Is Mission: Impossible still the gold standard of action films—or has the franchise lost its way?

In this episode of BTS with Joe, I’m joined by returning guest and fellow movie nerd Connor Hernan to unpack the latest Mission: Impossible installment (Dead Reckoning? Final Reckoning? They changed the name, we talk about it).

We dive deep into:

• Why the newest Mission: Impossible feels like a studio Frankenstein
• How Tom Cruise became the savior of cinema
• The problem with two-part blockbusters
• The state of the modern box office
• Our full ranking of all Mission: Impossible movies (yes, even the second one)
• And what’s next for action filmmaking

Whether you're a cinephile, a filmmaker, or just here for Cruise content, this episode is packed with laughs, hot takes, and way too much trivia.

Follow the podcast, leave a review, and send this to your most obsessive movie friend.

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In this episode of The Just Joe BTS Podcast, Joe sits down with indie folk artist Nick Wiesner for an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes conversation about the reality of life as a working musician.

🎤 Nick opens up about:

• Life on the road: the good, the bad, and the absurd (including a brutal abscessed tooth mid-tour)
• The emotional toll of touring and how it reshaped his creative process
• Recording his debut album and finding his voice as a songwriter
• How faith, pain, and perseverance shaped his newest unreleased track — which premieres exclusively in this episode

Whether you know Nick personally, love discovering new artists, or you're an up-and-coming musician yourself, this episode is packed with raw stories, hard truths, and powerful moments.

👀 If you're chasing a music dream or just want to hear a new song from one of the most honest voices in indie music — don’t miss this.

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This week on The Just Joe BTS Podcast, we’re diving into creativity, culture, and cinema with Chicago-based musician and Letterboxd legend James Palos.

From growing up in a huge, film-obsessed family to falling in love with guitar during COVID, James shares his personal journey into music, his obsession with great storytelling, and the unexpected ways art helps us figure out who we are.

We cover: 🎸 How music became his therapy and voice
🎬 The first movie that changed his life forever
🍿 Why he avoids trailers and watches films "cold"
🧠 The power of soundtracks and how they shape our emotions
🥃 Hosting film nights with custom cocktails & deep convos

If you love movies, music, and real conversations about art and meaning — this one’s for you.

🎧 Follow, rate, and share if this episode made you laugh, think, or queue up a new movie watchlist.

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