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Movie / TV

Star Wars

Referenced in 14 episodes

Episode 258 cover

#258: Dellz-A-Poppin'

June 4, 2026

Ben Reiser, Scott Lucas, and Gabe Rodriguez discuss scheduling conflicts and communication issues before diving into topics including their new vinyl record release (which Gabe delivered late to shows), Scott's touring with the Toadies through Wisconsin Dells, and various tangents about salad recipes, turntables, water parks, and Gabe's rescue of an injured tortoise in Florida. The episode features their usual banter about quality control, with Scott criticizing both Gabe's faulty turntable and his approach to selling records to customers who may not actually play them.

Episode 244 cover

#244: Richard Shepard and the Best Movies of 2025

January 8, 2026

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez, Ben Reiser, and director Richard Shepard discuss their favorite films of 2025, with Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" emerging as a consensus top pick. Shepard shares stories about his career, including making documentaries about John Cazale and his own cinematic journey documented in "Film Geek," rescuing "The Linguini Incident" from obscurity, and working with David Bowie who met his wife Iman on that troubled production.

Episode 225 cover

#225: Fig Dish Promotional Obligation Part 2: The Revenge

July 11, 2025

Blake Smith, Rick Ness and Mike Willison of the band Fig Dish discuss the inspiration, recording process and marketing of their 1995 debut album "That's What Love Songs Often Do" with Scott Lucas and Gabe Rodriguez. The band shares anecdotes about working with producer Lou Giordano, their expectations for the album's success, and the record label's reaction upon delivering the finished album. Thirty years later, the band reflects on their mixed feelings about the album as they prepare to re-release it on vinyl and play anniversary shows.

Episode 213 cover
🎸 Replacements

#213: Jim Healy

March 28, 2025

Jim Healy, a film programmer and curator, discusses his career programming films at the Chicago International Film Festival, George Eastman House, and the Wisconsin Film Festival. Healy and the hosts discuss favorite movies about filmmaking, including The Bad and the Beautiful, Contempt, and Boogie Nights.

Episode 191 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#191: Road Report #21 (with Ronnie DiCola!)

October 1, 2024

Scott, Ben, and special guest Ronnie DiCola record a podcast episode while on tour in Memphis, Tennessee. They discuss Kris Kristofferson's recent passing, swap stories from the road, and debate which are the best road trip movies of all time. The casual, humorous conversation touches on wide-ranging topics and showcases the camaraderie between the hosts.

Episode 176 cover
🎸 Replacements

#176: John Haggerty

June 21, 2024

John Haggerty discusses his influential guitar playing with the bands Naked Raygun and Pegboy, the 1970s Chicago punk scene, and his upcoming show at Metro. He also shares his favorite guitar solos of the 1970s, heavily favoring classic rock and metal.

Episode 158 cover
🎸 Replacements

#158: Nick Miller

February 16, 2024

Nick Miller, a legendary Chicago concert promoter, discusses his decades-long career booking shows for acts like Cheap Trick, Bruce Springsteen, and Jeff Beck. The hosts and Miller share stories of their most memorable concerts, including seeing the Replacements, Depeche Mode, and Metallica early in their careers. Miller recounts his unconventional start in the music business and reflects on how the Chicago music scene has evolved over the years.

Episode 148 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#148: Joel Spencer

December 8, 2023

Joel Spencer, formerly of the band Menthol from Champaign, Illinois, discusses his music career and current work as a librarian. Menthol recently reunited to play shows after disbanding in the late 1990s when they were dropped from Capitol Records.

Episode 63 cover

#63: Daniel Knox

April 29, 2022

In this episode, Scott Lucas and Gabe Rodriguez interview Daniel Knox, a musician and former projectionist at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. They discuss Knox's work putting together David Lynch film festivals at the Music Box, his thoughts on Lynch's films, and his own music career which was kickstarted after Lynch highlighted Knox's organ playing before a screening of Inland Empire. Knox also shares behind-the-scenes details on Lynch's creative process and the relationship between Lynch and co-creator Mark Frost on the Twin Peaks series.

Episode 57 cover

#57: Keith Smith

March 11, 2022

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser interview their high school friend Keith Smith, who is in the Christian metal band Oblivion Myth. They discuss Keith's musical journey, his faith, and reminisce about the metal and hard rock scene they grew up with in Zion, Illinois in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Episode 53 cover

#53: J. Robbins

February 11, 2022

In this episode, J Robbins discusses his musical journey, from getting into the DC punk scene as a teen in the 80s to playing in influential bands like Government Issue and Jawbox. He shares insights into Jawbox's experience signing to a major label in the 90s while maintaining their DIY roots, and talks about his transition into producing and recording bands. Robbins also touches on Jawbox's recent reunion shows and the challenges of revisiting old material.

Episode 37 cover

#37: Felix Pineiro

October 22, 2021

Felix Pinero, the director of the "Innocence" music video for the band Local H, discusses growing up in Chicago and his passion for filmmaking that developed from an early love of the arts. He talks about meeting and collaborating with Local H frontman Scott Lucas over the years. Pinero recounts the story of how he met actor Michael Shannon at a party in LA, and later convinced Lucas to ask Shannon to appear in the "Innocence" video, which Shannon agreed to do. Pinero describes the experience of directing Shannon in the video shoot. The discussion also covers Pinero's philosophy on directing and how he sees it as a collaborative, "tribal" process of getting the best out of the cast and crew. He compares it to his experience playing in bands. Lucas and Pinero also discuss their plans to shoot a concert film for Local H at the Metro in Chicago, done in an ambitious single-take style.

Episode 36 cover

#36: Brian Blockinger

October 15, 2021

Scott Lucas and his bandmate Ryan both tested positive for Covid in the middle of their tour, forcing them to cancel several sold-out shows and quarantine at home. Despite feeling relatively okay, Scott is bummed about having to miss shows right as the tour was hitting its stride. However, the band plans to resume the tour at the Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta which will take place outdoors.

Episode 31 cover

#31: Road Report #4: Detroit Rock Hotel (Waiting For Jeremy And Ryan)

September 10, 2021

Scott Lucas is in Detroit on tour with his band Local H, waiting for his bandmate Ryan and their friend Jeremy who plays bass in Soul Asylum, to return from a dispensary run. Lucas discusses the tour, playing pranks on other bands, and his plans to make a "slacker"-style concert film shot in real-time at a Local H show. The hosts also discuss music from Iron Maiden, Kanye West, the Replacements, Insane Clown Posse and ABBA.