The Talking Back Podcast

This week we're finishing our journey through the world of MAD Magazine! It turns out one episode wasn't enough to cover over 70 years of MAD, who could have known! Well there's lots to go through but we'll finish it off in this episode.  We'll be chatting more nostalgia from the world of MAD as well as digging into some of the more modern aspects from the property. This is where we get to some of...

This week we're talking all things MAD Magazine! MAD is a humour/satire magazine that's been in publication for close to 75 years. It's credited with influencing multiple generations of humorists and helping to shape modern American satire.  We're doing a deep dive into the history of the magazine, the cultural phenomena it created, and the various side properties that were spawned. As always we'l...

It's time for another movie in our 2026 Cult Classic Calendar, from 1985 it's The Last Dragon! In this martial arts musical comedy we follow the young and naive Leroy Green, a young New York City martial artist seeking the final level of mastery knows as "The Glow". Along the way Leroy will need to fight local tough guy Sho'nuff, protect a singer from a dirty promoter, and look inside himself for...

Today we're checking out a Star Trek series new to our podcast, it's time for Lower Decks! It's a jam-packed episode of Star Trek with a battle on the Bridge for Starfleet Cargo, a battle to the death on the Holodeck, and a battle with a Core Goblin in the Lower Decks! 3 fun stories we'll tell you all about! We hope you enjoy this review of Lower Decks! If you'd like to unlock bonus episodes from...

It's time for another Cartoon 1st! This time round we're checking out Captain Planet! Gaia, the spirit of Earth, empowers five teenagers from around the world with magic rings (Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Heart). They'll set out against an evil villain who's polluting the planet, but when their powers aren't enough they summon the amazing superhero Captain Planet for assistance. The Power is Yours t...

This week in a dystopian future the US Government stages a deadly cross-country race to control the populace, it's Death Race 2000! Be the first to finish the race, but don't miss out on your chance to collect points along the way by killing anyone and everyone you can.  This dark comedy / satire has much more going on than what you see on the surface, tune in to hear all about it! We hope you enj...

This week we're checking out the Sci-Fi / Thriller about Jake Gyllenhaal inhabiting another man's body for the final eight minutes of the mans life in order to stop a terrorist attack. It's Source Code! By using "Source Code" a government "time-reassignment" program, Jake relives the explosion repeatedly, attempting to stop a future attack.  Source Code is your classic Time Loop Formula, and we lo...

In the 3rd instalment of our Cult Classic Calendar things are getting weird on the streets of LA with Repo Man! A young punk, recruited by a car repo agency, finds himself in pursuit of a Chevrolet Malibu with a huge, $20,000 bounty--and something otherworldly stashed in its trunk. This Punk, Sci-Fi, Action, Drama mashup has things heating up around the studio. Tune in now and we'll tell you all a...

This week on Cartoon 1st we're rocking out with the truly outrageous JEM and The Holograms! This 80s cartoon series follows Jerrica Benton, who secretly becomes the glam-rock star Jem using a hologram-powered disguise. She'll need to balance fame, friendship, and music while trying to deal with rival band the Misfits who are constantly trying to steal the spotlight. We hope you enjoy this review o...

This week we're checking out a lesser known Monster Classic with The Alligator People! After Paul vanishes on their wedding day Joyce goes on a search for her missing husband. After tracking him down to a Louisiana plantation she finds that she may have bit off more than she can chew.  We hope you enjoy this review of The Alligator People! If you'd like to unlock bonus episodes from Talking Back e...

It's been a while but we're happy to share another Star Trek TV Episode with everyone! This time we're checking out one of the all time greats with The Original Series episode The City on the Edge of Forever! When Dr. McCoy goes insane, accidentally changing history, and destroying the Enterprise, Kirk and Spock must follow him back through time to try and prevent the disaster. We hope you enjoy t...

It's the second instalment of our Cult Classic Calendar and we've chosen Howard the Duck! Howard is a sarcastic humanoid duck who's pulled from his homeworld to Earth where he must stop an alien invasion with the help of a nerdy scientist and a struggling female rock singer. Is this truly a Cult Classic? Tune in to find out what we think! We hope you enjoy this review of Howard the Duck! If you'd...

In our final instalment of things that are freaking cold we bring you our Cartoon 1st for the month South Park! In South Park Episode 1 Cartman's dream of being probed by Aliens turns out to be true! It's up to the South Park crew to get Kyle's brother Ike back and to put a stop to the Aliens Invasion. Can the boys do it or will Cartman fart fire forever?! We hope you enjoy this review of South Pa...

If you didn't notice we have a bit of a theme going on this month. If you haven't been chilled enough we've got Wind River for you're listening pleasure! In Wind River wildlife officer Cory Lambert finds the dead body of a local girl on a Reservation in the middle of the cold Wyoming countryside. With the help of an FBI agent and locals alike, they try to uncover the mysterious murder. We hope you...

This week we're keeping things cool with more frosty content as we check out Volume 1 of a wonderful comic book called Snow Angels! In Snow Angels a father tries to keep his 2 daughters safe in an endless trench made of ice. As they become the target of the dreaded Snowman they'll uncover past secrets and try to unravel the true nature of the frozen world they find themselves in. Strap in for a ex...

It's a New Year and that means a brand new theme for Talking Back. Our theme for 2026 is called The Cult Classic Calendar, and our first entry is John Carpenter's "The Thing".  Tune in for the break down of our theme as well as our discussion about one of the best movies of all time. We hope you enjoy the start to the Cult Classic Calendar! If you'd like to unlock bonus episodes from Talking Back...

This week we have a special episode in store as we team up with Corey and Zak from Podcasting After Dark to review The Toxic Avenger Remake! "A janitor becomes a social outcast when a freak accident at a chemical factory turns him into a mutant. However, he soon uses his newfound superhuman strength to battle slimy criminals and a corrupt CEO." Join us as our dynamic 4some talk all things Toxic Av...

This week on another instalment of Cartoon 1st we're checking out the biggest US Animated Show of all time, it's The Simpsons!  Episode 1 is a Christmas Special so this has worked out perfectly for us but not so perfect for the Simpsons because they don't have any money for presents. Hilarity ensues as Homer takes matters into his own hands in "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"! We hope you enjoy...

This week we're sticking to festive feelings with the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special! On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Quill, the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present, hilarity ensues! We hope you're warming by a fire enjoying a hot chocolate or egg nog and ready to enjoy this episode! If you'd like to unlock bonus episodes from Talking Back every month...

Just like Batman our Holiday content is in full swing! This week we're checking out Batman Noël which is a re-imagining of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol but set in Gotham City.  This comic became an instant Holiday classic for us and if you're a fan of Batman the same will likely be true for you.  We hope you enjoy our review of Batman Noël! If you'd like to unlock bonus episodes from Talking...

This week it's our final instalment of our 2025 theme of "Redux"! This year we've been revisiting topics that we already covered but felt compelled to cover again. It may surprise you to learn the Star Wars Holiday Special made our list but tune in and we'll try to persuade you of it's greatness.  This is the first episode in our month of joyous holiday content, so grab a cup of nog, dim the light...

This week on Cartoon 1st we're heading back to the early 80s and the second ever animated Spider-Man cartoon! This time around he's brought some friends to help out.  In this series Spider-Man teams up with fellow superheroes Iceman and Firestar after the three become college roommates at Empire State University. Together, they form The Spider-Friends, and battle classic Marvel villains like Green...

This week we're checking out Godzilla Minus One, a favorite of friend of the Podcast Tony. He also joins on the episode to share his love and knowledge of the film! With Godzilla Minus One you'll follow the story of a kamikaze pilot plagued by survivor's guilt seeking redemption when a giant monster he failed to kill is transformed by radiation from atomic bomb tests and lays siege to post-war Jap...

This week we're going to have some fun with one of Van Damme's earlier movies, it's post apocalyptic, it's action packed, it has terrible effects, it's Cyborg! In a future ravaged by plague and chaos, a lone warrior must protect a cyborg carrying vital information that could save humanity, while battling a ruthless gang of savages. Well that's sort of what happens. Tune in for the full story! We h...

This week we're nearing the end of our year of Redux and we've saved the best for now! Introducing the winner of our Year of the Ninja, it's Duel to the Death! Duel to the Death is an action-packed martial arts classic where a Chinese swordsman and a Japanese samurai must face off in a deadly duel. As they prepare, they battle assassins and uncover dark conspiracies, leading to an explosive final...