Positive Cynicism Podcast Network

It's a trip back to the early 90s to celebrity an ode to a female body part. What Queen did for "Fat Bottomed Girls," Sir Mix A Lot continued with the number 1 hit "Baby Got Back."  Emerging from the Pacific Northwest, Sir Mix A Lot gained traction as a solid rapper with his first two albums before becoming a household name with his third album.  On this episode, @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb break down the first three albums to see if Sir Mix A Lot should be remembered as a gimmick rapper or if he's an underrated flow master. 

"Josie's on a vacation far away."  Most fans of '80s music can tell you that is the opening line to The Outfield's Top 10 song, "Your Love."  But how many know The Outfield had four other top 40 hits? Not only did they have multiple hits, the hits came from four different albums.

Going back to the '80s for another new wave one hit wonder. This month it's the Flock of Seagulls who hit the charts in 1983 with the song "I Ran" along with two follow up hits that don't have the same following today.  The bigger question to come out of the episode is the a group of seagulls isn't actually called a Flock. So, what are they called?

Anyone who grew up in the '80s knows the song "Smokin' in the Boys Room."  But how many know the Motley Crue version was a cover of a 1973 song by the band Brownsville Station? On this episode of Wonder Why, we look at a band who had some success in the early 1970s and then seem to have faded from the musical landscape.

This month's selection for Wonder Why may not be the weirdest song we've had on the show but I'm willing to bet it's the weirdest performer (at least by name) we'll have the show.  Who is ? and the Mysterians? Are they Marvel superheroes about to get their own entry into the MCU?  Not that we're aware of at this time. What we do know is ? and the Mysterians originated in Michigan and went on to have two Top 40 hits in 1967. The biggest hit was the #1 song, "96 Tears." Should they have had more success post 1967? How long did they last as a band? What is the longest time between releasing a single and still performing it in concert? Some of these questions are answered on this episode of Wonder Why

The #PCPN is launching a new music podcast. Jason Skull (@5150Skull) joins the Positive Cynicism podcast family. He and @chadsmart grew up in the 1980s heavily influenced by the rock scene which of Los Angeles' fabled Sunset Strip.  Jason and Chad will examine different aspects of the famed time period in music history. Whether it's a specific band, trend or cliche, this is sure to be nothing but a good podcast.

Continuing the 2021 series of musical artists that aren't really one hit wonders, we go to 1992 for a band who had three songs on the billboard chart for over a year and then nothing.  While hard core or gangsta rap was taking hold in 1992, Arrested Development emerged on the scene as conscious rappers.  

While anyone who grew up in the '80s, can't forget the Scottish band, Simple Minds, most American music listeners probably aren't aware the band has a 40+ year career that is still going. On this episode of Wonder Why, the  exploration of artists primarily known for one hit while having multiple hits continues with a enlightening discussion of a band with 20 studio albums. Should Simple Minds be better known in America? How does their latest release compare to their biggest hit? Are they comparable to an world famous Irish band? These questions are raised and addressed on this episode.

2021 moves rapidly along with the "Not Quite" One Hit Wonder series. This month we examine probably the biggest television theme song of the last 30 years. The Rembrandts' song "I'll Be There For You" became a hit after the breakout success of the NBC sit-com "FRIENDS" in 1995. What most people probably don't know is The Rembrandts had a higher charting song four years earlier. Even more shocking was finding out the history of The Rembrandts goes back to 1978 and has a connection to the Two Coreys (Feldman and Haim).  Join @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb as they examine the discography of this power pop duo to find out why they are mainly known for a 45 second TV theme song.

Continuing the series of mistaken one hit wonder, this month, the Wonder Why series looks at the hip-hop group Digital Underground.  Breaking out in 1990 with the song "The Humpty Dance," it was easy to write off Digital Underground as a gimmicky rap group.  However, upon looking deeper, one finds the DU were carrying on a tradition started by funk legends P-Funk.  The success of "The Humpty Dance" led to a unique opportunity for the band as well as hoping launch the career of one of the biggest rap stars of the nineties.  A minor hit would follow a couple of years later.  

The unofficial fourth season of Wonder Why kicks off with a new theme for the year. Instead of looking at technical "One Hit Wonders," for 2021, the focus is on Artists that have more than one hit but are primarily known for one hit. The first artist on the list is Englishman, Rupert Holmes. Scoring a number one hit with "Escape (The Pina Colada Song), Rupert had a couple more hits before transitioning to a second (and third) career.  

The Positive Cynicism podcast was launched in January 2017 the same week Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. Initially focusing more on politics, the #PCPN was developed with the creation of the shows, "Wonder Why," "Popology101" and "The FANtastic Podcast."  As the election of 2020 comes to a (possible) conclusion, it feels this is the best time to bring Politicalamity to an end as well. After nearly four years of discussing politics, analyzing the hypocrisy and looking to the future of even greater hypocrisy would lead to less positivity and more cynicism. So with that in mind, the time has come to retire Politicalamity unless some major news comes up that deserves our attention. Thank you for listening and hopefully you'll continue to support the Positive Cynicism Podcast Network.

How soon is too soon to label a band a one hit wonder? That's the question asked by this episode of Wonder Why as we delve into the success, or lack thereof, for Foster the People. Busting onto the scene in 2011 with "Pumped Up Kicks," a song that reached number three on the Billboard chart, success seemed likely for the Alt-Pop band.  Surprisingly in the following 9 years, Foster the People have had limited success on the main charts. They did come close to another Top 40 hit falling just two spots shy. @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb examine three studio albums to try and understand the challenges Foster the People have failed to overcome to achieve more hits. Their conclusion puts the blame less on Mark Foster and group and more on the state of the modern day music industry. 

Class is back in session with the latest Popology 101. On this session, @chadsmart and @TheTravisYates look at the proliferation of streaming services. What was once thought to be the alternative to rising cable costs are now becoming just as expensive due to the number of options available. What affect will this have on the output of new content? Will the focus be on quality or quantity?

Rising to fame quickly in the late '70s, The Vapors achieved one hit wonder status with their song "Turning Japanese."  After the success of that song and lack of success with a follow up album, the band went their separate ways.  On this edition of Wonder Why, @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb looking into the history of the band and examine the other songs on their albums to try and discern why long term success eluded The Vapors.

Due to scheduling conflicts, this episode was recorded a week early. Given the amount of political news to come out on a daily basis, we didn't get to comment on the latest news.  Instead, we give brief thoughts on the debates and make final predictions for the election.  @chadsmart also questions why people would vote early knowing that there's going to be "shocking" information to come out before the November 3. 

As the world continues The Great Shutdown of 2020, Chad and Eric return after a few months off to look at the impact Covid continues to have on the movie industry.  From theaters still being shuttered to studios rescheduling movies over the next two years, what does the future hold for movies?  Chad and Eric discuss where they see the movie industry heading in the next few years. Will there be an increase in streaming and home rentals? Will the megaplex survive? Will budgets continue to rise?  There are no certain answers, just observations.

It's October, 2020 which means all podcasts must have a tie in to Halloween. Popology 101 takes a look at the appeal of horror films. Professor @TheTravisYates and @chadsmart are joined by horror film fan, @RobCady1 to discuss what inherent trait attracts us to what scares us.  In addition, Rob gives recommendations on some lesser known horror films and we pitch some crossover horror film mashups. If you like the show, please leave a review.  Then check out Travis and Rob's podcast, @StillUpPodcast.

In time to tie in with a popular Google ad, this episode of Wonder Why examines the career of "Return of the Mack" singer, Mark Morrison.  Like other One Hit Wonders, Morrison had a successful career outside of America but only manged to land one song in the Top 40 back in 1997.  Hosts @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb look at the career and personal life of this British singer to try and decide why he only managed one hit in the USA.  There are similarities to an American R&B singer that may help explain the lack of continued success.

With the recent death of Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, this episode of Politicalamity pays tribute to the most popular member of the bench.  The conversation then turns to topic of filling the vacant seat and the hypocrisy from both sides of the aisle regarding election year procedures. 

Class is back in session with more distance learning. Professor @TheTravisYates and class TA @chadsmart discuss the works of author Stephen King. Conversation focuses on some of their favorite books then moving on to film adaptations that left something to be desired and those that elevated the written word to a have a lasting cinematic history.   You can check out a Stephen King inspired short film Travis directed in film school here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxRFTzmJtv8 

After a month off, Politicalmity is back. @chadsmart and Brandon "@MrPartisan" Cooley attempt to catch up on everything that's happened.  With the DNC and RNC over, Kamala Harris being picked as VP for Joe Biden and ongoing riots and looting, there's a lot to discuss in 60 minutes.

"Pump up the Volume" rolled into theaters in August of 1990.  Showcasing the talents of Christian  Slater and introducing the cinema world to newcomer Samantha Mathis, the movie touched on what it was like to be a teenager at the time. @chadsmart was 16 when the movie was available on VHS. Watching the movie for the first time, Chad connected to the film on a level only "Star Wars" had reached. In this episode, Chad is joined by film reviewer Matt Huntley to discuss why the movie resonated with him 30 years ago and why he still feels a connection today.  They break the film down and touch on the themes that are just as relevant today in an age when it's easier to "talk hard."

Continuing the Month of Positivity (#MOP) with a subject that may seem a bit unusual to associate with Positivity.  On this episode, @chadsmart is again joined by @kevinhunsperger from @My123Cents to talk about their difference in hanging onto material possessions. While Chad tries to live a minimalistic lifestyle, Kevin has possessions going back to his childhood.   

As August rolls on, we continue the month of Positivity.  This episode we're talking with Shema Ruperto, the Director of For Kid's Sake in Carbondale, IL. For Kid's Sake is getting ready for their annual Superhero 5K the last week of September.  Due to the ongoing restrictions due to Covid-19, for the first time ever the Superhero 5K is going virtual. No matter where you live, you can register and take part. During the course of this episode, Shema discusses the challenges with moving events to the virtual realm as well as how she has managed to stay positive during the last few months. If you're interest, visit the For Kid's Sake  website and register today.  Every little bit helps.

For the month of August, 2020, we're taking a break from the normal rotation of shows. Being in "lock down" for the better part of the past 5 months, I have been struggling with my mental health and having more negative thoughts than positive. Due to that, I made the decision to not have to spend a lot of time coming up with topics and producing shows. Instead, we're going to focus on one of the aspects that led to the creation of the Positive Cynicism podcast, spreading positivity.   For the first episode in the Month of Positivity series, I'm once again joined by my good friend @KevinHunsperger from the @My123cents podcast. I had joked with him that we were going to do a show called "Yelling at Clouds." The first 10 minutes do focus on some of the negative issues we have with the current state of the world. From there we move on and talk about podcast and other media that brings us joy.   If you're a loyal listener, thanks for your support. If you're new to the show, thanks for listening. I'd like to hear what your thoughts on the shows here on the #PCPN.

We have a first and a second on this episode of Wonder Why.  This is the second time we're talking about an artist that technically has two Top 40 hits. The first is neither song appears on a studio album by the artist in question.  How did Murray Head come to have two hits? And why didn't he have any hits from his own albums?  What connection does he hold to Buffy the Vampire Slayer?  Listen to this episode of Wonder Why to get the answer to these questions.

Watching the world burn and talking about it has gotten tedious.  So on this episode of Politicalamity, @chadsmart and Brandon "@MrPartisan" Cooley decide to tackle a lighter subject.  They discuss movies and television series that feature real and fictional Presidents.   Looking at which Presidents have been portrayed the most and how a President is portrayed varies depending on when the movie or show was made, they talk about some of their favorite portrayals.

A summer time tradition on the Positive Cynicism podcasts is to do a San Diego Comic Con preview episode. Normally Eric Bennett would be making his list of panels to see and merchandise to buy while @chadsmart would start feeling regret of not making the trip to San Diego for the annual "nerd culture" event of the year.  Due to Covid-19, the SDCC was cancelled for the first time. Instead of having to travel to sunny southern California, fans will now be able to watch panels on the official SDCC YouTube channel.  Chad and Eric discuss if they're looking forward to this change and if this could lead to future conventions making more content available to people to watch from home.  They also speculate on if SDCC has reached it's peak of pop culture promotion leading Hollywood to scale back their presentations. 

Taking a break from the seriousness of the world, @chadsmart and @TheTravisYates turn their attention to the small screen of entertainment.  When the Coronavirus shut down most of the world, one impact it had was prematurely ending some television seasons. Chad and Travis discuss if the importance of ending on a strong note still exists in today's digital world. They debate the pros and cons using various finales from television history to formulate their opinion.

Hoping in the One Hit Wonder time machine, this episode of Wonder Why travels back to 1979 to explore the career of the hardest artist to Google, M. Achieving a number one hit with the song "Pop Muzik," M (AKA Robin Scott) quickly climbed the Billboard charts and then, almost as quickly, faded from the spotlight. @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb break down the pre and post "Pop Muzik" career of M to see why he only had one hit.  The reason may surprise you.

After a three month hiatus due to the Covid-19 lockdown, @chadsmart is joined by Brandon "@MrPartisan" Cooley to discuss current political events. With all that has happened since they last talked, the conversation takes several twists and turns.  The main focus is whether or not the political party definitions we've used for the last century are applicable to today's voters.  There's also talk about the Seattle section of "CHOP" and what does socialism actually mean.

With all the recent unrest going on in America from protests to riots to calls for defunding the police, what better time to look at biases learned from media. In this discussion @chadsmart and @TheTravisYates examine the way cops are portrayed on film and television and how that affects our viewpoint on regular cops.  In addition, we look at common stereotypes presented in media and discuss influence they have on how we see each other.

As Homer Simpson says at the beginning of the "Simpsons Movie:" "I can't believe we're paying to see something we get on TV for free!"  Over the last 30 years, we've seen a lot of movies made that were based on TV shows.  On this episode of the FAN-tastic Podcast, @chadsmart and Eric Bennett discuss if making a TV show based movie is a lack of creativity or a good use of nostalgia.  Should a movie based on an existing property be made in the same style as the source material or should a fresh take on the story be used? What are some of the best examples? What are some of the worst?

In the conclusion to the Breaking Point series, @chadsmart and @KevinHunsperger try to make sense of current events. They discuss separating protestors from looters. The harm of unchecked false social media reports being circulated and unchecked bias leading to irrational decisions. 

On the lengthy conclusion to the Breaking Point double episode, @chadsmart and @KevinHunsperger move the discussion to issues affecting daily life. Chad's focus is on what he perceives as a media bias in covering stories that shouldn't be political.  How does social media play into the perceived bias?  This discussion is meant to be a civil discourse in modern politics. One of our greatest weaknesses is the inability to listen in order to hear instead of listening to talk. 

After being under quarantine lock down for 9 weeks and reading too much political news, @chadsmart has reached a breaking point. In the first of a special 2 part series, Chad welcomes @KevinHunsperger back to the show to discuss the hypocrisy of media and politics in the Age of Trump.  Is objective journalism a thing of the past? Does the President's words betray the prestige of the office?   Chad and Kevin spend the first episode looking at how the media and President Trump feed off each other before moving onto more topical discussions in the second part. 

On this episode of Wonder Why, we look at probably the most uniquely titled one hit wonder.  "Mmm mmm mmm mmm" by the Canadian group Crash Test Dummies hit the top ten in 1994.  With the distinct vocals of singer Brad Roberts, the very descriptive song stood out from the rest of the songs on the charts at the time. Why didn't the follow up songs chart well? Why did future Crash Test Dummies albums fail to make much of a dent in America? @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb break down the career and try to figure out why the band became a subject for Wonder Why.

The lesson on guilty pleasures wraps up with a discussion on movies.  @chadsmart and @TheTravisYates are fans of movies that some may consider less than stellar. Travis co-hosts the podcast Still Up All Night (@StillUpPodcast) that examines the movies shown in the '80s and '90s on the weekend on the USA Network.  In this episode of  Popology 101, Chad and Travis discuss what it is about these "lesser" movies that makes them entertaining.  

With theaters being shuttered due to the COVID-19 lockdown, VOD has risen in popularity. On this episode of the FANtastic podcast, @chadsmart and Eric Bennett discuss if studios will try more day and date releases for theatrical and home video once the lockdown is lifted. They also discuss if going to the theater is something the younger generation doesn't care about the same way people in the '70s and '80s did.  Another aspect in this debate is AMC theater chain refusing to show any films released by Universal Studios. Will they work things out before the next Universal blockbuster or is AMC willing to take the financial hit to make a point? 

We've achieved something never expected on Wonder Why. We've found a one hit wonder that host @chadsmart has never (at least he thought) heard. Yes, @MikeDeKalb was able to stump Chad with the 1978 Walter Eagan hit, "Magnet and Steel."  Who is Walter Eagan? How did he come to have a top ten hit? What did he do after that hit? Where is he today? What do Flying Burritos, Rumors and an all sister group have to do with this story?  All those questions are answered on this episode of Wonder Why

Continuing the current lecture plan, @chadsmart and @TheTravisYates reveal some of their musical guilty pleasures. While most of their choices fall into similar categories, the main takeaway is there shouldn't be any guilty pleasures. If you enjoy something, enjoy it. Don't care what other people think. 

Joining the growing trend of podcasts focusing on Covid-19 podcasts this episode of the FANtastic podcast looks at the effect the quarantine is having on the entertainment industry.  @chadsmart and Eric "Not on Twitter" Bennett discuss films delayed by theaters being shut down and how people will react when they can once again go out. There's also talk about quarantine marathon viewing. Shockingly, there is no talk about Tiger King. 

Hang the fuzzy dice from the mirror, make sure the gas tank is full and lets hit the open road cause "Life is a Highway."  On this episode of Wonder Why, @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb look at the career of Canadian superstar Tom Cochrane. From his early days in the band Red Rider to being a solo superstar, Tom Cochrane's career has span over 40 years.

When it comes to politics, ask anyone and they'll tell you the media is biased towards one side or the other. On this episode of Politicalamity, @chadsmart is joined by @KevinHunsperger from the  @My123Cents podcast. Normally Kevin talks professional wrestling, however this time Chad is calling on Kevin's 20 years of working in news to discuss how the media covers the news and what responsibility they have to focus on news over opinion.  Does the media deserve the reputation of "fake news" or is it all smoke and mirrors to distract from actual issues? Thanks to @Extremeband for the theme song (even though they don't know I'm using it. Please don't sue.) 

Class is back in session. @chadsmart and @TheTravisYates' latest focus is on guilty pleasures. Why do we have guilty pleasures? Why can't we just enjoy things if they give us pleasure without feeling guilty? On the first installment of this series, @My123Cents host @KevinHunsperger to discuss their fandom of professional wrestling. 

Taking a cue from Hollywood, @Chadsmart and Eric Bennett tackle a subject that they may have already discussed on a previous episode. This episode of the FANtastic Podcast looks at movie trailers and if they're too long and give too much away.  From trailers, the conversation moves on to superhero fatigue and other issues with the current film landscape.

Mike Bloomberg appeared in two Democratic debates and that's probably two too many. He was not given a warm welcome by his competition for the Democratic Presidential nomination. On this episode of Politicalamity, @chadsmart and Brandon (@MrPartisan) Cooley discuss all the happenings going on in the Democrat party.  Why is Bernie Sanders so popular? Is the Democratic party experiencing their own "tea party?" Who panders betters: Elizabeth Warren or Mayor Pete? These questions and more are discussed in this episode. 

Before Flo Rida talked about his house, the Mary Jane Girls were inviting guys over to their house. Put together by musician Rick James, the Mary Jane Girls were a group assembled partly out of planning and partly out of necessity. On this episode of Wonder Why, @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb break down the career of the Mary Jane Girls who just barely qualified for consideration for this series. Also, how many reference to Extreme can Chad work into one episode?

Wrapping up the series on the Academy Awards, @chadsmart and Professor @TheTravisYates tackle the subject of diversity among the nominees. After a social media backlash called #OscarsSoWhite in 2016, the Academy has tried to make changes to ensure better representation among the nominees. But should diversity matter when it comes to judging what is the best?

It's a busy week in the world of politics. @chadsmart and Brandon (@MrPartisan) Cooley try to make sense of events surrounding the Road to the White House 2020. Starting with the Iowa caucus, they discuss why the results are taking days to be finalized and wonder if the DNC is attempting to shut Bernie Sanders out like they did in 2016. From there, Chad tries to convince everyone the State of the Union speech is a waste of time. The show ends with a quick wrap up on impeachment and why the Libertarian party can't find a serious candidate.