Curated by Chance
Curated by Chance

Curated by Chance

Neal E. Fischer and Lauren Tagliaferro

Overview
Episodes

Details

Join filmmaker Neal E. Fischer and art curator Lauren Tagliaferro as they dive into the unpredictable world of ‘Curated by Chance,’ a podcast where creativity meets serendipity. Each episode, Neal and Lauren harness the power of a randomizing algorithm named Chance to generate unique prompts that drive their discussions. From exploring the unexpected intersections between film and visual art to dissecting the curious ways randomness shapes artistic expression, this dynamic duo invites listeners to ponder the influence of chance in the creative process. Whether dissecting a random film scene or analyzing an art piece through a whimsical lens, ‘Curated by Chance’ promises a fresh perspective with every episode.

Recent Episodes

Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy
FEB 19, 2025
Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy
Episode 29: Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy PROMPTS: Siren, Leather, 818 Neal embarks on an off-the-rails deep dive into Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice’s meteoric rise, and the bizarre world surrounding his fame. From his disputed backstory to a failed Hollywood career (Cool as Ice, anyone?), Neal unpacks the highs, lows, and lingering pop-culture footprint of one of the 90s’ most notorious one-hit wonders. Plus, a wild fact about an important crew member that you won't want to miss. Lauren brings things back to high art with Caspar David Friedrich’s Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, one of the most iconic paintings of the Romantic era. She explores how Friedrich captured the sublime, the loneliness of modernity, and even how the Nazis co-opted his work for their own nationalistic purposes. Also, if you’re in New York this year, she highly recommends seeing Friedrich’s newly opened exhibition at The Met. Neal’s Topic: Vanilla Ice’s wild career & the Cool as Ice debacle How a misheard lyric led to a deep dive on the 818 area code TRAILER for Cool As Ice (watch the whole movie if you dare) Lauren’s Topic: Caspar David Friedrich’s Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog High-Res Version HERE Leave Neal a review on his Rom-Com book HERE! Follow the show and its creators on Instagram: The Show - @curatedbychance Lauren - @paisleylo Neal - @nealefischer E-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.com Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now! Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now! Buy Neal’s next two books out now and pre-order his newest books below! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Pre-Order "The Totally Awesome World Of..." Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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58 MIN
(Bill) Bryson Royale
FEB 12, 2025
(Bill) Bryson Royale
Episode 28: (Bill) Bryson Royale PROMPTS: Maroon, Accent, 215 This week on Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren explore language, survival, and everything in between, bringing two wildly different yet equally fascinating topics to the table. Lauren dives into Bill Bryson’s The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way, a witty and informative exploration of the quirks, history, and evolution of the English language. From the origin of everyday words to unexpected trivia like why an apron was once “a napron,” Lauren explains why Bryson’s book is a must-read for language lovers. Plus, she shares her favorite passages and nerds out over the magic of etymology and regional accents. Neal takes a darker turn with Battle Royale (2000), the Japanese cult classic that inspired The Hunger Games and countless “last-person-standing” stories. Neal breaks down the film’s dystopian setting, its influence on pop culture, and the behind-the-scenes stories that shaped this gripping, violent tale. He also connects it to Japanese history, cinema, and how Quentin Tarantino couldn’t get enough of it—literally casting one of its stars in Kill Bill: Vol 1. Leave Neal a review on his Rom-Com book HERE! Lauren's Topic: The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way by Bill Bryson Neal's Topic: Battle Royale (2000) Directed by Kinji Fukasaku Full Theatrical Version (Not Extended Version) on YouTube for Free Support Our Show: Love the show? Help us keep going by becoming a Patron for just $5/month! 👉 www.patreon.com/curatedbychance Follow the show and its creators on Instagram: The Show - @curatedbychance Lauren - @paisleylo Neal - @nealefischer E-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.com Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now! Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now! Buy Neal’s next two books out now and pre-order his newest books below! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Pre-Order "The Totally Awesome World Of..." Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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69 MIN
Meta Cheese
FEB 5, 2025
Meta Cheese
Episode 27: Meta Cheese PROMPTS: Sky-Blue, 101, Flowers This week on Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren explore two vastly different works. Neal revisits The Truman Show (1998), diving deep into its eerie parallels with modern-day surveillance culture, reality TV, and social media. From Jim Carrey’s career-defining performance to the film’s psychological impact (including the real-life Truman Show Delusion), Neal unpacks why this dystopian comedy-drama is more relevant than ever. He also explores the iconic "sky blue" moment—the moment Truman discovers the literal limits of his world. Lauren, on the other hand, takes a journey through art history with Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera (1482). With its mythological themes, lush depiction of over 500 plant species, and Botticelli’s signature style, this Renaissance masterpiece serves as Lauren’s personal gateway to art history. She breaks down its symbolism, its ties to both mythology and Christianity, and why its ethereal beauty continues to captivate viewers centuries later. Leave Neal a review on his Rom-Com book HERE! Neal's Topic: The Truman Show (1998) Stream the movie here Lauren's Topic: Sandro Botticelli Primavera 1482 High-Res Scan Here Support Our Show: Love the show? Help us keep going by becoming a Patron for just $5/month! 👉 www.patreon.com/curatedbychance Follow the show and its creators on Instagram: The Show - @curatedbychance Lauren - @paisleylo Neal - @nealefischer E-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.com Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now! Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now! Buy Neal’s next two books out now and pre-order his newest books below! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Pre-Order "The Totally Awesome World Of..." Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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85 MIN
Neal Found A Dead Body
JAN 29, 2025
Neal Found A Dead Body
EPISODE 26: Neal Found A Dead Body PROMPTS: 1958, Ship, Mustard Yellow This week on Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren dive into two fascinating works that capture grandeur, tragedy, and larger-than-life imagery. Lauren takes listeners back to the 16th century with Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, an artwork that redefines mythological storytelling. She explores how Bruegel subverts the dramatic morality tale of Icarus by making his downfall barely noticeable in the scene, instead focusing on the ordinary world continuing as tragedy strikes. From the hidden symbolism to the rich history of Bruegel’s artistic style, Lauren unpacks why this painting is a masterclass in subtle storytelling. Meanwhile, Neal explores Attack of the 50-Foot Woman (1958) through the lens of its legendary movie poster. Instead of focusing on the film itself, Neal highlights the work of Reynold Brown, the artist behind over 300 classic Hollywood posters. From atomic-age paranoia to the feminist undertones of a vengeful, towering woman, Neal explains how this iconic artwork became more famous than the film it advertised. Plus, he shares a hilarious story about how Brown secretly inserted something into one of his posters to get back at people. Lauren’s Topic: Pieter Bruegel the Elder Landscape with the Fall of Icarus 1560 High Res Scan Here Neal’s Topic: Illustrator Reynold Brown Mini-Documentary (look out for an art historian that should be played by Kate McKinnon) Leave Neal a review on his Rom-Com book HERE! Support Our Show: Love the show? Help us keep going by becoming a Patron for just $5/month! 👉 www.patreon.com/curatedbychance Follow the show and its creators on Instagram: The Show - @curatedbychance Lauren - @paisleylo Neal - @nealefischer E-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.com Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now! Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now! Buy Neal’s next two books out now and pre-order his newest books below! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Pre-Order "The Totally Awesome World Of..." Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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71 MIN
It's The LT Guarantee!
JAN 22, 2025
It's The LT Guarantee!
EPISODE 25: It's The LT Guarantee! PROMPTS: 1434, Charcoal, Lens In this episode of Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren explore two masterpieces inspired by this week’s prompts, taking listeners on a journey through art, cinema, and history. Neal delves into Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Rear Window (1954), unraveling its themes of voyeurism, morality, and isolation. From the groundbreaking set design to Hitchcock’s visual storytelling, Neal breaks down why this suspenseful masterpiece still resonates in the digital age. He also shares fascinating trivia, including its connection to real-life crimes and Hollywood’s favorite costume designer, Edith Head. Lauren takes us further back in time to 1434 with Jan van Eyck’s iconic Arnolfini Portrait. She unpacks the rich symbolism hidden in this Flemish masterpiece, from the mysterious convex mirror to the lavish fabrics and even the enigmatic dog at the couple’s feet. Lauren also explores the painting’s role in art history and why it continues to fascinate viewers centuries after it was completed. Neal’s Topic: Rear Window (1954) Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Stream the movie here Buy the movie here Lauren’s Topic: The Arnolfini Portrait Jan van Eyck 1434 More about the painting Support Our Show: Love the show? Help us keep going by becoming a Patron for just $5/month! 👉 www.patreon.com/curatedbychance Follow the show and its creators on Instagram: The Show - @curatedbychance Lauren - @paisleylo Neal - @nealefischer E-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.com Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now! Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now! Buy Neal’s next two books! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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82 MIN