Welcome to Reel Lives, where we explore the intersection of cinema and the human experience. Unlike the typical "open mic" podcasts where a few guys just sit around and talk over each other, Reel Lives focuses on a single film to uncover the personal stories behind the screen—from superfans and psychologists to the very artists who brought the story to life. Whether you’re a dedicated cinephile or passionate about the psychology of film, Reel Lives reminds us how movies shape who we are and what we believe. It’s a look at how sitting in a dark theater with a bunch of strangers can make us feel more connected to ourselves and each other... one film at a time. Hosted by filmmaker Tim Kirkman.
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Host Tim Kirkman interviews Caitlin Dixon, Brian Anderson, and Allison Naulls about the film "Local Hero" and its profound impact on personal stories.
16 Jun 2026
THE COLOR PURPLE: "I'm Here"
A nurse who played a sister to Oprah Winfrey’s Sofia and an actor/massage therapist talk about the meaning of Steven Spielberg’s 1985 interpretation of Alice Walker’s novel and the impact the film had in their lives.
Set in rural Georgia during the early 1900s, THE COLOR PURPLE chronicles 40 years in the life of Celie, a young Black woman enduring severe abuse. Through letters to God and her sister Nettie, Celie navigates trauma, finds her self-worth through the love of singer Shug Avery, and achieves independence and empowerment. The film received wide acclaim and introduced the world to the talents of Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, and stars Danny Glover, Margaret Avery, Adolph Caesar, and Rae Dawn Chong.
Host/Creator: Tim Kirkman (https://www.t42entertainment.com/timkirkman)
Guests: Beverly Hamilton, Shayne Brakefield (https://www.instagram.com/micshaybrak/)
Executive Producer: Mary Beth Grealey
Original Music by: John Crooke for Space Factory (https://spacefactorymedia.com/)
Made in association with: Transylvania University (https://www.transy.edu/)
Reel Lives Substack (https://timkirkman.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips)
Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/reellivespodcast/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/reellivespodcast/)
Marshville Museum of Cultural History (https://www.mmcc1893.com/)
Special Thanks
Kim Hargett, Lakeysha Medlin, Margaret Pigg, Sarah Horne
Thank you for listening. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate, review and share with your friends.
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.
24 Feb 2026
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL: "Love is God in Action"
Academy Award nominated writer Nancy Oliver, musician Sean Alexander Bart, and psychologist Wendy Winograd tell personal stories about the 2007 film LARS AND THE REAL GIRL. Directed by Craig Gillespie, LARS AND THE REAL GIRL is the story of a Lars (Ryan Gosling), a socially awkward introvert who develops a delusional relationship with a life-sized doll named Bianca. Rather than staging an intervention, his supportive community agrees to treat the doll as a real person to help him work through his emotional trauma. Hosted by filmmaker Tim Kirkman.
Host/Creator: Tim Kirkman (https://www.timkirkman.com)
Episode Guests Nancy Oliver, Wendy Winograd, Sean Bart
Executive Producer Mary Beth Grealey
Original Music by John Crooke for Space Factory (https://spacefactorymedia.com)
Made in collaboration with Transylvania University (https://www.transy.edu)
LINKS
Reel Lives Substack (https://timkirkman.substack.com)
Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/reellivespodcast) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/reellivespodcast/)
Our website: Reel Lives Podcast (https://www.reellivespodcast.com)
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate, review and share with your friends.
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.
24 Feb 2026
TENDER MERCIES: "I Don't Trust Happiness"
Academy Award-nominated actor Tess Harper, novelist and poet Silas House, and script supervisor/filmmaker Anne Rapp share their stories of TENDER MERCIES, the 1983 drama written by Horton Foote and directed by Bruce Beresford. An alcoholic country music singer finds shelter, love, and a chance at redemption with a single mother and her young son. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, the film stars Best Actor winner Robert Duvall, Betty Buckley, and Ellen Barkin, and Tess Harper in her screen debut.
Host/Creator: Tim Kirkman (https://www.timkirkman.com)
Episode Guests Tess Harper, Anne Rapp, Silas House
Executive Producer Mary Beth Grealey
Original Music by John Crooke for Space Factory (https://spacefactorymedia.com)
Made in collaboration with Transylvania University (https://www.transy.edu)
LINKS
Reel Lives Substack (https://timkirkman.substack.com)
Read works by Silas House (https://www.silas-house.com)
Anne Rapp's documentary HORTON FOOTE: THE ROAD TO HOME (https://www.hortonfootefilm.com)
Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/reellivespodcast) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/reellivespodcast/)
Our website: Reel Lives Podcast (https://www.reellivespodcast.com)
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate, review and share with your friends.
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.
24 Feb 2026
HAROLD AND MAUDE: "Go and Love Some More"
A middle school drama teacher, a mother with bipolar disorder, a Minneapolis filmmaker/author, a former Jehovah’s Witness and a psychologist tell personal stories about the impact of Hal Ashby’s cult 1971 classic cult comedy, HAROLD AND MAUDE. Written by Collin Higgins and directed by Hal Ashby, HAROLD AND MAUDE explores the unconventional bond between two outsiders: Harold, a wealthy, death-obsessed young man who spends his time staging elaborate fake suicides and attending strangers' funerals and Maude (Ruth Gordon), a vibrant, eccentric 79-year-old woman who teaches him to embrace life and find joy in the world around him.
Host/Creator: Tim Kirkman (https://www.timkirkman.com)
Episode Guests Rachel Barbanel-Fried, John Gaspard, Timothy King, Michael LaRocca, Nicki Nyne
Executive Producer Mary Beth Grealey
Original Music by John Crooke for Space Factory (https://spacefactorymedia.com)
Made in collaboration with Transylvania University (https://www.transy.edu)
LINKS
Reel Lives Substack (https://timkirkman.substack.com)
Buy the Book HELD OVER by John Gaspard (https://www.albertsbridgebooks.com/#/held-over-harold-and-maude-at-the-westgate-theater/)
Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/reellivespodcast) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/reellivespodcast/)
Our website: Reel Lives Podcast (https://www.reellivespodcast.com)
Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/reellivespodcast/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/reellivespodcast/)
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate, review and share with your friends.
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.
15 Feb 2026
TRAILER: Reel Lives Podcast
Join host Tim Kirkman for Reel Lives, a podcast that explores the intersection of cinema and the human experience. Unlike the typical “open mic” podcasts where a few guys sit around and talk over each other, Reel Lives focuses on a single film to uncover the personal stories behind the screen—from superfans, scholars and psychologists to the very artists who brought the story to life. Whether you’re a dedicated cinephile or passionate about the psychology of film, Reel Lives will remind you how movies shape who we are and what we believe. It’s a look at how sitting in a dark theater with a bunch of strangers can make us feel more connected to ourselves and each other... one film at a time.
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy (https://ausha.co/privacy-policy) for more information.
Inside a recent episode
LOCAL HERO: "We Have An Injured Rabbit Also"
Published 29 Jun 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Big oil company against a small village? Wrong. Part of the appeal of Local Hero is its surprising upending of our expectations. Instead of hostile resistance, Mac finds a town of eccentric locals eager to cash in, even as the magic of the landscape begins to cast a life-changing spell over him. […]
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