We Interrupt This Program Podcast: Insights From TV & Movies

 Thousands of podcasts cover TV shows. Many of those shows focus on one show -- a rewatch podcast -- counting on a built-in audience from the show's fans. Thousands of podcasts cover movies, with some shows providing reviews. In contrast, others delve into the history of movies or a specific film, such as Verbal Diorama, one of the best at this treatment. 

 We Interrupt This program, a relatively new indie entertainment podcast, has the unique ability to critically analyze TV shows and movies seamlessly. There's nothing superficial about the show. 

Co-host Vern Cooper reflects, "We settled on the word perspective when we spoke about what we want to provide to a listener. In addition to being academics and creatives, we also each come from minority backgrounds, which have never had an easy time engaging in popular culture. We analyze through the lenses of our personal and academic development, and want the audience to see that it is possible for everyone. We hope to inspire more participatory TV/film watching.  We want to model interruption and intervention into majority fan spaces from outsider positionalities. Our point is actually that there is no such thing as an outsider-- everyone is welcome to engage with publicly available media."

 Here's their marketing pitch:  "What do you get when you mix a family science scholar and a media researcher? Deep dives into the group dynamics of film and television, silly! Join Ebony and Vern as they (lovingly) beat your favorite media to death with a microscope and interrupt the programming we all receive from the mythology of our modern era. But like, relatably!"

This indie podcast launched in April 2025 on audio and YouTube. Like many indie podcasts, the show has improved significantly with every episode, and hit its stride with its recent episode on the hit movie in theaters, Sinners. 

When co-hosts Vern Cooper and Ebony Williams delved into the film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, they explored its themes of representation, music, colonialism, and identity. They discuss the significance of the Great Migration, the portrayal of monsters as metaphors for societal issues, and the concept of 'sinners' as a reflection of ideological control. The dialogue also explores the significance of body image and the complexities of liminality regarding race and identity. Through their analysis, they highlight the film's rich cultural narratives and the power of music as a storytelling device.

The co-hosts have hit their stride in this episode, exploring the primary themes of representation and identity. They observe that the music in the film serves a purpose beyond mere entertainment. As Vern says, "Music serves as a central mechanic in the storytelling."

Vern and Ebony dissect the film from a narrative and thematic perspective.  The co-hosts note that "The Great Migration" is portrayed as a complex narrative, Colonialism is critiqued through the lens of cultural appropriation, and the monsters in the film symbolize deeper societal issues.

As Ebony notes, "The concept of 'sinners' relates to ideological control, conditioning through religion is a recurring theme, and Body image and representation are critically examined."

Before this episode, Vern and Ebony had focused on several episodes of season two of The Last of Us. 

In the episodes, Vern and Ebony explore the significance of representation, the impact of grief and loss, and the complexities of character relationships. They discussed the polarized reactions from fans, the importance of community and leadership, and the ongoing exploration of morality and agency within the narrative. The conversation highlights the depth of character development and the emotional weight carried by the story, setting the stage for predictions about the future of Ellie and Dina's relationship.

Vern says, "We started our podcast with the first season of The Last of Us, but moving forward, we intend to incorporate any other films/TV we feel speak to our brand."

Vern continues: "I've been thinking about our goals, and it seems they are of two parts: I'd like to work towards monetizing, which means growing an audience, but mainly we want to provide a product of entertainment value, which also stealthily imparts skills and knowledge from my and Ebony's respective fields of research."

 Vern Cooper is a film, television, and media researcher and writer. His passions are telling and listening to interesting stories, as well as facilitating learning in unique places and methods. He believes that the most important stories are hardly told in mainstream media, and has made it his purpose to find and share the deep, dark places they do live.  

Ebony Williams is a passionate book lover and creative writer with a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies. Her deep understanding of human relationships and development informs both her academic and creative pursuits. Whether she's immersed in a novel or crafting original stories, Ebony brings empathy, insight, and imagination to the page. Her work explores how narratives shape individual lives, family dynamics, and broader communities—bridging the worlds of research and storytelling with purpose and heart.

Vern reflects: "What Ebony and I both know from our research fields is that perspective-taking is essential to empathy, and we're seeing less and less empathy as the years wear on." 

If you're a TV and movie fan who enjoys dissecting shows and movies, then We Interrupt This Program is the indie podcast for you. Vern and Ebony don't just narrate what happened in a TV show or movie. They go deeper, analyzing motive, theme, symbolism, character development, and social, class, and racial implications.