Gimme Three Podcast - A Series For Cinephiles

Co-host Nicholas Ybarra returns to the show while Bella Efstratis takes a well-deserved week off.  Nicholas is joined by the familiar voices of Sonja Mereu and Max Sopkin. They'll be discussing some conversation-worthy concert films – and not just any concert films, but those featuring some of the most controversial artists of the last half-century. The episode will cover the following concer...

This week on The Gimme Three Podcast , co-host Bella Efstratis is joined by her good friend Matt Cochran, a cinephile and history buff, for a deep dive into America’s complex relationship with war in cinema. Together, they explore three films that arguably blur the line between being anti-war and glorifying it. Matt’s three film recommendations for this episode include: Stanley Kubrick’s Full Meta...

A LEGENDARY ACTOR'S SPOTLIGHT! This week on the Gimme Three Podcast, co-host Bella Efstratis is joined by actor, filmmaker, & writer Trey Armstrong to celebrate his favorite actor of all time, Denzel Washington. Trey recommends a brilliant variety of three incredible Denzel Washington films: First, we have Tony Scott's standout 1995 war thriller, Crimson Tide , featuring a young and...

This week marks the birthday of one of the most beloved fictional characters of all time—Harry Potter!  To celebrate the Boy Who Lived, Bella Efstratis is joined by her fellow Potterhead bestie, Bailey Katler, for an incredible Harry Potter episode! Introducing our Top 3 Harry Potter Films: First, we go back to where it all began with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), the film that int...

This week, we are celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Nick’s favorite film, Do The Right Thing (A Spike Lee Joint).  Picking a mere three films from Spike’s prolific filmography would be an impossible task. Thus, we’ve decided to explore the jaw-droppingly impressive first three films from Mr. Lee.  We open with his audacious and sultry debut feature film, She’s Gotta Have It . Second, we do a dee...

The gang is back together again!! Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis reunite to dive into the whimsical world of animation on this week's episode of the Gimme Three Podcast! Join us as we explore six amazing short films that highlight the magic of both stop-motion and 2D animation. Each film offers a unique style and concept, making this episode a must-listen for animation lovers and anyone...

The release of Andrew McCarthy's documentary Brats has audiences revisiting and reliving a marquee era for teen cinema. On today's episode, host Nicholas Ybarra is joined by guests Adriana Lopez and Ryan Lacen. Together, they explore how watching these films through an adult lens has shifted their perceptions. Also, prepare yourself for plenty of debates on important questions like &quot...

This week's episode celebrates the late, great actor Donald Sutherland. Apologies to all the Bella Efstratis superfans; Bella is absent this week. However, we are joined by the spectacular PGA producer, Gimme Three producer, and wife of host Nicholas Ybarra: Sonja Mereu. Nick & Sonja discuss three of Donald Sutherland's prominent performances: the 1973 Horror classic Don't Look...

This week on the Gimme Three Podcast, we’re gearing up for Kinds of Kindness with a thrilling Yorgos Lanthimos Spotlight episode! While the brilliant Nicholas Ybarra is off making some movie magic this week, co-host Bella Efstratis is joined by her long-time friend and a true Yorgos aficionado, Michel Eljaiek. For this week’s episode, Michel has handpicked three extraordinary Yorgos films for us t...

In part two of our Queer Love Stories series, Nick and Bella delve into an extraordinarily underrated documentary and two brilliant romcoms that highlight some of our favorite queer love stories in cinema. Nick starts with Peter Friedman's Silverlake Life: The View From Here , a brutally intimate video diary that documents Tom Joslin and Mark Massi's remarkable love story and their painf...

Happy Pride, everyone! In honor of Pride Month, we’re celebrating with a specially curated selection of some of the greatest queer love stories in cinema! Join Nick and Bella as they discuss three of the most celebrated, impressive, and romantic queer love stories ever told. We’re talking all about the visual beauty of these films and the touching love stories within. Bella introduces one of her a...

We've finally reached the grand finale of our Pixar Extravaganza! In this episode, Nick, Bella, and Max discuss under-appreciated gems, the groundbreaking evolution of Pixar's animation technology, and the increasingly pertinent "spoonful of sugar" message in Pixar's most sci-fi film. Max starts us off with his second movie pick, Pixar's criminally underrated, Kurosaw...

Pixar changed the animation industry forever. As we prepare for this week's release of Inside Out 2 , we decided to explore some of our (and your) favorite Pixar films. Our friend and returning guest, Max Sopkin ( see our musical episodes ), joins us for this episode. We kick it off with the film that started it all, 1995's Toy Story . Co-host Nick offers up the gorgeous and emotional wa...

In the exciting conclusion to our Queer Horror episodes, Nick, Bella, and guest Jess McLaughlin discuss the absurd, the heart-wrenching, the sexy, and the majesty of three marquee movies.  The odd but pertinent sequel, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge , kicks off our episode as we do a deep dive not only into the film but the noteworthy queer legacy of the picture.  The underappreciat...

It’s Pride Month, y’all. And what better way to celebrate than with a smorgasbord of Queer Horror films. Jessica McLaughlin, a brilliant writer and horror movie enthusiast, joins the podcast to drop some knowledge on the wonders that are queer horror films.  In addition to providing some excellent recommendations, Jess discusses her upcoming short film, PANGS , which you can learn more about by vi...

Earlier this month, we lost one of the most significant figures in the history of the film industry, Roger Corman.  Corman's illustrious career can't be narrowed down to three films, so we opted to pick three of his directorial films that helped shape American pop culture.  We start with his 1960 gem Little Shop Of Horrors, the gold standard for independent filmmaking and the movie that...

In preparation for the release of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga , Nick & Bella go deep into the wasteland of the Mad Max Universe.  In this episode, we explore the three best films of the franchise (thus far). We start with the scrappy, earnest Ausploitation film that started all the madness: Mad Max .  If indie gems aren’t your bag, but kinky leather outfits are - we’ve got you covered. Mad Max 2 (...

In part two of our Mother's Day Celebration, Nick & Bella discuss three more memorable mother characters. Claudine , starring the legendary Diahann Carroll, was a boundary-pushing film about a mother of six navigating the welfare system. The film also stars a sweaty, studly James Earl Jones. Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal knocked it out of the park with her directorial debut, The Lost Daughter...

Happy Belated Mother’s Day! We love our mothers, and we love film. So what better way to celebrate than to discuss three unforgettable mother characters in cinema?  In part one of two, Nick & Bella opens the show with a few very heavy but powerful films. Brie Larson’s Academy Award-winning performance in Room is on the docket (yeah… heavy).  We follow that up with what is widely considered to...

A very special episode just for YOU! Get ready for an exclusive preview of some of the bonus content behind our Patreon! Join Nicholas Ybarra as he takes you on an epic journey through the highlights of our bonus episodes, including: Nick and Bella's reactions to Barbenheimer in our MORE Favorites of 2023 episode. An enlightening interview featuring Nicholas Ybarra alongside Nomadland produce...

Join the dangerous minds of Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis as they discuss one of the 21st century's most fabulous performers, Michelle Pfeiffer. To celebrate Ms. Pfeiffer's birthday, Nick and Bella explore three wildly entertaining films from Michelle's filmography. In this episode, we discuss titillating Dangerous Liaisons , the outrageously deft The Witches of Eastwick , and...

Buckle up for an unforgettable ride with our latest episode of the Gimme Three Podcast! Join co-host Bella Efstratis and her special “ride or die” guest, Remy Smith, as they dive into the empowering world of Ride or Die films, showcasing some of cinema’s most unforgettable female friendships. From the hilarious escapades of Molly & Amy in Olivia Wilde’s teen comedy Booksmart , to the legendary...

Our Movie Musicals series reaches its grand finale this week! Join us for the exciting conclusion of this series, featuring our esteemed guest, Max Sopkin, as we explore the unforgettable songs and scenes of our final two picks, Annie and Little Shop of Horrors . Prepare to deep dive into the heart of these timeless classics as Nick, Bella, and Max sing praises to the physical prowess of Carol Bur...

We’re so excited to jump into our second week of movie musical recommendations! In this episode, Bella Efstratis, Nicholas Ybarra, and special guest Max Sopkin dive in to a unique lineup of movie musicals that are childhood staples for Bella and Max. This episode features in-depth discussions of Singin' in the Rain , Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , Mary Poppins, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks . Don’t...

Get ready for two weeks loaded with musical recommendations. In this episode, actor and musical aficionado Max Sopkin discusses some of the movie musicals that helped shape his life: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , Fiddler on the Roof , and Grease . Co-host Nicholas Ybarra shares three musical picks that shaped his life: Zoot Suit, Cabaret , and The Rocky Horror Picture Show .  We also discuss o...