CinemaPsych Podcast

Episode 016: Social Media Profiles and FBI Profiles are the Same, Right? Red Dragon (2002) with Marc Klippenstine

Join Alex and returning guest host Dr. Marc Klippenstine for a discussion of the psychological concepts in Red Dragon (2002), the second best Hannibal Lecter movie, but one where we can explore if the FBI is just using our social media to determine whether or not we're serial murderers! Edward Norton is an established profiler and Anthony Hopkins is still very creepy... Check out the full episode notes here.

Episode 015: Self-Expansion Your Relationship with Your Computer! Her (2013) with Jeff Bowen

Join Alex and guest host Dr. Jeff Bowen in a discussion of the psychological concepts in Her (2013), another tour de force by Joaquin Phoenix (I suppose this show has become to the JP show by now...). We chat about how real a relationship with an OS could be--for me... I love my MacOS! Full episode notes available here.

Episode 014: This is an Idea of a Podcast Episode--American Psycho (2000) with Alex Swan

Join Alex in a solo episode as he discusses the psychological concepts in an "American" classic, American Psycho (2000), starring Christian Bale in perhaps one is his most iconic performances as Patrick Bateman, an investment banker who likes to kill folks but has an awesome skincare routine. Full episode notes available here.

Episode 013: Are We Supposed to Laugh At or With This Guy? Joker (2019) with Wind Goodfriend

Join Alex and frequent guest host Dr. Wind Goodfriend on discussion of the psychological concepts in Joker (2019), the latest take on the amazing batman villain. Joaquin Phoenix gives a stunning performance of a guy just on the edge of reality. That laugh gives us the creeps! Full episode notes available here.

Episode 012: Don't Worry, This Episode Isn't About Coronavirus... We Think? Contagion (2011) with Anthony Zoccolillo

Join Alex and Anthony Zoccolillo as they discuss Contagion (2011), a film too important to pass up in this time of the coronavirus pandemic of 2019-2020! In this episode, we explore several eerily-good features of the science presented in the film, including panic-buying, the tremendous pressure to get things right by government officials, and conspiracy theories. It's honestly a scary form of life imitating art at this juncture. We end by chatting about how we're coping with the social distancing and offer some tips to our listeners. Join us on this ride! Full episode notes here.

Episode 011: I'm Going to Fast Forward to the Last Person's Testimony--Rashomon (1950)/Knives Out (2019) with Celeste Pilegard

Join Alex and Celeste Pilegard as they discuss Rashomon (1950) and Knives Out (2019), two films cut from the same cloth (pun intended)! In this episode, the Rashomon effect is explored deeply, with discussions on police line-ups & eyewitness testimony, and whether we live in a shared reality. You really can't miss this whodunnit extravaganza!

Also, check out Celeste's Cognitive Psychology OER textbook (Cognitive Foundations)!

Full episode notes can be found here.

Episode 010: I Need to Remember That Jingle Like I Need An HQ Crisis in My Head! Inside Out (2015) with Molly Metz

Join Alex and Molly Metz as they discuss Inside Out (2015), a long-awaited episode for the podcast. This episode has everything: a deep discussion of emotion theory, a critique of the memory representation, and the exploration of some possible hidden psychology gems. It's joyful, saddening, and maybe you'll have a jingle or two stuck in your head when you're finished listening! If you have a free moment, check out her passion: The Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP). See full episode here.

Episode 009: One Neuron, You're Alive; Two Make a Pair! Lucy (2013) Rage Watch with Christina Ragan

Join Alex and Christina Ragan (her FB Group for instructors for Bio and Neuro Psychology) in a discussion of the BAD psychological concepts in Luc Besson's gobbledegook sci-fi thriller (?) Lucy (2014). It stars Scarlett Johansson as the eponymous Lucy, a woman who unlocks supernatural powers just by using more of her brain, and Morgan Freeman, a science-adjacent person who has really weird theories about space-time and brains. We called this a Rage Watch followed by a Rage Chat! Join us. Full show notes here.

Episode 008: Don't Make Me Spray You With My Fox Repellent! Zootopia (2016) with Justine Egan-Kunicki

Join Alex and Justine Egan-Kunicki in a discussion of the psychological concepts Disney's animated jaunt Zootopia (2016). The voice roles are Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, and many others. It's like Disney's attempt to make up for all the really bad stuff it made in the mid-20th century! Additional episode notes here.

Episode 007: Despite All Her Rage, Ava is Still Just a Rat in a Cage! Ex Machina (2014) with Alex Swan

Join Alex in a solo episode as he discusses of the psychological concepts in Alex Garland's sci-fi headspace thriller Ex Machina (2015), starring Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander in literally the only three main speaking roles. If this is our future, we clearly need to start welcoming our robot overlords. Full episode notes and transcript are available here.