SubwayTakes, also Subway Takes,[2] is an internet talk show hosted by comedian and media personality Kareem Rahma. Similar to the "man on the street" style of video,[2] the show features interviews by Rahma of civilians and celebrities[3] in the New York City Subway, using a microphone clipped to a MetroCard.
SubwayTakes is an internet talk show co-founded by Kareem Rahma and Andrew Kuo. The show is hosted by Rahma, who uses a MetroCard with a microphone clipped to it to interview people on a subway.[2][4] Rahma prompts the interviewee with "So what's your take?", after which they must "defend" their take in the face of Rahma's agreement or disagreement.[2][5][6]
SubwayTakes includes branded content and has featured takes paid for by Google, Microsoft, Hulu, StreetEasy and H&M. Rahma and his guests have had brands including H&M, Urban Outfitters, KOTN, and J. Crew sponsor their outfits.[2][5] Rahma worked closely with Google on the take about "Android Users as Better Lovers": "I said let's bring her back and let's incorporate any message you want to do into this video. And so we developed a take together with the brand, with the talent."[7] As well as working with brands independently of the show, Rahma told Forbes in 2024:[7]
"It seems like brands have a really cool time and they trust us to do our thing. So any brand that comes to us, we will figure it out. Some just want us to do whatever we want and they just want the collab post [...] Others want product placement. I did one with Totino's Pizza Rolls where I was eating Pizza Rolls for no particular reason but it was really funny. And I was actually excited to do it because it was the first time we did product placement. I actually pitched the brand that. They said let's do the take about snacks and Pizza Rolls. I said what if we do the take about whatever and I'm eating Pizza Rolls."
SubwayTakes has expanded to Chicago with their series, L Takes.[6]
History
SubwayTakes began in 2023. According to The New York Times, Rahma and Kuo created the show "almost as a whim", but it also served as a gamble to "need to turn this into something that might actually [financially] benefit [them]".[2]
The MTA MetroCard that is used to clip to the mic when filmed in New York City
SubwayTakes doubled the number of episodes that they produced from 2 to 4 in early 2024.[2]
In August 2024, SubwayTakes was invited to interview Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. During Rahma's interview of Harris, Harris surprised Rahma when she diverted from the pre-approved take against removing shoes on airplanes to a "Bacon is a spice" take. This take offended Rahma's Muslim beliefs, causing Rahma to ask to do the pre-approved take. But, after being advised by a staffer, Harris moved to a pro-anchovies-on-pizza take. This caused Rahma to quickly end the video. After Walz's interview was published, Harris's campaign apologized for the bacon take and offered to do a reshoot, which Rahma denied.[2]
SubwayTakes partnered with Talkhouse Network to release a long-form version of SubwayTakes in February 2025. The podcast was named SubwayTakes Uncut.[6][8]
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