Cows in the field
Blobcat Filmindustri
A movie podcast inspired by a Werner Herzog quote, “We have to articulate ourselves, otherwise we would be cows in the field.” Hosted by Justin Khoo (professor of philosophy at MIT) and Laura Khoo (art historian turned fundraiser).
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 29, 2025 • 1h 24min
147. Warfare (w/ Jim Penola)
Alex Garland's second film in two years traces the true story of co-director Ray Mendoza's experiences in Iraq. We discuss the film with Jim Penola (An Invitation Productions), considering what drove Garland to the project, heroic sacrifice, decontextualizing violence, and the film's commitment to realism.Find us at www.cowspod.com! New shirts and hats at shop.cowspod.com!
Aug 15, 2025 • 1h 14min
146. In the Mouth of Madness (w/ Carly Severn)
We do, in fact, read Sutter Cane! Carly Severn (KQED San Francisco) returns to explore the world of mass market paperbacks that portend the return of the Old Ones and the end of humanity in John Carpenter's homage to Lovecraft. Is it Mommy's Day? Sadly, yes, it is.
Aug 1, 2025 • 1h 16min
145. Re-Animator (w/ Scout Tafoya)
Life, death, and rebirth are on the exam table as we pull up the chart on Stuart Gordon's RE-ANIMATOR (1985). Scout Tafoya (Ignite Films) returns to explore the film, its impact and legacy, men's desire to procreate without women, practical effects, consent, horror, and of course, H.P. Lovecraft!
Jul 18, 2025 • 1h 8min
144. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (w/ Abe Mathew)
The spy life. Espionage. Trust. Betrayal. Boring office parties. It's the anti-James-Bond. Abe Mathew (Philosophy, Notre Dame) joins us to discuss Le Carre and the 2011 film adaptation of his most famous novel. Trust no one! Cowspod.com!Buy a T-Shirt at our NEW merch site!
Jul 4, 2025 • 1h 55min
143. Heat (w/ Zed Adams)
Come on over to our dead-tech, postmodernistic, bullsh*t, house and watch HEAT with us and Zed Adams (Philosophy, The New School)! Time, light, passing, entrapment, stylized realism, stoicism, individualism, institutionalism, and why people be thieving. Cowspod.com!Buy a T-Shirt at our NEW merch site!
Jun 20, 2025 • 1h 15min
142. Enough Said (w/ Jason Bailey)
We are joined by Jason Bailey, author of Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend, to discuss one of his final films, ENOUGH SAID. We talk about midlife romances, self-destructive tendencies, shaggy stories, and a lot about Mr. Gandolfini's honest and vulnerable performance. Check it out!Buy Jason's book!Follow us on Blue Sky! Buy a cows shirt on Threadless!
Jun 6, 2025 • 1h 14min
141. Cobra (w/ Philip Gawthorne)
We sit down with Phil Gawthorne (Die Hard on a Blank) to discuss our second Stallone flick, Cobra. We discuss how the film's absurdities make it endearing, the catharsis of comeuppance, aesthetic vibes, robot fashion, metanarrative love. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!Find us on Blue Sky!New Cows merch!
May 23, 2025 • 1h 21min
140. Talk to Her (w/ Jim Miller)
We sit down with Jim Miller (The New School) to discuss Pedro Almodovar's challenging film TALK TO HER. We consider the juxtaposition of beauty and horror, the duality of subjects and objects, the blurry lines around the moral, ballet, and friendship. Check out Jim's book on Almodovar!Reach out to us on BlueSky and the web!Email us at cowspod@gmail.com!Buy a Cows shirt or bag at Threadless!
May 9, 2025 • 1h 17min
139. Whiplash (w/ Brad Skow)
We are joined by Brad Skow (Philosophy, MIT) to discuss Damien Chazelle's WHIPLASH! Abuse, striving, greatness, parenting, color, the ending(!), and, of course, jazz.Read Brad's substack!Follow us on Blue Sky! Buy a cows shirt on Threadless!
Apr 25, 2025 • 1h 4min
138. 20th Century Women (w/ Chad Perman)
We sit down with Chad Perman (Bright Wall / Dark Room) to discuss Mike Mills' autobiographical love letter to his mom. We discuss how becoming a parent helps you become closer to your own parents, finding ourselves alienated from our own children, empaths, narratives as a source of therapy, and much more! Follow us on Blue Sky! Buy a cows shirt on Threadless!
