Sweet and Condensed

Josh, Eric, and returning guest Patrick assemble to break down Christopher Nolan’s box-office behemoth, The Odyssey . Before diving into Ancient Greece, the trio catches up on Patrick’s suburban eco-landscaping experiments (”Mulch Everest”) and water politics in the American Southwest. Once in the theater, the conversation tackles the film’s punishing sound mix (bring earplugs), Nolan’s blend of H...

Josh and Eric go head-to-head in a chaotic, on-the-spot draft: Apple TV+ versus HBO Max. After a coin toss decides their allegiances, they battle through categories like “Most Bingeable,” “Best Horror,” and a personalized round of “Thriving, Surviving, or Dying.” Expect panic picks. Listen and let us know who won. And send us your picks! Timestamps 00:00:18 – The Battle Begins : Establishing the r...

Josh and Eric return to the studio after their on-location screening of The Odyssey for a focused, 30-minute deep dive into Craig Mazin’s acclaimed 2019 HBO miniseries, Chernobyl . From parsing the terrifying opening monologue on “the cost of lies” to examining the hubris of Soviet bureaucracy, the hosts discuss whether the series has aged like fine wine or if we simply mature in how we digest tra...

The Sweet & Condensed crew—Josh, Eric, and Kelly—take the podcast on the road for a special on-location episode at the AMC Theater in Denver. They hit the lobby before and after a 70mm screening of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film, The Odyssey . Listen in as they chat with fellow moviegoers and AMC employees about their favorite theater experiences of the year, their expectations fo...

Josh, Eric, and Kelly reunite to recap the best (and most disappointing) movies of 2026 so far. After some chaotic life updates—including a neighborhood pool rescue and an elaborate butter-in-the-bathtub prank—the crew dives into their recent TV binges and breaks down the films that made them laugh, cry, and jump out of their seats this year. From the emotional highs of Project Hail Mary to the te...

In this episode, Josh sits down with Patrick to spoil Steven Spielberg’s latest sci-fi blockbuster, Disclosure Day . Before breaking down the alien-human discourse, they catch up on Patrick’s latest public education ventures, explore how Gen Z is reshaping theater spaces, and critique the script’s use of classic cinematic tropes. Spoilers throughout! 01:13 – Catching Up 09:25 – Disclosure Day conv...

The episode begins joking about Eric falling asleep, then pivots to a full-spoiler discussion of Project Hail Mary while avoiding book comparisons. Eric describes seeing the film twice, praising Ryan Gosling and saying the long runtime never felt slow; both hosts say they laughed and cried, especially when they thought Rocky might die. They highlight Rocky’s effectiveness as a largely practical pu...

Josh and Eric record while Eric is in Las Cruces with poor internet, having forgotten his microphone, and while he is attending events tied to a film festival and a grand opening. Eric describes interrupting Steve Zahn for a photo and later apologizing, while they joke about “everything everywhere all at once” jumpers and embarrassment as narcissism. They discuss the grim state of New Mexico film...

Josh Perez and Eric Harrison return after a hiatus to recap recent movie-world happenings and react to the Oscars, including a lively first Substack chat and confusion over ballots and voice-memo predictions. They plug Sweet and Condense on Instagram/Substack, their newsletter and “favorite weekend watches,” and Patrick D’Silva’s new podcast Worlds Beyond Worlds . The discussion centers on Oscar w...

Josh interviews Patrick D’Silva, PhD, about his graduate special-topics course “Race, Religion, and Science Fiction,” developed from an upper-level “Religion and Science Fiction” class and expanded to foreground race alongside gender, sexuality, and disability through units on Lord of the Rings, Star Wars/Star Trek , Indigenous Futurism, Afrofuturism/Africanfuturism, cyberpunk (including Neuromanc...

Josh, Eric, and New Mexico Drew dive deep into the final season of Stranger Things . They discuss the highs, lows, and unexpected hair choices of the series finale. The crew breaks down character arcs, the impact of the Duffer Brothers’ direction, and whether the emotional payoffs landed or fell flat. Timestamps & Key Topics [00:00:20] – Frosted Tips & 2007 Vibes: The episode kicks off wit...

Josh, Eric, and New Mexico Drew break down the best movies of 2025, from the “dog water” disappointment of Guillermo del Toro’s latest to the cinematic masterpiece that is Sinners . They debate the Golden Globe nominations, argue over whether Timothée Chalamet or Leonardo DiCaprio deserves Best Actor, and Drew tries to survive Eric’s internet connection issues. Plus, they give their final top 10 l...

New Mexico Drew returns from the wilderness (and a year-long hiatus) to join Josh and Eric for a chaotic deep dive into Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme . The boys are breaking down the electric world of professional ping pong, the unique 1950s-meets-1980s aesthetic, and why Timothée Chalamet might just be playing himself. They discuss the standout supporting cast—from Kevin O’Leary (yes, Mr. Wonderful...

Josh and Eric discuss the critically acclaimed film Train Dreams , directed by Clint Bentley and adapted from Denis Johnson's novella. The conversation delves into the film's stunning visual storytelling, the compelling performances by Joel Edgerton and William H. Macy, and its impactful narrative about a logger navigating love, loss, and monumental change in early 20th-century America. Th...

Josh, Eric, and Kelly go head-to-head, building their own theoretical horror movies by drafting from nine specific categories. The episode is filled with chaotic energy, accusations of cheating , and a deep-dive analysis of why Christian Venegas doesn’t watch movies. Let us know who had the best horror movie draft in the comments on Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, social media, email, or text message...

Josh and New Mexico Drew are closing spooky season by diving deep into Jordan Peele’s 2017 directorial debut, Get Out . The guys discuss their first-time watches versus their recent rewatch, why comedians make great horror directors, and the standout scenes that make the film a modern classic. They also debate the film’s one glaring imperfection (hint: it involves camera gear) and revisit the stac...

In this episode, Eric and Josh discuss the movie Weapons in detail, including major spoilers. They cover the plot, the cast, and their personal reactions to the film’s various elements, such as the unexpected twist involving Aunt Gladys. The conversation explores the balance between horror and humor, plot holes, and the evolution of horror cinema, referencing films like LongLegs and works by Jorda...

The guys break down every must-see indie darling and blockbuster film hitting theaters this fall. Before diving into a massive preview of the movies set to define Fall 2025, Josh and Eric get sidetracked by the important questions in life: soft vs. crunchy beef jerky, the ethics of eating a $9 pint of protein ice cream by yourself, and the polarizing characters of Shrinking . Once the snacks are s...

In this episode, Josh is joined by special guest Amerique Monagle to discuss the life and legacy of Jim Henson. Amerique shares her personal connection to puppetry and storytelling, and provides an in-depth look at Henson's career, from his early days on "Sesame Street" to the creation of "The Muppet Show" and beyond. They explore the development of iconic Muppet characters...

Josh welcomes guest Sarah to dive deep into Barbie (2023), directed by Greta Gerwig. They discuss the film's layers of comedy, emotion, and social commentary, guided by Jimmy V's 1993 ESPY Speech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ —what held them in thought, made them laugh, and moved their emotions to tears—while interweaving the movie's narratives with their life narratives. Sarah shares her personal connections...

Josh, Eric, and Kelly dive into their latest film and TV show swap, sharing reactions and insights. Eric and Kelly discuss their experience with the critically acclaimed film 'Lady Bird', while Josh gives his take on the classic 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. The conversation is peppered with personal anecdotes and humorous tangents about allergies, an intense family dinner...

Josh welcomes guest Dr. Patrick D’Silva, PhD, to discuss the expansive universe of 'Dune' spanning books, movies, and TV shows. Patrick J. D’Silva writes about spaceships and dragons (among other things) at Worlds Beyond Worlds. An Islamicist specializing in Persian Sufism by training, he has taught in Philosophy and Religious Studies departments at several universities in Colorado. He liv...

28 Years Later, Best of 2025 & The Century So Far: Spoilers #57🎧 Listen to this episode on  Apple Podcasts  or  Spotify 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube Josh, Eric, and New Mexico Drew discuss their recent activities and dive into a lengthy conversation about their favorite movies of the 21st century. The discussion moves from amusing personal anecdotes, like Drew's sweaty mishap at a wor...

In this episode, Kelly, Eric, and Josh decide to do an unprepared, no research rom-com movie draft with various categories like love interest, city setting, best friend, and soundtrack to create their own rom-com. They also dive into a myriad of side conversations, ranging from judging each other’s eating habits to debate over classic films and TV shows. The episode wraps up with the announcement...

Eric and Josh discuss various topics centered around their experiences with movies and movie theaters. They touch on the excitement and nostalgia associated with midnight premieres, particularly reflecting on films like 'The Dark Knight' and 'Titanic'. They also discuss their favorite movie theater experiences, including memorable screenings during travel, such as 'The Secret L...