This week Don speaks with author and fellow bookseller Amanda McCrina, hot off the release of her latest historical fiction novel Beyond Seven Forests. Amanda discusses her experiences writing in an often stigmatized genre, her literary interests and influences, and prejudices experienced as a woman writing about history. Also featuring Mo the cat!
Jonathan returns to talk anime and how black fans, specifically black millennials, were raised on this new culture – which in turn influenced how modern anime has evolved to reflect that fandom! Jonathan returns to talk anime and how black fans, specifically black millennials, were raised on this new culture – which in turn influenced … More What is Anime’s Relationship to the Black Community?
It’s Criticism Time! This week the guys observe the discourse surrounding “bad comic book movies” and seek to expand thought, in between throwing rocks at their own favorite least-favorites.
2026 is on the clock, and the guys are back to discuss the struggle against ICE, Trump’s weirdo obsession with Greenland (and Donovan’s theory about it), and actual, factual hope for the future. *Technical issue were abound for this recording, so apologies for the inconsistent audio quality. ** This episode was recorded before the murder … More The Battle Against ICE and the Trump Administration
After paying tribute to the late, great Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and enduring our first Annual Amazon Shaming, Donovan and Harrison begin the long journey of recounting the story of their years as told in the movies, TV shows, and comics they enjoyed (and hated). The discussion of those revelatory works of media is interspersed with highlights and lowlights from 2025, including Superman, Sinners, 28 Years Later, Weapons, One Battle After Another, as well as small-screen terrors like Squid Game, The Last of Us, The Chair Company and more! Secrets are revealed, and the guys find themselves at loggerheads over the most unexpected film of the year… … More Year End Review 2025
The guys return to run back the last several weeks of politics in America, from the murder of Charlie Kirk and the attempt to weaponize his death by conservatives, to the election of Zohran Mamdani.
Part Two of the exploration into Don and Harry’s favorite episodes from their favorite shows explores singing spider-tanks, power mad immortals, big booty cyborgs and creepy laughing fish!
Amidst the turbulent news cycle, the guys take a breather by recalling five favorite episodes from their favorite shows, discussing how they’re written and how that informs their perspectives on world building in creative media. Spoilers for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Batman: The Animated Series!
In our third episode looking at fascism in media, we hone in the 1997 military/sci-fi flick Starship Troopers. Everyone fights, no one quits! Your cohosts Ace Harrison and Donovan Rico take apart the film as a work of propaganda and ask whether or not it’s entirely successful. … More What Did Starship Troopers Teach Us About Fascism?
Questions: We Don't Have Answers 