Cecil Baldwin’s career is as varied as it is impressive. From lending his voice to the animated series Gravity Falls to narrating the documentary Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street, Baldwin has established himself as a versatile talent. As a performer with the New York Neo-Futurists theater company, he has also showcased his theatrical prowess. However, Baldwin is perhaps most recognized for his role as the voice of Cecil Palmer on the widely acclaimed podcast Welcome to Night Vale. In this unique show, Baldwin artfully melds elements of Lovecraftian horror with absurdist comedy, keeping listeners captivated as he updates them on the bizarre happenings in the fictional town of Night Vale, from the antics of the Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home to quirky advice on maintaining Bloodstone circles.
Beyond his work with Welcome to Night Vale, Baldwin cohosts the Random Number Generator Horror Podcast No. 9 alongside Jeffrey Cranor, the podcast’s co-creator. He recently directed the play As Sylvia and is actively involved in raising awareness for LGBTQ+ issues and HIV. Despite his packed schedule, Baldwin graciously shared some insights into his tech pet peeves with us.
What is one thing you wish you could change about your phone?
“I wish it were impossible to manually text and drive a vehicle at the same time. We are collectively way worse at it than we think,” Baldwin candidly remarked. His concern highlights a common yet dangerous behavior that many underestimate.
What is your happy place online?
For Baldwin, joy is found in the simple pleasure of curating a reading list. “Adding books to my Favorite list on Amazon so I remember titles/authors, and then taking that list to my local new and/or used bookstore and buying them there,” he shared. It’s a delightful blend of digital convenience and supporting local businesses, reflecting his thoughtful approach to both technology and community engagement.
Which tech trend do you wish would go away?
Please, I’m begging you, let me watch the credits of the film or television show in peace. I just finished a movie, you don’t need to roll me right into a whole new one. Let me digest for just a second.
What creation are you most proud of?
It would have to be the podcast Welcome to Night Vale, right? It was the acting role that changed the trajectory of my life.
What do you do when you’re feeling stuck?
I will literally say to myself “1, 2, 3, 4, 5…. Walk away.” It’s like an unbinding, spoken out loud when I don’t know how to move forward with a project or I’m stuck in a social media scroll-frenzy that is giving no pleasure. Put it down. Walk away. Focus on something else for a while.
What’s the last piece of physical media you bought?
Picked up a few albums at my local record store: Marianne Faithfull À la Télévision 1965-1967, Jorge Ben Jor Jorge Ben, and Dr John Gris-Gris.
What would the tagline for your biopic be?
Performing authenticity… for real.
What’s the last GIF or meme you used?
