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

Protagonist Podcast #256 Characters from “A Very Scary Thought” (fan fiction) “We begin at the beginning…” 11.11.2019 1:01:16

Description Joe and Andrew are discussion characters from a fan fiction story, “A Very Scary Thought,” written by Jim Bader. The story is inspired by the Manga series Ranma 1/2. Topics of discussion include audience expectations for fan fiction, what … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #255 The cast of A Quiet Place (film 2018) “I love you. I have always loved you.” 04.11.2019 1:11:55

Description After recording our Halloween Special, Todd Mack and Todd Petersen stuck around to discuss the 2018 film A Quiet Place. Topics of discussion include what makes this film effective, the themes that make the film a special entry in … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #254: Halloween Special 2019 28.10.2019 1:07:22

Description He’s back! Todd Mack joins Joe and returning guest Todd Petersen for the Protagonist Podcast Special 2019. This time, we let D&D dice rolls decided what story elements we have to brainstorm together to try and make a cohesive … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #253: Didi and Sexton from Death: The High Cost of Living (comic 1993) “It always ends. That’s what gives it value.” 21.10.2019 1:15:19

Description Returning guest Chris Maverick joins Joe to discuss Didi and Sexton from the 1993 comic book mini-series “Death: The High Cost of Living” by Neil Gaiman and Chris Bachalo. Topics of discussion include the the Vertigo line of comics … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #252: Conor O’Malley from A Monster Calls (movie 2016) “Here is the end of the tale.” 14.10.2019 1:03:56

Description He’s back! Todd Mack joins Joe to discuss Conor O’Malley from the film A Monster Calls. Topics of discussion include explorations of grieving in fiction, the ambiguity of magic in this story, and the role the Monster has. Support … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #251: Characters from The Masque of the Red Death (short story 1842) “The ‘Red Death’ had long devastated the country.” 07.10.2019 54:52

Description Returning guest Cassandra Fredrickson joins Joe to discuss Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Masque of the Red Death.” Topics of discussion include how Poe creates atmosphere, themes from the short story, and what we learn about characters in … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #250: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and Elizabeth Schuyler from Hamilton (musical 2015) “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story” 30.09.2019 1:03:57

Description Returning guests Mattathias Westwood and Kjerste Christensen join Joe to discuss one of the biggest Broadway sensations ever. Topics of discussion include character arcs and development, the quality of the music and lyrics, and what obligation historical adaptation have … Continue reading →

#249: Cher Horowitz in Clueless (film 1995) “As if!” 23.09.2019 50:27

Description Returning guest Virginia McAlister joins Joe to discuss Cher from the 1990s teen comedy Clueless. Topics of discussion include loosely adapting Jane Austen’s Emma for this story, what makes each of the characters interesting, and how it simultaneously captures … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #248: Storytelling in Animation (special 2019) 16.09.2019 1:00:10

Description He’s back! Todd Mack joins Joe to discussion 2D animation versus 3d animation in filmmaking. Topics of discussion include the history of animation and advances in technology, nostalgia for the older style, and what stories best match each style. … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #247: Huck Finn in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (novel 1884) “All right, then, I’ll go to hell.” 09.09.2019 56:06

Description Returning guest Henry Darowski joins Joe to talk about one of the iconic characters in American literature, Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. Topics of discussion include the novel’s place in history, controversies surrounding the text, and the relationship between Huck … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #246: Jane Villanueva in Jane the Virgin (TV 2014) “I am confused about every single thing in my life, except you.” 02.09.2019 56:11

Description Returning guest Hannah Rogers joins Joe to discuss Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriquez) from the tv series Jane the Virgin. Topics of discussion include telenovela storytelling, the Venezuelan characters, and the methods used to make absurd plots somewhat plausible. Support … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #245: Hank Chu from The Shadow Hero (comic 2014) “The Green Turtle is my son!” 26.08.2019 1:02:29

Description Returning guest Mattathias Westwood joins Joe to discuss Hank Chu, from the comic book mini-series The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew. Topics of discussion include the Golden Age inspiration for the character, the Asian American … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #244: Jen and Kira from The Dark Crystal (film 1982) “Another world, another time, in the age of wonder.” 19.08.2019 1:04:42

Description Joe is joined by returning guest Lena English to discuss Jen and Kira from The Dark Crystal. Topics of discussion include the movie-making magic in the film, what we learn about both characters, and the intriguing themes the story … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #243: Storytelling in Video Games (special 2019) 12.08.2019 1:07:01

Description Special guest Jon Bell joins Joe to talk about storytelling in video games. Topics of discussion include the history of video games, the evolution of storytelling in the medium, and innovations that have come about based on technological advances. … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #242: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (play 1966) “Stark raving sane.” 05.08.2019 58:29

Description Joe is joined by first-time guest Jaclyn Foster to discuss Tom Stoppard’s play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Topics of discussion include postmodernism, the wordplay, and the absurdity of meaning. Support Patreon Show Notes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #241: Sam Malone in Cheers (TV 1982) “It’s the cap off the last bottle of beer I ever drank.” 29.07.2019 49:33

Description Joe is joined by returning guest Kate Darowski to discuss Sam Malone from the classic sitcom Cheers. Topics of discussion include why his flaws make Sam a great character, Ted Danson’s stellar performance, and why Sam is interesting decades … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #240: Classics Mash-up with Todd Petersen (special 2019) “…Jay Gatsby hosting parties with reality tv cameras around.” 22.07.2019 1:13:32

Description Todd Petersen joins Joe and Producer Andrew to play a game of Classics Mash-Up. One of us picks a classic story, then we blend it into a different genre and workshop what that could look like. What would Great … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #239: Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Blue (comic 2002) “Life can be great.” 15.07.2019 1:01:54

Description Returning guest Scott Carelli joins Joe to discuss Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker from the Spider-Man: Blue, the mini-series written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale. Topics of discussion include how different audiences might react to the … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #238 Cliff Secord and Jenny Blake from The Rocketeer (film 1991) “Prepare yourself for a shock. I’m the Rocketeer.” 09.07.2019 1:09:43

Description Special guest Jim O’Kane (co-host of The Rocketeer Minute Podcast) joins Joe to discuss Cliff Secord and Jenny Blake from The Rocketeer. Topics of discussion include the retro style and storytelling, the best moments for characters, and Jim’s behind-the-scenes … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #237: Gwendolen Harleth in Daniel Deronda (novel 1876) “Ignorance gives one a large range of probabilities.” 01.07.2019 1:02:15

Description Special guest Hannah Rogers joins Joe to discuss Gwendolen Harleth from George Eliot’s 1876 novel Daniel Deronda. Topics of discussion include early fan fiction that rewrote the end of the novel, the divergent plots of the novel, and what … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #236: Pam Beesly in The Office (TV 2005) “I’ve been trying to be more honest lately, and I just wanna say a few things.” 24.06.2019 1:07:05

Description Returning guest Cavan Helps joins Joe to talk about a key character from one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 21st century, Pam Beesly from The Office. Topics of discussion include the mockumentary format, Pam’s character arc, and … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast 235: Scott Free and Big Barda in Mister Miracle (comic 2017) “I can’t escape this.” 18.06.2019 1:18:09

Description Returning guest Todd Petersen joins Joe to talk about Scott Free and Big Barda from the Mister Miracle comic book by Tom King and Mitch Gerads. Topics of discussion include the value of engaging in deep and difficult texts, … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #234: Holly Martins, Anna Schmidt, and Harry Lime from The Third Man (film 1949) “The world doesn’t make any heroes outside of your stories.” 11.06.2019 1:08:40

Description Returning guest John Darowski helps Joe discuss Holly Martins, Anna Schmidt, and Harry Lime from classic film noir The Third Man. Topics of discussion include the improbably but historically accurate setting of the film, the brilliant but historically inaccurate … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #233: Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo (novel 1844) “How did I escape? With difficulty. How did I plan this moment? With pleasure.” 04.06.2019 1:08:22

Description Returning guest Charly Kuecks is back to discuss Edmond Dantes, the main character in one of the most famous revenge stories, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Topics of discussion include how Dumas was inspired to write … Continue reading →

Protagonist Podcast #232: The TARDIS and the Doctor in Doctor Who (TV 2011) “Oh you beautiful idiot.” 28.05.2019 1:02:28

Description Returning guest Scott Carelli joins Joe to discuss the Tardis and the Doctor from the “The Doctor’s Wife,” a fan-favorite episode of the long-running Doctor Who series. Topics of discussion include the tonal shifts in the episode, what are … Continue reading →