The Protagonist Podcast
618 episodes — Page 6 of 13
Fantasy Box Office 2022 (special 2022)
Description In what may be an overly optimistic decision, Producer Andrew and Joe have decided to bring back the Fantasy Box Office game for 2022. They each pick films, and the films final box office is multiplied by its Rotten … Continue reading →
Waxillium Ladrian and Wayne from The Alloy of Law (novel 2011)
Description Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack is back with Joe to discuss Wax and Wayne from The Alloy of Law. This Brandon Sanderson novel is set on the same planet as his Mistborn Trilogy, but several hundred years in the … Continue reading →
Ebeneezer Scrooge and the Muppets from The Muppet Christmas Carol (film 1992)
Description Returning guest Charly Kuecks joins Joe to discuss the classic holiday film, The Muppet Christmas Carol. Written by Jerry Juhl and directed by Brian Henson, this adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol sees the muppets inserted into key … Continue reading →
Christmas Special 2021
Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack is back for our seventh annual Christmas Special. Producer Andrew has supplied Todd and Joe with the names of several Christmas films that they have never watched. They have prepared a plot summary inspired by … Continue reading →
Jesper and Klaus from Klaus (film 2019)
Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe and Producer Andrew to discuss the animated film Klaus. This film, available on Netflix, tells an origin story for Santa Claus as seen through the experiences of a cynical mailman named Jesper. Featuring … Continue reading →
Ted Lasso and friends from Ted Lasso (TV 2020)
Description Returning guest Ben Phillips joins Joe to discuss Ted Lasso. The hit series stars Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, an American football (not soccer) coach who is hired to manage a English football (yes soccer) team in the Premiere … Continue reading →
Thanksgiving Special (2021)
Description Returning guests Kjerste Christensen and Chris “Mav” Maverick join Joe to talk about the stories that they’re grateful for this year. Support Patreon
Franklin Richards and H.E.R.B.I.E. in Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius (comic 2005)
Description Joe and Producer Andrew are discussing this delightful comic book series, chronicling the mischeivous adventures of Franklin Richards. As the son of Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman, the opportunity for trouble abounds for Franklin, and he takes full advantage. … Continue reading →
Paddington Bear from Paddington 2 (film 2017)
Description Returning guest Scott Carelli joins Joe to discuss Paddington Bear from Paddington 2. We discuss why this a perfect film (and we’re not doing a bit or making a joke when we say that). Support Patreon Show Notes Paddington … Continue reading →
Princess Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne of Phantasmorania from The Ordinary Princess (novel 1980)
Description Returning guest Kjerste Christensen joins Joe to discuss The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye. For November, we’re trying to cover stories that just feel nice to the audience, and this was Kjerste’s selection. The novel tells the story of … Continue reading →
Halloween Special 2021
Description Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack and returning guest Todd Petersen join Joe for their annual Halloween special. They’re each choosing creepy stories and updating them with new genres, settings, or storytelling twists. Support Patreon
Linus, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Description Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack is back to talk about It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. We talk about faith, cynicism, and what makes this a classic tv special to watch in the Fall. Support Patreon Show Notes It’s … Continue reading →
Steve Rogers from Captain America #402-409 (comic 1992)
Description It’s Cap-Wolf! Yes, in honor of the monster stories we tell around Halloween, we’re talking about the time that Captain America was turned into a werewolf. John Darowski joins Joe to discuss the “Man and Wolf” storyline, written by … Continue reading →
Dr. Miles Bennell and Becky Driscoll from Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Description Joe and Producer Andrew are tackling a classic sci-fi film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. We’re talking about pod people, paranoia, and alien invasions in 1950’s America as we discuss Don Siegel’s film starring Kevin McCarthy as Miles Bennell … Continue reading →
Dr. Impossible and Fatale from Soon I Will Be Invincible (novel 2007)
Description All-star guest Nik English joins Joe to discuss Austin Grossman’s debut novel Soon I Will Be Invincible. It tells the story of Dr. Impossible trying to take over the planet, while Fatale joins a team of superheroes to try … Continue reading →
Casting Emma (special 2021)
Description Returning guest Kjerste Christensen joins Joe to play a game called Casting Emma. There are certain texts that have been adapted so many times, you could imagine swapping out actors and actresses from each version to build the ultimate … Continue reading →
Liz Lemon on 30 Rock (TV 2006)
Description Retuning guest Cavan Helps joins Joe to discussi Liz Lemon from the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. 30 Rock, created by Tina Fey, is set behind the scenes at a sketch comedy show and is inspired by Tina Fey’s time writing … Continue reading →
Citizen V and the Thunderbolts from Thunderbolts (comic 1997)
Description Joe and Producer Andrew are talking about the Marvel comic book series from Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley. Citizen V, Meteorite, Mach-1, Songbird, Atlas, and Techno are a new team of superheroes who are out to fill a void … Continue reading →
Joe Banks and Dede/Angelica/Patricia from Joe Versus the Volcano (film 1990)
Description First-time guest Merlin Salisbury joins Joe to discuss the film Joe Versus the Volcano. The first Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan pairing is an absurdist screwball romantic comedy about a man trying to briefly live life to the fullest … Continue reading →
Essun, Damay, and Syenite from The Fifth Season (novel 2015)
Description Joe is joined by returning guest Charly Kueks to discuss Essun, Damaya, and Syenite from the N.K. Jemisin’s novel The Fifth Season. This is the first book in a fantasy series trilogy, and Jemisin’s series is the only time … Continue reading →
Truth or Lie: Children’s Media (special 2021)
Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe and Andrew to play Truth or Lie: Children’s Media. Everyone chooses an existing piece of children’s media and then presents two facts about it. The others have to guess which is the truth … Continue reading →
Characters from Record of Ragnarok (TV 2021)
Description Returning guest Norman Mitchell joins Joe and Producer Andrew to discuss the anime series Record of Ragnarok. The gods are ready to destroy all humans but before they do humans have a chance to defend themselves. There will be … Continue reading →
Miyamoto Usagi from Usagi Yojimbo (comic 1984)
Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to discuss the long-running comic book series Usagi Yojimbo. Created by the legendary writer/artist Stan Sakai, the series features anthropomorphic characters set in a world based on 1600s Japan. Miyamoto Usagi—a long-eared rabbit—is … Continue reading →
Rick O’Connell and Evelyn Carnahan in The Mummy (film 1999)
Description Joe and Producer Andrew are discussing the 1999 film The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. This loose adaptation of the 1932 film of the same name channels the romantic adventure style of Indiana Jones to produce a fantastic blockbuster … Continue reading →
Television Elevator Pitches (special 2021)
Description Returning guest Cavan Helps joins Joe for a game of Elevator Pitch. The mythical Protagonist Podcast channel is looking for content, and Joe and Cavan go head to head pitching ideas. Andrew will greenlight one of the options, and … Continue reading →
Merle Highchurch, Taako, and Magnus Burnsides from The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited (comic 2019)
Description All-star guests Nik English and Branden Ushio join Joe to discuss the graphic novel The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited. Adapting story arcs from The Adventure Zone podcast in which the McElroy brothers (& father) play Dungeons … Continue reading →
Captain Janeway, Seven of Nine, and the Doctor in Star Trek: Voyager (TV 1995)
Description Joe and Producer Andrew are talking about another Star Trek series (we’re not a Star Trek podcast, but we do love Star Trek). Star Trek: Voyager premiered in 1995, and we’re discussing the episodes “The Gift” and “Latent Image.” … Continue reading →
Characters from Picnic in the Ruins (novel 2021)
Description Returning guest Todd Robert Petersen joins Joe to discuss his novel Picnic in the Ruins. The novel tells the story of several people getting caught up in a web of antiquities theft and murder, with very few understanding why. … Continue reading →
The ensemble cast from Universe Journey (narrative podcast 2016)
Description First-time guest Jerome Wetzel joins Joe to discuss a segment from the It’s All Been Done Radio Hour podcast. It’s All Been Done Radio Hour features several recurring segments that are performed live in front an audience and then … Continue reading →
Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde from Zootopia (film 2016)
Description Returning guest Hannah Rogers joins Joe to discuss the Disney animated film Zootopia. We discuss the surprising trivia about the film’s long development and various titles around the world, the roles the characters represent, and the larger social issues … Continue reading →
Fan Theories (special 2021)
Description Joe is joined by returning guests Kjerste Christensen and Todd Petersen to play a game about Fan Theories. Each has selected some fan theories about popular media and prepared a set of clues to reveal what the fan theory … Continue reading →
Storm in Uncanny X-Men #159 (comic 1982) WITH SPECIAL GUEST Chris Claremont
Description Legendary comic book writer Chris Claremont joins Joe to talk about the character of Storm from the X-Men comic books. We’re discussing Uncanny X-Men #159, written by Chris Claremont with pencils by Bill Sienkiewicz, inks by Bob Wiacek, letters by Tom … Continue reading →
Number Six from The Prisoner (TV 1967)
“I am not a number! I am a free man!” Description Producer Andrew joins Joe to discuss the classic British tv show The Prisoner. Patrick McGoohan played Number Six, spy who quits his job and is then kidnapped and taken to … Continue reading →
Ann Dorrit from Little Dorrit (novel 1855-1857)
Description Returning guest Hannah Rogers joins Joe to discuss a classic novel by Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit tells the story of a girl who was born and raised in a debtor’s prison and her family’s struggles with poverty and then also … Continue reading →
The Muppets, Jim Hawkins, and Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island (film 1996)
“Who hired this crew?” Description Returning guest Charly Kuecks joins Joe and Producer Andrew to talk about Muppet Treasure Island, a very loose adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson novel from 1883. There’s a lot of time spent singing the … Continue reading →
So Many X-Men (special 2021)
Description Returning guest Chris “Mav” Maverick joins Joe to play a game about the many, many X-Men characters in Marvel comics. Producer Andrew has selected a series of scenarios the X-Men might find themselves in. Then, Mav and Joe each … Continue reading →
Sparks Nevada, Croach the Tracker, Rebecca Rose Rushmore, and the Red Plains Rider from The Thrilling Adventure Hour (podcast 2005)
Description First time guest Hal Lublin joins Joe and returning guest John Darowski to discuss Sparks Nevada, Croach the Tracker, Rebecca Rose Rushmore, and the Red Plains Rider from The Thrilling Adventure Hour. The Thrilling Adventure Hour, a staged production … Continue reading →
Hi and Ed McDunnough from Raising Arizona (film 1987)
“Maybe it was Utah.” Description All-Star guest Todd Petersen joins Joe to discuss one of the early Coen Brothers films, Raising Arizona. This off-beat comedy sees an ex-con named Hi (Nicolas Cage) and an ex-cop named Ed (Holly Hunter) who … Continue reading →
Vash and Wolfwood in Trigun (TV 1998)
Description “I’m like a hunter of peace.” Returning all-star guest Norman Mitchell joins Joe to discuss Vash and Wolfwood from the anime series Trigun. The anime is based on the popular manga series created by Yasuhiro Nightow. Topics of discussion … Continue reading →
“Circular Ruins” and “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” (Short stories, 1890 and 1940)
Description Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack is back to discuss two short stories. “Circular Ruins” is by Jorge Luis Borges and tells the story of a wizard conjuring a being from his dreams. “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is … Continue reading →
Aspirational Entertainment (special 2021)
Description All-Star guest Kjerste Christensen joins Joe to talk about aspirational media. We have a free-flowing conversation about the topic, and touch on issues of cultural literacy, what media is good for us to consume, and what media we still … Continue reading →
Protagonist Podcast: Ben from Night of the Living Dead (film 1968) “The unburied dead are coming back to life…”
Description Joe and Producer Andrew are talking about Ben from the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead. This classic film is often cited as the first zombie film, and we talk about its place in pop culture history, its … Continue reading →
Protagonist Podcast: Roberta and Superman from Superman Smashes the Klan (comic 2019) “If you might be able to help another person, you ought to at least try.”
Description First time guest Gene Luen Yang joins Joe to discuss the graphic novel Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru. This comic book story is an updated tale inspired by a classic storyline from the Adventures … Continue reading →
Protagonist Podcast: Yoon Seri and Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok from Crash Landing on You (TV 2019) “This is really urgent.”
Description First-time guest Rachel Armstrong is joining us to discuss the Korean drama Crash Landing on You. This tv series tells the story of Yoon Seri, a South Korean woman who has a paragliding accident and lands in North Korea, … Continue reading →
Protagonist Podcast: Kaladin, Shallan, and Dalinar from The Way of Kings (novel 2010) “Life before Death. Strength before Weakness. Journey before Destination.”
Description Joe is joined by returning guest Tianna Homer to discuss the first book in Brandon Sanderson’s Starlight Archive series. The Way of Kings tells the stories of a slave named Kaladin, a desperate ward named Shallan, and a troubled … Continue reading →
Protagonist Podcast: Pop Culture Franchise Trivia (special 2021)
Description There are a LOT of pop culture franchises, but how well do you actually know them? Returning guest Chris “Mav” Maverick joins Joe in a trivia contest. Can you name all the subtitles of Transformers films? How many franchises … Continue reading →
Protagonist Podcast: Sam Baldwin and Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle (film 1993) “It was…magic.”
Description Returning guest Virginia McAlister joins Joe to discuss Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) and Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) in the 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle. We talk about Nora Ephron’s career, the film’s unique spin on romantic comedies, and the … Continue reading →
Protagonist Podcast: The midwives from Call the Midwife (TV 2012) “Midwifery is the very stuff of life.”
Description Returning guest Kjerste Christensen joins Joe to discuss the BBC series Call the Midwife. We’re primarily focusing on Jenny Lee (played by Jessica Raine) and Chummy Noakes (played by Miranda Hart). The series tells the story of a group … Continue reading →
Harry Houdini in Houdini: The Handcuff King (comic 2007) “Will anyone even remember me a hundred years from now?”
Description Joe and Producer Andrew are discussing the graphic novel Houdini: The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi. This graphic novel tells a day-in-the-life story of Houdini performing one of his classic escapes. We discuss Houdini’s reputation, the … Continue reading →
Protagonist Podcast: Characters from Good Country People (short story 1955) “I’m as good as you any day in the week.”
Description Joe and Producer Andrew are discussing a classic American short story by Flannery O’Connor. “Good Country People” tells the story of a couple rumor-mongers, an atheist, a con-man Bible salesman, and a stolen prosthetic leg. Support Patreon Show Notes … Continue reading →