The first and only podcast bringing you weekly case studies in the pop culture of a dying empire. Every Wednesday, co-hosts Josh, Brian, and A.J. dissect an artifact of popular culture, breaking down how its narrative choices reflect or subvert the reactionary political project. From video games to movies to theater to an apparently infinite supply of evangelical Christian radio drama, we expose the machinations of the worst of all possible worlds in order to figure out how to build a better one. Also, we have bits.
The lads hop on their choppers and make for the 4077th as they return to Korea for another installment in their ongoing coverage of the most critically acclaimed sitcoms of all time: MASH. Topics include the evolution of Margaret O’Houlihan, the zaniness of Frank Burns, and how losing some of your best cast members can transform your show into the best version of itself.
2002: Tickets
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We hope you've enjoyed Beast Week. To conclude the week in style, we went on Western Kabuki to observe Mr Beast, learn from Mr Beast, and love Mr Beast. We watched some of Mr Beast's videos and diagnose the Beast and what he means for the world. Part 2, where we talk about what he's been up to this year specifically, will be released to the Western Kabuki Patreon this weekend. Make sure to subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/c/west...
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Juniper (Western Kabuki, Ill Conceived) and the lads grab their blue jerseys and throw coconuts down a hill as they cover the first season of MrBeast’s nightmare of a game show: Beast Games. Topics include the horrific filming conditions, the so-called “games”, and what it means to watch the full-villain arc of one Jimmy Donaldson.
It's MrBeast week on The Worst of All Possible Worlds. To kick it off we're unlocking a premium episode we released in March 2023 where THE LADS WATCH 8 MRBEAST VIDEOS AND THEN TALK ABOUT THEM (Not Clickbait). Topics include MrBeast’s humble origins, the monetization of altruism, and the internet’s canonization of St. Jimmy Donaldson.
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This is the first episode of Ill Conceived, a new podcast from Josh Boerman of The Worst of All Possible Worlds and June Sternbach of Western Kabuki. Get new episodes every Friday in your favorite podcast client:
Josh and June take a look at Promise Keepers, the organization that massed 700,000 men on the National Mall in Washington, DC for a 1997 rally that promised...
Dr. Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters from the We’re Not So Different podcast join the lads on a medievalist romp through the world of morality plays as they cover the story of Everyman and two of its progeny: the works of Jack Chick and a little show called Adventures in Odyssey. Topics include the Dutch origins of Everyman, the horrors of being eternally judged while nude, and the insidious pedantry at the heart of the...
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David Armstrong (Bonus Action) and the lads grab their ghosts and join the CIA as they cover Quantic Dream’s 2013 horror/sci-fi trainwreck: Beyond: Two Souls. Topics include David Cage’s whole deal, the intuitively unintuitive controls, and what it means when your storytelling is so bad, not even Elliot Page can save it.
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This lads kick off pride month by revisiting an oft-forgotten but foundational play in the queer canon: William M. Hoffman’s As Is. Topics include the history of the AIDS play, Hoffman’s exquisite weaponization of comedy in the face of overwhelming tragedy, and the legacy of a 90 minute play that inspired an entire genre of theater.
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The lads grab their papers and hop a plane to Morocco as they cover Michael Curtiz’ 1942 Bogartfest: Casablanca. Topics include the goblin energy of Peter Lorre, the GOATness of Victor Laszlo, and what it means to drown out fascists by belting out “La Marseillaise”.
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Abigail Thorn (The Acolyte, House of the Dragon) and the lads stand up for their beliefs and just kinda drive around New Mexico as they cover the 2014 evangelical political thriller: Persecuted. Topics include passion plays, the art of selling evangelicalism, and what it means to build your entire theological identity around whining like a smol bean.
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The lads escape a chain gang and become men of constant sorrow as they embark on Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2000 Southern Odyssey: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Topics include the charms of George Clooney, the superlative soundtrack, and how to adapt the Odyssey without turning into a horny toad.
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...Alex and Jeremy of the Quorators podcast join the lads for their triumphant return to Odyssey as they throw themselves headlong into adventures of magic bats, deceitful chickens, and Edwin Blackgaard staging The Merchant of Venice. Topics include the Twilife Zone, the ethics of Watto the Toydarian, and what it means to live your life in the service of a chicken whose real name is drugs.
Alex Ptak - Blues...
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Caleb @BirdRespecter (Western Kabuki, 60 Minute Drill) joins Brian and Josh to tell the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell, a man who walked off his job as a baggage handler at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport one day in 2018 to steal an airplane. Russell and his ill-fated flight quickly became a cause célèbre among some of the darkest corners of the internet, c...
Renee Olstead (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Unfriended) and the lads grab some ice cubes and enter the cutthroat world of Vegas dancing as they cover Paul Verhoeven’s 1995 striptacular: Showgirls. Topics include the madness of Joe Eszterhas, the infamous VH1 cut, and the solidarity that can be learned from a movie that involves shoving your competition down a flight of stairs.
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The lads grab their crossbows and make for the Space Needle as they cover the back half of Naughty Dog's 2020 revengefest: The Last of Us Part II. Topics include state quarters, the logistics of building crane bridges, and what it truly means to “look for the light”.
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The lads grab their golf clubs and make for Seattle as they hop on the Ellie murder train that is Naughty Dog’s 2020 revengeapalooza: The Last of Us Part II. Topics include the chaotic development process, the CW-fication of the writing, and the inescapable conservatism at the core of The Last of Us universe.
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When Bill Clinton won the US presidential election in 1992, two people were key to his success: James Carville and George Stephanopolous. This week, Brian and Josh step into The War Room, D.A. Pennebaker’s 1993 documentary about how these two men and their team of future top Democratic all-stars cajoled and bullshitted America’s electo...
Our ongoing interview series with people working to fight the rising tide of fascism continues today as Josh sits down with Tim Faust, a healthcare activist who has been advocating for the preservation and expansion of federal and state healthcare programs in the United States for years. Tim recently began touring the state of Wisconsin, talking with local groups about what they can do to fight to preserve access to Medicaid benefi...
Saddle up your horses as the lads, along with Rosey Armstrong (Hans Gruber and the Die Hards), slap on their Crosses of Gold and dive headlong into the varied and wild world of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). Topics include what makes Christian music Christian music, the rampaging sexiness of Michael W. Smith, and the importance of artistic integrity in an industry seemingly designed to destroy it.
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Good morning, everyone! The current date is March 20, 2020. Residents, I have some exciting news for you! The Lads have just moved onto our wonderful island! Let’s all give them a big island welcome! In other news, the museum is under construction and you’ll never go outside again. Be sure to visit Blathers tomorrow once construction i...
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.