e125: Welcome to the Black Pudding

Episode Summary: Cartridge and Quest - Episode 25

In this episode of the Cartridge and Quest podcast, hosts Averagetrav and Foodie Mike C dive into a wide array of nostalgic topics, share recent experiences, and engage in their usual lively banter.

• Sponsor Shout-Outs & Local Love: The episode kicks off with discussions about their sponsors and local favorites. They have a long segment dedicated to Dude Robes and also give a shout-out to CCICT, a local electronics store where Mike C recently bought a refurbished iPad. Other mentions include Shiner Shockwave beer, new merchandise from Wichita Life, and The Caramel Corner.

• Cartridge Conundrum: The weekly trivia question asks listeners to identify two major events Nintendo undertook on the same day in 1995: discontinuing the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and launching the ill-fated Virtual Boy.

• Retro Rewind: The guys are excited to promote an upcoming event at the Regent Theater: a showing of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. To commemorate the anniversary, the theater will be selling original, brand-new collectible cups from 2005 featuring characters like Vader, Anakin, and Obi-Wan.

• This Week in Nostalgia:

  • Gaming: The hosts discuss the release of Internet Explorer 1 in 1995, which kicked off the "browser wars," as well as the releases of Paper Mario (2000) and Chrono Cross (2000).

  • Madden Curse: A new segment begins, tracing the history of the Madden Curse, starting with Garrison Hurst from the Madden '99 cover, who suffered a career-altering ankle injury.

  • Pop Culture: A big moment for 90s kids is highlighted: the premiere of Nickelodeon's Doug, Rugrats, and The Ren & Stimpy Show on the same day in August 1991. They also reminisce about the Beanie Babies craze.

  • Wrestling: Averagetrav details a pivotal episode of WWF Raw is War from August 1997, which featured Rocky Maivia transforming into "The Rock" and Shawn Michaels beginning his famous heel turn, leading to the formation of D-Generation X.

  • Music: They commemorate the release of Metallica's self-titled "Black Album" on August 12, 1991.

• Personal Stories & Experiences:

  • My Chemical Romance Concert: The hosts recount their recent trip to Texas to see My Chemical Romance. They describe the incredible atmosphere with 43,000 fans, the theatricality of the performance, and the two-hour wait for merchandise.

  • Food & Travel: Before the concert, they visited an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant. They also discuss the challenges of finding unique local food spots while traveling and share their experiences with hotel loyalty programs.

The episode wraps up with the hosts reflecting on why they enjoy making the podcast, aiming to provide a fun escape for their listeners.