Austin is joined by artist and content creator Hayley Chow to discuss her work with History Undresed on the red carpet for the Dallas International Film Festival. They cover the challenges of working a red carpet, Hayley's work as a film and fashion historian, and her interaction with Warner Bros. executive Michael De Luca at DIFF.History Undressed: https://www.instagram.com/historyundressed/Austin's D Magazine Profile of Hayley: https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2026/03/history-undressed-hayley-chow-dallas-film/

Howdy! This week, Austin's doing something a little different. Instead of bringing a guest on, he's indulging in his worst tendencies and monologuing about Texas industry news and what he's been doing lately. Includes: Thoughts on the 2026 Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF), Mother Mary's box office performance, the new director attached A24's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and more!

Austin is joined by Nadeem, Cindy, and Jade Kassis to discuss their new film, One In A Million, premiering at the Dallas International Film Festival on April 26, 2026. The movie is a faith-based medical drama covering the family's real life experience when Jade was diagnosed with HLH, a rare blood disorder.Austin and the Kassis family talk about what that experience was like for them, why they decided to produce a film about it, and what it took to get this project produced. It's an emotional, heartwarming discussion that touches on the family's faith -- and what's next for them on their journey.Tickets for DIFF Screening: https://thetexastheatre.com/films-and-events/one-in-a-millionSpace Jump: https://www.spacejump.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=search+brand&utm_content=183147468426&utm_term=spacejump&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22786516207&gbraid=0AAAAA_4MJDGVWeAFdCFwodXUMhnONMAwQ&gclid=CjwKCAjw46HPBhAMEiwASZpLRAyJa2fQ-BA2WJJ1Ry2HtTETiUmID0i3LhHHCZHtCub2rMm4b__53hoCPgAQAvD_BwE

Austin is joined by multi-hyphenate Simon Pruitt to discuss Ben Stiller's 1994 Gen X manifesto, Reality Bites, starring Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder. During their chat, they ask the big questions: What happened to Janeane Garofalo's career? Does art have value if it's terrible? Why would anyone choose to cosplay as a peasant at a renaissance festival? Listen to learn the answers to these burning questions - and so much more.Simon Pruitt's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonpruitt?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Zounds Sounds B-Side: https://www.zoundssoundsbside.org/Spacy (Microcinema): https://www.spacydtx.com/

What makes a great movie star? And what makes a great Texas movie star? This week, Austin sits down with cultural critic Cait Kennedy to discuss some of the greatest film actors to come from the Lone Star State. Is Debbie Reynolds' stardom bigger than Texas? Is anyone more deserving than Matthew McConaughey?Tune into this week's episode to find out!And check out Cait's work:Substack: https://simplycinema.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitthemuse/

Austin is joined by the great Benjamin Flaherty to discuss his independent documentary Shuffle, chronicling fraud in the addiction treatment industry. Benjamin shares his experience working alongside people struggling with addiction as someone who went through treatment for alcoholism, what happened after the film won an award at SXSW in 2025, and what it's like to live with a project for 7 years before getting it out into the world.Stop the Shuffle Website: https://www.stoptheshuffle.com/Follow Shuffle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stoptheshuffle?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Austin is joined by filmmaker Josh David Jordan to discuss his 2025 film El Tonto Por Cristo and the roadshow he and his wife and collaborator Jessica Jordan have embarked upon with it in the United States and Europe. Josh shares stories from the set, talks about the lessons he learned from releasing his first film, This World Won't Break, and how they have made El Tonto Por Cristo's screenings feel like an event - with a sense of community, custom merchandise, and newsletters going out to keep people apprised of the film's journey.You can find the ETPC website, including the shop for merchandise, HERE.Register for Josh and Jessica's newsletter HERE.

This week, Austin is joined by Brent and Chris Bolding, the founders of the OK2BX Film Festival, gearing up for its fifth (!!!) outing this year! Launched to honor the memory of Eleanor Bolding, OK2BX serves as a platform for youth filmmakers to showcase their work. The festival focuses on inclusivity and storytelling while providing workshops and college fairs to support aspiring filmmakers. OK2BX Website: https://ok2bx.org/Social Media: OK2BX Foundation & OK2BX Film FestivalSubmissions Page: FilmFreeway

Austin is joined by filmmaker Shaun Michael Colón to talk about Shaun's film Age of Audio, which explores the rise of podcasts and the creative process behind filmmaking. They discuss the challenges faced during production and the strategies used to promote the film. Shaun shares insights on getting notable figures involved (like Ira Glass and Kevin Smith), navigating film festivals, and the importance of self-promotion. The conversation culminates in a reflection on what defines success for a filmmaker.https://www.aoamovie.com/

Austin is joined by Nick to finish their 2025 Awards conversation. They pick their Top 5 films of the year, cover their wild card and honorable mention picks, and generally thirst over Tom Hanks, Sophie Thatcher, Kerry Condon, Michael B. Jordan, and more. Balancing that with occasionally insightful commentary is a challenge, but one the boys are more than happy to tackle.This episode serves as the Season 1 finale of the podcast; Season 2 kicks off soon!