Welcome back to The Film Library, a Kanopy podcast where we dig up hidden gems, cult comedies, and laugh-out-loud classics — no film degree required. This week, hosts Kristy Puchko (Entertainment Editor at Mashable) and Jeff Rauseo (film fan, VHS romantic, and proud meme connoisseur) dive headfirst into the wonderfully weird world of comedy. From Buster Keaton’s silent-era stunts in Sherlock Jr. and a madcap treasure hunt in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World to DIY VHS spoofs in Be Kind Rewind, cu...
Jun 27, 2025•37 min
Welcome back to The Film Library, a Kanopy podcast where we spotlight hidden gems, cult favorites, and emotional deep cuts. No film degree required. This week, hosts Kristy Puchko (Entertainment Editor at Mashable) and Jeff Rauseo (film lover and proud binge-watcher of all things bold and brilliant) celebrate Pride Month with a curated tour through Kanopy’s LGBTQ+ collection. From chaotic bisexual comedies and queer rodeo romances to radical trans storytelling and canon-busting classics, Kristy ...
Jun 13, 2025•38 min
Welcome back to The Film Library, a Kanopy podcast where we spotlight hidden gems, cult favorites, and emotional deep cuts. No film degree required. This week, hosts Kristy Puchko (Entertainment Editor at Mashable) and Jeff Rauseo (true crime junkie and twist-ending evangelist) dive into the shadowy world of mysteries and thrillers. From Jake Gyllenhaal’s chilling ambition in Nightcrawler to Nicolas Cage’s quiet heartbreak in Pig and his unhinged menace in Longlegs, Kristy and Jeff share the Kan...
May 23, 2025•38 min
Welcome back to The Film Library, a Kanopy podcast where we spotlight hidden gems, cult favorites, and emotional deep cuts. No film degree required. This week, hosts Kristy Puchko (Entertainment Editor at Mashable) and Jeff Rauseo (horror devotee and movie-night traditionalist) take on Mother’s Day at the Movies, celebrating all the ways motherhood shows up on screen, from heartwarming to horrifying. Kristy and Jeff swap picks from across the Kanopy catalog, highlighting maternal icons, complica...
May 09, 2025•37 min
Welcome back to The Film Library, a Kanopy podcast where we celebrate incredible films, hidden gems, and iconic performances - all streaming free with your library card. This week, hosts Kristy Puchko (Entertainment Editor at Mashable) and Jeff Rauseo (film fanatic and Letterboxd completionist) dive into the theme of “Acting in April,” spotlighting legendary actors, jaw-dropping performances, and award snubs that still sting. From Cher and Cage’s chaotic romance in Moonstruck to Willem Dafoe’s c...
Apr 25, 2025•37 min
Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Library, a podcast from Kanopy where we explore great films, hidden gems, and must-watch classics—all available to stream free with your library card. In this kickoff episode, new hosts Kristy Puchko (Entertainment Editor at Mashable) and Jeff Rauseo (movie lover, collector, and social media creator) introduce themselves the only way true cinephiles can: by sharing five films that define their taste. From genre-bending horror and high-stakes heists to iconic rom-c...
Apr 25, 2025•29 min
This week The Film Library jumps into the shadowy world of film noir. Your hosts Alonso Duralde and Daniel Thompson, are joined by the Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic and chair of the National Society of Film Critics, Justin Chang. Together they unravel the intricate layers of this timeless genre. From the raw, hard-boiled classics like "DOA" and "Detour" to the evocative international contributions seen in films like "Breathless" and "Burning," film noir is more than just a genre—it's a mood...
Jul 12, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This week hosts Alonso Duralde and Daniel Thompson are joined by actor and filmmaker Alex Winter. Well known for his character-driven and emotional documentaries, Alex shares his journey from acting to NYU film student to acclaimed documentarian, dissecting the societal impact of technology on marginalized groups. Alex discusses his pivotal works "Deep Web" and "The YouTube Effect," revealing how he adapts stories to serve their emotional arcs and the complexities of managing vast amounts of foo...
Jul 05, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this episode of The Film Library, hosts Daniel Thompson and Alonso Duralde talk with talented actor and director Josh Ruben to discuss his creative inspirations and the intentional social commentary in his horror projects, emphasizing the power of the outsider narrative. Josh discusses his influences from the musical genius of Jerry Goldsmith along with Danny Elfman's iconic Catwoman theme from the Batman series, and how these thoughts and ideas seep into his work. He also reveals the sci-fi ...
Jun 28, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Join hosts Alonso Duralde and Daniel Thompson as they sit down with filmmaker Cheryl Dunye, best known for her trailblazing film "The Watermelon Woman." As a graduate from Temple University, Cheryl sought to define her identity as a black lesbian in cinema, only to realize the glaring lack of representation. This realization fueled her to create a film that blends her passion for cinema, her personal identity, and her vibrant community. Cheryl explores how "The Watermelon Woman" aimed to empower...
Jun 21, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Welcome to Episode 4 of The Film Library where we examine the world of international cinema through the lens of acclaimed filmmaker Frances Lee. Join our hosts Alonso Duralde and Daniel Thompson as they chat with the director behind "God's Own Country" and "Ammonite," and explore his passion for visual storytelling over dialogue—a hallmark of his favorite auteurs, Jacques Audiard and the Dardenne Brothers. In this episode, Francis Lee shares his unique perspective on how rural communities and fa...
Jun 14, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In episode 3 of The Film Library, hosts Alonso Duralde and Daniel Thompson are joined by the acclaimed filmmaker Justin Simien. Known for his groundbreaking works "Dear White People" and "Bad Hair," Justin reflects on his career and shares how his experiences have shaped his perspective on filmmaking and his future path. They examine the history and significance of black cinema, exploring its integral role in the broader cinematic landscape. Justin highlights the exceptional work of emerging bla...
Jun 07, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Welcome to another episode of The Film Library: A Kanopy Podcast! On this episode hosts Alonso Duralde and Daniel Thompson jump into the fascinating world of page-to-screen adaptations with our esteemed guest, Kristen Lopez, author of "But Have You Read the Book?: 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films." They explore the intricate process of transforming beloved books into films. Discover the political and religious themes often omitted in adaptations, the impact of the Production Cod...
Jun 07, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to the inaugural episode of "The Film Library," presented by Kanopy. Your passion for film is about to meet its greatest ally - your library card. Our first special guest - award-winning comedian Patton Oswalt - joins hosts Alonso Duralde and Daniel Thompson as they dive into the Kanopy streaming service and explore how it’s revolutionizing access to diverse cinematic experiences. They also discuss the impact of streaming on film accessibility, and reveal some of the hidden gems you can ...
Jun 07, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Kanopy – the no-fee, no-ads streaming service available with a Library card or university login – announces the launch of its new podcast, “The Film Library,” on Friday, June 7, 2024, wherever you get your podcasts. This new podcast is hosted by film buffs Alonso Duralde, chief U.S. film critic of The Film Verdict, and Daniel Thompson, admitted film enthusiast and armchair movie critic. Together, they are setting out to help listeners and viewers navigate Kanopy’s massive collection of diverse, ...
Jun 04, 2024•3 min