Kael Your Idols: A New Hollywood Podcast

Sam Ludwig and Elena Gibson
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  • FILM HISTORY
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Kael Your Idols is a film discussion podcast focused on the "New Hollywood" era of American cinema. From the glamorized hippies and paranoid anti-heroes of the 60s and 70s, to the merchandise-driven blockbusters of the early 80s, join hosts Alana Gibson and Sam Ludwig as they dive into this wild period in studio filmmaking!Logo artwork by: the_illuminator

  1. 6D AGO

    Talking Therapy: Ordinary People (1980)

    We've been busy preparing a slate of episodes to pay tribute to some of the giants of New Hollywood who have recently left us. First on the “in memoriam” docket is no less than Robert Redford. Arguably the first true multi-hyphenate, with his directorial debut Ordinary People, Redford established an impressively new take on the “issues film”. Elena and Sam enjoy digging in and trying to untangle its thorny reputation as an Oscar spoiler for Raging Bull and Martin Scorsese. Topics include: the 92nd st Y, the origins of the Brat Pack, and what Mary Tyler Moore is really like.

    1h 15m

  2. JAN 13

    Our top 5 movies of 1975 and 2025

    Another December passes into January on the old calendar and we’re just out here doing the same thing we do every year: counting down our favorite films of the season, as well as our top picks from 50 years ago. That’s right, 2025 and 1975 are the contenders this episode. One is often cited as one of the greatest years in the history of the medium, and the other featured lots and lots of Pedro Pascal! Who will win? Ya gotta listen to the episodeeeee…

    2h 25m

  3. 12/25/2025

    I'm Streaming of a Trite Christmas

    Come on in and celebrate with the Kael Your Idols Christmas Crew! Join Sam and Elena, and their special yearly Christmas guest: Ameerah Holliday, as the three proudly break down the current crop of cable/streaming-service-era Christmas-themed romcoms. It’s the REAL reason for the season! Join them as they straighten out the tinsel draped tangle of this special seasonal tradition. For once we’re actually getting the episode out in time for Christmas! Topics include: Shakespeare, the NFL, and depressed dogs.

    1h 54m

  4. 12/12/2025

    Jack Nicholson '75

    In our first ever episode dedicated to an actor we train our sights on the man, the myth, the legend that is Jack Nicholson. Specifically our focus is on his four 1975 calendrical releases: Ken Russell’s Tommy, Michelangelo Antonioni’s The Passenger, Mike Nichols’ The Fortune, and finally we top things off with a brief discussion of his Oscar Winning turn in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It’s a fun one! We talk about some weird movies, the hosts certainly get in a few attempts at Jack impressions, and everyone should leave with a little more knowledge of that marvelous year in film that was 1975. Topics include: Nicholson’s house on so-called “Bad Boy Lane”, Elena’s mom’s crush on Roger Daltrey, and the charms of a young Stocking Channard…I mean Stockard Channing.

    2h 3m

  5. 11/27/2025

    Meanwhile in Germany: Kings of the Road (1976)

    For Elena’s Birthday this year we decided to break format and discuss the German New Wave classic Kings of the Road. This three hour Wim Wenders film is a quietly meditative look at West German cinema culture seen through the eyes of two aimless men. The hosts have a fun time discussing the history of German film from the 20s through the 70s and even make space to share a couple manifestos with each other. Topics include: Hitler candles, Werner Herzog’s level of self-awareness, and poop on screen.

    1h 36m

  6. 11/05/2025

    Robert Altman: Five at Fox

    In a surprising birthday TWIST, Sam has decided to make us cover not just one film for their birthday but FIVE! And guess what? They’re all delightfully quirky and weird. We set our sights on Robert Altman's 1977-1980 period during which - thanks to Alan Ladd Jr.’s protective stewardship of 20th Century Fox - Altman was able to operate with complete freedom, churning out weird movie after weird movie. Sure, all of them utterly tanked at the box office, but they certainly do make for some interesting conversation! In this ep we discuss: 3 Women, A Wedding, Quintet, A Perfect Couple, and HealtH. Topics include: Elena’s brief stint as a caterer, the music of Keepin’ ‘Em Off The Streets, and whether or not the game of Quintet seems fun.

    2h 4m

  7. 10/25/2025

    Blood Sudser: House of Dark Shadows (1970)

    The word “vamp” has multiple meanings. To some it might mean a seductive woman. To many it will bring to mind a sanguinarily obsessed undead creature with long fangs that sleeps in coffins. To others it connotes stretching out some nonsensical patter in order to fill time! We are happy to report that two out of these three working definitions will be in play for this episode we did on House of Dark Shadows, the 1970 film spinoff of the popular television soap opera Dark Shadows. We detail the various storylines that the film somehow both drags out and hopelessly rushes as we get to know Barnabas Collins, Maggie, and all those other beloved Collins’s of Collinsport and Collinswood. If that sounds like nonsense to you… don’t worry we barely understand any of it either. Topics include: Vampire Diaries, Soapnet, and the 2012 Tim Burton Adaptation’s overall suckiness.

    1h 40m

  8. 10/09/2025

    The Parent’s Traps: The Last House on the Left (1972)

    Listen here you little twerps! We’re gonna getcha with this one. Elena and Sam are gonna show you no mercy as they discuss Wes Craven’s first feature film: The Last House on the Left. That’s right, we’re inaugurating the Halloween season here in this quiet little spot, and no one’s gonna hear you scream for mercy. Jeeze, gotta get out of this voice - uh, hey! This is a fun episode! We swear. It won’t be too disturbing at all. And only tastefully exploitative as we get into the semiotics of early slasher/revenge movies. Topics include: Tarot the Musical, whether Last House even counts as a horror film, and if early Swedish is similar to modern Swedish (spoiler: we didn’t actually look it up so we still don’t know).

    1h 38m
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Kael Your Idols is a film discussion podcast focused on the "New Hollywood" era of American cinema. From the glamorized hippies and paranoid anti-heroes of the 60s and 70s, to the merchandise-driven blockbusters of the early 80s, join hosts Alana Gibson and Sam Ludwig as they dive into this wild period in studio filmmaking!Logo artwork by: the_illuminator

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