Project Hail Mary (2026) – Hope for humanity

The Conversation (1974) - Gene Hackman - Into the West

David, Lisa, and Bryan conclude their Gene Hackman coverage with a deep dive into The Conversation, Francis Ford Coppola's 1974 psychological thriller and the film chosen by community vote. The trio explores Gene Hackman's portrayal of Harry Caul, a surveillance expert whose paranoia, guilt, and isolation unravel him as he becomes convinced his latest recording may lead to a murder. The conversation covers the film's remarkable production history as Coppola's decade-long passion project made between the two Godfather films, its uncanny resonance with the Watergate scandal, and the contributions of editor and sound designer Walter Murch and composer David Shire, whose manipulated piano score mirrors Harry's own distorted perception of reality. From the iconic Union Square opening shot to the film's deliberately unresolved ambiguities, the hosts examine how a 50-year-old film about eavesdropping and the power of information remains strikingly relevant in an era of digital surveillance and post-truth uncertainty. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: intothewest@thelorehounds.com [intothewest@thelorehounds.com] Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds [https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds] Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Backrooms (2026)

David and Elysia venture into the Horror Hounds to discuss Backrooms (2026), A24's creepypasta-turned-feature film directed by Kane Parsons and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve. They trace the film's remarkable origin — from an anonymous 2019 post on 4chan to Kane Pixels' three-year YouTube web series — and unpack how a 19-year-old first-time director delivered a confident, visually stunning film on a $10M budget with a 14X box office return. The conversation digs into the film's rich thematic layers, including the backrooms as a Jungian mirror of shared anxiety and mental illness, the AI-as-mimicry subtext, the literary connection to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper, the psychological character studies of Mary and Clark, and what this film signals about a new generation of internet-native storytellers reshaping the horror genre. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com [lorehounds@thelorehounds.com] Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds [https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds] Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)

Elysia and John continue the journey of the galaxy's favorite father and son in The Mandalorian and Grogu. They catch up with the New Republic before meeting Hutts of various sizes, watching stop motion and puppetry showcases, and overall having a fun, standalone adventure. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: starwars@thelorehounds.com [starwars@thelorehounds.com] Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact [https://thelorehounds.com/contact] OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address. Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds [https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds] Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Project Hail Mary (2026) – Hope for humanity

John, Elysia, and Marilyn follow Ryan Gosling to the far reaches of space to save humankind from destruction. They discuss the impressive puppetry and visuals, the hopepunk core of the film, and the parallels to other sci-fi worlds. Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds [http://linktr.ee/thelorehounds] Send your questions and feedback to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com [lorehounds@thelorehounds.com]. Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Deconstructing the Meaning of "Into the West" w/Marilyn R. Pukkila - Into the West

David, Lisa, and Bryan are joined by Tolkien scholar Marilyn R. Pukkila for a special episode exploring the meaning behind the podcast's name and the deep cultural associations between the West and human mortality. The conversation traces how civilizations from the ancient Egyptians and Greeks to the Maori, the Celts, and the indigenous Wabanaki have connected the setting sun with death, transition, and what lies beyond. Marilyn draws on John Garth's research into how the phrase "going West" entered the English lexicon through Celtic-speaking soldiers in the trenches of World War I and became a foundational element in Tolkien's myth-making, while the hosts reflect on how art, storytelling, and community create spaces for renewal, shared grief, and the celebration of lives well lived. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: intothewest@thelorehounds.com [intothewest@thelorehounds.com] Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds [https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds] Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.