The Austin B Media Podcast

Austin Belzer
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The Austin B Media Podcast is a weekly podcast from Austin B Media. In each episode, a guest comes on and talks about a movie, TV show, or video game for about an hour or less. So, if you're interested, subscribe and turn on notifications to get notified about each new episode!

  1. Jun 12

    The Bear: Gary Discussion with Alise Chaffins

    Seven-time guest Alise Chaffins joins me to discuss The Bear: Gary, FX's surprise standalone prequel that appeared on Disney+ and Hulu with no advance press, no reviews, and no warning. We dig into what the episode does for Mikey's character, Richie's desperate need to belong, the case for a "Mikey Trilogy" viewing order (Fishes → Gary → Forks), Emmy clip candidates, and what the Season 5 car crash cliffhanger might mean. Content warning: This episode discusses themes of depression, alcoholism, and trauma as depicted in The Bear: Gary. The first 33 minutes are spoiler-free. Chapters: 00:08 – Introduction & Alise's seventh appearance01:43 – Recommendations: The Great Divide by Noah Kahan, DTF St. Louis, Beef Season 2, Alien: Isolation05:10 – Initial reactions to the surprise release07:49 – Is Gary a series or a standalone?08:57 – Tone comparison: buddy road trip vs. kitchen anxiety10:58 – What Gary does for Mikey's character13:03 – The case for more prequel content15:55 – Mikey's dual personality and Bernthal's performance18:04 – Richie as film snob and service obsessive19:56 – Mental health from an outsider's POV23:03 – The basketball court scene24:38 – Performances and filming logistics26:26 – Our ratings and the case for cutting 15 minutes30:02 – Why Gary feels "looser" than the main series31:41 – Emmy clip candidates SPOILERS BEGIN AT 33:15 33:43 – Does Gary, Indiana earn its place as a meaningful setting?36:15 – Placing Gary in the series timeline40:13 – The bathroom scene with Sherri43:16 – Richie's mentality and what it tells us about him47:41 – The Mikey Trilogy watch order: Fishes, Gary, Forks49:32 – Wanting more Richie/Mikey/Carmy flashback footage54:29 – On fan over-analysis56:10 – Season 5 cliffhanger speculation58:37 – Wrap-up Find Alise on Substack at MacGuffin or Meaning (alisechaffins.substack.com) and on YouTube at @alisechaffins. Order Alise's book, The Ted Lasso Relationship Guide, on Amazon. Support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/AustinBMedia — $10+ members get this episode uncut. Find me on Bluesky at austinb.media and everywhere else at @AustinBMedia.

    The Bear: Gary Discussion with Alise Chaffins

  2. 11/06/2025 ·  Bonus

    Diamond Diplomacy | A Conversation with Yuriko Gamo Romer & Masanori “Mashi” Murakami

    Director Yuriko Gamo Romer and baseball legend Masanori “Mashi” Murakami, the first Japanese player in Major League Baseball, join Austin Belzer to discuss Diamond Diplomacy, a documentary exploring how baseball became a bridge between Japan and the United States. Together, they talk about the sport’s cultural impact, the challenges of documenting over 150 years of history, and how Mashi’s legacy continues to inspire players around the world. Subscribe to The Austin B Media Podcast for more filmmaker conversations. Learn more and find screenings at diamonddiplomacy.com. Read the full transcript here. Support Austin B Media If you enjoyed this podcast, consider joining my Patreon. Members get: Early access to reviews and podcasts ($10 members get unedited episodes) Exclusive monthly Film Club, where we watch a movie and discuss it together on Zoom Community polls to help choose what I cover next Behind-the-scenes research notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join here and help shape the future of Austin B Media! Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 00:26 – Hot Springs and Babe Ruth’s longest home run 02:05 – What inspired Yuriko to make Diamond Diplomacy 03:33 – Mashi’s minor-league days and first impressions of America 06:10 – From Fresno to the Giants: Moving to the majors 08:40 – Balancing archival footage and modern storytelling 11:00 – Working without AI and preserving history 13:00 – Friendship and collaboration through the film 15:00 – Legacy and baseball as diplomacy 19:30 – Closing remarks and festival screenings Where to Follow Me ⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠ Until next time!

    Diamond Diplomacy | A Conversation with Yuriko Gamo Romer & Masanori “Mashi” Murakami

  3. 10/30/2025 ·  Bonus

    Norita | A Conversation with Producer Sarah Schoellkopf

    In this episode, I talk with producer Sarah Schoellkopf about Norita, a moving documentary about Argentine human rights icon Nora “Norita” Cortiñas, one of the founders of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. Sarah shares how her decades-long friendship with Norita inspired the project, how animation gave visual form to memory, and why the film serves as a manual for activism today. Learn more at noritafilm.com Read the full transcript here. Support Austin B Media If you enjoyed this podcast, consider joining my Patreon. Members get: Early access to reviews and podcasts ($10 members get unedited episodes) Exclusive monthly Film Club, where we watch a movie and discuss it together on Zoom Community polls to help choose what I cover next Behind-the-scenes research notes ⁠⁠⁠Join here and help shape the future of Austin B Media! Chapters:00:00 – Introduction00:53 – Meeting Nora Cortiñas05:27 – Documentary Teaching06:10 – Using Animation to Tell History11:11 – Speaking About Trauma in One’s Own Language12:43 – Balancing the Personal and Political17:08 – Norita as a Manual for Activism29:30 – Collaboration Across Continents33:00 – Where to Watch Norita33:30 – Closing Remarks Where to Follow Me Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YouTube Until next time!

    Norita | A Conversation with Producer Sarah Schoellkopf

  4. 08/01/2025

    The Bear Season 4 Discussion with Alise Chaffins | The Austin B Media Podcast #42

    Six-time guest Alise Chaffins returns to talk about Season 4 of FX’s The Bear, and there’s a lot to dig into. In our nearly two-hour conversation, we discussed Carmy’s “apology tour,” Sydney’s challenges, Richie’s growth, Emmy category fraud, and our hopes for Season 5. The first hour is spoiler-free, so if you haven't finished the season yet, you can stream this episode safely before jumping into the full breakdown. What’s The Bear Season 4 About? Following the fallout from the scathing review at the end of Season 3, Season 4 of The Bear serves as an "apology tour" for Carmy as he attempts to make amends and rediscover his passion. The season focuses on the improved, honest communication between Carmy, Sydney, and Richie, explores the heavy toll of burnout, and questions what success means for the crew and the restaurant. Support Austin B Media If you enjoyed this podcast, consider joining my Patreon. Members get: Early access to reviews and podcasts ($10 members get unedited episodes) Exclusive monthly Film Club, where we watch a movie and discuss it together on Zoom Community polls to help choose what I cover next Behind-the-scenes research notes ⁠⁠Join here and help shape the future of Austin B Media! Chapters 00:00- Intro Screen00:08 - Guest Introduction02:08 - Alise's recommendation: Andor & Peacemaker03:24 - My recommendation: Novocaine05:10 - Upcoming Discussion on Gen V Season 206:14 - Initial Discussion & What Drew Us to The Bear09:27 - Evolution of the Seasons & Viewing Seasons 3 & 4 as a Single Story13:35 - Character Regression in Season 3 & Hopes for Season 418:10 - Evolving Character Dynamics in Season 423:28 - Season 4's Story and Carmy's "Apology Tour"27:47 - Standout Performances of the Season35:42 - A More Subdued Direction & Cinematography41:52 - Is The Bear a Comedy? The Category Fraud Debate48:30 - Our Final Ratings for Season 451:24 - Looking Ahead to Season 553:13 - Spoiler Warning53:52 - The Season 4 Finale01:06:51 - Carmy's Storyline, Burnout, and Self-Reflection01:12:24 - Carmy and Sydney's Dynamic as Friends & Colleagues01:20:22 - Donna's Storyline and the "Tonnato" Episode01:27:31 - Richie's Journey and Character Growth01:35:21 - The Most Emotionally Impactful Moments of the Season01:39:50 - Character Resolutions & Frustrations01:46:19 - The Clock and Cicero's Decision01:47:58 - Our Final Season Rankings01:48:40 - Where to Find Alise & Outro01:50:24 - Patreon Plug01:50:36 - End Screen Where to Watch The Bear All four seasons of The Bear are now streaming exclusively on Hulu. Where to Find Our Recommendations Alise's recommendations: All seasons of Andor are available to stream on Disney+.Season one of Peacemaker is now streaming on HBO Max, with a second season set to premiere on August 21st. My recommendation: Novocaine is streaming on Paramount+. Where to Follow Alise ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠MacGuffin or Meaning⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube Until next time!

    The Bear Season 4 Discussion with Alise Chaffins | The Austin B Media Podcast #42

  5. 07/07/2025

    The Studio Season One Discussion with Gal Balaban

    In the latest episode of The Austin B Media Podcast, I was thrilled to be joined by Gal Balaban, the founder and extraordinary critic behind the blog FilmToppings, for a comprehensive breakdown of Apple TV's hit series, The Studio. This show has generated a lot of buzz for being a scathing new satire of modern Hollywood, and Gal and I left no stone unturned. We dove into its sharp critique with a clear love for filmmaking, the standout performances, the chaotic CinemaCon finale, and how the show compares to other great Hollywood satires, such as Barry and The Player. What's The Show About? The Studio tells the story of Matt Remick (Seth Rogen), a passionate filmmaker who takes over a struggling legacy movie studio. He must navigate the treacherous waters of modern Hollywood, balancing his artistic ambitions with the commercial demands of IP-driven blockbusters, all while dealing with eccentric actors, egomaniacal directors, and the constant threat of being bought out by a tech giant. Support the Podcast: Enjoyed the episode? ⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠ to get episodes 48 hours early, plus access to uncut recordings, our monthly film club, and more! Chapters ​00:08 – Introduction00:37 – Guest Introduction: Gal Balaban01:48 – Gal's Recommendation: Under the Bridge04:41 – Austin's Recommendation: Presence07:29 – Expectations for The Studio09:59 – First Impressions13:08 – Balancing Satire & Love for Filmmaking16:11 – Standout Performers20:33 – Final Ratings (Non-Spoiler)26:24 – SPOILER WARNING27:14 – The Pilot and Scorsese's Passion Project32:41 – Matt & Patty's Dynamic37:34 – Art vs. Commerce: The Kool-Aid Movie47:35 – Grounding the Satire: The Oncologist Debate53:57 – Favorite Celebrity Cameos59:03 – The Ron Howard "Note" Episode01:03:04 – Quinn's War with Sal01:06:12 – The Chaotic CinemaCon Finale01:12:54 – How The Studio Compares to Other Satires01:17:21 – Final Thoughts & Outro Where to Watch The Studio You can watch The Studio on Apple TV+ right now. Where to Watch Our Recommendations Gal's recommendation - Under the Bridge — Streaming on Hulu and Disney+. My recommendation - Presence — Streaming on Hulu. Where to Follow Me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠TikTokThreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTubeWhere to Follow Gal 1st Reviews websiteFilmToppings website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter Until next time!

    The Studio Season One Discussion with Gal Balaban

  6. 06/22/2025

    Lilo & Stitch (2025) Discussion with Jack Martin

    Is the new Lilo & Stitch remake a worthy successor to the 2002 classic? This week, I'm joined by Jack Martin of Film Feeder to break down Disney's latest live-action adaptation. We discuss everything from the film's "soulless" feeling to its questionable pacing and whether any of it works. A huge thank you to Jack for the fantastic conversation! You can find all of his work at filmfeeder.co.uk. Enjoyed the episode? Support the show on Patreon to get episodes 48 hours early, plus access to uncut recordings, our monthly film club, and more! What's The Movie About? Disney’s Lilo & Stitch (2025) is the live-action reimagining of the 2002 animated classic. The story follows the bond between a lonely Hawaiian girl named Lilo, who adopts a chaotic alien, Experiment 626, from a shelter, believing he's a dog. Through her love, faith, and unwavering belief in ‘ohana, Lilo helps unlock Stitch's heart, all while they try to evade intergalactic capture. Chapters ​00:08 – Introduction​00:34 – Guest Introduction: Jack Martin​04:13 – The 10-Year History of Film Feeder​06:45 – Movie Recommendations: The Ballad of Wallis Island & Opus​21:37 – First Impressions & Lack of Heart​26:27 – Critique of the Film's Pacing and Editing​33:51 – Standout Performances​43:03 – The Underwhelming Alien Designs​47:03 – The Portrayal of Hawaii & The Lack of Elvis​54:02 – Was This Meant for Theaters or Streaming?​59:18 – The State of Disney's Remake Strategy​01:14:21 – Spoiler Warning​01:14:48 – Stitch's Character Arc​01:19:30 – Jumba as the Villain & Franchise Implications​01:25:30 – The Human Story: Lilo, Nani, and 'Ohana​01:28:02 – The Controversial Ending​01:35:05 – David and Cobra Bubbles' Roles​01:42:25 – Final Thoughts & The Future of Disney​01:52:50 – Outro​Where to Find Our Recommendations Jack's recommendation - The Ballad of Wallis Island is available to stream on Peacock in the US. My recommendation - Opus is available to rent and will likely stream on Max in the future. Where to Follow Austin B Media ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠​⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​⁠Letterboxd⁠​TikTok​Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​YouTube Where to Follow Jack & Film Feeder ​Facebook​Instagram​Ko-fi​Patreon​The Film Feeder Podcast​Twitter​TikTok​Threads​Website​YouTube Until next time!

    Lilo & Stitch (2025) Discussion with Jack Martin

  7. 06/15/2025

    Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Discussion with Ben Miller

    On this episode of The Austin B Media Podcast, I’m joined by film critic and podcaster Ben Miller (Ice Cream for Freaks, The Film Experience, Cinema Scholars, DFW Film Critics Association, IFSCritics) to talk all things Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. We dig into Ethan Hunt’s latest adventure, from the film’s wild action set pieces to its emotional moments and franchise callbacks. You’ll hear a hilarious story about a theater marquee mishap, some offbeat movie recommendations, and our honest debate about whether this is really the end for Mission: Impossible. What did you think of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning? Let me know in the comments or find me on social media! Where to Watch:Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is in theaters now. Our Recommendations: Ben: The Sheep Has Five Legs (1955) Me: Black Bag (streaming on Peacock) Where to Follow Me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Letterboxd⁠ TikTok Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTubeWhere to Follow Ben Ice Cream 4 Freaks The Film Experience Cinema Scholars Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association International Film Society Critics Association Bluesky Instagram Letterboxd Threads Twitter/X

    Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Discussion with Ben Miller

  8. 06/08/2025

    Warfare Discussion with Pedro Lima

    In this episode, I’m joined by film critic Pedro Lima to break down A24’s Warfare, directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland. This real-time Iraq War film drops you into the chaos and confusion of one fateful night, and Pedro and I dive into what worked, what didn’t, and why it’s already one of my most talked-about films of 2025. Warfare tells the story of a U.S. Navy SEAL team’s mission on November 19, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq. Co-directed by Garland and Mendoza (who was there), it plays out in real time as a tribute to the soldiers who lived it. What's The Movie About? Warfare tells the story of a U.S. Navy SEAL team’s mission on November 19, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq. Co-directed by Garland and Mendoza (who was there), it plays out in real time as a tribute to the soldiers who lived it. Support Austin B Media If you enjoyed this podcast, consider joining my Patreon. Members get: Early access to reviews and podcasts ($10 members get unedited episodes) Exclusive monthly Film Club, where we watch a movie and discuss it together on Zoom Community polls to help choose what I cover next Behind-the-scenes research notes Join here and help shape the future of Austin B Media! Chapters 00:00 - Intro 02:45 - Film Critique and Recommendations 05:33 - Discussion on Restorations and Classic Films 07:54 - Wes Anderson and Christopher Nolan Films 11:11 - David Lynch and Twin Peaks 15:34 - Initial Thoughts on Warfare 23:03 - Comparing Warfare to Other War Films 28:02 - Performances in Warfare 32:43 - Criticisms of Warfare 34:15 - Critique on the Film's Tagline and Realism 35:27 - Technical Elements: Direction, Cinematography, and Sound 37:41 - Sound Design and Its Impact 40:08 - Rating the Film 41:33 - Spoiler Warning 42:09 - Impactful Plot Points and Action Scenes 47:08 - Portrayal of Warfare and Its Psychological Effects 53:53 - Ending and Real-Life Connections 57:32 - Final Thoughts and Conversations 01:01:23 - Podcast Wrap-up and FarewellWhere to Watch Warfare You can watch Warfare via digital rental platforms and may still be in limited theatrical release through A24. Where to Find Our Recommendations Pedro’s Picks: Little Murders (1971, dir. Alan Arkin) — Available on The Criterion Channel Four Nights of a Dreamer (dir. Robert Bresson) — Currently streaming on MUBI Twin Peaks — Coming to MUBI (June 13)My Picks: The French Dispatch – Streaming on Max Isle of Dogs – Streaming on Disney+ Doodlebug (Christopher Nolan short) - Available on The Criterion Channel Following (Christopher Nolan's debut) — On MUBI Retrograde (Matthew Heineman) — Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu Where to Follow Me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Letterboxd⁠ TikTok Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Where to Follow Pedro ⁠Pedro’s Letterboxd⁠ Until next time!

    Warfare Discussion with Pedro Lima
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About

The Austin B Media Podcast is a weekly podcast from Austin B Media. In each episode, a guest comes on and talks about a movie, TV show, or video game for about an hour or less. So, if you're interested, subscribe and turn on notifications to get notified about each new episode!

Information

  • Creator
    Austin Belzer
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Austin Belzer
  • Show Website
    The Austin B Media Podcast