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Do You Even Binge?

Do You Even Binge?

Written by: FELIPE ESPARZA
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 Comedian Felipe Esparza and his wife, Lesa, talk about binge-watching movies and TV shows - new and old.Copyright FELIPES WORLD INC Art Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 38: The 90's Indie Revolution - Valley Girl, Repo Man, House Party & Swingers

    Episode 38: The 90's Indie Revolution - Valley Girl, Repo Man, House Party & Swingers
    Feb 21 2026
    Episode 38: No Budget, No Problem

    This week, we’re diving back into the Indie Film Explosion of the 80s and 90s, focusing on the scrappy, low-budget masterpieces that defined a generation. From guerrilla filmmaking on the streets of L.A. to the Sundance hits that launched superstars, we’re looking at the movies that proved you didn't need a massive studio budget to make a "real" movie.

    In this episode, we cover:

    VALLEY GIRL (1983): How Martha Coolidge navigated exploitation demands to deliver a genuine teen classic. We discuss the "Romeo and Juliet" of the San Fernando Valley, Nicolas Cage’s bizarre chest-hair triangle, and the music montage that made "I Melt With You" a hit.

    REPO MAN (1984): Alex Cox’s punk-rock satire of Reagan-era consumerism. We talk about Harry Dean Stanton’s refusal to use plastic bats, the secret behind the glowing Malibu, and why every product in the movie is labeled "FOOD" or "DRINK."

    HOUSE PARTY (1990): The Sundance darling that turned Kid ‘n Play into movie stars. We look at the improvisational genius of Robin Harris, the iconic "Funky Charleston" dance-off, and how a legal dispute with DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince paved the way for this $26M success.

    SWINGERS (1996): The ultimate guerrilla film. Jon Favreau wrote it in 10 days, and Doug Liman shot it without permits using his own neighbors as actors. We break down the "Money" slang, the infamous answering machine scene, and how a tiny indie movie launched the careers of Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. Join us as we explore the cult classics that broke the rules and changed Hollywood forever.

    Hear about Felipe's tour dates, new merch drops & more by signing up @ http://felipesworld.com

    Subscribe to Do You Even Binge? on YouTube to catch all the clips we reference in our video version.

    Follow us on IG

    Felipe – @FelipeEsparzaComedian
    Lesa – @LesainLA

    Executive Prodcuers: Felipe Esparza & Lesa Esparza
    Producer: Rommel Suniga
    Music: Isaak Wintringham

    Stream “Do You Even Binge” everywhere: Spreaker | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

    Hear about Felipe's tour dates, new merch drops & more by signing up @ http://felipesworld.com Felipe Esparza is a comedian and actor, known for his stand-up specials, “They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You”, “Translate This”, and his latest dual-release on Netflix, “Bad Decisions/Malas Decisiones” (2 different performances in two languages), his recurring appearances on Netflix’s “Gentefied”, NBC’s “Superstore” and Adultswim’s “The Eric Andre Show”, as well as winning “Last Comic Standing” (2010), and his popular podcast called “What’s Up Fool?”. Felipe continues to sell out live stand-up shows in comedy clubs and theaters around the country.

    Indie Movies, 80s Cinema, 90s Cinema, Cult Classics, Film History, Low Budget Filmmaking, Nicolas Cage, Jon Favreau
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    1 hr and 58 mins
  • Episode 37: The 90's Indie Revolution - David Lynch, Robert Rodriguez, and Richard Linklater

    Episode 37: The 90's Indie Revolution - David Lynch, Robert Rodriguez, and Richard Linklater
    Feb 14 2026
    Episode 37: The Indie Film Explosion of the 80s & 90s


    We’re changing things up. This week, we ditched the "director of the week" format because it started feeling like bad homework. Instead, we’re picking our favorite standalone indie hits from the 80s and 90s—including the movies that launched the careers of David Lynch, Robert Rodriguez, and Richard Linklater.

    From selling your body to medical science to fund a film, to finding a severed ear in a field, we're covering the grit and the weirdness of independent cinema.

    Movies discussed in this episode:

    Blue Velvet (1986): David Lynch’s neo-noir masterpiece. We talk about Dennis Hopper’s terrifying performance as Frank Booth and why the "joyride" scene was filmed with a stationary car.

    El Mariachi (1993): Robert Rodriguez’s $7,000 miracle. How he used clinical drug trials to fund the movie and used a wheelchair as a camera dolly.

    Slacker (1990): The "relay-race" film that defined Austin, Texas, and inspired Kevin Smith to make Clerks.

    River’s Edge (1986): The bleak "anti-teen" movie featuring a young Keanu Reeves and a very eccentric Crispin Glover.

    Is the 90s indie boom the peak of American cinema, or just a bunch of guys with too much free time? Let us know.

    Hear about Felipe's tour dates, new merch drops & more by signing up @ http://felipesworld.com

    Subscribe to Do You Even Binge? on YouTube to catch all the clips we reference in our video version.

    Follow us on IG

    Felipe – @FelipeEsparzaComedian
    Lesa – @LesainLA

    Executive Prodcuers: Felipe Esparza & Lesa Esparza
    Producer: Rommel Suniga
    Music: Isaak Wintringham

    Stream “Do You Even Binge” everywhere: Spreaker | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

    Hear about Felipe's tour dates, new merch drops & more by signing up @ http://felipesworld.com Felipe Esparza is a comedian and actor, known for his stand-up specials, “They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You”, “Translate This”, and his latest dual-release on Netflix, “Bad Decisions/Malas Decisiones” (2 different performances in two languages), his recurring appearances on Netflix’s “Gentefied”, NBC’s “Superstore” and Adultswim’s “The Eric Andre Show”, as well as winning “Last Comic Standing” (2010), and his popular podcast called “What’s Up Fool?”. Felipe continues to sell out live stand-up shows in comedy clubs and theaters around the country.

    #BlueVelvet #RobertRodriguez #IndieFilm #90sMovies #KeanuReeves #DavidLynch #FilmReview #Podcast
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Episode 36: The 90's Indie Revolution-Jim Jarmusch

    Episode 36: The 90's Indie Revolution-Jim Jarmusch
    Feb 8 2026
    Episode 36: The 90's Era of Jim Jarmusch

    This week, we’re continuing our indie movie discussion with a look at Jim Jarmusch. We already covered his first film, Stranger Than Paradise, but today we’re moving into the late 80s and the 90s as he started getting more well-known.

    To be honest, most of his films aren’t made for the mainstream. They’re art-house to the core, and I’m still not entirely sure they’re for me... every movie is 2 hours long, but feels about 4 hours long.

    Despite that, he’s incredibly influential, especially in the world of “road movies.” We’re breaking down his shift from early collaborations with musicians like Tom Waits and John Lurie to his bigger 90s cult classics.

    In this episode:

    Down By Law (1986): A "neo-noir" prison break starring Tom Waits and Roberto Benigni. It’s a sad and beautiful world (or "word," depending on who you ask).

    Mystery Train (1989): Jarmusch’s first color film. A triptych of stories in Memphis where the journey is the point, even if you never actually get to Graceland.

    Night on Earth (1991): Five cities, five cab drivers, and a whole lot of dialogue. Featuring Winona Ryder, Giancarlo Esposito, and Rosie Perez.

    Dead Man (1995): A psychedelic Western starring Johnny Depp. It’s got a droning Neil Young score and a very different take on the American West.

    Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999): Forest Whitaker as a mob hitman living by the Hagakure. It tries pretty hard to be deep, but the RZA soundtrack is a vibe.

    Is Jarmusch a visionary or just a guy who makes very long walks look like art?

    Subscribe to Do You Even Binge? on YouTube to catch all the clips we reference in our video version.

    Follow us on IG

    Felipe – @FelipeEsparzaComedian
    Lesa – @LesainLA

    Executive Prodcuers: Felipe Esparza & Lesa Esparza
    Producer: Rommel Suniga
    Music: Isaak Wintringham

    Stream “Do You Even Binge” everywhere: Spreaker | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

    Hear about Felipe's tour dates, new merch drops & more by signing up @ http://felipesworld.com Felipe Esparza is a comedian and actor, known for his stand-up specials, “They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You”, “Translate This”, and his latest dual-release on Netflix, “Bad Decisions/Malas Decisiones” (2 different performances in two languages), his recurring appearances on Netflix’s “Gentefied”, NBC’s “Superstore” and Adultswim’s “The Eric Andre Show”, as well as winning “Last Comic Standing” (2010), and his popular podcast called “What’s Up Fool?”. Felipe continues to sell out live stand-up shows in comedy clubs and theaters around the country.

    #JimJarmusch #IndieFilm #90sMovies #JohnnyDepp #TomWaits #FilmReview #Podcast
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 39 mins
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