Ticklish Business

An episode literally four years in the making! Maybe even five. Who knows how long Kristen has been promising this episode but the day has finally arrived!  It was one of the most that ushered in the death knell for Old Hollywood biopics, and Carole Lombard biographer Robert Matzen joins Kristen and Emily to separate fact from fiction in Gable & Lombard! The trio talk about James Brolin playing Gable, the struggle of portraying Lombard accurately (and why Jill Clayburgh isn't the problem).  Be sure to drop your favorite Christmas movies into the comments and we'll read them on our last episode of 2025! Did you know you can now watch our episodes in their entirety? ⁠Watch this episode on our YouTube channel. ⁠Be sure to subscribe over there to be reminded of upcoming episodes. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy

Viva la resistance! We're closing the book on our Films of Resistance series as well celebrating the release of Kristen's latest book, Popcorn Disabilities, by talking about a movie looking at disabled activism.  The 1978 feature Coming Home attempted to tell an authentic story about the struggles disabled Vietnam War vets were experiencing. Along the way, it became a landmark for disabled representation in film. Guest Lawrence Carter Long joins us to talk about the movie's significance, Jon Voight's Oscar-winning performance, and more.  Did you know you can now watch our episodes in their entirety? Watch this episode starting Wednesday on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe over there to be reminded of upcoming episodes. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disa

Viva la resistance! Over the next four episodes we'll be looking at how Old Hollywood talks about politics, independence and democracy and we're looking at the end of the 1970s with this counterculture musical.  Hair shook up Broadway but how did it come off in the movies? Special guest Alex Steed joins Emily to discuss hippiedom and more. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Viva la resistance! Over the next four episodes we'll be looking at how Old Hollywood talks about politics, independence and democracy and we jump into the Cold War 1960s with this Stanley Kubrick satire.  Dr. Strangelove is the de facto movie about the Cold War, though it's presented alongside a spate of movies specifically in 1964 looking at nuclear fears. Film critic Jeff Ewing joins Kristen and Emily to discuss America's fascination with nuclear weapons, Kubrick hate, and whether there's ever enough Peter Sellers. Looking to read the JSTOR article Kristen keeps citing? You can do it here. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Viva la resistance! Over the next four episodes we'll be looking at how Old Hollywood talks about politics, independence and democracy starting with this George Cukor comedy.  Born Yesterday isn't a movie associated with any political group, but it celebrates the joys of being an informed person and our country's history of freedom. Plus, Judy Holliday is perfect and Bill Holden looks hot in glasses. Washington D.C. critic Nell Minow joins Kristen and Emily to talk about it all. Next Time: We're dropping the bomb with 1964's Dr. Strangelove. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the

The Halloween season comes to a close with director Rodman Flender talking to us about Roger Corman's A Bucket of Blood. Flender actually worked with Corman and lays out what he was like. We also talk the beatnik movement on-screen! Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller

We're kicking off spooky season with the OG vampire movie: 1922's Nosferatu. Author of Vampire Movies, Charles Bramesco, joins Kristen and Emily to break down the movie's unfortunate flaws, the benefits of stealing its source material, what the hell happened to F.W. Murnau's skull?  You can buy Charles's book Colors of Film: The Story of Cinema in 50 Palettes here. Have you signed up for our Patreon yet? You don't just get episodes 48 hours early but access to our three bonus series, video interviews, and access to chat classic movies with us via Discord! Sign up now via Patreon! Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠

Our unintentional Musical Month in September ends by going classical, to the original OG of music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! Special guest Richard Kirkham joins Kristen and Emily to talk about this Milos Forman classic, the way this became an '80s classic, and who the hell is Tom Hulce? Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls C

It's Kristen's birthday month and she decided to celebrate with the biggest (fake) rock band of all time. Kristen, Emily, and guest Alan Cerny sit down to talk This is Spinal Tap, the way it plays with the documentary format, and try hard not to spend the whole time quoting it.   Next Time: We unintentionally spend September in the year 1984 so we're looking at (another) musical feature, the Milos Forman classic biopic Amadeus. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠The merch shop is live⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠become a Patron⁠:     •    ⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠    •    ⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠ This episod

**This episode was recorded prior to Margo's unfortunate passing towards the end of July. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones.** We're hitting the dance floor with Margo Donohue, the author of Fever: The Complete History of Saturday Night Fever.  Margo joins Kristen and Emily to discuss John Travolta's rise to fame, New York in the 1970s, and whether contemporary audiences can find any redeeming qualities in these characters. We also talk about how much we love Donna Pescow. A lot! Buy Margo's book, Fever, by clicking this link. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, Popcorn Disabilities, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? The merch shop is live!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz

Edna Ferber biographer Julie Gilbert joins us to discuss the 1956 Western epic Giant. The trio talk about James Dean, Liz Taylor's feminism, and how the movie isn't afraid to deconstruct the genre it's set in. Buy Julie's book Giant Love by clicking this link. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, Popcorn Disabilities, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? The merch shop is live!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to become a Patron:     •    Follow Emily's Instagram    •    Follow Kristen's Instagram This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Pe

Summer comes to a close and we're saying farewell to the beach with Esther Williams and the 1953 movie Dangerous When Wet. It's been a minute since we've disagreed on a movie and we look at Williams as a swimming star, her relationship with Fernando Lamas, and Kristen does dramatic readings from Williams's autobiography.  This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Dana Raines Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Malahy, author of the literal book on Summer Movies, joins us on the beach with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello for a discussion on 1965's Beach Blanket Bingo. John, Emily and Kristen talk about what makes a summer movie, the power of Frankie and Annette, and why Harvey Lembeck is the world's oldest teenager. Buy John's book wherever you get books. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, Popcorn Disabilities, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? The merch shop is live!     •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to become a Patron.     •    Follow Emily's Instagram    •    Follow Kristen's Instagram This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Ba

You're gonna need a bigger boat to listen to this episode! We're hitting the water and trying to avoid becoming a hot lunch with a look at the 50th anniversary of Jaws. Christopher Shaw Myers, author and nephew to star Robert Shaw, joins us to break down the movie's significance, Shaw's performance, and why Peter Benchley's book sucks. Buy Christopher's book Robert Shaw: An Actor's Life on the Set of Jaws and Beyond by clicking the link. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International Month comes to a close with a look at Akira Kurosawa's contemporary noir feature High and Low! And who better to join us than TCM producer and author Scott McGee. Scott joins Kristen and Emily to talk about this morality tale, its connections to today's society, and what the "right type" of wealthy man can look like. Buy Scott's book Danger on the Silver Screen here. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're going on vacation through the world of classic film! Yes, International Month is back. But unless the previous two years, where we did two movies from different countries, we're spending June in one country with a single director: Akira Kurosawa. TCM host and author of the new book TCM Imports: Timeless Favorites and Hidden Gems of World Cinema, Alicia Malone, joins us to kick things off with a look at one of several Kurosawa movies dubbed the best movie of all time. It's 1954's Seven Samurai. Kristen, Emily and Alicia explore the samurai genre, discuss this movie's influence on our conception of the American West, and thirst over Toshiro Mifune. Buy Alicia's book here. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carte

You Must Remember This host Karina Longworth sits down with us to talk about the new season of her show, "The Old Man Is Still Alive." We discuss which directors weathered the collapse of the studio system best, why Stanley Donen's Blame It On Rio gets so much guff, and John Huston's third act celebration. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another TCM Classic Film Festival has come and gone, but whether you were on the ground in LA or you couldn't make it, Ticklish Biz has you covered with some great audio from the festival. We start off with Ben Mankiewicz, and Elle and Dakota Fanning introducing Michelle Pfeiffer at her hand and footprint ceremony. Then it's Alicia Malone and actor Barry Bostwick discussing The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Next Eddie Muller and Dana Gould improvise an intro for a chilly evening screening of I Love You Again (1940). And, finally, Michael Mann, Al Pacino and Ben Mankiewicz talk all about 1995's Heat! You can listen to even more TCM Classic Film Festival audio, including Michele Pfeiffer's speech during her hand and footprint ceremony and Eddie Muller and Ernest Dickerson talking about 1955's The Big Combo exclusively on Patreon! This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Pete

Flower Drum Song star Nancy Kwan sits down with Ticklish Business in anticipation of her new autobiography! Nancy talks about being discovered young, what her costars were like, and more. We also talk about the joys of actor James Shigeta. Buy The World of Nancy Kwan now. This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates McF Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Peter Dawson Reyna-Moya James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TCM's "Czar of Noir" Eddie Muller joins us once again to discuss the women of his latest book Dark City Dames: The Women Who Defined Film Noir. Eddie chats about interviewing some of the most iconic film noir women and how his new book seeks to tell their stories more fully. You can pre-order Dark City Dames: The Women Who Defined Film Noir before it's April 8th publication by clicking the link. And if you're in Los Angeles you can purchase tickets to Noir City Hollywood now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices