Podcast
The Protagonist Podcast
Hosted by Dueling Genre Productions · EN
Each week we discuss a great character in a great story. Hosted by Joseph J. Darowski.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
600th Episode! (special 2026)
4d ago01:14:47Tap to summarizeDescription Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack joins Joe and Producer Andrew for our special 600th episode. To celebrate 600 weekly episodes of the podcast, all three of us answer The Dinner Guest Question: if we could host a dinner party with a handful of fictional characters, who would we want to hang out with for one evening?
Transcribe →David Dunn and Elijah Price from Unbreakable (film 2000)
2w ago00:58:32Tap to summarizeDescription Returning guest Kestra Darowski joins Producer Andrew and Joe to discuss Unbreakable, M. Night Shyamalan’s superhero film from 2000. We discuss the marketing around the film, the way the film engages the superhero genre, and the strengths of the storytelling. Support Patreon Show Notes Unbreakable – Wikipedia M. Night Shyamalan – Wikipedia
Transcribe →Teaching Comics (special 2026)
3w ago01:05:58Tap to summarizeDescription Returning guest Chris “Mav” Maverick joins Joe to discuss teaching comics. What texts do we use, what topics do we cover, and how do students react? Support Patreon
Transcribe →Kent, Beck, and Miriam from Escape! (novel 2025)
4w ago01:02:23Tap to summarizeDescription First-time guest Stephen Fishbach joins us to discuss his debut novel Escape! The novel tells the story of a washed up reality television star and a disgraced reality tv producer who are each trying to find fresh opportunities on a remote island where a new reality tv show is filming. Fischbach is a veteran of two seasons of Survivor, and draws on his familiarity with the reality tv industry to write this fictional tale. Support Patreon Show Notes Stephen Fishbach – Author website
Transcribe →The ensemble from Arrested Development (TV 2003)
May 2501:00:33Tap to summarizeDescription Returning guest Jon Bell joins Joe to discuss the sitcom Arrested Development. We’re discussing the whole main cast, because it’s impossible to choose a favorite character to focus on. Support Patreon Show Notes Arrested Development – Wikipedia
Transcribe →Kara Zor-El and Ruthye Marie Knoll from Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (comic 2021)
May 1800:58:18Tap to summarizeDescription Producer Andrew joins Joe to discuss the 8-issue mini-series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Written by Tom King with art by Bilquis Evely, this series sends Supergirl on an intergalactic adventure accompanying a young girl who wants revenge against the man who murdered her father. Support Patreon Show Notes Supergirl – Wikipedia Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – Fan Wiki
Transcribe →Butch, Sundance, and Etta from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (film 1969)
May 1100:56:53Tap to summarizeDescription Returning guest Rachel Armstrong joins Joe to discuss the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. This classic 1969 film starred Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy, Robert Redford as the Sundace Kid, and Katharine Ross as Etta Place. It tells the story of charming train robbers going on the run all the way to Bolivia to try and escape justice. Support Patreon Show Notes Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – Wikipedia Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – IMDB
Transcribe →Star Wars and Transmedia Storytelling (Special 2026)
May 400:59:06Tap to summarizeDescription Returning guest Jon Bell joins Joe to discuss transmedia storytelling in Star Wars, using 1996’s Shadows of the Empire story as a jumping off point. Transmedia storytelling involves a coordinated effort to tell a cohesive story across multiple types of media, and we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this process. Support Patreon Show Notes Shadows of the Empire – Wikipedia
Transcribe →Emma Lion from The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion
Apr 2701:03:07Tap to summarizeVersion 1.0.0 Description Returning guest Virginia McAlister joins Joe to discuss the Emma M. Lion from the series The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower. We’re discussing the first two novels of this series, that sees Emma M. Lion navigate regency England as a single woman. The series tone feels like a mix of Jane Austen and Gilmore Girls. Support Patreon Show Notes Beth Brower – Author website The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion – Amazon
Transcribe →MaoMao from The Apothecary Diaries (TV 2023)
Apr 2000:50:48Tap to summarizeDescription Returning guest Andrew Deman joins Joe to discuss MaoMao from the anime series The Apothecary Diaries. Based on a popular light novel series, The Apothecary Diaries tells the story of a girl who works in the emperor’s palace and solves mysteries. Support Patreon Show Notes Apothecary Diaries (anime) – Wikipedia Apothecary Diaries (light novel) – WIkipedia Apothecary Diaries – Anime fan wiki
Transcribe →