Podcast
Curated by Chance
Hosted by Neal E. Fischer and Lauren Tagliaferro · EN
Join filmmaker Neal E. Fischer and art curator Lauren Tagliaferro as they dive into the unpredictable world of ‘Curated by Chance,’ a podcast where creativity meets serendipity. Each episode, Neal and Lauren harness the power of a randomizing algorithm named Chance to generate unique prompts that drive their discussions. From exploring the unexpected intersections between film and visual art to dissecting the curious ways randomness shapes artistic expression, this dynamic duo invites listeners to ponder the influence of chance in the creative process. Whether dissecting a random film scene or analyzing an art piece through a whimsical lens, ‘Curated by Chance’ promises a fresh perspective with every episode.
43episodes
Episodes
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A Pod Full of Tangents
Jan 1400:52:30Tap to summarizeEpisode 76: A Pod Full of Tangents This week’s prompts: Peach, Necktie, 309 Neal and Lauren lean fully into chaos this week with an episode that earns its title the old-fashioned way: by going absolutely everywhere. What starts as a quick check-in spirals into a joyful, free-range conversation about internet conspiracies, parasocial fandom, doomscrolling, poetry whispered in the middle of the night, Roman fruit paintings, French Impressionists, and the eternal question of whether Doctor Who has queer time-travel fan fiction (spoiler: obviously). Lauren takes Peach and turns it into an art-history fever dream, beginning with drunken T.S. Eliot recitations (“Do I dare to eat a peach?”) and winding through ancient Roman still lifes, fuzzy fruit symbolism, and the unexpectedly rich visual history of peaches in painting. From there, she launches into a deep, deliciously nerdy deep dive on Pierre-Auguste Renoir — the Impressionist painter of glowing skin, soft pastels, and famously gravity-defying nudes. She traces his journey from porcelain factory apprentice to founding Impressionist, his crisis of confidence after seeing Raphael and Titian in Italy, his pivot toward classical modeling, and the voluptuous excess of works like The Large Bathers. Along the way: invisible corsets, painterly filters, imposter syndrome, arthritis rumors, nepo-baby descendants, and one of the best art quotes ever: “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” By the end, the episode has become exactly what it promised: a pod full of tangents, powered by curiosity, affection, and the belief that sometimes the long way around is the most fun. PLUS:🍑 Ancient Roman peaches and pre-cultivation fruit history📜 Drunk T.S. Eliot poetry as a lifestyle choice🎨 Renoir’s glow, his gravity-defying nudes, and Impressionist rebellion🩰 Invisible corsets, painterly filters, and the fantasy of beauty🧠 Imposter syndrome, artistic reinvention, and why Raphael ruins everything📱 Doomscrolling, fandom conspiracies, and the last good corners of the internet Next week’s prompts: Peach, Necktie, 309 Join us on Patreon! www.Patreon.com/curatedbychance Check out Lauren's Substack: https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/ Join our Music League (Volume Five launches This Friday!)https://app.musicleague.com/l/3d2c21ad32fd4e58add97006df33d0c9/ Follow the creators on Instagram 🎧 The Show – @curatedbychance🎨 Lauren – @paisleylo🎬 Neal – @nealefischer 📧 E-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.com 🎙️ Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast – Subscribe now!🎧 Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast – Subscribe now! 🌐 And for more Neal in your life:www.linktr.ee/nealefischer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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To Couture a Mockingbird
Jan 701:24:18Tap to summarizeEpisode 75: To Couture a Mockingbird This week's prompts: Paper White, 1962, Glasses Neal takes 1962 straight to To Kill a Mockingbird, the landmark film adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel that somehow manages to be both gentle and devastating. He talks about Gregory Peck’s towering, quietly radical performance as Atticus Finch; why the movie still holds emotional power decades later; and how its moral clarity feels almost shocking in a modern landscape full of irony and cynicism. Neal also touches on the book’s long history of bans and challenges, why that still matters, and how the film’s restraint — its refusal to sensationalize — is exactly what gives it weight. Meanwhile, Lauren unspools the life and legacy of Yves Saint Laurent, the fashion prodigy who permanently changed how women dress. From his early paper-doll designs and meteoric rise at Dior to the creation of ready-to-wear as a democratizing force, Lauren breaks down how Saint Laurent blurred gender lines, mainstreamed women in pants, and fused art, business, and rebellion into a single brand. She digs into his partnership with Pierre Bergé, his friendships and rivalries (Warhol, Lagerfeld), and the darker side of genius — addiction, burnout, and a career that flickered between brilliance and collapse. Along the way, we get couture history, fashion-week mechanics, and why Saint Laurent’s influence still shapes what hangs in our closets today. PLUS:📚 Why To Kill a Mockingbird still lands — and still gets banned⚖️ Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch as moral north star👖 Yves Saint Laurent and the radical act of putting women in pants🧵 Couture vs. ready-to-wear, and how fashion actually makes money🎨 Genius, excess, and the cost of changing culture Next week’s prompts: Peach, 309, Necktie Join our show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/curatedbychance Lauren's substack: 👉 https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/ Follow the creators: 🎧 The Show – @curatedbychance🎨 Lauren – @paisleylo🎬 Neal – @nealefischer 📧 E-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.com 🎙️ Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast – Subscribe now!🎧 Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast – Subscribe now! 🌐 And for more Neal in your life:www.linktr.ee/nealefischer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Down Ghibli Road
Jan 100:52:28Tap to summarizeEpisode 74: Down Ghibli Road This week’s prompts: Bath, Paper White, 70 It’s New Year’s Eve at Curated by Chance, and Neal and Lauren settle into a quieter, cozier kind of chaos — the kind fueled by lingering colds, holiday brain fog, and the strange emotional clarity that tends to arrive between December 26 and January 1. What starts as a low-key check-in turns into a surprisingly tender conversation about memory, comfort, and the stories that show up exactly when we need them. Lauren takes the prompt “Bath” straight into the warm, surreal waters of Spirited Away (2001). What begins as a rewatch with her son becomes a meditation on growing up, fear, and transformation. She explores Chihiro’s journey from frightened child to quiet hero, the dream logic of the bathhouse, and why Miyazaki’s world never explains itself — it simply invites you to exist inside it. From No-Face’s eerie longing to the film’s gentle emotional pacing, Lauren reflects on how Spirited Away trusts its audience in ways most Western animation never dares to. Meanwhile, Neal brings in Down Cemetery Road, the moody British mystery series that’s become his latest obsession. Set in a quiet English neighborhood with secrets simmering just beneath the surface, the show taps into a very specific kind of storytelling pleasure: slow-burn tension, intimate character work, and the creeping sense that something is deeply off. Neal talks about the show’s measured pacing, lived-in performances, and why British crime dramas hit differently — less spectacle, more unease. It’s less about “whodunit” and more about the emotional fallout of knowing too much. Next week’s prompts: 1962, Glasses, AstroTurf Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/curatedbychance 👉 https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/ 👉 https://app.musicleague.com/l/6704df400ff1429186ef8bb85e56a488/ 🎧 The Show – @curatedbychance🎨 Lauren – @paisleylo🎬 Neal – @nealefischer 📧 E-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.com 🎙️ Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast – Subscribe now!🎧 Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast – Subscribe now! 📘 Order Neal’s newest book Law & Order: SVU – Confidential (out October 14):👉 https://geni.us/HPgeZ 🌐 And for more Neal in your life:www.linktr.ee/nealefischer Check Out Lauren’s SubstackJoin The Curated By Chance Music League (Round 4 Sign Up)Follow the show and its creators on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Witches, Send Good Things to Neal
Feb 26, 202501:07:55Tap to summarizeEPISODE 30: Witches, Send Good Things to NealPROMPTS: Lunar, Electricity, 30This week on Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren celebrate their 30th episode with two cinematic classics—one romantic, one groundbreaking.Lauren takes a deep dive into Moonstruck (1987), the beloved romantic comedy starring Cher and Nicolas Cage. From its theatrical dialogue to its fairy tale-like storytelling, she explores what makes this film such a timeless classic. She also discusses the film’s Italian-American identity, Cher’s Oscar-winning performance, and why this movie is secretly one of the best-written rom-coms of all time. Plus, Lauren shares why Moonstruck is a personal favorite (and her dad’s favorite, too).Neal takes us back to the early days of cinema with A Trip to the Moon (1902), the legendary silent film by Georges Méliès. He explains how Méliès, a magician turned filmmaker, pioneered special effects, cinematic storytelling, and even matte painting. From the iconic moon face with a rocket in its eye to the film’s hand-painted frames, Neal breaks down why this film remains a foundational piece of movie history.Lauren’s Topic:Moonstruck (1987)Stream the film hereNeal’s Topic:Georges Méliès & A Trip to the Moon (1902)Stream the movie hereOr check YouTube!Leave Neal a review on his Rom-Com book HERE!Support the show on Patreon HEREFollow the show and its creators on Instagram:The Show - @curatedbychanceLauren - @paisleyloNeal - @nealefischerE-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.comHear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!Buy Neal’s next two books out now and pre-order his newest books below! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Pre-Order "The Totally Awesome World Of..." Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy
Feb 19, 202500:58:50Tap to summarizeEpisode 29: Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy PROMPTS: Siren, Leather, 818Neal embarks on an off-the-rails deep dive into Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice’s meteoric rise, and the bizarre world surrounding his fame. From his disputed backstory to a failed Hollywood career (Cool as Ice, anyone?), Neal unpacks the highs, lows, and lingering pop-culture footprint of one of the 90s’ most notorious one-hit wonders. Plus, a wild fact about an important crew member that you won't want to miss. Lauren brings things back to high art with Caspar David Friedrich’s Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, one of the most iconic paintings of the Romantic era. She explores how Friedrich captured the sublime, the loneliness of modernity, and even how the Nazis co-opted his work for their own nationalistic purposes. Also, if you’re in New York this year, she highly recommends seeing Friedrich’s newly opened exhibition at The Met.Neal’s Topic: Vanilla Ice’s wild career & the Cool as Ice debacle How a misheard lyric led to a deep dive on the 818 area code TRAILER for Cool As Ice (watch the whole movie if you dare) Lauren’s Topic: Caspar David Friedrich’s Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog High-Res Version HERE Leave Neal a review on his Rom-Com book HERE!Follow the show and its creators on Instagram:The Show - @curatedbychanceLauren - @paisleyloNeal - @nealefischerE-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.comHear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!Buy Neal’s next two books out now and pre-order his newest books below! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Pre-Order "The Totally Awesome World Of..." Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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(Bill) Bryson Royale
Feb 12, 202501:09:42Tap to summarizeEpisode 28: (Bill) Bryson RoyalePROMPTS: Maroon, Accent, 215This week on Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren explore language, survival, and everything in between, bringing two wildly different yet equally fascinating topics to the table.Lauren dives into Bill Bryson’s The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way, a witty and informative exploration of the quirks, history, and evolution of the English language. From the origin of everyday words to unexpected trivia like why an apron was once “a napron,” Lauren explains why Bryson’s book is a must-read for language lovers. Plus, she shares her favorite passages and nerds out over the magic of etymology and regional accents.Neal takes a darker turn with Battle Royale (2000), the Japanese cult classic that inspired The Hunger Games and countless “last-person-standing” stories. Neal breaks down the film’s dystopian setting, its influence on pop culture, and the behind-the-scenes stories that shaped this gripping, violent tale. He also connects it to Japanese history, cinema, and how Quentin Tarantino couldn’t get enough of it—literally casting one of its stars in Kill Bill: Vol 1.Leave Neal a review on his Rom-Com book HERE!Lauren's Topic: The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way by Bill BrysonNeal's Topic: Battle Royale (2000)Directed by Kinji FukasakuFull Theatrical Version (Not Extended Version) on YouTube for FreeSupport Our Show:Love the show? Help us keep going by becoming a Patron for just $5/month!👉 www.patreon.com/curatedbychanceFollow the show and its creators on Instagram:The Show - @curatedbychanceLauren - @paisleyloNeal - @nealefischerE-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.comHear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!Buy Neal’s next two books out now and pre-order his newest books below! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Pre-Order "The Totally Awesome World Of..." Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Meta Cheese
Feb 5, 202501:25:05Tap to summarizeEpisode 27: Meta CheesePROMPTS: Sky-Blue, 101, FlowersThis week on Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren explore two vastly different works.Neal revisits The Truman Show (1998), diving deep into its eerie parallels with modern-day surveillance culture, reality TV, and social media. From Jim Carrey’s career-defining performance to the film’s psychological impact (including the real-life Truman Show Delusion), Neal unpacks why this dystopian comedy-drama is more relevant than ever. He also explores the iconic "sky blue" moment—the moment Truman discovers the literal limits of his world.Lauren, on the other hand, takes a journey through art history with Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera (1482). With its mythological themes, lush depiction of over 500 plant species, and Botticelli’s signature style, this Renaissance masterpiece serves as Lauren’s personal gateway to art history. She breaks down its symbolism, its ties to both mythology and Christianity, and why its ethereal beauty continues to captivate viewers centuries later.Leave Neal a review on his Rom-Com book HERE!Neal's Topic: The Truman Show (1998)Stream the movie hereLauren's Topic: Sandro BotticelliPrimavera1482High-Res Scan HereSupport Our Show:Love the show? Help us keep going by becoming a Patron for just $5/month!👉 www.patreon.com/curatedbychanceFollow the show and its creators on Instagram:The Show - @curatedbychanceLauren - @paisleyloNeal - @nealefischerE-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.comHear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!Buy Neal’s next two books out now and pre-order his newest books below! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Pre-Order "The Totally Awesome World Of..." Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Neal Found A Dead Body
Jan 29, 202501:11:48Tap to summarizeEPISODE 26: Neal Found A Dead BodyPROMPTS: 1958, Ship, Mustard YellowThis week on Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren dive into two fascinating works that capture grandeur, tragedy, and larger-than-life imagery.Lauren takes listeners back to the 16th century with Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, an artwork that redefines mythological storytelling. She explores how Bruegel subverts the dramatic morality tale of Icarus by making his downfall barely noticeable in the scene, instead focusing on the ordinary world continuing as tragedy strikes. From the hidden symbolism to the rich history of Bruegel’s artistic style, Lauren unpacks why this painting is a masterclass in subtle storytelling.Meanwhile, Neal explores Attack of the 50-Foot Woman (1958) through the lens of its legendary movie poster. Instead of focusing on the film itself, Neal highlights the work of Reynold Brown, the artist behind over 300 classic Hollywood posters. From atomic-age paranoia to the feminist undertones of a vengeful, towering woman, Neal explains how this iconic artwork became more famous than the film it advertised. Plus, he shares a hilarious story about how Brown secretly inserted something into one of his posters to get back at people.Lauren’s Topic:Pieter Bruegel the ElderLandscape with the Fall of Icarus1560High Res Scan HereNeal’s Topic:Illustrator Reynold BrownMini-Documentary(look out for an art historian that should be played by Kate McKinnon)Leave Neal a review on his Rom-Com book HERE!Support Our Show:Love the show? Help us keep going by becoming a Patron for just $5/month!👉 www.patreon.com/curatedbychanceFollow the show and its creators on Instagram:The Show - @curatedbychanceLauren - @paisleyloNeal - @nealefischerE-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.comHear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!Buy Neal’s next two books out now and pre-order his newest books below! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Pre-Order "The Totally Awesome World Of..." Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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It's The LT Guarantee!
Jan 22, 202501:22:08Tap to summarizeEPISODE 25: It's The LT Guarantee!PROMPTS: 1434, Charcoal, LensIn this episode of Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren explore two masterpieces inspired by this week’s prompts, taking listeners on a journey through art, cinema, and history.Neal delves into Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Rear Window (1954), unraveling its themes of voyeurism, morality, and isolation. From the groundbreaking set design to Hitchcock’s visual storytelling, Neal breaks down why this suspenseful masterpiece still resonates in the digital age. He also shares fascinating trivia, including its connection to real-life crimes and Hollywood’s favorite costume designer, Edith Head.Lauren takes us further back in time to 1434 with Jan van Eyck’s iconic Arnolfini Portrait. She unpacks the rich symbolism hidden in this Flemish masterpiece, from the mysterious convex mirror to the lavish fabrics and even the enigmatic dog at the couple’s feet. Lauren also explores the painting’s role in art history and why it continues to fascinate viewers centuries after it was completed.Neal’s Topic:Rear Window (1954)Dir: Alfred HitchcockStream the movie hereBuy the movie hereLauren’s Topic:The Arnolfini PortraitJan van Eyck1434More about the paintingSupport Our Show:Love the show? Help us keep going by becoming a Patron for just $5/month!👉 www.patreon.com/curatedbychanceFollow the show and its creators on Instagram:The Show - @curatedbychanceLauren - @paisleyloNeal - @nealefischerE-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.comHear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!Buy Neal’s next two books! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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We Read Books
Jan 20, 202500:48:49Tap to summarizeEpisode 24: We Read BooksPrompts: Tomato Red, Globe-trotting, 5In this week’s episode of Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren find themselves in perfect sync as they both dive into Richard Osman’s latest book, We Solve Murders. What are the odds? (Apparently, 1-in-24 episodes.)Lauren kicks things off with her enthusiastic review of We Solve Murders, Richard Osman’s action-packed, character-rich follow-up to The Thursday Murder Club. She explores how Osman’s knack for quirky characters and heartfelt moments makes this new book a winner. From charming detectives to globe-trotting escapades, Lauren shares why Osman’s latest is a must-read. Neal follows suit, sharing his thoughts on the book’s cinematic pacing, its cliffhanger-packed chapters, and why it’s the perfect blend of humor and mystery. Together, Neal and Lauren discuss their favorite characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and the emotional depth that sets Osman apart.Check out We Solve MurdersAmazonBookshop.orgAlso check out The Thursday Murder Club!Support Our Show:Love the show? Help us keep going by becoming a Patron for just $5/month!👉 www.patreon.com/curatedbychanceFollow the show and its creators on Instagram:The Show - @curatedbychanceLauren - @paisleyloNeal - @nealefischerE-mail us: curatedbychance@gmail.comHear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!Buy Neal’s next two books! Christmas Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Rom-Com Ultimate Trivia Book (out now!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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