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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.

Ep209: The Disconnect

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast unplugs and zeroes in on Chicago filmmaker Matthew Aaron, whose new movie, Landline, hits the Music Box Theatre today (and debuts on VOD next Tuesday, April 4). The writer/director/editor/producer stars in a comedy about an ad executive who ditches modern technology in favor of a simpler lifestyle. Of course, complications ensue.

Aaron's artistic journey is an unconventional one, beginning in the world of podcasting and culminating in three feature films, all slated for release this year. This episode is unconventional, too, as it ranges from politics to fame to the very real struggle of trying to make films in an everything-should-be-free media landscape. And you'll want to check back next Tuesday for the unofficial sequel (prequel?) to this installment, in which Ian speaks with another actor from the film, Parks and Recreation star Jim O'Heir.

Lastly, this may be the hardest episode Ian has put out, partially due to some of the political themes that he and Aaron get into; partially because Ian didn't actually like Landline. How does someone conduct a top-five personal favorite interview with the creator of a movie he couldn't stand?

Listen and learn.

Episode 209's heart is in the right place, though there may be no more bridges left to burn.

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Ep210: Smack Soufflé

Ep208: A Movie Guy XSW