Award-winning screenwriter LARRY KARASZEWSKI (Ed Wood, The People Vs. O.J.: American Crime Story) and Dan happen to share two mutual passions: movies from the 1970’s, and everything to do with the Oscars.  

 For this episode, they combine these into a historical overview of, arguably, the greatest decade for American cinema, as chronicled by its Academy Award winners and nominees – with plenty of discussion over which films and artists (in their opinions) should really have won or at least have been nominated. (A format “borrowed” from their friend Danny Peary, from his book Alternate Oscars.)

In just ten years, so many stone-cold classics: The Godfather, The Exorcist, Chinatown, Nashville, Jaws, Taxi Driver, Network, Annie Hall, Star Wars, The Deer Hunter, All That Jazz – plus criminally underseen but noteworthy films like Diary of a Mad Housewife, The Heartbreak Kid, and Blue Collar.  Larry and Dan talk about these and many more magnificent films in great detail, with love.

For any self-proclaimed film fanatic, this might be essential listening.  Or at least, with an abundance of amazing clips, it’s nearly as fun as going to the movies.

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For our third annual Halloween celebration, actress Lori Cardille joins the party to talk about her starring role in the cult classic “Day of the Dead”, the legacy of George Romero, and most dear to her heart – memories of her father Bill Cardille, a.k.a. “Chilly Billy Cardille”, host of Pittsburgh’s long-running monster-movie show, “Chiller Theater”.

 There will be shrieks of terror and howls of laughter as Lori and Dan also discuss their all-time favorite horror movies, Lori’s childhood disdain for them, and Dan’s thoughts on those store-bought Halloween costumes that used to come in a box.

With plenty of surprises and vintage clips, this one’s so much fun, it’s scary.

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We’ve all been asked this question at least a few times in our lives: “If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring only one thing – what would you bring?”

 Now -- narrow that selection down to just one movie, one album, or a boxed set of the entire run of a television series.  If that were the case, what would you bring?

 Entertainment journalist/interviewer WILL HARRIS (The A.V. Club, Vulture) and his college-age daughter ALLY are put into this imaginary conundrum, forced to make tough pop-cultural choices in such categories like So-Bad-It’s-Good Movie, TV Comedy or Variety Series, and the complete works of just one Musical Artist or Band. 

 Like the castaways on Gilligan’s Island, these two made the best of their situation, so a fun time was had by all.  Listeners can have fun, too -- by playing along with their own desert island pop-culture picks.

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JOHN ASHTON, former guitarist and songwriter for the legendary PSYCHEDELIC FURS (“Love My Way”, “Pretty in Pink”) is on the show, to talk about his life in music, the people he’s met along the way -- and especially the music that influenced him and made everything possible.

 Dan mostly listens, as John talks about The Beatles, Bowie, ACDC, Lou Reed, touring with the Talking Heads and Echo and the Bunnymen – and how a terrible auto accident would lead him to first encounter the Sex Pistols, which would alter the course of his life. 

 It’s a surprisingly sweet and occasionally downright revelatory conversation between friends, both of whom happen to adore all genres of rock and roll, and love to talk about it.  

 It’s a hell of a story – with a killer soundtrack. 

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Ron Friedman passed away on September 15, 2025.  He was 93.

I was very fortunate to have had him as a guest on this podcast -- Ron wrote for damn near every show I watched growing up -- The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, All in the Family, The Partridge Family, Chico and the Man, Fantasy Island....  His output was enormous -- over 700 hours of television, in all genres, sitcoms, action dramas, variety -- and his influence on me and millions of other former television addicts is incalculable.

I was even luckier to have then known him, all too briefly, as a friend.  When he learned that I was in the hospital for a lengthy stay, he would call me out of the blue, just to check up on me.  He was 92 years at the time, not in the best of health himself, but his sincere concern for me meant everything.  

That he happened to have grown up in West Virginia, in the same northern Ohio Valley area where I would grown up some years later, further cemented our bond.

I knew something wasn't right with Ron not only when he stopped receiving my calls, but then stopped returning my texts.  I wish I'd have had one last chat with him.

This will have to do.  It's Ron telling at least a part of his own life story, and he was born a master story teller.

Rest in well-earned peace, my friend.

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Three-time Emmy-winning animation director Dan Riba (“Batman Beyond”, “Freakazoid!”) joins Dan for a nostalgic, insightful, and just plain flat-out fun conversation about the CARTOONS they both loved when they were each growing up in the 1960’s and ‘70’s -- and would also serve as artistic and creative inspirations throughout Dan Riba’s long and distinguished career.

 Their animated discussion covers 1960’s manga, superheroes (DC and Marvel), modern stone age families, intrepid boy adventurers, Greek gods – as well as encounters with legends like Jack Kirby and Doug Wildey, their mutual boyhood obsessions with comic books, and the joy of finding prizes in cereal boxes. Plus: some of the greatest theme songs in television history, period.  Yabba-dabba-doo, and flame on!

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Progressive Radio Host and Podcaster ROXANNE KINCAID (“Head-ON with Roxanne Kincaid”) returns to Let’s Talk Ten for a fun and very informed conversation with Dan, about their all-time favorite movie BIOPICS.  

 From legends of the battlefield to show biz icons to the lords of Silicon Valley, these films span not just centuries, but cinematic genres and styles as well.  Some are multiple Oscar-winners, others ambitious cult classics -- but at their best, biopics help us to understand the human beings beneath all the majesty, pomp, wigs, and accents.

 And unlike a lot of big Hollywood epics, this episode only runs for an hour.

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Pop culture essayist, critic, and editor KRISTEN LOPEZ join Dan for a witty and lively discussion of their favorite television and streaming series of the past 25 years.

Their choices cover a wide and often surprising array of genres and characters, watched on large, laptop, and phone screens. What a “television show” is exactly continues to be redefined, as the long-time popularity of sitcoms and generic cop shows have given way to epic  storytelling, complex characterizations, and movie-quality production values.

 As always, what might or might not have made Dan and Kristen’s lists might be highly debatable, but it’s all in good fun, as two people who spend way too much time thinking about this stuff cram as much behind-the-scenes trivia, personal recollections, and strongly-held opinions into a one-hour podcast episode.  Plus: Lots of awesome clips!

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Legs McNeil was not only an integral part of the 1970’s downtown New York City “punk” scene – he gave it a name. As one of the founders of Punk magazine, Legs was a fixture at CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, he hung out with Iggy Pop and Lou Reed, and was in the audience for The Ramones, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Blondie – plus many other bands who never found that level of fame, but were great while they lasted.

With Gillian McCain, Legs wrote PLEASE KILL ME: THE UNCENSORED ORAL HISTORY OF PUNK – the definitive first-hand account of a scene and a cultural movement that continues to inspire (and sell records) to this day. He’s also worked as an editor for Spin magazine and was the author or co-author of “The Other Hollywood: The Uncensored Oral History of the Porn Film Industry”, “Dear Nobody: The True Diary of Mary Rose”, and others.

He’s now the director and co-producer of “Pusherman: Frank Lucas and the True Story of American Gangster”, a documentary which corrects much of the fictionalized narrative of the Denzel Washington-starring 2007 film.

In his conversation with Dan, Legs shared stories about his friendships with Andy Warhol, Debbie Harry, and William S. Burroughs; the Sex Pistols’ final show; a private Rolling Stones concert held inside a volcano – plus, how he got that unusual first name.

 (This episode contains frank language and mature subject matter which might not be appropriate for all listeners.  Discretion is advised.)

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They say that truth is stranger than fiction.  Great documentaries have proven that they can be even more compelling and entertaining than anything your average Hollywood screenwriter could dream up.

 Acclaimed documentary filmmaker and writer/journalist LAURIE GWEN SHAPIRO – whose already-bestselling book “THE AVIATOR AND THE SHOWMAN” has been released to critical raves – joins Dan for an informed, freewheeling conversation about their favorite docs.  From coal mines and rock concerts…to a decaying mansion, the Supreme Court, and way beyond…these are amazing stories told by fascinating people -- and they all really happened.

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