Crash Course In Awesome

My god.  It’s happened. The incantations from the Necronomicon were read aloud. The blood sacrifices succeeded. The stars were right.  And David Lo Pan married a woman with green eyes.  Bryan and Ricky have risen from the inky depths to do a nearly 2 hour Reunion episode for all you fine folks! In the two years since finishing Crash Course in Awesome the guys have received a steady stream of messages, check ins and requests to return… to the point where it actually worked!  Join them as they re-learn podcasting and also catch you up with what they’ve been up to since the finale and what sort of stuff they’re into now!  Hear them discuss world travel, super powers and time travel! And lastly listen in as they give you listeners some updates on popular topics from previous episodes! You guys asked Ricky and Bryan to come back in some form or another so give’er a listen and enjoy!  (Or don’t!  Everyone’s rusty! Maybe this’ll be one of those “be careful what you wish for” scenarios, who knows!)

Ladies and Gentlemen... we present to you the gigantic 2 hour Retrospective Finale of Crash Course in Awesome!  Bryan and Ricky sit down and interview each other about the highs and lows of the podcast as a whole with behind the scenes ‘reveals’, Ricky and Bryan’s never before heard earliest recordings and all sorts of fun, Loosey-Goosey conversation.  We want to thank every single one of you that’s listened, supported and interacted with us over the years, we’re going to miss you all!  It’s been a hell of a ride!

This is it folks, not only the final chapter in the Survival Series but this is episode #150, the final official episode of Crash Course in Awesome.  One last time Bryan puts Ricky through a series of real (and not so real) survival scenarios and Ricky has to fight his way through them to the final showdown with his tormentor: Bryan.   It’s a no holds barred slugfest to the end so tune in and enjoy! (And just a heads up- you don’t NEED to have heard the previous episodes in this series to understand this episode but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to go back and give them a listen to pick up on some references!)

On this second last episode of CCIA, the boys take a spooky step back in time and review the life and career of Ed and Lorraine Warren.  With upwards of ten thousand investigations under their belt, Ed and Lorraine Warren paved the way in the paranormal investigative field and tackled some of the most popular hauntings in history!  The events of which have been fueling Hollywood with movie plots for nearly 40 years! So sit back and get ready to get your Hallowe'en fix in this second last spook-tastic episode!

So to finish off September, here's Ricky's pick for his beloved episode just in time for the start of October: Ghost Stories 2!  The boys put a lot of work into this one and it turned out great, enjoy! Bryan and Ricky once again break from format and bring you a collection of scary stories from friends, returning contributers and listeners like you!  So lock your doors, turn down the lights and enjoy this spook-tacular Ghost Story special! (A huge thanks goes out to everyone that contributed and helped us in the recording of this episode!)    

With only a few original episodes left in the show Bryan and Ricky are finishing off September with 2 beloved episodes from throughout the podcast and first up is Bryan's pick: the original 'Crash Course in Survival' all about Cars that started it all! Without any preperation before hand, Ricky is confronted with a series of theoretical real world Survival Situations (set up by the diabolical Bryan) and has to figure his way out of them.  Bryan also describes different recommended ways out of the same problems Ricky is faced with as they go.  Will Ricky survive these dire situations?  STAY TUNED!

Grab your shovels and tune in as the boys summon all of their courage to dig up a review of the 1987 cult classic; The Gate!  Get ready to hear all about the wicked special effects, the sequel, fun backmasking samples from pop culture, and tons of other fun facts in this hell-raising episode!  

After a long and restful summer Ricky and Bryan have been released from their cryogenic chambers to come back with a brand-spanking new episode for you fine listeners! The Guys discuss mysterious humanoid shaped creatures and monsters that’ve been seen by people from all over the world from Werewolves to Owlmen to Frog People and even a Spring Heeled Jack for good measure they discuss a whole lot of weird beings!

Crank up the Little Richard and GET TO THE CHOPPA as Bryan and Ricky finish ‘Arnold Movie Month’ with their review of… PREDATOR! Tune in to hear about the making of the 1987 sci-fi/action classic, the sequels and the endless pop culture references! And with that we want to wish you all a happy summer holiday as the guys are taking July and August off for a quick Summer Vacation!  Seeya in September!

In this second episode of 'Arnold Movie Month' Ricky and Bryan cover the 1990 Schwarzenegger classic "Total Recall"!  Tune in to hear loads of trivia, geeking out and as always Pop Culture References!  So Start the Reactor, tune in and enjoy!

Kicking off 'Arnold movie month' the fellas clench tightly onto their magic tickets, and get sucked into the super fun 1993 Arnold Schwarzenegger film, Last Action Hero!  So tune in to hear what a train wreck this film was to make as well as tons of other trivia followed up with some fun geeking out over this underrated Arnold film!

This week the fellas start pumping some iron to bulk up and give you a CRASH COURSE in one of the most influential action movie heroes of all time, Arnold Schwarzenegger!  So tune in and learn about his humble upbringing to his body building and movie careers and so much more!  Hasta la vista, baby!

Once again the diabolical Bryan kidnaps Ricky and forces him to survive a series of real life survival scenarios- this time all situations you might find yourself in around your home!  Will Ricky be able to fight his way through some common household catastrophes, or will Bryan win in the end?  Tune in and find out! Huge thanks Mark DiAngelo, CG Effex and Mike Koenig at www.soundbible.com and the folks at www.freesound.org for the free sound effects!

This week Bryan and Ricky dip into the old "Fan Grab Bag" to bring you episode ideas, requested by you fans, that might not be big enough for entire episodes of their own but work nicely as 3 bite-sized topics!  So join the guys as they discuss the mysterious Antikythera Mechanism, the wacky old science of Phrenology and the hilarious world religion The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster!  So tune in and keep the topic ideas coming!

Attention S-Mart shoppers! Bryan and Ricky abandon their cabin in the woods and head back to middle ages in this second half of their Evil Dead extravaganza! Picking up where they left off with Sam Raimi's 1992 classic; Army of Darkness! So tune in to hear loads of trivia on the film as well as, a Bruce Campbell mini biography, The Evil Dead Musical, the 2013 remake and so much more!   Hail to the 'Crash Course' baby!

This week Bryan and Ricky head off to a lonely cabin in the woods and accidentally unleash an ancient and evil podcast episode that discusses Sam Raimi's incredible 1981 film The Evil Dead and also the 1987 follow up Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn!  Listen in as they discuss the first two films in this terrifying and hilarious movie saga with trivia on the films as well as a brief biography on the film's incredible director Sam Raimi!

The guys have been institutionalized because they've gone MAD for this weeks topic!  That's right, it's a Crash Course in all things Mad magazine!   So tune in to learn all about the magazine's history, as well as all the fun characters, spinoffs, television shows and different contributions it's given us over the years to make our lives that much more pleasant! Now take a listen and join the MADness!

It's the 5th Monday of the month so we're airing a fan favorite episode from our back catalogue... Our Crash Course in Shadow People!Have you ever seen, out of the corner of your eye, a shadowy figure dart out of view?  Or maybe you’ve woken up in the middle of the night and seen a dark figure standing over you…?  If this sounds familiar you may have seen a SHADOW PERSON!Ricky and Bryan delve into this strange, age-old topic and give you a run down of people’s encounters, possible explanations and even some personal stories!

This week Bryan and Ricky bring you a two-for-one North American creature feature! Learn about the history of the antler-headed Jackalope of the Wild West and also the lore behind the terrifying Native American cannibal creature The Wendigo!

This week the boys get lost and find themselves giving you a review of the classic 80's vampire movie; The Lost Boys. So grab some garlic, clentch your stake and listen to Ricky and Bryan geek out over tons of trivia and 80's flare in this vampirific episode!

This week Bryan and Ricky dive deep into the world of Mermaids (and Mermen of course)!  From the earliest appearances in myths and legends to alleged sightings throughout history and even into some possible scientific explanations for Merfolk the guys cover it all!  (And oh so many POP culture references!)

This week the guys burst out their stone skin in excitement to talk about the amazing animated TV show Gargoyles!  Not only do they discuss the show in its entirety, but they also give you a history lesson on the real stone Gargoyles you see on ledges of old cathedrals.  So join Ricky and Bryan as they take a walk down memory lane and geek out about one of the best animated series to air on television!

Have you ever felt that weird sensation that what you're saying or doing has happened identically once before?  Well then you're in luck because this week the guys scratch their heads at a phenomena that pretty much everyone has felt; Deja Vu!  So tune in to hear all the different scientific and crazy theories to explain this sensation, as well as tons more info in this mind melting episode!

This week Bryan and Ricky bring you a brand new batch of Myths and Legends from all across Pop Culture!  From rumours of Elvis working for the CIA to the legend of the Original Tinman's death to Red Ranger Porn the guys answer all sorts of questions from Music, Movies, TV and even Video Games! 

This week the guys welcome back seasoned International Sports Broadcaster Andy McNamara to the show as he once again quizzes Ricky and Bryan on Sports trivia!  Listen in as the fellas further prove how little they know about sports thanks to a childhood of watching cartoons and avoiding the outdoors!  And even if sports aren't your thing, there are TONS of hilarious moments as these 3 clowns get bantering!

This week the guys review an old favorite film franchise from their childhoods; 1984's Gremlins and the 1990 sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch!  So tune in to hear tons of trivia on the first and second film as well as a bit of history on the legendary creatures themselves!

The boys are back in 2014 and to start things off right they’ve got an episode all about not only the mythical Yeti, but a list of other large hairy Bigfoot like creatures from around the world!  From the Skunk Ape to the De Loys Ape, the Yeren and the Yowie Bryan and Ricky bring you stories of reported sightings as well as possible explanations for these famous Cryptids! 

Just in time for New Years the guys bring you the second Holiday Rerun episode of the year: Crash Course in Slender Man! Ricky and Bryan delve into the mysterious entity known as The Slender Man!  From his seemingly harmless origins on the internet to how he’s seeped into pop culture and become a modern Boogeyman, they cover it all!  So lock yourself in somewhere safe, turn up the volume and enjoy the episode before he comes for  you!

The boys are taking some time off for the holidays and airing a rerun of a favourite episode from earlier this year; Tales from The Crypt! Enjoy! Hello boys and GHOULS, this week the guys take a trip down horror lane as they bring you a terror filled crash course in the classic franchise; Tales From The Crypt! From the comics in the 50's all the way to the live action and animated series the ghoulish guys cover it all!

Ricky and Bryan bring 2013 to a close with the second half of their Year End Wrap Up!  Starting with 'The Kraken & Mysteries from the Deep' and taking us all the way up to 'Survival: Trains" the guys discuss all the topics they covered and add new info and extra content along the way... and stay tuned for the annual Blooper Reel and lots of other fun material from the cutting room floor!www.crashcourseinawesome.com

Well it's that time of year again where Bryan and Ricky recap on all the episodes of this past 2013!  So tune in and take a trip down memory lane as the boys give you some behind the scenes stories and bonus material from 'Sports' all the way to 'Internet Celebrities 2' in this really long part 1 year end wrap up!

In this latest installment of the Survival Series, Bryan puts Ricky through a number of real world survival scenarios! This time Ricky has to survive on a train and figure out how to save lives before a catastrophic end!  Once again a huge thanks to Mike Koenig, Satish Madiwale and the guys over at www.soundbible.com and www.freesound.org for the use of their sound effects!

In this second in our 2 part series all about Doctor Who Ricky and Bryan bring you up to date with information on the 8th Doctor as well as the reboot of the series with the 9th through 11th Doctors and as a rundown of some noteworthy monsters and foes from the last 7 seasons!  So run you clever boys (and girls) and remember to listen to today’s episode in preparation for the upcoming 50th Anniversary Special!  Allons-y! 

Bryan and Ricky are proud to FINALLY present to you a Crash Course in Doctor Who!  This first half gives you guys an introduction into the classic British Sci-fi television show that's been capturing the imagination of its audience for 50 years!  Part one will give you a run down of the first 7 Doctors as well as some of the key villains/monsters from the series with tons of trivia thrown in for good measure.  So nibble on a Jelly Baby (not Jelly Bellies like Ricky says), grab your Sonic Screwdriver and unlock this episode which is full of 'timey wimey' fun!  

Bringing Hallowe’en Month to a close, Ricky once again throws Bryan into a mess of Hallowe’en themed Survival scenarios that he has to battle his way out of!  Tune in to see if Bryan can survive the twisted mind of Ricky and have yourselves an amazing Hallowe’en!  For links to some of the references made in this episode head on over to www.crashcourseinawesome.com!  A huge thanks to Mike Koenig and the guys over at www.soundbible.com and www.freesound.org for the use of their sound effects!

Continuing with Hallowe'en Month the boys bring you a third instalment of real life ghost stories from friends and listeners like you!  These episodes are a break from our regular format but they are always fun and spooky, so sit back and get ready to sleep with the lights on!

For the second week of our Hallowe'en Month we bring you Bryan and Ricky's investigation of an actual Haunted House!  Back in May the guys were invited by Canadian Paranormal Investigators The Searcher Group to accompany them on a full investigation of a real-deal Haunted House just outside of Toronto.  Listen in as the guys learn the tricks and tools of the trade as well as experience a whole bunch of ghostly encounters that leave them utterly convinced of the existence of Spirits and Ghosts! A huge thanks to Peter Roe and James McCulloch for showing us the ropes in Paranormal Investigations and to Searcher Group Leader Richard Palmisano for founding the whole thing!  To find about more about The Searcher Group check them out over at www.thesearchergroup.ca

The boys kick off Hallowe'en month with a movie review of the classic 1981 werewolf flick, The Howling!  So tune in for tons of chit chat and trivia as the guys get down on all fours for a "howling" good time!

Hey guys, well like we've been saying based on the new schedule this is the 5th Monday in the month so that means you guys get an oldie but a goodie!  Enjoy hearing about mullets again(or maybe for the first time) with a bit of new info thrown in there!  Enjoy!

In this week's electrifying episode Bryan and Ricky discuss a much requested topic: the life and inventions of Nikola Tesla!  From his early life to the war of the currents against Edison to his later years and a bunch of insane inventions the guys go through it all and shed some light onto one of human kind’s greatest innovators and a real life Mad Scientist!

Great Scott! Bryan and Ricky bring you a Crash Course in the 1985 time travel classic Back to the Future!  Focusing primarily on the first film in the series, the guys give you the goods about the story, the making of, trivia and as always… the POP culture references!  That’s heavy!

The boys are back from their summer break in this ALL NEW episode of CCIA!!  Since the school season is upon us once again, the guys thought it'd be fun and comforting to give you wonderful listeners some added dread in returning to school with some spooky haunted campus stories!  The fellas dug around the internet and found 6 spooky Colleges that are bursting with haunting tales of terror! So sit back in your quiet, probably safe dorm.. and enjoy!

Hey Guys, today’s podcast isn’t so much an “episode” as it is a “brief announcement” about a summer break Bryan and Ricky have long struggled with.  But fear not!  It’s not all doom and gloom and the guys basically lay it all out there for your dear listeners to let know what the heck is going on!   

This week Ricky's joined by special guest co-host Andy McNamara and they give you an all out, no holds barred, Crash Course in the classic 1988 Jean-Claude Van Damme film, Bloodsport!  So tune in to hear tons of trivia and lots of laughs as we bring movie month to end with this epically bad, yet tremendously great film!

This week Bryan and Ricky put on fedora hats and crack their whips for this movie month review, as they give you a crash course in Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark!  So tune in for TONS of trivia and popculture references on this amazing classic flick!

Looks like the boys got red on them as they continue their MOVIE MONTH with a movie review of the amazing horror/comedy zombie movie, Shaun of the Dead!  From a quick synopsis to fun trivia the boys get ranting about a great movie by the perfect trio; Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost!  Enjoy!

Bryan and Ricky start up Movie Month with the very first blockbuster movie… Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic JAWS!  Hear about the story, the rocky making of and even about the true events that inspired the whole story!  And tune in every week in June for movie reviews!

This week the boys take a wrong turn and end up in the mystery riddled Bermuda Triangle!  From some of the mysterious disappearance cases to scientific and out there theories, the boys delve deep into this mysterious section of ocean!

Join Bryan and Ricky as they descend into the inky black depths of the oceans to talk about legendary monsters like the Kraken but also more modern oceanic mysteries from the Montauk Monsters to The Bloop and even the illusive Giant Squid!   

This week the guys rev up their clicking fingers and take to the world wide web, to bring you another batch of Internet Celebrities!  So tune in and catch up on some viral gold that you might have missed, or learn something new about an old favorite! 

This week Ricky and Bryan take a look back at some times in recent, as well as far back, history that people thought the world was going to come to an end!  From Nostradamus' prophecies to Y2K and even the big non-apocalypse of 2012 they cover all sorts of ridiculous would-be-doomsday scenarios!