

Small Beans
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 19, 2024 • 1h 4min
754. Frame Rate: Road to Perdition (Feat. Jason Pargin)
Author and all-around fantastic guy, Jason Pargin, joins the boys on the road to unpacking the themes, production, and structure of 2002’s Road to Perdition. They talk gangster movies, anti-heroes, and the fact that Jason is definitely not a murderer.
Features:
Jason Pargin: https://www.tiktok.com/@jasonkpargin
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

Aug 14, 2024 • 3h 11min
756. The Climb Audiobook (Mike's Sci-Fi Novel!)
Swaim wrote a novel called The Climb, currently available as a lush, all-color PDF, as well as in an ereader-compatible format, and in physical form. THIS is a sample of the audiobook version of The Climb, read by the author, a man named Michael.
It's just the first three hours. The full thing can be had for a scant twenty dollars by visiting the Small Beans Patreon Shop at patreon.com/smallbeans/shop. Your money will go directly to support Mike in a trying financial time, and unlock the audiobook as an MP3, M4B (the preferred format of reader apps like Audible, Apple Books, and etc.), and indexed chapter-by-chapter folder for those who prefer a navigable playlist.
ALSO: Features one other Small Beannouncement, so make sure to stay for the end of the beanginning.
SYNOPSIS & PRAISE
Sinno is about to take part in an ancient coming-of-age rite for his people: climbing as high as he can up the Great Tree that comprises the entire universe. No one knows what wonders and mysteries lurk in the misty branches above. All Sinno knows is that he sometimes hates himself, and he doesn't want to let anybody down. This is a book about things including, but not limited to: alcoholism, robots, crippling depression, a magical talking rock, what's inside the Mystery Box, falling in love, hitting yourself in the head, evil orange fungus, the Tree Pope, CRACKED, Picasso, and the meaning of life. I sure hope it helps.
"The book is heartbreaking, it's weird, and it's very, very funny." - Robert Brockway
"There’s nothing quite like The Climb. A classic, fantastical, epic hero’s journey except for the parts where it isn’t...and, as always, a book that’s really f*cking funny. It’s a love poem, it’s a dick joke, it’s a celebration of art and a middle finger to those who try to squeeze a buck out of art, and it’s quite possibly Michael Swaim’s masterpiece." - Daniel O'Brien

Aug 13, 2024 • 58min
752. Escape from the Multicurse: The Lake House
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 2006’s The Lake House, with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock!
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

Aug 3, 2024 • 1h 23min
749. Ander’s Sons: The Phantom Thread
Our deep dive of Wes Anderson and P.T. Anderson continues: this time we discuss the 2017 film The Phantom Thread which tells the story of a toxic relationship fostered by a tyrannical dressmaker. 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

Jul 31, 2024 • 1h 9min
748. Directorpiece Theatre: How to Direct a Feature Length Sketch (The Other Guys)
Adam Ganser breaks down two different types of popular comedies made these days by taking the comedic stylings of The Other Guys and dissecting its approach to comedy and action. He tracks how films typically choose one of the two camps and what that means for the audience. Also, he wants a cybertruck.
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

Jul 17, 2024 • 60min
743. Tales from the Pit: Cusping Hard (Feat. Marina and Tom Reimann)
Michael brings on Marina and Tom Reimann, expecting parents and personal friends. Marina and Tom are expecting any day now so this conversation consists of Michael asking them about their journey so far, as he begins his own. This episode continues the ongoing conversation about Michael and jenn’s leap into parenthood.
The Go-Fund Me for Marina and Tom Reimann: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-marinas-highrisk-pregnancy-journey
Buy Michael’s book: https://www.patreon.com/smallbeans/shop
Support Small Beans: https://www.patreon.com/smallbeans
Features:
Marina Reimann: https://twitch.tv/heartfistbrain
Tom Reimann: https://twitter.com/startthemachine
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

Jul 13, 2024 • 1h 4min
742. Frame Rate: Safe House (1998) (Feat. Katy Stoll)
Friend and illustrious bean, Katy Stoll, is forced by her friends to watch the Patrick Stewart made-for-TV vehicle that is Safe House! You’ve probably never heard of the movie because it’s insane. That’s why we chose our friend Katy to stop by and experience the glory that is Safe House.
Features:
Katy Stoll: https://twitter.com/katystoll
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

Jul 6, 2024 • 58min
740. Escape from the Multicurse: The One
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.
Boy Howdy! This week we discuss 2001’s The One. Michael and Abe contemplate how they didn’t figure out how Adam says “Boy Howdy!” constantly throughout this one.
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

Jul 3, 2024 • 1h 26min
738. Inside Dads: Interstellar, and Other Space Daddies
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

Jun 29, 2024 • 1h 26min
737. Ander’s Sons: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Our deep dive of Wes Anderson and P.T. Anderson continues: this time we discuss the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel which tells the story of how a refugee inherited a famous hotel. 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