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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.

Ep342: Razing ARIZONA

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie flip Jonathan Watson's black-comedy/mortgage-crisis thriller, Arizona! Rosemarie DeWitt and Danny McBride star in one of the most aggressively unpleasant movies in recent memory, but Ian and David find several great ideas and moments that are worth exploring.

Also, Ian invites you to join Patrick Bromley of F This Movie! this Sunday at 10am CST for a live, all-day tribute to the late, great Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergest)! The FTM livestream will include filmmakers, podcasters, and horror experts paying their respects on the one-year anniversary of the iconic director's passing. You won't want to miss it!

Episode 342 is upside down, under water, and off the rails!

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Ep343: Can't Spell KING without KIN

Ep341: Late Screening: Freedom Brings Opportunity