Shows
The JuggernautTop 10 Movies Of 2023It's our annual tradition! Harris and Cousin Josh will count down their favorite movies of 2023 and talk about why they work (and sometimes why they don't). Maybe you'll enjoy our opinions, or maybe we'll just put a few different movies on your radar screen. Thanks for listening! Josh's Top 10 Movies Of 2023: 10. Bottoms 9. You Hurt My Feelings 8. The Deepest Breath 7. The Holdovers 6. Anatomy Of A Fall 5. The Zone Of Interest 4. Rye Lane 3. Past Lives 2. How To Blow Up A Pipeline
2024-02-231h 31The JuggernautBest Movies Of 2022Are we the last podcast to do a year-in-review for cinema in 2022? Probably! But that just means you've already forgotten all the films you saw last year. Today, we'll remind you, and hopefully give you some leads on movies from around the world you might've missed.
2023-03-021h 16The JuggernautTop 10 Movies Of 2019We have an annual tradition of reviving our beloved Juggernaut podcast to list our favorite movies of the previous year. So let's do it! These are our top films for 2019, counted down in order. Will Harris go artsy? Will Josh go populist? You'll have to listen to this super-sized podcast to find out! Thanks for checking in with the ol' Juggernaut! Guest: Cousin Josh. NOTES: Follow Chris - @HarrisFootball Follow Josh - @DetectiveFisch Josh's Top 10 Of 2019: 1. Parasite 2. 1917 3. Joker 4. The Ir...
2020-01-291h 47The JuggernautTop 10 Movies Of 2018Let's count down our favorite movies of 2018 with our traditional guest on such occasions, Josh Fischberg, a.k.a. Cousin Josh from the Harris Football Podcast. We've watched a lot of films -- some even in black-and-white! some even in non-English languages! -- and winnowed our lists. Our hope is you'll find it fun to hear us talk about your favorites, and maybe that you'll be introduced to some new films you haven't seen. Thanks for listening! Josh's Top 10 Movies Of 2018: 10. A Quiet Place 9. Roma 8. BlacKKKlansman 7. Game N...
2019-02-131h 16
The JuggernautTop 10 Movies Of 2017Our annual tradition of counting down our favorite movies of calendar years continues, with a discussion of the best in cinema from 2017. We're firmly of the opinion that ranking art -- and even giving awards for art -- is stupid, but people like lists! And what's great about shows like this is: hopefully it exposes you to stuff you've not seen, and it makes your world a little bigger and a little more empathic. We hope you enjoy! Follow Chris: @HarrisFootball Follow Josh: @DetectiveFisch Josh's Top 10 Films Of 2017: ...
2018-02-161h 37
The JuggernautTV: Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta talk "The Leftovers"In just three seasons and 28 episodes, "The Leftovers" has taken a place among the great series ever created. Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta discuss grief and the unknown, and how they translated a fringe HBO series about what's left behind after The Rapture into a sci-fi, psychological, spy, family drama that resonates so loudly in our connection-free times. Notes: Learn more about Tom - tomperrotta.net Learn more about Damon - www.imdb.com/name/nm0511541/ Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com Follow The Juggernaut - @JuggernautPod
2017-06-271h 01
The JuggernautFilm: "The House On Coco Road" Director Damani BakerDamani Baker was a little kid when his family got caught up in the U.S. invasion of Grenada. That's a crazy story: Ronald Reagan invading a tiny island nation for flimsy reasons. But that's only part of Damani's documentary, "The House On Coco Road." Damani also digs into his family's history and his mother's activism in what is legitimately one of 2017's most moving films. Notes: Check out Damani's website - damanibaker.com Follow Damani Baker - @damanibaker Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com Follow The...
2017-06-2054 min
The JuggernautJosh Larsen: Movies Are PrayersOur buddy Josh Larsen has a new book entitled "Movies Are Prayers," and it's the jumping-off point for a fun conversation about films that give us "religious experiences." Whether that means a connected feeling to God (if that's something you believe in) or simply an understanding of the world beyond your own skin, we think you'll take away a deeper sense of how powerful cinema can be. Notes: Check out Josh's site - larsenonfilm.com Follow Josh - @LarsenOnFilm Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com F...
2017-06-1346 min
The JuggernautNovelist Joshua Ferris "Then We Came To The End" is one of the greatest and funniest novels about having your soul crushed at work that's ever been written. Joshua Ferris came by his knowledge of office life legitimately: though he always wanted to be a fiction writer, he spent time in an ad agency, understanding how tough it is to give away your creativity to a big company. Now it's ten years later, and Josh has written two more novels and a short story collection called "The Dinner Party." Thank heavens he got out. Notes: Check out Joshua's n...
2017-05-221h 00
The JuggernautMusic: New Pornographers' Carl NewmanCarl Newman is the beating heart of the New Pornographers, and the New Pornographers are amazing. They've been around since 2000's "Mass Romantic," and seven great records later, they're still going strong. We talk with Carl about how the music industry has changed, the role of the artist in discouraging political times, and how musical boredom has redefined his personal musical outlook. Notes: Follow Carl on Twitter - @ACNewman Check out The New Pornographers Here - www.thenewpornographers.com/ For more on Carl - http://www.acnewman.net/ Check...
2017-05-0952 min
The JuggernautFilm: Actor/Director Matt RossYou know Matt Ross as eccentric billionaire Gavin Belson from "Silicon Valley" and Alby Grant from "Big Love" and many other roles. Now Matt is an acclaimed writer/director, having helmed 2016's excellent "Captain Fantastic," for which lead actor Viggo Mortensen was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. Matt tells us about his non-traditional childhood, his Juilliard training, and how to find truth in a world with so much bullshit. Notes: Check out Matt's Film - Captain Fantastic Give money to sciencedebate.org Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com
2017-05-011h 08
The JuggernautFilm: "Sleight" Director J.D. DillardJ.D. Dillard was a Star Wars kid way after the original movies came out, partly because his dad was a Navy pilot and partly because Star Wars was too cool to resist. Now he's directed a sci-fi/superhero mashup movie called "Sleight," and he tells us what it's like to grow up as a black nerd, what it's like to call J.J. Abrams friend and mentor, and what it's like to come out of Sundance a red-hot property. Notes: Check out more about JD - IMDb SLEIGHT is in theaters Thursday, A...
2017-04-251h 06
The JuggernautNovelist Charles BockCharles Bock is a great crafter of sentences and his two novels, "Beautiful Children" and "Alice & Oliver," use his control of language to evoke the kind of compassion and empathy we need more of in our lives. This interview is about dealing with illness and loss, growing up in Las Vegas, finding strength in emotionally difficult art and what it's like to be an NFL beat reporter. You'll love it. Notes: Check out Charles' amazing website - charlesbock.net Buy his new book - "Alice and Oliver" Check out C...
2017-04-171h 11
The JuggernautNovelist Victor LaValleVictor LaValle is yet another writer who went to Cornell, continuing the "Cornell Mafia" theme of our show. Victor also happens to be a fascinating guy with a great personal story, and his fiction skirts the line between "literature" and "genre" in a way that makes him both popular and profound. We can't recommend his work more highly! Notes: To donate to CHIRLA.org Check out Victor's work - http://www.victorlavalle.com/ Follow Victor - @VictorLaValle Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com Follow The Ju...
2017-04-111h 11
The JuggernautTV: Adam Reed of "Archer"Adam Reed is kind of a genius. Just don't tell him that. We talk with the creator and primary writer of "Archer" about his television-saturated childhood, his shiftless young adulthood, his accidental stardom, and why assholes make great TV characters. "Archer: Dreamland" begins April 5th on FXX. Notes: Check out Adam's work - Here Watch Archer - Here Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com Follow The Juggernaut - @JuggernautPod Find the Juggernaut on Facebook - www.facebook.com/groups/1792363834316273 Three Of A Kind:
2017-04-0359 min
The JuggernautTV: "Legion"Noah Hawley makes "Fargo" for FX, which a lot of people know about. Fewer people know that Hawley also is the man behind the wild, experimental, quasi-superhero show "Legion," which is about to wrap up its first season. Alex McLevy from the AV Club joins today to make the case that "Legion" is one of the best things going on TV right now: the perfect superhero series for people who are damn sick of superheroes. Notes: Follow Alex McLevy - @alexm247 To read Alex's writings check out - avclub.com/author/alex%20mccown/
2017-03-241h 03
The JuggernautTV: "Patriot"Steve Conrad has been in the screenplay business for as long as he's been an adult, but with "Patriot" he finally got to see a project all the way from conception to execution, and the results are wild and incredible. Season 1 is full of belly laughs -- it features a folk-singing spy who kills people for a living -- but it's also a deeply weird and satisfying journey into the heart of American masculinity. Notes: Check out "Patriot" here! Learn more about Steve Conrad - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175726/ Ch...
2017-03-191h 04
The JuggernautNovelist Porochista KhakpourPorochista Khakpour is an artist, a journalist, an Iranian-American and an academic, and that makes her story as relevant and resonant today as it's ever been. She talks about leaving Tehran at age three, her extreme Type-A childhood reaction to the immigrant experience, and what it's like to try and break down misperceptions about being "The Other" in today's America. Notes: Follow Porochista - @PKhakpour For more on Porochista - porochistakhakpour.com Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com Follow The Juggernaut - @JuggernautPod Find the J...
2017-03-061h 14
The JuggernautTop 10 TV Shows Of The 2010sYou love countdown shows! And we love doing 'em every so often, too! Today, our buddy Todd VanDerWerff from Vox.com rejoins us, and we count down our favorite TV shows that have aired in the 2010s. Where will your favorites finish? Prepare to be amazed and outraged! Notes: Check out Todd's amazing articles - vox.com/authors/todd-vanderwerff Follow Todd - @tvoti Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com Follow The Juggernaut - @JuggernautPod Find the Juggernaut on Facebook - www.facebook.com/groups/1792363834316273 ...
2017-02-271h 12
The JuggernautFilm: O.J. : Made in America"O.J. Made In America" is a heavy favorite to win the Best Documentary Feature at the 2017 Oscars. Producer Caroline Waterlow describes her journey to this lofty point, including a love of research and doing the hard jobs that others didn't want to do, and which helped her manage the incredible amount of O.J.-related footage for the film. Notes: Follow Caroline - @cwaterlow Catch up on O.J. MIA - http://www.espn.com/30for30/ojsimpsonmadeinamerica/ Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com Follow The Juggernaut...
2017-02-201h 09
The JuggernautTV: Search PartyThe hardest thing to do in TV is master tone. We've all seen so many shows! We aren't exactly aware the moment a show's tone has failed us, but we do get a sense that things have gotten "less believable," or that the show is "all over the place," or that it "doesn't know what it wants to be." Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers are two of the creators of a fave new series of ours, "Search Party," and throughout their careers, they've proven that they're masters of consistent, hilarious and unpredictable tone. Notes: Follow...
2017-02-1245 min
The JuggernautMusic: Producer John CongletonGrammy-winner John Congleton is one of the most sought-after record producers in indie music today, both because he's insanely talented and because he hates being bored. In his own uncompromising career as a rock musician, John pushes buttons and boundaries with a wild mix of rock, jazz, and noise, and his production career conveys a similar impatience with doing what's expected: his collaborations with St. Vincent, Cloud Nothings, Strand Of Oaks, Mountain Goats, Earl Sweatshirt and dozens of others illustrate his insanely wide range. Notes: Follow John - @congletonjohn Check out John's band T...
2017-02-051h 18
The JuggernautTop 10 Films Of 2016We watched a whole lot of movies so you don't have to! Join us in our annual tradition where Chris and Josh count down the Top 10 Films of 2016. Chris' Top 10 Films Of 2016 10. Arrival 9. La La Land 8. 10 Cloverfield Lane 7. Toni Erdmann 6. Louder Than Bombs 5. The Fits 4. American Honey 3. Moonlight 2. The Handmaiden 1. The Lobster Josh's Top 10 Films Of 2016 10. Arrival 9. Nocturnal Animals 8. Paterson 7. Moonlight 6. Sing Street 5. La La Land 4. Tower 3. The Handmaiden 2. Manchester by the Sea 1. T...
2017-01-291h 27
The JuggernautFilms of Kelly ReichardtWe welcome critic Tina Hassannia to discuss the films of Kelly Reichardt. Reichardt is an uncompromisingly personal and idiosyncratic director whose movies take their time but land like sledgehammers when you least expect it. From "Meek's Cutoff" to "Wendy And Lucy" to 2016's acclaimed "Certain Women," Reichardt's films are empathy-producing machines worth catching up with. Notes: Follow Tina - @tinahassannia You can find Tina's Website - http://tinahassannia.net/ Kelly Reichardt's Wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Reichardt Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com ...
2017-01-221h 10
The JuggernautFilm: Micheal O'shea is a 20-Year Overnight SuccessAfter 20 years of trying, Michael O'Shea finally is an overnight success: his micro-budget indie horror teen drama, "The Transfiguration," unexpectedly found its way into the Cannes Film Festival. It's Mike's first feature after decades of writing and working countless side jobs, and there's no question he brings a unique story and refreshing (and professional) sensibility to his ascendancy. Notes: Check out The Transfiguration - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5039088/ Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com Follow The Juggernaut - @JuggernautPod Find the Juggernaut on Facebook...
2017-01-161h 05
The JuggernautMusic: John Munson of SemisonicJohn Munson is in Semisonic, and yes, you do know that one song they had. Yet his music career has spanned many more bands and eras, and he's become one of Minneapolis's most-connected and best-liked musicians. Hearing him spin yarns is a blast, as is his perspective on where the recording industry has been and where it's going, if anywhere! Notes: Follow John - @munsongs Check out John's work - Semisonic - Trip Shakespeare - The New Standards - The Twilight Hours Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.com Fo...
2017-01-091h 14
The JuggernautPodcasting: Writer Eli Horowitz and HomecomingEli Horowitz is more than a writer who distributes his stories in non-traditional packages. Mostly: he's an entertainer seeking to land the occasional philosophical haymaker simply by writing himself out of the wild parameters he sets for himself. Along with Micah Bloomberg, he's also one-half of the team who created the smash podcast "Homecoming," and you'll love listening to him tell stories, including the one about the time he sat in a room and directed Oscar Isaac and Catherine Keener. Notes: Check out more of Eli's work - http://www.elihorowitz.net/ Listen...
2016-12-291h 05
The JuggernautNovelist Matt RuffAs a novelist, Matt Ruff skirts the fine line between literary and genre fiction, and his books are always surprising. He's inventive, he's funny, and he's highly moral as a writer: even in his wild, fantastic scenarios, conflicts come down to good/evil schisms that Matt excavates even as he's making you laugh. Where does this exploration of ethics come from? And what level of bravery does it take to embody characters who don't look like you do? Notes: Follow Matt - @bymattruff Buy Matt's new novel - "Lovecraft Country: A Novel"
2016-12-121h 01
The JuggernautPodcasting: Micah Bloomberg and HomecomingMicah Bloomberg was always a writer, but he spent years not showing the results of his labors to anyone, and instead made a living doing sound production. When he finally made a bet on himself, his screenwriting career took off, and now he's at the epicenter of a popular serialized podcast called "Homecoming" starring Catherine Keener and Oscar Isaac, which may help kick off a new era of storytelling podcasts. Notes: Check out Homecoming - https://gimletmedia.com/show/homecoming/ Follow Homecoming - @HomecomingShow Check out Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook.c...
2016-12-041h 16
The JuggernautBill Childs' Top 10 Songs of 2016It's impossible to list the best songs from an entire year. But that doesn't stop us from trying! Bill Childs joins as our guest this week, and talks about a new David Bowie tribute album he just co-produced called "Let All The Children Boogie" benefiting the It Gets Better Project. And then we get down to it: what are Bill's favorite songs of 2016 so far? Get ready for some fun, and to get introduced to some music you never knew! Notes: Follow Bill : @sparetherock But the David Bowie Tribute Album - https://www.a...
2016-11-271h 20
The JuggernautMusic: Quiet CompanyQuiet Company is our podcast's house band: theirs is the music you hear throughout all our shows. We thought it was about time you hear the story behind the band, so we invited Taylor and Tommy aboard. They're living through the consolidation of the music industry -- where having a ton of fans doesn't necessarily translate into being able to survive off your music -- plus share a fascinating history, having begun as a Christian-influenced rock act that wrote a record chronicling how that Christian influence ended. Notes: Follow Quiet Company - @quietcompanytx ...
2016-11-131h 23
The JuggernautTV: Watching Atlanta"Atlanta," Donald Glover's show on FX, snuck up on us. Instead of a one-note, grim'n'gritty look at the world of an up-and-coming rapper, "Atlanta" turned out be an ambitious, weird, complex, funny, strange show more interested in the idiosyncrasies of its characters than making generalizations about race. In short: it's terrific. Critic Michael Arceneaux joins us to discuss what made "Atlanta's" first season so good, and why you should give it a shot. NOTES: Follow Michael - @youngsinick Check out Michael's work - http://www.thecynicalones.com/about/ Watch Atlanta - ht...
2016-11-061h 03
The JuggernautFilm: Watching Clouds of Sils MariaYou've heard Chris mention "Clouds Of Sils Maria" a few times as one of his favorite films in recent years, and maybe you've thought, "Oh, he's just saying that to sound smart." Today's episode should convince you otherwise! This is a great film, and we brought in film critic and professor Christopher Llewellyn Reed to talk about its pleasures and its significance. We think it's fun to hear two smart people groove on a relatively obscure film we wholeheartedly recommend -- and we hope you think it's fun, too! Notes: Follow Christopher Llewellyn Reed...
2016-10-3156 min
The JuggernautMusic: Open Mike EagleOpen Mike Eagle is a rapper whose music spans genres and reveals more about himself than almost any musician we know. Generally on the Juggernaut, we talk about art that is fully itself, and that's Open Mike: nothing is a pose, he's painfully self aware, and he's a brilliant writer. When you listen to OME, you laugh and you lose your breath and you understand what it means to *become* your art. (As a bonus side note, Open Mike became the inspiration for a character in Chris's new novel.) Enjoy! Notes: Follow Mike...
2016-10-241h 16
The JuggernautNovelist and Showrunner Eric GarciaHow does the cultural sausage get made? Eric Garcia knows. Eric is a successful novelist who's pivoted to movies and TV and has been involved in the adaptation of four of his novels. The results have sometimes been terrific and sometimes been frustrating. In this episode, Eric discusses what it's like to be in the belly of Hollywood's "corner-sanding" beast, and why he keeps putting himself through the adaptation game. Notes: You can follow Eric - @reallytrulyeric Check out Eric's work here - www.amazon.com/Eric-Garcia/e/B001HD3Y8E
2016-10-171h 19
The JuggernautNovelist Christopher Harris (Your host!)Chris Harris's new novel, "War On Sound," is out, and we thought it would be fun to turn the tables have have *him* for an interview subject. So Chris Walsh joins as temporary host and asks Chris about the new book, his writing in general, and the sources of his creativity and frustration. Please check out WarOnSoundBook.com if you'd like to learn more! Notes: Follow Chris Walsh - @ChrisWalsh2013 Buy Walsh's book - "Cowardice: A Brief History" from Princeton University Press To learn more about Chris's new novel - WarOnSoundbook...
2016-10-101h 12
The JuggernautTop 10 Films Of The 2010sToday Cousin Josh Fischberg joins the Juggernaut and we count down our top 10 favorite movies of the 2010s. How much P.T. Anderson and Coen Brothers made the list? Our goal for this show is to share films that mean a lot to us, that have taught us something about empathy and about what it means to be a person. And hopefully you can get a few movies to check out while you're at it! NOTES: Follow Josh: @DetectiveFisch Josh's list: 10. Birdman (2014) 9. Whiplash (2014) 8. Meek's Cutoff (2010) 7. Drive (2011) 6. Zero D...
2016-10-021h 19
The JuggernautActor Tom Everett ScottTom Scott was discovered early in his acting career and cast as the drummer in Tom Hanks's directorial debut, "That Thing You Do." That was 20 years ago, and Tom has been a working actor since. But why? Why is he comfortable in the skins of other selves, and what feeling is he chasing in a difficult, frustrating profession? Tom has been in great stuff like "Southland" and "Boiler Room," and (he acknowledges) less-great stuff, too. He offers a philosophical perspective on acting choices, fear and what it's like when Hollywood jerks you around. NOTES: Follow T...
2016-09-261h 05
The JuggernautFilm: Watching The LobsterThe Lobster is a perfect example of the kind of film we'd like to champion: it's unexpected and dystopic and strange, and so it bears the veneer of an "artsy-fartsy" film that's not for everyone. But that's hogwash! If *only* more movies had such a strong and complex point of view about one of the bedrock assumptions that underpins most of our lives! There's nothing abstract or difficult to understand in The Lobster. It's just different, and different is great. We bring on a brilliant writer, Eileen G'Sell, to talk about what may be 2016's best film. ...
2016-09-1959 min
The JuggernautRock Writer Michael AzerradMichael Azerrad is one of the great rock journalists of the past 25 years. He wrote dozens of cover stories for Rolling Stone, he's written for SPIN, for the New York Times, and for lots of other esteemed institutions. He also wrote two of the great rock books ever written: "Come As You Are," a biography of Nirvana before Kurt Cobain died, and "Our Band Could Be Your Life," a survey of the American Underground Indie music scene of the 1980s. Michael is a rock drummer himself, and has a great perspective on where rock music is and has been.
2016-09-121h 04
The JuggernautReading Watchmen"'Watchmen' changed everything." This isn't exactly a revolutionary statement: people have been opining about the significance of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's dystopic superhero graphic novel for 30 years. But the story of Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandias didn't just help launch the "grim-'n-gritty" take on the superhero genre we're still experiencing today. It also helped change many folks' expectations of what pop-culture could reflect back to us. Oliver Sava is a brilliant comics critic who writes for the A/V Club and other places, and he helps us sort through the amazing depth and breadth of "Watchmen." ...
2016-09-061h 01
The JuggernautTV: Watching Mr.RobotMr. Robot is the kind of rightly acclaimed television we should be watching. It's a meditation on identity, alienation and storytelling dressed up as a thriller about hackers attacking capitalism. It's smart and beautiful and idiosyncratic in a way that mainstream culture rarely gets. So today, we'll (a) try and convince you -- spoiler-free -- to start watching; and/or (b) talk about the stuff roiling beneath the show's surface. Alex McCown-Levy writes Mr. Robot recaps for the AVClub, and is a former doctoral candidate in Political Science who brings a crazy-relevant take on the show's influences and philosophy.
2016-08-281h 02
The JuggernautFilm: Indie Director James Byrkit Hit It BigJim Byrkit put in the hard work of building a Hollywood career from the ground up: he was a commercial storyboard artist for years, a gig he eventually parlayed into a friendship with Gore Verblinski and a major role in the look and feel of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. But his dreams guided him to a parallel track, where he was a feature director making idiosyncratic films. Finally, in 2014, Jim made the micro-budget "Coherence," which took the festival circuit by storm and opened up a new career. NOTES: Follow Jim Byrkit - @JamesWardByrkit
2016-08-151h 06
And I'm on a TangentSolo Cast! Guest will be returning soon. I talk the new podcast I'm producing, door knockers and movies! Check out Juggernautpod.com for one of the best podcasts out there.
2016-08-1000 min
The JuggernautMusic: Beyond Fountains Of WayneChris Collingwood was the frontman for one of the great power-pop bands in history, Fountains of Wayne. Of course, even *he* doesn't really know what "power pop" even means, other than being kind of a dismissive description. Now Chris has broken away and taken his music in a new direction with Look Park, a more idiosyncratic musical offering. But what rewards does today's music industry hold for a guy who's trying to redefine himself as a musician? And can the fellow who sang on "Stacy's Mom" find a foothold in the savage mess that is 2016's entertainment landscape? NO...
2016-08-081h 08
The JuggernautTV: "House" And What Comes AfterGarrett Lerner is an honest-to-goodness working TV writer who's worked on one bonafide monster hit -- HOUSE -- and wrote several of that excellent series' most compelling and emotional episodes. Yet Garrett doesn't think he's tapped into all the emotion he has to give in his writing, and he's found life after HOUSE to be partly frustrating, if only because at times he's felt pigeonholed. What does it take in our cultural landscape for a pro to keep getting opportunities to do interesting work? Listen up, and hear Garrett's story! NOTES: Follow Garrett Lerner @garrettlerner
2016-08-0159 min
The JuggernautFilm: Adam Kempenaar and FilmspottingAdam Kempenaar is even-keeled and professional in a culture that often rewards snark, and he's made Filmspotting -- which he's hosted for 11 years -- one of the best and most popular movie podcasts in the world. We dive into what makes Filmspotting such an institution, and also crack open Adam's top 10 films of all time, taking an up-close look at three you might not have seen. NOTES: * Follow Adam @Filmspotting * Listen to the Filmspotting podcast: www.filmspotting.net * For a look at Chris's new novel cover, follow @JuggernautPod * Also please j...
2016-07-241h 03
The JuggernautReading Saul BellowSaul Bellow was one of the lions of American literature in the 20th century, and Chris Walsh served as his student, friend, mentee and amanuensis for several years late in Bellow's life. What was it like to be so close to someone who produced such amazing works as "The Adventures Of Augie March," "Henderson The Rain King," "Humboldt's Gift," "Herzog" and many more? Bellow is the only writer to win the National Book Award for Fiction three times, he won a Pulitzer, the Nobel Prize for Literature and the National Medal of Arts. Chris digs into why Bellow is...
2016-07-1855 min
The JuggernautActor Talia OsteenTalia Osteen can do just about anything. She was a child actress, she's directed a documentary, she was a Hollywood feature film producer and now she's one-half of a great indie-rock band called The Wellspring. But being good at a wide array of things comes with a cost. Which one should she stick with? Which one is a path to commercial success and/or personal fulfillment? Should one *have* to choose? And what does one do when one inevitably keeps hearing "no"? NOTES: Follow Talia Osteen: @TaliaOsteen Find The Wellspring: http://ww...
2016-07-1156 min
The JuggernautRanking The Coen BrothersThe Coens have made some of the most iconic and idiosyncratic films in the history of the medium. You’ve probably seen at least a few of their films, or probably have at least *heard* of them. On today’s show, film nut Josh Fischberg joins to rank all the Coen Brothers’ movies, both to try and understand what’s so unique and lovable about their blend of humor and pathos and wildness, and also to help find you some great movies to add to your “must-see” list. NOTES: Follow Josh Fischberg on Twitter: @Dete...
2016-07-041h 09
The JuggernautReading David Foster WallaceD.T. Max is a New Yorker staff writer who wrote the first biography of Wallace and has become a great, low-key advocate for DFW’s work. D.T. developed a picture of a writer who tried really hard, who had his genius and his flaws, and whose fiction performed the rare feat of offering solutions as well as identifying problems. This conversation will hopefully encourage listeners to cut through the cultural baggage reading Wallace’s work has accrued, and experience the pleasure and relief of having DFW’s voice come alive anew. SHOW NOTES:...
2016-06-2750 min
The JuggernautTV: Watching The AmericansVox.com’s culture editor Todd VanDerWerff has written that the best show on TV is "The Americans." But why? What is FX’s little-seen, low-key espionage drama doing that hasn't been done before, and why does it appeal to our sensibilities in ways so much mass-produced TV doesn't? Todd joins the Juggernaut to help decode the best show you haven’t been watching.
2016-06-2054 min
The JuggernautMusic: Marty Beller of They Might Be GiantsMarty Beller is the amazing drummer for They Might Be Giants. Shouldn’t that be enough? Well, it’s not: Marty also composes film and TV scores, and is currently music director for a terrific play called “The Total Bent.” The fact that his creative process is so painful illustrates how high his standards are for his art: he thinks art’s ambition should be no less than to throttle us. NOTES: ====== Marty Beller’s play is called “The Total Bent” and is playing for much of June at the Public Theater in NYC.
2016-06-1258 min
The JuggernautAgainst Football? Steve AlmondSteve Almond is a writer, a thinker and a self-professed curmudgeon, and he's spent much of his professional life trying to cut through bullshit. From his upbringing by parents who partook in the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam movements, to a journalistic and fiction-writing career, to his recent book exploring the conflicted plight of the NFL fan, Steve has a history of brilliant gallows humor and avoiding easy answers. NOTES: ===== Steve Almond's football TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JdM4UNI3jY Steve's book "Against Football": (www.amazon.com/Ag...
2016-06-061h 10
The JuggernautJosh Larson's Overlooked Films Of The 2000sProfessionally speaking, first and foremost Josh Larsen is a film critic, one half of a successful duo on the Filmspotting podcast. But he's also a man of faith. We talk about the intersection of movies and Christianity, and how that influences Josh's criticism. And then we tackle a fun task: recommending underappreciated films since 2000. NOTES: View Josh Larsen’s work at Think Christian: http://thinkchristian.reframemedia.com View Josh Larsen’s full list of film reviews at: http://www.larsenonfilm.com Josh’s Overlooked Movies: Smart Dumb Comedies: Ce...
2016-05-3155 min
The JuggernautMusic: Ross Flournoy Survives Rock StardomWhat do you do when you achieve your rock-star dreams, and then discover they're killing you? You may know Ross Flournoy as the frontman of Apex Manor, whose song introduces every episode of our sister podcast. His story is one of frustration and perseverance, from his time in the late, lamented Broken West, to his changeover to a more hard-driving style in Apex Manor, to battles with addiction, and finding a way to survive in today's music industry. Notes: Follow Ross Flournoy @ApexManor Check out Ross' music with The Broken West a...
2016-05-231h 05