Mike v. Matt

After a long break, the boys return to discuss conspiracy theories. They used to be fun, but now are more real and scary. We discuss the hidden forces at work behind our daily media consumption.

The gentlemen continue to talk about Adam Savage's book Every Tool's a Hammer. This quickly devolves into a discussion about the power and importance of rabbit holes. Matt poorly reads excerpts. And then they talk about the usage and importance of the mundane list. And summer projects.

The boys get an update on Matt's descent into old man-hood and discuss the Adam Savage book, Every Tool's a Hammer.

Mike very patiently explains to Matt how the sun works after the recent eclipse. And the boys talk about the recent movie Civil War and our impending doom.

After a lengthy hiatus, the boys return to discuss preparation for the inevitable impending disaster and subsequent societal collapse. 

The boys return from respective Spring Break trips with their sons. No, they did not head to Ft. Lauderdale to relive the misadventures of the 80s, but they did manage to have some fun and spread some hardscrabble lessons to the younger generation. Also, episode 50!

Mike and Matt talk about movies they perhaps were allowed to watch a bit too young. And how they've revisited that sin upon their own children. But then again, perhaps this is all another example of how the 80s were not a child-friendly decade.

The boys discuss the return of live music in a post-COVID world. They reminisce about concerts in their younger years and what they'd like to see before they die.

In light of recent events both real (spy balloons, earthquakes) and imagined (The Last of Us), the boys revisit an old favorite topic: Disasters. Would they survive? Would they even try? What are their favorite scenarios? Why don't old science fiction novels hold up? Tune in for all the exciting details.

It's been a long time, but the boys are back. Mike and Matt discuss their latest obsession with Gran Turismo, while also talking about the weather and Mike's inability to stay home for any length of time.

The boys take up the challenge to buy random comics and discuss. They explore the changes in the experience since childhood and also lament the difficulties in buying issue #1.

The boys round our their conversations about villains by discussing comic books. Mike attempts to educate Matt about the history of comics with little success. A new challenge is introduced for next episode.

Join the boys on a long, meandering conversation about the best villains in literature. 

Having exhausted their memories of television villains, the boys jump to the big screen. And this time, they are recording in person. Listen as these two discuss movie villains over the years while struggling with technical difficulties.

The gentlemen discuss their favorite television villains. The conversation quickly devolves into an existential re-examination of their childhood memories as they start to question everything they learned as a child. Hilarity ensues.

The boys talk Gencon–giving their recollections from history and a recap from this year's trip to the Best Four Days in Gaming. Hold on for high nerdery as we get our rhythm back for fall.

The gentlemen return from the road, recounting tales from their summer travels. Sit tight and be regaled with descriptions of infectious disease, pickled shark meat, golf carts at Versailles, hippie music festivals, and terrible traffic.

The boys return from adventures to discuss the remaining episodes in Volume 3 of the Netflix animated anthology series, Love, Death, and Robots. They pick their favorite and most reviled. They also dive into their past history as part of Special Forces.

Back after another, even longer hiatus, the boys discuss volume 3 of the Netflix series Love, Death and Robots. More interruptions in schedule to follow, given the exciting activities both gentlemen have planned for the summer. But stay tuned for additional media reviews and delightful banter.

After a brief spring hiatus, your hosts return to discuss the works of Stephen King. The boys agree reading this had a huge impact on their adolescent development. And likely broke their brains by too much exposure to horror too young. But then, everything was already pretty horrible in the 1980s.

The boys recount their experiences with video games of the modern era (i.e. since they've had kids). Both realize they've collected more games than they will ever finish and basically only have time for games they can play in five minute chunks. Mike introduces the concept of “family time” and Matt predicts his short lived obsession with Elden Ring. Also, Breath of the Wild is the greatest game of all time.

In part two of video game nostalgia, the gentlemen explore video games of their early adulthood. How the PS2 was a game changer and DVD players used to be something. And how it was still possible to have fun in a world before everything had an HDMI port. Mike expresses his disdain for video game sequels. Matt reminisces about the Palm Pilot ecosystem.

In part one of a three part series (at least), Mike and Matt discuss the video games of their youth. After a brief discussion of amateur meteorology. Spans the early consoles, roller rink arcades, and primitive computers.

Mike and Matt discuss how growing up now is very different vs thirty years ago. Some things are better, other things are much, much worse. We may not understand kids today, but at least we are willing to admit it.

Mike and Matt explore the end of the world. Hilarity ensues.Items discussed:Definition of apocalypseTermination ShockStation Eleven (book, TV)VolcanoThe Day After TomorrowTerminator SalvationMaximum OverdriveThe Walking DeadWorld War ZThe MistIt Could Happen HereDoomsday PreppersSimpsons episode where Homer works for an evil boss

Mike and Matt discuss 2021, the year that was. The boys explore those things they most enjoyed in the past year. Items discussed:Ghostbusters: AfterlifeDuneThe Falcon and the Winter SoldierThe Mandalorian14 PeaksFree SoloDirtbag: The Legend of Fred BeckeyThe Bikes of WrathThe Expanse book seriesWheel of TimeThe WitcherFoundationFear StreetLove People, Use ThingsAtomic HabitsThe Glass HotelStation ElevenTermination ShockProject Hail MaryDungeon Crawler Carl

Mike and Matt intended on discussing a holiday gift guide of their favorite things, but quickly became derailed with discussing the Greek alphabet, misadventures in shipping, and exciting business models around eliminating styrofoam. Also, they are both kind of over stuff, given mostly to first world privilege. They do share a few useful ideas, but the episode is mostly a mess. Thank god no one listens to this.

Not satisfied with already being mediocre at many things, the gentlemen discuss the hobbies they always wanted to explore. They also explore the triangle that prevents them from picking up even more hobbies: Don't know what to do, don't know how to do it, and don't have the time to do it.

A trip down memory lane…for more movies. Mike and Matt discuss movies that are generally regarded as bad, but they still love. Not be confused with movies so bad they are good, which is another topic altogether.Back to SchoolFriday the 13thArmageddonWaterworldPacific RimThey Live (but only in the original VHS)Red DawnRoad HouseHard to KillOver the TopCobraWanted Dead or Alive6 UndergroundThe Day After TomorrowLove ActuallyArmy of DarknessThe Evil DeadRobin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Just in time for spooky season, the duo explores options for disposing of their remains after they shuffle off this mortal coil. Hilarity ensues. The creepiness will stay with you for days.Bill Bryson's At Home where he talks extensively about the history of churchyards and cemetery “parks”Mushroom burial suit?Also: Detritivore is a wordBody Farm at the University of TennesseeStiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary RoachFrisbee golf inventor's dying wishTurn your remains into fireworksTurn your ashes into a diamond

Finally, your favorite scoundrels finish their in depth discussion of Love, Death, and Robots, culminating in an epic battle over their favorites. Also: discussions over public illness shaming in the midst of a pandemic.

Once again, the gentlemen discuss Volume 1 of Love, Death, and Robots, but not before reviewing Mike's experience at Gencon. Episode mentioned: The Dump, Shape Shifters, Fish Night, Helping HandLinks of interest:Love, Death, and RobotsGencon

The boys continue talking about Love , Death, and Robots (Volume 1), but not before following up on the previous episodes challenge to find non-dystopian science fiction. They discuss Beyond the Aquila Rift, Ice Age, Secret War, and Good Hunting.Links of interest:Love, Death, and RobotsBecky Chambers's Wayfarers seriesThe Time MachinePeter Cline's Threshold Series

Your favorite gentlemen of the night continue their exploration of Netflix's Love, Death, and Robots by diving into Volume 1. Naturally. They discuss Sonnie's Edge, Three Robots, When the Yogurt Took Over, The Witness, and Suits. Disheartened by the bleak vision for the future, they ask if there are examples of science fiction with a positive outcome?

Mike and Matt discuss the final three episodes of Netflix's Love, Death, and Robots: All Through the House, Life Hutch, and The Drowned Giant. Matt tries to take in too much meaning. Hilarity ensues.Love, Death, and RobotsExploding Whale Video

The boys continue discussing Netflix's animated sci fi anthology series, Love, Death, and Robots. This week, they discuss three episodes, Pop Squad, Snow in the Desert, and The Tall Grass. Maybe living forever isn't all it's cracked up to be.Love, Death, and RobotsVsauce - What is the Scariest Thing?In the Tall GrassThe Long Walk

Mike and Matt deep dive into Netflix's Love, Death, and Robots. Mike can't follow directions, so we're starting with Volume 2, looking at the first two entries, Automated Customer Service and Ice. Join us to learn more about the future of AI and body modifications. It's a race to create machines that will kill us or for us to be too strong to be killed by machines.

The boys return from hiatus after some much needed summer travels. Both headed to the western side of the continent and regale you with stories of air travel, long drives, and the impending apocalypse.

Mike and Matt discuss things they've learned about themselves and the world in the past year of pandemic restrictions. This is not at all meant to be a discussion about the pandemic writ large or the tragedies of those impacted by it. This is only the personal perspective of two middle-aged white guys with good fortune in the middle west.We'll be taking a short hiatus for some summer shenanigans, but look forward to new episodes in late June.

Mike and Matt discuss books of a more adult persuasion. No, not like that.Neal Stephenson:CryptonomiconThe Baroque CycleSnow CrashBill Bryson:A Short HIstory of Nearly EverythingAt HomeThe BodyA Walk in the WoodsThe Bobiverse, by Dennis TaylorThe Expanse, by James S.A. Corey2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. ClarkeDune, by Frank HerbertWilliam GibsonNeuromancerPattern RecognitionSpook CountryZero HistoryAlive, by Piers Paul ReadAdrift, by Steven CallahanAnd many more!

Mike and Matt discuss some of their favorite books from their collective youth. Mostly a recollection of 80s and 90s horror novels.Dragonlance ChroniclesRobert Asprin's Myth seriesThe Magic Cottage, by James HerbertThe Stand, by Stephen KingTimothy Zahn Star Wars novelsHitchhiker's Guide the Galaxy, by Douglas AdamsRage, by Stephen KingJohnny Got His Gun, by Dalton TrumboWatchers, by Dean KoontzWaiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett

Mike and Matt revisit memories of Boy Scouts. Includes discussions of the Knight's Oath, merit badge misadventures, and high impact camping.

Mike and Matt knock off a few follow up items and discuss places they'd like to visit. Includes inspirations from 8th grade assemblies, Peter Jackson movies, cryptozoology, and  statutes of limitations.

Mike and Matt are midwesterners at heart, but the landscape can prove to leave much to be desired. In this episode, the boys discuss some of the favorite places they have visited, both locally and farther (further) abroad.  And Mike reveals that he has never, not once, visited Hocking Hills.

Reading is so 2020. Mike and Matt discuss some of their favorite YouTube channels for fun and profit.VSauceSciShowCrashCourseTED TalksInside the mind of a master procrastinatorKhan AcademyMinute PhysicsAmoeba SistersSmarterEveryDayVeritasiumKurzgesagtEngineerguyMark RoberWatchMojoScreenJunkiesWired – 5 levelsPayMoneyWubbyLastWeekTonightSecretBaseAndrei JikhNate O'BrienJim BrowningEvery Frame a PaintingCasey NiestatVan Niestat The Spirited ManPaul DavidsRick BeatoJimmy DiRestaSquidmar MiniaturesAdam Savage's Tested

Hobby talks continue! Mike and Matt discuss their experience with photography, both analog and digital. High points include collecting sunrises, family slideshows, extreme adventures and making themselves appear awesome on social media.Stopmotionista (Petra Cross) Hilton Head Stop Motion

This is the big daddy, the hobby that goes way back, that sets the undertone for every decision Mike and Matt have made as adults: Dungeons & Dragons. Join us as we discuss our long, convoluted history with the original tabletop roleplaying game and how it has shaped us over the years. Items of note:Dungeons & DragonsCritical RoleAdventure TimeDM DaveD&D Starter SetOpen Gaming LicenseGURPSCheck out some high dollar artisan diceHistory of the D&D CartoonRoll 20D&D Beyond

We are definitely not rock stars, but have both dabbled with playing the guitar for years. The boys discuss their history with the axe and the struggles with hitting plateaus in any hobby. Wonderwall (Oasis)Green Light MorningFretboard MasteryTangerine (Led Zeppelin)Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)David Gilmour sells his guitar collectionMark Knopfler on guitars

More Hobbies! The boys let their nerd show a little by discussing misadventures in miniature gaming over the years.Warhammer 40KWarhammer Age of SigmarWarmachine - http://allnewwar.com/unstoppable-powerKhador ArmyMalifauxPhotos of Gencon miniatures from 2017 

Mike and Matt are passionate about one thing: collecting hobbies. They discuss their habits of going deep into hobbies for short amounts of time, resulting in varying levels of reward and frustration. The boys explore lifelong interests in backpacking and Magic: The Gathering, two subjects that rarely find the same venue.Magic: The GatheringFriday Nights, a YouTube sitcom about Magic and those who play it - Hearthstone 

The duo finishes the list of movies their sons need to see with the ones that are a bit too mature. Matt is happy about the seasonal release of Bell's Hopslam. Mike is excited about nothing. At all.  Films discussed:Full Metal JacketBlazing SaddlesRevenge of the NerdsPulp FictionBlade RunnerThe GodfatherGoodfellasJawsBraveheartFight Club