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.

In Episode 7 of It's a Long Road: The Rambo Series Podcast, host Ryan welcomes Dave Robinson, the head of the 60 Minutes With podcast network, to dive into Sylvester Stallone’s iconic 1982 film First Blood. The episode explores Dave’s personal connection to Stallone, from meeting him at a 2019 event to his lifelong fandom sparked by watching Rocky in 1978. They discuss the 60 Minutes With network’s evolution, the brilliance of First Blood’s acting, particularly Brian Dennehy’s portrayal of Sheriff Will Teasle and Richard Crenna’s last-minute casting as Colonel Sam Trautman, and key scenes like Trautman’s dramatic introduction. The conversation also touches on the film’s themes of pride, bullying, and Rambo’s misunderstood heroism, blending personal anecdotes with insightful analysis of the movie’s cultural impact.

In this episode of "It's a Long Road: The Rambo Series Podcast," host Ryan is joined by guest Adrian from the Arcade Attack podcast to dissect a gripping sequence from "First Blood" (1982), where John Rambo, portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, turns the tables on a small-town police force hunting him in the rugged British Columbia wilderness. The discussion delves into the horror-like intensity of Rambo’s survival tactics, including his use of sharpened sticks, a spring trap, and stealth to incapacitate officers without killing them, culminating in a chilling confrontation with Sheriff Teasle. The hosts praise the raw, CGI-free filmmaking, stellar performances by Stallone and Brian Dennehy, and the Western-inspired narrative, while also addressing listener emails about the film’s dog scenes and production insights, blending fan enthusiasm with critical analysis.

"Driven" (2001), a high-octane action-adventure film written by Sylvester Stallone and directed by Renny Harlin, follows Joe Tanto, a retired race car driver with a tumultuous past, who is called back to mentor young rookie Jimmy Bly in the high-stakes world of the Champ Car World Series. The film, discussed with fervor by the hosts of the Stallone Podcast Network, is critiqued for its convoluted plot, poor dialogue, and overuse of CGI, yet it maintains a bizarre allure akin to a cinematic trainwreck. Featuring a star-studded cast including Stallone, Burt Reynolds, Kip Pardue, and Estella Warren, the movie attempts to blend intense racing sequences with personal drama but falters under weak character development and editing, earning it a reputation as a flawed yet oddly captivating entry in Stallone’s filmography.

In this episode of the Sylvester Stallone Podcast Network, hosts Ryan, Doug, and Craig dive deep into a retrospective review of the 1989 prison drama "Lock Up," starring Sylvester Stallone as Frank Leone, a model inmate transferred to a brutal maximum-security facility under the sadistic Warden Drumgoole, played by Donald Sutherland. The discussion covers the film's plot, including Leone's backstory, his relationships with fellow inmates, intense action sequences, and themes of justice and redemption, while sharing personal memories of first viewings, production trivia like filming in a real New Jersey prison with actual inmates as extras, actor performances (including John Amos as Captain Meissner and Tom Sizemore's debut), behind-the-scenes details such as an unfinished script during shooting, and critiques of the soundtrack, violence, and Razzie nominations. The hosts praise the movie's emotional depth, Stallone's acting, and its underrated status, contrasting it with other Stallone films, and wrap up with ratings, comparisons to the Rocky series, and plugs for their other podcasts

In episode ten of "One More Round: The Rocky Series Podcast," hosts Ryan, Katie, and Kyle deliver an engaging mix of Rocky trivia, industry gossip, and a deep dive into the emotionally charged scene where Rocky persuades Adrian to enter his apartment, sparking a nuanced discussion on 1970s gender dynamics and consent. The episode opens with technical hiccups and light-hearted parenting banter, followed by listener emails praising the podcast’s audio-only format and a teacher’s use of “maintaining” from Creed II. The hosts discuss Sylvester Stallone’s public feud with producer Irwin Winkler over Rocky rights, expressing empathy for his frustration while debating legacy versus financial motives. Five trivia questions from Rocco’s Rocky Trivia Book keep listeners engaged, and the analysis of Rocky’s apartment scene explores its gritty realism, Adrian’s shyness, and the controversial “coercive” undertones, balanced by the hosts’ defense of Rocky’s innocent intentions within the 1976 context.