A Take on the Academy

Matthew Sprosty
  • 5.0 (17)
  • TV & Film
  • Updated Semimonthly

Get ready for ”A TAKE ON THE ACADEMY!” The podcast that plunges headfirst into the Oscar snubs that have everyone buzzing! Ever wondered who truly deserves the spotlight? While the world shouts, “This person/film was snubbed for an Academy Award!” we dive into the juicy question: who genuinely deserved that prestigious nomination? With only five slots available, each snub tells an electrifying story—unveiling the shortcomings of the competition! Join our passionate host and Academy aficionado, Matthew Sprosty, alongside whoever dares to join him on this thrilling ride as they confront the uncomfortable truths of Hollywood. They’re determined to spotlight the overlooked talent that truly deserves your adoration! Don’t miss your opportunity to experience awards season through a fresh and exhilarating lens!

  1. Sep 10

    From Rewriting the Results to Redesigning the Process

    Season Seven begins with a look back at what A Take on the Academy was—and a declaration of what it’s becoming. The show started by rewriting Oscar history: calling out snubs, questioning winners, and asking people to defend who they would remove from the ballot, not just who they would add. Now, the question is bigger. If the Academy Awards are supposed to identify the “best” in film, is the system actually designed to do that? Matthew looks at Oscar eligibility, voting, campaigning, awards-season politics, and the impossible task of asking thousands of people to fairly evaluate an entire year of movies. And then comes the challenge: Stop rewriting the results. Start redesigning the process.

  2. Season 7 Trailer

    Season 7 Trailer

    Seven seasons in, A Take on the Academy is getting ready for one last traditional August-to-December run. Season Seven looks back at where the show started, revisits some old favorites, welcomes new guests, opens up the Spro and Lee Take on the Academy interview vault, and makes a special announcement about where the podcast goes next. This season: another Quickie Histie with Edison vs. Lumière, It Happened One Night with I Know Movies and You Don't, Jack Lemmon and Save the Tiger with Kael Your Idols, a conversation with actor John Hemphill about working with David Fincher, and the return of interviews from Spro and Lee Take on the Academy. The podcast isn't ending. But after seven seasons, it may finally be time to live up to the name. So come spend one last season with the Oscars we love, before we figure out what they could become.

  3. Mar 18

    The 2026 Oscars Recap Show w/ Rudy

    The 98th Annual Academy Awards have come and gone, the envelopes have been opened, and the takes are officially flying. But today, we’re keeping it light. Matt is joined by special guest Rudy for a laid-back, post-show conversation about the 2026 Academy Awards: the moments, the looks, the people, what could have been tweaked, the In Memorium, and the stories that defined the night. From the Academy's use Sinners to drive viewers to the wins of One Battle After Another, we break down the history written in gold. No outrage. No blame game. Just two guys who love movies, talking about Hollywood’s biggest night. Because at the end of the day, it’s still about the movies (and two dudes trading mustaches...) #Oscars2026 #AcademyAwards #ATakeOnTheAcademy #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #OscarRecap #FilmLovers #CinemaTalk #Hollywood #BestPicture #FilmCommunity #MovieNerds #AwardsSeason #Sinners #OneBattleAfterAnother #PodcastLife #EntertainmentPodcast #FilmHistory #MovieTalk #KeepWatchingMovies

  4. Jan 28

    The 2026 Oscar Nomination Show (w/ Mike Wendt)

    It’s Oscar Nomination Day, and Matt is joined by Cleveland’s own powerhouse Location Manager Mike Wendt to break down the biggest surprises, the expected frontrunners, and the early predictions for who might take home gold this year. From record-setting nomination totals to category-by-category picks, Matt and Mike dive into the movies, performances, and behind-the-scenes craft that defined the year in film. Mike also teases his upcoming documentary project as well, giving listeners a look at what’s next for him in the local film scene. Tune in for film-lover energy, and the perfect blend of industry insight and Oscar-season chaos. The Night Light Cinema (Where Mike is a Board Member) Greater Cleveland Film Commission Mike's Instagram Mike's Letterboxd #ATakeOnTheAcademy #Oscars2026 #OscarNominations #AcademyAwards #FilmDiscussion #ClevelandFilm #LocationManager #MikeWendt #FilmingInCleveland #BehindTheScenes #AwardsSeason #MoviePodcast #FilmPodcast #OscarPredictions #Sinners2026 #ClevelandCinema #FilmIndustry #PodcastEpisode #MattSprosty #FilmCommunity

  5. 12/18/2025

    Season Six Finale - CASTING! w/ Angela Boehm

    For the Season 6 finale of A Take on the Academy, Matthew sits down with acclaimed Casting Director Angela Boehm, whose work has helped shape film and television across the Midwest and beyond.  Angela’s career spans more than 25 years — from her early days building Olmsted Performing Arts into a cultural hub, to founding Angela Boehm Casting, a company that has become a trusted source for authentic talent in major studio films, independent features, and national commercial campaigns. As a member of the Casting Society of America, Angela has contributed to projects such as Cherry, White Boy Rick, My Friend Dahmer, and Fast 8, helping elevate Ohio as a serious force in casting. In this episode, Angela opens up about building a casting company from the ground up, how she approaches matching talent to story, the growing recognition of casting as a vital part of filmmaking, and what the new Oscar for Best Casting means for the industry. This finale closes out the season with an insightful look into the art of finding the right actor, the evolving landscape of casting, and the people behind the decisions that shape the stories we see onscreen. Links-- 1st Team Actors Studio Production Weekly Actors Access Amazon Set-Up For Self-Tape Auditions Donna Belajac Victoria Thomas Kim Coleman Casting By Documentary #AngelaBoehm #AngelaBoehmCasting #CastingDirector #Casting #CastingAgency #CastingOffice #CastingSocietyOfAmerica #CSA #BestCasting #Oscars #AcademyAwards #FilmCasting #TalentCasting #ClevelandFilm #OhioFilm #MidwestFilm #FilmIndustry #FilmmakerLife #BehindTheScenes #ATakeOnTheAcademy #SeasonFinale #ActingCommunity #ActorsLife #FilmProfessionals #Auditions #OnSet #MovieMaking #FilmCraft #Storytelling #Cherry #CherryMovie #WhiteBoyRick #MyFriendDahmer #Fast8 #FastAndFurious8 #ISeeYou #TheMarksman #TheEnforcer #TheLastWitchHunter #ThemThatFollow #TheAssassinationOfGianniVersace #KillingReagan #AmericanRust #Sleepless #Miles #ThePurge #DraftDay #TheCollected #TigerRising #TheByeByeMan #EscapePlan3 #CallJane #TheAssassinationOfGianniVersace #TheEnforcer #LostInYonkers #MovieMagic #Cinema #CastingMatters #TVCasting #FilmProduction #IndieFilm #StudioFilms #Hollywood #HollywoodCasting #FilmAwards #FilmPodcast #CreativeProcess #MakingMovies #OnCamera #FilmWork #ProductionLife #BehindTheCastingTable #ActingOpportunities #FilmRegion

  6. 12/04/2025

    Did Julia Roberts Deserve her Award for "Erin Brockovich"?

    In this episode of A Take on the Academy, host Matthew Sprosty is joined by special guest Jenna Messina to revisit one of the most iconic — and debated — Oscar wins of the 21st century: Julia Roberts’ Best Actress victory for Erin Brockovich at the 2001 Academy Awards. Jenna comes in unconvinced, worn down by Hollywood’s ongoing Roberts reverence. Matt, on the other hand, has loved Julia Roberts since Pretty Woman and will defend her smile, charm, and courtroom monologue to the end. Together, they revisit the race, reassess the nominees, and try to determine whether Oscar got it right… or if history deserves a rewrite. Debate, nostalgia, disagreement, and surprise fill the episode — and by the end, despite opposing instincts, Matt and Jenna agree on a new Best Actress winner for 2001. Did Julia deserve gold? Or was someone else robbed? Find out now. #ATakeOnTheAcademy #Oscars2001 #BestActress2001 #OscarRewind #FilmDiscussion #FilmPodcast #MovieDebate #CinemaHistory #OscarHistory #AcademyAwards #PodcastEpisode #PodcasterLife #FilmNerds #MovieTalk #RewritingTheOscars #JuliaRoberts #ErinBrockovich #PrettyWomanForever #BestActressRace #OscarSnub #RobbedOrRightful #RevisitingTheOscars #FilmPerformanceBreakdown #WhoShouldHaveWon #CrowningANewWinner #JennaMessina #MatthewSprosty #PodcastCollab #FilmConversations #MovieCritics #FilmAnalysis #FilmTwitter #CinephileCommunity #MovieLovers #PodbeanPodcasts #MovieReviewPodcast #RetroFilmTalk #AwardSeason

  7. 11/20/2025

    Dudes Dissecting Disney - The Lost Episode

    Before A Take on the Academy found its rhythm, before the guest interviews and Oscar debates, there was a forgotten experiment called Dudes Dissecting Disney. During the early days of the pandemic, Matthew Sprosty and his friend Rudy set out to create a collaborative podcast where anyone could record Disney conversations with friends or partners — no hosts, no format, just genuine conversation. The project never progressed beyond one episode…  In this long-lost recording, Matt and Rudy revisit Beauty and the Beast (1991), Disney’s timeless tale that became the first animated feature ever nominated for Best Picture. They talk about what makes it endure, how the music and characters defined a generation, and why its emotional core still hits today (and what puts the B in Belle.) Matt also reflects on the episode’s origins, how creativity kept people connected during Covid, and what this little piece of podcast history means five years later. It’s part nostalgia, part time capsule, and part reminder of the stories that keep us grounded — even when the world feels like it’s spinning.

  8. 11/06/2025

    Going Streeping! (Part V) with the Fade to Black Podcast

    In this episode of A Take on the Academy, Sprosty is joined by Imani and Sunflower B. Rose from Fade to Black Podcast to revisit the 1999 Oscars and ask the unthinkable: should Meryl Streep really have been nominated for Music of the Heart? Together, they take a deep dive into the performances of that year’s standout actresses — from Diane Lane’s quiet strength in A Walk on the Moon, to Cecelia Roth’s raw emotion in All About My Mother, to Cameron Diaz’s surprising turn in Being John Malkovich, and more. The trio re-examines the Academy’s choices, highlights overlooked brilliance, and ultimately decide who should have earned that coveted spot. It’s thoughtful, funny, and just the right amount of chaotic — a perfect “Gone Streeping” kind of conversation. Listen now for a passionate breakdown of a year when bold female performances defined cinema, even if the Academy didn’t quite see it that way. Listen to The Fade to Black Podcast here! #ATakeOnTheAcademy #GoneStreeping #MerylStreep #FadeToBlackPodcast #Oscars1999 #BestActress #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #CameronDiaz #DianeLane #CeciliaRoth #MusicOfTheHeart #AcademyAwards #FilmHistory #CinemaLovers #PodcastCommunity

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About

Get ready for ”A TAKE ON THE ACADEMY!” The podcast that plunges headfirst into the Oscar snubs that have everyone buzzing! Ever wondered who truly deserves the spotlight? While the world shouts, “This person/film was snubbed for an Academy Award!” we dive into the juicy question: who genuinely deserved that prestigious nomination? With only five slots available, each snub tells an electrifying story—unveiling the shortcomings of the competition! Join our passionate host and Academy aficionado, Matthew Sprosty, alongside whoever dares to join him on this thrilling ride as they confront the uncomfortable truths of Hollywood. They’re determined to spotlight the overlooked talent that truly deserves your adoration! Don’t miss your opportunity to experience awards season through a fresh and exhilarating lens!

Information

  • Creator
    Matthew Sprosty
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2018 . All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    A Take on the Academy