There's a burning question that keeps coming up in internet communities, YouTube explainers, and interviews with stunt people from the film industry: does Steven Seagal actually know martial arts?

There’s a burning question that keeps coming up in internet communities, YouTube explainers, and interviews with stunt people from the film industry: does Steven Seagal actually know martial arts?

In our current news environment, where conspiracy theories abound and the truth can feel elusive, this somewhat silly question keeps getting asked. But as we explore the answer, we find that perhaps the confusion about Steven Seagal’s own personal story has relevance for how we navigate the year of 2025, whether or not we’re talking about Hollywood action heroes.

Episode producer: Ben Brock Johnson

Co-hosts: Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson

Show producers: Samata Joshi, Dean Russell, Emily Jankowski

Mixer and sound designer: Paul Vaitkus