Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Plaza Classic Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by El Paso Community Foundation
The Plaza Classic Podcast is hosted by former KVIA news anchor and National Edward R. Murrow Award-winner Borderland Crimes podcaster Stephanie Valle and EPCC Mass Communication Professor Lisa Elliott. Valle and Elliott are members of the Plaza Classic Film Festival Program Advisory Committee. The podcast is produced in partnership with EPCC and the El Paso Community Foundation. Each episode features guests ranging from committee members to filmmakers who delve into a different aspect of the city’s No. 1 feel-good summer event, including this year’s schedule, the Local Flavor showcase, screenwriting competition, and more.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago22 min
A Star is Born!
We know Sean Penn, Julia Roberts, and Matthew McConaughey as Academy Award winning actors. But rewind several decades, and they were just regular people looking for an opportunity. In this episode, Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott team up with Jaime Mendez, UTEP Assistant Dean of Students and longtime member of the Plaza Classic Film Festival Advisory Committee, to focus on the breakout roles of successful movie stars who are still working today. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. Get updates for the 2027 Plaza Classic Film Festival here.
- 1 weeks ago25 min
This is (the) Halloween (episode)!
"Life's no fun without a good scare!" That's not just a line from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, it's also the mantra of Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle, who were the only two members of the Plaza Classic Film Festival Advisory Committee who enjoy horror films. Finally, another scary flick fan has joined the committee! Seth Dodson is also a Program Officer at the El Paso Community Foundation and the director of the Sol Summit Music and Culture Festival. He shares his thoughts on several modern horrors shown at the 2026 film festival: Scream (1996), Poltergeist (1982), and The Sixth Sense (1999). The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. Get updates for the 2027 Plaza Classic Film Festival here.
- 2 weeks ago30 min
Night of the...
A title can lend so much to the theme of a film. What does a filmmaker want an audience to think or feel when they include the word "Night?" In this episode, the focus is on movies that have been shown at the Plaza Classic Film Festival that contained "Night" and "of the" in the title. The films that made the cut include The Night of the Hunter (1955), Night of the Living Dead (1965, 1990), and In the Heat of the Night (1967). KISS-FM radio host and Plaza Classic Film Festival Advisory Committee Member Fernando "Grizz" Montejano joins Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle to "shine light" on this topic. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. Get updates for the 2027 Plaza Classic Film Festival here.
- 3 weeks ago29 min
The Power of Local Cinema!
Local filmmakers and hundreds of their friends, family, loved ones, fans, plus cast and crew members, filled the Plaza Theatre for the Local Flavor Showcase on July 26. Of the 60 entries, a panel of judges chose eight films for the screening event, and of those 8, four were awarded. First-place winner, director Brandon Herrera (Se lo Merecía) and Audience Favorite winner Ulises Córdova (Tito Ritmo) join Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle to talk about the inspiration behind their films. Also, hear what's on the horizon for these emerging filmmakers. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. Take a look back at the film festival's offerings and get updates for the 2027 festival here.
- Oct 8, 202620 min
"Oranges" is the New Black
Valeria Contreras is having a moment. The El Paso filmmaker's short film Oranges is set to make the festival circuit this fall. It comes on the heels of the work-in-progress concept by the same name making its debut during the 2026 Plaza Classic Film Festival. The Director Incubator Fellow joined podcast hosts Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle to discuss her film and how you can see it. Plus, this blossoming director talks about what's next. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. Take a look back at the film festival's offerings and get updates for the 2027 festival here.
- Oct 1, 202618 min
Celebrating 100 years of Marilyn
June 1, 2026 marked the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth. Jack Fields, the Plaza Classic Film Festival Advisory Committee's Los Angeles Field Officer, joined podcast hosts Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott during the festival in July to talk about how LA was honoring the Blonde Bombshell, and how her legacy has persisted through the century. Plus, he offers his take on which of Marilyn's films shows the full breadth of her talents. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. Take a look back at the film festival's offerings and get updates for the 2027 festival here.
- Sep 24, 202621 min
Fantastic Mr. Fox at Chalk the Block
Chalk the Block is back! This all-ages festival easily draws over 40,000 people to Downtown El Paso to gaze at the artwork – or try their hand at their own – interact with the art installations, or listen to live music, and more. Rebecca Muñoz, the director of the Mexican American Cultural Center, talks with podcast hosts Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott about one particularly big art installation, plus the screening of Fantastic Mr. Fox during the festival, which is being held Oct. 3 and 4. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. Get updates for the 2027 Plaza Classic Film Festival here.
- Sep 17, 202634 min
Onstage Q&A with Ann-Margret
On the opening of Season 8, Plaza Classic Podcast hosts Lisa Elliott and Stephanie Valle take you back to the summer, when the Plaza Classic Film Festival was in full swing, and movie legend Ann-Margret was in El Paso. Ann-Margret engaged in an interview with TCM host Scott McGee ahead of both Bye Bye Birdie (1963) and Tommy (1975) which were shown on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18, respectively, in the Plaza Theatre. Both interviews are combined in this episode, and include McGee's insights on this beloved and talented actress, singer, and dancer. The Plaza Classic Podcast is a production of the El Paso Community Foundation and is recorded on the El Paso Community College campus. Check out this week's show notes here. Take a look back at the film festival's offerings and get updates for the 2027 festival here.
Get The Plaza Classic Podcast summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Me and Who Els Podcast
Candid conversations with influencers, celebrities, and viral personalities about pop culture, trending topics, and unfiltered real talk.
Critical Darlings
Film critics Richard Lawson and Alison Willmore analyze new movie releases, from blockbusters to indie darlings and awards contenders.
Pero Querías Hacer Cine...
Traziende Films y Mónica Vargas
HOLLYWOODLAND
Examines crimes connected to Hollywood figures and film history, from murders to conspiracies and scandals.
Make My Day: A Clint Eastwood Podcast
Examines Clint Eastwood’s films and career through monthly analysis of his movie roles and directorial work.
Alt.Latino
Celebrates Latinx culture and music through conversations with legends and emerging artists.
Table Read
Hollywood actors perform acclaimed screenplays with cinematic sound design and immersive audio.
Latino USA
Explores Latino stories and their cultural, social, and political impact in the U.S. and beyond.
The Weekly Planet
Discusses movies, TV shows, and comics with a focus on pop culture and genre entertainment.
Pop Culture Happy Hour
Reviews and discussions of movies, TV, music, and video games from a rotating panel of pop culture critics and guests.
abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast
Explores abandoned places across the U.S. and beyond, blending immersive storytelling with reflections on history, culture, and mental health.
Made for TV Mayhem Show » podcast
Amanda Reyes
About The Plaza Classic Podcast
The Plaza Classic Podcast is hosted by former KVIA news anchor and National Edward R. Murrow Award-winner Borderland Crimes podcaster Stephanie Valle and EPCC Mass Communication Professor Lisa Elliott. Valle and Elliott are members of the Plaza Classic Film Festival Program Advisory Committee. The podcast is produced in partnership with EPCC and the El Paso Community Foundation. Each episode features guests ranging from committee members to filmmakers who delve into a different aspect of the city’s No. 1 feel-good summer event, including this year’s schedule, the Local Flavor showcase, screenwriting competition, and more.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from The Plaza Classic Podcast in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Plaza Classic Podcast daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Plaza Classic Podcast as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Plaza Classic Podcast podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Plaza Classic Podcast product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by El Paso Community Foundation.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Plaza Classic Podcast release new episodes?
The Plaza Classic Podcast publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Plaza Classic Podcast cover?
The Plaza Classic Podcast covers topics including Film, TV & Film, Comedy Interviews. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Plaza Classic Podcast summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.