Talking Pondo

Clifton Campbell, Marty Ketola
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Weekly

From summer blockbusters to indie darlings, Talking Pondo celebrates the joy of watching, questioning, and occasionally roasting the movies that shape our lives. Every week, hosts Clif Campbell and Marty Ketola sit down to swap movies and swap opinions. Each of them brings a film to the table and together they dig into what makes it work (or not). Sometimes, there's a guest!Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or a die-hard cinephile, there’s always room for more movie talk. And yes, there will be spoilers! Making Pondo is a discussion with Clif, Marty and a guest from one of their many productions.

  1. 1d ago

    Excalibur and Point Blank - Talking Boorman

    Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, special guests Geoffrey Notkin and Jessica Stone are back on the podcast. Geoffrey and Jessica bring along the movie Excalibur. While Marty and Clif give them Point Blank to watch. Enjoy this special "Talking Boorman" episode, celebrating two films of the legendary director John Boorman. First up is Point Blank, Boorman's stylish revenge classic starring Lee Marvin. Clif, Marty, Geoffrey and Jessica discuss the film's dreamlike storytelling, unforgettable visuals, why it still feels decades ahead of its time and Marvin's commanding performance.  Then it's time to unsheathe the sword for Excalibur, Boorman's epic retelling of the Arthurian legend. The gang celebrates it's breathtaking imagery, unforgettable performances and the lasting influence it's had on fantasy films for more than forty years. Along the way: Sid Haig surprises, sword-and-sorcery nostalgia, fantasy movie rabbit holes and cinematic metaphors everywhere you look.  #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #JohnBoorman #PointBlank #Excalibur #LeeMarvin #FantasyFilms #MovieReview  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook X (formerly Twitter): @MakingPondo Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

    Excalibur and Point Blank - Talking Boorman

  2. Jul 20

    Batman and Blade with Ben Haslar - Talking Pondo

    Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Ben Haslar from Reels of Justice joins the podcast. He brings along the movie Blade. Marty and Clif give Ben the movie Batman to watch. First up is Batman (1989), Tim Burton's gothic take on the Caped Crusader starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Clif, Marty and Ben revisit the film that launched the modern comic book movie era. They discuss everything from Burton's unique style to Nicholson's unforgettable Joker. This version of Gotham City still casts a long shadow over superhero films today. Then it's time for Blade, where Wesley Snipes slices his way through vampires in one of the coolest action films of the '90s. The gang talks about the movie's influence on comic book cinema, it's groundbreaking action sequences and why Blade doesn't get the credit it deserves for paving the way for the superhero boom. Along the way: Juggalo origins, Batman movie rankings, vampire fashion, Michael Keaton appreciation and memorable movie quotes. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #Batman89 #Blade #MichaelKeaton #WesleySnipes #MovieReview #ComicBookMovies  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook X (formerly Twitter): @MakingPondo Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

    Batman and Blade with Ben Haslar - Talking Pondo

  3. Jul 13

    Moonlight and The Martian - Talking Pondo

    Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Moonlight to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie The Martian to watch.  Clif and Marty blast off to Mars before coming back down to Earth for one of the most acclaimed dramas of the last decade. First up is The Martian, where Matt Damon finds himself stranded on the Red Planet with nothing but potatoes, duct tape, disco and an unreasonable amount of optimism. Clif and Marty debate the film's direction, pacing and if the science is 'hard' or not. Then they turn to Moonlight, Barry Jenkin's Academy Award winning coming-of-age drama starring Mahershala Ali. Clif and Marty discuss quiet storytelling, unforgettable performances and how the film's themes of identity and loneliness create a powerful counterpoint to The Martian. Sometimes the biggest journey isn't through space. It's figuring out who you are. Along the way: 1980s slang, listener mail and potatoes as a survival strategy. #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #TheMartian #Moonlight #MattDamon #MahershalaAli #MovieReview #SciFiMovies  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook X (formerly Twitter): @MakingPondo Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

    Moonlight and The Martian - Talking Pondo

  4. Jul 6

    Strange Brew and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead - Talking Shakespeare

    Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, special guests Drew Kallen-Keck plus Ben Cheknis and Andrew Coltrin from "The Two Vague Podcast" join the podcast. Ben and Andrew bring along the movie Strange Brew. While Drew brings the movie Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead for everyone to watch. First is Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Tom Stoppard's delightfully brainy adaptation starring Gary Oldman and Tim Roth. The gang dives into fate, free will and if this might be the ultimate "theater kid" movie. There's plenty to chew on.  Next is Strange Brew, where Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas prove that Shakespeare and Bob & Doug McKenzie have more in common than anyone expected. Clif, Marty, Andrew, Drew, and Ben celebrate the film's wonderfully goofy charm, debate how much Hamlet is really in the script and agree that the movie is quintessentially Canadian.  Along the way: prank phone calls from high school, Pink Floyd deep cuts, theater stories, Richard Dreyfuss appreciation, charcuterie jokes and enough Hamlet references to make your old English teacher proud. Nerd Emergencies! Kickstarter #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #StrangeBrew #RosencrantzAndGuildensternAreDead #GaryOldman #RickMoranis #CultCinema #MovieReview  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook X (formerly Twitter): @MakingPondo Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

    Strange Brew and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead - Talking Shakespeare

  5. Jun 29

    Scream 7 and The Long Walk - Talking Pondo

    Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Scream 7 to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie The Long Walk to watch.  First up is Scream 7, which brings Neve Campbell back as Sidney Prescott for another showdown with Ghostface. Clif questions the film's writing, predictable twists and increasingly over-the-top kills, while Marty argues that the franchise still knows how to reinvent itself, balancing nostalgia with a few fresh ideas. It's one of the liveliest debates the show's had in a while. Then it's on to The Long Walk, where the conversation shifts from masked killers to psychological endurance. Clif and Marty discuss how the adaptation captures the hopeless tension of King's story, the emotional toll of the competition and why sometimes the scariest horror movie doesn't need monsters at all. They also cover listener mail, AI deepfakes, safe rooms with questionable design choices and the age-old question of whether horror fans are willing to forgive absolutely anything if Ghostface is holding the knife. Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook X (formerly Twitter): @MakingPondo Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

    Scream 7 and The Long Walk - Talking Pondo

  6. Jun 22

    Working Girls and Psycho with Ryan Luis Rodriguez - Talking Pondo

    Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Ryan Luis Rodriguez from Reels of Justice joins the podcast. He brings along the movie Working Girls. Marty and Clif give Ryan the movie Psycho to watch. First up is Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock's legendary shocker that changed horror movies forever. Clif, Marty, and Ryan discuss Norman Bates, the famous shower scene, and why the film still works even when everyone already knows the ending. Then it's on to Working Girls, Lizzie Borden's low-key but fascinating look at a day in the life of sex workers. The conversation covers the film's resemblance to Sean Baker's slice-of-life approach, its sense of humor, then finally, it's matter-of-fact tone and humanity. Along the way: Norman Bates business management strategies, courtroom podcast updates, arguments over cult classics, and the realization that some movies are a lot stranger than their reputations suggest. Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook X (formerly Twitter): @MakingPondo Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

    Working Girls and Psycho with Ryan Luis Rodriguez - Talking Pondo

  7. Jun 15

    The Primevals and D.C. Cab with Bobby LePire - Talking Pondo

    Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Clif and Marty welcome special guest Bobby LePire for a double feature that goes from chaotic 1980s comedy to long-lost stop-motion sci-fi. Bobby brings along the movie The Primevals. Marty and Clif give Bobby the movie D.C. Cab to watch. First up is D.C. Cab, Joel Schumacher's first feature as a director. Clif, Marty, and Bobby try to make sense of a movie that feels like five different comedies stitched together with duct tape, cocaine, and a flamethrower. The conversation covers Mr. T, Gary Busey and how this bizarre train wreck somehow became a cult favorite and commercial success overseas.  Then they head into the mountains with The Primevals, the decades-in-the-making fantasy adventure featuring Yetis, aliens, stop-motion creatures, and enough practical effects to make old-school genre fans very happy. The gang discusses the movie's fascinating production history and whether this passion project was worth the wait.  Along the way, Hamburger University becomes an actual topic of conversation, Poland's apparent love affair with DC Cab gets investigated and the phrase "interesting train wreck" gets repeated for a reason. Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook X (formerly Twitter): @MakingPondo Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

    The Primevals and D.C. Cab with Bobby LePire - Talking Pondo

  8. Jun 8

    How to Murder Your Wife and Save the Tiger with Daniel Roebuck - Talking Lemmon

    Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Clif and Marty welcome special guest Daniel Roebuck for “Talking Lemmon,” celebrating the career of the legendary Jack Lemmon. Daniel brings along the movie Save the Tiger. Marty and Clif give Daniel the movie How to Murder Your Wife to watch. First up is How to Murder Your Wife, a wild 1960s comedy that finds a carefree bachelor waking up married and immediately questioning every decision that led him there. Clif, Marty, and Daniel discuss the film’s energy, attitudes and why Lemmon could make even the most ridiculous premise work.  Then they move on to Save the Tiger, where a very different Jack Lemmon delivers one of the most powerful performances of his career. As a struggling businessman willing to cross every line to stay afloat, Lemmon anchors a dark portrait of a man trying to survive a rapidly changing world.  Along the way: movie-star versus character-actor debates, lemonade sponsorship opportunities, punk rock movies, mysterious opening title cards and the discovery that both films somehow begin with Jack Lemmon getting out of bed and heading for the shower. #TalkingPondo #JackLemmon #DanielRoebuck #FilmPodcast #HowToMurderYourWife #SaveTheTiger #ClassicCinema #MovieReview  Support the show Find our films here: The Love Song of William H Shaw Revenge of Zoe Writing Fren-Zee Making Pondo on Facebook X (formerly Twitter): @MakingPondo Instagram Making Pondo on Letterboxd: Season One Season Two Season Three Season Four Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

    How to Murder Your Wife and Save the Tiger with Daniel Roebuck - Talking Lemmon
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

From summer blockbusters to indie darlings, Talking Pondo celebrates the joy of watching, questioning, and occasionally roasting the movies that shape our lives. Every week, hosts Clif Campbell and Marty Ketola sit down to swap movies and swap opinions. Each of them brings a film to the table and together they dig into what makes it work (or not). Sometimes, there's a guest!Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or a die-hard cinephile, there’s always room for more movie talk. And yes, there will be spoilers! Making Pondo is a discussion with Clif, Marty and a guest from one of their many productions.

Information

  • Creator
    Clifton Campbell, Marty Ketola
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    131
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Talking Pondo
  • Show Website
    Talking Pondo