Tsai Five Podcast

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Welcome to the Tsai Five Podcast, where Matthew critically reviews movies and Isabella absent-mindedly talks about who was funny and who wasn't. Matthew's episodes drop each Monday and the joint reviews go up every other Friday!

Matthew Tsai


    • Feb 6, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 57m AVG DURATION
    • 95 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Tsai Five Podcast

    Two Tsais in a Pod | Ep. 1 | Tangerines Suck

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2023 62:16


    No one asked for it, but we're back with another casual podcast! What's your favorite Paparia?

    18 | The Art of Listening | Troy Coale, Leilani Ventura, Cris Tzoc

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 70:35


    Sorry for some tragic audio, Matthew chose the absolute worst place to record a podcast. But this podcast is on the art of listening and hearing others! Enjoy listening to this crackly audio.

    17 | Leading Worship | Justin Santos

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 90:26


    *queue intro strumming of "So Good to Me"* This episode, we're talking about leading worship with Justin Santos, musician extraordinaire.

    16 | Prayer | Kaleo Lee

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 91:00


    There's the almighty, perfect, good God, and we get to talk to Him whenever we want. Prayer is power. Today, Kaleo and Matthew discuss a personal relationship with Jesus and talking with our Father.

    15 | Being Pastor's Kids | Kaleb Cruzado, Grace Kim

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 85:55


    A pastor is called to ministry. A wife chooses to team up in that calling. And LOL then there's the kids that didn't sign up for this rollercoaster ride. That's what Kaleb, Grace, and Matthew discuss today: being pastor's kids!

    kids cruzado grace kim
    14 | Moving Homes | Izabella Ge, Mia Ramirez

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2022 90:42


    Moving day hits different! Today, Izabella and Mia come onto the pod to discuss the social, physical, emotional ramifications of moving around as a child. Together, we look back on how God has moved through our moves across the globe, nation, and city.

    13 | College Ministry | Faith Oak

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 94:15


    The Tsai Five Podcast's biggest fan finally joins Matthew on an episode! Matthew and Faith talk about USC Christian Challenge and Pepperdine KCM and what it's like living for Christ on a college campus.

    12 | Podcast Anniversary | Isabella Tsai

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2022 75:46


    I will not lie... I do not remember what this episode is about! But... it's been two years since we've started the Tsai Five Podcast! Today, we look back on 87 episodes of pure entertainment.

    11 | Working with Kids | Allison Chang, Jenn Aguilar

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2022 81:00


    It's such a delicate balance and fulfilling calling! Allison, Jenn, and Matthew talk about staying encouraged, teaching about Jesus, and preventing scissor deaths.

    jesus christ chang aguilar working with kids
    10 | Asking Questions | Samuel Escue

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 81:25


    This week, Samuel is on the podcast to talk about the art of asking questions. Discussion topics: manipulation, follow-ups, and vulnerability.

    9 | Memories | Isabella Tsai

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 89:39


    She's back!!!

    8 | Only Siblings | Mia Thompson, Troy Coale, Adeline Narula

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2022 89:39


    Today, we have four "only siblings" on the pod! We talk about sibling dynamics, reflecting God well, and sharing the same blood!

    7 | South Pas | Jared Low, Evan Chee

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2022 83:25


    Three USC Trojans come together to reminisce about being South Pasadena Tigers! Jared, Evan, and Matthew talk about the small-town vibe, best farmer's market tents, and more!

    6 | Thought Spirals | Nick Penaloza

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 94:56


    This week, Nick and Matthew discuss mental spirals, insecurities, and vulnerabilities, as well as study habits, ordering from a menu, and platonic relationships. Welcome to the random messes of their brains.

    5 | Phases of Friends | Kay Sey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2022 71:08


    Tubs of lemonade! Falling shelves! Crazy mohawks! We promise that this episode has a topic.

    4 | School Crushes | Dustin Huang

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2022 77:08


    Remember Lover Boy from the early days of the Tsai Five Podcast? He finally comes to spill the beans on the Four Corners. Today, Matthew and Dustin talk about crushes, long-distance advice, and stupid things in eighth grade.

    3 | Parenting | Andrea Tsai

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2022 97:28


    In this episode, Matthew talks with his mom, Andrea Tsai, about motherhood. They talk about the dreaded empty nest, parental advice, motherly sacrifice, and more on this episode of "I Have a Question!"

    Thor: Love and Thunder

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 80:29


    Thor is the first MCU character to get a fourth solo film, and it's definitely... something. Join us as we talk about insane logistical stupidities, Taika Waititi's humor, and the Asguardians of the Galaxy. Isabella: 49 Matthew: 48

    2 | Confidence and Comfort | Josiah Herfurth, Mia Ramirez

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 127:36


    Two of Matthew's college homies hop on the pod to talk about the relationship between confidence and comfort and how God has become the central provider of both.

    1 | College Life | Elijah Ding

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2022 99:51


    We have a new series: "I Have a Question!" Today, Matthew sits down with Elijah Ding to talk about their differing college experiences, best school food, making friends, roommate stories, and fraternities.

    How We've Changed

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2022 62:53


    We are back!! This time, we're just doing a casual podcast... no movie, no Rotten Tomatoes game, and no ratings! Just the two of us talking. Call it a comeback :)

    Moon Knight: Season Review

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2022 66:00


    We're back with more MCU content. This time, it's Moon Knight, a series about dissociative identity disorder, based on the real life events of Obadiah Tsai :) We break down the entire season, try to find a name for our classic game, and talk about other issues that Marvel is currently facing. Season: Isabella: 48 Matthew: 72 Matthew's Episode Ratings: Ep. 1: 80 Ep. 2: 74 Ep. 3: 53 Ep. 4: 50 Ep. 5: 85 Ep. 6: 67

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2022 85:43


    Happy Mother's Day! It's our long-awaited return, and today we talk about moms, Americas, witches, and more! Isabella: 71 Matthew: 59

    Wind River

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 32:47


    We're finally getting around to reviewing our most requested movie: Wind River! Nah, kidding, we just watched this because Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch are here. Fair warning though, this is a graphic and mature rated R movie. Isabella: 68 Matthew: 81

    Bumblebee

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 30:22


    Hailee Steinfeld is in this and the action is cool and that's about it. Let's walk through this Transformers movie together. Apparently it's supposed to be one of the good ones, so we don't wanna know what the others look like. Isabella: 48 Matthew: 54

    7 | Avengers: Infinity War

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2022 143:40


    Today, Matthew's reviewing Marvel Studios' "least movie" movie, Avengers: Infinity War. Discussion topics: terrible CGI, useless high school newspapers, interesting wig choices, and how the Russo brothers squandered the Hulk. Matthew's Rating: 95

    6 | Arrival

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2022 76:34


    "If you could see your whole life from start to finish, would you change things?" Come join Matthew as he ponders free will, the meaning of life, time, and the illusion of control that we all believe we have. Matthew's Rating: 98

    Encanto

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2022 44:59


    ¡No me gusta! ¡No me gusta! Today, we're reviewing the latest Disney Animation movie, Encanto, a movie that follows Maribel or Mirabel. We don't know which one it is. Isabella: 58 Matthew: 75

    5 | Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 57:29


    Wow, if I had a nickel for every time I was farted with my Zoom unmuted, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice, right? Today's movie is a spinoff of one of the best kid shows of all time, so, Isabella, I know what we're gonna do today.

    4 | Moana

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2022 86:33


    There's the Rock! There's Alan Tudyk! And there's Troy Polamalu! And surprise, surprise, the best part of this movie is Jemaine Clement's Tamatoa. Today, Matthew reviews 2016's Moana and talks about his rewrite video process. Matthew's Rating: 74

    Don't Look Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2022 32:15


    We freaking love fingerling potatoes. Come for the star-studded cast, stay for Meryl Streep and Jonah Hill playing the Trump family, and leave because Jennifer Lawrence's wig is quite... well, let's just say you don't wanna look up at that. Isabella: 57 Matthew: 66

    3 | Kung Fu Panda

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2022 108:17


    Citizens of the Valley of Peace, it is my great honor to present to you: Tigress! Viper! Crane! Monkey! Mantis! Tai Lung! The Seething Six! This is obviously from a leaked first draft of Kung Fu Panda, one of the greatest animated movies ever made! Matthew discusses the illusion of control, peaches, and of course, Jack Black's tenders. Matthew's Rating: 98

    2 | Knives Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2022 132:25


    Eat shirt, eat shirt, eat shirt. Definitely eat shirt. This movie has more twists than the small intestine, and Matthew breaks it all down. Not as much gushing this time — he does have some criticisms — but Knives Out is great! Also, he discusses the 2022 movie calendar and his thoughts on major upcoming movies and projects. Matthew's Rating: 96

    1 | Short Term 12

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2022 73:09


    Every time someone asks Matthew what his favorite movie is, they're extremely lost when he says, "Short Term 12." Well, now there's no reason to be confused. Here's an episode of Matthew gushing over how good this movie is and why Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is such a huge disappointment. Matthew's Rating: 100

    2021 Tobys: The MCU Superlative Awards

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2021 74:59


    Welcome to the inaugural Tobys! We are the Academy of Marvel Studios Arts and Sciences (AMSAS), a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of Marvel Studios projects. As of December 2021, the organization was estimated to consist of around 2 qualified idiots. The Academy is an international organization and membership is open to unqualified bingers around the world. The Academy is known around the world for its annual MCU Superlative Awards, now officially and popularly known as "The Tobys." Best Picture: Spider-Man: No Way Home Best Actress: Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision Best Actor: Tom Holland, Spider-Man: No Way Home Best Supporting Actor: Willem Dafoe, Spider-Man: No Way Home Best Supporting Actress: Florence Pugh, Black Widow Most Feeling the Feels: "Kate Translates the Phone Call," Hawkeye Best Chemistry: Peter 1, Peter 2, & Peter 3, Spider-Man: No Way Home Best Action: Spider-Man: No Way Home Best Villain: Agatha Harkness, WandaVision Favorite Newcomer: Yelena Belova, Black Widow Best Fight Scene: 3 Spideys v. Sinister Five, Spider-Man: No Way Home Most Improved Character: Loki, Loki Most Surprising Project: WandaVision Funniest Comic Relief: Kate Bishop, Hawkeye Best Post-Credit Scene: "Wanda Hears the Twins," WandaVision Best Costume: Scarlet Witch, WandaVision The winners were decided by a relative majority, with the people's vote holding 70% weight, Isabella's 15%, and Matthew's 15%.

    Hawkeye: "So This Is Christmas?" + Season Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2021 42:10


    Hawkeye is over, and so is Matthew's happiness. BUT... this time we actually have some criticisms about this show, so grab your eggnog and tune in! Ep. 6: Isabella: 77 Matthew: 82 Season: Isabella: 86 Matthew: 85

    Hawkeye: "Partners, Am I Right?" + "Ronin"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 57:39


    You already know we love Hawkeye, so TLDR: Hailee Steinfeld is a national treasure, Clint Barton is our favorite, and [redacted, spoiler] is amazing. Ep. 4: Isabella: 97 Matthew: 88 Ep. 5: Isabella: 94 Matthew: 89

    Spider-Man: No Way Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2021 58:31


    This is a spoiler review of Spider-Man: No Way Home! Go watch it before you get it spoiled for you!! Isabella: 91 Matthew: 76

    Tick, Tick... Boom!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2021 38:51


    It's only a matter of time... until Andrew Garfield is showered with awards for this Lin Manuel-Miranda-directed movie. Also, Netflix's Christmas darling Vanessa Hudgens is in this, too! Isabella: 78 Matthew: 80

    The Official Tsai Five Movie Rating Rubric

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 60:46


    We take a pause on the reviews to create the definitive movie review rubric. Isabella (all equal weight): LOL, Feeling the Feels, How Much Longer, Satisfying Ending, Acting, Personal Bias, Rewatchability, Visuals, Originality/Plot/Story, Better/Worse/Same as Expectations Matthew: Story (30%), Direction (15%), Acting/Characters (15%), Plot (15%), Technical (10%), Entertainment (5%), Personal Bias (10%)

    Hawkeye: "Echoes"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 51:40


    The first episode of the Tsai Five Podcast where it's just Matthew. Yeah, Hawkeye was that good that he wanted to talk about it himself. Matthew: 94

    Hawkeye: "Never Meet Your Heroes" + "Hide and Seek"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2021 50:15


    Take four of Marvel Studios trying to make a good season of television! Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld give us hope that they can. Ep. 1 Isabella: 77 Matthew: 81 Ep. 2 Isabella: 83 Matthew: 87

    Red Notice

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2021 44:46


    Black Adam, Deadpool, and Wonder Woman assemble to create your average Netflix flick. Also, lift with your neck. Isabella: 50 Matthew: 65

    Eternals

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 68:42


    Certain events in this movie make the PhotoShop posters on our Instagram seem really weird now... But who cares? We assemble some of Tsai Five Podcast's greatest guests in this Avengers-level episode as we talk about another superhero team that's not quite as cool: Eternals. Isabella: 80 Andrea: 80 David: 70 Matthew: 71

    Dune

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 72:52


    Dune fans are rejoicing! Zendaya fans are mourning! Everyone else is staying tuned until 2023 when the second half of this movie is released! Here's our review of the latest Denis Villeneuve movie. David: 86 Matthew: 81

    Venom: Let There Be Carnage

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2021 74:52


    Oh shoot! That's an old one! Today, our mom is on the show instead of Isabella, and we talk about her newest favorite movie. Mom: 74 Matthew: 79

    No Time to Die

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2021 42:59


    "Let me tell you a story. Of a man. Bond. James Bond." Who??? Today we review Daniel Craig's final outing as 007.

    Squid Game: “Red Light, Green Light”

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2021 43:41


    Hello, it's player 27 and player 180. We're reviewing the first episode of Squid Game! Isabella: 78 Matthew: 84

    Nocturnal Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 49:19


    Wow, this one's a doozy. Highly recommend, but we are both still pretty puzzled after watching this one. Isabella: 83 Matthew: 83 Sources: u/AgraP, u/fupa16, and some unknown users on IMDb! For some more interesting thoughts, go to https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/5exedm/official_discussion_nocturnal_animals_spoilers/

    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2021 49:33


    The director of the best movie of all time, Short Term 12, and some lame stock image model guy team up to bring us the first Asian-led Marvel movie! We talk about our spoiler thoughts in today's episode! Isabella: 72 Matthew: 63

    The Edge of Seventeen

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 44:29


    Watch this movie and come listen to our thoughts, and it's very good, and we really like it, and it's complicated, and simple. Also... we need to watch out for run-on sentences. Isabella: 89 Matthew: 90

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