The Film Hobbyist

The Film Hobbyist

Join your host Lydia in her garret room and enjoy a cozy collection of essays about movies and ideas. Movies have been Lydia’s hobby since she began pouring over the film pullout section of the Friday paper as a 10-year-old. She’s kept up with weekly releases and reviews ever since, building up an encyclopedic knowledge of film trivia and a reputation for reliable recommendations to friends and family. With a background in creative writing and experience in performing, Lydia is delighted to share her passion for film.

Episodes

April 9, 2026 25 mins

Grab your cardigan and a cup of tea, and join Lydia on her front porch to discover Rian Johnson's career spanning love of subversion and irony, why it makes him such a good master of mystery, and how Lydia was surprised by how he chose to tackle a thorny subject in his most recent film.

Attributions:

  • Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domai...
Listen
Mark as Played

As the world longs for the warmth of spring, join Lydia in her attic room for a discussion of one of her favorite films, how it echoes parts of her growing up, fills out the adaptation with historical context, and captures the melancholy inherent in maturity.

Attributions:

  • Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.
  • Closing music: Beautiful C...
Listen
Mark as Played
February 26, 2026 21 mins

Today, Lydia celebrates the first year of The Film Hobbyist by taking some time to answer frequently asked questions about the attic, how she picks films, and what she hopes to accomplish in the next year.

https://bsky.app/profile/thefilmhobbyist.bsky.social

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

As the heaps of snow persist outside, join Lydia for a discussion of hotly debated Oscar winners and the value of rage in humanization.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

January is a time for new beginnings. Come celebrate with Lydia as she discusses the beginning of a beloved genre and the fascinating deviations in its origin.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played
December 25, 2025 22 mins

Lydia has invited you to spend a bit of the holidays with her, talking about the Christmas masterpiece Klaus, why it makes her cry, and how it misstates its own theme.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

In the midst of bone-chilling weather, come sit under a granny square blanket, clutching a warm mug of tea as Lydia talks about the documentary My Mom Jayne, the things that stole Jayne Mansfield's humanity, and how director Mariska Hargitay restores it.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

Escape the daily grind of the workweek by joining Lydia in her attic room to discuss Mike Judge's 1999 film Office Space through a generation lens. As silly as generational cohorts are, they do offer some insight into changing attitudes toward work and provide some ironies in what remains the same.

Attributions:

  • Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the ...
Listen
Mark as Played

On this chilly fall day, come visit Lydia in her attic room to talk movies with a guest about James Gunn's Superman, a movie they both really like, and the flaw that they cannot unsee.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

It's Spooky Season! As the leaves drizzle down in Lydia's backyard, come discover the origins of Film Noir and its relationship to Gothic storytelling, all through the lens of Billy Wilder's 1950 masterpiece.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

Come join Lydia for a conversation about a nineteenth century novel and two of its film adaptations, particularly the differences between the protagonists and their romances, and why Michael Mann's Cora Munro rules.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played
August 21, 2025 27 mins

Come visit Lydia's attic room to gaze at her new bookshelf while she analyzes the many ways the poorly reviewed early 2000s comedy Uptown Girls is actually an intentionally crafted modern fairytale.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

Sit in front of a box fan on a hot day while Lydia explains the existence of the show Andor and what it has to say about the unseen contributions of nameless people.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

Come flee the July heat by entering Lydia's memories of a chilly British day as she makes her argument for why the very cheaply made, deeply flawed Disney adaptation of Robin Hood might actually be the most accurate depiction of the traditional version of the character.

Attributions:

  • Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.
  • Closing music:...
Listen
Mark as Played

Today, Lydia shares her journey as a writer and craftsperson and how she is inspired and encouraged by 1938's Best Picture winner.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

Curl up on a forest green futon for a conversation about what Lydia finds her coziest genre (action movies) and how this Netflix action flick both fulfills audience expectations and challenges the foundations of the genre.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

Grab a cup of coffee and sit with Lydia as she discusses a truly iconic movie poster film, one that she finds to be both a valuable character study and a movie she doesn't particularly like.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

You probably haven't seen this movie. That's ok. Come visit Lydia anyway as she talks about her experience with a particular place and culture, and how it is rarely portrayed truthfully and authentically in film and television.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

On this chilly, Spring day, join Lydia in a nook of her attic room to discuss Wicked: Part 1, The Wizard of Oz, and their relationship to the collective inheritance of story and art called the public domain.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

Lydia welcomes you to her attic room to talk about her love for Raiders of the Lost Ark. Come curl up under a granny square blanket and discuss the sublime, the painful origins of the adventure genre, and the excellence of Marion Ravenwood.

Attributions:

Listen
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Fudd Around And Find Out

    UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    Betrayal Season 5

    Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices