Rephonic
Artwork for Optimism Vaccine
Soi Cheang
Ken Russell
Hulk Hogan
Andy Milligan
Anime
Hong Kong Cinema
Tron
Pop Culture
John Waters
Found Footage Films
Dracula 2000
Baby Assassins
Universal Horror Films
Highlander
Insane Clown Posse
V-Cinema
Dee Snider's Strangeland
The Devils
Liam Neeson
Accident

Optimism Vaccine’s panel of experts and idiots explore the dingy crevices between pop culture and forgotten trash in a never-ending quest to celebrate your guilty pleasures in the world of cinema and beyond.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Film HistoryFilm ReviewsTV & Film

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Optimism Vaccine

Latest Episodes

THIS WEEK: Shelby Oaks (2024), Obsession (2025), Iron Lung (2026) and Backrooms (2026)

Cinema has passed you by, they said. Boomers, they called us. Hey, we know of the YouTube. The kids have officially arrived to dismantle the filmic apparatus in 2... more

THIS WEEK: The Passing (1983), Hard (1998) and Strangers Online (2009)

John Huckert may not be a name you know, but it's a name you should. A generous patron asked us to take a look at his three decades of work on the fringes of the film industry. A... more

THIS WEEK: Uncle Sam (1996), Bicentennial Man (1999) and The Patriot (2000)

We really should have posted this yesterday. Suddenly it feels downright disrespectful to discuss whatever the fuck Bicentennial Man is. Happy 250, America!

Donate to Pales... more

THIS WEEK: Pecker (1998), Cecil B. Demented (2000) and A Dirty Shame (2004)

We're talking Minions and John Waters' late career attempt to recapture his degenerate underground aura... to varying degrees of success.

Donate to Palestinian Medical Aid more

Key Facts

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

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Anna Myros
Star of Andy Milligan's Torture Dungeon
Actor in Milligan's films
Episode: Milligan's Island (The Films of Andy Milligan Part 2)
Jack Eason
Guest, back from Ireland voyage
Episode: Irish Kung Fu in the Boy Zone
Adam Myros
Optimism Vaccine contributor
Episode: Big Sausage Pizza (The Films of Bill Maher)
Tom Jones
Singer making a cameo in The Jerky Boys movie
Musician
Episode: Boys On Film
Jake Tropila
Episode: Tipper Gore Was Right (Baby Assassins)
Jack Easton
Episode: Tipper Gore Was Right (Baby Assassins)
Jake Serwin
Co-host of Podcasty For Me
Podcasty For Me
Episode: Motion Sickness Episode Six: Searching/Missing feat. Jake Serwin & Ian Rhine
Ian Rhine
Co-host of Podcasty For Me
Podcasty For Me
Episode: Motion Sickness Episode Six: Searching/Missing feat. Jake Serwin & Ian Rhine
Esther Rosenfield
Freelance film critic and scholar of found footage, particularly known for her work on 'The Blair Witch Project'.
Episode: Motion Sickness Episode Five: The Borderlands feat. Esther Rosenfield

Hosts

Steve
Host with recurring presence across episodes; drives conversation and banter; often steers to pop culture critique.
Adam Myros
Co-host/guest contributor with strong ties to the podcast; frequently informs framing and discussion.
Jack Heeson
Co-host on several episodes; contributes guest-level analysis and banter.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 42 ratings
  • The best film podcast around!

    Whether I’m at work or catching a flight this is my favorite podcast to get in-depth, thoughtful movie analysis that I can impressive my friends with at parties. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cash Crawford
    United Statesa year ago
  • Don’t keep this Hush Hush

    Give a listen !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    a homerun overtime
    United States4 years ago
  • A film freak’s dream

    If the words Vinegar Syndrome or psychotronic mean anything to you this is well worth a listen. Doing god’s work fellas.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bare mountain
    United States4 years ago
  • Satisfy you sweet tooth

    Just a sweet bunch of fellas talkin Candy Man !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    a homerun overtime
    United States5 years ago
  • Yay

    This is a very good podcast. Very good and funny film chatting. It is delightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    clairehigs
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Hosts deliver thoughtful takes with bite and humor.
Guest mix is informed, with entertaining dynamics and insider anecdotes.
Niche but approachable for cult-film fans and casual listeners alike.
The show is sharp, funny, and wildly opinionated about film.
Production perks and Patreon community add value for superfans.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Milligan's Island (The Films of Andy Milligan Part 2)
Q: Before we move on, I like to try this exercise with, well, two of these three films. The middle one is just a fine movie. But, you know, what's going on at the end of this movie?
The panel struggles to articulate a clear plot, noting the ending and Norman's schemes feel disjointed, but the segment ends with an acknowledgement that the ending is unusual yet intriguing within Milligan's oeuvre.
The Films of Brian Yuzna (Shawntober 2025)
Q: What do you think about the themes showcased in Yuzna's work?
Yuzna's films often reflect on the grotesque elements of wealth and societal structure, especially in Society.
The Films of Brian Yuzna (Shawntober 2025)
Q: Did you know what you were getting into with society? Did you know its reputation?
I had seen like images from it for sure and knew it was going to be a high school kind of goofy movie.
Motion Sickness Episode Six: Searching/Missing feat. Jake Serwin & Ian Rhine
Q: What drew you to 'Searching' and 'Missing' over other found footage films?
I like these movies a lot and they were exciting to see in theaters; they represent a new way to look at storytelling using technology.
Motion Sickness Episode Four: The Visit feat. Aaron Casias
Q: Why did you select this movie, Aaron?
I chose The Visit because M. Night is one of my favorite filmmakers and it offers a unique exploration of the found footage subgenre, which other big directors haven't tackled.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Optimism Vaccine

What is Optimism Vaccine about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show blends sharp, irreverent film critique with pop culture riffs, covering cult cinema, exploitation and underground trends from mid-20th century to modern streaming. Episodes thread together deep dives into makers like John Waters and Andy Milligan, with playful banter, meta-jokes, and occasional tangents into music, sports, and memes. The format often features a rotating panel, a mix of party-pipe-dream aesthetics and rigorous genre analysis, and it frequently invites insider perspectives on production, distribution, and cult reception. A standout is the highly opinionated, witty energy that keeps conversations brisk even when territory gets niche or provocative, along with recurring Patreon plugs and community-driven perks that fos... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Optimism Vaccine?

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How many listeners does Optimism Vaccine get?

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How many subscribers and views does Optimism Vaccine have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Optimism Vaccine 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 Optimism Vaccine?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Optimism Vaccine:

1. The Important Cinema Club
2. Unsung Horrors
3. Just The Discs Podcast
4. The Projection Booth
5. The Bay Street Video Podcast

How many episodes of Optimism Vaccine are there?

Optimism Vaccine launched 11 years ago and published 300 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 Optimism Vaccine?

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.

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What guests have appeared on Optimism Vaccine?

Recent guests on Optimism Vaccine include:

1. Anna Myros
2. Jack Eason
3. Adam Myros
4. Tom Jones
5. Jake Tropila
6. Jack Easton
7. Jake Serwin
8. Ian Rhine

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.

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