The Pop Break

This is Podelay, a podcast dedicated to alternative rock pioneer Beck Hansen! After completing their Pod of Doom series, Randy Allain (Media/Lit) and Justin Mancini (TheCineMaverick.com) are back to take on a whole new genre. Our resident music podcasters are joined by Kris Ingersoll of Batman by the Numbers and the Media/Lit podcast, and this time, Randy steps into the host chair so that Justin can discover something new.In the eighth episode, Justin, Kris, and Randy are joined by Doug Lief of Nostalgia Arcanum and Playing by Ear as they get back to Beck’s wide-ranging, eclectic rhythms. They offer thoughts on the religious connotations of scarecrows, stadium anthems that may (or may not) wear out their welcome, and the versatile voicework of one Christina Ricci. And as always, they recommend other artists for your listening pleasure.In every episode, each host will spotlight the following:· Where It’s At: a track they really like.· It’s A Loser, Baby: a track they don’t.· Sing It Again: a favorite lyric.· Such A Beautiful Way: a favorite musical moment.Join them as they travel to a destination a little up the road from the conversations and the pods you know. Please join us for the show that poses one simple question: I’m a podcast, baby, so why don’t you stream me?Host Picks: Where It’s At (A Song We Think Is Underrated or Just Really Like)Doug – Rental CarJustin – MissingKris – Qué Onda GueroRandy – Go It Alone It’s a Loser, Baby (A Song We Don’t Like So Much)Doug – Broken DrumJustin – E-Pro (qualified)Kris – Missing (qualified)Randy – Rental Car (qualified) Sing It Again (A Favorite Lyric)Doug – E-ProJustin – ScarecrowKris – Emergency ExitRandy – Hell Yes Such a Beautiful Way (A Favorite Musical Moment)Doug – Earthquake WeatherJustin – Earthquake WeatherKris – Earthquake WeatherRandy – Black Tambourine Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To:Doug – The Who, Led Zeppelin, The War on Drugs, The National, ShearwaterJustin – Jonny GreenwoodKris – Jimmy Eat WorldRandy – Harry Styles

There’s never a dull moment in the world of anime and Pop Break is diving right into the action! Join anime enthusiasts Amanda Rivas and Josh Sarnecky as they geek out monthly with dedicated experts and special guests on exciting anime news, trending anime in TV and/or movies, and anime recommendations spanning different genres that everyone should be watching. If you are a lifelong anime lover or taking the initial leap into the genre that has something for everyone, this is the podcast for you!Join us as we bring the band back together to chow down on pizza and strawberry sundaes while doing karaoke! Blerd Watchers’ Marshall and Courtney Stevenson and DJ Chapman of Roses and Rejections and Mostly Nitpicking make a triumphant return to talk about the second season of Netflix’s Devil May Cry. Our enthusiasts take a stroll through the anime content minds to discuss favorite series they’ve been watching recently, including Josh’s recommendation of Marriage Toxin, Amanda’s recommendation of Agents of the Four Seasons, DJ’s recommendation of Ace of Diamonds - Season 2, Marshall’s recommendations of Daemons of the Shadow Realm and Claymore, and Courtney’s recommendation of Witch Hat Atelier. All recommendations are found on Crunchyroll except for Claymore, which is on Amazon Prime. For our Anime Pregame, they share their thoughts on what video games they would like to see adapted into a future anime or animated series as an homage to this month’s topic. In their feature review section, our enthusiasts discuss Vergil’s anime introduction, Dante’s story arc this season, new characters and villains, the soundtrack, and so much more.

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and Mostly Nitpicking’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.This week we’re cracking open the first seven episodes of Love Island USA Season 8 with guest host Allie Nelson from Not Couple Goals — and trust us, the villa is already a beautiful disaster. We roast the Islanders, salute the bombshells who showed up ready to ruin someone’s week, and marvel at the sheer volume of questionable choices being made under the guise of “connection.” If you like romance, chaos, and people confidently making the wrong decision, this episode is your new home.

Welcome to “Not Couple Goals” where co-hosts Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy do a deep dive into a different ridiculous romantic thriller from the vantage point of their long-term relationship.Allie, a TV writer/producer and actress, has an affinity for romantic thrillers, the more salacious the better. Tyler, an entertainment reporter and critic, often finds himself drawn in despite his better judgment. Join them as they explore all the ways it’s possible to love too hard… like WAY too hard.It’s a terrifying new release as Allie and Tyler break down the 2025 movie “Obsession” at the height of its theatrical dominance. Join them as they discuss writer/director Curry Barker’s masterpiece and cover everything from Inde Navarrette’s shockingly impeccable and horrifying performance, Barker’s not-so-humble YouTube beginnings and (for some reason) shout out their favorite pasta place in NYC. Is “Obsession” worth the obsession? Listen and find out. Special thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music.Please don’t forget to follow our hosts on Twitter @ANelRetentive & @TylerMcCarthy and Instagram @ANelRetentive and to check out Tyler’s writing at USA Insider and Allie’s at Parade and Business Insider!

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman. No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender. With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank! This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight. From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned. Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.If you're a Batman aficionado or a curious newcomer, you're likely asking: What makes the latest "Absolute Batman" series so compelling? How does this reimagined universe differ from the classic Gotham stories we know, and why does it matter now? In this episode, Dan had to take some time this month for his wedding and honeymoon, so Pop Break Director of Podcasting Alex Marcus has returned to his old cohost chair, and he and Kris welcome the fantastic Justin DeVoe aka @reallifelobo for an in depth discussion of Absolute Batman Vol 1: The Zoo. Together, they uncover the innovative storytelling, character redesigns, and the fresh take on familiar characters — all crafted with love for the mythos and a desire to push boundaries. From the towering, terrifying new Batman to the gritty, real-world Gotham, this series offers a bold twist on a beloved universe. They explore how the creative team balances fresh storytelling with respect for tradition, reimagining heroes and villains alike. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the world of comics, this is the future of Batman that deserves your attention, so let Kris, Alex, and Justin be your guide!

Hello and welcome to Bill vs the MCU! Each month your hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Pop Break Podcasting Director Alex Marcus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pop Break Editor in Chief Bill Bodkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are taking another step into the wider Marvel Multiverse as the MCU dives deeper into their Multiverse Saga.Bill & Alex spent all of 2022 rewatching the first four phases of the MCU, and, in the years since, they have covered the first four seasons of Agents of SHIELD, the entire Netflix Defenders Saga, Fox’s X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Daredevil films, the Blade trilogy, a few Punisher films, Ang Lee’s Hulk, and, most recently, Marvel’s Modern Animation line up of shows.This month, Alex & Bill are wrapping up the Sony Pictures rewatch portion of their season with a deep dive into SPUMC! That’s right they are reviewing Morbius (2022), Madame Web (2024), and Kraven the Hunter (2024) - aka the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters or SPUMC for short!Come back next month for their biannual check in on the MCU with reviews of Wonder Man Season 1, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, and The Punisher: One Last Kill, all available to stream on Disney Plus!

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and Mostly Nitpicking’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.This week Michelle and DJ discuss Ru Paul's Drag Race All Stars 11 Episode 3. They discuss their thoughts on the Orange bracket now that we know who the top 2 Queens are and if the right decision was made. They also briefly dish on the news that Kwame and Chelsea from Love Is Blind Season 4 have broken up.

There’s never a dull moment in the world of anime and Pop Break is diving right into the action! Join anime enthusiasts Amanda Rivas and Josh Sarnecky as they geek out monthly with dedicated experts and special guests on exciting anime news, trending anime in TV and/or movies, and anime recommendations spanning different genres that everyone should be watching. If you are a lifelong anime lover or taking the initial leap into the genre that has something for everyone, this is the podcast for you!In this episode, Josh and Amanda celebrate Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with a high-energy Pokémon draft packed with nostalgia, strategy, and plenty of passionate debate. Joined by a panel of fellow Pop Break favorites, they build their dream teams across categories like cute, powerful, legendary, psychic, ghost, and wild card picks. From Mewtwo and Cubone to Nidoking, Wheezing, and beyond, each selection sparks memories, arguments, fun facts, and unexpected emotional connections. The draft balances competitive team-building with pure Pokémon love, as the panel weighs type synergy, personal favorites, childhood icons, and undeniable vibes. As the final teams come together, everyone makes their case for why their lineup deserves to win.

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and Mostly Nitpicking’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.Michelle and DJ are back to discuss the premiere of Ru Paul's Drag Race All Stars 11. Before that, they give a quick update on some Bachelorette news. Then, they discuss the updated bracket format and what they think from the first 6 Queens showcased. They give their predictions for who they think will come out of the orange bracket and what Queens they are looking forward to in the upcoming weeks.

Welcome to “Not Couple Goals” where co-hosts Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy do a deep dive into a different ridiculous romantic thriller from the vantage point of their long-term relationship.Allie, a TV writer/producer and actress, has an affinity for romantic thrillers, the more salacious the better. Tyler, an entertainment reporter and critic, often finds himself drawn in despite his better judgment. Join them as they explore all the ways it’s possible to love too hard… like WAY too hard.In this episode, Allie and Tyler peel back the curtain behind cinema’s most poorly kepy secret society with “The Skulls.” Join them as they rage at this movie’s poorly executed plot, unnecessarily shaky camera work and its ability to get Creed’s “Higher” stuck in their heads. They also briefly get into this film’s two — yes, somehow TWO — direct-to-DVD sequels.Special thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music.Please don’t forget to follow our hosts on Twitter @ANelRetentive & @TylerMcCarthy and Instagram @ANelRetentive and to check out Tyler’s writing at USA Insider and Allie’s at Parade and Business Insider!

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman. No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender. With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank! This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight. From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned. Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.In our continuing yearlong theme for the Eras of Batman, we enter one of the most divisive eras of them all…THE SCHUMACHER ERAThe Batman franchise has seen many iterations, but few are as polarizing as the films helmed by director Joel Schumacher in the 1990s: Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. If you've ever wondered about the legacy of these films, or if you’ve found yourself laughing at their campy charm, you’re not alone. In this episode, we’ll delve into the Schumacher era of Batman, examining its initial reception, the nostalgic reassessment it has undergone, and why it remains a beloved topic among fans today. After that, they run down the top ten most iconic 90s costumes and gear from these two films!Joining Kris and Daniel to break it all down, we have both hosts of the Anniversary Brothers Podcast, Aaron and Josh Sarnecky!