Episodes

June 30, 2021

The Perfect Storm w. Brianna Bowman King

Danny Ocean is married to the sea. This week we talk about fisheries, late capitalism’s guilty love letters to the American worker, and Linda Greenlaw with Brianna Bowman King. Also, the surprising origin story of the Filet-O-Fish.

Episode page
June 23, 2021

The Mummy [1999] w. Neeraja Viswanathan

We dream about dead guys, and all the daddies in The Mummy [1999], with Neeraja Viswanathan. You can find Neeraja on Twitter here, and you can find Neeraja's writing on mystery movies here. We made a playlist to accompany this …

Episode page
June 16, 2021

Grosse Pointe Blank w. Chris Gethard

If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's... well... broken. We talk Grosse Pointe Blank with Chris Gethard. You can find Chris online here, and you can find his special Half My Life here.

Episode page
June 16, 2021

Grosse Pointe Blank w. Chris Gethard

If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's... well... broken. We talk Grosse Pointe Blank with Chris Gethard.

Episode page
June 9, 2021

A League of Their Own w. Jade Van Kley

This week we talk about our daughter, Dottie, and our other daughter, Dottie’s sister. Join us (and guest Jade Van Kley) for a lively chat about A League of Their Own. You can find Jade on Twitter here, and her …

Episode page
June 2, 2021

Dazed and Confused w. Sean Nelson

Well, we got no class and we got no principals. We ain't got no innocence. We can't even think of a word that rhymes. School's out for summer. We talk Dazed and Confused with Sean Nelson. Sean's record Nelson Sings …

Episode page
May 26, 2021

Beauty and the Beast [1991] w. Dana Schwartz

A bride without a head! A wolf without a foot! We laugh and cry and sing and love Howard Ashman (and, of course, Jerry Orbach). We talk Beauty and the Beast [1991] with the splendiferous Dana Schwartz. You can find …

Episode page
May 19, 2021

American Gangster w. Sin á Tes Souhaits

American Gangster goes deep on power, racism, organized crime, geopolitics and—of course—dads and we get into all that and more with the fabulous Sin á Tes Souhaits. We also have a fun update regarding our Pretty in Pink episode!

Episode page
May 12, 2021

Pretty in Pink w. Julie Klausner

Is Ducky a comedy writer these days? Is Iona the Daddy? What literal genius thought to put Harry Dean Stanton in a teen comedy? We get into the weeds of Pretty in Pink with the incomparable Julie Klausner. You can …

Episode page
May 5, 2021

Blue Valentine w. Esmé Weijun Wang

We unpack the big feelings that fuel Blue Valentine—which is not Blue Velvet (though it is at once similarly and differently heavy)—with Esmé Weijun Wang. You can find Esmé on Twitter and Instagram. You can find Esmé online here!

Episode page
May 3, 2021

BONUS EPISODE: Room 237 [Patreon Bonus]

Inspired by our conversation about The Shining, we talked Kubrickian conspiracy theories and Room 237 with our pal Patrick McGinty. This was originally a Patreon bonus episode, but since we took last week off we figured we'd treat y'all to …

Episode page
April 29, 2021

Here's a "week off" message from Sarah

We're taking this week off, but here's a quick hello from Sarah! We'll be back next week! In the meantime you can find us on Twitter, Instagram and Patreon.

Episode page
April 21, 2021

Pretty Woman w. Maggie Rose

Heartwarming hilarity ensues when a quirky sex-worker helps a corporate raider get over his daddy issues. Join us and special guest Maggie Rose in conversation about Pretty Woman. You can find Maggie on Twitter and Instagram.

Episode page
April 14, 2021

Rain Man w. Eric Michael Garcia

We discuss all things Rain Man—from the plentitude of dad issues to the many things it got wrong about autism—with journalist Eric Michael Garcia. Bonus: We also love on Oliver Sacks super, super hard. Eric's book We Are Not Broken: …

Episode page
April 7, 2021

The Shining (page to screen!)

We take a close look at The Shining—both the Stephen King classic and the Stanley Kubrick classic—and discuss Jack Torrance's multiple shortcomings in the fatherhood department. We made a playlist to accompany this episode!

Episode page
March 31, 2021

Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2 w. Fangirl Jeanne

It is about good dads and bad dads; present dads and absent dads; biological dads and adoptive dads. Join us as we discuss Marvel dads and daddies, space losers, mediocre white dude heroes, and Guardians of the Galaxy with Fangirl …

Episode page
March 24, 2021

The Silence of the Lambs w. Harmony Colangelo

Clarice Starling was a revelation while the portrayal of "Buffalo Bill" became a bane for many trans people coming of age. The impeccably constructed film is the gold standard of copaganda. We unpack The Silence of the Lambs' complicated legacy …

Episode page
March 17, 2021

The Lord of the Rings with Talia Lavin

A few Halfling hippies assemble an eclectic fellowship and go on the adventure of a lifetime. Dads and daddies abound. We talk Hobbits, fan fiction, thirsting for Viggo, and The Lord of the Rings with our pal Talia Lavin.

Episode page
March 10, 2021

Clueless with Kristofer Thomas

One time in the 1990s a scary litigator melted the hearts of millions of kids by reminding his daughter that "you divorce wives, not kids." We discuss Mel Horowitz—the loveliest shouty dad in popular cinema—Cher, Josh, Tai, Murray,

Episode page
March 3, 2021

The Wrestler w. Gaby Dunn

It's a movie about a big, messy sweetie who can't get out of his own way and all of the folks who suffer as a result. We talk The Wrestler, alcoholic dads, and more with the wonderful Gaby Dunn. You …

Episode page
Feb. 24, 2021

Muriel's Wedding with Laura Lippman

An effervescent dark comedy that addresses the crushing nature of patriarchy while also paying tribute to ABBA on a number of levels? We gushed about Muriel's Wedding with the endlessly marvelous Laura Lippman. You can find Laura's books here,

Episode page
Feb. 17, 2021

The Dark Knight with Aubrey Gordon

A bunch of men have competing views on how best to parent their city, though they all agree the task of dadding around is a thankless, back-breaking, and secretive operation. A lovable anarchist literally tells the Bat Dad that they …

Episode page
Feb. 14, 2021

Bonus Episode: Death (and other stuff)

We're putting last week's episode of Shootin' the Shit w. Why Are Dads [our Patreon bonus series] over here on the main feed because it sounds like a lot of y'all are dealing with some of that heavy-heavy and a …

Episode page
Feb. 10, 2021

10 Things I Hate About You with Sanpriti Ireland

10 Things I Hate About You is Shakespeare seen through a 90s teen comedy lens and it remains such a treat. Along with special guest Sanpriti Ireland, we talk about Kat, her over-protective dad, Heath Ledger,

Episode page