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The James Altucher Show · August 16, 2026 · 01:15:27

Nancy Cartwright: Bart Simpson, Fellini, and Finding the Artist Inside [From the Archive]

Daws Butler, Milton Katselas, Nancy Cartwright
Show Notes

Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, shares the story behind her film In Search of Fellini, based on her real-life trip to Italy in the 1980s. She describes how an obsession with La Strada and a series of letters to Federico Fellini led to an immersive journey that became a meditation on creativity and self-discovery. James and Nancy discuss her early career, from speech competitions to studying with voice acting legend Daws Butler, and the lessons she learned about preparation, instinct, and authenticity. The conversation touches on her iconic audition for The Simpsons, the philosophy of 'riding the horse in the direction it's going,' and the belief that every person carries an artist inside. Throughout, Nancy emphasizes that the leap from talent to authorship requires not just skill, but the courage to trust your own voice.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Travel Far Away to Find What Is Closest00:41:18
Nancy Cartwright explains how a chance encounter in Milan gave her the line 'sometimes you have to travel far, far away to find what is closest to you,' which became the emotional center of her film In Search of Fellini.
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Surprise Yourself, Surprise Everyone Else00:10:47
Nancy shares how walking out of a Cheers audition in frustration led to the casting team loving her, and her teacher Milton Katselas's advice: 'If you can surprise yourself, you can surprise everyone else.'
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Ride the Horse in the Direction It's Going00:30:23
Nancy describes her career philosophy of following the openings that appear, rather than rigidly sticking to a plan, encapsulated in the phrase 'ride the horse in the direction it's going.'
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Make a Decision and Back It Fully00:31:00
Nancy advises artists to make a decision and commit to it fully, rather than being paralyzed by comparison or self-doubt, because the decision itself creates momentum.
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Do the Work, Then Throw It Away00:33:34
Nancy describes the balance between preparation and spontaneity: do all the work beforehand, then when you enter the room, let it go and trust your instincts.
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References

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My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy — Nancy Cartwright (2000) — Nancy's memoir about her experience as the voice of Bart Simpson and her career in voice acting

Misc

✧Nancy used Bart's voice on a flight to the UK and entertained the cockpit crew before landing.
✧She walked out of a Cheers audition and the casting team loved it.
✧She wrote Fellini letters repeatedly and went to Italy despite being told not to come.
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