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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar NoéRachel BrosnahanAmy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

Ep414: Running Commentary: PREFONTAINE

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie lace up for a good cause, with the launch of a new miniseries, "Running Commentary"!

David will run the Chicago Marathon in October, and is raising money to support the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Each month leading up to the big event, he and Ian will discuss a movie dealing with running and/or homelessness--and their inaugural installment centers on Steve James' 1997 biopic, Prefontaine.

Jared Leto stars as Steve Prefontaine, a hotshot runner who lit up the early 70s by setting records and hurting feelings. The guys dive into James' (Hoop Dreams, Life Itself) approach, and why Prefontaine's story is so compelling.

Plus, listen to find out how YOU can support David in his journey AND win a chance to have the guys talk about a movie of your choice on the final "Running Commentary" episode!

Episode 414 has got a long way to run!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 3:11

Prefontaine Trailer: 3:11 - 4:46

Prefontaine Discussion: 4:46 - 58:25

Outro Music: 58:25 - 58:40

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Ep415: The Scum of the Universe

Ep413: Solve for X