The year was 1999. It had been twenty-two years since George Lucas last directed a feature film. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace was highly anticipated. But then why did the majority of audiences and critics hate it so much?
Sixteen years later, Griffin and David started this podcast with one question in mind: "what is The Phantom Menace REALLY ... Show More
Mar 17
Critical Darlings: The 2026 Oscars Ceremony with Griffin Newman
It’s Critical Darlings’ biggest morning! After a marathon season, we react to this year’s Academy Awards: the winners, losers, presenters, performances, and awkward play-offs. One Battle After Another and Sinners nearly split the ballot with One Battle and Paul Thomas Anderson ta ... Show More
1h 53m
Mar 12
Critical Darlings: One Battle After Another And Oscar Predictions with David Sims
What time is it? It’s time to study the revolutionary texts with David “Rocketman” Sims! On our last episode before The Oscars, we’re talking about One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic about parental legacy, revolutionary identity, and a dad trying to charge his ... Show More
1h 29m
Apr 2018
Mark Hamill & Rian Johnson Interview Special
We've gone bonus content mad on the Empire Podcast this week! Every day this week, we'll bring you a brand new pod, culminating in Friday's mothership. And we kick things off with this very fun, and compact, commute-sized conversation with two of the key figures behind last year' ... Show More
23m 12s
Nov 2024
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Part 1)
<p>Jedi! Lightsabers! Taxes? This week, Chris tests Lizzie’s midi-chlorians (and patience) with George Lucas’ polarizing return to Star Wars. Was Lucas a victim of his own success, or were we all victims of his divorce? Plus, how Michael Jackson and Denzel Washington were nearly ... Show More
1h 24m
May 2024
Ben Schwartz: An Empire Podcast Interview Special
Ben Schwartz isn't just a terrifically funny actor (he's Jean-Ralphio in Parks & Rec, for the love of Pete!), insanely gifted VoiceOver artist (he's the voice of Sonic, for the love of Knuckles!), writer (he helped write dialogue for C-3PO in J.J. Abrams' Star Wars movies, for th ... Show More
46 m
Dec 2024
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew — An Empire Podcast Preview Special ft. Jon Watts & Christopher Ford, Nick Frost
Skeleton Crew is the latest Star Wars show to launch on Disney+, with a two-episode premiere dropping on Tuesday December 3rd. And to get you in the mood for the show, which follows the misfortunes of four young kids who find themselves thrust into all kinds of adventures with sp ... Show More
47m 14s