Shows
Stereoactive PresentsUSELESS/USEFUL, Vol. 5: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, ‘Adolescence,’ and ‘The Pitt’Welcome to the fifth installment of USELESS/USEFUL, in which we recommend things we think you should know about. We use the term USELESS to lovingly describe topics that have to do with pop culture, music, film, etc. And USEFUL covers topics like relief efforts, charitable campaigns, social issues, and other things that we want to encourage you to consider supporting. And we’ll also share about projects going on at Stereoactive Media. Here are our topics for this episode… USELESS ITEM ONE: Netflix’s Adolescence is a 4 part limited series based in the UK that is really...
2025-03-2412 min
Stereoactive PresentsUSELESS/USEFUL: The Flytrap, Malvina Reynolds, and ‘Monsters’Welcome to the second installment of USELESS/USEFUL, in which we discuss topics of interest, broken into two categories. USELESS covers topics that have to do with pop culture, music, film, etc. – and the term “useless” is used lovingly, hearkening back to the DIY Brooklyn venue Fort Useless and the community around that. USEFUL covers topics like relief efforts, charitable campaigns, and social issues that we want to draw attention to. We’ll also share about projects going on at Stereoactive Media. Here are our topics for this episode… USELESS ITEM ONE: ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Stor...
2024-10-1731 min
Stereoactive PresentsUSELESS/USEFUL: Hurricane Relief, 'The Substance,' and R.E.M.Welcome to the first installment of USELESS/USEFUL, in which we discuss topics of interest, broken into two categories. USELESS covers topics that have to do with pop culture, music, film, etc. – and the term “useless” is used lovingly, hearkening back to the DIY Brooklyn venue Fort Useless and the community around that. USEFUL covers topics like relief efforts, charitable campaigns, and social issues that we want to draw attention to. We’ll also share about projects going on at Stereoactive Media. Here are our topics for this episode… USELESS: R.E.M. – specifically, their 1994 album, ‘Monster’ /// ‘The Substance,’ now...
2024-10-0325 min
Stereoactive PresentsHarris/Walz = Normcore 2024 // a politics discussionBack in 2020, J. McVay and Joe Virgillito did a regular series of discussions on the previous incarnation of this podcast, leading up to that year’s election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Now that the looming specter of a depressing rematch between those two is behind us, they’re now embarking on hopefully the first of a new series of chats leading up to this November’s election. So, here;s the state of the race so far: 1) Joe Biden did terribly in his June debate with Donald Trump; 2) Trump was shot at a rally; 3) JD Vance was announ...
2024-08-1258 min
Kind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 37 // Things are getting 'weird' in the 2024 election.Matt explores the concept of 'weird' in the 2024 presidential election cycle, noting the Democratic Party's rhetorical shift from taking the higher ground to embracing something at least a little bit like rage. He discusses the GOP's cultural vibe and contrasts it with how the left is perceived and delves into political dynamics, such as the power play behind using terms like 'weird' and 'bully' in discourse. The conversation then examines the blurring of 'mainstream' and 'weird' in a fragmented society and touches on the relationship of all of this to minority rule, righteousness, and the perception of truth in...
2024-08-0920 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 36 // Why I wish the Left spoke more like standup comedians...Matt explores the prevalence of repetitive and trite discourse among some on the left and what they may be able to learn from standup comedians about getting their points across more effectively. He emphasizes the importance of offering original, engaging, and introspective viewpoints while simultaneously avoiding tired tropes that may alienate an audience.This podcast is produced by Stereoactive Media.===https://www.mattrubycomedy.com/https://stereoactivemedia.com
2024-07-1116 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 35 // What I've learned from plants...Matt embarks on a reflective journey, delving into the profound teachings he's encountered while exploring the world of plant intelligence through, among other things, his experiences with ayahuasca. Discover the valuable lessons in humility, community, and resilience that plants offer, serving as poignant reminders of interconnectedness and sustainability. Embrace the wisdom of plants to cultivate a harmonious coexistence with the natural world and strive for balance and acceptance in life.This podcast is produced by Stereoactive Media.===https://www.mattrubycomedy.com/https://stereoactivemedia.com===Watch on YouTube...
2024-06-1809 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 34 // The uncomfortable yet productive kind of pain...Matt delves into the concept of embracing discomfort as a means of growth and transcendence, suggesting personal experiences where initial discomfort can lead to valuable outcomes. He explores how modern society tends to avoid discomfort, often inflating minor inconveniences into significant issues, as well as the importance of distinguishing between productive suffering that fosters growth and the kind that leads to trauma. During the Pushback/Feedback segment, Matt and Producer J discuss generational differences in processing experiences and learning from supposed hardships along with the impact of technology. The discussion also touches on the role of technology in connecting...
2024-04-2315 min
Stereoactive Presents‘Monkey Man’ // a movie reviewJ. McVay reviews Dev Patel's debut as a director, 'Monkey Man,' distributed by Universal Pictures.The backstory of Dev Patel’s directorial debut, Monkey Man, is nearly as compelling as the film itself. The film was first announced back in 2018 and was set to begin production in early 2020, though it had to be postponed once the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down.By March of the following year, filming was complete and Netflix acquired it. But the subject matter apparently made them squeamish and they nearly canceled its release. Eventually, though, Jordan Peele saw th...
2024-04-1503 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 33 // Biden vs. Trump Again: So this is what it feels like to be a vegan at a BBQ joint.Matt shares his views on the upcoming presidential election rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Maybe, just maybe, it's reality and not the media that makes everyone think Biden is old. And maybe, just maybe, the thought of another Trump presidency, along with the constant shenanigans and scandals we managed to live through last time, is enough to stress us all out all over again.This podcast is produced by Stereoactive Media.===https://www.mattrubycomedy.com/https://stereoactivemedia.com
2024-04-0215 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubStereoactive Movie Club TrailerThe Stereoactive Movie Club is discussing some of the greatest movies ever made. Who says? Sight and Sound magazine says. Every ten years, since 1952, Sight and Sound has surveyed critics and directors to determine which films, according to those surveyed, might be considered the best. The five film-loving friends take turns picking movies that have appeared on the list and then dig into them with an eye on their cultural impact, how they stand up today, and just whether they’re actually as good as all those critics and directors say they are.Listen at stereoactivemovieclub.com or...
2024-03-0700 min
Stereoactive Presents‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ // a movie discussionJ. McVay and Charles Hinshaw discuss How to Blow Up a Pipeline, which is directed by Daniel Goldhaber, and is available on Hulu.How to Blow Up a Pipeline essentially plays like a heist movie where the object of the heist is a future that otherwise seems so futile and bleak that to not successfully execute the caper is simply not an option. Propelled along by a bustling, plaintive, largely electronic score composed by Gavin Brivik, we follow our cast of characters from several walks of life as they converge on the representative object of their derision.
2024-03-0719 min
Stereoactive Presents‘Saltburn’ // a movie discussionJ. McVay and Charles Hinshaw discuss the second film written and directed by Emerald Fennell. Saltburn stars Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver, and Archie Madekwe and is distributed by Amazon MGM Studios and available on Prime Video.Since we’re recording this a couple of months after the film’s release and even longer since it first began playing at festivals and reviews of it started coming out, it may be worth mentioning that there seem to be a lot of critics who do not like Saltburn. In fact, I pretty much...
2024-02-0826 min
Stereoactive Presents‘Maestro’ // a movie discussionJ. McVay and Charles Hinshaw discuss Bradley Cooper’s second film as a director and co-writer. Maestro stars Cooper as conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, Carey Mulligan as his wife Felicia, and is available on Netflix.Before 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook, Bradley Cooper may have seemed like he was destined to be in nothing but pulpy movies like Limitless or bro-flicks like The Hangover – at the time, both fairly recent hits for him that had already changed his career and made him a more bankable leading man. But Silver Linings Playbook put him into that different category of quo...
2024-02-0526 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 6.5 // Beau TravailIt’s Jeremiah’s Round 6 Pick: Beau Travail, the 1999 film directed by Clair Denis.Beau Travail, which is something of a loose adaptation of Herman Melville’s Billy Budd, was commissioned by a European culture channel Arte as a film about foreignness. It updates the classic novella to feature French Legionnaires stationed in the East African nation of Djibouti, which at the time of the film’s production had only recently, relatively speaking, ceased to be ruled by France after nearly a century of occupation. The film received good reviews when it was released in the United States...
2024-01-311h 03
Stereoactive Presents‘Past Lives’ // a movie discussionJ. McVay and Charles Hinshaw discuss the debut film written and directed by Celine Song. Past Lives stars Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro as the three sides of a romantic triangle that spans decades and continents.There are thin and thick lines running through every life. These may run through personal situations or society as a whole. Celine Song’s Past Lives explores the intersection of at least a few such lines. There’s the sometimes thin line between the platonic and the romantic, then there are the often thicker lines between times and places that...
2024-01-3028 min
Stereoactive PresentsOscars Nomination Reactions for 2023 FilmsJ. McVay and Charles Hinshaw discuss the Oscar nominations for films released in 2023, which were announced yesterday, sharing their reactions on everything from the lack of directing and acting nominations for Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, respectively, to the seemingly inevitable sweep by Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer that is expected when the Academy Awards are handed out on March 10th.===Mentioned in the Episode:Stereoactive Presents: 'The Killer' // a movie discussion /// https://www.stereoactivemedia.com/stereoactive-presents-the-killer-a-movie-discussion/Stereoactive Presents: ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ // a movie discussion /// https://www.stereoactivemedia.com/ster...
2024-01-2458 min
Stereoactive Presents‘The Killer’ // a movie discussionJ. McVay and Charles Hinshaw discuss the latest film directed by David Fincher. The Killer stars Michael Fassbender as the meticulous hitman of the film’s title. Also in the film are Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Sala Baker, Arliss Howard, and Kerry O’Malley.It's almost a cliche to talk about how filmmakers known as auteurs often make movies that are, in some way, seemingly about themselves. But in a year when Christopher Nolan made a film about a man whose groundbreaking work helped change the landscape of the world arguably for the worse and Wes Anderson made...
2023-12-1445 min
Stereoactive Presents‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ // a movie discussionJ. McVay and Charles Hinshaw discuss the latest – and, most likely, final – installment in the Indiana Jones series. Directed by James Mangold, ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ stars Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, and Mads Mikkelsen. It’s now available to watch on Disney+.Back in 2005, J. McVay went to a midnight screening of ‘Raider of the Lost Ark’ at the Paris Theater in New York City. Karen Allen was there and talked about a fourth Indiana Jones movie was finally about to happen and she'd heard that Nat...
2023-12-0829 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 32 // How to criticize Israel without sounding like a moron (or an anti-semite)A lot of the conversation around the Israel/Palestine conflict goes off the rails when people start confuse the people for the government or anti-semitism for anti-zionism. So with that in mind, Matt offers some tips to keep in mind if you want to mindfully criticize Israel without coming off as either uninformed or potentially bigoted.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-11-191h 00Kind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 31 // The Truth About What Your Jewish Friends May Be Thinking...Matt's father was an Israeli who grew up in Palestine back before the state of Israel even existed. He was also reluctantly a tank commander in the Israeli army because he had to serve. Now, Matt brings the perspective of his father, along with his own as he tries to explain how many Jewish people may be feeling in the wake of events in Israel and Gaza this month, which have added yet another chapter to the long cycle of violence in which brutality is disproportionately countered with further brutality.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-10-2525 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 30 // U2 at Sphere is the Nightmare Future of MusicHave you ever gone to a rock (or pop) show and wondered why people pull out their phones to record it instead of just experiencing it? Well, now there's a place seemingly built just for those people. U2, once a band that explicitly criticized big commercialized theatrics (admittedly while exploiting big commercialized theatrics), recently played at the latestLas Vegas mecca of opulence. And if you were online as it was happening, you could have easily seen footage from it from many of the people in attendance. So, what does this new way of "elevating" live music mean for the...
2023-10-1224 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 29 // As the saying goes, “a family is a dictatorship ruled over by its sickest member.”As the saying goes, “a family is a dictatorship ruled over by its sickest member.” Matt describes his first hand experience with this idea by way of his own mother, but also parallels the concept with other organizational structures, from the armed forces to society itself. What lessons can we all learn from the both simple and complicated circumstance of having a loved one that needs special attention.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-10-0515 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 6.4 // Wild StrawberriesIt’s Alicia’s Round 6 Pick: Wild Strawberries, the 1957 film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman.Wild Strawberries was Ingmar Bergman’s 18th feature film in eleven years. It was written while he was in a hospital for stress and gastric issues, then quickly produced as his personal life was in disarray.Critics in Sweden pretty much loved the film, while its reception in the United States was more mixed. But its influence has been strong over the years and directors such as Stanley Kubrick and Andrei Tarkovsky have listed it among their favorite films. Th...
2023-09-121h 21Kind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 28 // A few of the best paragraphs of the year (so far): successful people, naughty hands, and fake news…From time to time, Matt shares some of his favorite paragraphs of writing he’s come across. In this episode, he and producer J. McVay discuss a few of those paragraphs and the ideas behind them. Featuring passages from the following:“Vicious Traps” by Morgan Housel (Collab Fund)“Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Great ‘Indiana Jones’ Adventure” by David Marchese (The New York Times Magazine)“How Stewart Made Tucker” by Jon Askonas (The New Atlantis)Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-09-0822 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 27 // I see you're taking a Zoom meeting in this coffee shop…Have you ever been in a coffee shop or other public area when someone gets on a Zoom meeting, plays their music out loud, or does something else that should politely be kept private? Well, Matt has an open letter for all those people about the agreed upon rules of a civil society because it sure seems like a lot of people need a refresher in our after spending so much time away from other people during the pandemic.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-08-2618 min
Stereoactive Presents'Oppenheimer' // a movie discussionHow does one reconcile great achievement with a resultant aftermath that includes a massive death toll and perhaps the eventual death of the world? Can anything with those actual results and possible further outcomes even be considered a success at all? And how should we either celebrate or punish the people responsible for such things? These questions, along with plenty of others, are at the heart of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, a film with a relentlessly intense pace and swirling collection of talents flexing almost ridiculous levels of craftsmanship. At the center of the swirl is Cillian Mur...
2023-08-2546 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 26 // America's divorce settlement: Who gets what?From time to time, someone proposes the ingenious idea of a so-called national divorce to finally separate blue and red states that, to some, seem irreconcilable in their differences. Sometimes the proposal comes from someone on the right, sometimes someone on the left – and sometimes it’s someone as completely ignorant as Marjorie Taylor Greene. Well, now it’s Matt’s turn to play out the scenario… So who gets what when the divorce is final? Or is it just too dumb to work, especially if the real divide is between urban and rural neighbors. Produced...
2023-08-1820 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 6.3 // Modern TimesIt’s Stephen’s Round 6 Pick: Modern Times, the 1936 film starring, written, and directed by Charlie Chaplin.Modern Times marked at least the 60th appearance of Charlie Chaplin in a film as the Little Tramp – and depending on whether you think the barber character in The Great Dictator is also the Tramp, Modern Times may be the last time Chaplin played the character. And while his previous film, 1931’s City Lights, featured synchronized music and sound effects, Modern Times was the first time Chaplin employed synchronized dialogue, though obviously minimal. At first, Modern Times was conceived of as a pot...
2023-08-151h 08Kind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 25 // "THAT did not age well" and the battle between generations...“Aging well” is an oxymoron and the future will frown upon all of us. Matt explores the friction between generations that occurs when younger people expect elders to be able to keep up with changing expectations about language, behavior, etc, even as many elders are unreasonable in their refusal to even try. A wider willingness to forgive elders who are trying might be helpful, but it would probably also help if elders better recognized their own generational shortcomings as well as the advantages they had that will largely not be passed on.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-08-0121 min
Stereoactive Presents'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' / Writers and Actors on StrikeJ. McVay and Charles Hinshaw discuss ‘'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' – directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, and Pom Klementieff.They also discuss the current strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, the unions representing writers and actors who work in film and television – including Charles’ perspective as a member of SAG-AFTRA.===Episode Credits:Producer/Host: J. McVayGuests: Charles HinshawMusic: Hansdale HsuProduced by Stereoactive Media
2023-07-241h 07Kind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 24 // Rubyisms Vol. 3: Infinite Photos, Yoga Wisdom, and Proud FailuresMatt collects aphorisms, mantras, and other brief thoughts that represent lessons he’s learned throughout his life. In this episode, he and producer J. McVay discuss a handful of these so-called “Rubyisms,” the stories behind them, and the deeper truths they’re connected to:We’ll have so many photos of so much nothing and no one will look at them. Meanwhile, your grandparents had a few photos in a shoebox and viewed them hundreds of times.Let your weight be absorbed by the ground. (Lesson from yoga.)An embarrassing success is worse than a proud failure....
2023-07-2121 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 23 // Rubyisms Vol. 2: Romantic Cynics, Traditions, Beautiful Violence, and Illegal vs. WrongMatt collects aphorisms, mantras, and other brief thoughts that represent lessons he’s learned throughout his life. In this episode, he and producer J. McVay discuss a handful of these so-called “Rubyisms,” the stories behind them, and the deeper truths they’re connected to:Cynics are just disappointed romantics.Tradition makes you focus on the wrong things. Want people to remember your wedding? Skip the cake and spend that money on a choreographer for your first dance. No one cares about cake anyway.Make your violence beautiful. Make your violence, beautiful.Just because something is illegal doesn't mean it's wro...
2023-07-1317 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 22 // Rubyisms Vol. 1: Desire, Inertia, Tension, Prayer, and Drugs vs. MedicineMatt collects aphorisms, mantras, and other brief thoughts that represent lessons he’s learned throughout his life. In this episode, he and producer J. McVay discuss a handful of these so-called “Rubyisms,” the stories behind them, and the deeper truths they’re connected to:When we ran out of needs to fulfill, they started manufacturing desire.Never underestimate the power of inertia.We call our medicine “drugs” and our drugs “medicine.”Tension is a form of prayer.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-07-0620 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 6.2 // Battleship PotemkinIt’s Mia’s Round 6 Pick: Battleship Potemkin, the 1925 film directed by Sergei Eisenstein.Divided into 5 acts, Battleship Potemkin, in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of what is known as the First Russian Revolution of 1905, tells the story of a mutiny aboard the titular Russian naval vesselIn the film’s telling, the crew’s refusal to eat borscht made from maggot-infested meat is the first domino in a series of events that leads to a sort of mini-revolution in the port city of Odessa.And in the reality of the time when the film...
2023-06-301h 32Kind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 21 // Something's off with how we talk about psychedelics.On the heels of the recent psychedelics conference in Denver organized by the MAPS organization – the largest such conference ever held – Matt shares how he thinks psychedelics should actually be treated as they gain wider acceptance as a therapeutic treatment. Maybe it doesn't have to be all microdosing, mental health, and big business. Maybe there should also be room for a little bit of “wild.”Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-06-2917 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 20 // We don't know how to look: On raw power, the jungle, Iggy Pop, and ancient wisdomA recent story about how a Colombian girl managed to help keep her younger siblings alive while lost in the jungle for months because of “ancestral knowledge” begs the question of how most American kids – or adults, for that matter – might fare under similar circumstances. Matt ponders the ways in which our increasing isolation from each other, driven by technology that further encloses our personal bubbles, may be closing us off to truths we’d have available to us if we’d only remember how to look.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-06-2617 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 19 // Duh, of course you should separate the art from the artist.Viva compartmentalization! Matt makes the argument that you can blame the messenger while still enjoying the message. Or in other words, maybe you can watch ‘Annie Hall’ or dance to “Ignition (Remix)” without condoning anything that the people who made them may have done in their personal lives.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-06-1530 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 18 // In the End, They Were All Fredo: 10 Thoughts on 'Succession'With the series finale of 'Succession' recently aired, Matt is breaking format to share some of thoughts on the show, in conversation with producer J. McVay. Together they review the under-appreciated players of the show, the depiction of the rich and supposedly business-savvy, references to classic cinema, and plenty more.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-06-0136 min
Stereoactive PresentsScotty Walker on a Career in Music & EducationJ. McVay chats with Mr. Scotty Walker about his career in music and education. Mr. Walker is/was a high school band director for three decades at Lafayette High School, in Lafayette, Louisiana. During his time there, he built a music program that grew to be recognized across the state, the region, and the nation. Not only did the band perform on important stages and fields in Louisiana, but it traveled several times to New York City to play at Carnegie Hall and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade – and just recently, toward the end of what was his final scho...
2023-05-311h 14Kind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 17 // Ditch the hustle and screw the passion: An ode to punching the clockDespite what the prevailing so-called captains of industry, it’s perfectly fine if your job isn’t your passion. We all have to pay rent and bills, so sometimes it’s just about punching a clock and getting through the day. And as Matt discusses, we also don’t need to build up our day jobs into inspirational journeys that save the world – they’re just jobs, and that’s fine.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-05-1916 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 6.1 // Round 6 Picks!In our next batch of movies, we'll be traveling from the Soviet Union to Florida with stops in Sweden, Hollywood, and Djibouti along the way...So, listen up as we reveal our picks for what we’ll be watching in Round 6 of the podcast! Also, we introduce a special guest who’ll be joining us for all of Round 6!Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-05-1722 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 16 // Mother's Day was awkward. It always is.One odd thing about having parents who passed away at a relatively young age is how much you become a downer for the rest of your life when other people bring up parents as a topic. Matt shares his experience as someone who often has to defuse the guilt others seem to have about still having their parents when they’re around him, as well as what it’s like for him on Mother’s Day.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-05-1115 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 15 // Tucker Carlson: The Truth is a Terrible Business ModelFox News recently settled their lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for nearly $800 million, then fired Tucker Carlson. But let’s face it: Fox is unlikely to change its ways and will probably just install another Tucker-like cog in their machine. And will that new cog actually be that different? Why would you take a nuanced, middle-of-the-road stance when you see all your edgy, hot-taking peers gaming the algorithm with a bunch of bullsh*t? Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-05-0415 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 5.7 // Boyhood w/ Max GoranssonIt’s Jeremiah’s Round 5 Bonus Pick: Boyhood, the 2014 film directed by Richard Linklater.Boyhood tells the story of a young boy, his slightly older sister, their divorced parents, and the people who come in and out of their lives over the course of 12 years, from the time the boy is 6 until he’s 18. Step-parents come and go, or even stay. Many moves are made. And we see the ways in which the parents’ decisions and actions affect their kids until they begin to have more agency and independence.The story is told a year at a tim...
2023-05-031h 25
Stereoactive PresentsThe Long Tail on 'Real Love' w/ Beat Radio & Totally Real RecordsJ. McVay chats with Beat Radio’s Brian Sendrowitz and Totally Real Records’ Bryan Bruchman about the release of Beat Radio’s most recent album, Real Love. With the album out for just over 6 months now, the goal of the discussion is to bring further attention to the release outside of the normal window of promotion and to also explore how that window/model itself affects the life of an album and an artist.===Music included in the episode:“Protection Spells”“Dissociation Blues” “Family Name”“Weightless” “Lowlands”“We R...
2023-04-2748 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 14 // Screens, filters, and the land of lies…“Time on screen” has become the metric that tech companies use to measure success. But “time on screen” seems to really be doing something to our brains – and our society for that matter. Matt suggests there’s a different metric of success for your soul: How long has it been since you last looked at a screen?Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-04-2018 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 5.6 // Apocalypse NowIt’s Alicia’s 5th pick: Apocalypse Now, the 1979 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola.Coppola’s fellow New Hollywood/Movie Brat filmmaker, John Milius first conceived of adapting ‘Heart of Darkness’ as a Vietnam War movie sometime in the late ‘60s. The original plan was for Milius to write, Coppola to produce, and for George Lucas to direct. Eventually, as Lucas became busy with other projects, Coppola became the project’s director and co-writer.The film’s shooting schedule in the Philippines was originally set for 5 months, but ended up taking more like 14 months. A lot of the rea...
2023-04-181h 26Kind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 13 // The worse the road, the better the destination…Matt evangelizes on behalf of the power of ferries, sculpture gardens, shoulder season, and why agendas are for suckers as he offers up 10 travel secrets he’s learned from years of backpacking around the world, all while avoiding the most well-worn roads.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-04-1319 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 12 // Wabi Sabi and the poetry of imperfection…Wabi Sabi is a philosophy that encourages the acceptance of imperfection and impermanence. As Matt points out, imperfections and impermanence are very often the qualities that make something interesting. And conversely, it’s often our attempts to strive for complete, implacable perfection that causes the things we make and care about to come off as inauthentic.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-04-0620 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 11 // In defense of night owls…Morning people propaganda is everywhere. Billionaires, star athletes, and other world conquerors are seemingly all evangelists for the tired cliché, “the early bird gets the worm.” But Matt is sick of it, because who wants worms, anyway? Some people just thrive in darkness and are tired of being night-shamed for it. So open your heart to night owls – they’re people, too!Mentioned in the episode:https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/richard-branson-and-tim-cook-get-up-every-day-at-t.htmlhttps://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/are-you-a-night-owl-trying-to-be-a-morning-person-science-says-you-may-literally-be-killing-yourself.htmlProduced by Stereoactive Media
2023-04-0116 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 5.5 // Raging BullIt’s Lora’s 5th pick: Raging Bull, the 1980 film directed by Martin Scorsese.The film is a character study of boxer Jake LaMotta, who himself is presented as questionable in character but pure in talent. It is considered one of the best films of its decade and quickly became legendary for DeNiro’s feat of gaining weight for the later scenes. It also basically introduced Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty to the world in star-making turns and was, in more ways than one, something of a saving grace for Scorsese.As for our purposes, Raging...
2023-03-281h 17Kind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 10 // How to make weed cookies…A step-by-step recipe so you won't get fooled again by edibles… Plus a check in about Matt’s special, ‘Substance,’ and how the world of feed-the-beast content creation should be upended to let good work have more time to find an audience.Ingredients for the recipe:1 cup unsalted butter1 cup crunchy peanut butter1 cup white sugar1 cup packed brown sugar2 eggs2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1 1/2 teaspoons baking sodaProduced by Stereoactive Media
2023-03-2418 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 9 // Pay it Backward by Honoring Your EldersRick Rubin/Johnny Cash. François Truffaut/Alfred Hitchcock. Quentin Tarantino/John Travolta. We live in a world obsessed with youth and the freshest new faces that come with it – just look at all the “30 Under 30” lists out there. But despite the latent ageism across much of society, as Matt points out and plenty of examples prove, those who came before us often have plenty more to offer and it's worth elevating our elders who still have much to teach us.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-03-1617 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 8 // Tech Folks Are Always Giving Us Futures That Never Happen…ChatGPT, Bing AI, and similar artificial intelligence bots are seemingly all the rage these days. But the popularity – or, at least, heightened interest – is a symptom of our ongoing naiveté about the future. Matt has thoughts on how we always get sold new futures by tech companies and whether they ever pan out as anyone planned (as if anyone had a plan to begin with).Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-03-0917 min
Stereoactive PresentsAn Oscar Preview & Our Favorite Films of 2022J. McVay, Jacqueline Soller, and Charles Hinshaw discuss their favorite movies of 2022 and the Oscar nominations in the major categories ahead of the Academy Awards ceremony this weekend. Also, since they haven’t been on mic together since August 2021, when thee old podcast they used to do ended, they catch up on some other movies release since then – and the state of movies/moviegoing in general. ===Episode Credits:Producer/Host: J. McVayGuests: Jacqueline Soller & Charles HinshawMusic: Hansdale HsuProduced by Stereoactive Media
2023-03-082h 01
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 5.4 // Pierrot le FouIt’s Stephen’s 5th pick: Pierrot le Fou, the 1965 film directed by Jean-Luc Godard.Godard himself said the film was "connected with the violence and loneliness that lie so close to happiness today. It's very much a film about France."And with its fourth wall breaks, often jarring editing style, and tendency to internally jump among mass culture and/or pop art references in both extremely metatextual and self-referential ways, the film is at once recognizable as a Godard film, a French New Wave film, and in a broader way, a certain type of arth...
2023-03-071h 01Kind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 7 // How therapy-speak turned victimhood into currency...The language of trauma cracked the code of the attention economy and turned mental health into the new luxury item. Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-03-0220 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 6 // His and Hers: Memories of My ParentsMatt shares memories of the two people who influenced his life the most… and just maybe reveals some things about himself along the way.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-02-1618 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 5 // I was not alerted: The most unbelievable things about life before smartphones…An essay about life pre-iPhone addiction, before maps were an app, and before "Move Fast and Break Things" was an ethos that delivered on its message and didn't care about the consequences. But also, before we could all see how often cops did bad sh*t, or knew how often powerful old men entered rooms with open robes.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-02-0916 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 4 // What Tom Petty taught me about songwriting and life…Tom Petty understood America and that's why he could reach hipsters/hicks, north/south, and coastal elites/NASCAR rednecks alike. Matt gets into his deep love of Petty's music and how it's been a constant in his life.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-02-0229 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 3 // How standup comedy converted me from atheist to Jew…My journey from hardcore atheist to torah-studying Jew, and how my career in comedy helped get me there...Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-01-2617 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 2 // RIP "Always leave ‘em wanting more"Now it’s hold onto ‘em for as long as you can – and it sucks. On the relative brevity of World Cup matches versus the bloat of Beatles reissues, Art Basel, and Coachella. Whatever happened to the lost art of finding the sweet spot?Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-01-1914 minKind of a Lot with Matt RubyEp 1 // We keep trading quality for efficiency.Hand dryers, QR codes, and bluetooth speakers are all more efficient. Also, they suck. An ode to foreplay and taking your time.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2023-01-1013 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 5.3 // The Grapes of WrathIt’s Mia’s 5th pick: The Grapes of Wrath, the 1940 film directed by John Ford.The film is based on John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer-prize winning novel, which was also the best-selling novel of that year and was cited as a major part of the basis on which Steinbeck was awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. The politics and story of the book were potentially thorny enough that Daryl F. Zanuck, the famed producer at 20th Century Fox, sent investigators to witness just how bad the situation in Oklahoma actually was so he’d know whether he’d fee...
2022-11-081h 27
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 5.2 // Sunrise: A Song of Two HumansIt’s Jeremiah’s 5th pick: Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, the 1927 film directed by F.W. Murnau.Based on a 1917 short story called “The Excursion to Tilsit,’ written by Hermann Sudermann, the film was Murnau’s first in the United States, after he was brought over from Germany by William Fox to make something for Fox Film Corporation like the expressionist work he’d produced in his home country – Nosferatu, The Last Laugh, and Faust among those. As with his previous work, the art design is exaggerated or even distorted to represent the emotional and symbolic tone...
2022-10-2059 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 5.1 // Round 5 Picks!Listen up as we reveal our picks for what we’ll be watching in Round 5 of the podcast!Spoiler alert: we have two bonus picks this time around, so we’ll be watching 7 films total.And, as referenced in the episode, here is the list of all movies released after 1980 that appeared in the top 100 of the Sight & Sound critics and directors surveys in 2012:1982 - Blade Runner (Ridley Scott / USA)1982 - Sans Soleil (Chris Marker, France)1982 - Fanny and Alexander (Ingmar Bergman, Sweden)1983 - L’argent (Robert Bresson, France)1985 - Come And See (Elem Klimov...
2022-09-1526 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 4.6 // Pather PanchaliIt’s Lora’s 4th pick: Pather Panchali, the 1955 film directed by Satyajit Ray. Pather Panchali, which translates as “Song of the Little Road,” is based on the 1929 novel of the same name, which is the semi-autobiographical work of author Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. Satyajit Ray was a graphic designer working on illustrations for a 1944 abridged edition of the book when it was suggested to him that the stoy’s depiction of rural life in the Bengali region of India would make for a good film. A few years later, as Ray became interested in making a movie, he decided to take that...
2022-09-061h 00
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 4.5 // Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombIt’s Stephen’s 4th pick: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, the 1964 film directed by Stanley Kubrick.Often cited as one of the best comedy films of all time – as well as simply one of the best films generally – this was Kubrick’s follow-up to Lolita, released two years before in 1962.Its making began with the director’s desire to produce a movie about a nuclear accident during the Cold War. As he was doing research for the project, someone suggested he read Peter George’s book, Red Alert, and he eventua...
2022-08-291h 09
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 4.4 // PersonaIt’s Mia’s 4th pick: Persona, the 1966 film directed by Ingmar Bergman.Persona is a film that is open to much interpretation about its themes, meaning, and maybe even its plot. In the most basic way, it’s the story of a well known Swedish actress who suffers an emotional shutdown and is put in a hospital. It’s explained that there is nothing wrong with her either mentally or physically, but she is completely unwilling to move or speak. A nurse is assigned to her, but a lack of any progress soon leads the attending doctor t...
2022-08-031h 05
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 4.3 // The Rules of the GameIt’s Jeremiah’s 4th pick: The Rules of the Game, the 1939 film directed by Jean Renoir.‘The Rules of the Game’ was the most expensive film ever made in France at the time of its production and came on the heels of a series of successful films that had made Renoir one of the top French directors. After initial preview screenings that began in June of 1939 and a premier in July that met with low box-office and mixed reviews, a series of edits eventually whittled the film down from its 113 minute runtime to 85 minute; many of the edits...
2022-07-201h 06
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 4.2 // Hiroshima Mon AmourIt’s Alicia’s 4th pick: Hiroshima Mon Amour, the 1959 film directed by Alain Resnais.With ‘Hiroshima Mon Amour,’ Resnais and screenwriter Marguerite Duras, explore the intersection where tragedy and trauma meet history and memory.The film was released on May 8, 1959 at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI International Critics’ Prize.Among its other accolades was recognition by Cahiers du Cinéma on its list of the top 10 films of 1959, where it was ranked 2nd after Kenji Mizoguchi’s ‘Ugetsu.’It opened in the United States in May of 1960 and went...
2022-07-071h 21
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 4.1 // Round 4 Picks!Listen up as we reveal our picks for what we’ll be watching in Round 4 of the podcast!Spoiler alert: it’s our most international round yet!Produced by Stereoactive Media
2022-06-2316 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 3.5 // The Godfather Part IIIt’s Mia’s 3rd pick: The Godfather Part II, the 1974 film directed by Francis Ford CoppolaThe Godfather Part II both continues the story begun in the first film and also deepens it by depicting what came before. We watch as Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone continues in the family business, building his empire while trying to hold on to his family, both actual and figurative. This is crosscut with a portrayal of his father Vito’s rise from an unfortunate child in Sicily to a respected man in New York, as deftly played by Robert DeNiro...
2022-06-021h 30
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 3.4 // 8 ½It’s Jeremiah’s 3rd pick: 8 ½, the 1963 film directed by Federico Fellini.8 ½ was Fellini’s feature film follow-up to 1960s La Dolce Vita – with a segment for an anthology film produced in the interim. La Dolce Vita had been something of an international sensation when it came out, so perhaps the pressure of following that up led him to produce a film about the pressure on a director to make his next movie.It was released in February 1963 to much acclaim, especially from European critics, drawing comparisons to James Joyce’s Ulysses and Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane a...
2021-11-011h 18
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 3.3 // Lawrence of Arabia w/ MattIt’s Alicia's 3rd pick: ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ the 1962 film directed by David Lean. The film is adapted from the autobiographical account of T. E. Lawrence, ‘Seven Pillars of Wisdom,’ which was first published in 1926 and told the story of his involvement with the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turks, from 1916-1918. Over the decades, many filmmakers – chief among them legendary silent and early sound era producer/director Alexander Korda – courted Lawrence, his estate, and biographers who owned rights to their own versions of the story. But it was ultimately producer Sam Spiegel who secured the rights, looking to follow up on h...
2021-10-131h 46
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 3.2 // VertigoIt’s Lora’s 3rd pick: ‘Vertigo,’ the 1958 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Considered by an increasing number of people to be the director’s masterpiece, the film relies on an against-type performance by Jimmy Stewart and a complex, multi-faceted performance by Kim Novak. It first appeared on the Sight & Sound magazine poll of the greatest films ever made in 1972, as a runner up. It’s then appeared on the decennial list every time since, moving up to number 7, then number 4, then number 2, before in 2012 being named the greatest film of all time, overtaking Citizen Kane from the spot it had held...
2021-08-131h 22
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 3.1 // Round 2 Wrap Up / Round 3 PicksIt’s the end of Round 2 of the Stereoactive Media Movie Club podcast! We’re revisiting the films we’ve discussed in the last 6 episodes and we’re picking our next round of movies to watch and discuss!Produced by Stereoactive Media
2021-07-221h 26
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 2.7 // The GodfatherIt’s Mia’s 2nd pick: 'The Godfather,’ the 1972 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Foundational to modern cinema that’s followed in its footsteps and culturally influential beyond the scope of most movies, it’s often cited as one of the greatest films ever made. In the 2002 Sight & Sound magazine poll – in tandem with its sequel, Part 2 – it was named the 4th greatest movie of all time by critics while the 2 films together were named the 2nd greatest film of all time by directors. And on its own, it was named the 6th greatest film of all time by directors i...
2021-06-251h 25
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 2.6 // MirrorIt’s Jeremiah’s 2nd pick: ‘Mirror,’ the 1975 film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. Nonlinear in structure it features moments from the central character’s life, both as a young boy and as a father, interspersed with bits of newsreel footage, other memories, and poetic passages. It broke into the top 10 of Sight & Sound magazine’s ‘greatest films’ poll in 2012, ranking 9th on the survey of directors.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2021-06-141h 19
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 2.5 // L’avventuraIt’s Alicia’s 2nd pick: ‘L’avventura,’ the 1960 film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. It’s departure from until-then standard plotting was something of a breakthrough and, along with other films by like-minded filmmakers of the time, helped to influence films – and style – to come. It was voted 2nd in Sight & Sound magazine’s ‘greatest films’ poll in 1962, then came in at #5 in 1972 and #7 in 1982.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2021-06-031h 27
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 2.4 // Bicycle ThievesIt’s Lora’s 2nd pick: ‘Bicycle Thieves,’ the 1948 film directed by Vittorio De Sica. It’s an emblematic example of the neorealist movement that developed in Italy after World War II, depicting the lives of everyday people struggling to get by, and mostly cast with non-professional actors. It was voted the #1 greatest film of all time in the very first critics poll Sight & Sound magazine did back in 1952. Since then it’s placed #7 in 1962 and as a runner up in 1992. It was also on the directors poll, at #6 in 2002 and #10 in 2012.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2021-05-211h 16
When We See Each OtherAn Only ChildNikkiesha McLeod delves into the world of queer artistry with An Only Child, a captivating musician and dancer whose debut album, 'Prepare the Body,' is a project steeped in vulnerability. An Only Child shares about their creative journey, starting with their early inspiration to make music, rooted in a childhood filled with singing in the church and an innate urge to express themselves through melody. They also share the nostalgic memory of their first song, a quirky tribute to the animated series 'Rocket Power,' highlighting the blend of innocence and creativity that has persisted throughout their life...
2021-05-0558 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 2.3 // The GeneralIt’s Stephen’s 2nd pick: ‘The General,’ the 1926 film directed by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman – and of course also starring Buster Keaton. It’s an action comedy set during the Civil War and largely centered around a stolen train and plenty of stunt work and it’s been on Sight & Sound magazine’s decennial poll of the “greatest films” twice – at #8 in 1972, then at #10 in 1982.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2021-05-051h 11
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 2.2 // The Searchers w/ JPKVery special guest JPK joins us with his pick: ‘The Searchers,’ the 1956 film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Jeffrey Hunter. It’s a western that put new spins on some of the genre tropes that Ford himself helped to establish and it’s been on Sight & Sound magazine’s decennial poll of the “greatest films” every time since 1982.Produced by Stereoactive Media
2021-04-291h 42
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 2.1 // Round 1 Wrap Up / Round 2 PicksIt’s the end of Round 1 of the Stereaoctive Media Movie Club podcast! We’re revisiting the films we’ve discussed in the last 5 episodes and addressing comments from listeners and members of the Facebook group. Also, we’re picking our next round of movies to watch and discuss – but this time there’ll be 6 because we have a special guest joining us to make a pick and join us for the episode where we’ll discuss their choice!00:00 - Intro + the last good movies we saw10:38 - About the show / Does ‘The Magnificent Ambersons’ belong on a greatest films lis...
2021-04-161h 06
When We See Each OtherMel FineNikkie dives deep into the world of singer-songwriter Mel Fine, whose artistry encapsulates the experience and emotion of being a queer, non-binary person in today's music landscape. Mel reflects on their journey through music and identity, exploring the profound influences that have shaped their path as an artist. They share their earliest memories of music, noting that it has always been a form of self-expression and storytelling for them. From early experience in musical theater to taking a more focused approach to songwriting, Mel describes how these experiences allowed them to articulate their feelings and experiences through music. They...
2021-04-0758 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 1.6 // RashomonIt’s Jeremiah’s pick… ‘Rashomon,’ the 1950 film by Akira Kurosawa, the premise of which has been emulated often over the decades. The film has appeared twice on Sight & Sound magazine’s decennial poll of the “greatest films” as voted on by directors – #10 in 1992 and #9 in 2002.00:00 - Intro + the last good movies we saw09:14 - About the show / expectations for ‘Rashomon’12:48 - About the film / open discussion55:15 - Favorite scenes or moments / the test of time / influence or relevance today59:28 - Bonus question: Which international/non-English language film is either your favorite or first made you want to explore more from that...
2021-04-051h 07
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 1.5 // Tokyo StoryIt’s Alicia’s pick… Released in 1953 and very loosely based on a 1937 American film called ‘Make Way for Tomorrow,’ ‘Tokyo Story,’ follows a retired couple living in a town in the southern part of Japan as they visit their grown children, who mostly live in Tokyo. Over the course of the film, the couple’s children have trouble managing time to spend with their parents, while their daughter in law, the widowed wife of the couples’ son who died in the war, does all she can to make them feel welcome and cared for. Eventually, the couple return home and the mothe...
2021-03-251h 11
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 1.4 // Citizen KaneIt’s Lora’s pick… ‘Citizen Kane,’ the 1941 debut film by Orson Welles. Often referred to as the greatest film ever made, it’s possibly Welles’ greatest achievement, but the controversy surrounding it (mainly stirred up by William Randolph Hearst, the main target of the film’s narrative) also led to his quick fall from grace. The film has appeared on every single one of Sight & Sound magazine’s decennial polls of the “greatest films,” debuting as a runner up in 1952, then sitting at #1 for the next 50 years, before eventually dropping to #2 on both the 2012 polls of critics and directors. Prod...
2021-03-201h 25
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 1.3 // The Magnificent AmbersonsIt’s Stephen’s pick… Released in 1942 and directed by Orson Welles, ‘The Magnificent Ambersons’ depicts a wealthy midwestern family at the end of the 1800s and start of the 1900s. Based on the 1918 novel by Booth Tarkington, its prologue sets the Ambersons up as either the toast of the town or privileged aristocrats lording it over everyone else. After a young suitor named Eugene Morgan embarasses himself – and by extension, her – the object of his affection, Isabel Amberson chooses another man as her husband and has a spoiled son who others in the town hope will one day meet his “come...
2021-03-051h 25
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 1.2 // The Passion of Joan of ArcFor our first full-fledged movie chat is about Mia’s pick… ‘The Passion of Joan of Arc.’ Directed by Carl Dreyer, the movie depicts the final days of Joan of Arc, as she was held captive by the English and stands trial at the hands of clerics who doubt her claims of being an agent of God. In it, Maria Falconetti, as Joan, depicts a would-be saint struggling to keep her faith in the face of persecution and death. As a film, it's known for its heavy reliance on close-ups, especially those of Falconetti, as you see every raw emotion...
2021-03-021h 12
When We See Each OtherMackenzie ShiversNikkiesha McLeod welcomes the talented singer-songwriter Mackenzie Shivers, a close friend and an acclaimed musician, to share insights into her upcoming album, Rejection Letter, which is set to be released on April 2nd. The episode begins with Mackenzie's single "Martha's Vineyard," paving the way for an in-depth discussion of the emotional landscape of her music, her artistic evolution and the impact of the pandemic on her creativity, and the importance of supporting independent artists. ===Guest: Mackenzie ShiversHost & Producer: Nikkiesha McLeodProducer & Editor: Jeremiah Lee McVayReleased by Stereoactive Me...
2021-02-2556 min
Stereoactive Movie ClubEp 1.1 // Introductions & Round 1 Movie DraftWelcome to a new movie podcast featuring 5 friends leading discussions on movies. In our inaugural episode, we discuss the decennial Sight & Sound poll, then each pick a movie that’s appeared on the list to watch in future episodes. So, listen along to find out which movies we’ll be watching, then watch along with us–and maybe even participate in the podcast?00:00 - Intro + the last good movies we saw05:08 - About the show / about the Sight & Sound poll11:50 - Our movie picks17:34 - Potential questions/issues with the Sight & Sound poll23:00 - What we were watching in 202...
2021-02-0929 min
Stereoactive Presents‘On the Rocks’ // a movie discussionJ. McVay and Jacqueline Soller discuss On The Rocks, a film written and directed by Sofia Coppola and distributed by A24 and Apple TV+. On The Rocks stars Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, and Marlon Wayans.Laura and her husband Deane have hit a rough patch in their marriage. Dean is spending too much time away on work trips and leaving Laura to take care of their two young daughters alone. When Laura finds a woman's toiletry bag in Dean's luggage, suspicions arise. Laura's father, Felix, drawing from his own experience as an adulterer, is quick to assume...
2020-12-1117 min
Stereoactive Presents‘Mank’ // a movie discussionMank tells the story of the writer behind arguably the best movie in cinematic history, Citizen Kane. Famous for his wit, Herman Mankiewicz was one of the highest paid screenwriters of the era. His charisma earned him invites to newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst’s extravagant dinner parties, which gained him firsthand experience that he could draw upon when writing Hearts’s thinly veiled facsimile, Charles Foster Kane. Mankiewicz was a complex man with unrespectable habits and honorable values. Although he was an alcoholic and a gambler, he helped Jewish refugees escape Nazi persecution and was seemingly the only one...
2020-12-1140 min
When We See Each OtherAnjimileNikkie chats with Anjimile, a talented Black trans artist whose highly anticipated album, 'Giver Taker,' is set to release on September 18th via Father Daughter Records. Anjimile shares their journey into music, which was inspired by their upbringing in Texas, surrounded by musical siblings and influenced by the eclectic sounds played by their parents during family chores. The conversation touches on the deep connections between music, identity, and spirituality that permeate Anjimile's work, as they share the inspiration behind their standout single, "Maker," how it emerged during a particularly tumultuous period in their life, and how it explores...
2020-07-2935 min
Stereoactive Presents‘The Blair Witch Project’ // a 1999 film retrospectiveWith this, their seventh episode in a series, J. McVay, Jacqueline Soller, and Charles Hinshaw continue to look back on movies released in 1999, discussing how they stand up 20 years on…Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, ‘The Blair Witch Project’ presents itself as a documentary pieced together from video, 16mm film, and audio discovered in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, one year after three film students disappeared there while attempting to make a film about a local legend known as the Blair Witch, who supposedly haunts the area. The film, as presented, follows Heather, Josh and Mik...
2019-09-2855 min
Stereoactive Presents‘Fight Club’ // a 1999 film retrospectiveWith this, their second episode in a series, J. McVay, Jacqueline Soller, and Charles Hinshaw continue to look back on movies released in 1999, discussing how they stand up 20 years on…Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk (“Paula-nick”) and directed by David Fincher, ‘Fight Club’ stars Edward Norton as a never named narrator who’s more or less fed up with his life and suffering from severe insomnia as he travels from place to place examining auto-accidents. He begins to find cathartic solace through attending support groups for people suffering from various ailments and conditions, before his routine is i...
2019-07-1947 min
Stereoactive Presents‘Us’ // a movie discussionUS is Jordan Peele's sophomore directorial effort. Adelaide Wilson and her family visit their summer home in Santa Cruz. Although the boardwalk is a popular spot in the area, Adelaide has reservations about going because she had a traumatic experience there as a child. Although she relents and the family makes their way to the beach, Adelaide's fears escalate when her son seems to go missing.Despite quickly finding him, the family decides to return home. Later that night, an eerie occurrence happens. A family dressed all in red stands in their driveway, holding hands, unmoving. What...
2019-03-2929 min