Best KaijuFM Podcasts (2025)

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5.8 - YUNIOL (2007) & Tone 31:04

Play Pause

3y ago31:04

31:04

Our Latin American journey leaves the South American mainland behind this week, and dips into Caribbean cinema with a 2007 film from the Dominican Republic, YUNIOL. After some reviews, we talk about class differences, telling multiple stories, and how this is not an ‘uneven’ film. Recent Media ALL OR NOTHING: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (2021): Rob Worsoff…

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5.7 - MY STRAIGHT SON (2012) & Acceptance 33:16

3y ago33:16

33:16

The most recent film on our Latin American odyssey is the Venezuelan MY STRAIGHT SON (2012). After reviews — some more fervent than others — we talk about drama, found families, and whether or not we might have a Eurocentric view of this film’s politics. Recent Media GOLDENEYE (1995): Martin Campbell, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean REACHER (2022–): Lee …

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5.6 - EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT (2015) & Madness 31:13

3y ago31:13

31:13

After something of a hiatus: we’re back! With the award-winning 2015 Colombian film EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT. After some reviews, we dive in with a reference to Rob’s favourite theatrical director, as well as exploring why it’s good that this film was made and how it might be important that some people don’t get on board with it. Recent Media THE HAR…

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Small Batch - Titane (2021) 6:20

3y ago6:20

6:20

Another Small Batch episode, looking at the the 2021 horror film, Titane Find Us On Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-prestige-417454Follow Us - https://www.twitter.com/prestigepodcastFollow Sam - https://www.twitter.com/life_academicFollow Rob - https://www.twitter.com/kaijufmFind Our Complete Archive on Kaiju.FM - https://www.kai…

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5.2 - THE ACCUSED (2018) & Intensity 35:19

3+ y ago35:19

35:19

After something of a hiatus from the main feed, this week the band is back together with our look at (the most recent, Rob) THE ACCUSED. We talk about how this film undercuts expectations, what it has to say about the experiences of children as opposed to adults, and the in some ways chilling ending of the movie. Next Up The next film on our Latin …

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Small Batch - Free Guy (2021) 10:43

4y ago10:43

10:43

Another Small Batch, this week talking about FREE GUY and the return to the cinema! Find Us On Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-prestige-417454 Follow Us - https://www.twitter.com/prestigepodcast Follow Sam - https://www.twitter.com/life_academic Follow Rob - https://www.twitter.com/kaijufm Find Our Complete Archive on Kaiju.FM - …

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Small Batch - White House Down (2013) & Olympus Has Fallen (2013) 15:52

4y ago15:52

15:52

Another Small Batch episode, looking at the cinematic twins of White House Down and Olympus Has Fallen Find Us On Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-prestige-417454 Follow Us - https://www.twitter.com/prestigepodcast Follow Sam - https://www.twitter.com/life_academic Follow Rob - https://www.twitter.com/kaijufm Find Our Complete Arc…

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200! - 300 (2007) & Fourteen Years 50:13

4y ago50:13

50:13

Some six years (not five, Rob! we’ve been doing this aaaaages) after our first episode — and fourteen years after the…’discussion’ that prompted us to start doing this podcast (eventually), we’re revisiting Zach Snyder’s 2007 epic 300. After we read through that fourteen-year-old transcript, we talk about how our views of the film have changed, its…

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4.49 - MULAN (1998) & Gender 34:44

4y ago34:44

34:44

Our final Disney film is 1998’s MULAN. After some reviews, we talk about the ways in which this film starts from a position of naivety, but grows into a much more adult movie: which leaves us both intrigued as to what the reboot will be like. Next Up Next time, for the last time, we turn to the live-action version of a Disney animation, with the 20…

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4.48 - THE LION KING (2019) & Hyperrealism 30:43

4y ago30:43

30:43

This week, after some...reviews of Disney’s most recent take on THE LION KING, we talk about how colour and contrast can make or break a film, the importance of myth to the original movie, and what it means to consider style versus substance when the film is as hyperrealistic as this one. Next UpThe final film in our Disney mini-season is 1998’s MU…

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4.47 - THE LION KING (1994) & Privilege 33:15

4y ago33:15

33:15

Our film this week is the 1994 award-winning classic THE LION KING. After the usual reviews, we talk about Sam’s changing ideas about the film, how it may or may not be about the growth of a character, and what it says about the role of royal privilege (not, this week in particular, an entirely irrelevant topic!). Next Up It’s remake time! Next up …

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4.46 - ALADDIN (2019) & PRETENCE 30:31

4y ago30:31

30:31

This week’s offering is the re-make of ALADDIN. After…mixed reviews, we talk about the ‘clean’ visuals, what it feels Disney wants from a re-make, and how watching this involves something of the same pretence shown by the characters themselves. Next Up Our next Disney film is the 1994 original version of THE LION KING. Recent Media THE BITTER TEA O…

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4.45 - ALADDIN (1992) & Worth 33:38

4y ago33:38

33:38

This time, our focus is on the 1992 Disney film ALADDIN. After some reviews, we discuss how this is a movie about people pretending to be something they’re not; we talk about what ‘diamond in the rough’ means (both to a 10-year-old Rob, and today); and we think about media depictions of class, from country-house dramas to inner-city soap operas. Ne…

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4.44 - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017) & Loneliness 37:24

4+ y ago37:24

37:24

This week our focus is he 2017 live-action version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. After some…contrasting reviews, we talk about how this film is a lot darker and more serious than the original, how it has a lot more to it (both good and bad), and how it might be a different sort of fairy tale to the 1991 film. Next Time Next in line for our Disney focus …

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Top 5 of 2020 34:06

4+ y ago34:06

34:06

The Best Of The Pandemic Year Follow Sam - https://www.twitter.com/life_academic Follow Rob - https://www.twitter.com/kaijufm Find Our Complete Archive on Kaiju.FM - http://www.kaiju.fm/the-prestige/

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4.40 - WIDOWS (2018) & Loss 38:06

4+ y ago38:06

38:06

The final film in our mini-season of heist film’s is Steve McQueen’s 2018 movie WIDOWS. After (ultimately, to be expected) differing reviews, we talk about ways in which this film deals with a number of different manifestations of loss — doing so even through the cinematography — and ultimately shows a certain amount of escape or relief in the endi…

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49 - Belgian Tripel 55:33

4+ y ago55:33

55:33

If you're a fan of strong beers and have an appreciation of subtle and easy drinking complexity, then a Belgian Tripel will always be a great beer to grab. A simple recipe and malt bill combines with delicate and delicious yeast esters to make a pale beer style that is famous worldwide. We brew one ourselves then try these commercial examples: Chim…

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4.39 - THE PERFECT SCORE (2004) & Aspiration 37:04

4+ y ago37:04

37:04

Our penultimate heist film is the 2004 teen movie THE PERFECT SCORE. We talk about how this film doesn’t take itself too seriously, and doesn’t deserve the panning it got from the critics, as well as the idea that this is a mash-up of the heist film genre with teen films about progress of various kinds. Next TimeThe last movie in our heist season i…

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48 - Session Märzen 1:00:41

4+ y ago1:00:41

1:00:41

Oktoberfest didn't really happen for many of us this year, so why not bring a little bit of that celebratory spirit into your homes regardless. Märzens are crisp refreshing amber lagers with a easy dry biscuity finish, and go perfect at this time of year. Mike decided to do a session version of this famous yearly style as well as dipping his toes i…

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4.38 - LOCK, STOCK, AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS (1998) & Remixing 41:36

4+ y ago41:36

41:36

Our film this time is Guy Ritchie’s 1998 break-out film, which spawned a host of not-always-successful imitators — even among the work of Ritchie himself! We talk about whether a film sometimes has to do no more than just look cool, what changed in pop culture around the time of the Millennium, and where the heist even is in this film. Next Time Th…

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47 - Fruited Porter 56:45

4+ y ago56:45

56:45

As the nights draw in and the evenings get colder, why not turn to something darker, but with a twist? Take a robust English Porter and add a huge boost of dark seasonal fruits and you end up with something deliciously rich and autumnal. In this episode we brew a Fruited Porter as well as trying these commerical examples: Weird Beard - Dead By Dawn…

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4.37 - THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995) & Story-Telling 36:27

4+ y ago36:27

36:27

This week, we focus on a doubly discredited (director and star) but undeniably classic film: THE USUAL SUSPECTS. After some reviews (and you can guess what they’ll be, with this film), we talk about a fundamental change in the heist genre, how we’re still not sure what happens in this film, and the story of the first time we saw this, over 20 years…

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46 - American Stout 1:05:54

4+ y ago1:05:54

1:05:54

What do you get if you cross a traditional Dry Stout with a Black IPA? Why, the American Stout of course! All the rich malty body of a stout balanced but not dominated by the extra addition of new world hops. Mike tries this style with an addition of Sabro, a new(ish) variety of hop! As usual we brew one ourselves, talk about the recipe before tryi…

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4.36 - THIEF (1981) & Honour 29:04

4+ y ago29:04

29:04

This week’s film is an early one from Michael Mann, king of the crime genre: THIEF. After some reviews, we talk about whether Frank’s personal ethics are more like those in PARKS AND REC or OROCHI, as well as discussing the acting successes of Jim Broadbent, and thinking about the BREAKING BAD moments towards the end of the film. Next Time We move …

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4.35 - THE STING (1973) & Façades 34:46

5y ago34:46

34:46

This week’s film is the 1973 multiple-Oscar-winning classic THE STING. After (certainly not mixed!) initial reviews, we talk about how this film is more about a con not a heist, it’s links to more modern films like John Wick, and the use of obvious artificiality on screen. Next Time The next in our heist mini-season is 1981’s THIEF. Recent Media HA…

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4.34 - THE ITALIAN JOB (1969) & Nationalism 38:16

5y ago38:16

38:16

This week, our focus turns to the 1969 classic THE ITALIAN JOB. After our usual opening reviews, we go on to talk about the development of the on-screen working-class criminals, British v Italians on film, and the continuing evolution of the heist genre. Next Time Our next film, much to Sam’s delight, is the 1973 crime classic (and recipient of the…

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4.33 - BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967) & Iconoclasm 32:16

5y ago32:16

32:16

This week we discuss the landmark historical film BONNIE AND CLYDE. Our reviews are followed by discussions about how this film was a cultural jumping-off point, and how it’s filled with examples of iconoclastically pushing back against society. Next Time The next in our heist mini-series is the original THE ITALIAN JOB, from 1969. Recent Media BRI…

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4.32 - OCEAN’S ELEVEN (1960) & Camaraderie 30:20

5y ago30:20

30:20

This week we tackle the original OCEAN’S ELEVEN — over 40 years before the Soderbergh re-make, and set in a very different time. After…mixed reviews, we talk about this film’s military roots, why the focus on friendship is a poignant one, and how this is a heist film that’s probably not about the heist. Next Time Our next heist film is the genre-de…

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4.31 - RIFIFI (1955) & A Code of Honour 29:54

5y ago29:54

29:54

This week, we begin our heist movies mini-season with the 1955 French film noir RIFIFI. After our usual reviews, we get into what this film is really about — including a bit of a history lesson from Rob — as well as discussing how this film is less ‘shiny’ than many of the films it spawned, and is all the better for it. Next Time The next heist mov…

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ANIARA (2019) & Loss 36:36

5y ago36:36

36:36

In this episode, Rob and Karin dive into the 2019 release, Aniara. We recorded this back earlier in the year, but given the state of the world soon after, we held off on releasing it. Some time has passed and whilst the world isn't much better, we felt we could release it without inducing too much anxiety. But please, go into this episode knowing t…

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4.30 - BOOKSMART (2019) & Heartbreak 35:38

5y ago35:38

35:38

The final film in our ‘high school’ sub-season is the Olivia Wilde film from last year BOOKSMART. After some reviews, we talk about the effectiveness of films that might not be ‘for us’ as an audience, and the division of high school films into movies about nostalgia, coming of age, or romance — and this discussion leads into a retrospective on the…

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4.29 - SING STREET (2016) & Creativity 30:58

5y ago30:58

30:58

This week we discuss the 2016 musical-comedy-drama-fantasy (who knows?) SING STREET. After some reviews, we talk about the ways in which this is a musical, the use of emotion on film, and how this is a creatively structured film about creative structure (this may or may not make sense). Oh, and how this is a love story, but the female lead isn’t ev…

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4.28 - THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (2012) & Hopeful Realism 40:17

5y ago40:17

40:17

It’s the return of Sam! And we’re picking up where we left off, with a continuation of our mini-season of high school movies. This week, in a change (as explained in the episode) to the film we had been going to feature, it’s Emma Watson’s 2012 (post-HP) breakout role. After some reviews, we talk about how, refreshingly, this is a teen romance that…

1
Back To Basics Episode 4 - Kit Brews 44:15

5y ago44:15

44:15

After taking a short break during the ongoing situation, Mike and Cal are back, this time recording remotely! And in this time, after kicking one of his kegs Mike decided to take a punt going "Back To Basics" by trying out his first ever Kit Brew. Many homebrewers begin their journey with Kit Brews, so we decided to talk about why they're such a gr…

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45 - Sabro Homebrew Competition 34:00

5y ago34:00

34:00

In this episode Mike and Cal were invited to judge for the Reading Amateur Brewers homebrew competition that had one interesting brief, brewing a beer that accentuates Sabro hops. We recorded live on the judging night, chatting to the organisers of the event, the people who won third, second and third place about the beers they brewed as well as th…

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S2E4 - The Jarron 12:00

5y ago12:00

12:00

Chasing down their attackers, adventure awaits! Full Map Hand Drawn Map People Drewel - Leader of The Jarron Trewinter - De facto captain of the slaves Music from https://filmmusic.io“Virtutes Instrumenti” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)…

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CRIMSON PEAK (2015) & The Gothic 35:52

5y ago35:52

35:52

With Sam off being a dad, Rob ropes in some guest hosts, this week Naomi from Power Word Roll talking up a storm about the gothic horror/love story, Crimson Peak Naomi has had a fascination with the elements of story most of her life, from fairytales in her early years to film at university. Now Naomi makes audio drama podcast Power Word Roll, and …

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44 - IPL 48:52

5+ y ago48:52

48:52

Are you a big fan of hops, but love the refreshing ease of a lager? Why not have both? An India Pale Lager (or IPL) takes the subtle complexity of a lager and boosts those fruity hop notes with liberal additions of delicious hops. As usual we brew one ourselves, talk about the recipe before trying these commercial examples: Lost & Grounded - Runnin…

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Fiona @ What Am I Rolling 1:03:56

5+ y ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Fiona is an e-learning content developer at St George’s, University of London, specialising in video and audio creation and development. She is the founder and main GM for ‘What Am I Rolling?’, a twice-monthly RPG one-shot podcast which introduces different RPG systems and genres to both new and experienced players. Her passions include storytellin…

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4.27 - ST TRINIANS (2007) & Unity 33:24

5+ y ago33:24

33:24

This week’s film is the 2007 re-boot of the anarchic ST. TRINIAN’S franchise. Post-reviews, we talk about different takes on the male gaze, on this film as a period piece, and on the way in which such films can be heightened versions of universal truths. Next Time As Rob says in the episode, who knows what next time will be? We’ll let you know as s…

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43 - Table Beer 38:58

5+ y ago38:58

38:58

Table Beer is a fantastically versatile beer. It’s the perfect beer to enjoy at the table with a meal, to have all day if you’re settling in for a long session, or maybe if you’re just warming up and want something to whet your whistle before taking the plunge in the deep end. Lower in abv, this style stays pale, crisp and refreshing whilst keeping…

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4.26 - MEAN GIRLS (2004) & Limits 30:26

5+ y ago30:26

30:26

This week our high school season has reached the cultural zenith (no shade: it’s a culturally important film!) of MEAN GIRLS (2004). After some reviews, we talk about meta-commentaries on teenage slang, the refreshing absence of strong male characters, and why this might be a film about leaving the limitations of high school days behind. Next Time …

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42 - Fermentation Variation - Traditional Mead with Simon Claybourn 35:29

5+ y ago35:29

35:29

If you have a hankering for something big, sweet and strong but subtle enough to give delicate floral flavours, then you might have the need for mead. In the second of our "Fermentation Variation" specials, Mike visits mead brewer Simon Claybourn who has not only brewed lots of mead in his time but also knows a lot about bees! We brew a mead, as we…

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41 - London Porter 48:24

5+ y ago48:24

48:24

A tradition in that there London for hundreds of years Porter was designed to be dark, rich, and yet easy going. A good version will let you know you're drinking it without slowing you down. We brew one ourselves and talk about our recipe before trying these other examples: Mike's Old Homebrew - Smoked Porter Meantime - London Porter - https://www.…

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S2E3 - Travel & Getting Started 14:16

5+ y ago14:16

14:16

Finally, some combat! Hex Map Level 1 Table Level 3 Table Level 6 Table Level 10 TableBy KaijuFM

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4.25 - 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (1999) and Fun 34:56

5+ y ago34:56

34:56

Our focus this week is the now 21-year-old (gulp) film, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU. We follow some reviews with some discussion about the iconic status of this film, the multiple (and sometimes surprising!) similarities to Shakespeare, and the fact that it’s sometimes just good fun to put politics aside and — like Kat — enjoy yourself. ( This is a …

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40 - Session Bitters 39:58

5+ y ago39:58

39:58

If you're a fan of easy going beers with a malty edge that you can guzzle by the pint then Session Bitters (or Ordinary Bitters) might be for you. Lower in ABV than other types of Bitter, this traditional English style can hide a lot of subtlety in a very tiny package.By KaijuFM

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Top 5 Of The 2010s 39:46

5+ y ago39:46

39:46

By KaijuFM

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4.24 - THE CRAFT (1996) & Bullying 36:15

5+ y ago36:15

36:15

Our next film in the high school genre is the 1996 horror/comedy/supernatural drama THE CRAFT. After some largely positive reviews, we talk about how this is ultimately a film about knowing your place, while also being a feminist revenge fantasy, and also discuss the way in which this film exists at the confluence of supernatural battles and teenag…

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39 - Self Indulgent Christmas Episode! 31:37

5+ y ago31:37

31:37

In this slightly festive (yearly?) episode, Mike and Cal take a break from brewing and reflect on the past year. We discuss our favourite brews and which beers we learned the most from, as well as taking some time to really appreciate the beers in front of our faces. We try "Holly Cutter" by West Berkshire Brewery, that was featured in episode 34, …