Podcast
The Pop Break
Hosted by Alex Marcus · EN
The Pop Break is a collection of podcasts executive produced by Pop Break Director Alex Marcus, featuring the very best conversations about television, film, music, anime, wrestling, and more!
This includes weekly pods like Roses & Rejections on Wednesdays, providing coverage of the best of reality dating, as well as new episodes of monthly podcasts like The Anniversary Bros, TV Break, Not Couple Goals, Blerd Watchers, Anime x Pop, Batman By The Numbers, & Bill vs. The MCU every Monday and Friday!
78episodes
Episodes
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Batman By The Numbers: Revisiting the Schumacher Era + Ranking ICONIC 90s Batman Costumes and Gear
May 102:17:10Tap to summarizeThere’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!
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Bill vs. The MCU: Podding the Spider-Verse Part 4 - The Venom Trilogy
Apr 2702:19:59Tap to summarizeHello 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 deep dive on wild and wacky bromance between Eddie Brock and his lovable, murderous symbiote pal, Venom, in the Venom trilogy of films: Venom (2018), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), and Venom: The Last Dance (2024). They also give their thoughts on the Avengers: Doomsday presentation at this year’s CinemaCon.Come back next month for part five of Podding the Spider-Verse with reviews of Morbius (2022) and Madame Web (2024), both available to stream on Disney Plus and Kraven (2024), now available on VOD!
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Podelay: Midnite Vultures, 1999
Apr 2401:15:29Tap to summarizeThis 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 sixth episode, Kris rejoins Justin and Randy as they delve into the funkadelic escapades of Beck’s Midnite Vultures, with Kris sporting a hot pink tie and pants (apologies that this isn’t a visual podcast). From fresh rhymes to riffs on Prince, robo-beats to Nick Offerman anecdotes, there’s plenty for the trio to talk about from Beck’s most danceable album yet.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)Justin – Milk & HoneyKris – DebraRandy – Sexx Laws It’s a Loser, Baby (A Song We Don’t Like So Much)Justin – N/AKris – Mixxed Business (qualified)Randy – Get Real Paid (qualified) Sing It Again (A Favorite Lyric)Justin – DebraKris – Hollywood FreaksRandy – Beautiful Way Such a Beautiful Way (A Favorite Musical Moment)Justin – Hollywood FreaksKris – Peaches & CreamRandy – Nicotine & Gravy/Peaches & Cream Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To:Justin – Tingstad and RumbelKris – Jack WhiteRandy – Beethoven
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Roses & Rejections: Drag Race Season 18 Finale!
Apr 2201:20:18Tap to summarizeYour 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 cover the finale of Ru Paul's Drag Race Season 18. They both give their thoughts on who won and possibly who should have won. Michelle talks about a special in person screening of the finale she saw where she got to meet some of the queens. They wrap up with some brief Age of Attraction coverage and what they will cover this upcoming summer.Check back in a few weeks for the next episode of Roses & Rejections, when the pod will be covering Drag Race All Stars following its premiere on May 8th.
Transcribe →Podwork Angels: A Special Return Engagement with Author Daniel Bukszpan!
Apr 2100:52:37Tap to summarizeIt’s Podwork Angels: The Rush Hour, a podcast dedicated to the Canadian rock band Rush! Justin Mancini of TheCineMaverick.com & Cinema Joes is joined by fellow Cinema Joes podcast host Noah Franc of FrancNoir as they delve into the discography of Canada’s favorite sons, from 1974 to 2012.In this special bonus episode of the long-dormant podcast, Justin and Noah sit down with prolific author and rock/metal connoisseur Daniel Bukszpan to discuss his recent book, Rush & 2112. They talk about the band’s breakthrough album, common misconceptions about its making, and of course, why Rush have cemented their place in the pantheon of rock gods.Don't forget to check out Daniel’s book here!
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Anime x Pop: Reviews of One Piece S2, Witch Hat Atelier, Ace of Diamonds S2, Daemons of the Shadow Realm + A One Piece Manga Update
Apr 2001:53:06Tap to summarizeThere’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 finally all meet in Elbaph with The Elder Emo Branden Vice as Josh met his goal of completely catching up with One Piece. Our enthusiasts take a stroll through the anime content minds to discuss favorite series they’ve been watching recently, including Josh’s and Amanda’s recommendation of Daemons of the Shadow Realm; Amanda’s additional recommendation of Agents of the Four Seasons; and Branden’s recommendation of Ace of Diamonds - Season 2. All recommendations are found on Crunchyroll. In Anime News, they share their thoughts on the unfortunate leak of the upcoming Aang: The Last Airbender film.In their feature review section, our enthusiasts discuss the premiere episodes of the highly anticipated Witch Hat Atelier and Season 2 of One Piece. They talk about what worked and did not, whether the hype for both was well deserved, and also dove into current One Piece manga theories and reveals. Join us next month as we put our draft hats back on for our exciting Pokemon draft!
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The Anniversary Brothers: Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary
Apr 1701:03:08Tap to summarizeJosh and Aaron Sarnecky are here to celebrate Hannah Montana for its 20th anniversary, or Hannahversary, if you will.Hannah Montana is a musical teen sitcom created by Michael Poryes, Richard Correll, and Barry O’Brien. It debuted on Disney Channel on March 24, 2006. It ran for 98 episodes, ending on January 16, 2011. The series also spawned a concert movie and a feature film.The series follows ordinary teenager Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) who is also secretly pop star Hannah Montana. Managing her career is her father Robby Ray (Billy Ray Cyrus). Miley has an older brother, Jackson (Jason Earles), and her best friends are Lilly (Emily Osment) and Oliver (Mitchel Musso).Other characters include Rico (Moisés Arias), the young manager of Rico’s Surf Shop, Hannah’s ex-bodyguard Roxy Roker (Frances Callier), Hannah’s rival Mikayla (Selena Gomez), Miley’s deceased mother Susan (Brooke Shields), and her aunt Dolly (Dolly Parton).Hannah Montana attracted many special guests acting as themselves, like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the show and Taylor Swift in the feature film. It crossed over with Disney shows like The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and That’s So Raven. Disney released multiple albums for Hannah Montana. The show was nominated for four Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Children’s Program. In 2026, a 20th anniversary special aired on Disney+.Aaron and Josh discuss their relationship with the series, the pilot, and the show’s characters, humor, and music. They also talk about the anniversary special and Miley Cyrus’ career.For more Disney Channel, you can listen to Josh and Aaron’s podcast on The Luck of the Irish.Hannah Montana is streaming on Disney+
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Blerd Watchers: Project Hail Mary, Punisher: One Last Kill Trailer, Ryan Coogler’s Animorphs News, and Invincible & The Boys Heat Up Amazon Prime Video!
Apr 1301:44:36Tap to summarizeWelcome to Blerd Watchers! ThePopBreak.com's monthly podcast about TV shows with a Blerdy twist! Come hang out with Courtney & Marshall, two married Blerds, as they navigate all the dopeness on TV and share insights and opinions on the monthly show topics!Marshall and Courtney return for the April 2026 Blerd Watchers episode, reacting to trailers and updates including HBO Max’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone series teaser (Christmas 2026), a misfire fan trailer for Mindy Kaling’s Hulu series Not Suitable for Work, Disney+’s Punisher: One Last Kill, and the new Mortal Kombat trailer featuring Karl Urban as Johnny Cage. In news, they cover Jeff Daniels and Renee Rapp joining The Morning Show season 5, Rick and Morty season 9’s May 24 premiere, K-Pop Demon Hunters 2, an Apothecary Diaries movie (Dec 2026), Wonder Man season 2 renewal, Reacher season 4 wrapping, Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 (June 25) and My Hero Academia’s epilogue (May 2), Animorphs in development at Disney+ with Ryan Coogler, Marvel Zombies season 2, and Lena Headey joining Wednesday season 3. If that wasn’t enough in this jam packed spring episode, they also provide some check ins on ongoing seasons of Invincible, The Boys, Shrinking, Cross, and Frieren, before taking a rare trip to the movies to see Project Hail Mary starring Ryan Gosling. Was Courtney entertained? Stay tuned to find out!
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Not Couple Goals: The Housemaid (2025)
Apr 1001:32:50Tap to summarizeWelcome 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 take on the box office darling, “The Housemaid” starring Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar. For once, one of them read the book, so they get into every difference, every inner monologue the movie missed as well as how Hollywood’s beauty standard of women led to some pretty dumb changes. Was Sydney Sweeney’s apathetic acting enough to rescue this adaptation? 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!
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TV Break: April 2026 - Disney Drops OpenAI After Sora Debacle + Reviews of Rooster, Survivor 50, One Piece S2, and Daredevil: Born Again S2
Apr 601:15:12Tap to summarizeWelcome to TV Break, where Pop Break’s Podcasts Editor Alex Marcus is joined by editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television.This month Alex is off working to get Suits: LA back on the air, so Pop Break's TV Editor Avani Goswami is joining Bill and Josh this month,Here’s the format of the show:The Best Thing I Saw on TV Last Month – Avani, Bill, & Josh talk about a show/episode/event they liked from the last month including CBS' Survivor 50, Netflix's Age of Attraction, One Piece Season 2, and Frieren Season 2, Prime Video's Spring Fever, and Disney Plus' Daredevil: Born Again Season 2.Newsbreak – This month, they are discussing the news of Disney pulling out of its deal with OpenAI after their generative AI Sora App was shuddered. They discuss the use of AI in entertainment, Disney's future with generative AI, and more.Streaming Wars – Avani, Bill, & Josh each selected their top streamer of the month. Avani and Bill agree on HBO MAX as it was home to March Madness, Oscar winners One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Weapons, AEW's weekly and PPV successes on the platform, the return of Euphoria, and more. Josh with the perennial favorite, Netflix due to Bridgerton, One Piece Season 2, MLB Opening Day, XO Kitty's return, Love is Blind, Age of Attraction, and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. New Series Spotlight – This month Avani, Bill, and Josh return to the mind of Bill Lawrence for his new HBO series, Rooster. The series stars Steve Carrell as Greg “Rooster” Russo, an author who begins working at the liberal arts college where his daughter Katie (Charly Clive) is a professor in the midst of a personal crisis following the revelation that her husband and fellow on campus professor Archie (Phil Dunster) is having an affair with a graduate student (Lauren Tsai) who is half his age and pregnant with their love child. The series also stars Danielle Deadwyler, Annie Mumolo, and John C. McGinley in supporting roles.
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