The Discourse

The Discourse

THE DISCOURSE is a film & entertainment podcast breaking down what the world of popular culture is discussing in the moment, hosted by author A. J. Black and author/lecturer Dr. Carl Sweeney. A proud part of the Film Stories Podcast Network: www.filmstories.co.uk

Episodes

March 24, 2025 32 mins
Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2024 for a bonus tier, Carl and Tony revisit YouTube sensation Mr Beast, whose life feels a searing indictment on the world he inhabits. Plus! Godzilla Minus One seemed to be unavailable so they discuss the ephermeral nature of cinema currently. And finally, Drea di Matteo has joined OnlyFans. Around celebrating, th...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2024 for a bonus tier, Tony invites Carl to the seemingly insulting 'Dull Men's Club' as they discuss the growing phenomenon of dull men. Plus! Gen Z are getting Tony's back up, but why? And are they much different from our pair of Millenials? Also! They tackle the growing trend of 'Dadcasting', which they surely mu...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2023 for a bonus tier, Tony and Carl discuss the suggestion all middle-aged men end up a bit like Steve Coogan's comedy character Alan Partridge. Are they? Plus! They discuss films they watched while at school and how important it is to find time for fun in their lives... Host / Editor Tony Black Co-Host Carl Sweene...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this hot stuff of an episode, originally recorded in 2023 for a bonus tier, Tony and Carl discuss the growing prurience around sex scenes in movies, coming (oo er) from unlikely sources. Plus! Leonardo DiCaprio and his age gaps are at work again so they wonder about whether these remain as key in cinema as they once did. And finally, Carl has been thin...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2023 for a bonus tier, Tony and Carl discuss the recent trend of men constantly obsessing about Ancient Rome, which leads to a taxing quiz. Plus! Both guys for some reason decided to watch each content maker on a YouTube rich list, with enlightening but depressing results. And finally, that saucy TV strumpet Naked A...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2023 for a bonus tier, Tony and Carl see what happens when they let Chat GPT write the show, and wonder whether surrendering to the algorithm is worth doing after all. Plus! Tony wrote a piece about the joy of arriving at the cinema to enjoy ads and trailers and works to defend this cinematic experience... Host / Ed...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2019 for an older podcast called Motion Pictures, Tony and Carl in the second of a two-part episode discuss the hero's journey as it relates to Star Wars and The Rise of Skywalker... Host / Editor Tony Black Co-Host Carl Sweeney Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/thediscoursepodcast Follow Tony & Carl: Car...
Mark as Played
Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2019 for an older podcast called Motion Pictures, Tony and Carl in the first of a two-part episode discuss the hero's journey as it relates to Star Wars and The Rise of Skywalker... Host / Editor Tony Black Co-Host Carl Sweeney Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/thediscoursepodcast Follow Tony & Carl: Carl...
Mark as Played
Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2023 for a bonus tier, Tony and Carl talk numerous topics including the controversial right wing picture Sound of Freedom, plus how men engage with friends which turns into some unlikely therapy for one of the duo... Host / Editor Tony Black Co-Host Carl Sweeney Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/thediscou...
Mark as Played
Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2023 for a bonus tier, Tony and Carl talk numerous topics including watching Open House: The Great Sex Experiment, seeing Bruce Springsteen live and why your local library remains so important... Host / Editor Tony Black Co-Host Carl Sweeney Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/thediscoursepodcast Follow Ton...
Mark as Played
Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2023 for a bonus tier, Tony and Carl talk numerous topics including why Steven Spielberg is editing E.T., the decline of physical media and enjoying what you own, Taika Waititi's Casablanca issues and more... Host / Editor Carl Sweeney Co-Host Tony Black Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/thediscoursepodca...
Mark as Played
Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2023 for a bonus tier, Tony and Carl talk numerous topics including Harrison Ford, Yellowstone, influencers and James Bond... Host / Editor Tony Black Co-Host Carl Sweeney Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/thediscoursepodcast Follow Tony & Carl: Carl: @CKJSweeney on Twitter Tony: https://linktr.ee/ajblac...
Mark as Played
Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2023 for a bonus tier, Tony and Carl talk numerous topics including choice fatigue for TV and movies, the art of the mediocre movie and much more... Host / Editor Tony Black Co-Host Carl Sweeney Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/thediscoursepodcast Follow Tony & Carl: Carl: @CKJSweeney on Twitter Tony: h...
Mark as Played
Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, originally recorded in 2019 for their previous podcast MOTION PICTURES, Tony and Carl discuss the ethics of the anti-hero in cinema, with a specific focus on Todd Phillips' controversial Joker... Host / Editor Tony Black Co-Host Carl Sweeney Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/thediscoursepodcast Follow Tony & Carl: Carl: @CKJSw...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, Tony and Carl are posed a question by friend of show, Raquel Stecher, regarding strange fake quotes from long dead, legendary film critics for Francis Ford Coppola's upcoming Megalopolis. What the dickens is happening here? Plus! Everyone is going nuts about the reunion of Oasis, but are we? Ticket madness, musical nostalgia and perhaps j...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, Tony and Carl explore why disgraced BBC newsreader Huw Edwards is being erased from TV shows and movies, and discuss the wider trend of editing problematic people out of order content. Plus! Tony has finally abandoned the horror show that is X, which warrants some explanation. Should we all being doing it? Or is he holier than thou? Final...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, Carl and Tony discuss the air of scandal surrounding the BBC's flagship entertainment series Strictly Come Dancing - can it weather the storm? Plus! In a Bond Corner segment, they chat a recent announcement that gadgetmaster Q is getting his own detective novel and wonder whether an expanded 007 universe is going too far. Finally, followi...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, Carl and Tony chat about Kevin Costner's Horizon: Chapter One, his Western saga, quite why it failed at the box office, and whether it represents 'real' cinema. Plus! Emma Roberts is not happy we (well, not just us) are mocking films like Madame Web, claiming internet culture is one big pile on. Does she have a point? Or should we be extr...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, Tony and Carl discuss the sad recent passings of New Hollywood legends Donald Sutherland, Robert Towne and Shelley Duvall, wondering if they are now seeing the beginning of the end for that era. Plus! They get into bed with a piece discussing the 21st century's Sexiest Movies to date and quell some serious thirst. Following a voice note f...
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Welcome back to THE DISCOURSE, a podcast about film, entertainment & culture. In this episode, Tony and Carl laser focus on the recent UK General Election, analysing Labour's expected trouncing victory, what it means for the country, how the election was covered and exactly where this thirst for Keir Starmer is suddenly coming from. Plus! Is it coming home? We ponder... New episodes of The Discourse drop Mondays and Wednesdays... H...
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