In August 1950, the people of Great Britain received a survey that asked: Have you ever cried at the cinema? Now, 75 years later, I'm asking asking the same question.

But I'm also interested in more than that.

This mini-episode introduces the launch of a new miniseries: A Brief History of Crying at the Movies.

This week's episode is all about The Great Beyond. Not death, but the infinite expanse of space that extends far beyond our own planet. Marcus Zavala joins me to talk about why Christopher Nolan's Interstellar makes him cry, what Space Cowboy Matthew McConaughey can teach us about fatherhood, and the pervasive sense of disquiet that stems from seeing Matt Damon onscreen.

Intro music: Out of the Skies, Under the Earth by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

The author Tucker Leighty-Phillips joins me to talk about the 1999 documentary American Movie, why it made him cry, and what it can teach us about craft, relationships, and chasing down the American Dream.

What can Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022) teach us about the trials and tribulations of being 22? Is Adam Sandler's 2006 comedy Click a modern-day It's a Wonderful Life? This week's episode features our first double feature discussion of sad movies, big heartbreaks, and Zohran Mamdani's electoral victory.

Why does Field of Dreams (1989) make so many men cry? Is there any simpler and greater pleasure in this life—or the next—than a son having a catch with his father? Is Iowa really like heaven?

I talk with my dad about baseball, dads, and why this particular Kevin Costner film always brings him to tears.

Can The Nutty Professor (1996) cause your pain water to seep up? When you’re feeling overwhelmed, do you prefer to have a good cry or a nice tantrum? Is there such a thing as a fart that makes you sad?

Jess joins us on our first episode to provide some answers.