Nostalgium Arcanum

1996's Crash Bandicoot tackled the leap from 2d gaming to 3d with wild abandon, cartoon mania, and down-under flair. Guest James Hughes of the TeamWorks podcast joins us to revisit a mascot platformer that dominated his era of videogame history. If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/ The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nosta...

If stand-up comedy was an equation then Mitch Hedberg was its Isaac Newton, a pioneer who turned the format on its head and make jokes into jazz and vice versa. Comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to revisit Hedberg's tragically brief career, and the stand-up revolution he quietly raged. If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class...

Let's see how far we've come. Since the late 1990s Matchbox Twenty has been entertaining audiences with mass appeal and mass success. This week guests (and huge fans) Ami Lief, Betsy Allen, and Kyle Lieberman join us to roundtable their top ten MB20 songs. If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/ The symbol formerly known as Twit...

Welcome to Earth. This week guest Matt Powers joins us to revisit a 1990s disaster classic that, like its extraterrestrial scourge, loomed large over the action blockbusters of the era. If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/ The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod BlueSky: @nostalgiumpod.bsky.social Threads: https:...

Who ya gonna call? For 40 years the story of blue-collar scientists with unlicensed nuclear accelerators exterminating paranormal threats has offered thrills, chills, and spills (of self-cooking eggs and marshmallow goo). On this episodes guests Dylan Gregory and Dan Oster (MadTV) join us to revisit why this comedy classic still has us in a trap four decades on. Grab a big twinkie and join us! If...

It's Christmas in Gotham and writer/director of horror short "The Canyon" Alex Sosin joins to once again delve into Tim Burton's gothic nightmare vision of the Bat, the Cat, and the Penguin in a supersized present of an episode. It's bigger and more unwieldy than its predecessor, but no less compelling and terrifying. Check out the teaser for The Canyon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFFWbN...

Lo and behold! In ActRaiser you get to play God, literally. This SNES classic combines two different gameplay modes (hack/slash and city-building sim) to create an overall experience that is still worshipped today. If you have feedback, beseech unto us on the socials here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/ The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod BlueSky: @nost...

My Best Friend's Wedding is, despite its trappings, not a romantic comedy. The film cleverly subverts expectations by making the villain appear to be the protagonist, making a happily never after the proper ending. We're joined again by Ami Lief and Ryan Merlo to revisit Julie Roberts doing worst what she usually does best. Be sure to check out Ami's beautiful handmade earrings at https://www.etsy...

You stare into the Care Bear and the Care Bear stares back at you. This week guest podcaster Jala Prendes (Jala-Chan's Place, Monster, Dear Monster, The Level) drops in from the clouds to help us revisit the Care Bears franchise and how its tender-hearted worldview taught a generation of children to be empathetic and also buy lots of toys. Find Jala online at @Fireheart_Media on X and fireheartmed...

In the early 1990s Disney animation recaptured its magic and along with it came a wave of memorable video games for the consoles of the era. This episode we're joined by Phil Head of the Spectrum Days podcast (@SpectrumDaysPod) and Eileen Mayse (@i_lean) to revisit Aladdin, The Lion King, and Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse. Grab a controller, some cheetos, and join us for at least 16 hil...

Tim Burton's fantastical vision of the Caped Crusader and his dark gothic expressionist world forever changed the superhero genre, and the way blockbusters are made. This episode writer/director of The Canyon horror short film Alex Sosin (@alexsosin4831) joins me to revisit our shared love of the summer of Batmania. Check out the teaser for The Canyon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFFWbNbd...

The classic whodunnit game became a classic whodunnit comedy. Guests comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) and Ami Lief roll the dice and try to make a long story short to solve the mystery of who, where, and what makes this film so great. Hint, a lot of the credit goes to the legendary Tim Curry. If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class...

Shiver me felt timbers! We're shovin' off for adventure as Josh Covel of the Still Loading podcast (@StillLoadingPod) joins our crew to revisit the Muppets' take on the Robert Louis Stevenson classic. The Muppets' unique brand of humor is in full force as they battle the scenery-chewing performance of scenery-chewing legend Tim Curry. If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: ht...

It's a bonus Halloween treat (no tricks) as 7-year-old Celeste joins her old podcasting dad to revisit classic Disney attraction The Haunted Mansion, and the 999 happy haunts who call it home. If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/ The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod BlueSky: @nostalgiumpod.bsky.social Threads:...

Let's do the Time Warp again as special guest writer/director/actress/producer Shakina Nayfack (@shakeenz, Difficult People, Quantum Leap) joins us to send off our Halloween season with a bang, emphasis on the bang. This musical is a one-of-a-kind blend of rock, camp, horror, and sexual exploration that really puts the "fluid" in gender fluidity, one that has and always will inspire hordes of live...

Over 200 years old and still scaring people, Washington Irving's masterpiece remains a Halloween classic and an all-time great ghost story. On this episode we not only discuss it, but as a bonus, the entire tale is here as an audiobook for your enjoyment. Also, for bonus podcast content, please check out the Headless Horseman episode of our old show, "A Podcast, But Evil"! If you have feedback, fi...

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd, who murdered patrons so we could pod. Actress, comedian, and host of Coming Out Pod Lauren Flans (@comingoutpod, @LaurenFlans) joins us to dine on Stephen Sondheim's horror musical masterpiece of class and cannibalism. If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/ The symbol formerly known as Twitter:...

¡Puedes correr, pero no te puedes esconder! Resident Evil 4 was a revolutionary game that revitalized the series and videogames as a whole through its combination of tense dynamic gameplay, best-in-class body horror, and unsettling tone. Ken Cole of KenCast (@kenergycole) joins us to once again plunge into RE4's irresistible terrors. Find more of Ken's fantastic content at https://www.youtube.com/...

Good Grief! It's finally Halloween and that means it's time for comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) to join our yearly vigil in the seasonal Peanuts special that is the most sincere. If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class is free!). If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2650366500...

Queen and its unfathomably talented lead singer Freddie Mercury declared they would rock you, and in so doing achieved music immortality. Guests Matt Storm aka Matt Stormageddon (the Fun & Games, Reignite, and Screen Snark Podcasts) and Dylan Ris ( www.lostmoonradio.com ) join us to compare lists of our top 10 Queen songs. If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: https://ww...

The Uncharted franchise grew to greatness from small beginnings as globe-trotting treasure hunter Nathan Drake took the archaeological reins from Indiana Jones and Lara Croft before him. Josh Covel of the Still Loading Podcast (@stilloadingpod) helps unearth what made this game franchise a true treasure that belongs in a museum. If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: https://...

Arguably the greatest comic strip of all time, Bill Watterson's masterpiece Calvin and Hobbes melded artistic mastery, comedic timing, and most of all the profound sense of wonder at the heart of our collective childhoods. Guest Case Aiken of the Certain Point of View podcast network joins us to go exploring in its timeless wilderness. Yukon Ho! If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: F...

Gifted impressionists Dan Oster (@senatordanoster from MadTV and A Podcast, But Evil) and Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) join us to discuss our favorite impressions, how we got started, and be all (and whoever) that we can be. If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class is free!). If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: ht...

MegaMan was released to little fanfare but its sequel put the Blue Bomber into the hall of fame. Boasting one of the greatest chiptune rock soundtracks of all time, tight controls, and the biggest whimsical anime robots the NES could muster, MegaMan 2 is a labor of love that has stood the test of time. Comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to revisit an all-time classic. Find us on the...

It's time to duel! Jared Moss, Ben Robinson, and Ky Huizinga of the Play Along Podcast ( www.playalongpod.com ) bust out their decks to solve the true Millennium Puzzle - how Yu-Gi-Oh has continued to dominate the world of anime, movies, video games, and trading cards for over 25 years. If you have feedback, find us on the socials here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/ Th...