1447929721
The Substance

Advertise on podcast: The Substance

Rating
★★★★★
4.8
from
91 reviews
This podcast has
209 episodes
Language
English
Explicit
No
Date created
2018/12/27
Latest episode
2026/10/13
Average duration
77 min.
Release period
25 days

Description

A podcast starting conversations that aim to help us all better appreciate Goodness, Truth, and Beauty. Engaging the culture without the Culture War™. Kansas City based! Socials: www.facebook.com/thesubstancepod www.twitter.com/thesubstancepod www.instagram.com/thesubstancepod Support: Click the button below, or you can hit us up on the Cash App at $thesubstancepod

Unlock The Substance podcast Email contact info,
Listeners & Audience details

Email contact information

Direct podcast contact details

Listeners

Audience numbers & engagement insights

Audience details

Podcast Insights

Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from The Substance podcast


202: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter feat. Laurie Strode Trap House
2026/10/13
Happy Spooky Season, y'all! We are kicking off our October slate with a "Low Cinema" episode on Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, perhaps the platonic ideal of the dumb, horny, young people in the woods slasher. Kev and Anna Ghoul from Laurie Strode Trap House join us for this conversation and we cover: Why slashers feel so cozy, especially when the world is chaoticIf these movies feel any different post Camp MiasmaThe upcoming Grand Guignol box set from SeverinDr. Loomis from HalloweenCrispin Glover's dance movesRoger Ebert's hatred for this franchiseAnd more! Next week: Award-winning artist and writer Nate Powell returns to talk about his new book DIANA (which is genuinely a masterpiece), fascism, community, punk, and more! VOTE for Philip and help us get a miniseries produced by iHeart and take home $25,000! Substantive Cineme Movie List Use tag "substantive cinema" on Letterboxd (and make sure to put a space in there) to tag your reviews as you watch along with us or when you watch things you think would be good for the show! Shoutouts: Resident Evil Wicked Wicked Norway Physical Media Corner: Roaring Fire Effects Laurie Strode Trap House: Listen to the podcast Kev's Letterboxd Anna's Letterboxd Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod
201: Celebrating 20 Years of Severin Films feat. David Gregory & Carl Daft
2026/09/29
One milestone celebration episode deserves another! This week we go from marking the 200th episode of The Substance to the much more impressive achievement of Severin Films hitting 20 years of releasing and restoring (and sometimes rescuing and resurrecting!) cult and genre films. Co-founders David Gregory and Carl Daft join us to look back at their twenty years at Severin as we talk: The pre-Severin days of Blue UndergroundBoutique VHS releases back in the dayFighting censorship in the UK and the Video Nasty eraThe love and care that went into the Alan Clarke Blue Underground box set (a favorite of artist Charles Forsman)Finding and cultivating an audience that would rather watch A Bay of Blood than CasablancaWhat goes into finding and restoring films that were once thought lostHow the themes of the nuclear fear movies are unfortunately evergreenand MORE! We hope you enjoy the discussion and be on the lookout on our Instagram page for an upcoming GIVEAWAY 📀 Physical Media Corner: The War Game Threads Siege Jackie Chan's First Strike Sugar Cookies Legend of the Sacred Stone Demigod: The Legend Begins Recent Guest Spot: TV & Us The Sopranos Season 3 episode 4 Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
200: Lady Bird feat. Anna Marinello
2026/09/22
We did it, Joe. Episode #200 of the show is finally out! We wanted to pick a special film for 200, and Greta Gerwig's 2017 directorial debut, Lady Bird, has it all. A beautiful coming of age story, tense mother/daughter dynamics, angsty artistic aspirations, first love and first heartbreak, spiritual longing, and more. All in about 90 minutes too! And I am delighted to be joined by my wife, whose life experience mirror Lady Bird's in some wild ways. Enjoy, and here's to the next two hundred! Substantive Cinema Episodes Shoutouts: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reel by Kenedy Ryan Morunas (music) Fletch Big Trouble in Little China Tiki Tiki Emily Wilson special Emma M. Lion series Physical Media Corner: Identity Hi, Mom! Marshmallow Dead Mountaineer's Hotel Recent Guest Spot: Rewind and Revive on The Dead Mountaineer's Hotel Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
199: Civil War (2024) feat. Chell Stephen
2026/07/08
The Road to #200 is almost at an end! Looking back at the Substantive Cinema episodes we've released this year, we couldn't help but notice an unintentional theme. Southland Tales, 28 Years Later, Team America: World Police, and now Civil War all deal with a troubled society trying to either make things better or simply bring a little order to the chaos. Wonder how we gravitated to these... Regardless, we are excited to be joined by multitalented filmmaker Chell Stephen to discuss Alex Garland's Civil War (interestingly, the second Garland project this year as he was the writer of 28 Days Later). Being released in 2024, the film was greeted with extremely mixed reviews. The main criticisms often were that the imagery was unhelpful in such a volatile time (right before the Trump 2.0 era), and that Garland somehow wasn't making a strong enough political statement. Genuinely not sure how that seemed to be the case with so many folks. Either way, it was a great conversation and Chell is wonderful! Her new film Byeeee, starring friend of the show and previous guest Romina D'Ugo (I Like Movies) is playing festivals now and if it's playing near you, we highly recommend you seek it out! Substantive Cinema Movie Catalogue Shoutouts: Bad Influence Body Double The Pitt (HBO) Industry (HBO) NTBTSTM Twinless The Lowdown (FX/Hulu) Physical Media Corner: Don't Play with Fire Who Am I? (Jackie Chan's Breakout Hits!) Wake in Fright G. I. Samurai Recent Guest Spot Episodes: Cinema on a Shelf Follow Chell: Instagram Add Byeeee to your watchlist Woods Hole Film Festival Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
198: Panic Fest 2026 Extravaganza!
2026/06/02
This took a liiiiiitle bit longer to publish than we had intended but we are excited to share our Panic Fest 2026 coverage with you all! It was a highlight of the year and we met so many incredible people (wish we could have talked with everyone!). Many of these films are hitting the festival circuit or starting to come our on VOD (and we just saw that the Loner Blu-ray is now available), and they are all worth checking out! List of Movies We Discuss Follow Our Filmmakers: Katherine Dudas Codey S. Wilson Janine Hogan Amber Rossi Guillermo de la Rosa Scout Taylor-Compton Physical Media Corner: The Slime People (Double Feature) Gutter Auteur: The Lost Legacy of Andy Milligan Recent Guest Spot Episodes: Screamboat on Laurie Strode Trap House The Unwatched Pile #36 TV & Us Sopranos Season 2 Finale Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
197: Panic Fest 2026 Preview
2026/04/06
Panic Fest 2026 is almost upon us! Last year, Panic Fest was one of the highlights of our year. We had an incredible time taking in new features and shorts as well as getting to know and spend time with some wonderful people (Listen to our Recap Episode rom last year for more)! Hope to see you there, if you're in the neighborhood! Panic Fest: Website Instagram Joe & Becca: YouTube Instagram Greg D: Nightmare Junkhead Podcast BlueSky Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
196: Team America: World Police feat. Justin LaLiberty
2026/04/01
Happy Don't Believe Anything You Read On The Internet Day, everyone! Today we continue our April Fool's Day tradition of covering a silly movie (and then realizing that it's got more substance than audiences may think at first). 20 years ago Trey Parker and Matt Stone were pissed off at how America was recklessly engaging in conflicts around the world and decided to express their frustrations with puppets and some incredible action set pieces. If only that was relevant now... Joining us this episode is Justin LaLiberty of Vinegar Syndrome, OCN Distribution, and Cinématographe. He's been in and around the film industry for decades and has been a fan of the South Park guys since the beginning so he was the perfect guest for this! In this episode we discuss: Justin's background in filmHis first time seeing the South Park movie at summer camp (at the drive in with American Pie as the double bill)How Team America is one of the last big studio action spectacles of its eraThe difference between comedy that's offensive and juvenile vs. meanArt as activismPuppet sex and pukeMeeting David Byrne and MORE! Substantive Cinema Episode List Shoutouts: Badge 373 (Letterboxd) Office Killer (Letterboxd) Follow Justin: Instagram Letterboxd Vinegar Syndrome New Releases Physical Media Corner: The Birthday Peking Opera Blues Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
195: Substantive Cinema | 28 Years Later feat. Brandon Streussnig
2026/03/23
On this episode we reflect on the reality that we must die, and in order to live we also must love. And it's a discussion on (ostensibly) a zombie movie that a 20+ year later legacy sequel! When the teaser trailer for 28 Years Later dropped, it seemed clear that the film wouldn't be a safe, mindless retread of previous material looking to cash in on fan nostalgia. It was visually striking, poetic, foreboding, and promised a dark, brutal world that not only has experienced a viral outbreak, but has evolved to, as much as people collectively can, live with it. Danny Boyle and Alex Garland were cooking up something special and we couldn't wait! The result was not only a commercial success but a beautifully touching coming of age story that hits on several substantive themes. Joining us for this episode is film journalist Brandon Streussnig. Brandon has written for outlets like Vulture, The Ringer, GQ, Inverse, Men's & Women's Health, Letterboxd Journal, The AV Club, The Playlist, Polygon, Fangoria, Paste, The Film Stage, In Review Online, AwardsWatch, and others. He's also contributed to physical media releases from folks like Vinegar Syndrome, Radiance, Umbrella, IFC, Kino, and Arrow Video. In this episode we cover things like Brandon's journey into being a full time film journalistHis experience seeing the film early in order to interview the directorThe incredible soundtrack from Young FathersAnthony Dod Mantle's gorgeous cinematographyBrandon's real time consideration of the follow up, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple The way cinema invites us to spiritual considerations regardless of personal beliefsFilm Twitter's Miami Vice ordeal from a few years ago (that culminated in a screening a listener attended and emailed about!)and MORE! Letterboxd List of Substantive Cinema Episodes Brandon's interview with Danny Boyle Shoutout: Sophy Romvari's Blue Heron Follow Brandon: Instagram Letterboxd Interview with Undertone director Ian Tuason The Stunt Man The Cat Physical Media Corner: She Shoots Straight (88 Films) Song of the Miraculous Hind (Deaf Crocodile) Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
194: The State of the World, Spiritual Check-Ins, and the Road to 200 feat. Editor Dave
2026/03/09
We are creeping up on Episode 200 so we sat down with (former) Editor Dave to talk about the State of The Substance as well as doing a bit of a spiritual check in as we look back on the road that has lead us here and look forward to where we are headed post #200! Shoutouts: Wake Up Dead Man The Wild Robot Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Weight by Melissa Mendes 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Laurie Strode Trap House podcast Follow Dave: Instagram Substack Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ NEXT EPISODE: 28 Years Later featuring Brandon Streussnig Watch along and use tag "substantive cinema" when logging on Letterboxd and we may read your review on the show! Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod
193: Substantive Cinema | Southland Tales feat. Laurie Strode Trap House
2026/02/11
***I don't like doing disclaimers on episodes and this one isn't totally filthy or anything but there is some explicit dialogue in the film that we discuss, so if you listen in the car with other people or whatever, you've been warned*** "This is the way the world ends. Not with a whimper, but with a bang." There are a handful of movies that I've specifically wanted to cover on the show from the very beginning and today we're checking a big one off of the list. Richard Kelly blew up on the scene with his debut feature Donnie Darko. It was a massive cult hit that earned him the attention and favor of both audiences and filmmakers. So much so that he was allowed to make one of the wildest (complimentary) movies of the aughts, with an absolutely stacked cast of stars like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Sean William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore, and Justin Timberlake as well as several SNL alumni (and Will Sasso). The plot of the film is hard to convey briefly (thought Kev does a wonderful job at the top of our discussion) but suffice it to say it's about post 9/11 America and the ways we may destroy ourselves. Joining us for this discussion are Kev and Anna Ghoul from the phenomenal new podcast Laurie Strode Trap House, a show about friendship and horror in the 21st century. Go check the out! Blah blah blah follow or subscribe to the show so new episodes pop on your feed and hit the 5 star button if you think we deserve it! Substantive Cinema Letterboxd List Follow Guests: Laurie Strode Trap House Instagram Austin Danger Podcast Follow Kev on Letterboxd Follow Anna on Letterboxd Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
192: Liturgies For Resisting Empire feat. Kat Armas
2026/01/07
Hey there, we intended to get this episode published last month but life and *waves hands at everything going on in the US* got in the way. HOWEVER! This was an encouraging conversation and a great way to orient ourselves as we kick off a new year under an oppressive, malicious, and very dumb empire. Kat Armas is is a Cuban American writer, speaker, and theologian from Miami, FL. She holds a ThM from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary where she was awarded the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing. She is also a very thoughtful writer and a great hang. Topics included on this episode: The way Empire trades mystery and memory for conformityHer book dedication on LfREAdvent and how the Incarnation relates to what she's been thinking and writing about latelyHer love of reading and horror moviesand MORE! Check out her upcoming stops on her book tour and take some friends to see her when she's in your area! Buy Liturgies For Resisting Empire (30% off & Free Shipping rn!) Listen on Libby through your local library Shoutouts: The Correspondents Tell Me Everything Alien series Small Things Like These Children of Men Follow Kat: Instagram Website Substack Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
191: Substantive Cinema | The Holdovers feat. Marta Djordjevic
2025/12/24
They said it couldn't be done but here we are, getting in our Christmas episode riiiiight before the big day! A few years ago Alexander Payne's The Holdovers made a big splash and became an instant Christmas classic to many. The film follows professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) as he is forced to look after the students without anywhere to go over Christmas break. Through a series of events he bonds with a talented but mischievous student played by Dominic Sessa, in an incredible debut performance, and the school's head cook (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) who just lost her son. Joining us for this conversation is friend of the show Marta Djordjevic. We cover many things including: Dream Criterion Collection titlesThe beauty of New England in the winterHow Payne and cinematographer Eigil Bryld masterfully evoke 1970s cinemaThe way the whole film is shaped by the underlying realities of class, race, and economic disparityLayers of meaning that are revealed in repeat viewingsHow funny the movie isand MORE! We hope you enjoy the film and our discussion! If you do, be sure to tell a friend 😃 List of Substantive Cinema Episodes Watch along with us on Letterboxd and tag your reviews "substantive cinema" so that we can se them and engage with them on future episodes! Shoutouts: Malpertuis La Vie De Boheme The Timekeepers of Eternity Highest 2 Lowest Open Throat by Henry Hoke Follow Marta: Rewind and Revive Recent Projection Booth Episode Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
190: Feed Drop | O Pagador de Promessas (The Projection Booth feat. Philip Marinello)
2025/11/10
Enjoy this feed drop from earlier this year when host Philip Marinello joined Mike White and Robert Bellissimo on The Projection Booth to talk about the underseen Palme d'Or winning 1962 film O Pagador de Promessas. Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
189: Substantive Cinema | In the Mouth of Madness feat. simi.views
2025/11/04
"Do you read Sutter Cane?!" We're back in your feeds with another underrated banger from one of the all time Masters of Horror™. John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness is an absolute thrill ride and since Arrow Video has released what we hear is a gorgeous new 4K we figured it was time talk about one of his best (and most slept on) movies. We are excited to be joined by Derrick (simi.views on all the socials) for his first appearance on the show as he's beginning to really get into Carpenter's work. When we just saw him log this highly on Letterboxd we thought this was a perfect fit and we weren't wrong as this was a wonderful conversation! On this episode we discuss: Our journeys so far with Carpenter's workPhysical media we have been enjoying latelyThe state of film scholarship in the age of social mediaHow JC's less is more approach to showing the overt horrors here was so effectiveSam Neill's perfect castingThe power of the film despite its memeificationHow Carpenter's work feels more powerful year after yearand MORE! Substantive Cinema Episode List Shoutouts: Tsukamoto Box Set Kotoko Cloud The Cat Breathe In, Bleed Out Takeout (Tubi, sponsor the show!) Follow Derrick: TikTok Instagram Letterboxd Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod
188: Substantive Cinema | The Amusement Park feat. Dale_A
2025/11/02
We are back! Had big plans for Spooky Season this year but health, vehicle nonsense, family, and general exhaustion at the state of things in the US had other plans. It was an absolute pleasure talking with Clark Collis about his new book Screaming and Conjuring on the last episode and to follow it up we've brought back an incredible guest and we're diving back into the work of one of the undisputed Masters of Horror™. A few years ago we covered Romero's debut film and foundational masterpiece The Night of the Living Dead with Filmspotting's Josh Larsen. Romero's Dead movies are something we'd like to revisit sometime here at The Substance but today we're looking at a long hidden gem from early in his career that only recently became widely available, The Amusement Park. Commissioned by The Lutheran Society of Western Pennsylvania as a PSA on the perils of aging in America (especially as a non wealthy White), Romero decided to boldly make the project his own and instead of an after school special with talking heads discussing the difficulties that our senior neighbors face, he turned in something surreal and terrifying. With minimal dialogue the film conjures up the horrors of aging in an individualistic capitalist society: steep economic cost, difficulties with transportation, not being taken seriously by the general public, red tape accessing medical care, predatory assisted living facilities, and more. It's not a fun time but it's a visceral experience and one that stirs up questions worth asking related to what we owe to our more elderly neighbors. And we are delighted to be joined by Dale_A from the Bat & Spider podcast. Next time we have him back for something more uplifting! Substantive Cinema List Shoutouts: John Carpenter soundtracks True Indie by Don Coscarelli Bat & Spider Episode #250 Phantasm Extravaganza One Cut of the Dead Follow Dale: Instagram Bat and Spider Podcast Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠ Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: [email protected] DM on Instagram Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod

Podcast reviews

Read The Substance podcast reviews


4.8 out of 5
91 reviews
★★★★★
NathanGuinn 2026/09/24
Episode 200
Wonderful show from Phil and Anna, Lady Bird is an all-time favorite and I loved the way they approached it. Here’s to 200 more
★★★★★
cocodrilo cohete 2024/12/20
good stuff
as an atheist, enjoyed the conversation with Dan. plan to check out more. thank you.
★★★★★
jjconcepts 2023/09/18
Horror
As a person of faith, I have been afraid of watching horror movies. I liked you all saying to watch the old classics first to wet your pallet. Thank y...
★★★★★
ScottI17 2023/08/24
Consistently great guests
Always impressed by the great guests and thoughtful conversations!
★★★★★
Eli Price 2023/08/16
Great Conversation!
I recently started listening to this show, and have really enjoyed it so far. They have thoughtful, engaging conversations that are also fun and relax...
★★★★★
OmarMo93 2023/05/26
Refreshing and Thoughtful
I love how refreshing this podcast is- instead of leveraging trends, hot takes, or trying to be controversial, it’s balanced in both views and narrati...
★★★★★
Maverik56 2021/08/22
Refreshing & well balanced
This a well balance podcast that talks about every single topic and it doesn’t have a specific theme which is refreshing. The podcast core is coming f...
★★★★☆
Matthew in KC 2021/08/03
Can’t define a hotdog
Honestly it would be five stars. They have great analysis and takes on a variety of topics and consistently use a solid, orthodox, biblical framework....
★★★★★
Dani DeRuse 2021/05/27
Adds value to my life, feels friendly
I have really been enjoying The Substance Podcast! As a stay-at-home-mom I don’t always make the time to read a ton of books, so this podcast is a gre...
★★★★★
summertimeinthecity 2021/05/24
Thoughtful and balanced
I love the tone of this podcast as well as the subject matter they cover. Less hot takes, more thoughtful reflection. They prioritize scripture and do...
check all reviews on apple podcasts

Podcast sponsorship advertising

Start advertising on The Substance relevant audience podcasts


What do you want to promote?