Film critic David Sims interviews host Ian about Mike Leigh's latest film, exploring its tragicomic storytelling.
30 Jul 2025
Peterloo (with Orla Smith)
Film expert Orla Smith analyzes Mike Leigh's film *Peterloo* with host Ian, exploring its controversial nature and Smith's journey to becoming a Leigh expert in this interview.
23 Jul 2025
Mr. Turner (with Aaron from Hit Factory)
Film critic Aaron from Hit Factory analyzes Mike Leigh's 'Mr. Turner' alongside host Ian, exploring the director's collaboration with Timothy Spall in this interview.
16 Jul 2025
Another Year (with Orla Smith)
Film critic Orla Smith analyzes Mike Leigh's film *Another Year*, exploring its themes and place within Leigh's filmography in this interview with host Ian Smith.
9 Jul 2025
Happy-Go-Lucky (with Marc DiPaolo)
Author Marc DiPaolo analyzes Mike Leigh's film *Happy-Go-Lucky*, exploring its themes and significance within Leigh's filmography in this interview with Ian, offering listeners a deeper understanding of the director's work.
2 Jul 2025
Vera Drake (with Peter Rinaldi)
Peter Rinaldi analyzes Mike Leigh's film *Vera Drake*, exploring its post-war London setting and significance in Leigh's career, in this interview episode.
25 Jun 2025
All or Nothing (with Bryan Cardinale-Powell)
Film professor Bryan Cardinale-Powell analyzes Mike Leigh's film *All or Nothing*, highlighting its themes, style, and the powerful performances of Leslie Manville and Timothy Spall in this interview episode.
18 Jun 2025
Topsy-Turvy (with Fran Hoepfner)
Cultural critic Fran Hoepfner analyzes Mike Leigh's 'Topsy-Turvy,' exploring its themes of artistic labor and its affectionate tribute to Gilbert & Sullivan in this interview.
11 Jun 2025
Career Girls (with Orla Smith)
Film critic Orla Smith analyzes Mike Leigh's film *Career Girls*, exploring its unique style and structure within his filmography in an interview with the host.
4 Jun 2025
Secrets & Lies (with Chris Feil)
Film journalist Chris Feil analyzes Mike Leigh's acclaimed film *Secrets & Lies* with host Ian, exploring its themes and impact in this interview.
28 May 2025
Naked (with Will Menaker)
Will Menaker analyzes Mike Leigh's film *Naked*, exploring its dark themes and impact as a breakout film in this interview episode.
21 May 2025
BONUS: Mike Bio & Process Deep Dive (with Alex Heeney)
Next week we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming, but first…
Ian kicks off this bonus episode with some background on the man himself in the form of a quick, condensed Mike Leigh bio from birth to Bleak Moments. He’s then joined by co-editor of Peterloo in Process: A Mike Leigh Collaboration (https://seventh-row.com/product/mike-leigh-book/) and founder of Seventh Row (https://seventh-row.com/ebooks/) Alex Heeney for a conversation on the particulars of Mike’s unique process, as well as some contemporary filmmakers who are (perhaps, in their own ways) following in his footsteps.
All episodes in this series contain spoilers.
Theme music by Tuck Ryan (https://linktr.ee/tuckryanmusic) and Eoin Murphy. Logo photo credit Rick McGinnis (https://rickmcginnis.com/).
Follow the show on Instagram @MikeLeighPod (https://www.instagram.com/mikeleighpod/). Email the show at MikeLeighPod@gmail.com (mailto:MikeLeighPod@gmail.com). Follow Ian on Letterboxd at Nester_Nest (https://letterboxd.com/nester_nest/).
14 May 2025
Life Is Sweet (with Bryan Cardinale-Powell)
Bryan Cardinale-Powell, Oklahoma City University film professor and co-editor of Devised and Directed by Mike Leigh (https://www.amazon.com/Devised-Directed-Leigh-Bryan-Cardinale-Powell/dp/1501307258), joins the show for a discussion on the very first Mike Leigh film Ian ever saw, as well as a quick detour on Mike’s 1987 short film The Short & Curlies.
All episodes in this series contain spoilers.
Theme music by Tuck Ryan (https://linktr.ee/tuckryanmusic) and Eoin Murphy. Additional music is from Rachel Portman’s score for Life Is Sweet. Intro clip source interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqs07pfS46c&t=9s). Logo photo credit Rick McGinnis (https://rickmcginnis.com/).
Follow the show on Instagram @MikeLeighPod (https://www.instagram.com/mikeleighpod/). Email the show at MikeLeighPod@gmail.com (mailto:MikeLeighPod@gmail.com). Follow Ian on Letterboxd at Nester_Nest (https://letterboxd.com/nester_nest/).
7 May 2025
High Hopes (with Fran Hoepfner)
Fran Hoepfner is a cultural critic, senior editor of Bright Wall/Dark Room (https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/), creator of Fran Magazine (https://franmagazine.substack.com/), regular Vulture contributor, and avowed Leigh-head. She joins the show to discuss one of the more overtly political works in Mike’s catalog, and the film he considers to be his first proper theatrical release.
All episodes in this series contain spoilers.
Theme music by Tuck Ryan (https://linktr.ee/tuckryanmusic) and Eoin Murphy. Additional music is from Andrew Dickson’s score for High Hopes. Intro clip source interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxEqqRa_Tn4&t=1295s). Logo photo credit Rick McGinnis (https://rickmcginnis.com/).
Follow the show on Instagram @MikeLeighPod (https://www.instagram.com/mikeleighpod/). Email the show at MikeLeighPod@gmail.com (mailto:MikeLeighPod@gmail.com). Follow Ian on Letterboxd at Nester_Nest (https://letterboxd.com/nester_nest/).
30 Apr 2025
Meantime (with Peter Rinaldi)
Peter Rinaldi, host of the Back to One (https://filmmakermagazine.com/column/back-to-one-a-podcast-on-acting/) podcast and three-time interviewer of the man himself (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-leigh-dishes-hard-truths-a-special-episode/id1372499952?i=1000682994102), joins the show to discuss Mike’s kinda-TV-kinda-not film (and Safdie Brothers favorite (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSdxbBsShak&t=98s)): Meantime.
All episodes in this series contain spoilers.
Theme music by Tuck Ryan (https://linktr.ee/tuckryanmusic) and Eoin Murphy. Additional music is from Andrew Dickson’s score for Meantime. Intro clip source interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ux2VTDiUaU&t=1741s). Logo photo credit Rick McGinnis (https://rickmcginnis.com/).
Follow the show on Instagram @MikeLeighPod (https://www.instagram.com/mikeleighpod/). Email the show at MikeLeighPod@gmail.com (mailto:MikeLeighPod@gmail.com). Follow Ian on Letterboxd at Nester_Nest (https://letterboxd.com/nester_nest/).
22 Apr 2025
Bleak Moments (with Orla Smith)
Host Ian Moran introduces the series and himself, and is then joined by filmmaker, curator, critic, and co-editor of Peterloo in Process: A Mike Leigh Collaboration (https://seventh-row.com/product/mike-leigh-book/) Orla Smith to kick things off with a discussion on Mike's debut feature film. You can follow Orla on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/orla_p_smith/) and check out her exciting work with creative nonfiction at cnfw.co.uk (http://cnfw.co.uk).
All episodes in this series contain spoilers.
Mike Leigh process primers mentioned in the intro:
Back to One Mike Leigh Interview Trilogy: 1 (https://filmmakermagazine.com/107384-back-to-one-special-episode-mike-leigh/), 2 (https://filmmakermagazine.com/114793-back-to-one-episode-204-mike-leigh-returns/), 3 (https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/mike-leigh-dishes-hard-truths-a-special-episode/id1372499952?i=1000682994102&l=nb)
Marc Maron’s WTF Interview with Mike (https://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-1607-mike-leigh)
Book link: Amy Raphael’s Mike Leigh on Mike Leigh (https://www.amazon.com/Mike-Leigh/dp/0571353827)
Theme music by Tuck Ryan (https://linktr.ee/tuckryanmusic) and Eoin Murphy.
Intro clip source interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZm2gRXOkV4).
Logo photo credit Rick McGinnis (https://rickmcginnis.com/).
Follow the show on Instagram @MikeLeighPod (https://www.instagram.com/mikeleighpod/)
Email the show at MikeLeighPod@gmail.com
Follow Ian on Letterboxd at Nester_Nest (https://letterboxd.com/nester_nest/).
12 Mar 2025
Informational Promo
Just a quick taste to understand what to expect from Devised and Directed: The Films of Mike Leigh
Email the show at MikeLeighPod@gmail.com (mailto:MikeLeighPod@gmail.com)
Who has been a guest on Devised and Directed: The Films of Mike Leigh
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
David Sims
Orla Smith
Aaron from Hit Factory
Marc DiPaolo
Peter Rinaldi
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
49
Social presence
90
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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