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Where psychology meets films. We dissect and analyze popular films and their psychological content.
Episodes

Jun 13, 2022
Jun 13, 2022
1hr 13 min
Join Alex and guest hosts Drs. Sy Islam and Gordon Schmidt in a discussion of the various leadership qualities of several Marvel superheroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008 - Present)! The Universe is huge, there are so many movies, but the characters span several movies, played by the same actors, so we have the ability to track growth and development in this action-adventure genre! Sy and Gordon literally wrote the book on leadership in the MCU, so join us to find out which characters Papa Kevin Feige has made successful leaders — and you'll even hear our three funniest MCU moments!
Follow Sy on BlueSky and follow Gordon on BlueSky!
Check out their new book on Amazon: Leaders Assemble! Leadership in the MCU (Exploring Effective Leadership Practices through Popular Culture)
Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to check out our Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo!
Legal stuff:
1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended).
2. Intro and outro music by Sro ("Self-Driving"). Used under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. "Et Voila" used under license.
Episode Transcription
Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!

May 23, 2022
May 23, 2022
1hr 43 min
Join Alex and guest host Dr. Ed Hansen in a discussion of the various psychological concepts in the sharp witty satire of late-1990s office work in Mike Judge's Office Space (1999)! It's high time we discussed the often-neglected child of psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and all that it has to offer in this laugh-filled podcast episode exploring a laugh-inducing commentary on bad bosses, crappy office work environments, and toxic corporate mentality. The movie starts Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, John C. McGinley, Gary Cole, and Stephen Root as Milton... you'll have to listen to hear me doing my best Milton impression!
Follow Ed on BlueSky: @EdHansen_PhDAD
Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to check out our Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo!
Legal stuff:
1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended).
2. Intro and outro music by Sro ("Self-Driving"). Used under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. "Et Voila" used under license.
Episode Transcription
Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!

May 2, 2022
May 2, 2022
1hr 26 min
Join Alex and guest host Leslee Kortizke in a discussion of the various psychological concepts in the biopic of Dr. Alfred Kinsey in the aptly-named Kinsey (2004)! The discussion is of course on the titular character's groundbreaking work on the sexual behaviors of Americans in the 1940s and 1950s, an extremely taboo subject of the time! The episode features an exploration of the precursors to the work, as portrayed in the film, with an explanation of the methods used and a critique of the work through a more modern lens. Let's have a discussion about sex, shall we?
Check out Leslee's book: On Amazon
Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to check out our Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo!
Legal stuff:
1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended).
2. Intro and outro music by Sro ("Self-Driving"). Used under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. "Et Voila" used under license.
Episode Transcription
Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!

Apr 10, 2022
Apr 10, 2022
1hr 35 min
90s satire But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)! The film stars Natasha Lyonne and Clea Duvall as lesbians forced to attend a straight conversion camp. While the content is heavy — conversion therapy is wrong at all levels for both orientation AND gender conversion — if you're ready to laugh at the absurdity of it all, tag along! The trio chat about gender identity and roles, sexual orientation, and how this movie turns typical gay and lesbian tropes on their head! According to Dr. Ryan, it's a lesbian cult classic!
Follow Dogtor Gordie on Instagram!
Resources for LGBT and Trans rights:
Transgender people in crisis should contact the following resources:
The Trevor Project's 24/7/365 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) or TrevorChat, their online instant messaging option, or TrevorText, a text-based support option. If you are looking for peer support, you can visit TrevorSpace from anywhere in the world.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)
Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860
Do you live outside the United States? If so, check out The Trevor Project's list of international resources here.
http://transgenderlawcenter.org/
https://www.lambdalegal.org/
https://truecolorsunited.org/our-issue/ (homeless queer youth)
Book on trans conversion therapy https://twitter.com/butnotthecity/status/1509890403499233286?s=21&t=rthyIWIzieJf09bIOLpx8w
And a seriously excellent thread on a new paper on conversion therapy, gender and orientation, https://twitter.com/butnotthecity/status/1513157543559901187?s=21&t=rthyIWIzieJf09bIOLpx8w
Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to check out our Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo!
Legal stuff:
1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended).
2. Intro and outro music by Sro ("Self-Driving"). Used under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. Film reel sound effect by bone666138. Used under license CC BY 3.0.
4. "Et Voila" used under license.
Episode Transcription
Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!

Feb 28, 2022
Feb 28, 2022
1hr 31 min
Join Alex and guest hosts Drs. Keli Braitman and Jen Simonds as the three dissect and discuss the dramatic take on the real life The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015)! The film stars Billy Crudup as the real Dr. Philip Zimbardo, a psychologist who became famous for putting college-aged men in a fake prison in the basement of the psychology building in the summer of 1971, letting guards treat these men as less than humans. We tackle the ethical issues, the psychology of the situation, and how this kind of study would never pass muster in this modern era of psychological research. Zimbardo even said this film is like 90% true to life!
Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to check out our Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo!
Legal stuff:
1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended).
2. Intro and outro music by Sro ("Self-Driving"). Used under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. Film reel sound effect by bone666138. Used under license CC BY 3.0.
4. "Et Voila" used under license.
Episode Transcription
Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!

Feb 7, 2022
Feb 7, 2022
1hr 20 min
Join Alex and returning guest host Dr. Wind Goodfriend in a discussion of the psychological concepts in the uplifting but superficial film, Remember the Titans (2000)! We discuss whether the discussion and commentary in this "Based on a True Story" story holds up in our modern discussion on prejudice and race, dive deep into the Allport theory of contact and cooperation and the Sherif Robbers Cave field experiment, and finally chat about the real life events surrounding this story versus the film's creative license. But, football? LEFT SIDE... STRONG SIDE!
Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to check out our Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo!
Legal stuff:
1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended).
2. Intro and outro music by Sro ("Self-Driving"). Used under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. Film reel sound effect by bone666138. Used under license CC BY 3.0.
4. Additional music: "Et Voila". Used under license.
Episode Transcription
Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!

Jan 17, 2022
Jan 17, 2022
1hr 23 min
Join Alex in an exploration of the themes and allegories — that have a psychological flair, of course — in The Matrix (1999) film franchise! In this episode, Alex dives into the Wachowski sisters' true meaning of the first film, which was a transgender allegory. He also explores the iconic religious allegory, as well as a discussion about simulation theory. Some other details are also discussed, like how you can really function with a giant spike shoved into the back of your skull! (Hint: you can't.) While there is minimal discussion of the new film, The Matrix: Resurrections (2021), consider this a minor spoiler alert!
NOTE: This episode was recorded during a live event on Alex's Twitch.tv channel: CogPsychProf
Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to check out ours Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo!
Legal stuff:
1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended).
2. Intro and outro music by Sro ("Self-Driving"). Used under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. "Et Voila" used under license.
Episode Transcription
Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!

Dec 6, 2021
Dec 6, 2021
1hr 17 min
Join Alex and returning guest host Dr. Jordan Wagge (BlueSky: @jorowags.bsky.social) as they take a closer look at the goofy Bill Murray comedy What About Bob? (1991). This Frank Oz classic that also stars Richard Dreyfuss as Dr. Leo Marvin is a wild ride in anxiety, therapy, and Freud jokes! Alex and Jordan officially start the Dr. Leo Marvin Haters Club and decide he is one of the worst people — not just therapist — in the world. But remember, don't think too hard about the psych portrayal in the movie, it's a comedy!
Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to check out our Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo!
Legal stuff:
1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended).
2. Intro and outro music by Sro ("Self-Driving"). Used under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. "Et Voila" used under license.
Episode Transcription
Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!

Nov 15, 2021
Nov 15, 2021
1hr 23 min
Join Alex and guest host Dr. Karen Brakke in a discussion of the various psychological concepts in the unofficial sequel to Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Project X (1987), starring Matthew Broderick and Helen Hunt. This film is fascinating for its portrayal of animal cognition, animal rights in research, and just how similar Broderick's character is just another Ferris Bueller! We also have an interesting discussion regarding various projects occurring around the same time period in psychology, and marvel about how well they portrayed a psychology graduate student!
Check out the Southeastern Teaching of Psychology Conference here: 2022 SETOP
Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to check out our Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo!
Legal stuff:
1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended).
2. Intro and outro music by Sro ("Self-Driving"). Used under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. "Et Voila" used under license.
Episode Transcription
Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!

Oct 25, 2021
Oct 25, 2021
1hr 10 min
Join Alex in an renewed exploration of the memory issues and portrayal Memento (2000)! We first talked about this film all the way back in July 2019, in Episode 000. In this episode, Alex dives a little deeper into the portrayal of anterograde amnesia and the ultimate outcome of the story, including the speculation about which character is telling the truth. This is truly a wonderful film that does a pretty decent job at exploring how anterograde amnesia might work in the wild. And let's not forget Christopher Nolan's wonderful storytelling technique of a backwards narrative!
Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to check out our Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo!
Legal stuff:
1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended).
2. Intro and outro music by Sro ("Self-Driving"). Used under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. "Et Voila" used under license.
Episode Transcription
Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!
