profile pic ian.jpg

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.

Ep53: 2014 Summer Movie Preview (Part 2)

Let the bracketing begin! That's right, the KtS Podcast is back with part two of our 2014 Summer Movie Preview. Ian, Matt, and Graham place their non-bets on silly season's front-runners, flops, and sleeper hits--all for the privilege of saying they were once good at something!

Also, Ian pimps this weekend's star-studded Ebertfest in Champaign, IL, previews the upcoming Chicago Critics Film Festival (May 9-15 at the Music Box), and announces his spiffy, new radio gig on WDCB!

It's official, kids: winter's dead, and things are heating up!

Ep54: The Amazingly Divisive Spider-Man / Love That Chicken!

Ep52: 2014 Summer Movie Preview (Part 1)