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.

Ep110: True Confessions with BOB BYINGTON!

Kicking the Seat grew up this week, with a little help from writer/director Bob Byington! His new film, 7 Chinese Brothers, opens at Facets today, and he spoke with Ian about "hipster monsters", the perks of being an Austin filmmaker, and why certain themes keep showing up in his movies. Long-time KtS readers know that Ian has been alternately fascinated with and turned off by Byington's work, but his latest opened up a world of possibilities he'd never considered.

As always, we invite you to comment, follow, like, subscribe to, and share Kicking the Seat on TwitterFacebookiTunes, and Stitcher!

Ep111: Listen Up, ALEX ROSS PERRY!

Ep109: First-Timers' Disgust