The Playlist Podcast Network

Irish sheep farming, deep-seated family tensions, and a brewing conflict between neighbors—sounds like the setup for a quiet indie drama. But in"Bring Them Down," the upcoming revenge thriller from first-time directorChris Andrews, those elements fuel a gripping, morally complex battle of wills. In this episode ofThe Discourse, hostMike DeAngelo sits down with actor Christopher Abbott to discuss leading the film, producing it, and why he was drawn to a story steeped in generational trauma and rural survival. The film also stars Barry Keoghan, Colm Meaney, Nora-Jane Noone, and more.For Christopher Abbott, the chance to dive into such a layered role was too intriguing to pass up—even if it meant embracing the challenges of an Irish dialect. “I think I have a little bit of a knack for accents,” he admitted, though he knew even Irish actors would struggle with the script’s use of the traditional Irish/Gaelic language. “It was always going to be a challenge for anyone.” Despite the difficulty, Abbott was drawn to the project for the same reason he takes on most of his work—it keeps him engaged. “I get bored easily,” he said. “I like challenges that keep my focus.”

Nothing says romance like flowers, chocolates - and a masked serial killer terrorizing young couples. Welcome to "Heart Eyes," the latest horror-romantic comedy hybrid that slashes into theaters on February 7—just in time to make Valentine’s Day a little bloodier. In this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo sits down with director Josh Ruben to talk about the challenge of blending rom-com sweetness with slasher-movie carnage, his deep love of horror, and why this story stands apart from others in the genre. Written by Christopher Landon, Phillip Murphy, and Michael Kennedy, "Heart Eyes" follows a masked killer who has made February 14 a date night to die for, quite literally. The film stars Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Devon Sawa, Jordana Brewster, and more. During the interview, Director Josh Ruben details the delicate balancing act of making “Heart Eyes” work on all fronts. “I didn’t want it to be too funny—I wanted it to go darker, gorier,” Ruben admitted. But at the same time, the romance had to feel genuine. “If I could find two leads with real chemistry, I could pay loving homage to the rom-coms I grew up on—'Pretty Woman,' 'Defending Your Life,' 'My Best Friend’s Wedding,' even 'Big.”

On this week’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo sits down with Nicholas Stoller, the filmmaker behind "You're Cordially Invited," a star-packed wedding comedy hitting Prime Video on January 30. Stoller, the mind behind "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Neighbors," returns with another laugh-out-loud project, this time revolving around two weddings that are double-booked at the same venue. Will Ferrell steps in as the devoted (and increasingly unhinged) father of one bride, while Reese Witherspoon plays the protective, take-no-prisoners sister of the other? As expected, wedding warfare and chaos ensue. Rounding out the ensemble are Geraldine Viswanathan, Meredith Hagner, Jimmy Tatro, Rory Scovel, and Leanne Morgan. With wedding comedies being a well-worn path sub-genre in films —"The Wedding Singer," "Bridesmaids," "Wedding Crashers"—Nick Stoller had no intention of simply rehashing old formulas. In fact, he didn’t even think of it as a “wedding movie” at first. “I just thought [Will and Reese] would have great chemistry together,” Stoller explained. “I’ve always been obsessed with Will, but I was also obsessed with Reese and really wanted to see her do a hard comedy again. She’s just so funny.”

In this week’s episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo is torn between love and duty when taking on "The Agency." The excellent high-stakes espionage thriller culminates its first season with a finale airing on January 24th on Paramount+ with Showtime. Based on the French series "Le Bureau des Légendes," the show follows a CIA operative’s struggle between duty and desire. The series stars Michael Fassbender as Martian, an undercover agent called back to London Station after years in the field. Romance reawakens when the love he left behind resurfaces, sending him into a dangerous game of love vs. international intrigue. The cast includes Jeffrey Wright, Katherine Waterston, Jodie Turner-Smith, Richard Gere, and more. Joining the podcast are Jeffrey Wright and Katherine Waterston, who play Henry and Naomi, two key figures in the series whose layered relationships with Martian reflect the show’s balance of personal and professional stakes. Wright, who has played his share of spies and operatives, spoke about what drew him to Henry and how the series offers a grounded perspective on espionage. “Henry intrigues me because he’s a by-the-books guy,” Wright explained. “He’s a company man, but at the same time, he’s human. It’s interesting to explore what that duality does to someone—how they shut off parts of themselves while navigating this very real and recognizable world. This isn’t James Bond—as much as I love having been a part of that franchise—it’s not fantastical. We’re drawing from today’s headlines, exploring geopolitics and the challenges of the modern world.”

In this week’s episode of 'Bingeworthy,' host Mike DeAngelo starts a revolution when diving into the world of "Silo," the Apple TV+ dystopian thriller based on Hugh Howey’s bestselling novel, "Wool." The series takes place in the not-too-distant future when humanity is clinging to life deep underground in a colossal silo, where secrets are as dangerous as the environment outside. The star-studded cast includes Rebecca Ferguson, Steve Zahn, Tim Robbins, Common, Harriet Walter, and more. Joining the podcast this week are Graham Yost, the Showrunner and Producer for the series, and Steve Zahn, who joins the cast this season to bring Solo—a beloved character from the books—to life. During the chat, they share insights into the adaptation process, the incredible multi-level sets, and what makes this cast and story so special.

In this week’s episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo gets his hands dirty while discussing the gritty Paramount+ drama “Landman.” Co-created by Christian Wallace and Taylor Sheridan (“Yellowstone,” ”1883,”“Mayor of Kingstown”), the series dives into the world of West Texas oilfields where roughnecks, wildcat billionaires, and corporate interests collide. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, Demi Moore, Ali Larter, and more, the show captures a boom so big it’s reshaping everything from local economies to geopolitics. Joining the podcast are Christian Wallace, the showrunner and co-creator whose podcast “Boomtown” inspired the series, and Billy Bob Thornton, who stars as Tommy Norris, a brash and seasoned landman navigating the dangerous and volatile oil industry. During the interview, Wallace shared how “Landman" grew out of his life experiences and his 2019 podcast, which chronicled the oil boom in the Permian Basin. What began as a niche story quickly drew widespread attention and eventually caught the eye of Taylor Sheridan.

In this week’s episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo ventures away from the desert sands of Arrakis and into the unknown with showrunner Alison Schapker, who helms the HBO series “Dune: Prophecy.” Set 10,000 years before the events of “Dune,” the prequel series explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit, following two Harkonnen sisters as they combat threats to humanity’s future. Starring Emily Watson, Mark Strong, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, and more, the show blends political intrigue, sprawling family dynamics, and the grandeur of Frank Herbert’s iconic universe. Joining the podcast, showrunner Alison Schapker reflected on the magnitude of adapting such a revered franchise and the daunting but rewarding process of bringing “Dune: Prophecy” to life.

In this week’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo returns to the past to investigate supernatural thrills while chatting with David Koepp about the 25th Anniversary 4K release of his cult-favorite film, “Stir of Echoes.” The 1999 psychological horror film stars Kevin Bacon as a man who, after being hypnotized at a party, begins experiencing disturbing visions that lead him to uncover the mystery of a missing neighborhood girl. Directed and written by David Koepp ("Jurassic Park," "Spider-Man," "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny"), the film also features Kathryn Erbe, Kevin Dunn, Illeana Douglas, and Zachary David Cope. During the chat, Koepp reflected on the enduring appeal of “Stir of Echoes” and revisited it decades later for the special edition release. He credited the film’s success to a rare synergy of creative talent.

In this week’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo rewinds to a pre-digital apocalypse while chatting with Kyle Mooney about his upcoming film, “Y2K.” The comedy follows two high school outcasts determined to crash the biggest New Year’s Eve party of their lives on December 31, 1999 - the dreaded eve of Y2K. When the clock strikes midnight, the night spins wildly out of control in ways they never expected. Written and directed by Mooney (“Saturday Night Live,” “Brigsby Bear”), the movie stars Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Fred Durst, Julian Dennison, Kyle Mooney and more. During the podcast, Mooney shared how his long-standing fascination with the Y2K phenomenon and teenage nostalgia led to the creation of “Y2K" and much, much more.

In this week’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo accidentally invites chaos into the holidays while chatting with Peter and Bobby Farrelly about their upcoming comedy, “Dear Santa.” The film follows a young boy who mails his Christmas wish list to Santa with one crucial dyslexic spelling error, summoning a satanic figure to wreak havoc on the season. Directed by Bobby Farrelly (“Dumb and Dumber,” “There’s Something About Mary”) and written by Peter Farrelly, Dan Ewan, and Ricky Blitt, the movie stars Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Brianne Howey, Ethan Dillon, Post Malone, and more.