Episode 218: Valentine's Day Special and 30th Anniversary of "Romeo + Juliet" (1996)

With the unfortunate passing of the icon that is Catherine O’Hara, Ready 2 Retro dedicated an entire episode highlighting her personal life, key roles of her career and why this comedic legend will always be missed!ready2retro.com

Happy Valentine's Day! Returning to Ready 2 Retro for this special episode is Max's wife, Jasmine! The episode begins with two of them sharing a life update as they navigate the aftermath of the Eaton Fire from 2025.After that, the episode is all about the 30th Anniversary of Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" (1996)! Max and Jasmine discuss the iconic style to this film, how it differs from other adaptations, the stellar cast, the amazing soundtrack and how dreamy young Leonardo DiCaprio was! "The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head and join with all in grieving for the dead. For never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo."ready2retro.com

This is part 2 of our conversation about Ready 2 Retro's Top 10 Movies of 2025.Joining the conversation with Max and Chelsea is Max's coworker David who is one of the biggest film buffs you'll ever meet!Part 1 is here if you missed itready2retro.com 

Another year is in the books which means it is time for Ready 2 Retro to give you our favorite movies of 2025! It's our annual Top 10 list and this year we have a special guest, David, who is Max's coworker and one of the biggest film buffs you'll ever meet!Join us for Part 1 of Episode 217 as Max, Chelsea and David reveal their favorite movies ranked 10-6.Part 2 is coming soon!ready2retro.com 

A special "swapcast" with Podcasting After Dark &Two Dollar Late FeeTremors (1990) synopsis: “Natives of a small isolated town defend themselves against strange underground creatures which are killing them one by one.”Starring: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, and Michael GrossDirector: Ron UnderwoodThis week on Podcasting After Dark, Zak and Corey are joined by Max from Ready2Retro to review Tremors! The boys have a blast discussing this quintessential cult classic (according to Max) , so grab a stick and polevolt over some Graboids because this threeway swapcast is sure to give you those nostalgic feels!Listen to PAD's interview with Michael Gross HEREListen to TDLF's interview with director, on Underwood HEREHelp support the Altadena fire survivors by donating to these charities:Altadena MusiciansPost FireMax’s Family’s GoFundMe—SUPPORT PODCASTING AFTER DARK —PATREON -Two extra shows a month including Wrap-Up After Dark and The Carpenter Factor, plus other exclusive content!MERCH STORE -We have a fully dedicated merch store at TeePublic with multiple designs and products!INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK / LETTERBOXD -Follow PAD on social media for updates and announcements!This podcast is part of the BFOP Network

Ready 2 Retro is diving headfirst into the 30th anniversary of Waterworld!Joining R2R for the very first time is Diallo Jackson and he explains why this movie actually holds up despite its "sinking" reputation. In this episode we break down the history of the film, the myths and realities behind its famously turbulent production, and Kevin Costner’s deep involvement in shaping what became one of the most talked-about movies of the 90s. We also discuss the legendary Universal Studios stunt show, explore the forgotten Waterworld comic book series, and unpack how this movie built a cult legacy long after its release. Love it, hate it, 30 years later, Waterworld is still making waves and we’re riding with it!Check out everything Diallo Jackson is upto by clicking here

Grab your red bow tie and hop on your bike, because this week we’re taking a wild ride to celebrate the 40th anniversary of "Pee-wee’s Big Adventure"—the quirky, chaotic, and utterly unforgettable film that launched Tim Burton's career and gave pop culture one of its most iconic characters.Also in this episode we share our tributes to Paul Reubens-reflecting on the genius who brought Pee-wee to life and the impact of his creativity and uniqueness Joining us for the ride is huge Pee-Wee fan, Nic Cowan!So cue the Breakfast Machine—because pressing play has never been this much fun!

Happy Halloween!Max and The Duchess of Horror, Chelsea, wind down the spooky season as they share about meeting John Carpenter, visiting Knotts Scary Farm, watching horror movies and their other adventures. Also they share about their favorite 90s Halloween commercials and spooky themed toys!Whether you’re unwrapping a pack of Gushers or rereading a Goosebumps book today, remember. keep it creepy, keep it kooky, and keep it totally RETRO!

It has been 50 years since the release of one of the greatest movies of all-time, "Jaws". There is not much more to be said that hasn’t already been muttered about this incredible film already. So to celebrate the 50th Anniversary, Read 2 Retro has assembled 5 different generations to discuss their appreciation of Jaws! To represent the Baby Boomer Generation, Max’s dad Tim is present, to represent Gen X is Zak from the Two Dollar Late Fee Podcast, Max is standing in for the Millennials, returning to R2R is Andy Foreman from HorrorHound speaking for Gen Z and making his first appearance on R2R is Bodhi representing Generation Alpha!5 different generations for 5 decades of Jaws! For this episode, “You’re going to need a bigger speaker!”

Mark Beltzman is an actor, teacher, director, writer, tubaplayer and private acting coach who lives by the philosophy: SMILE and DO MORE OF IT. Mark has been featured in many beloved projects including Mo Money (1992), Billy Madison (1995), Speed 2 (1997), The Wedding Singer (1998), Seinfeld (1993), According to Jim (2001) and Lilo & Stitch 2025, just to name a few. In this episode we discuss Mark's upbringing around improv, his love for being in front of the camera and the necessity of enjoying life to the fullest. Visit markbeltzman.com to connect with Mark with all of the great work he is doing in Maui and throughout the mainland.