Mt. Rushmore Podcast

Personally, I have never seen a large wooden shipping crate in real life. But I  have  seen them in movies, TV shows and cartoons. This week we're breaking out the crowbar to pry open our takes on the most iconic uses of this classic prop. SHOW NOTES "Raiders of the Lost Ark" crate (Joint Choice) Wile E. Coyote's ACME crates (Joint Choice) The Leg Lamp crate from "A Christmas Story" (Joint Choice)...

Nothing can be more traumatizing for hardcore fans of a band than learning that the lead singer is gone. Whether they leave to find greener pastures or are forced out because of "creative differences," few bands survive the replacement of a lead singer. But sometimes it happens! In fact, sometimes the band can even reach greater heights with a new person at the front. This week we're looking at (m...

We were promised a future where robots would do, literally, everything for us. Well, it's 2020, and guess what? I STILL HAVE TO TIE MY OWN SHOES! But that doesn't mean that robots aren't still cool as hell. This week, per Jeff's request, we're looking at robots. Just regular robots that do regular robot stuff.  SHOW NOTES The Roomba (Michael's Choice) R.O.B. the Robot from Nintendo (Richard's Choi...

Great special effects do more than just look cool. When done right, they can make the impossible seem like reality and completely immerse you into a movie. This week we're celebrating some of the visual effects scenes that made our jaws drop and wonder how they did  that ?!? Joining us for the conversation is Iain Failes of " Befores and Afters ." He's a veteran visual effects and animations journ...

Three is the magic number...when it comes to movies. For some reason, some of the best franchises in film history came out with three great movies (or at least two great movies and one that is OK.) It makes perfect sense when you think about it: three is enough to completely tell a story, but not too much so you leave them wanting more. Joining us this week in our journey down the world of movie t...

You know how we always say that you can suggest a topic and maybe even be a guest on the show? Well, that's exactly what happened this week. Listener Vince Pagano came up with a great topic, so we invited him on the show to debate it with us. His topic was athletes who would have crushed it no matter when they played. Forget pudgy Babe Ruth and his roly-poly body. We're talking about the best of t...

When we think back on our Saturday mornings, we often remember the ads as much as we do the cartoons. That's the power that a well-crafted corporate mascot has over us. They can make us feel a connection to an otherwise faceless conglomerate. Tony the Tiger would never give me childhood diabetes. He's my friend. This week we're looking at some of the most beloved - or controversial - fictional pre...

The best movie experiences are completely immersive and take you to another world for a few hours. Few elements of a movie are more crucial to this than the makeup. Whether it's gory special effects or subtle aging, iconic makeups help to create the illusion of fantasy that is so important to the viewing process. This week we're saluting some of the greatest makeups in film history with the help o...

The wrestling business is no stranger to pushing the envelope with their content, where it's a little bit of female skin or a whole lot of blood and ultra-violence. But even in wrestling, there can be some storylines that go just a bit too far. This week Michael and Richard team up - the Mega Powers coming together, if you will - to take on a worthy foe in former WWE Magazine graphic designer Jame...

There are tough guys and then there are, like, the  toughest  guys. This week we're looking at the baddest of the bad - both real-life and fictional. We're debating who belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of the guys (or gals) you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley - or even a well-lit one. SHOW NOTES Sen. John McCain (Richard's Choice) Teddy Roosevelt (Michael's Choice) Charles Bronson (Richard's Choi...

This week we're discussing what it's like to be sick. The REAL kind of sick, not the kind when you have a paper due the next morning or just don't want to go into work. Think of our podcast like a hot bowl of chicken soup to make you feel all warm inside when you're feeling under the weather. SHOW NOTES The "Sick" Episode of "The Young Ones" (Michael's Choice) Wanting Everyone to Leave You Alone (...

We're not talking about real-life dragons here, like the Komodo dragon or Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. We mean the fictional, fire-breathing, flying type of dragons. It turns out that there are a lot of different types of dragons in popular culture, so we had a great time going through some of our favorite choices in this episode. SHOW NOTES Puff,  the Magic Dragon (Richard's Choice) Smaug (Joint...

We're back and doing what you're probably doing as well - taking part in a Zoom meeting! It hasn't just been how we work that has been radically altered by coronavirus. Every aspect of our lives has been impacted by our current quarantined lifestyles, and that DEFINITELY includes parenting. This week we're coming together to discuss all of the ways that our lives as parents have changed in the las...

We'll make this quick: not every song needs to be a magnum opus. This week we're taking a look at songs that clock in at less than 120 seconds. SHOW NOTES "Alison" by The Pixies (Richard's Choice) "Judy Is a Punk" by Ramones (Michael's Choice) "White Riot" by The Clash (Richard's Choice) "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" by The Smiths (Michael's Choice) "Welcome to the Working Week" by...

Jingles: we love them and we hate them, basically for the same reason. They are designed to be incredibly catchy earworms that you find yourself singing or playing in your head for no good reason. If capitalism could have a soundtrack, it would be jingles. SHOW NOTES Kars 4 Kids (Michael's Choice) I'm a Toys R Us Kid (Richard's Choice) Go See Cal (Worthington) (Michael's Choice) I'm Loving It (McD...

This week we're celebrating Medieval Times - the Renaissance Faire of dinner theater experiences! Whether you enjoy it ironically or just love to smell horse manure while eating mediocre chicken with your hands, this episode is for you, m' Lords and Ladies! SHOW NOTES The Food (Joint Choice) Kids Love It (Richard's Choice) Idealized Disney Version of the Medieval Age (Michael's Choice) Praying for...

March 6 is National Oreo Day! Celebrate this  # GOAT cookie with Mt. Rushmore Podcast and Milk's Favorite Podcast! Our upcoming delicious debate is double-stuffed with contentious discourse like: "How much cream filling is TOO much?" and "Are Firework Oreos a concealed weapon?"

The Star Wars Universe is filled with beloved characters that we've seen evolve from movie to movie. But for every Luke Skywalker or R2-D2 there are just as many characters who were able to make a big impact in just one movie – or maybe even just one scene. That's why we're taking a look at the best characters who made only one appearance in the Skywalker Saga, burning bright like one of the binar...

If you watched Saturday morning TV, you knew that some of the most interesting cartoons weren't even the regular shows - they were the commercials. Because what better way to hawk sugar bombs disguised as part of a nutritious breakfast than to come up with a cool or silly talking animal - preferably one who is having a mental breakdown because they can't get their favorite cereal? This week we're...

Join us for our live National Pizza Day celebration as we're joined by pizza expert Steve Dolinsky of Pizza City USA to discuss some of the most iconic pizza styles that you love to eat.

As Angelenos, we spend A LOT of time driving in our cars. Which gives us plenty of time to think about…well, driving in our cars. This week we're unpacking the stream of conscious thoughts we have whether we're stuck in bumper to bumper traffic or flooring it on the open road.  

FIGHT! This week, the fists fly as we get into it and discuss some of the greatest brawls in movie history. Chairs will be broken, beers will be spilled and people are definitely going to be dodging some punches using that cool Matrix dodging thing. SHOW NOTES "Matrix Reloaded" (Michael's Choice) "They Live" (Richard's Choice) "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (Michael's Choice) "Raiders of the Lost Ark (Richard...

What's the only thing cuter than a baby? A baby version of a grown-up character that we already know and love. It's one of the oldest tricks in the world of film and television, and yet it works every single time. SHOW NOTES Muppet Babies/Baby Animal (Joint Choice) Baby Yoda (Richard's Choice) Baby Groot (Joint Choice) Lowercase Cursive "e" (Michael's Choice) Baby Jesus (Richard's Choice) X-Babies...

One. Maybe fourteen. Heck, seven is a number...two. This week we look at fantastic numbers in pop culture and see which ONEs... make our personal Mt. Rushmores.

Look, it took a few weeks to edit the easiest podcast of the year where we gush about our past year's achievements, but we're finally here.  Episode 200! TWO-DOUBLE-OH! In this episode we look back fondly at the last fifty-one episodes and talk about the fun picks and favorite episodes of 2019.