SOUNDS OF FILM with Tom Needham

Director Raymond Telles joins Sounds of Film to discuss his new documentary American Agitators, which explores the life and legacy of pioneering community organizer Fred Ross Sr. Telles brings decades of experience in documentary filmmaking focused on labor, civil rights, and social justice to a conversation about how grassroots organizing continues to shape American political life.American Agitators traces Fred Ross Sr.’s lifelong work organizing communities to confront segregation, expand voting rights, and strengthen labor movements across the United States. The film highlights his mentorship of key figures such as Dolores Huerta and connects his organizing model to major civil rights efforts that helped advance school desegregation and broader struggles for racial and economic justice. It also draws a connection between Ross’s disciplined, relationship-based organizing approach and modern movements addressing inequality, labor rights, and civic participation.At the center of the film is Ross’s methodical philosophy of organizing—built on trust, consistency, and sustained one-on-one engagement rather than short-term protest energy. The documentary emphasizes how this approach continues to influence unions, educators, and grassroots organizers today, particularly as movements adapt to new political and technological landscapes.Raymond Telles is a veteran documentary filmmaker whose work spans decades of public television and broadcast storytelling focused on labor history, civil rights, and social justice. His credits include The Fight in the Fields: César Chávez and the Farmworkers’ Struggle and The Storm That Swept Mexico, both of which examine major political and social movements in North American history.Sounds of Film, hosted by Tom Needham, is a long-running radio program featuring in-depth conversations with filmmakers, composers, and cultural figures across film, music, and documentary. Past guests from the show’s documented archive include Billy Joel, Alexander Payne, Alec Baldwin, Laurie Anderson, Bob Geldof, Pam Grier, Rob Reiner, Julie Andrews, Jordan Peele, Dionne Warwick, Michael Moore, William H. Macy, Cicely Tyson, Chuck D, Carter Burwell, Howard Shore, D.A. Pennebaker, and Cornel West, among many others, reflecting the program’s wide-ranging conversations with major voices in culture and cinema.

The latest episode of Sounds of Film features an in-depth conversation with acclaimed filmmaker Elizabeth Lo, discussing her powerful new documentary Mistress Dispeller. The film has been featured at the Venice International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and the Port Jefferson Documentary Film Festival. Known for her intimate and visually arresting storytelling, Lo joins host Tom Needham to explore the making of the film and the emotional complexities behind its real-life love triangle in contemporary China.Mistress Dispeller follows a woman who hires a professional “mistress dispeller” to go undercover and end her husband’s affair. With unprecedented access to all sides of the triangle, the documentary unfolds as a deeply human portrait of love, loyalty, and emotional contradiction, revealing how intimacy and betrayal can coexist in unexpected ways. The movie is available on the Criterion Channel.Elizabeth Lo is an award-winning director, producer, and cinematographer whose work has premiered at major festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, Venice, TIFF, and IDFA. Her debut feature Stray earned international acclaim, winning Best International Feature at Hot Docs and receiving nominations from the Independent Spirit Awards and Cinema Eye Honors. Her films are known for their observational precision and emotional depth, placing her among the most distinctive voices in contemporary documentary cinema.Sounds of Film, hosted by Tom Needham, is a long-running film, music, and ideas podcast featuring in-depth conversations with leading figures in cinema and culture. Past guests have included Alexander Payne, Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Laurie Anderson, Jordan Peele, Michael Moore, William H. Macy, Cicely Tyson, Chuck D, and Cornel West, among many others shaping the cultural landscape.The Sounds of Film podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

On this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with director Maria Diane Ventura and Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia about Eraserheads: Combo on the Run, an intimate and revealing documentary that captures the story of one of the Philippines’ most influential bands. Together, they discuss the creative process behind the film, the emotional journey of revisiting the band’s history, and how music, storytelling, and vulnerability can open the door to healing and reconciliation.Eraserheads: Combo on the Run traces the band’s evolution from their formation in 1989 to their rise as a defining voice in Filipino music and their powerful reunion decades later. Blending archival footage with candid, behind-the-scenes access, the film explores fame, fracture, and redemption, while placing the band’s journey within the broader cultural and political landscape of the Philippines. At its core, the documentary is not just about music, but about growth, accountability, and the enduring connections that can bring people back together.The Sounds of Film with Tom Needham is one of the longest-running radio shows dedicated to film, music, and ideas, airing for over 30 years on WUSB and reaching audiences across Long Island, New York, and beyond. The program features in-depth conversations with a wide range of influential voices, including Alexander Payne, Laurie Anderson, Bob Geldof, Billy Joel, Julie Andrews, Jordan Peele, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Michael Moore, Howard Shore, Rob Reiner, and Cicely Tyson, offering thoughtful insight into the creative process and the cultural impact of film and music.

Director Nicholas Ma joins The Sounds of Film to discuss his debut feature Mabel, a thoughtful and visually rich coming-of-age story opening in New York at the Cinema Village on April 17. Ma, known for producing the acclaimed documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, brings a deeply personal and intellectually curious perspective to his first narrative feature.Mabel follows Callie, a biracial middle schooler who feels disconnected from the people around her but forms a profound bond with the plant life she studies and nurtures. As she navigates a new school, shifting family dynamics, and an inspiring but mysterious teacher, the film explores themes of identity, loneliness, and the emerging science of plant intelligence, ultimately asking what it means to truly coexist with the natural world and with each other.The Sounds of Film with Tom Needham is one of the longest-running radio shows devoted to film, music, and ideas, featuring conversations with an eclectic range of influential voices including Billy Joel, Julie Andrews, Jordan Peele, Dionne Warwick, and William H. Macy, along with leading directors, composers, and cultural figures across film and music. The program continues to deliver in-depth, thoughtful conversations that explore both the creative process and the cultural impact of the arts.

On this edition of Classic Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham presents a rare and exclusive conversation with author and filmmaker Bart Sibrel, released here for the first time. In MOON MAN, Sibrel details his real-life espionage experiences investigating what he believes to be one of the most closely guarded secrets of the modern era. Central to his account is his discovery of privately recorded audio that he says raises serious questions about the authenticity of the moon landing.Sibrel has long maintained that the truth about the Apollo missions has been deliberately concealed, and he contends that until what he views as the moon landing fraud is fully exposed, governments around the world will continue to withhold critical truths from the public. This conversation offers a direct look into Sibrel’s perspective, his investigation, and the controversy that has followed him for decades. With renewed public interest in lunar missions and the moon once again dominating headlines, this archival interview provides a timely opportunity to revisit one of the most debated narratives in modern history.The Sounds of Film with Tom Needham is one of the nation’s longest-running film, music, and ideas-themed radio shows, airing for over 30 years on WUSB in New York and now available as a podcast. The program features in-depth conversations with leading voices across film, music, and culture. Past guests have included Alexander Payne, Alec Baldwin, Laurie Anderson, Bob Geldof, Billy Joel, Pam Grier, Rob Reiner, Julie Andrews, Jordan Peele, Dionne Warwick, Michael Moore, William H. Macy, Cicely Tyson, Chazz Palminteri, Peter Fonda, and Jesse Jackson, among many others.

Tom Needham’s Classic Sounds of Film presents a rare and exclusive conversation with Dr. Steven Greer, offering listeners a compelling deep dive into one of the most provocative subjects in modern documentary filmmaking. Airing on WUSB, the episode explores the ideas, controversies, and intrigue surrounding extraterrestrial contact through an engaging and thought-provoking discussion.This episode focuses on Greer’s documentary Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind, which examines the possibility that humans can initiate contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. The conversation explores themes of consciousness, communication, and the hidden history of UFO disclosure, while also considering the broader cultural and scientific implications of these claims.Dr. Greer, also known for his films Sirius and Unacknowledged, has long been a prominent figure in the disclosure movement. In Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind, he presents what he describes as suppressed knowledge, suggesting that ancient spiritual practices may play a role in facilitating human-initiated contact with advanced civilizations. The film features video and photographic material along with interviews from figures including Adam Curry of Princeton’s PEAR Lab, civil rights attorney Daniel Sheehan, and physicist Russell Targ, who was associated with the CIA’s remote viewing program.Hosted by Tom Needham, The Sounds of Film is a long-running radio show and podcast dedicated to film, music, and culture, featuring in-depth conversations with acclaimed actors, directors, and composers. Past guests have included Billy Joel, Chuck D, Michael Moore, Laurie Anderson, Cornel West, and Carter Burwell, reflecting the show’s wide-ranging conversations with influential voices across film, music, and culture.

On this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham welcomes author Wynton Hall, a Distinguished Fellow at Government Accountability Institute, to discuss his new book CODE RED: The Left, the Right, China, and the Race to Control AI. In CODE RED, Hall examines the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, exploring concerns about ideological influence in AI systems, the intensifying U.S.–China competition, and the societal impact of automation, digital relationships, and emerging technologies. The conversation highlights both the risks and opportunities of AI, and what individuals and institutions can do to prepare for a rapidly changing future.The Sounds of Film is a long-running radio show and podcast hosted by Tom Needham that explores the intersection of film, music, and culture through conversations with influential voices across the arts and public life. Through the years, the program has featured a wide range of notable guests including Alec Baldwin, Alexander Payne, Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick, William H. Macy, Michael Moore, Cornel West, and Chuck D, reflecting the show’s wide-ranging focus on artists, filmmakers, and thinkers shaping contemporary culture.

Director Cindy Meehl joins Sounds of Film to discuss her latest documentary Jimmy & The Demons, an intimate and visually rich portrait of celebrated artist James Grashow. Known for her deeply human storytelling style, Meehl brings audiences inside both the creative process and emotional world of her subject, capturing a once-in-a-lifetime artistic journey with honesty, warmth, and insight.Jimmy & The Demons follows Grashow as he embarks on the most ambitious project of his life at nearly 80 years old—a monumental sculpture that becomes a meditation on art, mortality, and meaning. As he devotes years to completing what may be his final masterpiece, the film blends humor, wonder, and emotional depth, offering a powerful look at the sacrifices and joys of a life dedicated to creativity and the search for purpose.Cindy Meehl is an award-winning director and executive producer and the founder of Cedar Creek Productions. Her debut feature documentary Buck premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011, where it won the U.S. Documentary Audience Award and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. She followed that success with The Dog Doc (2019), which premiered at the Tribeca Festival and was released in 2020. In addition to her directorial work, Meehl has served as an executive producer on a range of acclaimed documentaries including Natchez (2025), Fashion Reimagined (2022), Rewind (2019), The River and the Wall (2019), For the Birds (2018), Trapped (2016), Unbranded (2015), and Dogs on the Inside (2014). Her latest film, Jimmy & The Demons, premiered at Tribeca in 2025 and has received multiple festival awards.Sounds of Film with Tom Needham is one of the nation’s longest-running film, music, and ideas-themed radio shows, airing for over 30 years on WUSB in New York. The program features in-depth conversations with leading voices in film, music, and culture. Past guests have included Alexander Payne, Alec Baldwin, Laurie Anderson, Bob Geldof, Billy Joel, Pam Grier, Rob Reiner, Julie Andrews, Jordan Peele, Dionne Warwick, Michael Moore, William H. Macy, Cicely Tyson, Chazz Palminteri, Peter Fonda, and Rev. Jesse Jackson, among many others.

On the next episode of Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with director Hannah Berryman and trailblazing astronaut Eileen Collins about the powerful new documentary SPACEWOMAN.SPACEWOMAN tells the remarkable true story of Collins, the first woman to pilot and command a spacecraft. From her working-class roots in Elmira, New York, to her groundbreaking career at NASA, the film traces a journey defined by perseverance, courage, and historic achievement. Through a blend of archival footage and personal insight, the documentary offers an intimate look at both the triumphs and challenges of life in space exploration.The film also revisits pivotal moments in NASA history, including Collins’ leadership of the return-to-flight mission following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. In doing so, it explores the risks inherent in human spaceflight and raises compelling questions about ambition, sacrifice, and the drive to push beyond known limits.Sounds of Film is a Long Island-based radio show and podcast hosted by Tom Needham, featuring conversations with filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals. Past guests have included Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Michael Moore, Cornel West, and Chuck D, offering listeners unique insight into the creative process behind film, television, and beyond.

“The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” is a documentary about Mark Bittner, a homeless musician in San Francisco who forms a deep bond with a flock of wild parrots living on Telegraph Hill. The film explores his relationship with the birds, their unique behaviors, and his personal journey of self-discovery and connection to nature.“Wild Parrots” was first screened in 16mm in festivals in 2003. Mark Bittner’s memoir, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, was published by Random House in 2004. Ken Eisen of Shadow Distribution picked up the movie, blew it up to 35mm, and booked it in 500 theaters in 2005, grossing over three million dollars. Broadcast on the national PBS series Independent Lens in 2007, the film attracted 1.5 million viewers, making it the most popular show of the series.Twenty years after the film’s first release, in the spring of 2023, the San Francisco Chronicle hosted a contest to pick the City’s “Official Animal.” In a hotly contested battle over four rounds of voting, the maverick Wild Parrots beat the corporate tourism Sea Lions of Pier 39 and 15 other species. The official City Ordinance took effect in August, the same month the Avalon Theatr in Washington D.C. hosted the premiere of the restored 4K movie.The restoration was a 5.5-year labor of love. Because the original film was SD (Standard Definition, not HD, High Definition), it disappeared from streaming platforms, which no longer accept SD films. Producer/director Judy Irving, with the help of the Academy Film Archive, had the 16mm film negative scanned in 4K and slowly started cleaning up (“dust-busting”) the 120,000 digital frames. She was joined by Sarah Lemarie, CEO of Mickaboo Bird Rescue, whose volunteered time and expertise made it possible to complete the restoration. And now a whole new generation can see “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” on the big screen.Filmmaker Judy Irving is a Sundance and Emmy-Award winning filmmaker whose theatrical credits include The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, a feature documentary about the relationship between a homeless street musician and a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco, Pelican Dreams, about California brown pelicans and the people who know them best, Dark Circle, a personal film about the links between nuclear power and weapons, and Cold Refuge, about how swimming in open water mitigates some of life's most serious challenges. In 2015 she was elected to the Documentary Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.Author and film subject Mark Bittner was born and raised in southwestern Washington State. His first ambition as a teenager was to be a novelist, but alarmed by the uniformly miserable fates of all the writers whom he loved, he decided to pursue a career in music instead. After hitchhiking through Europe, he ended up in San Francisco determined to sink or swim as a poet-singer-songwriter. He sank. Completely bereft, he turned to spiritual seeking and ended up on the street where he spent the next 14 years. Ultimately his search led him to the wild parrot flock, which, in turn, led him back to writing, and his first book: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. He is currently seeking a publisher for his second book, Street Song, which details his journey to the street. He has also completed a set of recordings, Street Songs, as a supplement to the book.SOUNDS is the nation’s longest running film and music themed radio show. For the past 30 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of interviews and music to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut and streaming worldwide live on the internet. Past people interviewed for the show include Carter Burwell, Don McLean, Jordan Peterson, Hal Hartley, DA Pennebaker, Wendy & Lisa, Alexander Payne, Ernest Dickerson and Dionne Warwick.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

On this Classic Sounds of Film, veteran actor and director Eric Stoltz joins host Tom Needham to revisit his long and varied career in film and television, including his work as a director and the making of his feature Class Rank. Stoltz reflects on the many roles that have defined his journey—from breakthrough performances in dramatic films to memorable appearances in genre favorites—offering listeners a broad look at his evolution as an artist and collaborator in the industry. His career has spanned influential films and television series alike, with Stoltz navigating projects that showcase his range both in front of and behind the camera.Stoltz first gained widespread attention for his early work in Mask and continued to build his reputation with roles in films like Some Kind of Wonderful and Pulp Fiction, among many others. Over the years he has also established himself as a television director, helming episodes of acclaimed series across diverse genres. His multifaceted career underscores a commitment to creative exploration, whether portraying nuanced characters or shaping stories from the director’s chair.The Sounds of Film is America’s longest‑running radio and podcast program devoted to the intersections of cinema, music, and ideas. For more than three decades it has aired a distinctive mix of interviews, music, and cultural insight to audiences across Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and worldwide via major podcast platforms. The program has featured an eclectic array of guests from across the worlds of film, music, literature, and culture, including Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Chuck D, Laurie Anderson, Alexander Payne, and Marco Beltrami, among many others who have shaped the landscape of contemporary cinema and the arts.

Filmmaker Kerry Mondragon is the featured guest on an upcoming episode of the Sounds of Film podcast, hosted by Tom Needham. Mondragon’s work is marked by a fearless blend of cultural insight and cinematic daring, and his latest film Wetiko tells the story of a young Maya man drawn into the shadowy currents of a New Age ecovillage deep in the Yucatán jungle. The film moves between languages and worlds, weaving psychological tension and indigenous perspective into a gripping, genre‑defying narrative that reflects Mondragon’s distinctive creative sensibility.Wetiko follows its protagonist Aapo on a journey that begins with an errand and becomes an odyssey, revealing the seductive allure and deeper dangers of spiritual consumerism in a lush but unforgiving landscape. Mondragon’s approach to storytelling and his commitment to exploring identity, belief, and cultural collision have positioned him as a compelling voice in independent film.Sounds of Film, now one of the nation’s longest‑running film, music, and ideas‑themed programs, blends in‑depth conversations with directors, composers, actors, authors, and other cultural figures alongside its celebration of cinematic soundtracks and storytelling. Over its decades‑long run, the show has welcomed an eclectic roster of guests — including Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Chuck D, Carter Burwell, Dionne Warwick, Noah Baumbach, and Alexander Payne — offering listeners a wide range of perspectives on film, music, and the creative life.

In memory of Rev. Jesse Jackson, who recently passed away, we are sharing this exclusive Sounds of Film interview. A towering figure in modern American public life, Jackson rose to national prominence as a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and went on to become one of the most recognizable voices for civil rights, economic justice, and political inclusion in the United States. Through his leadership of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and his historic presidential campaigns in the 1980s, he helped expand the national conversation about representation, opportunity, and the power of grassroots coalitions.For decades, Jackson’s work spanned ministry, activism, and international diplomacy, as he advocated for voting rights, workers, and underserved communities while also engaging in humanitarian efforts abroad. His influence reshaped both the civil rights movement’s next generation and the broader landscape of American political life.

In this episode of a Classic Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with filmmaker Dawn Sinclair Shapiro about her documentary The State of Eugenics. Their conversation explores how the film exposes a troubling and often overlooked chapter of American history — the forced sterilization of more than 7,600 people in North Carolina who were labeled as having “undesirable” genetic traits. Shapiro discusses the years of research behind the project, the role of investigative journalists in uncovering the story, and how connecting archival records to living survivors helped spark a movement demanding acknowledgement and justice.The documentary, developed over four years, centers on the human consequences of the policy, giving voice to survivors whose stories might otherwise have remained hidden. Through personal testimony and historical investigation, the film reveals the lasting impact of the program and why confronting this past remains essential today.The Sounds of Film podcast continues its tradition of highlighting influential voices in film and music. Past guests have included Cheech & Chong, Billy Joel, Alexander Payne, Wallace Shawn, Kurtis Blow, Laurie Anderson, Ralph Macchio, and Donny Most, reflecting the program’s wide-ranging focus on artists whose work shapes culture and storytelling.

Filmmaker Cate Shortland, known to many audiences for directing Marvel’s Black Widow, first drew international attention with her debut feature Somersault. In this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham welcomes Shortland to discuss the newly restored 4K release of the film, a visually haunting and emotionally intimate coming-of-age story set in the snowy landscapes of Australia. The film stars Abbie Cornish in a breakthrough role as Heidi, a vulnerable teenager searching for connection and belonging, alongside Sam Worthington in one of his earliest major screen performances.Set in the resort town of Jindabyne, Somersault explores themes of loneliness, desire, and the complicated path toward self-understanding. The stark winter setting and naturalistic style helped establish Shortland as a filmmaker with a distinctive visual voice and a deep sensitivity to character. The film remains an important early work in Australian cinema of the 2000s and marked the arrival of a director whose career would go on to span both intimate dramas and large-scale international productions.The Sounds of Film with Tom Needham is a long-running podcast and radio show devoted to conversations with the creative artists behind movies and television. Past guests have included John Turturro, William H. Macy, Alexander Payne, Wallace Shawn, Ralph Macchio, Laurie Anderson, Chuck D, D. A. Pennebaker, Howard Shore, and Thora Birch, reflecting the show’s wide-ranging focus on the many voices who shape the art of film.

On the next Classic SOUNDS OF FILM, Tom Needham speaks with Bill Ayers, a former community organizer and education professor whose early notoriety came as a co-founder of the Weather Underground, the radical antiwar group that emerged from the late-1960s student movement and was later labeled a domestic terrorist organization by the FBI. His past has remained a subject of debate, but it marks just one chapter in a long public career devoted to questions of democracy, schooling, and civic life.Ayers went on to become a prominent voice in progressive education, serving for many years as a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and writing influential books on teaching and social justice. His works include TO TEACH: THE JOURNEY OF A TEACHER, TO BECOME A TEACHER: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CHILDREN’S LIVES, TEACHING TOWARD FREEDOM, A SIMPLE JUSTICE, and the memoir FUGITIVE DAYS, which reflects on activism, education, and the turbulent era that shaped his early life.Sounds of Film is America’s longest running film, music, and ideas show, exploring the creative minds behind the culture that moves us. Past guests include Chuck D, Chris Hedges, Big Daddy Kane, Thora Birch, Whit Stillman, Carter Burwell, Howard Shore, and DA Pennebaker.

Released on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic, PLANET OF THE HUMANS takes a harsh look at how the environmental movement has lost the battle through well-meaning but disastrous choices, including the belief that solar panels and windmills would save us, and by giving in to the corporate interests of Wall Street. Planet of the Humans, which will be available for free on Youtube for 30 days, becomes the first documentary project to be released under the Rumble Media banner.Jeff Gibbs, is the director, writer, and producer of the feature documentary film,"Planet of the Humans." Born in Flint, Michigan, Jeff has served as a long time collaborator with Michael Moore. The first film he ever worked on was "Bowling for Columbine." Following the success or "Bowling for Columbine" Jeff became co-producer for "Fahrenheit 9/11," the largest box-office documentary of all time. Jeff also wrote the original score for both films.

In this episode of Sounds of Film, Tom Needham sits down with Sook-Yin Lee, the director and co-writer of PAYING FOR IT, to discuss her daring live-action adaptation of Chester Brown’s acclaimed graphic novel. The film tells the story of an introverted cartoonist who, when his long-term girlfriend wants to redefine their relationship, begins seeing sex workers and discovers a new kind of intimacy. Combining humor, emotional depth, and intelligence, it challenges conventional ideas of love, non-monogamy, and human connection, while bringing underground comic culture to vivid life on screen.PAYING FOR IT features standout performances from Dan Beirne, Emily Lê, and Andrea Werhun, with cinematography by Emmy Award-winner Gayle Ye, production design by Olivia D’Oliveira, and an original score co-composed by Dylan Gamble and Lee herself. Chester Brown’s artwork is woven throughout the film, giving it an authentic graphic novel sensibility while highlighting the perspectives of sex workers in a thoughtful and nuanced way. The film is a deeply personal yet universally resonant meditation on intimacy, desire, and the choices we make in search of connection.Sounds of Film, hosted by Tom Needham, has been the home of insightful conversations with filmmakers, composers, actors, and cultural figures for more than three decades. Past guests include Billy Joel, Cornel West, Chuck D, Michael Moore, Carter Burwell, Nile Rodgers, Hal Hartley, Howard Shore, Ernest Dickerson, Barbara Kopple, Alec Baldwin, and Dionne Warwick, among many others, offering listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry, craft, and stories that shape cinema and music today.

In this episode of Sounds of Film, Tom Needham speaks with Emmy-nominated filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough about his bold, provocative, and darkly funny new documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman. When Lough is unable to secure an interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, he takes a radical turn—building an AI version of Altman using publicly available data and cutting-edge technology. The result is “SamBot,” an artificial co-director that becomes both collaborator and mirror, reflecting Lough’s own fears, ambitions, and blind spots.Blending investigative journalism, satire, and deeply personal reflection, Deepfaking Sam Altman explores our culture’s growing obsession with simulation, power, and connection in the digital age. In the conversation, Lough discusses the ethics and legal complexities of deepfakes, the emotional experience of bonding with an AI, the blurred lines between parody and responsibility, and what it means to be human in a world increasingly shaped by machines. The interview offers a fascinating look behind the scenes of one of the most talked-about documentaries of the year and a candid exploration of the promises—and dangers—of artificial intelligence.About Sounds of FilmSounds of Film, hosted by Tom Needham, explores the powerful connection between music and cinema through in-depth conversations with directors, composers, musicians, and industry legends. Past guests have included Billy Joel, William H. Macy, DA Pennebaker, Chuck D, Laurie Anderson, Carter Burwell, Whit Stillman, Dionne Warwick and many more, making the show a trusted destination for filmmakers, film lovers, and music fans alike.

Remembering Scott Adams — creator of Dilbert, host of Real Coffee with Scott Adams, and an early champion of The Sounds of Film. He generously joined us when the show was just getting started, and those conversations about the simulation, his books, and big ideas will always be special.

This week on a Classic SOUNDS OF FILM, Tom Needham welcomes legendary singer-songwriter, actor, and recovery advocate Paul Williams for an in-depth conversation about his extraordinary career and his work with Jim Henson’s Muppets. Williams, whose iconic songs include “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Evergreen,” “An Old Fashioned Love Song,” and “The Rainbow Connection,” shares stories from his decades in music, film, and television.The conversation highlights Williams’ timeless contributions to the Muppets universe, with a special focus on The Muppet Christmas Carol and the beloved holiday classic Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. Originally broadcast on HBO in 1977 and nominated for four Emmy Awards, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas features Williams’ music performed by an all-puppet cast of woodland creatures. He also discusses his CD collection of music from the special and reflects on composing for other Henson projects, including The Muppet Movie and A Muppet’s Christmas: Letters to Santa.For over 30 years, The Sounds of Film has been the nation’s longest-running film, music, and ideas-themed program, delivering a unique mix of interviews and music to listeners across Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and worldwide via online streaming. Past guests have included Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Noah Baumbach, Matthew Broderick, Ralph Macchio, Marco Beltrami, and Alexander Payne, bringing unforgettable insights into film, music, and pop culture.Listen to this special episode and the entire Sounds of Film podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

On this episode of Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Michael Pack, director and producer of The Last 600 Meters, a compelling look at two of the deadliest battles of the Iraq War told through the firsthand testimony of the Marines and soldiers who fought them. The conversation explores Pack’s approach to documentary storytelling, the challenges of capturing the realities of modern combat, and the enduring relevance of this film in today’s world.The Sounds of Film podcast grew out of Tom Needham’s long-running radio show of the same name, dedicated to in-depth conversations about cinema, music, culture, and ideas. Over the years, the program has featured a remarkable range of guests from the worlds of film, television, music, literature, and activism, including Alexander Payne, D.A. Pennebaker, and Barbara Kopple, composer Howard Shore, Alec Baldwin, Pam Grier, Nile Rodgers, Chuck D, and Michael Moore, among many others. Sounds of Film is available as a weekly podcast on major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Audible, as well as through the Sounds of Film website. The show continues the tradition of thoughtful interviews and diverse voices that has made Sounds of Film one of the nation’s longest-running film and music themed programs.

In this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with filmmaker Johnny Ma, writer and director of The Mother and the Bear. The film tells the story of a Korean mother who travels to Winnipeg after her daughter’s accident and unexpectedly finds herself on a path of personal transformation.Johnny Ma explains how the project began years earlier during a stay at a small hostel in Seoul. A conversation with the woman running the hostel planted the initial seed for the film’s emotional core.The discussion explores how the movie balances humor with deeply human themes, its cross-cultural lens, and the creative challenges of shooting in the stark Winnipeg winter. Ma also reflects on the film’s intimate performances and the story’s focus on identity, family expectations, and the process of rediscovering oneself.The Sounds of Film is a long-running weekly program featuring conversations with filmmakers, composers, authors, and notable figures in arts and culture. Past guests have included Laurie Anderson, DA Pennebaker, Billy Joel, Alexander Payne, Marco Beltrami, Jordan Peele, and many others who have shaped contemporary cinema and music.Listeners can follow The Sounds of Film on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms.

In this episode of The Sounds of Film, Tom Needham speaks with acclaimed Palestinian filmmaker and visual artist Scandar Copti, the writer and director of the powerful new film Happy Holidays. The multi-layered drama follows four interconnected characters—Rami, Hanan, Miri, and Fifi—as they navigate the pressures of patriarchal values, cultural expectations, and the social systems that shape their realities. Known for his Oscar-nominated debut Ajami, Copti once again challenges viewers to confront the mechanisms of perception and oppression that define everyday life for Palestinian and Israeli communities. Through his innovative use of non-actors, shifting perspectives, and emotionally intimate storytelling, Copti offers a bold exploration of identity, generational conflict, and the human cost of systems that regulate truth and behavior.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film-themed radio show, featuring in-depth interviews with directors, actors, writers, and composers from around the world. Past guests include Laurie Anderson, Chuck D, Carter Burwell, Mike Leigh, Kenneth Lonergan, and many others who are shaping the landscape of contemporary cinema and music.You can follow The Sounds of Film on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts.

The Sounds of Film welcomes director Jota Mun, whose feature documentary Between Goodbyes offers an intimate and emotionally layered view of international adoption and family reunion. The film follows Mieke Murkes, a queer Korean adoptee raised in the Netherlands, as she travels to Seoul to reconnect with her original mother, Okgyun Kang. Their time together reveals decades of unspoken regret, cultural distance, humor, and deep affection, creating a portrait of two women trying to understand one another after a lifetime apart. Drawing from years of observational footage and archival material, Mun brings the often-sidelined experiences of original mothers to the forefront, reframing how audiences understand adoption and kinship.Before its national broadcast debut on POV on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 10pm on PBS, Between Goodbyes will be featured at the Hamptons Doc Fest, where the festival is honoring American Documentary (AmDoc) with its 2025 Impact Award. As part of the celebration, the film will screen on Friday, December 5 at 7:30pm at the Sag Harbor Cinema, followed by a live Q&A with director Jota Mun and AmDoc Executive Director Erika Dilday, and a cocktail reception for attendees. The festival’s Impact Award recognizes AmDoc’s longstanding commitment to elevating independent documentary filmmakers and fostering nonfiction storytelling that sparks civic dialogue and social change. The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music radio show, featuring in-depth conversations with leading filmmakers, musicians, and cultural figures. Past guests include D.A. Pennebaker, John Turturro, William H. Macy, Laurie Anderson, Michael Moore, Barbara Kopple, Chuck D, and many more.The podcast version of The Sounds of Film is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

The Sounds of Film welcomes acclaimed director Maria Friedman, whose filmed production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Merrily We Roll Along was recently featured at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Friedman joins Tom Needham to discuss the remarkable evolution of the musical—from its troubled 1981 Broadway debut to the acclaimed revival she directed and filmed.In the film, adapted from Friedman’s Broadway staging, the story of Merrily We Roll Along unfolds in reverse chronological order, tracing the lives of three friends as they move backward through decades of personal and professional change. The narrative follows composer-turned-Hollywood-producer Franklin Shepard, played by Jonathan Groff; his former songwriting partner Charley Kringas, portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe; and their close friend Mary Flynn, played by Lindsay Mendez. The production features these mature actors moving through the characters’ earlier and later years, highlighting key moments in their friendship, artistic collaboration, and eventual breakup.Friedman’s direction for both stage and film incorporates structural revisions made after the musical’s original 1981 run and presents the story using a cast of adult performers who portray the characters across the full span of the timeline. The filmed version was recorded at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre over multiple performances and preserves the production’s staging, musical numbers, and chronological design as seen in the 2023 Broadway run.The Sounds of Film, hosted by Tom Needham, is the nation’s longest-running film and music radio show, broadcasting for over 35 years on WUSB Stony Brook. The program has featured a remarkable roster of guests, including Laurie Anderson, Nile Rodgers, Carter Burwell, Alexander Payne, Chuck D, Peter Fonda, Wallace Shawn, Cliff Martinez, and more. The show offers in-depth interviews with directors, composers, actors, and cultural commentators, exploring the intersection of cinema, music, and the arts.

The Sounds of Film presents a special podcast episode hosted by Tom Needham and featuring Emmy-winning producer and talent manager Rory Rosegarten, an Executive Producer of Everybody Loves Raymond and Ray Romano’s manager. Rosegarten has represented many performers including Robert Klein and Tom Green, produced the Broadway musical Late Night Comic at age 25, co-executive produced the TNT drama Men of a Certain Age, and won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series for Everybody Loves Raymond. He is also an executive producer of the upcoming Netflix biopic I Slept With Joey Ramone.This episode also highlights LIMEHOF’s new exhibition, Everybody Loves Raymond: Celebrating 30 Years, opening November 28th in Stony Brook. The immersive exhibit features the original 70-foot-wide set created for the show’s 30th anniversary CBS special—on public display for the first time—along with elements from the Paley Museum’s earlier Raymond exhibition. Designed by Kevin O’Callaghan, the experience brings visitors inside the Barone family home with recreated rooms, iconic props such as the fork and spoon and the Christmas toaster, and multimedia clips including rare behind-the-scenes material. The exhibit reflects Rory Rosegarten’s efforts to bring the sitcom’s history to Long Island, where the fictional Barone family lived and where Ray Romano has deep New York roots.

The Sounds of Film welcomes writer-director Michael J. Weithorn for a conversation about THE BEST YOU CAN, a new relationship dramedy that world-premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival and will be available off the record on VOD platforms beginning November 25. Reuniting Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon on screen for the first time in twenty years, the film offers a smart, sharp, and emotionally resonant look at connection, change, and the unexpected pathways that bring people together.In THE BEST YOU CAN, Sedgwick plays Cynthia Rand, a tightly wound New York City urologist whose life is thrown off balance when her husband—portrayed by Judd Hirsch, a brilliant former Watergate prosecutor—begins showing signs of dementia. Bacon co-stars as Stan, a bright but underachieving security guard trying to reconnect with his adult daughter, played by Brittany O’Grady. An unexpected robbery brings Cynthia and Stan together, sparking an unlikely bond that grows into something deeper and more meaningful.THE BEST YOU CAN is written, directed, and produced by Michael J. Weithorn, best known as the co-creator and executive producer of the long-running CBS hit The King of Queens. Before that, he spent four acclaimed seasons on Family Ties, earning multiple Emmy nominations, and wrote for celebrated series including Cheers (WGA Award), The Wonder Years (Emmy nomination), and The Tracey Ullman Show. His additional work includes creating Ned & Stacey, South Central, and True Colors; co-creating the Sundance-screened animated series The Adventures of Baxter and McGuire; writing and directing the feature A Little Help; consulting on The Goldbergs; and creating the Fox comedy Weird Loners.The Sounds of Film, hosted by Tom Needham, is the nation’s longest-running film and music interview show. Over its decades on the air, it has featured conversations with an extraordinary roster of guests, including Ric Burns, John Debney, Carter Burwell, Billy Joel, Ralph Macchio, and Wallace Shawn, as well as countless independent filmmakers, composers, documentarians, and cultural icons.

Filmmaker Joel Gilbert joins Tom Needham on The Sounds of Film to talk about his new documentary, Roseanne Barr: Is America. In the film, the still hilarious and outspoken Roseanne recounts her unusual upbringing and rise to television stardom. A master storyteller, she shares her take on cancel culture, politics, and the challenges facing free expression in America.Gilbert discusses Roseanne’s resilience, her lasting cultural influence, and how her story mirrors the broader divisions in American life. The conversation offers a revealing look at one of comedy’s most controversial and influential voices.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed radio show, airing on WUSB Stony Brook. For over three decades, the program has featured in-depth interviews with filmmakers, musicians, and cultural figures including Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick, Ralph Macchio, and Howard Shore.

This week on The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with Guggenheim Fellow Alan Govenar about his new documentary Quiet Voices in a Noisy World: The Struggle for Change in Jasper, Texas. Opening in New York theaters on November 14, 2025, through First Run Features, the film explores community, race, and healing in the wake of one of America’s most painful tragedies.Govenar discusses the making of the film, his upcoming NYC screenings, and the restoration of his classic tattoo documentary Stoney Knows How, now part of the Criterion Collection. He also reflects on his long career chronicling overlooked voices in American culture through photography, film, writing, and archival work.Alan Govenar is a Guggenheim Fellow, an extensively published author, photographer, filmmaker, sound archivist, and playwright whose work has explored American culture through an incredible range of lenses. He has founded institutions like Documentary Arts, the Texas African American Photography Archive, the Museum of Street Culture, and Truth in Photography. This year marks major milestones for him, including new photography retrospectives, three new books, and the premiere of Quiet Voices in a Noisy World.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed radio show, broadcasting from Stony Brook University for over 35 years. Hosted by Tom Needham, the program has featured guests such as Billy Joel, Laurie Anderson, Hal Hartley, Whit Stillman, Nile Rodgers, and Cornel West.

The next episode of the Sounds of Film features an interview with award-winning filmmaker Cody Sheehy, director of The Last Dive, which will be featured at the Port Jefferson Documentary Film Series on Thursday, November 6 at 7 PM.Sheehy’s stunning new documentary follows Terry Kennedy, a legendary diver and American veteran whose extraordinary friendship with a giant manta ray named Willy Wow transformed him from a man with a troubled past into an unlikely ocean conservationist. Through breathtaking underwater imagery and deeply personal storytelling, The Last Dive captures the beauty, mystery, and emotional depth of one man’s lifelong connection to the sea.Cody Sheehy is an award-winning filmmaker and the founder of Rhumbline Media. He has spent decades living aboard a sailboat with his wife and son, and his work often explores humanity’s relationship with the natural world. His previous film, Make People Better, was an official selection of HotDocs and winner of DocVille. The Last Dive continues his tradition of telling intimate, character-driven stories that highlight courage, transformation, and the urgency of environmental preservation.For over 35 years, Tom Needham’s The Sounds of Film has been America’s longest-running film and music program, broadcasting on WUSB and streaming worldwide. The show has featured interviews with distinguished guests including Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

The Sounds of Film welcomes filmmaker Tim Roper, co-director of the powerful new documentary For the Living. The film tells the extraordinary true story of Marcel Zielinski, a 10-year-old Holocaust survivor who, in January 1945, walked 60 miles by foot from Auschwitz-Birkenau to Krakow in search of his family. Decades later, hundreds of cyclists from around the world retraced his path in a moving event called Ride for the Living, an act of remembrance and empathy that continues to inspire participants each year.For the Living draws profound parallels between Marcel’s journey and the modern world’s continuing struggle between dehumanization and compassion. Featuring moving interviews, historical footage, and stirring original music, the film explores how empathy can serve as humanity’s most powerful defense against hate and indifference. The documentary screens at the Port Jefferson Documentary Series on October 23rd at 7 PM, with director Tim Roper and in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.The Sounds of Film is America’s longest-running film, music, and ideas-themed radio show. For over 35 years, the program has entertained and inspired audiences throughout Long Island, Connecticut, and around the world online. Hosted by Tom Needham, the show has featured an extraordinary range of guests, including Rory Kennedy, D.A. Pennebaker, Dionne Warwick, Whit Stillman, Hal Hartley, Chuck D, Howard Shore, Carter Burwell, William H. Macy, and Wallace Shawn.

The next episode of the SOUNDS OF FILM features an in-depth conversation with Tom Needham and British filmmaker Elliott Hasler, the writer and director of VINDICATION SWIM, the inspiring true story of Mercedes Gleitze, the first British woman to swim the English Channel.VINDICATION SWIM tells the extraordinary story of Gleitze’s 1927 accomplishment and her subsequent struggle to reclaim her achievement after being falsely accused of faking her swim. The film vividly captures both her physical endurance and her determination to defy societal barriers in a male-dominated world. Shot with remarkable authenticity, the film features Kirsten Callaghan in her debut role as Gleitze, performing all her own swimming scenes—without the use of green screens or body doubles. The film also stars John Locke, James Wilby, and Douglas Hodge, who provides narration.Filmed over three years in the actual waters of the English Channel, VINDICATION SWIM stands as a celebration of perseverance, equality, and the indomitable human spirit. Directed by Hasler—who, at just 23, has already been hailed as one of Britain’s most promising young filmmakers—the film brings to life an unsung chapter of British sports and feminist history.About The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed show, hosted by Tom Needham. For over three decades, the program has featured in-depth interviews with many of the world’s leading directors, composers, and artists. Past guests include Laurie Anderson, Ernest Dickerson, Barbara Kopple, and Howard Shore.Listeners can hear The Sounds of Film on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Audible, where it continues to spotlight conversations at the intersection of art, politics, and social justice.

Today’s episode of THE SOUNDS OF FILM features Tom Needham’s interview with director Craig Renaud and producer Juan Arredondo discussing the powerful HBO Original documentary short, ARMED ONLY WITH A CAMERA: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF BRENT RENAUD. The film tells the remarkable and heartbreaking story of filmmaker and journalist Brent Renaud, who was killed by Russian soldiers while covering the war in Ukraine—becoming the first American journalist to die in the conflict.The vérité documentary follows Craig Renaud as he recovers his brother’s body and final footage from Ukraine, weaving together decades of the brothers’ reporting from global conflict zones including Iraq, Haiti, Somalia, and Central America. The result is a moving testament to Brent’s fearless commitment to truth and his empathy for those caught in the chaos of war. Produced by Juan Arredondo and executive produced by HBO Documentary Films and DCTV, Armed Only With a Camera is both a deeply personal story and a tribute to journalists who risk their lives to show the human cost of violence. The documentary premiered at the SXSW Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award in the Documentary Short category, and debuts Tuesday, October 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and streams on Max.About The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed radio show, broadcasting for over three decades. Hosted by Tom Needham, the program offers in-depth interviews with leading directors, composers, and thought leaders from around the world. Past guests have included Laurie Anderson, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Barbara Kopple, Chuck D and Howard Shore.Listeners can hear The Sounds of Film on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. The show continues to explore the intersection of art, politics, and social justice through conversations with today’s most compelling filmmakers and musicians.

On this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham talks with Swiss filmmaker Barbara Miller about her documentary Wisdom of Happiness, in which she films an intimate dialogue with the Dalai Lama about compassion, peace, and resilience in times of crisis. They explore how she captured such candor and warmth, her collaborations, and why kindness is at the heart of lasting transformation.The Sounds of Film has featured past guests such as Billy Joel, Cornel West, Jimmy Webb, Chuck D, Michael Moore, Carter Burwell, Jim Messina, and members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

The Sounds of Film presents an inspiring conversation with Perri Peltz, the award-winning filmmaker behind She Runs the World, which is featured at the Port Jefferson Documentary Series. The film tells the electrifying true story of Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete in Olympic history, who risked her career to fight for what she knew was right.At the height of her fame, Felix became pregnant and discovered that Nike—her longtime sponsor—planned to slash her pay by nearly 70%. Refusing to accept unequal treatment, she took her story public, helping to spark industry-wide reforms that improved maternity protections for female athletes. Her decision to walk away from Nike and create her own sneaker brand designed for women’s feet made headlines around the world.She Runs the World offers an intimate look at Felix’s evolution from athlete to activist and entrepreneur. Through never-before-seen archival footage spanning three decades, the film explores her faith, her family, and her unyielding belief that success should never come at the cost of equality.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed radio show. For over 35 years, host Tom Needham has been providing in-depth conversations with legendary directors, composers, actors, and cultural icons. The show has featured guests such as Howard Shore, Billy Joel, Laurie Anderson, Jordan Peele, Nile Rodgers, and Chuck D, exploring the creative intersections of film, music, and social impact.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

The Sounds of Film is spotlighting Richard Ladkani, the award-winning director of YANUNI, a breathtaking new documentary featured at the Hamptons International Film Festival. The film follows Indigenous leader Juma Xipaia from her remote village in the Brazilian Amazon to the political frontlines of climate justice.After surviving six assassination attempts, Juma becomes Brazil’s first Secretary of Indigenous Rights, while her husband, Hugo Loss, leads dangerous operations against illegal gold miners in the rainforest. Filmed over four years, YANUNI offers an intimate look at their love, courage, and resilience amid rising environmental threats. Executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, the film continues Ladkani’s legacy of powerful environmental storytelling, seen previously in Sea of Shadows and The Ivory Game.Richard Ladkani is an acclaimed Austrian filmmaker and cinematographer who has directed more than fifty documentaries for major international broadcasters, including National Geographic and the BBC. Known for his immersive, visually striking style, Ladkani’s work often explores urgent environmental and human rights issues. His films The Ivory Game and Sea of Shadows both earned global recognition—Sea of Shadows won the Sundance Audience Award, while The Ivory Game was shortlisted for an Academy Award. In 2015, he co-founded Malaika Pictures with his wife Anita, focusing on cinematic storytelling that inspires awareness and change.In his interview with The Sounds of Film, Ladkani discusses the challenges of filming in the Amazon, his collaboration with Juma Xipaia, and how YANUNI illuminates one of the world’s most critical environmental and human rights struggles.Hosted by Tom Needham, The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed radio show, offering in-depth interviews with leading voices in cinema and culture. Past guests include Billy Joel, Alexander Payne, Carter Burwell, and Howard Shore.The Sounds of Film airs on WUSB 90.1 FM Stony Brook and streams live at wusb.fm. Episodes are also available on major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.

The Sounds of Film features an interview with Jeremy Power Regimbal, director of Between the Mountain and the Sky, a powerful new documentary about humanitarian Maggie Doyne. The film follows Doyne’s journey from a young American traveler to the founder of a children’s home, school, and women’s center in Nepal. Her inspiring partnership with Tope, a Nepalese orphan, leads to global recognition when she is named CNN’s 2015 Hero of the Year, and the film explores both her triumphs and unimaginable losses with honesty and grace.On October 9th, the Port Jefferson Documentary Film Series screens Between the Mountain and the Sky at The First United Methodist Church of Port Jefferson at 7 p.m. Following the screening, three Long Island high school students lead a special discussion on youth volunteerism and global citizenship. Advance tickets are $10 at humanitix.com.The Sounds of Film is America’s longest-running film and music program, broadcasting for over 35 years on WUSB Stony Brook and streaming worldwide. Past guests include Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film interview with Jeremy Power Regimbal is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

The Sounds of Film will spotlight Ari Selinger, the writer-director of On The End, as the film makes its world premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival on October 4th. The feature debut is a moving love story and a powerful David vs. Goliath tale, inspired by the real-life struggles of Montauk mechanic Tom, who fought to keep his home and repair shop from being taken by the town of East Hampton.Starring Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Mireille Enos (World War Z), James Badge Dale (The Departed), Lois Smith (Lady Bird), and Anna Chlumsky (Veep), the film captures the spirit of resilience, love, and community in the face of greed and displacement. Following its Hamptons premiere, On The End will continue on the festival circuit with screenings at the Woodstock Film Festival on October 19th and the Newport Beach Film Festival on October 20th and 23rd.Director Ari Selinger, a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and NYU Tisch graduate, has long been drawn to telling stories about outsiders and overlooked voices. After years of making shorts and festival films on Long Island’s East End, he found inspiration in the true-life story of Tom and Freckles. With On The End, Selinger channels both his personal connection to Montauk and his passion for deeply human stories into his first feature film.About The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is America’s longest running film and music radio show. For over 35 years, host Tom Needham has delivered an eclectic mix of music and interviews to audiences across Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and streaming worldwide on WUSB. The program has featured a wide range of celebrated guests, including Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Peter Fonda, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film Podcast is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Academy Award Winner Marshall Curry Talks NEW YORKER AT 100 & Hamptons International Film Festival on SOUNDS OF FILMThe Sounds of Film welcomes Academy Award–winning filmmaker Marshall Curry for a conversation about his new Netflix documentary The New Yorker at 100. The film offers unprecedented access inside the offices of The New Yorker during its centennial year, revealing the obsessive craft behind its reporting, fiction, and cartoons. Curry captures editors, writers, and artists at work, while also tracing the magazine’s remarkable history and cultural influence over the past century.The New Yorker at 100 made its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and will be featured at the Hamptons International Film Festival, with screenings scheduled for October 9th and October 12th at 8:00 PM. For longtime readers and newcomers alike, the film provides an intimate portrait of the publication’s unique editorial process and enduring place in American life.Marshall Curry is an Academy Award–winning filmmaker whose work spans both documentary and narrative film. His documentaries include Street Fight, Racing Dreams, If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, and the archival short A Night at the Garden. In 2020, his film The Neighbors’ Window won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short. With The New Yorker at 100, Curry turns his camera on one of America’s most iconic magazines, blending history, journalism, and behind-the-scenes access.About The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is America’s longest-running film and music radio show. For over 35 years, host Tom Needham has delivered an eclectic mix of music and interviews to audiences across Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and streaming worldwide on WUSB. The program has featured guests such as Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Peter Fonda, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

This week on The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with journalist and author David J. Lynch about his new book, The World’s Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong and What Would Make It Right.Lynch joined The Washington Post in 2017 after covering white-collar crime for the Financial Times. He has also served as cybersecurity editor at Politico and as a senior writer at Bloomberg News. Earlier in his career, he reported on the global economy for USA Today, opening bureaus in London and Beijing, and covered the wars in Kosovo and Iraq as an embedded journalist with the U.S. Marines. He was also the paper’s first Nieman fellow at Harvard University.In The World’s Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong and What Would Make It Right, Lynch argues that the United States miscalculated by overcommitting to globalization. Instead of universal prosperity and greater political liberalization, the result was industrial decline, economic dislocation, and a surge in populism. Blending history with on-the-ground reporting, the book traces globalization’s trajectory from the fall of the Soviet Union to today’s geopolitical rivalries, while offering ideas for a more balanced path forward.About The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is America’s longest running film and music radio show. For over 35 years, host Tom Needham has delivered an eclectic mix of music and interviews to audiences across Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and streaming worldwide on WUSB. The program has featured guests such as Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Peter Fonda, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com.

The latest episode of The Sounds of Film spotlights Ask E. Jean, a powerful new documentary directed by Ivy Meeropol. The film takes viewers on a journey through the extraordinary life of journalist, advice columnist, and cultural icon E. Jean Carroll. Known for her fearless voice and sharp wit, Carroll has lived a life that reflects both the struggles and triumphs of women redefining their roles in media, culture, and society. The film explores Carroll’s extraordinary career—from her groundbreaking work in journalism to her legal battles against Donald Trump, where she became the only woman to defeat him in court twice. Ask E. Jean is set to screen at the Hamptons International Film Festival on October 4th at 2:15, and October 5th at 5:00, giving audiences on Long Island the opportunity to experience this compelling portrait on the big screen. In this episode, host Tom Needham speaks with the director about the making of the film and the inspiration behind bringing such a remarkable story to the screen. The discussion highlights the artistry, challenges, and creative process of telling a story that blends personal history, cultural commentary, and moments of courage.The Sounds of Film Radio Show is America’s longest running music and film show. For over 35 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of music and interviews to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and streaming worldwide on the internet on WUSB. Past guests include Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Peter Fonda, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

This week on The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham welcomes writer, director, and producer Jacqueline Christy, whose feature debut Magic Hour will screen October 4th and 5th at 5:30 p.m. at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Starring Miriam Shor (American Fiction, Younger), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes, Never Have I Ever), and Austin Pendleton (My Cousin Vinny), the film follows Harriet Peterson, a cinephile stuck in the suburbs who pursues her dream of becoming a filmmaker after her husband leaves her unexpectedly. Inspired by Christy’s own journey of entering NYU’s Graduate Film Program in her forties, Magic Hour is a heartfelt exploration of reinvention and the transformative power of film.Christy is the founder of Access Theater and has received support from the NYC Women’s Fund, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Hollywood Foreign Press, and the Sloan Foundation. She has assistant directed Radium Girls, Equity, and Fry Day, and her short films include Rehearsal, Other People, and The Dependents.The Sounds of Film Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. The Sounds of Film Radio Show is America’s longest running music and film show. For over 35 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of music and interviews to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and streaming worldwide on the internet on WUSB. Past guests include Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Peter Fonda, and Rory Kennedy.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

On this week’s Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with award-winning filmmaker and biotech entrepreneur Bill Haney, director of Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution. Narrated by Mark Ruffalo, the documentary traces the extraordinary journey of Phil Sharp, a Kentucky farm boy born in a one-room, dirt-floor house who overcame severe dyslexia to win the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking discovery of RNA splicing. Sharp went on to co-found biotech giants like Biogen and Alnylam, helping to spark a revolution in medicine that today touches billions of lives.More than a biography, Cracking the Code is both a celebration of Sharp’s achievements and a call to imagine the future of science, innovation, and the American Dream. The conversation explores Sharp’s roots, his scientific discoveries, the birth of the biotech industry, and the broader cultural themes of resilience, entrepreneurship, and the importance of supporting scientific research.Bill Haney is an award-winning filmmaker, inventor, and entrepreneur whose work has earned honors including the Gabriel Prize, Amnesty International Award, and the Pare Lorentz Award. He has founded or helped launch more than a dozen companies and is currently CEO of Dragonfly Therapeutics and Skyhawk Therapeutics, developing innovative drugs for cancer, autoimmune, and neurological diseases. Audiences will also have a chance to experience Cracking the Code on the big screen at the Port Jefferson Documentary Film Series, where it will open the season on Thursday , September 25th at 7:00 PM. The screening promises to be an inspiring evening highlighting one of America’s most influential scientists and innovators.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running program dedicated to the intersection of film and music. For over three decades, it has presented an engaging mix of in-depth interviews and cinematic music to audiences across Long Island, Connecticut, and online. Notable past guests include Cornel West, Billy Joel, Jimmy Webb, Chuck D., Michael Moore, Carter Burwell, Jim Messina, and members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble. The Sounds of Film is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

On this week’s episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with Annie Roney, founder of the In Real Life (IRL) Movie Club. Roney’s national nonprofit is dedicated to strengthening communities and bridging America’s political divides through the simple act of gathering together for films and conversations. The club’s upcoming nationwide screening of My Omaha will take place on October 12 in over 100 theaters across the country, including Hudson, Huntington, New Paltz, and Bronxville in New York.The chosen film, My Omaha, follows filmmaker Nick Beaulieu as he documents his hometown’s activism and his difficult relationship with his father, Randy, a devoted Trump supporter battling terminal cancer. Guided by activist Leo Louis II, Beaulieu searches for common ground with his father while confronting the racial and political divides that define Omaha—and the nation. By selecting this film, IRL Movie Club hopes to encourage audiences from different backgrounds to sit down, watch together, and then engage in meaningful, face-to-face dialogue.Instead of a traditional Q&A format, IRL encourages members to strike up conversations with seatmates and carry those discussions into local coffee shops and restaurants afterward. With subsidized tickets costing only $5 and free membership, Roney’s vision is deliberately grassroots, accessible, and community-driven—an effort to rebuild connection one screening at a time.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music themed radio show. For decades, host Tom Needham has interviewed a diverse roster of influential guests, including Laurie Anderson, Billy Joel, Cornel West, Alec Baldwin, Nile Rodgers, Dionne Warwick, Rob Reiner, and Ric Burns. The program has earned a reputation for spotlighting socially conscious filmmakers, musicians, and cultural leaders while offering in-depth discussions on the intersection of art, politics, and society. The Sounds of Film can be heard on radio and is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

Legendary drummer John Densmore of The Doors is joining host Tom Needham on The Sounds of Film for a special conversation about his role in the acclaimed documentary “Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary.”A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Densmore is celebrated not only as the founding—and sole—drummer of The Doors, but also as a respected songwriter, actor, and author. With the band, he helped create timeless hits like “Light My Fire,” “Break on Through,” “Touch Me,” “People Are Strange,” and “L.A. Woman.” Beyond his music career, Densmore has written two bestselling books, “Riders on the Storm” and “The Doors Unhinged: Jim Morrison’s Legacy Goes Up on Trial,” and is currently at work on a new memoir, “Meetings with Remarkable Musicians.”Densmore appears prominently in John Scheinfeld’s film “Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary,” which highlights the genius of jazz icon John Coltrane. The documentary features insights from figures such as President Bill Clinton, Carlos Santana, and Cornel West, while Denzel Washington provides narration. A central focus of the film is Coltrane’s masterpiece “A Love Supreme,” composed in his home in Dix Hills, Long Island.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running program dedicated to the intersection of film and music. For over three decades, it has presented an engaging mix of in-depth interviews and cinematic music to audiences across Long Island, Connecticut, and online. Notable past guests include Cornel West, Billy Joel, Jimmy Webb, Chuck D., Michael Moore, Carter Burwell, Jim Messina, and members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble. The Sounds of Film is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

This week on Classic SOUNDS OF FILM, Tom Needham welcomes Governor Jesse Ventura, one of America’s most unconventional political figures and cultural voices. Ventura served as the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, making history as the only member of the Reform Party ever elected to a major government office in the United States. Beyond politics, he has built a reputation as a provocative truth-seeker and bestselling author, with books.Join Tom Needham for a candid, wide-ranging conversation with Governor Jesse Ventura on politics, media, history, and the stories behind his groundbreaking career. THE SOUNDS OF FILM with Tom Needham Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and YouTube Podcasts.THE SOUNDS OF FILM is also the nation’s longest running film, music and ideas themed radio show. For over 30 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of interviews and music to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut and streaming live on the internet. Past guests include Billy Joel, Alexander Payne, Nile Rodgers, Chuck D, Laurie Anderson, Howard Shore, Hal Hartley, DMC, Elliott Murphy and Jordan Peterson. THE SOUNDS OF FILM airs on WUSB on Thursday at 6 PM.

This week on The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with director Andreas Zerr about his new documentary, Sane Inside Insanity: The Phenomenon of Rocky Horror. The film arrives just in time for the 50th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the cult classic that transformed midnight screenings into a worldwide cultural ritual.Zerr’s documentary goes far beyond nostalgia, tracing Rocky Horror’s unlikely journey from a scrappy stage production in London to the longest-running theatrical release in cinema history. Featuring candid interviews with Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Barry Bostwick, Jim Sharman, Richard Hartley, Sue Blane, and many others, the film uncovers never-before-heard stories from the cast, crew, and the fans who kept the phenomenon alive for five decades.On The Sounds of Film, Zerr discusses the decade-long process of making the film, the challenges of capturing such a sprawling cultural story, and his surprising personal journey from casual observer to passionate chronicler of Rocky Horror’s impact. Sane Inside Insanity opens in North America on September 25, 2025.The SOUNDS OF FILM is America’s longest running film and music show. Past guests include William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Chuck D, Dionne Warwick, Barbara Kopple, Rory Kennedy, Hal Hartley, Kenneth Cole and Whit Stillman. The Sounds of Film Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. The Sounds of Film Radio Shows airs weekly on Thursdays on WUSB.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

This week on The Sounds of Film, Tom Needham welcomes Alan Dershowitz—New York Times bestselling author and one of the most influential legal minds in America. Politico has described him as “one of the most prominent and consistent defenders of civil liberties in America,” while Newsweek has hailed him as “the nation’s most peripatetic civil liberties lawyer and one of its most distinguished defenders of individual rights.”Dershowitz joins the show to discuss his latest book, Cancel Culture. In it, he explores the urgent debates surrounding free speech, due process, and fairness in public life. The book argues for careful judgment in deciding when, how, and whether to cancel, boycott, deplatform, or exclude—emphasizing the need for objective and principled standards.While Dershowitz critiques the dangers of cancel culture—such as snap judgments, social media-driven punishment without due process, and applying today’s values to history—he also recognizes the intentions of those who see it as a tool for social change. He even acknowledges that cancellation itself can be viewed as a form of constitutionally protected expression.For more information about The Sounds of Film, please visit soundsoffilm.com

Academy Award®–nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker Connie Field joins The Sounds of Film to discuss her urgent new documentary Democracy Noir. The film examines how Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán systematically dismantled democratic institutions while maintaining power through popular support, nationalist rhetoric, and constitutional manipulation. Field highlights the stories of three women—a politician, a journalist, and a nurse—who risk everything to expose corruption and resist authoritarian rule. Democracy Noir has already made a global impact, earning nominations and awards at leading festivals.With unflinching detail, the film shows how Orbán’s playbook of consolidating power, controlling the media, and stoking nationalist sentiment has become a model for rising movements worldwide. The documentary not only sheds light on Hungary’s struggles but also reflects urgent parallels with political developments in the United States and beyond.In this conversation, Connie Field shares the challenges of documenting resistance, the importance of amplifying women’s voices in the fight for democracy, and the lessons global audiences can learn from Hungary’s political transformation. More than a cautionary tale, Democracy Noir is a rallying call to defend democratic values wherever they are under threat.For more information about the Sounds of Film, please visit soundsoffilm.com