
Small Beans
Small Beans Podcasting is a place for beans of every sort to come bean it up. Free your soul, eh? Be a frijole.
Latest episodes

Jun 1, 2024 • 57min
726. Escape from the Multicurse: Time Bandits
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 1981’s Time Bandits.
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

May 29, 2024 • 52min
724. The Coen Brothers Brothers: Drive-Away Dolls (Feat. Daniel O’Brien)
Daniel O’Brien, a Correspondent for Last Week Tonight, joins the discussion about the Coen Brothers’ latest film, 'Drive-Away Dolls.' They explore the brothers' unique storytelling styles, diving into character dynamics and the film's quirky humor. The conversation touches on queer representation in cinema, evaluating the Coens' comedic approach and the need for nuanced narratives. They also reflect on the complexities of celebrity culture and the evolving nature of violence and nostalgia in contemporary film, making for a thought-provoking listening experience.

May 18, 2024 • 1h 15min
720. Tales from the Pit: Bringing a Child into the World (Feat. Abe Epperson)
Michael asks Abe Epperson, fellow Small Bean, to discuss his thoughts about starting a family. They discuss regret, happiness, and the anxiety of bringing a human into the world. Abe’s pretty satisfied with not having kids, but it’s always been on Michael’s list of life goals. Let’s see how these friends navigate the conversation from two different perspectives.
Buy Michael’s book: https://www.patreon.com/smallbeans/shop
Support Small Beans: https://www.patreon.com/smallbeans
Features:
Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/abethemighty
Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP
Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

May 11, 2024 • 1h 29min
717. Ander’s Sons: Inherent Vice
Our deep dive of Wes Anderson and P.T. Anderson continues: this time we discuss the 2014 film Inherent Vice which tells the story two twelve year olds running away to live together. Michael and Abe discuss Paul Thomas Anderson’s distinctive style, themes, and characters.
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

May 4, 2024 • 1h 7min
714. Directorpiece Theatre: Portraying the Female Gaze (In the Cut)
Adam Ganser wants to talk about an early 2000’s neo-noir film where Meg Ryan is both the detective and the femme fatale. Also we see Mark Ruffalo’s dick. Also, it was directed by Jane Campion (The Piano, The Power of the Dog). This film introduces the concept of the female gaze along with a unique noir story that exposes the genre’s tendency for male gaze films.
Features:
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

May 1, 2024 • 1h 20min
711. Frame Rate: Army of Darkness (Feat. John Liot)
Friendly Bean and fellow podcaster John Liot joins Michael and Abe as they discuss 1992’s horror comedy Army of Darkness. The boys discuss the cartoonish impulses of Sam Raimi, the classic lines, and the Evil Dead series as a whole. Hail to the bean, baby.
Features:
John Liot: https://www.instagram.com/johnliot/
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

Apr 20, 2024 • 58min
707. Escape from the Multicurse: Primer
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 2004’s Primer.
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

Apr 17, 2024 • 1h 8min
705. Frame Rate: The Machinist (Feat. Bridgett Greenberg)
Bridgett Greenberg joins Michael and Abe as they discuss the 2004 psychological thriller The Machinist. Christian Bale’s weight loss and gain, the early 2000’s fascination with non-linear storytelling, and the value of symbology in films are just a few of the topics in this here episode!
Let’s thank Joran Welling for suggesting the movie. We are turning off the Pick the Flick tier temporarily so we can cover a few movies we want to cover, but when it turns back on, you can be like Joran by heading over to the Small Beans patreon and pledging for the Pick the Flick tier. We’ll make an announcement when we turn it back on!
Features:
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

Apr 13, 2024 • 1h 11min
704. Ander’s Sons: Moonrise Kingdom
Our deep dive of Wes Anderson and P.T. Anderson continues: this time we discuss the 2012 film Moonrise Kingdom which tells the story two twelve year olds running away to live together. Michael and Abe discuss Wes Anderson’s distinctive style, themes, and characters.
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

Apr 3, 2024 • 1h 16min
700. Inside Dads: What Lies Beneath, and Other Horror Films
Our limited series with co-hosts Abe Epperson and David Bell digs deep into the internet meme of the “dad movie.” We can all probably name a dad movie, but can we isolate the tropes that really make this a bona fide film genre? Let’s find out!
Features:
Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/abethemighty
David Bell: https://twitter.com/MovieHooligan
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
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