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The Desert of the Reel Podcast

@desertofthereel.bsky.social

289 followers 719 following 192 posts

Two high school teachers analyzing big blockbusters to uncover philosophical ideas, ethics, analysis, and thinking critically! Jason thinks they’re not worth our time, is he right? desertofthereelpod@gmail.com

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The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Top Gun (1986) Do rules limit our freedom—or make freedom possible? Maybe the movie's message is more complicated than it realizes. Jason HATES Tom Cruise, but we DID manage to find big ideas. - 80s - America - Othering - Rules - Danger Zone open.spotify.com/episode/5u1n...

open.spotify.com

Top Gun (1986) - Freedom Has Rules - DOTR #133

The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · Episode

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

What About Bob? (1991) A hilarious film that has surprising philosophical depth! (Also, it is Jason's favorite movie!) open.spotify.com/episode/79Wb...

open.spotify.com

What About Bob? (1991) - Jason's Favorite Movie! - The Desert of the Reel: Jason's Choice #25

The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · Episode

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) Does intelligence make you a good person? Not as good as the last movie, but still a fun time overall. What are your thoughts? open.spotify.com/episode/2SJ7...

open.spotify.com

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) - Does Intelligence Make You a Good Person? - DOTR #132

The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · Episode

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

We have an episode going over RDJ's first outing of Sherlock Holmes! Are we ruled by fear? It's a good time! open.spotify.com/episode/6Xmj...

open.spotify.com

Sherlock Holmes (2009) - Are We Ruled By Fear? - DOTR #131

The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · Episode

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

They should just go over the story so far so that I can finally understand Kingdom Hearts 3

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Arlington Road (1999) If a system is doing something wrong, do we have an obligation to resist it? This week on The Desert of the Reel: Henry David Thoreau, civil disobedience, conspiracy theories, and one of the best twist endings of the '90s into the conversation. open.spotify.com/episode/6AAU...

open.spotify.com

Arlington Road (1999) Paranoia, Conspiracy & the Death of Community - The Desert of the Reel - Jason's Choice #24

The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · Episode

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

open.spotify.com/episode/69GO...

open.spotify.com

Tron: Ares (2025) - Is AI our doom? - DOTR #130

The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · Episode

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

open.spotify.com/episode/69GO...

open.spotify.com

Tron: Ares (2025) - Is AI our doom? - DOTR #130

The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · Episode

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Tron: Ares (2025) What are your thoughts? We discuss what it means to be human, and specifically, what AI's role should be in the future of humanity. We also return to our discussion of The Other and thinking critically (aka avoid being programmed). open.spotify.com/episode/69GO...

open.spotify.com

Tron: Ares (2025) - Is AI our doom? - DOTR #130

The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · Episode

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) This week, we discuss billion-dollar franchises, hyperreality, and whether we've stopped expecting great art from Hollywood. It made us sad. Do you agree? open.spotify.com/episode/3ZZN...

open.spotify.com

Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) - The Extinction of Good Movies - DOTR #126

The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · Episode

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

This week, we use Jurassic Park III to explore a bigger question: should we judge people by their intentions or by the motivations behind them? Plus: Spinosaurus memes, Mr. Noodle, and whether this sequel is actually better than The Lost World. open.spotify.com/episode/0wpJ...

open.spotify.com

Jurassic Park 3 (2001) - Are You an Astronomer or an Astronaut? - The Desert of the Reel #123

The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · Episode

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Jurassic Park (1993)! A perfect movie (unless you agree with Jason about the tree thing), but there is so much to talk about and love from this amazing film! open.spotify.com/episode/1MYB...

open.spotify.com

Jurassic Park (1993) Desert of the Reel #121

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

How can one choice affect your whole life? We watched Locke (2013) this week! Can one crack bring down a building? What about a person? Hop in the car with us and listen to this week's episode! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

podcasts.apple.com

Locke (2013) - Does one choice define you? DOTR#121

Podcast Episode · The Desert of the Reel: A Movie Podcast · May 9 · 1h 25m

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

We don't have to wait until next March to decide to do Wes Anderson

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

A movie where literally nothing happens the whole time.

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

I want to take my kids to this

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Can't wait for this

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The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Would The Batman (2022) be better… without Batman? We dive into: Noir storytelling Batman as a flawed symbol The ethics of vengeance vs. hope POV shots that trap us in Bruce’s mindset 🎙️ New episode out now! open.spotify.com/episode/0CKY...

open.spotify.com

Vengeance Won’t Save You: The Ethics of The Batman (2022) - Desert of the Reel #120

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon a perfect movie? What about the best action movie of all time? open.spotify.com/episode/33PQ...

open.spotify.com

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) - The Pinnacle of Love & Combat - Desert of the Reel Jason's Choice #21

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

It’s for the love of the movies, not the likes

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

No Time To Die (2021) We ask: Is Bond finally alive… or just reacting? Is comfort better than freedom? And what does it actually mean to live, not just exist? Also: Jason nearly threw up during the ending All this and more! open.spotify.com/episode/7FfO...

open.spotify.com

No Time to Die (2021) - To Live, Not Just Exist- The Desert of the Reel #116

Reposted by The Desert of the Reel Podcast

Dan "Mr. Bones and Me" Greene @dmgreene.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Man Skyfall (2012) is easily the best Craig Bond and maybe my favorite of all of them. Just gorgeous. And a real supporting cast that plays against him rather than orbiting around him.

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

We agree open.spotify.com/episode/28Pi...

open.spotify.com

Spotify – Web Player

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The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

We agree open.spotify.com/episode/28Pi...

open.spotify.com

Skyfall (2012) Can the Old Ways Survive the Modern World? - The Desert of the Reel #114

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The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Best Bond movie open.spotify.com/episode/28Pi...

open.spotify.com

Skyfall (2012) Can the Old Ways Survive the Modern World? - The Desert of the Reel #114

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The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Skyfall (2012) best villain, most thoughtful, best BOND movie ever? • Revenge and suffering • How trauma shapes who we become • The philosophy behind Silva’s character • Why Bond chooses duty instead of bitterness open.spotify.com/episode/28Pi...

open.spotify.com

Spotify – Web Player

Reposted by The Desert of the Reel Podcast

Ideas Roadshow @ideasroadshow.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

🎡 The figures on the Siena Wheel of Fortune are drawn in a particularly compelling way, clutching onto the wheel for dear life while the spokes take the form of pillars. Check out this fascinating essay!👇 🗃️ #arthistory #art #skystorians 🏺 #mosaicmonday ideasroadshow.substack.com/p/the-art-of...

ideasroadshow.substack.com

The Art of Philosophy, Part 1

Big wheel keeps on turning

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

People don’t want the Hays come back, they are realizing just don’t need or even want sex scenes.

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Never heard of them

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The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

There’s a moment in Diamonds are Forever where an elephant pulls a slot machine lever and wins. It shakes its head and trumpets

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Is James Bond actually a moral hero… or just the least bad person in the room? Quantum of Solace (2008) we ask: • Is revenge driving Bond? • Why do people crave power? • Are ordinary people more moral than Bond? Listen now 🎙️ open.spotify.com/episode/2uUt...

open.spotify.com

Quantum of Solace (2008) - Revenge, Power, and Moral Limits - Desert of the Reel #113

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I remember the day I learned that the Mighty Joe Young from the 90s was a remake

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The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Jason LOVED the Jack White theme for Quantum of Solace. The rest of the movie? Not so much

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The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Casino Royale (2206) Jason hates action movies and especially hates James Bond But we still dive deep on topics like trust, free will, and why treating women as 'disposable pleasures' is straight-up unethical. New ep out now! open.spotify.com/episode/0u2q...

open.spotify.com

Spotify – Web Player

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

“Must a man be broken to be made whole?” In our latest episode on Stonehearst Asylum, we debate whether suffering: • Refines us • Radicalizes us • Or simply damages us Does misery clarify conviction — or distort it? Listen now and tell us where you land. open.spotify.com/episode/5sqE...

open.spotify.com

Freedom or Justice? The Moral Madness of STONEHEARST ASYLUM (2014) - Desert of the Reel Jason's Choice #20

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Fantastic Beasts (2016)! aka Jason Forgot the Whole Movie (But We Found Philosophy Anyway) “Worrying means you suffer twice.” Is Newt Scamander secretly an absurdist philosopher? Empathy over power And why the world doesn’t need another macho hero Animal rights open.spotify.com/episode/7bIa...

open.spotify.com

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) - Empathy Is Stronger Than Magic - DOTR #111

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

It never came to my hometown :(

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

There's a reason this movie is forgotten about

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Deathly Hallows Pt 2 is a rare thing: a franchise ending that actually means something. This movie isn’t about spells. It’s about karma, care, and how to handle when devastation hits. Endings aren’t about winning. They’re about what kind of person survives open.spotify.com/episode/1PYF...

open.spotify.com

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) Harry Didn’t Win Because of Magic. He Won Because of Trust. Desert of the Reel #110

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Jason wanted to know why the characters don’t use House Elves to solve all their problems. Finding people, aperating, and elf magic

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Want to see this one! Didn’t know about it until the Corridor Crew talked about it

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Deathly Hallows part 1! Is it only good for fans that have read the book? We explore Brechtian distancing, the philosophy of sacrifice, whether it is better to die or lose your memory, and many other elements of the film. open.spotify.com/episode/1OYw...

open.spotify.com

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010) - Desert of the Reel #109

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince The worst one? This one feels different than the rest. We examine its structure, ethical choices characters make, and how evil, fear, and self-confidence originate within us. What are your thoughts? open.spotify.com/episode/4uHO...

open.spotify.com

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009) - Desert of the Reel #108

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Jason decided to watch Interstellar after years of students asking him We discuss love, death, sacrifice, good, evil, free will, lying, time, gravity, the nature of knowledge, auteur theory, and a bunch of other stuff in one of our longest episodes ever! open.spotify.com/episode/5NBI...

open.spotify.com

Interstellar (2014) - Do Not Go Gently - Jason's Choice #19

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix We discuss: The importance of asking WHY? Defending our brains, look at the dangers of bureaucracy, the power of fear, go over some of the differences from the book, and use the Mind-Body theory (posthuman) lens! open.spotify.com/episode/6KUz...

open.spotify.com

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) Is it Time to Revolt? DOTR # 107

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Jason's next "Jason's Choice" is going to be Interstellar! He has told students for years that he "refuses to watch it" because they can't believe he's never seen it.

media.tenor.com

a man in a space suit with the words this little maneuver 's gonna cost us 51 years above him

ALT: a man in a space suit with the words this little maneuver 's gonna cost us 51 years above him

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The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! We discuss rule-bound ethics, rebellion against unjust or illogical laws, death studies, and the need for us to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses, effective in life, and have the power to attack the injustice in the world. open.spotify.com/episode/1WBH...

open.spotify.com

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire-DOTR #106

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

We are on Christmas break as teachers, but we will still get out our next episode (back to Harry Potter) next week! Merry Christmas!

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Been trying to spend less time on social media, but we are still working on giving you podcasts every week!

The Desert of the Reel Podcast @desertofthereel.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) The "logical flaws" of the sewer system drive Jason crazy, but we discuss the essential nature of logos and pathos in our quest to de-other, and we examine the ethics of the Colonel's choice to kill his son open.spotify.com/episode/3cMg...

open.spotify.com

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) - Desert of the Reel #105