Strange As Fiction: Where Pop Culture and History Collide!: Recent Episodes
Austin Miller
Strange as Fiction is where pop culture and history collide!
Join me, Austin Miller as each week I explore the stories behind the stories and why sometimes, history is stranger than fiction.
And while most episodes will be snack size—we’ll have lots of guests on to do the occasional deep dive on the topics that interest you most.
As a pop culture podcast we'll also be breaking down all of the latest shows with our thoughts.
We're back from a quick trip to Disneyland and after a quick trip report we discuss the biggest news in film and entertainment!
News
-New Harry Potter Movie—Is the original trio coming back?
-BAFTA Awards Whoopsie
-Disney Is Pumping the Breaks
What's Streaming This Week
-Outer Banks Season 3
-We Have a Ghost
-The Consultant
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This week we discuss the biggest news in film and entertainment as well as answer life's big questions...Does listening to audiobooks count as reading? Should biopics include the good AND the bad of someone's life? Is doing a Martha Stewart 180 on your life philosophy just a PR move? Will Austin survive having Laura's birthday and Valentines in the same week? Are early 2000s rom coms back? All this and MORE in this week's fun-filled episode!
News
- Marie Kondo AKA "The Tidiness Queen" is no Longer Tidy?
- New Paul McCartney Documentary
- Michael Jackson Movie Under Fire
What's Streaming This Week
- Harley Quinn V-Day Special
- You (Season 4)
- Your Place or Mine
- 10 Days a Good Man
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It's midnight and we're tired but the show must go on 🥴 On today's episode we discuss the Oscar nominations that were recently released by the Academy. Afterwards we discuss what's dropping on streaming services this week. Enjoy!
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Woahh, what an episode! First we kick off the show with a little bit of news on how we are going to do things going forward (trust me, you're gonna like it). THen Laura Miller (*Borat Voice) "Mahhhh wife" joins us to discuss this week's news and new show releases. Then recurring guest Parker Stanley joins us to talk "Last of Us"—HBO's hit show based of the video game. Could this be the first video game to TV show adaption that's actually worth watching?? Hmmmm, you'll have to wait to find out. Thanks for joining and as always—like, listen, review, share!
Industry News (3:55)
- David Crosby's Almost Post-Apocalyptic Hippie Movie
- New Scream VI Trailer
- Netflix Cracking Down on Account Sharing??
- Rolling Stone's Controversial List of Top 200 Singers of All Time
Upcoming Releases This Week (12:25)
- Poker Face (Peacock)
- You People (Netflix)
The Last of Us Episodes 1-2 Discussion (16:10)
Parker Stanley and I discuss the first 2 episodes of HBO's hit show "The Last of Us." Yes there are spoilers.
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Where pop culture and history collide!
The Library of Alexandria was constructed in the ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt. It was a massive complex, comprising several buildings and housing an estimated 700,000 scrolls. It was literally the library of the ancient world! And although it housed great wisdom and paved the way for the modern library, its stewards also used it as a way to gain power, censor unwanted texts, and control the narrative. Ultimately it was destroyed—twice. With it humanity lost untold historical treasures but we also have it to thank for paving the way for the modern library.
News
- Dave Bautista hates The Rock
- Scorcese's faith in modern cinema restored!
- Gladiator 2
Weekly Releases
- Vikings Valhalla (Netflix)
- The Last of Us (HBO)
Deep Dive: The Library of Alexandria
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The Wire is a critically acclaimed television series that aired on HBO from 2002 to 2008. The show was created by writer and producer David Simon and was set in Baltimore, Maryland. It followed the lives of various characters living in different parts of the city, including drug dealers, police officers, and politicians, and explored themes of urban decay, the drug trade, and the challenges faced by inner city communities. Join me this week as we dive into the intense creative process behind the show and why it often gets named as the best show of all time!
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Special Episode
It's time to take a look back at the year and discuss the best TV and movies as well take a look at what's on the horizon and excites me the most!!
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I accidentally uploaded last week's audio so THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY the correct audio, apologies about that 😅
In ancient societies, there was no Sherlock, Jack Bauer or John McClane’s to solve crimes or take down criminals. There also wasn't any video surveillance or fancy forensic labs to gather and test evidence. So how did societies like the Egyptians and Greeks settle such matters? And what would happen if one was found guilty? All this and more in Episode 32 of Strange as Fiction!
News
- Netflix's Wednesday is VERY Popular
- Donald Glover is the HYPNO HUSTLER
- New Barbie Movie Teaser Trailer
New Releases
- Jack Ryan (Season 3)
- Babylon
- Corsage
Deep Dive: Crime and Punishment in Ancient Times
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🎵 Deep Dive Background Music: Jared C. Balogh "Pursuit of Happiness" 🎵
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Balogh/Modern_Renaissance/01_jared_c__balogh_-_pursuit_of_happiness/
In today's deep dive we explore how three meals a day became the world standard and answer questions like: Were our ancestors mostly carnivorous? Has 3 meals a day always been the standard, if not, how and why did it change? Which people and cultures today do things differently?
"Strange as Fiction: Where pop culture and history collide!"
Pop Culture Industry News (1:28)
-Rush Hour 4 Confirmed?
-Did Wonder Woman 3 Really get the Axe Because of James Gunn?
-Why Emily Blunt is Over "Strong Female Leads"
Shows Dropping this Week (14:50)
-National Treasure: Edge of History
-Litvinenko
-Yellowstone prequel "1923" (Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren)
History Deep Dive (20:33)
Why we Eat 3 Meals a Day? A History of Food Habits and Humanity
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🎵 Deep Dive Background Music: Jared C. Balogh "Pursuit of Happiness" 🎵
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Balogh/Modern_Renaissance/01_jared_c__balogh_-_pursuit_of_happiness/
We wanted a 3rd National Treasure movie featuring Nicholas Cage, instead we got a Disney+ tv show. Will it be good? Will it be bad? Who knows! But let's talk about what we do know....
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Part 2 of our Making of Star Wars series! The light sabers, the famous one liners, the ground breaking special effects— Star Wars has left a galactic footprint the size of the Death Star. But perhaps most impressive is the way it has permeated popular culture for over 4 decades! Join me as we take a look at the cultural impact of Star Wars.
News (1:30)
-Guardians of the Galaxy 3 trailer finally dropped
-Splash Mountain just made its final splash?
-James McAvoy said eff awards season
-"De-aging" Harrison Ford for Indiana Jones
Weekly Releases (10:20)
-George and Tammy
Deep Dive: Making of Star Wars Part 2 (13:45)
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Deep Dive Background Music: Jared C. Balogh "Pursuit of Hapiness"
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Balogh/Modern_Renaissance/01_jared_c__balogh_-_pursuit_of_happiness/
This week we dive into the incredible history of Star Wars! Did you know the character Darth Vader was inspired by a specific samurai warrior? Or the jedi knight by the Knights Templar?
Star Wars is one of those rare films series that transcends the medium to become part of the culture, something people quote and reference decades later, that continues to inspire new chapters and spin offs, and that many people build their identity around. It pioneered many new film techniques, would go on to win six academy awards, become one of the highest grossing film series of all time and completely rewrote the rules for lucrative licensing deals. For this first part of our deep dive into Star Wars history we'll be talking about how the film got made and the people who brought it to life.
Taking on a galaxy long long ago, far far away is no easy task. Because of this, we'll be breaking this deep dive up into three parts over three different episodes:
-Part 1: The Making of Star Wars
-Part 2: The Cultural Impact of Star Wars
-Part 3: The Cinematic Impact of Star Wars
News (2:46)
-Disney's Strange World Remains Financially, Estranged
-Mr. Wall Street replaces Bob Chapek as Disney CEO
-Helena Bonham Carter Decries Cancel Culture
Weekly Releases (5:41)
-Sr. (Robert Downey Jr.)
-Willow (Disney +)
Deep Dive: The Making of Star Wars (11:00)
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Deep Dive Background Music: Illinois Brass Band: Wright, Tam O Shanter's Ride: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Illinois_Brass_Band/Music_to_Summon_the_Spirits/Wright_Tam_OShanters_Ride/
As the story goes, a bunch of friendly Indians (tribe unknown) welcome the Pilgrims to America and show them how to live off the land. Afterwards they break bread and give thanks and live happily ever after.
And while it is true there was a dinner between some 90 Wampanoag men and the English for three days that appears to have been in good spirits. In today’s write ups there seems to be a lot of assuming, filling in the gaps, and politicization from every angle.
While we can generally assume Thanksgiving (as its come to be known) was a joyous occasion, a day of thanks, a tradition that both cultures regularly practiced—it’s also important to remember that this was in large part a highly curated Instagram photo. A perfectly chosen snapshot in time of a brief shining moment in a long history of violence and oppression.
Join me this episode as I attempt the daunting task of separating Thanksgiving fact from fiction!
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Research Links:
https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2017/11/dont-worry-turkey-on-thanksgiving-is-historically-accurate/#:~:text=It
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/us/thanksgiving-myths-fact-check.html
https://plimoth.org/explore/event-venues-and-dining/thanksgiving-dining
Bonus Episode
Parker Stanley joins me to discuss the most recent two episodes of what might be my favorite show of the year, Star Wars Andor! Andor follows the events of rebel spy Cassian Andor and takes places 5 years prior to the events of Rogue One.
Spoiler Warning we will be discussing in detail all the twists and turns so if you don't want anything spoiled, come back after watching.
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The mysterious Nicholas Flamel makes numerous appearances in some of today's most popular works including Michael Scott's New York Times Best Seller "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel" series, Dan Brown's the Davinci Code and of course, most famously—Haryy Potter. While these literary interpretation do take inspiration from the real life French bookseller—they of course, do not tell the real story. However, the real life story of Nicholas Flamel is no less fantastical. Listen to this week's deep dive to hear the mythical story of the real life Nicholas Flamel!
News (0:54)
-Black Panther does numbers opening weekend
-Real life inspiration for Spielberg’s The Terminal dies
-Avatar Last Airbender movie gets a release date
-Stallone spills the tea on Schwarzenegger
Weekly Releases (5:41)
-Santa Clauses (Tim Allen)
-A Christmas Story Christmas (You'll shoot your eye out kid!)
-Pepsi ‘Where’s my Jet?’
-The Menu (Ralph Fiennes)
-Disenchanted (Amy Adams)
-The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Edition
Deep Dive: The Real Nicholas Flamel (12:57)
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Background music "Pursuit of Happiness": https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Balogh/Modern_Renaissance/01_jared_c__balogh_-_pursuit_of_happiness/
"We were in the jungle, there were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane”
-Francis Ford Coppola on the filming of Apocalypse Now
Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam War epic "Apocalypse Now" is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. And while it depicts the horrors of war, the horrors behind the camera were also harrowing and nearly took the life of the director and some of the cast. Sadly one set designer did lose their life. SO how did this happen? How does an A-list lineup turn descend into madness?
Listen to today's episode for the insanity behind the insanity, the movie that is Apocalypse Now.
News: (0:54)
- “Black Adam” Movie Surpasses 300M Worldwide
- Stranger Things Season 5's 1st Episode Name Revealed
- Ana de Armas-Led 'John Wick' Spin-Off
- HBO’s Westworld Gets Cancelled
- Witcher Renewed for Season 4 buuuut with a twist?
Weekly Releases: (6:27)
- The Crown: Season 5
- FIFA Uncovered Doc
- Zootopia+
- Lindsay Lohan’s Falling For Christmas
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- The English
Weekly Deep Dive: Apocalypse Now: The Insanity Behind the Insanity: (14:53)
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Parker Stanley joins me this week to discuss this week's intense episode of Star Wars Andor and catch up on all of the previous episodes since our last discussion. If you hang around, you'll even get to hear our ADD take the best of us and discuss a little bit of Marvel's Werewolf by Night and the latest Disney+ show, Tales of the Jedi which currently has a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes!
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Halloween is here and that means there was only one appropriate topic for this week's deep dive—The Salem Witch Trials! Of course as always we'll run through this week's pop culture news, announcements and what's dropping in theaters and on streaming services this week. Also, we'll even answer the question everyone is dying to know... is Salem Massachusetts just Disneyland for Instagram witches??
News:
- Jason Bateman and Jude Law are teaming up
- The Meet me in the Bathroom Documentary
- Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
- James Gunn to Head up DC Studios
- House of Dragons Won’t Return Until WHEN????
- Christian Bale’s New Netflix Original Movie
Weekly Releases:
- The Final Score
- Blockbuster (the comedy)
- Enola Holmes Season 2
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When you think of classic horror, Marie Shelly’s Frankenstein and Bram Stoker’s Dracula are probably two of the first that come to mind. The devious and suave Dracula has been made dozens of appearances and had many re-imaginings since its 1897 conception. But Dracula isn't just some literary creation—his mythos stems from the incredibly savage, and incredibly violent "Vlad the Impaler" AKA "Vlad Dracula" who was famous for, well you guessed it—impaling people.
In today's Deep Dive, learn all about Vlad the Impaler and his influence on Bram Stoker's iconic character—Dracula.
News:
- Former head of DC Films, Walter Hamada has quit his role
- Tim Burton is done with Disney
- GOT House of Dragons Finale Leaked
- Hagrid Actor Dies
Weekly Releases:
- Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities
- Tales of the Jedi
- Robbing Mussolini
- All Quiet on the Western Front
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Like the mythical city of Atlantis, the ancient city of Troy was often thought of just as that—a mere myth, an invention of man. For thousands of years, searchers tried to prove its existence but could not. But with a copy of the Illiad in hand, one determined German millionaire by the name of Heinrich Schliemann proved all of the doubters wrong and forever changed fiction, into reality. News:
Loretta Lynn passed James Bond Age Debate HBO responded to House of Dragons lighting issues
Weekly Releases:
Easy-Bake Battle: Netflix I love you, You Hate Me Shantaram Fixer Upper “The Castle” Episode
——————————— If you enjoy this episode please make sure you are subscribed and leave a review! Important Links: Connect with me on social! Feel free to suggest topics or ask questions to discuss on the show. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strangeasfictionpodcast/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@strangeasfiction?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StrangeasFictionPodcast/videos
Today's Deep Dive:
Galveston was once the richest city in Texas and second only to Ellis Island in terms of immigration. It was well on its way to becoming the the New York of the south and one of the premier cities in the US, to be mentioned in the same breath as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. But what happened?
News:
- Community Movie
- Marvel's "Armor Wars"
- Coolio
- Happy Meals for Adults?
- James Bond is Taking over Amazon Prime
Weekly Releases:
- Nailed It! (Halloween Edition)
- Werewolf by Night
- The Midnight Club
- Blacklist Season 9
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Today I run through the biggest announcements in entertainment, this week's releases and our deep dive topic of the week—the world's first celebrity chef!
News
- Millie Bobby Brown's 'Enola Holmes 2'
- Matthew McConaughey Soccer Movie ‘Dallas Sting’
- Christina Applegate's 'Dead to Me' Final Season
- Grand Theft Auto's Hack that has the FBI Involved
- 'The Crown' Season 5 and 6
Weekly Watchlist
- Hocus Pocus 2
- Chef vs Wild
Deep Dive
At the turn of the 19th century the first celebrity chef, Marie Antoine Careme burst onto the scene from seemingly nowhere and rose all the way to the very top—with bestselling cookbooks and infamous feasts that were all the rage of the ruling class including the likes of Napoleon Bonaparte, czars, kings, and diplomats. He would regularly draw crowds outside the bakery window where people would gather to see his latest creations and left an incredible legacy that influences much of today's cuisine!
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Parker and I discuss Star Wars Andor Episodes 1-3 that just dropped this week! Andor follows the events of rebel spy Cassian Andor and takes places 5 years prior to the events of Rogue One. We give you our full thoughts on the show and what we hope to see going forward! (There ARE spoilers in this episode, you've been warned 😊)
As a quick refresh of the show so far:
Episode 1: Cassian Andor's reckless search for answers about his past makes him a wanted man.
Episode 2: Cassian attempts to lay low on Ferrix as agents of the law close in.
Episode 3: Cassian's desperation to avoid arrest leads him to a mysterious man with unknown connections.
If you enjoy this episode please make sure you are subscribed and leave a review!
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Korean Drama AKA K-Drama is taking over but why? And how'd we get here? On today's episode I visit the Rise of K-Drama as well as make a "major" announcement about the new show format. Topics discussed:
News
Leonardo DiCaprio: Squid Games
Sony's Karate Kid Announcement
Amazon's Blade Runner Announcement
This Week's Releases
Super/Natural (Disney+)
Iron Chef: Mexico
The REAL Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist
Kardashians Season 2 🙄
The Perfumier
Deep Dive
The rise of K-Drama! What is the Korean Wave? And how did Korean media take over the world?! This and MORE.
Parker Stanley joins me to discuss She-Hulk Episode 5 as well as to shake our fists at the teenagers who have been fulfilling our online grocery orders! Aside from a potential character reveal, She-Hulk 5 does not offer any earth shattering MCU revelations but could this be what makes this show a standout? We discuss all of this and more! Yes, this episode has spoilers*
With Star Wars Andor dropping Sept 21st, going forward we will take a brief pause from discussing She-Hulk to focus on the new hotness. She-Hulk only has 4 episodes remaining in the season so as soon as that wraps up, we'll do a MEGA RECAP EPISODE and share all our thoughts on the final episodes as well as the show as a whole. I hope you enjoy this episode and if you haven't already, please leave a review! Want to connect with me? Follow me on these platforms below and I'll do my best to respond to your inquiries.
Thanks for listening.
-Austin Miller
IG: @strangeasfictionpodcast
YT: @strangeasfiction
TikTok: @strangeasfiction
Netflix's upcoming adaptation of All Quiet on the Western front drops next month so there is no better time than now to learn the incredible story that drew the admiration of many and the ire of others--leading to book burnings and movie theater protests.
We'l dive into its evolution from book to movie, to movie again and both the historical events its based on (WWI) and the historical impact it had. Knowing the story BEHIND the story always makes for a more enjoyable watch, I can't wait to share this story with you.
Hit that follow button as we will be revisiting All Quiet on the Western Front after its release!
I'm recapping D23 announcements and giving my take on all of the latest trailers. We're talking:
Willow Star Wars: Andor Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Mandalorian: Season 3 Secret Invasion Were-Wolf by Night Fantastic Four Thunderbolts
Whether you've just seen the headlines or have already deep dived into all of the goodness (and not so goodness) coming from Disney's D23 event, you'll want to join me for this MEGA episode.
Spoilers warning we discuss in detail everything that happens in episode 4 of She-Hulk Attorney at Law!
She-Hulk episode 4 had a lot to talk about, especially after the Disney D23 mid-season reveal trailer that just dropped. Wong, Donny Blaze and others make a first appearance in the show and well, you’ll just have to listen to the full episode. Join Austin Miller and Parker Stanley as we discuss all things She-Hulk Attorney at Law as well as a few other related items from Disney’s most recent announcements.
(Oh, and in case you forgot—it’s Madysnn with two Ns and one Y!)
Disney's new Pinocchio movie starring Tom Hanks drops September 8th and is undoubtedly going to show a very 2022 interpretation of the classic story. But the original story of Pinocchio written by Italian author Carlos Collodi had some very dark moments that definitely did not make it into the movies! With an additional Pinocchio Movie coming out on Netflix directed by Guillermo del Toro, a Pinocchio K Drama, and the upcoming Pinocchio Video Game “Lies of P”—the Italian tale is having a bit of a renaissance--so what better time to dive into the somewhat twisted story?
IG: @strange.as.fiction
TikTok: @strangeasfiction
YT: Strange as Fiction
Background music is the String Quartet No. 5 by Dee Yan-Key
Disney's new Pinocchio movie starring Tom Hanks drops September 8th and is undoubtedly going to show a very 2022 interpretation of the classic story. But the original story of Pinocchio written by Italian author Carlos Collodi had some very dark moments that definitely did not make it into the movies! With an additional Pinocchio Movie coming out on Netflix directed by Guillermo del Toro, a Pinocchio K Drama, and the upcoming Pinocchio Video Game “Lies of P”—the Italian tale is having a bit of a renaissance--so what better time to dive into the somewhat twisted story?
IG: @strange.as.fiction
TikTok: @strangeasfiction
YT: Strange as Fiction
Background music is the String Quartet No. 5 by Dee Yan-Key
Nintendo is one of video gaming’s most beloved and family friendly brands. But their reputation hasn’t always been so PG! The 130 year old video game console manufacturer has evolved its business model many times over the years and shared an on and off symbiotic relationship with the Japanese mafia AKA the infamous YAKUZA. The history of Nintendo is a wild one, so buckle up!
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Enjoy!
Background song is Krazoa by Digital Cait Sith (free music archive)
Looking for a quick Rings of Power download? Whether you’re completely new, a casual like me who has seen the movies once or twice or an expert who just needs refreshing—this Rings of Power preview will get you back in to the Middle of Earth mindset before the launch of Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power on September 2nd.
To help me out, I have a special guest from the History of the Middle Earth Podcast on to help explain everything you wanted to know and more. Enjoy my sneaky little hobbitses!
Welcome to Wrexham is a new docuseries created by Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) and Always Sunny and Philadelphia's Rob Mcelhenney. On a whim, the two decided to purchase a failing English soccer team, Wrexham FC. Wrexham is home to the blue collar working class and has some die hard fans. Celebrity is not enough to win them over, they'll have to prove they are serious about soccer to gain the trust of the club.
I just finished watching the first episode, listen for my initial thoughts!
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IG: @strange.as.fiction
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Join Parker Stanley and I for another episode of Strange as Fiction where we breakdown She-Hulk Episode 2! This video (and description) will contain spoilers so be warned! Jennifer Walters makes her debut to the world as the mighty She-Hulk (even if she doesn't like the name). She gains a lot of new fans but at the cost of her job. A new opportunity comes a long and she's tasked with defending an abomination of a client!
Dr. Anthony Bean is a licensed depth psychologist, author of the book “Psychology of Zelda” and is often a guest speaker at conferences and quoted by outlets like CNN. He has helped pioneer the use of video games in his clinical practice and written a number of books on the topic such as "The Power to Catch Them All" and "The Psychology of Final Fantasy."
In this interview we discuss the career path he took, Zelda, Zelda and more Zelda as well as gaming in general and its psychological impacts.
Enjoy!
PART 2 of my "Movies that were never released" series focuses on the legendary and I mean LEGENDARY film--"The Day the Clown Cried." A bizzare Jerry Lewis movie (Nutty Professor) that tells the story of a clown who gets sent to a concentration camp. It had production troubles and Jerry was never able to secure the underlying rights. He ended up grabbing the physical copy of the film and donating it to the Library of Congress under one condition.... well, you'll just have to listen for that part.
Parker Stanley joins me to give our first impressions of Marvel's latest show, She-Hulk! She-Hulk stars Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who specializes in superhuman-oriented legal cases. After a mysterious crash, she gains Hulk-like powers she must learn to control. But does she even want them? Or would she prefer to throw most of her punches in the court of law?
Welcome to Part 1 of my “Movies that were finished but NEVER released series” as I try to understand how movies can make it to the 99 yard line and yet, never cross over into the end zone. For today’s episode—the focus is all on Batgirl.
But Batgirl is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to movies that were finished but never released. It seems unfathomable…blood sweat and tears, millions of dollars, dreams and hopes on the line and negotiations finished—and yet, you pull the plug on the movie? But WHY?
In the next few episodes we'll look at some other mysterious film cancellations like Jerry Lewis's "The Day the Clown Cried", 1994's "Fantastic Four", and River Phoenix's "Dark Blood."
This is the ultimate HEAT CHECK episode for the remaining slate of shows coming out this summer. I'll be covering Cobra Kai, Lord of the Rings (Rings of Power), GOT (House of Dragon), She-Hulk, Star Wars (Andor), Welcome to Wrexham and more! I'll give you the low down on each show, when it drops, and my hype level score for each one.
Hannibal, Billions, Succession, American Dad have all featured the eating ritual that surrounds a tiny bird called Ortolan. The preparation of Ortolan is highly controversial and makes Guantanamo Bay look like the Ritz. And even though it's been outlawed, it still continues to thrive in the black market and many chefs continue to push for it to be allowed back on the menu.
The year was 1859, and the Civil War is knocking on the door. A Cincinnati con man by the name of George W. L. Bickley creates a secret society called the Knights of the Golden Circle with the military aims of conquering Mexico, Cuba and other Caribbean countries to establish them as slave territories for the Union—with the headquarters being located in Havanna.
In National Treasure 2- secret society is blamed for the assassination of Lincoln.
Here's how it really went down.
The most famous DJ in America, Steve Aoki, comes from a true American success story. Starting with Rocky Aoki, a larger than life entrepreneur who turned ice cream money into the internationally recognized hibachi grill restaurant--Benihana.
Did ninjas really do the Naruto run?
Why did they die out?
What kind of weapons did they really use? (spoiler alert--there's an exploding egg bomb!)
Learn what Hollywood and anime get right and wrong about the way of the ninja. Host Austin Miller dives in on everything you wanted to know about real ninjas (shinobi) in this first episode of Strange as Fiction. Liked this episode? Please leave a review! Want to connect with me and make episode suggestions? Follow me on TikTok @strangeasfiction