Talking Pondo

Clifton Campbell, Marty Ketola
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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. Talking Nicholson: The Border and The Last Detail

    3D AGO

    Talking Nicholson: The Border and The Last Detail

    Send us a text  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie The Border to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie The Last Detail to watch.  This week on Talking Pondo, Marty and Clif stumble into a theme they didn’t plan but couldn’t ignore: Talking Nicholson. The connective tissue between this double feature is Jack Nicholson, starring in two very different films from two very different eras: Hal Ashby’s The Last Detail (1973) and Tony Richardson’s The Border (1982): both centered on authority, systems, and men trapped inside them. They start with The Last Detail, a funny, deeply melancholy road movie that finds Nicholson escorting a young sailor to an eight-year prison sentence for a petty crime. They dig into Ashby’s “fried-out” ’70s tone, lived-in performances, stark realism, and why the film’s matter-of-fact ending lingers long after the credits roll. Then they move to The Border, an early-’80s studio film that feels both rougher and conflicted with itself. Nicholson’s morally compromised border agent drifts through corruption, half-hearted redemption, and a system designed to chew people up. Marty and Clif explore the film’s uneven tone, British director perspective, TV-movie aesthetics and the way Nicholson and Harvey Keitel elevate material that never quite comes together. 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

    1h 6m
  2. Talking Pondo: Clerks and Say Anything With Ben Apuan

    FEB 2

    Talking Pondo: Clerks and Say Anything With Ben Apuan

    Send us a text  In this episode, first time guest Ben Apuan joins the podcast. He brings along the movie Clerks. Marty and Clif give Ben the movie Say Anything to watch. This week on Talking Pondo, Marty and Clif are joined by Ben from Chasing the Whimsy for a deep dive into two landmark films that helped define independent cinema: Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything (1989) and Kevin Smith’s Clerks (1994). On the surface, these movies couldn’t be more different. One is a heartfelt, romantic coming-of-age story, the other a black-and-white, foul-mouthed retail comedy. But together, they capture the shifting cultural moment between the late ’80s and early ’90s, when indie filmmakers proved you didn’t need studio polish to say something real. The conversation digs into Clerks as a once-in-a-lifetime debut: it's handmade feel, sharp dialogue, budget-driven creativity, and the birth of the View Askewniverse. From newspaper machines and 37 infamous confessions to Jay & Silent Bob’s unlikely legacy, the crew explores why Kevin Smith’s $33,000 gamble still resonates decades later. They also connect the dots between both films through music, tone, first-time directors, and a shared DNA of alternative cinema that celebrate authenticity over perfection. 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

    1h 19m
  3. Talking Pondo: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Wind River

    JAN 26

    Talking Pondo: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Wind River

    Send us a text  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie Wind River to watch.  This week on Talking Pondo, Clif Campbell and Marty Ketola celebrate the show’s two-year anniversary with a wildly mismatched double feature. First up is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), the surprise hit comic book movie that also happens to be the first film Clif and Marty ever reviewed together. They revisit its surprisingly dark tone, Jim Henson creature work, early appearances by future stars, and why this PG-rated movie still feels more adult than anyone remembers. Then things turn sharply with Wind River (2017), the haunting conclusion to Taylor Sheridan’s unofficial frontier trilogy. The conversation digs into its themes of violence, justice, isolation, and why this powerful trilogy feels frustratingly unfinished. Along the way: listener mail, Pondo origin stories, movie nostalgia, and reflections on how 1990 impacted film.  #TalkingPondo #TMNT1990 #WindRiver #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #ComicBookMovies #90sMovies #TaylorSheridan  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

    1h 10m
  4. Talking Pondo: The Party Animal and Bad Day At Black Rock

    JAN 19

    Talking Pondo: The Party Animal and Bad Day At Black Rock

    Send us a text  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie The Party Animal to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie Bad Day At Black Rock to watch.  This week on Talking Pondo, Marty and Clif take on two films that couldn’t be more different, yet somehow define everything about the show. First up is Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), a tight, 82-minute neo-western starring Spencer Tracy. The conversation digs into its post-WWII paranoia, small-town hostility, and why the film’s restraint and structure still feel refreshing nearly 70 years later. Then it’s time for the main event: The Party Animal (1984), the movie that quite literally gave birth to Pondo. Marty and Clif break down the cult college comedy that shaped their sense of humor, introduced them to punk music, and inspired the name Pondo’s Children Productions. From its skit-based structure and mock-documentary style to its outrageous gags, bizarre musical numbers, and infamous dream sequence, The Party Animal is examined both lovingly and mercilessly. #FilmPodcast #MovieDiscussion #CultClassic #80sMovies #ClassicFilm #TalkingPondo #ThePartyAnimal #BadDayAtBlackRock #CultMovies 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

    1h 43m
  5. Talking Pondo: I'm Gonna Git You Sucka and Enter The Dragon With Robert Linden

    JAN 12

    Talking Pondo: I'm Gonna Git You Sucka and Enter The Dragon With Robert Linden

    Send us a text  In this episode, first time guest Robert Linden joins the podcast. He brings along the movie I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Marty and Clif give Robert the movie Enter The Dragon to watch. Join us for a high-kick double feature that pairs martial arts legends with razor-sharp parody: Enter the Dragon (1973) and I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988). The episode breaks down why Enter the Dragon remains the gold standard of martial arts cinema, from Bruce Lee’s unmatched screen presence, fight choreography, and the movie’s lasting impact on action cinema. Then the crew pivots into full satire mode with Keenan Ivory Wayans' I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, a fearless, R-rated send-up of 1970s blaxploitation. With a stacked cast including Isaac Hayes, Jim Brown, Chris Rock, John Witherspoon and more, the film is unpacked as both a loving homage and a brutally funny critique of the genre’s excesses. #TalkingPondo,#FilmPodcast,#MoviePodcast,#FilmDiscussion,#CultMovies,#EnterTheDragon,#BruceLee,#ImGonnaGitYouSucka,#KeenenIvoryWayans,#Blaxploitation,#MartialArtsMovies,#KungFuCinema,#ActionMovies,#ComedyFilms 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

    1h 14m
  6. Talking Pondo: Hot Shots! and They Came Together With "Cuisine de la 'Pocalypse" Interview

    JAN 5

    Talking Pondo: Hot Shots! and They Came Together With "Cuisine de la 'Pocalypse" Interview

    Send us a text  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Hot Shots! to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie They Came Together to watch. In a special bonus to this episode Marty and Clif are joined by two very special guests, Kyle and Zuzu Weingart, to discuss their latest film "Cuisine de la 'Pocalypse". First up is Hot Shots!, the slick Top Gun spoof starring Charlie Sheen. The guys revisit the Zucker–Abrahams era of rapid-fire satire, debating diminishing returns, overextended gags, and why the film played like gangbusters in 1991 but lands very differently today. Then it's They Came Together, a rom-com parody that ambushes every romantic comedy cliché at once. Starring Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler and featuring an absurdly stacked cast, the film is discussed as a relentless, meta deconstruction of the genre and dismantles itself in real time. Bonus Interview: Marty and Clif sit down with Cuisine de la ’Pocalypse writer/director Kyle Weingart and actress Zuzu Weingart  for a wide-ranging conversation about making an indie film at the end of the world.  The discussion covers the movie’s long development, building a creative community, casting surprising names, and balancing absurd comedy with genuine heart in a post-apocalyptic setting.  Interview start at 59:43 Watch Cuisine de la 'Pocalypse on Tubi now! 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

    1h 48m
  7. Talking Pondo: The Hudsucker Proxy and Sunset Boulevard

    12/29/2025

    Talking Pondo: The Hudsucker Proxy and Sunset Boulevard

    Send us a text  In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie The Hudsucker Proxy to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie Sunset Boulevard to watch.  In this New Year’s special, Marty and Clif take on two classics where time, success, and self-delusion collide: The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) and Sunset Boulevard (1950). First up is the Coen Brothers’ fast-talking corporate fairy tale The Hudsucker Proxy. Marty and Clif dive deep into the film’s cartoon logic, rapid-fire dialogue, exaggerated performances, and elaborate set pieces. Along the way, they unpack the film’s connections to Sam Raimi, Roger Deakins, Preston Sturges, Buster Keaton, and the Coens’ evolving style. Then it’s time for a much darker New Year’s turn with Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard. Marty and Clif discuss Gloria Swanson’s iconic performance as Norma Desmond, William Holden’s doomed narrator, and the film’s lasting influence on decades of cinema.  #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #MoviePodcast #ClassicFilms #FilmAnalysis #TheHudsuckerProxy #SunsetBoulevard #CoenBrothers #BillyWilder #NewYearsMovies #FilmNoir #ClassicHollywood 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

    1h 3m
  8. Talking Pondo: Rare Exports and The Ref With Jessica Stone

    12/22/2025

    Talking Pondo: Rare Exports and The Ref With Jessica Stone

    Send us a text  In this episode, Jessica Stone joins the podcast. She brings along the movie Rare Exports. Marty and Clif give Jessica the movie The Ref to watch. This milestone episode gets it's start with Ted Demme’s The Ref (1994). The trio breaks down Dennis Leary’s breakout performance as a cat burglar forced into referee duty for a brutally unhappy family, discussing the film’s sharp dialogue, performative holiday traditions, and why its mix of rage, therapy, and forced honesty still works decades later. The conversation then shifts north - way north - with Rare Exports (2010), a Finnish holiday horror film that re-imagines Santa Claus as something far older and far more dangerous. The group digs into what makes the film so effective, how it contrasts with The Ref, and why both movies ultimately tap into the same holiday anxieties in very different ways.  It’s funny, unhinged, thoughtful - and the perfect way to ring in 100 episodes of Talking Pondo.  #TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #ChristmasMovies #HolidayMovies #DarkChristmas #CultFilms #TheRef1994 #RareExports #DennisLeary #FinnishHorror #Episode100 #FilmAnalysis #MovieTalk  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

    1h 11m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 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
    107
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Talking Pondo
  • Show Website
    Talking Pondo