This classic SOUNDS OF FILM interview with Krishna Das offers an in-depth conversation with the artist known as the “chant master of American yoga.” Blending the ancient tradition of kirtan with modern musical elements and universally appealing melodies, Krishna Das has brought devotional chanting from yoga studios into mainstream concert halls.

This classic episode of The Sounds of Film features an in-depth conversation with Tom Needham and acclaimed director Judy Irving about her powerful and deeply personal documentary, Dark Circle.

On this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham welcomes punk rock legend Harley Flanagan, founder of the iconic hardcore band Cro-Mags.

On today’s episode of The Sounds of Film with Tom Needham, we turn our focus to Slumlord Millionaire, a gripping new documentary that recently captured the Audience Award at DOC NYC.

Directed by Steph Ching and Ellen Martinez, the film profiles the fearless tenants, community activists, and legal advocates standing up against predatory landlords and relentless gentrification in New York City. Through intimate and emotional storytelling, Slumlord Millionaire lays bare the devastating effects of a housing system where the right to live safely and with dignity is increasingly under threat.

After also winning the Documentary Award at CAAMFest, the film begins its Oscar-qualifying run at New York’s DCTV Firehouse Cinema—an especially resonant location amid the city’s skyrocketing rent crisis.

Across the U.S., rents have surged by 30% over the past five years, with the average rent in Manhattan hitting nearly $5,000 a month as of April 2024.

This economic pressure is displacing countless longtime residents—particularly immigrant families—from neighborhoods like Chinatown through aggressive and often unethical eviction practices. The film offers a powerful lens on this injustice, with poignant stories from resilient tenants and the tireless nonprofit lawyers fighting to protect them.

Opening June 6 at DCTV, Slumlord Millionaire is a searing exposé on housing inequality and a timely call to action. With its recent festival acclaim and urgent subject matter, the film stands as a vital piece of documentary cinema that captures a struggle not only playing out in New York but mirrored in cities nationwide, from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. It’s a must-watch for anyone concerned with justice, equity, and the future of America’s urban communities.

For more information about The Sounds of Film with Tom Needham, visit soundsoffilm.com

On this special episode of The Sounds of Film, we honor the 30th anniversary of Elizabeth Montgomery’s passing with author and television historian Herbie J Pilato.

A longtime friend of the iconic Bewitched actress, Pilato reflects on her life and legacy through his acclaimed biographies Twitch Upon a Star and The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery.

He also offers an exclusive look behind the scenes of the upcoming Bewitched Blu-ray release from Mill Creek Entertainment, where he contributed as co-producer and co-writer of the bonus features.

This conversation provides a heartfelt tribute to Montgomery’s remarkable impact both on and off the screen.

For more information about The Sounds of Film Podcast, visit soundsoffilm.com

On this “Classic”episode of THE SOUNDS OF FILM PODCAST, Tom Needham welcomes Dan Castellaneta and Deb Lacusta, the creative team behind The Long Goodbye, a witty and haunting noir that reimagines 1940s Los Angeles through a pandemic-era lens. Castellaneta, best known as the voice of Homer Simpson, stars as Marlowe Phillips, a Jewish detective and reluctant caterer drawn into a tangled mystery involving a missing man, femme fatales, and the Polish Mob.

Inspired by the classic film Lady in the Lake, the film is told entirely from the detective’s point of view. Phillips’ inner turmoil is just as gripping as the case itself, as he grapples with post-war trauma and a looming marriage he’s not sure he wants. What makes this noir stand out, though, is its innovative production—each actor filmed separately during the darkest days of COVID, using remote technology, green screens, and meticulous editing to craft a cohesive and visually striking story.

The Long Goodbye is both a tribute to and a reinvention of the noir genre, blending deadpan humor with emotional depth and technical creativity. Dan Castellaneta and Deb Lacusta join Tom to discuss the challenges of making a feature-length film in isolation, their love of noir, and how the constraints of the pandemic led to bold artistic choices.

Learn more about the SOUNDS OF FILM Podcast at soundsoffilm.com

On the next episode of the SOUNDS OF FILM Podcast, Tom Needham speaks with acclaimed filmmaker Chad Freidrichs about his groundbreaking new documentary, The Cinema Within. The film explores a fascinating question: Why does film editing work so seamlessly on our brains?

Carol Roth joins Tom Needham on The Sounds of Film to discuss her provocative book, You Will Own Nothing, which exposes a coordinated global push by governments, powerful tech companies, financial institutions, and elites to gain control of finite resources and restrict public access to them. The book acts as a vital guide for individuals seeking to protect their family’s financial independence and personal freedom.

Roth brings a diverse background to the conversation. A former investment banker turned entrepreneur, she is also a well-known television personality, speaker, and economic commentator. She is a New York Times bestselling author and has made frequent appearances on major television networks such as CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, HBO, and MSNBC.

In addition to her media presence, Roth has contributed to several finance-focused documentaries, including one on the automotive bailouts. She earned her B.S. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating magna cum laude. To complement her media work, she also completed improv and media training at The Second City, America’s premier improvisational comedy institution.

The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed show. For over 35 years, the show has entertained audiences across Long Island and parts of Connecticut, while also streaming live online. Host Tom Needham has featured an array of influential guests, including Hal Hartley, Whit Stillman, Michael Moore, Ernest Dickerson, Mike Leigh, Alexander Payne, Carter Burwell, Cliff Martinez, Marco Beltrami, Barbara Kopple, and Thora Birch.