Reel Beans: A Film and Coffee Podcast

Halloween Bonus: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (‘56 & ‘78) with Danielle Aubuchon and Kathryn Horan

Two eras, one nightmare. For this Halloween bonus episode, Ben is joined by Reel Beans regulars Danielle Aubuchon and Kathryn Horan for a double feature breakdown of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the 1956 original and the 1978 remake, paired with Death Wish Coffee’s Medium Roast. From the Cold War paranoia of Santa Mira to the post Watergate dread of San Francisco, we dig into what changed, what didn’t, favorite scenes and quotes from both versions, and the behind the scenes stories that never made it into the movies.

In This Episode [send over your timestamps and I’ll drop them in here]

Links Watch Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956): https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/invasion-of-the-body-snatchers-1956 Watch Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978): https://letterboxd.com/film/invasion-of-the-body-snatchers-1978/ This episode’s coffee, Death Wish Coffee Medium Roast: https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/collections/medium-roast Kathryn Horan, Cinescare: https://cinescarehorror.com/ Danielle Aubuchon: https://www.danielleaubuchon.com/

More Reel Beans Website: http://reelbeans.com | Support the show: reelbeans.com/support | Merch: reelbeans.com/merch | Instagram: @reel_beans | YouTube: @reelbeans

#ReelBeans #Podcast #FilmPodcast #CoffeePodcast #HorrorPodcast #InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers #HalloweenBonus #ClassicFilm #CoffeeAndFilm

Sip. Watch. Repeat.

Episode 13: The Addiction (1995) with Kathryn Horan and Danielle Aubuchon.

Vampires, philosophy, and a cup of coffee that might just save your soul. This week Ben sits down with Reel Beans regulars Kathryn Horan and Danielle Aubuchon to dig into Abel Ferrara's The Addiction (1995), the blood soaked, black and white meditation on addiction starring Lili Taylor and Christopher Walken, paired with Addictive Coffee Roasters' Morning Fix.

In This Episode 00:00 Introduction to The Addiction 02:47 Initial Reactions and Themes 06:08 Philosophical Undertones and Allegories 08:59 Character Development and Transformation 11:54 The Vampire Allegory and Addiction 15:03 The Shift to Bloodlust 18:04 Consequences of Addiction 21:00 The Climactic Party Scene 23:57 Final Reflections and Ambiguity 29:19 The Metaphor of Death and Renewal 32:12 The Party Massacre, a Turning Point 34:03 Critique of the System, Philosophy and Addiction 37:54 The Art of Filmmaking, Low Budget High Impact 41:19 The Significance of Black and White 42:30 Coffee and Cinema, a Perfect Pairing 51:20 Halloween Movie Recommendations and Wrap Up

Links Watch The Addiction: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-addiction This episode's coffee, Addictive Coffee Morning Fix: https://addictivecoffee.com/products/morning-fix Kathryn Horan, Cinescare: https://cinescarehorror.com/ Danielle Aubuchon: https://www.danielleaubuchon.com/

More Reel Beans Website: http://reelbeans.com | Support the show: reelbeans.com/support | Merch: reelbeans.com/merch | Instagram: @reel_beans | YouTube: @reelbeans

#ReelBeans #Podcast #FilmPodcast #CoffeePodcast #HorrorPodcast #TheAddiction #AbelFerrara #ClassicFilm #CoffeeAndFilm

Sip. Watch. Repeat.

A woman arrives in a sleepy California beach town looking for her missing father and finds the locals waiting for the blood moon. Ben is joined by Danielle Aubuchon and Kathryn Horan to kick off the Halloween season with Messiah of Evil (1973), the surreal, Lovecraftian cult oddity from the husband-and-wife team who went on to write American Graffiti.

Paired with Peet's Big Bang, the medium roast Peet's built for their 50th anniversary in honor of founder Alfred Peet. Another stranger who turned up on the California coast with something nobody there had tasted before, with considerably better results for the locals.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Welcome to the Halloween Party 2:50 Exploring Recent Films and Nostalgia 6:04 Diving into Messiah of Evil 8:58 Initial Reactions and Confusions 12:00 Cinematography and Visual Style 14:55 Plot Analysis and Character Development 17:58 Soundtrack and Its Impact 21:11 Setting and Atmosphere 23:57 Character Dynamics and Relationships 32:23 Unraveling the Mystery of the Diary 39:13 The Ominous Journey to Town 49:44 The Horror Unfolds in the Grocery Store 55:50 The Tension Builds in the Movie Theater 57:35 The Transformation Begins 1:00:19 Confronting the Past 1:02:05 The Climax at the Beach House 1:04:31 The Aftermath and Reflection 1:06:50 The Artistic Choices and Production Challenges 1:08:52 Exploring the Cast and Their Backgrounds 1:13:22 Final Thoughts and Future Discussions 1:14:36 Coffee Pairing: Peet's Big Bang 1:19:31 What's Next: Vampire & Halloween Specials

THE COFFEE

https://www.peets.com/products/big-bang

GUESTS

Danielle Aubuchon: https://www.danielleaubuchon.com/ Kathryn Horan, Cine Scare Horror: https://cinescarehorror.com/

RESOURCES

Messiah of Evil is in the public domain, so you can watch it free: https://archive.org/details/messiah-of-evil-1973_202404

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_of_Evil Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/messiah_of_evil Radiance Films Blu-ray, with Kim Newman and Stephen Thrower commentary: https://www.radiancefilms.co.uk/products/messiah-of-evil-se The History of Peet's Coffee: https://peets.com/blogs/peets/the-history-of-peets-coffee

REEL BEANS

Website: https://reelbeans.com Episodes: https://reelbeans.com/podcast Merch: https://reelbeans.com/merch Support the show: https://reelbeans.com/support Instagram: https://instagram.com/reel_beans YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reelbeans

Sip · Watch · Repeat

Ben is joined by Danielle Aubuchon for Shadow of a Doubt (1943), paired with Land and Water Coffee's Godspeed Blend.

Charlie Newton wishes for something to shake up sleepy Santa Rosa, and gets her beloved Uncle Charlie, the man she was named for, who may also be the Merry Widow Murderer. Ben and Danielle get into Hitchcock's gift for turning a safe small town menacing, what kind of man Uncle Charlie actually is, the dark comedy running underneath the tension, and how one bad summer can end a girl's childhood for good.

The pairing fits three ways. Land and Water roasts in Santa Rosa, about two miles from the house Hitchcock shot in. Godspeed is a 50/50 blend of Zambia and Honduras, two origins under one name, which is the two Charlies exactly. And Godspeed is what you say to someone leaving on a hard journey, which this film has plenty of.

The Coffee Godspeed Blend: https://landandwater.coffee/products/godspeed About the roaster: https://landandwater.coffee/pages/about

Resources AFI Catalog: https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/657 Deep Focus Review: https://www.deepfocusreview.com/definitives/shadow-of-a-doubt/ Press Democrat on Hitchcock's Santa Rosa: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/05/20/in-shadow-of-a-doubt-hitchcock-found-evil-in-small-town-santa-rosa/ The Alfred Hitchcock Wiki: https://the.hitchcock.zone/wiki/Shadow_of_a_Doubt_(1943) Brenton Film on the Wilder collaboration: https://brentonfilm.com/writing-on-a-classic-shadow-of-a-doubt-1943 Beyond Doubt: The Making of Hitchcock's Favorite Film (Blu-ray)

Our Guest Danielle Aubuchon: https://danielleaubuchon.com

Reel Beans https://reelbeans.com https://instagram.com/reel_beans https://youtube.com/@reelbeans Merch: https://reelbeans.com/merch Support: https://reelbeans.com/support

Sip. Watch. Repeat.

What happens when a spoiled heiress finds a "forgotten man" at the city dump and hires him as the family butler? In 1936, it made for one of the sharpest, funniest, and most quietly radical comedies of the Depression era.

This week, classic film expert Josh Rozett joins Ben to dig into MY MAN GODFREY (1936), Gregory La Cava's screwball classic starring William Powell as the mysterious Godfrey and Carole Lombard, the reigning queen of screwball, as the madcap Irene who can't stop meddling in his life. We get into what makes the film tick, why it still stings as class satire nearly a century later, and how a movie this funny smuggled in such a pointed message about wealth and inequality.

In the cup: Stumptown Ethiopia, brewed in the moka pot, the humble, everyman's coffee maker that makes a bold, honest cup with no fuss and no frills. A fitting brew for a film about what's really hiding under the surface.

Dig deeper:

My Man Godfrey at the Criterion Collection: https://www.criterion.com/films/653-my-man-godfrey

"My Man Godfrey: The Right Kind of People" (Criterion essay): https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/5928-my-man-godfrey-the-right-kind-of-people

Bialetti Moka Express (Seattle Coffee Gear): https://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/products/bialetti-moka-express-stovetop-espresso-maker

The History of the Moka Pot (Sunday Baker): https://sundaybaker.co/the-history-of-the-moka-pot/

Support the show:

Website: http://reelbeans.com

Listen: reelbeans.com/podcast

Merch: reelbeans.com/merch

Support Reel Beans: reelbeans.com/support

Instagram: @reel_beans

If you enjoy the show, follow, rate, and share it with a fellow film-and-coffee lover. It helps more than you'd think.

Available now on all podcast platforms, or visit reelbeans.com/podcast.

Sip. Watch. Repeat.

What if the kindest man in town is the one everyone wants to fix? Kathryn joins me for Harvey (1950), where Jimmy Stewart plays Elwood P. Dowd, a man whose best friend is a six-foot invisible rabbit and whose only real crime is being too pleasant for polite society.

We dig into the question the film never answers. Does Harvey exist, or is he a figment of Elwood's imagination? You can't just blame the drink, because Veta sees him too. Then there's Formula 977, the serum that would make Elwood normal again, and the knot at the center of it. How often do we try to change the people we love, or ourselves, just to feel comfortable in a room?

We get into Elwood's radical kindness, and we call out Dr. Chumley, who wants Harvey for himself while signing off on the shot that would take him from Elwood. Then the big one. Does the comedy at Chumley's Rest hold up in 2026, or does its take on mental health belong to 1950? We make the case both ways.

Plus the trivia is loaded this time. Josephine Hull's Oscar win over a brutal field, the record million dollar rights deal that nearly sank the film, the censors who never let Stewart take a sip, and the Francis the Talking Mule cameo that almost was.

COFFEE PAIRING

Verve Vancouver Swiss Water Decaf, brewed Chemex, 40g to 600g. Here's the thesis. Decaf is Formula 977. It's coffee with the one thing removed that everyone swears makes it what it is, altered so it's acceptable to all of society, looking and smelling the same while missing its core. Swiss Water does it with no chemicals, one thing out and everything else intact, which is exactly what Veta is about to allow before she stops the needle. Notes of chocolate, honey, and almond. The chocolate hits right out of the bag. Skip the French Press on this one and let the Chemex give you the clean cup it deserves.

So pour a cup that everyone says isn't real coffee, and settle in.

Sip. Watch. Repeat.

LINKS

Watch Harvey: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/harvey | IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042546/ | Josephine Hull Oscar Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFArR_cVtIU

The coffee: https://www.vervecoffee.com/products/vancouver-swiss-water-decaf | How Swiss Water decaf works: https://www.swisswater.com/pages/coffee-decaffeination-process

Cast deep dives: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_Hull

Friends of the show, Cinescare: https://cinescarehorror.com/

REEL BEANS

Website: https://reelbeans.com | Support: https://reelbeans.com/support | Merch: https://reelbeans.com/merch Instagram: @reel_beans | YouTube: https://youtube.com/@reelbeans Sip. Watch. Repeat.

She Done Him Wrong (1933) — Come Up and Kick Ass Sometime

Mae West didn't wait for permission. She wrote the play, sold it to Hollywood, and walked onto the Paramount lot with her own material, her own rules, and a wardrobe that made censors reach for their pencils. She Done Him Wrong is the film that made her a star, nearly broke the Hays Code all on its own, and gave us one of the most misquoted lines in cinema history.

Ben and Danielle sit down with Diamond Lou -- the original bad girl of the Bowery -- and unpack what makes this 66-minute firecracker still feel dangerous nearly a century later. They dig into pre-Code Hollywood, Mae West's genius for self-invention, a young Cary Grant who barely gets a word in edgewise, and why "good" is such a relative term when you're this entertaining.

The coffee? Kicking Horse Coffee's Kick Ass dark roast. Full-bodied, unapologetic, dark chocolate and molasses with a finish that lingers. Mae West didn't do subtle. Neither does this roast.

Sip. Watch. Repeat.

Stream She Done Him Wrong: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/she-done-him-wrong Kicking Horse Kick Ass: https://kickinghorsecoffee.com/products/kick-ass-coffee Guest: Danielle Aubuchon -- http://danielleaubuchon.com Support the show: reelbeans.com/support | Merch: reelbeans.com/merch Instagram: @reel_beans | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reelbeans

Shirley Temple brings pure joy and golden-age innocence to this week's double feature. Ben and returning guest Danielle Aubuchon dive into Bright Eyes (1934), the film that made Shirley a household name, plus the delightful Donald Duck short The Autograph Hound (1939) where Shirley steals the show. And what better pairing for Depression-era escapism and gumdrops-and-lollipops sweetness than Boyer's Butterscotch Toffee Coffee? A 50-year-old roasted favorite that's as unapologetically indulgent as Shirley Temple's infectious charm.

GUEST

Danielle Aubuchon | @danielleaubuchon | http://danielleaubuchon.com

Where to watch:

Bright Eyes: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/bright-eyes

Autograph Hound: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8b0cvl

Boyer's Butterscotch Toffee Coffee: http://boyerscoffee.com

Reel Beans: http://reelbeans.com

Support Reel Beans: reelbeans.com/support

Shop Reel Beans Merch: reelbeans.com/merch

Subscribe to Our Podcast: rss.com/podcasts/real-beans

In 1961, Luis Buñuel's Viridiana was banned in Spain and declared blasphemous by the Vatican. Centuries earlier, the Catholic Church condemned coffee as "the Devil's drink" due to its Islamic origins - only to later "baptize" it when it proved too delicious to resist. Same institution. Same playbook.

This week Reel Beans teams up with Bill Holland of Morally Offensive Podcast to explore Buñuel's masterpiece - a biting satire on religious hypocrisy, the failure of idealism, and the gap between genuine faith and institutional corruption. Both hosts are sipping Dark Matter Coffee from Chicago: Ben with Devil's Lettuce and Bill with Unicorn Blood.

In this episode:

• Why Viridiana was banned and declared blasphemous by the Vatican
• The Church's pattern: condemn first, baptize later
• The iconic Last Supper scene and why it still shocks
• Dark Matter Coffee: Chicago's rebellious roaster and why it fits perfectly

MORALLY OFFENSIVE PODCAST Exploring films considered banned or offensive to the Catholic diocese, hosted by Bill Holland. Website: https://www.morallyoffensive.com Instagram: @morallyoffensivepod

DARK MATTER COFFEE https://www.darkmattercoffee.com Ben's Pairing: Devil's Lettuce | Bill's Pairing: Unicorn Blood

REEL BEANS Films paired with great coffee. Sip. Watch. Repeat. Website: http://reelbeans.com Instagram: @reel_beans Listen: https://rss.com/podcasts/real-beans/

RESEARCH & FURTHER READING

• Viridiana - Criterion Collection: https://www.criterion.com/films/373-viridiana
• The Viridiana Controversy Explained: https://www.slashfilm.com/723199/the-viridiana-controversy-explained/
• Criterion Essay - "The Human Comedy" by Michael Wood: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/423-viridiana-the-human-comedy
• Coffee: How "Satan's Drink" Spread to Europe: https://sacredfootsteps.com/2019/07/12/coffee-how-satans-drink-spread-to-europe-through-the-ottomans/
• Pope Clement VIII & Coffee - Satan's Brew: https://www.papalartifacts.com/pope-clement-viii-coffee-satans-brew/

Top Gun (1986) — Danger Zones & Smooth Operators | Stumptown Nitro Cold Brew

Today Ben is joined by Marc Pyskaty and Kathryn Horan from the Cinescare Horror Podcast for a high-flying dive into Top Gun (1986). Ben watches it for the first time. Marc and Kathryn are ready. This could go anywhere.

We're drinking Stumptown Nitro Cold Brew — nitrogen-infused, creamy, cascading. Smooth operators deserve a smooth cup. Pour it into a glass and watch the cascade. You'll understand immediately.

Where to watch Top Gun:

justwatch.com/us/movie/top-gun

Find Stumptown Nitro Cold Brew near you (refrigerated, in-store only):

stumptowncoffee.com/products/original-nitro-cold-brew-coffee

Check out our guests at Cinescare Horror Podcast:

http://cinescarehorror.com | @cinescare

Subscribe, find us, and support the show:

http://reelbeans.com | rss.com/podcasts/real-beans | youtube.com/@reelbeans | reelbeans.com/support | @reel_beans

In this episode, host Ben welcomes special guests Joe Janz and Matt Speak, the hosts of the Cinescare Podcast, for a deep dive into Steven Spielberg's 1981 action-adventure classic, Raiders of the Lost Ark, paired with a Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC Peru Medium Roast.

Ben shares that this was his first time seeing the film, in a sold-out 35mm screening at Quentin Tarantino's New Beverly Cinema in LA. The three discuss what makes the film a near-perfect adventure movie: the thrilling practical effects, groundbreaking in-camera action sequences, iconic cinematography by Douglas Slocombe, and John Williams' legendary score. They also share behind-the-scenes trivia, including the truth about the famous swordsman scene, Spielberg's SpaghettiOs diet in Tunisia, the swimming pool trick used to create the Ark's supernatural spirits, and the real story behind the fly on Belloq's lip.

Joe and Matt also give a rundown of their own podcast, Cinescare, and tease an upcoming episode featuring a Malort tasting.

Coffee: Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC — Peru Medium Roast (warm cinnamon, caramel, and orange notes) Film: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), dir. Steven Spielberg

🎙️ Find Cinescare Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Cinescare on Instagram @cinescare

🌐 More film and coffee recommendations at http://realbeans.com 💬 Instagram: @real_beans

Ben, along with Casey and Allen discuss The Truman Show and sip Starbucks Veranda Blend.

Exploring the timeless themes of The Truman Show, its commentary on reality TV, societal control, and the impact of technology on privacy and authenticity. A deep dive into the film's relevance today and its cultural significance.

The Truman Show (Film) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120382/

Where to Watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-truman-show

Jim Carrey -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Carrey

Peter Weir - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Weir

The Truman Show Script by Andrew Niccol - https://screenplaydb.com/script/tt0120382/

Starbucks Blonde Roast - https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/2122324/

Surveillance and Privacy in the Digital Age - https://www.eff.org/issues/privacy

Reality TV and Society - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/media-spotlight/201911/reality-tv-and-society

SHOW NOTES

Episode Title: Dorothy McGuire Double Feature: Seeing Past the Surface | Gentleman's Agreement & The Enchanted Cottage

Description:

What do a journalist pretending to be Jewish and a disfigured war veteran falling in love in a magical cottage have in common? They're both about learning to see what's actually there instead of what we've been taught to see.

In this double-feature episode, Ben and returning guest Danielle Aubuchon explore two Dorothy McGuire classics asking the same question: What happens when we're forced to see past the surface? Gentleman's Agreement (1947) confronts antisemitism through a journalist who poses as Jewish to expose "polite" prejudice. The Enchanted Cottage (1945) finds beauty in what society deems "imperfect"—a disfigured veteran and a "plain" woman who see each other clearly for the first time.

Both films reveal McGuire's range and her gift for playing characters learning to see clearly—whether recognizing unconscious prejudice or discovering their own worth. We explore silent racism, the glass bottles metaphor, and "nice people" who hate prejudice but won't fight it.

Paired with Counter Culture's Hologram blend—a coffee that reveals different flavors depending on how you approach it—this episode asks: What would change if we all just actually SAW each other?

sip. watch. repeat.

Films Discussed:

• The Enchanted Cottage (1945) - Dir. John Cromwell
• Gentleman's Agreement (1947) - Dir. Elia Kazan

Coffee Pairing: Counter Culture Coffee - Hologram Blend

Guest: Danielle Aubuchon | http://danielleaubuchon.com

Featured Performances: Dorothy McGuire, Gregory Peck, Robert Young, John Garfield, Celeste Holm, Anne Revere, Herbert Marshall, Spring Byington, Mildred Natwick

Links:

Stream Gentleman's Agreement | https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/gentlemans-agreement

Stream The Enchanted Cottage | https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-enchanted-cottage

Counter Culture Coffee | https://counterculturecoffee.com

Danielle Aubuchon | https://danielleaubuchon.com

La Jolla Playhouse (co-founded by McGuire, Peck, Ferrer) | https://lajollaplayhouse.org

Dorothy McGuire - TCM | https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/133081

Support Reel Beans:

https://reelbeans.com/support | https://buymeacoffee.com/reelbeans | https://reelbeans.com/merch

Connect:

Instagram: @reel_beans | YouTube: @reelbeans | Website: http://reelbeans.com

Season 2 kicks off with a descent into darkness.

Join Ben Schneider and Kathryn Horan as they explore Neil Marshall's THE DESCENT (2005) — now in Ben's top ten horror films. Six women. One unmapped cave. Creatures that shouldn't exist. And betrayals that cut deeper than any monster ever could.

We're pairing this claustrophobic nightmare with Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee, because Kathryn had a brilliant insight: mushrooms literally grow in caves. What starts as a clever connection becomes something deeper as we explore the Finnish WWII origins of mushroom coffee and why Lion's Mane is exactly what you need when the walls close in.

In this episode:

• Why the UK ending hits different (and harder) than the US version
• Juno's fatal mistake: when fight or flight goes horribly wrong
• What makes these women work when so many horror characters don't
• Neil Marshall's Argento/Fulci influences and how they shape the terror
• The affair subplot you might have missed
• Cave diving as metaphor for confronting truth
• Why all-female casts are still revolutionary in horror

This one's intense, claustrophobic, and earned every scare. Let's descend.

sip. watch. repeat.

RESOURCES:

The Film: The Descent (2005) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486655/ Where to Watch - https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-descent

The Director & Influences: Neil Marshall - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Marshall Dario Argento - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dario_Argento Lucio Fulci - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucio_Fulci

The Coffee: Four Sigmatic Focus Organic Coffee Latte - https://us.foursigmatic.com/products/focus-organic-coffee-latte

Connect with Reel Beans: Website: http://reelbeans.com Instagram: @reel_beans Support the show: http://buymeacoffee.com/reelbeans

In the season one finale of Reel Beans, host Ben is joined by returning guest Josh Rozett to celebrate one year of pairing films with coffee. For this milestone episode, Josh shares Ridley Scott's 1991 landmark Thelma & Louise, paired with Mt. Comfort Coffee's Guatemala Blend - a bright, balanced cup that mirrors the film's journey from constraint to freedom.

Ben and Josh explore how Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon create one of cinema's most authentic friendships, how Ridley Scott's visual style transforms the Southwest landscape into a character itself, and why the film's refusal to offer easy answers makes it a perfect seasonal closer. From Callie Khouri's Oscar-winning screenplay to that iconic final frame, this conversation examines how Thelma & Louise redefined the road movie by putting two women behind the wheel of their own destiny.

The coffee pairing celebrates the heartland craftsmanship of Indianapolis-based Mt. Comfort Coffee, whose Guatemala Blend offers bright citrus and chocolate notes that evolve in the cup - much like the film's deceptively simple setup reveals profound depth. It's the kind of coffee you'd want riding shotgun on a journey toward the horizon.

Season one wraps with gratitude for the listeners, supporters, and guests who made this experiment in film-coffee fusion possible. Here's to many more miles ahead.

Film: Thelma & Louise (1991) Coffee: Mt. Comfort Coffee Guatemala Blend Guest: Josh Rozett

Where to Watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/thelma-and-louise

Where to Buy the Coffee: https://mtcomfortcoffee.com | https://www.instacart.com (search "Mt. Comfort Coffee")

Episode Links: https://reelbeans.com | https://www.instagram.com/reel_beans | https://www.youtube.com/@reelbeans | https://letterboxd.com/Reel_Beans/ | https://rss.com/podcasts/real-beans

Support the Show: https://reelbeans.com/merch | https://buymeacoffee.com/reelbeans

Reel Beans — Episode 24 Clifton Webb Tribute: Laura (1944) & Sitting Pretty (1948) | Intelligentsia House Blend

Welcome to Hummingbird Hill. This week we are celebrating one of Hollywood's most brilliant and wildly underrated actors — the one, the only, Clifton Webb. Frequent guest Danielle Aubuchon joins us for a tribute episode covering two sides of Webb's genius: the brooding, obsessive Waldo Lydecker in Otto Preminger's noir classic Laura (1944) and the pompous, hilarious, utterly magnificent Mr. Belvedere in Sitting Pretty (1948). Three Oscar nominations. Never won. Still underrated. Still brilliant.

Paired with Intelligentsia House Blend — the everyday coffee for a man who was anything but ordinary.

sip. watch. repeat.

This Week's Guest Danielle Aubuchon | https://www.danielleaubuchon.com/

This Week's Coffee Intelligentsia House Blend | https://www.intelligentsia.com/products/intelligentsia-house-blend

Where to Watch Laura (1944) | https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/laura Sitting Pretty (1948) | https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/sitting-pretty

Learn More Clifton Webb — Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_Webb Clifton Webb — IMDb | https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0916067/

Find Reel Beans Website | https://reelbeans.com | Podcast | https://rss.com/podcasts/real-beans/ | Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/reel_beans/ | YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@reelbeans

Support the Show Support | https://reelbeans.com/support | Merch | https://reelbeans.com/merch

EPISODE 23 - SHOW NOTES

Easter Double Feature: The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town & It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown

FILMS DISCUSSED:

The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town (1977) Rankin/Bass stop-motion special narrated by Fred Astaire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Easter_Bunny_Is_Comin'_to_Town

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974) Peanuts holiday special with music by Vince Guaraldi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_the_Easter_Beagle,_Charlie_Brown

COFFEE PAIRING:

Purchase: https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/products/ethiopia-mordecofe (Note: Stumptown offers multiple Ethiopian single origins; Guji is available at Whole Foods and other retailers)

Stumptown Coffee Roasters Story: https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/pages/our-story

RANKIN/BASS EASTER SPECIALS - DEEP DIVE:

Rick Goldschmidt's History (Rankin/Bass Historian): https://www.remindmagazine.com/article/1366/easter-bunny-is-coming-to-town-rankin-bass-easter-special/

PEANUTS EASTER BEAGLE - DEEP DIVE:

50th Anniversary Analysis: https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/a-basketful-of-peanuts-the-50th-anniversary-of-its-the-easter-beagle-charlie-brown/

Why It's "Forgotten" Among Peanuts Specials: https://www.remindmagazine.com/article/12559/its-the-easter-beagle-charlie-brown-1974-50-years-peanuts-holiday-specials/

VINCE GUARALDI SOUNDTRACK:

Soundtrack Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_the_Easter_Beagle,_Charlie_Brown_(soundtrack)

ETHIOPIA GUJI COFFEE REGION:

Guji Coffee Deep Dive: https://www.trabocca.com/coffee-knowledge/origin/guji-coffee/

STREAMING & AVAILABILITY:

The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town: Available on various streaming platforms and DVD

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown: Exclusive to Apple TV+ (as of 2021)

CONNECT:

Website: http://reelbeans.com Podcast: Available on all major podcast platforms

About This Episode

Host Ben and guest Kathryn Horan pair the 1980 slasher classic Friday the 13th with Starbucks Via Instant Coffee, joined by Marc Pyskaty, co-host of the Cinescare podcast. They explore why both became massive successes by prioritizing accessibility over sophistication.

Featured Guest

Marc Pyskaty - Co-host of the Cinescare podcast Cinescare Podcast

Resources & Links

Watch the Film:

• Friday the 13th (1980) on Amazon
• Find on JustWatch

Try the Coffee:

• Starbucks Via on Amazon

Learn More:

• Betsy Palmer
• Henry Manfredini
• Tom Savini
• Kevin Bacon

Instant Coffee History:

• USC Scribe
• Nationwide Coffee
• Enjoy Better Coffee

Connect with Reel Beans

• http://reelbeans.com
• @reel_beans
• YouTube
• Merch
• Support the Show

Reel Beans Episode 21: Now, Voyager (1942) & Brazil Coffee

Featuring Danielle Aubuchon

Episode Summary

In this episode, Ben and Reel Beans staple Danielle Aubuchon dive into the 1942 classic Now, Voyager, starring the incomparable Bette Davis as Charlotte Vale. They explore how the film was remarkably ahead of its time in its frank discussion of mental health, the lasting damage of a domineering parent who never wanted her child, and the complex journey toward independence and self-discovery. From Charlotte's transformation under the care of Dr. Jackwith to her unconventional relationship with Jerry (Paul Henreid), the conversation unpacks the film's emotional depth, iconic scenes, and its bold commentary on what happiness and fulfillment can look like when you stop living by someone else's rules.

Much like Charlotte, who needed the right conditions and patience to fully bloom, great coffee follows the same principle — which is why this episode is paired with a rich, smooth Brazil coffee.

Key Themes

• Mental health and the courage to seek help
• The damage of a domineering, possessive parent
• Transformation, independence, and self-worth
• Unconventional forms of happiness and love
• The general care of your fellow human being
• Costume design as a reflection of character growth
• Coffee as a metaphor for patience and blooming under the right conditions

Where to Watch

Now, Voyager (1942) is available to stream

Coffee Pairing: Brazil Coffee

Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer, and when given the right care, its beans produce something rich, smooth, and deeply rewarding. Here are some great options to brew along with this episode:

• Peet's Coffee — Brazil
• Groundwork Coffee — Black Gold
• Driven Coffee — Brazilian Coffee Origins

Sources & Further Reading

• Criterion — "Now, Voyager: We Have the Stars"

Connect with Reel Beans

• Website: http://reelbeans.com
• Support the show: http://reelbeans.com/support
• Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review — it helps us reach more fellow film and coffee lovers!

☕🎬 Sip. Watch. Repeat.

Keywords

Now Voyager, Bette Davis, mental health, independence, transformation, classic film, Brazil coffee, character analysis, 1940s cinema, emotional journey, film analysis, character development, iconic scenes, classic cinema, romantic films, psychological drama, women in film, Golden Age Hollywood

"I could not understand why men who knew all about good and evil could hate and kill each other."

Join host Benjamin Schneider with guests Casey Haltom and Allen Stafford for a deep dive into Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, based on Mary Shelley's classic novel.

In this milestone Episode 20, we explore why Frankenstein transcends gothic horror—examining themes of obsession, love, ignorance, rage, and the human need for connection. We discuss Victor Frankenstein's dangerous ambition, the Monster's emotional intelligence, and why Shelley's story continues to resonate in modern cinema.

During the coffee break, Ben breaks down coffee blends: what they are, why they matter, and how thoughtful construction creates balance and consistency. Much like Frankenstein itself, great blends are assembled with intention—the whole becoming greater than the sum of its parts.

Sip, watch, and repeat.

🎬 Film Discussed

Frankenstein (2025) Directed by Guillermo del Toro Starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi

Where to Watch (availability may vary): JustWatch (search & availability): https://coffeebros.com/blogs/coffee/the-definitive-guide-to-coffee-blends-everything-youve-ever-wanted-to-know?srsltid=AfmBOoqjcu1pQx5bKm-ArZsK1u5Vkj2z2jEo0kxsGZselgFaeajONcIk

🎧 Listen to Reel Beans

• Main Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/real-beans/
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reel-beans/id1809151473
• Spotify: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-reel-beans-276782796/

☕ Follow & Support the Show

• Instagram: https://reelbeans.com
• Support the Show: https://reelbeans.com/support
• Merch: https://reelbeans.com/merch

🎙️ Up Next

A tribute to "Women's Pictures" with Bette Davis in Now, Voyager, with special guest Danielle Aubuchon