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the arc.fm

the arc.fm

Written by: Robby Jaclynn Cole
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About this listen

 Join us, three very different types of storytellers with three very different types of personalities, as we bring each other stories of all kinds to break apart and celebrate. In every episode, we're having the best time exploring what makes a story work, why it moves us, and why we can't stop talking about it. It's not analysis. It's not review. And it's something more than just a conversation about one of the things that makes life worth living... stories.Copyright 2026 Robby, Jaclynn, Cole Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • Women Talking - Sarah Polley Makes Perfect, Difficult Films

    Women Talking - Sarah Polley Makes Perfect, Difficult Films
    Jan 22 2026

    Content & Trigger Warning: this episode discusses sexual assault in the film and in real life.

    Episode Summary: this episode does eventually become "a very special episode" because the subject matter is difficult and portrays the evils of humanity and current human society, but prior to that it's pretty fun to discuss a film that arguably has "no plot" beyond women going into a barn to talk.

    The background is that the women of a self-secluded community have been violently sexually assaulted for years, but some of the male perpetrators have finally been caught by the women and so the women have been given two days to decide if they should do nothing, stay and fight, or leave the community.

    The plot is that a vote was taken between the three options, and the vote was essentially tied, so three families are chosen to talk through the three options.

    They are though talking about an enormously important and emotional question: do nothing, stay and fight, or leave?

    FULL INTERVIEWS WITH SARAH POLLEY:

    "Making Women Talking: Sarah Polley explains why laughter was key to adapting Miriam Toews's novel" Q with Tom Power

    "Sarah Polley unpacks Women Talking" Now Toronto


    SOUND DESIGN ATTRIBUTION:

    S: drumroll_for_ceremony_long.mp3 by Heigh-hoo | License: Creative Commons 0
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    49 mins
  • Carol - Happy Holidays & Happy New Year Because Two Women Are In Love and Two Guys Are Mad About It

    Carol - Happy Holidays & Happy New Year Because Two Women Are In Love and Two Guys Are Mad About It
    Jan 3 2026
    Carol takes place in the "liminal space" that floats between Christmas and the start of the new year, and it occupies the space held for best films ever made that didn't win and weren't even nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards... possibly because it is a classic story told in a slightly unconventional manner or because of the same conscious or unconscious prejudices that the characters in the story itself must live through.
    You can and should watch this film any (and arguably multiple) times per year: once for the holidays, once for the visual story, and once for every time you you want to feel like you're falling in love but it's complicated.
    If you love the film already, then please, also listen to Subtextual's episode about "Carol" because they do an even longer breakdown and find it to be a warm Christmas hug and they're one of the best film review podcasts in general as well!
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/holiday-rerun-carol-2015/id1597822346?i=1000589808456
    https://www.instagram.com/subtextualpod/
    CREATIVES:

    Director: Todd Haynes (Known for Far from Heaven, I'm Not There, May December)

    Screenwriter: Phyllis Nagy (Based on the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith)

    Producers: Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Christine Vachon

    Cinematographer: Edward Lachman (Shot on Super 16mm film)

    Composer: Carter Burwell (Known for his work with the Coen Brothers)

    CAST:

    • Cate Blanchett as Carol Aird (Known for Blue Jasmine, Elizabeth, Tár)

    • Rooney Mara as Therese Belivet (Known for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Women Talking)

    • Sarah Paulson as Abby Gerhard (Known for American Horror Story, Ratched)

    • Kyle Chandler as Harge Aird (Known for Friday Night Lights, Manchester by the Sea)

    • Jake Lacy as Richard Semco (Known for The White Lotus, Girls)

    • John Magaro as Dannie McElroy (Known for Past Lives, The Big Short)

    AWARD NOMINATIONS

    88th Academy Awards (Oscars)

    • Best Actress: Cate Blanchett

    • Best Supporting Actress: Rooney Mara

    • Best Adapted Screenplay: Phyllis Nagy

    • Best Cinematography: Edward Lachman

    • Best Original Score: Carter Burwell

    • Best Costume Design: Sandy Powell

    73rd Golden Globe Awards

    • Best Motion Picture – Drama • Best Director: Todd Haynes

    • Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Cate Blanchett

    • Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Rooney Mara

    • Best Original Score: Carter Burwell

    69th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA)

    • Best Film • Best Direction: Todd Haynes

    • Best Actress in a Leading Role: Cate Blanchett

    • Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Rooney Mara

    • Best Adapted...
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    39 mins
  • The Muppet Christmas Carol - Scary Great

    The Muppet Christmas Carol - Scary Great
    Dec 18 2025

    We love the Muppets, Michael Caine deserved an Oscar, and Robby drops the biggest pun in the history of the show, but there is so much more to talk about here.

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    31 mins
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