IKIGAI PRO

Benjii, between getting steps in as his watch bugs him to, talks about what he thinks is going to be popular in 2020, a pre New Years resolution, exercise and just some general stuff he notices avoiding the news. Another weirdly wonderful, shambolic, unscripted podcast.

In the era of the arcade cabinet, Konami was not merely content with the home console. Alongside their Contra, Castlevania and Metal Gear franchises, the company also earned licenses to pop culture phenomenons X-Men, The Simpsons and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, transforming those three into side-scrolling beat 'em ups. In 1990 though, four years after the release of the movie, Konami unleashed Aliens to video arcades around the world. More akin to a run and gun than a side-scrolling beat 'em up, it was one of the first ventures the Alien series made in the arcades. Audio taken from original "Nostalgia Kills" video, currently available on IKIGAI PRO's YouTube channel.

Struggling to think of a topic to discuss for this week's episode, Benjii instead discuses about what went wrong with the 10 year anniversary of MUZAI Records and how it corresponds to his own demotivation and subsequent motivation getting into a good place again.

How long has it been since we've put up a podcast? Benjii returns from a long, long sabbatical (nee: playing video games) to discuss about the recent discovery of Ruggero Deodato's nasty piece of work, "Cannibal Holocaust" on his Amazon Prime membership. This podcast does include swearing and discusses topics which may upset some people.

Is Cancer Research UK's latest campaign about obesity being a leading cause of cancer fat shaming? Maeve and Benjii vent about health in a post consumer wasteland.

The upstart podcast tag team of Benjii and Jamie return, this week giddy over the block announcements for the 2019 edition of New Japan's G1 Climax. KENTA vs Ibushi? Okada vs. Tanahashi? All as group matches? We have no reason to book a fantasy tournament now given New Japan have practically done it. The pair also touch upon wXw/Ringkampf/Imperium/Ilja Dragunov crossovers, Chris Brooks in Japan and thank Chris Jericho. Thank you Mr. Jericho.

Benjii and Jamie T return after a period of reflection (and hiding from each other because they might have the WWE 24/7 belt), discussing the monumental occasion that was AEW's "Double or Nothing", the appearance of Jon Moxley and just how when wrestling is good, it is really, really good.

The tag team are joined by Casual Arthur this week for the "casual" wrestling fans perspective on things - including our top five favourite wrestling finishers, AEW/ITV news (nee: excitement), a farewell to Lucha Underground and another rant on the WWE and their wildcard system.

It's a big weekend for British Wrestling as PROGRESS holds their annual Super Strong Style 16 Tournament, with Jamie Taylor and Benjii discussing the line up and marking out for not only Chris Brookes and Ilja Dragunov but someone we already believe is the MVP of wrestling this year - "The Product" David Starr. The tag team also discuss Jon Moxley's return (to where though is the question), Goldberg's announcing he'll be part of the next WWE Saudi Arabia show and the holy grail of carry jobs being screened at Starrcast 2019: Tom McGee vs. Bret Hart.

Have you or a friend wanted to get rich quick? Sign up to IKIGAI PRO's live webinar where we give you the five basic things in order to create your customer funnel and a secret sixth trick which 90% of people neglect and have used to enhance their UI/UX. We are as bored of those boosted posts as you are... and Benjii finds the whole aspirational influencer to be incredibly disingenuous. The duo also chat Rammstein, Avengers: Endgame (again), Attack on Titan and the latest Game of Thrones fan theory. Spoilers - spoilers by the truckload.

It's been a short week and we've had a rare spot of very nice weather here in the UK. That meant we were too busy eating Calypsos and wearing handkerchiefs over our scalps. But we didn't roll our trouser legs up. That would be daft. So we cut together some clips from the last few episodes to keep up appearances. If Vice can rehash articles on social media, we can rehash moments we enjoyed from Season 2. Regular programming to return next week. Sorry/Not sorry.

Hands up who expected to hear the words "The Viking Experience" on WWE television this week? Anyone? Anyone at all? Anyone in the Yorkshire area fancy going to York for their Viking experience? It seems that Vince McMahon doesn't like many things he's not had an imprint on, and on this week's show, Jamie and Benjii discuss the litany of things Vince has done to his product and try and come to terms with why. This episode is for you, Kid Lykos #thankyoulykos

Everyone is talking about how amazing Disney+ is going to be, with original programming from the Star Wars franchise, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Simpsons on demand and even Sister Act 3! But Benjii's not always the optimist IKIGAI PRO makes him out to be and discusses with Jamie some of his concerns with the House of Mouse takeover. Plus - Shazam, Hellboy, Kim Kardashian, Avengers: Endgame leaks and given that Game of Thrones has started again, the start of a weekly "fan theory" corner.

For a show that was over seven and a half hours long, Benjii and Jamie Taylor are pretty impressed they managed to cut their podcast down to less than three hours. But on the second ever Two Mouths of Doom, the tag team go through their thoughts on Wrestlemania 35 and some of the events that took place over Wrestlemania Weekend - including NXT Takeover, G1 Supercard and a rather aggressive take on Ring of Honor's schmozz booking of their tag team title match. We're with you on this one, Tama!

The original IKIGAI PRO podcast is finally back after a few weeks off air. Jamie and Benjii discuss Helen Mirren's recent comments disparaging Netflix, Jackie Chan eroticism, Elon Musk bringing dank memes to the table, changes to IKIGAI Pro and a few more tidbits in this weeks IKIPRO-Cast!

It's the inaugural episode of something that we at IKIGAI PRO have been working on behind the scenes and we can share with the world now. Two Mouths of Doom is a weekly podcast focusing on professional wrestling, hosted by IKIPRO-Cast regular Benjii and local Leeds lad (by way of Dewsbury) and fellow wrestling fan Jamie. That's right - it's another Benjii/Jamie combination.

Jamie's back! Hooray! This week the OG duo discuss the storm that occurred prior to the official release of Captain Marvel - be it the fandom attacking Brie Larson for comments she made or complaints that the character herself is "overpowered" just to drive the next phase of the MCU. What perhaps we learn from this is a lesson in contextualisation and to read more than just a headline. Is the movie good though and are comic books still a "men's club" kind of thing? The pair also talk about the ever growing fallout from Leaving Neverland, New Zealand's Taite Music Prize nominations, the Game of Thrones trailer and how Will Smith isn't really having a great 2019 already, be it Aladdin or claims of "colourism." Produced by Benjii Jackson. Engineered by Jamie Larson. Theme music by Maeve Munro. Subscribe to us! We keep forgetting to ask you to! Or visit us online - ikigaipro.net PS: Gidday Rhys.

No Jamie this week so instead Benjii is joined by Maeve. Yes - they managed to complete a full podcast together. All joking aside, this week's podcast delves into the topic of Leaving Neverland, the HBO/Channel 4 documentary around the lives of Wade Robson and Jeff Safechuck - who when younger were the alleged victims of abuse from Michael Jackson. Maeve and Benjii discuss the new allegations, the murkiness that has shrouded Jackson's private life for years and if on this occasion it's impossible to reconcile the artist from their art. The pair also talk about their memories of Luke Perry and Keith Flint, both of which sadly passing away this week, the problem Sony has with Anthem and Record Store Day 2019 - in all their cynical glory about the day dedicated to buying "forgotten music." If you have been affected by any of the content in this week's podcast, help is always out there. Visit http://thesurvivorstrust.org/national-helplines/ for more information. Produced and edited by Benjii Jackson Theme music: Maeve Munro.

Not exactly the joyous affair you would expect from the team this week, with some of the topics getting quite heavy and dare we say it; polarising. It's not just with regards to the Oscars either. Jamie and Benjii chat about the possibility of the comedy as an art-form becoming more and more problematic when supposed greats like Bill Hicks are now deemed as problematic with their revenge fantasies and blackened humour. Does context play a large part though? Are we "cherry picking" bits from an overall routine to fit a narrative rather than the overarching themes of the likes of Hicks, Carlin, Bruce and Lee? The duo also discusses Green Book, Detainment, Time's Up and what the stepping down of it's CEO could mean for both political movements and to lighten the mood, Bowser taking over Nintendo of America. Produced by Jamie Larson. Edited by Benjii Jackson. Theme music by Maeve Munro.

If you can get past Benjii referring to Alfonso Ribeiro as former Leeds Utd footballer Bruno Ribeiro, then this week's podcast is quite thought-provoking. As IDLES continue to be "the" punk band at this time through their examination of social, political and identity issues it would seem people are now starting to take exception to what has made the band pertinent in many eyes. Sleaford Mods, Fat White Family and other music listeners calling them out for class appropriation and performative wokedom. Jamie and Benjii get into a sizeable conversation regarding these aspects, the general call out/outrage culture, the misconstrued notions of toxic masculinity and even some comparisons to The Clash and Sex Pistols. The duo also talks about the current Ryan Adams controversy, the Oscars 2019 and the Royal Mail being early to the Marvel Cinematic Universe party. Warning: contains subject matter that may be upsetting to some listeners.

We know, we know. It's the middle of February and only now are we doing an IKIPRO-Cast. We're sorry. We've been busy... enjoying a long holiday. Jamie and Benjii return though with their main topic focusing on the current "trending" of Ted Bundy and if it's a culture who are outraged lauding over the serial killer. The duo also talk about the Liam Neeson controversy, the BAFTA and Grammy Awards, "that" Will Smith/Genie reveal and also what they've been up to since the start of the year. Produced by Jamie Larson Edited by Benjii Jackson Theme Music by Maeve Munro.

2018 has been a polarizing year. Don't we say that about every year through these days as if to reconcile how bad things have got? For their last podcast of the year Benjii and Jamie try to get to the bottom (in their own irreverent way) of why 2018 was a mixed bag of emotions, what was good, what was bad, how it's impossible to talk pop culture without social activism and politics coming to the forefront more and even some introspection about things they (along with contributor Jacob Sua) are grateful for in 2018. Produced and edited by Benjii Jackson. Theme Music by Maeve Munro.

Streaming services leading to a rise in torrenting, the Grammy Awards 2019 and problematic Christmas Songs of yesteryear. It's all a bit political in this episode with Benjii and Jamie. Also on the podcast - Avengers: Endgame, the current Oscar problems and how it can be fixed and Shortland Street: The Musical being cancelled (briefly touched upon because why not?) Produced and edited by Benjii Jackson Theme Music by Maeve Munro

After a week away, Jamie and Benjii return to discuss Neon Genesis Evangelion making its way onto Netflix, the hopes of Deftones 2019 album, Hulk Hogan rejoining the WWE and even find the time to discuss Ted Cruz versus Nine Inch Nails. The byline for this podcast should read "Two Angry Men" with the divergent moments the podcast takes. But the podcast title rolls off the tongue and is topical... Produced by Jamie Larson. Edited by Benjii Jackson. Theme Music by Maeve Munro.

There's a lot about awards on this week's podcast: Jamie and Benjii discussed the complaints about New Zealand's VNZMA's, Fortnite winning Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards and the UK wrestling scene being awarded an NXT promotion. The duo also finds the time to discuss Stan Lee, the latest PS5 rumours and a little bit more about Detective Pikachu. They sadly had to talk about Dragon Ball Evolution too, hence the explicit content warning...

We found out Stan Lee died before finishing up last night's podcast. IKIPRO-Cast presenter Benjii gives us a short explanation how it panned out along with some words about Stan Lee and his influence on the website.

Another week, another podcast! We said we'd try and make it regular! This week, we hear Jamie's interview with Art Brut lead singer Eddie Argos, ahead of the release of their new album, Benjii talks about John Carpenter having endured countless reviews of the Halloween remake and more about the Sony Playstation Classic including some of the licensing problems it ran into. Produced by Jamie Larson. Edited by Benjii Jackson. Theme Music by Maeve Munro.

The inaugural IKIPRO-Cast. We shortened the name post-editing to something more catchy. We also discovered that a runsheet didn't really help - instead, IKIGAI PRO conspirators Benjii and Jamie aim to gather sponsorship from video game and tobacco companies. As an aside, the pair grind their axes regarding horror movie remakes and their added "morality plays" in the new millennium, the upcoming Sony Playstation Classic and K̶a̶n̶y̶e̶ ̶W̶e̶s̶t̶ Ye looking like he's moving away from politics. Produced by Jamie Larson. Edited by Benjii Jackson and Maeve Munro. Intro music by Maeve Munro.

"Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence" has been long regarded as a definitive work in the post-hardcore scene from the equally as definitive group Glassjaw. But given the incredibly caustic lyrics dealing with dissolution of relationships, in this day and age is it an acceptable work, or merely rice with misogyny and slut shaming? Chatting with another fan of the band, Tom Draper, Benjii somehow ends up travelling down a number of conversational tangents including music as a retort to issues (both socially and musically) and if subcultures have almost been superseded by brand loyalty.