
Feeling Seen
Feeling Seen is hosted by writer and film enthusiast Jordan Crucchiola, who talks with filmmakers, writers, comedians, and artists about the movie characters that made them feel seen. Each episode explores the moment when someone connects so deeply with a film that they see themselves reflected in it. Guests share personal stories about the characters and scenes that resonated with them and shaped their relationship with movies. The show blends humor, insight, and comfort as it examines how cinema affects our lives and our own creative work.
Episodes

Mackenzie Davis on 'Now and Then' & 'Wetlands'
In this, our finale episode, Jordan is reunited with a favorite actor and past interviewee (Vulture, 2019), star of the new Netflix limited series BELOW, Mackenzie Davis! Mackenzie has chosen a pair of young women daring to express themselves in ways the culture might not be ready for: Helen (Carla Juri) from 2014's WETLANDS (clips are limited because the film is in German, fyi) and Teeny (Thora B

Sean Gunn on 'California Split'
Did you know that Sean Gunn is a cinephile? On this episode, he tells Jordan about relating to Elliott Gould's character in the movie he calls his favorite: Robert Altman's 1974 gambling buddy bromance, CALIFORNIA SPLIT. Sean's new film is a prescient indie horror called APPOFENIACS, in select theaters this weekend! How does it all tie together? In the entertainment industry, every move is a gambl

JJ Lippman on Todd Haynes' SAFE
JJ Lippman is one of the youngest guests we've ever had on the show, but she also has a new movie (MIND GAMES), and a debut novel out (MARITAL BLISS). She's a fast-thinking, fast-talking, friendly go-getter...so imagine our surprise when she knew for sure that she felt seen by Julianne Moore's Carol White, the lead role in the 1995 Todd Haynes masterpiece SAFE. She and Jordan get into the suburbia

Liam O'Donnell on 'The Terminator'
Action director (and co-host of the podcast ACTION FOR EVERYONE) Liam O'Donnell is a great admirer of James Cameron's directing and editing prowess. But long before Liam had even an inkling of his future as a filmmaker, he knew there was something about THE TERMINATOR that really spoke to him. He and Jordan get into all of that -- plus the present and future of action cinema -- in this episode.The

Laura Hudson on 'Aliens'
Laura Hudson, former editor at WIRED, the Verge, and more, got tired of telling people in power about the dangers of the tech they were building. Now, she's stopped warning them through journalism, and has pivoted to warning them through art -- like her comic book EXPLOIT, co-authored by Tim Leong. This week, she's telling Jordan about how her experiences writing about tech (and games and comics)

Rosie Knight on 'The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane'
Journalist, podcast host, comics author, and all around movie enthusiast Rosie Knight has brought something rare to the table: a movie that was brand new to Jordan! From 1976, it's kind of a horror, it's kind of a slice of life, and it's totally unlike anything else you've seen. Starring a 14-year-old Jodie Foster and a deeply creepy Martin Sheen, it's THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LIVES DOWN THE LANE!
Then

Shoshana Rosenbaum on 'The Before Trilogy'
Writer/Director Shoshana Rosenbaum grew up alongside Celine and Jesse from Richard Linklater's THE BEFORE TRILOGY. She was a recent American in Europe when BEFORE SUNRISE came out, a working 30-something when BEFORE SUNSET hit, and a married mom when BEFORE MIDNIGHT hit us with a dose of reality. She talks with Jordan about how she related to Celine (and the films as a whole) over that time, and h
![Jack Haven on 'Midnight Cowboy' [Updated Replay]](https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/d03333e7-afb8-4f86-94e1-bee7749e0ac2/334273a2-1f18-4ee6-9d84-c559c99c9a84/3000x3000/jack_haven_cover.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
Jack Haven on 'Midnight Cowboy' [Updated Replay]
An earlier edit of this conversation was released in March of 2024, in conjunction with the release of director Gabriel Abrantes' AMELIA'S CHILDREN.
Jack Haven comes from a creative family, and has been acting and creating music and art since childhood. In adulthood, success in their career has shown them the difference between being playing a role on screen and playing one in real life. Joe Buck,

Daniel Bernhardt on 'Rocky'
If you don't already know Daniel Bernhardt, he definitely looks familiar: you've seen the Swiss actor, stunt man, and martial artist in The Matrix Reloaded, John Wick, and even HBO's Barry. He starred in last year's delightful Deathstalker, J.J. Perry's Dave Bautista sci-fi film Afterburn, and Nobody 2, the recent Man of War. Daniel shares his connection to Sly Stallone's Rocky and his philosophie

Samy Burch on 'Ghost World'
Samy Burch's new film, LATE FAME, stars Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee and opens this coming weekend; her big debut, MAY DECEMBER, earned her an Oscar nomination. This singular screenwriter has maybe always been a sicko at heart: she's relating to the one and only Thora Birch in GHOST WORLD, an artsy outsider teen who's trying to make sense of a the world she's constantly scrutinizing -- and being scr
![Samantha Sloyan on 'Twin Peaks' [Replay]](https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/d03333e7-afb8-4f86-94e1-bee7749e0ac2/d6b60c59-d035-41c6-808f-7767d904cfdb/3000x3000/samantha_sloyan_redux_cover.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
Samantha Sloyan on 'Twin Peaks' [Replay]
This interview originally aired in June of 2025; this version has been re-edited with new content from Jordan.
Samantha Sloyan is a familar face from countless television shows (Grey’s Anatomy, Rizzoli & Isles, The Pitt), but that face will be particularly familiar to anyone who keeps up with the “Flanaverse” — movies and shows from Mike Flanagan, like Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House of Usher

Alice Maio Mackay on 'The Twilight Saga'
With a glance at her lengthy filmography, you'd never know that Australian filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay is barely in her twenties. THE SERPENT'S SKIN (now available on digital and Blu-Ray) is her sixth feature. And while her work is generally categorized as horror or fantasy, the undercurrent of romance there is a tell for the romantic saga that made her feel seen: TWILIGHT (the books, the movies,

Jeff Hiller on 'Steel Magnolias' & 'The Object of My Affection'
Jeff Hiller is someone you've seen. If you haven't seen him in his Emmy-winning turn on SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE, you might have seen him on the (newly Emmy nominated) WIDOWS BAY or PLURIBUS (which has, since this interview took place, earned him his second Emmy acting nom). Or maybe you've seen his memoir, ACTRESS OF A CERTAIN AGE, on the bookstore shelves. If you don't know Jeff, now you will: in this

Scott Adkins on 'Action Man', 'Enter the Dragon' & Pivotal Action Movies
Action star Scott Adkins has amassed a huge body of work from major franchises like John Wick and The Expendables to beloved action-world staples like the One Shot films, the Undisputed series, and the Accident Man movies. So who better than action movie expert Jordan to ask him about the films (and one very special comic book) that shaped his career? They talk Enter the Dragon, No Retreat, No Sur
![Matt Rogers on 'Bring It On' [Replay]](https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/d03333e7-afb8-4f86-94e1-bee7749e0ac2/11d897a9-b11e-43a1-bc8a-f02c8d3f57d3/3000x3000/105_mr_redux_cover.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
Matt Rogers on 'Bring It On' [Replay]
This episode originally aired in December of 2023. It's a holiday weekend in the US so we figured...why not have Christmas in July and bring this one back from the vault? Since then, Matt Rogers has gone on to become even more of a star, co-hosting the now televised Culture Awards on Bravo (with his Las Culturistas partner Bowen Yang), and set to be one of the stars of Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 2.
C

James Nunn on 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'
HUNGRY director James Nunn knew he wanted to be a director from the time he first watch a realistic dinosaur stomp onto the big screen in JURASSIC PARK. And even before that, he was inspired by another Steven Spielberg classic, 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' (the one where Indy teams up with his father, played by Sean Connery). A young James (named for James Bond, btw) borrowed his own dad's

Michael Sarnoski on Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man'
Michael Sarnoski is forging his own unique path in Hollywood, with projects small (PIG), big (A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE) and somewhere in between, as with his newest film, THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD. Sarnoski's latest stars Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer and lands in theaters this weekend (June 19, 2026). Sarnoski's creative path -- which has often involved his own unique take on a familar genre or charac

Adam Carter Rehmeier on 'Frank'
The director of DINNER IN AMERICA and CAROLINA CAROLINE has a secret, but it's not hidden under a giant papier maché head. He's spent much of his life as an avid home recorder, generating thousands of songs. There's a direct line between that background and the earworm musical climax of his DINNER IN AMERICA. And when he saw 2014's FRANK, a quirky little movie about a band with no interest in star

Chandler Levack on ‘Frances Ha’
Chandler Levack is another of the current class of talented Candian ladies directing fresh, original cinema. Her latest is MILE END KICKS (starring Barbie Ferreira)…and, at the same moment, ROOMMATES, a Happy Madison film starring Sadie Sandler. And she memorably broke onto screen with festival darling I LIKE MOVIES. She joins Jordan to give us a fresh look at our show’s most relatable multi-hyphe

Natalie Erika James on 'My Summer of Love'
In her third feature (Saccharine, in theaters now and on Shudder in July), Natalie Erika James tackles themes of obsession, disordered eating, and queerness. And while the two movies are VERY different (one a psychological horror, the other a quiet, BAFTA-winning drama), those are all themes Saccharine shares with My Summer of Love, Pawel Pawlikowski's 2004 film that introduced the world to Emily

Aimee Kuge on 'Dinner in America'
When Aimee Kuge set out to make her indie-horror-romance CANNIBAL MUKBANG, she knew that she didn't want her lead to be your typical final girl. And in her "feeling seen" pick, we find another female protagonist that is nothing like anyone else in film (and yet, maybe more like a real-life person than most film characters could ever hope to be). It's Patty, as played by Emily Skeggs, in Adam Carte

Amber Nash on 'Lethal Weapon 3'
Given that she’s the voice of one of the most iconic bad bitches in entertainment history — Pam Poovey from the long-running and groundbreaking ARCHER — it’s no surprise that Amber Nash felt seen by another bad bitch of media. Granted, she might not be the first no-nonsense professional woman that comes to mind. But Lorna Cole, Renee Russo’s character in LETHAL WEAPON 3, was the first feeling seen

'Blue Heron' Director Sophy Romvari on 'C.R.A.Z.Y'
Writer/director Sophy Romvari's feature debut, BLUE HERON, already has her being added to the shortlist of great Canadian auteurs. And on that list, she'd be alongside the late, great Jean-Marc Vallée, whose 2005 film C.R.A.Z.Y. captures some of the same deeply felt, retrospective family drama that Romvari captures in her own films.
After this conversation, Jordan has one quick thing about illustr

Adore Delano on 'Never Been Kissed'
Surprise! We're bringing you an extra episode this week in celebration of the final day of MaxFunDrive. Don't just sit back and listen -- become a part of Feeling Seen by supporting us now at maximumfun.org/joinfeelingseen. We'll make it worth your while!
Drag superstar, singer-songwriter, trans icon, and now actor, Adore Delano has tried out (and mastered) a lot of different roles. And what bette

Isa Mazzei on 'Legally Blonde'
It's MaxFunDrive! Help us hit our membership goals and keep this show going. Visit MaximumFun.org/JoinFeelingSeen now!
It's not hard to imagine Elle Woods as an icon for a young girl in the '00s, but it might surprise you that Elle was a major inspiration to the screenwriter and co-producer behind the new horror film FACES OF DEATH, as well as HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE and CAM. Isa Mazzei talks wi

Forgotten Films: WONDER BOYS with Dan McCoy (BoCo Teaser)
Don't wait! Head to MaximumFun.org/join to become a MaxFun member right now! If you specifically want to support Feeling Seen, you can keep it extra simple and go to MaximumFun.org/joinfeelingseen
You may not remember 2000's Wonder Boys, but The Flop House's Dan McCoy does. He and Jordan discuss this Michael Chabon adaptation, starring Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire. It's a part of Dan's DVD co

Olivia Taylor Dudley on 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'
This episode is airing during MaxFunDrive 2026! We need your support to keep making this show. You can support Feeling Seen right now by going to MaximumFun.org/joinfeelingseen. And thanks!
Olivia Taylor Dudley wowed us on THE MAGICIANS ; now in her latest film, TOUCH ME, she takes on the perils of an addictive alien boyfriend. And in this episode, she’s telling Jordan about all the facets of her

Casters on Casters: Jordan Crucchiola and John-Luke Roberts
It's MaxFunDrive. And here, for the first time, we give you an exclusive look (well, listen) at the craft of podcasting: presenting Casters on Casters.
In this episode, Jordan Crucchiola (Feeling Seen) and John-Luke Roberts (Sound Heap with John-Luke Roberts) detail how much the podcasting landscape has changed since they got their starts, and why they aren't likely to win a podcasting Golden Glob

Katarina Zhu of 'Bunnylovr' on 'Nymphomaniac Vol. I'
Katarina Zhu stars in her own directorial debut, Bunnylovr, which made a splash at Sundance and is now showing in theaters. In it, she grapples with themes of sex, love, and disjointed relationship -- but she doesn't go as dark as Lars von Trier in Nymphomaniac Vol. I -- a movie whose lead, Young Joe, made a teenage Katarina feel seen in ways she hadn't before. And you better believe Jordan was a

Jen Yamato on 'Streets of Fire'
Esteemed film critic and entertainment journalist Jen Yamato (LA Times, Washington Post, Asian Enough podcast) loves cinema, but hasn't often felt seen in the movies -- especially as a kid. But she found something to relate and aspire to in Ellen Aim, as played by a very young Diane Lane, in 1984's Streets of Fire. All about that film, plus karaoke joy, Little Giants, Terrifying Girls High School,

'1000 Women in Horror's Alexandra Heller-Nicholas on 'May'
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas may be the foremost authority on women and horror, having written the book (and now documentary!) 1000 Women in Horror. So it's appropriate that the character who made her feel seen is a woman in horror: Angela Bettis as the titular May in (past guest!) Lucky McKee's unforgettable 2002 indie psychological horror film, MAY.
After this deep dive into a classic, Jordan has

Buddy Joe Hooker on ‘Hooper’
Buddy Lee Hooker is the son of a stunt rider, and the siren song of the family trade has made him one of the biggest legends in Hollywood stunts, an authority on the stunt world, and a 70 (!) year veteran of the industry. He’s curated Criterion’s new “Stunts!” Collection, and brought us one of the few films that offers an honest look at the life of a Hollywood stuntman (stuntman, stuntman…): Hal N

Camrus Johnson on 'Static Shock'
You’ll recognize Camrus Johnson’s face from his roles as Batwing on the Batwoman series or his new turn from hero to villain in season 2 of One Piece, where he plays Mr. 5. But you might not know that he’s also a director – of both television and award winning animation shorts – and an accomplished musician. Camrus and Jordan talk about the power of seeing yourself in a superhero (both before and

Grace Glowicki on 'Barton Fink' & 'Honey Bunch'
Actor/writer/director Grace Glowicki is the creative voice behind DEAD LOVER (a Sundance surprise from 2025 that is getting a theatrical release this month) and TITO, and she stars in the archly comic horror thriller HONEY BUNCH (from directors Madeline Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli, now streaming on Shudder). While her films and performances are uniquely her own, Grace takes a surprising inspir

Matthew Lillard on 'Fat Kid Rules the World'
Feeling Seen is now posting video versions of our interviews, starting with this one! Watch it here and subscribe to our new channel!
Jordan sits down with the one and only Matthew Lillard, an actor who looms large in the hearts of any Millennial horror lover, and whose fruitful career is still going strong -- right now he can be seen in CROSS Season 2, SCREAM 7, and FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S 2. But

Walter Chaw on 'Barton Fink'
Writer, film critic, and educator Walter Chaw has been writing and thinking about cinema since he was a teenager -- when he discovered how it could make him feel understood, and that saved his life. Now, he's a critic whose unapologetically personal takes on cinema makes some folks love his work, and really pisses some other folks off. Despite his artist's temperament and his expertise, Walter wan
![Gianmarco Soresi on 'Amadeus' [REPLAY]](https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/d03333e7-afb8-4f86-94e1-bee7749e0ac2/f507f811-7b49-46bb-ab6d-abf8a9b379ee/3000x3000/copy-20of-20lr-20replay-20cover.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
Gianmarco Soresi on 'Amadeus' [REPLAY]
This interview originally aired in January 2023, and we've updated it with a fresh opening and "One Quick Thing." Comedian Gianmarco Soresi is brutally honest with us this week: he deeply relates to Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham!) in Milos Forman’s 1984 classical classic, Amadeus. But while Gianmarco can own his Salieri-like insecurities, he can’t let it keep him from pursuing virtuosity.Then
![Latrice Royale on 'Harlem Nights' [REPLAY]](https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/d03333e7-afb8-4f86-94e1-bee7749e0ac2/eab27750-3937-436d-a701-a719b378ac44/3000x3000/lr-20replay-20cover.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
Latrice Royale on 'Harlem Nights' [REPLAY]
This episode originally aired in May 2024.Drag superstar Latrice Royale has been in the game since before Ru Paul’s Drag Race was a phenomenon. She won Miss Congeniality on her season of that show, and went on to appear on All-Stars and Drag U. An actor and performer, Latrice leads Season 4 of HBO’s drag docuseries We’re Here. And if you know anything about Latrice, just a few moments with Della R

Sophie Nélisse on 'Inside Out 2'
We're thrilled to be adding the delightful Sophie Nélisse to the list of YELLOWJACKETS stars we've spoken with on the show; you'll recognize her as young Shauna Shipman from that series (or perhaps from her role in the beyond-buzzy HEATED RIVALRY). Now she's starring in the fun and freaky cursed-object horror movie WHISTLE, out in theaters this weekend (February 6, 2026). Now 25, Sophie's been act

Chris Stuckmann on 'Shelby Oaks' & 'You Can Live Forever'
If you're one of Chris Stuckmann's 2 million + YouTube subscribers, you've known about his debut feature, the horror film Shelby Oaks, for years -- long before the movie was bought and distrubuted by NEON, maybe even before he started the record-breaking Kickstarter campaign that funded the film. But you might not know all that much about the world Chris grew up in -- and left behind, in part beca

Jolenta Greenberg on 'Strangers with Candy'
Jolenta Greenberg is a very familiar and comedic voice to anyone who's heard BY THE BOOK, HOW TO BE FINE, or her new show, HOT MESS-TERPIECE THEATRE. She and Jordan are talking Real Housewives, 4-Hour Work Weeks, and above all, the hilarious and sometimes horrific antics of Jerri Blank, Amy Sedaris's iconic character of the small and big screen comedy STRANGERS WITH CANDY.Then, Jordan has one quic

Albert Birney on 'Marcel the Shell with Shoes On'
Director and star of OBEX (which premiered at 2025's Sundance Film Festival), Albert Birney is a filmmaker and animator who has paved his own unique path forward in the world of cinema, and done so with great success. He's brought another unique success story to the Feeling Seen table this week: Marcel, the Shell with Shoes On (and his eponymous 2021 film). Albert and Jordan also talk about his re

Tim Blake Nelson on 'Down by Law' & 'The Testament of Ann Lee'
Back in 1986, Tim Blake Nelson was a drama student at Julliard when he saw Jim Jarmusch's sophomore feature, DOWN BY LAW. Tom Waits (who would continue to work with Jarmusch, and is starring in his latest film) plays a regular unlucky joe, and does it as no typical Hollywood star could. It was a path into the world of movies that Nelson could see himself following, if he got the chance (which he d
![June Squibb on 'Thelma' & 'Nebraska' [Replay]](https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/d03333e7-afb8-4f86-94e1-bee7749e0ac2/8eba60e7-dfee-4566-970a-0868d87e370c/3000x3000/js-20cover.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
June Squibb on 'Thelma' & 'Nebraska' [Replay]
Happy New Year! We're bringing back one of our favorite episodes from the recent past, this conversation with June Squibb, which originally aired in June of 2024. Since then, in 2025, June had the title role in Eleanor the Great, Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut, which premiered at Cannes.June Squibb was born an actor, and had a rich career on stage for years before becoming an on-screen per

Andra Day on 'Is This Thing On?' & 'Carmen Jones'
How's this for a holiday treat? Multi-award winning singer and actor Andra Day shares her love of Dorothy Dandridge's iconic lead performance in Carmen Jones, as well as her perspectives on wading deeper into movie-stardom (with her latest role opposite Bradley Cooper and alongside Laura Dern and Will Arnett in IS THIS THING ON?), turning 40, and why you should never stop transforming.Then, Jorda

Sam Wineman on 'Hag' & 'How to Be Single'
It's an episode over 200 in the making -- writer/director Sam Wineman (who also happens to be Jordan's co-host on the oft-mentioned Aughtsterion podcast!) joins us to talk about his feature debut, Hag. And you might be surprised by his horror film's connections to a very different film -- 2016's rom-com (and Dakota Johnson vehicle) How to Be Single.Then Jordan has one quick thing about another sur

James Badge Dale on 'King Ivory' & 'Mean Streets'
Another one of those magical Feeling Seen manifestations this week: just a few episodes after discussing a film he starred in with director James Michael Powell (ep 196), James Badge Dale himself is with us to talk about his perspective on acting and how it was shaped by Martin Scorsese's MEAN STREETS. Dale, who has been in countless films, and blurs the line between leading man and character acto

Thomasin McKenzie on 'Before Sunrise'
It's our 200th episode! We're celebrating in style with the charming and super-talented Thomasin McKenzie, an actor we've watched go from teen roles in films like LEAVE NO TRACE and JOJO RABBIT to grown-up roles, as in OLD, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, and her new comedy, FACKHAM HALL. She shares the push-and-pull identification she feels (and aspires to) for Julie Delpy's Celine in the 1995 classic, BEFOR

Kevin Smokler on 'Real Women Have Curves'
For his latest book, BREAK THE FRAME, culture writer Kevin Smokler interviewed 24 prominent female filmmakers about their rich and varied careers. One of those filmmakers, Patricia Cardoso, directed the 2002 movie that introduced the world to a 17-year-old America Ferrera: REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES. Despite their surface differences (to state the obvious, Kevin is not a young Latina child of immigran

Alex Winter on Buster Keaton
Actor Alex Winter may be best known as the Bill half of Bill and Ted -- and he's currently treading the boards with his counterpart from the Bill & Ted movies, Keanu Reeves, in a Broadway production of Waiting for Godot. But his body of work includes a ton of other films and tv shows, with roles both in front of and behind the camera. One project he co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in is the ind

Barbara Muschietti on 'Working Girl' & 'The Player'
Barbara Muschietti (along with her brother Andy) has made her mark on Hollywood, especially in the horror realm (MAMA, IT, IT: CHAPTER TWO and now WELCOME TO DERRY). But regardless of what genre you're working in, the business of Hollywood takes tenacity, luck, and no small amount of delusion. That's what we've got for you today, through WORKING GIRL (1988) and Robert Altman's THE PLAYER (1992).Th

John-Michael Powell on 'Violent Ends' & 'All the Real Girls'
Directors John-Michael Powell (VIOLENT ENDS, in theaters now) and David Gordon Green (whose movie ALL THE REAL GIRLS was an early entry in what's become an extremely varied and successful career) are both from Arkansas. Powell's new film, which stars Billy Magnussen, James Badge Dale, and Alexandra Schipp, is a bloody, grimy crime thriller -- a far cry from ALL THE REAL GIRLS' quiet romantic angst

Tina Romero on 'Queens of the Dead' & 'Peter Pan'
An androgenous figurehead of a found family that refuses to grow up -- if you've never thought of Peter Pan in those terms, director Tina Romero is here to set you straight (er, in a manner of speaking). Tina also shares the ins, outs, and inspirations behind her feature debut, Queens of the Dead, which continues and reinvents a family legacy of zombie cinema (Tina is the daughter of the legendary

Katy O'Brian on 'G.I. Jane'
If you've never seen G.I. Jane, you might know it as a punchline, an epithet, or shorthand for a certain kind of movie -- or a certain kind of woman. But watching G.I. Jane in 2025, you see a portrait of fierce tenacity and genuine strength, all baked into a Ridley Scott action war drama. Actor Katy O'Brian -- who is absolutely on fire right now, and the list of things you'd know her from grows ev

Lisa M. Thomas on 'Ma Vie En Rose'
Adult Swim veteran producer and head of Thin Edge films, Lisa M. Thomas has been working across genres in film and television for decades from her home in upstate New York. Her latest project is The Misadventures of Bucky and Beene, the story of queer radio hosts who get in some hot water with the locals. Similarly, her choice of young Ludovic from a French classic of '90s queer cinema, Ma Vie En

Mercedes Bryce Morgan on 'Carrie' & 'Bone Lake'
As October kicks into gear, we've got Mercedes Bryce Morgan, director of the new horror movie BONE LAKE. And not only is her own film spooky, but so is her chosen "feeling seen" subject: teen girlhood...er, we mean Sissy Spacek's CARRIE from the horror classic CARRIE. She and Jordan get into the blurry line between exploitation and representation in horror and erotic thrillers, especially when it

M.J. Bassett on 'Red Sonja' and Transformation as Representation
Writer/director MJ Bassett's latest film, Red Sonja continues her run as a writer/director of intense and action-packed projects -- she's also directed FUBAR, Reacher, Deathwatch, Rogue (2020) and more. But when it comes to seeing herself on screen, MJ's life has two distinct chapters: before and after coming out as a trans woman in her 40s. MJ shares the small ways she's felt seen (and not always

Carmen Emmi on 'Plainclothes' & Little Miss Sunshine'
Carmen Emmi's directorial debut, PLAINCLOTHES, is in theaters now, after catching a lot of attention and fanfare out of this year's Sundance Film Festival. He tells Jordan about the experience of getting to break out with a personal contribution to the queer cinema canon, and about all the ways he was comforted, educated, and inspired by another Sundance hit -- 2006's LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.Then, Jo

Alice Wu on 'Frances Ha' & 'Broadcast News'
When Alice Wu directs a film, she really means it. Both SAVING FACE and THE HALF OF IT, released decades apart, made a big splash on the independent cinema scene. Now SAVING FACE has been added to the Criterion Collection. Alice tells Jordan about creating a patchwork of identity across various movie characters -- specifically the romantic searcher Frances from FRANCES HA and the too-smart-for-her
![Brian Jordan Alvarez on ‘All About My Mother’ and ‘English Teacher’ [REPLAY]](https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/d03333e7-afb8-4f86-94e1-bee7749e0ac2/f13fddd2-5743-433c-a0db-d10681d6ab26/3000x3000/144-20bja-20replay-20cover.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
Brian Jordan Alvarez on ‘All About My Mother’ and ‘English Teacher’ [REPLAY]
This episode originally aired in October 2024. A second season of English Teacher premieres on Hulu on September 25, 2025.You may know Brian Jordan Alvarez from the killer horror film M3GAN or from his web series The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo. Most recently, Brian created and stars in the FX comedy series English Teacher, a refreshingly hilarious original that follows a high school teac

André Holland on 'The Knick' & 'Love, Brooklyn'
André Holland has wowed us in movies like MOONLIGHT and his new Sundance hit LOVE, BROOKLYN. But he says that he gets the most comments -- and perhaps even owes his career -- to his role as Dr. Algernon Edwards in the Steven Soderbergh-helmed Cinemax series THE KNICK. It was a role he could relate to, and of the kind he'd been searching high and low for -- one that fit. He and Jordan talk about th

Macon Blair on 'The Toxic Avenger' & 'Dazed and Confused'
Director, writer, and actor Macon Blair has been making movies with friends since he was young -- including frequent collaborator Jeremy Saulnier. His new film is THE TOXIC AVENGER, starring Peter Dinklage and Kevin Bacon. It might not feel like an obvious follow-up to his work with Saulnier, nor to Blair's previous film, I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE; neither might seem like a direct

Tricia Cooke on 'Honey Don't' & 'But I'm a Cheerleader'
Tricia Cooke is having her moment, and it's been a long time coming. Together with partner Ethan Coen, she's made last years DRIVE AWAY DOLLS and the new HONEY DON'T from scripts written long ago. And in some ways, the seed for these very gay, very fun movies was planted by a modern classic of fun gay cinema: Jamie Babbit's BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER. Tricia and Jordan talk about that film, the new one

Madison Iseman on 'The Shining' & 'Witchboard'
Madison Iseman is making her play for horror icon status, starring in the fun and freaky forthcoming "cursed object" horror film WITCHBOARD. At the same time, she's embracing her "district attorney era" with a lead role in the new USA series THE RAINMAKER. And on this show, we can't leave out her credits playing twin sisters Lennon and Allison on the I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER tv series (thou

Kino Lorber's Richard Lorber on Rin Tin Tin. 'Last of the Dogmen' & More
From his childhood in public housing to his latest venture, Kino Film Collection, Richard Lorber has always had an affinity with movie dogs. But not just any dogs -- the wild ones, the brave ones, the determined ones. In this episode, Richard tells Jordan about how he related to a number of dogs and dog movies: Rin Tin Tin, Yorgos Lanthimos' Dogtooth, Godard's Goodbye to Language, surprise Kino Fi

James DeMonaco on 'Rocky' & 'The Home'
We can get one thing out of the way right up top: James DeMonaco is from Staten Island. Seeing Rocky Balboa on the big screen as a kid was mind-blowing; seeing Sylvester Stallone take a story of such a familiar kind of guy and make it into an Oscar-winning mega-franchise for the ages was life-altering. While DeMonaco is best known for his stealthily political horror films, his love of Rocky even m

Danielle Deadwyler on '40 Acres,' 'Pan's Labyrinth,' & 'In the Mood for Love'
Danielle Deadwyler is an actor who wows and captivates with every performance, across moods and genres. You may have seen her as Mamie Till in TILL, as Berniece in THE PIANO LESSON, or in the new post-apocalyptic action thriller 40 ACRES (in theaters and now available to rent at home). Danielle shares her deep ties to history, the whispers of the ancestors, and the power of stillness in this conve

'M3GAN's Jen Van Epps on 'The Lost Daughter' & 'I Love Lucy'
In a conversation full of personal revelation and discovery, M3GAN & M3GAN 2.0 star Jen Van Epps and Jordan think hard about the taboos of motherhood and the uncomfortable neediness of the acting profession -- and have a shocking amount of fun doing so. Leda (Olivia Coleman/Jessie Buckley) in Maggie Gyllenhaal's writing and directing debut, THE LOST DAUGHTER is a character Jen wasn't thrilled to r

Alan Tudyk on 'Young Frankenstein' & 'Resident Alien'
The rare prolific voice actor whose face is also extremely recognizable, Alan Tudyk is one of those guys who's a household name if your household is awesome. He's been in everything from ROGUE ONE and FIREFLY to A KNIGHT'S TALE and TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL. But he's really gotten his chance to shine in the series RESIDENT ALIEN (now in its fourth season!) in which he stars as Harry, an alien who ta

Allison Williams on 'Mary Poppins,' 'The Sound of Music," & 'M3GAN 2.0'
This is a moment 179 episodes in the making: Jordan and Allison Williams (of GET OUT, GIRLS, M3GAN, and much more, including her new podcast LANDLINES) reunite to talk about Allison's latest film, M3GAN 2.0 (on which she's also a producer). A little background here: up to this point, Jordan and Allison's professional lady-bromance had its apex in Jordan's WIRED profile of Allison, back when the or

Marko Zaror on 'No Retreat, No Surrender' and 'Diablo'
His mainstream star might still be on the rise, but to die-hard action fans, Marko Zaror is already a legend. He stars alongside Scott Adkins in DIABLO, directed by his longtime friend and collaborator Ernesto Diaz Espinoza. An accomplished and disciplined martial artist, Zaror idolized Bruce Lee from a young age -- just like Jason, the main character of Cory Yuen's 1986 American debut, NO RETREAT

Bruce LaBruce on 'Making Love' & 'Looking for Mr. Goodbar'
Today, he's a notable writer, filmmaker, and artist (Letterboxd called him "The Godfather of Queer"). And as a young man trying to figure out his place as a person and as an artist, Bruce LaBruce was instantly fascinated by the films MAKING LOVE (1982) and LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR (1977). While the two films are very different in tone, execution, and commercial success, they both center around char

Catalina Sandino Moreno on 'Maria Full of Grace' & 'Ballerina'
Long before Catalina Sandino Moreno found herself starring in action movies with names like John Woo and John Wick attached to them, she was a young unknown in Colombia, unsure if her dream of becoming an actress would ever come to fruition. Then, her first role -- as Maria in Maria Full of Grace, directed by Joshua Marston – earned her an Oscar nomination. Catalina reflects on that role, what it

Samantha Sloyan on 'The Life of Chuck' & 'Twin Peaks'
Samantha Sloyan is a familar face from countless television shows, but that face will be particularly familiar to anyone who keeps up with the "Flanaverse" -- movies and shows from Mike Flanagan, like Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Haunting of Hill House. Sloyan's latest project is a departure for Flanagan, and perhaps for her as well -- it's the new movie The Life of Chuck

Bobby Naderi on ‘The Better Sister,’ ‘Hit the Road’ and More
What do the little boy in HIT THE ROAD (2021). the dad in CAPTAIN FANTASTIC (2016) and the nearly-hopeless old driver in TASTE OF CHERRY (1997) have in common? Ask actor Bobby Naderi. He and Jordan find the common thread of a nomad lifestyle and a reckless spirit across these three films, as they track the path that led Bobby from Tehran all the way to his latest role in THE BETTER SISTER.Then, Jo

Zach Lipovsky & Adam Stein on 'Final Destination Bloodlines' & 'The Muppet Movie'
If you're wondering what connective tissue could possibly exist between Final Destination Bloodlines and The Muppet Movie, consider this: Jordan's talking with the former film's directors, who are feeling seen by Kermit the Frog. Since this conversation, those directors have seen their first ever studio feature film become #1 at the box office, have the best ever opening in the FD franchise (by a

Eli Craig on 'Clown in a Cornfield' & 'The Razor's Edge'
Jordan spoke to director Eli Craig a few days before his new (third) feature made an outsized impact at the indie box office, becoming IFC's best-ever opening. They speak about the genesis of that film, 'Clown in a Cornfield,' and about the surprising actor/writer turn Bill Murray took in 1984's 'The Razor's Edge,' as a man on the quest for a better way to live in difficult times.Then Jordan has o

Leon Chills on 'The Matrix' & 'Shadow Force'
With the recent premier of Shadow Force (starring Kerry Washington and Omar Sy), writer Leon Chills has seen one of the most daunting choices of his life payoff. That choice echoed the inciting incident of one of Leon's favorite films, The Matrix. As he delves into this modern classic with Jordan, Leon shares his experience of finally realizing his creative dreams and looking toward the challenge

Ali Clayton on 'Fried Green Tomatoes'
If you were alive when Fried Green Tomatoes came out -- first Fannie Flagg's book, then the movie -- you may recall it was a phenomenon. To a (very) young Ali Clayton, it was a bit of a personal phenomenon, its only-kinda-coded queerness calling out to her before she even knew why. But beyond that, it was a movie about Southern women in a South that Ali recognized -- one where bad things can happe

Dr. Jon Paul Higgins on 'This Boy's Life'
Long before becoming an award-winning educator, public speaker, and podcaster (of BFF: Black, Fat, Femme), Dr. Jonathan P. Higgins (aka Doctor Jon Paul) was just a kid sneaking movies while mom was at work. One of those films, 1993's This Boy's Life, became one of their favorites. That was in large part thanks to the aspirational friendship of main character Tobias "Jack" Wolff (Leonardo DiCaprio)
Recommended

Stand In The Circle

SLOW ENGLISH PODCAST (A1-A2) With Subtitles | Daily Videos | English With Us Podcast

Learn English A2 with Daily News | Simple English Listening Practice

پلی لیست | PlayList

Conspiracy Files with Paige Carter

Bad Friends

Learn 50 English Phrases While You Sleep | Everyday English Phrases & Vocabulary

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Dateline NBC

Back to the 80s Radio

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Bible Tea