone felt closer to tony becos of how he landscaped the world but the sadness inside his world was never revealed. Killing urself, well all i can say is people do the wrong things for the right reasons

[@antonyvaughan7808]

Hasn't this guy read the book? Tom shouldn't have given him an interview IMO...

[@MarkDrager]

Thanks for watching. When I first started I read every book for every guest. But I found over time that I was having really detailed conversations with guests about their books and we would get lost in the details. I go back and forth because I really love the books of those we have on, but it often removes the discovery that can come up in the podcast when I'm learning like the audience is. I appreciate that you may feel differently.

[@antonyvaughan7808]

@@MarkDrager All I hear is excuses for bad preparation ...

[@DrGaryGreen]

Met Bourdain at a paid for meet and greet. A sweetheart and a feeling human being. So sad that that woman drove him over the edge. Where is she today? I hope she is suffering.

[@country4lyfe365]

You know he hung himself with a red garment. Like 20 other celebrities? Chris cornell, Robin Williams, 3 clothing designers, something is fishy.

[@Catsandnature-1234]

The real Anthony was an intelligent asset .

[@mauryanthony1961]

I wonder where his spirit is right now.

[@gangstagrandma]

42:00 I hear ya bro, if I had a string of someone's saliva and food flung into my mouth unexpectedly I'd throw up too. Hmm, yes good video, interesting man.

[@Mike7O7O]

Mark. This isn't about YOU. Ask the question. Then shut up. That's all you need to do. Its no more complicated. And your reason for not reading guest's books before you interview them is insane. Literally. The guest expects you to have read their book. The audience expects you to have read the book and given it some serious thought beforehand. But mark decides no, I'll go another way. And it goes downhill from there. Your clickbait title shows how little you brought to the table and Tom hints at this around 30.00 when he admitted that only 10-15% of what he could've written went into the book. That was your opening to drill down into things that weren't in the final cut on TV, nor in the book. But, because you never read the book, you only found out when we did and you just sailed merrily onward. There was very little new in this interview that Tony didn't talk about over the course of his television series or in his own books. It certainly wasn't the untold truth. You had this guy for an hour or more. And......nothing. He even opened up and admitted that all he's been doing since the show, or for two years after Tony died, is drinking. Again, you hear this, say nothing. Leave the guy hanging with one of the longest pregnant pauses in interview history and then move on like he said nothing. Are you so shallow. Has your life been so without challenge that when another human being opens up this way, you can't or won't relate. Go back to school. Or if you never went to journalism school, go now.

[@dantsonhebert3478]

He did great, this interview isn't about your expectations goofy

[@terrynouger1194]

I just hate small plastic forks

[@MarkDrager]

😂

[@rickciuca1]

@4:07 is the pinnacle of tv bs. 100s of minutes recorded for 44 minutes of a tv program. Why not just record 44 minutes and display that if you’re trying to show real life? Reality shows, and that’s what Bourdain’s show was, are bull. Show everything recorded, don’t pick and choose a la carte and then peddle it as real world experience.

[@MarkDrager]

I hear what you're saying. But they're in the entertainment business because it has to capture people's attention and hold it. Life has its natural dull moments...and a show can't have any. Plus you don't know what will work and what won't work until you start to cut the story and piece it all together. Thanks for watching!

[@Catsandnature-1234]

I loved the show . However o truly believed that the was a created personality. Even ı lşked they guy he ıf you watch h very carefully you could see he might be very mean time to time.

[@intuitknit]

Do you think Anthony was at risk because he was so fearless to delve in to dangerous political waters?

[@MarkDrager]

I think some people burn bright.

[@Zennofobic]

was a big fan but turned out he's just another big dork who let a beautiful woman get the better of him, won't be the last

[@lynnhubbard844]

what a damn shame...just horrific

[@SagaLarton]

He popped his Cork over a WOMAN. GEEZE.... COME ON😡🥵

[@GertTown]

I heard from a very good source that he became a complete prick toward the end. The woman he was with ruled over him and he betrayed many good friends to please her.

[@Mike7O7O]

Show me a man who hasn't lost his head over a woman and I'll show you a man who's never lived.

[@GertTown]

@MikeWhite0101 hell of a way to live. You would think that with all he had done and the places he had been, that he could have seen through her and knew that she was no good. He probably realized how he been been played by someone he should have never trusted or confided in at all. Too bad he chose not to see howcit played out for just a little longer but I know how easy it is to see no way out for someone who escaped the grip of smack and was left damaged by it.

[@lynnhubbard844]

Tom skimmed over Asia--just to mention the Italy episode. Prick? Maybe he started back with the drugs/alcohol more and more

[@GertTown]

@@lynnhubbard844 L.Ron?

[@Lc-vv4it]

Unfortunately that’s what being infatuated with someone will do to a person.

[@LABoyko]

Bourdain's brilliant writing was essential for creating thematic context in each episode. Such amazing television. Way too much leftist politics at times (Obama in Vietnam -- the ultimate dog whistle), but otherwise genius stuff.

[@Mike7O7O]

MAGA much, are we? Shame on YOU.

[@GIBKEL]

Past away….he killed himself so just say it. You cheapen the truth and those that have been affected by suicide.

[@susannolen998]

I was really interested in what Tom Vitale had to say but the podcast host was so annoying I couldn't get past 10 minutes. Stop putting your finger up your nose! Stop touching your face! Stop interrupting the guest with stupid questions that make you the focus of the interview! Your equipment is way too over the top for KZbin interviews like this, network television broadcasters don't even use this level of equipment, it sounds overproduced and unnatural.

[@MarkDrager]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@olegwiththeknowledge1729]

Why is the host constantly smiling even when Tom is telling difficult stories? Its really uncanny...

[@susanborkenhagen58]

I have this book and Tom said it was like a living in a "Tony Cult" where they would take abuse from him non-stop and didn't mind. He was very cruel and could be a real ass to everyone around him.

[@Y-do8kt]

Tony was abusive and pretentious, playing the part of the deep social activist and intellectual. He finally realized his hypocrisy to the fullest, and couldn't bear the embarrassment. What's sad is that he was too much of a coward and a narcissist to care about leaving his young daughter fatherless. There's nothing positive to say about him, other than that his name recognition allowed interesting guests and a capable crew to have the opportunities that most people don't get in this short life. Bourdain even threw that away, like a selfish child embittered by not getting all of his toys...

[@susanborkenhagen58]

BINGO! That is word for word what I have been thinking. No one else likes to admit this was a very flawed person. Killing yourself and leaving an 11 year old daughter is selfish and I have no respect for that choice.