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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.

Ep236: Coma Chameleon

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie examine Michael Showalter's festival-favorite rom-com, The Big Sick! Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan play a couple whose burgeoning relationship is put to the test when she falls ill and he becomes an unlikely caretaker. Does this Judd Apatow-produced, based-on-a-true-story story live up to the hype, or are there some hidden symptoms that require a second opinion? The guys break it all down in an episode that will definitely give you a lot to think about when heading to the theatre.

Also, Ian talks a bit about the return of the Music Box Theatre's 70MM Film Festival, and teases an out-of-this-world episode you won't want to miss!

Episode 236 is doctor-approved, medically induced podcasting!

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Ep237: Web or Grill?

Ep235: Revving Up BABY