Podcasts about many thanks

Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain This week we continue our love for Midnight and Cult Movies. For this episode we return to the great Chilean-French filmmaker, Alejandro Jodorowsky. A Visionary Artist and Poet of the Cinema, Jodorowsky has created some of the most beautiful and challenging images and concepts ever conceived. Problematic, Polarizing, Poetic, and Personal, Jodorowsky's films exist as islands of beauty in a world of Cinema too often overwhelmed by commerce - established, continuinuing, and obvious proven projects, as well as "safe" childrens' fair. Jodorowsky digs deep into the humanity, history, and struggles of the species. The Holy Mountain is a powerful film that is not easily digested or - even - understood, but the poetry of the images in this film continue to haunt audiences since its release over a half century ago. Take a listen and make the decision if you wanto to make the dive into this beautiful and rewarding film. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Mike Judge's Office Space  Recorded some time ago, we've been holding onto this episode until the right time. As we move into our second month of Midnight & Cult Movies it is clear that Director Mike Judge (creator of Beavis & Butthead, Idiocracy, and King of the Hill) is a director whose filmography is almost entirely cult films and television shows. In 1999 he was approached by 20th Century Fox to adapt his short films (based on the Milton character first seen on Saturday Night Live and Mtv's Liquid Televison) into a theatrical film. There is no real undestanding of what 20th Century Fox expected. Judge's film would dive deep into the soul-sucking, emotionally paralyzing world of daily office work. A film that was never backed by its studio, Office Space would go onto find popularity on cable television and the dvd market. This is a wonderful film that plays to the pain and suffering of the 40 hour work week, idiot bosses, crazed and delusional co-workers, and ultimately fulfillment. Take a listen as we celebrate Mike Judge and this studio-trashed film that - somehow - found an audience and rose Phoenix-like. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Robert Aldrich's Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Not a "Midnight Movie" but certainly one of the great Cult Classics, 1962s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? was an audience's dream pairing. The coming together of Oscar winners Bette Davis and Joan Crawford - two of the greatest stars the medium has known - created a film that has captivated film lovers for decades. The story of two sisters - volatile, abusive, and mutually destructive - has become a love/hate letter to the entertainment industry as well as continuing fuel to the bitterness surrounding its two stars. On this episode, Mr. Chavez & I dig through the film's creative history, the relationship between Davis and Crawford, and our own interpretations of the movie and its lasting impact in the culture. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Russ Meyer's Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!  If you allow it to do so, Cinema will take you to strange, hypnotic, and brilliant places. For close to forty years I have known about Russ Meyer's Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965) and have assiduously avoided it. Cinematic Snobbery stopped this podcaster from one of the strangest and - seemingly - sexist and self-indulgent exercises in moviemaking. I could not have been more mistaken. The verdict on Russ Meyer as a filmmaker is stil to be determined by this podcast, however we can be sure that this film contains one of the greatest performances ever captured on celluloid. Tura Satana is simply incredible. The leader of a three girl gang of violent, porsche-racing, hedonistic go-go dancers on a desert adventure of murder, kidnapping, seduction, and robbery, Satana is a force of nature that is unlike anything else ever captured in the movies. This week we discuss this classic film, our opinions and theories regarding Russ Meyer, sexploitation, and the brilliance of Tura Satana. This is a fun talk. We hope you enjoy it. We can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

David Lynch's Eraserhead This week we continue our look into Midnight/Cult Movies. One of the earliest films to find an audience (and build its directors career) was 1977s Eraserhead. A film that baffles description, this weeks episode takes the angle of describing the "feelings" and memories that have followed our initial viewings of this brilliant debut film. Brilliant Black & White cinematography by Frederick Elmes and Herbert Caldwell, hypnotic performances from Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Judith Anna Roberts, as well as a disturbing supporting cast that simply feels right. Take a listen to see if Lynch's debut film has affected you in a way that it has affected us. We'd love to hear from you. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Jim Sharman's The Rocky Horror Picture Show Cinema is art, Viewing Cinema is an artistic experience. We sit in the theater and drift into the beauty of a story that either entertains, explains, or enlightens. Sometimes all of these and even more. In 1975 20th Century Fox would distribute a film that would fail miserably with mainstream audiences, but would survive box office death and be reborn on the Midnight Movie Circuit. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has played non-stop since it began midnight screenings in 1976. With a rabid fanbase that acts out scenes, musical numbers, and improvised attacks on the action, the film has become a cinematic cultural experience . . . But, what is it, and is it actually a good movie? This week Mr. Chavez & I return to our shared experience with a NuArt screening, his return to the theatre, and my home viewing, alone in a dark room without any of the supporting distractions. This week we discuss  Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and - a legendary - Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Take a listen as we dive into a month of Cult Films & Midnight Movies. It's going to be a good time. Reach Out: gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

The year end goal is 65,000 downloads of the podcast. At last look, we are at 63,018 downloads! MANY THANKS! At the end of the day today 5,295 hour long episodes. The Music Authority Podcast...download, listen, share, repeat…heard daily on Belter Radio, Podchaser, Deezer, Amazon Music, Audible, Listen Notes, Mixcloud, Player FM, Tune In, Podcast Addict, Cast Box, Radio Public, Pocket Cast, APPLE iTunes, and direct for the source distribution site: *Podcast - https://themusicauthority.transistor.fm/  AND NOW there is a website! TheMusicAuthority.comThe Music Authority Podcast! Special Recorded Network Shows, too! Different than my daily show! Seeing that I'm gone from FB now…Follow me on “X” Jim Prell@TMusicAuthority*The Music Authority on @BelterRadio Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7 pm ET & Wednesday 9 pm ET*Radio Candy Radio Monday Wednesday, & Friday 7PM ET, 4PM PT*Rockin' The KOR Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7PM UK time, 2PM ET, 11AM PT  www.koradio.rocks*Pop Radio UK Friday, Saturday, & Sunday 6PM UK, 1PM ET, 10AM PT! *The Sole Of Indie https://soleofindie.rocks/ Monday Through Friday 6-7PM EST!*AltPhillie.Rocks Sunday, Thursday, & Saturday At 11:00AM ET!November 3, 2025, Monday, “The Singles Release Show!” act two…@Dysmusia - Another Night @Echomatica - Month Of Sundays@Frank Joshua - Turn To Your Soul [Fertile Mind]@Whimsical - Quicksand [Melt]@Icicle - One Good Reason@Josaleigh Pollett - Radio Player@The Kite Collectors - Where D'You Go From Here? [Switch The World Back On] (@Paisley Records)@Nighthymn - Inside The Silence@Nita Nielsen - One World Together@Noisemakers' Guild - The Story@Gyasi - She Don't Care [Pronounced Jah-See]@Some One's Sons - The Chance to Feel Alive@Space Traffic - A Deeper Dream@Surf katz – Thruster@The Hellflowers – Riot Squad [Teenage Radio] (@Rum Bar Records)

Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark  This year Halloween fell on a weekend . . .  We've come to the end of the Halloween season. Two months of Vampire movies finds us ending on a cult favorite from the 1980s. In 1987 Kathryn Bigelow would direct her first solo-outing by re-imagining the Vampire film as a Neo-Western centered around a young couple and the family of vampires that haunt and terrorize a modern Southwest. Featuring Adrian Pasdar as Caleb Colton, a young man bitten and "turned" by the seductive Mae and his "adoption" into a troubling imagining on the traveling "nuclear family" including Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, and Lance Henriksen. The film certainly has its problems however it is an assured and impressive debut directorial feature for Bigelow and captivating performances from her Vampire Family. Take a listen and let us know what you think - Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggesetions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards. 

E. Elias Merhige's Shadow of the Vampire Sometimes it's simply a thrill to watch one your favorite actors let loose and have a great time. F.W. Murnau's 1922 Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is widely - and deservedly - considered one of the greatest films of all time. A mythology has formed around the making of the film including the idea that its star, Max Shreck, was an actual vampire. With this springboard, writer Steven Katz and director E. Elias Merhige's fashion an exciting, inventive, and thrilling historical re-telling of the making of Murnau's film. With a great supporting cast including Cary Elwes, Eddie Izzard, Udo Kier, and Catherine McCormack as actors and crew of Nosferatu. However the film belongs solely to a pair of unhinged and clearly fun performances from John Malkovich as Murnau, and (in an Academy Award nominated performance) Willem Dafoe as Schreck. For fans of Murnau's classic, silent films, and vampire stories, Shadow of the Vampire is a real treasure. Take a listen to see if you agree. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.  

Carl Theodore Dreyer's Vampyr If you dig deep enough, Cinema will unleash great treasures. The Silent Era ended in 1927 with the release of The Jazz Singer . . .  Movies would never be the same. A number of filmmakers would utilize the new technology in innovative, imaginitive, and groundbreaking ways. Fritz Lang's M comes to mind. Musicals became a reality and would astonish audiences. Storytellng became an entirely new artform. However the power of Silent Films would continue to be felt. Chaplin stubbornly held onto silence, while Karl Dane, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and Emil Jannings would witness their star power dim sound emerged. Danish filmmaker, Carl Theodore Dreyer, would struggle throughout his career with complex material, however he would - years later - be recognized as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. With Vampyr the struggle with the new technology is evident in its use in the film, however the brilliance in Dreyer's vision is in the visual. The images are haunting, disturbing, and - in many cases - unforgettable. Take a look at this Classic of World Cinema and enjoy one of the great works of the 20th Century. Take a listen as we bring you this powerful film. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Adrien Beau's The Vourdalak If you dive into the depths of World Cinema you will often discover magic. You may not know that you're viewing something exceptional while you're watching it, but you will find yourself realizing the power of the image, the power of ideas from different corners of the world. This week Mr. Chavez & I find Adrien Beau's 2023 French "Folk" Tale The Vourdalak, a film of nuance and beautifully imagined historical horror. Chronicling the story of a French aristocrat, robbed and left lost in Eastern Europe, Beau's story takes on a familiar story re-imagined as the Marquis Jacques Saturnin du Antoine is directed to a villager's home and the terror of a new vampire story. Better seen than read about, we encourage you to take the chance, start the movie, and trust that it will captivate you. Take a listen, watch the movie, and let us know if you agree. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.  

Tobe Hooper's Salem's Lot From time to time movies slip through the cracks. Although Tobe Hooper's Salem's Lot is considered a television classic, it is a film that your movie podcaset host has somehow missed these 46 years. Adapted from Stephen King's 1975 best-seller, this 1979 adaptation features David Soul from TVs Starsky & Hutch, as well as future Mrs. Holly McClane, Bonnie Bedelia. What could have easily been a throw-away television mini-series, is instead a ground-breaking take on Vampires, Lust, and Small-Town Paranoia. Guided through the directorial lens of Mr. Hooper, shortly after the landmark Horror spectacle, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and before Poltergeist (1982), Hooper elevates the material to a truly frightening and exciting experience. If you haven't seen this classic you owe it to yourself to make the time. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Park Chan-wook's Thirst One of the great thrills of the past ten-plus years is the discovery of new, exciting, and challenging films. On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I dive into the cinema of South Korea's Park Chan-wook for 2009s Thirst. It's fascinating to watch stories we believe we understand and are sure we have witnessed every variation. Park Chan-wook's Vampire story centers around a priest (Kang-ho Song) as he struggles with his beliefs and his slow transformation into the Undead. With an equally exceptional performance from Kim Ok-vin (as Tae-ju, the woman who fall in love with the priest with all of its complications), Chan-wook's film is a beautifully realized exploration of love, religion, death, and sin. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

John Landis's Innocent Blood  There are times when you have to take what you can get from a project. This week Mr. Chavez & I look at John Landis's 1992 Horror/Mob/Vampire/Comedy, Innocent Blood. With a talent such as Landis, the strokes are broad and without nuance. Innocent Blood is no exception. There are definitely the seeds for an exceptional Horror/Comedy hybrid, however this film is serving far too many masters. Some of the Horror works. Some of the Comedy works. The problem is there's simply not enough dedication to either. You can't serve two masters. The Pros . . . Robert Loggia - The man is having a great time spoofing himself, the Mob genre, and Horror movies. With an exceptional supporting cast including the great Don Rickles and a "who's who" of 90s Mob faces, Innocent Blood  is a miss but a curious, interesting, and - somewhat - charming film. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.   For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Samurai Dhampir - Yoshiaki Kawajiri's Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust What an incredible find! This week Mr. Chavez & I return to the world of Japanese Anime with this discussion of Yoshiaki Kawajiri's 2000 Dark Vampire Fantasy, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. Coming fifteen years after Toyoo Ashida's Vampire Hunter D, what Kawajiri creates is breathtaking. Simply put, Japanese Anime expands the boundaries and expectations of "Traditional" American Animation. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Kawajiri's tale of a half human/half vampire hired to track and rescue a wealthy man's kidnapped daughter. In a story that mirrors - to a degree - Richard Brooks's The Professionals, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust takes a simple, and rather familiar, story and emboldens it with some of the most beautiful animation ever committed to film. There is a great deal to admire here. Take a listen as Ibrahim & I are overwhelmed and excited to talk. We hope you enjoy this episode. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Someone To Die For: Ariane Louis-Seize's Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person The title alone may put off some audiences, however to do pass on this film would be a mistake. The rare film that explores genre with an intent to experiment, open up, and entertain, Louis-Seize's French-Canadian co-production is an exciting and beautifully realized look at a coming-of-age story wedged into the Horror genre. The story of a young female vampire who refuses to kill, Louis-Seize's story is a moving and intellectually stimulating examination of genre story-telling. Take a watch . . . we dont' think you'll be disappointed. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

“Album Tracks Aplenty!” is what Tuesday will bring! Many THANKS to @Think Like A Key Music for the wide array and assortment of album music! The Music Authority Podcast... download, listen, share, repeat…heard daily on Belter Radio, Podchaser, Deezer, Amazon Music, Audible, Listen Notes, Mixcloud, Player FM, Tune In, Podcast Addict, Cast Box, Radio Public, Pocket Cast, APPLE iTunes, and direct for the source distribution site: *Podcast - https://themusicauthority.transistor.fm/  AND NOW there is a website! TheMusicAuthority.comThe Music Authority Podcast! Special Recorded Network Shows, too! Different than my daily show! Seeing that I'm gone from FB now…Follow me on “X” Jim Prell@TMusicAuthority*The Music Authority on @BelterRadio Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7 pm ET & Wednesday 9 pm ET*Radio Candy Radio Monday Wednesday, & Friday 7PM ET, 4PM PT*Rockin' The KOR Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7PM UK time, 2PM ET, 11AM PT  www.koradio.rocks*Pop Radio UK Friday, Saturday, & Sunday 6PM UK, 1PM ET, 10AM PT! *The Sole Of Indie https://soleofindie.rocks/ Monday Through Friday 6-7PM EST!*AltPhillie.Rocks Sunday, Thursday, & Saturday At 11:00AM ET!September 1, 2025, Monday, hour three…@The Pomegranate County Irregulars - Dark Corners {Single 9.1.25} [Beyond Beyond]@Tooth Gore – Uncomfortable@Paul Callan - Little Fall [Funzi]@McLuhan - A Brief Message From Your Local Media [Anomaly] (@Think Like A Key Music)@J Prozac - Days Go By [Won't Let Go] (@Rum Bar Records)@McLuhan - Spiders (In Neal's Basement) [Anomaly] (@Think Like A Key Music)@Flint - Give Me Serenity [Follow The Embers - EP]@McLuhan - The Monster Bride [Anomaly] (@Think Like A Key Music)@McLuhan – Witches Theme And Dance [Anomaly] (@Think Like A Key Music)@The Successful Failures – Thank You Goodnight [Enemy Sublime]

Pilot Going Down: Robert Zemeckis's Flight This week we close out our Denzel Washington Love Fest with - arguably - one of his best performances. In 2012 Mr. Washington would team with Director Robert Zemeckis for Flight, a film that is rarely discussed, but that has powerfully affected this film watcher. For this episode, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to watch, examine, and discuss this incredible performance that touches on the fraility of humanity and the dangers of addiction. Denzel Washington with supporting performances from Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood, John Goodman, Melissa Leo, an early star-making turn from Yellowstone's, Kelly Reilly, and Director Robert Zemeckis, the elements for brilliance are obvious. Take a listen and decide for yourself if the praise is deserved. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Battle for the Conn: Tony Scott's Crimson Tide You can never get enough Denzel Washington. This week Mr. Chavez & I sit down to talk the first of five collaborations with director Tony Scott, 1995s Crimson Tide. This first collaboration of Washington and Scott would fall almost directly in the middle of Scott's career and would be the fourth collaboration between Scott and the Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer producing behemoth. This episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos takes a look at the relationship between Scott and his producing partners; the creation of the look and style that would come to define a great deal of 80s and 90s action films, as well as the relationship betwen Scott's style and what would later be adopted and expanded on by Michael Bay. We also take a look at the tremendous star power in pitting Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman against one another in a film that makes palpable argument for both of their characters. Two of the greatest actors of the last quarter of the 20th Century elevating everything about a film that Mr. Chavez & I are divided on. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions are always welcomed at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos   Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Denzel Wandering the Wasteland: The Hughes Brothers' The Book of Eli There are few great actors who can also be considered movie stars. Denzel Washington is certainly on that short list. A few weeks back we discussed his crowning achievement, Malcolm X. In 2010 he would produce and star in the Hughes Bros. directed, The Book of Eli. The rare instance of an action film with a purpose beyond mere entertainment, The Hughes Bros. brought to the screen one of the great "neglected" films of the 21st Century. In a post-apocalyptic world, Washington plays Eli, a man wandering the desolate remanants of America on a mission. For those who have seen the movie there is very little to say in this blurb, except that the film is far greater than the attention it has received. For those who have not seen it, you're in for a treat. Take a listen as we look at this neglected film and the performances of Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Malcolm McDowell, and Jennifer Beals. Truly an Underrated Film. Take a listen and let us know if you agree. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Neo-Nazi Family Drama: Tony Kaye's American History X Some films simply don't age well. With the passing years the problems of a narrative can become glaring. Such is the case with Tony Kaye's American History X (1998). A difficult subject that would have been better served with a revised script and a stronger director, American History X  suffers from a forced and simplistic narrative. Good performances and interesting cinematography (by director Kaye) are simply not enough to overcome a story that my partner dismsses as "after-school special". Although this film is widely admired in some circles, your favorite movie podcasters are less than impressed. Take a listen as we break down the problems this film carries. It's an interesting conversation; continuing our look at a collapsing and disintegrating America. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

A Time for Martyrs: Spike Lee's Malcolm X  Last Week Spike Lee, Ernest Dickerson, and Denzel Washington started Mr. Chavez & Myself on an artistic, political, and introspective journey. We originally intended to discuss this masterpiece in one episode, however art, life, and the conversation often dictate a different outcome. Last week was the "making" of Malcolm X, this week WatchThis W/RickRamos dives into the beauty, power, and ground-breaking nature of this labor of love/passion project/grand cinematic statement. It is rare when so many of the cinematic elements come together to make a powerful and important statement of this type. In 1992 Malcolm X did just that. This week we sit down to remember and praise a truly great film. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

By Any Means Necessary: Spike Lee & The Making of Malcolm X  Cinema can change attitudes, englighten ignorance, strengthen understanding and faith. In 1992 director Spike Lee would partner with star Denzel Washington and long-time cinematographer (and NYU schoolmate) Ernest Dickerson to bring to the big screen the life of one of the most important firgures of the 20th Century, Malcolm Little to become "Red" to become Malcolm X, to become el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. In an expansive narrative that covers over four decades and - could be argued - encapsulates the experience of Black life in the history of the United States, Spike Lee's Academy Award ignored film (save Denzel Washington's Best Actor Nomination that was lost to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman) is certainly one of the great artistic, social, and political achievements of the 20th Century. What started out as a reflection on this thirty-three year old film quickly revealed itself as a subject that would demand two episodes to truly understand Lee, Washington, and Dickerson's masterpiece. This week Mr. Chavez & I dive into the history of the films production (a 27 year odyssey that would see a change of directors, misunderstanding, financial complications, and controversy within the Black Community). This discussion took us to some emotional and thought-provoking places. We are honored to share this with you. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Total Massacre - Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins  Not a whole lot is better this week, so Mr. Chavez & I find ourselves digging deeper into an examination, coping, and understanding of Fascism, Cruelty, and Troubling Political Rule with this week's film, Takashi Miike's 2010 13 Assassins. Miike's vision is typically brutal, violent, and magnificent. 13 Assassins exceeds the critical constraints of your "Typical Action Film" with a look at Samurai Culture during the Edo Period (1603-1868 - in this case, 1844). With a strong debt to Akira Kurosawa and Seven Samurai, Miike's film is an action-packed drama that holds a mirror to society and the abuses of power seen throughout history. A fifteen year old film, set nearly 200 years in the past, 13 Assassins has a great deal to teach, if we are willing to learn. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - This is a damn good talk - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Operation Wetback: Richard "Cheech" Marin's Born in East L.A.  Somethings refuse to change and what was true three and a half decades ago continues to be true today. With a nation struggling under the hand of an adminstration refusing to look at human beings as anything more than numbers, "Cheech" Marin's Born in East L.A. seems even more relevant today than it did when it premiered in the summer of 1987. Marin's film (the first of his projects after the end of his partnership as the ground-breaking comedy troupe, Cheech & Chong) is a - at points a silly and slapdash - look at immigration, deportation, and the struggle for the American Dream. I would argue that it's the "Most Chicano" film ever made; the one that most accurately depicts the experience of being Mexican-American, working and living in the United States. Marin's film is silly and - at times - sloppy, but it has true heart and a point of view rarely seen in cinema before and since. As always, the film is a stepping stone to the conversation that revolves around the real world. It is with great pleasure that we look at this film with old and new eyes. Take a listen and let us know what you think. We can always. be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks! For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

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Mutual Doomsday: Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove/Sidney Lumet's Fail Safe  Recording a mere two days before Donald Trump fired on Iran, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss nuclear war and the incredible self-destructiveness of humankind. In 1963 Stanley Kubrick would direct one of his earliest masterpieces. With a ridiculous and hilarious George C. Scott, frighteningly honest Sterling Hayden, and a briliant Peter Sellars in a trio of roles that stands as one of the (three) greatest comic performances in cinema. There is a great deal going on in this film, however much of it's power has been dismissed as mere comedy. Surprisingly, a second film from 63 would provide an even more powerful statement of the danger of nuclear war. Sidney Lumet's film would die in the shadow of Kubrick's great comedy. On this episode Mr. Chavez & I are thrilled to do our part to bring light to this criminally neglected film. Take a lesson and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Kill Along to Get Along: Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist Does Life Imitate Art or Does Art Predict and Comment on Life?  Regardless of Bernardo Bertolucci's reputation - admitted questionable actions in the realization of art - the Italian filmmaker is regarded as one of the great Auteurs of Cinema. Films from 1900 (1976) thru the Oscar-winning The Last Emperor (1987), and the controversial (artistically and production-wise) Last Tango in Paris (1972), have explored the human eperience through Sexuality, Social Taboos, Class Conflict, and - in his directorial debut 1970s The Conformist, Politics. Lensed by the great Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, The Conformist may have some of the most beautiful images ever captured in Cinema while telling a story of Political Ideology,  Conformity, and the rise of Fascism.  Questions rise in this 1970 film that have surprisingly presented themselves again over fifty years later. This is a difficult film in viewing, however it is incredibly important in what it has to say and how it says it. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Agree or Disagree, the Point is the Conversation. Let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Citizen Accused: Orson Welle's Film of Franz Kafka's The Trial Few authors can lay claim to creating a genre, however it could be argued that Franz Kafka did just that with stories like The Metamorphosis, In the Penal Colony, and this week's cinematic adaptation, The Trial. The term Kafkaesque , instantly builds a sense of excitement, confusion, and paranoia in readers - many whom are only familiar with the term and not necessarily the author. This week we look at Orson Welle's 1962 adaptation of Kafka's 1925 classic, The Trial.  Set (15 minutes?) in the future, Welle's beautifully realizes the confusion and terror that has made Kafka's unfinished original work a classic. It's a thrill for Mr. Chavez & I to sit down and dive into a bold and daring exploration of a famed and cherished writer, by one of the great masters of the cinema. Take a listen and ask yourself how much you see of Kafka and Welles' visions in today's troubling world. Thanks for listening. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Today's episode is the Unracked: Mastering the Conjugate Method webinar Tom did with BridgeAthletic   "UNRACKED is a live event series from BridgeAthletic where top coaches break down the training systems, methods, and philosophies that drive elite performance. In this session, Tom Barry, CEO of Westside Barbell and one of Louie Simmons' handpicked successors, offers a focused walkthrough of the Conjugate Method in practice: how he programs, what he prioritizes, and why it works for his athletes. Free to attend and packed with practical insight."   Many Thanks to BridgeAthletic for having Tom on.   Organize Your Visit to Westside Barbell Here!   Follow Westside Barbell: Website: Westside Barbell Instagram: @westsidebarbellofficial Facebook: @westsidebarbellofficial Twitter: @westsidebarbell Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: Studio Sponsor: Dollamur Sport Surfaces CLMS Conjugate Tactical The Conjugate Club    

Forest vs Iron Town: Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke This week Mr. Chavez & I continue our exploration of Japanese anime with a look at 1997s beautiful and breathtaking Princess Mononoke. Mr. Chavez & I are both very new to the world of anime . . . these episodes are our ntroduction to this magnificent world. Featuring story elements of traditional folk tales, the hero's journey, and environment warnings. This is a magnificent motion picture; leading us into deeper and more rewarding viewings. A good beginning and a promising journey. Take a listen and let us know if you agreee. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

High School Murder Tournament - Kinji Fukasuku's Battle Royale  This week Mr. Chavez & I look back to the beginning of the new millennium and an examination of the paranoia, violence, and uncertainty societies all over the world were facing. In 2000 Japanese director Kinji Fukasuku would bring to the screen one of the most controversial, thought-provoking, and challenging films of the new century. Battle Royale would stun and anger audiences in Japan and - later - throughout the world with its (seemingly) hopelessly dystopian look at a future not very distant from our own. Societies are breaking down and youth violence is running rampant; In the tradition of Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange as well as considerable debt to William Golding's 1954 novel, The Lord of the Flies, Fukasuku combines his influences in a world that resembles "reality television" without the cameras. It's a difficult and challenging movie that rewards its viewer with a sense of purpose that could have easily been overlooked. Take a listen as we remember Fukasuku's game-changing Battle Royale. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks. For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards. 

Send us a text This is a regular segment on the "Evolving Humans" podcast, where Michael shares his vibrational astrology insights with the audience. The full moon on June 11th in Sagittarius will spark a desire for expansion and adventure, but will be tempered by Saturn and Neptune's influence, creating a need to balance idealism with practical considerations. [06:22]The new moon on June 25th in Cancer will be a time to focus on protection, security, and nurturing one's community and support systems. [25:23]Longer-term vibrational cycles in the 25th and 31st vibrations during June will prompt people to explore new possibilities, break free from restrictive situations, and re-examine their core beliefs and worldviews. [38:18]The astrological transits and vibrational cycles discussed are relevant to the current time period and the lives of the podcast listeners. [00:01]The information provided in this interview can help the audience better understand the cosmic influences at play and how to navigate them in their personal lives. [20:52]Many Thanks to Pixabay's Relaxing Time Pt 1-141198 Relaxing Music for the music bed for this episode.Michael's websiteSupport the showThank you for listening to Evolving Humans! For consultations or classes, please visit my website: www.JuliaMarie.usEvolving Humans with Julia Marie is now on YouTube, and will offer more than the podcast episodes there, so give us a "SUBSCRIBE"!https://www.youtube.com/@EvolvingHumans731You can find my book, Signals from My Soul: A Spiritual Memoir of Awakening here: https://tinyurl.com/Book-Signals-from-My-Soul

Superficial Sci-Fi: Rupert Sanders' Ghost in the Shell On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I dive into Rupert Sanders' 2017 live-action re-imagining of Mamoru Oshii's 1995 Anime-Classic, Ghost in the Shell.  There are so many things that can go wrong with an adaptation and Sanders manages to check many of those boxes. From casting Scarlett Johansson  in the lead role through a amateurish handling of theme and purpose - the film is - certainly - beautiful to look at, however it misses out on so much that made the oringal anime both special and important. In an attempt to be all things to all audiences, the film fails to capture the existential ideas and philosophical statements of the original material (manga and anime film). We may be wrong, but you'd have to mount an argument against what we have to say. Feel free to let us know what you think . . . gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Cyborg Awakening: Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell From time to time this podcast allows Mr. Chavez & Myself the opportunity to explore new genre's. With the encouragement and recommendations of WatchThis listeners, we have had the opportunity to engage in new experiences a number of times. Some of these new viewings have been from The World of Japanese Anime (Thank You, Mr. Burroughs!). This week we dive into one of the very best, Mamoru Oshii's 1995 dystopian masterpiece Ghost in the Shell. It is rare that a film is able to deliver on so many different levels (entertaining/exciting - insightful/thought-provoking), but this is precisely what Oshii's film does. What could have been a simple and obvious look into a bleak and misery-infused Science-Fiction future is, rather, an insightful and compelling examination of Artificial Intelligence, The Soul . . . its relation to the species and culture, and intellectual and emotional awareness. This is an incredible film that mixes Fritz Lang, Blade Runner, martial-arts & gun-play, and the police procedural to examine grand existential questions. Take a listen as we continue diving deeper and deeper into the world of AI and its promises, hopes, and threats for the future. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Synthetic Sexuality: Alex Garland's Ex Machina AI continues to hold our fascination. This week Mr. Chavez & I dive into Alex Garland's examination of Artificial Intelligence with 2014s Ex Machina. Set, as Garland describes, "Ten minutes from now," Ex Machina is a fascinating film with exceptional performances from Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander. Few films are able to capture the subtleties and realities of science fiction paranoia with this level of skill. As these talks have continued over the last few episodes, the paranoia is becoming greater as the realities of our world begin to live up to predictions.  Garland does  creative and powerful work; asking questions and presenting situations that seem to be more likely than simple imagination. Take a listen and let us know what you think . . . gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Bad Bitch, Cyborg, & Liquid Metal: James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgement Day Go to last week's introduction to James Cameron's The Terminator . . . fast-forward seven years. Sarah Connor is no longer a "damsel in distress". James Cameron has worked his Sigourney Weaver magical transformation on another heroine, creating one of the great female action stars in all of cinema. Once again, Sarah Connor is facing the destruction of the world. However this time she is fully aware of the danger in front, behind, above, and below. Cameron's imagination - coupled with a sheer will and an (at that time) unheard of and unlimited budget, would unleash one of the greatest sequels of all time. Basically a remake of the first film with a series of adjustments to continue the story in a logical manner, Cameron proved that imagination and drive could make up for the simplicity of a plot that had been presented before - Cinema is no stranger to The Apocalypse in its many forms. Take a listen as we reminisce on this incredible film and continue falling down the rabbit hole as we dive further into the struggles, dangers, and promise of AI. It's a good talk. Let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Skynet AI 2029: James Cameron's The Terminator  If you grew up in the 1980s, you were living in a decade that would be controlled by raunchy teen sex comedies (Porky's, My Tutor, Private Lessons), John Hughes (The Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off), and the emergence of straight to video. However there was one genre that stood above all others and would forever alter the output of Hollywood. Action films had always been a part of Hollywood, however the 1980s would unleash the talents of Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis, as well as lesser box office talents such as Steven Seagal, Jean Claude Van Damme, and the continuing presence of 70s holdover, Chuck Norris. One name would stand above all others, however. Inhabiting the title role of the 1984 B-Movie, Low-Budget Classic, The Terminator, Director James Cameron would establish Austrian-born, seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger, as - possibly - the greatest Action-Star to ever grace the Big Screen. The Terminator would change cinema and introduce both actor and director as formidable and genre defining talents. This week Mr. Chavez & I dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence and discuss one of the greatest Science Fiction films ever made.  What are the lessons we should have learned from Cameron's film? What did we miss? How far away are we from Skynet becoming self-aware? There's a whole lot to unpack and we're diving right into all of it.  This was an exciting and wonderfully joyous trip back to the 80s and a film that greatly defined both our youths, the decade, and the evolving world of Cinema. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Gonzo Hellscape: Terry Gilliam's Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas In 1998 Director Terry Gilliam - a director whose cinematic career has been fraught with difficulty on the level of Job (see 2002s Lost in La Mancha) was finally successful in bringing to the screen Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 Classic roman á clef of excess, paranoia, idealism, and disappointment, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream. A polariizing film upon its release in 1998, Giliam's interpretation of Thompson's 1971 vision is both awe-inspiring and troubling. There is a tremendous amount to admire in this film while at the same time there is a tremendous amount to be critical of . . . We tackle both perspectives and struggle to find some greater understanding of the late 60s, early 70s, and pain and disappointment of the 2nd decade of a new millennium. It's an interesting and volatile discussion between two friends. Take a listen and let us know what yout think about our reaction to Thompson's vision as rendered through the mind of Terry Gilliam and the equally outrageous and powerful performances of stars Johnny Depp (as Thompson) and Benicio Del Toro (as Chicano activist Oscar Zeta Acosta - the 300lb Samoan of Thompson's writing). As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

This week we continue digging through the archives to remember the past ten years of WatchThis W/RickRamos. (Episodes #395 - #410) Great Episodes . . . Great Discussions.  We dive into Mr. Chavez's Favorite Cinematic Decade - The 1990s, as well as looks at Horror both Domestic and International: Dante/Carpenter/Craven & Cronenberg/Kobayashi/Na Hong-jin/Jodorowsky, Oliver Stone, Defining the 80s, but we start everything with a terrific, exciting, worthy re-boot of the Predator series, Prey. We're having a hell of a good time remembering these episodes. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Godzilla, the 60s, Hopes, & Monsters  A return to 10 years of WatchThis W/RickRamos - This week we return to the vault to look at one of the greatest movie monsters of all time . . . Toho's Godzilla. We look back on the tumultuous 1960s and the changing face of Cinema, Monsters, and Hopes for the Future. Take a listen and let us know what you think. We can be reached at gondormaos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.  

Cynicism, Rogan, & What Would Carlin Say? - Remembering 500 Episodes We come back to this celebration as we look through the archives and reminisce and what these episodes have meant to us. Take a listen as we remember the good times, arguments, and great cultural gifts that Pop Culture, Music, Television, and - of course - Cinema have gifted us. It's a fun conversation . . . We hope you enjoy it. Send us your thioughts: gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Welcome to another Q&A show. This week we cover moving abroad, inheritance tax and paying into a pension while drawing from another, and lots more besides! Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/QA7   01:16  Question 1 I've been a long time listener for my entire working career and your podcast has been invaluable to getting me to the great position I'm in now. I have recently been offered a very exciting job opportunity abroad (specifically Luxembourg) and I'm thinking about financial issues I might want to cover. I am 29 and have a mid-five figure sum in each of my ISA, LISA, and DC pension in the UK. I hope to save and invest heavily abroad with a FIRE sort of philosophy. I wonder if there are any big things to think about in preparation for a move, or things to do while in the EU that will make a move back easier. I realise this is probably a complex question, and maybe too niche for a podcast episode. I've considered getting a one-off consultation with a financial advisor before my move, do you think this would be worthwhile, and if so what sort of service or green flags should I be looking for? (Assuming Jackson's is not a specialist in this area!) Thank you again! Stuart 06:24  Question 2 Hi Pete, Hi Roger, May I ask a question about pensions now being subject to IHT. My father in law's strategy for passing on his wealth was to pass on an unused pension, previously protected from IHT, and he had also invested in AIM shares, again also previously exempt from IHT but now subject to 20% tax. He is nearly 82. What options might you suggest for him to consider on either of those points, but in particular the pension point. Draw the pension and gift it? Thank you very much. Love the pod and religious listener! Jo 13:00  Question 3 Hi Pete and Roger, A great many thanks for all that you do towards simplifying personal finance principles. It is with thanks to your guidance that I am living within my means and on a budget with clear financial objectives. My question today is on behalf of a family member, let's call her Glynda. Glynda is 58 years old and intends to continue working until she can claim her full state pension. She currently has two private pension pots, one is a SIPP on the Vanguard platform and one is her workplace scheme with a smaller provider I've never heard of called Creative Trust. A few years ago, she chose to withdraw her 25% tax free cash allowance from her SIPP with a view to investing this in rental property. For one reason or another this didn't actually happen so she is now saving this aside as her 18 month cash buffer. To withdraw the 25% tax free cash, she had to “crystallise” the entire SIPP pot. The remainder is still invested in 100% equities - the growth engine as you say, but it is now in a flexi access drawdown account, not a pre-retirement pot. Meanwhile, the workplace scheme is growing nicely with contributions of around £3500/yr, which is not insignificant on her modest salary. This pension is not yet “crystallised” and is also aggressively invested through the limited fund selection on that platform. You have spoken at length about pensions but my question has not yet come up, though I appreciate it may be niche. If the SIPP has been crystallised and the Workplace scheme has not, can they still be combined? Does Glynda need to take her tax free cash from her workplace scheme BEFORE transferring/combining this scheme into her SIPP for ease of management? If she opts NOT to take the tax free cash before transferring, does she lose that option? What is the point of “crystallisation”? Why is it even a thing in a world of flexi access drawdown, it seems irrelevant to me. Do platforms charge different levels of fees post-crystallisation? If so, can Glynda transfer her crystallised SIPP to a new provider if savings can be made on fees. Many Thanks, Sam 19:48  Question 4 Hi Pete and Roger, I have been an avid listener to the podcast for a long time now, probably 5 years, what a journey! Thank you for all the content you put out. Pete; I think I read your book first which put me on to the podcast, or perhaps it was the other way around, I can't remember. I'm pleased to say that when I read your book, I then went through it with a fine toothcomb and ticked off everything I needed to do! Needless to say I've been in a good situation for a while now, thanks to you, your book and this podcast. I still use a Meaningful Money Budget Spreadsheet to plan my monthly finances! I did leave a review a good while ago on the app store letting you know how Meaningful Money has helped me! I have attached a picture of my copy of your book, hope you don't mind all the post it notes! My question is surrounding Emergency Funds and what criteria we should apply as to whether something is an “emergency?” Classic things such as a broken down car, a leak in the house or the boiler breaking down are all perfect scenarios for an emergency fund. But what about other more vague scenarios? This question has come about because of my current situation. I unfortunately have a toxic boss and work environment which is affecting my mental health. It's clear I need to leave the job, as my continued attempts to change the environment and my mindset have been unsuccessful. So, I am about to hand in my resignation, in the next few weeks and just go ahead and use my emergency fund, as this detriment to my mental health cannot continue. However, there's a strong feeling inside that this isn't really what an emergency fund is for. Particularly too, as I don't have a strong exit plan. I have no other job lined up, I just need to get out of there. So what do you think? Should the fund have strict rules as to what is, and is not an emergency? I suspect your answer will be that the holder of the emergency fund decides what is and is not an emergency. That being said if there isn't strict rules surrounding it, then it would be quite easy for someone to decide a night out on the ale is an emergency due to a stressful week! Or can the rules be more “fluid” and a night down the pub is acceptable? Sorry about the pun! I'd be interested to know your thoughts. Thanks again and I look forward to hearing your response! Many Thanks, Phil 24:36  Question 5 Hi Pete & Roger Thanks for all your podcast episodes - I've been listening for years and you've saved me a lot of money through not needing to pay an advisor (thanks to your free info) and not making expensive mistakes. I'm not sure if I'm your core demographic (33yo woman in London) but find all your content useful for me, my friends, brother and parents. My question: I co-own a flat and live in it. My friend owns the other half but doesn't live with me. We have a joint residential mortgage and also have to pay a £250pm service charge and ground rent as it's a leasehold with right to manage. It's a 35yr mortgage so we get about £200pm equity and pay around £800pm interest. It's a great flat but I want to move to a larger property in a different area, initially renting as it'll take quite a long time to sell the flat (for various reasons I won't go into!). If we rent the flat out and I go and rent elsewhere, I'll be making a loss on the flat (I'm a 40% taxpayer and the rental income would cover the mortgage + service charge + agency fees but I believe I'd have to pay tax on income not profit hence the loss). There's also insurance, council registration fee, maintenance etc. Obviously I'd then pay rental money to a landlord too for the house I move to. I know property taxes have changed in recent years and I'm very supportive of landlords being taxed on profits. However, my initial research suggests that professional landlords who buy property through companies only pay tax on (company) profits whereas I'd pay tax on revenue. I'd pay 40% vs them paying corp tax (25% ish?). Is my understanding right and is there any regulation or tax relief specifically for "accidental" landlords who are also renting a home themselves rather than having a big empire of properties as a business? Also how would the tax work for co-owners, would I just pay 40% tax on half of the rental income? My friend lives abroad in case that's relevant. I know there are a lot of accidental landlords due to cladding, relationship changes etc so am hoping the question is also useful for other listeners. Thank you! Emma 32:33  Question 6 Thanks for an excellent podcast - one of the best in the personal finance space. Around 6 years ago I inherited a low 6 figure sum which I put into a GIA. Each year I have made Bed & ISA transfers to diffuse any Capital Gains and to move more of my money into a tax shelter. As we have had a strong investment environment over this period I still have a reasonable balance in the GIA. Now the government has reduced the annual Capital Gains allowance to such an extent that I expect to be unable to defuse all of my Capital Gains each year. This will limit the amount I can Bed & ISA and I expect the GIA balance to start increasing compounding the issue. To be honest I don't think this will be an unusual position to be in as you will not require an unfeasible balance in a GIA to pay CGT on "gains" solely due to inflation. My current plan is to allow the above to happen by only utilising my annual CGT allowance and not paying CGT while I am working. My question is how CGT is charged in early retirement. Lets say I stop working at 55 and don't take my pension until 57 (earliest I can). I will have no income for two years so my Personal Allowance will be unused. In this case can I make £15,570 of gains in the year before CGT? Searching online I can only find information on Basic and Higher Rate GGT and not Nil Rate. Thanks, Simon 38:43  Question 7 Hi, Love the podcast. I have some questions about pension contribution limits and tax relief. My taxable employment income for 2024/2025 is around £30k. I already contribute to a workplace pension via salary sacrifice. The total amount paid in by my employer is £12k. I am using my full ISA allowance but still have savings and investments in a GIA, not sheltered from tax and would like to pay a lump sum into a SIPP before the end of the tax year. My questions are: What's the maximum I can pay in? Is it £30k or do I have to subtract my employer workplace contributions, so only 18k? I keep finding conflicting information online! If it's 30k, does this mean I actually pay in 24k? If it's 30k, would I receive government top up on all of it, even though I didn't pay tax on the first £12,570? Does the contribution to a SIPP actually reduce my taxable income? So if I contribute the full £30k (assuming I can) is my personal allowance then unused by employment? I have savings and investments income of around £10k from my GIA. Would this then fall inside my personal allowance and no tax be due? Thanks for any help you can offer. I'm so confused with all the information online! Thanks so much for the podcast - keep up the good work. Alison  

Carry the Fire, Get to the Coast: John Hillcoat's The Road  Bleak & Dark, Hopeless & Beautiful . . . On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss one of the most brutal and powerful films to emerge from the studio system in decades. In 2009 Director John Hillcoat adapted Cormac McCarthy's 2006 novel The Road. Featuring a career best Viggo Mortensen as "Man" and newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee as "Boy" - two of the last surviving humans, left to wander the desperate and perilous remains of a world rapidly dying. There's only so much that should be said in this synopsis. The magic of a viewing is in the discovery. It's a thrill for the both of us to watch, conemplate, and discuss this film. Take a listen. We hope you enjoy it. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.  

Dumbing Down the Future - Mike Judge's Idiocracy This is an especially fun one! This week Mr. Chavez & I take a trip into a very funny, very frightening, and very likely future. In 2006 20th Century Fox released Mike Judge's Idiocracy in a manner that almost guaranteed that no one would ever see it.  . . . but the film would survive. Judge's bleak and pessiimistic vision of the future - the year 2505 - would find a cult audience that would embrace its hilarious prediction of a Professional Wrestler President, warehouse stores as a kind of Mecca, Fast-Food Restaurants as cheap, disgusting food and sex providers, and a population of such minimal intelligence that an "Average Joe" cryogenically frozen and awoken in the future would find himself the "Smartest Man on Earth". Judge spares no targets and we are grateful for the ride Idiocracy takes its viewers on. There's a whole lot to unpack here. Great Satire is usually ahead of its time and that is surely the case with this film. Judge would later joke, "I'm no prophet, I was off by 490 years." Sadly, he was right. Take a listen and let us know if you agree. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Dreams with Gilliam, The Rolling Stones Through the Years,  The Silent Voice, The Magic of Tarkovsky, Zappa, A Trio of Very Different Noir On this week's episode Mr. Chavez & I return to reminiscing on 500 shows. We begin with the beauty and magic of Terry Gilliam with The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, through a look at Rock 'N Roll and The Rolling Stones, A beginning series of movies that defined their decades, the beauty of Soviet Cinema with Andrei Tarkovsky, and The Dark Brilliance of Film Noir. It's a fun look back; We hope you'll take the ride with us. Many Thanks. We can always be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Cinematic Karma - Stanley Kubrick's                     A Clockwork Orange  WatchThis fan and BuyMeACoffee contributor, Alan Lamberg, suggests this week's title, Stanley Kubrick's 1971 controversial (masterpiece - ?), A Clockwork Orange. In the late 60s and early 70s the cinematic landscape was changing and evolving into a very different creature. Arthur Penn's Bonnie & Clyde and Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch would usher in a new era of cinematic violence. Stanley Kubrick would soon pick up the baton and create one of the most polarizing and controversial films ever made. From the novella by Anthony Burgess, Kubrick would create a dystopian England that would change the attitudes and expectations of film audiences. With a powerful and compelling performance by Malcolm McDowell, A Clockwork Orange has riveted audiences since its premiere in 1971. Fifty plus years later we have to ask ourselves if the film continues to offend and frighten as it did those many years ago. Mr. Chavez & I definitely have our opinions and are thrilled to lay it out for you the listener. Sit down, download, and enjoy a spirited discussion on the film, its role in cinematic history, and Kubrick's continuing power as a filmmaker. It's a fun time. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Whitey Saves the Day, Jake Won't Go Down, The Beatles Break Up, & More This week Mr. Chavez & I return to a project that began in the middle of last year, releasing an episode recorded many months ago, and exploring the first 500 shows of WatchThis W/RickRamos. It's taken some time to get back to this, but we find ourselves returning to Memory Lane and plan on spending the next few months peppering the podcast with our reflections on what has come before; what it meant then, what it means now, and what it may mean in the future. A whole lot to unwrap, but we're having a great time doing it. This week reflections on: Denis Villeneuve's Dune, Scorsese's Raging Bull, Hitchcock's Rear Window, and Peter Jackson's The Beatles: Get Back. The opinions are as strong as ever. We thank you for taking the trip with us. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com  - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

When Evil Men Remember: Joshua Oppenheimer, Christina Cynn, & an Anonymous Indonesian Director's The Act of Killing This week Mr. Chavez & I go up river for one of the most powerful, depressing, and meaningful documentaries ever made, The Act of Killing. This 2012 documentary explores the Indonesian mass killings, rapes, and tortures that occurred between 1965 and 1966 of alleged Communist Chinese and others opposed to the Indonesian New Order Regime. What sets this documentary apart from other films of similar subject matter is the straight-forward and excited re-tellings of these war crimes by the very torturers and murderers originally involved and still living unpunished in the country. The filmmakers approach the subject matter in a novel way, allowing the perpetrators to speak freely and - horrifically - to re-enact their crimes through a series of "cinematic re-creations" stylized as War Films, Westerns, and Film Noir. A film that demands to be seen and is an incredible example of what the art of cinema and documentaries are capable of. Take a listen as we explore this powerful and disturbing motion picture. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Warren Buffett sends us into the season to be thankful with his philanthropic acts and his poignant words, and gives us all a place to start the conversation with family about money.   (00:14) Asit Sharma and Dylan Lewis discuss: - NBC's negotiations to extend their rights to broadcast rights to the Macy's Day Parade, and why holiday live events are turning into an arms race. - The expectations for Black Friday through Cyber Monday, and two predictions on the direction of consumer spend and who will be driving it in future years. - Warren Buffett's plans for passing his wealth on to his family and philanthropic efforts, and the words of wisdom we should all have in mind as we get together with loved ones this week.  Visit our sponsor: Learn more about the Range Rover Sport at www.landroverusa.com Companies discussed: CMCSA, M, NFLX, AMZN, BRK.A, BRK.B,  Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Asit Sharma Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices