Podcast appearances and mentions of Michael Dixon

On the heels of our Disclosure Day (2026) episode, we're taking another slice of the Spielberg pie as we dissect his Kubrick-inspired sci-fi film A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001).  Is it an overlooked masterpiece deserving of reassessment, or is it a fractured mess that doesn't quite work?

We're down a host this week, but we threw in an extra movie to make it up to you.  John's in the mood for offbeat indie comedies with A Different Man (2024), Aaron Schimberg's dark exploration of identity and disability, and I Love Boosters (2026), Boots Riley's surreal exposé of capitalism in the fashion industry.  Dixon's skewing more mainstream with Toy Story 1-4 (1995-2019), and the Nicolas Cage Marvel television show Spider-Noir (2026).

July 23rd, 2026 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon MusicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not often that we bring so many new movies to the podcast for Recommend or Refute or main discussions, but here we are. The new Steven Spielberg film is loose and somehow it's getting positive reviews. Clocking in at almost 2.5 hours, Disclosure Day (2026) is Spielberg's take on what's required to get the truth out into the universe, but is it truly Spielberg's best film in 20 years (according to certain outlets)?  Dixon and John don't have much nice to say about it. Are they just being haters? With a special guest sitting in, what afterthoughts will be disclosed? You'll just to have to listen to find out.

July 10th, 2026 Its Friday! and It's time to gather up the brain trust of Sean Bass & Michael Dixon & the makeshift Hardline (Kevin Landrum, Mark Elfenbein & Rich Philips) led by Dick Hicks to give us birthdays, shoutouts, 'on this day in history' and any other nuggets to show you Why Today Doesn't Suck. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon MusicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have quite a contemporary collection of choices to present on this episode of Recommend or Refute. Ryan decided to conjure up a snakes on a plane by watching last year's Anaconda (2025) as his in-flight feature. Dixon ventured into the directorial debut of liminal space aficionado Kane Parsons as he maps out his thoughts on Backrooms (2026), and John shares his impressions of Michael Sarnoski's meditation on myth and legacy with The Death of Robin Hood (2026).

You're under podcast arrest! The charge? You know what you did. You tried to skip this episode, that's what you did. Well, you're not getting off that easy. You're now legally obligated to listen to this episode's discussion on The Trial (1962). Upon completion of a listen you will be granted an ostensible acquittal. Upon completion of listening to our backlog of episodes, you'll be granted a definite acquittal until the next episode is published.

It's recommendin' and refutin' time!  Ryan breaks down Don Bluth's animated sci-fi Titan A.E. (2000), John shines a light on the indie television comedy The Dress Up Gang (2019), and Dixon turns the clock back 79 years to discuss Orson Welles' film noir classic The Lady from Shanghai (1947).

June 13th, 2026 Tyler "Tip Sheet" Samsel and Michael Dixon discuss rising in the standings and getting back to a .500 record and some core players returned to the lineup. Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want to be me, be me.  And if you want to be you, be you.  Cuz there's a million ways to beeeee.  You know that there are.  Oh sorry, I didn't see you there.  I was just singing along to the soulful folk music of Cat Stevens' score to Harold and Maude (1971).  Pull up a chair and join John, Ryan, and Dixon as we discuss this darkly comedic meditation on life, death, and finding joy in the little things.

Dixon's back to discuss the Don Hertzfeldt animated short World of Tomorrow (2015), John breaks down the animated feature film Boys Go to Jupiter (2024), and Ryan recounts his experience watching The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) with his family.

Join the Afterthoughts crew as we take a trippy, philosophical, animated journey through time from Adam and Eve to space robots and back again.  Marcell Jankovics' ambitious epic twenty-three years in the making tells the story of man's doomed, repeated attempts to attain meaning and immortality in the face of Lucifer's cunning sabotage.  I bet you've never seen anything quite like this.

Bruce Levine & Michael Dixon off Stars pre, post, & intermission report fame do what they do best & talk some Stars hockey, specificly the Stars off-season plans (cus ya know they got knockedout in the First round).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bruce Levine & Michael Dixon welcome EA Azad (their producer for the progam today) to come on & talk some movies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Recommend or Refute, Dixon continues with his Italy-on-the-mind movie watching recs, Ryan takes the bullet for all of us and talks about the latest Avatar, and John brings two different mainstream touchstones from bygone eras. 

Put on your tinfoil hats, pack your economy size antihistamine topical ointment, and take your emotion-suppressant supplements. The Afterthoughts crew is about to dive head first into the misanthropic honey of Yorgos Lanthimos's Bugonia. Whether you fancy yourself a queen bee or just another worker drone, you owe it to yourself to reflect on the health of the colony --what better way to do that than through this discussion on an intimate, conspiracy-propelled dark comedy laced with biting social commentary.

April 22nd, 2026 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon MusicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 20th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with defenseman Nils Lundkvist after the Stars even the series against Minnesota 1-1 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's recommendin' and refutin' time. John explores the Madonna starring sexy thriller Body of Evidence (1993), Ryan goes completely off the rails and talks about some fucking video game called Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2025), and Dixon dissects Orson Welles' favorite Fellini film The White Sheik (1952).

Take a journey with us to the small town of Virgil, Texas and meet its many quirky inhabitants. Like Louis Fyne, a big dancin' bear on the hunt for matrimony, Earl Culver, the bigwig in charge of growing tech company Varicorp, and The Lazy Woman, who's too rich to ever leave the comfort of her bed. The influential and unforgettable True Stories (1986) shows Texas at a turning point and David Byrne at the height of his artistic powers.

April 11th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with forward Matt Duchene after the Stars win 2-0 at home against the New York Rangers Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 9th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with forward Colin Blackwell after the Stars win 5-4 at home against the Minnesota Wild Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 7th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with forward Mikko Rantanen after the Stars win 4-3 in OT at home against the Calgary Flames. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Freshly waking from the nightmare of Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut, the Afterthoughts crew is back with a more grounded, less rant-filled Recommend or Refute. Join John, Dixon, and Ryan as they try to push the trauma of Zack Snyder's vision from their mind's eye with some more digestible cinematic offerings.

April 2nd, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with forward Adam Erne after the Stars win 3-0 home against the Winnipeg Jets. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a day late to publish, but it was truly the greatest April Fools prank to ever be played on Dixon.What do you get when you take a groundbreaking comic series (DON'T SAY GRAPHIC NOVEL) and adapt it into a hyper-stylized, bloated, overly simplified late-aughts superhero film? You get Zack Snyder's Watchmen! What happens when John picks this film for his episode? You get quality Dixon rants, passionate Ryan critiques, and an abundance of John attempting to stifle his sadistic laughter all in an episode that somehow clocks in under the runtime of the theatrical version.

Ryan's not with us for this episode (he's still alive as far as we know), so John and Dixon are doing our first ever Recommend AND Refute episode, in which they both bring one movie to recommend and one to refute. Can you guess which is which? Dixon discusses Emerald Fennell's new romance Wuthering Heights (2026) and Michael Winterbottom's hangout comedy The Trip to Italy (2014) while John dissects the conflicted VH1 biopic Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story (2004) and Baz Luhrmann's EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026).

March 16th, 2026 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon MusicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan, John, and Dixon grapple with mortality, divinity, and the meaning of life as they piece together Ingmar Bergman's inconic masterpiece The Seventh Seal (1957).  Join us in our futile search for purpose as we await our inevitable dance with Death.

March 14th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with defenseman Lian Bichsel after the Stars win 3-2 in OT at home against the Detroit Red Wings Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March 12th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with Jamie Benn as the Stars thrash the Edmonton Oilers 7-2 at home. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March 10th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with the newest member of the Dallas Stars, Tyler Myers, as the team continues their dominance with a win over the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dixon and John grab a quick cup of coffee and chat about a few films that didn't make it into the 2025 Retrospectacular episode. Grab your "Don't talk to me until I've had my movies" mug and add a few extra shots of cinema to your usual intake, courtesy of Afterthoughts' first pour over episode.

March 8th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with Michael Bunting after a stars come from behind win against the Chicago Blackhawks Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've got some recommends and refutes hot and ready for you. Ryan breaks down the latest Disney animated film Zootopia 2 (2025), Dixon reviews the Italian road buddy comedy Il Sorpasso (1962), and John tackles the new horror film from Youtube sensation Mark Fischbach Iron Lung (2026).

February 28th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with Nathan Bastian after a comeback win for the Stars 3-2 in overtime over the Nashville Predators Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 25th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with Casey DeSmith in for the Gold medal winning Jake Oettinger tonight as the Stars come back from the Olympic break with a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just three wankers yammerin' on about a classic British comedy in the countryside.

In this episode of Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges, Norm and Mary Hitzges break down Super Bowl 60 and the message it delivered — again — to the rest of the NFL.The final score shows Seattle Seahawks 29, New England Patriots 13, but Norm explains why the game was never that close. Seattle's defense controlled the afternoon from start to finish, confusing young quarterback Drake May with late-shifting coverages, constant pressure, and disciplined execution. Norm points out that this win adds to a now overwhelming trend: the team with the better defense has won 49 of the 60 Super Bowls.From there, Norm turns his attention to the Dallas Cowboys — and doesn't mince words. He argues that Dallas continues to ignore the most obvious lesson in football history, investing heavily in offense while hoping defense will somehow catch up. Norm lays out exactly what the Cowboys should do: use early draft picks and available free-agent money on five or six defensive players who can contribute immediately.The episode also highlights Seattle's overlooked advantages, including elite special-teams play from kicker Jason Myers and punter Michael Dixon, who consistently flipped field position. Norm praises head coach Mike McDonald's brilliant game plan, noting how Seattle built a championship defense without relying on massive salaries — instead emphasizing smart drafts, mid-tier contracts, and cohesion.It's a familiar lesson, delivered once again on the biggest stage: offense sells hope, but defense still wins championships.⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Did Super Bowl 60 send Dallas a message?01:25 – Why the final score doesn't tell the story02:12 – 49 of 60 Super Bowls: the defense statistic that won't go away03:06 – Seattle's defensive domination explained04:02 – New England's stalled possessions and short drives05:51 – Befuddling Drake May with late-shift defenses06:29 – Turnovers, sacks, and constant pressure07:18 – Seattle's special teams flip the field08:11 – Why Kenneth Walker deserved MVP09:03 – Mike McDonald's brilliant defensive blueprint10:39 – How Seattle built a championship defense11:29 – Cowboys Organization: did you get the message?12:14 – Sponsor message: Bob's Steak & Chop House12:40 – Full Moon Healing Balm14:14 – Subscribe, follow, and final thoughts Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened. New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don't hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

We're back with a light and fun episode about cancer, bureaucracy, and the desperate search for meaning. I'm pretty sure we're gonna find it at the bottom of this next bottle of whisky, stomach pains be damned.

Febraury 4th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with Thomas Harley as the Stars roll into the Olympic break on a six game win streak after a 5-4 victory against the Blues. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Febraury 2nd, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with Adam Erne after the Stars win a battle in overtime against the Winnipeg Jets 4-3. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brady is back on a Friday as we are just two weeks away from spring training! He talks about the news that Rick Rizzs is retiring at the end of 2026 and shares some of his Rick Rizzs memories. Then, he talks about if it's time to bring back Eugenio Suarez and the questions that it still entails. Also, what's the situation with the M's depth pitching options?And, we're joined by Dallas Stars radio host Michael Dixon to talk about his M's fandom and much more.***It should be noted that the Dixon interview was taped before the Rizzs news, so we couldn't ask him about it.***

It's that special time of year again! Time for Dixon, John, and Ryan to reflect on all the good and bad media they can squeeze into 365 days. Join us for a roundtable recollection of 2025's highest points and Highest2Lowest points. We've got new categories and a lot of tangents to take you on, so check the charge on your headphones and settle in for a nice batch of afterthoughts to ring in the New Year.

January 20th, 2026 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with young forward Justin Hryckowian after his big game helping guide the Stars dominate over the Bruins 6-2. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

January 15th, 2026 Michael Dixon & Bruce Levine welcome on the General Manager of the Dallas STars to talk the rough stretch as of recent & contract talks with Jason Robertson. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 4th, 2025 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with Nils Lundkvist after the Dallas get a dominating home win against the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 30th, 2025 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with Colin Blackwell after the Stars defeat the Ottawa Senators 6-1 at the American Airlines Center Sunday night Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 9th, 2025 Bruce Levine and Michael Dixon talk with Miro Heiskanen after the Stars defeat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on home ice Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon Music See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.