Ep. 198 Sh*t Saves the World w/ Troy Hale (Privychat 51)

In this candid and humorous episode of Privycast, host Hunter Hoover welcomes Professor Troy Hale, a filmmaker and educator known for his unconventional documentaries on taboo bathroom topics. The conversation dives into Hale's journey from a chance job at a local TV station to teaching documentary filmmaking, and his creative experiments with 'Farta Documentary' and 'Shit Saves the World'—two films that blend comedy with surprising scientific and environmental insights. Hale shares how these projects began as playful, click-driven ideas to explore commercial filmmaking, but evolved into meaningful explorations of waste as a renewable resource, including real-world applications like using human waste for energy, insulation on spacecraft, and sustainable building materials. The discussion also touches on the stigma around bathroom topics, the power of humor in breaking taboos, and the importance of hands-on learning in media education. Throughout, Hale emphasizes the value of originality, persistence, and using accessible technology—like smartphones—to create impactful content, while maintaining a grounded perspective on the realities of making a living in creative fields. The episode concludes with a lighthearted Q&A on personal bathroom habits, from toilet paper preferences to shower rituals and even the controversial 'shower orange.' Hale’s philosophy centers on normalizing conversations around bodily functions, celebrating the absurdity of everyday life, and finding wonder in the overlooked. He encourages listeners to question societal norms—like flushing clean water down the drain—and to embrace curiosity, creativity, and a little mess. The takeaway is clear: what we often dismiss as 'sh*t' might just be the key to a more sustainable future.