The Academy’s Captive Audience

All rise! In this episode Ben and Kit make a motion for the 12th Academy Awards to recognize those who love their jobs. First is a legacy teacher whose life exemplifies duty and service to nurture generations of children. Second is a young and upcoming senator whose seemingly simple mannerisms show courage and integrity in the arena of our Republic. Before the motion is seconded we will take a roll call...

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Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Mr. ...

We've crossed the halfway point in the 12th Academy Awards! In this episode Ben and Kit encounter a girl that lives on borrowed time, wind up in a rags to riches love quadrangle, and liberate a bond so strong that the facade of the iron curtain absolutely breaks. This episode features the following films...

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Dark Victory

Wuthering Heights

Ninotchka

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Our 25th episode features Mike Zolik! Give him a warm welcome as he joins Ben and Kit as we dedicate a full episode to his favorite film and this iconic nominee from the 12th Academy Awards. We explore the themes of the story, its place in the history of cinema, some of our favorite bits of trivia, and share with you our recent trip to the yellow brick road in Las Vegas. 

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The Wizard of Oz

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The news is grim across the sea but grand old Hollywood is booming. In this episode we head back to 1939 in an attempt to grapple with the average movie goer on the cusp of World War II. We first get a taste of American mythology as we travel through Monument Valley and its hoof stamped legacy. After that we board an ocean liner bound for New York City to witness a fated pair of 102nd floor crossed lovers. This episodes' following ...

Ben and Kit finish up the 44th Academy Awards and it is a doozy. We describe this year as a rather bleak year for cinema. Iconic in every sense of the word as we step off the stage to the familial strife of a beloved Russian Jewish family before taking a turn for the not so great. Be warned that the dark underside through the eyes of a youthful delinquent is not for the faint of heart. So if you wish to avoid watching this little h...

Ben and Kit return to their regularly scheduled programing to bring you the 44th Academy Awards. We start the year with the birth of the Tsar and Tsarina's fifth child and first son and boy what a life he lives. Then we mosey on down to a small oil town in Texas to salute the last ticket sale of the town's movie theater. The following films of the 44th Oscars are...

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Nicholas and Alexandra

The Last Picture Show

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Ben and Kit are breaking off from our regular schedule to interact with some questions asked by our listeners. We also engage in the current discussion on The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan and take a look at the new rule implemented by the Academy for next years' Oscars and beyond.

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With the final films of the 52nd Academy Awards coming to a close, Ben and Kit make a huge discovery. After punching in to the life of a textile factory worker, we live it up once again on Broadway hitting the after party of a lifetime, before bringing down the ultimate ruling on a never before witnessed trilogy of films. The following films are...

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Norma Rae

All That Jazz

Kramer vs. Kramer

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We begin this journey into the heart of the 52nd Academy Awards by going through a brief overview of what was happening during the latter part of the 1970's. Ben then takes us on a descent through the thick overgrowth of the Vietnam jungle, and Kit takes us on a well needed and timely bicycle tour around Bloomington Indiana. Go Hoosiers! The films in this episode are...

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Apocalypse Now

Breaking Away

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We wrap up our look into the 20th Academy Awards but not before we have a chance to check our pulse as we encounter the high strangeness surrounding Christmas. Afterward Ben and Kit encounter the antisemitism of 1947... not sure much has changed since then but maybe there is something to be learned from our last two nominees. Our following films are...

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The Bishop's Wife

Crossfire

Gentleman's Agreement

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Welcome back to our regularly scheduled programing! In this episode Ben and Kit kick off the 20th Academy Awards. We start by getting into the well dressed and smokey post war cinema mindset before spending Christmas at Macy's. Then we hop the pond to take in the Dickens tale of a boy named Pip. The following films in this episode are...

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Miracle on 34th Street

Great Expectations

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Well we finally made it! One last installment before the big night. In this episode Ben and Kit take their final look across the nominees including other categories and films seen from them. To top it all off we touch on a potential theme that seemed to be a driving force in the majority of the films nominated for Best Picture. So listen in and let us know what you think! Do you agree, disagree, or did you notice something about th...

We made it to the final two Best Picture nominees of the year! In early celebration Ben and Kit make their way down south to check out the Juke Joint nightlife scene, after which we make our way further south to experience the brief reprieve of Carnival in 1977 Brazil. Dancing or running shoes are recommended as we take a look at the following films...

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Sinners

The Secret Agent

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In this installment of our look at the Best Picture nominees, Ben and Kit prepare for the actions and consequences of the resistance before returning home to reconnect with family. Be ready for a wild ride as we look at the following nominees...

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One Battle After Another

Sentimental Value

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Welcome back to the Pod! Contrary to what Ben says to Kit, this is indeed the third installment of our look into the best picture nominees. In this episode we sit and mourn with those who mourn before getting wrapped up into a bizarre conspiracy theory for the ages. The following films in this episode are...

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Hamnet

Bugonia

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In this episode we welcome back Marc Mens to join Ben and Kit on a voyage to the arctic where we hear the fantastical story of a monster and his father. After being sent out to sea we skip ahead a couple of centuries to globetrot the racetracks of the quintessential and fastest motorsports event in existence. Buckle up, watch out for lightning storms, and enjoy our discussion of the following films...

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Frankenstein

F1 the Movie

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In this episode Ben and Kit trek the Washington forests to see a man at the turn of the century come to terms with the vastness, brutality, and majesty of nature that cradles his life. Afterward we cross the continent to the east coast to see another man pull himself out of New York to rise up on the world stage of the table tennis scene. So sit back and enjoy our look at the following nominees...

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Train Dreams

Marty Supreme

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Don...

Welcome one and all to the 98th Academy Awards! We are excited to bring you this special episode highlighting what is about to take place for the run up to this years Academy Awards celebration. In this episode we discuss our plans for covering the 10 films nominated this year. So settle in for the buzz and stay tuned for what's to come!

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Welcome to the first episode of 2026! Ben and Kit wrap up the 77th Academy Awards by heading down to Georgia on the Spruce Goose to watch a title boxing match that ends a life. Shocking we know. So take your seats, sit back, and listen in to find out how we capture the leading ideas of 2005. The following films are discussed...

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Ray

The Aviator

Million Dollar Baby

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