Podcast for the New American Century

Hosts Ben and Erik discuss geopolitics, American Empire, and the occasional film. Not your parents' PNAC.

69 - WTEH XXIV: The Devil's Rejects (2005) 11/28/2024

69 - WTEH XXIV: The Devil's Rejects (2005) Happy ThanKKK$giving you hogs <3. Erik is finally back and the serious stuff will be returning soon. In the meantime, here is Ben and Tim sitting down and talking out another film made by an idiosyncratic weirdo who created something incredible that speaks to our hellish current moment and were hated for telling the truth. Next on Watching the End of History: Tim and Ben return to the true muse of the pod, Michael Fassbender as we discuss Justin Kurzel's 2016 film "Assassin's Creed". Followed by: the return of Grim Tones: SOMA (2015, dev. Frictional Games) /episode/index/show/podnac/id/34195745

68 - WTEH XXIII: Challengers (2024)/Infinite Jest (1996)/Tennis as a Sport 10/16/2024

68 - WTEH XXIII: Challengers (2024)/Infinite Jest (1996)/Tennis as a Sport Erik is still gone so the horrors of the past and present will be waiting a little longer! In the meantime, Ben and Tim are lucky enough to be joined by both Molly O'Brien and Chris Wade (And Introducing, Infinite Cast). We tap into their shared expertise of both music and DFW's novel for a freewheeling chat about Luca Guadagnino's tennis love triangle drama Challengers, the total banger score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, David Foster Wallace's tennis magnum opus and plenty about the beautiful game (non-team division) itself. All of that plus Honeyduces, Skyline chili, Joe Jonas, awkward Bowie needledrops, Andre Aggasi's autobiography and the trauma of child sports. Enjoy the extra dessert, vegetables will return next week. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/33491717

67 - WTEH XXII: The Counselor (2013) 10/04/2024

67 - WTEH XXII: The Counselor (2013) Join Tim and Ben during a happier time (before Israel killed Nasrallah) for the conclusion of Ridley Scott Summer. You know the drill, everyone thinks this movie sucks ass but actually we think it's good. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/33323002

66 - Another 9/11 09/11/2024

66 - Another 9/11 Erik, Ben and Tim are all together to celebrate another 9/11 along with the less crazy but still wild three year anniversary of the podcast. Everyone made the mistake of listening to Ben and we wound up watching and talking 2006’s bewildering Death of a President. We wade through an insanely twisty 96 minutes that left all us scratching our heads trying to figure out what the hell this movie is actually supposed to be about. We also talk Syria, Bush era derangement syndrome, Green Day. We marvel at James Urbaniak’s show stealing bit part, do competing W impressions and end with not one but two big announcements about the future of the show. Neither involves us quitting, sorry to the haters and nothing but love for the rest of you xoxo /episode/index/show/podnac/id/33012257

65 - Jawbreaker 09/10/2024

65 - Jawbreaker Welcome to the week of 9/11, and the third anniversary of PNAC pod! As a special treat this week, we're releasing a bit of a prototype episode in which Erik does a solo scene talking about Gary Berntsen's 2005 book, Jawbreaker. This is the first in a rolling series of more book report episodes to come, hopefully each successive entry more streamlined than the last. Check back next week for 1-2 episodes in this same vein that will go a bit more indepth than this one on Patrick Seale's 1991 book, Abu Nidal: A Gun for Hire. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/32990057

64 - Boiling The Frog ft. Séamus Malekafzali 09/02/2024

64 - Boiling The Frog ft. Séamus Malekafzali Ben and Erik are joined all the way from Beiruit by independent journalist Séamus Malekafzali (@seamus_malek) to get a firsthand report of a week where Israel only continues to ramp up regional aggression and murder civilians (and journalists, and humanitarian aid workers). Together, we talk about the twin assassinations by Israel that sparked a response from Hezbollah while Iran continues to leave us all guessing. We also talk Sinwar hiding in women’s clothes (?), Rape Rebellion vets on the Israeli talk show circuit, Judith Miller, polio, and grim future plans for Egypt & Jordan. All that, plus US CENTOM goes looking for love in all the right places. Check out Sèamus’ excellent substack: https://www.seamus-malekafzali.com/ And stay tuned some more fun guests as we celebrate the build up to the 3 (!!) year anniversary of us starting the show. Thanks as always for listening, some exciting news will be coming soon! /episode/index/show/podnac/id/32862797

63 - Dishing, Dashing 08/30/2024

63 - Dishing, Dashing Classico PNAC, the boys get together to spin a yarn about a very cool Saudi businessman with 9/11 ties and some very cool kids and grandkids. This story has everything from interior design to combat sports to Israel and KSA normalizing relations over their love of really bad electronic music. Remember to follow us on Triller! Dan Christensen article on Florida Bulldog: https://www.floridabulldog.org/2017/05/mysterious-saudi-businessman-in-911-puzzle-surfaces-online/ /episode/index/show/podnac/id/32816272

62 - WTEH XXI: Prometheus (2012) 08/23/2024

62 - WTEH XXI: Prometheus (2012) We're not exactly sure how this happened, but it seems like most of twitter decided to watch Prometheus at the same time Ben and Tim decided to do an episode about it while Erik was away. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/32707527

61 - Some Current Events 08/23/2024

61 - Some Current Events Ben and Erik are back to discuss a round-up of best remembered current events from the last 3 weeks as the boys have been away. We actually buckled down and did our homework to discuss the KSM et al. Gitmo trial/plea deal/reversal story starring our favorite Defense Secretary. Shouts out to Carol Rosenberg for her articles covering the trial and all the work she does from Gitmo. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/32707462

60 - Reconnecting The Dots (8:46-8:54am Part II??) 06/27/2024

60 - Reconnecting The Dots (8:46-8:54am Part II??) What even is time, anyway? Apologies for the choppiness throughout, we were both experiencing connection issues while recording. Super producer Erik is of the belief that he did a good job cleaning it up. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/31916522

59 - WTEH XX: Tár (2022) 06/17/2024

59 - WTEH XX: Tár (2022) Or “The Woman Who Was Cool”. The boys sit down with good friend of the show Gus to remind you that Todd Field invented Big League Chew and also that his movie Tár absolutely rules. We dare to ask “is Cate Blanchette good at conducting?”, spot ghosts, trying to enjoy Monster Hunter, playing the triangle right and “what this movie is actually about?” Watching the End of History will return next along with Hollywood Tim as we tackle another deeply weird Stephen Spielberg/Tom Cruise 00s sci-fi movie. This time though, a movie that is almost as obsessed with 9/11 as our show is: 2005’s War of the Worlds. Transition bits include: Bernstein obsessing over the triangle section in rehearsal: Bernstein lecturing on Mahler 5 from the piano: Bernstein conducting Mahler 5 with Vienna Philharmonic: Jacqueline du Pre playing the Elgar Cello Concerto under Barenboim: /episode/index/show/podnac/id/31765993

58 - Reconnecting the Dots (8:46-8:54am [kinda, not really lol]) 06/12/2024

58 - Reconnecting the Dots (8:46-8:54am [kinda, not really lol]) Oh shit. Oh no. No no no. Oh shit, fuck fuck fuck. Holy fuck, this ain’t good. Ben also formally apologizes to our listening public for repeatedly confusing 747s and 767s. We will do better. Atlantic article referenced: (that URL reads "P...o..m...not Po- you know what, nevermind). Anyway, this should get around any paywalls. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/31719032

Grim Tones - Southland Tales (supplemental materials) 05/24/2024

Grim Tones - Southland Tales (supplemental materials) Tim read an ungodly amount of background material about Southland Tales, so we can consider this a followup to PNAC ep. 23 on Richard Kelly's masterpiece (). /episode/index/show/podnac/id/31459922

57 - Reconnecting The Dots (8:15am - 8:46am part 2) 05/13/2024

57 - Reconnecting The Dots (8:15am - 8:46am part 2) Apologies for our delay in releasing the second part of this episode, we got extradited yet again and lost wifi. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/31276357

Grim Tones - Paycheck (ft. PNAC) 05/01/2024

Grim Tones - Paycheck (ft. PNAC) Ben is off reverse-engineering Baldur's Gate 3 to have even more girlfriends, so Erik and Tim are joined by PD to discuss John Woo's Paycheck. The PKD novel with the girl with the twin in her stomach is indeed Dr. Bloodmoney. The opening music is an excerpt from "Combat Cocktail" by Ville Kaillo from Cruelty Squad, the closing is "Starbucks, Dr. Seussism, and While Your Mac Is Sleeping" by James Ferraro /episode/index/show/podnac/id/31073768

56 - Reconnecting the Dots (8:15 AM - 8:46 AM) 04/20/2024

56 - Reconnecting the Dots (8:15 AM - 8:46 AM) This one goes out to Betty Ong and Amy Sweeney. Two brave women who were heroes for as long as they were able to be. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/30909283

Grim Tones - Minority Report (ft. PNAC) 04/02/2024

Grim Tones - Minority Report (ft. PNAC) We're continuing to host Super Producer Tim's show here on our feed because we want to and it rules and you should listen to him. So here we present: The first entry in Blue And White 00s Computer Movies! Spielberg and Tom Cruise team up to create the finest feature length Looney Tunes episode adapted from a Philip K. Dick story. Tune in to find out whether Fargo is a good movie. Intro Music: Only (Richard X Mix) by Nine Inch Nails. Outro Music: The Hand That Feeds (Photek Straight Mix) by Nine Inch Nails. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/30643988

55 - Reconnecting the Dots (6:30 AM - 8 AM) 03/30/2024

55 - Reconnecting the Dots (6:30 AM - 8 AM) We recorded this one back in 2023 so I have no idea what gets covered besides a wild ass story involving Jackie Chan. Also, I was wrong in the intro and after 100 hours can say Baldur’s Gate 3 owns. We will return with another PNAC after Easter and then get back to the movies after that. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/30605463

54 - Cyberpod 2077: Phantom Podcast 03/27/2024

54 - Cyberpod 2077: Phantom Podcast Jesus, I promised no more of these but if Starfield warranted one so did this. Journey back in time a month or so and listen to Ben and Tim sit down for a freewheeling discussing on the Cyberpunk universe, 2077 and it's 2.0 update along with the DLC Phantom Liberty. We spoil the shit out of everything so if it's still stuck in your backlog know that an actual episode of 9/11 will be back out next. Until then I gotta delta, stay nova my choom. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/30566028

Grim Tones - Strange Days (Feat. PNAC) 03/27/2024

Grim Tones - Strange Days (Feat. PNAC) In part 2 of this epic, cyberpunk double feature we talk about good friend of the show and possible CIA asset Kathryn Bigelow's 1995 masterpiece Strange Days. This is one of Ben's favorite movies and he thinks you should watch it immediately if you have not seen it before. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/30565988

Grim Tones - Johnny Mnemonic (Feat. PNAC) 03/27/2024

Grim Tones - Johnny Mnemonic (Feat. PNAC) Consider this proof of life. The PNAC boys still can't get a flight out of Khartoum after negotiations for our first live show went.... well not the way we wanted them to go. As we work tirelessly with the State Department here is some bonus content of the boys having a deliriously long conversation with producer Tim about 1995's Johnny Mnemonic for his show about computer movies Grim Tones. This was recorded like a year ago so I can't summarize shit but it was a lot of fun and you should listen. Look for more previously recorded content to drip out this weekend along with the last finished PNAC episode we recorded prior to this whole mess starting sometime within the week. Regular programming ought to resume shortly, thanks for sticking with us as always in the meantime. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/30565948

53 - WTEH XIX Only God Forgives (2013) x My Life Directed By Nicolas Winding Refn (2014) 12/19/2023

53 - WTEH XIX Only God Forgives (2013) x My Life Directed By Nicolas Winding Refn (2014) If you find this an unpleasant bummer just remember it could have been The Devil’s Rejects. Also, this was recorded mere days before the A24 Death Stranding movie was announced and Ben and Tim are very excited while Erik still doesn’t understand what you actually do in that game. Next episode we are going back to where this show started, Tim Burton’s psychosexual Christmas time melodrama that boldly asks “Tim, you know this is a movie for kids right?”, Batman Returns (1992). /episode/index/show/podnac/id/29151283

52 - Reconnecting the Dots (12 AM - 6:30 AM) 12/06/2023

52 - Reconnecting the Dots (12 AM - 6:30 AM) Welcome to a new season of PNAC! The boys are done with games and baby stuff and focus their attention back to the big wedding itself. We go back to the good ol days and sit down with the History Commens timeline and start by covering the day of 9/11/011 from midnight to ~6:30 AM EST. We repeat some stuff that's come up on prior episodes but have plenty of riffs and some real eyebrow raisers to set the table for what's to come. All that plus some nuanced ass rememberace of Henry Kissinger including an aside from Ben about Anthony Bourdain everyone can yell at Erik at. Also, we recorded this on 11/30 and REALLY jinxed the then ongoing ceasefire, our bad. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/28962523

51 - Metal Gear Solid: An Introduction 11/27/2023

51 - Metal Gear Solid: An Introduction Oh, you thought you were just starting with the game? You sweet summer child..... /episode/index/show/podnac/id/28812988

50 - WTEH XVIII: Noah (2014) 11/20/2023

50 - WTEH XVIII: Noah (2014) Tim gets to pick his first movie for our show and..... man where do we even begin. Join us as we lose our minds over the new craziest Biblical epic we have tackled to date. Our next two films will be Only God Forgives (2013) along with it's sister making of documentary My Life Directed By Nicholas Winding Refn (2014). You should really watch both the doc is like 50 minutes long and so damn funny. Next month we will be doing a Ben's Birthday pick with Rob Zombie's war on terror masterpiece The Devil's Rejects (2005). The first Metal Gear episode is done and will be out the week of Thanksgiving and a final, Christmas movie to end the year is still up in the air at the point. We hope you enjoy these as much as we enjoy making them and the 9/11 shit is coming back real soon, I'm already putting the notes together and will drive Erik absolutely mad. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/28713008

A Special Ben Announcement 11/15/2023

A Special Ben Announcement I am so sorry but hey, at least it's free? /episode/index/show/podnac/id/28645548

49 - What Else Can We Talk About? 11/04/2023

49 - What Else Can We Talk About? Class is postponed bc the boys are too pissed off at the war that Israel has been waging war on the Palestinian people since Hamas committed their audacious attacks back on 10/7. With no end the killing in the boys talk about the attack itself, whistle signatures, the appalling Israeli response and the cowardly reaction by and large from the West. It’s still PNAC so we still find time to talk Verdi tuning, Alan Wake 2, Abu Nidal and our plans for the rest of 2023 including another attempt at manifesting a Judith Miller guest appearance. From the river to the sea. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/28515470

48 - WTEH XVII: Sunshine (2007) 11/02/2023

48 - WTEH XVII: Sunshine (2007) Once again the boys are back and joined by friend of the show/WTEH third mic, Tim, to stare directly into the sun (Erik was reportedly staring directly into Cillian Murphy's eyes, actually) and lose our minds over Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's 2007 thriller, Sunshine. If any references seem dated, it's because we recorded this thing back in like August. Erik and Ben will be back on the PNAC ish sooner rather than later and we'll have another WTEH out in a couple weeks on Darren Aronofsky's absolutely INSANE 2014 epic, Noah. /episode/index/show/podnac/id/28501433

47 - A Very Important PNAC Announcement 10/12/2023

47 - A Very Important PNAC Announcement Friend of the show Jonah joins lone wolf Ben for a light chat that went way too long. They are calling this the worst episode in PNAC history. Unfortunately, stick around for some news about the future of the show (still not ending, sorry) /episode/index/show/podnac/id/28294157

46 - What Could Go Right? 10/12/2023

46 - What Could Go Right? Finally liberated from a CIA black site in Poland the boys are speaking their truth. Honestly, this was recorded so long ago I don’t remember much but we will be asking the biggest question yet: what if a president gave a speech. Next movie episode soon and look for an update about the future of PNAC within the next week or so! /episode/index/show/podnac/id/28294106

Podcast for the New American Century

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