126: Aladdin, Drones and Jason Statham
Alexei Sayle returns to the podcast with a whirlwind of stories, starting with his recent role in a Latter-day Saints-produced biblical film shot in Morocco—where he played a fishmonger and nearly succumbed to food poisoning from rotting fish. The episode unfolds like a surreal memoir: from childhood love of the Disney Aladdin soundtrack, to unknowingly providing the voice for a market vendor in the live-action remake, to a poetic full-circle moment when he reenacted that same line on set decades later. He then pivots to sharp political commentary, condemning Israel’s military response to Hezbollah’s wired FPV drones—cheap, effective, and nearly impossible to jam—as a rare tactical equalizer in the Gaza conflict. The conversation shifts to cultural nostalgia, with a bitter laugh over never being paid for voicing the trailer of the 1982 film Letter to Brezhnev, and a wry critique of Jason Statham’s latest film, The Beekeeper, which he calls a thin, implausible revenge thriller. Amidst these tales, he reflects on the absurdity of fame, the cost of artistic integrity, and the quiet dignity of simply showing up—whether for a fish market scene or a live podcast with a loyal Patreon community.
You can’t get paid for voicing a 1982 British film trailer—Alexei Sayle never received a penny for his work on Letter to Brezhnev.
A fishmonger role in a biblical film led to food poisoning and a near-death experience in the Moroccan desert.
He unknowingly voiced the iconic 'fresh fish' line in the live-action Aladdin remake—25 years after memorizing it as a child.
Hezbollah’s wired FPV drones are a game-changer: cheap, unjammable, and capable of destroying Israeli military vehicles.
Jason Statham’s latest film, The Beekeeper, has a plot so thin it’s based on a woman not cooking him tea.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Fishmonger's Return to Morocco
Alexei recounts his recent role in a Latter-day Saints film shot in Morocco, where he played a fishmonger. Despite moral hesitation about the religious context, he accepted the job for the money and the chance to visit a country he’d never seen.
From Aladdin to Alchemy: A Childhood Line, a Lifetime of Echoes
“I used to recite it in the playground, you know, to my friends, you know, cause I was the Arab kid and I do all the lines from the film.”
The Rotting Fish Incident: A Day in the Desert
“This is what they don't know. This is what they ask of us. This is what we suffer. A full day in the desert with rancid fish.”
The FPV Drone Revolution: A New Kind of Warfare
“They cost a couple of hundred dollars. They're armed with, I think they usually arm them with the warhead off. RPG-7 anti-tank rocket.”
The Unpaid Voice: Letter to Brezhnev and the Ghost of a Career
Alexei reveals he never got paid for voicing the trailer of the 1982 film Letter to Brezhnev, a role he only recently discovered through a Guardian article.
“This is what they don't know. This is what they ask of us. This is what we suffer. A full day in the desert with rancid fish.”
“They cost a couple of hundred dollars. They're armed with, I think they usually arm them with the warhead off. RPG -7 anti”
“No taxi, no O'Toole. Well, that's the business, isn't it? You start to expect things just because you got it a couple of times and that just sets the new bar.”
Host
Guest
Alexei Sayle
person
Talal Karkuti
person
Hezbollah
organization
Letter to Brezhnev
media
Jason Statham
person
Latter-day Saints
organization
The Beekeeper
media
Aladdin
media
Kylie Minogue
person
Brian Dennehy
person
S8 Ep1018: Jonathan Schanzer critiques the rumored US-Iran deal, warning that it offers significant sanctions relief without securing nuclear concessions. He argues that the plan fails to address ballistic missiles or proxies like Hezbollah. Schanzer expresses conce
11m • 6/17/2026
PDB Situation Report | May 29th, 2026: U.S. And Iran Reach Draft Agreement & Cuba Feels The Squeeze
1h 9m • 5/30/2026
Cuba’s collapsing revolution
28m • 5/30/2026
Sunday's top stories in 10 minutes
10m • 5/31/2026
Right-wing outsider wins Colombian election first round
33m • 6/1/2026
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime