The Local H Lifers Database

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Person

Robert De Niro

Referenced in 12 episodes

Episode 268 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#268: Joe Swanberg

September 21, 2026

The Lifers podcast hosts Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez, and Ben Reiser interview filmmaker Joe Swanberg about his new film "The Sun Never Sets," shot on 35mm film in Anchorage, Alaska, marking his first theatrical release in a decade. Swanberg discusses his mumblecore filmmaking origins, his transition from digital to film, his current analog filmmaking projects including a pornographic short shot entirely on 16mm, and his video store ventures in Chicago. The episode concludes with the hosts and Swanberg discussing their favorite "needle drops" (musical cues) in film history, with selections ranging from the Pixies in Fight Club to Led Zeppelin in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Episode 263 cover

#263: Sisyphus! Sisyphus!! Sisyphus!!!

July 24, 2026

Ben discovers Scott hasn't heard a specific Beatles song's background vocals are "Frère Jacques," sparking debate about whether Beatles deep cuts exist and discussion of Paul McCartney's distinctive bass lines that reportedly annoyed his bandmates. The conversation meanders through game show memories, with Gabe revealing he grew up competing with his five brothers to win Name That Tune so the victor could sit on the couch instead of the floor, and Scott attending an STP show in Montana where Herb embarrassed him by wearing a Red Cross shirt—referencing the band's well-known "Big Bang Baby" resemblance to Red Cross's sound. Scott compares Gabe's vinyl shipping operation to Sisyphus repeatedly pushing a boulder uphill, though Gabe doesn't recognize the Greek mythology reference and has to look it up.

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#262: Deanna Belos #4

July 10, 2026

Deanna Belos of Sincere Engineer discusses the band's fourth album "Probable Cause," recorded at Electrical Audio, ahead of their extensive summer tour that includes dates from Iowa City to Seattle, San Diego, and Jacksonville. The episode features a "What's the Best Fourth Records" segment where the hosts and Belos debate classic fourth albums including Led Zeppelin IV, The Replacements' "Tim," Iron Maiden's "Piece of Mind," and Belos's pick of Modest Mouse's "Good News for People Who Love Bad News," while also revealing her controversial favorite album is Hootie and the Blowfish's "Cracked Rear View.\

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#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 228 cover
🎸 Replacements

#228: Larry Karaszewski

July 31, 2025

Larry Karaszewski, the famous screenwriter known for films like Ed Wood and The People vs. Larry Flynt, joins the Lifers podcast to discuss his career and love of cinema. Karaszewski talks about growing up obsessed with movies, meeting his writing partner Scott Alexander in film school, and how they transitioned from writing "crappy comedies" to revitalizing the biopic genre. The discussion covers many of Karaszewski's films as well as his passion for screening and championing obscure and orphaned movies.

Episode 210 cover
🎸 Replacements

#210: Michael Christopher and the BEST?!? Best Picture

March 7, 2025

Michael Christopher, a senior writer for Vanyaland and contributor to various music and entertainment publications, joins the Lifers podcast hosts to discuss the Oscars, with a focus on the best Best Picture winners of all time. The group each shares their top 3 picks, which include Rocky, No Country for Old Men, The Departed, Schindler's List, and Unforgiven.

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#142: Jon Hertzberg, T.R. Baskin and Chicago Movies

November 3, 2023

The podcast episode discusses Chicago-based movies with guest Jonathan Hertzberg, who runs the boutique Blu-ray label Fun City Editions. Hertzberg is releasing a Blu-ray of the 1971 film T.R. Baskin, which was shot in Chicago and features an audio commentary track by the podcast hosts.

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#139: Halloween ll: Stans For Satan

October 13, 2023

The episode discusses songs involving Satan or the devil. The hosts and guests each take turns picking songs that fit this theme, with some rules and restrictions in place. They discuss and debate the various songs chosen, ranging from classic rock and metal tracks to more obscure selections.

Episode 99 cover
🎸 Replacements

#99: Pat Healy

January 6, 2023

Pat Healy discusses his acting career, including working with renowned directors like Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Werner Herzog. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from films such as Take Me, The Post, Rescue Dawn and Better Call Saul, and reflects on the current state of the film industry. Healy also talks about his love of movies from a young age and how that passion has fueled his work as an actor and filmmaker.

Episode 88 cover

#88: Road Report #13

October 21, 2022

Scott, Gabe and Ben discuss food preferences, including Gabe's unusual peanut butter, jelly and pickle sandwich, while driving between shows on their current tour. They also talk about the bands they've been listening to lately, upcoming Halloween costumes, and reminisce about having to stretch out their opening sets when touring with Stone Temple Pilots. The conversation meanders humorously as the band kills time on the road.

Episode 74 cover

#74: Michael McMahon and the Paqui Chip Challenge

July 15, 2022

Scott Lucas and Gabe Rodriguez from the band Local H are visiting Scott's father-in-law Mike McMahon in South Carolina. They discuss Mike's first concerts seeing AC/DC and Ted Nugent in the late 70s. Scott tries an extremely spicy Paqui chip challenge, which causes him intense pain. Mike talks about his career as a police detective in New York and South Carolina. The group also discusses recent Def Leppard and Motley Crue concerts, favorite sea creatures, and answer fan questions about upcoming Local H plans.

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#73: Julian Antos

July 8, 2022

Julian Antos, the technical director at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago and one of the founders of the Chicago Film Society, discusses his passion for film projection and the challenges of keeping the art form alive in the digital age. He shares stories of tracking down rare prints, programming unique film series, and the intricate technical aspects involved in running 35mm and 70mm film projectors.