Shows
No Gods, No Monsters[PREVIEW] No Gods, No Authors: "To Our Friends" by The Invisible Committee, Part 2
Rabbit and Barto are back talking chapters 4 and 5 of The Invisible Committee's "To Our Friends."
Along the way we cover cybernetics, bridging the dichotomy between pacifism and "radicalism," not thinking like an insurrectionist and not becoming the anarchist the state wants you to be, tact, and the book's relevancy to the ongoing encampments and the situation on the ground in Gaza.
We also mention Jack, who is facing charges for alleged sabotage on Cop City in Atlanta. Part of the reason cited for his extremely high bond was owning literature by The Invisible Committee.2024-05-1405 minNo Gods, No Monsters[PREVIEW] Rank & Rant Ep. 3: The Films of David CronenbergCharlie and Rabbit talk about 19 of David Cronenberg's movies and rank them from least favorite to favorite.
To listen to the full episode as well as lots of other bonus content, sign up for our Patreon. Just $1 a month gets you everything we do. patreon.com/nogodspod
2024-05-0417 minNo Gods, No MonstersEpisode 88: The Mysterians (1957)We are going way back to the warm embrace of Ishirō Honda with the special-effects, alien invasion spectacular, The Mysterians. We discuss colonialism, misogyny, and find more than a few parallels to a contemporary struggle.
We have bonus episodes, behind the scenes notes, and post-recording wrap ups for just $1 a month on Patreon.
Patreon.com/NoGodsPod
Follow us on Twitter and Bluesky @nogodspod
Email us at NoGodsPod@gmail.com
2024-05-011h 41No Gods, No Monsters[PATREON PREVIEW] No Gods, No Authors: "To Our Friends" by The Invisible Committee, Part 1We're trying something a little new.
Rabbit and Barto talk flows, blockage, smashing and building power as described in the post-marxist, anarchist book, To Our Friends by The Invisible Committee. We cover some Agamben, Lacan, Deleuze, and Nietzsche. We consider Occupy, January 6th, Food Not Bombs and (the at the time we recorded, very new) occupation movement happening on college campuses protesting the genocide in Gaza.
In part 1 we cover the introduction through chapter 3.
You don't have to have any familiarity with the text to follow the conversation, but the book i...2024-04-2921 minNo Gods, No MonstersEpisode 87: Scanners (1981)The episode that will make your head explode*! We talk control and power; hippies and authoritarians; state and corporate co-opting of mental illness, drug use, and art; and of course, synth and noise music. We're strapped in, so take a seat and watch us squirm, for science.
*guaranteed
We have bonus episodes, behind the scenes notes, and post-recording wrap ups for just $1 a month on Patreon.
Patreon.com/NoGodsPod
Follow us on Twitter and Bluesky @nogodspod
Email us at NoGodsPod@gmail.com
2024-04-171h 35No Gods, No Monsters[PREVIEW] Rabbit Ranks & Rants Ep. 2: The Transformers SeriesAfter recording our episode on Transformers (2007) Rabbit decided to watch the rest of the series. Why? No one knows. Listen along with Charlie and Barto as he ranks them all.
Join our Patreon to hear the full episode! Only $1 a month gets you everything we do. Patreon.com/nogodspod.
2024-04-1104 minNo Gods, No MonstersEpisode 86: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)A new Godzilla and Kong movie has arrived!! Is it the perfect dumb-fun popcorn flick or a masterpiece of anti-art? A kaiju-centric depiction of a utopian future where man and nature find a balance or an irredeemable corporate tool built to distract from and further condition us to the ongoing slaughter of all that is worth fighting for? And how do those crystals control gravity?
We reference Walter Chaw's review of the film and it's worth reading in full:
https://filmfreakcentral.net/2024/03/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire/
We have bonus episodes, behind the scenes notes, a...2024-04-032h 24No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 85: Transformers (2007)We discuss what is essentially a two and a half hour commercial for America, which clunkily yet elegantly entwines support for war, freedom through American-made commodities, the psychosexual exploration of a man and his car, and over the top misogyny.
We have bonus episodes, behind the scenes notes, and post-recording wrap ups for just $1 a month on Patreon.
Patreon.com/NoGodsPod
Follow us on Twitter and Bluesky @nogodspod
Email us at NoGodsPod@gmail.com
2024-03-201h 55No Gods, No Monsters[PREVIEW] Cool Charlie Recommends on a Cool Friday Evening, Episode 2Join our Patreon to hear the full episode! $1 a month gets you everything we make. Patreon.com/nogodspod.
Episode 2! Charlie talks about the latest movies he's watched!
2024-03-1904 minNo Gods, No MonstersEpisode 84: Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992)
We return to the Heisei Era to talk worms, ancient civilizations, the idea of the limit, ecology, and try to figure out why Godzilla is in this movie. The messages and takeaways are confusing, yet seemingly sincere - but Mothra's in it so we had a good time!
Godzilla vs Mothra is available to stream on archive.org: https://archive.org/details/1992gojirataimosura.720p.ac3.cg
Support the show on Patreon for bonus content.
https://www.patreon.com/NoGodsPod
2024-03-061h 57No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 83 ft. Liam Quane: Electoral Politics and the MonsterVerse (Or: Is Skar King Donald Trump?)A few weeks ago, Liam shared his political readings of the MonsterVerse films on Twitter and it seemed to agitate quite a few Godzilla fans. But it piqued our interest, so we invited him on the show to hear him out!
We had a lot of fun talking with Liam about Godzilla (2014), Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), Godzilla vs Kong (2021), and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024). Liam argues that Godzilla x Kong is an example of what he calls "Mask Off Cinema," a movement informed by the political motivations of filmmakers during the Trump Era, of w...2024-02-211h 24No Gods, No Monsters[PREVIEW] Godzilla x Kong Second Trailer ReactionJoin our Patreon to hear the full episode! $1 a month gets you everything we do. Check it out at patreon.com/nogodspod.
We break down the new trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire that dropped on Valentine's Day. We talk Jesus, Thunderdomes, Mighty Joe Young, semen, Bolsonaro, and of course the hidden spoilery stuff hidden in quick flashes (spoilery stuff is toward the end with a warning).
2024-02-1703 minNo Gods, No MonstersEpisode 82 ft. Pinko Snob: 28 Days Later (2002)We are joined by Pinko Snob to discuss the pinnacle of pre-9/11 post-9/11 zombie films. Is this an anti-civilization film playing on concepts from Deleuze and Guattari to critique the state, patriarchy and capitalism? Or a film about loneliness and father issues?
2024-02-142h 15No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 81: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Episodes 6-10 (2023-2024)
We conclude our discussion of the Monsterverse series. Like the kids in the show, we have a lot of questions, very few answers, and plenty of mean things to say.
2024-01-311h 45No Gods, No Monsters[PREVIEW] No Gods' Favorite First Watches of 2023 (That Weren't Released in 2023)We each talk about five of our favorite films we watched for the first time in 2023 (that didn't come out in 2023), along with some honorable mentions that didn't make the cut.
Sign up on Patreon for the full episode: patreon.com/nogodspod
2024-01-2405 minNo Gods, No MonstersEpisode 80: Existenz (1999)
We plug into this Cronenberg flick which depicts the modern human experience as a collage of existentialism, unconscious drives, media violence, sexual urges, influencing machines, theology, technology, capitalism, and desire (for desire for desire). We emerge diseased without a flamethrower in sight.
2024-01-172h 04No Gods, No Monsters[PREVIEW] Rabbit Ranks & Rants Ep. 1: The Saw SeriesJoin our Patreon to hear the full episode! $1 a month gets you everything we do. Check it out at patreon.com/nogodspod.
Rabbit put himself through the torture of watching all 10 Saw movies that have been released so far, and Charlie and Barto hang out while he describes, reviews, and ranks them all.
Alternate episode title: Jigsaw Puts The "Traps" In "Bootstraps"
2024-01-1202 minNo Gods, No MonstersEpisode 79: An American Werewolf In London (1981)
We had a ton to say about this classic comedic horror flick. We touch on the historical werewolf, the Wolfman and the Holocaust, Giorgio Agamben's Homo Sacer, Freud's Civilization and Its Discontents and so much more.
2024-01-032h 02No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 78: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Episodes 1-5 (2023)
We discuss the first half of the new Monsterverse series, including its world-building of a society in the aftermath of kaiju, the portrayal of Monarch and its parallels with the non-profit industrial complex, and of course the characters and new Titans.
Check us out on Patreon.
2023-12-202h 07No Gods, No Monsters[PREVIEW] Cool Rabbit’s Cool Movie Opinions on a Cool Friday Evening, Episode 1Episode 1! Charlie talks about movies he watched recently. Barto and Rabbit hang out too.
Join our patreon for the full episode: patreon.com/NoGodsPod
2023-12-1605 minNo Gods, No MonstersEpisode 77: Godzilla Minus One (2023)
New Godzilla!! We discuss how the latest Toho film handles its portrayal of the Japanese government during WWII, its theme of survivors guilt, what Godzilla represents in this new imagining, and of course the powerful use of effects.
2023-12-132h 04No Gods, No MonstersBonus Episode [PREVIEW]: Godzilla x Kong Trailer ReactionJoin our Patreon to hear the full episode! $1 a month gets you everything we do. Check it out at patreon.com/nogodspod.
In this episode we share our thoughts on the first full trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. We make some predictions for the movie, give thoughts on the style, and read out some Youtube comments. Enjoy the dialectic struggle between hype machines and anti-hype machines!
2023-12-1203 minNo Gods, No MonstersEpisode 76 ft. merritt k: Godzilla vs King Ghidorah (1991)We're joined by merritt k as we continue through the Heisei series in this bananas time traveling kaiju flick. Is the film an attempt to push Japanese nationalism or a warning about the country's late '80s financial bubble? Are the eco-terrorists a force for good or evil? Is this the best Ghidorah yet, or is he mid?
Check out merritt's short stories on OtherStrangeness.com, her work on patreon.com/merrittk, and follow her on Bluesky @merrittk.com
Join our Patreon! Patreon.com/NoGodsPod2023-12-011h 35No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 75: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)We continue or UFO movie streak with this Spielberg classic. Our discussion revolves around the somewhat contradictory nature of the film's liberal message, and touches on themes of misogyny, family, the false promises of technology, authority and fascism, secular gods, translation, and lines of flight.
Support Palestinian Liberation!
https://www.mecaforpeace.org/donate/
2023-11-151h 50No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 74: Godzilla vs Biollante (1989)Send aid to Palestine:
https://www.mecaforpeace.org/donate/
https://www.map.org.uk/donate/donation-details/484
A kaiju movie brimming with '80s anxieties, this film splices together fears of genetic engineering, international oil conflicts, environmental destruction, the cold war, psychic powers, and bioweapons into one grotesquely beautiful adversary.
2023-11-012h 11No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 73: Xtro (1982)We discuss this practical effects-driven British alien film and how it plays with ideas of identity, parenting, and gender, mostly in ways that involve eggs.
Things get slimy, things get Oedipal.
2023-10-181h 31No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 72: King Kong Lives (1986)We decide this is probably the least racist Kong movie and Barto tries to make the case that it's also the most biblical.
2023-10-041h 30No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 71: Gamera: Rebirth (2023)We interrupt our scheduled programming to discuss the brand new Gamera anime! We talk QAnon conspiracies, paranormal phenomena and homages to kaiju history, while we attempt to tease out a coherent stance on authority from the show.
2023-09-191h 45No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 70: Nope (2022)We discuss the film's portrayal of spectacle and how it relates to capital, entertainment, our views on nature, and the history of paranormal phenomena. And we use a bit of Guy Debord's "The Society of the Spectacle" to do it.
2023-09-062h 16No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 69: The Return of Godzilla (1984)Godzilla is back in his first film of the Heisei era. He's bigger but so is everything else so we'll call it a wash. We talk Star Wars, nuclear proliferation, how the film envisions Japan within the structure of the Cold War, and Godzilla as the ouroboros.
2023-08-231h 43No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 68: Paranormal Activity (2007)When they brought Blair Witch to the suburbs, the filmmakers behind Paranormal Activity accidentally gave us a peak into the bubbling anxieties of upper-middle class America before the 2008 housing crisis, as well as the toxic masculinity that was normalized in the era. Scary stuff!
2023-08-091h 22No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 67: Gamera: Super Monster (1980) + Three Better Gamera Movies (2023)After a brief discussion of Gamera: Super Monster we each pitch our ideas for new Gamera films. There’s neoliberal greenscapes, bigfoots (big feet?), adrenochrome-eating space aliens, and… Gamera! We hope you enjoy this unique No Gods episode!
2023-07-261h 19No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 66: Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991)We discuss Riki-Oh, a kung fu movie set in a dystopian future where all government services—including the prison that’s the film’s centerpiece—are capitalist franchises. There’s a lot of gore, a lot of shirtless buff guys, and a lot to talk about.
2023-07-121h 35No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 65: King Kong (1976)With a budget almost as big as its ape, did this reboot pull off the magic of the original? Listen in as we discuss this as well as the psychosexual anxieties, critique of capital, reactionary racism, and environmentalism in the film.
2023-06-281h 50No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 64: Barbarian (2022)Spoilers! We extra recommend you watch this movie before you listen.
Content warning: discussions of sexual assault.
We attempt to unpeel the layers of this tight and witty horror flick, which plasters together themes of internalized patriarchy, gentrification, Freudian subjectivity, seeing through the lens of capital, and how a legacy like Reagan’s lives on after he dies.
We forgot to rate the film during recording, so here are our ratings:
RATINGS CONTAIN SPOILERS
Barto: 5 out of 5 hairy bottles of milk
Rabbit: a tape measure pulled as far...2023-06-141h 38No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 63: Tickets to the Showa Retrospective Featuring Jet JaguarWe discuss the Showa Era Godzilla and Godzilla-adjacent movies! If you like our episodes that cover those films, and want to hear us nerd out even more and rank them all, then this is the episode for you!
Here are some groups fighting for trans people in Missouri:
https://linktr.ee/promomissouri
https://www.stlmetrotrans.org
https://centerproject.org
If you know of other groups you think we should support, send us an email at nogodspod@gmail.com
2023-05-311h 30No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 62: Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)We discuss the last Godzilla film of the Shōwa Era. Is it a return to the golden age of the early ‘60s entries, or a dud? Does Honda’s humanism have a place in the ‘70s cinema landscape? Does Mechagodzilla still work as a symbol of the modernization and outside forces affecting to Japan?
Support the show: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/wilmbailfund
2023-05-171h 36No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 61: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)We talk conspiracy and paranoia, submission and resistance, cops and psychiatrists, and how conformity to the patriarchy, the mental health system and the state make it really hard to tell if you’re an alien.
New music from Barto:
https://armed-jouissance.bandcamp.com/album/stopcopcity
All profits go to the Atlanta Solidarity Fund. You can donate directly to them:
https://atlsolidarity.org
2023-05-031h 53No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 60: The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)The final entry in our Cloverfield series (for now!). Some say there’s a message about civilization and technology hidden somewhere beneath the messy narrative and obvious reshoots. Can we find it!?
2023-04-191h 18No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 59: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)Our Cloverfield series continues! We talk preppers, fucked up men, the use of space to tell a story, and how the power dynamics in the bunker parallel those of capital, fundamentalist communities, and the state.
2023-04-051h 22No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 58: Cloverfield (2008)The first in our three-episode series on the Cloverfield films. In this episode we talk about the first true post-9/11 American kaiju flick—how the movie was influenced not only by the events and coverage of that day, but by the wars and terror-fueled media landscape that followed.
2023-03-221h 37No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 57: From Beyond (1986)The kaiju boys return to the world of H. P. Lovecraft! We discuss the film’s depictions of the mental health system and the pineal gland, its foundation in 17th century philosophy, its incredible practical effects, and why the world beyond our perceived reality is full of super gnarly monsters.
2023-03-151h 28No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 56: Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla (1974)We dive deep into doubles, lying as a fetish, space apes, US military bases abroad and replace Rabbit with a superior podcast host.
2023-03-081h 35No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 55: Godzilla vs Megalon (1973)Toho brings nuclear testing back to the Godzilla series, but this time it’s the movie’s villains who are victims of the atomic experiments. What does this reversal mean? And why do the Seatopians have alien friends and a giant bug weapon? What’s it like to be a remote-controlled robot who suddenly gains consciousness? Tune in to maybe find out!
2023-02-221h 22No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 54: Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)We attempt to untangle the wires of this twisted practical effects gem, which Rabbit argues is a direct adaptation of chapter 15 of Karl Marx’s Capital Volume 1.
Support Atlanta Forest Defenders! stopcopcitysolidarity.org
2023-02-081h 22No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 53: Shin Ultraman (2022): First ImpressionsWe saw this highly anticipated spiritual follow-up to Shin Godzilla during its short US theatrical release. Tune in for our initial thoughts!
2023-01-251h 23No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 52: Godzilla vs Gigan (1972)Solid monster action: check.
Environmental allegory: check.
Space fascists twisting the word “peace” while trying to replace the world’s kaiju with amusement park rides: check.
What doesn’t this movie have?
Ready your balloons and unholster your corn cobs—it’s Gigan time.
2023-01-111h 22No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 51: Gremlins (1984)It’s a Christmas movie! We talk about consumerism and the dark side of the holiday, along with how aspects of the film tie into the political landscape of the ‘80s. Who are the Gremlins? What do they represent? What do they say about us?
2022-12-281h 23No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 50: Godzilla vs Hedorah (1971) ft. BrackenIt’s our 50th episode!! In honor of this milestone we discussed one of the most unique and polarizing Godzilla films of all time. Join us and our guest Bracken as we celebrate this vibrant, sludgy mix of psychedelia and environmentalism.
Follow us on Twitter: @NoGodsPod
Email us: NoGodsPod@gmail.com
2022-12-141h 41No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 49: Gamera vs Zigra (1971)It may not be the best environmental kaiju film of 1971, but it has Gamera in it! Join us as we discuss Gamera vs Zigra
2022-11-161h 19No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 48: Prince Of Darkness (1987)A Halloween special! Take a seat around the fire as we talk about this film’s portrayal of gender and sexuality, class dynamics, science and faith, and of course Alice Cooper.
2022-10-311h 35No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 47: Severed (2005)It’s forest defenders vs. loggers—vs. zombies!? How could this not be good?? We’ll tell you as we talk direct action tactics, genetic engineering, corporate power, and what, if anything, this movie is trying to say.
Earth First! Direct Action Manual:
https://archive.org/details/direct_action_manual_3
Ecodefense: A Field Guide to Monkeywrenching:
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/various-authors-ecodefense-a-field-guide-to-monkeywrenching
Defend the Atlanta Forest:
https://defendtheatlantaforest.org
Who Bombed Judi Bari?:
https://youtu.be/HWApxvSjMKY
2022-10-191h 49No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 46: Space Amoeba (1970)This Ishiro Honda kaiju film—a lesser known member of the Godzilla expanded universe(s)—sparked discussions of imperialism, colonization, tourism, and of course the pros and cons of getting married in a coma.
2022-10-051h 11No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 45: Gamera vs. Jiger (1970)Both in terms of critical analysis and raunchy humor, this may be the most fun we've had talking about a Gamera film yet.
2022-09-281h 48No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 44: Jaws (1975)Jaws was just re-released in theaters in IMAX and 3D, so we decided to take an in-depth look at the first ever summer blockbuster. Join us as we discuss Spielberg, the meanings behind the class divisions on the ship, hunting our demons, and a whole lot more.
2022-09-211h 41No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 43: Vampire’s Kiss (1988) ft. Rob New from Tokyo LivesWe are joined by Rob New from the Tokyo Lives podcast to talk about Nicolas Cage going batshit.
Listen to Tokyo Lives!
2022-09-071h 31No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 42: All Monsters Attack (1969) ft. El BartoIf you don't think this movie is about working class youth embracing the violent overthrow of capitalism, did you even watch it?
2022-08-171h 31No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 41: Gamera vs. Guiron (1969) ft. El BartoThis one's for a world with no more wars or traffic accidents.
2022-08-032h 08No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 40: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)This movie did not age as well as Fred Ward did.
RIP to a GOAT.
2022-07-201h 24No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 39: Destroy All Monsters (1968)"Beginning in May 1968, a period of civil unrest occurred throughout France, lasting some seven weeks and punctuated by demonstrations, general strikes, as well as the occupation of universities and factories. At the height of events, which have since become known as May 68, the economy of France came to a halt. The protests reached such a point that political leaders feared civil war or revolution; the national government briefly ceased to function after President Charles de Gaulle secretly fled France to West Germany at one point. The protests are sometimes linked to similar movements that occurred around the same time...2022-07-061h 29No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 38: Jurassic World Dominion (2022): First Impressions[coexistbumpersticker.jpg]
2022-06-131h 22No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 37: Ex Machina (2015)We must destroy all Roombas before we have to worry about their rights.
Editor's note: Rabbit now wonders how he ordered at a drive thru without saying the names of any menu items.
2022-06-081h 23No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 36: Gamera vs Viras (1968)If you're too cool for Model U.N., too cool for the Boy Scouts, and too cool for dinner, you've come to the right place.
2022-05-251h 09No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 35: Mandy (2018)We dip our toes in psychoanalysis and our entire hands in psychedelics.
2022-05-111h 44No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 34: Son of Godzilla (1967)We learn about fatherhood, environmental collapse, and what it means to raise an ugly child at the end of the world.
2022-05-041h 36No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 33: King Kong Escapes (1967)We discuss this scathing critique of civilization and learn why Kongs should be wild and free, swimming from island to island rocking dinos.
2022-04-271h 47No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 32: [Caliban and] The Witch (2015)We talk about Silvia Federici's book Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body, and Primitive Accumulation and use the text to gain a new perspective on the 2015 film The Witch.
The Witch Hunt is ongoing. Support reproductive justice. Here are some organizations you can support:
Buckle Bunnies Fund: An abortion mutual aid collective that offers material support to abortion seekers in Texas. (bucklebunnies.org)
National Network of Abortion Funds: a network of grassroots organizations working to remove barriers to abortion access. (abortionfunds.org)
Sister Song: A southern based, black women led...2022-04-202h 18No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 31: Gamera vs Gyaos (1967)When a heartless corporation plans to displace villagers to make room for a new freeway, we all know who the villain is, right? Right?? Right?!?!
2022-04-131h 47No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 30: Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)Robbing banks, stealing yachts, picking locks and dance dance dancing! Lay back and let the surf rock take you--if you dare... It's Ebirah!
2022-04-061h 36No Gods, No MonstersGuest Spot: Tokyo Signals - The X-Files, ”Quagmire”Rob from Tokyo Signals--a spin-off show of Tokyo Lives--had us on for our second appearance, this time to talk about a monster from the third season of The X-Files.
Go check out the Tokyo Lives podcast for more great kaiju content! And if you haven't already, go to their feed to listen to their Kong holiday special from December 2021, where we also have a segment.
2022-03-311h 11No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 29: Society (1989) ft. El BartoSociety. What is it? Is it real? Are we for or against it? We dive into our first ever non-giant monster movie to find out, with help from guest El Barto!
Trans kids in Texas need your support right now. If you aren't sure how to help, here are a few groups that can help get you started:
TXtransKids.org has resources for legal help, updates, and how to be an advocate.
Equality Texas is the largest nonpartisan statewide political advocacy organization working for the elimination of discrimination targeting the LGBTQ community, and...2022-03-302h 39No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 28: Gamera vs Barugon (1966)Gamera, plus rainbows that destroy tanks. What else do you need?
2022-03-231h 59No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 27: The War of the Gargantuas (1966)Inspired by the titular Frankenbros, Charlie and Rabbit fight like Gaira and Sanda throughout the episode, calling truce for google breaks of course. Things get pretty deep as Rabbit brings up some theories about the film's political undertones/underclones, and Charlie keeps things classy with some dating advice.
2022-03-161h 57No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 26: Dune (2021)More Dune! This is part two of our mini Dune series, this time talking about Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part 1 and, again, the books. You should probably listen to our episode on David Lynch's Dune before starting this one, because this is a continuation of that conversation. Warning: Spoilers for the books and likely for events that will take place in Dune: Part 2.
2022-03-092h 19No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 25: Dune (1984)It’s the first movie of season 2, baby! This is the first of our two-part Dune series. We focus on the movie but talk about the book(s), too. Warning: This has a few small spoilers for stuff that happens in later books.
2022-03-021h 55No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 24: Welcome to Season 2We're back! We missed you. In this short intro to our second season, we catch up after so long apart and talk about some of the changes coming to the podcast.
2022-03-0228 minNo Gods, No MonstersEpisode 23: Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965) ft. El BartoIt's the No Gods, No Monsters season one finale! El Barto joins Charlie and Rabbit as they stretch this monster sci-fi spectacle to its limits in search of political themes explicit, implicit, and otherwise.
Follow El Barto on twitter: @ElBartoArmy. Listen to him perform black metal as Armed-Jouissance: https://apocalypse-preparation.bandcamp.com/album/split
The anti-capitalist kaiju boys are taking a bit of a break but don't worry, they'll be back soon to keep talking about giant monsters and dunking on dumb cops.
2021-09-302h 37No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 22: Gamera, the Giant Monster (1965)When the world is caught in the grips of a Cold War, can an anti-industrial, fire-breathing, jet-propelled giant turtle bring the two largest superpowers together? To answer that question, Charlie and Rabbit will have to talk about Judi Bari, MKUltra, and Ted K, for some reason.
2021-09-231h 25No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 21: Frankenstein vs Baragon (1965)Feminist gothic horror meets Nazis meets the bombing of Hiroshima meets a leaping horn monster from underground. Normal movie, normal episode.
2021-09-161h 57No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 20: Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)Lots of questions this week. Like: What's Ghidorah's deal? Have the Shobijin become class traitors? Is the world ending (and since it is, how come no one will believe us!!?!?)?
2021-09-091h 38No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 19: The Suicide Squad (2021)In a movie about criminals facing off against a giant, city-smashing space starfish, who are the bad guys? The government. And not Weasel.
NYC Anarchist Black Cross Illustrated Guide to Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War: https://nycabc.wordpress.com/guide/
2021-09-022h 02No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 18: Mothra vs Godzilla (1964)Charlie and Rabbit talk about capitalism, and why it's bad for humans, monsters, giant eggs, and capitalists.
2021-08-261h 57No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 17: Atragon (1963)This submarine movie is packed with political themes to explore. Charlie and Rabbit talk shit on patriotism, war, the United Nations, a certain underwater dragon, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
2021-08-192h 38No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 16: King Kong vs Godzilla (1962)Corporate bigwigs desperate for that sweet ad money pit life-long friends Charlie and Rabbit against each other in a disgusting bid for ratings. Charlie chills, Rabbit gets lifted pretty high by balloons, and in the end neither knows whether their sprawling scuffle was a brilliant critique of commercialization or just a product of it.
2021-08-121h 36No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 15: Mothra (1961)Charlie and Rabbit take a magical journey into the psychedelic world of everyone's favorite altruistic, peace-loving, city-leveling moth monster.
Nuclear fallout, slavery for entertainment, the slaughter of indigenous people by greedy colonizers—this film packs a surprising amount of political critique.
Things get atomic heat ray hot as the hosts argue about who the true hero of the movie is, and they fight like snapping turtles over which one of them Mothra is going to ask out on a date. Will this be the end for the co-hosts--or will they make amends and continue to be...2021-08-058h 20No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 14: Underwater (2020)Charlie and Rabbit dive 36,000 feet--who knows how many leagues--into the ocean to investigate a disturbance that some believe is being caused by earthquakes, but that this duo immediately blames on capitalism.
Rabbit can't stop talking with food in his mouth, Charlie drinks enough for the both of them, and (MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR THE MOVIE IF YOU KEEP READING) they mostly just talk about H. P. Lovecraft.
2021-07-291h 57No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 13: Godzilla Singular Point, Episodes 6-13 (2021)Charlie and Rabbit don't follow the "rules." Or the "bosses." Or the "plot."
2021-07-222h 26No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 12: Godzilla Singular Point, Episodes 3-5 (2021)Charlie and Rabbit grow a bit more intelligent and cease to understand a great many things.
2021-07-151h 14No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 11: Godzilla Singular Point, Episodes 1 & 2 (2021)Are Charlie and Rabbit the right kind of nerds to be able to decode the beginning episodes of this physics-heavy, hard sci-fi, kaiju anime? Only time will tell, since, you know, you can't predict the future. OR CAN YOU
2021-07-081h 27No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 10: Varan (1958)Varan did nothing wrong
2021-07-011h 23No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 9: Rodan (1956)Charlie and Rabbit reflect on Toho's first non-Godzilla kaiju film. With working class protagonists, an environmental message, and huge pteranadon destroying cities with their supersonic speed, can it get any better than Rodan?
2021-06-242h 09No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 8: Q the Winged Serpent (1982)Is Q a god? A monster? A cop-chucking conspiracy theorist high on adrenocrome? Charlie and Rabbit don’t know, but they trudge on anyway, discussing power, corruption, toxic masculinity, post-apocalyptic interpretations of 20th century architecture, and gory rooftop killings as they cover this quirky and surreal '80s horror flick.
2021-06-172h 28No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 7: Godzilla Raids Again (1955)Charlie and Rabbit discuss the rushed sequel to Godzilla, in which many boots are licked.
2021-06-102h 25No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 6: Godzilla (1954)Charlie and Rabbit finally talk about the king of the monsters in this kaiju sized episode. They have a lot of fun in this episode, as always, but be prepared for more heaviness than usual as they dive into the film's political context, including the Lucky Dragon Incident, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the firebombing of Tokyo.
Oh yeah, and they did some extra research this time, so here are some of the sources that informed the discussion:
A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series by David Kalat
Godzilla...2021-06-032h 50No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 5: Them! (1954)Charlie and Rabbit spend an hour and twenty minutes spitting in the faces of the bastard cops, bastard FBI agents, and bastard military bros who spend the public's hard earned money on flamethrowers and helicopters just to fight a bunch of slow, oversized, radioactive ants.
2021-05-271h 20No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 4: Trollhunter (2010)This darkly comedic found footage monster film packs a lot of themes between its absurd antics. Join Charlie and Rabbit as they discuss movie's perspectives on environmentalism, government cover-ups, and of course, TROOOOOOLLLS!!!!
2021-05-202h 16No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 3: The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)Charlie and Rabbit tackle the main inspiration for Godzilla, while asking the difficult questions: What's a fathom, and why are there so many? Who ate the unfrozen, 1,000 year-old mastadon meat? And what's scarier in 1950s America--a disease-spreading, people-eating Rhedosaurus on a rampage, or the mental health system?
2021-05-131h 21No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 2: Son of Kong (1933)Charlie and Rabbit return to Skull Island to discuss Kong's failson, but they get detoured by melancholy monkey music and a righteous proletariat uprising.
2021-05-061h 25No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 1: King Kong (1933)Who died and made Kong king? Why do the cops have enough funding for machine gun-mounted airplanes? And was it really beauty who killed the beast, or was it, like, capitalism?
2021-04-291h 54No Gods, No MonstersEpisode 0: Intro to No Gods, No MonstersOnly listen to this episode if you're dying to know more about the hosts of No Gods, No Monsters, or if you've run out of content and want more. In this episode Charlie and Rabbit talk about the format of the podcast, their history with the kaiju genre, and some other stuff they can't remember.
2021-04-2947 min