The Mount Rushmore Show

🎄 The Mount Rushmore of Holiday Movies 🎄 This week we’re joined by a long-awaited guest — Mike’s brother, Jim Mintz — plus a surprise late-entry appearance by Jim’s grandson Gabe, making this a full-family holiday showdown.

We kick things off by diving into why the holidays feel nostalgic, chaotic, and magical all at once — and why no time of year pairs better with comfort-food cinema. Then we get into the good stuff: each of us selecting our 4-film Mount Rushmore, debating releases from classics to comedies, animation to chaos, wholesome to wildly inappropriate. Picks range across Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, and more — but you’ll have to listen to hear what made each list. 👀

Of course, no holiday movie episode is complete without the heavy hitters — including the eternal, fiery, friendship-threatening question:

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? (Let’s just say… things were said.)

We cover everything from nostalgia vs quality, rewatchability vs new releases, when it’s acceptable to start watching holiday movies, and why some films earn yearly rotation while others get tossed like stale fruitcake.

Holiday feelings, movie debates, heated opinions, controversial takes — and plenty of laughs.

🎅 Grab a blanket, get cozy, cue the lights… It’s Mount Rushmore time.

PISODE NOTES — Mount Rushmore of Video Games

This week we take it back — way back — to the golden era of GameStop runs, memory cards, split-screen trash talk, and staying up way too late when we had school the next day.

Following last week's Thanksgiving Food Mount Rushmore, we open with a recap of our holiday plates and then move right into the sensory overload of Black Friday — inbox explosions, online deal chaos, and the nostalgia of walking through a packed mall like it was 2005 again.

That trip to GameStop? It sent us down a memory rabbit hole.

We realized how fast video games have evolved — from PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 to the endless combinations of consoles today — and how the games we grew up on shaped entire eras of childhood, friendship, and identity.

In today’s episode we discuss:

🎮 Black Friday then vs now — from camping outside stores to one-click shopping 🎮 Why malls today unexpectedly feel nostalgic instead of chaotic 🎮 Our GameStop realization of how outdated we really are 🎮 The video game eras that raised us — and still live in our brains rent free 🎮 The four titles we believe deserve to be carved into gaming’s Mount Rushmore

We go deep into history, stories, evolution, controversy, and cultural impact — along with our own memories of button-mashing battles and hours lost to one more game.

No spoilers here — you’ll have to listen for our official picks. 👀

LISTENER QUESTION:

What four video games would you put on the Mount Rushmore of gaming?

Drop your list in our reviews or tag us on social — and send this episode to a friend who shared a controller with you growing up.

Mount Rushmore of Thanksgiving Food

Episode Release: The Weekend Before Thanksgiving

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Joe and Mike dive into the heart of the holiday—how it started, how it became the cultural giant it is today, and why we continue celebrating it with the exact same foods every single year.

We break down the evolution from early harvest feasts to Lincoln’s national holiday proclamation, the rise of modern traditions like football and parades, and the massive growth of Friendsgiving as a laid-back millennial twist on the classic family meal.

Then the guys explore a spicy theory: Is Thanksgiving food… overrated? If the dishes were truly elite, would we really eat them only once a year? Joe argues that maybe the holiday should be a potluck of everyone’s favorite foods.

They discuss a cultural movement to liberate Thanksgiving cuisine, but ultimately stay true to the theme of the show: building a Mount Rushmore of the foods traditionally found on the Thanksgiving table.

The episode wraps with gratitude for the listeners, the show, and the holiday season. Wishing everyone a reflective, fun, indulgent Thanksgiving with family or friends.

We have some heated debates in this one so would love to hear who you agree with and what foods would be carved on your mount rushmore.

Don't forget to share if you want to help start the cultural movement towards a Thanksgiving Potluck Utopia!

With the brand-new five-part Apple TV+ docuseries on the life and career of Martin Scorsese now streaming, we’re diving deep into the filmography of one of the greatest directors of all time.

From his early days in Little Italy to his decades-long collaborations with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, Scorsese has not only defined an era of cinema — he’s outlasted it. While most of his contemporaries have faded, he continues to evolve, connect with new audiences, and deliver movies that feel timeless and modern all at once.

We discuss:

🎬 What to expect from the new Apple TV+ docuseries

📽️ How Scorsese redefined mob movies, storytelling, and pacing

🧠 His unique ability to stay relevant across five decades 🤝 The creative partnerships that shaped his career

🎭 His underrated performances and cameos

💡 The themes that tie his entire body of work together

Then, we each build our Mount Rushmore — our four definitive Scorsese movies — and debate which ones best capture his genius, range, and influence on culture.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering his work, this episode celebrates the relentless creativity of a filmmaker still at the top of his game.

With Game 7 of the World Series tonight, we kick things off by revisiting our Mount Rushmore of Playoff Baseball Players episode — right as one of the most intense and historic World Series matchups (Dodgers vs. Blue Jays) comes down to the wire. Joe’s early October prediction might just come true, and he’s got a few thoughts on what to expect in the finale of this U.S. vs. Canada showdown.

Then we take a look back at last week’s Mount Rushmore of Music Biopics — We also touch on Sam Mendes’ upcoming four-part Beatles biopic, already in production and shaping up to be one of the most ambitious music stories ever put to film.

We also pitch the music biopics we want to see and who we want playing the star role. Both may surprise you...

Finally, because Halloween just passed, it’s time to talk about what the holiday is really about — candy. We dive into the nostalgia of trick-or-treating, post-school candy runs, and the sugar-fueled memories that defined our childhood before revealing his Mount Rushmore of Halloween Candy: 🍫 A mix of chocolate, gummies, and old-school classics that built every kid’s sweet tooth. With the exception of one unanimous king of all candies, our lists couldn't be further apart, except some disputing on this one...

It’s a nostalgic, high-energy, sugar-filled ride through sports, film, and candy culture — perfect for wrapping up Halloween week.

Episode Title: The Mount Rushmore of Music Biopics

Description: With the release of Bruce Springsteen’s upcoming Deliver Me from Nowhere sparking fresh conversation around the art of the music biopic, Joe and his co-host break down how the genre has evolved — from simple, sanitized retellings to complex, emotionally charged masterpieces.

They explore:

• The “why now” behind the Springsteen buzz and early critical reactions
• How music biopics have transformed over the decades
• What separates a good biopic from a great one — authenticity, performance, and emotional truth
• How certain films reshaped public perception of their artists and redefined how Hollywood tells musical stories
• Each host’s Mount Rushmore of Music Biopics — four defining picks that capture the evolution of the genre (no spoilers here!)
• Where music biopics might go next — a move away from tragedy toward something more joyful, colorful, and celebratory

Whether you’re a cinephile, a music lover, or someone who just wants to debate the GOATs of the genre, this episode has it all: hot takes, film history, cultural analysis, and a little bit of rock ’n’ roll myth-making.

Listen now and decide which films deserve to be carved into the cinematic Mount Rushmore of music history.

October baseball is back — and with the Yankees and Phillies both taking early exits, the postseason drama is in full swing. From rivalries reigniting to unexpected collapses, this year’s playoffs have already given us plenty to talk about.

In this episode, we break down the history of October baseball — the iconic moments, legendary performances, and players who built their legacy when it mattered most. From Kirk Gibson’s one-legged homer to David Freese’s miracle night in St. Louis, October has always been where legends are made.

Then we unveil our Mount Rushmore of Baseball Playoff Performers — the four players who defined clutch

We dig into their postseason stats, career highlights, signature moments, and what made each of them a symbol of October greatness.

Finally, we look ahead to this year’s postseason finish and make our World Series prediction

Listen for: ⚾️ Why October baseball feels different 🔥 The greatest playoff performances ever 👑 What makes a player “clutch” 🎯 Our World Series prediction

Follow The Mount Rushmore Show for weekly episodes ranking the icons of sports, movies, music, and pop culture.

With the release of The Smashing Machine, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is showing a side of himself the world has never seen — vulnerable, raw, and dramatically transformed. In this episode, we dive into why now is the perfect moment for The Rock to reinvent himself, how critics are reacting to his performance, and what this means for his career moving forward.

We walk through his remarkable evolution — from his electrifying rise in WWE, to his early action roles, to shedding “The Rock” name for more heartfelt performances, and eventually returning to blockbuster dominance. Now, nearly three decades later, he’s stepping into the most ambitious chapter of his career — one that has critics talking Oscar buzz and fans seeing him in a brand-new light.

Plus, we look back at the key milestones that shaped his journey, how each era of his career built on the last, and what makes his transformation in The Smashing Machine feel like both a comeback and a breakthrough.

From eyebrow-raising charisma to emotional depth — this is the Mount Rushmore of The Rock.

🎧 Listen for:

• Why The Smashing Machine might redefine Dwayne Johnson’s legacy
• How his career has come full circle — from muscle to method
• The pivotal moments that reshaped his path
• What to expect from his next chapter, including a new dramatic project with Martin Scorsese

This week’s episode of The Mount Rushmore Show is dedicated to one movie star while honoring the passing of another. The inspiration comes from the recent loss of the legendary Robert Redford — one of the last true Hollywood icons. Redford’s career embodied the golden age of movie stardom: selective roles, an air of mystique, and the ability to balance box office success with prestige drama. With his passing, we felt it was the perfect moment to turn our spotlight on Leonardo DiCaprio — perhaps the closest modern heir to that classic brand of movie stardom.

We kick off by previewing One Battle After Another, DiCaprio’s first collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson. Early buzz points to a sprawling, ambitious war epic featuring a powerhouse cast — Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn — and the highest budget of PTA’s career. Critics are already raving about Leo’s layered performance, setting the stage for another highlight in his incredible filmography.

From there, we retrace Leo’s remarkable career arc:

• The early years: child actor breaking through with What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
• Box office heartthrob: global superstardom with Titanic
• Prestige transformation: Scorsese collaborations, awards recognition, and risk-taking roles
• Today: an ultra-selective star who embodies mystique in an oversharing era

Then, it’s time to carve our Mount Rushmore of DiCaprio films:

For each, we dive into where Leo was in his career at the time, how the film performed, the impact on his trajectory, and some behind-the-scenes fun facts.

Finally, we close with a nod to DiCaprio’s place in the pantheon of movie stars. Just like Redford, he’s become a legend whose best work may still be ahead.

🎧 Tune in for a deep dive into one of the greatest actors of our time — and a reflection on what it means to be a true movie star.

College football is back, and with it comes one of the sport’s most fascinating modern storylines: the transfer portal. What used to be about school loyalty, tradition, and waiting your turn has transformed into a new era where players can change programs overnight, cash in on NIL deals, and completely alter the national picture.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into how the transfer portal has evolved — from the “hush hush” days of under-the-table deals to today’s wide-open marketplace. We explore how these changes have impacted recruiting, coaching, and roster building, and what it all means for the future of the NCAA as it navigates the wild west of NIL and transfer rules.

Then, we carve out our Mount Rushmore of college football transfers — the players whose moves didn’t just change their own careers, but shifted the sport itself. We break down their recruiting stories, what happened at their first school, why they transferred, and how their new chapter redefined their legacy.

Finally, we close with a discussion on why this new era, while controversial for traditionalists, may actually be the best thing to happen to college football — creating parity, empowering players, and giving fans fresh storylines every single season.