The world premiere of "The Tenderness Tour," a documentary feature centered around my 2024 Tenderness Tour event eliminating medical debt in Indiana is coming up Saturday at Heartland International Film Festival. I'd love to see you there. tickets.heartlandfilm.org/films/68ac7d...

We conclude Deep Downey — our monthlong celebration of Robert Downey, Jr.'s 60th birthday — with Richard Propes' (@richardpropes.bsky.social) thoughtful personal reflection on Downey's work in 1987's LESS THAN ZERO. Check out Richard's essay and a dozen more! midwestfilmjournal.com/2025/04/30/d...

My review of John Green's Tuberculosis Is Everything!"

My review of Beth Allison Barr's latest - "Becoming the Pastor's Wife." It's available now from @brazospress.bsky.social . theindependentcritic.com/becoming_the...

I shouldn't get snarky with my faith-based reviews, but sometimes I just can't resist. theindependentcritic.com/the_last_sup...

If you've been a fan of such films as "Wonder," "Jesus Revolution," and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," (and I have) you'll likely also love "The Unbreakable Boy" in theaters this weekend. theindependentcritic.com/the_unbreaka...

I was so honored to join Abbie VanMeter, Executive Director of Collaborative Innovations at the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution for the podcast "Stories Lived. Stories Told." www.storieslivedstoriestold.com/podcast/epis...

It's no secret I love the Paddington franchise. I might be willing to acknowledge Paddington in Peru is a slight notch below its predecessor. I might not. theindependentcritic.com/paddington_i...

I had the chance to check out Malcolm Foley's "The Anti-Greed Gospel." It's a timely and remarkable read from @brazospress.bsky.social . theindependentcritic.com/the_anti_gre...

I'm so pleased to be returning as a judge for the 2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. Founder Nic Novicki made the announcement about this year's challenge live from Sundance. youtu.be/GlGdwXYlIhs?...

I had the chance to check out Carter Ward's feature debut "Step Back, Doors Closing."

Remember that project you said you'd do when hell freezes over? Today's your day.

Going the extra mile: Documentary film to focus on Indianapolis activist Richard Propes, who tours by wheelchair to eliminate medical debt of fellow Hoosiers. Details at Indianapolis Business Journal: shorturl.at/wEYIu

As a film critic who occasionally also works behind the scenes, I'm very seldom on-screen. I have a "blink and you'll miss it" appearance in Johannes Grenzfurthner's latest film "Solvent." It was a very unexpected opportunity to go completely against my type.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Midwest Film Journal! Read, comment, share & enjoy a special installment of Denzelmber—our monthlong celebration of Denzel Washington’s 70th birthday —on “The Preacher’s Wife,” by Richard Propes (@richardpropes.bsky.social) midwestfilmjournal.com/2024/12/25/d...

I had the opportunity to appear on Rev. Chris Henry's podcast "Faithful Discourse" to talk about faith, my Tenderness Tour, and my current mission to raise $1 million to eliminate medical debt for Hoosiers. (I'm at $114,523.30). Check out the podcast: faithfuldiscourse.podbean.com/e/tenderness...

Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #474,717!

Yikes, it has been a long time since I visited here. Update: I appear to have officially beat both bladder and prostate cancer with my first quarterly scan clear. Still adjusting to the ostomy. Working remotely, but looking at a return to office soon!

I've been home a couple weeks and continue to recover from bladder cancer surgery. The bladder's gone. An ostomy is in its place. We also found prostate cancer. Recovery is slow, awkward, and difficult but I'm alive and grateful. Let me make the most of this continued opportunity for life.

Six days into bladder cancer surgery. Bladder is gone. Ostomy in place. I’m doing everything I can to heal. Grateful for a visit from a friend.,

Surgery went well, blood pressure dropped. So, spending some time in ICU. Still optimistic!

Five minutes away from leaving home. One hour away from pre-op. 3 hours away from surgery that will hopefully eliminate bladder cancer, though I'll be left with an ostomy and life changes. My greatest prayer is that I give and receive love throughout. Peace, RP

In preparation for tomorrow’s bladder removal, I named my urethra Franklin.

After 40 years of self-catheterizing as a paraplegic with spina bifida, it's weird to think that in just a couple days everything changes with bladder removal. I am both really blessed and completely freaked out. They are peacefully co-existing.

Grateful to make it to church for one last service before this week’s major surgery. Pre-op routine is kicking me, but I needed to connect with the village.

I don't want to say I have no life these days, but I'm sitting at home on a Friday night trying to find a good bladder song for my bladder removal in a week. It was much easier with amputation. https://youtu.be/rnhGy_lU5q4

My guess is that whatever life there is out there in the universe likely visited earth in search of intelligent life looked around and said "Nope, nothing here."

I had a chance to check out the low-budget indie "Loud & Longing." https://theindependentcritic.com/loud_longing

I woke up at 4am to clean before a group of friends comes over at noon to help me clean the house in advance of surgery. Yes, I'm one of those.

I've been getting a little anxious with bladder removal less than two weeks away. However, today I received a package from a local program for children with autism - they'd colored me "get well" pictures. Life may not be perfect, but it's perfectly incredible.

I’m facing bladder removal in a couple weeks due to cancer, but just received hand-colored get well pics from a class of kids with autism. So, maybe everything is going to be alright.