One Track Mind with Ryan Luis Rodriguez

This time we’re joined by Chris Higgins (“Beyond the Blood” podcast) for a discussion of the audio commentary for the Wachowski Sisters’ directorial debut, a simmering sexually-charged neo-noir from 1996, “Bound”. Among the things discussed: intimacy coordinator Susie Bright’s general randiness, jumping from micro budget to industry-changing blockbusters, changing credits to reflect new names, Jen...

We finally turned 100, so we invited our friend and new inductee into the Three-Timers Club, Nathaniel Jonsson (“At the Devil’s Ball” and “Insane Troll Logic” podcasts), to help us do something different: television commentaries. That’s right, we’re discussing war criminal Joss Whedon’s track on the most harrowing episode of television ever broadcast: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” presents “The Body”...

For our ninety-ninth episode, we’re joined once again by friend of the show Hunter Robinson (“Tumbleweeds and TV Cowboys” podcast) for a discussion of the late great Roger Ebert’s commentary on the ultimate classic movie: “Casablanca”. Among the things discussed: debunking myths regarding the ending, how George Raft turned down every good role ever, shattering the auteur theory, the authors of the...

For our ninety-eighth episode, we’re amazingly joined by a hero of mine, Patrick Cotnoir (The George Lucas Talk Show, “Hey, That’s Me!” podcast), for a discussion of the group audio commentary for a different George Lucas’ 2002 sequel “Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones”. Among the things discussed: embarrassing revelations regarding Yoda, the gutting of Disney’s home video division, big t...

For our ninety-seventh episode, we’re joined by everyone’s favorite psychologist, Dr. Jo (“Felicity Was Here” podcast), for the second installment in our two-part salute to the late Rob Reiner, focusing on his audio commentary (alongside another late great, Nora Ephron) for the platonic ideal rom-com: 1989’s “When Harry Met Sally…”. Among the things discussed: whether or not New York is a “Star Wa...

For our ninety-sixth episode, we’re joined by the great Ryan Verrill (“The Disc-Connected”) for the first installment in our two-part salute to the late Rob Reiner, focusing on the audio commentary for Reiner’s near-perfect 1984 directorial debut “This Is Spinal Tap”. Among the things discussed: deleted lip sore storylines, cheese rolling festivals, surprising comparisons to “Anchorman 2”, the dru...

For our ninety-fifth episode, we’re joined by author Ryan Estrada (“Banned Book Club”) for a discussion of Alexander Payne’s director’s commentary for his 1999 satirical masterpiece “Election”. Among the things discussed: casting actors for their braces, obsessions with circles and trash cans, the benefits of shooting a film in a functioning high school, connections to “Navajo Joe”, Payne ironical...

For our ninety-fourth episode, we’re welcoming one new member of the Three-Timers Club to discuss another. Yes, friend of the show Case Aiken (“Men of Steel” and “Another Pass” podcasts) joins us to discuss the son of Jor-El: Superman, specifically the one represented in James Gunn’s 2025 DC Universe reboot “Superman” (duh)! Among the things discussed: basing super dog (and very naughty boy) Krypt...

For our ninety-third episode, we’re joined by friend of the show Dwight Hurst (“Broken Brain” podcast) for a discussion of the audio commentary for writer/director Vera Drew’s brilliant 2022 partially-autobiographical DC Comics satire “The People’s Joker”. Among the things discussed: the insufferable nature of Jared Leto, what Jesus has in common with Elvis, dedications to Joel Schumacher, using C...

For our ninety-second episode, we’re joined by Chris Haskell (“Punk Vacation” podcast) for a discussion of the audio commentary for Alejandro Jodorowsky’s audacious 1989 stunner “Santa Sangre”. Among the things discussed: avoiding being pinned down by genre, casting your children to exorcise your past demons, “Mystery Science Theater 3000” connections, the afterlife as one long orgasm, love for un...

For our ninety-first episode, we’re joined for this special Valentine’s Day by girlfriend of the show Isabel Teran (“Hearsing Around” podcast) for an intimate, soft-spoken discussion of the romantic audio commentary for Cameron Crowe’s (yes, again) directorial debut: 1989’s “Say Anything…”. Among the things discussed: unhealthy adolescent relationships between boys and girls, uncomfortable revelat...

For our ninetieth episode, we’re joined by an actual medical professional, the great Dr. Jo (“Felicity Was Here” podcast) for a discussion of the audio commentary for Cameron Crowe’s divisive cover version of the motion picture “Abre Los Ojos”: 2001’s “Vanilla Sky”. Among the things discussed: the nefariousness of the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”, Cameron Diaz’s insistence on playing 27, Kurt Rus...

For our eighty-ninth episode, we’re joined by friend of the show and the newest member of the Three Timers Club: Phillip Iscove (“Podcast Like It’s the 2000s”, “Sleepy Hollow”) for a discussion of the actors’ audio commentary for the most recent Best Picture Academy Award winner: Sean Baker’s 2024 film “Anora”. Among the things discussed: Safdie versus Safdie, Tarantino versus Dano, how sweet and...

For our eighty-eighth episode, we’re joined by friend of the show and newly-minted Three Timers Club member Tom Lorenzo (“You’re Missing Out” podcast) for a discussion of the star-studded audio commentary for Sergio Leone’s magnum opus, the 1968 spaghetti western “Once Upon a Time in the West”. Among the things discussed: grungy close-ups and epic wide shots, homages in “Back to the Future”, givin...

For our eighty-seventh episode, we’re joined once again by the great Alonso Duralde (“Maximum Film” podcast, “Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas”) to discuss the audio commentary for Paul Feig’s festive dramedy (with a twist!): 2019’s “Last Christmas”. Among the things discussed: the pro’s and con’s of making a George Michael jukebox musical, the sexist horrors of demographics, dealing with ba...

Everything is awesome! For our eighty-sixth episode, we’re joined once again by friend of the show Michael Marquis Albright (Down in Front) for a discussion of the audio commentary for the beloved 2014 animated film (now celebrating its 11th anniversary, just imagine!) “The Lego Movie”. Among the things discussed: comparisons to “Barbie”, getting screenplay props from Robert McKee, misguided endor...

For our eighty-fifth episode, we’re joined once again by one of my best friends and the newest inductee into the Three Timer’s Club: Nicki, from the YouTube series “Trivial Theater”, for a discussion of the audio commentar(ies) for your wonky yet affable host’s favorite film of 2024 (according to when it was greatly available): Mike Cheslik’s “Hundreds of Beavers”. Among the things discussed: the...

Since today marks the 39th anniversary of the death of legendary voice actor Paul Frees, I’ve decided to pull this episode of The Coolness Chronicles (my first podcast) from behind the exclusive Patreon paywall covering the man’s entire staggering career. It’s one of the earliest episodes I ever published, and therefore it’s incredibly important to me.   Not familiar with the name Paul Frees? Afte...

For our eighty-fourth episode, we’re joined by Rachel Bellwoar (“The Physical Media Advocate”) for a discussion of the audio commentary for future Marvel director Peyton Reed’s feature directorial debut, 2000’s cheerleader comedy “Bring It On”. Among the things discussed: Reed’s aborted Fantastic Four movie, respecting cheerleaders as athletes, embracing and subverting high school movie cliches, w...

For our eighty-third episode, we’re joined once again by my friend and "Reels of Justice" co-host Dylan J. Schlender for a discussion of biographer Walter Chaw’s commentary for Walter Hill’s influential 1979 action classic “The Warriors”. Amongst the things discussed: the ill-advised director’s cut (seriously, we talk about it A LOT), David Patrick Kelly’s improvisation of the iconic Coke bottle s...

For our eighty-second episode, we’re joined by comedian, actress, and filmmaker Anastasia Washington (“Gaslighter”) for a discussion of the audio commentary for Jordan Peele’s astonishing debut film: 2017’s “Get Out”. Amongst the things discussed: being biracial in modern times, shaving cream as foreshadowing, making the most of a 23 day shoot, the metaphor of the Sunken Place (also known as teacu...

For our eighty-first episode, we’re amazingly joined by the great Brian Saur (“Just the Discs” and “Pure Cinema Podcast”) for a discussion of the audio commentary for Richard C. Sarafian’s car-go-fast 1971 classic “Vanishing Point”. We discuss the enigma that is Kowalski, the late Gene Hackman almost driving the iconic white Dodge Challenger, the trauma inflicted by the existence of Noovie, inspir...

Considering I have now officially been podcasting for seven years, I decided to celebrate with a look to you, the listener, and any questions you have from me. Sure, we’ve done Q & A’s in the past, but have they been this long? I don’t think so! Amongst the questions asked: favorite episodes, favorite albums, what books your wonky yet affable host keeps in his trunk, the recent New York Times...

For our seventy-ninth episode, we’re joined by friend of the show Hunter Robinson (“Tumbleweeds and TV Cowboys” podcast) for a discussion of historian Stephen Prince’s audio commentary for Sergio Corbucci’s classic 1966 spaghetti western “Django” (fully chained). We discuss preferred aspect ratios, the chain of cinematic theft between America, Japan, and Italy, shooting in the winter and being den...

For our seventy-eighth episode, we’re joined by Jason Kleeberg (“Force Five” podcast) for a discussion of the Quentin Tarantino-enhanced audio commentary for a lighthearted 2005 comedy: “Daltry Calhoun”. Amongst the things discussed? The director’s familial connection to Charles Bronson, 15-year-old Sophie Traub’s terrific performance, trying to get the word “c*ck” into a PG-13 film, Tarantino pos...