Best Josh Benedict Podcasts (2025)

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The Final Episodes With Mandy and Greg (Eps. 421-422) 1:03:04

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10M ago1:03:04

1:03:04

With Felicity graduated from college and back in the present day, it's time to say goodbye to the plucky freshman with curly hair. Juliet, Mandy, and Greg discuss the final two episodes of 'Felicity,' talking about Greg's real-life speech to the cast at the wedding and the absence of Sarah McLachlan in that final scene, where they think Felicity an…

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The Time Travel Episodes With Josh Reims (Eps. 418-420) 1:12:25

10M ago1:12:25

1:12:25

Just when the cast and crew of 'Felicity' thought the show was over, they were asked by the network to do five more episodes. So, Felicity and her friends traveled back in time, and the audience got to see what would have happened if Felicity chose Ben over Noel. Josh Reims, who worked as a co-executive producer on these episodes, joins to talk abo…

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The 'Felicity' Finale That Wasn't With Ian Gomez (Eps. 412-417) 1:22:01

10M ago1:22:01

1:22:01

Juliet is joined by Mandy and Greg to talk about episodes 412-417, which include 'The Graduate;' the episode that was supposed to be the series finale before the network ordered more episodes. They discuss Ben's baby plotline and Ben and Felicity's final breakup. Then Juliet is joined by Ian Gomez to talk about landing the role of Javier and finall…

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The Last 'Felicity' Thanksgiving With Larry Trilling (Ep. 408-411) 1:16:30

11M ago1:16:30

1:16:30

Juliet and Greg talk about this run of episodes that includes the last 'Felicity' Thanksgiving, always a momentous holiday for the show. They cover Noel and Sean going into business together, Felicity and Ben breaking up, and Ben's father, played by John Ritter, making an appearance. Then, Juliet, Greg, and Mandy are joined by Larry Trilling, who d…

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The Music and Wardrobe of 'Felicity' With Amanda Demme and Linda Serijan-Fasmer (Ep. 404-407) 1:36:58

11M ago1:36:58

1:36:58

We've talked again and again on this show about how important the original soundtrack was to creating the world of 'Felicity.' And so on today's episode we speak with the woman behind that soundtrack: music supervisor Amanda Demme. Another part of what made the world of 'Felicity' distinct was the fashion. After Amanda, costume designer Linda Serij…

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The Beginning of the End With Matt Reeves (Eps. 401-403) 1:34:33

11M ago1:34:33

1:34:33

We have reached the final season of 'Felicity.' To mark this occasion, we are joined by Matt Reeves to talk about the final episode he directed for the show: 401. But first, Greg and Juliet discuss where we find Felicity and the other characters at the beginning of Season 4. Then they are joined by Matt to talk about the lessons he took away from w…

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Saying Goodbye to Season 3 With Amy Aquino 1:04:32

12M ago1:04:32

1:04:32

Juliet is joined by both Mandy and Greg to discuss Sean and Meghan's fun arc in these episodes. They talk about Sean and Meghan going to couples therapy, Noel spilling the beans about him and Felicity to Ben, and Noel's graduation. Then Juliet is joined by Amy Aquino to talk about her iconic role as Felicity's therapist, Dr. Pavone, her work on sho…

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Felicity's Mom With Eve Gordon (Eps. 312-314) 1:27:48

12M ago1:27:48

1:27:48

Juliet and Mandy discuss the fallout of the midseason cliff-hanger in 311, their dislike for the character of Avery, and the introduction of Kenan Thompson in the role of DeForrest. Next, Juliet and Mandy are joined by Eve Gordon, who played Felicity's mom, Barbara Porter. Eve talks about playing a mother to a college student when she was still a y…

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The Power of Elena With Tangi Miller (Ep. 308-311) 1:08:41

12M ago1:08:41

1:08:41

Juliet is joined by Mandy to talk about episodes 308-311. They cover Felicity being asked to become an egg donor for Javier and Tyra Banks's continued arc on the show. Then, they are joined by Tangi Miller to reminisce about playing Elena. They talk about how she secured the role of Elena and the instant chemistry she had with Keri Russell. Next ti…

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Comedic Relief With Rob Benedict (Eps. 305-307) 1:20:30

1y ago1:20:30

1:20:30

Juliet is joined by both Mandy and Greg to discuss Episodes 305-307 and a particularity of TV around the year 2000 that is showcased in these episodes. Then, Rob Benedict comes on the show to talk about playing Richard Coad. Initially beginning as a side character in Season 1, Richard evolved into a central character of the cast by Season 3, and am…

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The WB of It All With Former CEO Jordan Levin (Ep. 302-304) 1:44:12

1y ago1:44:12

1:44:12

You probably know by now that the home of 'Felicity' was the iconic WB network. By the time 'Felicity' premiered its third season in the fall of 2000, the network had really hit its stride: with 'Dawson's Creek' and 'Felicity' on Wednesday nights, 'Gilmore Girls' on Thursdays, and 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' on Fridays. To speak more about the powe…

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A New Theme Song With JJ Abrams and Andrew Jarecki (Ep. 301) 1:02:03

1y ago1:02:03

1:02:03

We've made it to Season 3! And with a new season comes a new theme song. Juliet and Greg are joined by JJ Abrams and Andrew Jarecki, who created the song together, to talk about that process and why they decided to start the third season with a fresh intro for the show. But first, Juliet and Greg discuss the Noel/Leon plotline and the perils of mov…

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Film Canisters and Epic Monologues With Scott Speedman (Eps. 220-223) 1:18:31

1y ago1:18:31

1:18:31

We have reached the end of Season 2, and with it, we get an epic run of episodes. Juliet is joined by Greg to talk about some of their favorite moments from this run, including Ben following Felicity up to Rhinebeck and some great monologues from Meghan and Ben. Then Juliet and Greg are joined by Scott Speedman to discuss his first time watching 'F…

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The Greg Era (Ugh), With Emma Gray and Keiko Agena (Eps. 216-219) 1:28:44

1y ago1:28:44

1:28:44

It's time to talk about one of our least favorite love interests on ‘Felicity’: Greg. Juliet and Mandy talk about what makes the character of Greg particularly annoying and how Ben's immediate dislike of him is one of the few times he's a good judge of character on the show (0:00). Then, Juliet is joined by Emma Gray to talk more about Greg and how…

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Rekindling of Felicity and Ben With Ken Olin and Erich Anderson 1:37:32

1y ago1:37:32

1:37:32

We’ve reached a pivotal arc for all of 'Felicity.' Greg and Juliet convene to discuss the biggest developments: Ruby’s pregnancy and the father of her child, the arrival of Tracy (Donald Faison), the introduction of Dr. Toni Pavone (Amy Aquino hive, it’s our time), Ben’s Felicity epiphany, and the latest Matt and JJ collab episode. They are joined …

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The Twilight Zone With JJ Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Joanna Robinson 1:21:04

1y ago1:21:04

1:21:04

‘Felicity’ came back from winter break with two important episodes, and Juliet and Mandy and their guests discuss what contributed to this. In one episode, it’s obvious: The show completely transforms to pay homage to 'The Twilight Zone.' JJ Abrams and Matt Reeves return to discuss this singular episode, while Joanna Robinson also returns to discus…

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The ‘Felicity’ Wilderness With Amy Smart and Mychelle Deschamps (Eps. 206-209) 1:29:20

1y ago1:29:20

1:29:20

As Felicity nears the end of her third semester, she finds herself again torn between two guys, but one point on the triangle is different this time. Juliet and Mandy talk about Felicity’s relationship, how the dog factors into it, and Ben’s fling. Then, Amy Smart joins the show to talk about playing Ruby and memories of her time on the show. Final…

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Inside the Writers Room With Josh Reims and Larry Trilling (Eps. 204-205) 1:24:18

1y ago1:24:18

1:24:18

This week, Juliet and Mandy talk about all the changes in Season 2 (in addition to Felicity’s hair). They discuss Felicity’s new love interest, Mandy’s promotion to series regular, other new faces, and more. Then, they welcome Josh Reims and Larry Trilling to talk about the inner workings of the writers and the producers. Among many topics, Josh ta…

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The Haircut: An Oral History (Ep. 201-203) 51:10

1y ago51:10

51:10

If you ask any random person about Felicity, they will probably know about the haircut. This episode looks at how the writers came up with the idea, how it was executed, how the public and the network responded, and what we think about it now. JJ Abrams, Matt Reeves, Keri Russell, and Scott Speedman are all throughout the episode, as well as critic…

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A Felicity (the Character) Deep Dive With Keri Russell (Eps. 120-122) 1:18:19

1y ago1:18:19

1:18:19

Keri Russell returns to reflect on the first season of the show. She talks to Juliet and Mandy about her lasting memories off set from the first year, how she thinks about the central Ben vs. Noel dilemma now, how 'Felicity' impacted her career, and much, much more. Juliet and Mandy also recap Episodes 120-122 and long for the elegiac tunes of Sara…

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Julie and the Collision of Art and Real Life With Amy Jo Johnson and Gina-Prince Bythewood (Eps. 118-119) 1:16:18

1+ y ago1:16:18

1:16:18

Juliet and Greg discuss Episodes 118 and 119, two Julie Emrick–centric episodes. Gina Prince-Bythewood joins Juliet to discuss how Gina’s own life experiences were poured into the character of Julie. Then, Julie herself, Amy Jo Johnson, comes on the show to talk to Juliet and her old pal Greg. They discuss not only playing the 'Felicity' character,…

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Felicity's Virginity With Andrea Newman and Susanne Daniels (Eps. 116-117) 1:07:52

1+ y ago1:07:52

1:07:52

Juliet and Mandy discuss Episodes 116 and 117, in which Felicity loses her virginity. They talk about how the show handled that moment and some other fun plot points from these episodes. Then, Juliet is joined by Andrea Newman, who wrote on 117, to talk about her experience as a writer for the show and how it helped shape her career. Finally, forme…

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Directorial Debut With J.J. Abrams (Eps. 113-115) 1:12:16

1+ y ago1:12:16

1:12:16

Juliet and Mandy talk about Episodes 113-115, which include the Todd Mulcahy arc and J.J.’s directorial debut. Juliet talks about why this set of episodes is one of her favorites and some of the worst music replacements in these episodes. Then Juliet and Greg are joined by J.J. to talk about his first-time directing experience. Next time: Episodes …

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Firsts With Jennifer Garner (Eps. 109-112) 1:17:53

1+ y ago1:17:53

1:17:53

Greg returns to discuss Episodes 109-112 with Juliet. They cover many firsts for Felicity: her first Thanksgiving away from home, her first finals, her first time (almost). It’s a momentous stretch for 'Felicity' and for TV as we now know it. Jennifer Garner appears as a guest star, playing Noel’s girlfriend Hannah, and it’s her first step into the…

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Pink Guy With Devon Gummersall and Joanna Robinson (Eps. 107-108) 1:16:54

1+ y ago1:16:54

1:16:54

Content warning: Juliet, Mandy, and the guests discuss 'Felicity' Episodes 107 and 108, which depict rape. In the years since the episodes “Drawing the Line: Part 1” and "Part 2" (107 and 108) aired on the WB, they have remained the most progressive ones. Juliet enlists The Ringer’s Joanna Robinson to talk about why those episodes have endured both…

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Finding Noel With Scott Foley and Evan Ross Katz (Episodes 103-106) 1:24:10

1+ y ago1:24:10

1:24:10

Juliet and Greg cover Episodes 103-106, reliving both iconic and iconically uncomfortable moments from Felicity’s first weeks at college. Those moments include the time Felicity’s tape to Sally played at the dorm party (cringe), and Felicity and Noel’s kiss after a particularly intense game of Boggle. Then, Juliet and Greg are joined by Scott Foley…

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Being Felicity With Keri Russell and Scott Speedman (Eps. 101-102) 1:20:37

1+ y ago1:20:37

1:20:37

Juliet, Greg, and Mandy read some of the early reviews of Season 1 of 'Felicity.' Next, Juliet and Mandy are joined by Keri Russell to talk about how being on the show launched her career and what lessons she took away from embodying the character of Felicity. Then, we hear more from the time that Mandy, Keri, and Scott Speedman were in New York to…

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Felicity’s Beginnings With J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, Keri Russell, and Scott Speedman (Eps. 101-102) 1:14:03

1+ y ago1:14:03

1:14:03

"Dear Sally, … Three years ago, I held a pint of Ben Covington's blood." That's how 'Felicity' began, but the story of the show begins long before that. Juliet, Greg, and Mandy talk about the earliest days of Season 1, the biggest moments from Episodes 101 and 102, and what makes the pilot episode so memorable. Then, Keri Russell, J.J. Abrams, Matt…

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Introducing ‘Dear Felicity’ 1:16

1+ y ago1:16

1:16

Twenty-five years ago, ‘Felicity’ premiered on The WB and became an instant sensation. Today, it remains a beloved TV show and cultural touchstone. Join Amanda Foreman (a.k.a. goth roommate Meghan Rotundi) and Greg Grunberg (a.k.a. smoothaise creator Sean Blumberg) as well The Ringer’s Juliet Litman as they talk to the cast, crew, executives, and f…

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Leatherface vs. The Shape, with Pinckney Benedict 1:28:05

3y ago1:28:05

1:28:05

Pinckney Benedict and I debate Leatherface vs. The Shape, as well as their films, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) vs. Halloween (1978). We end up analyzing, contrasting, and praising more than fighting, but we make progress nonetheless. The YouTube version has full video, including scenes from the films and Pinckney in his monstrous form, which is w…

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The Four Schools of Monster Studies 43:32

3y ago43:32

43:32

There is one tradition of including or rendering monsters in tales, but there is a second tradition of directly analyzing and studying monsters. In this episode, I lay out what I consider to be the four distinct schools of studying and analyzing monsters, from ancient times to modern academia. The Monster Professor: a show in which we discuss and e…

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Obscure Horror Movie Influences 33:34

3y ago33:34

33:34

From Jason in a hockey mask to a recent Ghostbuster, with plenty of weirdness in between, I discuss retro-horror movie influences that are so obscure some of the films’ own directors might not even be fully aware of them. Here is the list of movies discussed: Beetlejuice (1988) Candyman (1992) Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982) Ghostbusters: Afterlife (…

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The Riddle of the Hydra 29:07

3y ago29:07

29:07

The many-headed monster of Classical mythology holds a secret that is revealed in the fuller story of Herakles, and it might still be relevant today. The Monster Professor: a show in which we discuss and explore monsters in literature, myth, film, games, theater, folklore, culture, and beyond. Podcast host: Josh Woods, author, editor, professor, an…

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Shapeshifters and Ghost Investigations with John Kachuba 58:49

3+ y ago58:49

58:49

From prehistory and ancient myth to modern-day reports of real encounters, shapeshifters and ghosts surround us, so I dig into them with John Kachuba, author of several ghosthunting guides as well as the recent book Shapeshifters: A History (University of Chicago Press). Find more on John Kachuba here: http://johnkachuba.com The Monster Professor: …

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Halloween 1978 37:47

3+ y ago37:47

37:47

As a last-minute Halloween treat, I discuss the utter brilliance of the original 1978 film Halloween.By Josh Woods

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Halloween Watch 2021 46:08

4y ago46:08

46:08

It’s time again to discuss (or more accurately, ramble on about) awesome horror and Halloween films I’ve (re)watched recently. Spoiler warning in full effect for the following: Joe Bob’s Last Drive-In Show Tourist Trap Black Christmas Elijah Wood projects: Mandy, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, The Greasy Strangler, I Don’t Feel at Home in this W…

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Serial Killers in Greek Myth with Debbie Felton 1:07:50

4y ago1:07:50

1:07:50

Were serial killers lurking in the shadows of Classical mythology? To find out, we dig into Theseus’ gantlet of villains, the sphynx, Medea, and more, with Classics professor Debbie Felton, author of Monsters and Monarchs: Serial Killers in Classical Myth and History. Debbie Felton’s site: https://www.umass.edu/classics/member/debbie-felton The Mon…

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Ring-wraiths and Dracula 42:39

4y ago42:39

42:39

Are Ring-wraiths inspired by Dracula, perhaps even Tolkien’s version of vampires? We go through the details to find out. The Monster Professor: a show in which we discuss and explore monsters in literature, myth, film, games, theater, folklore, culture, and beyond. Podcast host: Josh Woods, author, editor, professor, and monster expert. joshwoodsau…

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Hercules the Monster Slayer with Kevin Sorbo 35:02

4y ago35:02

35:02

Special guest Kevin Sorbo joins me to discuss his iconic role as the greatest monster slayer ever, Hercules. We explore the classic hero vs. anti-hero, and the value of hero vs. monster stories in the modern era, as well as Sorbo’s own personal battles and current projects focused on battling darkness with light. Links for Kevin Sorbo and his proje…

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Live Event at FSW 1:17:46

4y ago1:17:46

1:17:46

This episode is the audio of the live Monster Professor/guest author event at the Florida SouthWestern State College Research Expo on April 13, 2021. The full video is on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/6vDj3van8pg In this event, Josh Woods share his ideas about Horror Structure as one of two storytelling archetypes, reads a short story from his boo…