Pee-wee as Himself [Jason monologuing]

HBO’s trailer for Pee-wee as Himself recently debuted, a walk down memory lane, full of familiar faces, funny stories, and some hard truths. The two-part TV series debuts May 2025.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) with Ben Shown

Ben Shown is equal parts design nerd and creative mentor, bringing a playful curiosity to complex challenges and a love of user-centered everything. As Head of Design at Blink UX, he helps shape the vision for industry giants like Amazon, Expedia, Microsoft, NASA, and The New York Times. When it comes to movies, Ben considers Pee-wee’s Big Adventure a North Star, a pillar, and for all the right reasons. It has comedy, drama, surprise, shock, whimsy, and even some horror, with memorable scenes and quotable lines that to this day are iconic.

Death and Taxes [Jason monologuing]

Benjamin Franklin famously wrote, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” When it comes to movies about taxes, finance, banking, scheming, bros, lying, corruption, cheating, and selling, here are a few of my favorites, from comedies to dramas, to the completely outrageous and obscene.

Midnight Run (1988) with Bill Childs

Accomplished marketing leader Bill Childs comes back to the show. After thirty years of working as a graphic designer, copywriter, art director, illustrator, marketing director, and creative director, Bill shares his insights in the book Childs Play which serves as a field guide for anyone who works creatively, or manages people who work in a creative capacity. Bill talks about why the high-octane comedy Midnight Run is a perfect movie, from Grodin’s improvisations to De Niro’s commitment to the character, with Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano, and Philip Baker Hall in supporting and memorable roles.

Val Kilmer on my mind [Jason monologuing]

Thankful for Val Kilmer and all the wonderful work he did, especially 2010’s MacGruber which helped me get through some dark times during 2020’s COVID lockdown.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) with Noah Smith

Noah Smith is a multidisciplinary visual storyteller specializing in UX design. With a background in film, Noah’s also a big, big fan of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the 1986 comedy that’s also full of action, drama, and sprawling musical numbers. Ferris, an extremely popular teenager, skips school and with his best friend Cameron and his girlfriend Sloane, they embark on a series of adventures. What about the possibility of Ferris being a figment of Cameron’s imagination, the so-called Fight Club theory? And how does Ferris connect to Spider-Man? Plus, the movie’s small but memorable baseball moments make it perfect for the month of March and Major League Baseball’s season openers.

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) with F. Ron Miller

Based in Los Angeles, California, F. Ron Miller has designed numerous movie posters and title sequences, as well as an impressive number of covers for The Criterion Collection, who releases important classic and contemporary films. Ron’s always been a big fan of The Bad and the Beautiful, starring Kirk Douglas, Lana Turner, and Elaine Stewart. It tells the story of a ruthless producer played by Kirk Douglas, who works tirelessly to reach the top of the Hollywood system with no care for how others get left in the dust. We also talk about movies that are about making movies, David Lynch, Citizen Kane, as well as imposter syndrome, how designers work, design magazines, design culture, and design history.

Anora (2024) with Erin Prus [more thoughts]

Erin Prus recorded the initial Anora episode, Part 1, January 2025 when the movie had already earned plenty of accolades. Weeks later, in February 2025 with even more news swirling about the movie and Oscar buzz, this follow-up episode was recorded. Is the controversy surrounding the movie, which did not have an intimacy coordinator on set, worth debating over? Does it make the movie better, or worse? Does it make Anora, as a work of art, a bolder creative act? Are comparisons to the Julia Roberts and Richard Gere romantic comedy Pretty Woman appropriate? Plus, we discuss stunt coordinators, sports cars, the Madonna-whore concept, and the 2016-2022 HBO series Westworld.

Anora (2024) with Erin Prus

Erin Prus is a design leader living in the heart of the Midwest, focused on the ways words (and their systems and styles) shape design, along with UI design elements, accessibility, and more. Her experience spans copywriting in advertising; short and long form in publishing; editorial, brand-building, and big healthcare. She sees her love of language at the center of many design experiences. Erin shared her thoughts on Anora, in an episode recorded well before the Oscars, where the movie won many statues. Sean Baker’s movie tells the story of an exotic dancer from Brooklyn, she is also an escort. Anora, who goes by Ani, meets a young, wealthy Russian boy but their romance and subsequent marriage go from Cinderella story to a maelstrom of unfortunate events.

The Princess Bride (1987) with Mónica Malavé

Mónica Malavé is a marketing and branding strategist, and CEO of Elevate It Now. Originally from Puerto Rico, she has a passion for design, marketing, and all things creative and is a big believer in “people helping people.” Her specialties include branding, social media management, technical and creative marketing, and innovative marketing strategies. She’s an Adobe Express Ambassador and also a Marketing Mentor with the American Marketing Association, DC Chapter. A big fan of movies, including but not limited to 2015’s Cinderella, Michael Keaton movies like Mr. Mom, Johnny Dangerously, and Batman, she suggested we discuss The Princess Bride, a true gem of a movie.

Purple Rain (1984) with Tony Best

Art historian and design historian Tony Best knows visual culture and as president of Sunset & Madison LLC, a research-based communications firm, his work is rooted in creative services management, archival practices, and mass media studies. Tony suggested a couple of movies to discuss, but ultimately landed on Purple Rain. Prince is The Kid, a young musician facing challenges at home, he strives to be the best artist, the best possible musician that he can, no matter the distractions. If you grew up in the 80s, then you know the music, featuring Prince and the Revolution, The Time and Apollonia 6. On March 5th, 2025, theaters around the country re-release Purple Rain for one night only, an exclusive Dolby Cinema Engagement with visuals and audio that improve upon the 40th anniversary edition from May 2024.

Moonlight Bonus Memories with Silas Munro

Silas Munro and I had a lot to talk about when we discussed 2016’s Moonlight, and this bonus episode has even more. Family, friends, spending time together, enjoying a meal together, and preparing a meal, as well as swimming, all play a pivotal role in the movie. In this short bonus episode, Silas talks about the importance of food and family in his own life.

Moonlight (2016) with Silas Munro

Silas Munro is a designer, artist, writer, researcher, curator, and surfer. He founded the design studio Polymode, based in Los Angeles and Raleigh, that works with clients across cultural spheres. He’s also curator and author of Strikethrough: Typographic Messages of Protest at Letterform Archive in 2022-2023 and contributor to W. E. B. Du Bois’s Data Portraits: Visualizing Black America. He co-authored the first BIPOC-centered design history course, Black Design in America: African Americans and the African Diaspora in Graphic Design 19th-21st Century. Silas talks about the Academy Award Winning movie, Moonlight, discussing not only the Oscar blunder but also the movie’s sights, sounds, actions, and emotions, from the use of lighting and music to the hero’s journey. We see a young boy, Chiron, facing challenges and obstacles in school, mentored by Juan who takes the boy under his wings. Composed of multiple acts, we witness Chiron grow into adulthood and reunite with his long lost love, Kevin.

The Intern (2015) with Danu Ardhata

Danu Ardhata believes that living in two completely different worlds has always fueled his creative ventures. Born in Chicago and raised in Jakarta, the Indonesian-American graphic designer and brand strategist recently earned his master’s degree at ArtCenter College of Design, California. He talks about his upbringing, learning software on his own, and why The Intern is such a special movie.

Kicking Off 2025 [Jason monologuing]

Some thoughts on David Lynch, plus what’s coming in early 2025.

Nosferatu (2024) with Jessica Barness

Jessica Barness, design scholar and scholarly designer, recently began exploring a new design sci-fi writing project that deals with blacklisted visual tools and biopreferences. When Jessica was last on the show, we discussed the Wim Wenders science fiction, dystopian movie Until the End of the World. In this episode, we talk about the 2024 Christmas Holiday Special Nosferatu from Robert Eggers, comparing it to prior vampire movies and critiquing facial hair, British accents, vampire hunters and academics, pre-tenure packets, and failed scholarly pursuits.

Seven Days in May (1964) with Steven Heller

Steven Heller has spent a lifetime in design, publishing, and education with accolades including but not limited to the AIGA Medal for Lifetime Achievement, Art Directors Club Hall of Fame Special Educators Award, The Pratt Institute Herschel Levitt Award, the Society of Illustrators Richard Gangel Award for Art Direction, and the Smithsonian National Design Award. Steven authored, co-authored, and/or edited over 200 books on design and visual culture, and with his wife Louise Fili he has produced over twenty books and design-centric products for Chronicle Books and other publishers. Steven shares his thoughts about why 1964’s Seven Days in May is as important today as when it came out, on the heels of JFK’s assassination and the Cuban Missile Crisis, with the specter of the Vietnam War looming in the distance. Plus, discussion about movie media, rare movies, books and collectibles, and archiving, and when to decide what to keep or get rid of.

Y tu mamá también (2001) with Aldo Juraidini Zorrilla

Aldo Juraidini Zorrilla is a Design Director at Studio Rodrigo. He has worked in fintech, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector, with clients including (but not limited) to Barclays, Peacock, Google, Make the Road NY, and more. Plus! Aldo leads Cinema Rodrigo once a month, when everyone is welcome to watch a film and chat about it over drinks and food. Y tu mamá también made an impact on Aldo at a young age. The movie stars Gael Garcia Bernal as Julio and Diego Luna as Tenoch, two very close friends who embark on a road trip with Luisa, played by Maribel Verdú. At the beginning of their trek, Julio and Tenoch have their own selfish intentions but as the journey progresses, Luisa teaches them a lesson or two, changing their lives in unexpected ways.

Defending Your Life (1991) with Erin Sarofsky

Motion design, animation, visual effects, live action production, typography, Erin Sarofsky and her team can do it all. Sarofsky designed titles for Guardians of the Galaxy, Werewolf by Night, and Echo, as well as James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, plus comedies Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Community. Erin talks about the 1991 comedy Defending Your Life, written and directed by Albert Brooks who starred alongside Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, and Lee Grant. Brooks plays Daniel, who dies and winds up in Judgment City, where recently deceased have access to all the food they want, plus other luxuries, but face an examination that feels like a courtroom trial.

Until the End of the World (1991) with Jessica Barness

Director Wim Wenders has inspired the likes of Beyonce and Kevin Smith, among others, and while he’s known for Wings of Desire and Paris, Texas, his lesser-known epic Until the End of the World is equally fantastic. The road trip story, interspersed with science fiction set pieces and hand-held computer devices, will make you question your own relationship with machines. How do we use technology, how do machines cripple us? Jessica Barness, design scholar and scholarly designer, talks about how Until the End of the World impacted her, and why the movie serves as a prescient warning to us all.