Finally...the 2025 Summer Movie Season concludes. Host Garret Castleberry is joined by Kyle Hammonds to discuss key releases in August. Was August 2025 the best August in summer movie history? These rhetors debate the successes and failures of the doldrum summer month.Listen to hear which mainstream movies had their ticket stubs torn, and reach out to connect and let us know which August releases topped your radar in 2025. Hosts: Garret Castleberry, Kyle Hammonds Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)Recommended Screenings (Garret and Kyle): Weapons Recommended Screenings (Kyle): Jaws: 50th Anniversary IMAX rerelease Ways to Connect with us online: Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at <a href='https://twitter.com/podcast_topics'>@podcast_topics</a>. &quot;Like&quot; to follow our <a href='https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087035230493'>Special Topics in Media Page </a>on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the <a href='https://www.facebook.com/groups/418934097068422'>Special Topics in Media Facebook Group</a> and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry&apos;s academic <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBM1_UlP-HHWsW5IlOQ5Q'>YouTube Channel</a>. Garret&apos;s academic website is available at <a href='https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/'>https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Finally...the 2025 Summer Movie Season concludes. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Host Garret Castleberry is joined by Kyle Hammonds to discuss key releases in August. Was August 2025 the best August in summer movie history? These rhetors debate the successes and failures of the doldrum summer month.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Listen to hear which mainstream movies had their ticket stubs torn, and reach out to connect and let us know which August releases topped your radar in 2025. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Hosts: &lt;/b&gt;Garret Castleberry, Kyle Hammonds&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Producers:&lt;/b&gt; Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Recommended Screenings (Garret and Kyle)&lt;/b&gt;: &lt;em&gt;Weapons&lt;/em&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Recommended Screenings (Kyle)&lt;/b&gt;:&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Jaws: 50th Anniversary &lt;/em&gt;IMAX rerelease&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ways to Connect with us online:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Follow and engage with &lt;b&gt;Special Topics in Media&lt;/b&gt; on &lt;b&gt;Twitter&lt;/b&gt; at &lt;a href='https://twitter.com/podcast_topics'&gt;@podcast_topics&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Like&amp;quot; to follow our &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087035230493'&gt;Special Topics in Media Page &lt;/a&gt;on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media).&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Join the &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/groups/418934097068422'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Special Topics in Media Facebook Group&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and share your reviews of the film or this episode.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry&amp;apos;s academic &lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBM1_UlP-HHWsW5IlOQ5Q'&gt;&lt;b&gt;YouTube Channel&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Garret&amp;apos;s academic &lt;b&gt;website&lt;/b&gt; is available at &lt;a href='https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/'&gt;https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Finally...the 2025 Summer Movie Season concludes.  Host Garret Castleberry is joined by Kyle Hammonds to discuss key releases in August. Was August 2025 the best August in summer movie history? These rhetors debate the successes and failures of the doldrum summer month. Listen to hear which mainstream movies had their ticket stubs torn, and reach out to connect and let us know which August releases topped your radar in 2025.  Hosts: Garret Castleberry, Kyle Hammonds  Producers: Garr...

2025 Summer Movie Season - August

Somehow...the 2025 Summer Movie Season returned. Host Garret Castleberry is joined by Kyle Hammonds to discuss key releases in July, a month rich is blockbuster discourse Listen to hear which mainstream movies had their ticket stubs torn, and reach out to connect and let us know which July releases topped your radar in 2025. Hosts: Garret Castleberry, Kyle Hammonds Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)Recommended Screenings (Garret): Eddington Recommended Screenings (Kyle): Ontological Obstacles (Garret &amp; Kyle): Superman, Fantastic Four Ways to Connect with us online: Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at <a href='https://twitter.com/podcast_topics'>@podcast_topics</a>. &quot;Like&quot; to follow our <a href='https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087035230493'>Special Topics in Media Page </a>on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the <a href='https://www.facebook.com/groups/418934097068422'>Special Topics in Media Facebook Group</a> and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry&apos;s academic <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBM1_UlP-HHWsW5IlOQ5Q'>YouTube Channel</a>. Garret&apos;s academic website is available at <a href='https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/'>https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Somehow...the 2025 Summer Movie Season returned. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Host Garret Castleberry is joined by Kyle Hammonds to discuss key releases in July, a month rich is blockbuster discourse &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Listen to hear which mainstream movies had their ticket stubs torn, and reach out to connect and let us know which July releases topped your radar in 2025. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Hosts: &lt;/b&gt;Garret Castleberry, Kyle Hammonds&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Producers:&lt;/b&gt; Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Recommended Screenings (Garret)&lt;/b&gt;: &lt;em&gt;Eddington&lt;/em&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Recommended Screenings (Kyle)&lt;/b&gt;: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ontological Obstacles (Garret &amp;amp; Kyle): &lt;/b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Superman, Fantastic Four &lt;/em&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ways to Connect with us online:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Follow and engage with &lt;b&gt;Special Topics in Media&lt;/b&gt; on &lt;b&gt;Twitter&lt;/b&gt; at &lt;a href='https://twitter.com/podcast_topics'&gt;@podcast_topics&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Like&amp;quot; to follow our &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087035230493'&gt;Special Topics in Media Page &lt;/a&gt;on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media).&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Join the &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/groups/418934097068422'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Special Topics in Media Facebook Group&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and share your reviews of the film or this episode.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry&amp;apos;s academic &lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBM1_UlP-HHWsW5IlOQ5Q'&gt;&lt;b&gt;YouTube Channel&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Garret&amp;apos;s academic &lt;b&gt;website&lt;/b&gt; is available at &lt;a href='https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/'&gt;https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Somehow...the 2025 Summer Movie Season returned.  Host Garret Castleberry is joined by Kyle Hammonds to discuss key releases in July, a month rich is blockbuster discourse  Listen to hear which mainstream movies had their ticket stubs torn, and reach out to connect and let us know which July releases topped your radar in 2025.  Hosts: Garret Castleberry, Kyle Hammonds  Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) R...

2025 Summer Movie Season - July

The 2025 Summer Movie Season interruption CONTINUES with a second reflection on Paul Thomas Anderson&apos;s One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. 2025). How does PTA&apos;s latest film rate as a Border Western, and what character themes resonate with contemporary tensions in America? Host Garret Castleberry provides an armchair rhetorician second screening review of PTA&apos;s latest masterwork now in cinemas.  Hosts: Garret Castleberry Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)Ways to Connect with us online: Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at <a href='https://twitter.com/podcast_topics'>@podcast_topics</a>. &quot;Like&quot; to follow our <a href='https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087035230493'>Special Topics in Media Page </a>on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the <a href='https://www.facebook.com/groups/418934097068422'>Special Topics in Media Facebook Group</a> and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry&apos;s academic <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBM1_UlP-HHWsW5IlOQ5Q'>YouTube Channel</a>. Garret&apos;s academic website is available at <a href='https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/'>https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;The 2025 Summer Movie Season interruption CONTINUES with a second reflection on Paul Thomas Anderson&amp;apos;s &lt;em&gt;One Battle After Another &lt;/em&gt;(Warner Bros. 2025). How does PTA&amp;apos;s latest film rate as a &lt;em&gt;Border Western&lt;/em&gt;, and what character themes resonate with contemporary tensions in America? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Host Garret Castleberry provides an &lt;b&gt;armchair rhetorician&lt;/b&gt; second screening review of PTA&amp;apos;s latest masterwork now in cinemas. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Hosts: &lt;/b&gt;Garret Castleberry&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Producers:&lt;/b&gt; Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ways to Connect with us online:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Follow and engage with &lt;b&gt;Special Topics in Media&lt;/b&gt; on &lt;b&gt;Twitter&lt;/b&gt; at &lt;a href='https://twitter.com/podcast_topics'&gt;@podcast_topics&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Like&amp;quot; to follow our &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087035230493'&gt;Special Topics in Media Page &lt;/a&gt;on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media).&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Join the &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/groups/418934097068422'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Special Topics in Media Facebook Group&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and share your reviews of the film or this episode.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry&amp;apos;s academic &lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBM1_UlP-HHWsW5IlOQ5Q'&gt;&lt;b&gt;YouTube Channel&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Garret&amp;apos;s academic &lt;b&gt;website&lt;/b&gt; is available at &lt;a href='https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/'&gt;https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

The 2025 Summer Movie Season interruption CONTINUES with a second reflection on Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. 2025). How does PTA's latest film rate as a Border Western, and what character themes resonate with contemporary tensions in America?  Host Garret Castleberry provides an armchair rhetorician second screening review of PTA's latest masterwork now in cinemas.    Hosts: Garret Castleberry  Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engin...

Film Review: One Battle After Another ... One Pod After Another

We interrupt this 2025 Summer Movie Season programming with a report from the FUTURE! Or, at least the present. Paul Thomas Anderson&apos;s One Battle After Another has arrived in theaters to immense pre-release critical acclaim. But will that film buzz translate to a wide audience reception? Host Garret Castleberry provides an armchair rhetorician response to screening PTA&apos;s latest masterwork on its opening day in cinemas.  Hosts: Garret Castleberry Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)Ways to Connect with us online: Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at <a href='https://twitter.com/podcast_topics'>@podcast_topics</a>. &quot;Like&quot; to follow our <a href='https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087035230493'>Special Topics in Media Page </a>on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the <a href='https://www.facebook.com/groups/418934097068422'>Special Topics in Media Facebook Group</a> and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry&apos;s academic <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBM1_UlP-HHWsW5IlOQ5Q'>YouTube Channel</a>. Garret&apos;s academic website is available at <a href='https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/'>https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;We interrupt this 2025 Summer Movie Season programming with a report from the FUTURE! Or, at least the present. Paul Thomas Anderson&amp;apos;s &lt;em&gt;One Battle After Another &lt;/em&gt;has arrived in theaters to immense pre-release critical acclaim. But will that film buzz translate to a wide audience reception? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Host Garret Castleberry provides an &lt;b&gt;armchair rhetorician&lt;/b&gt; response to screening PTA&amp;apos;s latest masterwork on its opening day in cinemas. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Hosts: &lt;/b&gt;Garret Castleberry&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Producers:&lt;/b&gt; Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ways to Connect with us online:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Follow and engage with &lt;b&gt;Special Topics in Media&lt;/b&gt; on &lt;b&gt;Twitter&lt;/b&gt; at &lt;a href='https://twitter.com/podcast_topics'&gt;@podcast_topics&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Like&amp;quot; to follow our &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087035230493'&gt;Special Topics in Media Page &lt;/a&gt;on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media).&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Join the &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/groups/418934097068422'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Special Topics in Media Facebook Group&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and share your reviews of the film or this episode.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry&amp;apos;s academic &lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBM1_UlP-HHWsW5IlOQ5Q'&gt;&lt;b&gt;YouTube Channel&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Garret&amp;apos;s academic &lt;b&gt;website&lt;/b&gt; is available at &lt;a href='https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/'&gt;https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

We interrupt this 2025 Summer Movie Season programming with a report from the FUTURE! Or, at least the present. Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another has arrived in theaters to immense pre-release critical acclaim. But will that film buzz translate to a wide audience reception?  Host Garret Castleberry provides an armchair rhetorician response to screening PTA's latest masterwork on its opening day in cinemas.    Hosts: Garret Castleberry  Producers: Garret Castleberry, Wi...

Audiences Weren't Ready For "Eddington"...And They're Not Ready For "One Battle After Another"

Summer is a time to celebrate a great many things, and we are seasonally framing our favorite &quot;cool down&quot; treats for a hot sunny day at the movies . Host Garret Castleberry grabs his wallet, swipes his card, and collects enough goodies to count down a &quot;Top 5 Summer Movie Snacks&quot;. It&apos;s a Top 5 Countdown to get the mouth watering.Email us your rainy day theater visits at specialtopicsinmedia@gmail.com, or tag us with a rainy day theater vlog on our Special Topics in Media Facebook page. Links below! Hosts: Garret Castleberry Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) Recommended Screenings (Garret): Send us your thoughts in email or audio form at specialtopicsinmedia@gmail.com! Ways to Connect with us online: Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at <a href='https://twitter.com/podcast_topics'>@podcast_topics</a>. &quot;Like&quot; to follow our <a href='https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087035230493'>Special Topics in Media Page </a>on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the <a href='https://www.facebook.com/groups/418934097068422'>Special Topics in Media Facebook Group</a> and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry&apos;s academic <a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBM1_UlP-HHWsW5IlOQ5Q'>YouTube Channel</a>. Garret&apos;s academic website is available at <a href='https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/'>https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Summer is a time to celebrate a great many things, and we are seasonally framing our favorite &amp;quot;cool down&amp;quot; treats for a hot sunny day at the movies . Host Garret Castleberry grabs his wallet, swipes his card, and collects enough goodies to count down a &amp;quot;&lt;b&gt;Top 5 Summer Movie Snacks&lt;/b&gt;&amp;quot;. It&amp;apos;s a Top 5 Countdown to get the mouth watering.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Email us your rainy day theater visits at &lt;b&gt;specialtopicsinmedia@gmail.com&lt;/b&gt;, or tag us with a rainy day theater vlog on our Special Topics in Media Facebook page. Links below!&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Hosts: &lt;/b&gt;Garret Castleberry&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Producers:&lt;/b&gt; Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Recommended Screenings (Garret)&lt;/b&gt;:&lt;br/&gt;Send us your thoughts in email or audio form at specialtopicsinmedia@gmail.com!&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ways to Connect with us online:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Follow and engage with &lt;b&gt;Special Topics in Media&lt;/b&gt; on &lt;b&gt;Twitter&lt;/b&gt; at &lt;a href='https://twitter.com/podcast_topics'&gt;@podcast_topics&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Like&amp;quot; to follow our &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087035230493'&gt;Special Topics in Media Page &lt;/a&gt;on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media).&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Join the &lt;a href='https://www.facebook.com/groups/418934097068422'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Special Topics in Media Facebook Group&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and share your reviews of the film or this episode.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry&amp;apos;s academic &lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBM1_UlP-HHWsW5IlOQ5Q'&gt;&lt;b&gt;YouTube Channel&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Garret&amp;apos;s academic &lt;b&gt;website&lt;/b&gt; is available at &lt;a href='https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/'&gt;https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Summer is a time to celebrate a great many things, and we are seasonally framing our favorite "cool down" treats for a hot sunny day at the movies . Host Garret Castleberry grabs his wallet, swipes his card, and collects enough goodies to count down a "Top 5 Summer Movie Snacks". It's a Top 5 Countdown to get the mouth watering. Email us your rainy day theater visits at specialtopicsinmedia@gmail.com, or tag us with a rainy day theater vlog on our Special Topics in Media Facebook page. Links ...

Summer Movie Season Top 5's - Summer Movies Snacks!

Special Topics in Media Studies is a lecture-based podcast that tackles media history one artifact at a time. Each season of the series we will investigate a different mass media theme, medium, or programming genre. While our focus is educational (it is an academic podcast after all), we tailor our conversations toward a broad audience of media enthusiasts.  

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