Our guest today is Garrett Price, who Mike speaks to about his HBO Series “Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary.” In addition to editing dozens of narrative and documentary series and films, Garret directed “Love, Antosha”. This is his second directorial effort for “Music Box”, the previous being, “Woodstock 99: Peace Love and Rage.” In “Yacht Rock”, Garret not only burnishes his archival and editorial chops, but digs in for simply charming interviews with the creators of this putative outgrowth of the 70s Southern California sound.

This was a fun one folks! Garrett was game for the sort of back and forth jousting that comes when you try to nail down just what comprises this retrospectively imagined subgenre of music. And, in the process you'll hear that Mike outed himself as a Steely Dan fan. Despite that, we hope you'll take a listen!

Hidden Gems:

Documentary: “Finders, Keepers”

Yacht Rock: “Hey Nineteen”

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The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

As we continue Season 5, Mike speaks with Alex Gibney (Agents of Chaos, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Taxi to the Dark Side) about his documentary series for HBO Max, “Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos”. If you are familiar with Gibney’s work, you will know that his documentaries often have a political topic or a political edge, so it won't surprise you that while he doesn't overly focus on it, he does explore the ways in which the legendary HBO series was a commentary on America. But the true pleasure of this documentary is to witness the incredibly deep ways that Chase's own life informed his work and–this may actually be connected–the ways that Chase used techniques that he learned from directors like Polanski, Lucci, and Kubrick to shape his own cinematic language.

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The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

We're kicking off our 5th Season and the beloved Netflix doc series “Chef’s Table” is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the new release of “Chef’s Table: Legends,” a special four-part series spotlighting the achievements and life lessons of four extraordinary pioneers of the kitchen who have changed the food world and culture writ large.

Joining Ken on the pod for the kickoff of Top Docs Season 5, “Chef’s Table” creator, EP and director David Gelb (“Jiro Dreams of Sushi”) and cinematographer/DP Adam Bricker (“Hacks”) describe what drew them to visionaries Jamie Oliver, José Andres, Thomas Keller and Alice Waters, and how they got these much-celebrated icons to open up about their lives and careers. In addition, David and Adam engage in a bit of introspection themselves as they reflect on the incredible cinematic edible journey that “Chef’s Table” has taken over the course of the last decade. Keep the courses coming.

Hidden Gems:

David: The Fog of War, Baraka

Adam: Parts Unknown – Singapore (Season 10, Episode 1)

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@realadambricker on Instagram and X

@topdocspod on Instagram and X

The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.