About Us

BIOS

Adam Kempenaar co-founded the show in March 2005 and is co-host and executive producer. Adam has also served as an instructor at the University of Chicago's Graham School. He has a B.A. in English from Grinnell College, plus degrees in film studies (B.A.) and journalism (M.A.) from the University of Iowa, where he wrote movie reviews for The Daily Iowan and hosted a weekly film talk show called Burn Hollywood Burn on KRUI 89.7 FM. A member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, you can follow him on Letterboxd and Twitter.

Josh Larsen officially joined Filmspotting as co-host in January 2012 following guest appearances on episodes #371 and #376. Prior to that, he spent 11 years as a film critic for Chicago-based Sun-Times Media. Josh writes about movies at LarsenOnFilm and is producer of the faith and pop culture website/podcast Think Christian. He’s also the author of Movies Are Prayers: How Films Voice Our Deepest Longings and is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. You can follow him on Twitter and Letterboxd.  

Sam Van Hallgren co-founded Filmspotting and has served as producer since Fall 2010. He was the original co-host before leaving in August 2007 (ep. #176). Follow Sam on Twitter and Letterboxd.

Michael Phillips, the Chicago Tribune's film critic, is a regular contributor and guest host.

"Golden" Joe DeCeault is also a Filmspotting producer and was instrumental in bringing the show to WBEZ/Chicago Public Radio (91.5 FM) in 2006. You can follow him on Twitter @joedeceault.

Candace Griffiths started assisting with show and web production in April 2007 and now serves as FS Advisory Board coordinator.