If you’re a James Woods fan, this interview with Mike Rowe feels like a gift.

Rowe doesn’t just interview Woods — he gives him space. Space to think out loud, to go deep, to be unapologetically himself. And what comes through is exactly why so many of us have admired James Woods for decades: the mind, the courage, the artistry, and the spine.

For context, James Woods isn’t just one of the most intense and memorable actors of his generation — from Salvador and Once Upon a Time in America to Casino, Videodrome, Hercules, and countless unforgettable roles — he’s also famously brilliant, with an IQ reported at 184. That intellect is on full display here. Woods ranges effortlessly across subjects: politics, culture, creativity, Hollywood hypocrisy, music, and the personal cost of standing firm in your beliefs. He doesn’t posture. He doesn’t soften the edges. He thinks.

And yes, he’s a vigorous Conservative — openly, unapologetically — and the conversation doesn’t shy away from how that conviction effectively got him blacklisted from Hollywood a decade ago. Woods speaks candidly about losing work, losing friends, and gaining something far more important in return: self-respect. As Rowe put it so perfectly, this is a man who will ultimately be remembered not just for his talent, but for his courage and character.

One of the biggest surprises? Woods’ music. He talks about his second album — an opera he’s deeply proud of — and you can hear the joy of a restless mind that refuses to stop creating. At 78, with nothing left to prove and nothing left to gain financially, his “itchy brain” is still pushing him forward. That alone is inspiring.

The interview also touches on a gory accident from his past that changed his life. It’s thoughtful, funny, heartfelt, and at times bracingly honest.

As more than one viewer said: America needs voices like this.

Highly recommended.