Episode 10 - Uncle Slam

September 07, 2026 by mark coale in academia, futbol, history, popular culture, soccer

Erling Haaland (and friend) may have been the big winner at the 2026 World Cup.

We’re happy to welcome back Ken Early (@kenearly.bsky.social) from the Second Captains podcast for a futbol chat.

Ken was in North America for this summer’s World Cup, so we talk about how he found things in mainly the US and Mexico (only a stop over north of the 48th parallel). We discuss city center venues vs their suburban cousins and the commute those require, stadium concessions, being trapped in fishbowl-like enclosed press boxes and seeking relief from them and more. What were Ken’s best and worst matchday experiences?

We also chat about what Ken got up to away from the matches, including stumbling into a political convention in Houston and going to a gun club in South Florida. Also, the saturation of gambling and predictive markets in American sports and other sporting ills.

It’s early in the new Premier League season, but there was some analysis of the start of the campaign, including, Arsenal’s win over Chelsea the day before recording. Can Chelsea or a Pep-Less Manchester City thwart an Arsenal repeat?

There’s also a brief mention of the Katie Taylor fight over the weekend just past in Dublin and a brief cameo from a Second Captains listener favorite, Ken’s dog Ted. There was no time for any popular culture chat, so hopefully next time we can have some movie talk with Ken.

As with our other European guests, scheduling is always complicated, so thanks to Ken for being so patient in finally being able to record this show.

Episode 8 - The Cactus Plants Are Tough on Pants

June 14, 2026 by mark coale in academia, popular culture, television, wrestling

The First Family of Amarillo: Terry, Dory Sr and Dory Funk Jr.

We’re happy to welcome author and broadcaster Tony Richards (@tonyrichards4) to the show ahead of his receiving the James Melby Historian Award at this year’s Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame in July. We discuss how doing historical research has changed in modern times, the campaigns for Morris Sigel and Roy Welch to get in the WON HOF, discuss the careers of Dennis Condrey and Phil Hickerson, his podcast work with Jerry Brischo and JBL, Dory Funk and his connection to the West Texas State football team and more. It was great having Tony on the show finally and will be looking forward to seeing him in Waterloo soon.

Technical note: For some reason, there was a delay on the line when we recorded the show. We tried to clear that up as much as possible, but apologize for any odd gaps that we may have missed. Thanks for listening.

Episode 5 - Shocked ... Shocked

March 14, 2026 by mark coale in popular culture, film, academia

The 1947 French press kit for Casablanca.

Another show, another guest whose appearance was years in the making. I’m happy to welcome my former film professor at Indiana Barbara Klinger to the show to discuss her most recent book, Immortal Films, which is about the enduring legacy of Casablanca over the decades since its release in 1942.

We start with the film’s origins, design to encourage and support US involvement in WW II, its release timed to coincide with the Allies’ campaign in North Africa, which obviously includes Morocco, where Casablanca takes place.

There’s also talk about its popularity over the years since its release, including radio adaptations right after its release, its rotation for years on television, the burgeoning home video marker in the 1980s and how it became popular as a revival picture with audience participation years before the Rin ocky Horror Picture Show and sing along films in modern times. We even discuss the two failed attempts at making a Casablanca TV show, including the early 1980s version with David Soul as Rick, Scatman Crothers as Sam and a young Ray Liotta as the bartender.

As you might expect, there’s also plenty of talk about Casablanca and metatext, from the adoption of Bogart as an icon in the French New Wave, Woody Allen’s play and later film Play It Again, Sam and those famous scenes you know showing up in places like The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live or even young Gilbert Gottfried’s early stand-up where he did Jackie Gleason as Bogart at the end of the film: “You know that I know that you’re getting on that plane.”

There’s also some chat about various of film topics, including the perils of list making, the role of porn and wrestling in the advancement of new media formats, Alfred Hitchcock, the Harry Lime radio show, Rosencrantz and Guildernstern are Dead, Citizen Kane and more.

I probably haven’t talked to Barb in person for over 30 years so it was a great change to catch up and discuss her book, which you can find in all the usual places you get your reading material.

Also, if you go back in the Winter Palace archives, you can find my chat in episode 63 with my other film professor James Naremore, where we discuss Chimes at Midnight and other things Orson Welles.