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Welcome to The Wee Woof, the ultimate podcast for people who are absolutely obsessed with small dogs that pack a huge punch. Whether you’re a Pomeranian person, a Yorkie lover, or low-key think Chihuahuas run the world, this show’s for you. Every week, we dive into everything about toy breed dogs—from grooming and feeding tips to health, training, quirky behavior, breed deep-dives, and the weird stuff only small dog owners truly get (like why your 4-pound pup thinks they can fight a Great Da ...
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How do you build a full volleyball team from scratch, starting with 2 players practising on a tiny patch of grass, and catapult them onto centre court to win gold at the Canadian National Championships? Well, Coach Sis Phant did just that ~ with Team Harmony, just north of Toronto. And it was no accident. As I interview each player, join me in discovering how the deliberate focus from Coach Sis on respect, kindness and connection developed a powerful loyalty that motivated them to bring thei ...
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Blank Check with Griffin & David

Blank Check Productions

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Not just another bad movie podcast, Blank Check reviews directors' complete filmographies episode to episode. Specifically, the auteurs whose early successes afforded them the rare ‘blank check’ from Hollywood to produce passion projects. Each new miniseries, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims delve into the works of film’s most outsized personalities in painstakingly hilarious detail. Produced by Ben Hosley.
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In The Heights: El Suenito

My Cultura and iHeartPodcasts

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In this special limited podcast series, creator and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda, of Hamilton and In the Heights fame, chats with host Eva Longoria about his musical turned movie, In the Heights. Quiara Alegría Hudes (writer/producer) and Alex Lacamoire (executive music producer) join this in-depth conversation about the inspiration for In the Heights and how it went from the stage to the screen. Episodes immerse listeners into the genesis of Miranda’s first hit production, that he wrote when ...
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Your life is the biggest design project you will ever undertake! In his Design Your Life podcast series, Vince Frost discusses how design principles can be applied to everyday life with a group of leading creative guests. Listen in as designers, journalists, CEOs and founders reveal the key turning points in their lives and talk about the role design has played in shaping the success of their brands and careers. designyourlife.com.au Vince Frost is the CEO and Executive Creative Director of ...
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Welcome to The Midlife Rewrite, a podcast designed to help you raise your vibe, break through barriers, and manifest the life of your dreams. Hosted by Carla Salteris, a seasoned healer and high-vibe mentor with over 23 years of experience in transformational coaching and energy healing, this show dives into the heart of self-discovery, personal growth, and empowerment. Through engaging conversations with experts and inspiring guests, you’ll uncover practical tools, powerful insights, and tr ...
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Our Amy Heckerling series comes to an end with 2012’s Vamps, a film produced too late to have an appropriate budget, and too early to be a streaming series. However - we find it charming! Caroline Framke returns to the podcast after 6 years (an eternity for us, but probably a blink for a vampire), and we talk about the pitfalls and pleasures of ete…
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Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Amy Heckerling and Paul Rudd stars as ????? in a totally normal movie that might actually be a voodoo curse made against Amy’s enemies. Oh, also Saorise Ronan makes her FILM DEBUT. What a picture! The incomparable Karen Chee joins us to talk about 2007’s I Could Never Be Your Woman, a movie that was financed by a French s…
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Keith Hempel always knew he was going to be an architect. Growing up in Southern California with a creative mother and a technical father, he seemed destined for the vocation. A transformative, “eye opening” and “earth shattering” year studying the craft in Florence set him on his way.    Today, he helps lead a cohort of over 500 architects, engine…
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Blank Check is going back to the British Isles with Danny Boyle, Alex Garland, and one extraordinarily well-endowed zombie this week as they discuss 28 Years Later. This movie has so much to love in it – wet bones, third-act Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer doing a thing, the Angel of the North, Teletubbies, the aforementioned well-endowed zombies, mind-…
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The song. The hat. The…casual date rape?!!? In what should have been Amy Heckerling’s “blank check” after the success of Clueless, 2000’s Loser is a real LOSER. Filmmaker Chandler Levack joins us to chat about this technically-not-a-remake-of-The-Apartment “comedy” that gets college surprisingly wrong. Come for the Wheatus talk, stay for the in-dep…
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Send us a text Megan Hunter is my final guest from Team Harmony ~ lucky last, as they say ~ simply because she was off playing volleyball for none other than Team Canada in Honduras. Take a moment and imagine having THAT on your resume. Now, take it one step further and picture in your mind the journey it would take to actually get that far in life…
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As a teenager, Dr Michael Brand experienced moving from Canberra to Washington as both traumatic and exciting. It was on a journey back to Australia via family in Nepal with his brother, they were aged 15 and 18 respectively, that he first experienced Islamic art. He can trace a direct line from that experience to his field of study and life’s work…
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Okay, so you’re probably going, “Is this like a Noxzema commercial or what?” But seriously, this is actually a way normal podcast about one of David Sims’ favorite movies! SNL’s Heidi Gardner (a total betty) joins us to talk about Amy Heckerling’s beloved Jane Austen adaptation, and we’re rolling with the homies. Join us for Alicia Silverstone and …
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Griffin, David, Ben, and Marie accepted the mission. They live and pod in the shadows, for those they hold close, and for those they never meet. They also have a few notes for Tom Cruise and Chris McQuarrie with regards to Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. Join the crew as they break down all the problems of this latest (and final???) inst…
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The question of living well is a big one. What does it actually mean? For Eva-Marie Prineas, home is where the heart is, and the way a home is planned has the most impact in how it feels to inhabit when it’s complete. Prineas founded her eponymous architecture practice in 2004. Perhaps unsurprising considering she would sit in the back yard of her …
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The Ubriacco family are back and - can you believe it? - they’re still talking! Actor and filmmaker Max Minghella joins us to talk about Look Who’s Talking Too, the contractually-obligated, quickly produced sequel to Amy Heckerling’s surprise hit. We’re talking about Mr. Toilet Man (he eats your pee pee and poo poo), Elias Koteas’ Mr. Scary Uncle M…
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Send us a text Canadian…National…Champion. Wow. What a title. But, let’s take it one step further. Imagine a team of extraordinary athletes who went on to become # 1 in Canada. Now, just imagine being captain of that very same remarkable team. The sport? Volleyball. The team? Harmony, from just north of Toronto. The captain? Megan Chiang. The most …
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In perhaps the spermiest film we’ve ever covered, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley hang out with a baby voiced by Bruce Willis and Amy Heckerling gets revenge on Harold Ramis. As David Sims says early in this episode - Look Who’s Talking is a VERY RICH text. Vanity Fair’s Hillary Busis joins us to talk about this 1989 “forgotbuster,” a film that mad…
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Thinking of welcoming a Japanese Chin into your life? This episode is your essential deep dive! We unpack everything from their surprising royal origins (hint: it's not just Japan!) to their distinctly "cat-like" personalities and that famous "look of astonishment." Learn the real scoop on grooming their luxurious coat (it's easier than you think!)…
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Thinking of welcoming a Papillon into your life, or just completely smitten by those iconic butterfly ears? You've got great taste! But there's so much more to these tiny titans than meets the eye. Forget the stuffy breed guides – we're getting personal and dishing all the details on what it's really like to share your home with a Papillon. Join us…
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In this week's episode, we dive into the captivating world of Toy Poodles - those elegant, intelligent little fluffballs that have stolen hearts worldwide. But don't let their size fool you! These pint-sized pups pack serious personality, brainpower, and energy into their tiny frames. We'll uncover the fascinating history of these former water retr…
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Ever been captivated by those fluffy, regal dogs that strut around like they own the place? That's the Pekingese for you! But before you're swayed by that adorable lion's mane and soulful gaze, there's a lot more to these "little emperors" than meets the eye. Join us as we pull back the velvet curtain on the world of Pekingese ownership. We're spil…
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Lily Froehlicher inherited a love of luxury from her mother and a passion for travel from her father—interests that shaped her desire to create beautiful experiences for others. After studying in Paris, Shanghai, and London, and gaining experience at Hermès and Chanel, she joined Invisible Collection at its inception. Now Managing Director, she lea…
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Congratulations! You’ve won an all-expenses-paid vacation with Griffin, David, Ben, and Jon Gabrus to Europe! Only downside is…well, you have to watch this movie. From the strange cultural stereotypes to the unfortunate lack of jokes, Amy Heckerling’s sequel to National Lampoon’s Vacation isn’t the smoothest trip. But, it certainly gives us an excu…
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Alright, listen up, future fluffball fanatics! You've seen 'em – those walking clouds of pure white adorableness, the Maltese. And now you're thinking, "I NEED ONE!" Hold your horses, friend! Before you dive headfirst into a world of tiny button noses and heart-melting gazes, we're here to spill ALL the tea. This ain't your grandma's stuffy dog bre…
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Thinking about welcoming a Shih Tzu into your life? This episode spills all the tea on these fluffy little overlords! Forget stuffy breed guides; we're diving deep into the real talk. Discover their fascinating history, from ancient Chinese emperors to your couch. Unpack their sassy, affectionate, and sometimes stubborn "imperial" personalities. Pl…
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Curious about Yorkshire Terriers? Get the real lowdown! We unpack the reality of life with this popular small breed – their surprising history, bold personality, significant care needs (grooming, training, health), and whether they're the right fit for your home and lifestyle. It's an honest look at the challenges and the incredible rewards of welc…
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Thinking about welcoming a Chihuahua into your life? Get ready – they're not just dogs, they're pint-sized legends with a "big dog" attitude! In this episode, we're ditching the dusty dog encyclopedias for the real scoop. We dive into the fascinating, ancient history of these tiny titans (Aztec spiritual guides?!), help you figure out if you're tru…
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Welcome to The Wee Woof, the ultimate podcast for people who are absolutely obsessed with small dogs that pack a huge punch. Whether you’re a Pomeranian person, a Yorkie lover, or low-key think Chihuahuas run the world, this show’s for you. Every week, we dive into everything about toy breed dogs—from grooming and feeding tips to health, training, …
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He’s the nicest bad guy in town. His last name is an adverb. And he’s got some pretty wacky bits! Sweetie pie comedian Josh Gondelman joins us to talk about 1984’s Johnny Dangerously, Amy Heckerling’s loving homage to 1930’s gangster pictures. Things we attempt to understand in this episode: the cultural legacy of Joe Piscopo; the actual joke that’…
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Once a music-obsessed kid dreaming of designing record covers, Chris Law found his rhythm in the world of sneakers. The iconic shoe designer, known by everyone who’s anyone in the sneaker world, shares how hip-hop culture, graphic design, and a love for storytelling led him to work on some of the most famous sneaker designs, ever. “Icons that are s…
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We’re grabbing our Vans slip ons and heading to the mall as we kick off our Amy Heckerling series - Pod Times at Ridgemont Cast - with Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Fresh off her appearance in Sinners, actual high school friend of Griffin Newman Lola Kirke returns to the pod and things get pretty bogus. Like, David Lynch was supposed to direct this…
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Our Early Spielberg series concludes with a movie that is a super fun time and not at all distressing to watch in our current political climate! David Ehrlich joins us to discuss 1993’s Schindler’s List, the film that defined the visual language of the Holocaust and finally got Spielberg his Oscar. We’re getting into the critical debates about this…
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Growing up in public housing on Roosevelt Island in the middle of New York City’s East River, Elie Gamburg went to sleep every night staring at the city’s remarkable skyline from his bedroom window. His father was an artist and his mother a mathematician, so, “I guess I sort of had to do architecture if nothing else.”  Gamburg is a Design Principal…
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God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates Steven Spielberg. Steven Spielberg makes 1993’s Jurassic Park and changes movie history. The Big Picture’s Sean Fennessey joins us to talk about this totemic blockbuster, and we’re spending three hours talking about the bad boys of the Jurassic era (velociraptors), the bad boys of ILM (Stev…
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Everyone knows Captain Hook got swallowed by the crocodile at the end of Peter Pan. But what this movie presupposes is…maybe he didn’t? Let us go back to a time when the coolest thing a kid could have was a clubhouse that looked like a skatepark…when the worst thing a dad could do was own a cell phone…and when the craziest thing a filmmaker could d…
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As an architect, are you influenced by the environment you grew up in, even if your work looks vastly different to where you spent your formative years? John Pawson thinks so. He grew up in the north of England in the 1950s with his four sisters, playing with kids from houses around their family home. Despite being a master of minimalism, he grew u…
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Is it possible for Steven Spielberg to make a movie that doesn’t exist? Well, he sure tried with 1989’s Always, a film where John Goodman plays Monterey Jack of the Rescue Rangers, Richard Dreyfuss riffs to no one as an annoying ghost, and Holly Hunter falls in love with the most dull hottie at the Plane Depot. Our beloved Richard Lawson joins us t…
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What if Indiana Jones had a dad who was a “grail scholar" but also his “eskimo brother" and he was played by James Bond and he had a funny little hat? We are so glad Steven Spielberg dared to imagine this scenario because we got Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade out of it! Chris Gethard - The self-proclaimed “Bad Boy of Blank Check Guests” - joins…
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Children of immigrants are often hard workers; they’re under pressure to live up to their parents’ dreams. And it’s often thought that creativity and hard work don’t go hand in hand. Jean Lin has proven quite the opposite. Growing up in Massachusetts she was aware she came from a different place to her friends. But she credits her different upbring…
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Our Spielbergian journey takes us to new dramatic heights with 1987’s Empire of the Sun, the film that brought us Christian Bale (discovered by Amy Irving!), unexpected Joey Pants and Ben Stiller appearances, and a perfect use of John Malkovich. Bilge Ebiri joins us (and the Five Timers Club) to chat about how underrated this film is within the Spi…
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Send us a text Have you ever been on the verge of quitting something but persevered…and the results were life-altering? If so, you’re in good company today with my very special guest ~ Eva Lin. I’m so glad that you’ve tuned in for today’s interview that will have you wishing you could even just carry Team Harmony’s luggage to any one of their sensa…
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After inventing the Hollywood blockbuster with Jaws, creating the world’s most loveable alien with E.T., and resurrecting the classic adventure serial with the Indiana Jones franchise, of course the next logical step in Steven Spielberg’s career was to…adapt Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel about the survival and strength of queer black …
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👑👑 A LIVE SHOW OF MAJESTIC PROPORTIONS 👑👑 Podcasters, cinephiles, and freaks—rejoice! Blank Check will be returning to Town Hall this summer to commemorate our 10th anniversary with a long-promised tribute to one of the greatest films in cinema history. To honor our “Decade of Dreams,” we cordially invite you to a royal audience with King Ralph, th…
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Is it better to start a business with a fully fleshed out plan? Or can passion be the driver for success? In the case of George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, intent is everything. And you can achieve global success and excellence in your field “while still being fun and nice”. The partners in business and life founded their international creative desi…
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“Doom” isn’t just describing a Temple here, folks - it’s kind of the overarching vibe of this film! George Lucas is going through a bitter divorce. Steven Spielberg is dealing with PTSD from Twilight Zone: The Movie. Harrison Ford is suffering from a back injury from falling off an elephant or something. Kate Capshaw is there. A true cloud of doom …
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It’s a wonderful night for Blankies! Join us and This Had Oscar Buzz’s Joe Reid as we survey the year that was 2024 in cinema. Not to spoil too much, but some things that happen in this episode: Griffy Crystal sings a tribute to The Brutalist to the tune of “Bootylicious,” Nosferatu wins zero awards but shows up to present every category, Griffin i…
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Does having a social agenda matter when you’re a landscape architect? At first, you may not think so. But when you truly understand the impact a compassionate designer can make on the spaces we inhabit, the answer is clear. Sacha Coles is a Global Design Director at ASPECT Studios and founder of the design practice’s Sydney studio. As a global desi…
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We’re putting out a bit of a throwback episode for the most iconic (literal) blankie in film history - this week’s E.T. episode is guestless, with Griffin going rogue off the dossier, David making fun of Griffin for being an adult who likes toys and animation, and Ben getting emotional over a family film…decade of dreams, baby! Join us as we gush o…
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You’re a young movie fan. It’s 1981. STEVEN SPIELBERG is teaming up with FREAKING GEORGE LUCAS (!?!?!) to make a movie with HAN SOLO…can you imagine how hyped you’d be?? Marvel Comics legend Brian Michael Bendis joins us to recount the colossal impact of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK in this rollicking adventure of an episode. Jewish mysticism and weird …
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Being a change-maker in the humanitarian space is universally understood to be driven by the desire to help others. Equally, a love of travel and being motivated by difficult and hard to manage problems can be a huge benefit to working in the sector. Thanks to parents who were avid travellers, and her childhood home in Massachusetts being filled wi…
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He invented the summer blockbuster. He inspired millions of people around the world to “watch the skies.” And now, he has sent Griffin Newman into an existential crisis over the question “what is comedy?” Our friends Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger of The Doughboys join us to talk about Steven Spielberg’s infamously unfunny 1941. Why IS this film - lo…
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Send us a text Who do you think of when you hear the word trust? Well, for Roselle Mo, she thinks of an entire volleyball team ~ none other than the immensely talented Team Harmony, just north of Toronto. If you ask her teammates, 3 things stand out about Roselle: hard work, commitment, and determination. But at the core of all of this strength is …
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Five curious tones. A mountain of mashed potatoes. Bob Balaban with a beard speaking french. After the industry-changing success of JAWS, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND feels like a classic “blank check.” But it’s a little more nuanced than that! JD Amato returns for his 10th mainfeed appearance this week, and we’re getting into all of the prod…
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We’re kicking off the new year by hearing from two internationally acclaimed experts in data-driven cross-sector insights and global market intelligence. We hope the takeaways from this conversation helps set you up for a dynamic 2025. When you’ve been in business together for 25 years, and life partners for 30, parameters are important. Almost as …
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