River Cities Reader Podcast
Live to tape interviews with Reader team members as guests on other broadcast, radio and podcast shows. Alive & Free Since 1993. The Quad Cities’ Independent Newspaper. Know More. Do More.
Recent Episodes
Oct. 16, 2026
October 16, 2026, with Dave and Darren — “Other Mommy,” “The Social Reckoning,” and “Angel and the Badman”
Dave Levora, Darren Pitra, and Mike Schulz discuss film and what it will take to remove Aaron Sorkin from the film world. Which may involve removing him from the world entirely. Discussed: Other Mommy (dir Rob Savage, starr Jessica Chastain, Jay Duplass, Arabella Olivia Clark, Dichen Lachman, Arian Moayed, and Karen Allen). The Social Reckoning (dir Aaron Sorkin, starr Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, Bill Burr, Betty Gilpin, and Billy Magnussen). Angel and the Badman (dir J
Oct. 8, 2026
October 8, 2026, with Dave and Darren — “Verity” and “Digger”
Dave Levora, Darren Pitra, and Mike Schulz discuss film and the unforeseen success of Coyote vs Acme, which is satisfying for reasons other than its quality (Warner Bros Disccovery wanted to shelve it and declare a tax write-off, given their own lack of faith in CvA). Under scrutiny: Verity (dir Michael Showalter, starr Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett, Ismael Cruz Córdova, and Irina Dvorovenko). Digger (dir Alejandro G Iñárritu, starr Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris Jr, and Ni
Oct. 1, 2026
October 1, 2026, with Dave and Darren — “Primetime,” “Heart of the Beast,” and “Forgotten Island”
Dave Levora, Darren Pitra, and Mike Schulz discuss film and the limited number of ways one can pronounce “Anaconda.” Scrutinized: Primetime (dir Lance Oppenheim, starr Robert Pattinson, Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, and Phoebe Bridgers). Heart of the Beast (dir David Ayer, starr Brad Pitt, J K Simmons, Anna Lambe, and Uber). The Disney animated fantasy comedy Forgotten Island (irs. Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, voice H E R [aka Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson], Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Je
Sept. 24, 2026
September 24, 2026, with Dave and Darren — “Resident Evil,” “The Weight,” and “Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom”
Dave Levora, Darren Pitra, and Mike Schulz talk film and wonder aloud what will happen when super-hero films become a ruinous investment for the movie studios. Under present scrutinization: The Resident Evil reboot (dir Zach Cregger, starr Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Johnno Wilson, and Paul Walter Hauser). The Weight (dir Padraic McKinley, starr Ethan Hawke, Russell Crowe, Julia Jones, Austin Amelio, Avi Nash, Lucas Lynggaad Tonnesen, George Burgess, Cameron Brady, Avy Berry, Alec
Sept. 17, 2026
September 17, 2026, with Dave and Darren — “Practical Magic 2,” “The Uprising,” “Runner,” and “Hope”
Dave Levora, Darren Pitra, and Mike Schulz talk film and the demerits (considerable) and merits (nugatory) of Oasis. Under present scrutinization: Practical Magic 2 (dir Susanne Bier, starr Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, and Xolo Maridueña). The Runner (dir Kevin Macdonald, starr Gal Gadot, Damian Lewis, and Alfred Enoch). The Uprising (dir Paul Greengrass, starr Andrew Garfield, Jamie Bell, Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander
Sept. 11, 2026
September 10, 2026, with Dave and Darren — “By Any Means,” “Onslaught,” “Fall 2: Deadpoint,” and “Mother Mary”
Dave Levora, Darren Pitra, and Mike Schulz talk film and the launch of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 reboot. Score! Under scrutiny: By Any Means (dir Elegance Bratton, starr Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Wahlberg, Nicole Beharie, Josh Lucas, LisaGay Hamilton, LaChanze, Ethan Embry, David Strathairn, and Giancarlo Esposito). Onslaught (dir Adam Wingard, starr Adria Arjona, Dan Stevens, Eric Wareheim, Reginald VelJohnson, Michael Biehn, Alex Pereira, Drew Starkey, and Rebecca Hall). Fall 2: D