Behind the Slate

Welcome everyone!

Join host, Aaron Strand, as we take a historical deep dive into the life and work of cinema's greatest directors.

We skip across time, genre, and nationality to explore the greatest and wildest stories from the history of film, and use the lives of these extraordinary artists to examine the broader historical context that shaped their art.

Think 'Hardcore History' meets 'You Must Remember This'.

Between our main story episodes, we will be releasing 'One-Reelers'. These shorter episodes will feature interviews with scholars, artists and fellow movie-lovers, listener emails, or shorter historical anecdotes.

Whether you're a hardcore cinephile, a history nerd, or just someone who likes a good story, you'll love these gripping tales about the art and artists that have shaped and defined our modern world!

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

Last refreshed: July 28th, 2025 at 5:40 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

6. Charlie Chaplin Part 4 - The Irrelevant Master

With the advent of sound in movies, Chaplin seemed to be fading into irrelevance. Instead, he comes back with his three greatest masterpieces, 'City Lights', 'Modern Times' and 'The Great Dictator'. Host Aaron Strand gives a full account of Chaplin's life including his marriage to Paulette Goddard, his bromance with Winston Churchill and his war against Adolf Hitler. Email us: behindtheslatepod@gmail.com Instagram: @behindtheslatepod TikTok: @behindtheslatepod YouTube: @behindtheslatepodcast Joi...

Dec 16, 2022•2 hr 30 min

5. The Hopeful Art with Tara Ochs

Aaron speaks with actor, writer, comedian and teacher Tara Ochs on the nature and theory of comedy. We discuss why farts are funny, how the belief that comedians need to be sad is a complete myth, the intricacies and problems of cancel culture in both modern and historical contexts, and the history of female comedians. Tara gives her insights on why Chaplin's work holds up 100 years later and shares her belief that comedy is a 'hopeful' art that promises increased inclusion, playfulness and joy ...

Dec 02, 2022•1 hr 13 min

4. Charlie Chaplin Part 3 - One True Love

Chaplin pushes the limits of art, business, politics and love leaving a trail of great art and broken lives in his wake. Email us: behindtheslatepod@gmail.com Instagram: @behindtheslatepod TikTok: @behindtheslatepod YouTube: @behindtheslatepodcast Join our weekly film club: https://www.instagram.com/arroyofilmclub Producer: Greg Kleinschmidt Photography: Lola Scott Sources: ‘Chaplin His Life and Art’ by David Robinson 'Chaplin: A Life’ by Stephen Weissman ‘Charlie Chaplin and His Times’ by Kenne...

Nov 25, 2022•2 hr 56 min

3. Charlie Chaplin Part 2 - The World's Clown

Chaplin goes to Hollywood where he learns the tricks of the trade from film comedy pioneer Mack Sennett. As World War I rages, he becomes the motion picture world's first superstar, and the highest paid person on the planet. As his popularity grows, Chaplin continues to experiment and transitions from bawdy slapstick to high-minded comedy, with a smile and a tear. Email us: behindtheslatepod@gmail.com Instagram: @behindtheslatepod TikTok: @behindtheslatepod YouTube: @behindtheslatepodcast Join o...

Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 51 min

2. An Attitude of Gratitude

One-reelers are the laid back alternative to the research heavy episodes of Behind the Slate. On this episode, Aaron reflects on an incredible first week since the BTS premiere . He reads several emails and shares extra Chaplin stories that were cut from episode 1, reflects on the importance of history when viewing film, relates the pressures of drinking as a performing artist and shares a touching listener story about watching a Chaplin film with their dying mother. Email us: behindtheslatepod@...

Nov 11, 2022•28 min

1. Charlie Chaplin Part 1 - The Boy from East Lane

In this first episode, host Aaron Strand takes us to Victorian London to meet a little boy named Charles Spencer Chaplin. His father was an alcoholic singer, and his mother was in and out of the insane asylum. Chaplin overcame these extraordinary circumstances, as well as repeated failures on and off the stage, finally becoming a well respected slapstick comedian... that's when Hollywood called. Email us: behindtheslatepod@gmail.com Instagram: @behindtheslatepod TikTok: @behindtheslatepod YouTub...

Nov 04, 2022•1 hr 15 min

TRAILER: Interview with Aaron Strand

Greg Kleinschmidt and Jacqueline Postajian of the podcast 'Scene and Heard' sit down with Aaron Strand to talk about the new film history podcast, 'Behind the Slate'. Email us: behindtheslatepod@gmail.com Instagram: @behindtheslatepod TikTok: @behindtheslatepod YouTube: @behindtheslatepodcast Join our weekly film club: https://www.instagram.com/arroyofilmclub Producer: Greg Kleinschmidt Photography: Lola Scott Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Oct 07, 2022•24 min

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