Episode
Episode 176 | "Pure Nightmare Fuel" (Feat. Frank Rice Jr.)
- Podcast
- Permission To Speak Freely
- Published
- Jan 26, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 8487
- Processing state
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Summary
About our Guest: Frank Rice Jr. is an award-winning filmmaker, director, and founder of FJR Films, blending over two decades of military leadership with cinematic artistry. A U.S. Navy veteran and Tyler Perry Dreamers Collective Top 100 Finalist, Frank has collaborated with a range of production companies and creative teams across the U.S. and Japan to produce emotionally resonant and visually striking work. His short films, The Tunnel, Quietus of Man, and Juncture, have garnered multiple international festival awards for their depth, storytelling, and craft. His latest project, JUMPER, (post-production) is an emotionally charged psychological film exploring themes of memory, redemption, and ancestral connection through poetic imagery and sound. Guided by collaboration, Frank partners with talented cinematographers, editors, and animators to bring layered, human stories to life. Episode Description: Damo opens the episode with a series of requests and demands before breaking down how one simple question from Aaron spiraled into a full meltdown. Look who popped out? Tisha jumps in to address a recent Facebook post aimed at women in the Navy, adding context and perspective. Aaron shares a few recommendations honoring the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. The crew is joined by Frank Rice Jr., who talks through his career in the Navy and his parallel path as a filmmaker. Frank reflects on growing up in Chicago, his early Navy years, what pulled him toward film, and the influence of his father, an actor. He discusses working with Sony Records, whether he ever produced projects for the Navy, his directing style, dream projects, and the roles he’s most drawn to as a creator. The conversation also touches on casting, including whether Denzel Washington only plays…