Tom Needham’s Podcast/Radio Shows on Facebook

Marvel’s Black Widow director, Cate Shortland, Talks Somersault on SOUNDS OF FIlM Filmmaker Cate Shortland, known to many audiences for directing Marvel’s Black Widow, first drew international attention with her debut feature Somersault. In this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham welcomes Shortland to discuss the newly restored 4K release of the film, a visually haunting and emotionally intimate coming-of-age story set in the snowy landscapes of Australia. The film stars Abbie Cornish in a breakthrough role as Heidi, a vulnerable teenager searching for connection and belonging, alongside Sam Worthington in one of his earliest major screen performances. Set in the resort town of Jindabyne, Somersault explores themes of loneliness, desire, and the complicated path toward self-understanding. The stark winter setting and naturalistic style helped establish Shortland as a filmmaker with a distinctive visual voice and a deep sensitivity to character. The film remains an important early

The Weather Underground’s Bill Ayers on a CLASSIC SOUNDS OF FILM Podcast!

Jeff Gibbs, director of MICHAEL MOORE PRESENTS: PLANET OF THE HUMANS, on a Classic SOUNDS OF FILM

Sook-Yin Lee Talks PAYING FOR IT & Chester Brown on THE SOUNDS OF FILM In this episode of Sounds of Film, Tom Needham sits down with Sook-Yin Lee, the director and co-writer of PAYING FOR IT, to discuss her daring live-action adaptation of Chester Brown’s acclaimed graphic novel. The film tells the story of an introverted cartoonist who, when his long-term girlfriend wants to redefine their relationship, begins seeing sex workers and discovers a new kind of intimacy. Combining humor, emotional depth, and intelligence, it challenges conventional ideas of love, non-monogamy, and human connection, while bringing underground comic culture to vivid life on screen. PAYING FOR IT features standout performances from Dan Beirne, Emily Lê, and Andrea Werhun, with cinematography by Emmy Award-winner Gayle Ye, production design by Olivia D’Oliveira, and an original score co-composed by Dylan Gamble and Lee herself. Chester Brown’s artwork is woven throughout the film, giving

DEEPFAKING SAM ALTMAN with Adam Bhala Lough on THE SOUNDS OF FILM In this episode of Sounds of Film, Tom Needham speaks with Emmy-nominated filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough about his bold, provocative, and darkly funny new documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman. When Lough is unable to secure an interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, he takes a radical turn—building an AI version of Altman using publicly available data and cutting-edge technology. The result is “SamBot,” an artificial co-director that becomes both collaborator and mirror, reflecting Lough’s own fears, ambitions, and blind spots. Blending investigative journalism, satire, and deeply personal reflection, Deepfaking Sam Altman explores our culture’s growing obsession with simulation, power, and connection in the digital age. In the conversation, Lough discusses the ethics and legal complexities of deepfakes, the emotional experience of bonding with an AI, the blurred lines between parody and responsibility, and what it means to be human

Remembering Scott Adams — creator of Dilbert, host of Real Coffee with Scott Adams, and an early champion of The Sounds of Film.

He generously joined us when the show was just getting started, and those conversations about the simulation, his books, and big ideas will always be special.

Muppet Christmas Carol & Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas: Paul Williams on a CLASSIC SOUNDS OF FILM This week on a Classic SOUNDS OF FILM, Tom Needham welcomes legendary singer-songwriter, actor, and recovery advocate Paul Williams for an in-depth conversation about his extraordinary career and his work with Jim Henson’s Muppets. Williams, whose iconic songs include “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Evergreen,” “An Old Fashioned Love Song,” and “The Rainbow Connection,” shares stories from his decades in music, film, and television. The conversation highlights Williams’ timeless contributions to the Muppets universe, with a special focus on The Muppet Christmas Carol and the beloved holiday classic Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. Originally broadcast on HBO in 1977 and nominated for four Emmy Awards, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas features Williams’ music performed by an all-puppet cast of woodland creatures. He also discusses his CD collection of music from the special and

THE LAST 600 METERS: Michael Pack’s Gripping Documentary About the Iraq War on THE SOUNDS OF FILM On this episode of Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Michael Pack, director and producer of The Last 600 Meters, a compelling look at two of the deadliest battles of the Iraq War told through the firsthand testimony of the Marines and soldiers who fought them. The conversation explores Pack’s approach to documentary storytelling, the challenges of capturing the realities of modern combat, and the enduring relevance of this film in today’s world. The Sounds of Film podcast grew out of Tom Needham’s long-running radio show of the same name, dedicated to in-depth conversations about cinema, music, culture, and ideas. Over the years, the program has featured a remarkable range of guests from the worlds of film, television, music, literature, and activism, including Alexander Payne, D.A. Pennebaker, and

Remembering Rob Reiner and the wonderful music from his movies featured on the Sounds of Film over the years.