Episode 103: This Is(n't) a True Crime Pod

This week, Alex, Kate, and guest Byron McKoy from Frightday.com discuss true crime and how Shelby Oaks was completely recut between its original festival release and its theatrical release before diving into a slasher killers vs survivors bracket.

This week, Alex and Kate talk about horror franchises, when they do and don't work, why they've been around since the beginning of cinema, and which ones they've enjoyed the most.

This week, Alex, Kate, and guest Paul Klein discuss The Rocky Horror Picture Show in honor of its 50th anniversary. They discuss the legacy of the movie and its countless shadow cast productions, its impact on representation for queer and non-queer viewers alike, and why we shouldn't expect "perfect" representation from our media.

100 episodes into the "new era" of But Why Tho? The Podcast, Alex, Kate, and Matt talk about why But Why Tho matters, the topics and themes we harp on most often, and what we hope people will continue getting out of the show.

This week, Alex and Adrian talk about the hype cycle in media, how it can backfire on companies, create toxic fandoms, and still keep people excited for releases long after they're initially announced.

This week, Alex and Kate discuss Labubus, the appeal of collectibles that others dismiss, and how women have to perform gender more with expensive products than men do.

This week, Alex, Kate, and guest Jason Fannelli discuss sports video games, the communities that build around them, the benefits of having more than just one company making them at a time, and why an annual cycle is actually important for keeping the games relevant and immersive.

This week, Alex, Swara, and Kyle discuss genre, its utility in determining what to consume, its shortcomings as an aspect of marketing, and the malleability that genre needs to remain fresh and relevant. Plus, why AI art can never express emotion.

This week, Alex, Kate, and Matt discuss whether liking nerdy things is childish, why it's important to understand what age demographic media is made and marketed for, and how it all gets harder when stories refuse to ever end.

This week, Alex, Kate, and Jason discuss the seminal 2004 Green Day album, American Idiot, its meaning at the time, its impact on music and culture since, and where to find good, politically salient music today.