Film School artwork

Film History · Ira Heinichen, Joshua McClenney

Film School

by Ira Heinichen, Joshua McClenney

A filmmaker and a writer tackle the AFI's Top 100 Films and beyond to educate themselves about movies and storytelling. Welcome to Film School!

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

My Neighbor Totoro (Hayao Miyazaki Deep Dive #4)

"Trees and people used to be good friends..." This week, we're watching Miyazaki's first masterpiece.

Oct 13
1 h 11 min

The Devil's Backbone

What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? An instant of pain, perhaps? Something dead which still seems to be alive? An emotion suspended in t

Oct 13 2025
1 h 05 min

What Is Genre? (Cutting Room Floor #233)

When we talk about "genre" as it relates to movies, books, comics, etc. what do we mean? What IS "genre?" Josh and Ira break down how we use that term on Film School. A

Sep 4 2025
1 h 00 min

Castle in the Sky (Hayao Miyazaki Deep Dive #3)

Sep 1 2025
1 h 06 min

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Hayao Miyazaki Deep Dive #2)

"The earth knows it's wrong for us to survive..." We're diving into Miyazaki's second feature film! The world is a wasteland called the "sea of despair." But one intrep

Aug 25 2025
1 h 19 min

The Criterion Closet (Cutting Room Floor #232)

Josh and Ira take a trip outdoors to visit the Criterion Closet when it visited Los Angeles. It was a hoot!

Jul 7 2025
1 h 16 min

The Castle of Cagliostro (Hayao Miyazaki Deep Dive #1)

Hayao Miyazaki's first film!

Jun 30 2025
1 h 21 min

Up Next On Film School: Hayao Miyazaki Deep Dive!

Josh announces our next project on Film School: we're diving deep into the Japanese anime master, Hayao Miyazaki!

Jun 23 2025
21 min

Sideways

I'm not drinking any f----ing merlot!

Jun 16 2025
1 h 28 min

The Game

Discovering the object of the game is the object of the game... It's hard to follow up a classic thriller like Seven, but that's exactly what David Fincher had to do wi

Jun 9 2025
1 h 05 min

High Anxiety

I know what came over you: High Anxiety. You've still got it! Well, it turns out we couldn't quite get ol' Hitch out of our system, and neither could Mel Brooks. The ki

Jun 2 2025
39 min

The Essential Hitchcock (Cutting Room Floor #231)

53 films. 50 years. 6 decades. After watching every single movie Alfred Hitchcock ever made (minus one, lost in time), Josh and Ira reflect back on the past two years the

May 26 2025
1 h 04 min

Family Plot (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #53)

Leave your crystal balls out of this, George... It's Hitchcock's final film. After 6 decades, 53 films, and 50 years, Alfred Hitchcock finally reached the end. His last

May 19 2025
54 min

Navigating Transition Periods (Cutting Room Floor #230)

When you're entering into a new chapter of life--any kind; moving, finishing a big project, marriage, divorce, kids, a breakthrough in therapy, new job...--how do you han

May 12 2025
43 min

Frenzy (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #52)

Don't forget: Bob's your uncle... It's Hitchcock's penultimate film! Second-to-last! And first film in the wild 70s, an era where the R-rating became a thing, and a new

Apr 14 2025
1 h 05 min

If You Ain't Napping, It Ain't Happening (Cutting Room Floor #229)

Do you take naps? If you don't, why is that? And if you do, do you feel guilty about it? Or are they a regular part of your routine (at least when life allows it)? We dis

Mar 17 2025
39 min

Topaz (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #51)

Does the word "topaz" mean anything to you? The Cold War rages on in the world, and Hitchcock delivers a political/spy thriller centered on the lead-up to the Cuban Mis

Mar 10 2025
1 h 01 min

Is It Okay To Compromise? (Cutting Room Floor #228)

When making art like writing or telling a story, when do you compromise? Or DO you compromise? The word is so loaded with negative connotation, but its definition is so s

Mar 3 2025
41 min

Torn Curtain (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #50)

How would you like to live behind what you call the Iron Curtain...? It's the height of the cold war. Hitch swaps his nationless networks of mysterious criminals for a

Feb 24 2025
1 h 15 min

How To Make Sense Of David Lynch (Cutting Room Floor #227)

"Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you've got to go deeper."  David Lynch p

Feb 17 2025
49 min

Chart trend

Position in the Film History chart (US), last 90 days.

#37
all-time peak
12
days in the top 50 since Dec 2024

Chart positions

Where Film School ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 14, 2026).

#86 NEW Film History US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I went to film school and graduated right before the pandemic, meaning all my film contacts took their separate ways while we were living in the shutdown. Four years later, I’ve been dying to have film theory conversations with others who study the craft, and this is pretty much it. Granted, I’m not talking with them, but it feels like I am with how conversational the hosts are, AND most of my thoughts parallel theirs. Such a great podcast that I’ll be recommending to all my fellow film buffs.

Jpmac98 · Mar 2024

The best part of listening to Ira and Josh is getting a glimpse of their friendship. Even during their serious conversations about films and life, listening to Film School is like hanging out with that good friend who always makes you laugh.

MKahwaty · Jan 2020

I follow a couple dozen podcasts, most of which are about writing. Because time and life are short, I typically listen at about 40% accelerated playback. If podcasters don't get to the point, I get frustrated. Quickly. When I listened to the Blade Runner episode of Film School, it took Josh and Ira 15 minutes to finally get to the meat of the show. On pretty much any other podcast, I would have bailed at the 10-minute mark. But these two... Josh and Ira are the most fun you can have listening to a podcast without being high. They're fun and original and quick-witted, and I would have been happy to let them ramble on forever. Thankfully, though, they didn't. I've watched Blade Runner twice -- once in my 20s and once in my 40s. Both times, I was absolutely bored out of my mind, but I never wanted to share my thoughts, because Blade Runner is like The Gospel of Sci-Fi. Thou shalt not criticize, you cretin! Gorgeous, yes. Overflowing with themes and ideas, yes. But boooooring. It wasn't just that Josh and Ira agreed with me. It was how they dissected WHY it was boring. What worked and what didn't. If you enjoy films and want to discuss them beyond the level of "that was pretty rad," then you will enjoy this podcast. It strikes just the right mix of intelligence and entertainment. Seriously, try it out.

bodhiwvw · Mar 2019

There’s just something great about hearing two film geeks break down the best flicks of all times. This ones in the regular rotation. Easy and fun.

MsD_Marie · Mar 2019

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.

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About Film School on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Film School, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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