Finally… an Oscar year that brings some much needed focus to a subject sorely overlooked at the movies — great men with big dreams!

But seriously: Really, Oscars? Were all of the best films of 2014 about ambitious but misunderstood men with big visions for art, for change, for science, for innovation?

Okay, I’m not going to dwell on this subject. The Oscars are such a glaring example of America’s cultural prejudices andpreferences for entertainment over art that I become cynical and even angry when I think about it. So it’s best that I don’t waste time writing about them.

Suffice it to say that I did, for the sake of shining a spotlight on good work, participate in The Kindlings Muse’s annual Oscar show.

You can listen to the podcast here — in which I discuss and debate this year’s eight Best Picture nominees with Dr. Jeff Keuss, author Jennie Spohr, and producer Anna Miller.

And yes… I gave in and joined the masses who say “Who will win?” and “Who should win?”