Talking Pondo

From summer blockbusters to indie darlings, Talking Pondo celebrates the joy of watching, questioning, and occasionally roasting the movies that shape our lives.

Every week, hosts Clif Campbell and Marty Ketola sit down to swap movies and swap opinions. Each of them brings a film to the table and together they dig into what makes it work (or not). Sometimes, there's a guest!

Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or a die-hard cinephile, there’s always room for more movie talk.

And yes, there will be spoilers!

Making Pondo is a discussion with Clif, Marty and a guest from one of their many productions.

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Talking Pondo

Talking Pondo: Blue Thunder and Vision Quest with Ben Cheknis

March 02, 2026 • Clifton Campbell, Marty Ketola • Season 4 • Episode 2

0:00 | 1:30:08

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In this episode, first time guest Ben Cheknis joins the podcast. He brings along the movie Blue Thunder. Marty and Clif give Ben the movie Vision Quest to watch.

First up is Vision Quest, the coming-of-age wrestling drama starring Matthew Modine. Marty, Clif and guest Ben Cheknis ("The Two Vague Podcast") explore it's themes of obsession, identity, masculinity, and the quiet intensity of high school isolation. From its iconic soundtrack (hello “Lunatic Fringe”) to its grounded performances (including an early appearance by Forest Whitaker) the conversation explores why this 80s sports drama still resonates decades later.

Then it’s up in the air with Blue Thunder, the Roy Scheider-led action thriller about police militarization and surveillance technology. What starts as pure helicopter spectacle quickly turns into a discussion about institutional power, civil liberties, and how eerily prophetic this 1983 action film feels today. The crew digs into its strange dialogue (courtesy of Dan O'Bannon), practical stunt work, and the gritty 80s paranoia that defined the era.

#TalkingPondo #VisionQuest #BlueThunder #FilmPodcast #80sMovies #CultCinema #MovieDiscussion

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