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
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
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...
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...
Reposted by The Desert of the Reel Podcast
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...
We bring up how saying Avatar is “just Pocahontas with blue people” is NOT a good argument!
spotify.link/M6UXL74yLXb
spotify.link/M6UXL74yLXb
October 26, 2025 at 12:02 AM
We bring up how saying Avatar is “just Pocahontas with blue people” is NOT a good argument!
spotify.link/M6UXL74yLXb
spotify.link/M6UXL74yLXb
Avatar (2009)! We take a look at the history and background, tropes that surface and how Avatar pushes against them, and various philosophical musings. In fact, A #philosophical playground. We exploring the careful way Cameron created the culture of the Na'vi.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Avatar (2009) - Exploring the Complexity of Culture - The Desert of the Reel #98
Podcast Episode · The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · 10/24/2025 · 1h 32m
podcasts.apple.com
October 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Avatar (2009)! We take a look at the history and background, tropes that surface and how Avatar pushes against them, and various philosophical musings. In fact, A #philosophical playground. We exploring the careful way Cameron created the culture of the Na'vi.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
What are your thoughts on Avatar (2009)? We can give you a shout out on this weeks episode!
October 19, 2025 at 6:24 PM
What are your thoughts on Avatar (2009)? We can give you a shout out on this weeks episode!
October 19, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Reposted by The Desert of the Reel Podcast
Harry Langdon shares his pants birds in THE STRONG MAN
October 19, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Harry Langdon shares his pants birds in THE STRONG MAN
Reposted by The Desert of the Reel Podcast
New episode dropped today and was so excited I forgot to tell anyone.
We cover a little known indie film which spawned 3 increasingly better sequels.
Join us as we give an idiot's guide (a guide by idiots) to production, plot, cast and play a throwback game.
Listen now!
#filmsky #moviesky
We cover a little known indie film which spawned 3 increasingly better sequels.
Join us as we give an idiot's guide (a guide by idiots) to production, plot, cast and play a throwback game.
Listen now!
#filmsky #moviesky
October 15, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Nefarious (2023) A demon interviewing an atheist? Lots of interesting philosophical ideas and questions! Jason wanted to explore this film
We need to be critical what we put into ourselves and we must uplift other people!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
We need to be critical what we put into ourselves and we must uplift other people!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Nefarious (2023) - Jason's Choice #18 - The Desert of the Reel
Podcast Episode · The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · 10/17/2025 · 1h 20m
podcasts.apple.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Nefarious (2023) A demon interviewing an atheist? Lots of interesting philosophical ideas and questions! Jason wanted to explore this film
We need to be critical what we put into ourselves and we must uplift other people!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
We need to be critical what we put into ourselves and we must uplift other people!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Reposted by The Desert of the Reel Podcast
Here we go!
It's time to play "What's the Score?"
Listen, guess and get your score when you send your answers to my DM.
(See rules in the reply to this post).
BONUS: Guess this week's connection for 5 extra points!
NO AUDIO SEARCH please!
1/2
#filmsky #moviesky #musicsky #games #quiz #fun
It's time to play "What's the Score?"
Listen, guess and get your score when you send your answers to my DM.
(See rules in the reply to this post).
BONUS: Guess this week's connection for 5 extra points!
NO AUDIO SEARCH please!
1/2
#filmsky #moviesky #musicsky #games #quiz #fun
"What's The Score?" October 11, 2025
How to play: Listen to the 5 music clips in the video. Your job is to guess the title of each movie the music is from, and the name of the composer for each one. You…
vimeo.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Dune 2 (2024) (sorry about our guest’s audio. We tried)
We look at Dune through an Experience Theory / Spectatorship Lens, we spend a lot of time we people participate in religion, and the importance of anchoring yourself to the best possible elements.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
We look at Dune through an Experience Theory / Spectatorship Lens, we spend a lot of time we people participate in religion, and the importance of anchoring yourself to the best possible elements.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Dune 2 (2024) - What are you anchored to? - The Desert of the Reel #96 (with special quest Mark Hudson)
Podcast Episode · The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · 10/10/2025 · 1h 34m
podcasts.apple.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Dune 2 (2024) (sorry about our guest’s audio. We tried)
We look at Dune through an Experience Theory / Spectatorship Lens, we spend a lot of time we people participate in religion, and the importance of anchoring yourself to the best possible elements.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
We look at Dune through an Experience Theory / Spectatorship Lens, we spend a lot of time we people participate in religion, and the importance of anchoring yourself to the best possible elements.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
The recording session for our Dune 2 episode was the longest one we’ve ever had.
a silhouette of a man pulling a rope on a hill
ALT: a silhouette of a man pulling a rope on a hill
media.tenor.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The recording session for our Dune 2 episode was the longest one we’ve ever had.
Reposted by The Desert of the Reel Podcast
Timothee Chalamet's hair has its own character arc in Dune.
October 4, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Timothee Chalamet's hair has its own character arc in Dune.
In Dune, the Freman believe in a prophecy because it’s been fed to them for years.
But does it make it any not true?
Can truth be created?
We talk about this on the episode.
But does it make it any not true?
Can truth be created?
We talk about this on the episode.
Dune (2021)!
Jason said he wouldn't watch this film because he loved the book so much. I'm glad to report he liked it a lot.
We talk about how truth can be made, using rhetoric as a weapon, and using the eco-critical lens to analyze Dune!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Jason said he wouldn't watch this film because he loved the book so much. I'm glad to report he liked it a lot.
We talk about how truth can be made, using rhetoric as a weapon, and using the eco-critical lens to analyze Dune!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Dune (2021) - We Must Critically Analyze Truth - The Desert of the Reel #95
Podcast Episode · The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · 10/03/2025 · 1h 27m
podcasts.apple.com
October 5, 2025 at 2:41 PM
In Dune, the Freman believe in a prophecy because it’s been fed to them for years.
But does it make it any not true?
Can truth be created?
We talk about this on the episode.
But does it make it any not true?
Can truth be created?
We talk about this on the episode.
Dune (2021)!
Jason said he wouldn't watch this film because he loved the book so much. I'm glad to report he liked it a lot.
We talk about how truth can be made, using rhetoric as a weapon, and using the eco-critical lens to analyze Dune!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Jason said he wouldn't watch this film because he loved the book so much. I'm glad to report he liked it a lot.
We talk about how truth can be made, using rhetoric as a weapon, and using the eco-critical lens to analyze Dune!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Dune (2021) - We Must Critically Analyze Truth - The Desert of the Reel #95
Podcast Episode · The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · 10/03/2025 · 1h 27m
podcasts.apple.com
October 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Dune (2021)!
Jason said he wouldn't watch this film because he loved the book so much. I'm glad to report he liked it a lot.
We talk about how truth can be made, using rhetoric as a weapon, and using the eco-critical lens to analyze Dune!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Jason said he wouldn't watch this film because he loved the book so much. I'm glad to report he liked it a lot.
We talk about how truth can be made, using rhetoric as a weapon, and using the eco-critical lens to analyze Dune!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Train to Busan (2016) the best zombie movie ever? But it’s so much more than just zombies.
Compelling characters, societal issues, And we also unpack how it has a central message about the role of mothers and motherhood!
open.spotify.com/episode/31b3...
Compelling characters, societal issues, And we also unpack how it has a central message about the role of mothers and motherhood!
open.spotify.com/episode/31b3...
Train to Busan (2016) - The Power of Mothers - The Desert of the Reel #94
open.spotify.com
September 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Train to Busan (2016) the best zombie movie ever? But it’s so much more than just zombies.
Compelling characters, societal issues, And we also unpack how it has a central message about the role of mothers and motherhood!
open.spotify.com/episode/31b3...
Compelling characters, societal issues, And we also unpack how it has a central message about the role of mothers and motherhood!
open.spotify.com/episode/31b3...
Jason wants to ride the train for his “Jason’s Choice” and we will be covering Train to Busan (2016) this week!
a group of people are standing next to each other on a escalator .
ALT: a group of people are standing next to each other on a escalator .
media.tenor.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Jason wants to ride the train for his “Jason’s Choice” and we will be covering Train to Busan (2016) this week!