Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

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Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Welcome To The Party Pal / Osiris Media

155 episodes

2 weeks ago

Welcome to the Party Pal is the mind-bending film and television podcast you didn’t know you needed. Hosted by Mitch Lucas (filmmaker) and Michael Shields (writer/editor), WTTPP is a celebration of the art of cinema and filmmaking, where movies and television shows are meticulously dissected and analyzed to evaluate their grandeur (or, conversely when necessary, lament their shortcomings). Guests will include the filmmakers and industry insiders that craft the works of art that inhabit the current zeitgeist. All spoilers, all the time...listeners be warned!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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All content for Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed! is the property of Welcome To The Party Pal / Osiris Media and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Welcome to the Party Pal is the mind-bending film and television podcast you didn’t know you needed. Hosted by Mitch Lucas (filmmaker) and Michael Shields (writer/editor), WTTPP is a celebration of the art of cinema and filmmaking, where movies and television shows are meticulously dissected and analyzed to evaluate their grandeur (or, conversely when necessary, lament their shortcomings). Guests will include the filmmakers and industry insiders that craft the works of art that inhabit the current zeitgeist. All spoilers, all the time...listeners be warned!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...

Episodes (20/155)

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 154: Task

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal journeys to Delaware County, Pennsylvania to celebrate the crime drama, HBO hit Task, created and written by Brad Ingelsby. It stars Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Fabien Frankel, countless bottles of Yuengling, hoagies, and the Dark Hearts. In it, Philadelphia-based FBI agent Tom Brandis is put in charge of a task force investigating a string of violent robberies against stash houses run by outlaw motorcycle gangs. Join in on an episode that tips its Eagles hat to two of the best acting performances of the year, and an unforgettable season of television.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 weeks ago

50 minutes 37 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 153: Alien Earth

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates Alien : Earth, the FX / Hulu television series created by Noah Hawley. It is the first television series in the Alien franchise and is set two years before the events of the 1979 film Alien. The series stars Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rhysadle, and Timothy Olyphant. In this episode hosts Michael Shields and Douglas Grant dissect the fascinating, xenomorph-heavy first season, one that gifted the world with the beloved parasitic eye-alien, Species 64.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 month ago

38 minutes 41 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 152: Welcome To The Party Pal — The Best Movies of The 21st Century

Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates the best movies of the 21st century in an episode based on The New York Times list of The Best Movies of the 21 Century. Join in as hosts Michael Shields and Ryan O' Connell evaluate the quality of the list and also offer their picks for the ten best films of the last 25 years, a decade and a half brimming with brilliant filmmaking.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 months ago

42 minutes 24 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 151: The Bear, Season 4

Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates the fourth season of the comedy-drama television series The Bear which premiered with all 10 episodes on June 25, 2025, on FX on Hulu. Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo return as showrunners for the season, and Jeremy Allen White reprises his role as Carmy Berzatto, an award-winning chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to manage the chaotic kitchen at his deceased brother's sandwich shop. Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, Matty Matheson, and Edwin Lee Gibson return from the previous season as the supporting cast. Join in as hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan highlight why the fourth season of The Bear finds Storer and Co. at the top of their game.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 months ago

41 minutes 56 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 150: Mountainhead

Welcome To The Party Pal examines the timely satirical comedy-drama television film Mountainhead, written and directed by Jesse Armstrong in his directorial debut, and starring Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef. The film follows four billionaire friends on a secluded weekend retreat as the world goes through major turmoil. In this episode co-hosts Michael Shields and Ryan O'Connell dig into Jesse Armstrong's unique brand of satire, how Mountainhead distressingly mirrors real life, what type of films work best on the small screen, and a great deal more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 months ago

43 minutes 25 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 149: The Last of Us, Season 2

Welcome To The Party Pal delves into the the second season of the post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us, the HBO series based on the video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog. The season is set twenty-five years into a pandemic caused by a mass fungal infection, which causes its hosts to transform into zombie-like creatures and collapses society. The season stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, and Young Mazino. In this episode hosts Michael Shields and Ryan O'Connell lay out the good, the bad, and the ugly components of the polarizing second season in an episode that displays how little the hosts of WTTPP know about modern day video games.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 months ago

51 minutes 44 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 148: Andor, Season 2

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates the second season of Andror, the American science fiction political spy thriller drama television series created by Tony Gilroy for Disney+. It is part of the Star Wars franchise and a prequel to the film Rogue One (2016), which itself is a prequel to the original Star Wars film (1977). The series follows thief-turned-rebel spy Cassian Andor during the five years that lead to the events of the two films, exploring how he becomes radicalized against the Galactic Empire and how the wider Rebel Alliance is formed. Diego Luna reprises his role as Cassian Andor from Rogue One and serves as an executive producer. The series also stars Adria Arjona, Stellan Skarsgård, Ben Mendelsohn, Benjamin Bratt, and Alan Tudyk. In this episode co-hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan explain why they believe this series is an absolute triumph from its inception to its final, heart-wrenching moments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 months ago

51 minutes 5 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 147: The Righteous Gemstones & The Art of the Series Finale

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates the final season, and in particular the concluding episode, of The Righteous Gemstones, the comedy-drama television series created by Danny McBride. The series follows a famous and dysfunctional family of televangelists. McBride also stars in the series, alongside Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, and John Goodman. The series concluded on May 4, 2025, after airing four seasons and 36 episodes, and we here at Welcome To The Party Pal contest that McBride & Co. tremendously stuck the landing. As such, following a breakdown of how the Gemstones series was brought home with finesse, co-hosts Michael Shields and Ryan O'Connell share their picks for the shows that had the most successful series finales in television history.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 months ago

52 minutes 8 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 146: Severance, Season Two

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates the long awaited-second season of the science fiction psychological thriller television series Severance, created by Dan Erickson and executive produced and primarily directed by Ben Stiller. It stars Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, and Patricia Arquette. The series follows employees at the biotechnology corporation Lumon Industries that have undergone "severance" — a medical procedure that ensures they retain no memories of the outside world while at work, and have no recollection of their job once they leave. This results in two distinct personalities for each employee: the "innie," who exists solely within Lumon, and the "outie," who lives their personal life outside of work. Join in as hosts Michael Shields and Ryan O’Connell take you into the depths of the MDR department on the Lumon Industries' severed floor to answer all of your pressing questions about the Apple TV+'s smash hit.

Timestamps: Minimal White Lotus & "Guilded" Age of Television talk until 15:08, and the rest all Severance!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 months ago

54 minutes 54 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 145: Anora

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates the comedy-drama film written, directed, produced, and edited by Sean Baker, Anora. It stars Mikey Madison as Anora "Ani" Mikheeva, a stripper from New York who marries the wealthy son of a Russian oligarch. The film led at the 97th Academy Awards, winning five Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Madison), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. Join in as hosts Michael Shields and Ryan O'Connell dissect exactly why Anora cleaned house at this year's Oscars.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 months ago

46 minutes 56 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 144: Paradise

In this episode of Welcome To The Party Pal hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan examine the hype surrounding Paradise, the political thriller television series created by Dan Fogelman and starring Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, and James Marsden. Set in a city-sized underground bunker in Colorado three years after a doomsday event, the series follows United States Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (Sterling L. Brown) as he seeks to discover the truth behind the killing of the President of the United States. As Xavier comes under suspicion for President Bradford's James Marsden) death, he searches for answers about what really happened, and is unsure of whom he can trust as his questions lead to many shocking revelations. Join in on an episode that celebrates a season of television refreshingly brimming with surprises and intrigue episode after episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 months ago

35 minutes 34 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 143: The Brutalist

In this episode of Welcome To The Party Pal hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan dissect The Brutalist, the 2024 epic period drama film directed and produced by Brady Corbet. It stars Adrien Brody as a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor who emigrates to the United States, where he struggles to achieve the American Dream until a wealthy client changes his life. The cast also features Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, Isaach de Bankolé, and Alessandro Nivola. Join in on an episode that celebrates a sweeping epic of a film brimming with brilliant production design, a captivating score, and an exceedingly talented cast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 months ago

37 minutes 13 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 142: American Primeval

In this episode of Welcome To The Party Pal hosts Michael Shields and Douglas Grant break down American Primeval, the American Western miniseries created and written by Mark L. Smith and directed by Peter Berg. Starring Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin, the series is set in 1857 during the Utah War and examines the fight to gain control of the American West and the violent clash between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and cultures in the Utah Territory, centering on the events surrounding the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Join in on an episode that tips its cowboy hat to captivating storytelling, a jaw dropping performance by Shea Whigham, and a surprisingly tender series conclusion, all while giving birth to what will forever be known as the "Revenant-Verse."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 months ago

32 minutes 10 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 141: The 10 Best Television Shows of 2024

In this episode of Welcome To The Party Pal hosts Michael Shields and Ryan O’ Connell share their choices for the best television shows of 2024. Join in as they take you to feudal Japan, the coast of Italy in the 1960s, the gritty streets of Gotham amid a burgeoning gang war, to Northern Ireland during The Troubles, and beyond— in a celebration of the television shows that entertained and enlivened our lives in 2024.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 months ago

56 minutes 14 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 140: Say Nothing

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates Say Nothing, the historical drama limited series created by Josh Zetumer for Disney+, produced by FX Productions. Detailing four generations in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, it is an adaptation of the 2018 book by Patrick Radden Keefe. The series follows the lives of people growing up in Belfast in the 1970s, 80s and 90s during The Troubles, as well as their involvement in the Provisional Irish Republican Army, and inquiries into the Disappeared and particularly the murder of Jean McConville. Join in as hosts Michael Shields and Ryan O'Connell tip their hat to a show they both agree is "perfect."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11 months ago

44 minutes 30 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 139: The Penguin

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates The Penguin, the crime drama television miniseries developed by Lauren LeFranc for HBO. Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, it is a spin-off from 2022's The Batman that explores Oz Cobb's rise to power in Gotham City's criminal underworld after the events of that film. LeFranc serves as the showrunner of the series and the series stars Colin Farrell as Oz, reprising his role from The Batman, alongside Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Clancy Brown, Michael Kelly, and Mark Strong, amongst many others. In this episode hosts Michael Shields, Ryan O' Connell, and Douglas Grant converse about the terrific acting in the season (particularly Milioti!), how LeFranc and company perfectly bridged the gap between television and movies, what the series means for the future of The Batman franchise, and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11 months ago

1 hour 3 minutes 3 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 138: The Sympathizer

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal features a deep dive into HBO's The Sympathizer, the historical black comedy drama miniseries based on the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen. The series was created by co-showrunners Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, with Park directing the first three episodes. The series is based on the story of the Captain, a North Vietnam plant in the South Vietnam army. He is forced to flee to the United States with his general near the end of the Vietnam War. While living within a community of South Vietnamese refugees, he continues to secretly spy on the community and report back to the Viet Cong, struggling between his original loyalties and his new life. Join in as hosts Michael Shields and Douglas Grant take you on a journey to Saigon, then to Los Angeles, and back again!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 year ago

33 minutes 52 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 137: House of the Dragon Season Two, Part Two

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal once again celebrates the second season of House of The Dragon, the television series created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. A prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019), House of the Dragon is based on parts of Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood where the series begins about 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms are united by the Targaryen conquest, nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, and 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen. Featuring an ensemble cast, the show portrays the events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen, a devastating war of succession known as the “Dance of the Dragons.” In this episode, hosts Michael Shields and Ryan O'Connell discuss the jump in quality from Season One to Season Two, the critiques revolving around the Season Finale, what their hopes are for the next season, and so much more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 year ago

50 minutes 18 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 136: House of the Dragon, Season 2 w/ The GOT Guru

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates the second season of House of The Dragon, the television series created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. A prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019), House of the Dragon is based on parts of Martin's 2018 book Fire & Blood where the series begins about 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms are united by the Targaryen conquest, nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, and 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen. Featuring an ensemble cast, the show portrays the events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen, a devastating war of succession known as the "Dance of the Dragons." In this episode, the main themes and points of action of the riveting Dragon-laden second season are dissected thoroughly, with the help of a special guest, a person so knowledgeable in the ways of Westeros he is known in many circles as simply The GOT Guru (Geoffrey Golia).

The article referenced in the podcast at Across The Margin with the GOT Guru can be read here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 year ago

59 minutes 44 seconds

Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

Episode 135: Dark Matter

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal journeys through the multiverse in a celebration of Dark Matter, the science fiction Apple-TV series created by Blake Crouch, based on his 2016 novel of the same name. In it, a man is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could've lived, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from a most terrifying foe: himself. Dark Matter stars Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Oakes Fegley, Dayo Okeniyi, and Amanda Brugel. Join in as hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan explore universe after universe, and copy after copy of an embattled main character, in a examination of one of the best science fiction television shows of 2024.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 year ago

46 minutes 7 seconds