Shows
Alienating the AudienceEscaping the Truman ShowIn “The Truman Show,” Jim Carey’s character is the unwitting star of a global reality television show–until he decides to escape. Director Henrique Cuoto joins to talk about the iconic film, and the evils of false reality. Henrique’s dog: www.helpchicano.com Support the show! Mightyheaton.com/alienating Interstellar Vagabonding Clips, with Nick Sperdute: www.mightyheaton.com/vagabonding2023-10-121h 07Alienating the AudienceEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Characters can selectively wipe memories in Charlie Kaufman's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," but in doing so they lose part of themselves. Chloe Effron and Nick Sperdute join to discuss this trippy... romcom? SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/alienating 2023-07-251h 00
The Study PodcastSEINFELD: Retrospective with Nick SperduteBrian and Matt welcome guest Nick Sperdute to discuss the long hailed sitcom series SEINFELD. Spoilers for many episodes throughout the show.Ep 10https://instagram.com/nicholassperdute?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==https://instagram.com/the_study_podcast?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==2023-07-2451 minAlienating the AudiencePeacemaker is the Ultimate Loserhero James Gunn’s “Peacemaker” chronicles a toxic meathead character as he comes to terms with his past, his racist father, and an alien takeover of the planet. He is neither a hero nor antihero. He’s something new, and hilarious: a “loserhero” Nick Sperdute and Justin Robert Young join to discuss. 2023-07-1152 min
Friday Release ValveCamel Pageant Botox WoesNick Sperdute, Kevin Delano, and Jenny Guiffre rejoin the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines. 2022-02-2524 minFriday Release ValveOur Enemy The SnorlaxNick Sperdute, Kevin Delano, and Jenny Giuffre join the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines2022-02-0434 min
Alienating the AudienceGalaxy Quest is the Greatest Sci-fi Comedy, Ever“Galaxy Quest” is the greatest parody of Star Trek imaginable… without technically being Star Trek. Nick Sperdute and Erin Macdonald join the show to discuss what makes the show so memorable--and hilarious. Links to the film and the referenced documentary at www.mightyheaton.com/goodscifi2021-04-0142 min
The Political OrphanageFriday Release Valve: Dutch Snowman MurdersNSFK - Nick Sperdute and Andrew Young rejoin the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines including: horrific Scottish street brawl and/or courtship injuries, corn flake narcotics, and the world's laziest guard dog.2021-03-0530 minThe Political OrphanageBigfoot Hunting Season - Friday Release ValveNick Sperdute and Andrew Young return to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines. Including stories about Scottish stamp lickers, why a man lived in an airport for three months, and the button Joe Biden just removed from the desk in the Oval Office. You can hang out on the Discord server by going to mightyheaton.com/discord2021-02-0529 min
Alienating the AudienceWhy "The Mandalorian" WorksWhy is "The Mandalorian" so popular with Star Wars fans, yet the latest films are so divisive? Where does it veer from the traditional beats and themes of Star Wars, and where does it embrace that unique George Lucas flavor? Jack Helmuth and Nick Sperdute join to unpack everyone's favorite bounty hunter.2021-01-0759 minThe Political OrphanageLiteral Underwater Ponzi Schemes (Friday Release Valve)Andrew Young and Nick Sperdute join the show to discuss the week's most under reported headlines: underwater scooter chases, the time a school of herring almost started a war with Russia, and Canadian pizza indulgences.2020-11-2034 minAlienating the AudienceThe Philosophy of "The Matrix"The Matrix is actually quite a lot deeper than simulation theory and some cool fight scenes with black trench coats. The Wachowski sisters put a modern, techy spin on Plato's Allegory of the Cave, with ample helpings of Descartes, Hilary Putnam's "Vat in a Brain" and Robert Nozick's "Experience Machine." Andrew Young and Nick Sperdute join Heaton to discuss.2020-11-051h 09
Alienating the AudienceThe First Fifteen Lives of Harry AugustWhat would happen if you were reincarnated. . . to the exact same life you just lived? What would happen when you were reborn to the exact same life fifteen times in a row? Ashland Viscosi and Nick Sperdute rejoin for another book club episode about "The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August" by Claire North. 2020-10-011h 00
Alienating the AudienceThe Black Hole - Movie Club"The Black Hole" is Disney's 1979 answer to Star Wars--which didn't work out quite as well. It's a fun romp, involving telepaths, snarky robots, and a spacey Captain Nero. Although it has... some issues. Nick Sperdute and Andrew Young join to discuss on ATA's first inaugural Movie Club!2020-09-1749 minAlienating the AudienceAssemble Your Own Star Trek SeriesIf you could put together a new series, drawing on characters from across the Star Trek franchise, what would you make? Paul Mattingly and Nick Sperdute join Heaton for a round of Starfleet Draft Picks.2020-09-101h 06
Alienating the AudienceVagabonding: The Lizard Man of Staten IslandNick and Heaton must journey to the mysterious "Staten Island" as part of their quest, where they encounter a degenerate lizard man. Cast: Paul Mattingly as the Lizard Man, Andrew Heaton, and Nick Sperdute2020-09-0721 minAlienating the AudienceVagabonding: Return to the Fembot HomeworldNick and Heaton must journey to the Replicant Homeworld in hopes of tracking down their Netflix password. Cast: Nick Sperdute, Andrew Heaton, and Kourtni Beebe as Fuschia Robotski2020-08-2817 min
Alienating the AudienceVagabonding: The Return of NickIt turns out, rumors of Nick's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Cast: Andrew Heaton, Nick Sperdute, and Jared Berman as Joeblobe2020-08-1310 min
Alienating the AudienceVagabonding: The Wrath of Nick (Comedy)Nick selflessly enters a deadly chamber in order to save the other inhabitants of the apartment from radiation. Cast: Andrew Heaton, Nick Sperdute, Jared Berman as Joeblobe, Kevin Delano as AJ-192020-08-0713 min
Alienating the AudienceVagabonding: Nick and Heaton meet the Spacehead god (Comedy)Nick and Heaton travel through an inter-dimensional portal they found, and emerge on a planet strikingly similar to the one from Star Trek: The Final Frontier Cast: Andrew Heaton, Nick Sperdute, and Andrew Young as the Spacehead god2020-08-0715 min
Alienating the AudienceVagabonding: Nick and Heaton go to NarniaWhen Nick and Heaton discovered an inter-dimensional doorway in the back of their refrigerator, they're able to step through and visit the winter world of Narnia. And meet one of its talking animal inhabitants. Cast: Andrew Heaton, Nick Sperdute, and Nick Polowy as Mr. Beaver2020-08-0717 min
Alienating the AudienceVagabonding: Heaton Gets Totally Recalled (Comedy)Heaton realizes he's actually been living inside of a virtual reality program, and must confront his actual reality. Cast: Andrew Heaton and Nick Sperdute2020-08-0707 min
Alienating the AudienceVagabonding: Hot Detroit! (Comedy)Stuck in lockdown and bored, Heaton and Nick download into a virtual Sim City universe to manage an entire city. Cast: Andrew Heaton, Nick Sperdute, and Andrew Young as Mayor Sinclair St. Lewis2020-08-0718 min
Alienating the AudienceWhy We Love SupervillainsIf supervillains are so evil, why are they so captivating? Which crime lord would you serve under if you had to pick one? Former Marvel editor Tom Brennan and comic book aficionados Jeremiah Johnson and Nick Sperdute join Heaton to discuss the underlying mystique and purpose of supervillains. This file corrects for an audio issue in a previous upload. 2020-07-311h 03
Alienating the AudienceV'ger, Sybok, and Whales! Star Trek's Least-Appreciated FilmsToday we mount a defense of Star Trek's most underrated films! Tim Sandefur rejoins the program, along with Aeon Skoble, to discuss the franchise's least-appreciated flicks: "The Motion Picture", "The Voyage Home", and "The Final Frontier." Afterwards Nick Sperdute, Andrew Young, and Heaton go on another intergalactic comedy adventure.2020-07-0951 minAlienating the AudienceStar Trek Conspiracy Theories include "The Transporter is a Murder Box"Picard never left the Nexus. We caught the wrong Khan. Star Trek fandom is full of theories casting doubt on characters and plots as we know them. Brilliant or ridiculous, fan theories at least make us look at the franchise in a different light. John Krikorian of the Trek Profiles podcast and comedian Nick Sperdute join Heaton to discuss.2020-06-181h 27Friday Release ValveDutch Snowman Murders (Headlines)Nick Sperdute and Andrew Young join the show to discuss the week's best, most underserved headlines2020-06-1730 minFriday Release ValveMafia YouTube Cooking Tutorials (Headlines)Mary Jo Pehl, original writer for Mystery Science Theater 3000, and actor and comedian Nick Sperdute join the show to discuss the week's best, most underserved headlines2020-06-1637 minFriday Release ValveBigfoot Hunting Season (Headlines)Nick Sperdute and Andrew Young join the show to discuss the week's best, most underserved headlines2020-05-2729 minFriday Release ValveNick and Heaton Visit Staten Island (Vagabonding)Comedians Nick Sperdute and Andrew Heaton travel to exotic Static Island, where they encountered the Lizardman2020-05-0921 minFriday Release ValveLiteral Underwater Ponzi Scheme (Headlines)Andrew Young and Nick Sperdute join the show to discuss the week's best, most underserved headlines2020-05-0634 minAlienating the AudienceTwenty Years After the Zombie Apocalypse"The Girl With All the Gifts" is a brilliant spin on otherwise stale zombie tropes. Nick Sperdute and Ashland Viscosi join the program for a spoiler-free discussion about the novel. Plus a refresher on Greek mythology, how John Locke and Thomas Hobbes pertain to Armageddon, and the time Heaton met Meatloaf. 2020-04-301h 01Friday Release ValveNick and Heaton Visit Narnia (Vagabonding)Comedians Andrew Heaton and Nick Sperdute visit the enchanted land of Narnia2020-04-2017 minAlienating the AudienceMarry Bop Kill: Star Trek (Live Show)Nick Sperdute and Josh Jennings join Heaton for a rousing game of "First Officer, Holodeck Buddy, Red Shirt" using Star Trek characters from across the franchise. 2020-04-121h 24Friday Release ValveNick and Heaton visit Hot Detroit (Vagabonding)Comedians Nick Sperdute and Andrew Heaton go into a virtual reality version of Sim City to meet the mayor and fix the digital metropolis2020-03-2218 min
Alienating the AudienceUnderstand Every Scifi Hero through Dungeons & DragonsWhy is Darth Vader "Lawful Evil" or Ramsay Bolton "Chaotic Evil"? Captains Kirk and Picard are both good, but only one of them is "Neutral." The D&D Alignment System comprehensively explains the moral temperaments of any scifi character you can lob at it! New York comedians (and long-time D&D veterans) Chris Scott and Nick Sperdute join to explain.2020-02-271h 22
Alienating the AudienceLet's Argue About "The Rise of Skywalker"Alright, it's been a month--let's discuss "The Rise of Skywalker"! Is it the franchise-busting wompa scat critics panned it as, or just a situation of haters gonna hate? Nick Sperdute joins to analyze the film. 2020-01-021h 26