Mortified! The Friendship Quest

Aaron and Leyla begin their final unit of the year with a roar: it's Godzilla! We first cover the '98 and '14 films and discuss restraint in deploying your monster, what makes a "True" Godzilla, and being born pregnant.  Puff Daddy "Come with Me" Wagner's Tarnhelm progression --- Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco , from the album "Filmmaker's Reference Kit Volume 2." Our other projects: Aaron...

This week, Aaron and Leyla wire to your rooftop to talk about Drunken Master and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon! Join us for discussions of bamboo's finest quality (its wiggles), Jackie Chan's range, and a lot of discussion about the passage of time.  Also: We were absent in September because Aaron's computer had a mechanical issue! All is well now and we're back with a minor adjustment to our sche...

This episode, Leyla and Aaron continue their unit on fighting films with the 2021 and 2026 "Mortals Kombat!" We debate which of us is the shadow self of the other, zero in on the importance of adding texture to fight scenes, and assemble a character fighting game that includes Jerry Seinfeld.  Link to Article about Mortal Kombat Congressional hearings.  --- Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco ,...

This week, Aaron and Leyla go the distance by watching both Rocky (1976) and Creed (2015)! Join us for discussions of American masculinity, fatherless behavior, and the misuse of Tessa Thompson.  --- Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco , from the album "Filmmaker's Reference Kit Volume 2." Our other projects: Aaron's TTRPG Reviews aavoigt.com

This week, Aaron and Leyla learn how to play spies with Spy Kids 1 and 2! Join us for discussions of actors going full throttle for a childrens' movie, troubling franchise trends, and the next billion-dollar TV pitch in the post-Veep era.  --- Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco , from the album "Filmmaker's Reference Kit Volume 2." Our other projects: Aaron's TTRPG Reviews aavoigt.com

This week, Aaron and Leyla rappel into two classics of turn of the century spy film with "Mission Impossible" and "The Bourne Identity!" We discuss the intimate friction of mole stories, sexy hair dyeing, and determine if Austin Powers is more competent than James Bond (he is and it's not close).  Links:  Goofy/Serious/Competent/Incompetent Axis- https://imgur.com/a/ro9uWvH Bloc Party- Intimacy- h...

This week, Aaron and Leyla irradiate the Forts Knox of their minds with Goldfinger and Goldmember. Join us for an accounting of blondes, Leyla's pitch to co-produce Austin Powers 4, and the adventures of Mongrel Shortsterson and Pelmeni Bigtits. Patrick (H) Willems, The Daniel Craig James Bond Era Is The Weirdest Franchise Ever https://youtu.be/8bNXqwpm-rk?si=lSAorhDeZsYAn14V   Patrick (H) Willems...

On this episode, Mortified begins a new unit on spy media with the classic 1974 novel (and it's 2011 adaptation), Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy! We discuss the difficulty of grappling with dense texts, the limitations of the podcast as critical media project, and approve of the book's handling of messy bisexuals.    Links: A Bounty of Books Summary Smiley Recounts his Meeting with Karla Studio Ghibl...

This week, Aaron and Leyla had a rough time and decided to give themselves a little break. We'll be back in two weeks with the beginning of our spy unit but in the meantime, we lick our wounds.

This week, Aaron and Leyla indulge in the glorious tradition of watching advertisements for video games and going, "Ooh!" "Aah!" or "Neat, but not for me." We did not poison ourselves with Mountain Dew or hot wings this time, but if you have suggestions for future physical trials you can e-mail us at mortifiedpod@gmail.com. Aaron's Picks:  Vampire: the Masquerade — ETERNAL WHISPERS (Flyos)  Traile...

On this episode of Mortified, Aaron and Leyla continue their trek through TwIsTeD fairy tales with the 2012 dark fantasy film "Snow White and the Huntsman!" We enjoy a heaping serving of Charlize Theron, discuss the late 00's relationship with celebrities, and break down what makes Imagery so critical to art.  Video Hole Episode II : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2269060/VideoHole_Episode_II/...

This week, join Aaron and Leyla on their TwIsTeD fairy tale retrospective on Red Riding Hood (2011)! Join us for missing Twilight, feverish concern about the lack of grains in this fantasy village, and some light cucking. --- Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco , from the album "Filmmaker's Reference Kit Volume 2." Our other projects: Aaron's TTRPG Reviews Aaron's "Tyranny" Playthrough aavoigt....

This week, Leyla and Aaron embark on a new unit covering grimdark fairytales, starting with the 2005 animated mystery "Hoodwinked!" We celebrate an unnecessarily stacked cast, shout out Spiked TV, and dig into what's endearing about sincerity in an era of cynicism.  CGY Not- Hoodwinked Director Cory Edwards Discusses The Making Of, The Dodgy Sequel, The Weinstein's And More The schnitzel song TV T...

This week, Aaron and Leyla plunder the depths of their Emmersonian minds while watching Megalopolis! Join us for a lot of expressions of shock and disbelief, and ... also disbelief and shock. We rated this "technically a movie." --- Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco , from the album "Filmmaker's Reference Kit Volume 2." Our other projects: Aaron's TTRPG Reviews aavoigt.com

Aaron and Leyla finally put down their ideological burden and finish their two-month journey of reading "The Fountainhead." We get the maddest we've ever been, get fully irradiated with yaoi, make a short pilgrimage to the cuck chair, and cap it all off with a special musical ending, for real fans only.  Links-  Marc Andreessen on Introspection The Wuthering Heights Skin Room Sideways- Why Hellfir...

Content warning: There is discussion of fitional sexual assault from ~11:20 to ~21:20.  This week, Aaron and Leyla drill down into the Fountainhead, parts 2 and 3! Join us for discussions of psychic kink negotiations, Rand re-inventing shounen dialogue and fight choreography, and the fact that this 700-page objectivist tome does occasionally drop bars. --- Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco ,...

Hi gang! Leyla here. I'm not feeling too ✨jazzy✨ so this week Aaron has generously agreed to rerun an old episode, so I can have some time to reset and be ready to further discuss the Fountainhead next episode. Please enjoy!  --- Original Description:  This week, we round out our month of romance with 1990's "Pretty Woman" and 2003's "Something's Gotta Give!" We discuss our undying love for Juli...

The prophesied right wing sellout moment has finally arrived. Leyla and Aaron, in an attempt to prepare for Francis Ford Coppola's "Megalopolis," have decided to dive into a classic of objectivist philosophy, Ayn Rand's 1943 doorstopper, "The Fountainhead." Follow us down the rabbit hole as we discuss a high schooler's ideology, explain why objectivism is appealing to lonely kids, and cut the nove...

This week, Aaron and Leyla give a deservedly short sendoff to the Matrix Revolutions! Join us for discussions of critical structural flaws, not knowing what Neo and Trinity would talk about at dinner, and let's say, several distractions.  ---  Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco , from the album "Filmmaker's Reference Kit Volume 2." Our other projects: Aaron's TTRPGs Aaron's TTRPG Reviews aavoi...

On this episode of Mortified, Leyla and Aaron boot into the 2003 "Matrix Reloaded" to find out what exactly Neo does after he gets his Superman powers. We discuss Neo and Trinity's nonexistent romance, putting Ghosts in your mind control device, and whether the Matrix has a skybox.  Links: Ed Smith- It Doesn't Matter When You Kill All the Civilians  The Making of the Matrix Reloaded Creating the B...

Happy New Year and welcome back to Mortified! the Format Refresh Quest. This week, Aaron and Leyla jack out about the Matrix! Join us for discussions of Keanu Reeves beautiful brown eyes, the function of a Chosen One, and praises for Lawrence Fishburn. ---  Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco , from the album "Filmmaker's Reference Kit Volume 2." Our other projects: Aaron's TTRPGs Aaron's TTRPG...

Hey folks, Leyla and I are taking this week off, but will be back in 2026 to kick off our 7th(???) season of the show. Until then, here's a quick clip show of some of the best moments from the last 50 episodes of the pod. Thanks for all your time, and we'll see you next year!  Episodes used- 158, 165, 166, 169, 173, 177, 183, 195, 197 --- Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco , from the album "Fi...

To celebrate 200 episodes of Mortified, Aaron and Leyla bust out a ballroom full of baddies and cover 5 different adaptations of the Cinderella fairy tale. We discuss the essential Cinderellements, examine why Aaron doesn't know any famous singers, and recoil in terror as Andrew Lloyd Weber strikes again.  Bad Cinderella Is One of the Musicals of All Time- https://youtu.be/jkTz-SWzQnU?si=9r1QQFIK-...

This week, Aaron and Leyla skywrite through Oz with Wicked: For Good! Join us for sex cardigans, yet another Starkid mention, and hashtag Free Toulouse. ---  Our theme song is "Obsolete" by Keshco , from the album "Filmmaker's Reference Kit Volume 2." Our other projects: Aaron's TTRPGs Aaron's TTRPG Reviews aavoigt.com

We're rereleasing one of our favorite episodes: the April 2024 discussion of Iron Lung. Hope you enjoy, and we'll see you in 2 weeks for a discussion of Wicked: For Good! --- This episode, Aaron and Leyla check out the indie horror game "Iron Lung!" We discuss how playing together revealed our "proclivities," ways to incentivize exploration, and the benefits of limited scope. The Atlantic article...