The Protagonist Podcast

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Each week we discuss a great character in a great story.

Dueling Genre Productions


    • Jun 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 4m AVG DURATION
    • 549 EPISODES

    4.8 from 90 ratings Listeners of The Protagonist Podcast that love the show mention: hideous, chocolates, protagonist, joseph, todd, literary, literature, themes, andrew, really enjoy this podcast, producer, characters, box, familiar, makes me laugh, choose, can't wait to hear, facebook, pop culture, movies.


    Ivy Insights

    The Protagonist Podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking for thoughtful analysis and discussion of characters and storytelling. Hosted by Joseph Darowski and Todd Mack, the podcast delves into the motivations, emotions, and story-telling techniques of various protagonists across different forms of media. What sets this podcast apart is its ability to not only discuss familiar characters but also introduce listeners to new ones they may have never encountered before. The hosts bring a refreshing mix of intelligence, insight, and humor to each episode.

    One of the best aspects of The Protagonist Podcast is its focus on character-driven stories and their impact on audiences. The hosts go beyond plot summaries and reviews to explore the deeper aspects of character development and storytelling techniques. They provide illuminating insights into what makes these protagonists tick, inviting listeners to think critically about their own favorite characters.

    Another standout feature of this podcast is the fun and engaging banter between the hosts. Whether they're playing games based on Hallmark/Lifetime movie titles or participating in a year-long box office pool, there's always an element of enjoyment infused into each episode. This lightheartedness does not detract from the intelligent discussion but rather enhances it, creating a more entertaining listening experience.

    If there are any criticisms to be made about The Protagonist Podcast, it would be that some topics may not resonate with all listeners. As with any podcast that covers a wide range of subjects, there may be episodes or characters discussed that do not pique everyone's interest. However, this is merely a subjective observation as the podcast consistently delivers quality content overall.

    In conclusion, The Protagonist Podcast is a delightful blend of entertainment and intellectual stimulation for any fan of literature, film, or media. It offers engaging discussions on character motivations and story-telling techniques while also providing moments of laughter and fun. With its wide variety of topics and its ability to introduce listeners to new works, this podcast is definitely worth a listen for anyone seeking both knowledge and entertainment.



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    Latest episodes from The Protagonist Podcast

    Frieren from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (tv 2023)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 63:59


    Description Returning guest Norman Mitchell joins Joe to discuss Freiren from the anime series Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. The series is an adaptation of a manga series and explores what life is like for Frieren, an elf who had a … Continue reading →

    Sergei Kravinov from “Kraven’s Last Hunt” (comic 1987)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 70:23


    Description Returning guest Christopher “Mav” Maverick joins Joe to discuss a classic Marvel Comics story, “Kraven’s Last Hunt.” Written by J.M. DeMatteis with pencils by Mike Zeck and inks by Bob McLeod, this storyline tells about Kraven’s final hunt (for … Continue reading →

    Survivor Season Mount Rushmore (Special 2025)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 58:23


    Description First-time guest David Bloomberg joins returning guest Kate Darowski and Joe to discuss the best seasons of Survivor. We’re each building a Mount Rushmore of Survivor Seasons, so at the end of the podcast you have 12 seasons of … Continue reading →

    Louise Banks from Arrival (film 2016)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 63:30


    Description Returning guest Rachel Armstron joins Joe to discuss the film Arrival. Starring Amy Adams as Louise Banks, Arrival is an adaption of Ted Chiang’s short story “Story of Your Life.” The contemplative film explores issues of language, aliens, and … Continue reading →

    Romeo and Juliet from The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (play 159?)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 62:27


    Description Returning guest Virginia McAlister joins Joe to discuss William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. We talk about the play’s history (it’s wild), it’s place in our culture (it’s everywhere), and, of course, dig into the characters themselves (they’re super-interesting). Support … Continue reading →

    The ensemble from Grey’s Anatomy (tv 2005)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 55:19


    Description Returning guest Kestra Darowski joins Joe to discuss the long-running tv show Grey’s Anatomy. We’re discussing the pilot, “A Hard Day’s Night,” which aired in 2005. We discuss the characters we meet in this episode and the long-term success … Continue reading →

    Alicia Masters in Fantastic Four #19 (comic 2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 47:53


    Description First-time guest Ryan North to discuss a comic book he wrote, Fantastic Four #19, “The Perfect Storm.” Ryan North is known for the webcomic Dinosaur Comics, as well as writing for Marvel Comics and other comic companies. In his … Continue reading →

    Silliness, Absurdity, and Comedy (special 2025)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 57:11


    Description Returning guest Kevin Anthony joins Joe to discuss the value of silliness, absurdity, and comedy. We talk about shows like Taskmaster and comedians like James Acaster as we have an open-ended conversation about what makes us laugh and why … Continue reading →

    Ada Harris from Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (film 2022)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 61:51


    Description Returning guest Kjerste Christensen joins Joe to discuss the 2022 film Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. Starring Lesley Manville as Ada Harris, the film is an adaptation of a 1958 novel. It tells the story of a war-widow, Mrs. … Continue reading →

    The Narrator from The Library of Babel (short story 1941)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 54:14


    Description He’s back! Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack joins Joe to discuss the Jorge Luis Borges’ short story “La Biblioteca de Babel.” This is more of a thought experiment masquerading as a short story, but we find plenty to discuss. … Continue reading →

    Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble from The Flintstones (tv 1960)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 53:58


    Description Producer Andrew and Joe are discussing the classic Hanna-Barbera show The Flintstones. Presenting a traditional family sitcom in a prehistoric setting, this one of the most successful series from the iconic cartoon studio.  Support Patreon Show Notes The Flintstones … Continue reading →

    Marjane Satrapi from Persepolis (comic 2000)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 57:32


    Description Returning guest Rachel Armstrong joins Joe to discuss the classic graphic novel Persepolis. Created by Marjane Satrapi, this autobiographical graphic novel tells the story of her life in Iran after the Islamic Revolution. Persepolis is told in two parts, … Continue reading →

    Mount Rushmore of Pop Culture Creators (special 2025)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 70:30


    Description Returning guests Wayne Wise and Chris “Mav” Maverick from The VoxPopcast join Producer Andrew and Joe for a game of building Mount Rushmores. This time we’re choosing groups of four pop culture creators. We each draft creators that we … Continue reading →

    Charles Foster Kane from Citizen Kane (film 1941)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 53:47


    Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to discuss one of the most iconic films ever made, Citizen Kane. We discuss Orson Welles’ career, the quality of the film itself, and the impact its had on the movie industry. Support … Continue reading →

    Mary, Dickon, and Colin from The Secret Garden (novel 1911)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 58:27


    Description Returning guest Kjerste Christensen joins Joe to discuss the classic novel The Secret Garden. Written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden tells the story of an orphaned girl finding healing and friendship when she tends to a secret … Continue reading →

    Claire Dunphy from Modern Family (TV 2009)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 59:22


    Description Returning guest Kate Reid joins Joe to discuss Claire Dunphy from Modern Family. We look at episodes from the first and last seasons to see how the show evolves across all its seasons. We focus on Claire as a … Continue reading →

    Valentina from Lunar New Year Love Story (graphic novel 2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 56:04


    Description First-time guest LeUyen Pham and returning guest Gene Luen Yang join Joe to discuss their graphic novel Lunar New Year Love Story. This graphic novel tells the story of Valentina, a teenage girl who is navigating relationships while also … Continue reading →

    Technology and Storytelling (Special 2025)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 60:03


    Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to discuss how evolving technologies change the stories that are produced and consumed in a culture. We use film as an easily understood example of this effect, but touch on how our means … Continue reading →

    GroundPod Day 2025!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2025 74:19


    Description It’s our annual Groundhog Day rewatch. Join Nicole Freim, Chris “Mav” Maverick, Producer Andrew and Joe as we discuss our latest viewing of one of the best films ever made.

    Andrew, Brian, Bender, Claire, and Allison from The Breakfast Club (film 1985)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 77:23


    Description Returning guests Nicole Freim and Chris “Mav” Maverick join Joe to discuss the John Hughes’ film The Breakfast Club. Starring several members of the Brat Pack of up-and-coming actors and actresses, this film signaled a change in how teenagers … Continue reading →

    The Man from To Build a Fire (short story 1908)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 51:20


    Description Producer Andrew joins Joe to talk about “To Build a Fire” by Jack London. The classic short story about a man foolishly making a trek into the Yukon territory after being warned not to lets us explore ideas like … Continue reading →

    Lieutenant Columbo from Columbo (tv 1971)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2025 62:13


    Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to discuss the iconic tv series Columbo. We discuss the odd and long production history of the show, how Peter Falk embodies the character, and the unique twist the franchise has on the … Continue reading →

    Fantasy Box Office 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 66:43


    Description It’s our annual Fantasy Box Office game! As a look ahead at the films coming out in 2025, Producer Andrew and Joe are drafting teams of movies that will be released this year. They will each get the films’ … Continue reading →

    Scott Pilgrim from Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life (comic 2004)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 61:16


    Description First-time guest Josh Allen (the middle grade book author, not the NFL quarterback) joins Joe to discuss Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim. We talk about the unique nature of the story and its world, how unlikable … Continue reading →

    Della and Jim from the Gift of the Magi and George Mason from The Man Who Missed Christmas (short stories 1905)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 47:49


    Description Producer Andrew joins Joe to discuss a couple classic short stories that are set during the holiday season. The Gift of the Magi sees gift-giving go awry for a couple while they see how much they love one another, … Continue reading →

    Christmas Special 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 60:01


    Description Returning Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack joins Joe and Producer Andrew for their tenth annual Christmas Special. Producer Andrew has sent Todd and Joe a list of seven real titles for recently produced Christmas movies, and we have to … Continue reading →

    Alison and Mike Cooper from Ghosts (TV 2019)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 53:46


    Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to discuss Alison and Mike Cooper from the BBC sitcom Ghosts. Starring Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe, the sitcom features a woman who can see the ghosts of people from various eras of … Continue reading →

    Christmas Campaign II (special 2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 121:21


    It’s our second annual TTRPG as Kevin Anthony is back to GM a festive adventure. Norman Mitchell, Producer Andrew, and Joe are the players as they attempt to navigate the Christmas-themed role-playing world that has been prepared for them. 

    Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox from You’ve Got Mail (film 1998)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 55:28


    Description First-time guest Emily Darowski joins Joe discuss the romantic comedy You’ve Got Mail. Starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, this is the second pairing of these two leads in a film directed by Nora Ephron. Set in the late … Continue reading →

    The Power Family and Friends from Power Pack (comic 1984)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 54:59


     Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to talk about a Thanksgiving themed issue of Power Pack. Power Pack featured a group of four young siblings who gained powers. They become friends with various superheroes in the Marvel universe. In … Continue reading →

    Jimmy Perez from Shetland (TV 2013)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2024 57:29


    Description Returning guest Rachel Armstrong joins Joe to discuss the tv show Shetland. This is a BBC crime procedural set on the Shetland Islands that began airing in 2013. In the U.S. it has aired as part of Masterpiece Mysteries. … Continue reading →

    Miguel Rivera from Coco

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 57:20


    Description Returning guest Kestra Darowski joins Producer Andrew and Joe to discuss Miguel Rivera from Coco. This Pixar film tells the story of a boy who accidentally travels to the land of the dead and must seek out help from … Continue reading →

    Halloween Special 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 80:36


    Description Returning Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack joins Producer Andrew and Joe for a Halloween draft. We’ve been given various sets of parameters and must draft characters from folklore and pop culture for each situation.

    Professor Pierson from War of the Worlds (Radio drama 1938)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 58:49


    Description Returning Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack joins Joe to discuss the 1938 radio drama performance of War of the Worlds. Orson Welles’s legendary broadcast is as famous for the urban legend around the panic it reportedly caused as it … Continue reading →

    Lona Steelrose from Do A Powerbomb! (comic 2022)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 70:11


    Description Returning guest Christopher “Mav” Maverick joins Joe to talk about Do A Powerbomb!, a comic book mini-series written and drawn by Daniel Warren Johnson with colors by Mike Spicer and letters by Rus Wooton. It tells the story of … Continue reading →

    Lunella Lafayette from Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (TV 2023)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 54:04


    Description Returning guest Ravynn Stringfield joins Joe to discuss Lunella Lafayette from the tv show Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur tells the story of a teenage girl and her pet T-Rex who become superheroes.  Support … Continue reading →

    Storytelling in Musicals (special 2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 60:03


    Description Returning guest Kestra Darowski joins Producer Andrew and Joe to talk about storytelling in musicals. We talk about unique aspects of the medium, the history of Broadway musicals, and the evolution of style in musicals.  Support Patreon

    Damon Fields from Demon Copperhead (novel 2022)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 60:26


    Description Returning guest Allison Epstein joins Joe to discuss the novel Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. This reimagining of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield is a coming-of-age story set in Appalachia in the 1990s and early 2000s.  Support Patreon Show Notes … Continue reading →

    T.E. Lawrence from Lawrence of Arabia (film 1962)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 58:32


    Description Returning guest Henry Darowski joins Joe to discuss the film Lawrence of Arabia. Based on T.E. Lawrence’s autobiography, Lawrence of Arabia is one of the most iconic films ever made. Directed by David Lean, it stars Peter O’Toole as … Continue reading →

    Buddy Baker from Animal Man (comic 1988)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 76:29


    Description First-time guest Matthew Brake joins Joe to talk about Animal Man, a notable comic book run from the late 1980s by wrtier Grant Morrison and pencilers Chaz Truog and Paris Cullins. In this story, Animal Man becomes aware he … Continue reading →

    Gilligan and the castaways from Gilligan’s Island (TV 1964)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 53:47


    Description Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to talk about the classic television show Gilligan’s Island. We’re discussing two episodes, one in which a popular boy band appears on the island looking for a quiet place, and in the other … Continue reading →

    Star Trek Bridge Crew Draft (special 2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 88:09


    Description Returning guests John Darowski and Virginia McAlister join Producer Andrew and Joe for a game of Star Trek Bridge Crew Draft. Each player can select characters from each tv version of Star Trek to fill out a crew. We … Continue reading →

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