Let’s not kid ourselves … The holidays are never easy. And putting together this week’s episode of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour was particularly trying …

In fact, after an hour-long Skype-based conversation with their trans-Atlantic guest, Alex Lewczuk, your friends in podcasting, Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness, were shocked to discover that almost none of it was recorded!

So, they just kept talking … Without starting over! If it seems a little bit like joining a conversation in the middle, well … that’s EXACTLY what it IS! It’s a fun, free-wheeling conversation, however, about such a wide range of topics as ageism in the media, science-fiction, academia, Roman settlements, ancient cathedrals, Christmas markets … and more!

Those of you familiar with Phil’s extra-curricular activities know that he is a regular contributor to Alex Lewczuk’s Midweek Drive program(me) for Siren FM and Southside Broadcasting in the UK. You also might remember hearing Alex as part of the 28 hour Mayan podcastathon Dean and Phil conducted last year at this time.

Though, it lacks structure, due to the structure not being recorded, this week’s show is sure to stuff your stocking with audio good cheer. The elves at Rational Exuberance have edited together several holiday-themed goodies for inclusion in this week’s show – another way in which its like no other episode you’ve heard!

Happy Holidays, one and all!

This week’s show is over five and a half years in the making.

It starts with your friends in podcasting revealing their all-time Top Ten Films.

Then, they reveal the all-time Top Ten according to all the guests who have appeared on YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour!

What films will make the cut?

We wouldn’t dream of spoiling it. HOWEVER, we CAN let you know that these films did NOT make the top ten, though they came very close, finishing in positions twenty-four through eleven:

24. Vertigo (Director: Alfred Hitchcock, Year: 1958)
23. Apocalypse Now (Francis Coppola, 1979)
22. Amelie (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001)
21. A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick, 1971)
19. TIE – Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994), The Big Lebowski (Joel Coen, 1998)
18. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
17. Wings of Desire (Wim Wenders, 1987)
16. the Matrix (The Wachowskis, 1999)
15. The Third Man (Carol Reed, 1949)
14. Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974)
13. Fellini’s 8 1/2 (Federico Fellini, 1963)
12. Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990)
11. Lawrence of Arabia (David Lean, 1962)

Got your popcorn? Then, let’s go to the movies!

Dean Haglund is in Fargo, North Dakota. Phil Leirness is on set somewhere, directing and producing 2nd unit on a feature film. So, how are your friends in podcasting able to bring you this brand new installment of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour?

Why, through the magic of podcasting, of course!

If you love Star Trek … If you love Star Trek: The Next Generation … If you love James Bond … If you love Planet of the Apes … If you love science-fiction … If you love social media … If you love the space shuttle, scientific exploration, tiki bars, Jameson’s, Blade Runner, independent film … OR, if you just love good conversation, you are going to love this week’s show, where Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness welcome special guest Robert Meyer Burnett.

Happy Monday, from YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour.

Energized and raring to go, Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness are all over the map and spanning the ages in this week’s installment, an episode that can best be summed up by two words: TIME TRAVEL.

You’ll see what we mean as Dean and Phil discuss Old Town Sacramento, Damanhur, Ray Bradbury, the Los Angeles Conservancy, Paper Moon, Boris Karloff, an elementary school graduation, Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys, Prometheus and MORE!

Oh, and if you haven’t heard enough of your friend in podcasting, Phil Leirness, or if you just want to get turned onto another really cool podcast, we hope you’ll check out “Getting Better Acquainted” hosted by David Pickering. Phil was the guest on Episode 60.

Finally, if you’re going to be in the Los Angeles area on June 23, we strongly encourage you to go see “David Dean Bottrell Makes Love”.