This week on The Just Joe BTS Podcast, we’re diving into creativity, culture, and cinema with Chicago-based musician and Letterboxd legend James Palos.

From growing up in a huge, film-obsessed family to falling in love with guitar during COVID, James shares his personal journey into music, his obsession with great storytelling, and the unexpected ways art helps us figure out who we are.

We cover: 🎸 How music became his therapy and voice
🎬 The first movie that changed his life forever
🍿 Why he avoids trailers and watches films "cold"
🧠 The power of soundtracks and how they shape our emotions
🥃 Hosting film nights with custom cocktails & deep convos

If you love movies, music, and real conversations about art and meaning — this one’s for you.

🎧 Follow, rate, and share if this episode made you laugh, think, or queue up a new movie watchlist.

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From viral YouTube videos to high-level B2B marketing, filmmaker Matthew shares his raw journey—balancing creativity, career, and family while unlocking storytelling secrets that separate amateurs from pros. In this episode of The Just Joe BTS Podcast, we dive deep into:

• How early YouTube fame shaped his path
• The brutal reality of filmmaking jobs
• Why storytelling beats camera gear every time
• The power of pre-production—even in run-and-gun shoots
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and finding your “why”
• DaVinci Resolve vs Premiere Pro (and why Matthew will never go back)
• Vision boards, burnout, and what really fuels long-term success

This episode is a goldmine for filmmakers, creatives, marketers, and anyone navigating the highs and lows of a creative career.

📱 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more.
💥 Support the podcast here → https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458932/support

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In this episode, I sit down with Connor Hernan, a college student, storyteller, and passionate film reviewer, for a deep conversation about the Oscars, Best Picture winners, and whether or not the Academy still gets it right.

We talk about:

• Why “Anora” won Best Picture (and why it deserved it)
• The difference between books and movies as storytelling mediums
• Hot takes on Dune: Part Two, Wicked, Oppenheimer, The Fall Guy, and Twisters
• The evolution of film school, self-taught creators, and filmmaking in the YouTube age
• The most underrated movies of the year and which performances were snubbed

Connor brings a fresh Gen Z take on modern cinema, Oscar politics, and why storytelling matters more than spectacle. If you're a movie nerd, aspiring filmmaker, or just curious about the future of film, this one’s for you.

🎥 Subscribe and follow for more episodes where we geek out about movies, TV, filmmaking, and storytelling.

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