In this episode, we join forces with guests Craig Liggeons and Rob Templeton from Comic Cook Gurus Podcast for a spoiler-packed deep dive into Marvel Zombies. We explore the top-tier animation, tragic hero arcs, and cosmic chaos that define this twisted take on the Marvel Universe. From Kamala Khan’s rise as a new Avenger to Wanda Maximoff’s haunting motivations, this discussion unpacks it all—the battles, sacrifices, and storylines that push our favorite heroes to their limits.

John Williams is the most celebrated film composer alive, yet the man behind the music has remained notoriously private, famously elusive. He has composed the definitive scores for cinema's greatest visions.

Join Kerwin and biographer Tim Greiving, author of the first major Williams biography, John Williams: A Composer’s Life, for an unprecedented conversation. Greiving, granted rare access to Williams and his closest collaborators, takes us beyond the blockbuster themes to explore the deeper truths, tensions, and artistic evolution that fueled this unprecedented career.

The interview explores the central duality of the Maestro’s legacy: the lifelong tension between the demands of Hollywood and his profound aspirations as a serious concert composer. Discover the personal drive and the professional sacrifices required to bridge the perceived chasm between film music and the classical concert hall, and why his success in legitimizing the art form was a battle won where other contemporaries failed.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Tim Greiving

01:42 The Early Influences of John Williams

05:18 The Journey to Becoming a Film Composer

09:11 The Spielberg-Williams Collaboration

15:04 The Impact of Star Wars on Film Music

22:43 Tanglewood: A Hub for Classical Music

30:39 John Williams' Longevity and Future Prospects

In this episode, we explore Lucas Wars by Laurent Hopman and Renaud Roche. The book reveals how a life-altering car crash in Modesto, CA, changed George Lucas's path forever, leading him to film school where he met the likes of Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola. We discuss his untold struggles, from the first film that bankrupted his company to a studio that wasn't thrilled with his vision. The book takes us behind the scenes of the on-set disasters, actor casting challenges, and studio interference that plagued the production of Star Wars: A New Hope. This is a must-read for any film fan, revealing the true grit and creative vision that built a galaxy far, far away.