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The Worst of All Possible WorldsPromise Keepers: 700,000 Dicks Out for Jesus [ILL CONCEIVED Episode 1]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:
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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 to bring spiritual renewal to its attendees and a new order to the social health of the country. While they didn't quite pull off t...2025-06-201h 02
The Worst of All Possible Worlds194 - Everywhit (feat. We’re Not So Different) [Whit’s Endless Summer 44]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 evangelical movement.
We’re Not So Different: A mostly Medieval history podcast about how we’ve always been idiots
Patreon // Spotify // Appl...2025-06-182h 08
Movie Memory MachinePlaymobil: The Movie (2019) feat. Josh Boerman of The Worst of All Possible Worlds!What happens when you chase The LEGO Movie with none of the charm, none of the budget, and none of the jokes? You get Playmobil: The Movie—a box office catastrophe that tried to turn plastic figurines into profit.
This week, we’re joined by Josh Boerman of The Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast to dissect one of the strangest failures in modern animation. We break down the movie’s bizarre tone, its baffling creative choices, and how it ended up costing over $75 million while making less than ten. From Daniel Radcliffe’s cameo to musical numbers...2025-05-302h 18
The Worst of All Possible Worlds191 - Casablanca (1942)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
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”.
Media Referenced in this Episode:
Casablanca. Dir. Michael Curtiz, 1942.
Everybody Comes to Rick's
TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Interstitial: Pages 7-12 of "The Hidden Enemy," written and performed by Josh Boerm2025-05-2826 min
Horror Vanguard360 - Alien with Josh Boerman of Worst of All Possible Worlds!In space no one can hear you scream, but they can hear you podcast! We're joined by Josh Boerman from Worst of All Possible Worlds to chat about a classic horror movie and finally get to the bottom of what that blue laser actually means...
Listen to Worst of All Possible Worlds:
https://www.worstpossible.world
Keep up with Josh at:
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on Bluesky @bosh.worstpossible.world
Discuss your favorite mechanical keyboards with Horror Vanguard at:
bsky.app/profile/horrorvanguard.bsky.social
www.horrorvanguard.com (I built the website using an old MU-TH-UR 6000, bear with me)
You...2025-05-131h 51
The Worst of All Possible Worlds188 - The Merchwhit of Venice (feat. Quorators) [Whit’s Endless Summer 43]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 - Bluesky // Twitter // Instagram
Theater of Delights featuring Gran Nidorino!
Jeremy Kaplowitz - Bluesky // Twitter // Instagram
Quarators - Every Monday, comedians Jeremy Kaplowitz and Alex Ptak head to Quor...2025-05-071h 59
The Worst of All Possible Worlds187 - Sky King: The Story of Richard Russell (feat. Caleb from Western Kabuki)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
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, continuing to this day. This episode tries to figure out how and why that happened.
Note: This episode deals with suicide and rac...2025-04-3025 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds186 - Showgirls (feat. Renee Olstead)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.
Renee Olstead: Website // Instagram // OF // Twitter
Coalition of American Sex Workers
Media Referenced in this Episode:
Showgirls. Dir. Paul Verhoeven. 1995.
'Showgirls' at 25: Gina Ravera discusses the cult movie's most contr...2025-04-232h 09
Moleman in the MorningS5E2&3 feat. Josh Boerman - Cape Feare & Homer Goes to CollegeJon, Michael, Matt, and special guest Josh Boerman (from The Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast) watch The Simpsons episodes 'Cape Feare' & 'Homer Goes to College', and discuss what they say about society.Follow us on the Socials: @MolemanpodJon: @Meroka.bsky.socialMatt: @mattperspective.bsky.socialMichael: @buttonmashhorse.bsky.socialJosh: @bosh.worstpossible.world The Worst of All Possible Worlds: https://www.worstpossible.world/2025-04-182h 04
The Worst of All Possible Worlds184 - The Last of Us Part II (Part 1)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.
Media Referenced in the Episode:
The Last of Us Part II. Dir. Neil Druckmann. Naughty Dog. 2020.
220: Josh Boerman and Dylan Rank Game Mechanics With Us | Anime Sickos - Podcast for Geniuses
“The Evolution of Ellie” by Elise Favis. The Washington Post. July 1st, 2020.
G...2025-04-092h 46
Anime Sickos220: Josh Boerman and Dylan Rank Game Mechanics With UsWe return to our ongoing project to rank all game mechanics, but when it comes to the immersive sim and fighting game genres, we don't have the expertise required to make those decisions. So we had Josh Boerman from the Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast join us to help us with the imsim mechanics and our buddy Dylan (aka Jordi from Sicko Shock 2) do the fighting game ones. What's better than this: homies chilling and yapping about video games baby Check out Josh's podcast here: worstpossible.world2025-04-021h 49
The Worst of All Possible Worlds183 - The War Room (1993)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
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 electorate into sending Slick Willie to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Media Referenced in This Episode:
The War Room, dir. D.A. Pennebaker (Pennebaker Associates/October Films, 1993)
Feed, dir. Kevin Raffe...2025-04-0230 min
The Worst of All Possible WorldsINTERVIEW: Tim Faust on Defending MedicaidOur 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 benefits in their communities. Josh talked with Tim about how and why the federal government has been slashing access to Medicaid, what effects these cuts may have, and...2025-03-3138 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds179 - The Room (2003)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
How did the lads meet? Well that’s a very interesting story, when Brian and A.J. moved to New York with two suitcases and didn’t know anyone and they have-uh-they head to YMCA with a $2000 check which they could not cash. Why? Well, because it was an out of state bank. Anyway, uh- they were working as busboys in a hotel, and uh-uh Josh was sitting, drinking his coffee, and he was so beautiful, and they say hi to him. That’s how the...2025-03-0520 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds178 - Falling Down (feat. Justin Roczniak)Justin Roczniak (Well There’s Your Problem) and the lads walk in a straight line through Los Angeles and leave carnage in their wake as they cover Joel Schumacher’s 1993 boomer-palooza: Falling Down. Topics include LA geography, the fashion of mechanical engineers, and what it means to hold up an entire fast food joint because those darn cashiers won’t serve you your well-deserved Whomlette with a side of Whammy fries.
Justin Roczniak: Twitter // Youtube // Bluesky
Well There’s Your Problem is a podcast about engineering disasters and systemic failures, from a leftist perspec...2025-02-262h 19
The Worst of All Possible Worlds176 - The Social NetworkThe lads pledge to the Phoenix Club and destroy democracy as they cover David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin’s 2010 techbro parable: The Social Network. Topics include Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ iconic score, the polarizing nature of Sorkin’s writing, and what it means to live in a world ruled by Augustus Caesar wannabes like Mark Zuckerberg.
TICKETS TO GO SEE JOSH’S PLAY AT THE TANK IN NEW YORK CITY!
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofal...2025-02-122h 55
The Worst of All Possible WorldsINTERVIEW: maia arson crimew on online privacy and operational securityOur interview series about practical tactics to keep yourself and your community safe from the rising tide of fascism continues this week as Josh talks with maia arson crimew (it/she), a hacktivist and past guest on the show. Topics include:
The mechanics of how corporations and governments identify and track you across virtual and real-world spaces
Common ways that your devices give away information without your knowledge and how to disable those features
What encryption is and why it matters, especially when it comes to law enforcement
Tools that you can use to anonymize your usage online
2025-02-1043 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds175 - Final Fantasy VII [Part 2] (feat. Joe Kassabian)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
Joe Kassabian (Lions Led by Donkeys) and the lads hop in the Highwind and fly it straight into Sephiroth’s face as they conclude their coverage of Square’s monumental 1997 RPG: Final Fantasy VII. Topics include the wild quests of Yuffie and Vincent, the gamer-rage fueled final dungeon, and what it means to fight the end of the world when you’ve got a Sephiroth still lodged in your head.
Joe Kassabian: Twitter
Lions Led by Donkeys: The Lions Led By Donkeys...2025-02-0520 min
The Worst of All Possible WorldsINTERVIEW: Knowing your rights in the face of ICEFighting the tide of rising fascism requires good information. This week, Josh sat down with Isaac Adams, an immigration attorney with nearly a decade of experience defending immigrants in removal proceedings from the United States government, to get a better understanding of the current legal landscape. Among other things, we talked about:
What is new under the recently inaugurated Trump administration and what is merely a continuation of long-standing government policy
How the recently signed bipartisan Laken Riley Act expands the authority of ICE to detain undocumented immigrants indefinitely
How to document what you see effectively and spread...2025-01-3150 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds174 - Final Fantasy VII [Part 1] (feat. Joe Kassabian)Joe Kassabian (Lions Led by Donkeys) and the lads grab their buster swords and hit the streets or Midgar as they do battle with the nefarious Shinra Corporation in Square’s monumental 1997 RPG: Final Fantasy VII. Topics include Square’s dramatic split with Nintendo, the eclectic nature of the many, many minigames, and what it means to kill off a major character before the end of the first disc.
Joe Kassabian: Twitter
Lions Led by Donkeys: The Lions Led By Donkeys podcast is a military history podcast for laughing at the worst military failures, inept command...2025-01-292h 18
Masters of Our DomainPREVIEW: Gladiator (2000) Feat. Josh BoermanMilo, Patrick and Phoebe are joined by returning champion Josh Boerman from The Worst of All Possible Worlds to talk about Ridley Scott's Dudes Rock classic, which miraculously neither Josh nor Phoebe had seen.
Get this full episode on Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/118305381/
Check out TWOAPW here:
https://worstpossible.world
2024-12-2307 min
The Socialist ShelfEvery Young Man's Saddle: Every Young Man’s Battle, Ft. Josh BoermanAbandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.
Worst of All Possible Worlds’ Josh Boerman, veteran of both the Socialist Shelf and the battle every young man must face, join us as we take on the villainous Arterburn M Stephen and the downright freaky Fred Stoeker’s 2002, sexual purity self-help book, “Every Young Man’s Battle”
If you’ve ever wanted to face the intersection of evangelical sexual oppression and the New Right down while laughing about sumo wrestlers and stallions, this is your episode.
Disclaimer: t...2024-12-173h 08
The Worst of All Possible Worlds168 - The Nostalgia CriticTHIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
Hellloooooo, we’re The Worst of All Possible Worlds, we remember it so you don’t have to! We all remember Doug Walker, you know, that guy with the glasses, the tie, and the plain white background because they clearly couldn’t afford a better set? Well, wouldn’t you know it, he created a character called the Nostalgia Critic, a loud, obnoxious, Looney Tunes-adjacent blowhard who got famous for being very mad about Batman having a credit card. But does he have anyth...2024-12-1130 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds167 - Frank Capra’s “Why We Fight”The lads get drafted and give Mussolini the ole One-Two as they once again remember Pearl Harbor by covering Frank Capra’s series of WWII propaganda films: Why We Fight. Topics include the language of propaganda, the shittiness of fascist art, and what it means to watch your country become the thing it once stridently vowed to fight.
Media Referenced in this Episode:
Why We Fight. Dir. Frank Capra. 1942-1945.
TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Interstitial: “Too Big Roosevelt” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “Ol...2024-12-042h 17
The Worst of All Possible WorldsESSAY: StandingThis past summer, Josh wrote an essay about the church and denomination he grew up in, but didn't end up publishing it. The results of the election gave him the push he needed to finish putting it all together. He hopes it helps.
2024-11-1228 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds156 - The Magic School BusTHIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
The lads go surfing on a soundwave and swing through the stars as they tag along on the increasingly alarming field trips of Ms. Frizzle in the landmark children’s franchise: The Magic School Bus. Topics include the original books, the extraordinary TV show, and the computer game adaptations that taught a generation about the nightmarish mini-games hiding in their kidneys.
Media Referenced in this Episode:
The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. Scholastic. 1989.
The M...2024-09-1820 min
The Worst of All Possible WorldsINTERVIEW: Jason Koebler on the origins of Shrimp JesusJason Koebler is a co-founder and editor of 404 Media. Throughout 2024 Jason has been reporting on Facebook and how it’s become overrun with uncanny AI content, and last month he figured out where it’s all coming from. This morning Josh sat down with Jason to learn more about his reporting, and over the course of 40 minutes they talked about the degradation of Facebook and how it may be a sign of things to come for the rest of the internet.
Read more from Jason:
Where Facebook's AI Slop Comes From
Facebook’s AI Spam Isn’t the ‘D...2024-09-0243 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds149 - A.I.: Artificial Intelleugence (feat. Juniper) [Whit’s Endless Summer 37]OUR LIVE SHOW IN COLORADO SPRINGS IS THIS WEEKEND, SUNDAY, AUGUST 4. CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS!
Juniper (Western Kabuki) visits the lads in Odyssey for further adventures in escape rooms, game nights, and bidding farewell to a beloved Odyssian through the power of deepfakes. Topics include Jigsaw middle schoolers, the rage of the Whit 3, and the complicated legacy of both Eugene Meltsner and the man who leant him his voice: Will Ryan.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of ou...2024-07-312h 19
The Socialist ShelfI Hate When Evil is Born: Black, ft Josh BoermanIt's a three-peat folks! They're calling him the three-peater!
Josh Boerman of the Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast is BACK to help the Shelfers crack Ted Dekker's 2004 evangelical fantasy novel, "Black: The Birth of Evil."
We examine the inherent weaknesses of the evangelical fiction author, figure out why Ted hates the French so much, ask bold questions about magical super-vaccines, and discuss the horrifying banality of a story set in paradise.
Oh also, we have some serious questions about why Ted based his...2024-07-272h 24
The Worst of All Possible Worlds146 - Shrimp Jesus and the Death of FacebookTHIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
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 pleasure, the camaraderie? She did good work, we’re so proud of her! 🤩 This is a place of ghosts. King Charles visited Sudan to feed the hungry children! 🫅🇸🇩 And soon you will join us in the mist. Wow...2024-07-1021 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds140 - Doki Doki Literature Club! (feat. Anne Huston)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
Anne Huston (Caveat NYC) joins Brian and Josh in getting bombarded by the twee writing, adorable anime girls, and abject existential terror of Team Salvato's 2017 dating sim/horror cult hit Doki Doki Literature Club! Along the way they talk about the appeal of fanworks, the perils of adolescence, and the mortifying ordeal of being known by a fictitious character inside a computer game.
Anne Huston is the General Manager at Caveat, a cabaret comedy theatre located on the Lower East Side o...2024-05-2933 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds137 - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (feat. Josh Sawyer)Josh Sawyer (Pentiment, Fallout: New Vegas) and the lads grab their razors and complete their arms as they attend the tale of Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim’s 1979 barber-ic bloodbath: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Topics include the show’s horror film origins, the unimpeachable score, and the long term ramifications of using Sweeney Todd as a gateway drug into the wild world of musical theater.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreo...2024-05-082h 17
The Worst of All Possible Worlds134 - The Dutch Knight (feat. Trevor Strunk) [Whit’s Endless Summer #34]THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall!
Trevor Strunk (No Cartridge) returns once again to the horrors of Odyssey as he and the lads face down the true return of the devious Dutchman, Regis Blackgaard, in part two of Adventures in Odyssey’s most notorious run: Darkness Before Dawn. Topics include the vocal dexterity of Earl Boen, the collaboration between Paul McCusker and Philip Lollar, and the deeply depressing conversion of Eugene Meltsner.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premi...2024-04-1721 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds130 - Heaven is for Real (feat. Radio Free Tote Bag)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO at Patreon.com/worstofall
This week, Josh and Brian are joined by Radio Free Tote Bag as they take the next direct flight straight to God’s Throne. We discuss the history of books about heaven, the Near-Death Experience community, and the many thrills of saying “Burpo” over and over again.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Radio...2024-03-2025 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds111 - Slender Man and Marble Hornets (feat. Anne Huston)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
Anne Huston (Caveat NYC) joins Brian and Josh to do battle with the Slender Man and other monsters from 2009’s viral YouTube horror series Marble Hornets. Their journey takes them from semi-incoherent college memories to the content cornucopia of the Something Awful Forums, Reddit, and early YouTube: reminders of an internet where people could create freely without extreme commercial pressure. They also talk a lot about something called Ong’s Hat. Hope you had a happy Halloween!
Anne Huston is the General Manager...2023-11-0129 min
The Socialist ShelfReal Capitalism Has Never Been Tried: Compassionate Capitalism ft. Josh Boerman Part 1It's time to learn more than we ever wanted to about Amway founder and general rightwing psycho, Richard Devos.
Josh Boerman from Worst of All Possible Worlds returns to the podcast to discuss Devos' self-help book/manifestos "Compassionate Capitalism" and, to a lesser extent, "Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People." They're some doozies, folks.
Who is this Rich guy, and how did he manage to get his sticky fingers all over everything in the whole country? What's the deal with multi-level marketing companies? Is socialism doomed (Rich thinks so in 1994, he becomes less sure by 2008.)
Check out Josh's podcast here...2023-09-291h 02
The Worst of All Possible Worlds100 - Deus ExTo celebrate their 100th episode, the lads decide to take some zyme and augment their vision as they finally cover what many people (including Josh) consider to be one of the greatest video games ever made: Ion Storm’s Deus Ex. Topics include the variety of gameplay styles, the forever-memed dialogue, and the legacy of the first PC game that let you kill a guy with your legs.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon...2023-08-162h 31
The Worst of All Possible WorldsSPECIAL INTERVIEW: Jay Anthony Franke on Deus Ex and becoming JC DentonWelcome to Deus Ex Week. In advance of Wednesday’s episode, Jay Anthony Franke, the original voice of JC Denton, sat down with Josh to talk about his experience working on Deus Ex, both as a QA tester and a voice actor. Topics in this half-hour interview include Jay’s career in acting, the process of making such an influential game, and how Deus Ex continues to be so resonant 23 years after its original release.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of o...2023-08-1435 min
The Socialist ShelfRed Vs. Blue: American War Part 1, ft Josh BoermanWhat if everything was bad...and then it got worse...and then it kept getting worse...and everything generally stayed bad forever?
That's what Omar El Akkad tackles in his work of climate fiction, "American War," and that's what the Shelfers are here to discuss. But wait! Joining us is noted apocalyptician and student of declining empire, Josh Boerman from The Worst of All Possible Worlds!
What will happen to the American South without left organizing? What is the trajectory of a society without hope? What, if anything, is the use of novels preaching dire...2023-07-141h 00
The Worst of All Possible Worlds94 - God’s Not Dead (feat. Greg Foster)Greg Foster (@dadshammdad) from Brigham Young Money challenges Brian and Josh to construct and deliver a classroom rebuttal to the film that launched at least a thousand holy text messages: God’s Not Dead (2014). Topics include the ethics of duck consumption, the parallels between Mormon and evangelical Christian culture, and the status of higher education in the state of Louisiana.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Greg Foster: Twitter / Bluesky
2023-07-052h 11
The Worst of All Possible Worlds93 - Julius Caesar (1953)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall.
The lads cry havoc and loose the dogs of war as they cover Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1953 adaptation of one of Josh’s favorite Shakespeare plays: Julius Caesar. Topics include the messiness of revolution, the shockwaves of Brando’s career, and what it means to be masculine in a world where even your best bros can stab you with knives.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add y...2023-06-2826 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds85 - The Worst of all Possible Worlds Presents: Brian is Back! The 85th Episode Spectacular, Live! From New York City (feat. Michael Kupperman)
THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
Josh, Brian, and A.J. celebrate 500 patrons on Patreon by baring their legs at Caveat NYC, then sit down with Michael Kupperman to discuss two evangelical children's shows from the 80s and 90s: McGee and Me and the animated version of Adventures in Odyssey.
Michael Kupperman's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MichaelKupperman/
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
TWOAPW theme by Bren...2023-05-0317 min
The Worst of All Possible WorldsSPECIAL INTERVIEW: The WGA Prepares to Strike (w/ Colby Day)Tonight at midnight, all union contracts governing how screenplays are written and paid for will expire unless a deal is reached between Hollywood and the Writers Guild of America. To find out what's been happening and what the implications of a writers' strike would be on the entertainment industry, Josh sat down and talked with WGA screenwriter Colby Day, whose upcoming film Spaceman, starring Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan, and Paul Dano, is scheduled to be released by Netflix this fall.
Follow the WGA on social media:
WGA West on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook
WGA East on Twitter / I...2023-05-0239 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds84 - Everything’s Coming Up Meltsner! (feat. Josiah Sutton) [Whit’s Endless Summer #23]~~TICKETS FOR OUR LIVE SHOW ON THURSDAY 4/27 IN NYC ARE AVAILABLE NOW! Get your tickets right now at this link.~~
Josiah Sutton (Mammonburg) trades the lads’ souls for pogs as they return once again to Odyssey to cover the trials and tribulations of making assumptions and the love life of Eugene Meltsner. Topics include homeschooling, total depravity, and whether or not everything is, in fact, coming up Milhouse.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month...2023-04-262h 07
The Worst of All Possible Worlds81 - Ease on Down Gilead Lane [Colerainey Days #41]
~~TICKETS FOR OUR LIVE SHOW ON THURSDAY 4/27 IN NYC ARE AVAILABLE NOW! Get your tickets right now at this link.~~
THIS IS A PREVIEW OF A PREMIUM EPISODE. FOR THE FULL THING, CHECK US OUT AT Patreon.com/worstofall
The lads return once more to the quaint, little town of Coleraine as they catch up with the Morrisons in their ongoing series chronicling the Keys for Kids’ Christian radio drama: Down Gilead Lane. Topics include the long-awaited review of the “pilot”, the heinousness of the Richter Family, and the ever-present threat of Family Fun Center universalists.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to th...2023-04-0521 min
MammonburgThe Most Focused of All Possible Families w/ Josh Boerman (3/13/2023)In today's episode, your tour guides are joined by Josh Boerman (@boshj) of The Worst of All Possible Worlds to learn a little bit about Focus on the Family, James Dobson, and how they need to dare to discipline.Follow us on Twitter @MammonburgpodFollow Josh and The Worst of All Possible Worlds on TwitterFollow the hosts on Twitter: Jackal, Finch, Josiah, and Phil.BibliographyShadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right - Anne NelsonJesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith...2023-03-142h 11
The Worst of All Possible Worlds76 - Hackers (feat. maia arson crimew)
TSA hacker maia arson crimew (@_nyancrimew) teaches Josh and Brian how to hack the planet as they ride the internet superhighway straight into the eXtreme cyberpunk 90’s nostalgia of Iain Softley’s Hackers. Topics include the art of the 90s montage, the legacy of Hackers in the hacktivist community, and the paramount importance of pulling a righteous hack.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
maia arson crimew (it/she) is gay, mostly for girls, and a...2023-03-012h 07
The Worst of All Possible Worlds72 - John Whittaker: Tomb Raider (feat. Trevor Strunk) [Whit’s Endless Summer #20]Trevor Strunk (No Cartridge Audio) and the lads grab their whips and commit a colonialism as they return to Odyssey for some rip-roaring adventures in treasure hunting, stranger danger, and French missionary pranksters. Topics include the defense of property rights, the treachery of false uncles, and the many, many, many jobs of John Avery Whittaker.Trevor Strunk
Twitter / Story Mode
No Cartridge Audio: Critical but casual approaches to current, past, and future video games six times a week. In addition, guests will periodically share their own aesthetic and personal experiences with games in conversation!
Available on Apple Podcasts // Spotify // Red Circle
...2023-02-012h 21
The Worst of All Possible Worlds69 - Uncut GemsTHIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
The lads grab their opals and dive deep into the Diamond District as they cover the Safdie Brothers’ masterful two-hour panic attack: Uncut Gems. Topics include the sublime pacing, the proliferation of American gambling, and the career-best performance from Mr. Deeds himself: Adam Sandler.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Media Referenced in the Episode:
Uncut Gems...2023-01-1122 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds63 - How I Met Your Mother (feat. David Armstrong)THIS IS A PREVIEW. CHECK OUT THE FULL EPISODE AT Patreon.com/worstofall
David Armstrong (Omni BiLateral PANic) sits the lads down to tell them the fraught and incredibly lengthy story of the hit CBS sitcom: How I Met Your Mother. Topics include the infamous ending, the deck shenanigans of Josh Radnor, and the slow death of the American multi-cam sitcom. And don't forget to read A.J.’s HIMYM Spec Script/Nightmare - “Have Ya Met Ted?”
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus...2022-11-3020 min
The Worst of All Possible Worlds58 - Every Young Man’s Battle (feat. Laura Ramadei)Laura Ramadei from the Girls On Porn podcast stops by to help Brian and Josh block, tackle, and blast their way through the anti-porn manifesto for evangelical Christian teenage boys terrified of their own sex drives: Every Young Man’s Battle. You’ll never look at a jogger the same way, and for that we apologize. Sort of.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, plus add your name to the masthead of our website, by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Girls On Porn is a porn rev...2022-10-262h 04The Worst of All Possible Worlds48 - 24 (feat. Yurié Collins)Yurié Collins (@babypinkhaus) and the lads race against the clock as they dive headlong into the soupy plotting and unrelenting patriotism of Fox’s torture-palooza: 24. Topics include the rampant Islamophobia of the early 2000s, the logistics of ski mask ownership in Los Angeles, and the ticking time-bomb of imprinting Jack Bauer’s ideology onto the American psyche.
YURIE'S SOCIALS
Tiktok: @babypinkhaus
Instagram: @babypinkhaus
**TICKETS FOR THE PINBALL LIVE SHOW**
https://www.nycpinballchamps.com
MEDIA REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
Josh's 24 parody from high school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmtiG...2022-08-172h 15The Worst of All Possible Worlds46 - Sid Meier’s Civilization (feat. Nate Bethea)Nate Bethea (@inthesedeserts) joins the lads for a record-breaking third time as they build wonders and conquer the world in Sid Meier’s revolutionary empire simulator: Civilization. They discuss the gamification of climate change, the problem with “Barbarians”, and the inherent optimism of hearing a satellite go “Beep, beep, beep.”
NATE'S PODCASTS
Kill James Bond! https://open.spotify.com/show/5kQS8cE6xF7rUzO2vtCZ3s?si=6fe11f17f1bb4793
What A Hell of a Way to Die: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XEfRCDbLKOB8naNbICU6q?si=6f0a8dfde3a54023
TRASHFUTURE: https://open.spotify.com/show/4...2022-08-032h 08The Worst of All Possible Worlds44 - Rossum’s Universal RobocopsWhile Josh is out building Delta City, Brian and A.J. make their way to the streets of Old Detroit and go toe to metallic boot with the future of law enforcement: Robocop. They discuss Paul Verhoeven’s Looney Tunes aesthetic, the logistics of jaw acting, and the seeming indestructibility of 80’s Nostalgia.
TWOAPW Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan Dalton
https://www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com
2022-07-201h 43The Worst of All Possible Worlds39 - The Screwtape Letters (feat. Emily Robinson)
THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE GO TO https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Emily Robinson (My Brother, My Captain, My Podcast) joins the lads in Hell as they excavate the epistolary proselytizing and smug finger-wagging of C.S. Lewis’ scourge of YA reading lists everywhere: The Screwtape Letters. Topics include the rivalry between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, the rampant misogyny of Screwtape’s letters, and what it means to live your life in constant fear that you’ll one day be devoured by demons.
My Brother, My Captain, My Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show...2022-06-1519 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds38 - Man of the Year (feat. Luke Savage)
Luke Savage (Michael and Us, Jacobin) joins the lads for some minor election fraud as they cover Barry Levinson’s 2006 political satire//thriller/rom-com/centrist fever dream: Man of the Year. Topics include the movie’s tonal whiplash, Laura Linney’s bafflingly committed performance, and the hollowness of centrist ideology as reflected through Robin Williams doing fart jokes.
Michael and Us: https://open.spotify.com/show/44Uwr3yMXRlqE5Elh5KuL9?si=f74aa9293f6a4a9c
Michael and Us Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus
A Link to Luke’s Book The Dead Center: https://www.orbooks.com/catalog/the-dead-ce...2022-06-081h 23The Worst of All Possible Worlds37 - Perchance To Eugene (feat. Jen Albright) [Whit’s Endless Summer #14]THIS IS A PREVIEW. CHECK OUT THE FULL EPISODE AT https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Brian and Josh return to Odyssey with Have You Seen This? host Jen Albright (@Bowsnonk) in tow, this time to focus on everyone’s favorite polymath and teenage genius: Eugene Meltsner. And Eugene’s secret shame—his lack of a driver’s license—doesn’t prevent us from going all in on his various annoying tendencies. Additional topics include the uneven standards that Christians apply to shock jocks, the inherent difficulty of reshaping one’s opinion, and obscure town ordinances about horses.
Episodes co...2022-06-0132 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds36 - Dear Evan Hansen (2021): The Gang Exploits a Teenager’s Death (feat. Brendan Dalton)
The lads wave through a window as they force theme song composer/wandering troubadour Brendan Dalton (Dickinson, Younger) to climb the great rotting tree that is the 2022 film adaptation of the hit 2016 Broadway hit: Dear Evan Hansen. They discuss the musical’s baffling plot, Ben Platt’s trip to the beach that makes you old, and the greater state of mental health in a world where you won’t necessarily #befound.
Christmas in Middle-Earth: https://www.brendan-dalton.com/christmas-in-middle-earth.html https://open.spotify.com/album/5dhwDnIufW1vdorSYQGGpc?si=C8ieo9nSR8CQk6-MZOruow
TWOAPW Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by B...2022-05-252h 18The Worst of All Possible Worlds35 - The Visit: One Day an Old Lady Will Come for Us TooTHIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full episode at patreon.com/worstofall
The lads hop on the midnight train to Güllen as they explore the delightfully weird and morally murky depths of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s classic tragicomedy: The Visit. They discuss the many adaptations of the play, the enduring legacy of its themes, and the uneasy feelings brought on by the justice of an unstoppable bionic woman.
TWOAPW Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com
2022-05-1821 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds34 - Kenneth Branagh’s William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
While Josh is out sick with the novel coronavirus, Brian and A.J. return once again to Elsinore Castle as they dive headlong into the four-hour, bloated monstrosity that is Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. They discuss the difficulties of adapting Hamlet to the screen, Kenneth Branagh’s lips, and the dangers of treating any text, no matter how great, as sacrosanct.
TWOAPW
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com
2022-05-112h 00The Worst of All Possible WorldsUNLOCKED: Josh interviews Harm Venhuizen on Calvin University’s recent controversiesLast week, Josh got on a call with Harm Venhuizen, outgoing editor-in-chief of Calvin University's student newspaper Chimes to discuss the recent policy choices made by the school and their consequences.
Links to Harm’s articles:
“Calvin’s Policies Against Same Sex Marriage a Motivator in Split with Center for Social Research, Sources Say”https://calvinchimes.org/2022/03/14/calvins-policies-against-same-sex-marriage-a-motivator-in-split-with-center-for-social-research-sources-say/
"‘I’m not going to be ashamed’: Queer CSR employee quits to speak freely about split from Calvin”
https://calvinchimes.org/2022/03/21/im-not-going-to-be-ashamed-queer-csr-employee-quits-to-speak-freely-about-split-from-calvin/
“‘Walking a tightrope’: Calvin’s complicated stance on LGBTQ+ issues has caused problems for d...2022-05-1043 min
TRASHFUTURESchool’s Out For Rapture ft. Josh BoermanJosh Boerman from The Worst of All Possible Worlds joins the entire gang to discuss the Christian Dominionist designs on American society through the lens of the "school choice" campaign led by, among others, West Michigan's very own Betsy DeVos. We look at parallels between similar movements here, and how they link to other demands made by the same people.
The Worst of All Possible Worlds (@TWOAPW) is a weekly podcast of case studies in the pop culture of a dying empire. Co-hosts Josh (@boshj) and Brian (@spocks_brian) grew up evangelical in Michigan and N...2022-05-101h 06The Worst of All Possible Worlds33 - Actually, It’s About Ethics in Middle School Journalism [Whit’s Endless Summer #13]THIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full episode at patreon.com/worstofall
The lads follow a trail of corruption and intrigue as they return to Odyssey to dig up a scoop on the greatest calamity facing the youth of today: the ethics of middle-school journalism. Topics include the true meaning of free speech, the importance of school newspaper competitions, and the right-wing radicalization of Lucy Cunningham-Schultz. Plus, an interview with Harm Venhuizen (@HarmVenhuizen), the outgoing editor-in-chief of the Calvin University student paper Chimes (@CalvinChimes), to talk ethics in collegiate journalism and beyond.
Episodes covered:
#143...2022-05-0421 minThe Worst of All Possible WorldsSPECIAL INTERVIEW: Wendy Lecker and Nicole Ciullo of the Education Law CenterYou’ve probably seen a lot of clips recently of the ongoing culture war coming to a flashpoint in school board meetings across the country. To learn how the reactionary right is using these conflicts to push for increased school privatization, Josh (@boshj) sat down with Wendy Lecker and Nicole Ciullo from the Education Law Center, a Newark-based organization that defends public schools and advocates in the courts for educational equity.
This forty-minute interview covers topics such as the broader context for the current curriculum battle, the history of the mechanics of school funding and segregation, and ho...2022-04-3042 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds32 - Heart Condition (1990): Denzel Washington’s Worst Movie (feat. Michael Kupperman)The lads throw on their bad hair pieces and fine Italian suits as they, along with special guest Michael Kupperman (@Mkupperman), gaze into the gaping maw of the much-maligned Bob Hoskins and Denzel Washington buddy-cop/ghost/crime-thriller/“comedy”: Heart Condition. Topics include mid-budget 90s studio movies, Denzel Washington’s comedy chops, and the rot at the diseased heart of the supposed end of history.
Michael Kupperman’s Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/MichaelKupperman
TWOAPW Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp...2022-04-271h 57The Worst of All Possible Worlds31 - Reefer Madness (feat. Stefan Borst-Censullo)This is a PREVIEW. To listen to the full episode, go to https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
It’s D.A.R.E.’s worst nightmare as the lads, along with renowned cannabis lawyer Stefan Borst-Censullo (@Stefan_BC), reach new highs and tackle the devil’s weed in the 1936 propaganda film Reefer Madness. Topics include the racist history of narcotics crackdowns, the current state of marijuana law in the United States, and the circular madness of the war on drugs.
TWOAPW Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brend...2022-04-2030 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds30 - Whit Dies (feat. Lev Novak) [Whit’s Endless Summer #12]The lads and special guest Lev Novak (@LevNovak) do battle with the Imagination Station as Adventures in Odyssey tackles its two toughest topics yet: death and also those three guys that visited Jesus that one time. Topics include the gifts of the magi, the preposterousness of hell, and the seemingly unkillable deity known as John Avery Whittaker.
Episodes Discussed:
176,177 - The Star, parts 1&2
211,212 - The Mortal Coil, parts 1&2
TWOAPW Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com
2022-04-132h 01The Worst of All Possible Worlds29 - Alan Wake (feat. Jack Gilbert)THIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full thing at patreon.com/worstofall
My name is Alan Wake. I’m a writer. Three podcasters and their friend, Jack Horton Gilbert, played through my story and talked about it for three hours. What followed was wild and dark and weird, even by my standards. Stephen King once said, “My wife and kids won’t touch a pizza with anchovies on it. But I like anchovies.“* I think about that all the time.
Jack’s Monologue:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CbtRwqPlZKp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link2022-04-0629 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds28 - Video Redeemed The Radio Star (feat. Rosey Armstrong)Saddle up your horses as the lads, along with Rosey Armstrong (Hans Gruber and the Die Hards, Los Kurados), 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 importance of artistic integrity in an industry seemingly designed to destroy it, and the rampaging sexiness of Michael W. Smith.
Rosey’s Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbGYYsDLFy2wmwFR9s69NZO90yE-5j9P
Hans Gruber and the Die Hards:
twitter.com/Gruberites2022-03-302h 26The Worst of All Possible Worlds27 - Whit Owns the Libs (feat. Nate Bethea) [Whit’s Endless Summer #11]THIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full thing at patreon.com/worstofall
Nate Bethea aka @inthesedeserts (What a Hell of a Way To Die, Trashfuture) returns to Odyssey (and the podcast!) as he and the lads tackle the real problems facing a divided America: insecticide, new highways, and bigotry against “citters”. Topics include the environmental activism of the early 90's, Pearl Harbor, and the benefits of having an American legend graffiti your door.
Episodes discussed:
#128 - One Bad Apple
#129 - Not One of Us
#175 - East Winds, Raining
#202 - Timmy’s Cabin2022-03-2341 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds26 - West Side Story (2021) (feat. Matt Barbot)
The lads, along with special guest Matt Barbot (@BarbotRobot), have rockets in their pockets as they rumble with Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner’s 2021 adaptation of the musical theater classic: West Side Story. They discuss the complicated legacy of the original musical, the pitfalls of adaptation, and the importance of producing new work in an industry obsessed with refurbishing the old.
Frijoles by Matt Barbot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtjZU2Cvo74
Matt’s New Play Exchange:
https://newplayexchange.org/users/1342/matt-barbot
Buy Matt's Play!
https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/red-bull-shorts-volume-3-1946259152
TWOAPW
Patreon:
https://w...2022-03-162h 01The Worst of All Possible Worlds25 - Tiktok Killed the Video Star
THIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full thing at patreon.com/worstofall
Bust out your ring lights and twenty dollar phone clamps because this week the lads dive headlong into the world of influences with the hit (?) reality shows Netflix’s Hype House and Hulu’s The D’Amelio Show. Topics include the emptiness of influencer culture, the pressures of being the most famous teenager in the world, and the arduous but necessary work of differentiating the person from their persona.
Josh’s video:
https://youtu.be/CQ8vgXOFuUo
TWOAPW
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Website:
Worstpossible.world
Theme by Bren...2022-03-0938 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds24 - Richard Dichard Redemption [Whit’s Endless Summer #10]The lads face down the dastardly Dr. Regis Blackgaard as they once again return to Odyssey for a dizzying foray into the world of forgiveness and electronic stores. Topics include Midwestern social mores, the nature of revenge, and the importance of unionizing in a world full of John Avery Whittakers.
Episodes discussed:
#155 & #156: Waylaid in the Windy City, Parts 1 and 2
#159 The Homecoming
#160 A Rathbone of Contention
For further Context, check out TWOAPW episodes:
7 - In a Gadda da Whitta
8 - Blackgaardology
TWOAPW Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll2022-03-021h 48The Worst of All Possible Worlds23 - FLCL (feat. Anne Huston)THIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full thing at patreon.com/worstofall
Things get WILD as the lads, along with special guest Anne Huston (General Manager of Caveat), strap on their Gibson Flying V/EB-0 1961 Bass guitars and dive headlong into the Loony Tunes madness and shocking poignancy of Kazuya Tsurumaki and Yōji Enokido’s hit anime: FLCL. Topics include the horrific comedy of puberty, Japan’s complicated relationship with the West, and the serenity that comes with no thots, only robots.
Caveat:
https://www.caveat.nyc
Anne Huston on Instag...2022-02-2332 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds22 - Whit vs the Fundies (feat. Nate Lamagna) [Whit’s Endless Summer #9]
The lads make their long-awaited return to Odyssey as they bring special guest Nate Lamagna (@vrunt) along for some wacky adventures in dealing with the second coming of Christ, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the realization that your best friends’ dad has debilitating alcoholism! Topics include the business of rapture-mongering, the parallels between AiO and The Simpsons, and one of the strangest episodes of Odyssey ever as Dr. James Dobson comes to town.
EPISODES DISCUSSED:
#145 The Second Coming
#222 The Jesus Cloth
#150 Home Is Where The Hurt Is
#167 Dobson Comes to Town
Nate Lamagna
Twitter: @vrunt
TWOAPW
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Wo...2022-02-162h 18The Worst of All Possible Worlds21 - New York Undercover (feat. Trevor Beaulieu)THIS IS THE FIRST HALF OF OUR DISCUSSION. For the full episode, check us out on Patreon: patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Special guest Trevor Beaulieu (Champagne Sharks) joins the lads as they solve a pretty boilerplate case and then dress up in fancy disguises for a negligible amount of screen-time to discuss the immensely popular and massively overlooked (by white people) Dick Wolf procedural: New York Undercover. They discuss the Network Wars of the mid-90s, the brilliant music and outdated storylines of Undercover, and the procedural empire of Richard D. Wolf.
CW: contains discussions of ep...2022-02-091h 17The Worst of All Possible Worlds20 - The Long Dark Souls of the Soul (feat. Trevor Strunk)The lads and special guest Trevor Strunk (No Cartridge, Story Mode) take up the mantle of the Chosen Undead as they attempt to link the fire by climbing the trap-filled Snake Fortress of video game culture that is Dark Souls. They discuss difficulty settings in video games, the pernicious gatekeeping of gitting gud, and what Dark Souls can teach us about surviving an apocalypse.
Trevor Strunk:
Twitter: @Hegelbon
No Cartridge:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0nvqvbeKNXYnCngVWQwanL?si=d1d254ff82304435
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-cartridge-audio/id1212245244
Story Mode: Video...2022-02-021h 50The Worst of All Possible Worlds19 - Coriolanus (2011): The Coriolanus Effect (feat. Josh Sawyer)THIS IS THE FIRST HALF OF OUR DISCUSSION. For the full episode, check out our Patreon: patreon.com/WorstOfAll
The lads and special guest Josh Sawyer (Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity) go beard to beard with the mob as they face down one of Shakespeare’s most brutal and overlooked tragedies: Coriolanus. They discuss Ralph Fiennes’ excellent 2011 film adaptation, the dehumanizing weaponization of soldiers in an ever-expanding empire, and the uncanny horror of Chekhovian Slendermen. Was Zizek right to say that this movie is "like God's eyes in an Orthodox icon?" You'll just have to listen to fin...2022-01-191h 26The Worst of All Possible Worlds18 - Pokémon (feat. Ashleigh Stoneman)The lads, along with special guest Ashleigh Stoneman (The Very Worst, The Merry Worst), venture off into the tall grass to do battle with the literal wild animal that is the Pokémon franchise. They discuss the pastoral origins of Pokémon, its literal demonization at the hands of the Christian Right, and the existential nightmare of being the very best, like no one ever was.
Ashleigh Stoneman
Twitter: @ashstoneman
The Very Worst
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-very-worst/id1434474756
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GC277C5qDCAUnzONwtTHh?si=d713...2022-01-032h 11The Worst of All Possible Worlds17 - Dreaming of a Whit Christmas [Whit’s Endless Summer #8]THIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full thing at patreon.com/worstofall
The lads knock back a few eggnogs and experience a true Christmas miracle as they cover the first actually good episode of Adventures in Odyssey: “Monty’s Christmas”. Topics include the power of empathy, Christmas angels, and the legacy of the late, great voice actor Will Ryan.
Episodes Discussed:
87: Elijah Part 1
88: Elijah Part 2
97: Monty’s Christmas
98: The Visitors
115: An Act of Mercy
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com
2021-12-2231 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds16 - Odyssey Salutes the Troops! (feat. Nate Bethea) [Whit’s Endless Summer #7]
The lads enlist Nate Bethea (What a Hell of a Way To Die, TRASHFUTURE) to help battle their way through some of Adventures in Odyssey’s most patriotic episodes. They discuss the cliches of war stories, the manufactured outrage around flag burning, and getting uncucked at the hands of Dr. Beanes.
Nate’s Twitter: @inthesedeserts
Nate’s Podcasts:
What A Hell of a Way to Die https://open.spotify.com/show/1XEfRCDbLKOB8naNbICU6q?si=6f0a8dfde3a54023
TRASHFUTURE https://open.spotify.com/show/4loPiV9XWjVOitg2XfzK7Q?si=ef69cc5a7b114333
Lions Led By Donkeys https://open.spotify.co...2021-12-082h 11The Worst of All Possible WorldsEMERGENCY POD: REMEMBERING STEPHEN SONDHEIM (feat. Graham Techler)
One week ago, the world lost the greatest musical theater composer of all time. This week, we brought in Graham Techler (The New Yorker, Tooning out the News) to record an episode about Stephen Sondheim’s life and legacy. What started out with sharing favorite shows and tunes turned into a broader conversation about art, commerce, and the paradox of attempting to create work that can inspire and endure in a hopeless world. Everybody rise.
Graham Techler
Twitter: @gr8h8m_t3chl3r
grahamtechler.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brend...2021-12-031h 47The Worst of All Possible Worlds15 - Putting the Christ Back Into Thanksgiving [Whit’s Endless Summer #6]THIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full thing at patreon.com/worstofall
Brian's (@spocks_brian) back in town and in our first in-person episode, he, Josh (@boshj) and A.J. (@thefuzzymask) go over his favorite holiday: T-Givez. Yes, that's what he calls it. Yes, he's called it that for years. No, he won't stop. In this episode we discuss the history of thanksgiving, the value of acknowledging your circumstances, and that one time a dead body was discovered in the basement of Whit's End.
Episodes covered:
39, 40: The Case of the Secret Room, Parts 1 a...2021-11-2437 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds14 - Heavy Rain (feat. David Armstrong)The boys and special guest David Armstrong (The Omni Bilateral Panic Podcast) press X to Shaun as they clumsily stagger through the wasteland of David Cage’s 2010 damp catastrophe: Heavy Rain. They discuss the creative limits of video-game-as-movie, the allegations of Quantic Dream’s toxic work environment, and the pros and cons of weapons-grade cocaine.
Omni Bilateral Panic:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NGRu97Lto5fl81Kqjfdk3?si=196c041d046b4843
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/omni-bilateral-panic/id1586920943
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan...2021-11-102h 11The Worst of All Possible Worlds13 - A Thief in the NightTHIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full thing at patreon.com/worstofall
Everybody’s gone to the rapture as Josh (@boshj), Brian (@spocks_brian), and A.J. (@TheFuzzyMask) go on the slow helicopter ride into the apocalypse that is the 1972 evangelical fear-mongering classic: A Thief in the Night. They discuss the cult of rapture-pilling, California Christians, and the sexual magnetism of Chester A. Arthur.
Full episode at Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com
2021-10-2705 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds13 - A Thief in the Night (PREVIEW)Everybody’s gone to the rapture as Josh (@boshj), Brian (@spocks_brian), and A.J. (@TheFuzzyMask) go on the slow helicopter ride into the apocalypse that is the 1972 evangelical fear-mongering classic: A Thief in the Night. They discuss the cult of rapture-pilling, California Christians, and the sexual magnetism of Chester A. Arthur.
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com2021-10-271h 49The Worst of All Possible Worlds12 - Hangman’s Curse (2003): Auto-Perettic Asphyxiation (feat. Felicia Lobo and Lauren Harris)The Sinister Sisters, Felicia Lobo (@girlygorehorror) and Lauren Harris, join Josh (@boshj), Brian (@spocks_brian), A.J. (@TheFuzzyMask) to battle the forces of darkness, goths, and spiders (mostly spiders) as they face the 2003 movie adaptation of Frank Peretti’s evangelical horror disaster Hangman’s Curse. They discuss the power of spooky fonts, the demonic consequences of prayer in schools, and the subtle joys of being covered in spiders.
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Sinister Sisters Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sinister-sisters/id1450842514
Girly Gore:
https://www.youtube.com...2021-10-132h 17The Worst of All Possible Worlds11 - Bothered About Castles and Cauldrons (feat. Scott Benson) [Whit’s Endless Summer #5]Grab your swords and belts and other things you need as Josh (@boshj), Brian (@spocks_brian), A.J. (@TheFuzzyMask) and former Christian ska artist/Night in the Woods co-creator Scott Benson (@bombsfall) kick off the Halloween season by larping their way through Adventures in Odyssey’s most scarring episodes. They discuss the insidiousness of the Satanic Panic, the perils of young Christian love, and the delightful consequences of summoning a demon.
Episodes discussed:
First Love
Suspicious Minds
Castles & Cauldrons parts 1 and 2
Recently Scott made a beau...2021-09-292h 45The Worst of All Possible Worlds10 - Josie and the Pussycats (feat. Jessie Cannizzaro and Eleanor Philips)Strap on your long tails and ears for hats, because Brian (@spocks_brian), A.J. (@TheFuzzyMask), Josh (@boshj), and special guests Jessie Cannizzaro (Puffs, @JessCannizzaro) and Eleanor Philips (Puffs, @ecphilips) are literally climbing up the Billboard Charts to talk about the 2001 cult classic Josie and the Pussycats. They discuss the legacy of the seminal soundtrack, the rampant sexism of film criticism in the early 2000s, and the mysterious origins of Avril Lavigne.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com
2021-09-151h 44The Worst of All Possible WorldsEMERGENCY POD: DEEPROOT PINBALL PONZI (feat. Levi Nayman)Unless you're a pinball enthusiast or keep an extremely close eye on SEC litigation, you've probably never heard the name Deeproot. But just a couple weeks ago, this fledgling startup got slapped with a massive civil lawsuit that sent shockwaves throughout the pinball collector community. Join Josh (@boshj) and Brian (@spocks_brian) as "Crazy" Levi Nayman regales us with a truly bizarre story that spans decades of lost time, millions of dollars of wasted investor money, and something called a PinPod.
Links & Further Reading
Levi's website: http://crazylevipinball.com/
Deeproot thread on Pinside: https://pinside.co...2021-09-112h 57The Worst of All Possible Worlds9 - Hamlet (2000)THIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full thing at patreon.com/worstofall
There’s something rotten in the CORPORATION of Denmark??? Josh (@boshj), Brian (@spocks_brian), and A.J. (@TheFuzzyMask) whip out their bodkins and throw themselves headlong into the morose, brooding world of literal corporate backstabbing that is Michael Almereyda's Hamlet (2000). They dissect the cultural significance of Mr. Moviefone, the perils and pitfalls of adapting Shakespeare for the screen, and the surreal perfection of contemplating one’s mortality in a Blockbuster.
TWOAPW on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Br...2021-09-0122 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds8 - Blackgaardology (feat. Rob Mobley) [Whit’s Endless Summer #4]Rob Mobley (@VillainologyPod) joins Josh (@boshj), Brian (@spocks_brian), and A.J. (@TheFuzzyMask) on their slow descent into the depths of evil as they face Adventure in Odyssey’s Biggest Bad: Dr. Regis Blackgaard, Child Psychologist. They discuss the nature of evil, the surprising careers of the voice cast, and the tragic story of a man whose wife leaves him for a horse.
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Villainology Podcast:
https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/villainology-rob-mobley-Q_oS1Hz...2021-08-181h 41The Worst of All Possible Worlds7 - In a Gadda da Whitta [Whit’s Endless Summer #3]THIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full thing at patreon.com/worstofall
Josh (@boshj), Brian (@spocks_brian), and A.J. (@TheFuzzyMask) get thrown headlong into Imagination Station as they continue their journey through Adventures in Odyssey as part of their Whit’s Endless Summer. They discuss the insidiousness of Evangelical brainwashing, the merits of the musical Godspell, and the unending glory of THE NOZZLE.
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Episodes Discussed:
Episode 66: The Imagination Station, Part 1
Episode 67: The Imagination Station, Part 2
Epi...2021-08-0941 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds6 - Prey (2017): Welcome to my Orbital LairJoin Josh (@boshj) and Brian (@spocks_brian) as they dive into the ambitious 2017 space-station spoop-fest Prey! They talk the joys of fake-out openings, the pitfalls of immersive combat, and the sticky beauty of a good ole fashioned GLOO cannon. They also delve into the depths of the infamous Bethesda/Kotaku brouhaha of the mid 2010s and the enduring push/pull between developers and game journalists.
Theme by Brendan Dalton
www.brendan-dalton.com
https://brendandalton.bandcamp.com
2021-07-191h 11The Worst of All Possible Worlds5 - Urkel Gets Saved [Whit’s Endless Summer #2]THIS IS A PREVIEW. Check out the full thing at patreon.com/worstofall
For our second premium episode, the boys (@boshj, @thefuzzymask, @spocks_brian) dive a little deeper into Odyssey. Maybe a little too deep.
2021-07-0152 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds4 - Gone Home: There is no GateA.J. and Brian take a relaxed trip through the walking simulator Gone Home, its influences and its legacy, which stretches beyond the medium of video games. We also discuss how the game gets used as a virtue signal among gaming's reactionary wing.
For more listening, check out Steve Gaynor's GDC talk: https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1020376/Why-Is-Gone-Home-a
2021-06-171h 16The Worst of All Possible Worlds3 - Whit’s Endless SummerThis is the inaugural episode of Whit's Endless Summer, a sub-series where we explore Adventures in Odyssey, Focus on the Family, and the history of evangelical entertainment.
This time, we subjected A.J. to some of the first and worst episodes of Adventures in Odyssey, introducing him to Whit, Tom, Connie and everyone's favorite denizen of Campbell County: Patriotism.
The episodes we listened to were:
#4 - Connie Comes to Town
#5 - Gifts for Madge and Guy
#7 - Promises, Promises
#19 - Recollections
#28 - The Price of Freedom
If you...2021-06-041h 54The Worst of All Possible Worlds2 - Night Trap Part 2: Great Moments with Howard LincolnIn December of 1993, a congressional hearing takes place. The subject: violence in video games. The culprit: Night Trap. How did such a silly little game get so much negative attention? Who was behind this? What is Joe Lieberman's, like, deal? That's what A.J. and Brian try to solve as we dig into the morass of politics in the 90s.
2021-05-181h 01The Worst of All Possible Worlds1 - Night Trap Part 1: It’s TapeBrian (https://twitter.com/Spocks_Brian) and A.J. (https://twitter.com/TheFuzzyMask) check out one of history's most notorious video games, and discover that it's really just some good clean fun. Well, depending on your definition of fun. But there are some cultural forces a-churning, and this campy, interactive Dana Plato vehicle might be in for some trouble.
2021-05-1855 min
No Cartridge AudioEpisode 32: Finding the point at which it's no longer possible to have a happy ending (with Josh Boerman @boshj)We bring Josh Boerman (@boshj) on to talk narrative, theater, and the rising action of video games!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/no-cartridge-audio/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2017-07-101h 02