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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 Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy 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.

Ep745: Lucky Thirteen: An Interview with AMERICAN UNDERDOG Producer KEVIN DOWNES

Ep745: Lucky Thirteen: An Interview with AMERICAN UNDERDOG Producer KEVIN DOWNES

Ian Simmons

Kicking the Seat gets ready for gameday by talking with Kevin Downes, producer of the Erwin Bros' Kurt Warner biopic, American Underdog!

The film stars Zachary Levi as a modern-day legend whose journey to the top was fraught with hardships both external and self-imposed. With their exciting and inspirational film, Jon and Andrew Erwin capture the essence of a man driven by family, faith, and an unwavering commitment to football.

In this brief but enlightening interview, the guys talk about putting American Underdog together during a pandemic, a bona fide production miracle, and what fans can expect from the film's February 22nd home video release.

Also, Ian shares what happened to his FIRST filmed conversation with Kevin, which took place late last year!

Show Links:

  • Watch the American Underdog trailer.

  • Learn more about American Underdog, including where you can stream it right now and pre-order the 2/22 home video release.

  • Learn more about Kevin's production company, Kingdom Story Company.

  • Read Ian's American Underdog review.

  • Watch Ian's interview with co-directors Jon and Andrew Erwin about The Jesus Music, a documentary they produced with Kevin Downes in 2021.

  • Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ep746: There's No Stalgia Like Nostalgia: WAYNE'S WORLD (1992)

Ep746: There's No Stalgia Like Nostalgia: WAYNE'S WORLD (1992)
Ep744: IndieSeen: GOODBYE, DRAGON INN

Ep744: IndieSeen: GOODBYE, DRAGON INN