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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.

Ep325: Ballin' KINGDOM

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel pack their bags for Isla Nublar and journey to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom! Joining them on this perilous and surprising journey is David's daughter, Grace--who kicked off her summer this week with a giant dinosaur movie (as all kids should)!

Long-time listeners may still get the shivers thinking about Ian's epic dust-up over Colin Trevorrow's Jurassic World three years ago. This time, the mood is markedly different, as director J.A. Bayona takes the reins to deliver an exciting summer blockbuster with a lot on its mind. Not everything works in this fifth Jurassic flick, but Ian, David, and Grace agree that there's way more to chew on here than anyone had a right to expect.

Also, Ian drops some reminders about Cinepocalypse (going on now at Chicago's Music Box Theatre) and David's Monday-night hosting gig at the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove. He'll be on-hand to present one of his favorite films of the year, The Rider, and host a Q&A afterwards on behalf of the After Hours Film Society.

Episode 325 finds a way...again!

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Ep326: IZZY Worth It

Ep324: Bizarre Exploits