Best Jeff Zhang Podcasts (2024)

1
"A Quiet Place: Day One" 38:35

3h ago38:35

38:35

Another week, another prequel. We review A Quiet Place: Day One, directed by pod favorite filmmaker Michael Sarnoski (Pig). Will a new Quiet Place away from the Abbott Family sidestep prequel doldrums? Will Sarnoski once again subvert genre convention with the human element? Tune in and find out!By Amir Touray, Derek Wong, Jeff Zhang

1
"The Bikeriders" 44:06

5d ago44:06

44:06

Just through star power alone, Jeff Nichols' The Bikeriders is an elegy for the home of a band of outsiders and misfits, eroded by time into something much more sinister and encroaching. We discuss the trio of movie stars at the film's center and its surprising power through familiar tropes.By Derek Wong, Jeff Zhang, Amir Touray

1
"Bad Boys: Ride or Die" 46:29

14d ago46:29

46:29

The fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise finds Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) on the run from a criminal conspiracy. 2020's Bad Boys For Life struck gold with new directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah taking over the action reins from Michael Bay. Will they succeed again? Tune in and find out.…

1
"Hit Man" 52:54

28d ago52:54

52:54

Funny and sexy cinema is back! This week, we tackle Richard Linklater's latest film: Hit Man. We discuss the filmmaker's storied oeuvre, the film's capital "M" movie star performances in Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, and its knottier-than-expected questions of identity. It's steamy, uproarious, and just a little twisted.…

1
Josh Lee - Keplr, and the future of Interchain Wallets 52:19

28d ago52:19

52:19

In this episode, we chat with Josh Lee, founder of Keplr. We reminisce about the early days of Keplr, and what building a Korean Crypto company is like. We also touch on the origin story behind Osmosis, and what Josh has learned from being a co-founder of both Keplr and Osmosis. Josh also shares lessons from building an infrastructure company in Cr…

1
"Interview with the Vampire" Season 2 43:00

1M ago43:00

43:00

One of the best shows on TV finally makes its return. This week, we review the first four episodes of Interview with the Vampire's second season. The second season finds Louis and Claudia on the run after supposedly killing Lestat, and the pair travel the world in search of more of their own kind. Does the new season live up to the series' pristine…

1
"Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" 56:09

1M ago56:09

56:09

George Miller has huge shoes to fill: his own. A follow-up to one of the best action movies ever made, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a long-awaited prequel to the 2015 high-octane whirlwind. Nearly a decade later, does Miller have what it takes to live up to an impossible standard, or is he doing something completely different? Tune in and find out.…

1
Darren Lin: Director/Janitor, Divorce Expert, Hopeless Romantic, Blue Collar Aspirant 55:04

1M ago55:04

55:04

Darren was my Chinese tutor when I was living in Taipei. But that means that it was a bit one-sided, in that he would ask me questions, and I would do the bulk of the talking because it was about me practicing. Here I even the scales and interview him. Darren is what I would call a blue-collar auteur. Translation: he actually produces films and doc…

1
2024 Summer Box Office Wager 49:38

2M ago49:38

49:38

We are back with our second annual Summer Box Office Wager! After our disastrous guesses last year (bad for us, entertaining for you), we're back for another round of predicting this season's biggest movies. Have we learned our lessons? Or will we miss big again? Find out and follow along!By Jeff Zhang, Derek Wong, Amir Touray

1
Catching Up With "X-Men '97" 46:29

2M ago46:29

46:29

Back by popular demand, we're catching up with Marvel's hit animated series: X-Men '97. We spent the first episode praising the first stretch of the season for its freshness and surprisingly mature handling of its mutant heroes. Does it stick the landing? We review the rest of the season and its sprawling three-part finale.…

1
Anand Gomes - Paradex and the Crypto Derivatives Landscape 59:05

2M ago59:05

59:05

In this episode, we chat with Anand Gomes, founder of Paradigm and Paradex, two different crypto derivatives products. We begin with Anand’s journey as a derivatives trader, which led him to build Paradigm, an institutional block trading platform for crypto options. After the FTX crash, Anand was inspired to create a new decentralized exchange – Pa…

1
"Challengers" with Ashley Zhang 1:04:35

2M ago1:04:35

1:04:35

This week, we review Luca Guadagnino's electrically charged tennis drama, Challengers. Joined by special guest Ashley Zhang, we discuss the trinity of great performances from Zendaya, Mike Faust, and Josh O'Connor, as well as sing our praises for a rare blockbuster-level crowdpleaser that’s still full of blood, vitality, and texture.…

1
"Immaculate" and "The First Omen" 37:19

2M ago37:19

37:19

It's nun week as we head into a rare double feature episode, this time covering Michael Mohan's Immaculate and Arkasha Stevenson's The First Omen. Nunsploitation is back! Or is it? We tackle these twin movies with eerily similar subject matters and themes, both movies centered around young novitiates who uncover sinister conspiracies within their c…

1
"Civil War" 39:23

3M ago39:23

39:23

This week we are talking about Alex Garland’s new film, Civil War. A movie that attempts to sidestep politics to tell a story about wartime journalists, Garland’s latest is another stab at ambitious speculative fiction. We discuss its touted "apoliticism," its technical prowess, and its treatise on the state of journalism. Does it succeed, and more…

1
Cem Özer - Sovereign Labs, Rollups, and Appchains 55:27

3M ago55:27

55:27

In this episode, we chat with Cem Ozer, founder of Sovereign Labs. We begin with Cem’s personal journey in crypto, and how this experience led him to build Sovereign Labs. We then discuss how developers evaluate the many permutations of rollups and blockchain frameworks available today, and where Sovereign Labs fits into this landscape. We dive int…

1
"Monkey Man" 33:34

3M ago33:34

33:34

This week, we review Dev Patel's debut as director and action star: Monkey Man. A passion project years in the making marred by delays and production troubles only to be saved last-minute by producer Jordan Peele, Patel's kinetic actioner has plenty to prove. Can it rise above its muddled storytelling to deliver its throat punches and kicks in the …

1
“X-Men '97” 39:36

3M ago39:36

39:36

Obvious nostalgia bait or the start of something special? This week we're discussing the Disney Plus revival of X-Men: The Animated Series. Bringing back the iconic series right where the original left off over 25 years ago, X-Men '97 reunites new and old talent for Marvel's first big push for mutants before the live action movie.…

1
Jacob Arluck and Andrew Huang - Celestia, Conduit, and the Modular Future 1:06:18

3M ago1:06:18

1:06:18

In this episode, we chat with Jacob Arluck, head of strategy at Celestia Labs, and Andrew Huang, founder of Conduit. We cover a number of topics in the modular blockchain space, starting with the impact of DA solutions on the rollup landscape and the budding partnership between Conduit and Celestia, the leading RaaS and DA solutions in the market r…

1
"Love Lies Bleeding" 34:27

4M ago34:27

34:27

This week we review director Rose Glass' sophomore feature, Love Lies Bleeding. A lesbian crime thriller in the vein of The Wachowskis' Bound, the film stars Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, and Dave Franco. Does it live up to Glass' searing debut, 2019's Saint Maud? Tune in and find out.…

1
The 96th Oscars Recap 30:07

4M ago30:07

30:07

We're a week late, but here's our coverage of the 96th annual Academy Awards in the year of Barbenheimer. As usual, we discuss snubs, surprises, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Who won? Who should've won? Once again, we give the rundown.By Jeff Zhang, Amir Touray, Derek Wong

1
Jesse Schoberg: Master of Thigh Masters, 8.5 on the Non-Normie Scale, Enjoyable Amount of Internet Famous, and Calculated Novelty Junkie 1:04:52

4M ago1:04:52

1:04:52

Jesse is not only my neighbor in bangkok, whenever he actually decides to live here, but he was one of the most influential people in my life last year. The way I met him is quite unique: I got sent a youtube link to a CNBC interview he did on being an expat in Bangkok. Basically I had a weird amount of information about him, from him, but not real…

1
"Dune: Part Two" 56:35

4M ago56:35

56:35

The long-awaited Dune: Part Two is finally here. Does director Denis Villeneuve land all the wondrous, brutalist tableaus thrown in the air over three years ago with Part One? Does he successfully merge dense, sci-fi imagemaking with Frank Herbert’s heady and prescient themes? We review Dune: Part Two.…

1
The Most Anticipated Films of 2024 40:13

4M ago40:13

40:13

Starting a new tradition this year, this is our first annual "Most Anticipated Films" episode. We put forth our individual ballots for what we're most excited for, culminating in a list of 15 movies that are on our radars.By Amir Touray, Jeff Zhang, Derek Wong

1
"Mr. & Mrs. Smith" 1:04:25

5M ago1:04:25

1:04:25

Our first television episode in a while and the first of 2024, we're reviewing the new Amazon Prime Video series from creators Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane: Mr. & Mrs. Smith. A reimagining of the 2005 hit movie (and a short-lived 1996 television show), the series follow John (Donald Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine), two spies who agree to comp…

1
The Best Films of 2023 1:27:35

5M ago1:27:35

1:27:35

2023: a tumultuous, but also exciting year for cinema that saw the bottoms fall out of once unstoppable franchises and the rise of new and old masters. Characterized by surprise blockbusters, stinging excavations of the human condition, and a few bold oddities, this year was a cornucopia of great film. This is always our favorite episode to do ever…

1
"Poor Things" 36:32

6M ago36:32

36:32

Our lead-up to The Best Films of 2023 episode continues as we cover Yorgos' Lanthimos' ribald, fisheye fantasy: Poor Things. Is it the Greek filmmaker's most accessible film? We talk Emma Stone, fearless performances, and the sweetly demented world constructed for this raunchy coming-of-age fable.By Jeff Zhang, Derek Wong, Amir Touray

1
Mark Zhang Returns: New 20% Tiger Father, Obsessed with "Primal Man", Failed Nomad, Unleashed via Mindset Coaching 56:59

6M ago56:59

56:59

My pal Mark returns, this time with a baby in tow! It’s pretty great to be able to have a snapshot in time of someone’s life, before and after having a baby. You're welcome, Mark. I’m realizing that is part of the appeal for recording these conversations for myself as well. They are moments and places in time that represent different phases in life…

1
"The Holdovers" 38:56

6M ago38:56

38:56

The feel good film that took holiday moviegoers by storm, Alexander Payne's The Holdovers follows a cranky history teacher at a remote prep school that is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go. We discuss the trifecta of affecting performances in Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and first-ti…

1
Emily and Alvin Hsia - Shadow, and Building the Next Generation of Onchain Data 53:55

6M ago53:55

53:55

In this episode, we chat with Emily and Alvin Hsia, co-founders of Shadow. We begin with their journey working on DeFi, MEV, an early idea to unify on-chain data, and their journey to building Shadow. They walk us through the challenges with events, their solution for developers, users, and data consumers, and other details on the product such as p…

1
"Ferrari" 57:40

6M ago57:40

57:40

"Two objects cannot occupy the same point in space or the same moment in time.” Michael Mann’s Ferrari disguises the fissures of masculinity in the typical rhythms of biographical fare, but does it fit in with the famed director's late oeuvre of between-the-lines human feeling? We discuss the movie, Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, and its shocking raci…

1
Jeff Lau: Above Average BBC, Nationally Ranked Rock Climber, Wanted to Have a White Person's Head, Unclear About What Feelings Are 1:07:09

7M ago1:07:09

1:07:09

Once upon a time, I went to a co-working space in Taipei called the Hive, and that's where I met Jeff. It became immediately apparent that we had a lot in common, and we quickly built a ritual of talking about our shared perspectives over cheap sushi. We talked about identity things, expat things, Taiwan things, exercise things… but in the end, we …

1
"Silent Night" 37:33

7M ago37:33

37:33

Action maestro John Woo is back with his first stateside movie in 20 years, Silent Night. A dialogue-free revenge flick soaked in blood, chrome, and improvised explosives, the film finds Joel Kinnaman on a one-man quest to take down those responsible for the death of his son. Is Woo back and better than ever? Or has he lost his touch. We discuss.…

1
Ido Ben-Natan and Raz Niv - Blockaid, and the Future of Crypto Security 43:49

7M ago43:49

43:49

In this episode, we chat with Ido Ben-Natan and Raz Niv, co-founders of Blockaid, a crypto security firm. They share their journey from the Israeli Defence Force cybersecurity unit to launching Blockaid, discussing their product and the importance of protecting web3 customers. Later, we dig into Blockaid's approach to a stealth launch, fostering a …

1
"Godzilla Minus One" 46:34

7M ago46:34

46:34

This week, Derek, Amir, and Jeff sit down with the latest Toho monster flick to wash up on American shores, Godzilla Minus One. A Japanese film that has taken the U.S. box office by storm, Minus One combines disaster movie spectacle with a surprisingly strong human element. We review the movie and discuss its anti-war messaging, its shockingly low …

1
"May December" 47:19

7M ago47:19

47:19

A thorny balancing act of different tones that drills straight into sordid psychodrama and the elusive nature of performance, Todd Haynes’ May December is high wire cinema at its finest. We review the film and dive deep into the trinity of powerhouses that is Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, and Charles Melton.…

1
Jonthan Wells: Soho House Nomad, Ex-Team USA Athlete, Almost On Your Favorite Netflix Dating Show, Salary Negotiation Specialist 1:17:01

7M ago1:17:01

1:17:01

Jonathan is an unassuming guy, but hs is also impossible to not notice. A 6’3 handsome MFer in Bangkok tends to turn heads. But also, I noticed his shirts and hats. I figured out that they were about his own brand - and I can usually tell because I also make my own shirts! But the thing you notice next besides Jonathan is the way he interacts, coll…

1
Michael Shaulov - Fireblocks' Journey from Inception to Present 1:07:29

7M ago1:07:29

1:07:29

In this episode, we chat with Michael Shaulov, co-founder of Fireblocks. Michael revisits with us the early days of building Fireblocks and finding product market fit by solving customer pain points. We chat through both strategic and tactical approaches to building a B2B product in crypto, exploring lessons learned on early customer relationships …

1
"The Marvels" 53:30

7M ago53:30

53:30

This week, Derek, Amir, and Jeff review Nia DaCosta's The Marvels, the 33rd entry in a flagging Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the three leads of Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani, it's certainly aiming higher, further, and faster. But is it another Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? Or is it another Quantumania? We discuss.…

1
Juan Montero: Longevity Nut, Ex-Crafty Panamanian, Growth Mindset in Human Form, Don't Call Him Mexican 1:12:48

8M ago1:12:48

1:12:48

Juan is one of my pals from Taiwan, and I knew of him before I met him because I had been using his website for months beforehand! He's the founder of taiwannutrition.com, and in more recent years, the founder of trueterral.com with his wife Sylvia. He’s been in Taiwan since his university days and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese. Like most of my pa…

1
"The Killer" 47:27

8M ago47:27

47:27

David Fincher returns with his take on the hitman yarn with The Killer. Starring Michael Fassbender as the titular assassin whose world is turned upside down after a botched job, Fincher's latest strips down the archetype to its nuts and bolts. Is it a minor entry in the perfectionist director's legendary oeuvre? Or are there hidden layers undernea…

1
Henri Stern - Privy, Product-Building, and the Future of Embedded Wallets 1:14:31

8M ago1:14:31

1:14:31

In this episode, we chat with Henri Stern, the co-founder and CEO of Privy. We begin with Henri’s personal journey in Crypto, how it led him to build Privy, and how his vision for Privy has changed over time. We then get into Privy’s product mindset, how the primitives it enables benefit both users and developers, and where the product goes from he…

1
"Priscilla" 41:29

8M ago41:29

41:29

Sofia Coppola aims her dreamlike sights at Elvis Presley with Priscilla, a not-quite biopic of its titular Queen of Rock and Roll. The perfect convergence of subject matter and a filmmaker’s particular wheelhouse, Coppola’s spotlight on the wife of Elvis Presley twists the director’s potent examinations of girlhood adolescence with the nightmare of…

1
"Killers of the Flower Moon" 58:50

8M ago58:50

58:50

This week, we take a look at Martin Scorsese's three-and-a-half-hour epic tragedy, Killers of the Flower Moon. A deliberate indictment of insidious American exceptionalism, the film explores an oft-overlooked atrocity from the country's ignoble past. Focusing on a real-life conspiracy of murder to rob the Indigenous Osage of Oklahoma of their wealt…

1
"Saw X" 51:51

9M ago51:51

51:51

Director Kevin Greutert returns to the franchise that birthed his feature-length career with Saw X, a precise and brutal affair that knows exactly what its audience wants. Tobin Bell returns as John Kramer and Shawnee Smith returns as Amanda Young in this punch-in-the-arm midquel, but is it enough to revitalize the series?…

1
Neel Somani - Eclipse, L2s, and Ecosystem Building 1:04:54

9M ago1:04:54

1:04:54

In this episode, we chat with Neel Somani, the founder of Eclipse. We begin with an overview of Neel's personal journey in Crypto, from exploring Cosmos and appchains, to thinking about Rollups-as-a-service, to now building an L2. We then dig into Neel's dream customer, Eclipse's go-to-market strategy, and how they are building a differentiated eco…

1
"The Creator" 45:06

9M ago45:06

45:06

Star Wars: Rogue One director Gareth Edwards returns with his sprawling, sci-fi epic, The Creator. Breathing rarefied air as an original, non-IP, non-sequel, non-franchise movie, Edwards new vision finds itself sitting in an uphill, cinematic landscape. Does it deliver on its buzzed-about promise?By Derek Wong, Jeff Zhang, & Amir Touray

1
Mel Chua: Ex-Farm Boy, Banana Inside a Twinkie, Fueled by Spite, Dance Community Builder 1:03:56

9M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Mel is what I would call a boomerang. The way I define it is growing up somewhere, going somewhere else, and then ultimately returning to that first place for… reasons. Perhaps belonging, or a lack of belonging. Mel is also a twinkie, which also requires a definition. A twinkie is someone who is Asian on the outside, but white on the inside. But Me…

1
"No One Will Save You" 41:09

10M ago41:09

41:09

This week we are reviewing Hulu's buzzy alien abduction thriller, Bryan Duffield's No One Will Save You. With white-knuckle suspense and a stylish dialogue-free conceit, can the film sustain its bravura across 93 minutes? Tune in and find out what we thought.By Derek Wong, Jeff Zhang, & Amir Touray

1
"A Haunting in Venice" 37:51

10M ago37:51

37:51

Kenneth Branagh returns for a third installment of his Agatha Christie adaptations with A Haunting in Venice. Is the third time the charm for this lukewarm franchise of diminishing returns? Is Kenneth Branagh in his flop era, or is he finally cooking with gas? We investigate and review A Haunting in Venice.…

1
Reina Virgilio: Expert at Reading the Air, Unsuited for Japanese Beauty Standards, Bellydancer, Japanese Colloquialist 1:01:28

10M ago1:01:28

1:01:28

The picture doesn't match the name, does it? Reina is a pal that, when we first met, we didn’t talk at all. That's because she is a dance friend from Tokyo, and we met on the dance floor at a of the Latin dance festival in Tokyo. Reina immediately stood out because of her a... rms. It sounds strange, but if I see someone that’s obviously into fitne…

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