The Studio Season One Discussion with Gal Balaban

The Bear: Gary Discussion with Alise Chaffins

Seven-time guest Alise Chaffins joins me to discuss The Bear: Gary, FX's surprise standalone prequel that appeared on Disney+ and Hulu with no advance press, no reviews, and no warning. We dig into what the episode does for Mikey's character, Richie's desperate need to belong, the case for a "Mikey Trilogy" viewing order (Fishes → Gary → Forks), Emmy clip candidates, and what the Season 5 car crash cliffhanger might mean. Content warning: This episode discusses themes of depression, alcoholism, and trauma as depicted in The Bear: Gary. The first 33 minutes are spoiler-free. Chapters: 00:08 – Introduction & Alise's seventh appearance 01:43 – Recommendations: The Great Divide by Noah Kahan, DTF St. Louis, Beef Season 2, Alien: Isolation 05:10 – Initial reactions to the surprise release 07:49 – Is Gary a series or a standalone? 08:57 – Tone comparison: buddy road trip vs. kitchen anxiety 10:58 – What Gary does for Mikey's character 13:03 – The case for more prequel content 15:55 – Mikey's dual personality and Bernthal's performance 18:04 – Richie as film snob and service obsessive 19:56 – Mental health from an outsider's POV 23:03 – The basketball court scene 24:38 – Performances and filming logistics 26:26 – Our ratings and the case for cutting 15 minutes 30:02 – Why Gary feels "looser" than the main series 31:41 – Emmy clip candidates SPOILERS BEGIN AT 33:15 33:43 – Does Gary, Indiana earn its place as a meaningful setting? 36:15 – Placing Gary in the series timeline 40:13 – The bathroom scene with Sherri 43:16 – Richie's mentality and what it tells us about him 47:41 – The Mikey Trilogy watch order: Fishes, Gary, Forks 49:32 – Wanting more Richie/Mikey/Carmy flashback footage 54:29 – On fan over-analysis 56:10 – Season 5 cliffhanger speculation 58:37 – Wrap-up Find Alise on Substack at MacGuffin or Meaning (alisechaffins.substack.com) and on YouTube at @alisechaffins. Order Alise's book, The Ted Lasso Relationship Guide, on Amazon. Support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/AustinBMedia — $10+ members get this episode uncut. Find me on Bluesky at austinb.media and everywhere else at @AustinBMedia.

Diamond Diplomacy | A Conversation with Yuriko Gamo Romer & Masanori “Mashi” Murakami

Director Yuriko Gamo Romer and baseball legend Masanori “Mashi” Murakami, the first Japanese player in Major League Baseball, join Austin Belzer to discuss Diamond Diplomacy, a documentary exploring how baseball became a bridge between Japan and the United States. Together, they talk about the sport’s cultural impact, the challenges of documenting over 150 years of history, and how Mashi’s legacy continues to inspire players around the world. Subscribe to The Austin B Media Podcast for more filmmaker conversations. Learn more and find screenings at diamonddiplomacy.com [https://diamonddiplomacy.com/]. Read the full transcript here. Support Austin B Media If you enjoyed this podcast, consider joining my Patreon. Members get: * Early access to reviews and podcasts ($10 members get unedited episodes) * Exclusive monthly Film Club, where we watch a movie and discuss it together on Zoom * Community polls to help choose what I cover next * Behind-the-scenes research notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join here and help shape the future of Austin B Media! [https://patreon.com/AustinBMedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 00:26 – Hot Springs and Babe Ruth’s longest home run 02:05 – What inspired Yuriko to make Diamond Diplomacy 03:33 – Mashi’s minor-league days and first impressions of America 06:10 – From Fresno to the Giants: Moving to the majors 08:40 – Balancing archival footage and modern storytelling 11:00 – Working without AI and preserving history 13:00 – Friendship and collaboration through the film 15:00 – Legacy and baseball as diplomacy 19:30 – Closing remarks and festival screenings Where to Follow Me * ⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/austinb.media] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/austinbmedia] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/austinbmedia/] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://letterboxd.com/AustinBMedia/] * ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRA3b6AQ] * ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@austinbmedia] * ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠ [https://youtube.com/@austinbmedia] Until next time!

Norita | A Conversation with Producer Sarah Schoellkopf

In this episode, I talk with producer Sarah Schoellkopf about Norita, a moving documentary about Argentine human rights icon Nora “Norita” Cortiñas, one of the founders of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. Sarah shares how her decades-long friendship with Norita inspired the project, how animation gave visual form to memory, and why the film serves as a manual for activism today. Learn more at noritafilm.com [noritafilm.com] Read the full transcript here. Support Austin B Media If you enjoyed this podcast, consider joining my Patreon. Members get: * Early access to reviews and podcasts ($10 members get unedited episodes) * Exclusive monthly Film Club, where we watch a movie and discuss it together on Zoom * Community polls to help choose what I cover next * Behind-the-scenes research notes ⁠⁠⁠Join here and help shape the future of Austin B Media! [https://patreon.com/AustinBMedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] Chapters:00:00 – Introduction00:53 – Meeting Nora Cortiñas05:27 – Documentary Teaching06:10 – Using Animation to Tell History11:11 – Speaking About Trauma in One’s Own Language12:43 – Balancing the Personal and Political17:08 – Norita as a Manual for Activism29:30 – Collaboration Across Continents33:00 – Where to Watch Norita33:30 – Closing Remarks Where to Follow Me * Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/austinb.media] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/austinbmedia] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/austinbmedia/] * ⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠ [https://letterboxd.com/AustinBMedia/] * ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRA3b6AQ] * ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@austinbmedia] * ⁠⁠YouTube [https://youtube.com/@austinbmedia] Until next time!

The Bear Season 4 Discussion with Alise Chaffins | The Austin B Media Podcast #42

Six-time guest Alise Chaffins returns to talk about Season 4 of FX’s The Bear, and there’s a lot to dig into. In our nearly two-hour conversation, we discussed Carmy’s “apology tour,” Sydney’s challenges, Richie’s growth, Emmy category fraud, and our hopes for Season 5. The first hour is spoiler-free, so if you haven't finished the season yet, you can stream this episode safely before jumping into the full breakdown. What’s The Bear Season 4 About? Following the fallout from the scathing review at the end of Season 3, Season 4 of The Bear serves as an "apology tour" for Carmy as he attempts to make amends and rediscover his passion. The season focuses on the improved, honest communication between Carmy, Sydney, and Richie, explores the heavy toll of burnout, and questions what success means for the crew and the restaurant. Support Austin B Media If you enjoyed this podcast, consider joining my Patreon. Members get: * Early access to reviews and podcasts ($10 members get unedited episodes) * Exclusive monthly Film Club, where we watch a movie and discuss it together on Zoom * Community polls to help choose what I cover next * Behind-the-scenes research notes ⁠⁠Join here and help shape the future of Austin B Media! [https://patreon.com/AustinBMedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] Chapters * 00:00- Intro Screen * 00:08 - Guest Introduction * 02:08 - Alise's recommendation: Andor & Peacemaker * 03:24 - My recommendation: Novocaine * 05:10 - Upcoming Discussion on Gen V Season 2 * 06:14 - Initial Discussion & What Drew Us to The Bear * 09:27 - Evolution of the Seasons & Viewing Seasons 3 & 4 as a Single Story * 13:35 - Character Regression in Season 3 & Hopes for Season 4 * 18:10 - Evolving Character Dynamics in Season 4 * 23:28 - Season 4's Story and Carmy's "Apology Tour" * 27:47 - Standout Performances of the Season * 35:42 - A More Subdued Direction & Cinematography * 41:52 - Is The Bear a Comedy? The Category Fraud Debate * 48:30 - Our Final Ratings for Season 4 * 51:24 - Looking Ahead to Season 5 * 53:13 - Spoiler Warning * 53:52 - The Season 4 Finale * 01:06:51 - Carmy's Storyline, Burnout, and Self-Reflection * 01:12:24 - Carmy and Sydney's Dynamic as Friends & Colleagues * 01:20:22 - Donna's Storyline and the "Tonnato" Episode * 01:27:31 - Richie's Journey and Character Growth * 01:35:21 - The Most Emotionally Impactful Moments of the Season * 01:39:50 - Character Resolutions & Frustrations * 01:46:19 - The Clock and Cicero's Decision * 01:47:58 - Our Final Season Rankings * 01:48:40 - Where to Find Alise & Outro * 01:50:24 - Patreon Plug * 01:50:36 - End Screen Where to Watch The Bear All four seasons of The Bear are now streaming exclusively on Hulu. Where to Find Our Recommendations Alise's recommendations: * All seasons of Andor are available to stream on Disney+. [https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-faba988a-a9f5-45f2-a074-0775a7d6f67a] * Season one of Peacemaker is now streaming on HBO Max [https://play.hbomax.com/show/a939d96b-7ffb-4481-96f6-472838d104ca?utm_source=universal_search], with a second season set to premiere on August 21st. My recommendation: Novocaine is streaming on Paramount+ [https://www.paramountplus.com/movies/video/HTtaxE_ZAuUDaLKSYWJzWuYUwWpHow48/]. Where to Follow Alise * * ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/AliseChaffins/] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/alisechaffins/] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠MacGuffin or Meaning⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://alisechaffins.substack.com/] * ⁠YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@alisechaffins] * * Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/austinb.media] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/austinbmedia] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/austinbmedia/] * ⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠ [https://letterboxd.com/AustinBMedia/] * ⁠TikTok⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRA3b6AQ] * ⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@austinbmedia] * ⁠YouTube [https://youtube.com/@austinbmedia] Until next time!

The Studio Season One Discussion with Gal Balaban

In the latest episode of The Austin B Media Podcast, I was thrilled to be joined by Gal Balaban, the founder and extraordinary critic behind the blog FilmToppings, for a comprehensive breakdown of Apple TV's hit series, The Studio. This show has generated a lot of buzz for being a scathing new satire of modern Hollywood, and Gal and I left no stone unturned. We dove into its sharp critique with a clear love for filmmaking, the standout performances, the chaotic CinemaCon finale, and how the show compares to other great Hollywood satires, such as Barry and The Player. What's The Show About? The Studio tells the story of Matt Remick (Seth Rogen), a passionate filmmaker who takes over a struggling legacy movie studio. He must navigate the treacherous waters of modern Hollywood, balancing his artistic ambitions with the commercial demands of IP-driven blockbusters, all while dealing with eccentric actors, egomaniacal directors, and the constant threat of being bought out by a tech giant. Support the Podcast: Enjoyed the episode? ⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠ [https://www.google.com/search?q=http://Patreon.com/AustinBMedia] to get episodes 48 hours early, plus access to uncut recordings, our monthly film club, and more! Chapters * 00:08 – Introduction * 00:37 – Guest Introduction: Gal Balaban * 01:48 – Gal's Recommendation: Under the Bridge * 04:41 – Austin's Recommendation: Presence * 07:29 – Expectations for The Studio * 09:59 – First Impressions * 13:08 – Balancing Satire & Love for Filmmaking * 16:11 – Standout Performers * 20:33 – Final Ratings (Non-Spoiler) * 26:24 – SPOILER WARNING * 27:14 – The Pilot and Scorsese's Passion Project * 32:41 – Matt & Patty's Dynamic * 37:34 – Art vs. Commerce: The Kool-Aid Movie * 47:35 – Grounding the Satire: The Oncologist Debate * 53:57 – Favorite Celebrity Cameos * 59:03 – The Ron Howard "Note" Episode * 01:03:04 – Quinn's War with Sal * 01:06:12 – The Chaotic CinemaCon Finale * 01:12:54 – How The Studio Compares to Other Satires * 01:17:21 – Final Thoughts & Outro Where to Watch The Studio You can watch The Studio on Apple TV+ right now. Where to Watch Our Recommendations Gal's recommendation - Under the Bridge — Streaming on Hulu and Disney+. My recommendation - Presence — Streaming on Hulu. Where to Follow Me * * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/austinbmedia/]⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/austinb.media] * * ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/austinbmedia] * * ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/austinbmedia/] * * ⁠Letterboxd⁠ [https://letterboxd.com/AustinBMedia/] * * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRA3b6AQ] * * Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@austinbmedia] * * YouTube [https://youtube.com/@austinbmedia] Where to Follow Gal * 1st Reviews website [https://www.1streviews.ca/] * FilmToppings website [http://filmtoppings.com/] * ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/filmtoppings] * Twitter [https://x.com/FilmToppings] Until next time!