Podcast appearances and mentions of Hugh Grant

Tonight on Triple Feature, Mark Radulich and Mac Kettner embark on a cinematic journey through the bold, genre-bending filmography of the Wachowski Sisters, tracing their artistic evolution from the noir-tight thriller Bound (1996), through the ambitious, time-hopping epic Cloud Atlas (2012), to the sprawling, space-operatic chaos of Jupiter Ascending (2015).We begin with Bound, their directorial debut—a lean, tightly constructed neo-noir starring Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly. While remembered today for its stylized depiction of a lesbian relationship and its feminist reversal of genre tropes, the film also laid the groundwork for the Wachowskis' signature style: sharp visual framing, subversive gender politics, and a meticulous blend of genre tradition and rebellion. Critics at the time praised its confidence and tension, and it's since become a cult classic, often cited for how it queered the crime genre with both sensuality and grit.Fast forward to Cloud Atlas, a deeply ambitious adaptation of David Mitchell's novel. Co-directed with Tom Tykwer, the film features a sprawling ensemble cast—Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Doona Bae—playing multiple interconnected roles across six timelines. Aesthetic maximalism meets spiritual recursion here: past lives, future consequences, and the collapse of individual identity into something larger. The film was divisive, praised for its ambition but criticized for its complex structure and controversial use of makeup. Still, in retrospect, Cloud Atlas is regarded as a turning point—a declaration that the Wachowskis were more interested in ideas than in simple spectacle.Finally, we crash into Jupiter Ascending—a wildly uneven, endlessly fascinating space opera starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum. The film throws genetic royalty, flying rollerblades, Eddie Redmayne whisper-shouting, and bureaucratic intergalactic dynasties into a blender. It's messy, no doubt. But it's also unmistakably Wachowskian: rich with metaphor, post-capitalist critique, and gendered power struggles wrapped in ridiculous sci-fi fantasy. It was largely panned upon release, but like much of their work, Jupiter Ascending has developed a loyal fanbase who see past the surface chaos to the emotional and thematic sincerity underneath.Through these three films, we trace the Wachowski Sisters' cinematic transformation: from intimate noir storytellers to high-concept philosophers to unapologetically maximalist dreamers. No matter the box office or Rotten Tomatoes score, their work consistently pushes boundaries—of genre, identity, and cinematic form itself.So buckle in. We're talking legacy, aesthetics, ideas, and all the gloriously weird stuff in between.Disclaimer: The following may contain offensive language, adult humor, and/or content that some viewers may find offensive – The views and opinions expressed by any one speaker does not explicitly or necessarily reflect or represent those of Mark Radulich or W2M Network.Mark Radulich and his wacky podcast on all the things:https://linktr.ee/markkind76alsohttps://www.teepublic.com/user/radulich-in-broadcasting-networkFB Messenger: Mark Radulich LCSWTiktok: @markradulichtwitter: @MarkRadulichInstagram: markkind76RIBN Album Playlist: https://suno.com/playlist/91d704c9-d1ea-45a0-9ffe-5069497bad59 

A CLASSIC ROCKER FINDS OUT HE HAS A LOVE CHILD FROM THE 80's, some insane Movies announced and A wild list of celebrities and how they caught their significant others cheating… it's like celebs are just like us guys!CRAP ON FRIDAY Rick Moranis has been gone way too long. Even those new "Ghostbusters" movies didn't lure him back to Hollywood. But I am quite excited to announce that he WILL return to once again play Dark Helmet in "Spaceballs 2"!!! Bill Pullman will return as the hero Lone Starr, too. And Mel Brooks will be back as Yogurt . . . and, presumably . . . President Skroob. (He played both characters in the original.) Josh Gad co-wrote the script, and he's expected to be in it, too. Pullman's son Lewis Pullman has also been cast, along with Keke Palmer . . . but there's no word who they're playing. There's also no word on any other returning cast members. Obviously, John Candy, Joan Rivers, and Dick Van Patten won't be back, since they're no longer with us. Mel released the first teaser yesterday. There's no footage, since filming hasn't begun yet. It starts with a text crawl that makes fun of all the "Star Wars" prequels, sequels, sequels to the prequels, prequels to the sequels, and TV spin-offs. Then it lists all the "Dune", "Jurassic Park", "Avatar", and Marvel movies, plus DC's TWO attempts to start a cinematic universe . . . and just about every other overdone franchise you can name. Then, after a quick appearance from Mel, we get a shot of Rick Moranis' cracked helmet, and the tagline: "The Schwartz Awakens in 2027." Which sounds like a possible title but it's spaceballs and mel brooks so it could be anything. Here is Mel making his announcement. Jerry Seinfeld Proposes ‘Live-Action Sequel' to 'Bee Movie'Jerry Seinfeld has people buzzin' with this idea!The comedic genius posted about the possibility of a “live-action sequel” to his 2007 animated hit Bee Movie.“Bee Movie, which came out nearly 20 years ago, is #4 on Netflix,” he wrote on Instagram showing a hand holding a tennis ball with a honey bee on it. The next slide was the movie's poster, an image of Seinfeld's character Barry B. Benson similarly straddling a tennis ball.“Today, my friend Spike Feresten, one of the writers on the film, was playing tennis and this happened."He continued, “Clearly a sign. Time for a live-action sequel..?" DreamWorks' Bee Movie, which Seinfeld produced, co-wrote, and starred in along with Renée Zellweger, has become a cult favorite since its release.Bee Movie also featured the voices of Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, Megan Mullally, Oprah Winfrey, and several celebrities appearing as animated versions of themselves, including Larry King, Ray Liotta, and Sting.Saint Louis' own Nelly and Ashanti are putting their lives on TV for all to see. They announced an upcoming reality show called Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together.A show synopsis says Nelly and Ashanti "rekindle their love, navigate the ups and downs of being newlyweds and new parents, and juggle their careers."The eight-episode series will air on Peacock starting June 26th.A DNA Test Connects Billy Idol To A Son He Didn't Know He HadDetails on the lovechild Billy Idol didn't know he had until a few years ago have surfaced.Idol's daughter, Bonnie, shared in the new doc, 'Billy Idol Should Be Dead', "My husband just surprised me with a DNA test as a Christmas present [a few years ago]. Then a few weeks later, I get the results back on the app and open it and I'm like, who is this? This Brant. His info reads, 'New York, 1985, looking for my biological dad.' I was like, ‘What?'"Brant, Idol's lovechild, grew up believing his dad was someone else until a different DNA questioned his mother's claims about his father. After confronting his mom, she told Brant, "Well, it's pretty crazy, but back in the day, we broke up and I actually spent a weekend with Billy Idol."Fans have done the math and calculate that Brant was conceived during Idol's wildly successful 1984 'Rebel Yell' tour.Idol has whole-heartedly accepted Brant as family, saying, "I really enjoyed being a dad. I always wanted a boy and a girl, and I finagled my way into a boy and a girl. I actually had a son that I didn't realize, who I fathered on the Rebel Yell tour without knowing it. So I somehow finagled this as well."Brant was at Idol's Walk of Fame ceremony back in 2023.Prime Video Will Soon Show Double The AdsAmazon Prime Video is about to double the number of commercials shown per hour on its ad-supported membership level. An Adweek report got the news from an Amazon spokesperson about the amount of commercials going to "four to six minutes per hour" from the two to three minutes that Prime users are used to. In 2024, subscribers who had ad-free access were forced to pay an extra $3 a month to maintain the status. Jay-Z Loses $1 Million NBA Finals Bet Jay-Z is out $1 million after losing a bet on the NBA Finals. Jay placed a bet prior to the series, banking on the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the championship in five games. After Wednesday night's Thunder loss to the Indiana Pacers, OKC can't win the series unless they do it in six or seven games. Jay-Z would have won $3.5 million if the bet had cashed in. With a net worth of $2.5 billion, we're sure Jay-Z will be alright. Ok you guys remember Spinal Tap? The Album cover debate with the label and why it became an all black cover or as Nigel would say NONE MORE BLACK? It was because the original had a woman on all fours with a dog leash on and it was deemed sexist…. To which Nigel replies “Whats wrong with being sexy? Well get this, Sabrina Carpenter announced her new album yesterday, and it's causing a lot of controversy. It's called "Man's Best Friend", and the cover has Sabrina on all fours, in front of a man who's pulling a handful of her hair. A women's advocacy group in Scotland called it "regressive", saying it reduces women to, quote, "pets, props, and possessions," and promotes "an element of violence and control." Sabrina's fans are defending it as SATIRE, and a commentary on how badly women are treated. And some are pointing out that the first single, "Manchild", actually makes FUN of men. HERE IS A CLIP OF THATMeanwhile, in the new "Rolling Stone" cover story, Sabrina talks about being criticized for the sexual imagery in her stage show. She says, quote "It's always so funny to me when people complain. They're like, 'All she does is sing about this.' But those are the songs that you've made popular. Clearly you love sex. You're obsessed with it." She adds, quote, "I truly feel like I've never lived in a time where women have been picked apart more, and scrutinized in every capacity. I'm not just talking about me. I'm talking about every female artist that is making art right now." Pope Leo isn't even the most famous guy in his family. The "New York Times" researched his family tree, and found out that he's related to a bunch of celebrities. The link is an ancestor from about six generations back. He name was Louis Boucher de Grandpre, and he was born in Quebec.And because of him, Leo is distant cousins with Justin Bieber, Justin Trudeau, Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton, Jack Kerouac, and Madonna. It's interesting that Leo would be related to Madonna, given that the Catholic Church has condemned her several times . . . most famously when she released her "Like a Prayer" video in 1989. A few years ago, Madonna reached out to Pope Francis, asking to meet with him to discuss "important matters." She told him, quote, "I've been ex-communicated 3 times. It doesn't seem fair." If you've ever wondered how the creators of "Friends" came up with the character of Joey Tribbiani . . . we might just have the answer this morning. Joey Lawrence claims Matt LeBlanc's character was based on HIS character Joey Russo from "Blossom". Lawrence says, quote, "Joey Russo was so successful that when they were creating 'Friends', they wanted a 25-year-old version of that." Supposedly, Matt's character wasn't even originally called Joey, but they changed it because the "Blossom" character was so successful. Joey even claims that Matt was sent to tapings of "Blossom" where he would, quote, "sit up in the audience with a yellow notepad and take notes on how I portrayed Joey Russo." He says they wanted Matt to bring the "innocence" of Joey Russo to Joey Tribbiani, so the character could, quote, "get away with his womanizing." I guess the Grammys were sick of hearing about whether Beyoncé deserved to win Best Country Album for "Cowboy Carter". So, they just announced a major change. For next year's Grammys, the award formally known as Best Country Album will now be called Best Contemporary Country Album . . . and they will also be adding a new category: Best Traditional Country Album. There's a lot to unpack here. And one year after Beyoncé wins makes the timing of this all the more clickbait-y. According to the Grammy website, "traditional country music", quote, "adheres to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre, including rhythm and singing style, lyrical content, as well as traditional country instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, and live drums." Where "contemporary country music", quote, "remains reminiscent and relevant to the legacy of country music's culture, while also engaging in more contemporary music forms." Someone tweeted, "Morgan Wallen and Post Malone better not be in the traditional country category at the Grammys, because in what world are they traditional country?" Wait, hold up. When Morgan collaborated with Alvin and the Chipmunks, that wasn't traditional country??New in Theaters: "How to Train Your Dragon", "Materialists", and "The Life of Chuck" There's nothing like a good breakup story. Here are seven times a celebrity found out their partner was cheating in an unconventional way: 1. Demi Moore learned that Ashton Kutcher was having an affair in 2011, from a Google Alert. When she called him on it, he admitted it right away. Her response was, quote, "Are you [effing] kidding me?" 2. Britney Spears started dating lawyer David Lucado in 2012. But in 2014, her father found out there was paparazzi footage of David kissing another woman. He bought it to prevent it from being released, and Britney broke it off. 3. Kourtney Kardashian dumped Scott Disick in 2008, after finding texts on his phone from a contact called, quote, "my wife." They did the on-and-off thing until 2015, when photos emerged of Scott with another woman in France. 4. Elizabeth Hurley found out Hugh Grant was cheating on her in 1995, when he got arrested for GETTING IT ON with Sunset Boulevard prostitute Divine Brown in his car. They didn't break up until 2000, and they're still friends. 5. Laura Dern found out Billy Bob Thornton was being unfaithful when the news broke that he had ELOPED with Angelina Jolie in 2000. She was away making a movie, and she never saw it coming. 6. Eva Longoria's marriage to NBA star Tony Parker ended in 2010, after she found inappropriate texts with another woman on his phone. 7. This one's ancient history, but it was a HUGE tabloid story back in the day: In 1958, actress Debbie Reynolds was missing her husband, Eddie Fisher, because he was supposedly away on tour. So she decided to give her friend Elizabeth Taylor a call . . . and who answered Liz's phone? Eddie FREAKIN' Fisher. (!!!) Eddie left Debbie and married Liz, but that only lasted five years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Wrap Beers return for another week on the pod. To start things off, The Beers introduce what we are drinking for this episode - Athletic Brewing Company's non-alcoholic Free Wave (1:35). The Beers then discuss a trip to the iconic Film Forum on Houston Street to see a rare showing of Federico Fellini's 8 1/2 in one of the more unique movie-watching experiences to date (6:01). Dylan shares his review of the 2001 British crime film SEXY BEAST, directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Ben Kingsley in an Oscar-nominated performance (19:56). Roger follows up with another British-heavy movie, offering his review of Guy Ritchie's THE GENTLEMEN, which stars a heavyweight cast featuring Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Collin Farrell, Hugh Grant, and Jeremy Strong in one of the more beloved dark comedies since the pandemic (30:37). To wrap it up, The Beers give a quick recommendation for Seth Rogen's new comedy series THE STUDIO (36:40).Got a movie, TV series, or doc we should talk about? Send it! thewrapbeers@gmail.comFollow!https://www.instagram.com/thewrapbeers/https://www.tiktok.com/@thewrapbeerspodDylan - https://www.instagram.com/dylan_john_murphy/Roger - https://www.instagram.com/rogerzworld/Subscribe!https://www.youtube.com/@thewrapbeers Letterboxd!https://letterboxd.com/wrapitupb/ Intro & Outro Music by Matt Kuartzhttps://www.instagram.com/mattkuartz?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw%3D%3D

Meena Kumari is famously known as the tragedy queen of Hindi cinema, and she's an actress whose filmography we've mostly avoided so far. Inspired by a subscriber's comment, we decide to give Meena's light-hearted movies a shot, and discuss Miss Mary (1957) and Kohinoor (1960).Pitu has seen the error of her ways and is no longer calling her Moaning Myrtle. She is now Merry Meena.If you haven't seen her dance with puppies at the puppies' birthday party in Mem Sahib, please stop what you're doing and revel in this delightful song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12WvtoTJ3r0And as a postscript, enjoy this clip of Emma Thompson talking about working with Hugh Grant. https://youtube.com/shorts/nLNMZXpNbB8?si=FpfSeZHahz5AhlNuSubscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062@filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on InstagramBeth is @bethlovesbollywood on BlueskyEmail us at filmiladies at gmailSee our letterboxd for everything discussed on this podcast. https://boxd.it/qSpfyOur logo was designed by London-based artist Paula Ganoo @velcrothoughts on Instagram https://www.art2arts.co.uk/paula-vaughan

In this episode of "Discovering Grayslake," host Dave sits down with Alan, a local lawyer, to discuss life, law, and community in Grayslake. Alan shares heartfelt stories from his legal career, insights into family and criminal law, and his passion for giving back through local organizations. The conversation is filled with humor, personal anecdotes, and reflections on Grayslake's vibrant spirit—from favorite pizza spots to community events. With a warm, hometown feel, this episode highlights the importance of connection, kindness, and supporting one another in the Grayslake community. Automatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Speaker 1 00:00:03  Looking for a car dealer that actually feels like your hometown. Welcome to City Chevrolet of Grayslake, where the vibe is friendly, the pressure is off and you'll always be treated like family. Meet Anthony Scala. He's just not the owner. He's a guy that grew up in the car business, worked his way from porter to owner. Anthony believes in people first. That's why City Chevy sponsors your kids teams, your town events. And matter of fact, this show, they give back every chance they get. Anthony thinks that the experience of buying a car should be fun. No pressure, just honest people who care whether you need a new Chevy, a quality used car, or just service you can trust. City Chevy is here for you. Come visit City Chevrolet of Grayslake right off of 120. And thank you for sponsoring Our town. Our stories, our voice. Let's get after it. Grayslake. Grayslake Rehabilitation Center is a community based private practice physical therapy provider. Do you know they have 13 clinical providers with various levels of specialties including orthopedics, sports, neurology, vestibular geriatrics, pelvic floor and aquatic. Speaker 1 00:01:05  What did I just say? They have a pool. Well they do. And it's the largest indoor warm water pool in Lake County. Featuring two underwater treadmills and swim currents and recently added clinical treatment specialties. In layman's terms. Shockwave. They have both radial and focus units that are the newest tool in regenerative medicine available to everyone. They pride themselves on the most current and up to date specialized care to keep you moving. If you're looking for physical therapy, make sure to see our friends at Grayslake Rehabilitation. All right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another episode of Discovering Grayslake. I'm so happy to be here recording again at Agora Co-working. Agora. As you know, if you've listened to any of these shows, Agora is on the corner of Centre Street and Atkinson. It's a co-working place, so if you guys are looking for a place to get your, your business out of the house for a day, for an hour, for a week or a lifetime home, Luke over here is a great dude, and I'll be happy to help you out. Speaker 1 00:01:58  So shout out to Agora for having us here. so I'm not going to mess up your name because you help me. So I'm here with Alan and Ziggy today. That's right buddy. Speaker 2 00:02:07  Hi, Dave. Nice to see you. And, Hello, internet. Speaker 1 00:02:09  Yes. So, actually, it's funny that we, Just as we sat down, we went over just a short thing of all the people from Grayslake that we just from just the Grayslake people that we know we have in common. Speaker 2 00:02:20  Right? I was living in Grayslake for the last 15, 20 years, and, my family lives in Grayslake. My mom does still, even though my dad passed away and I've been active in the Grayslake Exchange Club for a long time. So that's how I kind of got to know the people in that business community, stuff like that. Speaker 1 00:02:35  Right. Okay, so when I got arrested for the third time when I called you and then I called you, and I've not been arrested. Speaker 2 00:02:42  I would not be able to disclose the details unless you told me it was okay. Speaker 2 00:02:45  So just let me know, and I'm happy to. But we have attorney client confidentiality, which prohibits me from talking about it. Speaker 1 00:02:51  Which means all the fun stories that I want to ask you about to tell me today. You can't. Speaker 2 00:02:54  I can tell you stories, but I can't say like, hey, you know my client, Sergio. Guess what happened, right? I can't say that, but I can say I had this one guy and this one thing. I could do that, right? Speaker 1 00:03:03  He looked a lot like Mike Steiner, but. Speaker 2 00:03:06  Nobody looks like Mike Steiner. No, Mike Steiner is like Mike Steiner. Speaker 1 00:03:10  Doesn't even look like Mike Steiner. Speaker 2 00:03:12  He's like a ten. I mean, he's like, maybe mistaken for George Clooney from time to time. Speaker 1 00:03:17  He gets that a lot. I am. Speaker 2 00:03:18  Sure. Speaker 1 00:03:19  Shout out. Shout out to right at home. By the way, one of the sponsors of. Speaker 2 00:03:21  The show is an okay. Speaker 1 00:03:22  Dude. He's great. okay, so, Grayslake has changed, but what is your job? Speaker 2 00:03:27  Okay. Speaker 2 00:03:28  I am a lawyer. Speaker 1 00:03:29  Okay. What kind of a lawyer? Speaker 2 00:03:30  Okay, so my background is as a prosecutor. And when I was a prosecutor with the state's attorney's office. I guess I'll answer this in a long winded way. The easy question is, I tell people at Christmas parties. Like, what kind of lawyer are you? Divorces and DUIs. Okay. Okay. Because that's an easy way to break down family and criminal law. Those are my two specialties. I'm in a law firm called Johnston, Tommy Lansky and Goldberg. I'm one of the founding partners of that law firm, and we do everything collectively. I have a partner that does real estate. I have a partner that does business formation. I have a partner that does wills and trusts. We do probate litigation, foreclosures. We do all kinds of stuff. But my particular role at that law firm is family. So your divorces, child custody, child support type cases sometimes, and then also criminal cases. And, like, I have a murder right now. Speaker 2 00:04:20  So everything from murders down to traffic tickets and suspended licenses. Speaker 1 00:04:24  Is that normal for me? Because this shows how much I know. Is it normal for an attorney to have such a broad range of things like that? Speaker 2 00:04:30  So for me, I want two things, you know, so two things is pretty normal. If you're a guy that only, let's say only does criminal, it's I don't know you people do that, but I like to have a second sort of, type of case because sometimes it ebbs and flows in what you're getting. You know, the family law cases are hourly. The, criminal cases are a flat fee. Usually both are great. The family law cases are more, I guess intellectually and emotionally challenging sometimes. Which which maybe surprises some people. My criminal cases are usually a joy. Like family law cases can be tough. Speaker 1 00:05:08  Yeah, and that's one thing, because, it's no secret that I've been divorced twice. And, you know, for the for the people. And many people listen to the show, I mean, just from the, from the age demographics that I know that if people gone through these, like, heart wrenching, terrible parts of their life where they need someone like you to help guide them through and and hopefully make it as easy as possible. Speaker 2 00:05:29  Divorces are hard. I mean, a lot of you that are listening, have experienced it or your parents did or whatever. So, divorces are very difficult for people, and the plan with me would be just to get them done on time and under budget with a handshake at the end. Speaker 1 00:05:44  Okay. And I've never heard that before because I, I unfortunately, you know, I was spending a lot of time in courtrooms and seeing stuff like that, that it seems like, you know, the guys maybe that aren't doing well, or maybe they need to pay off their boat or something, string things along as long as they can. Speaker 2 00:05:58  They okay. I would never cast aspersions. I tell you, you might be surprised. The family law bar in Lake County is mostly fantastic people. Yeah. most of those lawyers I really like, I get along with the strength of our bench, you know, which means the judges in Lake County is good. Our bench is good. Our bar is good. there are a couple of lawyers that I'm like, oh, I got a case with her again. Speaker 2 00:06:21  Oh, I got a case with that guy. Right? because sometimes the law, just like any maybe more than some other, professions, can attract people with, like, a type of personality. That's annoying. I don't know, I don't want to. I'm not a psychiatrist or psychologist, so I can't say, like, all my clients come in and they say, oh, my husband, he's a narcissist. Or like, he's gaslighting me. People like those psychological sort of terms from today. Like the now times. Like we didn't know what narcissism and gaslighting was in 1997, right? Or I didn't, but now I do for sure, because all my clients are like, he's gaslighting me, he's a narcissist, he's a blah, blah. Speaker 1 00:07:01  One minute your world is normal, the next it's gone. A flood, a fire, a crime scene. Your home shattered, your business shut down, your life on pause. But in the darkest hour, when chaos knocks at your door, that's when Servpro of Northwest Lake County shows up. Speaker 1 00:07:20  Not just a company, not just a cleanup crew, but neighbors, parents, coaches, locals who care. Drake and his team aren't just restoring properties. They're restoring peace, restoring dignity, restoring lives. So when your worst day arrives, call the oh no guy who becomes your, thank God guy. Servpro of Northwest Lake County, locally owned, nationally known, unshakable and trusted from devastation to restoration. Duration. Servpro, northwest Lake County. Speaker 3 00:07:50  Hey, neighbors, this is Bill Mack with the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce. And if you're looking for a network of hardworking, customer focused and generally friendly local businesses who are dedicated to helping each other succeed, then I'd like to invite you to check out and consider joining our Grayslake chamber. We offer our members so many ways to advance their businesses through social networking events, special events, sponsorships, informative lunch and learns, and the ever popular after hours mixers. Come see why we say we're the new wave of business here in Lake County. Speaker 1 00:08:22  Well, at this time of day, everything needs a label, right? Speaker 2 00:08:24  They throw those labels around. Speaker 2 00:08:26  Which, I mean, there's there's nothing wrong with it. it helps me to identify, at least. Now, I don't know if the person saying he's a narcissist means that. Really, she's right and he is a narcissist. Or if it just is helping me to flag this case is going to be a little bit tougher than maybe some other ones. Truth, right? I could see that. It's like one. Okay. Like in internet. Now, I'm sure people are, like, watching TikTok. Like red flag. Red flag. Like I see, yes, red flags when those kind of cases walk in. Speaker 1 00:08:56  Absolutely. Yeah. And I'm sure things changed like that too. Okay. So I want to go back a little bit because you have a it's a very interesting that for me, if I was doing your job I would love it that you could do one day like you have a murderer thing. Totally. But but then you can have a family law case or maybe help a dad get, you know, custody of his child. Speaker 1 00:09:13  Like, yeah, at least there's a little variety for fun, right? Speaker 2 00:09:15  It's interesting. I mean, today I had a couple of DUIs up, you know? And DUIs are like a bread and butter type case for a criminal defense attorney. Because most people, especially in Grayslake, especially in Lake County, they're not murderers. They're not gang members, but otherwise good dude or an otherwise good lady who is not necessarily manifesting a criminal intent. Like I'm going to go shoplift. It's a guy saying, I've had too much to drink, I'm gonna drive. He's making a dumb choice to drive home, but he's not having the criminal intent. Like I want to endanger somebody tonight. Right. Right. And so a DUI is usually the first time that somebody that's a good person is in hot trouble. Speaker 1 00:09:55  Okay. Gotcha. And, you know, it's got to be nice to, some of these, I'm sure, having satisfaction to be able to to help people out and help them navigate through things they have no idea what they're getting into. Speaker 1 00:10:05  Right. Speaker 2 00:10:05  So. Okay, I used to work for a really fantastic attorney in Round Lake Beach, and I want to make sure to give a shout out to Round Lake Beach. That is an awesome town full of super awesome people. And this lawyer I used to work with, named Bruce Scotland. He taught me a lot. And he's still out in Round Lake. He's a competitor of mine, but I really respect him. And when I started working for him, he. He said, Alan, we love helping people for money. And I'm like, yeah, I love helping people for money. Right. Speaker 1 00:10:34  Well put. Right. It wouldn't be as fun as if you didn't get. Speaker 2 00:10:37  Paid for it. No, but I mean, and that, you know, it's a business. You want to help people? Yes. For money. Right. Right. So. And I'm not trying to sound cold, I do some pro bono. I know it's me, but I don't do pro bono divorces. Speaker 2 00:10:47  No way. They're too hot. They take too long. I'll do a pro bono traffic ticket. I'll give people. I used to volunteer at a safe place, and they have a, a battered women's shelter in Zion. And I used to go there, and I used to talk to the ladies about free legal advice. How can I help you? What do you. They have questions about everything, and I would just volunteer and talk to them. I love that, but, a really hot case to do pro bono is is a big mistake for attorney, in my opinion. Yeah. Attorney in my position, I'd say right. Speaker 1 00:11:16  Okay, so the one thing that really, that I found appealing when I was looking through, when we got connected and I went through your website and I was looking at things like places, like a safe place, like, those are people that really need help, right? Yeah. It's tough. I tip my hat to you for going in there and helping out, because I know there's a list of different things that that you do to give back, which is which is extremely generous of you. Speaker 2 00:11:39  Thanks. I just I just signed up to do the mock interviews at Libertyville High School. That's a cool program. Yeah. Cool. That high school has a really good program where they have these kids that are in the business class, and you give them mock interviews to, you know, improve their skills, to hone their hone their interviewing abilities. And I was blown away by how great the kids were. Really? I was like, you're really smart. You're really smart. Wow. You're what an active, wonderful person. And I was like a bump on the log. When I was in high school, I wasn't active like. Speaker 1 00:12:10  I would have loved to seen what my interview would have been like in high school. Speaker 2 00:12:14  I don't know, they were fantastic, but. So some of the stuff I do, yeah. In Libertyville, I was been active in Grayslake because I lived in Grayslake for many years. over there on West Trail. my mom lives in Harrison Farms and, yeah, that's we were living in Grayslake ever since about the turn of the millennium. Speaker 2 00:12:32  So that that wave of people that like third wave of of immigrants to Grayslake that began in the 90s when the, you know, when they started building the subdivision. Speaker 1 00:12:42  Farms, right? Yes. I think that I was one of the first off the Mayflower to when I landed at Avon on the Prairie, one of the first ones off of Atkinson. That was like one of the first things that wasn't in, you know, Grayslake proper. Right. So to say. Right. Right. That's what we showed up. But but so then how long ago is that? Speaker 2 00:13:01  So we moved here in like 2001. Okay. So my mom and dad bought a place in Grayslake on West Trail North in Harrison Farms. And I remember the first day we came to graze. Like, I'm from Florence, Illinois. Speaker 1 00:13:12  Okay. I was just gonna say. Where did you originally come from? Speaker 2 00:13:14  I'm from philosopher. I went to Homewood Philosopher High School. I was born in Harvey, at Ingalls. and, But that's why sometimes I get, like, a Chicago accent. Speaker 2 00:13:22  I don't know, whatever. It's like, it's a but but floss more is is a nice town in the 90s. I mean, it's like the lake bluff of the south side. Yeah. So we we had a good time growing up. Speaker 1 00:13:31  They should put that on their sign. Speaker 2 00:13:32  By the way. Yeah. Right. The lake bluff off. Speaker 1 00:13:35  The. Speaker 2 00:13:35  South side. I need the. Speaker 1 00:13:36  T. Speaker 2 00:13:36  Shirt. I mean, it is. I mean, it's kind of like being the tallest midget, you know? I mean, but no offense to people that are little people. I love them, too. but, you know, I don't know where I was going at that. Speaker 1 00:13:51  Time of growing up in Hollywood or more. Speaker 2 00:13:54  Grew up there. So then I came to, I lived in Champaign because I went to school down at U of I and Champaign, and it was fantastic. And my parents moved up to to Grayslake. So I come up to Grayslake, and on our first day, the restaurant they took me to was Bill's Pub North. Speaker 2 00:14:08  Yeah, right. Engages like and I just thought in my mind I'm like, I'm in the woods. My parents moved to Wisconsin, you know, where am I? I'm like, this is the woods. I mean, here in Wisconsin, there's a polar bear hanging there and there's fish every on, on the wall. And I thought, this is this is great. And it turned out Lake County's not quite Wisconsin, but it's close. It's an interesting. Speaker 1 00:14:29  Perception, I guess if you've never been here. And that's the place they took, I had to. Speaker 2 00:14:33  The only thing I had done with Grayslake before that when my parents moved here, Let's go to Prairie Crossing. Okay. Because my aunt and uncle lived in Prairie Crossing, which is a interesting. I wouldn't say the word weird, but it's an anomalous little part of the world. Prairie crossing is. Speaker 1 00:14:51  Absolutely. Speaker 2 00:14:51  I had never seen anything like that before, because I think that community at the time was novel and maybe still is. so I thought that all Lake County was like that. Speaker 2 00:15:00  And then I saw Bill's Pub and I went, oh my gosh, I'm in Wisconsin. Speaker 1 00:15:03  What's going on? You have no idea. Speaker 2 00:15:04  Where you're at. Am I at the U.P.? I mean, how is ten feet of snow? You know, this is I came from 708. You know, the land of good pizza and terrible baseball. Now, here I am. Speaker 1 00:15:15  The lake bluff on the south side. Speaker 2 00:15:17  Right, right. Yes. Speaker 1 00:15:18  That's awesome. okay, so, when you're studying law. So when you went to, you went to U of, I, law school? Speaker 2 00:15:25  No. So I went to I was an undergrad at u of I. Okay. and then I went to law school at DePaul. Speaker 1 00:15:30  We're taking a quick break just to say hello, because everybody knows Nano and Nano knows real estate. And actually I believe that's the name of her Instagram page. So if you're looking to buy a home, sell a home, or know somebody in the market for a home, contact nano from Baird and Warner. Speaker 1 00:15:44  She's a Grayslake girl helping out Grayslake people. And when you when you went to law school, did you know what you wanted to practice? Speaker 2 00:15:52  Yeah. So I don't mean to be, like, whatever, a little bit, emotional or emo in the, in the interview, but it was September 11th of 2001. Right. And you probably remember that day, but I could remember that day. I wanted a date with the girl. I looked in the sky and I saw there was no jet contrails. What a what a crazy day. And after that day, I thought to myself, I would like to be in law enforcement because I'd like to help our country for, I don't know, because America, I like America. Amen. And I was mad. Oh, I'm nine over 11, right? I mean, come on. Speaker 1 00:16:27  Everybody was. Yes. Speaker 2 00:16:28  So. But after that, I thought I'd go into criminal law. I thought I wanted to be a prosecutor, So then I got a job with Mike Waller, at the State's Attorney's office. Speaker 2 00:16:39  And I tell you, you know Mike Waller, I owe him everything. I love the guy. I know some people don't, but he's a politician. There's people that hate his guts, people that love and support him. He always was a gentleman to me, and I never. I just thought that, the decision making he made was good, and he gave me a job saving my bacon. You know, and so I got to begin my career as a prosecutor. And I was a line assistant state's attorney in Waukegan. They start you off as a DUI assistant. So, you know, brand new 25 year old kid. I was prosecuting DUIs. Misdemeanor DUIs. Right? Misdemeanor traffic cases out in the branch courts. And that was very good. Fulfilling. Fun work, I liked it. Okay. You know, you did. and then, they switched me to just misdemeanor stuff. And I was prosecuting your retail thefts. And back when weed was illegal, I was prosecuting your weed cases and your trespassing. Speaker 2 00:17:31  And here's your fights. And then they stuck me in the domestic violence division for a long time. Speaker 1 00:17:35  Okay, so how was that? Speaker 2 00:17:38  Okay. You know Lew Frank. Of course. Okay. Lew Frank is a fantastic Grayslake. And he would say felt like five minutes underwater, you know, to to be a line assistant in the domestic violence courtroom is hard. Speaker 1 00:17:55  I. Speaker 2 00:17:55  Bet. Because you have to look at the cases. And so, like, are you familiar with the cycle of violence? This is this theory. Speaker 1 00:18:02  I am not. Speaker 2 00:18:03  Okay. So it's a theory that's a big part of criminal prosecutions of domestic violence. And the cycle of violence goes like this. Right now we're having a fight, and I'm going to use the gender of he and she, you know, whatever. But sometimes women can be the victim of domestic violence. Sometimes guys can. But in a classic situation, let's say he slaps her. Okay. Then she calls the police. He's arrested. But then in a few days she's like, maybe he's not that bad or I need him out of jail so he can, like, work and pick up our kid from school. Speaker 2 00:18:35  Like you've been a parent, you know? And so maybe she takes them back and then they have a honeymoon period where it's, like, passionate, like we love each other, and then it can happen again, you know? And that cycle of violence. The State's Attorney's office was really keen to interrupt it. Right. But then that meant that lots of times you'd have the victims, I guess recanting, they'd say, hey, that didn't happen like that, or I'm not coming to court, you know? And so that was frustrating. And then sometimes you had cases, not all, sometimes you had cases where it was a situation where the family's going through a domestic violence thing. Maybe. But maybe what it really is, is a child custody thing. And somebody ringing the bell of domestic violence to get a leg up on somebody in a child custody type proceeding. Right. Like, like I'm going to get an order of protection against him. So I get our kid, which, I mean, I get that, but you need to really be careful about abuses of the system. Speaker 2 00:19:32  So as a line assistant with the State Attorney's office, as back then, I mean, things have changed a little bit now. They have had two different, changeovers between the state's attorney. but anyway, long story short, you still have to use your discretion to decide what really happened. And at least at the time I was a state's attorney, we were empowered with a good amount of discretion. It was awesome. Speaker 1 00:19:53  Really. Speaker 2 00:19:54  So. Speaker 1 00:19:54  Yeah. And and I'm sure with that, too, like, you probably get to be a really good read of people. but then sometimes you probably think you are and then people bamboozle whatever. And you probably don't even know. Speaker 2 00:20:06  I mean, you ever been lied to about your own kid, right? Speaker 1 00:20:09  I mean, you believe. Speaker 2 00:20:09  Him, and then you believe him, and you're like, I have egg on my face. I was lied to in kind. You know, so sometimes, you know, you just you don't have a, a lie detector that buzzes when she lies or he lies, you don't know. Speaker 2 00:20:25  So you have to do your best with what the facts are. But there was a good team at the time. But yeah, I did. Two and a half years as a as a domestic violence prosecutor. And then so when I left the State's Attorney's office, I thought to myself, well, I've been doing family law cases basically already. I may as well do them as a business. Sure. You know, so that's what I did. So now my practice is a hybrid. That's why I say divorces and DUIs. It's family law cases. And then it's criminal law cases too, because I've done all that. Speaker 1 00:20:52  Wow. So your resume is quite deep for all kinds of different things, right? Speaker 2 00:20:58  I guess. Speaker 1 00:20:59  Right. Speaker 2 00:20:59  You know, it's just like, I don't know how other people get through life. This is just what I did. Right. Speaker 1 00:21:05  Well, and everybody, you know, people look at different people, whether you're a doctor, whether you're a lawyer, whether you're a podcaster, where whatever you do that, everybody does something for a line of work that, you know, people are. Speaker 1 00:21:16  You deal with very delicate situations, people going through stuff. And especially the one thing about the family law stuff, it it must be hard for you to stay. You have to almost train yourself to not get emotionally involved in some of those things, right? Speaker 2 00:21:28  I sometimes. Speaker 1 00:21:28  Do. Speaker 2 00:21:29  I remember my first adoption. You know, we had a case that was a very ugly family law case, and it went on a long time. And then at the end of it, the dad, he agreed to put the child up for adoption. To the mom and her new husband. Okay. So the dad was making a very hard choice. Because, I mean, to give up your child, you know, and to look in the mirror and say, all right, I wasn't doing that good of a job. This new dude who's married my ex girl, he'll do better in the best interest of my child. It takes kind of like a man to do that. Speaker 1 00:22:06  Oh, that's a big decision, right? It's a big leap of faith. Speaker 2 00:22:08  But on the other hand, too, you know, maybe people are judging him about. You walked away from your kid, you didn't fight harder. So it's very tough, you know. And that's the type of case I remember I had, like, one manly tear going down my. Speaker 1 00:22:18  Face. Speaker 2 00:22:19  Looking into my steely eyed gaze. No it wasn't. I was bawling like a baby. I was so happy for them, you know? But also that's that's. Those are big moments. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:22:30  So you cool stuff too? Yeah, right. And to see people come through stuff that they deserve that the, the law can either work in your favor or against you. And it's nice when it actually works, right. Speaker 2 00:22:40  It's hard. I will say, okay. I was worried as a kid that I would come into the law and see a lot of weird stuff, like judges tossing cases in exchange for Cubs tickets. I have never seen any of that in Lake County. Really? I have never seen anything crooked or weird. Speaker 2 00:22:58  Everybody's been really professional. I mean, and I'm like, me that right? It's not just because I want to keep on working with these people. Most of them are fantastic. Speaker 1 00:23:06  Well, well, the Cubs have been doing that. Speaker 2 00:23:08  Well, no better than the White Sox, sadly. Speaker 1 00:23:11  Now, if somebody did something bad. Speaker 2 00:23:12  For White Sox. Speaker 1 00:23:13  Tickets, we really question what. Speaker 2 00:23:15  I heard. You could buy some chili at Wendy's and you get free season tickets to the White Sox, right? A cup of chili at Wendy's. Speaker 1 00:23:22  So well. In all seriousness, it is really good to hear you say that because, you know, everybody watches all these TV show, every law TV show and court TV show that people have this fantasy of things, how how they how they go along. Speaker 2 00:23:34  I don't ever watch any legal TV at all. Ever. I just don't. That's probably a good idea. The last legal movie was probably Liar Liar with Jim Carrey, which is a fantastic movie. Speaker 1 00:23:46  Very serious movie about the law. Speaker 2 00:23:48  I don't because I like do it for a living. And then honestly, at 502 when I'm at home, I'm like, I'll see you tomorrow. That sounds like a a modern day problem, al. Speaker 1 00:23:58  Right. Right. Speaker 2 00:24:00  So no, because otherwise you go insane. Speaker 1 00:24:02  No. Yeah, well, everybody needs a break from their job. Nobody wants to go home and do it. And that's why, you know, I've been self-employed for a very long time. That's why most self-employed people end up getting in office in hopes that when you go to the office, you can leave and leave your work there and go home. And if they can make that work. Speaker 2 00:24:20  That's why I don't work from home. Ever. Speaker 1 00:24:22  Yeah, well, good for you. Speaker 2 00:24:23  I mean, I guess ever is a word, I mean. I, I don't. Never say never. I don't like to work from home. And I very, very, very seldom. Speaker 1 00:24:30  Do. Speaker 2 00:24:30  It. Speaker 1 00:24:30  Right. Okay. That's good. Speaker 1 00:24:32  let's do something, because I have a couple other questions to ask you, but, you've said you've listened to a couple of podcasts. Sure. so we do something about halfway through. I call the Grayslake hot seat, where we have some rapid fire questions to get to know you just a little bit better. Speaker 2 00:24:45  I ain't scared enough. Speaker 1 00:24:46  Remember when you said, are these open ended questions, or is this an interrogation or whatever? I ain't scared, right? The Grayslake hot seat is brought to you by Joe Velez, JP financial. It's often said that those who fail to plan are planning to fail. Joe Velez and his team at GPB financial create unique financial plans that are some of the most difficult challenges that people might face as they get older, no matter what stage of life you're in. Having a proactive financial plan can help navigate some of the difficult decisions you'll face, helping you live your life by design, not default securities and investment advisory service offered through Mosaic Wealth, Inc. member Finra, SIPC. Speaker 1 00:25:26  Now for the Grayslake hotseat. Hey. Thanks, Joe. This is where we need the, This. We should have done with a surveillance camera to do this, I think would have been really good. Speaker 2 00:25:36  I've seen lots of those police interviews. I'm looking around for the mirror with the guy behind it. Speaker 1 00:25:42  It's just. It is behind there. We just have the, newer ones, so to say. okay. So, Grayslake. Casey, did you play a, a sport in high school in the lake bluff of the the swimming. Speaker 2 00:25:58  I was on my country club swim team. The floss. More flyers. Yeah. Wow. Speaker 1 00:26:03  Yeah, that sounds bougie as all good. Speaker 2 00:26:05  It was kind of bougie, but, I mean, at the time, I didn't think it was. And at the time, I thought I looked fat in that Speedo. But now I look at those pictures, I'm like, you looked awesome, right? Speaker 1 00:26:13  Well, you got to look back. Speaker 2 00:26:14  Were you wearing a Speedo and everything? It was the 90s. Speaker 1 00:26:17  Were you good? Speaker 2 00:26:18  I mean, okay. Okay. I didn't come in last place because I'm kind of tall, right? And they made me swim a lot. I mean, in the morning, they would say it's 7:00 in the morning, do a bunch of laps. And when you're 14, 15, 16, you do that a lot. You get to be fit. Speaker 1 00:26:32  Oh, absolutely. It's the best. Speaker 2 00:26:34  That was nice. I like that I played T-ball as a little kid. but no, swimming was my jam. And then I became a lifeguard. I was a lifeguard for the H.F. Park district. That was fantastic. Speaker 1 00:26:43  Yeah, that's not a bad gig to have. Awesome gig. Yeah. Nice. First car. Speaker 2 00:26:48  Well, Volvo 740, a blue baby blue Volvo 740. Speaker 1 00:26:52  Nice. I'm a Volvo. Speaker 2 00:26:54  It helped me get one of my first girlfriends who was, honest to God, a Swedish foreign exchange student at my high school. No way. Anne-Marie. Honest to God. Speaker 2 00:27:04  And she. Speaker 1 00:27:04  Got her with a Volvo. Speaker 2 00:27:06  Because they make them in Sweden. And she. She sees it and she goes, oh, she goes, what an awesome car. But I wish it was a Saab. Speaker 1 00:27:14  You did? Speaker 2 00:27:15  She did. Totally. Speaker 1 00:27:16  That's so great. And, folks, I want you to listen closely. Maybe. Hit the rewind button there, because that is the first and last time you'll ever hear on the show about how a guy got a girl because of a Volvo. Speaker 2 00:27:25  That was unlikely. Speaker 1 00:27:27  The only reason that it will happen, totally. Speaker 2 00:27:29  But it was it was. That was my Volvo. It was my in with the Swedish girl. I was fine by me. Speaker 1 00:27:34  That was hilarious. Yeah, and they don't make many blue ones like that either. So it. Speaker 2 00:27:38  Was cool. It was a baby blue Volvo. I mean, whatever, I don't think it was. No, it wasn't cool, but it got me from A to B and. Right. Speaker 1 00:27:45  Whatever, man. Speaker 1 00:27:46  Hey, I got 200,000 on mine sitting in the parking lot. Speaker 2 00:27:48  I had a Dodge Neon for a while. I love that Dodge Neon. Right. I can talk about cars. Speaker 1 00:27:51  Yeah. You were, Yes. The the, two of the hottest cars. I could think of. Hot stuff in my head. speaking of that. So this is what? Oh, maybe this would be a fun one for you. What's the fastest you've ever gone in a in a vehicle? Speaker 2 00:28:06  Well, I got, like, an airplane, like. Speaker 1 00:28:07  No, no, no, we'll leave that out. Speaker 2 00:28:09  Like in. Speaker 1 00:28:10  A car. In a car. Speaker 2 00:28:10  I don't know, a hundred. Speaker 1 00:28:12  Just a. Speaker 2 00:28:12  Hundred, you know. Yeah. Because, I mean, I was a kid and stepping on it. Right. And nowadays, if you do that, like, I never do that anymore. I don't speed anymore. I don't, because the consequences. And I don't mean like death and dismemberment. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:28:24  That happens. Speaker 1 00:28:25  That's all legal consequences. Speaker 2 00:28:26  Yeah. The cops light you up, you know, and the the cases are class A misdemeanors. and they're punishable by up to a year in jail and or a fine of $2,500. Speaker 1 00:28:36  Wow. Speaker 2 00:28:37  Back when I was a prosecutor, I became friends with some police. And maybe they don't say this anymore, but I used to hear nine year fine, 11 year mine. Okay. All right. Which is consistent with my lived experience. Speaker 1 00:28:49  Of going nine miles over. Speaker 2 00:28:50  Nine year fine 11 year. Mine is what the police would say. And and that bears with what I've seen during the time that I've, I've done lots and lots of traffic tickets as a, as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney. And you never see somebody getting pulled over for five over. Right? You know, they are looking at you for 11 to 15 starting at 11, maybe 15 now 20. They want you right? You know, but like I said, nine. You're fine. Speaker 2 00:29:15  11. Your mind. I think that's pretty good. That's the advice I give a lot of the kids that I represent. This is. Speaker 4 00:29:20  Bob Churchill. I know you are always there for your family, caring for your children, your spouse, and even your parents. But in critical times, will you be able to make decisions that assure the best result for your family? Power of attorney may be necessary if, on behalf of a loved one, you need to talk to a doctor, a bank, or the college infirmary. A power of attorney may sound daunting, but the lawyers at Churchill, Quinn, Hamilton and Van Dantzler can easily create this document for you. We are right here in Grayslake supporting the community for over 122 years. Reach out to us at Grayslake law.com or call us at (847) 223-1500. Whether you need a power of attorney, a will or legal help with your business, we'll take care of you so you can care for others. Go to Grayslake Law.com today for more information. Have a wonderful day. Speaker 4 00:30:09  And now back to the program. Speaker 1 00:30:11  Interesting. That's good advice, too. which is funny. I won't tell you how fast I've gone then, because I would not have been fine. Tell me something. Do you like to travel? You have not been. Speaker 2 00:30:25  So I've been like Johnny Cash. I've been everywhere, you know. I have been to lots of different places in this country because my wife is a maniac for travel. She loves it. And we have little kids and we take road trips. But we had little kids. Now they're getting old. my oldest is a sophomore in high school. Speaker 1 00:30:40  Oh, my gosh, it goes fast. It does it really. It just moves. It moves moves, moves so fast. And then I think I heard you have a ten year old too, right? Speaker 2 00:30:46  He's he's a wonderful guy. Awesome guy. but yeah, I have a of a 16 to 12 and a ten, and we've always done road trips around the country. you know, I don't know, early ones where? Tennessee and Kentucky, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, all through Wisconsin. Speaker 2 00:31:00  Indiana. Out to Maine. East coast, Florida. A lot of times we've flown out to California, Utah and Nevada. so around the country And then, like I used to, I lived in Europe briefly. I lived in London for a few years. Speaker 1 00:31:14  Did she really? How cool is that? Speaker 2 00:31:16  My mom, she was a lawyer at, Amoco. Right. The the gasoline company, you know, Amoco. They used to have that big white tower in downtown Chicago. The Amoco building, right? Absolutely. Formerly Standard Oil of Indiana. John Rockefeller's thing. And then they trust. Busted it. Whatever. Monopoly busted it. Right. So. But Amoco, if you remember, in the 90s, merged with BP, British Petroleum. So they moved my mom's job from Chicago to London. So we lived there for a while, and I was kind of in school in champagne and going to London in the summertime. That was awesome. Speaker 1 00:31:47  Oh yeah, especially at that age. But it was really cool. Speaker 2 00:31:50  I worked at a bar. I worked at a pub called the Prince Albert Stafford. That is the guy. It was awesome. Speaker 1 00:31:58  Folks, this isn't a real interview. Just so you know, I just brought one of my buddies in. Speaker 2 00:32:02  I worked at a at a pub called the Prince Albert, and it was in, Notting Hill. Right. You remember Notting Hill with the Hugh Grant movie? You've probably never seen that movie. Speaker 1 00:32:11  I've seen the movie poster. Speaker 2 00:32:12  I saw the poster. Yeah. So Hugh Grant, I thought he was good in the dad movie. But I never saw Notting Hill. But I worked in Notting Hill. so. Yeah, I don't know. Travel places. Speaker 1 00:32:23  There's nothing that you have, like a bucket list. Like I gotta. Speaker 2 00:32:26  Go. Like I don't need to go to Thailand. I don't know. I guess if I had infinite money, I'd travel Europe again, I like it. Sure. Speaker 1 00:32:32  You know, when the. The age of your kid. It sounds like you did your traveling and you did what you wanted to. Speaker 1 00:32:36  And your kids have got, like, some of the best education that kids can get is traveling all over the United States because the United States is cool. Speaker 2 00:32:43  It's fantastic. And like when you travel the United States, like the other day I was coming back from Florida on I-65. We stopped at the Bucky's in Athens, Alabama, which is, you know, a Bucky's is like a like a, you know, if you, you know, a Bucky's, of course. Yeah. It's a giant gas station in front of a giant Walmart, basically. You know, or maybe more like a Kmart. Speaker 1 00:33:03  But one of my favorite places, one of my favorite things, if anybody goes on TikTok right now, there's a woman that explains what Buc-ees is and is the most brilliant thing I've ever seen in my whole life. I love it. Like, if you want to feel like your true, true white trash, she explains exactly what it is. And because we all get excited to go to a Bucky's right. Speaker 2 00:33:22  My kids were stupid excited. They were. And I'm like, guys, it's a gas station that's in front of a K-Mart. What are you talking about? You know. Speaker 1 00:33:29  Exactly what. Speaker 2 00:33:30  It is. I mean, whatever. Back in the old days, Kmart used to have barbecue sandwiches, too. True. Speaker 1 00:33:35  You just couldn't get a puzzle. A sweatshirt and a, you know, corned beef sandwich? No. All at the same time. Speaker 2 00:33:40  It's a fancy dress I've traveled around. It's great. I like. Speaker 1 00:33:43  The train. I like the Bucky's. Was one of the highlights on your trip. Kept coming back. It kind of was. It's kind of. It's kind of fun. And we're getting one close to here now. I keep seeing the signs. God love. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:33:53  God love them. I hope that they take over. I'm ready for Bucky's to be the only employer in the United States. Speaker 1 00:34:00  Did we talk? What was your first job when you were. So you lifeguard was a lifeguard? Speaker 2 00:34:05  Yeah, I was a lifeguard. Speaker 1 00:34:05  Did we call that a job? Is that a job? Speaker 2 00:34:07  Oh, really? Man. Lifeguard. It could be my career. That is a fantastic job. Speaker 1 00:34:12  Maybe when you want to retire, you can go back and be a lifeguard. Speaker 2 00:34:14  My uncle, actually, he was like a car salesman and stuff. And then when he retired, he used to be a lifeguard at his, you know, apartment complex. Like, that's a great job, dude. Come on. Speaker 1 00:34:24  Wow. Maybe when I grow up, I'll look into that. Speaker 2 00:34:26  Be a lifeguard. Speaker 1 00:34:27  It's cool. I'm gonna. Speaker 2 00:34:28  It's cool. Speaker 1 00:34:29  I think it could be a. Speaker 2 00:34:30  Tad creepy. Speaker 1 00:34:31  If I applied at the Grayslake pool right now. Speaker 2 00:34:33  No, I mean, they need people that with with with maturity and experience. Yes. You know. Speaker 1 00:34:39  I have a shirt that says that that's for my requirements. Speaker 2 00:34:42  And it was nice. And I worked at Jewel. I worked at the library in summer. I mean, it was great. Speaker 1 00:34:47  So you had a lot of different jobs? Yeah. Speaker 1 00:34:48  So you actually were taught some work ethic as a as a child from your parents as well? Speaker 2 00:34:53  Well, they worked hard. My parents, they loved each other. They stayed together the whole time. They were both lawyers. They worked. And I just wanted to work. Right. Speaker 1 00:35:01  I don't know. They said very good examples, right? That's awesome. first concert you ever attended? Speaker 2 00:35:07  Man, I don't know. okay. It was, the World Music Center, right? Yeah. Q101 had one of those concerts that's like, not it wasn't, not not, Twisted Christmas. It's the one they did in the summertime. And I remember that garbage. Jamiroquai. Mighty, mighty. Speaker 1 00:35:27  Boston's nice. Speaker 2 00:35:29  Were there. I mean, that's, like, awesome. And I went with a Swedish girl. Really? So. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:35:34  Did you drive the Volvo. Speaker 2 00:35:35  There, though? Maybe I might have got dropped off by my parents, so. Speaker 1 00:35:39  Good, good. Good concert. Speaker 2 00:35:41  I saw the Smashing Pumpkins down there, but that was a different day. Speaker 2 00:35:44  Oh, nice. Billy Corgan, love that guy. Speaker 1 00:35:46  Yeah. He, Billy was at that because I had forever. I forget that where they're from, around North Shore. Yeah, right. And I was hanging out, and I was doing a daddy daughter dance, and a guy came up that looked a lot like Billy Corgan and asked for a song. And I had told him no. Yeah, because it wasn't really. It wasn't really appropriate. Yeah, right. And then somebody came back and one of the people said, well, Mr. Corgan asked for a song, and I guess you told him that you weren't going to play it. And I'm like, okay, well, it just didn't fit with what we were going to do, because I like to think that I do the right thing, right? You do the wood, you work music, you do the right thing for the party. You got to know your audience, unless it's Billy Corgan. And then you just say. Speaker 2 00:36:23  Do what he says. Speaker 1 00:36:24  Right? Speaker 5 00:36:24  Despite all my rage, he's awesome. Speaker 2 00:36:27  It was the best. Speaker 1 00:36:28  And it wasn't a pumpkin song, though. Speaker 2 00:36:29  Oh, that's too bad. Speaker 1 00:36:30  I wish I knew what the song was, though, to look back. Speaker 2 00:36:32  I would think that Billy loves putting on pumpkin songs. I would think that he lists the pumpkins all the time. Speaker 1 00:36:38  He's driving around right now listening. Speaker 2 00:36:40  To all these new stuff because his old stuff is for posers. He's like that old stuff. I'm over it. Only my new stuff. Only Billy and Machines have got to listen to right now. Speaker 1 00:36:48  Yeah. That's hilarious. if you had to have a superpower, what would it be? Speaker 2 00:36:54  Being the greatest golfer ever. Speaker 1 00:36:57  Really? Speaker 2 00:36:57  Yeah. Speaker 1 00:36:58  Come on. That would be good. But then you wouldn't have. Would it be any fun? Because then you beat everybody all the time. But yeah, you could play with people though. Speaker 2 00:37:05  Then you'd be good at golf. And that's what my dream would be. I would love to. Speaker 2 00:37:08  I'm not that good at golf. I wish I were okay. I practice and practice and the people that are naturally gifted, I look at them with such envy, you know? Speaker 1 00:37:17  Now, being a being an attorney makes you a better golfer, though. Doesn't like doctors and attorneys and like. Speaker 2 00:37:22  Yeah, yeah. And some of the attorneys really suck, which is great because I can just stuff them. You know, these old guys especially that that don't play that much. Oh, I'm way better than them. That makes me feel so good about myself just to stuff them. Yeah. Hey. Nice chat counsel. Oh. Speaker 1 00:37:38  That's fantastic. what do you wish you learned sooner in life? Speaker 2 00:37:43  Spanish. Really? Totally, dude. Speaker 1 00:37:45  It's a great answer. Speaker 2 00:37:46  Spanish. Speaker 1 00:37:47  Wow. Okay. So, you know, young people, people in high school, people go in and they're like. I have to tell them. It's probably one of the best things you can do. Right. As an education level, Just. Speaker 2 00:38:00  Your friends, your coworkers, your clients. You know, I mean, learning Spanish is awesome. I personally have a super awesome, legal assistant, and, she is bilingual and she helps me do so much. So I shout out to Crystal. Crystal, you're fantastic. But, like I said, if only I had paid more attention in school and I was better at Spanish, I wish. Right? Speaker 1 00:38:21  Yeah. No. And it's really. That's a great answer. I'm going to. Maybe I'll start learning a different language. have you ever eaten a roller dog from a gas station? No, really? With all the all the road trips you've taken. Speaker 2 00:38:34  I don't do that. Speaker 1 00:38:35  Maybe I'm smarter than me. Speaker 2 00:38:36  Because I'm worried about, like, dying from bacteria. Like it's. Guys, it's only ten more hours to Chicago. Stop 11. Speaker 5 00:38:43  Times. Speaker 2 00:38:43  Or having. Speaker 1 00:38:44  Explosive diarrhea on a. Speaker 2 00:38:45  On a road trip. You know, I don't either. I never eaten, I mean, I've bought stuff at gas stations, beer, I've bought smokes, I've bought lots of things. Speaker 2 00:38:53  if I'm gonna shop for food at gas stations, it's probably beef jerky. Speaker 1 00:38:57  They do have some coffee. Speaker 2 00:38:58  Beef jerky. Maybe some candy. Speaker 1 00:39:00  Okay, nice. what's the chance that, Bigfoot exists? Speaker 2 00:39:04  0%. Speaker 1 00:39:05  Really? Speaker 2 00:39:05  It's a hoax. Speaker 1 00:39:06  Really? Speaker 2 00:39:07  Yeah, I don't believe. I don't think so. Cryptids. Speaker 1 00:39:09  Really? Speaker 2 00:39:10  I'm not aliens. I'm not sure. Ghosts I don't believe in. Okay, okay. Speaker 1 00:39:15  All right. Okay. We were friends right up until. Let's see, what's the mark on there? 3605. Speaker 2 00:39:21  It's okay. You think that Bigfoot exists? Speaker 1 00:39:23  I. I think that the best, the best answer I ever got from it was from Doctor Terry Silky. our wonderful big. One of the biggest philanthropists in town. who's a orthodontic specialist for Lake County. Big shout out, Terry. he said that we think about all the things that we've gone through, like from history, from dinosaurs, to, like, all this thing. He's like, if you don't think it's a distinct possibility that we have a Bigfoot, maybe. Speaker 1 00:39:48  Maybe not today. Right. But maybe in the past. Like with all the things that we've had, he said. But, you know, this guy's been on 20 safaris and you've seen the whole thing. Speaker 2 00:39:58  You would think that there would be, like, Bigfoot heads mounted in the Smithsonian, you know. Speaker 1 00:40:03  Or at Bill's Pub. Speaker 2 00:40:04  Or Bill's Pub. Definitely. You know. I mean, there would be that. And I mean, the fact is, like, I know people lie and they sometimes lie for attention. So ergo, could it have been a hoax, too? Oh. Speaker 1 00:40:15  Maybe. Speaker 2 00:40:16  Right. Speaker 1 00:40:16  And actually, if anybody's watching, I just got this shirt as a gift. It's come from. It's from Logan, Ohio. And they have a, in the summertime. They have a Bigfoot festival there. Yeah. So my only thing is, if he doesn't exist, because this is this podcast is really about Bigfoot. It's not about you. Just so you know. Speaker 2 00:40:35  But I. Speaker 1 00:40:35  Hear you. But why or why is it such a big hoax everywhere? Then why do they have festivals for these? Speaker 2 00:40:40  Cute. I mean, like, people, you know? I mean, people, like, they think he's adorable. He's funny. He's like a meme. I think before memes. Speaker 1 00:40:47  Kill people, I think that might be. Speaker 2 00:40:49  What about Harry and the Hendersons? He was nice. Speaker 1 00:40:51  Yeah, that was just a. That's fiction. Like, he was nice, like Notting Hill. Speaker 2 00:40:54  He would always be like. He would always, like, hide bashfully in the closet. He's cool. Speaker 1 00:40:59  And John Lithgow, isn't that too? Speaker 2 00:41:00  He's nice. Right? He's always frustrated here. He does something. Speaker 1 00:41:04  Well, when I have evidence, I'm calling you. Speaker 2 00:41:06  Call me. I would love to be proven wrong about this, and I will. I would be happy to to to shake Bigfoot's hand. Speaker 1 00:41:12  Okay, good. Because now that we have these new phones that have better, you know, they focus better. Speaker 1 00:41:16  Now we'll get a clear picture of them, not just the fuzzy ones. Speaker 2 00:41:19  I only wish that Nessie was existing. The Loch Ness monster, that's my favorite cryptid. And I have never seen any good proof of that. That's a darn shame. Speaker 1 00:41:28  Yeah, well, hey, you never know. We're finding out all kinds of fun things these days. You never know. All right, so I think it's time we switch off of our hotseat. Questions that we've covered the really important stuff. Thank you. one thing I want to thank you for, because I know that you are a part of an organization, here, which is the Exchange Club. Yeah. so I know that, let's talk for people that aren't familiar with the Exchange Club. What is it? What is it based upon? Speaker 2 00:41:53  Okay, so the Exchange Club is cool. It's really an old organization. It's from, I don't know, 1913. And it is a group that I like in Grayslake because I just get together with my friends and have lunch. Speaker 2 00:42:05  Right. You know, so it's a bunch of business and community leaders. or not even, I mean, not at all. Some of them are just regular people. We have a, you know, like, I don't know, I want to say a retired teacher, not a community leader, but, you know, retired teachers come. And we had a retired accountant lady for a long time. And, you know, people that are just townies. Right. and, they come on, they have lunch where at first draft it's noon. if anybody wants to come to the Exchange Club, it's free lunch. Call me. (847) 549-0600. You can be my guest, but I like the Exchange club, because the main thing is that they plan big parties for the town. You know, they have the craft beer festival, you know, they do, stuff with, I got a taste of Grayslake downtown summer thing. Yeah. Speaker 1 00:42:46  And what did you change the name of all the time? Summer days. Speaker 1 00:42:48  Summer days, Summerfest. Speaker 2 00:42:50  They. but they they do cool stuff. They raise money and then they give that money away to kids in grades, like to go to school, right? Speaker 1 00:42:56  SIPs for scholarships. That's what the, the the craft beer festival is. Speaker 2 00:42:59  Yes. And then and it's good money. They're like, here's a thousand bucks, kid. And it's a Grayslake student that's a top student to go to college. You know, they do good stuff like that. They promote Americanism. you know, what is that? It is what? It's that Americanism is like liking 911 and being interested in our country and like. Right. You know, so it's a cool organization. Check it out. Speaker 1 00:43:21  Yeah. And I like all the nice things they do and the, the men and women that are involved in that. I happen to be fond of a lot of them. Yeah. I think the one day that I knew I knew nothing about the Exchange Club, and I think it was the day that you guys were doing your, you you had picked a couple of kids for scholarships. Speaker 1 00:43:36  You were giving them. And I saw these kids first. I was walking down to have an afternoon beer at the first draft or something like that. So I saw these two kids, like walking back to school and these big smiles on their faces. right? So I get to the bottom and a bunch of the Exchange Club members are hanging out, and to see these men that were standing there, and they were so blown away and so happy and so just straightforward, just happy about what they did. It was it made me really have a fondness for the organization. Speaker 2 00:44:05  And I just want to shout out to the Grayslake kids from North and Central. They're like really fantastic kids, you know? the some of the kids that are winning these awards, I mean, back when I was a kid, I tried to get good grades. I tried to do well in my tests, but otherwise I just went home. Speaker 1 00:44:22  How did I get so smart? Speaker 2 00:44:23  I don't, and they. And they have the energy, this boundless energy that is really. Speaker 2 00:44:27  It's admirable and kind of scary. So God level, I mean, whatever. Speaker 1 00:44:33  Which is. Speaker 2 00:44:34  Good. Don't you ever nap, you know, don't you ever eat too much pizza and then go to sleep, right, like me. So. Speaker 1 00:44:39  Right. Right. And especially as a high school kid. Right. And these guys are doing really, really well with things. Yeah. Speaker 6 00:44:44  Hey, Lake County, I know you know, a teacher out there that needs to be recognized. I'm Jodi, former educator, now realtor, and I'm here representing Educators Advantage. We want you to nominate a teacher of the month. Click the link in the show notes and nominate your favorite teacher. Make your favorite teacher feel appreciated and give them a shout out. Speaker 1 00:45:09  Cool! So I love to see people that get involved with organizations, especially like when going back, like the Safe Place kind of things. So explain this to me too. Are there more than one location for Safe Place? Because there's one in Zion. Speaker 1 00:45:21  Is there also one in Mundelein? Speaker 2 00:45:23  So okay, that is the family visitation center. Okay. Okay. That I believe has moved. Okay. So you'd want to check with Safe Place about the details for when I was involved in the organization. They had two places. They had a women's shelter. That was like a big apartment building in Zion, and it's tucked away. So you don't know about it, right? God love them. But then they also have a really important role that they play, having to do with, facilitating visitation or exchanges of parties that have, like ops against each other. Orders of protection. Yep. Okay. So you've got to go there. You, like drop off your kid in the front, and then dad comes in the back, and then they have like a meeting and they hang out for an hour and have pizza. And then there's people watching, like little child. Jimmy smiled when you saw dad. Right. And they take notes and they give that to the court and the safe place. Speaker 2 00:46:16  Like, honestly, so many exchanges, so much visitation just couldn't happen because of the acrimony between the parties. But for what a safe place does. So they're cool. They're they're fantastic. Speaker 1 00:46:27  I love them and it's nice. And I like places that are put together that look for the best for the children and to keep them safe to and keep, because sometimes just two people just don't get along. So that's a nice way to then get in there. Speaker 2 00:46:38  It's one of the toughest things about family cases is when you have a tremendous amount of acrimony, even like a good divorce, where it's just. I don't love him anymore. You know, you've got to co-parent the kid. But when it's a situation where it's like he raped me or he beat me up, or he right got 60 Y's or he. Whatever those cases, you know, the judges are very reluctant to totally shut out a parent. So they'll give him or her sometimes. Sometimes it's a her, you know, supervised visitation, wrangled by a safe place or supervised by perhaps somebody else, like a mom or grandma or whatever. Speaker 2 00:47:13  Okay. but those, those organizations that facilitate the, the best interest of the kid and the, the parenting time, the the courts. I don't know how they could function before that. That, safe place started doing that. Speaker 1 00:47:26  Yeah. No, it must be a really, really hard thing to do. well, one of the things that I really enjoy, I have to tell you, because I was having a conversation before we got together today, and a man was, who's potential, guest on another show was asking me my my, my motivations on why he wanted to come on. And the guy clearly, wanted to come out and just advertise his business. Right. And I was trying to explain to him that this these are the conversations you are having. You and I are having right now that I really like that. very soon, hopefully, we're gonna have Chief Myra chief of police on, because I really like humanizing. some people have jobs or positions that people don't really get to know, right? So if I had to hire somebody for a family attorney or a DUI attorney or a criminal attorney, I hope that I get to listen to the show so that they get to know your personality, to know that you're a human being, right? Speaker 2 00:48:16  My personality is is unique, but there are a lot of really good attorneys in Lake County. Speaker 2 00:48:21  I'm happy to help people. Whatever. Speaker 1 00:48:23  Yeah. Well, no. And I think it's nice. Speaker 2 00:48:24  I like to be humble. I'm not trying to. Well, you're very humble out there, right? I'm not. I'm not trying to be like. Oh, yeah. I'm like the only one around because I'm not, you know, and like I said, in Lake County, we're blessed with a strong bench and bar, right. You know, and honestly, I get along with just about all of them. Speaker 1 00:48:40  That's cool. Okay, so let's do this. because of people. So let's, to help our listeners out there listening. So let's talk. first of all, when starting to divorce proceedings like they're they know they're going to get divorced, maybe some advice on how they go about finding an attorney that would be right for them. Is that a hard question? Speaker 2 00:49:00  Yeah. So finding an attorney. I mean, a lot of people want to do word of mouth. They talk to their their cousin. Speaker 2 00:49:06  How you got divorced in Lake County. Tell me who you use and then call that guy. That's probably a good decision. Speaker 1 00:49:12  Not to tell you who not to use. Speaker 2 00:49:13  Right? Speaker 1 00:49:14  In their opinion, though, totally right. maybe the decision didn't go their way so it could be false information, right? Speaker 2 00:49:21  Totally. A lot of people just go to Google and they'll Google like Libertyville divorce attorney or Lake County divorce attorney or whatever. And you can get hits there. And you look at their Google reviews we have I mean, my law firm has fantastic reviews, but that's just because we try to just, I don't know, do a good job and then clear the case. You know, try to Because, like, if you take one guy's divorce case and you're like a vampire on his neck and you drain him till he's totally out of blood. Well, you know, that's one case, okay? I'd rather just, like, help a guy and then get a good review and help another guy and get a good review and help a guy and get a good review, and then just, like, kind of build it up that way. Speaker 2 00:49:56  That's way better, right? Speaker 1 00:49:58  And with integrity, when you're walking away, then you can sleep at night and make sure that you know that you can help people out. Speaker 2 00:50:04  I sleep. Speaker 1 00:50:04  At night. Right. That's good. Yeah. All right, so how about, DUI? Speaker 2 00:50:09  So. Okay. How to find a DUI attorney or. So same. Speaker 1 00:50:13  Thing. I know how to get one. Speaker 2 00:50:14  I know. Speaker 1 00:50:15  It's just not the. Speaker 2 00:50:16  Attorney. So, I mean, man, I use Lyfts now. Yes. You know, I, I really do I. Speaker 1 00:50:21  I cheapest thing to do. Right. Speaker 2 00:50:23  It's 20 bucks here and back and you don't have to worry about. Am I going to get in trouble. Right. You know, and you don't have to worry about. Am I going to hurt somebody or whatever? Speaker 1 00:50:32  So yeah, I heard somebody. Maybe it was another stupid social media thing I saw. But there again, like it was a $20 ride home, right? For, let's say I have to go from Grayslake up to Atkinson, like at the bar. Speaker 1 00:50:42  How many Lyft rides would it take to equal to a two? Would it cost to hire an attorney to go through the DUI process? Speaker 2 00:50:51  So I think it was NHTSA, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, one of those organizations, used to run a billboard campaign here in Lake County. And one of the billboards I remember was a picture of a kid blowing into a portable breath test. And there's the police cars, lights behind him, and it says, you just blew $10,000. Speaker 1 00:51:12  Most people have no idea what to do with their aging loved one who needs help. Well, there is a solution. A company that provides care and assistance to make your loved one feel right at home, at right, at home. Their mission statement is to improve the quality of life for those they serve. They offer extensive services personal and companion care, safety, supervision and transportation, fall prevention, dressing and bathing assistance. Medical reminders, meal prep, hospice support, ambulation support, stroke recovery, Parkinson's support, the list goes on and on and on. Speaker 1 00:51:43  If you have an aging loved one that needs help, call. Right at home. Most people prefer to age in their home rather than moving to an assisted living or nursing home. Right at home can make this happen. Contact right at home at right at home NHL.com or give them a call (847) 984-0103. Now back to the show. Speaker 2 00:52:02  You know, which I think is like not inaccurate. Speaker 1 00:52:06  Ten. Speaker 2 00:52:06  Grand right. Because like so the legal fees like, I don't know, cheap one 2500, you know, a hot felony DUI 568, whatever, $1,000. So that's good money there. But even for your first time misdemeanor DUI, you're spending 2500, $3,500 on a lawyer. And then you get the fines, the court costs. There are 3 or $4000. There's treatment that you must do, you know, so you do alcohol or risk evaluations and pay for the classes and then woo woo. It gets to be expensive. So yeah, you know,

What makes Heretic (2024) one of A24's most divisive horror films to date? In this movie review, we dive into a slow-burn thriller where Hugh Grant channels cold charisma as a philosophical villain challenging everything you believe — literally. Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place), the film traps two young Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) in a psychological mind game that unpacks faith, control, and the seductive power of certainty. Buckle up — this one's going to stir up some serious spiritual discomfort. NEWSLETTER and UNCUT REELS!!!!! We are adding a weekly companion newsletter for the podcast that will feature EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT, our raw discussions on movies, tv, and life that don't fit the podcast! We're calling it "UNCUT REELS!" SIGN UP HERE TO GET THE BONUS CONTENT!! https://mailchi.mp/41902cbf6549/exclusive-newsletter   Follow The Cinema Psychos Show on Socials ❤️‍

May 9-15: Hugh Grant goes up a hill, another talking pig, Stephen King's worst, Sega's big fail, Jet Li is unleashed, Will Ferrell kicks it, Enterprise is scuttled, the Bellas are back, it was Agatha Christie all along, W's close call, and we finally see Shelbyville. All that and more from 30, 20, and 10 years ago!

This week Emma and Katie dive into the 2000s rom-com. That's right it's another Sandy Bullock! Tune in as they recap the movie that *ALLEGEDLY* brought NYC back from 9/11? Don't worry they address THAT jump scare and also how Hugh Grant discovered Coney Island Hot Dogs which then gave him the runs that held up filming.

[83✮ | D82 J85 ]Juandapo y Diego hablan sobre la fe, los granos de Mahoma y las montañas de mostaza en esta película que pone a Hugh Grant a torturar a dos mormonas que fueron inocentemente a contarle sobre tablas de oro y sombreros mágicos.·

Comedian, actor, activist Tom Arnold is an open book on this episode. You gotta hear some of these stories! Tom and Hugh Grant stole antiques from Madonna. And how Tom "saved" a very famous rock star from drugs. Tom discusses his childhood in Iowa, his climb to fame in Hollywood, his drug use and recovery and his younger sister who got married at age 12 and then became one of the biggest meth dealers. Also, why this podcast almost never happened. 

Listeners call in with everything from questions about running a business without a smartphone to the heavy realities of growing old, wondering about the afterlife, or converting to Catholicism when the stakes are personal and raw. A surprise appearance from Hugh Grant’s thoughts on tech distractions slips in, and stories unfold—some heartfelt, some funny, all woven with genuine concern and encouragement as Patrick brings warmth and clarity with every discussion. Kyle – I think vast majority of kids can get by without smart phone (01:42) Audio: Hugh Grant on childhood addiction to tech (07:29) Elizabeth – The brother of my husband hasn’t been to mass in a long time. How might we convince him to go? (14:23) Jim - Matthew 11:12 references heaven being stormed by violence. What does this mean? (24:24) Gabriel - I am on my way to becoming a Catholic, but my family are very devout Baptists. How can I approach them about my conversion? (30:25) John - Can you help me understand what happened to the people who lived in Israel before the Jewish people? What happened to them? (40:52)

Sense And Sensibility is Ang Lee's take on an English tale of manners, money and matrimony. The Taiwanese director was an outsider to this world, obviously, but he also brought a formality and desperate longing to this project. Lead actress Emma Thompson won an Oscar for her adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel. And it's a good role, doing the buttoned-down thing she did so well back in the '90s. She's a funny woman who made her name being serious. Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant are all very good too, but the men take a back seat to the sisters in this movie about (subtle) feminism. So rescue the woman you adore while on a horse when she gets caught in the rain and then try to love enough for two as our 669th episode has the Ellises seeing what the deal is with the Dashwoods and their men in Sense And Sensibility. Well, Actually: at the 11:55 mark, it should be Elizabeth "Spriggs" plural, not "Sprigg" singular. Also, the director of the oft-mentioned 1994 Little Women was Gillian Armstrong. The sponsor of this podcast is Sparkplug Coffee. They offer Have You Ever Seen listeners a onetime 20% discount. You just have to use our "HYES" promo code. The website is "sparkplug.coffee/hyes". Subscribe to our podcast, but also rate and review the show. Do all that on YouTube as well. We're "@hyesellis" in the search bar. Comment and subscribe on YouTube too. Share your own thoughts about the movies we discuss by sending us an email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com). Or try social media: Ryan's handles are @moviefiend51 and ryan-ellis on Twi-X & Bluesky while Bev is @bevellisellis and bevellisellis on Twi-X and the 'Sky.

If you are a door-to-door salesman, including of religion, you may want to skip our newest episode on Heretic. This recent horror movie will have you second guessing what you think is happening, and in general, whether or not it's a horror movie. the lead character could not have been better cast; Hugh Grant portrays such a charming and unassuming figure, you wonder if you should actually trust him. This movie, while interesting, raised a lot of questions for us--including who really deserved to die? Paired with a Panties Unleashed cocktail. Rate! Review! Follow! Email us at toasttoromcoms@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram and Letterboxd @toastyhorror Check out our website toasttoromcoms.com

Boston-bestie Mandy Connor returns to talk about four movies. She and Scotty start with the best of the bunch: the truly frightening 2024 Irish mystery-horror film "Oddity," by writer/director Damian Mc Carthy and featuring a standout performance from Carolyn Bracken. They then shift gears with 2020's oddball but impressive indie psychological drama/sci-fi horror movie "Horse Girl," directed by the late Jeff Baena and co-written by star Alison Brie. Things take a marked turn for the worse with this year's "Until Dawn," a severely undercooked and trope-heavy adaptation of the beloved PlayStation game. They finish off with the promising (but ultimately disappointing) "Heretic" (2024), starring Hugh Grant, Chloe East, and Sophie Thatcher, and written/directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Scotty and Mandy also give some love to the recent trailer for "The Long Walk," and Mandy sings the praises of "Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made" (2018). WARNING: Scotty and Mandy tried to avoid major spoilers for most of the movies discussed, but you should proceed with caution nonetheless. To be honest, they didn't try all that hard for "Until Dawn." Trailer for "Oddity": https://youtu.be/pWb5WDyWL3M?si=n25OiQT11V1gzTLF Trailer for "Horse Girl": https://youtu.be/ieqemSsMxek?si=I3wLllLWl9kQiJ5r Trailer for "Until Dawn": https://youtu.be/2b3vBaINZ7w?si=wIaGsHjP3EHOB3LX Trailer for "Heretic": https://youtu.be/O9i2vmFhSSY?si=6c54T-fFqnK81qsd Trailer for "The Long Walk": https://youtu.be/Q1vnyd-RAQ0?si=AsT5g8YjbPfNmhwm Trailer for "Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made": https://youtu.be/faQ828XMCc4?si=oh_yEeiwbV8J7OsL Be sure to tune in to Daniel Braum's YouTube series "Night Time Logic." The series focuses on the strange, weird, and wonderful side of dark fiction through readings and discussions with diverse authors from around the world. You can tune in on Daniel's You Tube Channel, which is his name DanielBraum or @danielbraum7838. https://www.facebook.com/groups/429777132474382 https://www.youtube.com/@danielbraum7838 This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Our exit today has us being recognized for that one hit wonder we wrote in the 80s. This week, we are talking about Bridget Jones's Diary, written by Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies, and Richard Curtis, and directed by Sharon Maguire. Along with debating the dreamiest Mr. Darcy, we talk casting rumors, belated sequels, soundtracks, the year of Jim Broadbent, Austen adaptations, the allure of Hugh Grant, accents, Salman Rushdie, uncomfortable humor, and Mission Impossible.Theme music by Jonworthymusic.Powered by RiversideFM.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CFF Films⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Ross and friends.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Movies We've Covered on the Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Letterboxd.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Movies Recommended on the Show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Letterboxd.

Una historia que te atrapa, te agobia, te asfixia... con un malvado personaje interpretado magistralmente por Hugh Grant. Ven a repasar con nosotros la inquietante Heretic. Con Gonzalo MacFly y Luis Martínez Vallés Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Lads, we talk Chris and Jojo and the speculation around them, we look at whether they are together or now, how we feel, and then we talk about some inappropriate relationships... including Roisin's secret support for Hugh Grant!And we discuss why we need another fake wedding for the single gals

In this week's episode, I take a look at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Winter and Spring 2025. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebook versions of my anthologies at my Payhip store: JUNE25 The coupon code is valid through June 17, 2025. So if you need a new ebook this summer, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates   Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 252 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is May 23rd, 2025, and today we are looking at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Winter and Spring 2025. We missed doing an episode last week for the simple reason that the day before I wanted to record, we had a bad thunderstorm that knocked down large portions of my fence, so my recording time was instead spent on emergency fence repair. However, the situation is under control, so hopefully we'll be back to weekly episodes for the immediate future. And now before we get to our main topics, let's have Coupon of the Week and then a progress update on my current writing projects.   So first up, Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebook version of all my short story anthologies at my Payhip store and that is JUNE25. As always, the coupon code and links will be available in the show notes. This coupon code is valid through June the 17th, 2025, so if you need a new ebook for this summer, we have got you covered.   And now an update on my current writing projects. Ghost in the Corruption is finished. It is publishing right now. In fact, I paused the publishing process to record this and so by the time this episode goes live, hopefully Ghost in the Corruption should be available at all ebook stores. My next main project now that Ghost in the Corruption is done will be Shield of Power and as of this recording I am 15,000 words into it. My secondary projects will be Stealth and Spells Online: Final Quest and I'm 97,000 words into that, so hopefully that will come out very shortly after Shield of Power and I'll also be starting Ghost in the Siege, the final book in the Ghost Armor series as another secondary project and I'm currently zero words into that. So that is where I'm at with my current writing projects.   In audiobook news, Ghost in the Assembly (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) is now out and should be available at all the usual audiobook stores so you can listen to that if you are traveling for the summer. Recording of Shield of Battle (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) is underway soon. I believe he's starting it this week, so hopefully we will have another audiobook in the Shield War series for you before too much longer. So that's where I'm at with my current writing projects.   00:02:17 Main Topic: Winter/Spring 2025 Movie Roundup   And now let's move on, without any further ado, to our main topic. Summer is almost upon us, which means it's time for my Winter/Spring 2025 Movie Roundup. As usual, the movies and streaming shows are listed in order for my least favorite to my most favorite. The grades are based upon my own thoughts and opinions and are therefore wholly subjective. With all of that said, let's get to the movies and our first entry is MacGruber, which came out in 2010 and in all honesty, this might be objectively the worst movie I have ever seen. The Saturday Night Live MacGruber sketches are a parody of the old MacGyver action show from the ‘80s. And so the movie is essentially the sketch stretched out to make a parody of an ‘80s action movie. It is aggressively dumb and crude. Its only redeeming feature is that the movie knows it's quite stupid and so leans into the stupidity hard. I'll say this in its favor, MacGruber has no pretensions that is a good movie and does not take itself seriously and then runs away hard with that fact. For that he gets a plus, but nothing else. Overall grade: F+   Next up is Down Periscope, which came out in 1996. Now the fundamental question of any movie is the one Russell Crowe shouted at the audience in Gladiator: “Are you not entertained?” Sadly, I was not entertained with Down Periscope. This wanted to be a parody of Cold War era submarine thrillers like The Hunt for Red October, I say wanted because it didn't really succeed. Kelsey Grammer plays Lieutenant Commander Thomas Dodge, an unorthodox US Navy officer who wants command of his own nuclear sub, but he's alienated a few admirals, which is not traditionally a path to career advancement in the military. Dodge gets his chance in a Navy wargame where he has to command a diesel sub against nuclear subs. Sometimes parodies are so good that they become an example of the thing they are parodying (Hot Fuzz and Star Trek: Lower Decks are excellent examples of this phenomenon). The trouble is that the movie takes itself too seriously and just isn't all that funny. A few funny bits, true, but not enough of them. In the end, this was dumb funny but didn't resonate with me the way other dumb funny movies like Dodgeball and Tropic Thunder did. Overall grade: D   Next up is Deadpool and Wolverine, which came out in 2024. Unlike Down Periscope, I was entertained with this movie, though both movies reside on the dumb funny spectrum. Deadpool and Wolverine is basically one long meta in-joke/love letter for the last 30 years of superhero movies. If you've seen enough of those movies, you'll find those movies funny, if occasionally rather tasteless. If you haven't seen enough of those movies, Deadpool and Wolverine will just be incomprehensible. The plot is that Wade Wilson AKA Deadpool gets pulled into some Marvel style multiverse nonsense. To save his universe from destruction, he needs to recruit a Wolverine since in his universe, Wolverine died heroically.   In the process, Deadpool stumbles across the worst Wolverine in the multiverse. Together they have to overcome their mutual dislike and attempt to save Deadpool's universe from destruction at the hands of a rogue branch of the Time Variance Authority. This means the movie can bring in a lot of cameos from past Marvel films. Hugh Jackman's performance really carries the movie on its back. Like I said, this movie is essentially one very long Marvel in-joke. I thought it was funny. I definitely think it can't stand on its own without having seen a sufficient number of the other Marvel movies. Overall grade: C   Our next movie is the Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, which came out in 2024. This is very loosely (with an emphasis on “very”) based on Operation Postmaster during World War II, when British Special Forces seized some Italian ships that had been supplying parts for German U-boats. It was entertaining to watch but it couldn't quite make up its mind tonally if it was a war thriller or a heist movie about Western desperados recruited into a crew. It kind of tried to do both at the same time, which killed the momentum. Like, the first parts of the movie where the protagonists take out a Nazi patrol boat and then free a prisoner from a base were good thriller stuff, but then the plot fused with the heist stuff and really slowed down through the middle forty percent or so. It was also oddly stylized with a lot of spaghetti western-style music that seemed out of place and some stuff just didn't make sense, like at the end after pulling off the mission, the protagonists were all arrested. That just seems bizarre since if anything, Winston Churchill and a lot of the British wartime leadership were enthusiastic about special operations and probably had too much confidence in the effectiveness of covert operations. So I did enjoy watching this, but I can see why it didn't make a lot of money at the box office. Overall Grade: C   Next up is The Gorge, which came out in 2025. This was a peculiar mix of science fiction, romance, and horror. For the romance part, perhaps shooting zombies together is a good idea for a first date. Before I dig into the movie, a brief rant. In one scene, a character is using a chainsaw with no protective gear whatsoever and she's not fighting zombies or anything in a situation where she has to pick up a chainsaw without preparing first. She's trimming branches to pass time. If you're using a chainsaw, at a minimum you want protective eyewear and headphones. Ideally you'd want chainsaw pants as well to reduce the chance of serious injury if you slip and swing the saw into your leg. Since I became a homeowner, I've used a chainsaw a number of times and believe me, you definitely want good eye and ear protection. This has been your public safety announcement for this movie review.   Anyway, loner former sniper Levi is approached by a high ranking intelligence officer giving him a mysterious job. He needs to guard a tower overlooking a mysterious mist-filled gorge for one year. On the other side of the gorge is another tower, guarded by an elite Lithuanian sniper named Drasa. Like Levi, Drasa has a fair bit of emotional damage and they're officially forbidden to communicate. However, they're both lonely and they soon start communicating over the gorge using telescopes and whiteboard messages. Eventually Levi gets emotionally close enough to Drasa to rig a zipline to cross the gorge and speak with her in person.   Unfortunately, it turns out the gorge is full of twisted creatures that storm out and attack and the job of the two snipers is to keep them contained. If Levi and Drasa want to save their lives, they'll need to unravel the dark secret within the gorge. This movie was interesting and I enjoyed watching it, but it falls apart if you think about it too much (or at all). Like the chainsaw thing I ranted about above. The entire movie runs on that sort of logic. That said, I appreciate how the filmmakers were trying something new instead of something like Deadpool and Wolverine. Additionally, this was an Apple+ movie and it's interesting how Apple's approach to streaming is to just make a whole bunch of random stuff that's totally distinct, from Ted Lasso to Mythic Quest to Severance to The Gorge. It's like, “we have more money than most countries, so we're going to make Ted Lasso because we feel like it.” Then again, Apple+ is apparently losing a billion dollars every year, so maybe they'll eventually change their minds about that approach. Overall Grade: B-   Next up is Click, which came out in 2006. Cross It's a Wonderful Life with A Christmas Carol and the comedic style of Adam Sandler and you end up with Click. Basically Sandler plays Michael Newman, a workaholic architect with a demanding boss and increasingly strained relationship with his wife and children due to his workload. In a fit of exasperation with his situation, he goes to Bed Bath and Beyond, where he encounters an eccentric employee named Morty (played entertainingly by Christopher Walken). Morty gives him a remote control that lets him fast forward through time, which Michael then uses to skip the boring and tedious parts of his life, but he overuses the remote and goes too far into the future and sees the disastrous results of his current life choices. Definitely a story used in A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life but effectively told and I was entertained (rather on the crude side, though). Overall Grade: B- Next up is Mr. Deeds, which came out in 2002. This was actually one of Adam Sandler's better movies, in my opinion. It was a remake of the ‘30s movie Mr. Deeds Goes To Town. In this new version, Sandler plays Longfellow Deeds, a popular pizzeria owner in a small New Hampshire town. Unbeknownst to Deeds, his uncle is the owner of a major media mega corporation and when he dies, Deeds is his legal heir. When the company's CEO and chief lawyer arrive at the pizzeria to inform him of this fact, Deeds goes to New York and soon finds himself involved in the CEO's sinister machinations. Yet he happens to rescue an attractive woman from a mugger, but there is more to her than meets the eye. The movie was funny and not as crude, well, not quite as crude as some of Sandler's other stuff. It had good story structure and several great lines, my favorite of which was “he was weak and cowardly and wore far too much cologne.”   Sandler's movies, in a strange way, are often very medieval. Like various medieval fables had a savvy peasant outwitting pompous lords, greedy merchants, and corrupt clergymen. The best Adam Sandler protagonist tends to be a good natured everyman who defeats the modern equivalent of medieval authority figures- evil CEOs, arrogant star athletes, sinister bureaucrats and so forth. Overall Grade: B     Next up is House of David, which came out in 2025 and this is basically the story of King David from the Bible told in the format of an epic fantasy TV series. Like if someone wanted to do an epic fantasy series about Conan the Barbarian, it could follow the same stylistic format as this show. And of course Conan and David followed a similar path from adventurer to king. Anyway, if one were to pick a part of the Bible from which to make a movie or TV series, the story of David would be an excellent choice because David's life was so dramatic that it would hardly require any embellishments in the adaptation. The story is in the Books of First and Second Samuel. King Saul is ruling over the Israelites around 1000 BC or so, but has grown arrogant. Consequently, God instructs the prophet Samuel to inform Saul that the kingdom will be taken away from him and given to another. God then dispatches Samuel to anoint David as the new king of Israel. David is a humble shepherd but then enters Saul's service and undertakes feats of daring, starting with defeating the giant Goliath and leading Saul's troops to victory and battle against Israel's numerous enemies. (The Iron Age Middle East was even less peaceful than it is now.) Eventually, Saul's paranoia and madness gets the best of him and he turns on David, who flees into exile. After Saul and his sons are killed in battle with the Philistines. David returns and becomes the acknowledged king after a short civil war with Saul's surviving sons and followers.   If Saul's fatal flaw was his arrogance of pride, David's seems to have been women. While the story of David and Bathsheba is well known, David nonetheless had eight wives (most of them at the same time) and an unknown but undoubtedly large number of concubines. Naturally David's children from his various wives and concubines did not get along and David was almost deposed due to the conflicts between his children. Unlike Saul and later David's son Solomon, David was willing to repent when a prophet of God informed him of wrongdoing and to be fair to David, monogamy was generally not practiced among Early Iron Age Middle Eastern monarchies and dynastic struggles between brothers from different mothers to seize their father's kingdoms were quite common, but enough historical digression.   Back to the show, which covered David's life up to the death of Goliath. I thought it was quite well done. Good performances, good cinematography, excellent battles, good set design and costuming, and a strong soundtrack. All the actors were good, but I really think the standout performances were Stephen Lang as Samuel, Ali Sulaman is King Saul, Ayelet Zurer as Saul's wife Queen Ahinoam, and Davood Ghadami as David's jerkish (but exasperated and well-intentioned) eldest brother Eliab. Martyn Ford just looks extremely formidable as Goliath. You definitely believe no one in their right mind want to fight this guy.   Making fiction of any kind based on sacred religious texts is often tricky because no matter what you do, someone's going to get mad at you. The show has an extensive disclaimer at the beginning of each episode saying that it is fiction inspired by the Bible. That said, House of David doesn't really alter or deviate from the Biblical account, though it expands upon some things for the sake of storytelling. Queen Ahinoam is only mentioned once in the Bible as the wife of Saul, but she has an expanded role in the show and is shown as the one who essentially introduces Saul to the Witch of Endor. Goliath also gets backstory as one of the “Anakim,” a race of giants that lived in Canaan in ancient times, which is something that is only mentioned in passing in the Old Testament. Overall, I enjoyed the show and I hope it gets a second season.   What's interesting, from a larger perspective, is to see how the wheel of history keeps turning. In the 1950s and the 1960s, Biblical epics were a major film genre. The 10 Commandments and Ben Hur with Charlton Heston are probably the ones best remembered today. Eventually, the genre just sort of ran out of gas, much the way superhero movies were in vogue for about 20 years and began running out of steam around 2023 or so. Like, I enjoyed Thunderbolts (which we're going to talk about in a little bit), but it's not going to make a billion dollars the way Marvel stuff often did in the 2010s. The wheel just keeps turning and perhaps has come back around to the popularity of Biblical epics once more. Overall Grade: A   Next up is Chef, which came out in 2014. I actually saw this back in 2021, but I watched it again recently to refresh my memory and here are my thoughts. I quite liked it. It's about a chef named Carl Casper, who's increasingly unhappy with his work after he gets fired over a Twitter war with a writer who criticized his cooking. Carl is out of options and so he starts a food truck and has to both rediscover his love of cooking and reconnect with his ex-wife and 10-year-old son. In Storytelling: How to Write a Novel (my book about writing), I talked about different kinds of conflict. Carl's conflict is an excellent example of an entirely internal conflict. The critic is an external enemy, but he's basically the inciting incident.   Carl's real enemy is his own internal conflict about art versus commerce and a strained relationship with his son. I recommend the movie. It was rated R for bad language, but there's no nudity or explicit sexual content and honestly, if you've ever worked in a restaurant kitchen or a warehouse, you've heard much worse in terms of language. The movie also has an extremely valuable lesson: stay off social media when you're angry. Overall Grade: A     Next up is Thunderbolts, which came out in 2025 and I thought this was pretty good, both very dark and yet with quite a lot of humor to balance the darkness. Former assassin Yelena Belova has been working as a mercenary for the sinister director of the CIA, Valentina de Fontaine (now there's a villain name if there ever was one). Yelena has grown disillusioned with her life and career and is suffering from increasing depression since she never really dealt with the death of her sister. Valentina promises her one last job, only for Yelena to realize that Valentina decided to dispose of all her freelance contractors at once, which includes US Agent and Ghost (previously seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Antman and the Wasp). In the process of escaping Valentina's trap, Yelena stumbles across a mysterious man who identifies himself as Bob, who has no memory of how he got there, but shows increasingly unusual abilities. Yelena wants to deal with Valentina's betrayal, but it turns out one of Valentina's science projects has gotten out of control and is threatening the world. The movie was well constructed enough that it didn't rely too heavily on previous Marvel continuity. It was there, but you probably wouldn't be lost without it. It almost feels like Marvel looked at the stuff they did the last couple of years and said, okay, a lot of this didn't work, but makes great raw material for new things. It helped that the central conflict was in the end, very human and about the characters, not stopping a generic villain from getting a generic doomsday device. Overall Grade: A   Next up is The Hound of the Baskervilles, which came out in 1988. This is a movie length episode of The Return of Sherlock Holmes television series, which had Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson. The plot deals with Sir Henry Baskerville, the American heir to an English manor set in the Windswept moors of Dartmoor. Apparently there's an ancestral curse laid over the Baskerville estate that manifests in the form of a spectral hound. Local rumors hold that the previous holder of the manor, Sir Charles Baskerville, was killed by the ghostly hound and many of the local people fear it. The local physician, Dr. Mortimer, is so worried about the hound that he comes to Sherlock Holmes for help. Holmes, of course, is skeptical of any supernatural explanation and soon becomes worried that an extremely subtle and sinister murderer is stalking Sir Henry.   Jeremy Brett's version of Holmes is, in my opinion, the best portrayal of the character and Edward Hardwicke's version of Watson is a calm, reliable man of action who sensibly takes a very large revolver with him when going into danger. Definitely worth watching, Overall grade: A   Next up is Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which came out in 2024. The 2020s have been a downer of a decade in many ways, but on the plus side, between Super Mario Brothers and Sonic the Hedgehog, people have finally figured out how to make good video game movies, so we've got that going for us. Sonic 3 was an excellent kids movie, as were the first two in the trilogy. In this one Sonic is living with Knuckles and Tails under the care of their human friends Tom and Maddy, but then a dark secret emerges. The government has been keeping a Superpowered hedgehog named Shadow in stasis and Shadow has broken out. It's up to Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails to save the day.   Meanwhile, Dr. Robotnik is in a funk after his defeat at Sonic's hands in the last movie, but then his long lost grandfather, Gerald Robotnik returns seeking the younger Dr. Robotnik's help in his own sinister plans. Keanu Reeves was great as Shadow (think John Wick if he was a superpowered space hedgehog in a kid's movie). Jim Carrey famously said he would retire from acting unless a golden script came along and apparently that golden script was playing Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his evil grandfather Gerald. To be fair, both the Robotniks were hilarious.   It is amusing that Sonic only exists because in the 1990s, Sega wanted a flagship video game character that won't get them sued by either Nintendo or Disney. It is also amusing that the overall message of the Sonic movies seems to be not to trust the government. Overall Grade: A   Next up is Paddington in Peru, which came out in 2024. This is also an excellent kids' movie. In this installment, Paddington has settled into London with the Brown family and officially become a UK citizen. However, he receives a letter from Peru that his Aunt Lucy has mysteriously disappeared into the jungle. Distraught, Paddington and the Browns set off for Peru at once. Adventures ensue involving mysterious lost treasure, a crazy boat captain, and an order of singing nuns who might not quite be what they appear. Anyway, it's a good kids' movie. I think Paddington 2 was only slightly better because Hugh Grant as the chief villain, crazy actor Phoenix Buchanan, was one of those lightning in the bottle things like Heath Ledger as the Joker in the Dark Knight. Overall Grade: A   Now for the two best things I saw in Winter/Spring 2025. The first of them is Andor Season Two, which came out in 2025. Star Wars kind of has an age range the way Marvel stuff does now. What do I mean by that? In the Marvel comics and some of the TV series like Jessica Jones, they get into some really dark and heavy stuff, very mature themes. The MCU movies can have some darkness to them, but not as much because they're aiming at sort of escapist adventures for the general audience. Then there are kid shows like Spidey and Friends that a relative of mine just loved when he was three. You wouldn't at all feel comfortable showing a 3-year-old Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but Spidey and Friends is just fine.   Star Wars now kind of has that age range to its stuff and there's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes you want to see a dark meditation upon human nature. Sometimes you need something kid friendly to occupy the kids you're babysitting and sometimes you just want to relax and watch Mando and Baby Yoda mow down some space pirates or something. All that said, Andor Season Two is some of the darkest and the best stuff that Star Wars has ever done. It successfully shifts genres from Escapist Pulp Space Fantasy to a gritty Political/Espionage Thriller. We in the audience know that the emperor is a Sith Lord who can use Evil Space Magic and wants to make himself immortal, but that fact is totally irrelevant to the characters. Even though some of the characters are high ranking in their respective organizations, this is essentially a “ground's eye” view of the Rebellion and life under the Empire.   In some ways, this is like Star Wars' version of Wolf Hall (which we're going to talk about shortly), in that we know how it ends already, but the dramatic tension comes from the harrowing emotional journey the characters undertake on the way to their inevitable destinations. Cassian Andor is now working for the nascent Rebellion under the direction of ruthless spymaster Luthen Rael. Mon Mothma is in the Imperial Senate, covertly funneling money to the Rebellion and realizing just how much the Rebellion will require of her before the end. Syril Karn, the ineffective corporate cop from Season One, has fallen in love with the ruthless secret police supervisor Dedra Meero, but he's unaware that Director Krennic has ordered Meero to manufacture a false flag incident on the planet Gorman so the planet can be strip-mined for resources to build the Death Star and Dedra has decided to use Syril to help accomplish it. All the actors do amazing jobs with their roles. Seriously, this series as actors really should get at least one Emmy. Speaking of Director Krennic, Ben Mendelson returns as Orson Krennic, who is one of my favorite least favorite characters, if you get my drift. Krennic is the oily, treacherous middle manager we've all had to deal with or work for at some point in our lives, and Mendelson plays him excellently. He's a great villain, the sort who is ruthless to his underlings and thinks he can manipulate his superiors right up until Darth Vader starts telekinetically choking him. By contrast, the villain Major Partagaz (played by Anton Lesser) is the middle manager we wish we all had - stern but entirely fair, reasonable, and prizes efficiency and good work while despising office drama. Unfortunately, he works for the Empire's secret police, so all those good qualities are in the service of evil and therefore come to naught. Finally, Episode Eight is one of the most astonishing episodes of TV I've ever seen. It successfully captures the horror of an episode of mass violence and simultaneously has several character arcs reach their tumultuous climax and manages to be shockingly graphic without showing in a lot of actual blood. Andor was originally supposed to be five seasons, but then Peak Streaming collapsed, and so the remaining four seasons were compressed down to one. I think that was actually to the show's benefit because it generates some amazing tension and there's not a wasted moment. Overall Grade: A+   Now for the second of my two favorite things I saw, and that would be Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, which came out in 2024, but I actually saw it in 2025. This is a dramatization of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels about the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, who is King Henry VIII's chief lieutenant during the key years of the English Reformation. The first series came out in 2015, but the nine year gap between this and between the second series and the first series actually works quite well since Thomas Cromwell looks like he ages nine years in a single year (which may be what actually happened given how stressful working for someone like Henry VIII must have been). Anyway, in The Mirror and the Light, Cromwell has successfully arranged the downfall and execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry's previous queen. Though Cromwell is haunted by his actions, Henry still needs a queen to give him a male heir, so he marries Jane Seymour. Cromwell must navigate the deadly politics of the Tudor Court while trying to push his Protestant views of religion, serve his capricious master Henry, fend off rivals for the King's favor, and keep his own head attached to his shoulders in the process. Since Cromwell's mental state is deteriorating due to guilt over Anne's death and the downfall of his former master Cardinal Wolsey and Henry's a fickle and dangerous master at the best of times, this is an enterprise that is doomed to fail. Of course, if you're at all familiar with the history of Henry's reign and the English reformation, you know that Cromwell's story does not have a happy ending. Rather, Wolf Hall is a tragedy about a talented man who didn't walk away from his power until it was too late and he was trapped. Anyway, in my opinion, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light was just excellent. All the performances were superb. Mark Rylance is great as Cromwell and has some excellent “WTF/I'm SO screwed” expressions as Cromwell's situation grows worse and worse. Bernard Hill played the Duke of Norfolk in the first series, but sadly died before Series Two, so Timothy Spall steps in and he does an excellent job of channeling Hill's portrayal of the Duke as an ambitious, crude-humored thug.   Damien Lewis is amazing as Henry VIII and his performance captures Henry's mixture of charisma, extreme vindictiveness, and astonishing self-absorption. The real Henry was known for being extremely charming even to the end of his life, but the charm was mixed with a volcanic temper that worsened as Henry aged and may have been exacerbated by a severe head injury. Lewis's performance can shift from that charm to the deadly fury in a heartbeat. The show rather cleverly portrays Henry's growing obesity and deteriorating health by having Lewis wear a lot of big puffy coats and limp with an impressively regal walking stick.   Overall, I would say this and Andor were the best thing I saw in Winter/Spring 2025. I wouldn't say that Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is an accurate historical reputation. In real life, Cromwell was rather more thuggish and grasping (though far more competent than his rivals and his master) and of necessity the plot simplifies historical events, but it's just a superb historical drama. Overall Grade: A+ As a final note, I should say that of all the 2024 and 2025 movies mentioned here, the only one that actually saw in the theater was Thunderbolts, and I hadn't actually planned to see it in theaters, but a family member unexpectedly bought tickets for it, so I went along. Which I suppose is the movie industry's biggest problem right now. The home viewing experience is often vastly superior to going to the theater. The theater has the big screen and snacks, but at home you can have a pretty nice setup and you can pause whatever you want, go to the bathroom, and you can get snacks for much more cheaply. That's just much more comfortable than the movie theater.   Additionally, going to the theater has the same serious problem as booking a flight in that you're an enclosed space with complete strangers for several hours, which means you're potentially in a trust fall with idiots. All it takes is one person behaving badly or trying to bring their fake service dog to ruin or even cancel a flight, and the theater experience has much of the same problem, especially since the standards for acceptable public behavior have dropped so much from a combination of widespread smartphone adoption and COVID. The difference between the movie industry and the airline industry is that if you absolutely have to get from New York to Los Angeles in a single day, you have no choice but to book a flight and hope for the best. But if you want to see a movie and are willing to exercise some patience, you just have to wait a few months for it to turn up on streaming. I'm not sure how the movie industry can battle that, but sadly, it is much easier to identify problems than to solve them.   So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe, stay healthy, and see you all next week.

Hugh Grant talks to Willie Geist about his new film, “Heretic” and about reprising the role of Daniel Cleaver in the upcoming fourth “Bridget Jones” film. They also discuss Grant's relationship with fame and how he's creating better boundaries and protections in the industry. (Original broadcast date November 17, 2024)

Holly digs up the fossil of a pagan snake god and finds herself drawn to The Lair of the White Worm (1988), provocateur director Ken Russell's comic, psychedelic slice of English folk horror, based on a novel by Bram (Dracula) Stoker. Listen as we find Paddington pair Hugh Grant and Peter Capaldi in their first on-screen teamup, cast suspicion on English food, find Kate McKinnon's on-screen twin, and more on this week's exciting episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There've been contrasting weeks for our two heroes. It's a non-stop all anecdote premiere for Elis. For he has as follows… met Hugh Grant, attended Ken Clarke's curry house, been to film screenings and had his greatest ever stag - apart from the one organised by John he stresses. *And* Mo Salah thinks he matters.John meanwhile has been asleep for half nine each night, talked about trauma and bought two sheds.We also have a guest who is perhaps the biggest mover and shaker in South Gloucestershire and also makes money out of small bowls of chips. Plus there are some incredible skiving emails.Do you have links with a mayor who John could grill? Well send it in to elisandjohn@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 07974 293 022.

Countess Luann de Lesseps spills all about her time at Bravo’s Love Hotel - what she packed that got her stopped by airport security and which hopeful suitor had “the arm of a baby”? Yes—that arm. She also shares her dream casting for Love Hotel season two, and teases whether this love-fueled trip might inspire a brand-new cabaret anthem. Will Countess be Tori’s wingwoman? Oh, and did we mention she took shots and made out with Hugh Grant? Because she did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Countess Luann de Lesseps spills all about her time at Bravo’s Love Hotel - what she packed that got her stopped by airport security and which hopeful suitor had “the arm of a baby”? Yes—that arm. She also shares her dream casting for Love Hotel season two, and teases whether this love-fueled trip might inspire a brand-new cabaret anthem. Will Countess be Tori’s wingwoman? Oh, and did we mention she took shots and made out with Hugh Grant? Because she did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Countess Luann de Lesseps spills all about her time at Bravo’s Love Hotel - what she packed that got her stopped by airport security and which hopeful suitor had “the arm of a baby”? Yes—that arm. She also shares her dream casting for Love Hotel season two, and teases whether this love-fueled trip might inspire a brand-new cabaret anthem. Will Countess be Tori’s wingwoman? Oh, and did we mention she took shots and made out with Hugh Grant? Because she did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Countess Luann de Lesseps spills all about her time at Bravo’s Love Hotel - what she packed that got her stopped by airport security and which hopeful suitor had “the arm of a baby”? Yes—that arm. She also shares her dream casting for Love Hotel season two, and teases whether this love-fueled trip might inspire a brand-new cabaret anthem. Will Countess be Tori’s wingwoman? Oh, and did we mention she took shots and made out with Hugh Grant? Because she did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Countess Luann de Lesseps spills all about her time at Bravo’s Love Hotel - what she packed that got her stopped by airport security and which hopeful suitor had “the arm of a baby”? Yes—that arm. She also shares her dream casting for Love Hotel season two, and teases whether this love-fueled trip might inspire a brand-new cabaret anthem. Will Countess be Tori’s wingwoman? Oh, and did we mention she took shots and made out with Hugh Grant? Because she did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aujourdʹhui jʹarrête de fumer, jʹarrête de boire, je fais du sport, je fais un régime, jʹarrête mon régime et surtout jʹarrête de faire des listes et je relis le Journal de Bridget Jones. Bridget Jonesʹs Diary, le Journal de Bridget Jones, est une comédie britannique réalisée par Sharon Maguire, sortie en 2001. Cʹest lʹadaptation cinématographique réussie du bestseller, le roman du même nom dʹHelen Fielding, publié lui en 1996. A lʹécran, Hugh Grant, utilisé à contre-emploi dans le rôle dʹun salaud séducteur et infidèle, Colin Firth en anglais morose et discret et surtout Renée Zellweger en Bridget Jones. Oui, une Américaine, une Texane qui plus est, qui incarne lʹAnglaise la plus pulpeuse du moment, voilà de quoi créer un mini scandale Outre-Manche. Mais la comédienne américaine se donne à fond, prend du poids, apprend à se comporter comme une anglaise, et ça marche. Crédible, elle rallie tous les suffrages et fait de cette comédie romantique un classique. Classique, le mot nʹest pas trop fort, car en 2001, chacune et chacun peut se retrouver dans ce personnage un peu pataud, qui rêve de grand amour comme une midinette tout en assumant un côté femme forte. Surtout, elle navigue courageusement dans sa trentaine entre désillusions amoureuses, régimes, boulot, parents envahissants et amitiés débordantes. Saura-t-elle maitriser le chaos de sa vie affective, et celui quʹelle provoque systématiquement, cʹest là tout lʹenjeu du livre et du film. Véritable phénomène de société, le Journal de Bridget Jones est un coup de maitre, le passage réussi dʹun livre à lʹécran. Entre 2001 et 2002, le films est sélectionné 40 fois dans divers festivals et remportera 8 récompenses trouvant ainsi sa place dans lʹhistoire du cinéma. Ne reste plus quʹà nous plonger dans le quotidien hilarant et déprimant de Bridget en comptant les mégots, les calories, les verres dʹalcool et les amants. REFERENCES Interview de lʹéquipe en 2001 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1OwssmRRBY Le Journal de Bridget Jones, Universal Pictures, octobre 2001, Notes de production du film. Adaptation du journal de Bridget Jones https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xfed57

Amy King hosts your Wednesday Wake Up Call. ABC News reporter Steven Portnoy opens the show talking about Biden camp refuting leaked portions of new tell-all book. KFI Tech Reporter Rich DeMuro joins Wake Up Call for ‘Wired Wednesday'! Rich talks about AirBnB expanding beyond rentals, Samsung's NEW Galaxy S25 Edge, and the Apple Siri Voice settlement. On this week's edition of ‘Amy's on It' she reviews ‘Heretic' starring Hugh Grant available to stream on Max and Prime Video. Courtney Donohoe from Bloomberg Media joins the show to give a business and Wall Street update. The show closes with Amy talking to Friends of Big Bear Valley Executive Director Sandy Steers about Sunny and Gizmo getting ready to take flight for the first time.   

This week, we hope you have a box of tissues handy, because here come the waterworks and the epic highs and lows of Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). After a brief contemplation on whether Madison's one-eyed step-cat can wink, our hosts make a mad dash to the chapel alongside a star-studded cast including Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, John Hannah, Rowan Atkinson, and even more "Oh, wait, I know them!"-Brits. Between the laughs are genuine tear-jerker moments that lead to another thoughtful discussion on grief and how love inevitably comes with loss. (We promise it's not a downer, but you don't have to take our word for it...just press play!)Connect With UsFollow us on Instagram @loveatfirstscreening or send an email to loveatfirstscreening@gmail.comProduction Hosts: Chelsea Ciccone and Madison HillMusic: Good StephArtwork: Chelsea CicconeSocial Media: Marissa CicconeAbout the ShowAn examination of classic tropes and iconic characters pits connoisseur against cynic—one romantic comedy at a time. The cinematic world of love and laughter had rom-com enthusiast Madison head over heels from the time Harry met Sally. For genre skeptic Chelsea, however, it's been a grueling enemies-to-lovers plot. In Love at First Screening, Madison introduces Chelsea to all the fan-favorite love stories she's never wanted to watch. One friend's passion might be the other's displeasure, but doesn't love conquer all? Tune in every Wednesday to find out.

Agents Scott and Cam, along with guest operative Kathryn Vinclaire, award-winning voice actor and casting director, volunteer to be Jason Statham's corkscrew while tackling the 2023 Guy Ritchie ensemble spy caper Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. Directed by Guy Ritchie. Starring Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Hugh Grant, Josh Hartnett, Bugzy Malone, Eddie Marsan and Peter Ferdinando. You can follow Kathryn on Instagram. Become a SpyHards Patron and gain access to top secret "Agents in the Field" bonus episodes, movie commentaries and more! Purchase the latest exclusive SpyHards merch at Redbubble. Social media: @spyhards View the NOC List and the Disavowed List at Letterboxd.com/spyhards Podcast artwork by Hannah Hughes.

Kickstart your morning with a dose of fun, laughter, and the best feel-good tunes! Darren, Sherlin, and Sibs are here to shake up your day with the freshest breakfast show in town. Brace yourself for the thrilling 20K Pop Quiz with Suzuki, a trip down memory lane with the Vinyl Classic, Darren’s legendary pranks, and the wildest stories from What’s Happening at the Courthouse with Rameez. Whether you’re in it for the laughs, the music, or the big wins, this is the only way to wake up right!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode of the Occult Symbolism and Pop Culture with Isaac Weishaupt podcast we have the May  BONUS show for the supporters! We're going to walk through the ULTIMATE occult symbolism guide for the 2024 film "Heretic" starring Hugh Grant! I'll walk you through the entire film and breakdown the hidden symbolism that connects us into: Mormon Esotericism, “Magic Underwear”, Freemasonry, The Shining, butterflies, CERN, Lucifer, Zeitgeist “Christ Conspiracy” debunking (Mithras, Horus, etc), Simulation Theory, Enochian Magick, Occult Keys and the MEANING of that ending! We'll dive deep into ancient occult practices and beliefs: Plato, Gnosticism, Saturn, death & rebirth rituals, ritual magick, Fraternitas Saturni and more!NOW UP AD-FREE ON SUPPORTER FEEDS! Free feed gets a preview!Links:SUPPORTER FEEDS: Go ad-free with HUNDREDS of bonus episodes, early access and books!Patreon.com/IlluminatiWatcher,VIP Section (*with comparsion of Apple vs Patreon vs VIP): https://wp.me/P2ijVF-aRLApple Podcasts Premium! You can now go ad-free with ALL the bonus episodes on the Apple app- just open up the podcast and subscribe!Other episodes discussed:The House That Jack Built Pt 1: Lars von Trier and Occult Symbolism of Freemasonry & Saturn! https://www.illuminatiwatcher.com/the-house-that-jack-built-pt-1-lars-von-trier-and-occult-symbolism-of-freemasonry-saturnThat '70s Show Conspiracy Pt 1: Danny Masterson Trials, Sentencing, Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis Statementshttps://illuminatiwatcher.com/that-70s-show-conspiracy-pt-1-danny-masterson-trials-sentencing-ashton-kutcher-mila-kunis-statements/

In this episode, we dive into the 1995 film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, directed by Ang Lee and written by (and starring!) Emma Thompson. We explore how this beloved version brings Jane Austen's classic novel to life, from its lush cinematography and sharp wit to standout performances by Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, and Hugh Grant. Join us as we discuss romance, restraint, and the enduring appeal of Austen's work. Plus some fandom news and your feedback! Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/FiveishFangirls #FiveishFam TIME STAMPS 00:01:04 Intro 00:03:02 News 00:15:03 Feedback 00:25:20 Sense and Sensibility 01:32:56 Closing Thoughts 01:36:39 Outro Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. 

Hugh Grant is now a creepy bad guy. No it's not another rom com but a horror thriller. The movie guys are all over the board with this movie. Is it good or is it bad we do not know. So download this episode now to hear what we think of Heretic.     Eric-Medium             Jordan-Small

Hugh Grant is diabolical as Mr. Reed, your friendly neighborhood psychopath whose door, 2 young missionaries have the misfortune of knocking on. A cat and mouse suspense thriller

Dedicated father, Hugh Grant, is speaking out against screens in schools. Pedro Pascal slams J.K. Rowling after a controversial ruling in the UK. Steven King is collaborating with a dead guy - and it's gonna be great! Millie Bobby Brown kicks off filming for Enola Holmes 3, Fyre Fest 2 flames out, and did Mr. Beast scam his fans? Plus, check out the celestial emoji in the sky - if it's not too cloudy. It may be time for a romantic vacation, and did you just tear down a wall in your living room? Open concepts might be trending out.

Any takeaways from this episode?Bookstore Meet Cutes, Paparazzi Swarms & the (Infamous) ‘I'm Just a Girl' Speech: This Week, We're Rescuing ‘Notting Hill'!Break out your travel books and awkward British charm—because this week on Romcom Rescue, Kira and Dr. Izzy dive headfirst into 1999's iconic ‘Notting Hill' (now streaming on Netflix). Julia Roberts is America's Sweetheart. Hugh Grant is peak floppy-haired confusion. But do the love lessons hold up… or is this relationship doomed to end in therapy bills and emotional whiplash?We tackle:The ultimate fantasy of bookstore meet cutes (do they actually happen? We have thoughts!)Power imbalances, celebrity privilege, and why “being mysterious” isn't the same as “being emotionally available”Paparazzi plot holes, the world's most expensive painting-as-apology, and whether grand gestures can really fix toxic dynamicsThe real MVP: Spike (plus why every romcom needs a lovable weirdo)Why we still love the soundtrack, the friends, and those dinner parties (seriously, bring them back!)Kira's hot take: Anna Scott might be the OG love bomber, and William Thacker… well, let's just say his self-worth could use a boost.Dr. Izzy's reality check: Sure, Notting Hill is adorable—but let's talk boundaries, trust issues, and what actually makes a healthy partnership (hint: it's not just “floppy hair” and letting people walk all over you).PLUS:Real-life “bookstore singles night” ideas you can stealIconic lines, trivia, and why Kira can't get behind this love story—no matter how good the Elvis Costello ending isTaco ratings, movie nostalgia, and your chance to vote: Romcom goals, or train wreck?Your Turn:Did Notting Hill give you butterflies… or make you want to block someone's number? Vote in our Instagram poll, DM us your spiciest takes, and let's debate: Is this movie a classic, or is it just classic romcom B.S.?Don't forget to follow, subscribe, and leave a review—because the more you do, the more rom-com magic (and real talk) we can bring your way!At the end of the day, we believe in creating your own happily ever afters—even if it means saying, “I'm just a girl… with higher standards now, thanks.”Come talk with us about your favorite rom-coms on instagram, tiktok, & youtube and Bluesky!Get show notes, transcripts, and more information on at Rom-ComRescue.com

On this week's episode of TSMGO, Nikki and Tracey have an existential crisis as they discuss the religious psychological horror film, “Heretic”, starring Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe EastAvailable to stream on MAX

What happens when a person becomes the brand? Influencer Remi Bader is facing backlash for a personal transformation—and her followers aren’t happy they weren’t part of the journey. We unpack the online pushback and ask: does she actually owe anyone an explanation? Plus, Pope Francis passed away this week. What happens now? We take you inside the mysterious, centuries-old process of choosing the next Pope. Also, with just 10 days until the Australian election, a major issue is being overlooked. In a week filled with devastating headlines about violence against women, we’re asking: what do we really expect from the leaders of our country? And finally… Liz Hurley has gone public with a very unexpected new romance—and it’s giving a very specific energy. We’ve got thoughts. Lots of them. Support independent women's media Resources: If you or someone you know is in need of support contact help is available: 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 The End Bits: Make a donation to RizeUp. RizeUp helps survivors of domestic violence rebuild their lives and break free from the cycle of violence. What To Listen To Next: Listen to our latest episode: Katy Perry, Gayle King & THAT Blue Origin Space Flight Listen: Another Little Treat: The Tyranny Of Looking Like You Haven't Tried Listen: A Little Treat: This Special Live Show Recording Spilt 10 Years of Tea Listen: The Exact Science To Keep You Enjoying Your Job Listen: A Very 2025 Diss Track. No Notes. Listen: Clare Stephens - We Have Questions Listen: A Reality TV Showdown & Coachella's Three Levels Of Cool Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts Sign up to the Mamamia Out Loud Newsletter for all our recommendations and behind-the-scenes content in one place. What to read: Thi Kim Tran suffered an unthinkable crime. We finally know why. Three women dead in 24 hours. Yet our potential leaders remain silent. From anti-climate science to 'pro-life': What every single minor party actually stands for A serious investigation into Liz Hurley's eclectic taste in men. GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us an email at outloud@mamamia.com.au Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message Join our Facebook group Mamamia Outlouders to talk about the show. Follow us on Instagram @mamamiaoutloud and on Tiktok @mamamiaoutloud Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"What is an ocean but a multitude of drops?" For Episode 355, Brandon and David discuss the polarizing sci-fi epic CLOUD ATLAS for their Hyperlink series. Listen as they discuss the difficulties of adapting the popular novel, how Tom Hanks became one of the film's biggest supporters, how the production team devised a unique shooting plan, and how the film has grown in popularity over the years.  Also, don't forget to join our Patreon for more exclusive content: Opening - The Ring and Horror Movies -  (00:00:10) Recap of the Hyperlink Genre (00:04:26) Intro to Cloud Atlas (00:8:03) How Cloud Atlas Got to Production (00:15:49) Favorite Scenes (00:33:13) On Set Life - (01:07:06) Aftermath: Release and Legacy (01:13:27) What Worked and What Didn't (01:21:28) Film Facts (01:25:24) Awards (01:26:49) Final Questions on the Movie (01:30:42) Wrapping Up the Episode (01:36:37) Contact Us: Facebook: @cinenation Instagram: @cinenationpodcast Twitter/X: @CineNationPod TikTok: @cinenation Letterboxd: CineNation Podcast

This episode of How To Fail was recorded in front of a live audience at London's Barbican Theatre. Sally Phillips has appeared in a string of the most influential and hilarious comedy series of all time - from Smack The Pony, Miranda, The Thick of It and Veep. Not forgetting, of course, her star turn as Bridget Jones's best friend, Shazza, in the hugely popular movie franchise.  Alongside her professional success, Phillips has also been an important voice in the neurodivergent community. Her eldest son, Olly, has Down syndrome and Sally is a tireless campaigner for disability rights. So why, then, does she never feel she's made it as a ‘serious' actress? And why is she so obsessed with Clown School? And - pressing question - why have she and Colin Firth never been a thing? Over on Failing with Friends, Sally answers questions from the live audience at the Barbican: they discuss red and green flags in partners, and what Hugh Grant is REALLY like and whether Sally and Renée Zellweger really are friends or whether she might just be making it up? To hear Sally tackling your failures join our community of subscribers here: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

MUSIC                                                                   Madonna and Elton John'sinfamous feud is finally over.Slayer's announced ahuge September 20th stadium show in Hershey, Pennsylvania withopeners Knocked Loose, Suicidal Tendencies, PowerTrip, Cavalera and Exodus.  RIP: Blondie drummerClem Burke has died at 70 after a "private battle with cancer",according to a statement from the band.TVMore health issues for KathyGriffin:  She had to get a hysterectomy due to a precancerouscondition.  MOVING ON INTO MOVIENEWS:Immigration officials atLondon's Heathrow Airport have upset Hugh Grant, after he revealed in a Tweet that they quizzed his children onFriday.  Quote, "Just came through Heathrow with wife and children. Back in 2022, BillMurray was working on a movie called "Being Mortal",which was being directed by Aziz Ansari.  And he did something to afemale crew member that got it CANCELED. Well, Bill still doesn't think what hedid was that bad.  He says, quote, "I was wearing a mask, and I gaveher a kiss, and she was wearing a mask. ·         Chris Hemsworth recently made a fan for life.  And her nameis Halle Berry.   Jacob Elordi from "Saltburn" and "Euphoria"got a wax figure at Madam Tussauds in Las Vegas, and it's notbad.  In fact, it's kinda hot.Did you see that KingKong made of drones climb the Empire State Building? AND FINALLYPeople on Reddit are sharing which actors nailed their roleso well, that no one else could ever compare. AND THAT IS YOUR CRAP ON CELEBRITIES! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MUSIC                                                                     Madonna and Elton John's infamous feud is finally over. Slayer's announced a huge September 20th stadium show in Hershey, Pennsylvania with openers Knocked Loose, Suicidal Tendencies, Power Trip, Cavalera and Exodus.   RIP: Blondie drummer Clem Burke has died at 70 after a "private battle with cancer", according to a statement from the band. TV More health issues for Kathy Griffin:  She had to get a hysterectomy due to a precancerous condition.   MOVING ON INTO MOVIE NEWS: Immigration officials at London's Heathrow Airport have upset Hugh Grant, after he revealed in a Tweet that they quizzed his children on Friday.  Quote, "Just came through Heathrow with wife and children.   Back in 2022, Bill Murray was working on a movie called "Being Mortal", which was being directed by Aziz Ansari.  And he did something to a female crew member that got it CANCELED. Well, Bill still doesn't think what he did was that bad.  He says, quote, "I was wearing a mask, and I gave her a kiss, and she was wearing a mask. ·           Chris Hemsworth recently made a fan for life.  And her name is Halle Berry.    Jacob Elordi from "Saltburn" and "Euphoria" got a wax figure at Madam Tussauds in Las Vegas, and it's not bad.  In fact, it's kinda hot. Did you see that King Kong made of drones climb the Empire State Building? AND FINALLY People on Reddit are sharing which actors nailed their role so well, that no one else could ever compare.   AND THAT IS YOUR CRAP ON CELEBRITIES! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ask your smart speaker to "Play One Oh Three One Austin"

Dave and Chuck the Freak talk about Andy bought a new vacuum, couple caught going at it at Orlando Magic game, British version of Pepto song, delivery guy licks a cat on Ring camera, how many people consider themselves to be unlucky, DoorDash driver tried to buy someone a meal and got stabbed, flood emergencies around country, couple detained in Mexican over timeshare dispute, charter captain arrested after confrontation, woodpeckers breaking car windows and mirrors, 84-year-old UPS driver, March Madness, Yukon basketball, Ovechkin breaks record, gender reveal during MLB game, Scarlet Johansson's stalker threatens to bomb SNL, Russell Brand charged with rape, Bill Murray on-set behavior, Hugh Grant suspected sex trafficker at airport, scene from Wild Things wanted makeout sesssion, Will Forte and Val Kilmer almost did The Amazing Race, Fyre Fest, Tina Turner show in UK added disclaimer that Tina won't be there, gas station shootout over chicken, couple found camera above bed in Airbnb, drunk man fell asleep in Taco Bell drive-thru, street thief using dance moves to distract victims, big nude man in a dollar store, kid orders DoorDash to his bedroom window, Bruce Willis' daughters still bathe together, lawsuit against OnlyFans, Speedy Gonzalez arrested, guys robbed and drugged by hooker, lunch lady has relationship with student, plastic surgeon was not licensed, couple lost life savings in real estate scam, kid who imitates birds, free apps for Chinese restaurant tattoo, pasta water martini, man threw bottles of his own pee into store, teen arrested for stealing street sign, city added bus stop in front of man's house, man got 3 organ transplants in same day, guy lost his dog in tornado, license plate recognition, zebra in Ireland pub, park bench causes brawl, and more!

Icy roads. I'm Jeffrey Larocque. Family Feud and Kraftwerk. Snitzer gets upset after Rover questions him about the different categories in electronic dance music. The stock market. How much money you need to retire. JLR walks out. Stock market talk continues. Rover watched Adolescence. Someone is tracking the amount of time JLR talks on the show, and he has set a new record. Getting puked on. Butt dialing a head honcho. Guy fishing under a bridge gets into a verbal altercation with another fisherman. Hugh Grant was upset by immigration questioning his kids. Charlie is frustrated with parents trying to teach their kids how to navigate the world on his time. Rover was asked some interesting questions by customs agents in Morocco. Charlie's arrest at Browns Stadium. Elon is anti-tariffs. How was the dance competition?

Getting puked on. Butt dialing a head honcho. Guy fishing under a bridge gets into a verbal altercation with another fisherman. Hugh Grant was upset by immigration questioning his kids. Charlie is frustrated with parents trying to teach their kids how to navigate the world on his time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Icy roads. I'm Jeffrey Larocque. Family Feud and Kraftwerk. Snitzer gets upset after Rover questions him about the different categories in electronic dance music. The stock market. How much money you need to retire. JLR walks out. Stock market talk continues. Rover watched Adolescence. Someone is tracking the amount of time JLR talks on the show, and he has set a new record. Getting puked on. Butt dialing a head honcho. Guy fishing under a bridge gets into a verbal altercation with another fisherman. Hugh Grant was upset by immigration questioning his kids. Charlie is frustrated with parents trying to teach their kids how to navigate the world on his time. Rover was asked some interesting questions by customs agents in Morocco. Charlie's arrest at Browns Stadium. Elon is anti-tariffs. How was the dance competition?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting puked on. Butt dialing a head honcho. Guy fishing under a bridge gets into a verbal altercation with another fisherman. Hugh Grant was upset by immigration questioning his kids. Charlie is frustrated with parents trying to teach their kids how to navigate the world on his time.

Steve's surprising theater gig, cranky Hugh Grant, News It or Lose It! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices