The Desert of the Reel Podcast
@desertofthereel.bsky.social
Two high school teachers analyzing big blockbusters to uncover philosophical ideas, ethics, analysis, and thinking critically!
Jason thinks they’re not worth our time, is he right?
[email protected]
Jason thinks they’re not worth our time, is he right?
[email protected]
Pinned
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) Harry Didn’t Win Because of Magic. He Won Because of Trust. Desert of the Reel #110
open.spotify.com
Deathly Hallows Pt 2 is a rare thing: a franchise ending that actually means something.
This movie isn’t about spells.
It’s about karma, care, and how to handle when devastation hits.
Endings aren’t about winning.
They’re about what kind of person survives
open.spotify.com/episode/1PYF...
This movie isn’t about spells.
It’s about karma, care, and how to handle when devastation hits.
Endings aren’t about winning.
They’re about what kind of person survives
open.spotify.com/episode/1PYF...
Deathly Hallows Pt 2 is a rare thing: a franchise ending that actually means something.
This movie isn’t about spells.
It’s about karma, care, and how to handle when devastation hits.
Endings aren’t about winning.
They’re about what kind of person survives
open.spotify.com/episode/1PYF...
This movie isn’t about spells.
It’s about karma, care, and how to handle when devastation hits.
Endings aren’t about winning.
They’re about what kind of person survives
open.spotify.com/episode/1PYF...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) Harry Didn’t Win Because of Magic. He Won Because of Trust. Desert of the Reel #110
open.spotify.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Deathly Hallows Pt 2 is a rare thing: a franchise ending that actually means something.
This movie isn’t about spells.
It’s about karma, care, and how to handle when devastation hits.
Endings aren’t about winning.
They’re about what kind of person survives
open.spotify.com/episode/1PYF...
This movie isn’t about spells.
It’s about karma, care, and how to handle when devastation hits.
Endings aren’t about winning.
They’re about what kind of person survives
open.spotify.com/episode/1PYF...
Jason wanted to know why the characters don’t use House Elves to solve all their problems. Finding people, aperating, and elf magic
Deathly Hallows part 1!
Is it only good for fans that have read the book?
We explore Brechtian distancing, the philosophy of sacrifice, whether it is better to die or lose your memory, and many other elements of the film.
open.spotify.com/episode/1OYw...
Is it only good for fans that have read the book?
We explore Brechtian distancing, the philosophy of sacrifice, whether it is better to die or lose your memory, and many other elements of the film.
open.spotify.com/episode/1OYw...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010) - Desert of the Reel #109
open.spotify.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Jason wanted to know why the characters don’t use House Elves to solve all their problems. Finding people, aperating, and elf magic
Deathly Hallows part 1!
Is it only good for fans that have read the book?
We explore Brechtian distancing, the philosophy of sacrifice, whether it is better to die or lose your memory, and many other elements of the film.
open.spotify.com/episode/1OYw...
Is it only good for fans that have read the book?
We explore Brechtian distancing, the philosophy of sacrifice, whether it is better to die or lose your memory, and many other elements of the film.
open.spotify.com/episode/1OYw...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010) - Desert of the Reel #109
open.spotify.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Deathly Hallows part 1!
Is it only good for fans that have read the book?
We explore Brechtian distancing, the philosophy of sacrifice, whether it is better to die or lose your memory, and many other elements of the film.
open.spotify.com/episode/1OYw...
Is it only good for fans that have read the book?
We explore Brechtian distancing, the philosophy of sacrifice, whether it is better to die or lose your memory, and many other elements of the film.
open.spotify.com/episode/1OYw...
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The worst one? This one feels different than the rest.
We examine its structure, ethical choices characters make, and how evil, fear, and self-confidence originate within us.
What are your thoughts?
open.spotify.com/episode/4uHO...
The worst one? This one feels different than the rest.
We examine its structure, ethical choices characters make, and how evil, fear, and self-confidence originate within us.
What are your thoughts?
open.spotify.com/episode/4uHO...
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009) - Desert of the Reel #108
open.spotify.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The worst one? This one feels different than the rest.
We examine its structure, ethical choices characters make, and how evil, fear, and self-confidence originate within us.
What are your thoughts?
open.spotify.com/episode/4uHO...
The worst one? This one feels different than the rest.
We examine its structure, ethical choices characters make, and how evil, fear, and self-confidence originate within us.
What are your thoughts?
open.spotify.com/episode/4uHO...
Jason decided to watch Interstellar after years of students asking him
We discuss love, death, sacrifice, good, evil, free will, lying, time, gravity, the nature of knowledge, auteur theory, and a bunch of other stuff in one of our longest episodes ever!
open.spotify.com/episode/5NBI...
We discuss love, death, sacrifice, good, evil, free will, lying, time, gravity, the nature of knowledge, auteur theory, and a bunch of other stuff in one of our longest episodes ever!
open.spotify.com/episode/5NBI...
Interstellar (2014) - Do Not Go Gently - Jason's Choice #19
open.spotify.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Jason decided to watch Interstellar after years of students asking him
We discuss love, death, sacrifice, good, evil, free will, lying, time, gravity, the nature of knowledge, auteur theory, and a bunch of other stuff in one of our longest episodes ever!
open.spotify.com/episode/5NBI...
We discuss love, death, sacrifice, good, evil, free will, lying, time, gravity, the nature of knowledge, auteur theory, and a bunch of other stuff in one of our longest episodes ever!
open.spotify.com/episode/5NBI...
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
We discuss: The importance of asking WHY? Defending our brains, look at the dangers of bureaucracy, the power of fear, go over some of the differences from the book, and use the Mind-Body theory (posthuman) lens!
open.spotify.com/episode/6KUz...
We discuss: The importance of asking WHY? Defending our brains, look at the dangers of bureaucracy, the power of fear, go over some of the differences from the book, and use the Mind-Body theory (posthuman) lens!
open.spotify.com/episode/6KUz...
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) Is it Time to Revolt? DOTR # 107
open.spotify.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
We discuss: The importance of asking WHY? Defending our brains, look at the dangers of bureaucracy, the power of fear, go over some of the differences from the book, and use the Mind-Body theory (posthuman) lens!
open.spotify.com/episode/6KUz...
We discuss: The importance of asking WHY? Defending our brains, look at the dangers of bureaucracy, the power of fear, go over some of the differences from the book, and use the Mind-Body theory (posthuman) lens!
open.spotify.com/episode/6KUz...
Jason's next "Jason's Choice" is going to be Interstellar!
He has told students for years that he "refuses to watch it" because they can't believe he's never seen it.
He has told students for years that he "refuses to watch it" because they can't believe he's never seen it.
a man in a space suit with the words this little maneuver 's gonna cost us 51 years above him
ALT: a man in a space suit with the words this little maneuver 's gonna cost us 51 years above him
media.tenor.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Jason's next "Jason's Choice" is going to be Interstellar!
He has told students for years that he "refuses to watch it" because they can't believe he's never seen it.
He has told students for years that he "refuses to watch it" because they can't believe he's never seen it.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!
We discuss rule-bound ethics, rebellion against unjust or illogical laws, death studies, and the need for us to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses, effective in life, and have the power to attack the injustice in the world.
open.spotify.com/episode/1WBH...
We discuss rule-bound ethics, rebellion against unjust or illogical laws, death studies, and the need for us to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses, effective in life, and have the power to attack the injustice in the world.
open.spotify.com/episode/1WBH...
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire-DOTR #106
open.spotify.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!
We discuss rule-bound ethics, rebellion against unjust or illogical laws, death studies, and the need for us to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses, effective in life, and have the power to attack the injustice in the world.
open.spotify.com/episode/1WBH...
We discuss rule-bound ethics, rebellion against unjust or illogical laws, death studies, and the need for us to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses, effective in life, and have the power to attack the injustice in the world.
open.spotify.com/episode/1WBH...
We are on Christmas break as teachers, but we will still get out our next episode (back to Harry Potter) next week!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
The "logical flaws" of the sewer system drive Jason crazy, but we discuss the essential nature of logos and pathos in our quest to de-other, and we examine the ethics of the Colonel's choice to kill his son
open.spotify.com/episode/3cMg...
The "logical flaws" of the sewer system drive Jason crazy, but we discuss the essential nature of logos and pathos in our quest to de-other, and we examine the ethics of the Colonel's choice to kill his son
open.spotify.com/episode/3cMg...
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) - Desert of the Reel #105
open.spotify.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
We are on Christmas break as teachers, but we will still get out our next episode (back to Harry Potter) next week!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Been trying to spend less time on social media, but we are still working on giving you podcasts every week!
December 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Been trying to spend less time on social media, but we are still working on giving you podcasts every week!
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
The "logical flaws" of the sewer system drive Jason crazy, but we discuss the essential nature of logos and pathos in our quest to de-other, and we examine the ethics of the Colonel's choice to kill his son
open.spotify.com/episode/3cMg...
The "logical flaws" of the sewer system drive Jason crazy, but we discuss the essential nature of logos and pathos in our quest to de-other, and we examine the ethics of the Colonel's choice to kill his son
open.spotify.com/episode/3cMg...
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) - Desert of the Reel #105
open.spotify.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:43 PM
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
The "logical flaws" of the sewer system drive Jason crazy, but we discuss the essential nature of logos and pathos in our quest to de-other, and we examine the ethics of the Colonel's choice to kill his son
open.spotify.com/episode/3cMg...
The "logical flaws" of the sewer system drive Jason crazy, but we discuss the essential nature of logos and pathos in our quest to de-other, and we examine the ethics of the Colonel's choice to kill his son
open.spotify.com/episode/3cMg...
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) an incredible sequel with lots of ideas and ethics to explore.
We explore some ideas of rewiring our brain to "de-other," inaction vs action, weaponizing love, rewiring our brains, and what makes someone truly human?
open.spotify.com/episode/5oiC...
We explore some ideas of rewiring our brain to "de-other," inaction vs action, weaponizing love, rewiring our brains, and what makes someone truly human?
open.spotify.com/episode/5oiC...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
December 13, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) an incredible sequel with lots of ideas and ethics to explore.
We explore some ideas of rewiring our brain to "de-other," inaction vs action, weaponizing love, rewiring our brains, and what makes someone truly human?
open.spotify.com/episode/5oiC...
We explore some ideas of rewiring our brain to "de-other," inaction vs action, weaponizing love, rewiring our brains, and what makes someone truly human?
open.spotify.com/episode/5oiC...
Reposted by The Desert of the Reel Podcast
Netflix spent $320 million on The Electric State, they know what they’re doing
December 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Netflix spent $320 million on The Electric State, they know what they’re doing
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011): The beginning of one of the most underrated trilogies of all time?
We discuss the importance of rage, use Critical Animal Studies, and explore various ethical schools of thought about animal testing.
open.spotify.com/episode/7GI4...
We discuss the importance of rage, use Critical Animal Studies, and explore various ethical schools of thought about animal testing.
open.spotify.com/episode/7GI4...
DOTR #103 - Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) When do We Need Rage?
open.spotify.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011): The beginning of one of the most underrated trilogies of all time?
We discuss the importance of rage, use Critical Animal Studies, and explore various ethical schools of thought about animal testing.
open.spotify.com/episode/7GI4...
We discuss the importance of rage, use Critical Animal Studies, and explore various ethical schools of thought about animal testing.
open.spotify.com/episode/7GI4...
Small but this makes us very happy!
December 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Small but this makes us very happy!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 🦃🍗🙏
November 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 🦃🍗🙏
Reposted by The Desert of the Reel Podcast
Happy gentleman sleuths day #benoitblanc #wakeupdeadman
November 26, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Happy gentleman sleuths day #benoitblanc #wakeupdeadman
Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)!
Is this the best one?
We talk about overcoming fear, film form, the lens of the “Fantastic,” looking at motifs, and more!
open.spotify.com/episode/30sp...
Is this the best one?
We talk about overcoming fear, film form, the lens of the “Fantastic,” looking at motifs, and more!
open.spotify.com/episode/30sp...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)!
Is this the best one?
We talk about overcoming fear, film form, the lens of the “Fantastic,” looking at motifs, and more!
open.spotify.com/episode/30sp...
Is this the best one?
We talk about overcoming fear, film form, the lens of the “Fantastic,” looking at motifs, and more!
open.spotify.com/episode/30sp...
Chamber of Secrets!
Jason thinks the basilisk is inconsistent but we talk about choices vs ability and look at the movie with a post-humanist Lens.
Is this one of the worst HP movies? Or is it not too bad?
open.spotify.com/episode/5Bcv...
Jason thinks the basilisk is inconsistent but we talk about choices vs ability and look at the movie with a post-humanist Lens.
Is this one of the worst HP movies? Or is it not too bad?
open.spotify.com/episode/5Bcv...
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - Choices vs Ability - The Desert of the Reel #102
open.spotify.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Chamber of Secrets!
Jason thinks the basilisk is inconsistent but we talk about choices vs ability and look at the movie with a post-humanist Lens.
Is this one of the worst HP movies? Or is it not too bad?
open.spotify.com/episode/5Bcv...
Jason thinks the basilisk is inconsistent but we talk about choices vs ability and look at the movie with a post-humanist Lens.
Is this one of the worst HP movies? Or is it not too bad?
open.spotify.com/episode/5Bcv...
On our new Harry Potter episode, we talk about personality tests, the magic system, and philosophical ideas we find like love, power, and character archetypes.
open.spotify.com/episode/2Gpf...
open.spotify.com/episode/2Gpf...
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) - Fate, Love, and Philosophy! - The Desert of the Reel #101
open.spotify.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:06 PM
On our new Harry Potter episode, we talk about personality tests, the magic system, and philosophical ideas we find like love, power, and character archetypes.
open.spotify.com/episode/2Gpf...
open.spotify.com/episode/2Gpf...
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
We actually find a lot of big ideas in this film. Jason argues the rest of the franchise is this story repeated but we think this one starts off strong!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
We actually find a lot of big ideas in this film. Jason argues the rest of the franchise is this story repeated but we think this one starts off strong!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) - Fate, Love, and Philosophy! - The Desert of the Reel #101
Podcast Episode · The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · 11/14/2025 · 1h 36m
podcasts.apple.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
We actually find a lot of big ideas in this film. Jason argues the rest of the franchise is this story repeated but we think this one starts off strong!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
We actually find a lot of big ideas in this film. Jason argues the rest of the franchise is this story repeated but we think this one starts off strong!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
For our 100th episode, we recorded a special episode dedicated to showing and discussing Bluey with Jason!
open.spotify.com/episode/4Lrx...
open.spotify.com/episode/4Lrx...
open.spotify.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:40 PM
For our 100th episode, we recorded a special episode dedicated to showing and discussing Bluey with Jason!
open.spotify.com/episode/4Lrx...
open.spotify.com/episode/4Lrx...
We had some disagreements about whether Kiri was interesting/a good character or not in Way of Water.
What do you believe?
open.spotify.com/episode/3vUQ...
What do you believe?
open.spotify.com/episode/3vUQ...
November 2, 2025 at 4:18 PM
We had some disagreements about whether Kiri was interesting/a good character or not in Way of Water.
What do you believe?
open.spotify.com/episode/3vUQ...
What do you believe?
open.spotify.com/episode/3vUQ...
Avatar The Way of Water!
After Jason loved the first one, did he like the second one? No! We spend a long time debating if it is good or not. What do you think?
We examine Media Ecology/Techno theory, Narrative Theory, character development, and growth.
open.spotify.com/episode/3vUQ...
After Jason loved the first one, did he like the second one? No! We spend a long time debating if it is good or not. What do you think?
We examine Media Ecology/Techno theory, Narrative Theory, character development, and growth.
open.spotify.com/episode/3vUQ...
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) - A Movie that Makes us Care about the Real World or A Disappointing Sequel? - The Desert of the Reel #99
open.spotify.com
November 2, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Avatar The Way of Water!
After Jason loved the first one, did he like the second one? No! We spend a long time debating if it is good or not. What do you think?
We examine Media Ecology/Techno theory, Narrative Theory, character development, and growth.
open.spotify.com/episode/3vUQ...
After Jason loved the first one, did he like the second one? No! We spend a long time debating if it is good or not. What do you think?
We examine Media Ecology/Techno theory, Narrative Theory, character development, and growth.
open.spotify.com/episode/3vUQ...