TOPG Ep 47: White Nights
It’s Cold War drama meets high-stakes dance battles! This week, we revisit White Nights (1985), where ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov and tap legend Gregory Hines team up against Soviet oppression—and gravity. Does this stylish slice of 80s Cold War cinema still dazzle, or is it just too old and out of step? We break it all down, one pirouette at a time.
Hosts: Olen Vanderleeden, Matthew Stockton
Co-Hosts: Will Corry, Nicole
Creators and Guests
Host
Mathew Stockton
Mathew Stockton is co-host of Too Old or Pure Gold and the voice behind the acclaimed true crime podcast Dark Poutine. Known for his dry wit, sharp cultural takes, and unapologetic disdain for both Tom Cruise and David Hasselhoff, Mathew brings a grounded, no-nonsense edge to the show. Check Mathew out on Dark Poutine and follow his dog Steve at Steve_couldnt_leave
Host
Olen Vanderleeden
A Gen X creative whose career spans cannabis, clean tech, and media, but his real passion is stuck in a time warp somewhere between a VHS rental and a training montage. As the creator, producer, and co-host of Too Old or Pure Gold, Olen channels his lifelong love of 80s cinema, especially the high-kicking, synth-scored, gloriously weird corners of it, into a podcast that celebrates, critiques, and reexamines the movies that shaped a generation.
Guest
Pieter Vanderleeden
At 93, Pieter is the tireless heart of Pieter’s Plot Corner, watching and studying every film we cover, then delivering a brilliant and succinct plot summary for listeners who may not have seen (or survived) the movie in question. He missed a lot of these films in the '80s, but he’s catching up now, and loving (almost) every minute. Equally dedicated to the good and the awful, Pieter is an essential part of the podcast family and a fan favorite in his own right.
Guest
Will Corry
Will Corry is a stand-up comedian and the toughest critic on Too Old or Pure Gold. He doesn’t hand out compliments easily but if a movie wins Will over, it’s earned. Will’s razor-sharp takes and perfectly timed eye-rolls keep the rest of the panel honest.
