Basket Traffic: Finding The Comedy In Culture

Craig Chubb and Shawn Clements
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Need a break from the intensity of life? Need a laugh? Join our podcast. We fuse Film and TV with (light) History and try to find the comedy in it.   Hailing from Vancouver, this podcast is brought to you by hosts Craig, Shawn and Susie. Through story telling and conversation, our podcast grinds and plods along a meandering path of history and entertainment. Craig brings the history. Shawn brings the cinephilia (cinema lover), and Susie wants nothing to do with any of it. In short, we're seriously unserious and a little irreverent.  Have a listen and press "follow" if you enjoy it. We'd really appreciate it.

  1. The Untouchables: What Was Found in Al Capone’s “Vault”?

    MAR 1

    The Untouchables: What Was Found in Al Capone’s “Vault”?

    Welcome back to the show—today we’re cracking open one of the most mythologized chapters in American history: the era of Prohibition, when the country outlawed alcohol and accidentally created an underground economy that made criminals into celebrities and lawmen into legends. The 1920s were supposed to be about moral reform. Instead, they became a golden age for bootleggers, rum runners, and crime syndicates. Speakeasies flourished behind unmarked doors, whiskey barrels rolled through back alleys, and cities like Chicago became battlegrounds for control of liquor, money, and power. No figure looms larger over this period than Al Capone—a man who turned beer into a business empire and violence into a management tool. Hollywood cemented this era into our collective imagination with The Untouchables, a film that framed Prohibition as a moral showdown between order and chaos. Kevin Costner stars as Eliot Ness, the clean-cut lawman determined to bring Capone down, while Robert De Niro delivers an unforgettable performance as Capone himself—charismatic, brutal, and larger than life. It’s a story of heroes and villains, sharply drawn, where the lines between good and evil feel clear and consequential. But America’s obsession with Prohibition-era crime didn’t end with classic films. Decades later, that fascination resurfaced in a very different way—live television. In 1986, millions tuned in as Geraldo Rivera hosted a highly promoted, live syndicated broadcast promising to reveal Al Capone’s secret vault. The buildup was enormous. The result? An empty room. No treasure. No secrets. Just dust, a few bottles, and one of the most infamous anticlimaxes in TV history. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    53 min
  2. The Lusitania Disaster: A Story of Incompetence and Cover Up?

    FEB 3

    The Lusitania Disaster: A Story of Incompetence and Cover Up?

    On the morning of May 7, 1915, the RMS Lusitania sliced through the cold waters off the coast of Ireland, just hours from its destination. She was a marvel of modern engineering—a symbol of speed, luxury, and the confidence of the early 20th century. But beneath the surface of the Atlantic, war was already waiting. When a German U-boat fired a single torpedo into the liner’s side, the world changed in just eighteen minutes. Nearly 1,200 passengers and crew were killed, including 128 Americans. But this was more than a maritime disaster. It was a collision of civilian life and industrialized warfare, of neutrality and global conflict. Was the Lusitania an innocent passenger ship—or a legitimate military target? What cargo was she really carrying? And how did this single event reshape public perception, propaganda, and the course of World War I? Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    1h 2m
  3. 2025: Indie Film and Current Events of the Year

    JAN 4

    2025: Indie Film and Current Events of the Year

    While studios in 2025 chased scale, algorithms, and intellectual property, something quieter—and more meaningful—was happening on the margins. Independent films stepped into the gap, telling smaller stories with sharper edges, clearer voices, and something increasingly rare: conviction. As blockbuster releases grew bloated and risk-averse, indie filmmakers delivered character-driven dramas, bold genre experiments, and personal stories that actually trusted the audience. Even as high-profile films like One Battle After Another made headlines, it was the independent scene—festival standouts, limited theatrical runs, and word-of-mouth releases—that reminded us what cinema can still be. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    44 min
  4. Alvin York: Why Are We Killing Off Our Heroes?

    12/16/2025

    Alvin York: Why Are We Killing Off Our Heroes?

    Heroes used to earn their victories. They faced fear, made sacrifices, and returned changed. But somewhere along the way, the journey itself began to disappear.  Today, corporate money shapes what stories get told, while algorithms decide which ones survive. Franchises are engineered for global markets, risk is minimized, and characters are sanded down until no one stands too tall. At the same time, postmodern writing has reworked the very idea of heroism—blurring good and evil, questioning moral certainty, and turning once-mythic figures into vessels for commentary rather than transformation. In this episode, Craig, Susie and Shawn will use the story of Alvin York to explore how corporate interests and postmodern storytelling have reshaped the hero’s journey—and ask a simple question: when meaning, courage, and growth are stripped away, what’s left of the hero? Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    46 min
  5. Alien Earth: Is Disney Destroying Our Beloved Franchise?

    11/19/2025

    Alien Earth: Is Disney Destroying Our Beloved Franchise?

    In this episode, we dive into the new sci-fi series Alien Earth, a bold reimagining of humanity’s future and our struggle to survive on a rapidly changing world. The show blends political tension, frontier exploration, and alien mystery—and our hosts have very different opinions about it. Craig comes in mostly impressed by its potential, praising the series for its gripping atmosphere, layered mythology, and its introduction of a whole host of new and scary creatures. Craig believes the show’s potential is enormous, but not fully realized… at least not yet. Shawn, however, isn’t fully convinced. While he appreciates the ambition and visual throwbacks to 1979, he argues that the pacing lags, the character motivations feel murky, and certain plotlines—especially involving boy genius—raise more questions than answers.  Susie on the other hand couldn't finish it. She chose having a peaceful sleep over enduring 8 episodes of horror with a Xenomorph and "The Eye". Together, they break down the themes, standout moments, and where the series might go next—offering a lively, thoughtful, and occasionally fiery debate. Whether you’re a die-hard sci-fi fan or just curious about the hype, this is your guide to understanding the strange, fascinating world of Alien Earth. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    55 min
  6. Halloween: The Real Dracula Story (Part 2)

    10/27/2025

    Halloween: The Real Dracula Story (Part 2)

    As the nights grow longer and shadows creep across the land, one name still sends a chill through the centuries—Dracula. But before he became the immortal count of gothic legend, there was a real man behind the myth: Vlad the Impaler, a 15th-century prince whose brutal rule inspired Bram Stoker’s timeless tale of blood and fear. Tonight, Shawn, Susie and Craig will sink their teeth into the history behind Halloween’s most iconic monster—exploring how folklore, fear, and fact intertwined to give birth to the world’s most famous vampire. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    51 min
  7. Halloween: Why America Was Forced to Reinvent It! (Part 1)

    10/14/2025

    Halloween: Why America Was Forced to Reinvent It! (Part 1)

    Every October 31st, we carve pumpkins, wear costumes, and wander into the night—but where did it all begin? From ancient Celtic rituals honoring the dead to medieval superstitions and modern candy-filled traditions, Halloween has transformed over centuries into the celebration we know today. Join Craig as he explores how Samhain became All Hallows’ Eve, and how fear, faith, and fun blended into one hauntingly fascinating holiday. So light your jack-o’-lantern, grab some candy, and step with us into the shadows of history—welcome to the story behind Halloween. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    11 min
  8. 1982: The Year Movies and Music Changed Forever (E.T., Thriller & More)

    08/31/2025

    1982: The Year Movies and Music Changed Forever (E.T., Thriller & More)

    1982 wasn’t just another year at the movies—it was a turning point. Audiences were transported to fantastical worlds, terrified by creatures from the deep, and inspired by visions of the future. From the emotional magic of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to the neon-drenched dystopia of Blade Runner, from Tron’s groundbreaking digital landscapes to the terror of Poltergeist—this was the year Hollywood redefined what blockbusters could be. So grab your popcorn, rewind the VHS, and join Shawn, Susie and Craig as we journey back to 1982—a year that shaped the way we watch movies forever. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    56 min
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About

Need a break from the intensity of life? Need a laugh? Join our podcast. We fuse Film and TV with (light) History and try to find the comedy in it.   Hailing from Vancouver, this podcast is brought to you by hosts Craig, Shawn and Susie. Through story telling and conversation, our podcast grinds and plods along a meandering path of history and entertainment. Craig brings the history. Shawn brings the cinephilia (cinema lover), and Susie wants nothing to do with any of it. In short, we're seriously unserious and a little irreverent.  Have a listen and press "follow" if you enjoy it. We'd really appreciate it.

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