Phoenix Rising Reacts: The Podcast is your new favorite movie‑night hangout — minus the popcorn cleanup. Join Lee, Ash, and the Phoenix Rising crew as they dive into the movies they love, the movies they survived, and the movies they can’t believe actually got made.
From behind‑the‑scenes stories to unfiltered commentary, we break down films the same way we do on our YouTube channel — with humor, heart, and a whole lot of chaotic energy.
Whether you’re a die‑hard movie nerd or just here for the banter, this podcast brings you closer to the creators behind Phoenix Rising Reacts and gives you even more of the personality you see on screen.
Expect:
Honest movie commentary
Deep‑dive discussions
Pop‑culture breakdowns
Creator life stories
Random topics we can’t help but rant about
If you love our reactions, you’ll love the unfiltered version of us even more.
Subscribe and join the Phoenix Rising community beyond the screen. New episodes every week. Come hang out, laugh with us, and discover your next favorite film or off the path rabbit trail!
Could Zombies Happen? What have we learned from Zombie movies? What makes a Zombie? We question everything about Zombies, explore popular ideas, and even look at it scientifically. What makes a Zombie? Are we becoming a "Zombie" society? We'll explore this and more in this episode. Join us as we express our own thoughts on the subject.
10 Oct 2026
Foreign Films vs Hollywood
After watching several recommended foreign movie trailers, Lee & Ash ask the question... Why do Foreign films have more of a pull to them than Hollywood movies? They're raw, gritty, with better acting. What has squashed Hollywood's magic and has now made Foreign films appear more enticing?
1 Oct 2026
Special Effects: Past, Present, Future
Lee & Ash dive into the magic behind movie special effects from the practical tricks that defined early cinema to the digital wizardry shaping today’s blockbusters. They break down how Special Effects evolved, why certain eras still feel more “real,” and what the future might look like as CGI, AI tools, and practical effects collide. Expect nostalgic throwbacks, passionate debates, surprising industry insights, and plenty of laughs as they explore how effects shape storytelling, immersion, and the emotional punch of a scene.
As always, thank you for supporting the show and helping us keep these deep‑dive conversations going. Your support means everything!
16 Sept 2026
Best & Worst Sequels
Lee & Ash dive headfirst into the wild world of movie sequels — the legendary follow‑ups that outshine the originals, and the catastrophic ones that make you wonder who approved the script. From iconic second installments that became instant classics to the sequels that derailed entire franchises, they break down what makes a continuation work, why some fail spectacularly, and which films deserved better. Expect passionate opinions, unexpected picks, plenty of laughs, and a few spicy rants as they crown the best… and roast the worst.
9 Sept 2026
Into the Multiverse
The multiverse is more than a Marvel gimmick. It might explain the weirdest moments of your own life.Lee and Ash jump into the rabbit hole of alternate realities, Mandela effects, and those impossible little glitches that make you question what really happened. From Marvel’s endless crossover machine to Sliders, Dark City, The Matrix, and Deadpool vs. Wolverine, they connect the pop-culture obsession to a much stranger idea—that somewhere, every version of your choices may already be playing out.Lee shares a jaw-dropping near-accident experience that felt like a glimpse of another timeline. Ash follows with an eerily similar story involving a road trip, a fiery crash, and a sudden stretch of missing time that neither he nor his parents could explain. Together, they ask whether these moments point to parallel universes, divine intervention, or something even harder to define.You (http://define.You)’ll hear their thoughts on:
Why the multiverse took over modern storytelling
How Marvel turned alternate timelines into a money-printing engine
Why the Mandela Effect keeps fueling conspiracy theories
The idea that sleep, death, and consciousness may work more like a reset than an ending
How fiction, fandom, and even authoring books can feel like “downloads” from somewhere else
They also swap pop-culture theories, old-school nostalgia, and a few deeply personal “what the hell was that?” moments that make this conversation far more than a movie chat. If you’ve ever felt like reality skipped a beat, this episode will hook you fast. Perfect for movie fans, conspiracy-theory thinkers, and anyone who loves a conversation that starts with Marvel and ends somewhere much stranger.
1 Sept 2026
Streaming Media vs Physical Media
Lee & Ash dive deep into one of the biggest debates in modern entertainment — streaming media vs physical media. With studios quietly editing films, removing scenes, and even pulling titles from platforms entirely, the conversation around digital ownership has never been more important.
In this episode, they break down the pros and cons of both formats, explore the growing concern over censorship and content control in streaming, and explain why physical media remains the most reliable way to preserve a movie’s original form. From convenience to long‑term access, from corporate decisions to collector culture, Lee & Ash unpack it all and ultimately reveal why they believe physical media still comes out on top.
If you care about movies, preservation, or the future of entertainment, this is a discussion you don’t want to miss.
25 Aug 2026
Fan Picks vs Award Darlings: Why We Never Agree
Lee & Ash dive into one of the biggest debates in movie culture. Why award‑winning films and fan‑favorite films rarely line up. From Academy Award darlings to blockbuster crowd‑pleasers, they break down what critics value, what audiences actually want, and the surprising movies that bridge the gap. Expect passionate takes, laughs, and a few spicy opinions as they explore whether the “best” movies are chosen by the industry… or by the people who buy the tickets.
11 Aug 2026
The Story of Us and the beginning of YOU!
In this episode, we are opening up to you all about how we met, the 3 things necessary for a concrete relationship, and how our love led to becoming a movie family with all of YOU!
29 Jul 2026
Michael Biehn: The Underrated Icon of Sci‑Fi & Action
A deep dive into the career of Michael Biehn — from The Terminator and Aliens to his cult‑favorite roles that shaped sci‑fi and action cinema. We celebrate his intensity, legacy, and why he remains one of Hollywood’s most brilliant unsung actors.
15 Jul 2026
Remakes: The Good, the Bad, and why Hollywood keeps doing them
In this episode of Phoenix Rising Reacts: The Podcast, we dive deep into Hollywood’s never‑ending obsession with remakes — the good ones, the bad ones, the baffling ones, and the sacred classics that should never be touched.
We break down:
Remakes that actually elevate the original
Remakes that completely miss the point
Movies that should’ve been left alone forever
Why studios keep returning to the same old pool of writers
How risk‑avoidance and corporate thinking are strangling creativity
Why Hollywood keeps forcing other cultures into pre‑existing molds instead of embracing authentic global storytelling
The international films and creators who are already doing the bold, original work Hollywood claims it wants
This episode is part movie talk, part industry critique, and part love letter to fresh ideas. If you’re tired of reboot culture and want to hear a real conversation about where creativity should be coming from, this one’s for you.
8 Jul 2026
Behind the Chaos: Our Setup, Our Process, Our 5‑Second Rule & the stranglehold of Copyright
This week on Lee & Ash’s Phoenix Rising Reacts Podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on how our channel actually works from the early days filming on a basic camera to upgrading our workflow with Riverside.com (http://Riverside.com).
We also finally explain the five seconds on / five seconds off method we use in our YouTube reactions. Why we do it, how it protects our content, and why it’s become a core part of our editing style.
Plus, we chat about creator life, behind‑the‑scenes chaos, and give a shoutout to our amazing supporters over on Patreon at PhoenixRisingReacts.
Thanks for hanging out with us each week and being part of the Phoenix Rising community!
1 Jul 2026
John Williams: The Maestro Who Scored Our Imagination
John Williams didn’t just compose film scores — he shaped the emotional language of modern cinema. In this episode, Ash & Lee dive into the extraordinary career of the legendary maestro behind Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Jaws, E.T., and so many more iconic themes that defined generations.
We explore his musical style, his collaborations with Spielberg and Lucas, the stories behind his most unforgettable compositions, and why his work continues to resonate across decades.
Join us for a celebration of one of the greatest composers in history — plus our personal favorites, fun trivia, and how Williams’ music influenced our own creative journeys.
🎧 New episodes every week
📺 YouTube Channel: Phoenix Rising Reacts
🌐 Website: HatakeBooks.com (http://HatakeBooks.com)
💙 Patreon: PhoenixRisingReacts
🎬 Movie reactions, commentary, and creator content all in one place
24 Jun 2026
Summer movies and a few rabbit trails
Dive into our Summer Movie episode where we talk blockbusters, comfort rewatches, hidden gems, and all the wild tangents our brains insisted on taking. From nostalgic favorites to “how did this even get made” moments, we’re unpacking the films that define summer for us — plus a few unexpected rabbit trails because… it’s us. If you love movies, creator chatter, and a podcast that feels like hanging out with friends on a warm evening, you’re in the right place.
🎬 Watch our full reactions on YouTube: PhoenixRisingReacts
🎧 New podcast episodes every week
🔥 Bonus content & early access on Patreon: PhoenixRisingReacts
🌐 Our home base: hatakebooks.com (http://hatakebooks.com)
17 Jun 2026
Gen X, Millennial & Gen Z Share Their Favorite Movies | Special Guest Zane
On this episode of the Phoenix Rising Reacts Podcast, Lee (Gen X), Ash (Millennial), and special guest Zane (Gen Z) share the movies that left the biggest impact on them.
Rather than debating, we look at how different generations connect to similar stories — and how great films bridge the gap between eras. It’s a thoughtful, relaxed conversation for anyone who loves cinema and the memories tied to it.
🎬 Weekly reactions on YouTube
🎧 Weekly podcast episodes
🌐 www.hatakebooks.com (http://www.hatakebooks.com)
💖 Patreon: PhoenixRisingReacts
10 Jun 2026
John Carpenter: The Legend Behind the Lens
In this episode of Phoenix Rising Reacts: The Podcast, we dive into the legendary world of filmmaker John Carpenter — the man who reshaped horror, sci‑fi, and genre filmmaking with nothing but grit, vision, and a synthesizer that could raise the dead.
We break down:
Carpenter’s unmistakable filmmaking style
Why Halloween, The Thing, and They Live still hold up
His influence on modern directors, music, and pop culture
The underrated gems more people should be talking about
How his practical effects, tension‑building, and world‑building changed the game
Whether you’re a lifelong Carpenter fan or discovering his work for the first time, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and our usual chaotic commentary.
Catch our weekly podcast, full movie reactions on our YouTube Channel, and behind‑the‑scenes creator talk.
YouTube Reactions & Commentary: PhoenixRisingReacts
Patreon: PhoenixRisingReacts
Website: www.hatakebooks.com (http://www.hatakebooks.com)
4 Jun 2026
Episode 1: How Did We End Up Starting a Podcast
In this first episode, we’re kicking things off by sharing who we are, how we got here, and why movies mean so much to us. We talk about the films that shaped our childhoods, the art that inspires us, and the moments that made us say, “Yeah… we should definitely start a reaction channel.”
This is the story behind Phoenix Rising Reacts — the passion, the chaos, the creativity, and the love of movies that brought us together. If you want to know what drives us, what we geek out about, and why we’re obsessed with storytelling, this is the perfect place to start.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Contact Phoenix Rising Reacts
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Phoenix Rising Reacts?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
