Welcome to the rock history class you actually want to take!

In this installment, Mike and Michael journey from the heavy, atmosphere-drenched depths of the modern global metal underground to the complex, boundary-pushing realms of contemporary progressive metal and the soul-stirring, legendary heights of late-1960s classic rock.

We kick things off with The Art of Discovery, our mission to find your next musical obsession. Here’s what we have for you this time:

· Asura Falls

· Förderstatus Lärmen

· Unreqvited

Next, we dive into our main topic: Periphery’s brand new record, A Pale White Dot. We explore how the progressive metal pioneers have once again pushed the envelope, blending staggering technical precision with deeply atmospheric, crushing sonic soundscapes. We break down the album's intricate rhythms, soaring melodic hooks, and the sheer evolution of their signature sound. Plus, we want to give a massive shoutout to Reddit users u/Dangerous_Recipe5823 and u/BartHarleyJarvis00 for their terrific recaps of the A Pale White Dot listening parties they attended! Your incredible, boots-on-the-ground insights added a fantastic layer to today's breakdown!

Finally, we head into Michael’s Journey to discuss the monumental 1968 classic, "With a Little Help from My Friends" by Joe Cocker. We uncover how Cocker completely transformed the Beatles' lighthearted tune into a raw, emotionally charged tour de force of blues-rock history.

(00:00:00) - Intro/What Have You Been Listening to this Week?

(00:21:44) - The Art of Discovery

(00:22:12) - Asura Falls "Eyes Wide Open"

(00:26:46) - Förderstatus Lärmen "The Overload"

(00:31:40) - Unreqvited "Void Essence/Frozen Tears"

(00:42:07) - Main Topic: Breaking Down Periphery's 2026 release, "A Pale White Dot"

(01:31:47) - Question for the Audience

(01:31:57) - Can't Wait

(01:33:24) - Michael's Journey: Discussing Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help From My Friends"

(01:39:14) - On the Next Episode

(01:39:52) - Contact Info/Outro THE ART OF DISCOVERY:

· Asura Falls – “Eyes Wide Open”

· Förderstatus Lärmen – “The Overload”

· Unreqvited – “Void Essence/Frozen Tears” (From the album “A Pathway to the Moon”)

CONNECT WITH & SUPPORT US

• Connect With Us & Follow the Show: [https://tinyurl.com/yt48wp3z]
• We are part of the SPDM Crew Network!
• Leave a 5-star review on Apple/Spotify!
• Want to be featured on The Art of Discovery? Send us a message!

Recorded on 05/31/2026

This week on Family Movie Night, Mike Hilty reviews Despicable Me (2015) — the spin-off in the Despicable Me franchise that shows the Minions traveling to London

🎬 Film Discussed:

• Minions (2015)
  • Studio: Illumination Entertainment (formerly Illumination Animation)
  • Can a change of scenery and time really make a difference?

Mike Hilty is a TV and film enthusiast and fellow SPDM Crew podcaster. Find him here:

• 📸 Instagram
• 📺 Serializd
• 🎥 Letterboxd
• ✍️ Articles on SiftPop

Mike also hosts and co-hosts several podcasts in the SPDM Crew family — Mix CD, SPDM TV, and Sportsball — plus the pop culture podcast Geek Speak Louder Than Nerds.

🎬 Check out the Family Movie Night Letterboxd list 🎙️ Subscribe to the Family Movie Night podcast feed

Have a family movie recommendation or want to join the SPDM Crew? Email us at spdmcrew@gmail.com

📲 Follow SPDM Crew: Facebook | X | Instagram | Threads | YouTube | LinkedIn | Bluesky

🎵 Theme music by Kristofer Twadell | Logo by Jason Wilbur @ HiFlyer Creative Studios

Enjoyed the episode? Leave a review and rate us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on your favorite podcast app!

Luke (@lost_movies on X) sits down with Rowan Wood ( @bitsofjoel on X, https://knockonwoodfilm.com/) to talk about life and movies. He can also be found on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/kaUp

Luke is a seasoned movie lover with his own movie blog Lost In Movies. Check it out at lostinmovies.co.uk). Luke is also a frequent contributor on SiftPop (https://www.siftpop.com/?s=luke+burian) and he also appears on the SiftPop Writer's Room podcast and The Scribe Podcast. Check out his Letterboxd: ⁠https://boxd.it/3EB0F⁠

If you are interested in being a guest on Flix and Chill or have a question you'd like to see asked, send us an email at spdmcrew@gmail.com! Follow SPDM Crew on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Blue Sky.

Shout out to Kristofer Twadell for the awesome theme music and Jason Wilbur at HiFlyer Creative for providing the logo!

This week on The Wasteland Watchlist, host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by podcaster and Movie Smash Podcast host Chris Roberts to discuss the landmark animated adaptation of George Orwell's classic political allegory — Animal Farm (1954)!

The Wasteland Watchlist is a film podcast where Shane Conto and a guest randomly select from his ever-growing watchlist for discussion

Shane Conto — film critic, writer & YouTuber:

• 🌐 Website | ▶️ YouTube | 📸 Instagram | 🎥 Letterboxd

Also hosts Wasteland Retrospective, Cinematic Wasteland, and Wasteland Spotlight on the SPDM Crew network.

Chris Roberts — podcaster, host & founder of Off Panel Creations:

• 🎙️ Movie Smash Podcast
• 🌐 Off Panel Creations
• 📘 Facebook | 📸 Instagram

🎙️ Subscribe to The Wasteland Watchlist podcast feed

Want to help Shane clear his watchlist or join the SPDM Crew? Email spdmcrew@gmail.com

📲 Follow SPDM Crew: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | Bluesky 🌐

🎵 Theme music by Kristofer Twadell | Logo by Jason Wilbur @ HiFlyer Creative

Leave a review and rate us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on your favorite podcast app!

This week on Mix CD, hosts Mike Hilty and Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) continue their emotional playlist series their personal rage room playlists!

Shane Conto — film critic, writer, YouTuber & music enthusiast:

• 🌐 Website | ▶️ YouTube | 📸 Instagram | 🎥 Letterboxd

Also hosts Wasteland Retrospective, Wasteland Watchlist, Cinematic Wasteland, and Wasteland Spotlight on the SPDM Crew network.

Mike Hilty — TV, film & music enthusiast and SPDM Crew podcaster:

• 📸 Instagram | 📺 Serializd | 🎥 Letterboxd | ✍️ SiftPop

Also hosts Family Movie Night, Sportsball, SPDM TV, and Geek Speak Louder Than Nerds

🎙️ Subscribe to the Mix CD podcast feed

Want to be a guest on Mix CD or join the SPDM Crew? Email spdmcrew@gmail.com

📲 Follow SPDM Crew: Facebook | X | Instagram | Threads | YouTube | LinkedIn | Bluesky

Leave a review and rate us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on your favorite podcast app!

This week on Flix and Chill, hosts Luke Burian, Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer), and Adam Ritchie (KerbRider) get together to dig into the The Odyssey controversy, the latest in alien and extraterrestrial news, and everything you need to know about physical media collecting in 2025!

🎬 Topics Covered:

• The Odyssey — what's the controversy and where do we land?
• Aliens and extraterrestrial topics — the latest news and discussion
• Physical media collecting — why Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and disc collecting still matter in a streaming world

Luke Burian — film lover, writer & podcaster:

• 🎥 Letterboxd – inMoviesLost
• ✍️ SiftPop
• 🎙️ The Wasteland Retrospective | The Cinematic Wasteland

Shane Conto — film critic, writer & YouTuber:

• 🌿 Linktree – The Wasteland Reviewer
• 🎥 Letterboxd – wastelandshane

Also hosts Wasteland Watchlist, Streaming Wasteland, The Cinematic Wasteland, The Wasteland Retrospective, and The Wasteland Vintage Roadshow on the SPDM Crew network.

Adam Ritchie (KerbRider) — film lover & podcaster:

• 🎥 Letterboxd – kerbrider

🎙️ Subscribe to the Flix and Chill podcast feed

🎵 Theme music by Kristofer Twadell

Leave a review and rate us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on your favorite podcast app!

Tara, Zay, Bree, and David give their panel at Westmoot 2026. After which see how we put everything together. Grab a drink and enjoy. Almien!

About the host:

Tara Jo Nee is an avid Tolkien enthusiast sharing their love of Middle-earth with the world. 🌿 Linktree – More Tolkien Content

Connect with the Guests:

Zay (The Blerdy Dad) — Linktree

Bree - Instagram

David - https://linktr.ee/davidthengoldo

🎙️ Subscribe to the Tolkien on Tap podcast feed on Spotify

🎨 Logo by Alida Mau — follow her work: Instagram | Threads | Bluesky

Enjoyed the episode? Leave a review and rate us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on your favorite podcast app!

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective, host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by Jess Conto for a double dose of beloved Jim Henson Company fantasy classics:

🎬 Films Discussed:

• The Dark Crystal (1982) — Jim Henson & Frank Oz's groundbreaking dark fantasy puppet film
• Labyrinth (1986) — the iconic David Bowie fantasy adventure produced by Jim Henson

If you love 80s fantasy films, Jim Henson, practical effects, David Bowie, or classic cult movies — this is essential listening!

The Wasteland Retrospective is a weekly film podcast where Shane Conto and a guest each pick a related film to discuss together — spanning cult classics, fantasy cinema, and hidden gems across every era of filmmaking.

Shane Conto — film critic, writer & YouTuber:

• 🌐 Website | ▶️ YouTube | 📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🎥 Letterboxd

Also hosts Wasteland Watchlist, Wasteland Spotlight, and The Cinematic Wasteland — all part of the SPDM Crew podcast network.

🎙️ Subscribe to The Wasteland Retrospective podcast feed

Have a film pairing suggestion or want to join the SPDM Crew? Email spdmcrew@gmail.com

📲 Follow SPDM Crew: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | Bluesky 🌐 www.spdmcrew.com

🎵 Theme music by Kristofer Twadell | Logo by Jason Wilbur @ HiFlyer Creative

Leave a review and rate us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on your favorite podcast app!