Home Theater United Podcast

By Home Theater United with Brian Dobbs and Sam PostenTV & Film

Home Theater United Podcast episodes

September 16, 2025 Episode 50 - The Stack of Shame with guests John Rice and Todd Rice
Recurring guests John Rice and Todd Rice join Sam to commiserate over their "Stacks of shame": Disks, movies and TV shows forever sitting on the shelf and never making it to the player and screen.
1 hr 22 min
December 24, 2024Episode 49 - Why is this movie soooooo hated?
Episode 49 - Why Is this film so hated?
Talking 6 poorly reviewed films and discussing if they have any merit - (Target time about 1h but will go as long as is fun):
Intro by Sam: Welcome Todd and John Rice (No relation)
Cinema Shout-Outs, a palate cleanse of positivity
6 Films that got bad audience and critic reactions that we look at fresh with 2024 eyes
Good Bad And Ugly
What are we excited to see at CES on January 8?
Shout out trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m9IFlz2iYo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvwDen1Wrx8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lai9QhBibk

Hated Movie Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6eB0JT1DI4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BWWWQzTpNU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhNuXvlCTTc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6_Odb-Bd1E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OKAwz2MsJs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6UWYylKzlc

GBU:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4s7CAd03Zc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5rh7O4IDc0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6COmYeLsz4c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZTP586-Y9E
1 hr 51 min
December 10, 2024Episode 48 - Hearing and Home Theater with Dr. Bethany Anderson
Introducing Audiologist Dr. Bethany Anderson. Topics will cover protecting your hearing in home theater, cinema and concert environments :
Intro by Sam: Welcome Dr. Anderson! What can you tell us about yourself, and are you big into movies, cinema, music?
What can home theater viewers do to limit exposure to ear damage while still enjoying dramatic music and sound effects?
Are low impact rumbles from a subwoofer safe? Safer than high frequency bangs (gunshots etc)?
What's your opinion of theaters like IMAX and Dolby where you can't control the volume being played?
Are earplugs like Etymotic Research ER20 safe and useful to wear at movies and concerts?
What can people with hearing loss do to extend their hearing?
Can you talk about Tinnitus and how it affects the rest of the brain and body? Is it a warning sign someone needs to get hearing checked asap?
What's the deal with OTC hearing aids? Are they safe / useful?
Is Apple's interest in hearing protection a good thing or just marketing?
How often should people get their hearing checked? At what age should they start?
Anything else you would like to talk about or promote?
56 min
December 22, 2023Episode 47 - Documentary Film Maker and Podcast Cohost Emeritus Brian Dobbs
Home Theater United
Episode 47
December 21, 2023, 2023 6:00 PM EST
Re-Introducing Brian Dobbs, founding cohost and cohost emeritus of Home Theater United and new Documentarian with his film Blue Planet Red -
Intro by Sam: Welcome back Brian! You have been busy moving cross country and back and now have your first film under your belt! Blue Planet Red is on sites like Vimeo and purchaseable as an honest to goodness self authored Blu-Ray. Tell us as much as you can without spoiling Blue Planet Red
What the heck sent you down this path?
How has the initial reaction been? How hard has it been to build an audience? Sam Loves it!
Tell us about working with Swarm
You had a model shoot in the desert for the film, with amazing drone photography. Uh, whaaaat?
The scientists are real characters. Were you expecting that?
Are you going to film festivals? Trying to get it on Netflix or other streaming services in the future?
What was your production like? Did you do everything yourself? Tell us about the tech specs of the bluray
How can our viewers watch it?
What’s next for you?
Anything else you would like to talk about or promote?
Quick Good Bad and Ugly

Background info:
https://blueplanetred.net/
https://twitter.com/BrianCoryDobbs/status/1737642166967746642
Vimeo
vimeo.com/ondemand/blueplanetred…

Blu-ray
/blueplanetred.net/store

Two-Page Summary
//blueplanetred.net/store

Website
/blueplanetred.net

Quick Good Bad and Ugly:
Sam - Barbie
Brian - The Eternals
2 hr 11 min
December 05, 2023 Episode46- Hidden Gems
What movies do you consider to be Hidden Gems? Join host Sam Posten and guests Todd Erwin, John Rice and Josh Steinberg as they highlight 3 movies each which they feel deserve wider exposure and acclaim than what they got theatrically or on home video.

Sam:
The mist
Antebellum
Inside man

Todd:
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Ghostbusters: Answer the Call
Grand Canyon

Josh:
Rope
Tomorrowland
Sunshine

John:
A Monster Calls
Paper Towns
Never Let Me Go

Plus we play a new game: "Know what's mad? That I have never seen THIS movie" and a whole new (not really!) Good Bad and Ugly!
1 hr 58 min
November 21, 2023 Episode 45 - Black Friday 2023 with Todd Erwin
The show returns after a 6 month break! We are BACK, baby!
Todd Erwin joins us once again to talk about his picks for best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, focusing on TVs and other Home Theater gear.
Plus Todd announces the launch of his own new show, coming soon on Youtube!
ANDDDDDD we will have cohost emeritus Brian Dobbs back soon to talk about his new feature length documentary, Red Planet Blue!
1 hr 3 min
March 07, 2023Episode 44 - Immersive Audio Storyteller Brent Watkins
Home Theater United
Episode 44
March 6, 2023, 2023 7:30 PM EST
Introducing immersive recording artist and storyteller Brent Watkins
Introducing Brent Watkins a musician focusing on immersive audio experiences
Intro by Sam: Welcome Brent, you bill yourself as an immersive recording artist and congrats on the launch of your website and second album! What does the focus on immersive music mean to you and what kind of music are you creating?
With Apple’s new focus on Atmos it seems like a major shift has occurred. Previously artists wanted front heavy experiences mimicking a stage performance and now they want the listener to be in the middle of the storm. Do you think this is sustainable and is the new normal?
The example I use is Tom Sawyer where you literally hear the drums in a 360 experience. Besides your own work, what are your favorite immersive music experiences?
Are you 100% self produced, do you have other artists joining you in your work?
You recently built a dual purpose home recording studio and home theater! That sounds amazing, what can you tell us about how you built that and what kind of gear you are using?
The barrier to entry designing immersive music continues to fall down. What does your workflow look like? How hard / expensive is it for a new artist to move from stereo to build their first tracks?
Is Atmos mastering something you can ‘add at the end’ or do you think you need to think about the room for every track from its inception now?
How do you manage folks listening to stereo vs immersive headphones versus full 7.1.4 home theaters?
You also produced two documentaries! What can you tell us about them and how folks can find them?
You do all this on your own time while working full time. How do you juggle it all?
What would you like to see in the next evolution of sound technology (ie atmos) or music production?
Anything else you would like to talk about or promote?
Quick Good Bad and Ugly
Quick Good Bad and Ugly:
Sam - The Fabelmans
Brent - A.I. 2001
1 hr 36 min
February 21, 2023Episode 43 - Home Theater United Budget Challenge 1
Home Theater United
Episode 43
February 20, 2023 7:30 PM EST

Introducing the HTU Budget Challenge #1 - (Target time about 1h but will go as long as is fun):
Intro by Sam: Welcome two Todds, two Johns, two Rices and a Sam.
Round Table Discussion
What is the budget challenge?
Who was invited to participate
Who can participate following the show?
What are the rules?
Budget 1k
Budget 5k
Unlimited Budget
Anything else you guys would like to talk about or promote?
Quick Good Bad and Ugly

Quick Good Bad and Ugly:
Sam - Licorice Pizza
Todd Rice - Elvis
Todd Erwin - Empire of Light
John Rice - The fallout
John Philips - Beowulf
2 hr 14 min
January 25, 2023Episode 42- Producer and Director Bryan Storkel of SideStilt Films
Director and Producer (and Editor!) Bryan Storkel from SideStilt Films
Meeting up with Bryan Storkel from SideStilt Films:
Intro by sam: Welcome Bryan Storkel.
Interview:
You bill yourself as both producer and director here plus you do editing too. How do you juggle so many hats? Are you the lead writer on these as well?
What’s your origin story in the industry, did you graduate from making shorts?
PEZ Outlaw just landed on Netflix (and is available to buy on all major stores)! What can you tell us a bit about that project and your role on it? How in the world did that come to your attention? I watched it last night and it’s got a lot of heart.
Woah, IMDB says your “Legend of Cocaine Island” documentary is being transformed into a movie with Will Ferrell? Is that true? What’s the current status on that? Is this your first foray into commercial features? How excited are you to jump to features?
Are you a home theater guy yourself? What’s your setup like? How about movie theater viewing? Got a favorite local spot?
What’s up next for you career wise and./or for your studio?
What else in your background should folks dig into? That doc on Christian card counters sounds wild and has gone into my “to watch” list. You seem to have a foot into the sports documentary world too.
Anything else you’d like to talk about or promote?
36 min
December 07, 2022Episode 41 - Brian Ralston and Chris Chan Lee from Silent River
Meeting up with HTF’s Brian Ralston and Director Chris Chan Lee from Silent River:
Intro by sam: Meet Brian Ralston and Chris Chan Lee
Interview Qs:
Brian: What can you tell us about your work on Silent River
Chris: The film is out on digital to buy now. How has the reaction been from audiences? What was the film’s journey to getting made? Is there a disk for those who don’t do digital?
Brian: The music in SR is very unique yet has a lot of stings that reminded me of 70s horror films. What was your inspiration for the soundtrack?
Chris: this is your fourth film. How has the progression been going?
Brian: Can you tell us about the Atmos authoring process and releasing the soundtrack in Atmos?
Chris: a few of the reviews I have read call it very Lynchian. What’s your take on that?
Brian: Having heard the final LOTR on Prime I still think your ideas would have been wonderful. Can you enjoy the show with that in your history? What was your take on the musical?
Chris: I’m intrigued by the role of the stranger. Can you give us some insight into some of his motivations?
Brian: Can you tell us about your podcast? What about your own home theater?
Chris: you are both screenwriter and director here, how was it managing both hats?
Brian: What’s up next?
Chris: What’s up next, both for Silent River and yourself? Will we see SR on something like Prime or Netflix?
Good Bad Or Ugly?
Sam - Infernal Affairs
Brian - Jasmine
Chris - Everything Everywhere All At Once
1 hr 15 min