Episodes
The Shining (1980) with Chris Cureton
Jack, Wendy, and Danny Torrance stay at The Overlook Hotel, caring for the estate during its off-season period. Jack has been outlining a new writing project and believes that five months of peace is just what’s needed, but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Fortunately, Danny has been mentored by Dick Hallorann, who provides cautionary advice and special instructions such as, “Stay out of Room 237,” guidance that helps Danny stay one step ahead of dangers that lie within The Overlook, helping Danny evade the horrors that his father Jack will unleash. Designer, brand strategist, and writer Chris Cureton talks about what makes Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining a perfect horror movie, and why writing in and of itself can sometimes be a scary endeavor.
Cure (1997) with Zac Lim Eubank
For Zac Lim Eubank, there’s only one movie that delivers exceptional sound design, calculated editing, and non-stop tension, and it’s Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure. Random acts of violence seem to follow a mysterious, wandering man who appears ghost-like but is very grounded in reality.
Weapons (2025) with Catalina Z. Olvera
Catalina Z. Olvera recalls seeing Weapons in a jam-packed theater, and observing the movie’s villain Aunt Gladys for the first time. We also talk about the difference between seeing a horror movie late at night on a small screen in the darkness of your den, or watching it on the big screen with friends and family, as well as strangers, surrounding you. Plus, we reflect on the way design factors into the investigative work Archer does through observations, drawing with a pen and ruler, and ultimately the diagrammatic reveal.
Kandie (2025) with Jasmine Osean Thomas and Kyle Marchiafava
Director and writer Jasmine Osean Thomas and production designer Kyle Marchiafava talk about Kandie (2025), and how various influences come together to make this unsettling horror movie. Notably, Jasmine and her team use visuals to provide backstory, with a variety of graphic, photographic, typographic, and artistic elements revealing a character’s interests and passions, as well as inner demons.
Superman (2025) with Erin Sarofsky and Duarte Elvas
Erin Sarofsky and Duarte Elvas talk about working with James Gunn for the past ten years, and how trust contributed to the title designs that Sarofsky did for Superman (2025). Erin and Duarte also share details about how research, concept development, and typography factored into the end result, and why tactile, hands-on work can stand out, rather than AI-generated photo real images that look and feel too surreal.
The Horse’s Mouth (1958) with Roymieco Carter
Before Sir Alec Guinness was Obi-Wan Kenobi, he adapted Joyce Cary’s book The Horse’s Mouth into the 1958 movie. In addition to writing the screenplay, Guinness starred as Gulley Jimson, an artist who is dedicated but snide, talented but demanding, endearing but dishonest. Jimson charms and delights, and nothing will get in the way of his vision. Even worse, he leaves havoc in his wake. Roymieco Carter, who’s Associate Professor and Director of the Visual Arts Program at North Carolina A&T State University, discovered the movie when he was a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, and it made a big impact. Carter explains why The Horse’s Mouth impacted him at such an early age, and why asking for permission to be an artist or designer isn’t necessary, if you want to be something, be it.
Back to School (1986) with Mike Wirth
Muralist and illustrator, UX and AR designer Mike Wirth talks about why Back to School is the perfect antidote to the End of the Summer Blues, and why teachers, instructors, and professors should give it a watch, or a re-watch.
Dead Poets Society (1989) with Bill Childs
Bill Childs, accomplished marketing leader, author, designer, and mentor, talks about his journey to becoming a teacher and why Dead Poets Society means so much to him.
Back to School this Season [Jason monologuing]
Sure, back to school means shopping for the nifty pens and pencils, dusting off your backpack, packing lunch, and seeing friends again. But the gun violence needs to end. Some organizations and individuals who are taking a stand include Everytown, Mad Dads, Moms Demand Action, Sandy Hook, and Hollywood directors too. Listen to this episode, and see its notes, to learn more about fighting to end gun violence and creating safer schools.
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical (2025) with Erik Wiese
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical is a brand new Peanuts story, released on Apple TV+ in 2025. Characters created by Charles M. Schulz that we know and love, Charlie, Snoopy, Woodstock, Sally, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, and so many more, sing and dance their way through summer camp with music by Ben Folds. Whether you’re a fan of the Peanuts from way back when, or a first-time viewer, you’ll be entertained by this incredibly moving story, directed by Erik Wiese. He joins the show to discuss how design plays a role in his work, and how Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical honors Charles Schulz and Schulz’s development as an artist.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) with Sam Beddoes
Sam Beddoes of FreakZone Games talks about The Rocky Horror Show (1974), the original stage musical that became the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Going in depth, explaining the differences between each production, he also talks about how he made The Rocky Horror Show Video Game. We also discuss Brian De Palma, The Office, Dead Poets Society, Labyrinth, Sweeney Todd, Jennifer’s Body, Robin Hood, Dracula, and The Naked Gun, although not in that exact order!
We're back for a 2nd Season!
We’re back! Season 2! More great guests, more great movies, more great discussions. Have a question or guest recommendation? You want to be a guest? Have a movie review? Call our hotline, 704-681-6880, leave a voicemail. Remember! Subscribe AND provide a review wherever you listen to podcasts!
Summer 2025: Superman anticipation
About two weeks away from the release of Gunn’s Superman, we hear from Tom Muller, Giovanna Chung, and Jen Hood who are all super excited for the new movie.
Summer 2025: Superman and The Fantastic Four with Matt Stevens
In a prior episode, designer and illustrator Matt Stevens talked about why 2022’s The Batman is such a great movie and how it has some elements from David Fincher’s Se7en plus inspirations from various Batman sources, creating a unique vision. Matt does something similar in his own work. His latest project, Good Movies as Old Books from Chronicle Books reimagines films as vintage book covers. In that prior episode, Matt also talked about taking risks, going out on his own, leaving the agency world behind, and various side projects. Here, Matt discusses how maybe, sometimes a side project that looks and feels fun may not be a success but the momentum and direction it gives you could still have value. He also shares his opinions about two summer movies, Superman and The Fantastic Four.
The Batman (2022) with Matt Stevens
Matt Stevens, designer and illustrator, talks about The Batman, a unique take on the Bruce Wayne and Batman mythology brought to life by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, and Andy Serkis. This 2022 version has less of the comic-y qualities that Joel Schumacher instilled in the 90s versions, but has a gritty, frightening ambiance closer to David Fincher's Se7en. In addition to The Batman, Stevens also talks about Good Movies as Old Books which reimagines movies as book covers.
Jaws (1975) with Lisa Lake
Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, turns 50 this month. Chief Brody, played by Roy Scheider, is pulled in multiple directions after a fatal shark attack, and subsequent murders, none of which the town’s local leaders take seriously. When Hooper, played by Richard Dreyfuss, comes into the picture, the two of them unite with the hope of getting to the bottom of the situation, with factual, scientific accuracy in mind. Hooper and Brody as outsiders, not locals, eventually team up with Robert Shaw’s Quint to hunt down the shark, and end the terror. Lisa Lake, a killer designer, awesome photographer, and drone pilot, vividly remembers seeing Jaws in the theatre and hadn’t seen it since then, but she re-watched it for this episode.
Challengers (2024) with Erin Prus [more thoughts]
Erin Prus, a design leader living in the heart of the Midwest, focuses on the ways words, and their systems and styles, shape design, along with UI design elements, accessibility, and more. Erin shares more thoughts about Challengers, starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor, analyzing its romance, conflicts, parenting scenes, memorable action on the tennis court, compression of time and flashbacks, sponsorships, and also, how Applebee’s factors into the story.
Pee-wee as Himself (2025) review
The HBO Original two-part documentary Pee-wee as Himself, directed by Matt Wolf, debuts Friday, May 23 (8pm ET) with both parts airing back-to-back on HBO and available to stream on Max.