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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar NoéRachel BrosnahanAmy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

Ep231: Back on Track

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie put the "rev" in "reverence" with a surprisingly enthusiastic look at Disney/Pixar's Cars 3! Yes, Lightning, Mater, and the Radiator Springs gang are back for a dreaded Second Sequel, and this time they've enlisted spunky, young trainer Cruz Ramirez to help save their beloved sport from a slick, new breed of unscrupulous racers!

Ian and David steer into spoiler territory, discussing the fresh elements that keep Cars 3 from flaming out; the series' stigma among Pixar fans; and the new film's not-so-secret empowerment message, which may rival that of a certain lasso-swinging superhero!

Also, Ian teases some upcoming Shout! Factory releases, and previews next week's themed series of episodes and reviews.

Episode 231 cannot and will not be measured in miles-per-hour!

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Ep232: Two Films and a Controversy / Ana Lily Amirpour Pt. 1

Ep230: Zoe Lister-Jones' Rock Therapy