← New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce ·Sep 18, 2026 ·1h 15m

Tom Cruise on Digger, Experiencing Arrowhead, Importance of Film & Getting Above the Clouds | 202

Evaluation and Summary

5.7/10

New Heights episode 202 features Tom Cruise as the primary guest, discussing his involvement with a new film called 'Digger' and his broader perspective on cinema. The conversation covers the production details and creative choices behind 'Digger,' including Cruise's return to wearing a fat suit for the role. The hosts explore why film remains important to Cruise as an artist and medium. The episode also delves into Cruise's experience visiting Arrowhead Stadium, with Taylor Kelce apparently teaching him about football during the visit. Additional topics include a humorous comparison between actor John Goodman and Ed Kelce (the hosts' father), Cruise's childhood as a daredevil, his potential interest in directing, and a quirky segment about Travis being a 'VHS OG.' The hosts also discuss Cruise's backup plans in life, suggesting a wide-ranging conversation that blends entertainment industry insights with personal anecdotes. The episode is sponsored by Nissan and runs approximately 75 minutes. The show notes promise both audio and video versions across multiple platforms including Prime Video, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Verdict: A well-executed celebrity interview episode with genuine insider access and strong entertainment appeal, though the show notes don't confirm whether discussions achieve analytical depth beyond celebrity anecdotes.

Sports rubric

  • Analysis depth 2/5 20%

    Show notes suggest conversational topics rather than deep analysis; mentions of 'Digger' details and film importance lack specifics about what analytical insights were actually delivered

  • Insider knowledge 4/5 20%

    Tom Cruise as a direct guest provides genuine insider access to his creative process, film production, and personal experiences; this is authentic Hollywood expertise rather than secondhand commentary

  • Entertainment 4/5 15%

    Mix of celebrity guest, personal anecdotes (daredevil childhood, Arrowhead visit), humor (Goodman/Ed Kelce comparison, VHS jokes), and banter suggests strong entertainment value for fans

  • Substance 3/5 15%

    Episode covers multiple topics with a major guest but show notes don't indicate whether discussions go deep or remain surface-level; presence of tangential segments like 'VHS OG' suggests some padding alongside substantive content

  • Delivers on its title 4/5 15%

    Title promises Tom Cruise discussion of 'Digger,' Arrowhead experience, film importance, and getting 'above the clouds'—show notes confirm all these topics are covered, though depth is unclear

  • Value for time 3/5 15%

    75-minute runtime with a major guest and multiple topics is reasonable, but without hearing the episode, unclear whether pacing is tight or if conversations meander; mix of focused topics and quirky asides suggests moderate efficiency

How we score Sports

Worth it if you're a Tom Cruise fan, enjoy celebrity interviews, or want behind-the-scenes Hollywood insights mixed with sports banter.

Content flags

  • Ad-heavy Nissan sponsorship with detailed legal disclaimers and promotional tie-in (Tell Them a Heisman Sent You series) suggests significant ad integration

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.

Show notes

92%ers, welcome to another episode of New Heights, brought to you by Nissan! Today we are joined by actor, producer, and Hollywood legend Tom Cruise. We talk about everything that went into Tom’s new movie ‘Digger,” what it was like getting back into a fat suit, why film is so important, and if John Goodman is really just Hollywood Ed Kelce. We also get Tom's take on his time at Arrowhead, Taylor teaching him football, his plan B in life, why he was a child daredevil, if he’ll ever direct, why Travis is a VHS OG, and more! Watch and listen to new episodes of New Heights every Wednesday during the NFL season and follow us on Social Media for all the best moments from the show: https://lnk.to/newheightshow You can also listen to new episodes on Wondery, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. . . . Watch the full episode here: Prime: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0JLG80EV3QTOUJWLN8KSQ3OSTL?ref_=atv_dp_share_cu_r Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-heights/id1643745036 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1y3SUbFMUSESC1N43tBleK?si=LsuQ4a5MRN6wGMcfVcuynw Support the show: NISSAN: Watch Tim Tebow, Travis Hunter, and Derrick Henry compete to become the Best Nissan Spokesperson in the limited series Tell Them a Heisman Sent You. Legal Disclaimer: Nissan Rogue #1 in new vehicle quality among compact SUVS – 2026 JD Power. For JD Power 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study award information, visit https://jdpower.com/awards . Awards based on 2026 model year. Towing varies by configuration. See Owner’s Manual for additional info. Always secure cargo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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