Small Beans

A Pick the Flick episode of Frame Rate! This means one of our patrons, specifically Krischanovich, generously donated through the Pick the Flick tier and got to choose what we watched! This episode covers the 2005 film by Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko): Southland Tales. A film with an outstanding cast, a lot of big ideas, and some really rough dialogue. The boys tackle what made this flop and more or less rip into it for 60 minutes. Sorry, Richard Kelly. Well, except for Swaim. Swaim’s not sorry. Features: David Bell: https://twitter.com/MovieHooligan Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

Our three co-hosts are stuck in the multiverse and need to get back to their home universe. Clearly, the only way to do that is to explore our cultural obsession with multiverses, alternate timelines and parallel worlds, and tie it all into a conversation about post-modern art, pop culture, and the lessons these stories teach us. Also, each episode, one of them is an asshole who will probably sabotage the whole thing. This week, we discuss 1996’s Space Jam! Features: Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Adam Ganser: https://twitter.com/therealganz Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

Adam and Abe talk about how Sam Raimi’s Spiderman creates a visual system where the audience subtly learns who we’re looking at: Spiderman or Peter Parker. We go through his camera techniques and look into how the invisible hand of directing works. Features: Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Adam Ganser: https://twitter.com/therealganz Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

A Pick the Flick episode of Frame Rate! This means one of our patrons, specifically Nikolai G, generously donated through the Pick the Flick tier and got to choose what we watched! This episode covers the 1998 heist film Ronin. A film about a team of ex-military mercenaries enlisted by some Irish people to find a briefcase. We compare it to modern day action films and blockbusters, talk car chases, and determine that Jonathan Pryce is a tiny man. Witness the raw sexual power of Robert De Niro driving fast. Features: Sarah Griffith: https://twitter.com/sk_griffith Bridgett Greenberg: https://twitter.com/BridgettTweets Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

This show goes over the short stories of Michael’s favorite speculative fiction author and notable curmudgeon Harlan Ellison. Each episode Michael pairs (read: forces a friend to read) a short story with a guest that it “applies especially to.” This episode it’s the short story “The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore” and the guest is Alebrelle. They discuss the moral complexities of intention, action, and outcome, the definition of free will, and the movie RIPD. Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Alebrelle: https://twitter.com/Alebrelle Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

It’s a Wes month. This time we discuss his 2004 film The Life Aquatic which tells the story of sailor/asshole Steve Zissou as he tries to reignite his career and connect with his son. The boys talk about redemption arcs, beautiful shots, and how Wes Anderson has matured through his movies. Features: Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

A Pick the Flick episode of Frame Rate! This means one of our patrons, specifically A. Ron Defender of the Galaxy, generously donated through the Pick the Flick tier and got to choose what we watched! This episode we covered the 2010 independent film The Happy Poet, a film about a man who just wants to make a vegan food cart. It launches a conversation about independent filmmaking and our own journey in filmmaking. Features: Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

Join the co-hosts as they hilariously navigate the chaotic multiverse while dissecting our cultural fascination with parallel worlds. They tackle moral dilemmas in the MCU, focusing on the grief-driven choices of Doctor Strange and Wanda. The conversation blends humor with deeper philosophical questions about heroism and relationships. With insights into comic book crossovers and character portrayals, they reflect on the implications of alternate realities for modern storytelling. It's a playful yet thought-provoking ride through postmodern art and pop culture!

Happy 500th podcast! We did it! Celebrate by finding the closest bean and lighting it on fire! AHHHHH!!!! The sacrifice has been made!!! On that note, we have another patron-chosen episode! This episode dives into the movies that defined friendship for our hosts. You know, what you’re looking for in a friend. The hosts as always choose two different films and discuss them. This time they both picked boomer movies with Sally Field! Also, this is the episode Maggie brags about her muscles. Vote every month on our poll for the topic of the next episode! Email us suggestions for episodes at magsandganz@gmail.com as well. Adam Ganser: https://twitter.com/therealganz Maggie Mae Fish: https://twitter.com/MaggieMaeFish Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

Michael and Abe have been looking forward to covering a Satoshi Kon film and we figured we’d get one of our good friends, Zach Sherwin, who hadn’t seen it to come and discuss it with us! The film covers three unhoused citizens of Tokyo who find a baby in a dumpster and spend the entire film trying to find her parents, despite the night having a different plan at almost every turn. It’s a heart-warming human-affirming movie, so while the topic is dark, it goes down pretty nice. Features: Zach Sherwin: https://www.crosswordshow.com/ Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691