In this episode of Within the Donut Hole, we open the case to the beautifully obsessive world of vinyl collecting with a very special guest: Mo Shafeek, co-founder of Mutant.

We dive deep into Mutant’s Wake Up Dead Man vinyl soundtrack release. From the haunting score by Nathan Johnson to the intricate artwork, packaging, and the dangerously tempting variant - the devilish “Eve’s Apple”. This is a conversation about what happens when film, music, and design collide to create physical media.

We talk process, collaboration, and the philosophy behind making something you don’t just listen to but hold. What goes into crafting a release that feels like an extension of the film.

And yes, we discuss how our love life meets our love of collecting records, cassette recorders pressed to our television sets, and of course, Mutant’s Star Wars Revenge of the Sith Lava release. 

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Sun, sand, and a perfectly constructed murder.

This week on Within the Donut Hole, we break down Evil Under the Sun, one of Agatha Christie’s most elegant films. With Hercule Poirot at the center, we explore how a seemingly simple timeline becomes a masterclass in direction, score, script, casting, cinematography, editing, costume design, and locations.

From airtight alibis to carefully hidden truths, this is classic cinematic detective storytelling at its finest and a fascinating blueprint for our modern-day sleuth Benoit Blanc.

And yes, the tray of unidentifiable cocktails and the mysterious cheese with cherries will be discussed.

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In this chapter of Within the Donut Hole: a Benoit Blanc podcast, we step just outside the crime scene and into the casting office. We each draft five actors we believe would be perfect additions to the next Knives Out ensemble. Casting not by rumor or reporting, but by instinct for the unmistakable Rian Johnson vibe. From quiet intensity to legacy gravitas, we debate who belongs in Benoit Blanc’s next case. Before the speculation begins, I share the surreal real-world moment of meeting Rian Johnson and Nathan Johnson at Amoeba Records. Step within the donut hole.

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What happens when a song is designed not to be solved? In this episode of Within the Donut Hole, we turn our attention to “Glass Onion,” the Beatles’ sly, self-referential puzzle box of a song. One that invites interpretation while quietly reminding us that the center may be an illusion. We’re joined by renowned Beatles expert Chris Wood, whose lifelong devotion to the band includes a full-on Beatles wedding, performing in a string-backed cover band, and dressing as Sgt. Pepper–era Paul McCartney at an actual Paul McCartney concert. Together, we explore “Glass Onion” as both a commentary on Beatles mythology and a playful warning against over-analysis, peeling back layers that may, or may not, exist at all. Is “Glass Onion” a riddle…or a joke on all of us?

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On this episode of Within the Donut Hole: a Benoit Blanc podcast, we go full detective on the response to Wake Up Dead Man, from the critic to the fans, and, more importantly, the funniest reviews and reactions swirling around the newest Knives Out mystery, Wake Up Dead Man. From “weirder and darker” takes to critics behaving badly (affectionately) and everyone at Letterboxd, we break down the tone, the buzz, and the quoteable lines that prove one thing: Benoit Blanc still has everyone in a chokehold. No spoilers. Just mischief, movie love, and maximum donut-hole energy.

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This week on Within the Donut Hole: A Benoit Blanc Podcast, we step away from the case file and into something even more important: why we love this franchise so much. In a heartfelt (and slightly unhinged) love letter to the Knives Out universe, we count down the Top Ten most loving things about these films. The retitled chapter, Ten Reasons We Can’t Quit Benoit Blanc, from Benoit Blanc’s wit-with-teeth to the razor-sharp writing, iconic ensembles, endlessly rewatchable mysteries, and the iconic fashion that makes the whole series sing. This is the episode that answers the question: why this podcast exists.

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Hello there, fellow sleuths and soundtrack fanatics! Welcome to the second, still-mysteriously-untitled episode of my unofficial Knives Out podcast. If you’re hearing this, it means I’ve actually managed to launch the pod, cue the confetti. Today is December 12th, 2025: the day Wake Up Dead Man drops on Netflix, and Nathan Johnson’s epic score finally hits our ears in all its glory. As a hopeless film score addict, I had to document my first two listens, one sun-soaked in the desert and one after dark with a glass of Blackwell Rum. Spoiler: the music is even better than a plot twist in the last act. My expectations weren’t just met; they were exceeded by my highest hopes.

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Welcome to Within the Donut Hole: a Benoit Blanc podcast. In our very first episode, host John Williams explains why this unofficial fan podcast exists. And why the Knives Out films deserve a space to celebrate their craft, wit, heart, and endlessly rewatchable mysteries. We talk Benoit Blanc, the “donut hole” philosophy, what makes this franchise feel so alive, and what you can expect from future episodes: deep dives, performances, themes, and plenty of film-score appreciation. This podcast is made from one place: love. The game is afoot.

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