Joe Dirt (2001) with James Edmondson

Is Joe Dirt the best movie to watch while you crush Mountain Dew and hang out with your pals in a garage? There’s only one answer to that question, according to James Edmondson, who studied at TypeMedia in The Hague, Netherlands. In 2015 James launched his type company Ohno whose specimens do include Joe Dirt references, or breadcrumbs, or crumbs if you will. James has grown Ohno into an awesome company and brought in staff who care as much about type as he does. “Taking something silly very seriously,” matters to James and as Ohno’s Instagram suggests, “Graphic Design should be fun.” Yes, Joe Dirt has plenty of problems, but looking broadly at its humor, music, and story, would this sprawling romp make a fun Broadway Musical? Listen in to discover why, or why not.

Raising Arizona (1987) with Briar Levit

Educator, writer, historian and archivist, and collector Briar Levit (who is a filmmaker too!!) talks about why Raising Arizona is an all-time favorite. Not only is this rompy Coen Brothers movie full of humor, poetic speech, non-sequiturs, fun music, and Looney Tunes cartoon-style mayhem, but it also has a great cast and memorable dialogue. Also hear about Fargo the movie and series, old-timey words, horrifying movies penned by Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men and The Counselor), heads in boxes, big type for titles, and shopping for movies at Goodwill. Finally, learn about Briar’s love of Boardwalk Empire, Blazing Saddles, and Monty Python, among others. Plus? Something for our research-driven listeners. What’s the connection between Raising Arizona and a Serbian biology textbook? Listen to find out.

One Crazy Summer Bonus Memories with Mike Wirth

You want more? YOU GOT IT! Plenty of tangents, arts and crafts, and more swear words than usual make this bonus episode go to eleven (apologies to Nigel Tufnel). Further One Crazy Summer discussion, plus we talk about synthesizers, MIDI, PageMaker, organizing your movies nicely on shelves, 2009’s Up in the Air, packing and moving, murals, paint and emotion, beer can designs, sketchbooks versus laptops, NYC’s Strand Book Store, Bill Murray’s brother Joel, and if you listen closely you’ll hear Jason’s pugs barking in the background every so often.

One Crazy Summer (1986) with Mike Wirth

Savage Steve Holland’s 1986 comedy One Crazy Summer has mostly been overlooked, or forgotten, a shame since it blends genres—and media—into a big sweet, salty, and sometimes spicy milkshake of a movie. Guilty pleasure? Not quite, according to Mike Wirth who wonders, Why couldn’t John Cusack’s Hoops McCann have been Hoops Leibowitz? A Southern, Jewish-American originally from New York, Mike focuses on social justice and identity, fusing complex and personal issues and influences into his art. This autumn, he leads a community mural project with the Charlotte Jewish Federation, commemorating those lost on October 7th. His information design How Our Laws are Made was featured on the Daily Show blog in 2011, and lives on at Wikipedia. Listen in as we discuss whammy animations, world-in-world experiences, Better Off Dead, Grosse Pointe Blank, Singles, Chainsaw Date and Hemorrhoids from Hell, Bobcat Goldthwait, comic book icons Archie and Betty and Veronica, and The Goonies, plus silly sequel and prequel ideas for One Crazy Summer.

Civil War (2024) with Diane Faye Zerr

Is Civil War “just a joy ride with some press” or maybe, perhaps, it’s a movie full of chaos, evil, the horrors of war, and so much substance that it requires a second or third watch to make sense of it? Artist, illustrator, designer Diane Faye Zerr weighs in on the movie and Kirsten Dunst’s character Lee who’s a war photographer, and we talk about the strong roles for women that writer & director Alex Garland has become known for. We also discuss car washes, PTSD, foreshadowing, horror, and bits and pieces of the movies Apocalypse Now, Saving Private Ryan, and Prisoners. Check out Diane’s Etsy shop, and be sure to follow her on Instagram.

All the President’s Men (1976) with Michael Bierut

President Richard M. Nixon resigned August 9, 1974, and fifty years later the events surrounding his time in office still reverberate. Chief among them, the Watergate scandal and reporting by The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein who began their work in 1972, dramatized in All the President’s Men. Pentagram Partner Michael Bierut explains why the movie matters, and praises William Goldman’s adaptation of the original story by Woodward and Bernstein. Plus, learn about Goldman’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Marathon Man, and The Princess Bride, as well as David Fincher’s Zodiac with some Radiohead and The Social Network thrown into the mix. We also discuss cinematographer Gordon Willis, who worked on All the President’s Men and was featured in the documentary Keepers of the Magic.

The Verdict (1982) with Paula Scher

Paula Scher calls The Verdict “a favorite” and rightfully so. The performances are spectacular, the mystery keeps you engaged, and the ending leaves a mark. In addition to the movie, we discuss dedication and focus, Better Call Saul, pinball, Cool Hand Luke, and Michael Clayton, although not in that order. Her new book, Paula Scher: Works, chronicles her early days in the music industry as an art director with CBS Records and Atlantic Records, to the launch of her first studio Koppel & Scher, to her 25-year engagement with Pentagram.

Die Hard (1988) with Sean McCaul

What’s the best book-to-film adaptation, and could it be Die Hard? Sean McCaul, of Citizen By Design, asserts his deep adoration for the Bruce Willis action flick. Along the way we discuss Frank Lloyd Wright, terrorism, Moonlighting and Blind Date, plus 1994’s The Crow. For good measure, we get into Batman & Robin and how the comic book detectives connect to 1995’s Die Hard with a Vengeance and Se7en. Plus, because villains are fun, we touch on 2024’s Wicked and 2021’s Cruella.

Highlander (1986) with Tom Muller

Tom Muller digs into Highlander’s poster design, then we segue into home video and organizing old school cassette libraries. Also includes talk about Highlander II, Time Bandits, Conan the Barbarian, Sponge Bob, The Old Guard, and Henry Cavill’s upcoming Highlander remake.

Pretty in Pink (1986) with Nikki Villagomez

Nikki Villagomez knows a thing or two about fonts, not only because she’s a designer but also because she’s a published author and historian who loves typography. Learn about her new book Culture+Typography: Examples in Font Pairings, and learn about why Pretty in Pink means so much to her. Plus, we touch on Miami Vice, the new Brat Pack Brats documentary, Mondrian, and hair gel.

Tron (1982) with Tim Lapetino

Greetings, Programs! Meet designer, writer, curator, and historian Tim Lapetino. Armed with a passion for digital and visual culture, Tim shares insights about Tron, its production, sequels, and video games. WarGames, classic sci-fi, artificial intelligence, and The Big Lebowski also come into play.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) with Oen Michael Hammonds

Is The Wrath of Khan (TWOK) the very best of the Star Trek franchise? What can it teach us about artificial intelligence and design thinking? Master and Commander, Saving Private Ryan, Prey, and Echo come into the discussion too with AIGA Austin Fellow and IBM Distinguished Design Executive Oen Michael Hammonds, who works at the intersection of design and business to create meaningful, valuable products and services for people.

My Octopus Teacher (2020) with Anna Jordan

Award-winning book cover designer Anna Jordan, who’s also a competitive swimmer, believes in having a life outside of design. She reveals why My Octopus Teacher means so much to her and how she sets goals in the classroom as a teacher herself, plus we learn why Backstreet Boys altered her life.

What’s Coming Soon in June 2024

Hope you've enjoyed what you've heard so far, or if it’s your first time listening, here’s a trailer for what’s coming soon.

Excalibur Bonus Memories with Bill Childs

Accomplished marketing leader Bill Childs shares even more memories about 1981’s Excalibur, explaining how John Boorman’s (cult) classic inspired Bill’s own creative process, plus teaching yourself to be a filmmaker, wedding cinematography, and early technology like 1984’s Apple Macintosh.

Excalibur (1981) with Bill Childs

STAND BACK! Be silent! Be still as Bill Childs analyzes this fantastical take on Le Morte d'Arthur, with a little Highlander (1986) thrown in, plus practical versus digital effects, and movie posters.

The Sword in the Stone (1963) with Amy Hood

WHIZ-BANG GADZOOKS! Amy Hood talks about Disney’s classic take on the Arthur Legend, along the way learn about animation styles, lettering, title design, and the value of every tiny design detail.