Johnny Knoxville sits down with Shane Smith to discuss the physical and emotional costs of his career. He reflects on the chaotic start of Jackass, the pressures of sudden fame, and serious injuries like concussions and an eye fracture that nearly ended his life. The conversation covers his collaborations with Spike Jonze and Jeff Tremaine, the shift from MTV to feature films, and the political backlash that ultimately forced the show off the air. Knoxville speaks openly about his mental health struggles after repeated head trauma and how he found stability through therapy. Beyond the stunts, Knoxville highlights projects he’s proud of, including The Ringer, his outlaw country radio show, and documentaries like The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. This honest talk reveals a rarely seen side of Knoxville—the man behind the daredevil persona who lived through the consequences. Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News vicenews #news #sshq #uap Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Follow VICE News here: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vicenews?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicenews Twitter: https://twitter.com/vicenews Instagram: http://instagram.com/vicenews More videos from the VICE network: https://www.fb.com/vicevideo ============================= Chapters 0:00 Welcome Johnny Knoxville 1:03 Evolution of Drunk History and Unexpected Challenges 8:37 Breaking Records with a High Injury Count 14:11 Exploring Anxiety, Family Life, and the Origins of Jackass 19:05 The Beginning of Jackass The Origin Story 34:42 Watching the First Jackass Movie with His Children 49:23 Knoxville on Gambling and Poker 52:16 No One Likes to See a Stunt Succeed 59:22 Finding Himself Again After Brain Trauma 1:08:11 Cadillac Crash and Wild Nights in LA 1:11:17 WWE Wrestling Chaos with Sami Zayn 1:16:40 His Friend Hunter’s Pain and Desire to Die 1:20:40 25 Years of Jackass and What’s Next? ============================= Addiction, Injuries & the Cost of Comedy ft. Johnny Knoxville | Shane Smith Has Questions https://youtu.be/hi-s84uJZHw