8 Entertaining Film Themed Podcasts
Life in isolation has been an adjustment, one thing everyone seems to have added to their entertainment checklist are podcasts. This podcast reboot seems to have everyone plugging in, including well known film industry folk like Dax Shepard, Rob Lowe, Lena Dunham and most recently Brie Larson. I find podcasting to be one of the best forms of entertainment because of it’s easy on-the-go access and your ability to enjoy it one on one. It’s made me feel less alone many times over the course of the pandemic. As someone who considers film to be a major part of their life, of course my favorite genre of podcasts are those that discuss entertainment related topics. In the paragraphs that follow I will be giving you a break down of my favorite film podcasts. So if you’re a movie geek like me, hopefully you’ll find something new to plug into.
The A24 Podcast.
In recent years, A24 has become one of the most popular production companies out there. A24 is known for their cinematography, unique stories and authentic characters, because of this their films and television series frequently show up during awards season. Some of their more acclaimed work includes HBO’s “Euphoria”, Ari Asters “Hereditary” and “Midsommar” as well as the Safdie brothers “Uncut Gems”. Because of their popularity amongst movie goers, they began podcasting in 2018. Although they have a limited amount of episodes, they are packed with behind the scenes information and stars like Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Greta Gerwig and Awkwafina (just to name a few). This podcast is an absolute dream for fans of A24 productions, the only fault of this podcast is that they don’t have enough episodes!
Armchair Expert.
This podcast is probably the most well known out of the ones I will be discussing today and honestly could be held responsible for the current popularity of podcasts. Armchair Expert is hosted by comedic actor Dax Shepard with his co-host Monica Padman. A typical episode of this popular podcast would include Dax and Monica interviewing a well known guest for approximately 60 minutes. Some of their guests have included Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Zoe Kravitz, Hillary Clinton and Kumail Nanjiani (although this only scratches the surface). Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert is believed to be successful because of his wide range of guests as well as his ability to discuss unique topics with said guest, and sometimes it gets deep. Dax also frequently discusses his past with addiction and current sobriety. This podcast is a perfect listen for those just beginning their journey with audio entertainment.
The Scriptnotes Podcast.
This podcast began in 2011 as a podcast about screenwriting and things that are of interest to screenwriters. Hosted by successful screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin, there are over 400 episodes with topics such as “What Actually Happened In The Agency Battle”, “Getting Staffed In 2021” and “Police On Screen”. This podcast is incredibly helpful for those looking to work in the world of screenplays, and who better to hear it from than those that have been successful in that medium? A little different from the other film podcasts on this list but educational to say the least.
Awards Chatter.
Awards Chatter is an awards season themed podcast hosted by The Hollywood Reporter. Well known guests such as Gary Oldman, Regina King, Ramy Youssef and Jodie Foster have appeared in recent episodes to discuss their critically acclaimed work. Whether it be The Emmys, The Golden Globes or The Academy Awards, this podcast takes on discussions about every nominee and predicted winner. Awards Chatter tends to have longer episodes that frequent between 70 to 90 minutes, but if you truly submerge yourself into the episode the time flies by.
How Did This Get Made?
How Did This Get Made is a film podcast hosted by actors June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas and Paul Scheer. This podcast is a little different than other film podcasts on this list because it discusses bad films. The title says it all as each episode focuses on a infamous film and who is responsible for it. Although this podcast doesn’t have quite the guest list others in this article do, there are some audio appearances now and then.
Off Camera With Sam Jones.
Off Camera With Sam Jones is a podcast hosted by acclaimed photographer Sam Jones. Many guests such as Robert Downey Jr, Aubrey Plaza and Matt Damon have appeared in episodes, although he does not typically stick to interviewing actors. Episodes of this series typically last over an hour as Sam created this podcast to share his love for long, conversational style interviews.
The Rewatchables.
This podcast is one of the most popular film podcasts currently out there. The Rewatchables is hosted by Bill Simmons as well as a frequently filled roundtable of guests. If you couldn’t tell by the title, this series is all about films that we just can’t seem to stop watching. Recent episodes discuss rewatchable movies including “Bridesmaids”, “Home Alone” and “Rocky”. What is a film you can’t stop rewatching?
Film Femmes.
Shameless self promotion here. The last of the film podcasts I am going to discuss today is Film Femmes. Film Femmes is an all female centered film podcast that I co-host with actress Kimberly Fadul. Each episode is centered around an actor, actress, film or series. Film Femmes goes into detail about the beginnings, career and personal life of actors as well as reviewing current entertainment from a modern female perspective. Episodes are posted weekly and can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and IHeartRadio.
