SOUNDS OF FILM with Tom Needham

This classic SOUNDS OF FILM interview with Krishna Das offers an in-depth conversation with the artist known as the “chant master of American yoga.” Blending the ancient tradition of kirtan with modern musical elements and universally appealing melodies, Krishna Das has brought devotional chanting from yoga studios into mainstream concert halls. As the best-selling Western chant artist of all time...

This classic episode of The Sounds of Film features an in-depth conversation with Tom Needham and acclaimed director Judy Irving about her powerful and deeply personal documentary, Dark Circle. The film examines the far-reaching consequences of the nuclear industry by tracing the often-hidden journey of plutonium—from weapons manufacturing to energy production. Through the eyes of everyday America...

On this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham welcomes punk rock legend Harley Flanagan, founder of the iconic hardcore band Cro-Mags. As a pivotal figure in the New York City Hardcore scene, Harley shares his remarkable story of music, mayhem, and personal redemption. Harley is the subject of the new documentary Wired for Chaos, which traces his turbulent journey from the gritty streets...

On today’s episode of The Sounds of Film with Tom Needham, we turn our focus to Slumlord Millionaire, a gripping new documentary that recently captured the Audience Award at DOC NYC. Directed by Steph Ching and Ellen Martinez, the film profiles the fearless tenants, community activists, and legal advocates standing up against predatory landlords and relentless gentrification in New York City. Thro...

On this special episode of The Sounds of Film, we honor the 30th anniversary of Elizabeth Montgomery’s passing with author and television historian Herbie J Pilato. A longtime friend of the iconic Bewitched actress, Pilato reflects on her life and legacy through his acclaimed biographies Twitch Upon a Star and The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery. He also offers an exclusive look behind the scenes o...

On this “Classic”episode of THE SOUNDS OF FILM PODCAST, Tom Needham welcomes Dan Castellaneta and Deb Lacusta, the creative team behind The Long Goodbye, a witty and haunting noir that reimagines 1940s Los Angeles through a pandemic-era lens. Castellaneta, best known as the voice of Homer Simpson, stars as Marlowe Phillips, a Jewish detective and reluctant caterer drawn into a tangled mystery invo...

On the next episode of the SOUNDS OF FILM Podcast, Tom Needham speaks with acclaimed filmmaker Chad Freidrichs about his groundbreaking new documentary, The Cinema Within. The film explores a fascinating question: Why does film editing work so seamlessly on our brains? Featuring insights from legendary editor Walter Murch, film historian David Bordwell, and leading scientists, The Cinema Within tr...

Carol Roth joins Tom Needham on The Sounds of Film to discuss her provocative book, You Will Own Nothing, which exposes a coordinated global push by governments, powerful tech companies, financial institutions, and elites to gain control of finite resources and restrict public access to them. The book acts as a vital guide for individuals seeking to protect their family’s financial independence an...

This week, The Sounds of Film with Tom Needham features an exclusive conversation with filmmaker Jake Sumner, the director of the acclaimed documentary Ron Delsener Presents. The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, chronicles the extraordinary 60-year career of Ron Delsener, the iconic concert promoter behind New York City’s most legendary live music events. From booking the Beatle...

Music legend Don McLean joins Tom Needham for a special episode of The Sounds of Film on WUSB. Don McLean is the iconic singer/songwriter behind the classic anthem “American Pie,” a song that continues to resonate across generations. Ranked number five on the Recording Industry of America and NEA’s Song of the Century list, “American Pie” remains one of the most influential songs in American music...

This week on Tom Needham’s SOUNDS OF FILM, the spotlight is on iconic troubadour Eric Andersen, the poetic voice of the Greenwich Village folk scene. In a revealing and wide-ranging interview, Andersen opens up about his encounters with cultural titans like Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, Brian Epstein, and Lou Reed, while reflecting on the personal and professional crossroads that shaped his singular jou...

Today’s guest on the SOUNDS OF FILM Classic Episode is legendary hip hop star, Grandmaster Caz. He will be discussing his involvement in the hip hop films ‘Wild Style’ and Ice-T’s ‘The Art of Rap.’ In 2008, Grandmaster Caz was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame. He was also inducted into the Technics DJ Hall of Fame in 1999.

On this episode of The Sounds of Film Podcast, host Tom Needham speaks with Amy Wax, Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Before entering academia, Wax served as Assistant to the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice, where she argued 15 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. A scholar with an extraordinary academic background, she holds a B.S. in molecu...

BLANQUITA Director Fernando Guzzoni Up Next on a CLASSIC SOUNDS with Tom Needham Podcast BLANQUITA was Chile’s Official Oscar entry for 2022 for International Best Film Category, and will release it in New York and Los Angels on December 9, 2022. The film had its world premier in the Horizons section of the 2022 Venice Film Festival, winning the Best Screenplay prize for Director Fernando Guzzoni....

This week on SOUNDS, we welcome filmmaker Jesse Rudoy and one half of the extraordinary country duo, Gazi “Dusty” Simelane, to discuss their inspiring new documentary Dusty & Stones. The film shines a spotlight on Dusty and his cousin Linda “Stones” Msibi, two musicians from the African Kingdom of Eswatini, who set out on an unforgettable journey from their rural homeland to the birthplace of coun...

This week’s episode of SOUNDS features an extraordinary conversation with filmmaker Peter McDowell, who shares the emotional story behind his documentary Jimmy in Saigon. The film, which has earned critical acclaim on the festival circuit, unearths the hidden life of McDowell’s brother Jimmy, a young Vietnam veteran who died mysteriously in Saigon in 1972. Through deeply personal interviews, long-...

In this episode of SOUNDS, host Tom Needham speaks with investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker James Corbett, the creator of The Corbett Report. Known for his in-depth reporting on geopolitics, media manipulation, and global power structures, Corbett brings his independent research to a wide audience through documentaries, articles, and podcasts. The discussion centers around his compe...

This episode of the SOUNDS Podcast features a classic conversation from The Sounds of Film archive with Josh Rogin, columnist for the Washington Post’s Global Opinions section and political analyst for CNN. Rogin, who also appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience, joins host Tom Needham to discuss his groundbreaking book, Chaos Under Heaven, which delves into the Trump administration’s turbulent and h...

On this episode of SOUNDS, host Tom Needham speaks with first-time director Jay Schlossberg about his long-awaited documentary Feast Your Ears: The Story of WHFS 102.3 FM. The film takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through the golden era of freeform progressive FM radio, spotlighting the legendary WHFS station that broadcast from Bethesda, Maryland during the ’60s, ’70s, and ‘80s. Schlossberg...

Our next guest on the SOUNDS with Tom Needham Podcast is one of Hollywood’s most fascinating screenwriters, Robert Boris. Robert has had an incredible career, working on some of the most legendary films in Hollywood history. He also played a key role in shaping classic films like “Some Kind of Hero,” “48 Hours,” “Dr. Detroit,” and “Air Force One”—a script that was the “most famous pitch in town” a...

On this episode of SOUNDS with Tom Needham, we’re diving into a topic that’s shaping the present and redefining the future—Artificial Intelligence. Our guest is Akli Adjaoute, a leading expert with over 30 years in the field. As the founder of Brighterion, an AI company acquired by MasterCard, his technology helps secure over 150 billion transactions each year. Now, he’s making AI accessible to ev...

On this episode of SOUNDS, we dive into “ Man from Pretentia, ” a compelling documentary that captures the life and legacy of legendary New York gallerist Paul Bridgewater. Directed by Chih-Hsuan Liang and produced by Steve Zehentner , the film chronicles Bridgewater’s rise in the vibrant East Village art scene, his struggles to keep his gallery afloat, and his relentless commitment to supporting...

On the latest episode of SOUNDS with Tom Needham, director Alex Braverman joins the show to discuss his new documentary, THANK YOU VERY MUCH a deep dive into the life and career of the enigmatic comedian Andy Kaufman. Through never-before-seen archival footage and intimate interviews with Kaufman’s friends, colleagues, and family, the film explores how his boundary-shattering performances challeng...

On the next SOUNDS, Tom Needham speaks with creative musician and composer, Logan Richardson. Logan is an acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. Hailing from Kansas City, he has carved out a unique space in jazz, blending blues, hip-hop, and avant-garde influences into a sound that is entirely his own. From sharing the stage with jazz legends to headlining sold-out shows at the Blue Note...

On this episode of SOUNDS, Tom Needham speaks with Deirdre Fishel, an accomplished documentary filmmaker and professor at City College of New York. Deirdre has built a career shining a light on stories that are often overlooked, from the struggles of female police officers to the challenges of aging. Her latest film, “Facing the Wind,” takes on one of the most under-discussed but devastating illne...