Shows
Crimes of the CenturiesSex on the Moon: The Audacious Theft of Lunar RocksA band of nerdy geology enthusiasts were sure the email they received in 2002 was a hoax: The unsolicited message said that its writer was in possession of moon rocks that he was willing to sell. But moon rocks were among the most valuable objects on earth and anyone who knew anything about NASA knew that not only was owning them illegal, but it was impossible. One email recipient reached out to the FBI and was instructed to pose as an interested buyer, triggering one of the most outlandish heists in history.
"Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast...2025-05-1244 min
Cup of Tea Critiques PodcastSinners and the Mystique of VampirismRyan Coogler’s recent hit movie, Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, has sparked a lot of buzz. What is the appeal of vampires and what adds credibility to a vampire production? In this episode, we dive into the mystique of this century-long cinematic spectacle. After sharing our thoughts on the new blockbuster, we discuss the classic vampire movies, like Dracula and Nosferatu, as well as the contemporary hit shows, such as Buffy and The Vampire Diaries.Send us a note to let us know your favorite vampire production. Also, if there’s a topic you would like us t...2025-05-0649 minCrimes of the CenturiesDid Britain Hang an Innocent Man? The Murders at Rillington Place Part 2When 25-year-old Tim Evans was hanged for killing his wife and 14-month-old daughter in 1949, few outside of his family questioned whether justice had been done. After all, Evans had at one point confessed to the crimes. But during his trial he recanted, saying that a neighbor had killed his 20-year-old wife Beryl during a botched abortion attempt. It seemed a ludicrous attempt at diversion -- until that same neighbor was himself revealed to be a serial killer just three years later. The questions sparked by the case helped fuel a movement to halt the death penalty in Britain.
"...2025-05-0541 minCup of Tea Critiques PodcastWhen the Industry Goes Reel!In this episode, we delve into cinema on difficult topics and social issues. Be aware that samples of these works and some aspects of our discussion may be triggering for some listeners. Many movies and TV series mirror real‑life circumstances and experiences. When handled deftly, the works often resonate with us or at minimum inform our perspectives about aspects of life or life encounters that are unfamiliar to us. We hope you find our talk on these issues affirming, comforting, and informative. Below, we have compiled a list of hotlines obtained from endcan.org and psychiatry.org should yo...2025-04-3057 minCup of Tea Critiques PodcastWho the Heck is Alan Smithee — and Why Should You Care?Have you ever wanted to remove your name from something that turned out badly? Maybe it was a group project, a paper you wrote, or a decision with an undesirable outcome. A little-known pseudonym adopted by the Directors Guild of America has allowed its members to do just that when their films don’t turn out as planned. In this episode, we dive deep into the Alan Smithee moniker, exploring its history and debating its merits. The question at the core of Alan Smithee is ‘should we really disown our mistakes?’ What is your Alan Smithee moment? Text to...2025-04-2237 minCrimes of the CenturiesJournalist Spy: The Double Life of Pham Xuan AnAs American journalists worked to cover the Vietnam War, one of their colleagues proved a valuable asset: Pham Xuan An had been born in Vietnam, and was therefore able to help his coworkers navigate the ins and outs of an unfamiliar culture. His work was praised as detailed, empathetic and unbiased. It would be years later that the truth finally came out, revealing that the journalist was in fact a South Vietnamese spy whose access to top-ranking military briefings helped ensure thousands of American deaths during the conflict.
"Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag...2025-04-2150 minCup of Tea Critiques PodcastCan Film Thrive without Music?Music can certainly exist outside of movies, but do you think movies can thrive without music? Have you ever thought about the crucial role that music plays in film? Or is music so integrated into film today that it is tough to think about the latter without the former? In this show, we take a deep dive into the undeniable value of music in film, beginning with early movie industry strategies to blend the two art forms to the contemporary and varied methods of scoring films. After listening, think of your favorite films without the music. Do you enjoy...2025-04-151h 01Crimes of the CenturiesJack Kevorkian: Dr. Death or Champion of Choice?In the 1990s, Dr. Jack Kevorkian ignited a firestorm when he began helping to end the lives of people who said they were terminally ill. Over the years, he claimed to have assisted in the deaths of more than 130 people, all while challenging police and prosecutors who vowed to stop him. His first four trials ended in three acquittals and a mistrial, but as his antics grew more daring, so, too, did the legal system's fervor to put him behind bars. His legacy is divisive, but few can argue that he single-handedly forced America to confront its stance on physician-assisted...2025-04-1452 minCrimes of the CenturiesThe Enduring Mystery of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance KidFor much of their outlaw careers, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid weren't the inseparable duo that Hollywood made us believe with its 1969 depiction of the pair. But the movie isn't the only reason the two are inextricably linked: The two members of the Wild West crew known as The Wild Bunch were wanted men when they opted in 1901 to disappear together. The official story is that the pair died in a shoot-out with the Bolivian army, but more than a century later, questions remain.
"Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten...2025-04-0748 minCup of Tea Critiques PodcastMovie Ratings: Are They Meaningful and Relevant Today? (Part 2 of 2)Do you consider the rating of a film before deciding if you will go to the theater to see it? While they may be useful now, those seemingly benign letters that make up the ratings carry a lot of historical weight. For much of the 20th century, they were used as a means of defining morality for the movie-going public while suppressing freedom of speech and expression for filmmakers. Based on the Cup of Tea Critiques article, “A Clash of Knuckles,” which can be found in the Crumpets section on cupofteacritiques.com, this podcast continues our discussion of the Moti...2025-03-3141 minCup of Tea Critiques PodcastMovie Ratings: Are They Meaningful and Relevant Today? (Part 1 of 2)Do you consider the rating of a film before deciding if you will go to the theater to see it? While they may be useful now, those seemingly benign letters that make up the ratings carry a lot of historical weight. For much of the 20th century, they were used as a means of defining morality for the movie-going public while suppressing freedom of speech and expression for filmmakers. Based on the Cup of Tea Critiques article, “A Clash of Knuckles,” which can be found in the Crumpets section on cupofteacritiques.com, this podcast covers the history of the Moti...2025-03-2428 minCrimes of the CenturiesHow Family Man John List Became New Jersey's BogeymanTo outsiders, John List was a mild-mannered, church-going father of three whose oddest trait was mowing the lawn in a suit and tie. But then the bodies of his wife, mother and three children were uncovered rotting in the family's Westfield, New Jersey, home in late 1971. This was no whodunit: List left notes explaining not only what he'd done, but why he claimed he had to do it. Then he disappeared, becoming one of America's most wanted criminals.
"Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a...2025-03-1744 minCup of Tea Critiques PodcastPublic Domain and ... Winnie the Pooh?In 2023, filmmaker Rhys Frake-Waterfield set off a frenzy when he released his film, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, which presents the iconic cuddly bear as something more repulsive than inviting. His transformation of Pooh was enabled by the character’s recent release into the public domain archives. Public domain is a category of creative works that are unprotected by intellectual property law. In some cases, the work was never protected, and in others, the term of protection for said work has expired. In this episode, COTC explores public domain, viewed by some as a treasure trove and others as...2025-03-1736 minCup of Tea Critiques PodcastWhat makes sequels and serials work?Can you distinguish between a sequel and a serial? In this episode of the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast, we define and explore the two concepts, with examples of familiar films from past and present. We also delve into the question of whether our expectations for a sequel/serial influence our positive or negative evaluation of it. What are some of your favorite sequels and multi-part franchises? Which ones disappointed you? Leave us a review and share your thoughts! Send us a textSUBSCRIBE Footer We hope yo...2025-03-1053 min