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!
79episodes
Episodes
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Batman by the Numbers: Definitive Batman Villains Draft
Dec 27, 202402:40:17Tap 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 2024, we brought you the year of villains. We ranked the animated series villains, all the Joker actors, and most recently, Batman villains who’ve yet to make their live action film debut. All these episodes are proof that more than any other superhero, Batman has the deepest roster of great villains. We talked about Professor Pyg for crying out loud. In our last episode of 2024, it’s time bring this theme home in style. We’re drafting again, and this time, it’s all VILLAIN THEMED. While villains were a category in last summer’s Definitive Batman Draft, this draft takes the concept of a Batman villain even further, as we now draft specific iterations of villains spanning multiple movies, TV shows, comic arcs, and much more. To mimic one of the great Jokers, “wait till they get a load of these categories.” Trust us when we tell you, we’ve come up with the definitive list of Batman villain categories. Returning to draft with Daniel and Kris are Alex Marcus, Podcasting Director of the Pop Break, and Randy Allain, co-host of the Pop Break’s Pod of Doom, as well as Kris’s co-host of the Media/Lit Podcast. Also making his return to the podcast, it’s co-host of the Anniversary Brothers podcast, and Pop Break’s Anime podcast, Anime x Pop, Josh Sarnecky. Without spoiling too much, we’ll just tell you the first two rounds of this draft are completely chaotic. We can’t stress this enough; you will be surprised early at some of these picks. We present to you the DEFINITIVE BATMAN VILLAINS DRAFT!
Transcribe →Roses & Rejections: The Ultimatum Season 3 Part 2
Dec 25, 202401:12:29Tap to summarizeWelcome back to another episode of our podcast all about the ABC reality series The Bachelor and its many spin-offs. ThePopBreak.com's Michelle Coraci, who has been recapping all things Bachelor for The Pop Break for years, and co-host DJ Chapman, of Mostly Nitpicking, are in off season mode, as The Bachelor and its many spinoffs take the next few weeks off! This week Michelle and DJ recap the finale and reunion episodes of Netflix's The Ultimatum Season 3. They discuss who actually came off looking good this season, and how the show can change moving forward. They also have a brief discussion of Gerry Turner's recent announcement. If you have thoughts or suggestions for what you’d like Michelle and DJ to cover during the offseason or opinion about all things Bachelor & Bachelorette, be sure to reach out via twitter @Roses&Rejections!
Transcribe →Pod of Doom: Vol. 4, 1972
Dec 23, 202401:28:01Tap to summarizeThis is Pod of Doom, a podcast dedicated to the British band Black Sabbath! The hosts of Every Pod You Cast return to discuss all things Sabbath: Justin Mancini of TheCineMaverick.com & Cinema Joes, Chris Mancini, and Randy Allain of Media/Lit will be covering the Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio eras of the metal pioneers. In the fourth official episode of the season, Chris, Justin, and Randy tackle Sabbath’s underrated (but aptly named) fourth volume. They relish Geezer Butler’s anti-jingoism, contemplate the band’s increasing use of acoustic instrumentation, and debate the merits of stiff piano ballads. And of course, they recommend other artists they’ve been enjoying for your listening pleasure. Host Picks: We Know That It Is Good (A Song We Think Is Underrated or Just Really Like) Chris – Supernaut Justin – St. Vitus Dance Randy – Changes Nobody Wants Him (A Song We Don’t Like So Much) Chris – Changes Justin – FX Randy – Tomorrow’s Dream Words That Glow (A Favorite Lyric) Chris – Cornucopia Justin – Cornucopia Randy – Cornucopia Occupy My Brain (A Favorite Musical Moment) Chris – Under the Sun Justin – Tomorrow’s Dream Randy – Laguna Sunrise Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To: Chris – Score from Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Justin – Godspeed You! Black Emperor Randy – Saul Williams
Transcribe →The Anniversary Brothers Podcast: Bicentennial Man 25th Anniversary
Dec 20, 202401:11:10Tap to summarizeAaron and Josh Sarnecky are here for a bonus podcast to discuss Bicentennial Man for its 25th anniversary. Bicentennial Man is a science fiction comedy-drama directed by Chris Columbus and written by Nicholas Kazan. It is based on a novelette by Isaac Asimov, as well as a novel by Asimov and Robert Silverberg. It opened in theaters on December 17, 1999. The film follows Andrew, an immortal robot (Robin Williams) who first serves the Martin family in a futuristic 2005. Mr. Martin (Sam Neill), who determines that Andrew has human emotions and interests, guides his development. Later, Andrew decides to take on more human attributes, including synthetic skin and organs, with the aid of inventor Rupert Burns (Oliver Platt). Other characters include Mrs. Martin (Wendy Crewson), the Martins’ daughter Amanda (Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Embeth Davidtz), and Amanda’s granddaughter (also Davidtz). Bicentennial Man garnered mixed-to-negative reviews, and it bombed at the box office. Robin Williams was nominated for Worst Actor at the Razzies, though the movie was nominated for Best Makeup at the Oscars. Aaron and Josh talk about the first time they saw Bicentennial Man, its plot, characters, and themes. They also mention its deceptive marketing campaign and how the film stands out in today’s movie landscape. For more science fiction, you can listen to Aaron and Josh’s Twilight Zone podcast with guest Randy Allain. Bicentennial Man is available on Prime Video
Transcribe →Anime x Pop: The Very Best of 2024 in Anime
Dec 17, 202401:53:52Tap 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! In this episode of Anime x Pop, Amanda and Josh reflect on a busy year of anime in 2024 by revisiting anime previously covered throughout the year to include initial thoughts and updates on whether those thoughts changed after watching more episodes. They share anime they wish they had room to cover on Anime x Pop during 2024 and also give out the first Anime x Pop awards to animes they felt were deserving in categories like Best New Anime, Best Recurring Anime, Best Anime of the Year and more. Amanda and Josh take a stroll through the anime content minds to discuss favorite series they’ve been watching recently, including Josh's continued love for Dragonball Daima and Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Season 3, his new recommendation of 365 Days to the Wedding, and Amanda's recommendation of The Most Notorious "Talker" Runs the World's Greatest Clan. All recommendations, except Bleach TYBW which is on Hulu/Disney Plus, are found on Crunchyroll. In Anime News, they discuss potential updates they are most excited to hear about from this month's Jump Festa including possible release dates for Jujitsu Kaisen Season 3, Spy x Family Season 3, Kaiju No. 8 Season 2, the upcoming Demon Slayer film trilogy, and Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc. Josh was also hoping to hear more about the fate of Dragonball Super given Akira Toriyama's untimely passing. Stay tuned next month as Anime x Pop starts off 2025 with Netflix's highly anticipated Sakamoto Days and Solo Leveling Season 2.
Transcribe →Saturday Morning Adventures: Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Dec 14, 202401:09:07Tap to summarizeWelcome to Saturday Morning Adventures - ThePopBreak.com's audio appreciation for all things animated. What better way to celebrate the holidays than by talking about the 40th Anniversary of the television debut of Mickey's Christmas Carol. On December 10, 1984, Disney's Oscar-nominated short film adaptation of Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol premiered on NBC. Pop Break's editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin is the host and is joined by special guest Michelle Chapman (Roses & Rejections Podcast) to discuss the special. The two wax poetic about seeing the film for the first time as kids, how the film has aged over the past 40 years, showing the special to their respective children and why this is an elite version of the classic Christmas tale. They also tangent on how awful the Guy Pearce starring version of the film was and the insidiousness of Cocomelon for some laughs. They also discuss the shorts that have appeared before the film and have a long conversation about all their favorite holiday offerings at Disney World.
Transcribe →The Anniversary Brothers Podcast: The Simpsons 35th Anniversary
Dec 13, 202401:22:20Tap to summarizeAaron and Josh Sarnecky are here to talk about The Simpsons for the series’ 35th anniversary. Joining them is Simpsons fan Stefan Thomas, who previously covered Mean Girls with the duo. The Simpsons is an adult animated sitcom created by Matt Groening, who developed the show with Sam Simon and James L. Brooks. It is based on shorts originating from The Tracy Ullman Show, beginning in 1987. The Simpsons series premiered on FOX on December 17, 1989. Now in its 36th season, over 700 episodes of the series have aired. It is the longest running American animated TV show, as well the longest running American scripted primetime series. The titular family lives in the fictional city of Springfield. It consists of father Homer (Dan Castellaneta), mother Marge (Julie Kavner), son Bart (Nancy Cartwright), daughter Lisa (Yeardley Smith), and baby girl Maggie (Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith). The show is notable for its many celebrity guest voices, including James Earl Jones, Meryl Streep, and Phil Hartman, and Kelsey Grammer. The Simpsons is considered one of the greatest TV shows of all time and is credited with starting the adult cartoon boom. In 2007, The Simpsons Movie debuted on the silver screen. The series has won 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, including multiple for Outstanding Animated Program and many for its voice cast. Aaron, Josh, and Stefan discuss their past experiences with The Simpsons before going into its first episode, the Christmas special. They talk about the characters, animation, humor, and legacy of the show. They also discuss when the show started to decline in quality. For more adult cartoons, you can listen to Josh and Aaron’s podcasts on Family Guy and Futurama. The Simpsons is streaming on Disney+
Transcribe →Roses & Rejections: The Ultimatum Season 3 Part 1
Dec 11, 202401:24:03Tap to summarizeWelcome back to another episode of our podcast all about the ABC reality series The Bachelor and its many spin-offs. ThePopBreak.com's Michelle Coraci, who has been recapping all things Bachelor for The Pop Break for years, and co-host DJ Chapman, of Mostly Nitpicking, are in off season mode, as The Bachelor and its many spinoffs take the next few weeks off! This week, DJ and Michelle discuss Netflix's the Ultimatum Episodes 1-5. They go over all of the couples and discuss who they think can make it through this crazy show, and what it says about the people who stick through it. They do a brief recap of this season of the Great British Bake Off, and give Georgie a well deserved apology. If you have thoughts or suggestions for what you’d like Michelle and DJ to cover during the offseason or opinion about all things Bachelor & Bachelorette, be sure to reach out via twitter @Roses&Rejections!
Transcribe →Not Couple Goals: Killer Heat (2024)
Dec 6, 202401:23:57Tap 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. This week, Allie and Tyler put their private detective hats on for the modern noir thriller “Killer Heat.” Join them as they thirst after Joseph Gordon-Levitt, allow for an appropriate amount of praise for Shailene Woodley and use Richard Madden as a springboard to talk about Tyler’s twin pet peeves. Do they agree with the critics that this movie telegraphed its ending from moment one? Listen and find out! Special thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music. To see more of our hosts, check out Tyler’s writing at USA Insider, SYFY and NBC Insider. Find Allie’s work at Parade and Business Insider! And don't forget to follow us on social media — Allie: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok Tyler: Twitter Not Couple Goals: Instagram and Twitter
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