Pod Meets World: TGI – Kim Possible Episode 115 “All the News”

iHeartPodcasts | September 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "Pod Meets World" dives into a nostalgic rewatch of Kim Possible Season 1, Episode 15, “All the News.” Hosts Danielle Fishel (Topanga), Rider Strong (Shawn), and Will Friedle (Eric, and the voice of Ron Stoppable on Kim Possible) reunite to share memories, behind-the-scenes stories, and a playful, sometimes bewildered, breakdown of the iconic Disney Channel cartoon episode. The conversation is warm, humorous, and peppered with meta-commentary about childhood, media, and the mechanics of storytelling—reflecting on their own roles and the era when Kim Possible aired.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Kim Possible’s Place in Disney History

• Show Background: Created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle, ran from 2002–2007, becoming an iconic Disney Channel comedy-adventure [13:08].
• Host Reflections: Will Friedle shares how Disney held him under “hold deals” after Boy Meets World, eventually calling him to audition for Kim Possible [14:06]. He recalls, “Even people that do the voice of SpongeBob… we all still audition. It’s just your voice is gonna work or it isn’t. That’s kind of a great thing about animation” [14:59].

2. First Impressions: Watching Kim Possible

• Ryder’s First Viewing: Despite voicing guest character “Brick Flag,” Ryder admits, “I have so many questions because I’ve never seen the show... So, like, what is her? How does this come about? What happens?” [15:33].
• Meta Realization: The group realizes the show throws viewers into Kim’s world already mid-adventure, with no “origin story” [16:02].
  • Danielle: “You never, you know, we don’t ever find the origin story.” [16:03]
  • Will: “We do flashback episodes... but I don’t remember what it was” [16:30].
• Kim’s Lack of Secret Identity: Rider notes, “It’s so interesting that she doesn’t have a secret identity. Like everyone knows that this teenager who’s a cheerleader is also fighting crime.” [16:43]

3. Character Dynamics and Tropes

• Kim’s Life & Team: Will breaks down the formula: cheerleading, crime fighting, babysitting, and a team consisting of Ron (her best friend/sidekick), Wade (10-year-old tech genius), and Rufus (a naked mole rat, because Ron’s dad is allergic to furry pets) [17:15, 18:43].
• Recurring Catchphrases: Will recites, “Booyah” for Ron, “What’s the sitch?” for Kim, and the twins' gibberish [30:46].
• Meta-Commentary: The hosts joke about the layered absurdities, calling out how the stakes in the show, while global, often feel secondary to typical high-school drama [23:29, 23:48].

4. Plot Recap: “All the News”

• Ron’s Aspirations: Ron desperately wants to get an article published in the school paper, tries to make newsworthy content, and ends up exaggerating Kim’s comments about Brick, the quarterback (voiced by Ryder) [22:12–22:50].
• Social Fallout: Kim is mortified by being (mis)quoted as thinking Brick is “hot”—sparking rumors, school drama, and a date [28:20, 34:49].
• Adrenaline Stuntwoman B-Plot: Adrenaline, a TV stunt celebrity, fakes stunts for ratings. Kim, Ron, and the others critique the morality of manufactured heroism versus genuine acts [29:19, 32:14].
  • Danielle: “This was like so early 2000s commentary on what was happening… reality shows were brand new and the idea of Survivor, the show…” [29:31]
  • Will connects it also to "Jackass" and “kids doing everything they see on TV” [29:50].
• Dueling Storylines: The show juggles Ron’s journalistic mischief, Adrenaline’s fake heroics, Pop Pop Porter’s stolen shrimp blimp [39:10], and the rising confusion and chaos as plotlines collide.

5. Deeper Themes & Absurdity

• Layered Satire: The hosts note Kim Possible merges “clickbait” journalism, influencer culture, and reality TV criticism—long before these phenomena were mainstream [34:37, 34:49].
  • Danielle: “It’s the invention of clickbait.” [34:37]
  • Will: “He’s instantly popular the second he starts lying.” [38:17]
• Blending Stakes: Rider questions the show’s logic—why wouldn’t saving the world outweigh high school drama? Will defends the focus: “When you’re in high school, there is nothing more important than your everyday, daily whatever” [23:29].

6. Action-Packed Showdown

• Climax at the Carnival: Adrenaline kidnaps Brick to stage an “extreme” on-air battle, hoping to revive her cancelled TV show. Kim must rescue Brick and Ron from carnival-themed death traps [62:35].
  • Rider critiques the randomness: “I was just like, this seems a little random… the old carnival. We'll do that” [63:29].
• Resolution: After saving the day, Kim is accused by Brick of “trying too hard,” and the episode wraps up with tongue-in-cheek humor—matching Kim Possible’s irreverent, high-energy tone [68:42].

7. Relatable and Hilarious Commentary

• Life Lessons: The hosts discuss how media influences real-life stunts (“Did you ever copy anything you saw on screen?”) and share childhood stories—Rider’s barrel-down-the-hill adventure receives particular attention [54:10].
• Meta-Jokes and Self-Deprecation:
  • Danielle: “I thought, oh, fun, a cartoon. And then I was like, I have some meaning of life questions.” [69:10]
  • Will, on the show’s complexity: “Because you’re watching it wrong. That’s wrong.” [69:02]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

How the Job Came to Will – [14:59]

“Even people that… do the voice of SpongeBob… we all still audition. It’s just your voice is gonna work or it isn’t. That’s kind of a great thing about animation.”
– Will Friedle

On Kim's Superhero Status – [16:43]

“It’s so interesting that she doesn’t have a secret identity. Like everyone knows that this teenager who’s a cheerleader is also fighting crime.”
– Rider Strong

On Clickbait & Media Satire – [34:37]

“It’s the invention of clickbait.” – Danielle Fishel

On Kim's Multifaceted Role – [23:29]

“When you’re in high school, there is nothing more important than your everyday, daily whatever’s going out of high school... I think that’s kind of so genius about the show.” – Will Friedle

On Overcrowded Storylines – [39:10]

“Do we need one more storyline?... Maybe they could have simplified... any aspect of this one.”
– Danielle Fishel

On High School Stakes vs. Heroism – [50:16]

“It’s a cartoon for 10-year-old girls.”
– Will Friedle

Self-Awareness on the Show’s Absurdity – [69:10]

“I thought, oh, fun, a cartoon. And then I was like, I have some meaning of life questions.”
– Danielle Fishel

Podcasting Meta-Joke – [57:33]

“This is gonna be us, by the way. We're gonna be doing the podcast three years after everybody stopped listening.”
– Will Friedle

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [13:08] – Introduction to Kim Possible — show context, creators, history.
• [14:06] – Will explains how he landed the role of Ron.
• [15:33] – Hosts’ first reactions, confusion about Kim’s backstory.
• [16:43] – Discussion on Kim’s lack of secret identity.
• [17:15 to 18:55] – Team Possible breakdown; recurring characters/catchphrases.
• [22:12–22:50] – Plot kicks off with Ron’s quest to write for the newspaper.
• [28:20] – Brick (Ryder’s character) and Kim’s awkward “date.”
• [29:31] – Commentary on early 2000s reality TV culture.
• [34:37] – “The invention of clickbait”—Ron manipulates the news.
• [39:10] – Complaints about the show’s juggling of multiple storylines.
• [62:35] – Climax: Carnival showdown against Adrenaline.
• [68:42] – Episode wrap-up: Brick’s cluelessness and Kim’s exasperation.
• [69:10] – Final reflections and meta-humor about analyzing cartoons as adults.

Engaging Takeaways

• Nostalgia & Irreverence: The hosts tap into both the absurdity and heartfelt joy of revisiting a foundational 2000s cartoon, especially for fans of Boy Meets World and classic Disney Channel.
• Behind-the-Scenes Wisdom: Will’s inside look at voice acting and industry quirks gives aspiring creatives genuine insight.
• Cultural Critique: The episode’s satire on reality TV, hero-worship, and media manipulation resonates even more powerfully with today’s influencer/social media landscape.
• Meta-Humor: The hosts’ willingness to poke fun at their confusion (and the show’s own logic) makes the episode accessible and self-aware.

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a layered, laughter-filled celebration of Kim Possible’s unique blend of teenage melodrama, spy adventure, and cultural satire. Both newcomers and fans will find value in the hosts’ warm chemistry, honest bewilderment, and informed analysis. Even if you’ve never seen Kim Possible, this conversation will make you appreciate its legacy, quirks, and the timeless wisdom of not taking yourself—or your high school angst—too seriously.

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