May 18, 2026
A Twisted Inheritance: The Outrageous Journey of 'How To Make A Killing'
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RSS Feed In this episode of *Movies First*, Chris and Jessica embark on a wild journey through the outrageous dark comedy *Beckett's Fortune*. The film opens with Beckett Redfellow, portrayed by Glen Powell, facing his imminent execution while recounting his tumultuous life story to a priest. This daring premise sets the stage for a narrative filled with tragedy, ambition, and moral ambiguity. The hosts delve into Beckett's complex relationship with his mother, Mary, whose heartbreaking decisions shape his twisted quest for family fortune and validation.
Chris and Jessica explore the absurdity of Beckett's plan to eliminate his family members standing in his way, emphasizing how the film's tone embraces the ridiculousness of his actions without attempting to justify them. They highlight Glen Powell's captivating performance as a charming yet unapologetic anti-hero, alongside Margaret Qualley's sharp portrayal of Julia Steinway, a manipulative femme fatale who knows how to exploit Beckett's weaknesses. The dynamic between Beckett and the widow, played by Jessica Henwick, adds further complexity to the narrative, raising questions about redemption in a story steeped in greed and ambition.
The hosts also discuss the film's loose reimagining of *Kind Hearts and Coronets*, praising director John Patton Ford for crafting a story that, while outrageous, resonates with universal emotions of envy and resentment. With a score of 7 out of 10, this episode invites listeners to embrace the madness of *Beckett's Fortune*, a wickedly fun ride that pushes boundaries while delivering an entertaining cinematic experience.
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To access the Movies First reviews archive visit our website at www.bitesz.com/podcast/movies-first
This episode includes AI-generated content.
WEBVTT
0
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.440
Chris: Okay, so imagine this. You're four hours away
1
00:00:02.440 --> 00:00:04.680
from your execution, and instead of panicking
2
00:00:04.680 --> 00:00:06.840
or pleading for your life, you're calmly
3
00:00:06.840 --> 00:00:09.160
sitting with a priest recounting your life
4
00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:12.160
story. That's exactly where this film starts.
5
00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:14.320
And it only gets more outrageous from there.
6
00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:17.240
Jessica: That's such a bold way to open a story. It
7
00:00:17.240 --> 00:00:20.040
immediately makes you wonder, what kind of
8
00:00:20.040 --> 00:00:22.920
life did this person lead to end up here? And
9
00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:25.080
with Beckett Redfellow, played by Glen
10
00:00:25.080 --> 00:00:27.520
Powell, the answer is a mix of tragedy,
11
00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:30.480
ambition, and a whole lot of moral ambiguity.
12
00:00:31.630 --> 00:00:33.470
Chris: Right. And it all starts with his mother,
13
00:00:33.630 --> 00:00:36.110
Mary. Her story is heartbreaking.
14
00:00:36.510 --> 00:00:38.830
Disowned and disinherited by her father,
15
00:00:39.070 --> 00:00:41.200
Whitelaw, for refusing to abort, uh,
16
00:00:41.430 --> 00:00:43.310
Beckett when she was just 18.
17
00:00:44.350 --> 00:00:46.990
That decision cost her everything. But she
18
00:00:46.990 --> 00:00:48.990
still tried to raise Beckett with dignity and
19
00:00:48.990 --> 00:00:50.710
purpose, and that's what
20
00:00:50.710 --> 00:00:52.830
Jessica: makes her deathbed pleas so impactful.
21
00:00:53.630 --> 00:00:55.510
She tells Beckett to fight for the life he
22
00:00:55.510 --> 00:00:57.750
deserves, but it's almost like she
23
00:00:57.750 --> 00:01:00.110
unintentionally sets him on this dark path.
24
00:01:00.990 --> 00:01:03.310
Instead of finding peace or reconciliation,
25
00:01:03.550 --> 00:01:05.590
Beckett takes her words as a mandate to
26
00:01:05.590 --> 00:01:08.030
reclaim the family fortune, no matter the
27
00:01:08.030 --> 00:01:08.350
cost.
28
00:01:09.470 --> 00:01:12.390
Chris: And the cost is high. Beckett's
29
00:01:12.390 --> 00:01:13.990
plan to eliminate every family member
30
00:01:13.990 --> 00:01:16.270
standing between him and the inheritance is
31
00:01:16.270 --> 00:01:19.110
both horrifying and absurd. But
32
00:01:19.110 --> 00:01:22.110
what makes it work is the film's tone. It's
33
00:01:22.110 --> 00:01:23.910
a dark comedy that leans into the
34
00:01:23.910 --> 00:01:25.550
ridiculousness of his actions.
35
00:01:26.410 --> 00:01:28.610
Jessica: That's what makes it so entertaining. The
36
00:01:28.610 --> 00:01:30.730
film doesn't try to justify Beckett's actions
37
00:01:30.730 --> 00:01:33.570
or make him a sympathetic character. Instead,
38
00:01:33.570 --> 00:01:36.050
it embraces the absurdity and lets you enjoy
39
00:01:36.050 --> 00:01:38.970
the ride. Glen Powell's performance
40
00:01:39.050 --> 00:01:42.010
is key here. He's charming, smug,
41
00:01:42.010 --> 00:01:43.690
and completely unapologetic.
42
00:01:44.330 --> 00:01:46.810
Chris: And then there's Julia Steinway, played by
43
00:01:46.810 --> 00:01:49.770
Margaret Qualley. She's this manipulative
44
00:01:49.850 --> 00:01:52.420
femme, um, fatale who's been in Beckett's
45
00:01:52.420 --> 00:01:55.340
life since they were kids. She knows exactly
46
00:01:55.340 --> 00:01:57.820
how to push his buttons, and she's not afraid
47
00:01:57.820 --> 00:01:59.220
to use that to her advantage.
48
00:01:59.860 --> 00:02:02.820
Jessica: Julia is such an interesting character. She's
49
00:02:02.820 --> 00:02:05.380
not just a love interest. She's actively
50
00:02:05.380 --> 00:02:08.260
shaping the story. Margaret Qualley brings
51
00:02:08.260 --> 00:02:10.380
this sharpness to the role that makes Julia
52
00:02:10.380 --> 00:02:13.020
feel like she's always one step ahead, even
53
00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:14.500
when Beckett thinks he's in control.
54
00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:18.300
Chris: And let's not forget the widow. Beckett falls
55
00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:19.980
for her after, well, let's just say he
56
00:02:20.140 --> 00:02:22.780
removes her husband from the picture. It's
57
00:02:22.780 --> 00:02:25.180
such a bizarre dynamic, but it adds another
58
00:02:25.260 --> 00:02:26.220
layer to the story.
59
00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:28.900
Jessica: Jessica Henwick does a great job as the
60
00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:31.500
widow. She's this naive, almost
61
00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:33.340
innocent character who's completely
62
00:02:33.340 --> 00:02:36.340
Blindsided by Beckett's true nature. For
63
00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:38.020
a moment, you wonder if she might be the one
64
00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:39.940
to redeem him. But of course, that's not the
65
00:02:39.940 --> 00:02:41.020
kind of story this is.
66
00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:44.600
Chris: No, it's not. This is a story about
67
00:02:44.600 --> 00:02:47.440
ambition, greed, and how far
68
00:02:47.440 --> 00:02:49.600
someone is willing to go to get what they
69
00:02:49.600 --> 00:02:52.080
want. And the fact that it's all wrapped up
70
00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:55.040
in this darkly comedic package makes it such
71
00:02:55.040 --> 00:02:56.680
a unique and entertaining experience.
72
00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:59.760
Jessica: It really does. And I think part of what
73
00:02:59.760 --> 00:03:01.240
makes it work is that it's a loose
74
00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:03.640
reimagining of kind hearts and coronets.
75
00:03:04.920 --> 00:03:06.880
That film was also a dark comedy about
76
00:03:06.880 --> 00:03:09.480
ambition and murder, but this version cranks
77
00:03:09.480 --> 00:03:11.560
up the intensity and adds a distinctly
78
00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:12.440
American flair.
79
00:03:12.930 --> 00:03:14.730
Chris: And let's talk about the direction by John
80
00:03:14.730 --> 00:03:17.610
Patton Ford. He's crafted something that's
81
00:03:17.610 --> 00:03:20.050
both outrageous and oddly relatable.
82
00:03:20.450 --> 00:03:23.290
Beckett's actions are extreme, but they're
83
00:03:23.290 --> 00:03:25.010
driven by emotions we all understand.
84
00:03:25.890 --> 00:03:28.769
Envy, resentment, and this desperate need for
85
00:03:28.769 --> 00:03:29.410
validation.
86
00:03:30.130 --> 00:03:32.930
Jessica: That's so true. The film taps into
87
00:03:32.930 --> 00:03:34.930
these universal feelings even as it
88
00:03:34.930 --> 00:03:37.890
exaggerates them to absurd levels. It's
89
00:03:37.890 --> 00:03:39.370
not just about the murders or the
90
00:03:39.370 --> 00:03:42.150
inheritance. It's about the human emotions
91
00:03:42.150 --> 00:03:44.510
driving those actions. And that's what makes
92
00:03:44.510 --> 00:03:45.430
it so compelling.
93
00:03:46.230 --> 00:03:48.270
Chris: And that's why it's so easy to get lost in
94
00:03:48.270 --> 00:03:50.830
the preposterousness of it all. You're not
95
00:03:50.830 --> 00:03:53.270
watching this for a moral lesson or a deep
96
00:03:53.270 --> 00:03:55.950
philosophical exploration. You're watching it
97
00:03:55.950 --> 00:03:58.030
to see how far Beckett will go and how much
98
00:03:58.030 --> 00:03:59.750
chaos he'll cause along the way.
99
00:04:00.470 --> 00:04:03.110
Jessica: Exactly. It's escapism at its
100
00:04:03.110 --> 00:04:06.110
finest. And the performances really elevate
101
00:04:06.110 --> 00:04:08.840
it. Glen Powell, Margaret
102
00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:11.760
Qualley, Jessica Henwick. They all bring
103
00:04:11.760 --> 00:04:14.760
their A game. You can tell they're having
104
00:04:14.760 --> 00:04:16.640
fun with these roles, and that energy is
105
00:04:16.640 --> 00:04:17.240
infectious.
106
00:04:18.520 --> 00:04:21.520
Chris: So final thoughts? For me, It's a
107
00:04:21.520 --> 00:04:24.360
solid 7 out of 10. It's not perfect,
108
00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:26.840
but it's a wickedly fun ride that doesn't
109
00:04:26.840 --> 00:04:29.640
take itself too seriously. If you're in the
110
00:04:29.640 --> 00:04:32.120
mood for something dark, twisted, and a
111
00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:33.680
little bit ridiculous, this is definitely
112
00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:34.360
worth a watch.
113
00:04:35.130 --> 00:04:37.410
Jessica: I'd agree with that. It's not gonna be
114
00:04:37.410 --> 00:04:39.490
everyone's cup of tea, but if you can embrace
115
00:04:39.490 --> 00:04:41.610
the absurdity and just go along for the ride,
116
00:04:41.610 --> 00:04:44.170
it's a blast. Plus, it's always
117
00:04:44.170 --> 00:04:46.370
refreshing to see a film that's not afraid to
118
00:04:46.370 --> 00:04:48.810
take risks and push boundaries. So,
119
00:04:48.970 --> 00:04:51.850
yeah, seven out of ten feels just right.
120
00:04:52.730 --> 00:04:55.530
Chris: Well, there you have it. A darkly comedic
121
00:04:55.530 --> 00:04:58.370
tale of ambition, murder, and one man's
122
00:04:58.370 --> 00:05:00.250
quest for a life he believes he deserves.
123
00:05:00.970 --> 00:05:03.810
It's outrageous. It's entertaining and it's
124
00:05:03.810 --> 00:05:06.530
definitely one to add to your watch list if
125
00:05:06.530 --> 00:05:07.850
you can handle the madness.
126
00:05:08.010 --> 00:05:10.250
Voice Over Guy: You've been listening to movies first
127
00:05:10.410 --> 00:05:13.210
available at Apple podcasts, ah, Spotify,
128
00:05:13.450 --> 00:05:16.170
iHeartRadio or your favourite podcast
129
00:05:16.170 --> 00:05:17.930
player. You can also stream on
130
00:05:17.930 --> 00:05:20.050
demand@bytes.com this
131
00:05:20.050 --> 00:05:22.370
Chris: has been another quality podcast production
132
00:05:22.370 --> 00:05:23.680
from bytes.com um.
0
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.440
Chris: Okay, so imagine this. You're four hours away
1
00:00:02.440 --> 00:00:04.680
from your execution, and instead of panicking
2
00:00:04.680 --> 00:00:06.840
or pleading for your life, you're calmly
3
00:00:06.840 --> 00:00:09.160
sitting with a priest recounting your life
4
00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:12.160
story. That's exactly where this film starts.
5
00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:14.320
And it only gets more outrageous from there.
6
00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:17.240
Jessica: That's such a bold way to open a story. It
7
00:00:17.240 --> 00:00:20.040
immediately makes you wonder, what kind of
8
00:00:20.040 --> 00:00:22.920
life did this person lead to end up here? And
9
00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:25.080
with Beckett Redfellow, played by Glen
10
00:00:25.080 --> 00:00:27.520
Powell, the answer is a mix of tragedy,
11
00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:30.480
ambition, and a whole lot of moral ambiguity.
12
00:00:31.630 --> 00:00:33.470
Chris: Right. And it all starts with his mother,
13
00:00:33.630 --> 00:00:36.110
Mary. Her story is heartbreaking.
14
00:00:36.510 --> 00:00:38.830
Disowned and disinherited by her father,
15
00:00:39.070 --> 00:00:41.200
Whitelaw, for refusing to abort, uh,
16
00:00:41.430 --> 00:00:43.310
Beckett when she was just 18.
17
00:00:44.350 --> 00:00:46.990
That decision cost her everything. But she
18
00:00:46.990 --> 00:00:48.990
still tried to raise Beckett with dignity and
19
00:00:48.990 --> 00:00:50.710
purpose, and that's what
20
00:00:50.710 --> 00:00:52.830
Jessica: makes her deathbed pleas so impactful.
21
00:00:53.630 --> 00:00:55.510
She tells Beckett to fight for the life he
22
00:00:55.510 --> 00:00:57.750
deserves, but it's almost like she
23
00:00:57.750 --> 00:01:00.110
unintentionally sets him on this dark path.
24
00:01:00.990 --> 00:01:03.310
Instead of finding peace or reconciliation,
25
00:01:03.550 --> 00:01:05.590
Beckett takes her words as a mandate to
26
00:01:05.590 --> 00:01:08.030
reclaim the family fortune, no matter the
27
00:01:08.030 --> 00:01:08.350
cost.
28
00:01:09.470 --> 00:01:12.390
Chris: And the cost is high. Beckett's
29
00:01:12.390 --> 00:01:13.990
plan to eliminate every family member
30
00:01:13.990 --> 00:01:16.270
standing between him and the inheritance is
31
00:01:16.270 --> 00:01:19.110
both horrifying and absurd. But
32
00:01:19.110 --> 00:01:22.110
what makes it work is the film's tone. It's
33
00:01:22.110 --> 00:01:23.910
a dark comedy that leans into the
34
00:01:23.910 --> 00:01:25.550
ridiculousness of his actions.
35
00:01:26.410 --> 00:01:28.610
Jessica: That's what makes it so entertaining. The
36
00:01:28.610 --> 00:01:30.730
film doesn't try to justify Beckett's actions
37
00:01:30.730 --> 00:01:33.570
or make him a sympathetic character. Instead,
38
00:01:33.570 --> 00:01:36.050
it embraces the absurdity and lets you enjoy
39
00:01:36.050 --> 00:01:38.970
the ride. Glen Powell's performance
40
00:01:39.050 --> 00:01:42.010
is key here. He's charming, smug,
41
00:01:42.010 --> 00:01:43.690
and completely unapologetic.
42
00:01:44.330 --> 00:01:46.810
Chris: And then there's Julia Steinway, played by
43
00:01:46.810 --> 00:01:49.770
Margaret Qualley. She's this manipulative
44
00:01:49.850 --> 00:01:52.420
femme, um, fatale who's been in Beckett's
45
00:01:52.420 --> 00:01:55.340
life since they were kids. She knows exactly
46
00:01:55.340 --> 00:01:57.820
how to push his buttons, and she's not afraid
47
00:01:57.820 --> 00:01:59.220
to use that to her advantage.
48
00:01:59.860 --> 00:02:02.820
Jessica: Julia is such an interesting character. She's
49
00:02:02.820 --> 00:02:05.380
not just a love interest. She's actively
50
00:02:05.380 --> 00:02:08.260
shaping the story. Margaret Qualley brings
51
00:02:08.260 --> 00:02:10.380
this sharpness to the role that makes Julia
52
00:02:10.380 --> 00:02:13.020
feel like she's always one step ahead, even
53
00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:14.500
when Beckett thinks he's in control.
54
00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:18.300
Chris: And let's not forget the widow. Beckett falls
55
00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:19.980
for her after, well, let's just say he
56
00:02:20.140 --> 00:02:22.780
removes her husband from the picture. It's
57
00:02:22.780 --> 00:02:25.180
such a bizarre dynamic, but it adds another
58
00:02:25.260 --> 00:02:26.220
layer to the story.
59
00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:28.900
Jessica: Jessica Henwick does a great job as the
60
00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:31.500
widow. She's this naive, almost
61
00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:33.340
innocent character who's completely
62
00:02:33.340 --> 00:02:36.340
Blindsided by Beckett's true nature. For
63
00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:38.020
a moment, you wonder if she might be the one
64
00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:39.940
to redeem him. But of course, that's not the
65
00:02:39.940 --> 00:02:41.020
kind of story this is.
66
00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:44.600
Chris: No, it's not. This is a story about
67
00:02:44.600 --> 00:02:47.440
ambition, greed, and how far
68
00:02:47.440 --> 00:02:49.600
someone is willing to go to get what they
69
00:02:49.600 --> 00:02:52.080
want. And the fact that it's all wrapped up
70
00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:55.040
in this darkly comedic package makes it such
71
00:02:55.040 --> 00:02:56.680
a unique and entertaining experience.
72
00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:59.760
Jessica: It really does. And I think part of what
73
00:02:59.760 --> 00:03:01.240
makes it work is that it's a loose
74
00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:03.640
reimagining of kind hearts and coronets.
75
00:03:04.920 --> 00:03:06.880
That film was also a dark comedy about
76
00:03:06.880 --> 00:03:09.480
ambition and murder, but this version cranks
77
00:03:09.480 --> 00:03:11.560
up the intensity and adds a distinctly
78
00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:12.440
American flair.
79
00:03:12.930 --> 00:03:14.730
Chris: And let's talk about the direction by John
80
00:03:14.730 --> 00:03:17.610
Patton Ford. He's crafted something that's
81
00:03:17.610 --> 00:03:20.050
both outrageous and oddly relatable.
82
00:03:20.450 --> 00:03:23.290
Beckett's actions are extreme, but they're
83
00:03:23.290 --> 00:03:25.010
driven by emotions we all understand.
84
00:03:25.890 --> 00:03:28.769
Envy, resentment, and this desperate need for
85
00:03:28.769 --> 00:03:29.410
validation.
86
00:03:30.130 --> 00:03:32.930
Jessica: That's so true. The film taps into
87
00:03:32.930 --> 00:03:34.930
these universal feelings even as it
88
00:03:34.930 --> 00:03:37.890
exaggerates them to absurd levels. It's
89
00:03:37.890 --> 00:03:39.370
not just about the murders or the
90
00:03:39.370 --> 00:03:42.150
inheritance. It's about the human emotions
91
00:03:42.150 --> 00:03:44.510
driving those actions. And that's what makes
92
00:03:44.510 --> 00:03:45.430
it so compelling.
93
00:03:46.230 --> 00:03:48.270
Chris: And that's why it's so easy to get lost in
94
00:03:48.270 --> 00:03:50.830
the preposterousness of it all. You're not
95
00:03:50.830 --> 00:03:53.270
watching this for a moral lesson or a deep
96
00:03:53.270 --> 00:03:55.950
philosophical exploration. You're watching it
97
00:03:55.950 --> 00:03:58.030
to see how far Beckett will go and how much
98
00:03:58.030 --> 00:03:59.750
chaos he'll cause along the way.
99
00:04:00.470 --> 00:04:03.110
Jessica: Exactly. It's escapism at its
100
00:04:03.110 --> 00:04:06.110
finest. And the performances really elevate
101
00:04:06.110 --> 00:04:08.840
it. Glen Powell, Margaret
102
00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:11.760
Qualley, Jessica Henwick. They all bring
103
00:04:11.760 --> 00:04:14.760
their A game. You can tell they're having
104
00:04:14.760 --> 00:04:16.640
fun with these roles, and that energy is
105
00:04:16.640 --> 00:04:17.240
infectious.
106
00:04:18.520 --> 00:04:21.520
Chris: So final thoughts? For me, It's a
107
00:04:21.520 --> 00:04:24.360
solid 7 out of 10. It's not perfect,
108
00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:26.840
but it's a wickedly fun ride that doesn't
109
00:04:26.840 --> 00:04:29.640
take itself too seriously. If you're in the
110
00:04:29.640 --> 00:04:32.120
mood for something dark, twisted, and a
111
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little bit ridiculous, this is definitely
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worth a watch.
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Jessica: I'd agree with that. It's not gonna be
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everyone's cup of tea, but if you can embrace
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the absurdity and just go along for the ride,
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it's a blast. Plus, it's always
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refreshing to see a film that's not afraid to
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take risks and push boundaries. So,
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yeah, seven out of ten feels just right.
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Chris: Well, there you have it. A darkly comedic
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tale of ambition, murder, and one man's
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quest for a life he believes he deserves.
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It's outrageous. It's entertaining and it's
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definitely one to add to your watch list if
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you can handle the madness.
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Voice Over Guy: You've been listening to movies first
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available at Apple podcasts, ah, Spotify,
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iHeartRadio or your favourite podcast
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player. You can also stream on
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demand@bytes.com this
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Chris: has been another quality podcast production
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from bytes.com um.
