The B-Side Episode 171 – Richard Linklater (featuring Ryland Aldrich)

      Welcome to The B-Side! Here, we focus on movie directors—not just the films that made them famous or kept them in the spotlight, but the works they created in between.

      Today, we talk about Richard Linklater! He’s an iconic figure in American indie cinema, and we recently had the chance to speak with him! With the release of two new films at the end of 2025 (Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague), we explore his lesser-known works: SubUrbia, The Newton Boys, Me and Orson Welles, and Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood.

      Our guest is Ryland Aldrich, a close friend of ours, who is a talented producer and seasoned film writer, as well as the creator of the FYCit App—“the leading smartphone app for awards voters and guild members to discover screenings, events, and content for all of the season's major contenders.”

      Conor, Ryland, and I share our fondness for Linklater, discussing the peaks and valleys of his lengthy and successful career, along with his ongoing evolution as a stylist.

      We also debate the likelihood of Ethan Hawke receiving an Oscar nomination for his role in Blue Moon, the enduring cultural significance of School of Rock, and Orson Welles’ well-known reply to a question regarding Elia Kazan many years ago. Additionally, we touch on the Mercury Theater's renowned 1938 broadcast of “The War of the Worlds,” the documentary Chasing Chasing Amy, and those real-life clips of The Newton Boys.

      Listen below and subscribe here. Don’t forget to follow us on Bluesky at @tfsbside.bsky.social. Enjoy!