Nic Cage delivers another explosive performance in the new movie "The Surfer." But the actor I interviewed was somebody else.

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When I talked with Nicolas Cage on the phone for an hour in 1994, he already had a bit of a reputation for going ballistic in movies. Just the crazed cockroach-eating scene in Vampire's Kiss was enough to give a guy a reputation.

But lo and behold, he told me a lot of things I didn't expect. For starters, he's very shy off-screen and he felt like a reject in high school. Plus, he was reading Henry Miller and Rimbaud, enjoying Wagner's music, and – despite the plot of his new film "The Surfer" – he tried surfing and felt it was too difficult.

Cage's filmography is so huge – about 124 movies so far – that I couldn't absorb it all. So it's lucky I got help from Ty Burr – the former culture critic for the Boston Globe (where he was a finalist for a Pulitzer) and author of several books about movies. Ty now writes the terrific movie newsletter Ty Burr's Watch List.

During the episode, Ty lists all the Cage movies you'll want to stream, and the ones you can avoid. Very useful!

After I found and listened again to my 1994 interview with Nic – which I had completely forgotten -- I decided to rewatch three of his movies from that year. One was very fun and worth watching (Guarding Tess with Shirley McLaine). Two were, for me, barely watchable (Trapped in Paradise with with Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey and It Could Happen To You with Bridget Fonda).

Nic's fourth 1994 movie Red Rock West – which I loved when I saw it back then – isn't streaming anywhere. Injustice! But I remember it well enough to confirm a highlight of all these films: Nic Cage's performance. I discovered that I'm a major Cage fan. And that's the beauty of saving things. When you got back to them, you learn something new.

The real surprise in this episode: I take that old cassette tape in my hand, and I do something I'm supposed to do in every episode – and never do. I guess Nic Cage gave me the inspiration to go a little crazy. In a good way, of course. Maybe he'll do the same for you?

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Hear my never-shared 1995 talk with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant about their music, books, diets, girlfriends, hair loss, Led Zeppelin myths, and their Unledded reunion

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If you find it hard to visualize Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in a People Magazine article, I’m with you. The People article I reported and wrote about them in 1995 was never published. So the cassette tapes of my interview went into a box, like a heavy metal time capsule.

Until now. When I saw the rave reviews for the 2025 documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin – about the early career of the band –- I dug out everything I had saved from my canceled story, and I’m sharing it with you now.

In 1994, Page and Plant had reunited after a 14-year hiatus to record an unplugged session for MTV. This resulted in an album called No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded. Then they went on a 1995 U.S. and European tour, performing some new songs and several Led Zeppelin songs that had been re-conceived with an orchestra, a team of Egyptian musicians, some young rockers, and a hurdy gurdy player.

The project raised some questions: Why did they wait 14 years after the death of drummer John Bonham to reunite? Why was bass and keyboard player John Paul Jones not included? Would they still live out the wild myths of rock’n’roll excess that supposedly took place in their heyday?

Because this assignment was for People Magazine, I also had the courage to broach the truly vital issues: what they ate for lunch, who they lived with, what they read, and how they kept in shape.

The big belated surprise: Because Led Zeppelin's music was ubiquitous for my whole life, I viewed them as a cliché. But, after hearing my tapes again and listening to their music, I finally get what many of my high school classmates knew back in the 1970s. And I understand why Page and Plant are among the bestselling artists of all time, nearly up there with the Beatles and Michael Jackson.

It’s because they're extremely smart and talented, and they're amazing musicians. I now hear the technical difficulty and the perfectionism in their performances. They aren't dinosaurs of rock. They're innovators, who invented something new and powerful.

Joined by Led Zeppelin aficionado George Meyer – who also happens to be my friend and a renowned TV, movie, magazine, and theater writer – I revisited everything I saved from my ill-fated story and determined what I could throw out. Yes, some things got tossed. But you can see what I saved at: throwitoutpodcast.com

After all these years, I hope you enjoy hearing these lost interviews.

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Learn a lesson from the Valentine’s Day cards I’ve saved since the ‘70s: 10 important rules for sending cards to the ones you love, and tips for deciding which love notes to save

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If you’re sending Valentine’s Day cards this year, there are some key rules to follow -- and mistakes to avoid.

I know this because I’ve been saving Valentines since the 1970s. So I can see which ones got right to the heart of it and which sent Cupid’s arrows slightly off target.

Looking through my card collection, co-host Sally Libby and I came up with 10 rules that could help you find the right words for romance this year. We also try to show some love for the art of Swedish Death Cleaning -- by including tips about which Valentines Day cards to save, and which to toss. Like, what should you do with romantic cards from a former partner in love? We have strong feelings about that.

In the end, we experienced a sort of Valentines Day miracle. After two years of podcasting, I finally had the urge to toss my treasures. Okay, not all of them. But my stash did get smaller. So I've shared why I sent some treasures to the trash can, and what might motivate you to do the same.

As Sally points out in our quick look at Valentine's Day history, a celebration of love can be traced all the way back to the Roman holiday Lupercalia. Considering the chaos and ugliness we've seen in 2025, it seems important to preserve any holiday that increases our love and laughter. I know I’m not the only one who wants a little more love in the world right now.

To see the most lovable and funniest Valentines Day cards I received during the past five decades, go to throwitoutpodcast.com. (And while you’re there, we’d really feel the love if you’d sign up for our newsletter – so we can update you whenever there’s a new episode.)

Thank you for listening!

(Farting Cupid card from Carlton Cards, Cleveland Ohio.)

Have thoughts about this episode? Send us a text

More info, photos, and transcript: throwitoutpodcast.com
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Do you save stuff you can't throw out? Tell us about it
Want to show support? Please rate/follow us wherever you get your podcasts.