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Josh Boerman

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Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedMasturbation & PornographyMoral panic about masturbation and pornography is nothing new, but in the wake of Donald Trump's re-election, numerous conservative groups—many of whom have deep ties to the natalist movement—have started to ring the alarm bell once again. This week, June and Josh take a look at the early history of fear of masturbation, then jump forward to the present day to see how the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) reflects many of these paranoias and introduces problems of its own. There's also a pretty significant detour into talking about the Zootopia abortion comic, if that's your...
2026-01-121h 31The Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds187 UNLOCKED - Sky King: The Story of Richard Russell (feat. Caleb from Kill The Computer)Caleb @BirdRespecter (Kill The Computer, 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 racist extremism. Caleb: Bluesky // Twitter // Linktree Kill The Computer: June and Cal...
2026-01-072h 10The Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds222 - 2025: A Year In ReviewIt is time once again for our cherished annual tradition: taking calls from listeners and guests, then stitching them together with your favorite moments from the year. (Plus, very special messages from A.J., Brian, and Josh starting at the 1:51:02 mark.) Thanks to everyone who called in, and hold on for 2026. We will find a way.
2025-12-312h 00Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedI'll Be Mailbag For ChristmasJosh was really sick the past couple weeks so we haven't been able to get new episodes out. But we wanted to get you something before the end of the year, so we talked about sperm racing and read some more mail. New episodes in the standard format will resume on a biweekly schedule starting Friday, January 2. Thank you for being our wonderful babies and we'll see you in the new year. ***REMINDER: WE HAVE A PATREON NOW! We record bonus mailbag episodes and release them every other week. Come check us out at Patreon.c...
2025-12-2354 minIll Conceived
Ill ConceivedEugenics, IQ, and The Bell CurveCharles Murray & Richard Herrnstein's book 1994 The Bell Curve caused tremendous controversy on its publication by positing a link between intelligence and race. But this certainly wasn't the first time someone had made this argument, nor would it be the last. This week, Josh and June take a look at the foundation of the eugenics movement in North America, track its close relationship with the development of IQ testing, and discover some surprising links to German, Italian, and American fascism. ***REMINDER: WE HAVE A PATREON NOW! We record bonus mailbag episodes and release them at the beginning of...
2025-12-051h 51The Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible WorldsANNOUNCEMENT: Annual memberships & merchandise on sale now!A very special message from Josh.  https://store.worstpossible.world https://www.patreon.com/worstofall
2025-12-0101 minIll Conceived
Ill ConceivedWhat is Childhood?The White House will likely soon release a large set of documents about convicted pedophile and human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein further detailing the depths of his crimes. Alongside this, a line of rhetoric seems to be developing in certain right-wing circles: although what Epstein did was morally abominable, not all of it was criminal, and it's certainly categorically different from preying on "real children." But what exactly is childhood, and why are certain reactionaries making this argument now? This week, June and Josh look into the history of the concept of childhood in the United States to try and...
2025-11-231h 30The Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds216 - Odyssey: Origins (feat. Kevin T. Porter) [Whit’s Endless Summer 48]The godfather of Christian media podcasts Kevin T. Porter (Good Christian Fun) joins the lads in Odyssey as they cover three episodes from the series that would one day become Adventures in Odyssey: Family Portraits. Topics include the dangers of yokel discrimination, the bizarro world of pre-Odyssey Odyssey, and what it means to have your mail delivered by a man named George Poindexter.   Kevin T. Porter: Instagram // Website Good Christian Fun: Good Christian Fun is a podcast delving into the strange upside-down world of Christian pop culture. Hosts Kevin T. Porter and Caroline Ely are...
2025-11-191h 51Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedBalaji Srinivasan & Network NatalismNatalcon 2025 featured a number of high profile speakers whose speeches weren't recorded. One of these speakers was Balaji Srinivasan, a technologist who made his fortune in pre-pregnancy genetic testing and now preaches the gospel of cryptocurrency and decentralized "Network States" to anyone who will listen. This week, Josh and June discover what Balaji's whole deal is and end up deeply confused and repulsed by it. ***REMINDER: WE HAVE A PATREON NOW! We record bonus mailbag episodes and release them at the beginning of each week. Come check us out at Patreon.com/illconceived!*** ***WE WANT...
2025-11-151h 42The Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds215 - Columbo (feat. Donovan Eyre)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Donovan Eyre (Radio Free Tote Bag, DonoHell) and the lads throw on their trenchcoats and putter around some crime scenes as they cover the hit NBC/ABC mystery sensation: Columbo. Topics include the genius of Peter Falk, the many crimes of the Kong family, and what we can learn from watching a working class detective one more thing his way towards bringing justice to the bourgeois. Donovan Eyre: Bluesky  // Instagram // SoundCloud DonoHell: Streaming Wednesdays 8-10 Radio Free Tote Bag: A...
2025-11-1223 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds214 - The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (feat. Jolenta Greenberg)Jolenta Greenberg (Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre) and the lads attend the dinner party from hell and down goblets of cocktails as they cover season one of the hit-Bravo reality show: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Topics include the origins of the Real Housewives, the art of the talking head one-liner, and what we can learn from the horrifying darkness that comes with being married to Frasier Crane.   Jolenta Greenberg: Website // Instagram   Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre: Comedian & pop culture critic Jolenta Greenberg has a theory: reality TV isn’t ruining culture - it is cultur...
2025-11-052h 15Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedMatthew Yglesias: One Billion AmericansIn 2020, Vox cofounder Matt Yglesias published a book entitled One Billion Americans which ostensibly sought to lay out a liberal argument for dramatically increasing the population of the United States. This week, June and Josh read the book. Hoo boy, do we have thoughts about it. ***BIG NEWS: WE HAVE A PATREON NOW! We'll be recording bonus mailbag episodes that will release at the beginning of each week. The main show will continue its regular release schedule at the end of each week and will stay free to all of you, our beloved babies. Come check us...
2025-11-011h 50Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedNatal Conference 2025In March 2025, 200 natalists and their closest friends assembled in Austin, Texas for the second gathering of NatalCon, a convention intended to discover the core causes of declining birthrates and come up with solutions to address those problems. This week, Josh and June watched videos recorded from that convention to see what they were cooking. Turns out that it was mostly fascism. ***WE WANT YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKLY MAILBAG! Send an email with feedback about this week's episode to illconceivedpod@gmail.com*** EPISODE ART: Kevin Dolan, the founder of Natalcon. Dolan posts on X under...
2025-10-251h 54Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedThe Good, the Bad and the MailbagNext week we're recording our first in-person episode together and Josh is still prepping, so it's time for another mailbag episode. This week's topics include Elon Musk's super-sperm, Warhammer 40K, adoption as a tool of natalism, the pitfalls of accelerated home learning, and how we've discovered the flow and format of the podcast as we've gone along. ***COME SEE JOSH IN CHICAGO THIS MONDAY... Josh will be performing as part of Genius Night: A Night For Geniuses on Monday, October 20 at 7pm... This free event (with a $5 suggested donation) will be at Cafe Mustache, located at 2313 N...
2025-10-171h 01Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedElon MuskElon Musk was once hailed as one of the brightest wealthy Americans who was standing up for progressive causes like climate change. Then he threw away that reputation as he rapidly shifted rightward and publicly embraced white nationalist conspiracy theories. This week, June and Josh explore Elon Musk’s under-discussed but high-priority views on birth rates, natalism, the Great Replacement theory, and sexy chatbots. ***WE WANT YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKLY MAILBAG! Send an email with feedback about this week's episode to illconceivedpod@gmail.com*** EPISODE ART: Elon Musk, the current wealthiest man in the wo...
2025-10-101h 25Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedHomeschoolingIt's no secret that large families tend to homeschool their children. But why is this their approach of choice, and how does it work? This week, Josh and June take a look at the origin of homeschooling and discover how the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), an advocacy organization founded by homeschool parents, has effectively created a parallel education system in the United States with almost no oversight or accountability. ***WE WANT YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKLY MAILBAG! Send an email with feedback about this week's episode to illconceivedpod@gmail.com*** EPISODE ART: Monica Swanson...
2025-10-041h 48Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedMoms for LibertyThe COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown created an online ecosystem ripe for misinformation and radicalization. One of the new right wing movements that got its start during this time was the "Parents' Rights" movement, and the group that has pushed this the hardest is Moms For Liberty, who portray themselves as moms standing up for freedom. This week, June and Josh dig into Moms For Liberty to unravel their true agenda and discover how they’ve managed to become an organizing base of the Republican Party in their goal of dismantling the public education system. ***WE WANT YO...
2025-09-261h 16The Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds208 - Bar Rescue (feat. Slowpuke)Slowpuke (SlowpukeLIVE) and the lads stake out a bar and scream in the faces of undiagnosed alcoholics as we cover Jon Taffer’s hit reality-television show: Bar Rescue. Topics include Taffer’s self-aggrandized past, the ethics of robot performers, and what it means to watch a man transform a bar from terrible to an entirely different kind of terrible.   Slowpuke: Twitch // Bluesky // Instagram   Media Referenced in this Episode: Bar Rescue S02E01: “Yo-Ho-Ho and a Bottle of Dumb” S03E11: “Don’t Mess with Taffer’s Wife” S02E22: “Punch-Drunk and Trailer-Trashed” S04E25: “Sticky Situation” Bar 702 (Sand Dollar) From Bar Rescue Has Been Sold by Matt...
2025-09-242h 29Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedOh No! More MailbagWe dug into the mailbag again for thoughts on how natalists pass that shit on, fulfilling or shirking your family’s desires for your life, TeenPact, being a T4T tradwife, the natural gendered division of labor, the impact of benevolent sexism, daddy/daughter dances vs. father/son camping trips, and handing your daughter off to her husband. Our programming will resume as usual next week with an episode on Moms for Liberty, and thank you as always for your continued support. ***WE WANT YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKLY MAILBAG! Send an email with feedback about this we...
2025-09-2044 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds207 - Newgrounds and Flash GamesTHIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads boot up Newgrounds and take The Impossible Quiz as they dive into the bizarre and labyrinthine world of the bread and butter of the Web 2.0: Flash Games. Topics include the origins of Newgrounds, the boundless creativity (and trolling) of the flash scene, and what it means to be the lead gay technician of one of the most influential flash games of all time. Media Referenced in this Episode: The Games: Pico’s School by Tom Fulp SimGirls by sim-man N b...
2025-09-1730 minIll Conceived
Ill ConceivedQuiverfullQuiverfull is an evangelical Christian philosophy that takes the Biblical command to "be fruitful and multiply" extremely literally by refusing to use any contraception, including natural family planning. It rarely sees coverage in the mainstream media, so this week, Josh and June look into the principles and practical lifestyle of Quiverfull and discover why it holds such a strong appeal to a certain type of Christian. ***WE WANT YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKLY MAILBAG! Send an email with feedback about this week's episode to illconceivedpod@gmail.com*** EPISODE ART: Jim Bob Duggar, a realtor and...
2025-09-121h 25Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedTradwivesWithin the last few years, women portraying themselves online with a “trad wife” aesthetic have skyrocketed in popularity. This new trend embraces long dresses, traditional gender roles, cooking homemade meals, and raising massive families. Josh and June take a look into what the Trad Wife life experience is all about, what’s so appealing about it to some women, and the aspects that make it more than just a harmless apolitical lifestyle. ***WE WANT YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKLY MAILBAG! Send an email with feedback about this week's episode to illconceivedpod@gmail.com*** EPISODE ART: Abby S...
2025-09-051h 33Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedPurity Balls & Daddy-Daughter DatesPurity is a load-bearing concept in the conservative Christian ideal of family and reproduction. From as young as five years old, Christian girls are told to guard their hearts and bodies against men with bad intentions. But what about a positive model of masculine pursuit? This week, Josh and June take a look at the men who believe the best way to teach their daughters about their worth is to take them out on dates and pledge to guard their virtue in elaborate ceremonies known as purity balls. ***WE WANT YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKLY MAILBAG! Send...
2025-08-291h 23The Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds204 - Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?The lads throw back some drinks and bray the night away as they cover Edward Albee’s 1962 nightcap from hell: Who’s Afraid of Virignia Woolf? Topics include Albee’s traumatizing childhood, the music of his dialogue, and the boomer mentality of being afraid of Virginia Woolf.   Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!   Media Referenced in this Episode: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? By Edward Albee. 1962. “Edward Albee, The Art of Theater No. 4” Interviewed by Will...
2025-08-272h 14Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedOops! All MailbagJosh is still really tired from his trip to Europe so we talked about James Dobson for a bit and then read some listener mail. Our regular programming will resume Friday, and we thank you for all of your thoughtful feedback! ***WE WANT YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKLY MAILBAG! Send an email with feedback about this week's episode to illconceivedpod@gmail.com*** FURTHER READING: "AI: The New Aesthetics of Fascism" by Gareth Watkins, New Socialist FOLLOW THE SHOW: Website: illconceivedpodcast.com Bluesky: ‪@illconceivedpodcast.com Tumblr: @illconceivedpod FOLLOW JOSH: We...
2025-08-251h 08Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedProject 2025 and the Future of Sex EducationThe era of the Christian political agenda and conservative cultural hegemony took a backseat after Obama ushered in a time of progressive social optimism. For a moment, it felt like conservatives would never win again, especially on social issues. But they did. This week, June and Josh explore how the Obama administration rolled back abstinence-only sex education while advancing liberal social causes. Then they discover how the Christian right strategized to take back over politics and successfully redirected culture toward conservatism through the Heritage Foundation and its signature document: Project 2025. ***WE WANT YOUR...
2025-08-151h 18Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedAbstinence-Only Sex EducationThere's one guaranteed way to never get pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted infection: not having sex. In the 1990s, the United States government expanded efforts to fund programs that taught adolescents this fact. Unfortunately, that funding came with a few restrictions—most notably, the programs weren't allowed to promote or demonstrate any type of contraception whatsoever. This week, June and Josh try to figure out how these abstinence-only until marriage sex education initiatives got so much traction for so long. ***IN EDINBURGH THIS WEEK? Get tickets to the play Josh is directing, THE BOY FROM BANTAY, by...
2025-08-081h 32The Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds200 - Thief II: The Metal AgeIn 1998, Looking Glass Studios released THIEF: THE DARK PROJECT, an unprecedentedly immersive and technically impressive first-person stealth simulator. Two years later, they followed it up with their masterpiece, THIEF 2: THE METAL AGE. After hounding Brian and A.J. to talk about this one for years, Josh finally got his wish. Plus, we got Jay Anthony Franke back to voice JC Denton for the interstitial. Thanks for sticking with us for 200 episodes and here’s to 200 more. Jay Anthony Franke - Cameo // Instagram Media Referenced in the Episode: Thief II. Looking Glass. 2000. Ahead of its time...
2025-07-303h 06Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedLyman Stone, Marriage DefenderWith natalism coming to the forefront of American politics in recent years, people who have long been writing about the declining birth rate have begun to take center stage in the larger political discourse. Many of these thinkers skew toward a conservative ideology. This week, Josh and June read through the writings of a modern conservative natalist writer, Lyman Stone, to get a better picture of where the natalist movement stands and better understand the political demands of the conservative natalist in the era of Donald Trump. EPISODE ART: Lyman Stone press photo from Demographic Research 
2025-07-2559 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds199 - What Remains of Edith Finch (feat. Lenore and Aysha U. Farah)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Aysha U. Farah (All My Maidens) and Lenore (The Socialist Shelf) return to the pod to take the lads on a heartfelt journey of death and birds as they cover Giant Sparrow’s 2017 walking sim megahit: What Remains of Edith Finch. Topics include games about death, the importance of twee in the face of tragedy, and what remains of both the walking sim genre and the titular Edith Finch. Aysha U. Farah: Website // Bluesky // Instagram Lenore: Bluesky BUY AMPLITUDES...
2025-07-2331 minIll Conceived
Ill ConceivedJames Dobson & Focus on the FamilyIn the history of the evangelical Christian family movement, one figure stands tall above the rest: a children's psychologist from Louisiana named James Dobson. For three decades, Dobson built up his media empire, Focus on the Family, on the back of his plain-spoken traditionalist approach to child rearing. Then, as the broader cultural tide shifted in favor of normalizing homosexual relationships, he got kicked out. This week, Josh and June take a look at why Dobson's approach resonated with so many parents in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, how his work institutionalized the natalist project among evangelical Christians, and...
2025-07-181h 19Post Ponies
Post Ponies037 - Sew Your Plush Pony Pussy Shut for Christ (feat. Josh Boerman)It's Pony Christmas in Human July! The girls are joined by Josh Boerman (The Worst of All Possible Worlds, Ill Conceived, Traditional Scrench) for an episode chock full of ideology and delicious Clamato! This week we have a serious discussion about plushies and yiffing while the Mane Six fundamentally misunderstand the rules of I Spy and get blown to death by a Windigo. This episode was brought to you by Clamato! Use code PONY at your local grocery store when you purchase a bottle of delicious Clamato for a special surprise! Clamato! Taste the Bounty of the...
2025-07-181h 35Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedCatholics, Evangelicals, and the In Vitro Fertilization DebateWhen the first human baby was born through the use of a blossoming treatment called in vitro fertilization in the late 1970’s, society largely viewed this as a miracle of science that gave those struggling with fertility a chance to start a family. Catholic leadership, believing that taking procreation out of pregnancy went against God’s will, aligned themselves against the practice. Evangelicals, meanwhile, have still to this day not found solid guidance from their leaders on whether this procedure should be embraced or condemned. This week, Josh and June explore the history of in vitro fertilization and the comp...
2025-07-1141 minIll Conceived
Ill ConceivedHow Evangelicals Came to Oppose AbortionOpposition to legal abortion wasn't always a consensus matter across the Christian Right. In fact, as recently as the early 1970s, Protestants mostly considered it a "Catholic issue." But against a backdrop of paranoia about government overreach into religious affairs and fear of demographic decline, a Catholic named Paul Weyrich and an evangelical named Jerry Falwell joined hands to turn abortion into the signature mobilizing issue of their new Moral Majority. This week, June and Josh look at how this historical moment was primed for exploitation, why Christian rhetoric and policy toward abortion shifted so quickly, and what the...
2025-07-0457 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds196 - 2 Bangers 2 M*A*S*HThe 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. GOATMAN: Tickets // Gofundme 2002: Tickets Media Referenced in this Episode: MASH Season Four, Episode One: “Welcome to Korea” Season Four, Episode Two: “Change in Command”
2025-07-022h 15Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedRobert F. Kennedy Jr.: Health & Human SickoJosh and June look into the past of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current Health and Human Services secretary, and how his history led to him getting involved with the MAGA movement. Once a liberal and advocate for environmental issues, Kennedy took a turn into anti-science and pseudo-health political movements later in life and gained notoriety within Trumpworld. Now that this conspiracy theorist holds the reins of America’s largest government health institution, we zoom into how these beliefs inform what he has done, what he still intends to do with this power, and why his long-standing emphasis on ch...
2025-06-2740 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
The Worst of All Possible Worlds195 - Beast Games from MrBeast® (feat. Juniper)THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall 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. Juniper: Twitch // Patreon // Bluesky Western Kabuki: Juniper and Caleb with their trusty producer Alex delve into internet topics du jour. Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Bluesky Ill C...
2025-06-2532 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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: RSS Feed Apple Podcasts Spotify Pocket Casts YouTube   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 02Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedPromise Keepers: 700,000 Dicks Out for JesusJosh 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 the fundamental transformation they were hoping for, Promise Keepers left a significant impact on the evangelical Christian psyche. And somehow, they're still around today, desperately trying to convince the world of their definition of fatherhood and family. SOURCES: The First Promise Keepers Event: Witnessing the Power...
2025-06-201h 00The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 08Ill Conceived
Ill ConceivedIll Conceived launches on June 20. Here's what we're all about.Ill Conceived is a new podcast about natalism—the ideology that sees declining birthrates as the most important issue in modern American politics—and how it's a skeleton key to understanding both the MAGA movement and reactionary conservatism more broadly. Hosted by Josh Boerman of The Worst of All Possible Worlds and June Sternbach of Western Kabuki, each week the show will take a look at the actions and effects of this movement, as well as the people and organizations that paved the way to the moment we're now in. New episodes every Friday, beginning on June 20.
2025-06-1002 minMovie Memory Machine
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 18The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 Boerm
2025-05-2826 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 59The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 09The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 46The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 19The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 55The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 18The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 17The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 19The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 17The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 31The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 11The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 07The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 07The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 21The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 minThe Worst of All Possible Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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.com
2021-10-271h 49The Worst of All Possible Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 Worlds
The 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 11