Soundtrack Your Life | A Film and TV Podcast

Nicole Barlow & Ryan Pak | Soundtrack Experts
  • 5.0 (24)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
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Nicole Barlow and Ryan Pak host Soundtrack Your Life, a podcast about the film and TV soundtracks that shape pop culture. Each episode features a guest who shares personal stories about a soundtrack that's meaningful to them. Ranging from the iconic best selling soundtracks of all time to cult favorites, they cover them all. Discover hidden gems, behind-the-scenes stories, hot debates, and deep dives into the most iconic songs in movies.🎧 Perfect for fans of:• Movie and TV soundtracks• Original songs! Fake bands! Real good needle drops!• Music and pop culture connections• 80s, 90s and Y2K nostalgia• New soundtrack releases • Exclusive interviews with bands, artists and pop culture expertsNew episodes are released on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month.Support us on Patreon for bonus episodes and more: https://www.patreon.com/soundtrackyourlifeSubscribe to our pop culture writing site at: https://blog.soundtrackyourlife.netConnect with Soundtrack Your Life on the Web:https://www.soundtrackyourlife.nethttps://bsky.app/profile/soundtrackyourlife.nethttps://twitter.com/soundtrackcasthttps://instagram.com/soundtrackcastMusic: Phil Bertulfo of Rubber SpanielThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacySpotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/

  1. FEB 9

    Scott Interrante on How the Reznor/Ross Score Creates Dramatic Tennis in Challengers (2024)

    Scott Interrante of Big White Elephants and This is the Greatest Song I've Ever Heard in My Entire Life joins Nicole Barlow and Ryan Pak to discuss the soundtrack to the 2024 Luca Guadagnino film, Challengers. The film was scored by the team of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (Nine Inch Nails) who have worked with Guadagnino multiple times before (Queer, Bones and All, After the Hunt). The soundtrack was also accompanied by a remix album from Boys Noize. The score won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score but it was not even nominated for the Best Original Score Oscar. Hot takes, hot actors, and phallic food is all discussed on this Valentine's Day episode of Soundtrack Your Life. Scott's Socials: Big White Elephants Instagram This is the Greatest Song... Instagram Take the 90 day Just Thrive Probiotic Challenge Today: (Save 20% on your 1st Order) https://justthrivehealth.com/CX Thank you for listening! We would love it if you would join our Patreon membership, where you will get quarterly bonus episodes, access to our ad-free episode feed and more! Soundtrack Your Life Socials ⁠ Patreon membership⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ Writing Site⁠⁠ YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 5m

  2. JAN 26

    Mometu President Bryan Louzil on Why Gangsta Rap Works So Well in Office Space (1999)

    Mometu President Bryan Louzil joins Nicole and Ryan Pak to discuss the soundtrack to Mike Judge's 1999 cult classic, Office Space. The soundtrack boasts needle drops from artists like Scarface, The Geto Boys, Slum Village, Canibus & Biz Markie, Ice Cube and Kool Keith. Obviously, we have to talk about "Still" by the Geto Boys which soundtracks the infamous "printer scene". The soundtrack supervisor for Office Space is Karyn Rachtman, whose illustrious career includes soundtracking Pulp Fiction, Clueless, Romeo and Juliet, Reality Bites, and Moulin Rouge - and those are just the movies that we've covered on our podcast. For More Information About Bryan Louzil: Mometu Mometu IG Mometu Podcast The Mometu College Film Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 8m

  3. JAN 12

    Filmmaker/Comedian Cameron Smith on the Infectious Song and Jokes of Walk Hard (2007)

    Comedian and Filmmaker, Cameron Smith, joins Nicole Barlow and Ryan Pak to talk about the soundtrack to the 2007 Jake Kasdan film, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. While the film flopped at the box office, it has become a cult classic and star, John C. Reilly is planning to take the Dewey Cox songs on tour in 2007 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film. We Discuss: - How the Film Influenced Cameron In His Formative Years - The Great Songs and the Massively Talented Songwriters Behind Them - John C. Reilly's Love of Music - Our Favorite Scenes, Performances, and The Beatles For More Information About Cameron Smith: Website YouTube Instagram TikTok Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr

  4. 12/22/2025

    Musician Sean Griffin on The Nightmare Before Christmas, His New Holiday Single, & Holiday Traditions

    Musician Sean Griffin (The Ruffians) is our guest to ring in the holidays by talking about Henry Selick's The Nightmare Before Christmas on Soundtrack Your Life! Sean has just released the Christmas song, "I'm in Love for Christmas", so he's the perfect guest for our holiday episode! Obviously, if we're talking The Nightmare before Christmas, we're talking about Danny Elfman, who composed the score, wrote the songs, and is the singing voice of Jack Skellington. We also talk about Catherine O'Hara as Sally, and how she's an underrated singer (we covered her singing on our A Mighty Wind episode a couple of months ago). We also chat about Christmas traditions, and our favorite Christmas specials and songs. For More Information About Sean Griffin (and where you can find his music): Website Instagram We've launched a SYL merch store! Promo code: Newbie for 10% off at: https://soundtrackcast.creator-spring.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min

  5. 12/08/2025

    Author Eric Gee on how the GO! Soundtrack (1999) Perfectly Captures the Late 90s

    Author Eric Gee joins Nicole Barlow and Ryan Pak to discuss the soundtrack to Doug Liman's 1999 film, Go! From the B.T. score to the timeless earworm of Len's "Steal My Sunshine", to a new No Doubt song, Go! captures all the music that suburban kids were into in 1999. 00:00:00-00:09:30 Introducing Eric Gee & The Power of Personality 00:09:31-00:15:30 Why Did Eric Pick Go!? 00:15:31-00:23:00 The Soundtrack Supervisor and Capturing 1999 00:23:01-00:25:15 The Pulp Fiction Comparison 00:25:16-00:32:30 The "Steal My Sunshine" Needle Drop and Rave Culture 00:32:31-00:39:00 John August and Screenwriting 00:39:01-00:44:30 The Career of Electronic Music Pioneer, BT 00:44:31-00:50:30 Is Go! a Christmas Movie? and Breckin Meyer Defining 1999 00:50:31-00:56:00 Doug Liman's Post-Go! Career and The Simpsons' homage to Go! 00:56:01-00:59:30 Your Life in 3 Tracks 00:59:31-01:05:54 What's Ryan's Animal? / Thank Yous and Goodbyes Eric's book, The Power of Personality of out now! For More Information About Eric Gee: Website Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 9m

  6. 11/24/2025

    Pop Culture Writer Rachel Brodsky on Why Adventureland (2009) is Timeless Even Though It's a Period Piece

    Pop culture writer, and soon to be author, Rachel Brodsky (Time, LA Times, Stereogum, Rolling Stone, and more!) returns to Soundtrack Your Life to discuss the soundtrack to the 2009 Greg Mottolla film, Adventureland, with hosts Nicole Barlow and Ryan Pak. Outside of Falco's hit "Rock Me Amadeus", the soundtrack mines 80s college rock over pop hits for this 80s period piece. Needle drops from The Replacements, Crowded House, The Cure, Husker Du, Big Star, & Lou Reed pop up in the film alongside a beautiful score by Yo La Tengo. For More Information About Rachel Brodsky: Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 6m

  7. 11/10/2025

    Singer Kelsie Watts on The Greatest Showman (2017) and Getting Hugh Jackman's Attention

    Singer and Star of SIX on Broadway, Kelsie Watts, joins Nicole Barlow and Ryan Pak to discuss the soundtrack to the 2017 Michael Gracey film, The Greatest Showman. The soundtrack spent 28 weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts, and the song "This is Me" won the Best Original Song award at the Golden Globes and was nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars. The songwriting team of Pasek/Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen) wrote all the songs for the film. 00:00:00 - 00:07:45 Introducing Kelsie Watts! 00:07:46 - 00:09:45 Why Did Kelsie Pick The Greatest Showman and Facts About the Soundtrack 00:09:46 - 00:12:30 The Song of Pasek/Paul/ Hugh Jackman's Reaction to Kelsie's Cover of "Never Enough" 00:12:31 - 00:19:00 Preparing for a Musical 00:19:01 - 00:20:10 The Versatile Hugh Jackman 00:20:11 - 00:25:15 What Does Kelsie Think of Everyone's Singing in the Film? 00:25:16 - 00:26:30 The Golden Globe Winning and Oscar Nominated "This is Me" 00:26:31 - 00:29:15 A Greatest Showman Musical? 00:29:16 - 00:33:29 Kelsie's Future Plans and Goodbyes Kelsie' single "Fit In" is available in it's original studio form, acoustic, or remixed by SMASHKASH X MIXMASTERDAVID. She's featured on the Manafest song "Take You Higher", and just released the song "Christmas in New York", just in time for the holidays. For more information about Kelsie Watts: Website TikTok Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min

  8. 10/31/2025

    Tales From the Crypt Writer/Showrunner Alan Katz on the Legendary Composers on Tales

    *Trigger Warning: This episode has references to self harm and sexual assault. Alan Katz, formerly a writer/showrunner for the TV show, Tales from the Crypt, joins Nicole Barlow and Ryan Pak to talk about his new career in podcasting. Alan owns Costard and Touchstone Productions, which is home to podcasts such as The How Not to Make a Movie Podcast, The Donor: A DNA Horror Story, The Hall Closet, John Kiriakou's Dead Drop: What Makes a Spy Tick, and more! Nicole and Ryan also talk to Alan about the amazing composers that worked on Tales from the Crypt. Legendary composers such as Michael Kaman, Alan Silvestri, Ry Cooder and more leant their talents to the hit horror franchise. Alan shares a great story about collaborating with Kaman. Nicole also asks about a fun needle drop in the film Bordello of Blood, and Alan explains why there will never be a Tales reboot. For more information about Alan Katz: Website Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
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About

Nicole Barlow and Ryan Pak host Soundtrack Your Life, a podcast about the film and TV soundtracks that shape pop culture. Each episode features a guest who shares personal stories about a soundtrack that's meaningful to them. Ranging from the iconic best selling soundtracks of all time to cult favorites, they cover them all. Discover hidden gems, behind-the-scenes stories, hot debates, and deep dives into the most iconic songs in movies.🎧 Perfect for fans of:• Movie and TV soundtracks• Original songs! Fake bands! Real good needle drops!• Music and pop culture connections• 80s, 90s and Y2K nostalgia• New soundtrack releases • Exclusive interviews with bands, artists and pop culture expertsNew episodes are released on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month.Support us on Patreon for bonus episodes and more: https://www.patreon.com/soundtrackyourlifeSubscribe to our pop culture writing site at: https://blog.soundtrackyourlife.netConnect with Soundtrack Your Life on the Web:https://www.soundtrackyourlife.nethttps://bsky.app/profile/soundtrackyourlife.nethttps://twitter.com/soundtrackcasthttps://instagram.com/soundtrackcastMusic: Phil Bertulfo of Rubber SpanielThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacySpotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/

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