In this episode of "It's a Long Road," host Ryan welcomes special guest John Rivoli, the official Rocky artist for MGM and Sylvester Stallone, to discuss Stallone's iconic films, particularly "Rambo: First Blood." Rivoli shares his background as an artist curating Rocky and Rambo-inspired paintings, his personal encounters with Stallone, and a new Rambo artwork depicting the character's emotional breakdown. The conversation delves into Stallone's acting prowess, the film's themes of veteran trauma and the American nightmare, behind-the-scenes insights like natural lighting in mine scenes and real rats, comparisons to biblical narratives, and scene breakdowns from the movie, including Rambo's escape from the mine shaft. They touch on Stallone's history in films like "Lords of Flatbush," the film's Christmas setting, and Rivoli's excitement about upcoming Rambo merchandise.

In this episode of "It's a Long Road: The Rambo Series Podcast," host Ryan welcomes guest Scott from the "All 90s Action All the Time" podcast, now part of the Last of the Action Heroes Podcast Network, to discuss Sylvester Stallone's "First Blood." They explore Scott's history with the Rambo franchise, his preference for Rocky over Rambo, and a detailed scene-by-scene breakdown of the film's mine shaft sequence involving Rambo's evasion tactics, the National Guard's incompetence, and key interactions between characters like Sheriff Teasel and Colonel Trautman. The conversation touches on the movie's tone shifts from thriller to action, Jerry Goldsmith's score, filming locations in British Columbia, comparisons to other films like "Southern Comfort," and humorous critiques of the National Guard's portrayal as "weekend warriors." They also share personal anecdotes, podcast network details, and listener feedback, ending with anticipation for future episodes.

In this episode of "It's a Long Road: The Rambo Series Podcast," host Ryan delves into the 1982 film "First Blood" with guest Scott from the Church of Tarantino Podcast. They discuss Scott's podcast, which chronologically explores Quentin Tarantino's films and related works, and share insights on Rambo's evolution from a serious PTSD-focused story to action-packed sequels. The conversation covers Rambo fandom, comparisons to other films, listener emails about rankings, deleted scenes, and military details, before breaking down key movie sequences involving John Rambo's survival, radio communications with Colonel Trautman, and escalating tensions with Sheriff Teasle. They analyze character motivations, production anecdotes, and themes of veteran struggles, wrapping up with reflections on Stallone's career and potential remakes.