Gimme Three Podcast - A Series For Cinephiles
Gimme Three is a love letter to one of the most powerful mediums of artistic expression—a love letter to the films that moved us and to the great experiences we've had watching them.
In each episode, hosts Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis (and frequent special guests) will pick three incredible movies based on a selected theme.
The Gimme Three podcast aims to encourage people to return to the theater and expand their watch lists through fun banter and passionate analysis.
Episodes
102 episodes
95 - Halloween Family Favorites (feat. Sonja Mereu)
This week, co-host Bella Efstratis is joined by Gimme Three Producer and LADFF Director Sonja Mereu to celebrate the holy trinity of family Halloween classics.They explore what makes these films endlessly rewatchable — from unfo...
•
Episode 95
•
1:25:21
94 - Robert Redford & The American West
Once again, we are honoring the work of the late, great Robert Redford. This week, we explore Redford’s exploration and appreciation for the gorgeous American West. Not only did he depict this region with beauty in respect and film, he also spe...
•
Episode 94
•
1:12:43
93 - Robert Redford's Politically-Charged Dramas (feat. Sonja Mereu)
This week’s episode of the Gimme Three Podcast, Producer Sonja Mereu and co-host Nicholas Ybarra celebrate the life and career of the late, great, and seminal figure in American cinema, Robert Redford. In particular, we d...
•
Episode 93
•
1:22:36
92 - The Art of Costume Design pt. 2 (feat. Ashley Kae Snyder & Jessica McLaughlin)
This week, Bella is reunited with Ashley Kae Snyder and Jessica McLaughlin for round two of three films with exquisite costume design.Bella kicks things off with the audience pick, Poor Things (2023), where Holly...
•
Episode 92
•
1:37:12
91 - The Art of Costume Design pt. 1 (feat. Ashley Kae Snyder & Jessica McLaughlin)
This week, we’re stepping into the world of costume design with two incredible guests: costume designer Ashley Kae Snyder and writer/filmmaker Jessica McLaughlin. Part one of our two-part series highlights three unforgettable films and the visi...
•
Episode 91
•
1:23:33
90 - Are You Ready For Some FOOTBALL (FILMS)?!
Football season is upon us! And to celebrate the return of America’s real past time, Nick and Bella are going deep on some of the more memorable football films this country has ever produced. We begin with a modern c...
•
Episode 90
•
1:07:19
89 - Coming of Age Films (90s - 2010s)
This week, we're talking about three outstanding coming-of-age stories that capture the highs, lows, and messy in-betweens of growing up.First up, is The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), Stephen Chbosky's heartfelt look at fr...
•
Episode 89
•
1:05:47
88 - Freaky Friday Films
This week, Bella Efstratis is back on the podcast! We celebrate the release of Freakier Friday by revisiting its 2003 predecessor and the 1976 original.Bella & Nick do a deep dive on each Freaky Friday film, pick their favorites, and...
•
Episode 88
•
1:01:58
87 - Sylvia Ray "The Vote" & Angel Ruvalcaba "Driftin' On A Memory"
This week, we’re talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year’s 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. Sylvia discusses her film, The Vote, a powerful and gripping drama that’s screening with LADFF on Sunday, August 24t...
•
Episode 87
•
1:02:13
86 - Lyla Mzayek "The Rain Lady" & Faranak Sahafian "Kisses and Bullets" - LADFF 2025 pt. 2
This week we’re talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year’s 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. Lyla Mzayek discusses her film, The Rain Lady, a beautiful love letter to immigrant mothers. Lyla talks ab...
•
Episode 86
•
52:43
85 - Lee Ott "Dragfox" & Bijon "A Thing About Kashem" - LADFF 2025 pt. 1
This week we’re talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year’s 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. Lee Ott discusses their journey to filmmaking and stop-motion animation, which led them to their directori...
•
Episode 85
•
1:07:08
84 - Black Independent Cinema - Oscar Micheaux, Melvin Van Peebles, and Cheryl Dunye
As we gear up for the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival, Bella and Nick explore the work of some of the most important figures in Black Independent Cinema and Independent Cinema in general. These powerful voices are a h...
•
Episode 84
•
1:14:37
83 - Michael Madsen: An American Badass
Earlier this month, the cinephile community lost another tremendous performer. In this episode, Nick & Bella pay tribute to the ever-cool and always hypnotic Michael Madsen. The duo discusses Madsen’s unique approach ...
•
Episode 83
•
1:18:02
82 - Music Videos (feat. Sonja Mereu)
This week, we’re stepping away from the cinema and turning our attention to the world of music videos.Joined by returning guest and producer Sonja Mereu, we dive into nine standout videos that span genres, decades, and styles—each one ic...
•
Episode 82
•
1:31:24
81 - Steven Spielberg Summer Blockbusters
It’s summer! And for the cinephile community, that means it’s blockbuster season. In this episode, we tip our hat to the godfather of the summer blockbuster, Mr. Steven Spielberg. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the industry-changing cla...
•
Episode 81
•
1:27:55
80 - 1995 Films Revisited
This week, in a really fun compilation episode, we travel back to 1995! Thirty years ago! Nick and Bella (and a friend or two along the way) chat about the magical year of ’95 and some of the blockbuster movies that accompanied it. ...
•
Episode 80
•
1:16:23
79 - Category Is: Drag History (feat. Bailey Katler)
We’re keeping the Pride celebration going this week with an episode all about the history of drag!Bella Efstratis is joined by a very special returning guest, Bailey Katler, to break down three essential documentaries that celebrate the ...
•
Episode 79
•
1:30:17
78 - Gregg Araki's Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy
This week, Bella is joined by special guests Melia and Henry Chendo to celebrate Pride with a look at Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy:Totally F***ed Up (1993)The Doom Generation (1995)<...
•
Episode 78
•
1:24:18
77 - The View Askewniverse - Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma (feat. Max Sopkin)
To celebrate the re-release of Dogma (which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary), Bella and Nick took a field trip to see the Kevin Smith classic on the big screen. We were joined by our good friend and returning guest, Max Sopkin. ...
•
Episode 77
•
1:41:16
76 - Sinister Beaches: The Dark Side of Paradise
This week, we’re heading to the shore—but not for the sunshine. Returning guest Michel Eljaiek joins co-host Bella Efstratis to explore the darker side of paradise through three beach-set thrillers that reveal just how quickly bliss can turn in...
•
Episode 76
•
1:05:03
75 - Mission: Impossible? Mission: Accomplished! (feat. Sonja Mereu)
This week, we’re celebrating the release of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, which highlights three films with the biggest stunts, highest stakes, and most pulse-pounding, applaud-worthy finishes of the Mission: Impossible fr...
•
Episode 75
•
1:23:28
74 - A Bear Called Paddington
This week, Paddington is officially joining the Gimme Three Podcast family! Join us as we dive into these three magical films that feel like storybooks brought to life!We start at the beginning with Paddington (2014)...
•
Episode 74
•
1:16:05
73 - Great Mother Characters (pt. 3) - Immigrant Mothers
In celebration of Mother’s Day, we are revisiting one of our favorite themes: Great Mother Characters (our third installment). In this episode, we are highlighting immigrant mothers with three powerful and inspiring films. <...
•
Episode 73
•
57:18
72 - Three Amigos: Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo Del Toro, and Alejandro González Iñárritu
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, three real-life friends broke into the Mexican and International film scenes and made their mark on the art form. Since then, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo Del Toro, and Alejandro González Iñárritu have delivered ...
•
Episode 72
•
1:20:41
71 - Barbra Streisand Films (feat. Max Sopkin)
Returning guest and friend of the show, Max Sopkin, returns for an in-depth episode on the legendary Barbra Streisand. After watching all nineteen of Streisand's films, Max has selected three that highlight the range, talent, and overall supers...
•
Episode 71
•
1:36:37