Best Josh Neufeld Podcasts (2024)

1
AS Bonus: Live Event with Springer Berman, Pulcini, Friedlander, and Leib 57:59

4+ y ago57:59

57:59

A special live event held at New York City’s famed Society of Illustrators! After a screening of the film, Josh & Dean sat down with American Splendor writer/directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (via Skype), actor Judah Friedlander, and animator Gary Leib. Behind-the-scenes stories of the making of the film, the animation, influences …

1
AS Bonus: Writer/Directors SHARI SPRINGER BERMAN and ROBERT PULCINI Interview 1:08:20

5y ago1:08:20

1:08:20

Josh & Dean sit down with American Splendor writer/directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini for a freewheeling discussion of the movie. Shari & Bob talk about meeting Harvey & Joyce, the writing & making of the film, their working method and creative choices, casting, memorable moments from the shoot, the film’s main themes, and Harvey’s …

1
AS30: The End Credits 51:05

5y ago51:05

51:05

American Splendor scene #30 (1:37:31 to 1:41:08) — As the credits roll (on the film and the podcast), Josh & Dean reflect on all things Pekar/American Splendor. What should the film’s post-credit sequence have been? What would an American Splendor TV show look like? (Dino keeps coming back to Louis C.K.) A tribute to DC/Vertigo/Paradox Press, as we…

1
AS29: Part of the Story (with Alex Robinson) 1:17:58

5y ago1:17:58

1:17:58

American Splendor scene #29 (1:31:12 to 1:37:31) — Alex Robinson of Star Wars Minute joins Josh & Dean for the final scene of the film! (Well, actually, six little “scenelets.”) It's one year later, and Harvey & Joyce sign Our Cancer Year. Harvey is declared cancer-free! They adopt Danielle, and Harvey adjusts to being a parent (of a sort). The rea…

1
AS Bonus: Animator GARY LEIB Interview 38:23

5y ago38:23

38:23

Josh sits down with Gary Leib to discuss his work on the film, specifically on key scenes like the title sequence, "Old Jewish Ladies," and "Who is Harvey Pekar?" Gary's background as an alternative cartoonist (Idiotland) and musician, and his long-standing partnership with Doug Allen. How Gary got into animation and initially hooked up with Ted Ho…

1
AS28: Who is Harvey Pekar? 42:10

5y ago42:10

42:10

American Splendor scene #28 (1:28:12 to 1:31:12) — In one continuous take, Harvey wanders through a dreamscape, musing about his name, the phone book, and the other Harvey Pekars out there. An existential meditation is brought to life in a tour-de-force combination of framing, acting, and animation. A comparison with the original comic, “The Harvey…

1
AS27: Treatment Begins 51:33

5y ago51:33

51:33

American Splendor scene #27 (1:24:49 to 1:28:11) — The trauma and turmoil of Harvey’s treatment; time passes strangely. Meanwhile, Fred — accompanied by Danielle — continues to work on Our Cancer Year with Harvey & Joyce. An addled Harvey wonders if he’s real or if he’s just a character in a comic book. And if he dies will the story end, or will it…

1
AS Bonus: Producer TED HOPE Interview 56:03

5y ago56:03

56:03

Josh & Dean chat with Ted Hope (now with Amazon Studios), the producer of American Splendor. Hope talks about his own background in the business, the development of the film (including Dean’s key introductions), his favorite moments from the shoot, and premiering the film at Sundance. In a moving testament to authenticity in art, Hope explains why …

1
AS26: Our Cancer Year (with Jeff "JahFurry" Newelt) 1:05:46

5y ago1:05:46

1:05:46

American Splendor scene #26 (1:18:34 to 1:24:48) — To his and Joyce’s great shock, Harvey is diagnosed with lymphoma. Joyce suggest he “make a comic book of the whole thing,” but Harvey just wants to die. Undeterred, Joyce enlists Fred, an artist, to illustrate the experience. Fred brings along Danielle, his daughter, on their first brainstorming s…

1
AS25: You F***d Up a Great Thing (with Jeff “JahFurry” Newelt) 58:59

5y ago58:59

58:59

American Splendor scene #25 (1:15:00 to 1:18:33) — The scene begins with another Letterman appearance. but to quote Harvey, “between the lump and loneliness… [he] never felt more like a sell-out hack.” Harvey dons an “On Strike Against NBC” shirt and the show goes downhill from there, winding up in chaos. Joyce finally, happily returns, but the sce…

1
AS Bonus: JOE ZABEL Interview 54:29

5y ago54:29

54:29

Josh & Dean chat with long-time American Splendor artist Joe Zabel. Joe talks about his years working with Harvey, the creativity he brought to the role of illustrator, his thoughts on the movie, and about how his first impression of American Splendor was that it was a sex comic (“Harvey Pecker”). An in-depth examination of the creative process beh…

1
AS24: Startin' to Lose It 52:11

5y ago52:11

52:11

American Splendor scene #24 (1:10:45 to 1:14:55) — The scene opens back at Shay’s Diner. Another patron recognizes Harvey from the Letterman show — but not for the right reasons. Our man is angry and unfulfilled. Meanwhile, Joyce is looking for fulfillment of her own — as a creator and as an activist. Against Harvey’s wishes, she goes away to a pea…

1
AS23: Late Night with Harvey Pekar (with Ed Piskor) 1:15:00

5y ago1:15:00

1:15:00

American Splendor scene #23 (1:02:32 to 1:10:44) — The scene shifts to the Warwick Hotel, New York City, as Harvey and Joyce prepare for his appearance on Late Night with David Letterman! Despite himself, Harvey is a hit on the show and comes back for multiple appearances. Meanwhile, Toby becomes an MTV star. This episode we are joined by special g…

1
AS22: Delusions of Grandeur (with Whitney Matheson & Eytan Mirsky) 1:18:42

5y ago1:18:42

1:18:42

American Splendor scene #22 (56:33 to 1:02:31) — “Westward Ho!” Harvey & Joyce travel to L.A. to see American Splendor: The Play. Things are finally breaking Harvey’s way. But his ascendancy is complicated by Joyce’s emotional struggles. She wants… a family. Guest Whitney Matheson returns! And this episode features an interview with singer-songwrit…

1
AS21: Revenge of the Nerds part II: Signs of Trouble (with Whitney Matheson) 50:20

5y ago50:20

50:20

American Splendorscene #21 (53:50 to 56:33) — Harvey, Joyce, and Toby emerge from a screening of Revenge of the Nerds. Joyce finds it inspiring — Harvey finds it insipid. Back at their apartment, Joyce struggles with feeling at home amidst all of Harvey’s stuff. Special guest: pop culture writer Whitney Matheson! The pros & cons of Revenge of the N…

1
AS20: What Kind of Girl Is Your New Bride? 32:21

5y ago32:21

32:21

American Splendor scene #20 (52:19 to 53:50) — the real Harvey and Joyce sit in a fake comic book store, with a pile of American Splendors on the table between them. Joyce talks about what it was like to become a character in Harvey’s stories. Tension is in the air. A machine gun sounds in the distance. The scene's cringe-factor. Doom & gloom — and…

1
AS Bonus: World Champion JUDAH FRIEDLANDER Interview 55:57

5y ago55:57

55:57

Josh & Dean chat with comedian and actor Judah Friedlander, who plays Toby Radloff in the movie. Judah discusses how he got the role, hanging with the real Toby, being unrecognizable, and his key scenes in the film. He also talks 30 Rock, those unique trucker hats, his role on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Hollywood, politics, the life of a stand-u…

1
AS19: Escape (Revenge of the Nerds Part I) 42:55

5y ago42:55

42:55

American Splendor scene #19 (49:08 to 52:18) — It’s one week later, and (a strangely chipper) Harvey sees Toby sitting in his car, the dashboard covered in White Castle sliders. Toby is on his way to Toledo to see the new movie Revenge of the Nerds. Meanwhile, Harvey is on his way to Delaware to marry Joyce and help her move out to Cleveland. Harve…

1
AS Bonus: Genuine Nerd TOBY RADLOFF 30:04

5y ago30:04

30:04

Josh & Dean chat with Toby Radloff, a key figure in both American Splendor the comic and the movie. (Josh illustrated a couple of Toby Radloff stories.) Toby talks about working with Harvey Pekar at the VA Hospital, what the job of a file clerk was, and hanging with Harvey on weekends. He discusses what it felt like to be a character in American Sp…

1
AS18: Skipping the Whole Courtship Thing 41:27

5y ago41:27

41:27

American Splendor scene #18 (44:33 to 49:07) — Harvey takes Joyce to his apartment, where it is abundantly clear that he has a “serious problem with cleanliness.” Joyce shrugs if off, and they sit down on the couch and begin to get… intimate. Suddenly Joyce is overcome with a bout of nausea and vomiting. A concerned Harvey offers her chamomile tea.…

1
AS17: A Burp, a Whistle, and a Cough (with Val Mayerik) 1:17:11

5y ago1:17:11

1:17:11

American Splendor scene #17 (41:38 to 44:32) — Joyce travels to Cleveland to meet Harvey in person — but will he be a “hairy ape” or a “young Brando?” The real Harvey sidles into frame. His opening line? "You might as well know right off the bat, I had a vasectomy.” The date begins with a handshake and dinner at a local family restaurant. Josh & De…

1
AS16: Dear Mister Pekar 41:02

5y ago41:02

41:02

American Splendor scene #16 (37:11 to 41:37) — Meanwhile in Delaware, Joyce Brabner is frustrated with her partner in the comic store, who has sold her copy of American Splendor #8 out from under her. Why does everything in her life have to be such a complicated disaster?! She writes to Harvey, he responds, and they soon discover they are kindred s…

1
AS15: Alice Quinn and Jennie Gerhardt 42:00

5y ago42:00

42:00

American Splendor scene #15 (32:27 to 37:10) — The short weekend begins with longing… Harvey is picking up donuts and day-old bread at the bakery when he runs into Alice Quinn, a woman he briefly knew in college. They catch up on each other’s lives and talk about Theodore Dreiser’s novel Jennie Gerhardt. Harvey leaves their encounter feeling more a…

1
AS14: Jellybeans, Lentils, and Lent 44:05

5y ago44:05

44:05

American Splendor scene #14 (27:32 to 32:26) — Our most authentic episode to date! And the next thing, it’s the 80s… Harvey has published eight issues of American Splendor to critical acclaim but little financial gain. He’s still a “flunky file clerk.“ Toby stops by to offer Harvey some gourmet jelly beans. Before you know it, the film gets META as…

1
AS13: From Off the Streets of Cleveland 34:04

5y ago34:04

34:04

American Splendor scene #13 (23:46 to 27:31) — This episode opens with a montage of classic Pekar quotidian moments and culminates with Harvey proudly showing off American Splendor #1 to his co-workers. It concludes with the real Harvey talking about how he comes up with his stories. Mr. Boats returns and Toby Radloff appears for the first time… Th…

1
AS12: Words and Pictures (with James Urbaniak) 1:01:36

5y ago1:01:36

1:01:36

American Splendor scene #12 (20:21 to 23:45) — Inspired, Harvey stays up all night writing. At a diner with Crumb, Harv makes a pitch for a new kind of comics. He shows Bob the scripts he’s been working on — and Bob offers to illustrate them for him! Plus: an interview with actor James Urbaniak, who plays the role of Robert Crumb in the film! A dis…

1
AS11: Standing Behind Old Jewish Ladies in Supermarket Lines 31:31

5+ y ago31:31

31:31

American Splendor scene #11 (17:51 to 20:20) — Harvey is doing some grocery shopping when he is confronted with a conundrum about which line to wait on — the long but speedy one, or the short one with the old Jewish lady in front? Out of nowhere, Harvey’s animated subconscious — drawn in an R. Crumb manner — pops up to help guide his decision. “Are…

1
AS10: Give It Up! 32:34

5+ y ago32:34

32:34

American Splendor scene #10 (16:24 to 17:51) — a sobering moment in the VA hospital’s “deceased” files section leads Harvey to try drawing his own stories. Short on ideas, he flips through some old comics, including an issue of Dr. Quake. But the message he receives is… “GIVE IT UP!” Dino’s art featured this scene! “Did you really believe brass and…

1
AS9: Back to '75... 28:44

5+ y ago28:44

28:44

American Splendor scene #9 (14:32 to 16:23) — The flashback is over, and a famous but disillusioned Crumb is back in Cleveland for a visit. He and our man hang out at a random bus stop while Crumb sketches. His marriage over, Harvey is lonely and frustrated — he wants to leave a mark on the world. Harvey doesn’t buy all this “growth crap” — he’d be…

1
AS8: Bob and Harv 38:20

5+ y ago38:20

38:20

American Splendor scene #8 (12:27 to 14:32) — It's still 1962, and Harvey and Bob are chillin' at the Pekar pad. Scratchy jazz tunes play on the turntable. Harvey admires Crumb's Big Yum Yum Book, but grows frustrated with Crumb's apparent lack of ambition ("It's just an exercise"). Still, a friendship is formed over a shared love of jazz and comic…

1
AS7: A Rare Find, 1962 (with Eli Ganias) 33:27

5+ y ago33:27

33:27

American Splendor scene #7 (11:11 to 12:17) — Flashback to 1962. A fateful encounter: while searching for old records at a yard sale, Harvey meets shy greeting card illustrator (and comic book collector) Bob Crumb. Special guest: actor Eli Ganias, who plays the role of Pahls in the film! Marty Pahls and "Marty & Pahls" — the real man who introduced…

1
AS6: Demon Record Hustler 25:44

5+ y ago25:44

25:44

In American Splendor's sixth scene (10:00 to 11:11), the real Harvey Pekar sits at a fake yard sale, talking about his years as a used-record collector / salesman. Harvey's transition from collecting "sides" to collecting stories. It's talk therapy for Josh & Dean as they discuss family issues related to collecting/hoarding. The pros & cons of coll…

1
AS5: Jack the Bellboy and Mr. Boats 27:27

5+ y ago27:27

27:27

In American Splendor's fifth scene (8:00 to 10:00), it's a few months later. A depressed and lonely Harvey is at his flunky file clerk job at the V.A. hospital. Mr. Boats comes by to offer some poetic advice about women. The conversation turns to music, and then to Harvey's side gig as a used-record dealer. Mr. Boats accuses Harvey of not "turning …

1
AS4: His Vow of Silence Begins 32:59

5+ y ago32:59

32:59

In American Splendor‘s fourth scene (6:06 to 8:00), Harvey's wife decides this "plebeian" lifestyle just isn't working for her anymore. Without being able to speak, our man is powerless to prevent her from leaving him. Poor Harvey! Harvey's apartment sparks a conversation about "collecting" versus HOARDING. An appreciation of Paul Giamatti. The ori…

1
AS3: Voice Trouble, 1975 34:50

5+ y ago34:50

34:50

In American Splendor‘s third scene (4:49 to 6:06), Harvey visits a throat doctor and exhibits a little hypochondria. Plus, he's having marital problems. The boys correct an error from the previous episode. They talk about the original American Splendor story that inspired this segment, and the differences between the comic and the film. A discussio…

1
AS2: Here's Our Man 39:14

5+ y ago39:14

39:14

American Splendor's second scene (1:24 to 4:49) introduces Paul Giamatti as Harvey Pekar, walking the gritty Cleveland streets, interwoven with the film's opening credits, all formatted to look like comic book panels. Then we meet the real Harvey Pekar in a faux behind-the-scenes documentary setup. A discussion of American Splendor as a groundbreak…

1
AS1: 1950 — Our Story Begins 35:53

5+ y ago35:53

35:53

AMERICAN SPLENDOR's prologue (0:00 to 1:24) opens in the year 1950. It’s Halloween and an 11-year-old Harvey Pekar refuses to be a superhero. Josh & Dean introduce themselves and the show before diving into the scene, with memories of past Halloween costumes, as well as LaGuardia High School, which both hosts attended. A spirited discussion about H…

1
Scene by Scene with Josh & Dean: American Splendor (Trailer) 0:58

5+ y ago0:58

0:58

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scenebyscene/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scenebyscene/support

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Josh Neufeld Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide