3.100-Sarah and Son with Matthew Carlson

3.100-Sarah and Son with Matthew Carlson

Author: Jonathan Ytreberg December 12, 2025 Duration: 57:05
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film Sarah and Son. I'm joined by Matthew Carlson from the What Am I Making newsletter and we talk about whether the film would even survive today if not for Chatterton's Academy Award nomination for her performance as Sarah, compare lost films to what it would be like if our music catalog was missing dozens of Elvis or Beatles recordings, and learn about interesting familial connections and an actress who was a bit of a dared...

There's a whole century of stories waiting in the Academy's archives, and The Oscar Project Podcast is digging through every single one. Instead of just focusing on the current awards season, this show takes the long view, working its way through every film ever nominated for an Oscar starting all the way back in 1929. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific year or a particular film, unpacking not just the cinematic craft on screen but the historical context that shaped it. You'll hear about forgotten gems, surprising snubs, and how the art of filmmaking has evolved over decades. Alongside these detailed reviews and discussions, the podcast regularly features conversations with filmmakers, historians, and authors who provide unique insights into the industry's past and present. It’s for anyone who loves film history as much as the movies themselves, offering a structured but fascinating journey through Hollywood's most celebrated-and sometimes controversial-moments. Tune in to this thoughtfully crafted podcast for a richer understanding of how the Oscars have reflected, and sometimes directed, the entire trajectory of modern cinema.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Oscar Project Podcast
Podcast Episodes
4.37-Laughter with Beth Lisogorsky [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:43
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film Laughter. I'm joined by Beth Lisogorsky who writes the You Need to Watch This newsletter, and we talk about the wild mess of relationships we see on…
4.36-Author Interview with Ray Morton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:15
Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, I interview Ray Morton, author of the book, King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon –Revised and Updated Edition. Listen to hear about why King Kong has endured in popular culture for…
4.35-Filmmaker Interview with Vanessa Esteves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:51
Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, I interview Vanessa Esteves, director of the short film "Christopher & the Bug," a heartwarming animated short about a reclusive owl whose solitary world is upended by an unexpected v…
4.34-Holiday with Swabreen Bakr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:07
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film Holiday. I'm joined by Swabreen Bakr who writes the Anti-Brain Rot newsletter, and we talk about the variations between the play, this version of th…
4.33-Author Interview with Paul Fischer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:48
Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, I interview Paul Fischer, author of the new book, The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg―and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema. Listen to hear about tackling…
4.32-Kicking Off the 4th Oscars with Kevin Pettit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:51
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is the beginning of my conversations about the films nominated at the 4th Academy Awards. I'm joined by Kevin Pettit who writes the See You at the Movies newsletter and we break down some…
4.31-Nosferatu with Joshua Ytreberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:21
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is a special between Oscars conversation about the 1922 film Nosferatu. This was another suggestion from my son Joshua who came on last year between seasons to talk about The General with…
4.30-Filmmaker Interview with Philip Clyde-Smith and Eliza Power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:40
Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, I interview Philip Clyde-Smith and Eliza Power, director and writer of the short film "A Hand to Hold." The film is a darkly funny body horror look at love and dealing with loss. List…
4.29-King Kong with Kevin Pettit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:00
Send us Fan Mail Today's episode is a special between Oscars conversation about the 1933 film King Kong. Podcast regular Kevin Pettit from the See You At The Movies newsletter recommended this film and even though it's o…
4.28-Filmmaker Interview with Blake Sherwyn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:38
Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, I interview Blake Sherwyn, director of the short film "Chet Bond: License to Chill," a hilarious mockumentary about James Bond's nepobaby son. Listen to hear about he identified a gap…