CinemaPsych Podcast

WHERE PSYCHOLOGY MEETS FILM

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    Episode 105: Defying Gravity is the Self-Actualization Anthem We All Needed — Wicked (2024) with Jill Swirsky

    November 3, 2025 / 0 Comments

    Join Alex and guest host Dr. Jill Swirsky as they enter the world of musical theater yet again, this time traveling to the land of Oz in Wicked (2024)! The film is an adaptation of the Broadway play, which was an adaptation of the novel by Gregory Maguire. We follow Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, the eventual Wicked Witch of the West, on her journey as a child and young adult. Along the way, she learns about her true magical abilities but ultimately becomes the villain of Oz when she uncovers a terrible secret. Along for the ride is Ariana Grande’s Glinda (Galinda at the start!),…

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    Alex Swan
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    Episode 069: The Doc with Staged Wilderness and Cultural Missteps—Nanook of the North (1922) with Phil Duncan

    September 18, 2023 / 0 Comments

    Join Alex and guest host Dr. Phil Duncan as they discuss cinema’s first documentary, Nanook of the North (1922), which was actually the second filming of said documentary! Dr. Duncan is a cinema studies professor and documentarian filmmaker, so he comes with receipts about how this documentary is more like a docudrama, with behind-the-scenes drama and some piping hot tea about the filmmaker, Robert Flaherty.

    Check out his documentary, Mississippi Mud: The Natural History of the Blues

    Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We’d love to hear from you!…

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    Alex Swan
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    Episode 043: A Disney Version of a Discussion on Racial Prejudice—Remember the Titans (2000) with Wind Goodfriend

    February 7, 2022 / 0 Comments

    Join Alex and returning guest host Dr. Wind Goodfriend in a discussion of the psychological concepts in the uplifting but superficial film, Remember the Titans (2000)! They discuss whether the discussion and commentary in this “Based on a True Story” story holds up in our modern discussion on prejudice and race, dive deep into the Allport theory of contact and cooperation and the Sherif Robbers Cave field experiment, and finally chat about the real life events surrounding this story versus the film’s creative license. But, football? LEFT SIDE… STRONG SIDE!

    Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com…

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    Alex Swan
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    Episode 038: Men Can Get Really Angry! 12 Angry Men (1957 & 1997) with Jordan Wagge & Jason Spiegelman

    October 4, 2021 / 1 Comment

    Join Alex and returning guest hosts Dr. Jordan Wagge and Jason Spiegelman as the three dissect and discuss the two major American versions of the stage play and short story 12 Angry Men! The first major release was in 1957, written and directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Henry Fonda. The second, made-for-TV movie, was released in 1997, and starred several great actors, including John Lemmon, William Peterson, James Gandolfini, Mykelti Williams, Tony Danza, and the venerable George C. Scott. We explore social influence, persuasion, racism and prejudice, confirmation bias, and toxic masculinity. Wouldn’t this be a better scenario if it were 12 Angry People, instead?…

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    Alex Swan
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    Episode 037: This Film is One Giant Racist and Sexist Fest! Crash (2004) with Karenna Malavanti

    September 13, 2021 / 0 Comments

    Join Alex and guest host Dr. Karenna Malavanti in a discussion of the various psychological concepts in the wildly controversial film, Crash (2004)! It’s controversial because even writer-director Paul Haggis doesn’t think it should have won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Oh, and the fact that each scene or connected vignette features truly awful human beings! But we wade into the controversy and discuss racism, sexism, prejudice, and stereotypes… so *crash* into us!

    Follow Karenna on Twitter: @KMalavanti

    Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com) or on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We’d love to hear from you!…

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    Alex Swan
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    Episode 008: Don’t Make Me Spray You With My Fox Repellent! Zootopia (2016) with Justine Egan-Kunicki

    January 13, 2020 / 0 Comments

    Join Alex and Justine Egan-Kunicki in a discussion of the psychological concepts Disney’s animated jaunt Zootopia (2016). The voice roles are Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, and many others. It’s like Disney’s attempt to make up for all the really bad stuff it made in the mid-20th century!

    Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com), on Facebook (@CinPsyPod). We’d love to hear from you!

    Don’t forget to check out our Paypal links to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on!

    Legal stuff:
    1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C.…

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    Alex Swan

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