THE FIXATE & BINGE PODCAST, with Host, Joe Curdy: Deep dives into cinema and storytelling with voices who create it

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jared might have bitten off more than they could chew in this episode, but their returning unofficial third host, DiAnte Jenkins, helps digest it all. What was planned as a review of Charles Laughton's Night of the Hunter (1955) and Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity (1944) turned into a masterclass on classic American cinema.  Have you ever wondered what film noir...

Send us Fan Mail This is a spoiler heavy episode, folks! Joe and Jared gush over the excellent writing and masterful acting witnessed in season two of The Bear as they discuss some of the main themes, the tragedies, and the triumphs of this highly anticipated release. If you haven't seen it yet, watch it and come back to this episode to find out what we got right and what we missed! Thank you...

Send us Fan Mail If you haven't seen True Detective season 1, this episode will sell you on watching it! John Rising, the popular British TikTok creator whose creative and unique videos inspire deep thoughts in brains around the world, joins Joe and Jared to dig deep into some of the themes and scenes of this excellent show. Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links b...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jared give a rundown of what they've been watching lately then, shamelessly talk about themselves as they reflect on their first year of podcasting. Tears of nostalgia are shed as they recall all the groundbreaking podcasting they've done in just one, brief year! Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below! Read our Letterboxd reviews...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jared have finished watching season 2 of Yellowjackets and have a lot to say about the theme of survival. The show inspires us to ask ourselves what we would be willing to do to save ourselves from a slow, miserable death. What have you done to survive financial, emotional, or physical hardship? What is right and wrong and who decides?  Thank you for listening! You can fin...

Send us Fan Mail Have you seen the latest Fast and Furious film? Joe and Jared did...but it's the only film they've seen from that franchise. Listen in to get a total noob's perspective of Fast X. Your hosts also dive into what they loved and what they didn't about Ted Lasso season 3 and the entire series in general. There are spoilers, so be warned! Thank you for listening! Yo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jared finds himself in the middle of a Twin Peaks love fest and learns why this iconic show still has the power to influence viewers and inspire speculation, after so many years. Joe and our wonderful guest from England, Jeanette Flannery, have both been passionate Twin Peaks fans for decades and have watched it countless times. Obsessed? Yes, but with good reason...

Send us Fan Mail Today we are joined by Joe's little big brother, retired Army Special Forces member, Manny Curdy, to discuss Guy Richie's The Covenant. We dig into situations portrayed in the film to learn why it feels authentic to our guest, who has spent around 30 months in Afghanistan, over several deployments. You will gain a new perspective on this conflict from someone who spent a...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jared have the great fortune to speak with a father-son duo who both acted in the excellent Norwegian film, War Sailor. Nils Sørvik and Johannes Sørvik discuss their experiences acting in this Oscar-nominated film, the history of the war sailors, and life in Norway. Joe and Jared finish up by extolling the value of watching foreign films and television in the native langua...

Send us Fan Mail Joe is turning 50, so this episode is the Joe Show and the thing Joe wanted to discuss is the film he loves more than any other: the 1982 classic, Blade Runner. The dynamic duo starts with a discussion about a few shows you may have heard about -  Beef, Yellow Jackets, and Ted Lasso.  Is it praise or is it a warning? Listen to find out! They wrap up the discussion with a  dive int...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jared review a few new films in theaters now: Air, Super Mario, John Wick 4, and Renfield, and tell you which ones to screen, stream, or skip. They also discuss the meme-rich hidden gem, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and announce plans to review every film mentioned or eluded to in this must-watch, under-the-radar Nicolas Cage comedy masterpiece. Thank you for l...

Send us Fan Mail Medical aesthetician and med spa owner, Heidi Arambula, join Joe and Jared for a very candid discussion about beauty and aging and the similarities and differences between how men and women experience this inevitable fact of life.  Do you feel pretty? Well, do ya punk? Heidi's outlook on self-image is so positive, it's impossible that you can listen to this episode and s...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jared sped to the cinema to see early viewings of two new films: Paint and Mafia Mama. They give an honest assessment of these two movies and then dive into a painful lament about the dearth of quality comedy films in the cinema today.  Is comedy dead at the cinema forever? Why are there so few comedies coming to theaters today? Joe and Jared gripe and postulate on this to...

Send us Fan Mail You know how some shows seem to drag on forever, insulting our intelligence by getting more and more farfetched? None of the 11 highlighted shows do this! Joe and Jared list their Top 11 TV shows that wrap up the story in one, satisfying season. They'll give you a story summary and the mood for each of these excellent picks. So if you're wondering what to watch, here are...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Joe and Jared interview the infidelity coach, Andrea Giles, and discuss the topic of love and betrayal, using the 1995 film The Bridges of Madison County as the catalyst to a deep and open discussion about this very sensitive topic. Anyone who is, was, or wants to get married should listen to this episode! You'll get a crash course on a few key reasons why pe...

Send us Fan Mail Have you seen Creed III? Have you seen I & II? Depending on who you trust more - Joe or Jared - you'll be convinced to stream it or skip it. They do the talking but you do the deciding. Our hosts also discuss the season finale of The Last Of Us and two new shows - The Consultant and Shrinking - and give their sales pitches for why you should be watching.  Oh yeah, and Joe...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jared return to their 2023 Oscars prediction game from episode 49 to see who picked right and who is the biggest loser! They discuss the winners, the losers, the controversy, and even touch on the fashion of the 95th Oscars. This is a short and sweet episode! Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below! Read our Letterboxd reviews at: https://l...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jared have made it to 50 episodes! Thank you all for listening! As a tribute to their patience and support, your hosts bring on their better halves, Irene and Heidi, to discuss their favorite movies, Trainspotting and Jerry Maguire. These two selections could not be more polar opposites! The four of them dive in and discuss what makes these films so excellent and worth wat...

Send us Fan Mail Have you seen all of the films nominated for an Oscar? Has anyone? Even if you haven't, your opinion still counts! Joe and Jared make their predictions with returning guest, director Chris Cowden. Listen in, then use the link below to print out your own ballot and see who best knows the minds of the Academy voters. And be sure to come back in a couple of weeks because Chris w...

Send us Fan Mail Why is the post-apocalypse entertainment genre so popular? Are we all just sick of the stupid rules that bind us, making us dream of the end of civilization? Joe and Jared dig into The Last of Us and discuss the show, the appeal of the genre, and some evidence for why they may predict human behavior more accurately than we care to admit. Our hosts also briefly discuss Poker Face,...

Send us Fan Mail Tribalism and classism are sadly alive and well in America today and these two films delve into these sticky subjects with both finesse and force. Does Chef Slowik agree with the phrase, "Eat The Rich," or does he have bigger plans? Is romance hindered by race? Join Joe and Jared as they wade through these tough topics in this Spoiler Alert episode. If you haven't s...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jared are joined by the voice behind The Passion Pod Podcast, artist, skateboard shop owner, and city volunteer, Chris Johnson, to discuss his favorite film, Akira. This 1988 Japanese import was wildly successful and continues to be influential in American film even today, with huge hits Nope and Stranger Things borrowing scenes and concepts from this often unknown film. I...

Send us Fan Mail Some people claim Saturday Night Live was the funniest back in the 1990s. Jared boldly calls BS on this nonsense and proves it by discussing his recently completed thorough and vigorous, scientific research on the issue. Joe uses his immense memory power to recall the entire SNL cast of his youth and reminds us all of some of the greatest skits from back then. You'll come awa...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Joe and Jared meet up with Jared's niece, Hannah Fowles, to discuss the hugely successful 2016 film, La La Land. Hannah was 13 when this came out and it instantly became her favorite movie, which she has now watched over 20 times. Why did this seemingly fluffy singing and dancing film become so important to her? Listen to find out what it means to this now 19...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jared go deep and personal on the heavy themes found in The Banshees of Inisherin and dig up some nuggets of wisdom we can all profit from. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleason's characters both inspire and confuse in this quietly turbulent film. It is a must-see movie and this discussion is a must-listen episode. Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with...