The Protagonist Podcast

Description Returning guest Virginia McAlister joins Joe to discuss Lavinia, a 2009 novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. The story centers the life of Lavinia, a very minor character in Virgil’s Aeneid. The Aeneid is a 2,050 year old poem … Continue reading →

Description Kestra Darowski joins Producer Andrew and Joe to play a game of Disney Song Mount Rushmore. We all picked a representative song from four categories: 1) the Classic Disney era, 2) the Disney Renaissance era, 3) the modern CGI … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Norman Mitchell joins Joe and Producer Andrew to discuss the manga series Naruto. One of the most popular mangas of all time, we’re talking about stories from the first collections of Naruto. In these volumes, a young … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Virginia McAlister joins Joe to discuss Paul Atreides from the films Dune and Dune Part II. We talk about the Dune franchise, this film adaptation, and some of discomfort felt in Paul’s ascension. We also acknowledge what … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Nik English joins Joe to discuss the novel Daisy Jones and the Six. This 2019 novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid tells the story of a band’s rise to popularity in the 1970s and their eventual break up … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Dr. Kyra Hunting joins Joe and Producer Andrew to discuss one of the most popular kids’ shows being produced today. Kyra studies children’s media, and is the perfect guest to help break down the massive success Bluey … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Ryan Haupt joins Producer Andrew and Joe to discuss science in popular culture. The good, the bad, and the wildly inaccurate. We talk about sci-fi as a genre and some specific examples of how science is used … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to discuss the comic book series Strange Academy. This school for magic users in the Marvel comic book universe introduced readers to a wave of new young magic characters, including Doyle Dormammu and … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Rachel Armstrong joins Joe to discuss the 2003 film Big Fish. Directed by Tim Burton, the film tells the story of an estranged father and son reconciling before the father passes on. Support Patreon Show Notes Big … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Kjerste Christensen joins Joe to discuss The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, the first story in a series written by Martha Wells. The series tells the story of a part human, part robot Security unit. This SecUnit … Continue reading →

Description Producer Andrew joins Joe to talk about the character of Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation. We’re looking at two episodes, “Elementary, My Dear Data” and “Measure of a Man.” In one, the holodeck causes chaos (as always) … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Kjerste Christensen joins Joe to discuss The Sapphires, a 2012 Australian jukebox musicale dramedy that is loosely based on real events. It tells the story of an Australian music group that travels to Vietnam to sing for … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Chris “Mav” Maverick joins Joe to talk about a comic book written and drawn by Art Adams with colors by Laura Allred and Matt Hollingsworth with letters by Lois Buhalis. It tells the story of an intelligent … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Rachel Armstrong joins Joe to discuss Daniel Nayeri’s autobiographical book Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story). This novel tells the story of Daniel, his mother, and his sister leaving Iran and arriving in Oklahoma as refugees. … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Branden Ushio joins Joe to discuss the tv show The Rookie. Starring Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, the show is about the oldest rookie in the LAPD. We discuss Nathan Fillion’s charm as an actor, whether the … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Chris “Mav” Maverick joins Joe to talk about the Academy Awards. Why do we care who wins? What are some of the biggest mistakes that have been made in awards history? What are some of the biggest … Continue reading →

Description First-time guest Julian Chambliss joins Joe to discuss Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, a comic book series written by Ta-Nehisi Coates with pencils by Brian Stelfreeze, inks by Karl Story, and colors by Laura Martin. This 2018 … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Kestra Darowski joins Producer Andrew and Joe to discuss the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The film stars Chris Pine as Edgin Darvis and tells the story of plans going wrong in an entertaining way … Continue reading →

Description Producer Andrew and Joe are talking about one of the most iconic absurdist stories ever written. The novella by Franz Kafka tells the story of Gregor Samsa who wakes up having turned into an insect. We talk about the … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Christopher “Mav” Maverick joins Producer Andrew and Joe to discuss the nature of storytelling in comic books. Comic books/graphic novels offer storytelling options that are distinct from any other medium. We break down some of the strengths … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Kestra Darowski joins Joe and Producer Andrew to discuss the tv series Only Murders in the Building. Starring Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage, Martin Short as Oliver Putnam, and Selena Gomez as Mable Mora, the show tells … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Kate Reid joins Joe to discuss My Best Friend’s Wedding, one of Julia Roberts’ iconic rom-com roles from the 1990s. We discuss the various characters, the tropes of the genre, and dig into the character’s motivations. Support Patreon … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to discuss the comic book series Void Rivals. Created by Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo de Felici, the series tells the story of two aliens whose home worlds have been at war who end … Continue reading →

It’s Groundpod Day! Every year Andrew, Mav, Nicole, and Joe rewatch Groundhog Day and record a podcast episode about it.

Description Returning guest Nicole Freim joins Joe to discuss the iconic sci-fi horror film Alien. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver, Alien has become a touchstone film for its genre. Support Patreon

Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to discuss two classic short stories. “Dalyrimple Goes Wrong” is by F. Scott Fitzgerald and tells the story of a World War I hero trying to succeed at life after returning home. “A … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Norman Mitchell joins Joe and Producer Andrew to discuss the anime series Yuyu Hakusho. This series is an adaptation of a popular manga series and tells the story of a boy who is killed in an accident … Continue reading →

Description Joe and Producer Andrew are at it again. As a way of previewing the movies that are coming out the next year, we have a draft of upcoming films. In the end, we get the total box office of … Continue reading →

Description Joe and Producer Andrew are talking about Metropolis, one of the most iconic silent films ever made. A two-and-a-half hour German Expressionist sci-fi epic directed by Fritz Lang, Metropolis tells the story of Freder, the son of a rich, … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Chris “Mav” Maverick and Hannah Rogers join Joe to talk about one of the most Christmas-y Christmas movies ever made. A little dash of ALL the Christmas stories is present in this Netflix movie, and we have … Continue reading →

Description It’s our ninth annual Christmas Special! Producer Andrew provided Joe and Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd seven titles to different Christmas movies they’ve never seen. They’ve each written a plot summary inspired by that title and read the summary. Andrew … Continue reading →

Description Returning guests Cavan Helps and Norman Mitchell join Joe and Producer Andrew for a brief game of Dungeons and Dragons. Cavan serves as Dungeon Master and guides our three adventurers on a Christmas-themed adventure.

Description Returning guest Kate Darowski joins Joe to discuss two Christmas episodes from the classic sitcom Frasier. Kate is the co-author of Frasier: A Cultural History (now in paperback!) and an expert on the show. We’re talking about the episodes “Perspectives on Christmas” … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Andrew Deman joins Joe to discuss Wolverine, the iconic X-Men character. We are looking at a story titled “Wounded Wolf” that was contained to a single issue, Uncanny X-Men #205. This issue was created by Chris Claremont … Continue reading →

Description Joe and Producer Andrew have an informal chat about media, gratitude, and the podcast.

Description Returning guest Ryan Haupt joins Joe and Producer Andrew to discuss the 1993 Disney adaptation of The Three Musketeers. Starring Chris O’Donnell, Charlie Sheen, Keifer Sutherland, and Oliver Platt, this film is a fun—if loose—adaptation of the 1884 Alexandre … Continue reading →

Description First-time guest Zach Weinersmith joins Joe to talk about the graphic novel Bea Wolf. Written by Zach Weinersmith with art by Boulet, the story is a middle-grade retelling of the epic poem Beowulf. There are adorable child protagonists, an … Continue reading →

Show Notes Returning co-founder Todd Mack and returning guest Todd Petersen join Joe and Producer Andrew for their annual Halloween special. This year, they each submitted lists of spooky words, then 4 words were selected at random to serve as … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe and Andrew to discuss the Marvel’s horror special Werewolf by Night, which was released on Disney+ in October 2022. Directed by Michael Giachinno, it starred Gael Garcia Bernal as Jack Russell and Laura … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Allison Epstein joins Joe to discuss the 2001 film A Knight’s Tale. This medieval jousting comedy stars Heath Ledger as William Fletcher. The film features anachronistic comedy elements, which helps make it stand out, but also has … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Norman Mitchell joins Joe and Producer Andrew to discuss the comic book series Paper Girls. The series is a collaboration between writer Brian K. Vaughan, artist Cliff Chiang, colorist Matt Wilson, and letterer Jared K. Fletcher. It … Continue reading →

Description Producer Andrew and Joe are discussing The Spirit of Lonely Places, a podcast campaign in Beyond the Map: A World of Darkness Series. Adam Carnevale runs the campaign and plays all the NPCs, Joel Zammit plays as Warren Birch, … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Kestra Darowski joins Joe to play a game called Disney Heist. Despite its name, we are not trying to break into the Disney Vault (side note….circle back to that idea). Producer Andrew has given us a list … Continue reading →

Description We’re talking about the stop-motion duo of the human Wallace and the dog Gromit. The Wrong Trousers tells the story of a villainous penguin trying to misuse one of Wallace’s inventions to pull off a heist. A Close Shave … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Nicole Freim joins Joe to discuss the comic book series The Stuff of Legend. The series has a story by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith, illustrations by Charles Paul Westover, and design and colors by Jon Conkling … Continue reading →

Description First time guest Nicole Freim joins Joe to discuss the 1944 film Gaslight. This film is the origin of the term “gaslighting” (which we explain in depth). Starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer, Gaslight tells the story of a … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Kate Darowski joins Joe to discuss one of the most popular novels of recent years. Lessons in Chemistry was written by first-time author Bonnie Garmus and tells the story of Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist, single mother, … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Anna Peppard joins Joe to discuss Kyra Nerys from the tv show Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. DS9 was the third Star Trek television series. We’re focusing on the episode “Duet” which sees Kyra capture a Cardassian … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Anna Peppard joins Joe to talk about the Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing, charter member of the Fantastic Four and beloved fixture of Marvel Comics. We’re discussing the 2021 mini-series written by Walter Mosley with art by Tom Reilly … Continue reading →

Description Returning guest Chris “Mav” Maverick joins Joe and Producer Andrew to map out movies to watch during the year. We each select a movie that feels right to watch for every month. Please feel free to let us know … Continue reading →