Filmmaker Kelyn Ikegami shares the 1986 action-adventure comedy "Big Trouble in Little China" with Benjamin and guest-hosts Brad Barber and Kimball Maw Jensen. We discuss the movie's interesting mix of fantasy, parody and depiction of Asian-Americans and talk about how we can simultaneously enjoy and cringe at movies' representation of culture.

Filmmaker Bobbie Lee shares the recently released film "The Farewell" with Benjamin and guest-host Kimball Maw Jensen. We discuss the movie's representation of Asian American families and the challenge of navigating multiple cultures simultaneously. We ask what do we make movies for if not to understand ourselves and one another better.

Educator and activist Roni Jo Draper shares the 1998 film "Smoke Signals" with Benjamin and guest-host Brad Barber. We discuss how the movie represents the complexities of life on the reservation, the importance of storytelling in native communities, and the need for more indigenous females' perspectives onscreen. We share listener feedback and discuss if there is such a thing as a 'women-centered issue.'

Vietnam veteran Dan Aldridge shares the 2002 film "We Were Soldiers" with Benjamin. We discuss how the movie represents the humanity of those involved in war and how it contrasts from other films about Vietnam. We also talk about the impossibility of representing a decade-long war, involving hundreds of thousands of people in a single film. We share listener feedback and share our favorite everyday heroines depicted in media.

Guest Hannah Hughes shares the 2017 film "Wind River" with Benjamin. We discuss how the movie addresses sexual violence, as well as its representations of masculinity, and the need for more women-directed-movies that address issues affecting women. We also share listener feedback and talk about our favorite 'fish-out-of-water' stories.

Guest Savannah Keenan-Kroff shares the 2017 film "Wonder Woman" with Benjamin and Max. We discuss the movie's representation of femininity, resisting 'the male gaze,' and the value of depicting both superheroines and everyday heroines onscreen. We also share listener feedback and discuss positive representations of mental health.

Guest Luis Fernando Puente shares the 2014 film "East Side Sushi" with Benjamin. We discuss the movie's representation of Mexican-Americans, the value of 'fish-out-of-water' stories, are and the importance of telling and listening to immigrant stories. We also share listener feedback and discuss the use of comedy to represent social issues.

Guest Ayah Safi shares the 1999 film "Girl, Interrupted" with Benjamin. We discuss the film's depiction of mental illness, along with the treatment and recovery process. Ayah discusses the stigma surrounding mental illness in her home country of Lebanon, and encourages listeners to donate to embracelebanon.org in order to make the nation's first suicide hotline operational 24/7.

Guest Madison shares the 2017 film "Swiss Army Man" with Benjamin and Max. We laugh (a lot) and discuss the how the movie's body horror and potty humor shed some light on issues of sexual shame, body image, love and life. And we talk about the challenge of representing eating disorders onscreen without unintentionally perpetuating the problem.

Guest Camlyn Giddins shares the 1967 film "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" with Benjamin and Max. We discuss depictions of race relations, and Black culture in particular, in film. And we talk about the long tradition of African-American cinema from Oscar Micheaux to Tyler Perry and Jordan Peele, and the necessity of continuing this conversation about race and representation.