A Take on the Academy

The 98th Annual Academy Awards have come and gone, the envelopes have been opened, and the takes are officially flying. But today, we’re keeping it light. Matt is joined by special guest Rudy for a laid-back, post-show conversation about the 2026 Academy Awards: the moments, the looks, the people, what could have been tweaked, the In Memorium, and the stories that defined the night. From the Acade...

It’s Oscar Nomination Day, and Matt is joined by Cleveland’s own powerhouse Location Manager Mike Wendt to break down the biggest surprises, the expected frontrunners, and the early predictions for who might take home gold this year. From record-setting nomination totals to category-by-category picks, Matt and Mike dive into the movies, performances, and behind-the-scenes craft that defined the ye...

For the Season 6 finale of A Take on the Academy, Matthew sits down with acclaimed Casting Director Angela Boehm, whose work has helped shape film and television across the Midwest and beyond.  Angela’s career spans more than 25 years — from her early days building Olmsted Performing Arts into a cultural hub, to founding Angela Boehm Casting, a company that has become a trusted source for authenti...

In this episode of A Take on the Academy, host Matthew Sprosty is joined by special guest Jenna Messina to revisit one of the most iconic — and debated — Oscar wins of the 21st century: Julia Roberts’ Best Actress victory for Erin Brockovich at the 2001 Academy Awards. Jenna comes in unconvinced, worn down by Hollywood’s ongoing Roberts reverence. Matt, on the other hand, has loved Julia Roberts s...

Before A Take on the Academy found its rhythm, before the guest interviews and Oscar debates, there was a forgotten experiment called Dudes Dissecting Disney. During the early days of the pandemic, Matthew Sprosty and his friend Rudy set out to create a collaborative podcast where anyone could record Disney conversations with friends or partners — no hosts, no format, just genuine conversation. Th...

In this episode of A Take on the Academy, Sprosty is joined by Imani and Sunflower B. Rose from Fade to Black Podcast to revisit the 1999 Oscars and ask the unthinkable: should Meryl Streep really have been nominated for Music of the Heart? Together, they take a deep dive into the performances of that year’s standout actresses — from Diane Lane’s quiet strength in A Walk on the Moon, to Cecelia Ro...

In this blazing episode of A Take on the Academy, Matt Sprosty and MC sit down with Academy Award and Emmy winner Jayson Duminego — the mind behind Action Factory and a driving force in modern stunt innovation. From his groundbreaking fire gel technology, which has changed the way film sets handle full-scale burns, to his lifelong journey in the stunt world, Jayson opens up about the artistry, sci...

In this episode of A Take on the Academy, we dive into one of the most unforgettable Oscar races of all time: 2008’s Best Supporting Actor. Did the Academy make the right call in giving Heath Ledger the award for his chilling, iconic performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight—or should Robert Downey Jr.’s fearless turn in Tropic Thunder have taken home the gold? We revisit both performances, the...

Host Matthew Sprosty kicks off Quickie History — bite-sized dives into the wild beginnings of film — with a story that has it all: money, science, photography, and a galloping horse. In 1872, California tycoon Leland Stanford made a bet: Does a horse ever lift all four hooves off the ground while running? To prove it, he hired eccentric photographer Eadweard Muybridge, whose groundbreaking experim...

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King swept the 2004 Academy Awards, tying the record with 11 wins—including Best Picture. But two decades later, does it deserve the crown? Matt, Kyle, and Andy break down why ROTK dominated, what the Academy was really voting for, and which 2003 films may have been more deserving. Expect spirited debate, sharp arguments, and a little irreve...

Get ready for another year of bold debates, deep dives, and unfiltered conversations about the Academy Awards. This season, host Matthew Sprosty takes you beyond the red carpet — from rewriting Oscar history to exploring overlooked performances, hidden Hollywood stories, and the changing face of cinema. Whether you’re a die-hard Oscars fan or love great movie talk, A Take on the Academy is ready t...