Special Topics in Media
Special Topics in Media Studies is a lecture-based podcast that tackles media history one artifact at a time. Each season of the series we will investigate a different mass media theme, medium, or programming genre. While our focus is educational (it is an academic podcast after all), we tailor our conversations toward a broad audience of media enthusiasts.
Episodes
164 episodes
Film Review: One Battle After Another ... One Pod After Another
The 2025 Summer Movie Season interruption CONTINUES with a second reflection on Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. 2025). How does PTA's latest film rate as a Border Western, and what character theme...
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40:01
Audiences Weren't Ready For "Eddington"...And They're Not Ready For "One Battle After Another"
We interrupt this 2025 Summer Movie Season programming with a report from the FUTURE! Or, at least the present. Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another has arrived in theaters to immense pre-release critical acclaim. But will t...
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14:29
Summer Movie Season Top 5's - Summer Movies Snacks!
Summer is a time to celebrate a great many things, and we are seasonally framing our favorite "cool down" treats for a hot sunny day at the movies . Host Garret Castleberry grabs his wallet, swipes his card, and collects enough goodies to count...
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Season 10
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Episode 19
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20:42
2025 Summer Movie Season - June
We're BACK! After a minor hiatus to update the power converters and reset the flux capacitor (movie logic excuses only), the 2025 Summer Movie Season resumes with an enriched look into the month of June. Host Garret Castleberry is joined by Kyl...
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Season 10
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Episode 18
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1:15:15
Summer Movie Season - Retro Rewatches Special!
It's a mid-season interlude ripe with nostalgia! Helping transition from early to mid-summer focus, Special Topics in Media offers a "2025 Summer Movie Season" side story. Host Garret Castleberry sits down with scholarly cinephile Kyle...
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Season 10
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Episode 17
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34:05
Summer Movie Season Top 5's - Rainy Day Movie Theater Drop-Ins
It's an early fall celebration! The rainy season arrived unexpectedly this August, and to commemorate the cool down, Special Topics in Media offers a "2025 Summer Movie Season" reprieve. Host Garret Castleberry dims the lights, curls u...
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Season 10
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Episode 16
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26:51
2025 Summer Movie Season - May
The Special Topics in Media event "2025 Summer Movie Season" expands with a deep dive into the major releases of May! Kyle Hammonds joins host Garret Castleberry to assess the technical start to summer. The rhetorical rev...
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Season 10
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Episode 15
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1:23:19
Summer Movie Season Top 5's - First Run In-Theater Heart-Pounding Experiences ...and Kindergarten Graduation!
In this early interlude within our Special Topics in Media "2025 Summer Movie Season", host Garret Castleberry accesses sentimental bias to recall his "Top 5 First-Run Summertime In-Theater Heart-Pounding Experiences". It...
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Season 10
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Episode 14
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32:19
2025 Summer Movie Season - April
The extended "2025 Summer Movie Season" wrap-up conversation starts here! Host Garret Castleberry is joined by media scholar Kyle Hammonds to list, rate, and respond to the films that ushered in the summer movie season back in April.
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Season 10
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Episode 13
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1:02:32
Summer Movie Season Top 5's - The Brainstorm!
As we get set to premiere our "2025 Summer Movie Season", host Garret Castleberry ushers in a secondary moviegoing conversation that strikes at the heart of memories, movies, and personal preferences. It's a Top 5 Brainstor...
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Season 10
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Episode 12
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14:26
2025 Summer Movie Season - The Preview!
The cinema harvest is nearly here! Tune in to our "2025 Summer Movie Season" preview event. Host Garret Castleberry and Kyle Hammonds dart under the velvet rope, cut through the concession lines, and sneak into their local ...
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Season 10
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Episode 11
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13:58
Talking Mass Communication Perspectives - "Smartphones as Substitute Teachers"
This week we wind down our "Talking Mass Communication Perspectives" season of Special Topics in Media
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Season 13
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Episode 5
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41:38
Talking Mass Communication Perspectives - "Hashtag Advertising and Multistep Flow Theory"
Welcome to the "Talking Mass Communication Perspectives" season of Special Topics in Media. Once ag...
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Season 13
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Episode 4
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41:16
Talking Mass Communication Perspectives - "Muted Group Theory in Pixar Animation"
Welcome to the "Talking Mass Communication Perspectives" season of Special Topics in Media. This we...
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Season 13
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Episode 3
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42:15
150th Episode Monologue!
In this summer interlude, host Garret Castleberry looks back at the past year's programming themes, while setting the stage for ongoing programming to come. Host: Garret CastleberryProducers: Garret Castleberry...
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12:07
Talking Mass Communication Perspectives - "Fantasy Theme Analysis in TV's Parks & Rec"
Welcome to the "Talking Mass Communication Perspectives" season of Special Topics in Media. This we...
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Season 13
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Episode 2
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37:42
Talking Mass Communication Perspectives - "Interpreting Hegemony in Disney"
Welcome to the "Talking Mass Communication Perspectives" season on Special Topics in Media. This we...
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Season 13
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Episode 1
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37:33
Talking Mass Communication Perspectives - The Teaser!
A New Season begins! What is on deck? Who is covering it? And why should you listen!Reading Reference: Roberts, Kathleen Glenister (Editor).
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Season 13
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10:37
Internship Interview Series: "Sports Social Media & Graphic Design" with Jacob Mallozzi
Closing out our Internship Interview Series, host Garret Castleberry visits with graduating senior and MACU's Men's Baseball pitcher Jacob ...
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Season 12
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Episode 6
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25:22
Internship Interview Series: "Social Media Coordinator" with Kaetlen Schier
Winding down this month's Internship Interview Series, host Garret Castleberry visits with junior Kaetlen Schier, a student athlete "t...
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Season 12
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Episode 5
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24:07
Internship Interview Series: "Multimedia Ministry" with Brady Allen
Rounding the corner with May's Internship Interview Series, host Garret Castleberry connects with junior Brady Allen, a missions-minded med...
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Season 12
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Episode 4
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17:25
Internship Interview Series: "Social Media Videography" with Jared Hinkle
Continuing May's Internship Interview Series, host Garret Castleberry connects with sophomore Jared Hinkle, a burgeoning videographer and s...
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Season 12
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Episode 3
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23:24
Internship Interview Series: "Public Speaking" with Annabeth Fehrle
Diving deeper into May's Internship Interview Series, host Garret Castleberry sits down with graduating senior,
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Season 12
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Episode 2
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24:45
