Ben Schneider

Reel Beans: A Film and Coffee Podcast

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Two passions, one podcast. Join host Benjamin Schneider and a rotating cast of cinephile guests as we pair exceptional films with exceptional coffee—not just by taste, but by theme. Each episode is a masterclass in cinema and craft roasting, exploring the scenes, symbols, and ideas that spark real-world conversations long after the credits roll. From philosophical depth to cultural commentary, we journey through film history one cup at a time, examining stories that challenge, comfort, and inspire. Come for the cinema, stay for the brew. There's always something worth savoring. Sip. Watch. Rep...

Author

Ben Schneider

Episodes

Desk Set (1957) - Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy & AI Anxiety in the 1950s 01.07.2025 16:49

Join host Benjamin Schneider with guests Casey Haltom and Allen Stafford as we explore the 1957 workplace comedy Desk Set, starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. We dive into how this classic film anticipated modern tech anxiety—depicting the introduction of an early computer (EMERAC) into a corporate research department and the fear of automation replacing human workers. From Hepburn's bri...

Airplane! (1980) - The Greatest Parody Ever Made | Deep Dive 17.06.2025 13:33

Join host Benjamin Schneider as we cruise through one of the greatest comedy films ever made — Airplane! (1980). We explore why the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker team's rapid-fire humor still lands decades later, how parody is far more difficult than it looks, and why casting serious dramatic actors (Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges) made it even funnier. We also discuss how certain jokes have...

Nonnas (2025) - Susan Sarandon & The Power of Grandmothers in Cinema 10.06.2025 9:57

Join host Benjamin Schneider for a cozy, heartfelt episode celebrating tradition, food, and the overlooked power of older actresses in cinema. We explore Nonnas (2025), directed by Stephen Chbosky and starring Susan Sarandon, Brenda Vaccaro, Lorraine Bracco, and Talia Shire. Based on the real-life Staten Island restaurant Enoteca Maria—where grandmothers from around the world cook traditional dish...

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) - Maggie Smith's Masterclass in Manipulation 03.06.2025 18:07

Join host Benjamin Schneider with guests Casey Haltom and Allen Stafford for a thought-provoking deep dive into The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), featuring Maggie Smith's Oscar-winning performance as the charismatic and dangerous Edinburgh teacher. We explore Jean Brodie's manipulation of young minds, the film's complex tension between beauty and control, and the surprising connections to Ital...

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) - Buñuel's Surreal Masterpiece 27.05.2025 10:43

Join host Benjamin Schneider for a surreal journey through Luis Buñuel's The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)—the Oscar-winning masterpiece that satirizes upper-class absurdity through dreamlike repetition and dark comedy. We explore Buñuel's brilliant use of surrealism to critique bourgeois society, from dinner parties that never happen to bizarre dream sequences that blur reality. Highli...

Black Christmas (1974) - The Film That Defined the Slasher Genre | Episode 1 20.05.2025 10:48

Welcome to the very first episode of Reel Beans! Join host Benjamin Schneider as we unwrap the eerie elegance of Black Christmas (1974)—the quietly revolutionary horror film that helped define the slasher genre before Halloween made it famous. With a hot cup of coffee in hand, we explore what makes this Canadian proto-slasher so unnerving, why it still resonates nearly 50 years later, and how dire...

Introducing Reel Beans 13.04.2025 0:48

Welcome to Reel Beans — a podcast brewed for deeper conversation. What do a French press and a film reel have in common? Both require patience, precision, and the promise of something rich. Join host Benjamin Schneider as we pair exceptional films with exceptional coffee, exploring the themes, artistry, and human truths that connect them. For the film lovers, the caffeine junkies, and the curious...