Catalyst and Witness podcast artwork

PODCAST · tv

Catalyst and Witness

A year-by-year analysis of the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen.

  1. 36

    2025 Festival Dispatch #2

    The second 2025 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the last week of the 2025 New York Film Festival, and features guest Kenji Fujishima.

  2. 35

    2025 Festival Dispatch #1

    The first 2025 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the first week of press screenings of the 2025 New York Film Festival, and features guest Alex Lei.

  3. 34

    2024 Festival Dispatch #2

    The second 2024 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the middle week of the 2024 New York Film Festival, and features guests Soham Gadre and Esther Rosenfield.

  4. 33

    2024 Festival Dispatch #1

    The first 2024 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the first week of the 2024 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis and Jackson Kim Murphy.

  5. 32

    2023 Festival Dispatch

    The 2023 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the 2023 New York Film Festival, and features guest Dan Schindel.

  6. 31

    2022 Festival Dispatch

    The 2022 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the 2022 New York Film Festival, and features guest Nick Newman.

  7. 30

    2021 Festival Dispatch #2

    The second 2021 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the second week of the 2021 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Edo Choi, Soham Gadre, Susannah Gruder, Jeva Lange, and Jason Miller. 0:00-54:44 - Part One 54:45-1:55:41 - Part Two

  8. 29

    2021 Festival Dispatch #1

    The first 2021 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the first week of the 2021 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Soham Gadre, Susannah Gruder, and Patrick Preziosi. (Edo Choi was also on the call but could not be included due to technical difficulties.) 0:00-34:08 - Part One 34:09-1:11:09 - Part Two

  9. 28

    18th (1980): "The Earth Strikes Back"

    The eighteenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the eighteenth edition of the festival in 1980, and features special guest Shawn Glinis, host of the Wiseman Podcast. 0:00-16:20 - Opening 16:21-55:27 - Part One 55:28-1:33:05 - Part Two 1:33:06-2:27:51 - Part Three 2:27:52-3:20:37 - Part Four 3:20:38-3:26:19 - Closing

  10. 27

    17th (1979): "Film Capital of the World"

    The seventeenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the seventeenth edition of the festival in 1979, and features special guest Jake Cole, freelance film critic for Slant Magazine. 0:00-15:35 – Opening15:36-1:08:42 – Part One1:08:43-2:16:06 – Part Two2:16:07-3:13:08 – Part Three3:13:09-4:11:27 – Part Four4:11:28-4:17:25 – Closing

  11. 26

    2020 Festival Dispatch #4

    The fourth 2020 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the third week of the 2020 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Soham Gadre, and Jason Miller. 0:00-1:01:03 – Part One 1:01:04-2:06:23 – Part Two

  12. 25

    2020 Festival Dispatch #3

    The third 2020 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the second week of the 2020 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Jeva Lange, Jason Miller, and C.J. Prince. 0:00-1:07:45 - Part One 1:07:46-2:07:51 - Part Two

  13. 24

    2020 Festival Dispatch #2

    The second 2020 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the first week of the 2020 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Max Carpenter, Susannah Gruder, Jeva Lange, Chloe Lizotte, and C.J. Prince. 0:00-1:05:18 – Part One 1:05:19-2:06:11 – Part Two

  14. 23

    2020 Festival Dispatch #1

    The first 2020 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the announcement of the 2020 main slate, and features guest Jason Miller. 0:00-1:28:41 - Part One

  15. 22

    16th (1978): "A Thousand and One Details"

    The sixteenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the sixteenth edition of the festival in 1978, and features special guest Evan Morgan, critic and co-host of the dormant Snakes & Funerals podcast. 0:00-18:45 – Opening 18:46-1:13:12 – Part One 1:13:13-2:10:51 – Part Two 2:10:52-3:16:50 – Part Three 3:16:51-4:22:38 – Part Four 4:22:39-4:28:57 – Closing

  16. 21

    15th (1977): "A Real Smash"

    The fifteenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the fifteenth edition of the festival in 1977, and features special guest Keith Uhlich. 0:00-18:22 – Opening 18:23-1:23:16 – Part One 1:23:17-2:45:25 – Part Two 2:45:26-3:48:38 – Part Three 3:48:39-4:50:18 – Part Four 4:50:19-5:39:23 – Part Five 5:39:24-6:54:08 – Part Six 6:54:09-7:02:59 – Closing

  17. 20

    2019 Festival Dispatch #3

    The third 2019 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the second half of the 2019 New York Film Festival, and features guests Graham L. Carter, Beatrice Loayza, and Dan Schindel. 0:00-26:36 – Part One 26:37-48:14 – Part Two

  18. 19

    2019 Festival Dispatch #2

    The second 2019 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the first half of the 2019 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Lena Houst, Jake Pitre, and Etan Weisfogel. 0:00-57:26 – Part One 57:27-1:49:38 – Part Two

  19. 18

    2019 Festival Dispatch #1

    The 2019 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the announcement of the 2019 main slate. 0:00-1:02:25 - Part One

  20. 17

    14th (1976): "Artistic Freedom"

    The fourteenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the fourteenth edition of the festival in 1976. 0:00–27:53 – Opening 27:54–1:11:17 – Part One 1:11:18–1:55:04 – Part Two 1:55:05–2:34:08 – Part Three 2:34:09–3:20:25 – Part Four 3:20:26–3:26:08 – Closing

  21. 16

    13th (1975): "Celluloid Guerillas"

    The thirteenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the thirteenth edition of the festival in 1975, and features special guest Alyssa Heflin, George Eastman Museum film preservation graduate student and cinephile. 0:00-23:22 - Opening 23:23-1:30:07 - Part One 1:30:08-2:20:05 - Part Two 2:20:06-3:03:28 - Part Three 3:03:29-3:49:41 - Part Four 3:49:42-3:57:22 - Closing

  22. 15

    12th (1974): "A World Phenomenon"

    The twelfth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the twelfth edition of the festival in 1974, and features special guest Jason Miller, New York cinephile and kind of a Twitter guy. 0:00-23:16 - Opening 23:17-1:23:06 - Part One 1:23:07-3:04:18 - Part Two 3:04:19-4:03:18 - Part Three 4:03:19-5:08:57 - Part Four 5:08:58-5:13:31 - Closing

  23. 14

    11th (1973): "Trains in the Night"

    The eleventh episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the eleventh edition of the festival in 1973. 0:00-1:19:01 - Introduction [2018 Top Tens]1:19:02-1:37:58 - Opening1:37:59-2:18:45 - Part One2:18:46-3:18:08 - Part Two3:18:09-4:14:49 - Part Three4:14:50-4:20:34 - Closing

  24. 13

    10th (1972): "The Next Picture Show"

    The tenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the tenth edition of the festival in 1972. 0:00-47:30 – Introduction 47:31-1:02:44 – Opening 1:02:45-1:41:57 – Part One 1:41:58-2:20:13 – Part Two 2:20:14-3:00:17 – Part Three 3:00:18-3:51:03 – Part Four 3:51:04-3:56:45 – Closing

  25. 12

    9th (1971): "This Year, Who Knows?"

    The ninth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the ninth edition of the festival in 1971. 0:00-28:52 - Opening 28:53-1:27:08 - Part One 1:27:09-2:10:52 - Part Two 2:10:53-3:19:36 - Part Three 3:19:37-3:25:01 - Closing

  26. 11

    2018 Festival Dispatch #3

    The third 2018 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the second half of the 2018 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Courtney Duckworth, Caden Mark Gardner, Jeva Lange, Jason Miller, and Kyle Pletcher. 0:00-58:56 - Part One 58:57-1:48:21 - Part Two

  27. 10

    2018 Festival Dispatch #2

    The second 2018 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the first half of the 2018 New York Film Festival, and features guests Aret Frost, David Neary, and Kyle Pletcher. 0:00-52:36 - Part One 52:37-1:41:27 - Part Two

  28. 9

    8th (1970): "The Deluge"

    The eighth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the eighth edition of the festival in 1970. 0:00-17:13 - Opening 17:14-1:19:40 - Part One 1:19:41-2:19:33 - Part Two 2:19:34-2:53:46 - Part Three 2:53:47-3:56:36 - Part Four 3:56:37-4:04:55 - Closing

  29. 8

    7th (1969): "New Site, Same Scene"

    The seventh episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the seventh edition of the festival in 1969, and features special guest Caden Mark Gardner, critic and co-publisher of Body Talk. 0:00-21:56 - Opening 21:57-1:21:11 - Part One 1:21:12-2:27:41 - Part Two 2:27:42-3:13:51 - Part Three 3:13:52-4:00:43 - Part Four 4:00:44-4:09:52 - Closing

  30. 7

    2018 Festival Dispatch #1

    The first 2018 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the announcement of the 2018 main slate. 0:00-1:03:40 - Part One 1:03:41-2:08:35 - Part Two

  31. 6

    6th (1968): "High Drama in Low Key"

    The sixth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the sixth edition of the festival in 1968, and features special guest Etan Weisfogel, cinephile and Twitter personality. 0:00-15:06 - Opening 15:07-1:18:27 - Part One 1:18:28-2:39:26 - Part Two 2:39:27-3:33:45- Part Three 3:33:46-4:47:58 - Part Four 4:47:59-4:59:07 - Closing

  32. 5

    5th (1967): "To See and Be Seen"

    The fifth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the fifth edition of the festival in 1967. 0:00-12:42 – Opening 12:43-1:00:37 – Part One 1:00:38-1:34:58 – Part Two 1:34:59-2:03:23 – Part Three 2:03:24-2:38:47 – Part Four 2:38:48-2:45:04 – Closing

  33. 4

    4th (1966): "An Exceptionally Personalized Point of View"

    The fourth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the fourth edition of the festival in 1966, and features special guest Evan Morgan, critic and co-host of the Snakes & Funerals podcast. 0:00-12:09 - Opening 12:10-51:17 - Part One 51:18-1:33:20 - Part Two 1:33:21-2:16:45 - Part Three 2:16:46-3:08:35 - Part Four 3:08:36-3:15:54 - Closing

  34. 3

    3rd (1965): "Films: Fashion of the Fashionable"

    The third episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the third edition of the festival in 1965. 0:00-9:08 - Opening 9:09-54:11 - Part One 54:12-1:31:16 - Part Two 1:31:17-2:18:36 - Part Three 2:18:37-3:10:38 - Part Four 3:10:39-3:17:39 - Closing

  35. 2

    2nd (1964): "All Over the World"

    The second episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the second edition of the festival in 1964. 0:00-9:58 - Opening 9:59-1:21:50 - Part One 1:21:51-2:21:44 - Part Two 2:21:45-3:04:05 - Part Three 3:04:06-3:44:17 - Part Four 3:44:18-3:50:37 - Closing

  36. 1

    1st (1963): "The Film As Art"

    The first episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the first edition of the festival in 1963, and includes an introduction to the mission of the podcast as a whole. 0:00-16:07 - Introduction to the Podcast 16:08-26:27 - Opening 26:28-1:09:45 - Part One 1:09:46-1:48:11 - Part Two 1:48:12-2:39:48 - Part Three 2:39:49-2:48:06 - Closing

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

ABOUT THIS SHOW

A year-by-year analysis of the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen.

HOSTED BY

Ryan Swen

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Catalyst and Witness have?

Catalyst and Witness currently has 36 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Catalyst and Witness about?

A year-by-year analysis of the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen.

How often does Catalyst and Witness release new episodes?

Catalyst and Witness has 36 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Catalyst and Witness?

You can listen to Catalyst and Witness on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Catalyst and Witness?

Catalyst and Witness is created and hosted by Ryan Swen.
URL copied to clipboard!