SOUNDS OF FILM with Tom Needham

Filmmaker Joel Gilbert joins Tom Needham on The Sounds of Film to talk about his new documentary, Roseanne Barr: Is America. In the film, the still hilarious and outspoken Roseanne recounts her unusual upbringing and rise to television stardom. A master storyteller, she shares her take on cancel culture, politics, and the challenges facing free expression in America.Gilbert discusses Roseanne’s resilience, her lasting cultural influence, and how her story mirrors the broader divisions in American life. The conversation offers a revealing look at one of comedy’s most controversial and influential voices.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed radio show, airing on WUSB Stony Brook. For over three decades, the program has featured in-depth interviews with filmmakers, musicians, and cultural figures including Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick, Ralph Macchio, and Howard Shore.

This week on The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with Guggenheim Fellow Alan Govenar about his new documentary Quiet Voices in a Noisy World: The Struggle for Change in Jasper, Texas. Opening in New York theaters on November 14, 2025, through First Run Features, the film explores community, race, and healing in the wake of one of America’s most painful tragedies.Govenar discusses the making of the film, his upcoming NYC screenings, and the restoration of his classic tattoo documentary Stoney Knows How, now part of the Criterion Collection. He also reflects on his long career chronicling overlooked voices in American culture through photography, film, writing, and archival work.Alan Govenar is a Guggenheim Fellow, an extensively published author, photographer, filmmaker, sound archivist, and playwright whose work has explored American culture through an incredible range of lenses. He has founded institutions like Documentary Arts, the Texas African American Photography Archive, the Museum of Street Culture, and Truth in Photography. This year marks major milestones for him, including new photography retrospectives, three new books, and the premiere of Quiet Voices in a Noisy World.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed radio show, broadcasting from Stony Brook University for over 35 years. Hosted by Tom Needham, the program has featured guests such as Billy Joel, Laurie Anderson, Hal Hartley, Whit Stillman, Nile Rodgers, and Cornel West.

The next episode of the Sounds of Film features an interview with award-winning filmmaker Cody Sheehy, director of The Last Dive, which will be featured at the Port Jefferson Documentary Film Series on Thursday, November 6 at 7 PM.Sheehy’s stunning new documentary follows Terry Kennedy, a legendary diver and American veteran whose extraordinary friendship with a giant manta ray named Willy Wow transformed him from a man with a troubled past into an unlikely ocean conservationist. Through breathtaking underwater imagery and deeply personal storytelling, The Last Dive captures the beauty, mystery, and emotional depth of one man’s lifelong connection to the sea.Cody Sheehy is an award-winning filmmaker and the founder of Rhumbline Media. He has spent decades living aboard a sailboat with his wife and son, and his work often explores humanity’s relationship with the natural world. His previous film, Make People Better, was an official selection of HotDocs and winner of DocVille. The Last Dive continues his tradition of telling intimate, character-driven stories that highlight courage, transformation, and the urgency of environmental preservation.For over 35 years, Tom Needham’s The Sounds of Film has been America’s longest-running film and music program, broadcasting on WUSB and streaming worldwide. The show has featured interviews with distinguished guests including Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

The Sounds of Film welcomes filmmaker Tim Roper, co-director of the powerful new documentary For the Living. The film tells the extraordinary true story of Marcel Zielinski, a 10-year-old Holocaust survivor who, in January 1945, walked 60 miles by foot from Auschwitz-Birkenau to Krakow in search of his family. Decades later, hundreds of cyclists from around the world retraced his path in a moving event called Ride for the Living, an act of remembrance and empathy that continues to inspire participants each year.For the Living draws profound parallels between Marcel’s journey and the modern world’s continuing struggle between dehumanization and compassion. Featuring moving interviews, historical footage, and stirring original music, the film explores how empathy can serve as humanity’s most powerful defense against hate and indifference. The documentary screens at the Port Jefferson Documentary Series on October 23rd at 7 PM, with director Tim Roper and in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.The Sounds of Film is America’s longest-running film, music, and ideas-themed radio show. For over 35 years, the program has entertained and inspired audiences throughout Long Island, Connecticut, and around the world online. Hosted by Tom Needham, the show has featured an extraordinary range of guests, including Rory Kennedy, D.A. Pennebaker, Dionne Warwick, Whit Stillman, Hal Hartley, Chuck D, Howard Shore, Carter Burwell, William H. Macy, and Wallace Shawn.

The next episode of the SOUNDS OF FILM features an in-depth conversation with Tom Needham and British filmmaker Elliott Hasler, the writer and director of VINDICATION SWIM, the inspiring true story of Mercedes Gleitze, the first British woman to swim the English Channel.VINDICATION SWIM tells the extraordinary story of Gleitze’s 1927 accomplishment and her subsequent struggle to reclaim her achievement after being falsely accused of faking her swim. The film vividly captures both her physical endurance and her determination to defy societal barriers in a male-dominated world. Shot with remarkable authenticity, the film features Kirsten Callaghan in her debut role as Gleitze, performing all her own swimming scenes—without the use of green screens or body doubles. The film also stars John Locke, James Wilby, and Douglas Hodge, who provides narration.Filmed over three years in the actual waters of the English Channel, VINDICATION SWIM stands as a celebration of perseverance, equality, and the indomitable human spirit. Directed by Hasler—who, at just 23, has already been hailed as one of Britain’s most promising young filmmakers—the film brings to life an unsung chapter of British sports and feminist history.About The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed show, hosted by Tom Needham. For over three decades, the program has featured in-depth interviews with many of the world’s leading directors, composers, and artists. Past guests include Laurie Anderson, Ernest Dickerson, Barbara Kopple, and Howard Shore.Listeners can hear The Sounds of Film on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Audible, where it continues to spotlight conversations at the intersection of art, politics, and social justice.

Today’s episode of THE SOUNDS OF FILM features Tom Needham’s interview with director Craig Renaud and producer Juan Arredondo discussing the powerful HBO Original documentary short, ARMED ONLY WITH A CAMERA: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF BRENT RENAUD. The film tells the remarkable and heartbreaking story of filmmaker and journalist Brent Renaud, who was killed by Russian soldiers while covering the war in Ukraine—becoming the first American journalist to die in the conflict.The vérité documentary follows Craig Renaud as he recovers his brother’s body and final footage from Ukraine, weaving together decades of the brothers’ reporting from global conflict zones including Iraq, Haiti, Somalia, and Central America. The result is a moving testament to Brent’s fearless commitment to truth and his empathy for those caught in the chaos of war. Produced by Juan Arredondo and executive produced by HBO Documentary Films and DCTV, Armed Only With a Camera is both a deeply personal story and a tribute to journalists who risk their lives to show the human cost of violence. The documentary premiered at the SXSW Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award in the Documentary Short category, and debuts Tuesday, October 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and streams on Max.About The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed radio show, broadcasting for over three decades. Hosted by Tom Needham, the program offers in-depth interviews with leading directors, composers, and thought leaders from around the world. Past guests have included Laurie Anderson, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Barbara Kopple, Chuck D and Howard Shore.Listeners can hear The Sounds of Film on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. The show continues to explore the intersection of art, politics, and social justice through conversations with today’s most compelling filmmakers and musicians.

On this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham talks with Swiss filmmaker Barbara Miller about her documentary Wisdom of Happiness, in which she films an intimate dialogue with the Dalai Lama about compassion, peace, and resilience in times of crisis. They explore how she captured such candor and warmth, her collaborations, and why kindness is at the heart of lasting transformation.The Sounds of Film has featured past guests such as Billy Joel, Cornel West, Jimmy Webb, Chuck D, Michael Moore, Carter Burwell, Jim Messina, and members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

The Sounds of Film presents an inspiring conversation with Perri Peltz, the award-winning filmmaker behind She Runs the World, which is featured at the Port Jefferson Documentary Series. The film tells the electrifying true story of Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete in Olympic history, who risked her career to fight for what she knew was right.At the height of her fame, Felix became pregnant and discovered that Nike—her longtime sponsor—planned to slash her pay by nearly 70%. Refusing to accept unequal treatment, she took her story public, helping to spark industry-wide reforms that improved maternity protections for female athletes. Her decision to walk away from Nike and create her own sneaker brand designed for women’s feet made headlines around the world.She Runs the World offers an intimate look at Felix’s evolution from athlete to activist and entrepreneur. Through never-before-seen archival footage spanning three decades, the film explores her faith, her family, and her unyielding belief that success should never come at the cost of equality.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed radio show. For over 35 years, host Tom Needham has been providing in-depth conversations with legendary directors, composers, actors, and cultural icons. The show has featured guests such as Howard Shore, Billy Joel, Laurie Anderson, Jordan Peele, Nile Rodgers, and Chuck D, exploring the creative intersections of film, music, and social impact.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

The Sounds of Film is spotlighting Richard Ladkani, the award-winning director of YANUNI, a breathtaking new documentary featured at the Hamptons International Film Festival. The film follows Indigenous leader Juma Xipaia from her remote village in the Brazilian Amazon to the political frontlines of climate justice.After surviving six assassination attempts, Juma becomes Brazil’s first Secretary of Indigenous Rights, while her husband, Hugo Loss, leads dangerous operations against illegal gold miners in the rainforest. Filmed over four years, YANUNI offers an intimate look at their love, courage, and resilience amid rising environmental threats. Executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, the film continues Ladkani’s legacy of powerful environmental storytelling, seen previously in Sea of Shadows and The Ivory Game.Richard Ladkani is an acclaimed Austrian filmmaker and cinematographer who has directed more than fifty documentaries for major international broadcasters, including National Geographic and the BBC. Known for his immersive, visually striking style, Ladkani’s work often explores urgent environmental and human rights issues. His films The Ivory Game and Sea of Shadows both earned global recognition—Sea of Shadows won the Sundance Audience Award, while The Ivory Game was shortlisted for an Academy Award. In 2015, he co-founded Malaika Pictures with his wife Anita, focusing on cinematic storytelling that inspires awareness and change.In his interview with The Sounds of Film, Ladkani discusses the challenges of filming in the Amazon, his collaboration with Juma Xipaia, and how YANUNI illuminates one of the world’s most critical environmental and human rights struggles.Hosted by Tom Needham, The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music-themed radio show, offering in-depth interviews with leading voices in cinema and culture. Past guests include Billy Joel, Alexander Payne, Carter Burwell, and Howard Shore.The Sounds of Film airs on WUSB 90.1 FM Stony Brook and streams live at wusb.fm. Episodes are also available on major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.

The Sounds of Film features an interview with Jeremy Power Regimbal, director of Between the Mountain and the Sky, a powerful new documentary about humanitarian Maggie Doyne. The film follows Doyne’s journey from a young American traveler to the founder of a children’s home, school, and women’s center in Nepal. Her inspiring partnership with Tope, a Nepalese orphan, leads to global recognition when she is named CNN’s 2015 Hero of the Year, and the film explores both her triumphs and unimaginable losses with honesty and grace.On October 9th, the Port Jefferson Documentary Film Series screens Between the Mountain and the Sky at The First United Methodist Church of Port Jefferson at 7 p.m. Following the screening, three Long Island high school students lead a special discussion on youth volunteerism and global citizenship. Advance tickets are $10 at humanitix.com.The Sounds of Film is America’s longest-running film and music program, broadcasting for over 35 years on WUSB Stony Brook and streaming worldwide. Past guests include Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film interview with Jeremy Power Regimbal is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

The Sounds of Film will spotlight Ari Selinger, the writer-director of On The End, as the film makes its world premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival on October 4th. The feature debut is a moving love story and a powerful David vs. Goliath tale, inspired by the real-life struggles of Montauk mechanic Tom, who fought to keep his home and repair shop from being taken by the town of East Hampton.Starring Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Mireille Enos (World War Z), James Badge Dale (The Departed), Lois Smith (Lady Bird), and Anna Chlumsky (Veep), the film captures the spirit of resilience, love, and community in the face of greed and displacement. Following its Hamptons premiere, On The End will continue on the festival circuit with screenings at the Woodstock Film Festival on October 19th and the Newport Beach Film Festival on October 20th and 23rd.Director Ari Selinger, a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and NYU Tisch graduate, has long been drawn to telling stories about outsiders and overlooked voices. After years of making shorts and festival films on Long Island’s East End, he found inspiration in the true-life story of Tom and Freckles. With On The End, Selinger channels both his personal connection to Montauk and his passion for deeply human stories into his first feature film.About The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is America’s longest running film and music radio show. For over 35 years, host Tom Needham has delivered an eclectic mix of music and interviews to audiences across Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and streaming worldwide on WUSB. The program has featured a wide range of celebrated guests, including Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Peter Fonda, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film Podcast is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Academy Award Winner Marshall Curry Talks NEW YORKER AT 100 & Hamptons International Film Festival on SOUNDS OF FILMThe Sounds of Film welcomes Academy Award–winning filmmaker Marshall Curry for a conversation about his new Netflix documentary The New Yorker at 100. The film offers unprecedented access inside the offices of The New Yorker during its centennial year, revealing the obsessive craft behind its reporting, fiction, and cartoons. Curry captures editors, writers, and artists at work, while also tracing the magazine’s remarkable history and cultural influence over the past century.The New Yorker at 100 made its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and will be featured at the Hamptons International Film Festival, with screenings scheduled for October 9th and October 12th at 8:00 PM. For longtime readers and newcomers alike, the film provides an intimate portrait of the publication’s unique editorial process and enduring place in American life.Marshall Curry is an Academy Award–winning filmmaker whose work spans both documentary and narrative film. His documentaries include Street Fight, Racing Dreams, If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, and the archival short A Night at the Garden. In 2020, his film The Neighbors’ Window won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short. With The New Yorker at 100, Curry turns his camera on one of America’s most iconic magazines, blending history, journalism, and behind-the-scenes access.About The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is America’s longest-running film and music radio show. For over 35 years, host Tom Needham has delivered an eclectic mix of music and interviews to audiences across Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and streaming worldwide on WUSB. The program has featured guests such as Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Peter Fonda, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

This week on The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with journalist and author David J. Lynch about his new book, The World’s Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong and What Would Make It Right.Lynch joined The Washington Post in 2017 after covering white-collar crime for the Financial Times. He has also served as cybersecurity editor at Politico and as a senior writer at Bloomberg News. Earlier in his career, he reported on the global economy for USA Today, opening bureaus in London and Beijing, and covered the wars in Kosovo and Iraq as an embedded journalist with the U.S. Marines. He was also the paper’s first Nieman fellow at Harvard University.In The World’s Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong and What Would Make It Right, Lynch argues that the United States miscalculated by overcommitting to globalization. Instead of universal prosperity and greater political liberalization, the result was industrial decline, economic dislocation, and a surge in populism. Blending history with on-the-ground reporting, the book traces globalization’s trajectory from the fall of the Soviet Union to today’s geopolitical rivalries, while offering ideas for a more balanced path forward.About The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is America’s longest running film and music radio show. For over 35 years, host Tom Needham has delivered an eclectic mix of music and interviews to audiences across Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and streaming worldwide on WUSB. The program has featured guests such as Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Peter Fonda, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com.

The latest episode of The Sounds of Film spotlights Ask E. Jean, a powerful new documentary directed by Ivy Meeropol. The film takes viewers on a journey through the extraordinary life of journalist, advice columnist, and cultural icon E. Jean Carroll. Known for her fearless voice and sharp wit, Carroll has lived a life that reflects both the struggles and triumphs of women redefining their roles in media, culture, and society. The film explores Carroll’s extraordinary career—from her groundbreaking work in journalism to her legal battles against Donald Trump, where she became the only woman to defeat him in court twice. Ask E. Jean is set to screen at the Hamptons International Film Festival on October 4th at 2:15, and October 5th at 5:00, giving audiences on Long Island the opportunity to experience this compelling portrait on the big screen. In this episode, host Tom Needham speaks with the director about the making of the film and the inspiration behind bringing such a remarkable story to the screen. The discussion highlights the artistry, challenges, and creative process of telling a story that blends personal history, cultural commentary, and moments of courage.The Sounds of Film Radio Show is America’s longest running music and film show. For over 35 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of music and interviews to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and streaming worldwide on the internet on WUSB. Past guests include Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Peter Fonda, and Rory Kennedy.The Sounds of Film is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

This week on The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham welcomes writer, director, and producer Jacqueline Christy, whose feature debut Magic Hour will screen October 4th and 5th at 5:30 p.m. at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Starring Miriam Shor (American Fiction, Younger), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes, Never Have I Ever), and Austin Pendleton (My Cousin Vinny), the film follows Harriet Peterson, a cinephile stuck in the suburbs who pursues her dream of becoming a filmmaker after her husband leaves her unexpectedly. Inspired by Christy’s own journey of entering NYU’s Graduate Film Program in her forties, Magic Hour is a heartfelt exploration of reinvention and the transformative power of film.Christy is the founder of Access Theater and has received support from the NYC Women’s Fund, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Hollywood Foreign Press, and the Sloan Foundation. She has assistant directed Radium Girls, Equity, and Fry Day, and her short films include Rehearsal, Other People, and The Dependents.The Sounds of Film Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. The Sounds of Film Radio Show is America’s longest running music and film show. For over 35 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of music and interviews to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and streaming worldwide on the internet on WUSB. Past guests include Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Chuck D, Ernest Dickerson, Hal Hartley, Peter Fonda, and Rory Kennedy.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

On this week’s Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with award-winning filmmaker and biotech entrepreneur Bill Haney, director of Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution. Narrated by Mark Ruffalo, the documentary traces the extraordinary journey of Phil Sharp, a Kentucky farm boy born in a one-room, dirt-floor house who overcame severe dyslexia to win the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking discovery of RNA splicing. Sharp went on to co-found biotech giants like Biogen and Alnylam, helping to spark a revolution in medicine that today touches billions of lives.More than a biography, Cracking the Code is both a celebration of Sharp’s achievements and a call to imagine the future of science, innovation, and the American Dream. The conversation explores Sharp’s roots, his scientific discoveries, the birth of the biotech industry, and the broader cultural themes of resilience, entrepreneurship, and the importance of supporting scientific research.Bill Haney is an award-winning filmmaker, inventor, and entrepreneur whose work has earned honors including the Gabriel Prize, Amnesty International Award, and the Pare Lorentz Award. He has founded or helped launch more than a dozen companies and is currently CEO of Dragonfly Therapeutics and Skyhawk Therapeutics, developing innovative drugs for cancer, autoimmune, and neurological diseases. Audiences will also have a chance to experience Cracking the Code on the big screen at the Port Jefferson Documentary Film Series, where it will open the season on Thursday , September 25th at 7:00 PM. The screening promises to be an inspiring evening highlighting one of America’s most influential scientists and innovators.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running program dedicated to the intersection of film and music. For over three decades, it has presented an engaging mix of in-depth interviews and cinematic music to audiences across Long Island, Connecticut, and online. Notable past guests include Cornel West, Billy Joel, Jimmy Webb, Chuck D., Michael Moore, Carter Burwell, Jim Messina, and members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble. The Sounds of Film is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

On this week’s episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with Annie Roney, founder of the In Real Life (IRL) Movie Club. Roney’s national nonprofit is dedicated to strengthening communities and bridging America’s political divides through the simple act of gathering together for films and conversations. The club’s upcoming nationwide screening of My Omaha will take place on October 12 in over 100 theaters across the country, including Hudson, Huntington, New Paltz, and Bronxville in New York.The chosen film, My Omaha, follows filmmaker Nick Beaulieu as he documents his hometown’s activism and his difficult relationship with his father, Randy, a devoted Trump supporter battling terminal cancer. Guided by activist Leo Louis II, Beaulieu searches for common ground with his father while confronting the racial and political divides that define Omaha—and the nation. By selecting this film, IRL Movie Club hopes to encourage audiences from different backgrounds to sit down, watch together, and then engage in meaningful, face-to-face dialogue.Instead of a traditional Q&A format, IRL encourages members to strike up conversations with seatmates and carry those discussions into local coffee shops and restaurants afterward. With subsidized tickets costing only $5 and free membership, Roney’s vision is deliberately grassroots, accessible, and community-driven—an effort to rebuild connection one screening at a time.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music themed radio show. For decades, host Tom Needham has interviewed a diverse roster of influential guests, including Laurie Anderson, Billy Joel, Cornel West, Alec Baldwin, Nile Rodgers, Dionne Warwick, Rob Reiner, and Ric Burns. The program has earned a reputation for spotlighting socially conscious filmmakers, musicians, and cultural leaders while offering in-depth discussions on the intersection of art, politics, and society. The Sounds of Film can be heard on radio and is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

Legendary drummer John Densmore of The Doors is joining host Tom Needham on The Sounds of Film for a special conversation about his role in the acclaimed documentary “Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary.”A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Densmore is celebrated not only as the founding—and sole—drummer of The Doors, but also as a respected songwriter, actor, and author. With the band, he helped create timeless hits like “Light My Fire,” “Break on Through,” “Touch Me,” “People Are Strange,” and “L.A. Woman.” Beyond his music career, Densmore has written two bestselling books, “Riders on the Storm” and “The Doors Unhinged: Jim Morrison’s Legacy Goes Up on Trial,” and is currently at work on a new memoir, “Meetings with Remarkable Musicians.”Densmore appears prominently in John Scheinfeld’s film “Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary,” which highlights the genius of jazz icon John Coltrane. The documentary features insights from figures such as President Bill Clinton, Carlos Santana, and Cornel West, while Denzel Washington provides narration. A central focus of the film is Coltrane’s masterpiece “A Love Supreme,” composed in his home in Dix Hills, Long Island.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running program dedicated to the intersection of film and music. For over three decades, it has presented an engaging mix of in-depth interviews and cinematic music to audiences across Long Island, Connecticut, and online. Notable past guests include Cornel West, Billy Joel, Jimmy Webb, Chuck D., Michael Moore, Carter Burwell, Jim Messina, and members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble. The Sounds of Film is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

This week on Classic SOUNDS OF FILM, Tom Needham welcomes Governor Jesse Ventura, one of America’s most unconventional political figures and cultural voices. Ventura served as the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, making history as the only member of the Reform Party ever elected to a major government office in the United States. Beyond politics, he has built a reputation as a provocative truth-seeker and bestselling author, with books.Join Tom Needham for a candid, wide-ranging conversation with Governor Jesse Ventura on politics, media, history, and the stories behind his groundbreaking career. THE SOUNDS OF FILM with Tom Needham Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and YouTube Podcasts.THE SOUNDS OF FILM is also the nation’s longest running film, music and ideas themed radio show. For over 30 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of interviews and music to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut and streaming live on the internet. Past guests include Billy Joel, Alexander Payne, Nile Rodgers, Chuck D, Laurie Anderson, Howard Shore, Hal Hartley, DMC, Elliott Murphy and Jordan Peterson. THE SOUNDS OF FILM airs on WUSB on Thursday at 6 PM.

This week on The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with director Andreas Zerr about his new documentary, Sane Inside Insanity: The Phenomenon of Rocky Horror. The film arrives just in time for the 50th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the cult classic that transformed midnight screenings into a worldwide cultural ritual.Zerr’s documentary goes far beyond nostalgia, tracing Rocky Horror’s unlikely journey from a scrappy stage production in London to the longest-running theatrical release in cinema history. Featuring candid interviews with Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Barry Bostwick, Jim Sharman, Richard Hartley, Sue Blane, and many others, the film uncovers never-before-heard stories from the cast, crew, and the fans who kept the phenomenon alive for five decades.On The Sounds of Film, Zerr discusses the decade-long process of making the film, the challenges of capturing such a sprawling cultural story, and his surprising personal journey from casual observer to passionate chronicler of Rocky Horror’s impact. Sane Inside Insanity opens in North America on September 25, 2025.The SOUNDS OF FILM is America’s longest running film and music show. Past guests include William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Chuck D, Dionne Warwick, Barbara Kopple, Rory Kennedy, Hal Hartley, Kenneth Cole and Whit Stillman. The Sounds of Film Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. The Sounds of Film Radio Shows airs weekly on Thursdays on WUSB.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com