

MUBI Podcast
MUBI
The MUBI Podcast is an audio documentary series about how great cinema happens, and why it matters. Every season’s a deep dive into a different corner of movie culture — from classic needle drops, to movie theaters that changed the world. Plus, between seasons: intimate interviews with some of the best filmmakers alive. Nominated for multiple Webbys, Ambies, and British Podcast Awards. Hosted by veteran arts journalist Rico Gagliano. “It’s like This American Life for filmmaking stories” — Matt Wallin
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 11, 2025 • 33min
JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI... and David Gelb changes how people eat it
Director David Gelb’s documentary about a tiny, austere sushi joint and its perfectionist chef defined a food-film style... and set off an international omakase craze. Gelb tells Rico the story, and also how he gets his kids to eat escargot (or at least try it).Just in time for holiday eat-a-thons, the award-winning MUBI Podcast is back and celebrating its tenth season with a four-course serving of stories about food on film. Titled "A Feast For The Eyes," the season digs into the ways filmmakers use food to provoke hunger, thought, nausea, political action...and sometimes all the above.Joining host Rico Gagliano is a sampler platter of luminaries from the film and culinary world, including directors Brad Bird (RATATOUILLE), Mira Nair (MONSOON WEDDING), and David Gelb (JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI), former New York Times food writer Alison Roman, and more. Gluttons for great cinema stories can start chowing down on episodes weekly, starting Thanksgiving Day.Let's Eat! Food and Film collection is now streaming on MUBI globally.JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI is now streaming on MUBI in the Netherlands. WINTER IN SOKCHO is now streaming on MUBI in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Latin America, India. and Turkey. To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

Dec 9, 2025 • 25min
HAL & HARPER — Cooper Raiff comes unstuck
Sibling duo Hal and Harper are best friends, and have been ever since they lost their mother as children. But is there such a thing as being too close? And when your family is your life raft, what does it look like to let go? Cooper Raiff, the writer, director and star of the TV series HAL & HARPER tells guest host Simran Hans why he had to get Lili Reinhart to play his big sister, and how he summoned his inner 7 year old to play Hal.All episodes of HAL & HARPER are now streaming on MUBI in the US, Latin America and FranceTo stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

Dec 4, 2025 • 36min
THE TASTE OF THINGS — Alison Roman savors the opposite of a chef movie
Ex-NYTimes columnist and bestselling cookbook writer Alison Roman (SOMETHING FROM NOTHING) talks with Rico about the tropes of fictional film chefs, and how the dreamy Cannes-winner THE TASTE OF THINGS quietly roasts them over a spit.Just in time for holiday eat-a-thons, the award-winning MUBI Podcast is back and celebrating its tenth season with a four-course serving of stories about food on film. Titled "A Feast For The Eyes," the season digs into the ways filmmakers use food to provoke hunger, thought, nausea, political action...and sometimes all the above.Joining host Rico Gagliano is a sampler platter of luminaries from the film and culinary world, including directors Brad Bird (RATATOUILLE), Mira Nair (MONSOON WEDDING), and David Gelb (JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI), former New York Times food writer Alison Roman, and more. Gluttons for great cinema stories can start chowing down on episodes weekly, starting Thanksgiving Day.Let's Eat! Food and Film collection is now streaming on MUBI globally.PHANTOM THREAD is now streaming on MUBI in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Latin America, India and Turkey. THE TASTE OF THINGS is now streaming on MUBI in AustraliaTo stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

Nov 27, 2025 • 40min
RATATOUILLE — Brad Bird cooks up the ultimate food film
The animated classic about an adorbs rat chef… spent nearly 7 years in the oven. Director Brad Bird (THE IRON GIANT) and producer Brad Lewis (ANTZ) tell Rico the whole multi-course saga, including gut-busting tales of Michelin-starred “research” meals that were so good they hurt.Just in time for holiday eat-a-thons, the award-winning MUBI Podcast is back and celebrating its tenth season with a four-course serving of stories about food on film. Titled "A Feast For The Eyes," the season digs into the ways filmmakers use food to provoke hunger, thought, nausea, political action...and sometimes all the above.Joining host Rico Gagliano is a sampler platter of luminaries from the film and culinary world, including directors Brad Bird (RATATOUILLE), Mira Nair (MONSOON WEDDING), and David Gelb (JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI), former New York Times food writer Alison Roman, and more. Gluttons for great cinema stories can start chowing down on episodes weekly, starting Thanksgiving Day.Let's Eat! Food and Film collection is now streaming on MUBI globally. Subscribe to NOTEBOOK, MUBI’s biannual print magazine, at mubi.com/magazine to get the food-themed Issue 8. To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

Nov 20, 2025 • 18min
DIE MY LOVE — Lynne Ramsay unleashes the beast
In DIE MY LOVE, new mother Grace (a virtuosic Jennifer Lawrence) is stuck at home while her disinterested husband Jackson (Robert Pattinson) is at work. With only her baby, a barking dog, and her own thoughts to keep her company, she begins to unravel. Visionary writer-director Lynne Ramsay talks to guest host Simran Hans about her feral, frightening, and funny portrait of a woman on the brink.DIE MY LOVE is now playing in theaters in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Latin America, Australia, Germany, and Spain. To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

Nov 13, 2025 • 38min
ARTISTS VS. AUTOCRACY: Istanbul cinema crosses the bridge
Emin Alper, a Turkish filmmaker known for his politically charged work like Burning Days, discusses the challenges of creating art under a repressive regime. He reflects on the increasing censorship in Turkey, drawing comparisons with Iran. Alper shares insights on audience support that helped make his film a success despite government pressure. The conversation touches upon Istanbul's rich cinematic history, the shift towards conservative nationalism, and how filmmakers continue to fight for their voices amidst political turmoil.

6 snips
Oct 30, 2025 • 23min
MUSSOLINI: SON OF THE CENTURY — Joe Wright gazes into the abyss
Joe Wright, the acclaimed British film director known for hits like Atonement and Darkest Hour, dives deep into the complexities of Mussolini in his new series. He shares insights on why Mussolini is often seen as a comedic figure, while discussing Italy's struggle with confronting its fascist past. Wright explores the cultural allure of the 1930s, connections between toxic masculinity and authoritarianism, and warns about the dangers of forgetting history, emphasizing the need for collective awareness to prevent similar mistakes today.

Oct 23, 2025 • 32min
MULHOLLAND DRIVE in the rearview, with Deborah Levy
Enigmatic women, their doubles, and an unmistakable air of strangeness… Award-winning author Deborah Levy (HOT MILK) on the hallmarks of David Lynch’s storytelling, and how the filmmaker has inspired her own work.LADIES OF LYNCH explores the subversive female characters created by the late David Lynch, and the singular women who helped shape them. Season 9’s guests include celebrated actor and filmmaker Isabella Rossellini; Lynch’s daughter Jennifer Lynch; his producer of more than 30 years, Sabrina Sutherland; TWIN PEAKS co-creator Mark Frost; and the award-winning novelist Deborah Levy.Written and guest hosted by culture writer Simran Hans, these conversations with actors, writers, producers and craftspeople who worked directly with Lynch reveal insights about the enigmatic and much-missed filmmaker, and the provocative women he put on screen.MULHOLLAND DRIVE is now streaming on MUBI in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy and Turkey. HOT MILK is now streaming on MUBI in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Latin America, India, Italy and Turkey. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

Oct 16, 2025 • 38min
Debbie Zoller drives LOST HIGHWAY
Make-up and prosthetics artist Debbie Zoller (LOST HIGHWAY, TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN) first worked with David Lynch on LOST HIGHWAY. She discusses their two decades of friendship, and how she designed the look for some of his most iconic femme fatales.LADIES OF LYNCH explores the subversive female characters created by the late David Lynch, and the singular women who helped shape them. Season 9’s guests include celebrated actor and filmmaker Isabella Rossellini; Lynch’s daughter Jennifer Lynch; his producer of more than 30 years, Sabrina Sutherland; TWIN PEAKS co-creator Mark Frost; and the award-winning novelist Deborah Levy.Written and guest hosted by culture writer Simran Hans, these conversations with actors, writers, producers and craftspeople who worked directly with Lynch reveal insights about the enigmatic and much-missed filmmaker, and the provocative women he put on screen.TWIN PEAKS and TWIN PEAKS: A LIMITED EVENT SERIES are now streaming on MUBI in the US, UK, Ireland, Latin America, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Netherlands and India. LOST HIGHWAY is now streaming on MUBI in Latin America, India and France. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

Oct 9, 2025 • 35min
Heidi Bivens outfits INLAND EMPIRE
How does costume shape character? Stylist and costume designer Heidi Bivens was in charge of wardrobe on INLAND EMPIRE. It was one of her first jobs, and David Lynch’s final film. What did they both learn?LADIES OF LYNCH explores the subversive female characters created by the late David Lynch, and the singular women who helped shape them. Season 9’s guests include celebrated actor and filmmaker Isabella Rossellini; Lynch’s daughter Jennifer Lynch; his producer of more than 30 years, Sabrina Sutherland; TWIN PEAKS co-creator Mark Frost; and the award-winning novelist Deborah Levy.Written and guest hosted by culture writer Simran Hans, these conversations with actors, writers, producers and craftspeople who worked directly with Lynch reveal insights about the enigmatic and much-missed filmmaker, and the provocative women he put on screen.TWIN PEAKS and TWIN PEAKS: A LIMITED EVENT SERIES are now streaming on MUBI in the US, UK, Ireland, Latin America, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Netherlands and India. INLAND EMPIRE is now streaming on MUBI in the UK, Ireland, Italy and Turkey. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.


