Dispatch Ajax! Podcast

What if you could step back into the 1980s and wander through the campy, eerie world of horror television? Join us for a nostalgic trip as we unravel the origins and creative genius behind the classic anthology series "Tales from the Dark Side." With roots linked to the iconic 1982 film "Creepshow" and the visionary George Romero, this series ingeniously blends humor, horror, a...

Get ready to rethink everything you knew about comic book movies. They're not a recent phenomenon! Join us as we explore the rich history of comics in film, starting from the late 1880s up to the groundbreaking release of "Batman" in 1989. Discover how early comic book adaptations shaped pop culture long before today's blockbuster hits and how the infamous "Seduction of th...

In January of 1995, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine produced an epic two-episode arc that would later come to define the series and re-enforce Star Trek's relevance in the Pop Culture landscape.   'Past Tense' is a classic Trek Tale whose predictions of our modern day trials and tribulations will likely shock and ultimately terrify you...like good Science Fiction should.  The events in t...

Prepare to laugh and learn as we journey through the whimsical world of timing and voice impressions, featuring the extraordinary countdown styles of Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Walken, and William Shatner. Ever wondered how color perception varies or why audio peaks can be so amusing? We’ve got you covered with hilarious anecdotes and insightful discussions, including a deep dive into the curious...

Think Superhero and Comic Book films are over-saturated? Does the Bubble look ready to burst in the Golden Age of Geek Culture? Not so fast. Today, we dive headfirst into the labyrinth of geek culture film, and just how far back it goes. Spoiler: it's going to blow your mind. Our conversation then takes a sharp turn as we critique Warner Brothers' baffling decisions like shelving the Bat...

Can Hollywood's obsession with big-name stars be costing us quality entertainment? Join us for a critical look at the latest Garfield movie, where we dissect the controversial decision to cast Chris Pratt as the iconic lasagna-loving cat. We dive deep into the broader implications of this trend, questioning whether the industry's preference for celebrity voices over seasoned voiceover ta...

Curious about the legacy of Brenda Starr?  Learn the intriguing details of the Brenda Starr film adaptation, including Brooke Shields' passion for the role and the financial backing from the unlikely source of Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Ibrahim. Despite the challenges brought on by inexperienced financiers and unique script demands, the production pressed on with notable contributions from director...

Have you ever wondered what our world would look like if significant historical events had taken a different turn? That's the fascinating premise we explore on this episode of Dispatch Ajax, starting with Nathaniel Hawthorne's whimsical "P's Correspondence" and moving on to Castillo Holford's visionary "Aristopia." Imagine a North America founded on gold or...

Discover the secrets of the universe's hidden framework and the groundbreaking technologies that could redefine space travel! In this episode, we explore the Cosmic Mycelial Network, a vast web interlacing galaxies through dark matter and magnetic fields. Learn how the visible universe of protons, neutrons, and electrons is just a tiny fraction of the cosmos, with dark matter creating the gra...

What if a tiny twist in history could lead to a world where World War VII has given rise to the Ameri-Mexicanadian enclave? Join us on a wild journey through the captivating genre of alternate history, where we explore the "what ifs" that tickle our imagination and keep us up at night. We kick off with some playful banter about how minor changes could create wildly different realities, a...

Unleash your imagination with Scarface: The World is Yours as we delve into an alternate video game universe where you can rewrite the iconic film's ending. Discover how movie-based games like Titanic and Jaws Unleashed offer unique experiences, while we discuss hot topics such as Van Morrison and Eric Clapton's anti-vax stances and Mick Jagger's fictional brother. Then journey back...

Superman - arguably the Joey Chestnut of Superheroes - is marred by a dark open-secret that haunts all those who wear the cape onscreen...or so the legend goes. Is the "Superman Curse" real or just a self-fulfilling prophecy? Since fellow Missourian James Gunn is poised to bring a fresh take on the Big Blue Boyscout, we thought we'd challenge the myth by examining the careers of act...

Hey there, Dispatchers!  We're legitimately sorry we've been a bit spotty with uploads. If you listen to this we hope you'll understand a bit more and hold on tight ( just to keep from getting thrown to the wolves). 

Gerard Butler's accent isn't the only thing that's fire-hot in this episode; our latest podcast episode delves deep into the heart of this dragon epic, exploring the risks and creative choices that defined its production. The journey begins with a discussion on the medieval-meets-military elements that gave "Reign of Fire" its unique flavor. Producer Richard 'Dick&apo...

In this installment of our Sub-show The Eastside Theatre Guild , we unravel the tapestry of the cult classic "Reign of Fire."   We dissect Matthew McConaughey's oft-overlooked role, peeling back layers to reveal a character as complex as the dragon-riddled world he navigates. As the dragon's fiery reign draws to a close and survivors face the daunting task of rebuilding, we pon...

Our exploration begins with a discussion on naming goats,  "Custer's Revenge," "Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em" and "Bachelor Party", the broader impact of adult video games on the industry,  the paradox of representation, acknowledging the sexualized context in which female characters were often portrayed, and consider how technological advancements have perpe...

Embark on an odyssey through the intricate evolution of Starfleet's armaments, where a simple trigger pull has implications that echo across the cosmos. Prepare to be spellbound as we dissect Starfleet's iconic phasers and disruptors, revealing the scientific marvels and the cultural philosophies entwined in their designs. From their inception as crude plasma weapons to the multifunction...

Nearly 3 years ago we began the project of restarting our podcast after a 12-year hiatus.  We were a bit rusty at first, we had some crappy audio and it took a while to get back into our groove. But, to commemorate the event we thought we'd present all you loyal Dispatchers with our first episode... with slightly improved audio! You're welcome. Embark on a high-velocity tour through the...

Continuing our Video Game series, we'll unpack the tumultuous tale of Atari, through the eyes of Howard Scott Warshaw, whose boundless ambition led to the mythic E.T. video game fiasco. But before you think it's all doom and gloom, we'll lighten the mood with a whimsical wander into the off-kilter art of taxidermy. It's a wild ride that promises both insights and belly laughs,...

One of the great Video Game Urban Legends, Polybius, is the tale of a mysterious arcade cabinet from the 1990's that supposedly caused illness, violence and even madness. The crazy thing is...a lot of it is true. Join us as we debunk or...uhhh...bunk this insane American Legend.

Arguably the coolest and one of the most iconic crossover events is RoboCop vs Terminator! It was a relatively obscure series by Dark Horse Comics but managed to spawn multiple incarnations, toys, video games, and now a podcast episode for you to enjoy.

To prove we cover allll of Geek Culture, we are doing a whole series on video games! This episode we tackle a crazy story on the game 'Night Trap'. The lame game that sparked the downfall of companies, Congressional hearings and changed the course of video games forever. 

'Back to the Future 2' takes place in 2015.  'Blade Runner' happens in 2019... Sci-Fi has always tried to forecast the not-so-distant future.  This is the first episode of our breakdown of what came to pass and which did NOT

As part of an ongoing series of shorter episodes we tackle strange crossovers in media. A phenomenon that was extremely rare when we were young, the Crossover is now a genre trope - for good and for bad. In this series we're going to cover really odd examples and really cool ones, (spoiler: they're usually bad). 

In the second in the series we talk about further tales of Jesus from around the world. This time we explore the apocryphal legends surrounding his journey onto the Indian sub-continent.   That's right! For the Christmas season we talk about Jesus in India!