Explore every episode of the podcast Cows in the field
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 176. Halloween (w/ Edward Lewis) | 24 oct. 2026 | 01:21:55 | |
Just in time for HALLOWEEN, we sit down with friend Edward Lewis to revisit John Carpenter's 1978 classic. We discuss boogeymen, parental anxieties, fate, middle class rot, and the trio of Loomis, Laurie Strode, and Michael Myers. Sharpen your butcher knife, put on a ghost costume, and join us! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 175. Alien (w/ Sarah Welch-Larson) | 09 oct. 2026 | 01:05:37 | |
We sit down with Sarah Welch-Larson, author of Becoming Alien, and frequent contributor to Bright Wall / Dark Room, to discuss Ridley Scott's ALIEN. Evil, alienation, violations, organic mechanization, corporate dehumanization... and also, aliens, yes... aliens! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 174. Cape Fear (w/ Roxana Hadadi) | 25 sept. 2026 | 01:37:59 | |
We journey up river with Roxana Hadadi (New York Magazine and Vulture) to explore Martin Scorsese's 1991 film, CAPE FEAR! We explore how the film portrays the crumbling of American middle class institutions -- family, religion, law -- from the inside, the experiences of adolescent and middle aged women in this system, fear and desire, and of course masculinity. Come get some TATToos with us!! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 173. The Shawshank Redemption (w/ Emily St. James) | 12 sept. 2026 | 00:54:32 | |
We are joined by many time guest Emily St. James (Yellowjackets) to discuss Frank Darabont's modern Capra film about hope, defiance, cosmic injustice, Stephen King, prison, freedom, and more! Is it crazy to like Forrest Gump more than this film? Look, you probably think that's crazy, but don't let that stop you from tuning in! Preorder Emily's new book Every Time a Bell Rings! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 172. Uncut Gems (w/ Andrew Overbye) | 28 août 2026 | 01:13:50 | |
We are talking Safdies with Andrew Overbye (The Authorized Novelizations Podcast)! We discuss risking it all to have it all, capitalism, addiction highs and lows, five-way parlays, striving, the Sandman, and much more! In the gem, one can see the universe! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 171. Looper (w/ Tushar Menon) | 14 août 2026 | 01:38:44 | |
We sit down with MIT philosopher Tushar Menon to discuss Looper. Does its time travel make sense? What questions does it raise about identity, regret, parenting, and cycles of violence? Would your younger self hate you now? Tune in to find out! Visit cowspod.com for all our episodes and merch and other silly stuff! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 170. The Odyssey (w/ Bilge Ebiri) | 31 juil. 2026 | 01:59:00 | |
We discuss Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey with Bilge Ebiri (New York Magazine / Vulture)! We discuss Nolan's sympathetic Odysseus, a man out of time, burdened by guilt and shame, but also a herald of a new age of science and reason. We consider how Nolan made one of the oldest and grandest stories into a deeply personal one, which provides a lens through which we can revisit his entire filmography. We respond to criticisms of the film and explore ways in which it left us wanting more. Join us and rejoice in cinema!! Follow us at cowspod.com and buy t-shirts and more at shop.cowspod.com! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 169. Billy Elliot (w/ Aaron Meskin) | 10 juil. 2026 | 01:08:09 | |
Put on your dancin' shoes, it's time to discuss Billy Elliot with Aaron Meskin (Philosophy, U. of Georgia)! We discuss dance movies, dancing, how the film melds British working class drama with fantastical, nondiegetic dance numbers, how conformity perpetuates class structures, how the film portrays masculinity and dance, and more! Did you enjoy the episode? Leave us a review on your podcast app of choice! Do you like to boogie? Reach out to us at cowspod@gmail.com! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 168. Past Lives (w/ Bar Luzon) | 27 juin 2026 | 01:12:28 | |
Join us and Bar Luzon (Philosophy, MIT) to discuss Celine Song's film PAST LIVES. We talk about immigration, love, irresistible freely chosen love, imagination and narrative in self understanding, counterfactual thinking, and never going home... Check out all our episodes at cowspod.com and buy a cow-branded shirt at shop.cowspod.com! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 167. Blade Runner (w/ Zed Adams) | 12 juin 2026 | 01:36:20 | |
The Cows journey to the future, Los Angeles 2019, to run blades with Zed Adams (Philosophy, The New School for Social Research). We discuss eyes, simulation, Hegel, Cavell, Heidegger, rain, tears, pajamas, and who among us is a replicant. Visit cowspod.com for the full schedule and merch! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 166. 2001: A Space Odyssey (w/ Matthias Michel) | 22 mai 2026 | 01:50:09 | |
Journey with us and Matthias Michel (Philosophy, MIT) beyond the infinite! We discuss humanity's place in the universe, questions vs. mysteries, technology, space food, space toilets, transcendence, isolation, space, HAL9000, monoliths, chess... and what makes this movie so special. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 165. Ex Machina (w/ Aaron West) | 08 mai 2026 | 01:01:12 | |
We take a trip down A24 lane to discuss our first AI movie of the miniseries, Alex Garland's EX MACHINA, with Aaron West (of Cinejourneys.com and The A24 New Wave). Auteurs, tech bros, trophy robot wives/slaves, creations leaving the nest, and more! Also, Justin cut out the bit where he ranted about the film's half-assed invocation of Wittgenstein and Frank Jackson, so don't worry: we just talk about the fun parts! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 164. The Long Goodbye (w/ Tim Smartt) | 24 avr. 2026 | 01:02:19 | |
We are joined by Tim Smartt (Philosophy, University of Notre Dame at Sydney) to discuss Altman, Coury brand cat food, loneliness, transitions, misplaced loyalties, noir... and more! If a friend asks you to drive him to Mexico at 3am, what should you do?! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 163. Enemy (w/ Robbie Kubala) | 10 avr. 2026 | 01:01:24 | |
Robbie Kubala (Philosophy, UT-Austin) joins to discuss ENEMY! We discuss the fear of entrapment, performativity, spider femininity, 2 v 1, the difficulties of making Associate Professor... and more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 162. The Grey (w/ Dave Baker) | 27 mars 2026 | 01:15:31 | |
We are joined by Dave Baker (Philosophy, U. Michigan) to talk about THE GREY (2012), which is definitely NOT Taken With Wolves! We discuss accepting death, grief, finding meaning in life, theistic and non-theistic readings, dudes bonding over survival scenarios, wolves, Liam Neeson, and more wolves! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 161. The Blobscars! | 12 mars 2026 | 02:10:54 | |
It's time to celebrate the films of 2025! No film can win in more than one of the following categories: + Best Supporting Character + Movie Most Likely to Grow on Me + Hidden Gem + Best Music + Best Line / Speech + Best Antagonist + Best Protagonist + Best Story + Best Picture Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 160. Marty Supreme (w/ Sean Burns) | 27 févr. 2026 | 01:02:50 | |
Pick up your paddles, it's time to PONG! Marty Supreme is a 2025 movie directed by Josh Safdie starring Timothy Chalamet about an upstart New York table tennis savant who'll do anything to succeed at the sport and who just wants someone to treat him as seriously as he takes himself. We're joined by Sean Burns (WBUR, Spliced Personality) to explore the movie's manic energy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 159. One Battle After Another (w/ Roxana Hadadi) | 13 févr. 2026 | 01:21:56 | |
Roxana Hadadi (Vulture / New York Magazine) joins us to discuss Paul Thomas Anderson's BP lock(?) and everything surrounding the film: its structure, violent / non-violent resistance, broader themes in PTA's films... and much more! Is it time to call in a Greyhawk-10? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 158. Tenet (REPLAY) | 30 janv. 2026 | 01:20:57 | |
Five years out, and it's time to look back on TENET with a replay of our episode from 2021. In it, we talk about parenthood, emotions, time inversion, free will, buddies, why this can't be done in any other medium, and also why the movie kicks butt! If you haven't given Tenet a second shot, now's the time! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 157. Body Heat (w/ Alex Kugelman) | 16 janv. 2026 | 01:09:52 | |
Players, chimes, noir conventions, screenwriting tips, running hot, tacit communication, and horny lawyers can only mean one thing -- we're discussing BODY HEAT! Joining us is Alex Kugelman, writer/director of the new hit film DON'T TRIP (streaming now on Tubi). Can you handle the heat??!? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 156. When Harry Met Sally | 02 janv. 2026 | 01:07:25 | |
To celebrate the life and work of Rob Reiner, we wanted to cover our favorite of his films, which also happens to be a great NEW YEAR'S film! So join us to discuss the mysteries of love, and disagree about how to interpret the interstitial older couple interviews. Here's to 2026! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 155. The Santa Clause (w/ Emily St. James) | 19 déc. 2025 | 01:09:19 | |
Oh no Scott Calvin (maybe) killed Santa Claus and now through the power of legally binding contracts he has to become the Big Man himself! Will the power of belief triumph over police and psychiatry? Who will be crowned champion of the elves-only cocoa-making competition? Who are those puppets hanging out in Santa's room? All this and more!! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 154. Amelie (w/ Brianna Ashby) | 05 déc. 2025 | 00:55:56 | |
Join us and Brianna Ashby (Bright Wall / Dark Room) to discuss 2001's AMELIE! We discuss loneliness, color theory, mediated interactions, breaking through stasis, and whether this is a post-COVID movie made before COVID! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 153. Grave of the Fireflies (w/ Sam Liao) | 21 nov. 2025 | 01:09:20 | |
We are joined by Sam Liao (Philosophy, University of Puget Sound) to discuss our first animated film on the show: Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies! We discuss childhood, innocence, war, societal collapse, and much more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 152. Parasite (w/ Rachel Fraser) | 07 nov. 2025 | 01:59:07 | |
We sit down with Rachel Fraser (MIT, Philosophy) to discuss Bong Joon Ho's Academy Award winning movie PARASITE! What do Freud, Jane Eyre, and Marx have to do with a movie about three families in South Korea? Psychoanalysis, transgression, class consciousness, ideology, ghosts, Hitchcock, and lots more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 151. Rec (w/ Pete Turner) | 25 oct. 2025 | 01:06:15 | |
Continuing spooky season, we sit down with Pete Turner (Oxford Brookes University) to discuss found footage horror and the now-classic entry into the genre, REC! We discuss why this isn't "found footage"(!) although it is diegetic camera horror, and how the film uses the limited perspective to shape our identification with its characters. Don't go in the attic!! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 150. Red Rooms (w/ Emily St. James) | 10 oct. 2025 | 01:13:54 | |
Join us and Emily St. James to surf the dark web and hopefully not stumble upon any RED ROOMS. We discuss image management in the era of hyper-connectivity, Arthurian legends, Tennyson poems and 19th Century Chinese pirates, and of course, serial killers. Is this a comfort watch or a perfect horror for a brisk fall evening or BOTH? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 149. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (w/ Max Evry) | 26 sept. 2025 | 01:27:07 | |
We are joined by Max Evry (author of A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch's Dune) to discuss another sci-fi epic of the same generation, this one starring Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock! Exploration, practical effects, V'GER!, mystery, AI, leaping beyond logic!! Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), check it out! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 148. Flatliners (w/ Andrew Overbye and Hannah Blechman) | 12 sept. 2025 | 01:15:55 | |
We're joined by Andrew Overbye and Hannah Blechman from the Authorized Novelizations Podcast to explore near-death experiences, spirituality, brat packs, and more during our discussion of Joel Schumacher's 1990 film FLATLINERS! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 147. Warfare (w/ Jim Penola) | 29 août 2025 | 01:24:15 | |
Alex Garland's second film in two years traces the true story of co-director Ray Mendoza's experiences in Iraq. We discuss the film with Jim Penola (An Invitation Productions), considering what drove Garland to the project, heroic sacrifice, decontextualizing violence, and the film's commitment to realism. New shirts and hats at shop.cowspod.com! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 146. In the Mouth of Madness (w/ Carly Severn) | 15 août 2025 | 01:14:11 | |
We do, in fact, read Sutter Cane! Carly Severn (KQED San Francisco) returns to explore the world of mass market paperbacks that portend the return of the Old Ones and the end of humanity in John Carpenter's homage to Lovecraft. Is it Mommy's Day? Sadly, yes, it is. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 145. Re-Animator (w/ Scout Tafoya) | 01 août 2025 | 01:16:18 | |
Life, death, and rebirth are on the exam table as we pull up the chart on Stuart Gordon's RE-ANIMATOR (1985). Scout Tafoya (Ignite Films) returns to explore the film, its impact and legacy, men's desire to procreate without women, practical effects, consent, horror, and of course, H.P. Lovecraft! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 144. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (w/ Abe Mathew) | 18 juil. 2025 | 01:07:37 | |
The spy life. Espionage. Trust. Betrayal. Boring office parties. It's the anti-James-Bond. Abe Mathew (Philosophy, Notre Dame) joins us to discuss Le Carre and the 2011 film adaptation of his most famous novel. Trust no one! Buy a T-Shirt at our NEW merch site! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 143. Heat (w/ Zed Adams) | 04 juil. 2025 | 01:55:23 | |
Come on over to our dead-tech, postmodernistic, bullsh*t, house and watch HEAT with us and Zed Adams (Philosophy, The New School)! Time, light, passing, entrapment, stylized realism, stoicism, individualism, institutionalism, and why people be thieving. Buy a T-Shirt at our NEW merch site! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 142. Enough Said (w/ Jason Bailey) | 20 juin 2025 | 01:15:02 | |
We are joined by Jason Bailey, author of Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend, to discuss one of his final films, ENOUGH SAID. We talk about midlife romances, self-destructive tendencies, shaggy stories, and a lot about Mr. Gandolfini's honest and vulnerable performance. Check it out! Buy a cows shirt on Threadless! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 141. Cobra (w/ Philip Gawthorne) | 06 juin 2025 | 01:13:34 | |
We sit down with Phil Gawthorne (Die Hard on a Blank) to discuss our second Stallone flick, Cobra. We discuss how the film's absurdities make it endearing, the catharsis of comeuppance, aesthetic vibes, robot fashion, metanarrative love. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 140. Talk to Her (w/ Jim Miller) | 23 mai 2025 | 01:21:24 | |
We sit down with Jim Miller (The New School) to discuss Pedro Almodovar's challenging film TALK TO HER. We consider the juxtaposition of beauty and horror, the duality of subjects and objects, the blurry lines around the moral, ballet, and friendship. Check out Jim's book on Almodovar! Reach out to us on BlueSky and the web! Email us at cowspod@gmail.com! Buy a Cows shirt or bag at Threadless! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 139. Whiplash (w/ Brad Skow) | 09 mai 2025 | 01:16:40 | |
We are joined by Brad Skow (Philosophy, MIT) to discuss Damien Chazelle's WHIPLASH! Abuse, striving, greatness, parenting, color, the ending(!), and, of course, jazz. Buy a cows shirt on Threadless! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 138. 20th Century Women (w/ Chad Perman) | 25 avr. 2025 | 01:03:51 | |
We sit down with Chad Perman (Bright Wall / Dark Room) to discuss Mike Mills' autobiographical love letter to his mom. We discuss how becoming a parent helps you become closer to your own parents, finding ourselves alienated from our own children, empaths, narratives as a source of therapy, and much more! Buy a cows shirt on Threadless! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 137. Demolition Man (w/ Liam Billingham) | 11 avr. 2025 | 01:19:09 | |
It's our first Sly film, so we sit down with Liam Billingham (Die Hard on a Blank) to discuss future politics, the film's political litmus test, its satire of a conservative's fever dream of liberal tyranny, masculinity, and more! Buy a cows shirt on Threadless! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 136. Risky Business (w/ Jay Elliott) | 28 mars 2025 | 01:13:28 | |
We talk with Jay Elliott (Philosophy, Bard College) about RISKY BUSINESS! White boys off the lake, Tom Cruise, sexual anxiety, capitalism, authenticity, Hitchcock, and more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 135. Mikey and Nicky (w/ Dan Wack) | 14 mars 2025 | 01:28:15 | |
We sit down with Dan Wack (Philosophy, Knox College) to discuss Elaine May's Mikey and Nicky! We talk gangsters, friendship, honesty, barriers, hangout films, misogyny, character studies, and much more! Buy a cows shirt on Threadless! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 134. The Blobscars (w/ Jon Gabrus) | 21 févr. 2025 | 02:14:01 | |
Jon Gabrus joins us to award our favorite movies of 2024! Who will take home the coveted Blobscar? Tune in to find out! Buy a cows shirt on Threadless! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 133. Nickel Boys (w/ Bilge Ebiri) | 07 févr. 2025 | 01:20:39 | |
We welcome back Bilge Ebiri (Vulture / New York Magazine) to discuss RaMell Ross's 2024 film, Nickel Boys! We talk about the film's formal stylistic innovations, its focus on interstitial moments, its exploration of different responses to injustice, how it invites us to integrate our own memories and experiences with its narrative, and more! Find us on the web and on Blue Sky! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 132. Nosferatu - 2024 (w/ Phil Iscove) | 24 janv. 2025 | 01:11:53 | |
We sit down with Phil Iscove (of Podcast Like It's...) to discuss Robert Eggers' Nosferatu! We discuss how the film is Ellen's story, compare it with the many other versions, sexual liberation and sexual angst, scientific progress and the patriarchy, the beauty in decay, and the film's dark sense of humor. Find us at cowspod.com! Follow us at @cowspod.com on Blue Sky! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| Happy Gilmore (Reprise) w/ Tim Gilman | 10 janv. 2025 | 01:28:30 | |
Gilmore as populist disruptor, Grandma's tax situation, hockey vs. golf, anger, Chubbs, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and of course Shooter McGavin! We're @cowspod.com on Blue Sky! Find us on the web at cowspod.com SUBSCRIBE! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 131. Grinch x3 (w/ Emily St. James) | 25 déc. 2024 | 01:26:12 | |
Merry Christmas to all, including THE GRINCH! We sit down with Emily St. James to discuss all three Grinch movies (How the Grinch Stole Christmas '66 + '00, and The Grinch '18). We inquire about what the Grinch story is all about, whether we really needed a Grinch backstory, what part of speech "Grinch" is, which of the movies is da best, and more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 130. Home Alone (w/ Dan Harris) | 13 déc. 2024 | 01:27:11 | |
Join us and Dan Harris (Philosophy, CUNY) to discuss HOME ALONE! We consider the film's permission structure for excusing parental negligence, humoring breaking and entering, the film's ideological implications about the nuclear family, and what Kevin really thinks he did to his parents. Christmastime begins with the COWS now! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 129. Gaslight (w/ Joseph McBride) | 29 nov. 2024 | 01:10:19 | |
We sit down with film historian Joseph McBride to discuss George Cukor's 1944 film, Gaslight. We discuss Cukor's reputation among the great studio directors, his skill working with actors, the social and political dimensions of the film, including what makes diagnosing and resisting gaslighting so challenging. After you listen, you should read Joseph's book on Cukor! Buy a cows shirt on Threadless! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||
| 128. Drive (w/ Roxana Hadadi) | 15 nov. 2024 | 01:17:28 | |
Cars, men, masculinity, westerns, scorpions, frogs, wanderers, conservative values, violence, very hot people, and more... it's Nicholas Winding Refn's DRIVE with Roxana Hadadi! Follow us on Twitter and Bluesky and Instagram! Buy a cows shirt on Threadless! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands | |||