228. Friends of the Pod: Nerd Ranks w/Stephen

Josh and Alex break out their magnifying glasses to try and deduce the latest Benoit Blanc mystery in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Intro (0:00) Why no Star Wars sequel trilogy conversation? (1:07) Why Josh doesn't like the Packers all-white uniforms (6:23) Movie Wire Promo (10:00) Our Instagram is gone! (10:15) Wake Up Dead Man review (13:00) Josh hates 4k and high frame rates (46:58) Goodbyes and social media plugs (53:07) Please remember to check out the Movie Wire podcast, and join our Discord!

Josh went and saw Zootopia 2, while Alex saw the brand new Five Nights at Freddy's 2. Intro (0:00) Five Nights at Freddy's 2 w/Slade providing context (1:29) I Have Some Notes promo (23:13) Zootopia 2 (24:29) WB/Netflix merger, Goodbyes and social media plugs (59:49) Please remember to check out I Have Some Notes, join our Discord! 

Josh and Alex take a moment to talk with Stephen from the Nerd Ranks podcast about everything under the sun, including their podcast, and what makes their nerd heart sing.  Intro (0:00) The shared love for Zombies Ate My Neighbors (4:48) Stephen, what'cha doin'? (7:27) What inspired the creation of Nerd Ranks? (8:36) Where is Stephen's happy nerd place? (10:03) Alex confuses Christopher Lee with Vincent Price (27:54) Horror movies, Rob Zombie and horror tropes (31:41) What kind of horror movies does Josh like? (37:13) We share our love of Jim Varney (39:01) Does Stephen have any upcoming Nerd Ranks episodes he's excited for? (40:38) Alex forgets Sam Niell's name (44:44) The Last of Us video game conversation leads to obligatory Expedition 33 mention (46:12) Physical media and Super Princess Peach on DS (49:28) Favorite Mario Game? (50:59) Crash Bandicoot & Assassin's Creed franchises (57:21) Games with companion apps (1:01:09) Exceptions to the rules for game genres we don't like (1:04:07) Stephen's music (1:12:08) Donkey Kong Country music history lesson (1:16:21) Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:18:27) Don't forget to join our Discord and join in on the SMAC talk. 

Josh and Alex reunite with Justin from the Movie Wire to review Wicked For Good Intro (0:00) gaming Views promo (2:59) Wicked For Good review (3:37) Goodbyes and social media plugs (57:22) Please remember to check out Gaming Views, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

Josh flies solo this week to discuss the biggest news and trailers announced in the last few weeks.  Intro (0:00) Game Club Pod promo (0:55) Disney planning to introduce generative ai into the Disney+ platform (2:48) Alien: Earth got a renewal?! (6:44) Gremlins 3 announced (9:48) Avengers: Doomsday trailer confirmed to play in front of Avatar: Fire & Ash (11:51) The Super Mario Galaxy trailer (14:27) The Devil Wears Prada 2 trailer (18:01) Five Nights at Freddy's 2 trailer (19:29) Toy Story 5 trailer (21:17) Moana (2026) trailer (26:11) Goodbyes and social media plugs (28:28) Please remember to check out the Game Club Pod podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

It's a special all-guest episode of Talking SMAC! Antonio (the Josh for this week) and Justin (the Alex for this week) from Back 2 the Balcony fill in to give a full-SPOILER review Predator Badlands! Don't forget to support Antonio and Justin's respective solo podcasts, as well. Click here to check out the Cultworthy and the Movie Wire.  Please join our Discord and check out our merch store!

Josh, Alex & Matt come together to answer our favorite question: What'cha Doin'?  Intro (0:00) Cultworthy promo (3:06) Matt: Star Trek Strange New Worlds season 3 (4:50) Alex: Blair Witch franchise deep dive (22:26) Josh: Nobody Wants This (35:56) Alex: Chad Powers (41:27) Matt: Pokémon Legends Z-A (54:16) Alex goes nuclear (1:01:39) Josh: Alien: Earth (1:13:00) Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:32:50) Please remember to check out the Cultworthy podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

Josh is joined by Slade from Driveway Beers Studios (and eventually Luis, too,) to discuss the newly released Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc. The next chapter in the Chainsaw Man anime, as previously discussed on the pod. Disclaimer - Harsh editing (0:00) Intro/Welcome back, Slade (1:04) Previously on Talking SMAC... (4:59) Chainsaw Man - The Movie thoughts and spoilers (6:24) MAPPA doesn't miss (16:50) Slade gets the Big D (19:51) Does Josh remember the [spoiler]? (23:36) What's the deal with Miss Makima?! (27:52) What does Reze bring to the Chainsaw Man table? (31:16) Josh embarrasses himself again (36:59) Josh's standout moments (41:01) How would Josh recommend Chainsaw Man - The Movie to people? (43:11) Slade needs to know Josh's thoughts on My Dress Up Darling season 2 (53:54) Slade would like to know Josh's feelings on Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and The Apothecary Diaries (58:37) Slade challenges Josh to watch My Hero Academia (1:03:52) Josh is surprised Slade doesn't like a popular anime (1:06:56) **Luis enters the chat (1:10:30) Slade and Luis fight (1:11:54) Did Luis have any foreknowledge into Chainsaw Man - The Movie? (1:12:35) Chainsaw Man pt 2 of the Manga gets confusing (1:17:05) Luis and Slade reconnect over the score for Chainsaw Man - The Movie (1:23:20) Luis surprised at the Chainsaw Man timeline (1:29:35) Josh gives kudos to the Anime Boys; Luis & Slade (1:34:00) Luis's prediction for Miss Makima (1:37:57) Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:43:47) Don't forget to join our Discord and check out our merch store!

Josh and Alex are joined by Elliot and Lewis from the That's Not How It Went Down podcast.  Intro (0:00) What is "That's Not How It Went Down" about? (5:29) Alex and Josh pitch future TNHIWD episode topics (18:26) Alex disallows a couple movies, Josh disagrees (23:23) How do they come up with movies for their podcast? (27:19) Comfort watch movies/genres? (28:46) The last great adventure film (33:12) Josh needs to know if Elliot is a Power Rangers fan! (40:29) What is the research process like for TNHIWD (47:55) Elliot, Lewis, what'cha doin'? (1:01:35) The F1 movie is bad..? (1:05:25) What makes a good musical biopic? (1:10:45) Have Lewis and Elliot seen "Kpop Demon Hunters" yet? (1:13:39) Social media plugs and goodbyes (1:16:36) Don't forget to join our Discord and check out our merch store!

Return to the grid and escape the grid! Alex & Justin take on the Programs and review Tron Ares Daft Punk vs NIN! They also touch on John Candy documentary: I like me, and 2025 legasequel-boots Final Destination: Bloodlines, M3gan 2.0, and The Naked Gun Please remember to check out the Casting Views podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store!  Introduction (0:12) Casting Views promo (3:13)  Can we get a Dan white noise machine? (3:46) Tron franchise experiences and thoughts (4:33) Tron Ares thoughts: NIN! & music as a vibe (13:23) The story is the story & needing Bruce Campbell (22:07) John Candy: I like me (29:03) Spoiler talk (30:54) Our heroes are aging (33:50) Must See or Pass (41:41) Quick catch-up: Final Destination Bloodlines, M3gan 2.0 & The Naked Gun Wrap up and goodbyes (50:23)