Rephonic
Artwork for Behind the Slate
Independent Filmmaking
Hollywood
Carol Eastman
French New Wave
Film Distribution
Jack Nicholson
Cleo From 5 To 7
Rolling Thunder
Social Media
Five Easy Pieces
New Hollywood Movement
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Agnes Varda
Cinema
The Warriors
Withdrawal
AI Thriller Spec Script
Plaza Theatre
Woman In the Dunes
AI In Hollywood

Join host, Aaron Strand, for a historical deep dive into the life and work of cinema's greatest directors. Our mission is to lower the barrier of entry to classic cinema through live screening events, multi-part history series, and interviews. We skip across time, genre, and nationality to explore the greatest and wildest stories from the history of film, and use the lives of these extraordinary a... more

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes74Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmFilm History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Behind the Slate

Latest Episodes

The late Agnès Varda is the darling of Filmstagram Bros and Letterboxd Girlies - everyone’s favorite cat-loving feminist grandma. But what was she really like?

Join host Aaron Strand as he discusses the incredible story behind Varda’s most commercia... more

Today we dive into a film that is as disturbing as it is relatable and bizarre as it is unforgettable: ‘Possession’ from 1981. We explore the chaotic brilliance of Andrzej Żuławski, his turbulent career, and how his personal life shaped this visceral... more

Today we watch one of the greatest war films ever made and the zenith of Italian neo-realism, Gillo Pontecorvo's 'The Battle of Algiers'. I discuss Pontecorvo's incredible backstory of fighting against the fascists in the Italian resistance and the u... more

Today we’re diving into Stanley Kubrick's final film, the Christmas classic ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ (1999) - a misunderstood masterpiece that is incredibly prescient of the 21st century we are currently living in. I discuss Kubrick's upbringing and the myth... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The LeftThe Last Podcast Network
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
SmartLess
SmartLessJason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

Recent Guests

Richard Neupert
French film scholar, expert on the New Wave and Agnès Varda
University/academic circles (as discussed in episode)
Episode: 'Vagabond' Live at Cine 11-20-25
Dusty Gannon
Artist, activist, former Army captain with Afghanistan experience
Indivisible ATL / veteran activist
Episode: 'The Battle of Algiers' Live at The Tara 2-26-26
Murray Close
Original stills photographer for 'Withnail and I', trained by Stanley Kubrick
Episode: 66. 'Withnail and I' Live at the Plaza Theatre 5-22-25 (Q&A w/ Murray Close)
Joseph Karg
Illustrator and author, transitioned from commercial art to making original movie posters and writing letters about art and film.
Kickstarter, Author of Dear Bernadette
Episode: 65. 'The Warriors' Live at the Plaza Theatre 3-27-25
Andrew Callaghan
A journalist and filmmaker known for his unique documentary style and viral video series, All Gas No Breaks.
Channel 5 News
Episode: 62. 'Dear Kelly' with Andrew Callaghan
Evelyn Lorena
Filmmaker and actor originally from Wilmington, North Carolina
Episode: 61. Interview with filmmaker Evelyn Lorena

Host

Aaron Strand
Host of Behind the Slate

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 83 ratings
  • Brilliant… Insightful… Engaging

    I arrived at this podcast seeking content and resources on the work and impact of Melvin Van Peebles and I was honestly blown away but the thoughtfulness and insight of the podcast!

    I’m an INSTANT FAN… and the love of the subject matter… you appreciation of film, and the context of culture and society on the creators of this medium is visceral!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fahamu Pecou
    United States2 years ago
  • Authentic and refreshing

    I was originally referred to this podcast by a friend, and while I did not see myself as a “cinephile”, I found the historical deep dives to be so detailed and personable that I was hooked. More recently the episodes have evolved and taken on many nuanced narratives- and I am here for it! I love Aaron’s authenticity and personal/professional evolution. I feel like I am on the journey with him… and I can’t wait to see where he (and the podcast) go!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IveJo89
    United States2 years ago
  • Cinephiles and history nerds have a new home with Behind the Slate!!

    Such a fun and informative show! Aaron is a great host, the topics are unique and interesting, and the guests are always great picks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jonathan Walls23
    United States3 years ago
  • Incredible Pod

    Jumped in for the Melvin Van Peebles story. As great as that has been so far I was blown away with the brief overview of American black entertainment history. Lots of names and stories I’ve never heard before to dig deeper on. Highly recommend for cinephiles, especially the ATLiens!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JDubbsIII
    United States3 years ago
  • Hitting it out of the park

    Superb history that goes deep and leaves nothing on the sidelines. Informative, interesting, humorous , tasteful and fearless. Bravo!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarioVoid
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise production quality, cadence, and the blend of scholarly and accessible notes.
Guests consistently elevate conversations with expert context and clear passion for film history.
Engaging host with thoughtful deep-dives and strong storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

'Vagabond' Live at Cine 11-20-25
Q: How did you first meet Agnès Varda?
Dr. Neupert recalls meeting Varda in Wisconsin during an academic event, where she engaged deeply with his work and invited ongoing collaboration, highlighting her openness and influence.
'The Battle of Algiers' Live at The Tara 2-26-26
Q: What drew you to this film and its themes?
Dusty describes how the film's portrayal of moral ambiguity in war, the humanization of all sides, and the emphasis on resistance resonated with his experiences in the Army and his later anti-war activism.
57. 'Rolling Thunder' Live at the Plaza Theatre 11-20-24
Q: Is this film fascist?
Attendees debated this notion and reflected on the film's portrayal of character complexities, some arguing that it had more depth than standard fascist narratives.
57. 'Rolling Thunder' Live at the Plaza Theatre 11-20-24
Q: What did you think about the pacing of the film?
Several audience members felt that the pacing was effective, as it mirrored the protagonist's emotional journey after returning from war.
66. 'Withnail and I' Live at the Plaza Theatre 5-22-25 (Q&A w/ Murray Close)
Q: Do you have a particular shot, whether it's in this film or just in your career that you're just very fond of or really proud of?
One of my favorite images from this film is called 'Adieu', which captures a poignant moment in the final scene with Marwood and Withnail.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Behind the Slate

What is Behind the Slate about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A historical deep-dive podcast focused on cinema's greatest directors, blending rigorous research with lively screening-based episodes, multi-part histories, and guest conversations. Listeners get contextual storytelling that blends production lore, biographical detail, and cultural impact, with a strong emphasis on film history, preservation, and the artistry behind iconic works. The format often features live events, host-led narrative arcs, and thoughtful discussions with scholars, critics, and industry insiders, which tends to attract cinephiles who enjoy in-depth storytelling, historical nuance, and a clear passion for film as a driving force in culture. Noteworthy traits include a patient, narrative-driven style, accessible yet schola... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Behind the Slate?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Behind the Slate. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Behind the Slate and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Behind the Slate get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Behind the Slate, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Behind the Slate?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Behind the Slate, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Behind the Slate have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Behind the Slate has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Behind the Slate?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Behind the Slate:

1. The Daily
2. Last Podcast On The Left
3. This American Life
4. SmartLess

How many episodes of Behind the Slate are there?

Behind the Slate launched 4 years ago and published 74 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Behind the Slate?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Behind the Slate?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Behind the Slate from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Behind the Slate?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Behind the Slate. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Behind the Slate?

Recent guests on Behind the Slate include:

1. Richard Neupert
2. Dusty Gannon
3. Murray Close
4. Joseph Karg
5. Andrew Callaghan
6. Evelyn Lorena

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days