Escapist Delights

Escapist Delights — Episode 16 w/ Sarah Paris

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Sarah Paris to discuss The Last of Us, life inside film production, and Hollywood’s strange ideas about ordinary people’s finances. They also discuss Dark Winds, streaming versus theaters, and the shows that are too devastating to revisit.

Originally published May 22, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-5c0

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Escapist Delights — Episode 15 w/ Ken Ulansey

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Ben’s dad, Ken Ulansey, to discuss Thunderbolts and its approach to depression, the appeal of WarGames and the Ocean’s films, and the disappearing interactive movie Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.

Originally published May 15, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-2b1

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 14 w/ Baz

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Baz to discuss Avatar: The Last Airbender, finding a way into anime, and the music that stays with us. A detour through Donkey Kong Country’s soundtrack leads to childhood nostalgia, Wilfred, and The Iron Claw.

Originally published May 9, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-e87

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 13 w/ Peter Murphy

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Peter Murphy to discuss Star Wars, The Twilight Zone, and the cultural shortcuts of South Park and Team America. The conversation takes an absurd historical turn with America: The Motion Picture and George Washington’s chainsaw arms.

Originally published May 1, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-ec0

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 12 w/ Eric Pierce

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Eric Pierce to discuss The Last of Us, video-game adaptations, and why superhero stories keep returning to world-ending stakes. A childhood rental mix-up leads to a very different Jack Frost—and a killer snowman.

Originally published April 24, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-909

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 11 w/ Courtney Sender

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Courtney Sender to discuss Black Mirror, The White Lotus, and why promising stories sometimes fail to stick the landing. They revisit Heathers, Dying for Sex, and Game of Thrones, and debate when turning off your critical brain can save a viewing experience.

Originally published April 17, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-556

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 10

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein discuss The White Lotus and its unsettling soundtrack, creative ambition in tick, tick... BOOM!, and AI-generated trailers for movies that do not exist. Also: Yellowjackets, film scores, and actors who disappear into a role.

Originally published April 10, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-4ac

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 9

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein discuss Don’t Look Up and satire that starts to look like reality, the political themes of Transformers One and The Walking Dead, and the military absurdity of The Men Who Stare at Goats.

Originally published April 3, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-23c

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 8

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein discuss Dexter, the strange pleasures of Time Bandits and Big Trouble in Little China, and Katamari Damacy’s gloriously odd world-rolling gameplay. They also explore nostalgia, video games as storytelling, and the value of a little escapism.

Originally published March 27, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-210

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 7

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein revisit Jurassic Park’s enduring movie magic, debate practical effects and CGI, and recount an overly immersive 4D screening of Avatar. Also: RoboCop’s satire, For All Mankind, and Ladyhawke’s famously distracting soundtrack.

Originally published March 20, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-1d1

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe