Q&A with Swiss and Lali Hijack HOLLYWOOD!'s Podcast Creator Raul Vega
Andrew Cohen
Swiss and Lali Hijack HOLLYWOOD! is a fictional podcast that follows the hijinx of two slackers who inadvertently take over Los Angeles by becoming accidental con artists. The podcast’s creator, Raul Vega, enjoyed creating unique storylines for these characters and sprinkled in unique sound elements to help bring the story to life.
Vega’s first fictional podcast, Rose Drive, landed a mention in Forbes as “One Of The Top Ten Best Podcasts of 2018.”
Vega has also worked on film scores as a digital instrument designer for legendary composer Hans Zimmer. He crafted the musical tools Zimmer used to create the prolific scores for films such as Dunkirk, Wonder Woman 1984, Interstellar, Man of Steel, and most recently Dune.
The podcast just released its finale with surprise guest star, Patton Oswalt. Read on below for our chat with Raul…
Q&A with Creator Raul Vega
Andrew Cohen: What are some of the different roles you held for the Swiss and Lali podcast?
Raul Vega: I’m the creator, writer, director, and sound designer for the show. From beginning to end, I oversee every aspect. I guess you could call me the ‘Creative Showrunner’ of Swiss and Lali! However, I did debut a new role for this project...voice actor! You can hear me as Swiss’ unrequited love interest Fernando Lemon, and also as the voice of Chaz’s pet pig, Nelson.
AC: Can you walk us through a bit of the production elements of the Swiss and Lali podcast’s audio storytelling and how they worked together to create a memorable and effective listening experience?
RV: I won’t keep you here all day, but to put it in short form, sound IS the story. From Lali taking a hit of a new hallucinogenic drug with a raccoon, to the trippy atmospheric sound design of floating in the ether, and having it all set against a musical bed of a song you can vibe out to...it’s all vital to the storytelling experience.
You really can’t have one without the other. Otherwise, it feels hollow. I think the best fiction podcasts will consider all these elements before they even open up that fresh new final draft page. If you allow these voices the freedom to play with and influence one another from day one, your show will only be that much more sound.
AC: When coming up with a new episode for the series, what is your first step in the process?
RV: This story is different from my other shows which are heavily plot-driven. Because this is more of a character-driven show, (the best comedies are, I feel) I really could just let these two talk about the most random things with one another and build the plot from what escapes their mouths. It’s the really ridiculous side convos that we have with our best friends that make no sense out of context but keep us smiling throughout the day. Honestly, I just think “What’s the crazy situation we could get these two derps into?”
Once I’ve got that figured out, it’s just continuing the path they’ve already started walking. We have no idea where the hell they’re going on this stroll, but neither do they. That's when the funniest things happen in real life, so trying to capture that in audio fiction always has to come from a genuine place.
AC: This podcast seems like a passion project for you. What do you find to be the most fulfilling or favorite part about working on the podcast?
RV: Easy answer: Working with my best friends. Kristin Couture (Swiss), Aparna Brielle (Lali), and Aaron Cavette (Chaz/Hawke) are my ride or dies, and because most of us were separated during the heat of covid, building this podcast together was our saving grace from insanity.
We made it because we wanted to have fun with each other in such a dark time, and it absolutely shows in their performances. We made a pact that the second it stops being fun, we need to take a breather and refocus. Between the cliffhanger and this finale, we found we needed to take a step back from it to nurture ourselves and wait for the right time to finish things. When we finally did, it felt like no time had passed. That’s how every project should go, especially when you’re making it with your buds.
AC: What has been your favorite moment from the series and can you share a bit about the inspiration behind it?
RV: It really is impossible to choose just one, we all literally cry-laugh at the end of each take! But I would say collectively, we had the honor of working with a comedic legend for the finale as a big cameo surprise. He said yes on our merit alone and it’s nice to know that the people whose work you deeply admire are also some of the kindest souls you’d ever meet. I won’t spoil it here, but to find out who I’m talking about make sure to check out the third part of our finale to meet ‘El Daddy’. We still can’t stop gushing!
AC: What piece of advice do you have for people looking to start their own podcast?
RV: Be very serious...about having fun with it! It doesn’t matter what the genre is, part of the experience that makes your show authentic is that it's made from a place of passion. No one is asking you to make one, you're doing it of free will. There's freedom in that, so take advantage of building your own ship the way that you want to. No one can tell you the right way to sail, just go with what makes sense for you and your story.
AC: Any other big wins or recent projects you are excited about?
RV: Well, our team is currently starting talks of season 02 and beyond for the series. We have so many ideas for what we want this to turn into and we have some pretty attractive prospects in our line of vision. I’m also working on a micro-fiction horror podcast of sorts that’s going to be wildly different from this one so be on the lookout for that one. And I’m still jazzed about my first fiction podcast series, Rose Drive, so if you haven’t checked it out yet, the entire first season is out now!
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The Swiss and Lali Hijack HOLLYWOOD! podcast is available on all platforms. You can learn more about Raul Vega here.
