Chris Van Vliet cover art
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Chris Van Vliet

Hosted by Chris Van Vliet

An Emmy-winning TV journalist conducts long-form, deeply researched interviews with professional wrestlers and entertainers about their careers.

The brief

A masterclass in the art of the interview, applied to the world of professional wrestling. Host Chris Van Vliet leverages his background as a traditional TV entertainment reporter to conduct deeply researched, empathetic, and revealing conversations. The show goes beyond wins and losses, focusing on career turning points, mental health, and the stories behind the personas.

Unlike many fan-led podcasts, Van Vliet's broadcast background gives his interviews a polished, journalistic structure without feeling cold. His preparation is evident, allowing him to unearth specific moments and ask nuanced follow-ups that often lead to candid revelations from his guests.
— What makes it distinctive
§1 · The host

Who hosts this show

Chris Van Vliet is a 4-time Emmy Award-winning TV host and entertainment reporter who has transitioned his broadcast journalism skills into the world of long-form podcasting. After a career that included roles at WSVN's "Deco Drive" in Miami and a brief stint as a backstage interviewer for AEW, he now hosts "Insight with Chris Van Vliet". On his show, he conducts in-depth, often in-person, interviews primarily with figures from the professional wrestling world, exploring their careers, personal struggles, and behind-the-scenes stories.

AI-extracted bio · help us verify· Source: gemini-video-grounded

Credentials & credits

  • 4-time Emmy Award winner
  • Former Entertainment Reporter, WSVN "Deco Drive"
  • Graduate, Communication Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University
  • Member of the Critics Choice Association
  • Former backstage interviewer for All Elite Wrestling (AEW)
  • Former host for Sun TV's "Inside Jam!" and Razer's "969"

Other ventures

  • CVV CLIPS (YouTube Channel)
  • Co-founder of WOO! Tungsten (outdoors brand)
§2 · Classification

What kind of podcast

Region
usa
§3 · Cadence & catalog

When new episodes drop

§3b · Editor's picks

Notable episodes

AI-extracted picks + commentary · help us verify
  1. 01
    Big E: The New Day, Career Ending Injury, Becoming WWE Champion...

    An incredibly open conversation about Big E's career-ending neck injury, his struggles with mental health, and the origins of The New Day.

  2. 02
    Layla On LayCool, Co-Women's Champion, Becoming A Mom, Piggy James...

    Marked Layla's return to the public eye after a nine-year absence, where she candidly discussed why she left WWE and her experiences in the 'Divas Era'.

  3. 03
    Paul Heyman On Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, ECW, Failed “Paul Heyman Guys”...

    A deep dive with one of wrestling's most influential figures, discussing his methods for elevating talent and the stories behind his most famous alliances.

§4 · Signature

What you'll be asked on this show

AI-extracted from recent episodes · help us verify
How Chris Van Vliet interviews

The format is almost exclusively one-on-one, long-form interviews, often conducted in person at a studio or the guest's location. Van Vliet is an active and empathetic listener who guides the conversation with well-researched questions. The tone is respectful and professional, creating a comfortable space for guests to share openly.

Questions Chris Van Vliet keeps coming back to

  • What are three things you are grateful for right now?
  • What made you decide to step away from your career at that moment?
  • What do you think your life would look like without wrestling?
  • What was the original pitch for your character/storyline?
  • How did [a specific catchphrase or signature element] come about?
  • What is the most misunderstood thing about [a specific era or event]?
  • Had you been thinking about leaving for a while before you did?
  • What was the reaction when you asked for your release?

Signature segments

  • · Ending interviews by asking the guest for three things they are grateful for.

Topics covered repeatedly

Career-ending injuries and recoveryMental health and depressionBehind-the-scenes of WWE creative decisionsThe 'Divas Era' of women's wrestlingLife after retiring from wrestlingThe origin of wrestling personas and catchphrasesThe formation and dynamics of tag teamsCareer highs and lows (e.g., winning championships)Navigating wrestling politicsExperiences with Vince McMahon and other executives
§5 · Guests

Who gets booked here

AI-extracted guest list + profile · help us verify
Typical guest

The guest list is heavily weighted towards current and former professional wrestlers, from WWE Hall of Famers to independent stars. Guests often appear to promote a new project, such as a book or a return to the ring, and are prepared for a comprehensive career retrospective.

Recent guests
  • Big E
    on Big E: The New Day, Career Ending Injury, Becoming WWE Champion, BIG MEATY MEN SLAPPING MEAT
  • Paul Heyman
    on Paul Heyman On Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, ECW, Failed "Paul Heyman Guys", Triple H
  • Layla El
    on Layla On LayCool, Co-Women's Champion, Becoming A Mom, Piggy James, Diva Search, Leaving WWE
  • Diamond Dallas Page
    on Everyone Said DDP Was Too Old To Start Wrestling
§6 · Channels & links

Where to find this show

§7 · Stats

Audience & reach

YouTube · first-party
Subscribers
836K
836,000
Avg views / video
137K
Trailing window
Total views
494M
494,434,175
Videos published
2,089
Sponsor readEstimated

Based on observed episodes, sponsors include direct-to-consumer brands like NordVPN and Caldera + Lab, ticket marketplaces like SeatGeek, and event promotions. This suggests an audience of engaged fans with disposable income, interested in technology, personal care, and live events.

AI-extracted sponsor read · help us verify

Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.

§8 · Contact

Pitch Chris Van Vliet

Sign-in required
Verified contact
Host / booking email
c•••@•••.com

Free: limited reveals · Pro: unlimited reveals + CSV export
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§9b · FAQ

People also ask

AI-extracted researched answers · help us verify
Who is the host?
The host is Chris Van Vliet, a 4-time Emmy-winning TV host and entertainment reporter.
Is the podcast still active?
Yes, the podcast releases multiple episodes per week.
What is the format of the show?
The show consists of long-form, one-on-one interviews, primarily with professional wrestlers and other entertainers, focusing on their life and career stories.
Where can I listen to the podcast?
The full video interviews are available on the 'Chris Van Vliet' YouTube channel, with audio versions on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart.
What makes this wrestling podcast different?
The host's background as a professional journalist leads to deeply researched, structured, and empathetic interviews that differ from more casual, fan-hosted shows.
Last updatedJun 29, 2026Not yet host-verified
Research depthDeep dossierHigh confidence · Jun 29, 2026 · gemini-2.5-pro

Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.

§9c · Methodology

Sources & how this page was built

This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence

  1. [01]Official Websitechrisvanvliet.com
  2. [02]Chris Van Vliet - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  3. [03]Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
  4. [04]Chris Van Vliet Biography - WSVN 7Newswsvn.com
  5. [05]BIO - ChrisVanVliet.comchrisvanvliet.com
  6. [06]Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Podchaserpodchaser.com
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