Dueling Genre Productions

The Protagonist Podcast

Arts EN ↓ 606 episodes

Each week we discuss a great character in a great story. Hosted by Joseph J. Darowski.

Author

Dueling Genre Productions

Episodes

Forge and Storm from Uncanny X-Men #186 “Lifedeath” (comic 1984) 04.04.2022 58:16

Description First time guest Andrew Deman joins Joe to discuss Forge and Storm from Uncanny X-Men #186. Andrew is the project lead of The Claremont Run, a project exploring Chris Claremont’s sixteen year run on Uncanny X-Men, its impact on … Continue reading →

Elevator Pitches (special 2022) 28.03.2022 54:46

Description Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack joins Joe to play a game of Elevator Pitches. Producer Andrew draws elements from hats, and then Todd and Joe must a quick pitch for a story based on those elements.

Menolly from Dragonsong (novel 1976) 21.03.2022 54:12

Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to discuss Menolly from Dragonsong. Dragonsong is a science-fantasy novel by Anne McCaffrey. It is part of a very large series of novels set on the world of Pern, where a acidic fungus … Continue reading →

Vasyl Petrovych Goloborodko from Servant of the People (TV 2015) 14.03.2022 53:46

Description First time guest Jacob Olson joins Joe to discuss Vasyl Petrovych Globorodko from Servant of the People. This Ukrainian television series starred Volodomyr Zelenskyy as a high school teacher who, rather unintentionally, gets elected president of Ukraine. In real … Continue reading →

Santiago from The Old Man and the Sea (novel 1952) 07.03.2022 51:59

Description Joe and Producer Andrew are discussing a class novel by Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea. After discussing Hemingway’s surprising life (and multiple brushes with death), we talk about his most famous work and its modernist themes. … Continue reading →

Folke Nilsson and Isak Bjorvik in Kitchen Stories (film 2003) 28.02.2022 52:32

Description Returning guest Rachel Armstrong joins Joe to discuss the film Kitchen Stories. Kitchen Stories is a 2003 Norwegian film. The director, Bent Hamer, came across Cold War era research that was performed tracking the movement of Swedish housewives in … Continue reading →

Douglas Wolk discusses All of the Marvels 22.02.2022 57:20

Description Author Douglas Wolk joins Joe to discuss his book All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told. Wolk read more than 27,000 Marvel comics and in his book he attempts to make sense … Continue reading →

Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit (Television 2020) 14.02.2022 1:05:43

Description Returning guest Virginia McAlister joins Joe to talk about Beth Harmon from The Queen’s Gambit. Anya-Taylor Joy’s performance as a chess prodigy won immediate (well-deserved) praise, and provides plenty of areas of discussion in this episode. Support Patreon Show … Continue reading →

Special Episode: Comic Book Casting 07.02.2022 1:15:06

Description Returning guest Christopher “Mav” Maverick joins Joe to play a game of Comic Book Casting. We’re taking well-known works, and assigning comic book characters to play the various roles, sort of like a Muppets-style adaptation of a classic work. … Continue reading →

Miri Larendaughter from The Princess Academy (novel 2005) 31.01.2022 55:07

Description Returning guest Rachel Armstrong joins Joe to discuss Shannon Hale’s 2005 novel The Princess Academy. The novel tells the story of a group of girls from a small mountain town who are all recruited to attend a royal academy with … Continue reading →

Benoit Blanc and Marta Cabrera from Knives Out (film 2019) 24.01.2022 57:10

Description Returning guest Kestra Darowski joins Joe and Producer Andrew to discuss Knives Out, the 2019 murder mystery film from writer and director Rian Johnson. Starring Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc and Ana de Armas as Marta Cabrera, the film … Continue reading →

The Epimetheus Suit from Sledgehammer 44 (comic 2013) 17.01.2022 57:48

Description Producer Andrew joins Joe to discuss the Sledgehammer 44 comic book mini-series that are set in the Hellboy universe. These were written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, with art by Jason Later and Lawrence Campbell. Support Patreon Show … Continue reading →

Troy and Abed from Community (TV 2010) 10.01.2022 1:04:15

Description Returning guest Ben Phillips joins Joe to discuss Troy and Abed from the sitcom Community. We discuss the iconic friendship as we dissect the episodes “Epidemiology” and “Geothermal Escapism.” Support Patreon Show Notes Community – IMDB Community – Wikipedia … Continue reading →

Fantasy Box Office 2022 (special 2022) 03.01.2022 1:02:11

Description In what may be an overly optimistic decision, Producer Andrew and Joe have decided to bring back the Fantasy Box Office game for 2022. They each pick films, and the films final box office is multiplied by its Rotten … Continue reading →

Waxillium Ladrian and Wayne from The Alloy of Law (novel 2011) 27.12.2021 58:50

Description Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack is back with Joe to discuss Wax and Wayne from The Alloy of Law. This Brandon Sanderson novel is set on the same planet as his Mistborn Trilogy, but several hundred years in the … Continue reading →

Ebeneezer Scrooge and the Muppets from The Muppet Christmas Carol (film 1992) 20.12.2021 1:16:06

Description Returning guest Charly Kuecks joins Joe to discuss the classic holiday film, The Muppet Christmas Carol. Written by Jerry Juhl and directed by Brian Henson, this adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol sees the muppets inserted into key … Continue reading →

Christmas Special 2021 13.12.2021 1:01:42

Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack is back for our seventh annual Christmas Special. Producer Andrew has supplied Todd and Joe with the names of several Christmas films that they have never watched. They have prepared a plot summary inspired by … Continue reading →

Jesper and Klaus from Klaus (film 2019) 06.12.2021 59:48

Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe and Producer Andrew to discuss the animated film Klaus. This film, available on Netflix, tells an origin story for Santa Claus as seen through the experiences of a cynical mailman named Jesper. Featuring … Continue reading →

Ted Lasso and friends from Ted Lasso (TV 2020) 29.11.2021 1:00:49

Description Returning guest Ben Phillips joins Joe to discuss Ted Lasso. The hit series stars Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, an American football (not soccer) coach who is hired to manage a English football (yes soccer) team in the Premiere … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Special (2021) 22.11.2021 1:06:34

Description Returning guests Kjerste Christensen and Chris “Mav” Maverick join Joe to talk about the stories that they’re grateful for this year. Support Patreon

Franklin Richards and H.E.R.B.I.E. in Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius (comic 2005) 15.11.2021 46:29

Description Joe and Producer Andrew are discussing this delightful comic book series, chronicling the mischeivous adventures of Franklin Richards. As the son of Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman, the opportunity for trouble abounds for Franklin, and he takes full advantage. … Continue reading →

Paddington Bear from Paddington 2 (film 2017) 08.11.2021 52:42

Description Returning guest Scott Carelli joins Joe to discuss Paddington Bear from Paddington 2. We discuss why this a perfect film (and we’re not doing a bit or making a joke when we say that). Support Patreon Show Notes Paddington … Continue reading →

Princess Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne of Phantasmorania from The Ordinary Princess (novel 1980) 01.11.2021 1:00:00

Description Returning guest Kjerste Christensen joins Joe to discuss The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye. For November, we’re trying to cover stories that just feel nice to the audience, and this was Kjerste’s selection. The novel tells the story of … Continue reading →

Halloween Special 2021 25.10.2021 1:13:23

Description Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack and returning guest Todd Petersen join Joe for their annual Halloween special. They’re each choosing creepy stories and updating them with new genres, settings, or storytelling twists. Support Patreon

Linus, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown 18.10.2021 44:10

Description Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack is back to talk about It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. We talk about faith, cynicism, and what makes this a classic tv special to watch in the Fall. Support Patreon Show Notes It’s … Continue reading →