Best Punch And Pie Podcasts (2025)

1
Context And The True "Cost" Of AI 41:12

2h ago41:12

41:12

Sure, AI has made a splash. And it's on us to level up, learn the ropes, and roll with it. But how do we even do that? And what cool human stuff might we accidentally ditch along the way? The Compiler team ends the season discussing the importance of context, creativity, and applied knowledge.By Marc Mangus, Aakanksha Duggal

1
MICHAEL & DANNY PHILIPPOU (Bring Her Back) Turning Obsession Into a Career & Overcoming Rejection 1:22:59

2d ago1:22:59

1:22:59

Danny & Michael Philippou (Talk to Me, Bring Her Back) join us this week for a fun conversation about how their obsession with creation and filmmaking cultivated into a critically acclaimed career, progressing through YouTube fame and into Hollywood with ‘Talk to Me’ and ‘Bring Her Back.’ These guys were an absolute treat this week… We talk about t…

1
KAT MCNAMARA: Turning the Other Cheek, Dealing With Rejection & Supporting the Big Slick 1:16:52

9d ago1:16:52

1:16:52

💙 support Big Slick! https://bigslickkc.org/ Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters, Arrow) joins again this week to catch us up on her life over the last few years and the idea of staying busy to engage your brain and maintain happiness. Kat discusses her process for dealing with rejection while remembering fond times on set with cast and crew during s…

1
The Only Book I Remember Reading Ten Pages and Setting Down in Astonishment 5:20

10d ago5:20

5:20

Three books, forty short blessings each. Scripture and beauty and a sense of the Father's love. Order Blessings from a Father's Heart at https://happybooks.me/father, and the sequels at https://happybooks.me/more and https://happybooks.me/stillmore. To sign up for the free Prayer Refresh, go here: https://praybig.me/refresh.…

1
Agentic AI: Working As Instructed 37:36

15d ago37:36

37:36

Agentic AIs are showing promise for tedious work. But it’s hard to explain exactly how you want it done—and getting it wrong could create big problems. This episode of Compiler investigates how Agentic AIs could carry out their tasks and how some agents are taking their baby steps in the wide world. The team also considers the difficulties humans h…

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ELIZABETH TULLOCH: Farewell to Lois Lane, Reflections on Contentious Upbringing & Her Journey Into Motherhood 1:29:33

16d ago1:29:33

1:29:33

Elizabeth Tulloch (Superman & Lois, Grimm) joins us this week to share reflections on her tumultuous upbringing, inclusive of how it lead to her costarring alongside Superman for 4 seasons and evidently shaping how she parents today. Bitsie talks about the key to gratitude and how she learned about the healing powers behind being of service for oth…

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Insightful Thoughts and Proverbs to Encourage Along the Way 9:10

17d ago9:10

9:10

Bob came away with a collection of jewels from his time with Bill Johnson, a collection he turns to again and again, now available to you. Order Hewing a Pioneer Path Ahead at https://happybooks.me/billjohnson. Audiobook also available.By Amy Lykosh

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TYLER HOECHLIN: Saying Goodbye to Superman, Embracing Tough Love & Choosing Baseball Over Twilight 1:20:18

23d ago1:20:18

1:20:18

Tyler Hoechlin (Superman & Lois, Teen Wolf) joins us this week to share how he’s been able to intertwine a tough-love sports upbringing with newfound vulnerability to find success in fan beloved franchises. Tyler reflects on the improbable run of Superman & Lois amidst the multiple different industry curveballs thrown their way, while recalling his…

1
Thinking About Prayer in a New Way 14:31

24d ago14:31

14:31

We talk to God; God talks to us. We listen to God; God listens to us. Four Dimensions of Prayer. Life-changing. Order print, ebook, or audiobook here: https://happybooks.me/dimensionsBy Amy Lykosh

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Breaking Down AI Biases 34:27

29d ago34:27

34:27

Does your health insurance chatbot need to tell jokes? No. Does it need to be accurate? Absolutely. That's hard when biases get in the way. The introduction of bias into a model can be unintentional, but it can have significant consequences for those relying on its guidance. The Compiler team examines the ways bias can creep in, and what steps can …

1
DEAN CAIN: Competing for Superman, Leaving the NFL & Wearing His Heart on His Cape 1:17:12

1M ago1:17:12

1:17:12

Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) joins us this week for a candid conversation about his upbringing on film sets and how his competitive nature that couldn’t get used anymore in the NFL helped him land a career changing role as Superman in Lois & Clark. Dean talks about the nerves and his edge during the audition process to b…

1
After the Exorcist Was Punched in the Nose 13:25

1M ago13:25

13:25

The prayer that rose in importance, along with a few others that we recommend praying every day. Order Good Spiritual Hygiene here: https://happybooks.me/hygiene. And in Spanish: https://happybooks.me/higieneBy Amy Lykosh

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DAMIEN LEONE: Creating TERRIFIER, Intensity with Art the Killer-Clown & the Power of Horror 1:13:40

1M ago1:13:40

1:13:40

Damien Leone (Terrifier) joins us this week to share everything about the intense horror and word of mouth rise behind the Terrifier franchise. Damien talks about his origins in filmmaking, how he learned about the power of horror in being able to scare adults, and how his passion for effect and storytelling helped him create an iconic horror villa…

1
The Book Snob Eats Humble Pie 10:10

1M ago10:10

10:10

Learning what it's like to pray the same prayer, year in and year out, for more than four decades. Order Seek for Glory on Amazon here: https://happybooks.me/glory And get the free email series for a month at https://praybig.me/dailyjabezBy Amy Lykosh

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Diagnosing and Dispelling AI Hallucinations 33:43

1M ago33:43

33:43

AI is notorious for making stuff up. But it doesn’t always tell you when it does. That’s a problem for users who may not realize hallucinations are possible. This episode of Compiler investigates the persistent problem of AI Hallucination. Why does AI lie? Do these AI models know they’re hallucinating? What can we do to minimize hallucinations—or a…

1
WIL WHEATON: Protecting Your Younger Self, Star Trek Validation & Giving Breaks With ‘Storytime’ 1:22:14

1M ago1:22:14

1:22:14

Wil Wheaton (Star Trek, The Big Bang Theory) joins us again this week to follow up our first conversation about his trauma recovery, being a survivor of child abuse and isolation from his family. Wil talks about the experience of re-traumatizing himself to expose what still needs to be worked on while sharing the tactics he uses to prioritize his c…

1
The Unrealized Importance of Revelation 4 and 5 10:59

2M ago10:59

10:59

John's heavenly invitation, Bob's forgotten vow, and my growing enthusiasm for Beauty Scenes from the Throne Room. Order As It Is in Heaven on Amazon here: https://happybooks.me/heavenBy Amy Lykosh

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JAY MOHR: Profound Self Revelations, Dueling Impressions & His Addiction to Approval 1:22:04

2M ago1:22:04

1:22:04

Jay Mohr (Jerry Maguire, SNL) joins us this week for an absolutely amazing conversation… one that’ll make you self reflect on your life while cracking up at the same time. Jay talks about his earliest drug (approval) and how seeking it lead to success in comedy but difficulties in show business, ala SNL. We also talk about accepting responsibility …

1
A Roadmap for Times of Transition 8:08

2M ago8:08

8:08

Because though every transition is different, these times have a pattern. Manage Transition Well. Order the book on Amazon here: https://happybooks.me/transition. Or, in Spanish: https://happybooks.me/manejandoBy Amy Lykosh

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Chasing Its Own Tail 36:43

2M ago36:43

36:43

With the massive flow of AI-generated content onto the internet, it was only a matter of time until all of those bits of data found their way back into AI models. But what do you get when generative AI models start getting their answers from that content? The Compiler team digs into AI feedback loops, and the unique challenges they present for tech…

1
ASHLEY GREENE: Revisiting Twilight Emotions & Confronting Perfectionism 1:18:01

2M ago1:18:01

1:18:01

Ashley Greene (Twilight) joins us this week to share how she manifested a role in the massively popular Twilight film franchise and how her life was never the same after it. Ashley talks about the ‘come down’ after Twilight and how it took some time for her to learn how to have fun again in this industry. We also talk about hiding panic attacks fro…

1
The Pilgrimage Where Portugal Was Supposed to Be Divine … And It Sort-Of Was 11:27

2M ago11:27

11:27

Walking the Portuguese Coastal Camino alone, in its beauty, and its challenge. Half a Million Steps with Jesus. Order the book on Amazon here: https://happybooks.me/caminoBy Amy Lykosh

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EMILY BETT RICKARDS: Fitting Out, Getting Jacked & Becoming Queen of the Ring 1:13:55

2M ago1:13:55

1:13:55

Emily Bett Rickards (Queen of the Ring, Arrow) joins us this week to share her experience going from canine caretaker to landing a recurring role on a fan beloved series and eventually getting cast sight unseen for a life changing opportunity as Mildred Burke in Queen of the Ring. Emily opens up about not fitting in and shares how her positive rela…

1
The Forgotten Prayer Warrior of the Old Testament 13:36

2M ago13:36

13:36

How I fell in love with Nehemiah, and why I wrote The Prince Protects His City. Order the book on Amazon here: https://happybooks.me/nehemiahBy Amy Lykosh

1
Navigating Data Rights In AI 38:42

2M ago38:42

38:42

Copyright infringement is a huge issue for AI training and use. Can LLMs give you copyrighted content? What data can you use to train and tune your own model? In this episode of Compiler, we explore who owns what when AI models learn from protected content—and why it matters.By Red Hat

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AARON ASHMORE: Learning From Trauma, Twin Rivalries & No More Mr. Nice Guy 1:09:15

2M ago1:09:15

1:09:15

Aaron Ashmore (Smallville, Killjoys) joins us this week to share his shared experience in this industry working on a hit series like Smallville, while also diving into the very unique experience of what it’s like to navigate Hollywood with an identify twin sibling (Shawn Ashmore). Aaron talks about the surprise of landing the role as Jimmy Olsen on…

1
Single-Sentence Prayers to Pray As You Go About Your Day 10:33

2M ago10:33

10:33

The story behind Prayer Refresh. Sign up for the free email series here: https://praybig.me/refresh Order the book on Amazon here: https://happybooks.me/refreshBy Amy Lykosh

1
KATIE CASSIDY: Eating Humble Pie & New Perspectives in Life 1:14:55

3M ago1:14:55

1:14:55

Katie Cassidy (Arrow, Gossip Girl) joins us again this week fresh off the wildfires that devastated the city she was born and raised to share her perspective on the situation and how Angelinos are moving forward. Katie channels her moto of ‘being happy to be here and easy to work with’ as she reflects on her early acting career and the gut punch sh…

1
AI Building Blocks 40:22

3M ago40:22

40:22

There’s no one AI model to rule them all. Each project has its own requirements. Where do you get started building your own model? Compiler continues its conversations with big dreamers about their big projects—and how they’re piecing together the building blocks of their AI models.By Red Hat

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JACK OSBOURNE: Going Too Far on The Osbournes & Recovering From His Darkest Moment 1:12:11

3M ago1:12:11

1:12:11

Jack Osbourne (Ghosts and Grit, The Osbournes) joins us this week to share his unique perspective of growing up with Ozzy Osbourne, a world renowned rockstar, as your father and all the ups and downs that came from his family opening their front door to America. Jack opens up a lot by sharing his journey to sobriety at the age of 17 and how he was …

1
JAY FERGUSON: Ditching Ego For Family, Forced to Recognize Mortality & the Mad Men Stimulus Package 1:31:35

3M ago1:31:35

1:31:35

Jay Ferguson (Mad Men, The Conners) joins us this week to share the defining moment in his life where he chose to put his ego to the side for the sake of his family and career… and how that decision ultimately lead to him landing roles on hits like Mad Men and The Conners. Jay opens up about the unexpected emotions and compounded feelings that come…

1
Pie In The Sky 33:07

3M ago33:07

33:07

There is a lot of excitement around AI models, but can it meet the expectations set by blockbuster movies? What’s the current inflection point between what’s feasible and what’s not? The Compiler team talks to both big dreamers and heavy adopters wading into the space, hearing their thoughts on how AI can help scale daunting work, fill in the gaps,…

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PAUL REISER: Recipe to ‘Mad About You’ Success, Power of Naivety & Connection Through Comedy 1:14:36

3M ago1:14:36

1:14:36

Paul Reiser (Mad About You, Aliens) joins us this week to share his experience in this industry from developing household classics like Mad About You, to keeping a finger on the pulse by appearing in current hits like The Boys, to reinvigorating his passion and career in standup comedy. Paul talks a lot about his early aspirations as a comic, the s…

1
RHYS DARBY: Never Losing Humor, Lighter Side of Life & Starbucks Line Reading 1:15:48

4M ago1:15:48

1:15:48

Rhys Darby (Flight of the Concords, Our Flag) joins us for laughs, insights into a lighter side of life, and more laughs… look it up. Rhys talks about the comfort and comedy he was brought up under by his single mother and why he ultimately had to leave New Zealand to achieve his dreams. We also talk about humble beginnings on Flight of the Concord…

1
AI 101 40:37

4M ago40:37

40:37

Everyone’s talking about AI. Everyone says it’s the future. To find out where we’re going, we should know how we got here—and exactly what we’re working with. We hear a short history of AI development before diving into how it’s already changed the ways we learn and code.By Red Hat

1
GRANT GUSTIN: Shaking Perceptions, Maturing on Flash & Theater for Spielberg 1:16:15

4M ago1:16:15

1:16:15

Grant Gustin (The Flash, Glee) joins us in person this week for a deeper conversation exploring how impostor syndrome limits new creative exploration and how he’s shaken perceptions over the last few years. Grant talks about his legacy as The Flash and how he was ready for the show to come to a close during the last couple seasons after some much n…

1
STEVEN OGG: The Reality of GTA Trevor, Understanding vs. Feelings & Tapping into Vulnerability 1:23:30

4M ago1:23:30

1:23:30

Steven Ogg (GTA, Better Call Saul) joins us this week to share his practice of setting boundaries to maintain sanity and the vulnerability he’s able to tap into to deliver dark, emotional performances. Steven talks about the simple pleasures in his life that reflect his mental health and allow understanding to take precedence over feelings. We also…

1
WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY: Finding Comedic Gold, Fighting for Bridesmaids & Ups and Downs on Goldbergs 1:16:00

4M ago1:16:00

1:16:00

Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs, St. Denis Medical) joins us this week for a fun and candid conversation about her experience in this industry and the insatiable workaholic tendencies that have contributed to her success when her back was against the wall. Wendi shares the joy of working on the improv fueled Reno 911! and how she was about to q…

1
KEVIN DURAND: Dedication to Keeping Sanity, ‘Planet of the Apes’ Secret Advantage & Trusting Your Own Time and Process 1:19:51

5M ago1:19:51

1:19:51

Kevin Durand (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, The Strain) joins us this week to share how he went from professional hockey aspirations as an 11th generation Canadian lumberjack to pursuing his dreams of acting and storytelling in Hollywood. Kevin talks about the difficult impact of prepping for the physicality of certain roles like Planet of the…

1
LUCY LAWLESS: Fighting as XENA: Warrior Princess, Calling the Shots Now & Thrill Seeking Passion in ‘Never Look Away’ 1:22:00

5M ago1:22:00

1:22:00

Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess, Spartacus) joins us this week to share the unabashed passion and connection she has with her newest documentary Never Look Away: exploring the traumatic and thrill seeking life of an adrenaline fueled journalist touring war zones. Lucy talks about her time during Xena: Warrior Princess, including what it was li…

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ELIJAH WOOD: Big LOTR Risk, Level-Headed Perspective & Reality of Panic Attacks 1:20:39

5M ago1:20:39

1:20:39

Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, Wilfred) joins us this week to share his ‘going out on a limb’ moment that helped him land a life changing role in one of the most beloved and groundbreaking franchises in LOTR. After sharing some fellow hobbit appreciation, Elijah talks about his upbringing as a child actor and how delayed success was paramount to h…

1
ROSE MCIVER: Disguised Defiance, Coping with Uncertainty & Running Low on iZombie 1:11:42

6M ago1:11:42

1:11:42

Rose McIver (Ghosts, iZombie) joins us to share the balance between deep gratitude for her career and light hearted levity she needs to bring to the performances in her various diverse roles. Rose talks about her time filming iZombie and Ghosts, noting the unique character building and difficulties that come with shooting both types of series. We a…

1
NATHAN MITCHELL: Carrying Silent Performance on THE BOYS & Finding Validation From Within 1:10:58

6M ago1:10:58

1:10:58

Nathan Mitchell (The Boys, Ginny & Georgia) joins us this week to share the growth of his career in this industry and the validation that comes from within until you get big breaks like the hit series The Boys and Ginny & Georgia. Nathan talks about landing The Boys during a lull in his confidence as an actor and the reflections he has as the show …

1
IKE BARINHOLTZ: Passing the Crazy Test, Post-MadTV Dry Spell & Major Jeopardy Regrets 1:16:30

6M ago1:16:30

1:16:30

Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project, Blockers) joins us this week to share his experience going from an upbringing in a comedy heavy household to landing a big break on MadTV to the reality check he received after his time on the series was over. Ike discusses passing the ‘crazy test’ with his writing and his initial fears of joining the Mindy Projec…

1
FRANKIE MUNIZ: Honest Parental Reflections, Dangers of Racing & The Reality of Child Actors 1:16:46

6M ago1:16:46

1:16:46

Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle, Nascar) joins us this week for an open and honest conversation about everything from the realities of what’s asked of child actors to the reflections on family dynamics once he became a father himself. Frankie talks about the chip on his shoulder that he’s carried into his new racing career and the different mi…

1
CHRISTOPHER JUDGE: Wild Stargate Stories, Freedom from Forgiveness & Acting Out of Spite 1:18:46

7M ago1:18:46

1:18:46

Chris Judge (Stargate SG-1, God of War) joins us this week for an open, honest, and forthcoming conversation about the pain in his past and how he’s been able to not only overcome it throughout his career, but also use it to his advantage when portraying characters like Teal’c in Stargate SG-1 and Kratos in God of War. Chris shares his tumultuous u…

1
SIMON PEGG: Mitigating the ‘Black Dog’, The Tom Cruise Effect & Shaun of the Dead Brotherhood 1:06:51

7M ago1:06:51

1:06:51

Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) joins us this week for a humble and grounded conversation about the rise in his career from indie movie hits to massive blockbusters, all the while trying to mitigate the ‘black dog’ of depression following him. Simon talks about his brotherhood with Nick Frost, how they drop everything to have each others b…

1
DANNY TREJO: Respecting Death, Punching His Way into Hollywood & Living with Gratitude 1:03:16

7M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

🎬 Check out Danny's new film 'Seven Cemeteries' now available on Digital and On-demand! Danny Trejo (Machete, Desperado) joins us this week to share his story of breaking cycles of incarceration to make it in Hollywood and ultimately transform his life to lead with gratitude. Danny opens up about his misguided childhood and the lessons learned grow…

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CASSANDRA PETERSON: Retiring ELVIRA, Elvis’ Big Warning & Embracing Being Different 1:11:49

7M ago1:11:49

1:11:49

Cassandra Peterson (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark) joins us this week to grace us with stories she couldn’t share before her book release… warnings from Elvis, retiring her Elvira get-up, coming out and more! We talk about what could have been with Paul McCartney and other iconic stories during her tenure as Mistress of the Dark. Cassandra shares th…

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ERIC ROBERTS: The Fear Behind Ego, Life Changing Honesty & Early Career Misconceptions 1:12:02

8M ago1:12:02

1:12:02

Eric Roberts (Dark Knight, The Pope of Greenwich Village) joins us this week on the heels of the release of his new memoir ‘Runaway Train: or, The Story of My Life So Far’ to share lessons learned through his decades experience with this industry… from the misconceptions that come early in an actor’s career, to realizing fear is behind ego, to a li…

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