Rephonic
Artwork for Optimism Vaccine
Soi Cheang
Ken Russell
Hulk Hogan
Andy Milligan
Anime
Hong Kong Cinema
Tron
Pop Culture
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
Limbo

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
TV & FilmFilm ReviewsFilm History

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Artwork for Optimism Vaccine

Latest Episodes

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.

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THIS WEEK: Monstrosity (1987), The Weirdo (1989) and Surgikill (1989)

Milligan makes one last bid for fame and glory, as he moves to California to topple the Hollywood establishment. It doesn't go especially well, if you can believe it.

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THIS WEEK: Hairspray (1988), Cry-Baby (1990) and Serial Mom (1994)

Waters weathers the loss of his muse and becomes a true pop culture icon as we enter the 1990s. Also: Ponderosa.

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THIS WEEK: Nightbirds (1970), The Body Beneath (1970) and The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! (1972)

This week Andy boards the tube and crosses the Chunnel to lend a touch of American crass to the London film scene.

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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)
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
Jack Eason
Film enthusiast and guest speaker
Episode: The Films of Brian Yuzna (Shawntober 2025)
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 of Optimism Vaccine
Adam Myros
Co-host of Optimism Vaccine
Jack Eason
Guest/Panelist & Co-host, Optimism Vaccine

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 41 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.

Listeners praise the show's fearless, sharp takes and humor.
The hosts' banter and guests keep episodes energetic and entertaining.
Guests and topics span cinema, TV, and pop culture with cultural insights and nostalgia.

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

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Optimism Vaccine

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

A sharp, no-nonsense take on cinema and pop culture, blending film critiques with wide-ranging riffs on media, TV, and music. Episodes often pair two to three anchors—hosts and rotating guests—in long-form, provocative banter that combines rigorous analysis, humor, and candid opinions about directors, star personas, and industry trends. Notable threads include how adaptations treat source material, the metatextual jokes about media saturation, and affectionate yet brutal dissections of cult favorites and mainstream releases. A recurring strength is the energy and chemistry among a core trio, plus guest voices that push provocative paths, making it a go-to for listeners who want smart, irreverent culture commentary with a playful edge.

Where can I find podcast stats for Optimism Vaccine?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Optimism Vaccine. 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 Optimism Vaccine and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Optimism Vaccine get?

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What are the audience demographics for Optimism Vaccine?

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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. The Severin Films Podcast
3. The Projection Booth
4. The Bay Street Video Podcast
5. Pure Cinema 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Optimism Vaccine?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Optimism Vaccine from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Optimism Vaccine?

Recent guests on Optimism Vaccine include:

1. Anna Myros
2. Adam Myros
3. Tom Jones
4. Jack Eason
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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