The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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.
Episodes
Caitlin Nellist (SlowpukeLIVE) joins the lads for a lovely day out with the Egg Council of America as they cover one of the worst and most popular game shows of all time: Queen for a Day. Topics include the ineptitude of Jack Bailey, the bakeries of El Cajon, and the roots of America’s obsession with the exploitation of trauma.
Caitlin “Slowpuke” Nellist: Twitch // Instagram // Bluesky ...
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Snake, it’s Colonel Copywriter. I’m responsible for writing the copy for every product in the world. Have you heard of a podcast called The Worst of All Possible Worlds? They do weekly case studies in the pop culture of a dying empire. And this week, they’re talking about YOU, Snake. Specifically, the Shadow Moses Inc...
It's MINI BEAST WEEK as Brian and Josh from The Worst of All Possible Worlds join Caleb and June from Kill The Computer to discuss The Worst of All Possible Books: Mr. Beast's LLM-ridden slopfest "The Most Dangerous Games".
Check out Kill The Computer: https://www.killthecomputer.com/
Trevor Strunk (No Cartridge) and the lads return to Odyssey for further adventures in cults, US-backed dictators in Latin America, and the reason why you’re not to blame if someone burns down a liberal bookstore while directly quoting you.
Trevor Strunk: Bluesky / Story Mode
No Cartridge Audio: Critical but casual approaches to current, past, and future video games six times a week. I...
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Charlie Kirk is in heaven Charlie Kirk is debating Che in Heaven Charlie Kirk is debating a second Che in Heaven who is standing beside the first Che who is also in Heaven Charlie Kirk is with Jesus in Heaven Charlie Kirk is doing a conga line with Jeffrey Epstein Charlie Kirk is on a Starbucks cup Charlie Kirk is dabbing on the cross ...
Julian Feeld (Super Structure, QAA Podcast) joins the lads in the end times as they cover the 1978 film adaptation of the father of all Rapture narratives: The Late Great Planet Earth. Topics include the conspiratorial thinking of dispensational millennialism, the nefarious tree-slut Hal Lindsay, and what it means when your rock solid prophecy keeps having to move the goal posts.
Julian Feeld: Instagram
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The lads return to the 4077 for more adventures in poker games, party planning, and saying goodbye to everyone’s favorite Charlie Brown: Walter “Radar” O’Reilly.
Media Referenced in this Episode:
- MASH
- s6e1: “Fade Out, Fade In&rd...
Patrick Wyman (Past Lives, Master of Our Domain, Tides of History) and the lads throw on their bomb suits and chase that adrenaline high as they cover Kathryn Bigelow’s critically-acclaimed 2009 war film: The Hurt Locker. Topics include the thrill of warfare, war films as propaganda, and what it means to exist in a culture full of War Paddingtons.
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The lads return to Odyssey for further adventures in gentrification, mini-golf, and the increasingly complicated corporate espionage of a children’s television production company.
Media Referenced in this Episode:
Adventures in Odyssey
(originally Episode 146, aired Sept 2, 2024)
The lads made this episode with their own hands! 😊 Why do episodes like this never get likes? 😢💔 AmenAmenAmen. 🙏🇺🇸 It is our birthday and nobody wished us one. So excited to begin our cake journey. 🎂 Did you notice when it left you? Why don’t you see these anymore? Gone too soon! ✝️ The joy, the bursts of pl...
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According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly.
Media Referenced in this Episode:
- Bee Movie. Dir. Simon J. Smith and Steve Hickner. 2007.
- “A Complete History of Bee Movie’s Many, Many Memes" by Paris Martineau. New York Maga...
Memoria (@memoriamatters) and the lads grab their tiny vests and make for Duloc as they cover the movie that launched a thousand memes: Shrek. Topics include William Steig’s original book, the politics of Disney in the 90s, and what it means to discover the truth buried deep in the heart of Shrek.
...THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
Audrey and Dono (Radio Free Tote Bag, No I’m Listening) join the lads on some wacky adventures with Pomni and Co. as they cover Gooseworx’s indie animation megahit: The Amazing Digital Circus. Topics include the origins of Gooseworx, the hugbox of Tumblr, and what it means to find meaning in a world where a sentient mouth c...
Mike Isaac is a long-time technology writer who has been Technology Correspondent at the New York Times since June 2014. During that time he’s covered a variety of technology companies, including OpenAI, SpaceX, Anthropic, Apple, and Uber, which he published a book about in 2019 called Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber. But the bulk of his recent reporting has been about Meta, the company that owns Facebook. Last week Josh in...
Despite everything, it’s still us.
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Hollis Beck: Website
Media Referenced in this Episode:
Ben Collins is CEO of The Onion, the satirical newspaper that bills itself as America's Finest News Source. In 2024, Collins announced that The Onion had acquired Infowars, the longtime flagship brand of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, at bankruptcy auction. However, thanks to a series of higher court stays, the Infowars name remains in legal limbo. This month, The Onion relaunched "Real Infowars" at theonion.info as part of a broa...
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The lads waltz with potatoes up and down the produce aisle as they begin their coverage of Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki’s seminal Christian children’s video series: Veggietales. Topics include Vischer’s Disney-esque upbringing, the horrors of divorce, and what it means to advocate for the importance of silliness for...
The lads dive right into the heart of NOVACOM as they return to Odyssey for further adventures in franchising, gang warfare, and the terrifying video game that makes you old: Gloobers. Topics include the “evils” of VR, the inescapable childhood of the Boomer, and the vital importance of gloobin’ it with your buds.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus ...
THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
We’re not throwing away our shot.
Media Referenced in this Episode:
- Hamilton. Dir. Thomas Kail. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. 2015.
- “Alexander Hamilton, the Wrong Founder” by William Hogeland. The Nation. June 16th, 2026.
- “Disas...
November Kelly (Kill James Bond!; No Gods No Mayors; Trashfuture; Well There’s Your Problem; Be Gay Solve Crimes) enrolls the lads in the 00 program as they cover IO Interactive’s 2026 spy-fest: 007: First Light. Topics include the origins of IO, the importance of fluted windows, and what it means to try to maintain a modern franchise featuring nothing but a stupid policeman.
November Kelly: ...
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