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Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseRoboCop, ICE, and the Capitalist Machinery of FascismThe Pop Mythologist and his guest, author and psychology professor Alex Langley, revisit RoboCop (1987) as a political, mythical, and psychological parable about how capitalism privatizes everything, offers false solutions to the very problems it creates, dehumanizes human beings, and lays the groundwork for fascism. Drawing connections to the current actions and tactics of ICE, and the ongoing AI takeover, they also explore why protecting and reclaiming our humanity is a form of resistance in these times. ⚠️Spoilers for: RoboCop (1987) and RoboCop (2014) ✅ No Spoilers for: All other works mentioned Follow Alex Langley at:
2026-02-131h 32Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseVehicle Living and the Future of the American Dream: NOMADLAND vs. Real LifeThe film NOMADLAND portrayed Americans turning to vehicle living as a way to survive increasing economic instability. In this episode, my guests Lauren and Noah share their real-life story of transitioning away from traditional housing, converting an old bus into their home, and traveling across an America that's under strain from multiple systemic pressures. They speak candidly about the many challenges, logistical hurdles, and unexpected moments of beauty and joy they've encountered along the way. We also explore the deeper themes of collapse awareness, community resilience, and how their lived experience overlaps with, or diverges...
2025-12-102h 07Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseBLADE RUNNER 2049 and ELYSIUM: AI, Technology, Oppression, and the Fight to Stay HumanSFX makeup artist & creative influencer Aleena Averly joins me to discuss two films that portray dystopian futures against a backdrop of ecological collapse, Blade Runner 2049 and Elysium. We talk about how technology, AI, surveillance, inequality, and class oppression—but also pockets of heroism and sacrifice—are portrayed in both films, how the real world is racing alarmingly fast towards both futures, and why the fight to stay human in an increasingly inhuman world matters more than ever. Topics include:   • Class divides and structural oppression   • Immigrant scapegoating as a way to maintain class oppression   •...
2025-11-181h 39Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseNIGHTBREED and A QUIET PLACE: Surviving the Horror of FascismHorror has always mirrored our real-world fears—and important socio-political issues. In this Halloween double feature, host The Pop Mythologist and special guest Sapient, from the blackened death metal band Abomnium, explore NIGHTBREED (1990) and A QUIET PLACE (2018) as dystopian allegories of fascism, oppression, survival, and strategic resistance. From Clive Barker's underground outcasts of Midian to John Krasinski’s silent survivors, the two films reveal how horror can expose the machinery of fascism—and the courage and ingenuity it takes to survive and resist it. ⚠️ Spoiler Warning⚠️ *Spoilers for: Nightbreed (1990), A Quiet Place (2018) Lyrics for...
2025-10-231h 24Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseSHIN GODZILLA vs GODZILLA MINUS ONE: Disaster, Bureaucracy, and Failed LeadershipIn this episode of Strange Days, Here We Come, we dive into SHIN GODZILLA and GODZILLA MINUS ONE to explore their themes of collapse by way of bureaucracy, inaction, war, and failed leadership—comparing the films' depictions of effective and ineffective governance and the power of direct civilian action amid crisis (e.g., natural disasters, climate change, pandemics, war, and nuclear devastation).     ⚠️Spoilers: Shin Godzilla (2016), Godzilla Minus One (2023) ✅ No Spoilers: Godzilla (1954), Don't Look Up (2021), Black Panther (2018), Lost (2004-2010), All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), Enemy at the Gates (2001), Jacob’s Ladder (1990), Joker (2019)  Links:
2025-10-081h 18Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseSTRANGE DAYS: Police Brutality, Altered History, and AI Fake MemoriesWe discuss Kathryn Bigelow’s Strange Days (1995) to explore its chillingly relevant themes of police brutality, surveillance, and AI-created fake memories. Drawing parallels to our real world — from the L.A. riots to Midjourney — we ask why this dystopian sci‑fi noir feels more relevant and unsettling than ever and how its ideas connect to today’s anxieties about over-policing, propaganda, and the way AI technology may soon reshape both our private memories and public histories.  *This episode contains spoilers for Strange Days.* Read Jess Kroll's film reviews HERE. Contact the podcast HERE. 
2025-08-061h 09Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseStrange Days, Here We Come: A New Title and a New Start(This podcast was formerly titled THIS IS THE END: POP CULTURE & COLLAPSE.) Well, it's been... a while. In this, the first new episode in over two years, I share a bit of the personal story behind why this podcast has been dormant for so long and how it relates to what I call "personal collapse." But just as with societal collapse, personal collapses don't necessarily have to be a permanent end state.  I also share why I've decided to give the show a new title. Going forward it will no longer be called "T...
2025-07-2229 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse10 Films About Societal Collapse - Part 2(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") NOTE: This episode was recorded in Dec. of 2022 but I've only gotten around to editing it now. Since then I've become much better acquainted with ChatGPT and so, yes, I know its name (whereas at the time of this recording I still didn't). LINKS: Jess Kroll's film reviews   https://www.popmythology.com/author/jmskroll/ Jess Kr...
2023-02-211h 50Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse10 Films About Societal Collapse - Part 1(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.")   PopMythology.com film critic and novelist Jess Kroll joins me to have a conversation about 10 different movies that depict collapse in some way. In this episode, Part 1, we discuss the first five.  Scroll all the way down below to see the titles of the films discussed and during which timestamped moments that spoilers or semi-spoilers of these films ar...
2023-01-231h 17Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseSTARK: How the Rich Destroy Democracy and Cause Collapse(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.")   In this episode, I interview political commentator, former congressional candidate, and now regenerative farmer Haven Scott McVarish, author of LAST CHANCE TO SAVE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. Haven talks about his favorite novel, STARK by Ben Elton, a dystopian comedy thriller about how corporations and the wealthy cause a global ecological collapse. Haven also discusses the novel's themes in relation to his o...
2022-09-061h 35Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseTHE PUNISHER: War, Crime, and Collapse as Results of Capitalism(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.")   This is a longer version of a talk I recently gave at San Diego Comic Con 2022 as part of a panel on Marvel's street-level characters (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, etc.) moderated by Dr. Scott Jordan as part of the Comics Arts Conference. Thank you to Dr. Jordan for inviting me onto the panel and to Dr. Shelly Clevenger, my guest from t...
2022-07-2939 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseB*TCH PLANET: Heaven for the Fascist Patriarchy, Hell for Everyone Else(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.")   We're joined by Dr. Shelly Clevenger, professor of criminology and victim studies, and chair of the Department of Victim Studies at Sam Houston State University, to discuss BITCH PLANET, the feminist dystopian comic book by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine DeLandro, published by Image Comics. Dr. Clevenger, who is also a gender scholar, discusses crime and criminal justice through the l...
2022-06-1544 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseAmerica Is a Nation of Javerts: Lessons from LES MISERABLES(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") In this episode, I interview Jim Carey, host of ‘The Left is Dead,’ a podcast about news, politics, and culture from a leftist lens. We discuss one of Jim’s favorite works of fiction, the novel LES MISERABLES by Victor Hugo, and its relevance to the societal and political turmoil we see today.   Jim talks about how the...
2022-05-1744 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse10 Powerful Films About War From the Civilian POV(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.")   Chopin's Polonaise Op. 40 No. 1 in A major ("Polanaise Militaire") performed by Pistos, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 2.5 Canada License
2022-03-2430 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseWhat is the Role of Music Amid Collapse? (w/ 4 Musicians From Around the World)(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") In this episode I interviewed four amazingly talented songwriters from the U.S., Germany, and Brazil who have written music on the subject of collapse, and who discuss what they feel are the important roles and value of music, and of art in general, amid the current societal turmoil and the many risks of collapse.      LINKS  
2022-02-1554 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseHow Imaginary Worlds Teach Us to Care for This One(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") In this episode, I talk to Dr. Sørina Higgins, a professor of English literature at Signum University. We discuss how speculative fiction can teach us to take care of our planet, both ecologically and societally. Authors and works discussed include: Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, Octavia Butler's Kindred, Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, and superhero fiction. (**N...
2022-02-0936 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseTWISTER, Michael Crichton, and Making Science Fun Again(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") **No spoilers** for any of the works discussed in this episode. LINKS: Breaking Down: Collapse "Episode 70 - Pop Culture & Collapse" https://collapsepod.buzzsprout.com/1403161/9909499   "Climate science meets a stubborn obstacle: Students" https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/04/us/education-climate-change-science-class-students.html   "Before and after 'The Day After Tomorrow': A U.S. study of climate change risk pe...
2022-02-0232 minBreaking Down: Collapse
Breaking Down: CollapseEpisode 70 - Pop Culture & Collapse (Interview with The Pop Mythologist)This week we had the opportunity to speak with Daniel J Kim, AKA The Pop Mythologist, about the role that pop culture and works of fiction play when it comes to learning about, coping with, and educting on collapse. The Pop Mythologist is the founder and editor of the pop culture blog, PopMythology.com. In his "Hero Wisdom" column he uses pop culture to discuss important real-life issues such as climate change, racial justice, political activism, surviving adversity, and the psychology of post-traumatic growth. He is co-author of a chapter in the book Black...
2022-01-191h 03Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseDON’T LOOK UP, Hyperobjects, and How to Make People Look Up(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") Since the very day of its release, Don’t Look Up has been spurring intense discussion and debate about its symbolic depiction of climate change as an existential threat, and the struggle of climate activists to get governments and people to mobilize and take action against it. In this episode, I explain why it is so difficult for people to understand the ur...
2022-01-0833 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseUsing Comics to Prepare Kids & Teens for Wildfires and Other Hazards(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") We interview Dr. Althea Rizzo, Geological Hazards Program Coordinator, of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM), about WITHOUT WARNING! WILDFIRE, a comic book produced in partnership between OEM and Dark Horse Comics with the objective to help kids and teens get informed about, and prepared for, wildfires (and other hazards).  WITHOUT WARNING! WILDFIRE is available for free a...
2021-12-2122 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseV FOR VENDETTA, Black Lives Matter, and the Dangers of Book Banning(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") In this episode, we talk to Muncie Central High School English teacher Katey O'Connor about teaching V FOR VENDETTA and how her students practiced civil disobedience when their class projects, which drew parallels between the book and real-life issues, were censored. We also discuss the wave of book banning and the hysteria over race, gender, and sexuality that's sweeping schools across the...
2021-12-0337 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseFOUNDATION, Deep Adaptation, Doomerism, and Real-Life Hari Seldons(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") Content Warnings: Extreme climate change, Ecological/societal collapse, Natural disasters, Hurricanes (loss of shelter, power), Past personal crises   Spoiler Warning: FOUNDATION S1 E1, “The Emperor’s Peace” (No spoilers before the 2:00 time mark and after the 6:00 time mark)   LINKS   Deep Adaptation: Navigating the Realities of Climate Chaos (the best single so...
2021-11-2134 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseDUNE, Water Scarcity, and Saving Our Planet Arrakis(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") In this episode, we use DUNE to springboard into a discussion about the growing crisis of water scarcity in the face of climate change and what we can do about it.    LINKS: All of Earth's water in a single sphere https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/all-earths-water-a-single-sphere Mapping the strain on our water https://www.wa...
2021-11-0629 minStrange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse
Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & CollapseEpisode Zero: Personal Collapse & Societal Collapse(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.") This "episode zero" describes what this podcast will be about and its origin story. It also clarifies certain terminology and concepts that are often used vaguely and misunderstood. LINKS: How do you know when a society is about to fall apart? - NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/magazine/societal-collapse.html Are we on the road...
2021-11-0623 minAmanda\'s Picture Show A Go Go
Amanda's Picture Show A Go GoThe Killing of a Sacred DeerAmanda's Picture Show A Go Go                                      Episode 125: The Killing of a Sacred Deer     Amanda welcomes back regular guest Jessica to discuss the indie thriller, The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Jessica is pretty sure Johnny Depp doesn't bathe and Amanda is failed by IMDb, Wikipedia and Google. There are SPOILERS in this episode, including some about the American version of Funny Games and The Hunger Games series. There is also adult language.   Website: https://www.amandaagogo.com/amandaspictureshowagogo/   Twitter: @AmandasPicShow   Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmandasPictureShowAGoGo/   Instag...
2017-11-091h 22McFunkypants
McFunkypantsThe Force Shall Free Me (COLLAB)My first FAWM collab - please see http://fawm.org/songs/54580/ This song is by @popmythology and @bithprod - all I did was donate some distorted metal chords as requested, but I may have just ruined the song. All credit goes to my talented collaborators. LYRICS: INTRO [spoken, whispered or chanted] "Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me." VERSES I march triumphant over embers of my ruined life From the shackles of ignorance...
2016-02-0905 minBook Guys Show
Book Guys ShowS04E15 - PopMythology.com (Guest John K. Kirk)We are joined by Captain John K. Kirk from PopMythology.Com to discuss books, comic books, Doctor Who and more.Your hosts: Sir Jimmy, Professor Alan Guests: John K. Kirk, Paul Alves Get a FREE BOOK just for giving Audible a trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/bookguysPublished September 3rd, 2014 Support Book Guys Show by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/bookguys Find out more at https://bookguys.pinecast.co Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com...
2014-09-0454 minBook Guys Show (A Book Podcast)
Book Guys Show (A Book Podcast)Book Guys 109 - PopMythology.com (Guest John K. Kirk)We are joined by Captain John K. Kirk from PopMythology.Com to discuss books, comic books, Doctor Who and more. Your hosts: Sir Jimmy, Professor Alan Guests: John K. Kirk, Paul Alves Get a FREE BOOK just for giving Audible a trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/bookguys
2014-09-0454 min