The Award-Winning MUBI Podcast Returns For An Eleventh Season With Needle On The Record: Side 2
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Carl Roberts 
Rico Gagliano returns with a second season of needle drops as a follow-up to season three’s popular third season. This is with the Mubi Podcast Season 11: Needle On The Record-Side 2.
MUBI’s multi-award-winning MUBI Podcast returns for an eleventh season. Titled Needle on the Record – Side 2, the audio documentary series revisits the theme of one of its most-streamed seasons. It offers a fresh exploration of the power of music in film. In addition, a special preview episode will launch on 16 April. The full series launches from 4 June.
The latest episodes dive into the enduring impact of cinematic “needle drops.” These are moments where filmmakers deployed pre-existing music instead of an original score, for maximum impact. Across the season, host Rico Gagliano explores iconic musical moments that have shaped pop culture. These include everything from British pop and house to bhangra and electronic dance in Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It Like Beckham. There is also the ska and punk soundtrack of Shane Meadows’ This Is England.
Guests this season include Jack O’Connell (This is England, Sinners), and Gurinder Chadha (Bend it like Beckham), alongside some of cinema’s greatest music supervisors, with further names to be announced.
SPECIAL PREVIEW EPISODE
A special preview episode, releasing on 16 April, spotlights Whisper of the Heart (1995). This is the beloved coming-of-age classic from celebrated Director Yoshifumi Kondo. The film is based on the original manga by Aoi Hiiragi. Additionally, it features a screenplay and storyboards by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. Featuring its memorable use of the country classic ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads,’ the episode unpacks the film’s surprising reimagining of the song to match its urban Tokyo setting. This also serves to deepen its emotional resonance.
The episode features interviews with the producer of the film and Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki. It also includes his daughter, Mamiko Suzuki, who adapted the lyrics of the song with Miyazaki for the film.
Host Rico Gagliano shared his excitement to cover the film’s beautiful use of the song:
“Growing up in ‘70s-era West Virginia, ‘Country Roads’ — basically a hymn to the state — was just always around, like oxygen. Learning Studio Ghibli made it kind of the same for ‘90s Japan has been a trip.”
The film will return to cinemas with an exclusive IMAX re-release by GKIDS across the US and Canada from 21 April, newly remastered in 4K. Tickets are now on sale.
CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF SEASON 11
To celebrate the launch of Season 11, MUBI Podcast will also re-release standout episodes from Season 3: Needle on the Record throughout the month of May. These will include those dedicated to Chungking Express, Donnie Darko, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Listen to the special preview episode from April 16th, and follow the podcast on your preferred app here.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
