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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.

Ep344: Do I Make You Hornby?

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast looks at the latest big-screen adaptation of a Nick Hornby novel, Juliet, Naked! Joining Ian for the first time on-mic is his wife and certified Hornbyologist*, Darlena Simmons! Why did it take four screenwriters to translate this story about a music obsessive, his beleaguered spouse, and the reclusive rock star who drops into their lives unexpectedly? And how does the movie navigate the excising of some of the novel's most crucial characters and themes?

Find out as Ian and Darlena invite you into their acoustically challenged kitchen for a funny and frustrated conversation about one of their favorite authors, whose work Hollywood still can't seem to capture.

Episode 344 is a labor of love!

*Not really.

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Ep345: Desktop Support

Ep343: Can't Spell KING without KIN