Alex Kraemer writes Critiques & Musings on Substack, and he has one of the most genuinely good eyes for film of anyone I've come across online. We sat down to go deep on the movies that defined 2025 — Sinners, Marty Supreme, Black Bag, Eddington, The Phoenician Scheme, the new Naked Gun, and more.

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Find Alex on Substack at Critiques & Musings by Alex

Instagram: @MrAlexKraemer

FREEDRIFT is written and produced by Kevin Ryan.

Subscribe at freedrift.substack.com and check out kevinryan.us

In this episode of the FREEDRIFT podcast, I sat down with Father Tom Miller, a Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the voice behind the Humbuggery Substack. I wanted to do this episode so we could talk about Lent, and we wound up talking about a ton of additional topics, including musicals and St. Louis-style pizza. Father Tom shares his 33-year journey in the priesthood, his love for history and "White Pilled Wednesdays," and why he believes Western civilization is inextricably tied to the Catholic Church. Something here for everyone, whether you’re a "recovering Catholic," a convert, or just someone looking for a bit of light in a dark digital age.Follow Father Tom Miller:Substack: Humbuggery https://substack.com/@padre66Locals: Padres Community https://atpadres.beta.locals.com/feed?mode=profile&username=Padre--------00:00 Introduction and Background of Fr. Tom Miller02:59 The Journey to Priesthood03:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts29:20 The Impact of Christ's Presence30:37 The Power of Peace in Faith32:34 The Role of Mary in Catholicism34:54 Understanding the Church's Hierarchy36:45 The Revival of Catholicism in America38:52 Balancing Feelings and Logic39:50 The Purpose of Substack and Community Engagement42:34 The Journey of Converts and Spiritual Influences45:50 The Importance of Historical Context in Faith48:45 The Depth of Catholicism: A Hidden Treasure50:26 Final Thoughts and Blessings53:14 Untitled-5.mp4----------FREEDRIFT is a Substack for feature writing, profiles, cultural commentary, interviews, tech nonsense, theory, philosophy, flash fiction, essays, recipes, reviews, listicles, weird to the max, usually with a soundtrack.https://substack.com/@freedrift

Jim Dale has been one of my best friends for about a decade now. We met in graduate school at the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas in Denton. We immediately became friends and began the series of journeys that have brought us to where we are today. There was our trip to Louisiana for a Trump rally, while I was covering the 2020 Presidential Election, and our coverage of the Official Strongman Finals in Arlington, Texas. He’s a hell of a photographer.Anytime I’m in Dallas for work, I stay at his apartment. We watch old movies and swap stories and ideas and intuitions and fears and doubts and heartaches and joys. I’d love to know how many hours we’ve spent talking over the years. It’s a lot.This is the first of many episodes. The theme is seafaring. Jim tells stories from his youth shooting cans on the Texas coast, growing up in oil-patch towns, drifting through music and journalism, and finding himself aboard offshore tugboats in the Gulf of Mexico. From riding out hurricanes in the Merchant Marine to steering crippled vessels through pitch-black swamps, Jim reflects on the moments that forced him to grow up fast.The plan is to do one of these every month. Get ready to learn about one of the loveliest and most insightful people you’ll ever meet.00:00 Nostalgic Beginnings: Family and Early Adventures03:07 Navigating Life: Education and the Navy Experience06:07 Coming of Age: Merchant Marine Adventures09:10 Sailing Through Life: Metaphors and Lessons Learned11:52 Memorable Moments at Sea: Stories from the Ocean14:46 Current Adventures: Life After Retirement17:54 Reflections on Life: Poetry, Literature, and Influence40:59 Untitled-5.mp4---------------https://freedrift.substack.com/