Jon Lawlor is back from Scotland and ready to get together with Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness to hold each other’s feet to the fire in the pursuit of creating art that is filled with life, while also learning how to live more artfully. That is why we call this podcast “The Art Life”.

This week’s topics include:

*Jon’s trip to Scotland and his exploration of ruins, his driving adventures, and what he learned about music

*Dean’s forthcoming trip to Stockholm and how he hopes to learn whether or not his grandmother was a spy

*Country music and bluegrass

*The brilliance of Orson Welles

*The wonderful comedy film Local Hero

*Freeing one’s mind vs. shutting off one’s mind, and mindfulness vs. mindset

*The objects that best define Dean, Jon and Phil

From free sex bungalows to Phil’s new monthly stage show, from two popular Netflix series to two Palme d’Or winning movies, from whisper quiet roller coasters to the proper pronunciation of the word “behemoth”, from a sci-fi cult film about a walking television from another dimension to appalling online attitudes expressed about the way popular entertainers look, it’s safe to say that this week’s show truly has something for everyone! So, pull up a chair, put on headphones, crank the volume and join Dean and Phil as they drop in on a Los Angeles City Council meeting, as they visit Universal Studios, as they go backstage at Skylight Theatre, and as they advocate for a world free of violence and full of right speech. We’re pretty sure it’s interesting. We have a sneaking suspicion it might be oddly inspiring. We know it’s utterly hilarious. And, oh, yeah, there are puppets!

One of the most popular ongoing segments in Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness’ long-running, weekly “Chillpak Hollywood Hour” was always when they celebrated the lives and legacies of those who made indelible marks in the arts or in media. Now that Celebrity Deaths has become its own podcast in the Chillpak Hollywood Presents … universe of shows, these celebrations are no longer merely interesting and inspiring. They have also become truly bizarre and hilarious, especially with frequent contributor Jon Lawlor now along for the ride. So, join your friends in podcasting (and Jon Lawlor) as the following media notables get remembered …

*Longtime drummer for ZZ Top Frank Beard

*Innovator in 24 hour around-the-clock television programming Bill Rasmussen

*Mary Heilmann, influential and trailblazing abstract painter

*Oscar-nominated director and “actor’s whisperer” Mark Rydell

*Child actress-turned-multi-talented performer and activist Hayden Panettiere

*Dolly Parton, who was, according to The New York Times, the only thing we can all agree on!

Dan Butler is known primarily as an actor, having played major roles in theatre, on television and in film. He has also written, directed and produced for all of those mediums as well. Perhaps most widely known for his role as Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe in the NBC sitcom “Frasier”, appearing in every season but one between 1993 and 2004, Dan reprised the role in a 2024 episode of the beloved show’s continuation. He played two different characters in the Hannibal Lecter film franchise, he played the role of NSA Director Admiral Shaffer in Enemy of the State and in 2006, Butler produced and starred in the faux documentary Karl Rove, I Love You (which he also co-directed with Phil Leirness). Dan’s recent film credits include the Marilyn Monroe bio-pic Blonde and his recent television credits include “The Blacklist”. On stage, he played Lenin in the 2018 Broadway revival of Tom Stoppard’s Travesties, he played Truman Capote in American Repertory Theater’s 2017 production of Rob Roth’s Warhol/Capote, and he played Jack in the 2013 Off-Broadway production of Conor McPherson’s The Weir (as well as its 2025 revival).

Dan’s poetry has been seen in ONE ART; a journal of poetry as well as the anthology The Path to Kindness, Poems of Connection and Joy. Let Me Lay One On You marks Dan’s debut poetry collection. Part time travel, part investigative wonderment, this chapbook of poetry is a kaleidoscopic journey of people, places, and things that continue to haunt, surprise, and inform the writer – as they will the reader.

In a cold open, Phil tells of the “Live Event of the Week”. Then, in the return of “Lawsuit of the Week”, the ongoing saga of Paramount’s desired merger with Warners gets updated, and the recent UK privacy lawsuit involving such notables as Prince Harry, Elton John and Liz Hurley gets analyzed. Two listener emails pertaining to the recent, epic episode of “Deep Dive” exploring 1940s Film Noir get shared. The incredible, just-released episode of “The Wayback Machine” gets discussed and Phil follows up on what was covered in that show by asking Dean about the hit 2009 film District 9 and by quizzing Dean on hit sci-fi television of the past 20 years. Phil has fun discussing the attitudes of fans that have assumed “public ownership” of beloved properties (like “Star Trek”) and Dean makes a plug for his favorite band! Finally, Phil discusses the great Jafar Panahi’s multi-Oscar nominated It Was Just an Accident and this leads to he and Dean comparing notes on their go-to streaming channels or apps.

“The Wayback Machine” is available to our paid subscribers. Free subscribers are given a single-use unlock on paywalled content, and if we might suggest, this would be a good episode in which to use that unlock!

Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness have been bringing you YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour (originally titled “From the Heart of Hollywood”) weekly since May of 2007. There are more than 200 of Dean and Phil’s podcast episodes that have not been available for listening pleasure in more than seven years, however. “The Wayback Machine” is our effort to remedy that shameful reality!

When Dean and Phil retrieved what we now call “Chillpak Hollywood Hour #16” from the vaults, they expected to find a show described as the following:

A day late (thanks to our producer’s glamorous jet-set lifestyle) and no dollars short (cuz’ nobody is gettin’ paid for this)! Summer of Sci-Fi continues. This week the discussion turns to time travel. Should make up for the delay. Enjoy!

Dean and Phil fondly recall the fascinating show they did all about time travel and … this turned out NOT to be that show! Not only that, but as far as we can tell, the remembered show does NOT exist anywhere! It’s an out and out Chillpak Mandela Effect!

Read more

Marc Hershon is a branding expert who has dreamed up names for countless hit products. He is a comedy veteran, a comedy impresario, and he teaches improv comedy. He has penned several television movies, and is the co-author of I Hate People, a guide to getting “what you want out of your job.” He has reviewed comedy podcasts for The Huffington Post and Splitsider and was the longtime producer and host of “Succotash” the comedy podcast podcast. Marc has spent much of his adult life trying to get people to stop using the word “podcast” and to use “soundcast” instead. Yet, he refers to this show as a “podcast”. He’s mercurial, that guy.

On this episode …

*Marc and Phil remember “Heroes” and “Nashville” star Hayden Panettiere, who died at the age of 36.

*Phil talks about what he’s been watching (“Ted Lasso” season 4, “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” season 4, “Sugar” season 2, “Down Cemetery Road” and “Diarra from Detroit” season 1) and asks Marc about each show.

*Marc previews a forthcoming comedy series, “Dig”, from Michael Schur and Amy Poehler, based on the novel Excavations.

*Marc offers positive reviews of the Will Ferrell vehicle for Netflix “The Hawk”, the Apple TV thriller miniseries “Lucky”, and the first episode of HBO’s “Lanterns”.

*Marc bids halfhearted farewells to three recently-cancelled series: “The Hunting Party”, “Going Dutch” and “Good Cop/Bad Cop”.

*Dean and Phil have sketch comedy on their minds as they each offer up an all-time favorite “guilty pleasure”.

*Finally, the festivities close with Marc interviewing a VERY unique guest. In fact, it’s safe to declare that this guest has never been asked these interview questions on any show before.

Come for the news, views, previews and reviews. Stay to figure out the connection between the classic TV instrumental theme used to open the show and the closing theme song with lyrics!

In a cold open, Dean and Phil share how impressed they are with an animated short made by the college student son of one of Phil’s high school classmates. In the return of “Lawsuit of the Week”, the most recent threats and developments surrounding Paramount’s desired merger with Warners get fully explained and analyzed. Phil shares sadness surrounding the impending departure of longtime favorite son of Los Angeles, Gustavo Dudamel, who is leaving the L.A. Phil to take over the New York Philharmonic. A great story about Lily (Holleman) Leirness’ encounter with Dudamel gets shared. Dean has started watching “Diarra from Detroit” at Phil’s urging and loves it! A loyal listener has a slight correction to something Dean said on the recent, epic episode of “Deep Dive” exploring 1940s Film Noir. Phil follows up on a couple of films discussed in that show, offering greater context to the writing of The Stranger (1946) and Sidney Greenstreet’s performance in The Maltese Falcon (1941). Chris Carter’s “director’s cut” of the 2^nd “X-Files” movie has been released and … Dean and Phil have thoughts. Phil re-watched Citizen Kane, which inspires in-depth discussion of that film’s continued greatness and resonance, and which inspired his watching the recent Japanese psychological suspense film Exit 8, a film Dean is now ready to reappraise!

In many ways, our expansion of the long-running Chillpak Hollywood Hour into an entire universe of different podcasts here on Substack was inspired by our desire to take some of Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness’ longer form conversations and put them in one place where people can easily find them by topic.

So, welcome to to DEEP DIVE!

Today’s show features an in-depth analysis of and appreciation for Film Noir of the 1940s. Let Dean and Phil guide you through the shadowy darkness as they explore whether or not film noir is a genre, a style, or something else altogether. They compare notes on what made them fall in love with noir and what a noir film must have in order to be considered (by them) Film Noir. They discuss the great films, the great performers, and the great filmmakers that made an indelible mark on noir of that decade. Come for the incredible cinematography, stay for the cynicism, deceit and betrayal!

Programing Note: This is our final episode of “The Art Life” for a couple weeks while (Jon Lawlor) travels throughout Scotland …

If you are new to this show, then you probably need to know that for the past several years, Dean Haglund, Phil Leirness, and Jon Lawlor have been getting together almost weekly to hold each other’s feet to the fire in the pursuit of creating art that is filled with life, while also learning how to live more artfully. That is how this podcast, “The Art Life”, was born!

This week’s topics include:

*Ways of teaching painting that serve to get the student out of their ideas and into freedom of expression

*The art of location photography and turning locales into “characters”

*According to one columnist the 25 objects that explain to the world who we are as Americans

*How objects and animals can serve as mirrors for ourselves

*Allowing real life into acting auditions and acting performances

*How Dean’s ongoing ritual involving “earth, water, air and fire” has changed his relationship to gravity

*Phil’s all-time favorite job

*1,000 episodes of “Chillpak Hollywood Hour”

*Marching orders for Jon on his trip to Scotland, and one of the Edinburgh festivals he might encounter

In some ways, Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness pick up where last week’s show (the one thousandth episode of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour) left off, by reminiscing about a couple of their early years spent “changing the way people listen to the internet” and by examining more in the shifting release strategies for television and the viewing habits of television viewers. They also go deeper still into the issues surround the soon-to-be-litigated proposed Paramount merger with Warners. They continue their ongoing analysis of the potential benefits, and current costs, of our evolving relation to Artificial Intelligence. They also discuss one video game movie, one sci-fi comedy from the 1980s, and one current samurai era “whodunit”. They share their love of a raft of different contemporary television series and reveal which streamers they enjoy the most and which shows keep them excited between seasons. Also, they preview this week’s release of an R-rate “director’s cut” of the second “The X-Files” feature film!

One of the most popular ongoing segments in Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness’ long-running, weekly “Chillpak Hollywood Hour” was always when they celebrated the lives and legacies of those who made indelible marks in the arts or in media. Now that Celebrity Deaths has become its own podcast in the Chillpak Hollywood Presents … universe of shows, these celebrations are no longer merely interesting and inspiring. They have also become truly bizarre and hilarious, especially with frequent contributor Jon Lawlor now along for the ride. So, join your friends in podcasting (and Jon Lawlor) as the following media notables get remembered …

*Irish singer, songwriter and actor Glen Hansard

*Groundbreaking doo-wop legend Arlene Smith of The Chantels

*David Z, chart-topping music producer and an architect of the “Minneapolis Sound”

*Trailblazing orchestrator and musical director Harold Wheeler

*Free jazz and experimental guitarist James “Blood” Ulmer

*Nicole Hollander, popular cartoonist behind the long-running “Sylvia” strip

As always, come for the stories of fascinating media notables, stay for the endless tangents!

Be warned, when you hear Phil Leirness say, “This is clearly the worst podcast we have ever been a part of,” you know it’s probably an unusual show.

Of course, Dean Haglund responds by saying, “I can hardly wait for us to start recording.”

For the past several years, Dean Haglund, Phil Leirness, and Jon Lawlor have been getting together almost weekly to hold each other’s feet to the fire in the pursuit of creating art that is filled with life, while also learning how to live more artfully. Now, Chillpak Hollywood Presents … “The Art Life” as a regular podcast!

This week’s topics include:

*Dean’s birthday celebrations

*How AI suggested Dean and Phil commemorate the 1,000th episode of “Chillpak Hollywood Hour”

*Why AI doesn’t have a favorite color, but if it did, why it would be dark blue

*More on Phil’s 40th high school reunion ritual, Jon’s ritual of exploring flavor, and Dean’s exploration of earth, wind, air and fire through ritual

*Dean’s exploration of “the insanity of green” through art

*The role music plays in great comedy movies

*The great comedy Jon must watch before his forthcoming trip to Scotland

Art work by

Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness commemorate this, the one thousandth episode of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour (originally called “From the Heart of Hollywood”), by reminiscing about their first few years of “changing the way people listen to the internet” by examining how the media landscape has changed since they started podcasting, and how that landscape might evolve moving forward. The in-depth topics that get discussed include the podcasting field itself, the ways episodic television programming has changed, the dire need to change facing Netflix, and why binge watching quickly brought an end to the 21^st century “golden age” of television. After a shameless (and hilarious) music plug for another podcast in the ever-expanding “Chillpak Hollywood Presents …” universe of shows, the topic turns to AI, the coming revolution revolving around artificial general intelligence, whether humanity can adapt, and whether an economy altering AI “bubble” may be on the horizon. Finally, the latest news in the now-frozen Paramount merger with Warner Bros. gets analyzed. Trust us, even if you only want to listen to one of our one thousand episodes, you can’t do wrong with this one!

Marc Hershon is a branding expert who has dreamed up names for countless hit products. He is a comedy veteran, a comedy impresario, and he teaches improv comedy. He has penned several television movies, and is the co-author of I Hate People, a guide to getting “what you want out of your job.” He has reviewed comedy podcasts for The Huffington Post and Splitsider and was the longtime producer and host of “Succotash” the comedy podcast podcast. Marc has spent much of his adult life trying to get people to stop using the word “podcast” and to use “soundcast” instead. Yet, he refers to this show as a “podcast”. He’s mercurial, that guy.

On this episode …

*Marc and Phil discuss a Bloomberg report analyzing the causes behind Netflix original series experiencing between 30% and 70% audience declines for their second seasons.

*Phil follows up on Marc’s list of Emmy “snubs” from last episode and suggests one snub involving a universally respected and beloved actress.

*The new spin-off series Stuart Fails to Save the Universe leads Marc to reveal two popular network sitcoms that proved to be all-time “nopes” for him (i.e. possibly great shows he will never end up watching).

*Phil asks Marc about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (while hailing the first two episodes of its fourth season), about the penultimate episode of Sugar season two (while hailing the brilliant Tony Dalton), and asks about the dark comedy mystery series Diarra from Detroit (whose second season just launched).

*Marc then rails against the cancellation of two promising series, offers a negative review of a new series, and discusses a high profile series for which his wife has vouched.

*Finally, the festivities close with Marc and Phil offering up some all-time “binge watches” that were unfairly short-lived.

Come for the news, views and reviews. Stay for the two wildly different “Hawaii Five-O” theme songs (including one with lyrics)!

For the past several years, Dean Haglund, Phil Leirness, and Jon Lawlor have been getting together almost weekly to hold each other’s feet to the fire in the pursuit of creating art that is filled with life, while also learning how to live more artfully. Now, Chillpak Hollywood Presents … “The Art Life” as a regular podcast!

This week’s topics include:

*What an AI has to say about Dean and Phil’s long-running Chillpak Hollywood Hour

*How Phil’s productivity in writing essays has been slowed by his need to record audio versions of them, but how the creation of those audio versions, as well as the creation of several podcasts each week is making Phil better at … everything

*Dean’s rage over the “insanity of green” reaches epic proportions

*What Dean and Phil’s friend Leigh McCloskey taught them about being “conscientious gardeners” of creativity

*Phil’s 40th high school reunion

*Routine vs. ritual and the importance of the latter

*The role musical scores play in great comedy movies

One episode shy of their 1,000 installment of this show, Dean and Phil jokingly compare notes on the tolls reaching such a milestone have taken. Phil hints at some of his weekend 40^th high school reunion adventures, Dean updates the prognosis of his beloved Doberman, Leloo, and previews his own birthday celebrations. Of course, Dean and Phil now produce several different podcasts each week through the “Chillpak Hollywood Presents …” Substack. And last week’s episode of “Celebrity Deaths” resulted in the need to begin with some corrections and/or clarifications! After those, it’s nothing but good news from the world of show biz, including the continued astonishing success of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the halt (til at least next year) of the Parmount-Warners merger, and the announcement that an iconic Hollywood locale will be reopening in 2028. Finally, Phil sings the praises of the one of the all-time best debut features for any director ever, the heartbreaking and hilarious, sexually explicit, gay biker BDSM film, Pillion, and Dean reveals his early reaction to the new spin-off of “The Big Bang Theory”.

One of the most popular ongoing segments in Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness’ long-running, weekly “Chillpak Hollywood Hour” was always when they celebrated the lives and legacies of those who made indelible marks in the arts or in media. Now that Celebrity Deaths has become its own podcast in the Chillpak Hollywood Presents … universe of shows, these celebrations are no longer merely interesting and inspiring. They have also become truly bizarre and hilarious, especially with frequent contributor Jon Lawlor now along for the ride. So, join your friends in podcasting (and Jon Lawlor) as the following media notables get remembered …

*Young, up-and-coming (and groundbreaking) actress Kaylee Hottle

*Plas Johnson, a sought-after session musician who contributed one of the most indelible solos in an any movie theme song

*Unforgettable screen presence Wai Ching Ho

*Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker

*Sam Neill, one of the most respected actors of his generation

*Welsh recording star Bonnie Tyler, who had one of the most powerful voices in pop music

For the past several years, Dean Haglund, Phil Leirness, and Jon Lawlor have been getting together almost weekly to hold each other’s feet to the fire in the pursuit of creating art that is filled with life, while also learning how to live more artfully. Now, Chillpak Hollywood Presents … “The Art Life” as a regular podcast!

This week’s topics include:

*Dean’s love of the 1973 British supernatural biker horror movie Psychomania

*Whether The General or Sherlock, Jr. is actually Buster Keaton’s greatest comedy

*Whether Dean ever wished to become an editorial cartoonist

*The roles Dean, Jon and Phil’s pets play in their creative endeavors

*The greatest cinematographers of comedy films

*Great films that combine horror and comedy

In a truly confusing, but nevertheless hilarious, cold open, Phil offers a correction about “Malta Air”. Thanks to emails from loyal listener and frequent contributor Maurice Terenzio, Dean and Phil have a ball talking about three great actors of Hollywood’s golden age: Joe E. Brown, George Raft and Edward G. Robinson. The big show biz news of the week get discussed: the possible halt to the Paramount-Warners merger and the historic box office success for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Two new movies get reviewed: The brilliant comedy Stop! That! Train! and the hit Netflix offering Enola Holmes 3. Of course, Dean and Phil continue their ongoing film noir and neo-noir discussion, focusing on the nihilism of the 1970s as depicted in such modern classics as Arthur Penn’s Night Moves and the Paul New man vehicle The Drowning Pool. Finally, colleague Marc Hershon (star of the “Chillpak Hollywood Presents …” podcast Television with Marc Hershon) drops in to help your friends in podcasting come up with ideas for how they can commemorate their upcoming 1,000 episode, and to discuss ideas for Phil’s next movie, a documentary all about improv!