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The Film Hobbyist

Join your host Lydia in her garret room and enjoy a cozy collection of essays about movies and ideas.Movies have been Lydia’s hobby since she began pouring over the film pullout section of the Friday paper as a 10-year-old. She’s kept up with weekly releases and reviews ever since, building up an encyclopedic knowledge of film trivia and a reputation for reliable recommendations to friends and family. With a background in creative writing and experience in performing, Lydia is delighted to share her passion for film.

  1. 19

    Journey for Margaret (1942): The Changing Perspective of Time

    Due to a fallen tree and a downed power line, Lydia's attic room is out of commission. So join her in her hotel suite for a discussion on a film she watched as a child, too young to understand the complex historical context and pychological realities depicted, and how that changing perspective is key to this movie's legacy.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  2. 18

    Wake Up Dead Man (2025): Subverting Subversion

    Grab your cardigan and a cup of tea, and join Lydia on her front porch to discover Rian Johnson's career spanning love of subversion and irony, why it makes him such a good master of mystery, and how Lydia was surprised by how he chose to tackle a thorny subject in his most recent film.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  3. 17

    Little Women (1994): The Grief of Growing Up

    As the world longs for the warmth of spring, join Lydia in her attic room for a discussion of one of her favorite films, how it echoes parts of her growing up, fills out the adaptation with historical context, and captures the melancholy inherent in maturity.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  4. 16

    Behind the Scenes: A Season Finale

    Today, Lydia celebrates the first year of The Film Hobbyist by taking some time to answer frequently asked questions about the attic, how she picks films, and what she hopes to accomplish in the next year.https://bsky.app/profile/thefilmhobbyist.bsky.socialAttributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  5. 15

    In the Heat of the Night (1967): Anger and Empathy

    As the heaps of snow persist outside, join Lydia for a discussion of hotly debated Oscar winners and the value of rage in humanization. Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  6. 14

    It Happened One Night (1934) : The First Rom Com

    January is a time for new beginnings. Come celebrate with Lydia as she discusses the beginning of a beloved genre and the fascinating deviations in its origin.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  7. 13

    Klaus (2019): The Practice of Doing Good

    Lydia has invited you to spend a bit of the holidays with her, talking about the Christmas masterpiece Klaus, why it makes her cry, and how it misstates its own theme.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  8. 12

    My Mom Jayne (2025): An Exercise in Humanization

    In the midst of bone-chilling weather, come sit under a granny square blanket, clutching a warm mug of tea as Lydia talks about the documentary My Mom Jayne, the things that stole Jayne Mansfield's humanity, and how director Mariska Hargitay restores it.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  9. 11

    Office Space (1999): A Generational Perspective

    Escape the daily grind of the workweek by joining Lydia in her attic room to discuss Mike Judge's 1999 film Office Space through a generation lens. As silly as generational cohorts are, they do offer some insight into changing attitudes toward work and provide some ironies in what remains the same.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  10. 10

    Superman (2025): Moral Cognitive Dissonance

    On this chilly fall day, come visit Lydia in her attic room to talk movies with a guest about James Gunn's Superman, a movie they both really like, and the flaw that they cannot unsee.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  11. 9

    Sunset Boulevard (1950): A Gothic Film Noir

    It's Spooky Season! As the leaves drizzle down in Lydia's backyard, come discover the origins of Film Noir and its relationship to Gothic storytelling, all through the lens of Billy Wilder's 1950 masterpiece.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  12. 8

    The Last of the Mohicans (1992): Building a Better Romance

    Come join Lydia for a conversation about a nineteenth century novel and two of its film adaptations, particularly the differences between the protagonists and their romances, and why Michael Mann's Cora Munro rules.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  13. 7

    Uptown Girls (2003): A Fairytale

    Come visit Lydia's attic room to gaze at her new bookshelf while she analyzes the many ways the poorly reviewed early 2000s comedy Uptown Girls is actually an intentionally crafted modern fairytale.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  14. 6

    Andor (2022-2025): Every Person Necessary

    Sit in front of a box fan on a hot day while Lydia explains the existence of the show Andor and what it has to say about the unseen contributions of nameless people.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  15. 5

    Robin Hood (1973): Adapting a Folk Hero

    Come flee the July heat by entering Lydia's memories of a chilly British day as she makes her argument for why the very cheaply made, deeply flawed Disney adaptation of Robin Hood might actually be the most accurate depiction of the traditional version of the character. Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  16. 4

    You Can't Take it with You (1938): A Love Letter from a Lily

    Today, Lydia shares her journey as a writer and craftsperson and how she is inspired and encouraged by 1938's Best Picture winner.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  17. 3

    Rebel Ridge (2024): An Action Movie About De-escalation

    Curl up on a forest green futon for a conversation about what Lydia finds her coziest genre (action movies) and how this Netflix action flick both fulfills audience expectations and challenges the foundations of the genre.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  18. 2

    Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961): The Limits of Escapism

    Grab a cup of coffee and sit with Lydia as she discusses a truly iconic movie poster film, one that she finds to be both a valuable character study and a movie she doesn't particularly like.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  19. 1

    Winter's Bone (2010): The Specificity of Place

    You probably haven't seen this movie. That's ok. Come visit Lydia anyway as she talks about her experience with a particular place and culture, and how it is rarely portrayed truthfully and authentically in film and television.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. Rain background by SoundsForYou.

  20. 0

    Wicked Part 1 (2024): An Argument for the Public Domain

    On this chilly, Spring day, join Lydia in a nook of her attic room to discuss Wicked: Part 1, The Wizard of Oz, and their relationship to the collective inheritance of story and art called the public domain.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

  21. -1

    Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): An Introduction

    Lydia welcomes you to her attic room to talk about her love for Raiders of the Lost Ark. Come curl up under a granny square blanket and discuss the sublime, the painful origins of the adventure genre, and the excellence of Marion Ravenwood.Attributions:Opening music: Struggling performed by the Johnny Dodds Trio, obtained from the Open Music Archive, licensed under the Public Domain.Closing music: Beautiful Cinematic Piano Music by Denis-Pavlov-Music used with permission under the Pixabay License.Soundscape: Various clips used with permission under the Pixabay License. Mourning dove sound clip by Spanac used with permission from the Free Sounds Library under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Join your host Lydia in her garret room and enjoy a cozy collection of essays about movies and ideas.Movies have been Lydia’s hobby since she began pouring over the film pullout section of the Friday paper as a 10-year-old. She’s kept up with weekly releases and reviews ever since, building up an encyclopedic knowledge of film trivia and a reputation for reliable recommendations to friends and family. With a background in creative writing and experience in performing, Lydia is delighted to share her passion for film.

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Lydia

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Film Hobbyist have?

The Film Hobbyist currently has 21 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Film Hobbyist about?

Join your host Lydia in her garret room and enjoy a cozy collection of essays about movies and ideas.Movies have been Lydia’s hobby since she began pouring over the film pullout section of the Friday paper as a 10-year-old. She’s kept up with weekly releases and reviews ever since, building up an...

How often does The Film Hobbyist release new episodes?

The Film Hobbyist has 21 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The Film Hobbyist?

You can listen to The Film Hobbyist 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 The Film Hobbyist?

The Film Hobbyist is created and hosted by Lydia.
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