The Indie Magazine Podcast

Week three takes Cole into the heart of monster horror in The Mist , through fun haunts with Mickey, into a few book-to-big screen adaptations, and finishes with mummies and cannibals (in that order). Be sure you check out Cole’s 2026 recommendations in our show notes. If you’re a fan of Cole and his watchlist, follow him ⁠on Letterboxd⁠ or ⁠X/Twitter⁠ , where you’ll find more of his hot takes, st...

The second week of Cole’s spooky continues with the 2026’s Emmy’s darling, Widow’s Bay . We discuss why people shouldn’t be caught up with the discourse and superlatives, because the show delivers what it needs to in a captivating and fun way, and that’s all you need to know about it.  If you were putting it off because of the hype and discourse, today’s episode gives you all the reasons you need...

The Halloween season is finally back! Looking for a spooky film rec? Cole takes us through the first 8 days of October, where he picks up with this year’s Saw , pays homage to the late Tim Curry, and sneaks in a little Stephen King while he’s at it. Be sure you check out Cole’s 2026 recommendations in our show notes. If you’re a fan of Cole and his watchlist, follow him ⁠on Letterboxd⁠ or ⁠X/Twitt...

Cole took his family to see PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie , and he’s a fan. Everyone’s favorite canine-pseudo-cops go cretaceous in this theatrical entry, and what follows is sure to be big fun for fans of the show and first time viewers alike. We hope you enjoy today’s episode, and get your tickets to PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie below. — Get your tickets today: - Find showtimes near you for PAW Patro...

After seeing Spider-Man: Brand New Day , the newest entry from Sony and Marvel starring Tom Holland, Madison says that no matter what, this is the direction for a true friendly *neighborhood* Spider-Man. While there are a few other big characters involved, including Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, this feels less Avenger -y and much more grounded. Beyond the story itself, Madison...

Madison drops a quick review of Spider-Man: Brand New Day , the newest entry in the web-slinger’s story from Sony and Marvel starring Tom Holland. Give it a listen or watch and get your tickets today! — Get your tickets today: - Find showtimes near you for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. —- SPIDER-MAN™: BRAND NEW DAY It's a BRAND NEW DAY for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a...

Madison gives us his quick take on Christopher Nolan ’s newest film, The Odyssey . Adapting the 3000+ year old story wasn’t easy, but as fans and critics worldwide agree, the film is a testament to practical effects, shooting on location, finding story amidst the plot, and delivering a truly epic cinematic experience that is worth the trip to the theaters. We hope you enjoy this quick recap, and g...

The most beautiful game has produced some fun movies over the years. Tristan and Madison discuss their childhood favorites, ones they can’t stop coming back to, and the potential opening for a truly great soccer movie. We hope you’re enjoying the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and be sure to give some of these movies a watch between games, or after the tournament comes to a close. — Watch the Soccer Movies...

Madison is here with a review of The Invite , a Sundance-darling that delivers all the right emotions, cinematography, and character-first storytelling in a tight 1hr. 47 mins. More than a premise, this film is masterfully directed by Olivia Wilde, and stars Wilde, Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, and Penelope Cruz. Purchased and distributed by A24, the film is now in theaters. Get your tickets to The I...

Madison and Tristan discuss Steven Spielberg’s new film, Disclosure Day (2026), and why Madison believes it’s in Spielberg’s top 15, but maybe not top 5. We get into box office predictions, current sentiments, and expectations, as well as the lore, Spielberg’s fascination with the subject, and how he deals with it in this film. A spiritual successor to Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), mo...

Madison attended an early press screening of Steven Spielberg’s newest film, Disclosure Day , and we’ve got a teaser review ready for you! Get your tickets to Disclosure Day today! — Disclosure Day (2026) : - Visit the Official Website - Get your tickets on AMC , Cinemark , Regal , or Fandango —- Fan of The Indie Magazine & Podcast? Show your support by ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donating to our podcast and ma...

Coming to you hot today with a look at Steven Spielberg’s filmography: The Good, The Great, and The Ugly. Steven Allan Spielberg set the new standard of blockbusters, he has been an influential director, producer, and force for good in Hollywood for over 60 years, and we’re discussing some of our favorites (and less favorites) from his body of work. The Good : Minority Report (2002), War of the Wo...

We’re breaking down one of the most (if not the most) hotly-anticipated releases this year, Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday .  From sharing an opening weekend with Dune: Part Three to cast concerns, and comic adaptations to cinematic limitations, Madison shines a light on the most important MCU film since Avengers: Endgame . Well, until Avengers: Secret Wars comes out. Let us know in the comments on I...

Madison is here with a review of one of the most intriguing releases of the year thus far, David Lowery’s newest film, Mother Mary . Distributed by A24, Mother Mary is the first of two Anne Hathaway vehicles in a month, with The Devil Wears Prada 2 releasing on May 1st. That said, the two films share little more than Miss Hathaway and fashion. Yet Lowery’s haunting film blurs the lines between mem...

Madison discusses his take on Project Hail Mary , all things Ryan Gosling, product placements, visual and practical effects, and the delicate dance that comes with adapting a popular Sci-Fi novel. Let us know in the comments on Instagram or on Spotify what you thought of the film, and get your tickets if you haven’t yet! — Go see Project Hail Mary : - See it in IMAX  - See it at AMC - Find tickets...

The 98th Academy Awards will air this Sunday, and in prep for the big day, we discuss the nominees for Best Picture. While Madison loved the * neature * of Train Dreams , he was less enthused about F1 being included. While Tristan liked Bugonia , he felt like Jesse Plemmons was snubbed for a Best Actor nom. One by one, we discuss each movie, our thoughts, and the discussions surrounding them. Tune...

It’s been a great year, full of great guests, good movies, TV, and music. There are some exciting prospects for 2026, and we catch up and update fans and listeners of the pod on our plans for the upcoming year. Madison’s got some big news to share about a project he’s been working on this year, Tristan will catch everyone up on what he’s been working on outside of the podcast, and they’ll discuss...

If you're from Vegas, you might already know what's going down... And if you don't yet, you're about to get caught up to speed. Kevin and Rex sit down to dish on First Friday , the potential pitfalls of Indie filmmaking (and not having an accountant), and what Rex has learned throughout it all. They wrap up the episode with a little more of what Rex is working on now, so tune in, b...

Originally aired on 12/25/2023, we're revisiting a fan-favorite for the Christmas season! Kevin Bessey joined us to talk about his favorite Christmas albums and songs, a little about the Christmas Canon, and about the Christmas music he’s recorded in the last few years. Let us know what you've been listening to during the holidays, and we’ll catch up with you one more time before the end o...

We’re back with our Sacred Texts series, and we’re discussing Booksmart (2019), Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut that forever changed our very own Madison D. Daniels. Sacred Texts can be art in any medium that you internalize, reflect upon, and find worth or inspiration through beyond the original presentation. These movies or shows could impact you in a number of ways, and they could be Sacred be...

Have you ever sat in a theater, on a plane, or on your couch and thought, “Could I write something good enough to get made?” There’s the idea stage (important), the writing phase (very important), then you reach the pitching  and submitting phase. Enter Seldy Gray. As a creative executive, Seldy works to find the right scripts, screenwriters, talent, and stories that can reach the right audience o...

We’re back with our Sacred Texts series, and we’re discussing Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987). One of John Hughes’ finest, not to mention John Candy and Steve Martin, this is a *truly 80’s* flick that deserves a revisit. While the comedy style, jokes, and set pieces might induce some millennial cringe, the deeper story about carrying your grief, dealing with adversity, and having grace for...

We already know what everyone’s seeing this weekend at the theaters, and no, it sadly isn’t Predator: Badlands or The Running Man reboot. No folks, this weekend and the many that follow will belong to Wicked: For Good , the oddly-titled second-half of the stage-to-screen adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda.  Cole talks us through what he liked, what he liked le...

“Life in space is impossible…”We’re back with our Sacred Texts series, and we’re discussing Gravity (2013). Alfonso Cuaron directed this space disaster movie (if you can even call it that), and it stars Sandra Bullock as the indomitable Dr. Ryan Stone. We discuss what made this one of Madison’s favorite movies, and what makes it a Sacred Text.  Sacred Texts can be art in any medium that you intern...

Where does an idea come from? Is writing a sacred experience, or more of a job? What does a career as a writer look like? If you’re looking for answers, look no further than Rob Yescombe! Rob’s career has taken him from speedily writing international television to writing on major video game titles, and from Netflix and Prime Video releases in the last few years to a beloved mystery game that he r...