Role Calling
Episodes
Friday Dec 30, 2022
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Friday Dec 30, 2022
Friday Dec 30, 2022
Role Calling's three-part Lord of the Rings holiday special comes to a conclusion, but not before a rousing climax and several emotional endings. This week, actor/producer Mary Kate Wiles joins Ned and Caroline for a conversation all about Peter Jackson's third and final LOTR installment, The Return of the King. And boy is there a lot to discuss!
From the Battle of the Pelennor Fields to the showdown on Mount Doom, the trio go deep on what makes Tolkien's world so special, which performers shine brightest in ROTK, and which scenes they can't stop thinking about.
You can follow Mary Kate on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Patreon (@mkwiles on most social media platforms). And be sure to check out Shipwrecked Comedy's delightful new series "Headless: A Sleepy Hollow Story," which is streaming for free on YouTube as both a 10-part series and a single-cut version.
Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at rolecalling@gmail.com.
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
The journey to Mordor continues as Ned and Caroline move on to Peter Jackson's action-packed epic, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Special guest Joe Cunningham of the Cinematic Universe podcast joins to break down the debuts of Gollum, Rohan, Treebeard and more — not to mention a little sequence called the Battle of Helm's Deep.
The trio also touch on The Rings of Power, analyze the accents across the LOTR ensemble, and get into an unexpectedly heated debate about Faramir.
You can follow Joe on Twitter (@JoeCunningham14) and find Cinematic Universe (@cine_verse) wherever you listen to podcasts, as well as on Patreon.
Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at rolecalling@gmail.com.
Wednesday Dec 21, 2022
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Wednesday Dec 21, 2022
Wednesday Dec 21, 2022
Golden rings, bearded men, elves in white dresses with blue satin sashes — what are The Lord of the Rings films if not the ultimate holiday classics? So to celebrate the festive season, Ned and Caroline are kicking off a brand new series on Peter Jackson's iconic LOTR trilogy and its stellar ensemble acting.
This week, returning guests Zoë Maltby and Emily Marso join for a goofy, earnest, unexpectedly horny celebration of The Fellowship of the Ring.
Watch the 2020 Lord of the Rings cast Zoom reunion
You can follow Zoë on Instagram and Twitter (both @captainmaltby), as well as on Letterboxd (@zoecatherine). And you can follow Emily on Instagram and Twitter (both @missmarso).
Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at rolecalling@gmail.com.
Monday Nov 14, 2022
The Best and Worst Films of 2022: Letterboxd Special
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Before Ned and Caroline journey to Middle Earth for their Lord of the Rings specials, they take a look back at the best, worst and most "meh" films they watched in 2022. Welcome to Role Calling's first (maybe annual) Letterboxd Special!
From Barbarian to Jurassic World Dominion to Marcel the Shell, enjoy some spoiler-free recs for what to watch and what to avoid as the hosts recount their defining movie-watching experiences of the year — and how they logged them on Letterboxd.
Follow Ned on Letterboxd (@nednednedned)
Follow Caroline on Letterboxd (@carolinesiede)
Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at rolecalling@gmail.com.
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Halloween Ends
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
44 years after Jamie Lee Curtis burst onto the scene as Laurie Strode, she returns to wrap up her time with Michael Myers in Halloween Ends. So, naturally, Ned and Caroline had to check in on their former Role Calling star in a special Halloween bonus episode!
They're joined by Happy Harvest Horror Show co-host Brian Muldoon to chat about David Gordon Green's controversial trilogy capper, JLC's unexpectedly upbeat performance, and the Corey Cunningham of it all. Don't worry, however, both fans and detractors of Halloween Ends will find something for them in this episode.
You can find the Happy Harvest Horror Show wherever you listen to podcasts, and keep up with all their spooky season antics on Instagram (@happyharvesthorrorshow). You can also find Brian on Instagram and Twitter (both @brimuldoon)
Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at rolecalling@gmail.com.
Thursday Jul 14, 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder
Thursday Jul 14, 2022
Thursday Jul 14, 2022
This week, Ned and Caroline interrupt their Antonio Banderas series for a special bonus episode on Thor: Love and Thunder. Because Christian Bale has joined the MCU and that seems worth podcasting about! The hosts dive into all things Thor as they discuss Natalie Portman's return, Taika Waititi's comedic sensibilities, Chris Hemsworth's unexpectedly gentle performance, and the general state of Marvel Phase Four. Plus they debate how much Korg is too much Korg, and, of course, sing the praises of Bale's terrifying turn as Gorr the God Butcher.
You can read Caroline's full review of Thor: Love and Thunder
Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at rolecalling@gmail.com.
Saturday Apr 23, 2022
One Year Anniversary Special
Saturday Apr 23, 2022
Saturday Apr 23, 2022
It's been one year since the pod debuted, and to celebrate, Ned and Caroline decided to throw the first annual Role Calling Awards! So join for some very silly fun as the hosts award best chemistry, biggest surprise, best villain and so much more.
(Special thanks to our friends at the Cinematic Universe podcast for inspiring this idea!)
In other updates: We have an Instagram! Follow us there (instagram.com/rolecalling/) for even more podcast extras!
Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can get in touch on Twitter (twitter.com/rolecalling) or email us at rolecalling@gmail.com.
Friday Jul 02, 2021
In The Heights
Friday Jul 02, 2021
Friday Jul 02, 2021
As you look at the fireworks light up the night sky this Fourth of July weekend, enjoy this special bonus episode on In The Heights! Ned and Caroline take a break from their usual actor-focus to indulge their deepest theater kid impulses. And they're thrilled to be joined by their friend Alejandro Tey to take a deep dive into what works and what doesn't about Jon M. Chu's 2021 big screen adaption of Lin-Manuel Miranda's 2008 Broadway musical.
Just a heads up that this episode includes a discussion of colorism and racism from 1:08:30-1:32:00. To learn more about that issue, you can read Jasmine Haywood's "In the Heights exemplified the ugly colorism I’ve experienced in Latinx communities" (https://www.vox.com/first-person/2021/6/18/22537351/in-the-heights-lin-manuel-miranda-colorism) and The New York Times' roundtable "In the Heights and Colorism: What Is Lost When Afro-Latinos Are Erased" (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/21/movies/in-the-heights-colorism.html).
We also highly encourage you to hire Alejandro Tey for all of your gaming needs via Tabletale Games (https://www.tabletalegames.com/)!
Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can get in touch on Twitter (twitter.com/rolecalling) or email us at rolecalling@gmail.com.