WE BOUGHT A MIC

WBAM Studios

WE BOUGHT A MIC (WBAM) is a pop culture podcast hosted by Ernest Calderon, Hunter Mobley, and Drew Dietzen, three friends who have had conversations about all things film, TV, music, etc. for over a decade. All they needed was to buy a mic. So they did.

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27 episodes
Avg 1 hr 38 min
English

Episodes 27

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Saturday · 2 hr 16 min
VIRTUOSITY with Brett Nemeroff (Plus: PRIMETIME and THE HISTORY OF CONCRETE)
We continue our series on the films of Denzel Washington with the 1995 cyber-thriller 'Virtuosity.' Plus two new movies in theaters: 'Primetime' and John Wilson's 'The History of Concrete.'We start with The History of Concrete. Does the movie live up to the show it came from, and does its big story pay off?Then Primetime: Lance Oppenheim's A24 crime drama with Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen, the real-life host of To Catch a Predator. Is it funny, sad, or both?Then Virtuosity (1995): Denzel plays a former cop pulled into a virtual reality training program to hunt SID 6.7, a digital construct built from notorious serial killers. CHAPTERS0:00 Intro2:19 The History of Concrete19:05 Primetime56:02 Virtuosity (1995)GUEST: Brett Nemeroff - check out Elder Archive at https://www.elderarchive.com
October 10 · 1 hr 49 min
DIGGER
Tom Cruise swings for the fences in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s DIGGER. We dig into its mostly negative first wave of reviews and a rough box office start. We argue about whether a movie gets excused for being dumb on purpose, whether this is Cruise's best acting or just his most self-aware, and how it stacks up against Birdman, Bardo, and Babylon. We also get into the ending, our Oscar predictions, and where it lands on our year-end lists. SPOILER WARNING: spoiler-light until 18:10. Full spoilers start there, so skip ahead or come back after you've seen it
October 4 · 1 hr 59 min
CRIMSON TIDE (with Nick Iarriccio)
Denzel Washington vs. Gene Hackman on a nuclear submarine. We continue our series "Mic on Fire," our deep dive into the films of Denzel Washington, and break down Tony Scott's 'Crimson Tide' (1995) with special guest Nick Iarriccio of Movie Knights. We get into the Denzel and Hackman battle of wills, the legendary script doctoring by Robert Towne, Quentin Tarantino and Steven Zaillian, Tony Scott's colored lighting, Hans Zimmer's football-ready score, Viggo Mortensen's pivotal turn, and the Steve Zahn flooding scene. Plus, our accolade categories, fun tangents, and more! Check out Movie Knights on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MovieKnights
October 3 · 13 min
PRIMETIME (Quick Review)
PRIMETIME is Lance Oppenheim's new A24 movie about Chris Hansen and To Catch a Predator, and we've got our spoiler-free first reactions. Robert Pattinson is on a run right now, and this might be his best performance yet.In this quick review, we get into whether the To Catch a Predator hype is justified, Pattinson's performance, Skyler Gisondo's career-best turn, and Merritt Wever and Phoebe Bridgers. Full spoiler talk is coming once everyone's had a chance to see it.
September 14 · 1 hr 46 min
THE PELICAN BRIEF (with Harry Sayer)
We continue our "Mic on Fire" series covering the films of Denzel Washington with Alan J. Pakula's 1993 John Grisham adaptation, The Pelican Brief, co-starring Julia Roberts, Sam Shepard, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow. Special guest Harry returns, armed with a full watch-through of every single John Grisham movie adaptation. We talk Pakula's "paranoia trilogy" pedigree, why the plot takes 112 minutes to explain what the titular "pelican brief" actually is, Denzel and Julia's undeniable (and famously unconsummated) chemistry, Stanley Tucci's silent assassin, and how this stacks up against the rest of the Grisham Cinematic Universe.
August 24 · 2 hr 21 min
MALCOLM X (with Kyle Flynn)
We welcome first-time guest Kyle Flynn to continue our series "Mic on Fire," covering the films of Denzel Washington, and dive deep into Spike Lee's 1992 epic, MALCOLM X. We get into Denzel's prep for the role, Spike's fight to make it himself, how he blew through the studio's budget to actually shoot in Egypt, Terence Blanchard's score, and why this might be the most complete marriage of director, actor, and subject in movie history. Plus: our favorite scenes, the most iconic shots, and some outrage over the Oscar snubs.
August 23 · 11 min
The End of Oak Street - Quick Review
Some quick thoughts on David Robert Mitchell's 'The End of Oak Street,' starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, now playing in theaters. Spoilers within!
August 8 · 2 hr 33 min
THE ODYSSEY, SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY, and TONY
Christopher Nolan has assembled a deep bench of movie stars, character actors, and craftspeople to adapt Homer's ancient epic poem 'THE ODYSSEY,' by far his most ambitious film and one of the largest productions of all time. How does it live up to the hype? We give you a full spoiler deep dive on the film, plus some quick thought on 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' and 'Tony.'
July 31 · 1 hr 45 min
The 2026 Mid-Year Draft (Part 2)
Danny Seoane joins us once again for Part 2 of our annual mid-year draft, covering our favorite pop culture media of 2026 so far. Movies, TV, music, and more.
July 23 · 1 hr 47 min
The 2026 Mid-Year Draft (Part 1)
We welcome back special guest Danny Seoane for our annual mid-year draft, covering our favorite pop culture media of 2026 so far. Movies, TV, music, and more. This is part 1, stick around for part 2. 0:00 - Intro 7:20 - The Odyssey 20:15 - FIFA World Cup 30:25 - Project Hail Mary 33:00 - Obsession 39:27 - Widow's Bay 46:50 - Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie 53:38 - The Invite 59:48 - The Drama 1:04:35 - Disclosure Day 1:05:25 - Angine de Poitrine "Vol. II" 1:11:22 - The Pitt S2 1:13:20 - 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple 1:17:20 - Vince Staples "Cry Baby" 1:20:10 - A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 1:24:45 - Gorillaz "The Mountain" 1:30:50 - Survivor 50 1:36:30 - Maddie's Secret 1:40:17 - Send Help
July 19 · 2 hr 22 min
The Steven Spielberg Movie Ranking (with Adam Sirdoreus)
We welcome back Adam Sirdoreus to unveil his updated ranking of every Steven Spielberg movie. Adam recently completed a comprehensive Spielberg series over on his podcast, Films For Breakfast. We celebrate his series and discuss the full filmography of one of the best to ever do it. -> filmsforbreakfast.com
July 12 · 1 hr 56 min
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
To celebrate the release of 'Disclosure Day,' we are looking back on two Steven Spielberg alien movie classics with guest Adam Sirdoreus. Stick around for part 2 in which we feature Adam's updated full Spielberg ranking. In 1977, Steven Spielberg followed up the smash success of JAWS with 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' starring Richard Dreyfus as a man experiencing a sort of psychotic episode brought on by an encounter with an alien spacecraft. The film is a seminal work for Spielberg, boasting his signature wonder layered in paranoia and mystery. It is regarded as one of the best works of all time in the science fiction genre, showcasing some truly awe-inspiring special effects. In 1982, Spielberg somehow improved on his achievement with 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,' starring Henry Thomas as a boy who becomes friends with friendly alien creature. It is without a doubt one of the most emotionally impactful and important films of all time, and perhaps Spielberg's best work.
June 27 · 1 hr 28 min
BACKROOMS and OBSESSION Spoiler Talk
"Backrooms" and "Obsession" are the two surprise horror hits on their way to becoming two of the biggest movies of the summer and the year. What makes them so appealing to mass audiences? Will we look back on this as an inflection point in the interests of the modern movie-goer? Listen to this spoiler-filled deep dive to find out. Backrooms is written by Kane Parsons (20 years old) and written by Will Soodik, based on the YouTube web series by Parsons. It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, and Mark Duplass.Obsession is written and directed by Curry Barker and stars Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, and Cooper Tomlinson.0:00 - Intro6:07 - Backrooms54:07 - Obsession
June 20 · 2 hr 19 min
DISCLOSURE DAY
We are back with a deep dive review of Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day," an original conspiracy thriller that explores the idea of extraterrestrials and evidence of their existence. Emily Blunt stars in what may be her best performance. Josh O'Connor plays the whistleblower ready to unleash the trove of data. Collin Firth is our baddie, and Coleman Domingo is the man with the plan. Consensus on the film feels split. How does it live up to the notion of revealing a certain truth about our universe? What's going on with its themes of empathy, compassion, and faith? Is it effective? Is it Spielberg's return to the throne of sci-fi alien blockbusters? Listen to find out.
May 18 · 1 hr 54 min
Mississippi Masala (with Jess Halee)
We continue our series on the films of Denzel Washington with the 1991 romance 'Mississippi Masala' - directed by Mira Nair and starring Washington and Sarita Choudhury in her first role. The film tells the story of Mina and her family, ousted immigrants from Uganda due to their Indian heritage. Now living in Mississippi and running a small motel business, Mina meets and falls in love with Demetrius (Washington), a charming young carpet cleaner. We welcome first-time special guest Jess Halee to discuss how the film manages to balance all its different plotlines: racial tension, historical context, and the central romance. Plus, the background of Nair's career leading up to the film and how its production led to meeting and marrying the man who would become the father of Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City. We also give you a quick ketchup corner, including discussion of The Pitt Season 2 and The Sheep Detectives. Check out Jess on IG @mofo4eva and their work on the upcoming PBS documentary series 'CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN AMERICA'
May 7 · 2 hr 9 min
Obsession, I Want Your Sex, Hokum, and the Best Movies at the 2026 Florida Film Festival
Ernest, Hunter, Drew, and special guest Marcel discuss all the movies they saw and award their favorites of the 2026 Florida Film Festival. Marcel’s Movies: @MarcelsMoviesAndMore on Instagram/TikTok Timecodes: 0:00 Cold Open 1:27 Intro 3:18 Overall thoughts of the festival 14:00 One Spoon of Chocolate 21:31 Hokum 29:29 Over Your Dead Body 34:23 I Want Your Sex 43:00 I Swear 49:28 The Christophers 53:52 Obsession 1:08:31 Best Non-Film Events (Industry Parties, Red Carpet Events, Director Q&As, Forums) 1:18:00 Return from Tomorrow 1:20:56 First They Came For My College 1:30:18 Best Food 1:33:55 Best Supporting Performance 1:41:43 Best Actor 1:45:20 Return from Tomorrow SPOILERS 1:49:13 Best Actor (cont.) 1:51:00 Best Documentary, Best Short, Best Florida Film 1:55:28 Best Actress 1:59:10 Best of the Fest
May 4 · 53 min
Interview with 'Valentina' Director Tatti Ribeiro
We sit down with award-winning filmmaker Tatti Ribeiro to discuss her feature debut, Valentina. Fresh off winning a Special Jury Award at the Florida Film Festival, Tatti dives deep into the unique hybrid construction of her film, a poignant comedy that blurs the lines between narrative fiction and documentary reality. Tatti explains the process of casting Keyla Monterroso Mejia (The Studio, Curb Your Enthusiasm) as the only professional actor in a world populated by real El Paso citizens, local officials, and even Keyla’s own family. Tatti discusses her desire to showcase the humor, hustle, and heart of the city she spent years reporting on as a journalist. About the Movie: Valentina follows a young woman navigating a series of bureaucratic mishaps at the El Paso-Juárez border. While the people, locations, and conversations are real, Valentina is not. Executive produced by Jessica Alba, this narrative feature debut is a rare, complex look at the systems that keep poor Americans poor, delivered with the vibe of a Richard Linklater slacker comedy. Guest: Tatti Ribeiro (Filmmaker & Founder of franknews.us) Follow the Film: @valentinamovie on Instagram for distribution updates.
May 3 · 50 min
Interview with 'Frogtown' Filmmakers Costa Karalis and Evan Barber
We sit down with director Costa Karalis and producer Evan Barber to dive deep into their genre-blurring 'Frogtown,' which won Best Florida Feature at the 2026 Florida Film Festival. Shot on location in Marianna, Florida, Frogtown is an exploration of three generations of women, a legendary "Frog King," and the delicate line between childhood wonder and adult skepticism. Listen to find out why North Florida’s unique landscape is the perfect setting for a story about what we choose to believe in. About the Film:Frogtown (2026) is a slice-of-life portrait of a community proudly defined by its “5,000 dreamers.” Following a world premiere at the Florida Film Festival, this 86-minute feature balances wholesome absurdity with a quiet undercurrent of melancholy, delivering a heartfelt meditation on the enduring necessity of imagination. Follow the Filmmakers:Director: Costa Karalis (@costakaralis)Producer: Evan BarberColorist: Gabe Sanchez (@gabe_jl_sanchez)
April 23 · 27 min
Live from the Red Carpet at the 2026 Florida Film Festival
We bring you some quick interviews with filmmakers at the historic Enzian Theater for the Florida Film Festival. We chat about their films and then ask them to choose: Cruise or Hanks? David Anthony Ngo (Never Get Busted!): Fresh off a Sundance premiere, David discusses his "Tiger King in the war on drugs" documentary, executive produced by the team behind Searching for Sugar Man. Matthew Serrano (Xolo): The LA-based filmmaker and Defunctland collaborator talks about the challenges of directing a senior rescue dog in a narrative involving the Aztec god of death. Maggie Brill (All at Once): A deep dive into New York filmmaking, navigating surprise concerts in Central Park, and the importance of queer coming-of-age representation. Khoa Ha & Victor Velle (Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon): The search for the lost legacy of the "Quincy Jones of Saigon" and the journey of rediscovering a family musical heritage across two continents. We talk to Lena Greene (Tuna Tartare) about Broadway-singing trash, Sasha Shin (Juicy and Sweet) on being "haunted by apples," and Shengwei Zhou (Perfect City: The Mushroom) on using stop-motion to process grief. Plus, Eddie Mauldin (Dreams) and Ryan McCown (Crab Diane) discuss everything from "nontraditional" mental health to cosmic crustacean colonies. Kim Blanck (Gloria): The Tribeca alum shares the "pre-pro panic" of filming on her own block and working with Gilmore Girls’ Emily Kuroda. Jorma Taccone joins us to discuss his new film Over Your Dead Body (hitting theaters April 24th!).
April 20 · 46 min
Interview with 'JUNKIE' Writer-Director William Means and Star Rocky Shay
Here's our conversation with the team behind the Award-Winning film 'JUNKIE' - writer-director William Means and lead actor Rocky Shay. The film won both the Grand Jury and Audience Awards in the Narrative Feature category at the 2026 Florida Film Festival. ---- About the film: Junkie, the gritty debut feature from writer-director William Means, follows a haphazard 72 hours in the life of Stevie Chapman (played by real-life recovering addict Rocky Shay). A perpetual screwup running on empty, Stevie has escaped rehab (again). On the run, she sets out to make amends and reconcile with her estranged, gay son, Liam, before she skips town for good. Through Stevie’s eyes, we are plunged into an eccentric tour of America’s southern underbelly. An unforgettable odyssey, Junkie evolves into a touching, emotionally raw mother-and-son story about dignity, identity, and the fragile hope of redemption. Executive produced by Patty Jenkins (Monster, Wonder Woman), Junkie announces a bold new voice in Means, while Rocky Shay’s fearless, darkly comic, and deeply human performance as the bonkers yet endearing Stevie stands as one of the great breakout performances of this year’s festival. Director Bio: William Means (Junkie) (he/him) is a Los Angeles-based writer and director who earned his MFA in directing at the AFI Conservatory in 2021. Since AFI, William worked alongside cinematographer Lawrence Sher as well as director Patty Jenkins. His most recent short, “Blue Square Heart,” qualified for the 2024 Oscars®.

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