Podcasts about prepopculture

World Fantasy Award and Nebula Award winning author James Morrow and Morrow superfan Andrew Wollman join Jen to talk about Morrow's body of work. From his first books in the science fiction genre to his latest book, the historical fiction novel Galapagos Regained, Jim's passion for telling stories over the years seems to have been rivaled only by his passion for ideological discourse. He shares this love for entertaining along with his Nontological Proof as he discusses his works and career. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Find out more about James Morrow and his work at his website. You can also find ebooks of his out of print work at Open Road Media Galapagos Regained Towing Jehovah Follow Andrew on Twitter and see him and Jen in Doctor Who Live! at iO West at 10pm on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Jim's recommendations: the work of playwright Peter Barnes, and the movie O Lucky Man! Andrew's recommendation: Gene Wolfe's novel Peace Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Webcomic enthusiast Jake Goldman and webcomic artist John McNamee join Jen this week to discuss (what else?) webcomics! From narrative to gag a day, highly stylized to stick figures, strips that span decades to limited seasonal arcs, webcomics are now popular enough that readers are spoiled for choice even on a niche level. Jake, John, and Jen share some of their favorites, as well as what they think differentiates comics on the web from other types of comics when it comes to content, style, and the challenges the artists face making them. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Jake and John on Twitter, and check out John's webcomic, Pie Comic. Jake's recommendation: Pro Wrestling Guerrilla John's recommendation: China, IL Broodhollow Hark! A Vagrant Narbonic Oh Joy Sex Toy Penny Arcade Poorly Drawn Lines Sluggy Freelance xkcd Frank Santoro's Layout Workshop Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

It wouldn't be Halloween at PrePopCulture without Dickie Copeland here to read a spooky book, and this year she and Jen tackled a doozy. Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes folds together the gritty realism of an urban crime tale with haunting supernatural elements and a hefty helping of amazing characters. Naturally this makes Dickie decide what she wants to be done with her body when she dies. Happy Halloween! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Download directlySubscribe in iTunesSubscribe in your podcast app Show notes: Dickie doesn't want you to find her on social media, but you can see her Harold team The Dragons at UCB Franklin on Monday nights. You can also see Dickie and Jen with their group Argo Navis at Sunday Night's Main Event at 8:30pm on 11/9/14 at Second City. Dickie's recommendation: Wicca, particularly love spells Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Like many of her nerdy friends, Jen spent her teen years playing Dungeons & Dragons. And while it faded out of her life after college, her love for the classic roleplaying game never waned. With the recent release of 5th edition giving her a good excuse to jump back into an old pastime, Jen's joined by Alex Berg, Dave Christenson, and James Mulholland to try out the new edition, and examine what role D&D has played in their lives. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Download directlySubscribe in iTunesSubscribe in your podcast app Show notes: Follow Alex, Dave, and James on Twitter Dungeons & Dragons official site D&D 5th edition Player's Handbook Darkon Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License. Chasing The Port Chains, Crush At Maracas Bar, Leafless Quince Tree, and Spell by Rolemusic are used under a Creative Commons Attribution License

Jen Krueger from PrePopCulture joins me to watch The Disappearance of Alice Creed and discuss the films simple approach to a character driven thriller and much more. IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1379177/?ref_=ttmd_md_nm Written and Directed by: J Blakeson Starring: Martin Compston as Danny, Eddie Marsan as Vic and Gemma Arterton as Alice Movie Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbeJl3dt0Aw, Rotten Tomatoes Review, Wikipedia If you are enjoying I Will Watch Anything Once, please subscribe, rate and review on iTunes, like it on Facebook and follow IWWAO on twitter and tumblr. Remember, if you haven't seen it once you can't complain. Additional Links: Follow Jen Krueger on Twitter and follow PrePopCulture on twitter, Facebook and tumblr.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a loft in downtown Los Angeles, artist Moses Storm is currently exhibiting The Modern Millennial, a hybrid between performance art and interactive theater. Displaying his work at and living in the loft full-time, Moses is presenting an uncensored look at the modern-day millennial by giving visitors unfettered access to every aspect of his life. Intrigued by the project from the time Moses first launched his Kickstarter campaign to fund it, Jen goes to see the exhibit and talk with Moses about the piece now that it's open to the public. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Moses on Twitter Check out The Modern Millennial, which was funded on Kickstarter Watch Terminally Chill Birthday Music: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License. Cylinder Six, I Am Running with Temporary Success from a Monstrous Vacuum in Pursuit, and Oxygen Garden by Chris Zabriskie used under a Creative Commons Attribution License Future Paths by 8 Bit Weapon is licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Time magazine book critic and New York Times Bestselling author Lev Grossman joins Jen to talk about his Magicians trilogy. The final installment of the series, The Magician's Land, hit number one on the New York Times Bestseller list this month, and Lev chats with Jen about wrapping up the trilogy, where the idea for the series first came from, bringing realism to the depiction of fantastical worlds and the use of magic, the forthcoming TV adaptation, and much more. Be warned there are some mild spoilers if you haven't finished the trilogy! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Lev on Twitter and see him at Dragon Con in the Fantasy Literature Track and the Young Adult Literature Track The Magicians The Magician King The Magician's Land Lev's work at Time magazine Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series, beginning with A Wizard of Earthsea Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Lev's recommendations: Larry Niven's stories The Magic Goes Away and Not Long Before The End (which can be found in the collection The Magic Goes Away), Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser books, Metric, the Mountain Goats, the Eels, and webcomic Achewood Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Want to celebrate two years of PrePopCulture with updates on topics from previous episodes and unaired clips? Great! That's exactly what Jen has for you. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: You can follow PrePopCulture and Jen on Twitter! And keep an eye on the PrePopCulture Twitter for news about the 100th episode… Tiny Hamsters Eating Tiny Burritos Trailer for Horns Check out David and Leeman's website for info on their performances on America's Got Talent Check out episodes 15 and 17 of season 4 of Penny Arcade: The Series for updates on Strip Search contestants Teaser for Better Call Saul Season one of The Birthday Boys is out on DVD, and season two will premiere October 17, 2014! In the meantime, check out their Instagram for pictures from production Check out Failbetter Games' Fallen London for a great interaction fiction game, and their followup, Sunless Sea, on Steam Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Andrew Wollman joins Jen to talk about everybody's favorite parody artist, Weird Al. On Billboard's charts at number one for the first time, Weird Al's latest album Mandatory Fun has gone over like gangbusters with comedy nerds as of late. But lifelong fan Andrew also chats about the original content and more offbeat work Weird Al's done over the years, and enlightens Jen about some of the source material getting parodied. Did everyone but her know what Blurred Lines is about?! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Andrew on Twitter and see him and Jen in Doctor Who Live! at iO West at 10pm on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. On August 23, 2014, check out the Doctor Who Live Series 8 Premiere Party! Andrew's recommendation: James Morrow's novel The Madonna and the Starship Weird Al's official website, where you can watch music videos from and purchase most of his work, including Mandatory Fun Peter and the Wolf Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Jason Greene joins Jen to discuss whether someone who's watching Game of Thrones but hasn't yet read it should delve into the books or just stick with the show alone. As an avid fan of the books, Jason has a lot of reasons why the books are superior, but will they be enough to overcome Jen's fear that she'll love the show less if she takes his advice and cracks into the books? For two people who often give the same reasons for loving the same characters, it's definitely strange that they see each others' experience with the story as so different. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Jason on Twitter Jason's recommendation: Ron Currie Jr.'s novel Everything Matters! Game of Thrones: the books and the show Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Kevin Pedersen joins Jen to talk about the way the end of days is portrayed in movies, TV, books, and video games. With a ranking system that takes into account the devastation of the initial impact, the long-term post-apocalyptic survivability, the likelihood of a real life occurrence, and the metaphor of the event itself, Kevin and Jen dissect the various types of apocalypses and deliver their recommendation for the best way for the world to end. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Kevin on Twitter, and check out his amazing project Channel Zero! You can back it on Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tomvaughan/channelzero, and like it on Facebook! Kevin's recommendation: Zombies, Run! The Day After Tomorrow Edgar Wright's apocalypses Shaun of the Dead and The World's End The Fallout video game franchise The MaddAddam trilogy This Is The End Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Nick Mandernach joins Jen to give you a behind the scenes look at this year's LA Indie Improv Festival. They take you through info about this year's fest, from details about planning and programming it, to additions like the opening panel and art retrospective. They also discuss the indie improv scene as a whole, and how LAIIF has evolved in response to the community's growth. Have a listen and come check out the fest on May 24! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Nick on Twitter, see his Harold team JV at UCBLA on Monday nights, and check out Room 101's monthly pop-up shows! Nick's recommendation: The Forever War by Dexter Filkins Check out laiif.com for info about this year's LA Indie Improv Festival! Follow @LA_Indie_Improv on Twitter, and tweet your questions there by midnight on 5/23/14 for the opening panel, Developing Your Comedy Career, with Colton Dunn, Dan Gregor, Lauren Lapkus, and David Phillips! Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Jesse Benjamin joins Jen to discuss why certain kinds of TV shows make people feel so bad for enjoying them so much. From the soapy and salacious like Sex and the City, to trashy reality like The Real Housewives of Orange County, to oddly addictive competitions like The Challenge, there's no shortage of guilty pleasures on TV. But what about these shows makes them guilty pleasures rather than shows we can just admit to enjoying without the caveat that we know they're in some way lowbrow? If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: You can follow Jesse on Twitter and Instagram, and check out his website, jessebenjamin.com Jesse's recommendations: Frasier and the music of Mike Krol Gordon Ramsay's various reality shows The Real World and The Challenge Sex and the City Shark Tank Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Writing, filmmaking, art, and music are just some of many fields in which people contend with the threat of their second piece of work not living up to their first. In this episode Jen talks with Danny Mastrangelo and James Mulholland in search of what a sophomore slump really is, and why it's so easily applicable to so many different endeavors in art, entertainment, and pop culture. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: John Irving The Killers TimeSplitters Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License. ayVentura by Rolemusic is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic is licensed under an Attribution License She Is My Best Treasure by Rolemusic is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License Right Back To You by Wizwars is licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

This spring marked Jen's seventh year living in Los Angeles, and she's a very different person now than when she moved there from Chicago. Examining her own struggle to acclimate, she talks to some friends about their experiences moving to LA, and how the city has or hasn't become home to them. Featuring Mark David Christenson, Stephen C. James, Jen McCreary, and Andrew Wollman. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: The Cinerama Dome at ArcLight The Getty iO West Largo at the Coronet Not For Tourists Guide to Los Angeles Thomas Guide: Los Angeles The Troubadour Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Los Angeles Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License. All other music in this episode by Chris Zabriskie, used under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

There are changes in store at PrePopCulture when it resumes on April 10, 2014! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

James Mulholland joins Jen to delve into what spurs the beginning of trends, and what happens when people chase them. From books to movies to TV shows (plus books becoming movies or TV shows), there's no shortage of fads that provided increasingly diminished returns as the companies and creators behind them had less to bring to the table with each iteration. Yet sometimes the work at the start of a trend kicks off an equally successful successor. So what does it take to capture lightning in a bottle? And once someone has, how many more bolts can be caught the same way? If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: You can follow James on Twitter, but he doesn't necessarily advise it since he rarely tweets James's recommendation: Orphan Black The Hunger Games Divergent Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Clay Larsen joins Jen this week to discuss Android: Netrunner, a game they're both obsessed with. Set in a cyberpunk world, this living card game pits two players against each other in the roles of runner and corporation. A corporation tries to score points by advancing their corporate agendas, while the runner tries to hack into the corporation's servers and steal those agendas before the corporation can score them. With multiple factions to be played on each side of the table, new cards released every month to expand deckbuilding possibilities, and the fact that you play your opponent as much as you do the game itself, no two games will ever be the same. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Clay on Twitter and check out his photography at claylarsen.com (mention PrePopCulture for 20% off headshots!). You can also check out Clay's indie improv show Shapeshift and his UCB Beta team Muddleberry. Clay's recommendations: The Wolf Among Us, Hardcore History, and The Netrunner Project Android: Netrunner Leigh Alexander's article about learning Netrunner Netrunner podcast Terminal7 Want to build a deck online? Try deckbuilder sites NetrunnerDB and Ono-Sendai Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Danny Mastrangelo joins Jen to chat about the ins and outs of crowdfunding through Kickstarter. From what entices people to back things, to how often projects are successfully funded and fulfilled, to who Kickstarter is really "for," this one site has created a whole new avenue for making and buying everything from innovative tools to entertainment. There are many considerations for project launchers and backers alike though, and Danny gives insight to both sides of the process since he's funded projects and is about to launch a Kickstarter for his company Silhouette Games to complete a video game he's designing. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Danny on Twitter and check out his site Silhouette Games to play the demo for History of the Demon Girl. You can also see his Harold team The Soft Ricky at iO West every other Tuesday at 9:30pm. Danny's recommendations: Extra Credits, Pixel Joint, Radio the Universe, and The Room 99% Invisible's Kickstarter for season 4 Double Fine's Kickstarter for Broken Age (formerly Double Fine Adventure) Penny Arcade's Kickstarter Rob Thomas's Kickstarter for the Veronica Mars movie Zach Braff's Kickstarter for Wish I Was Here Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Sarah Claspell joins Jen to talk about the plethora of mobile apps making life easier these days than it was in the dark ages before smartphones were ubiquitous. From big things like improving your health or keeping your schedule straight, to small things like saving articles to read later or browsing Reddit, that whole "there's an app for that!" thing has never been truer. But how much do we really value them if we usually don't want to spend any money on them? And how many would it actually be hard to live without at this point? Also, how long will the gardener be on the porch toward the end of the episode? Well, the answer to that last question is "not long," so don't worry. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Sarah on Twitter, see her on Harold team Cardinal Redbird at Upright Citizens Brigade on Monday nights, plus see her sketch team The Get Go at UCB on 4-2-14. You can also check out Sarah's website well that's adorable! Sarah's recommendation: go do something active! Alien Blue Best Road Trip Ever! CalenGoo Day One Downcast Evernote GoodReader MetrO MyFitnessPal Waze Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Will Hines joins Jen to talk about text adventures, which are also known as interactive fiction. From formative classics like Zork, to the modern renaissance of the genre, there are countless amazing stories and fiendish puzzles to be experienced by anyone willing to invest the time to figure out the right commands to get past the first few screens. LISTEN PODCAST to hear about some great games, plus what it's like to create one! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Will on Twitter and see him do improv with Your F'ed Up Family at Upright Citizens Brigade in LA. Will's recommendation: Love and Rockets comics Will's text adventures Further and Harold Night 2003 Apollo 18 tribute text adventures Coloratura Digital: A Love Story Get Lamp Inform 7 Interactive Fiction Competition Phototopia Twine Zork Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Mark David Christenson joins Jen to dig into why fan fervor and furor are now de facto accompaniments to casting announcements for comic book movies. They examine factors that go into picking someone to bring a superhero from page to screen, from what can be interpreted about the intended treatment of a character based on the casting, to the weight physicality should take in comparison to acting chops, to the myriad of unexpected successes from people that would've been seen as odd choices at the time they received their roles. Spoiler alert: Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo couldn't come out better in this discussion. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Dave on Twitter and check out his UCB Harold team Mister Town City. Also check out the indie improv show Dave and Jen host, The Manifesto Show, and Dave's podcast One Photo Reviews. Dave's recommendation: Short Term 12 Portrayals of Batman, the Hulk, and Superman in film X-Men: First Class Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Jake Jabbour and Art Tebbel join Jen to talk about the niche of television that is TV shows about TV shows. From early examples like The Dick Van Dyke Show to currently running Episodes, there's no shortage of programs exploring the behind the scenes antics that can unfold when producing a show. There are many different ways to approach depicting a show-within-a-show though, from the specific tone taken while portraying television, to the amount of the fictional show the audience gets to see. And for a show-within-a-show experience of this podcast, just imagine Jake, Art, and Jen on a Sorkin-y walk and talk while you listen! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Art and Jake on Twitter Art's recommendations: Android: Netrunner and game streaming on Twitch Jake's recommendations: Shameless and Justified The Dick Van Dyke Show Episodes The Aaron Sorkin TV trio: The Newsroom, Sports Night, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

PrePopCulture is adding a new type of episode to the arsenal: exploring a subculture. This week, cruise ship performer Owen Wittekindt joins Jen to talk about what it's like to live at sea. From what constitutes a good cabin, to the things that are important to find when stopping in a port, to the way living on the boat affects his interaction with general pop culture and his perception of the passage of time, Owen shares the various details about his life on the ship that add up to make living apart from land feel surreal. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Owen on Twitter Owen's recommendations: That Mitchell and Webb Look and Sad Cat Diary Second City cruise line performances Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

James Mulholland joins Jen to dig into the idea of the antihero. From why they like a morally questionable main character to why depicting an antihero isn't the same as endorsing one, James and Jen have a lot of opinions on this method of characterizing a protagonist. But don't worry, it doesn't get too dark thanks to Greg Kinbear and Captain Ron. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: You can follow James on Twitter, but he doesn't necessarily advise it since he rarely tweets James's recommendations: fashion subscription services like Stitch Fix, and the Bullet Journal system Breaking Bad Michael Moorcock's Elric novels The Wolf of Wall Street Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Alex Berg joins Jen this week to chat all things tattoo. With eight pieces and counting, Alex is no stranger to figuring out a design and where to put it, the tattooing process itself, and even a little tattoo regret. And while ink may be the sign of criminals and badasses in movies, Alex and Jen find it pretty run of the mill in LA. Heck, it may be even more common than they realize. After all, you never know what might be hiding under other people's t-shirts… If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Alex on Twitter, see him at Upright Citizens Brigade in LA on Thursdays at 11pm with his group Convoy and Saturdays at 7pm with his group Sentimental Lady, plus see Convoy with special guest Alex's mom at The Manifesto Show on 1/10/14! Alex's recommendations: the the Hardcore History podcast, indie games, and skulls Carl Zimmer's Science Ink has tons of cool science tattoos, including Alex's Schrödinger's Cat John Irving's novel Until I Find You deals heavily with tattooing The internet famous bad memorial wife tattoo that was fixed by a second artist Scarification Post image By THOR (originally posted to Flickr as Tattoo Studio) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons Theme song Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

This week Sarah Claspell and Dan Lippert join Jen for a two-segment episode to take a look back at the things in 2013 they were happy to see get big, were surprised to see get big, and thought would get big but didn't. They also take a look at what they hope will be big in 2014, from already established things they'd like to see grow, to new releases they hope will find success in the new year. Books, movies, TV, games, music, and social trends are all under the lens in this year in review! And whether you found PrePopCulture in 2013 or have been listening from the beginning, thank you for tuning in! New episodes will return on 1/9/14. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Sarah on Twitter, see her on Harold team Cardinal Redbird at Upright Citizens Brigade on Monday nights, plus see her sketch team The Get Go at UCB on 4-30-14. You can also check out Sarah's website well that's adorable! Follow Dan on Twitter, see him on Harold team Winslow at UCB on Monday nights, plus see his sketch group Big Grande at UCB on 1-14-14. You can also check out Dan's amazing show Friendship All-Stars! Around the World in 80 Plates Benedict Cumberbatch Beyonce's secret self-titled album Fingers crossed for a new Fallout game Joe Hill Positive sketch comedy and sketch on TV, both of which IFC does well The Magician's Land Orphan Black Hate-watching fodder like Sharknado Side Effects Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Jeff Dutton, Dave Ferguson, Mike Hanford, Matt Kowalick, and Chris VanArtsdalen join Jen this week to discuss their sketch group The Birthday Boys. They chat about their approach to comedy, and take Jen through the group's history, from putting up their first sketches at a free midnight show at Upright Citizens Brigade, to working with Bob Odenkirk and now having their own TV show on IFC. They also wish Jen a happy birthday since this episode was recorded on her birthday, but that was just a weird coincidence. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow @thebirthdayboys on Twitter, go to thebirthdayboys.com to see some of their videos, and check out their sketch show on IFC Fridays at 10:30pm. You can also find their show on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/the-birthday-boys-season-1/id700993130?i=709889314 To see one of their live shows, check them out at UCBLA on the first Wednesday of every month at 8pm, see them at the Troubadour 12/17/13 in Comedy for the Holidays II, and catch them at San Francisco Sketchfest and Riot LA in 2014. Dave's recommendation: Nathan For You Mike's recommendation: Deadwood Chris's recommendation: the books of John Swartzwelder Jeff's recommendation: Jon Favreau's Made Matt's recommendation: Fleetwood Mac's Tusk Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

James Mulholland joins Jen to discuss brand loyalty, and what actually constitutes it today. From tech to clothes to travel, and from online retailer to local business to giant corporation, there are a myriad of ways in which companies attempt to inspire brand loyalty. But since the reason a customer stays with a given company can range anywhere from true appreciation for a superior product, to entrenchment over time making it too difficult to jump ship, maybe the focus should really be on avoiding what kills brand loyalty rather than cracking the amorphous formula that inspires it. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: You can follow James on Twitter, but he doesn't necessarily advise it since he rarely tweets James's recommendation: the re-emergence of cyberpunk, like in forthcoming game Cyberpunk 2077 Apple Baum-Kuchen and the Midori Traveler's notebook Virgin American Zappos Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

A quick message from Jen to you this week in lieu of an episode. Happy Thanksgiving! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Justin Donaldson joins Jen to chat about the word "nerd," and how its meaning has changed over the years. From its origin as slang for "square" in the 1950s to the connotation closer to "cool" that it has today, nerds have been wearing the term as a badge of honor for some time whether it was semantically positive or negative. There are even faux-nerds now! If only Jen could tell her 6-year old self not to worry… If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Check out Justin's Facebook page for updates on his projects and watch his videos on Funny or Die. Check out the Tournament of Nerds on Facebook and Twitter. This month it's at UCBLA on 11/23/13 at 10pm, regularly the third Saturday of the month at midnight. Justin's recommendation: Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Etymology of 'nerd' Comic-Con '90s nerd poster boy Steve Urkel And that nerd meme Jen mentioned… Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Art Tebbel joins Jen to discuss the undeniable success Marvel has had with their properties since forming their own studio to control the adaptations of their comics. From their well planned phases, to universe cohesiveness, to ever expanding delivery methods, it seems like Marvel could teach DC a thing or two. Plus Jen reveals a compelling crossover pitch for Loki to which Marvel Studios and Paramount should give some serious consideration. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: Follow Art on Twitter and check out Box Office Democracy! Art's recommendation: masterofmalt.com All Marvel Studios movies fall under the umbrella of the Marvel Cinematic Universe DC Entertainment properties haven't had as much synergy in the past Marvel's extending its major releases beyond the Avengers cadre with Guardians of the Galaxy Marvel's also partnering with Netflix to bring some more of their heroes to the small screen DC's banking on old standbys with Batman Vs. Superman Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Mark David Christenson and Casey Feigh join Jen to talk about the culture of auditioning, whether it be for commercials, TV and film, or comedy theater house teams. Along with great advice for UCB Harold auditions, Dave and Casey share some of the the weird things they've been asked to do in commercial auditions. But even being on the casting side of the audition process can be pretty strange, as Jen can attest to. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: Follow Casey and Dave on Twitter and check out their UCB Harold teams John Velvet and Mister Town City. Also check out indie improv shows Crashbar and The Manifesto Show, and Dave's podcast One Photo Reviews. Casey's recommendations: Kendrick Lamar, NBA basketball, and web series Dave's recommendations: Marnie Stern and Bleached Casey's Domino's commercial Dave's Burger King commercial Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Dickie Copeland joins Jen for Halloween again this year to discuss The Creeps, the third book in John Connolly's Samuel Johnson tales. The main characters and villains from the first two books, The Gates and The Infernals, certainly have their place in this third installment, but that doesn't stop Connolly from introducing wonderful new elements, and much scarier ones too. Plus Dickie and Jen share the stories of their first kisses, because what could be more terrifying than that? Happy Halloween! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: Follow Dickie on Twitter, check out her amazing writing on penandwhiskey.tumblr.com, and see her group D'Artagnan at Crashbar on 11-3-13! Dickie's recommendation: check out Supernatural and its uniquely influential fan community The first Samuel Johnson tale, The Gates The second Samuel Johnson tale, The Infernals The third Samuel Johnson tale, The Creeps S. by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Ben Webster joins Jen for the penultimate episode of this month's Halloween series to talk about haunted attractions. From traditional haunted houses and hayrides, to larger installations like the Haunted Queen Mary, to hell houses, to extreme attractions claiming to provide the experience of being the victim in a horror movie, there's something for pretty much every level of fright-seeker. Except people like Jen who don't like to be scared at all-- Ahhh, look behind you, there's a guy! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: Check out the DeadHeads Facebook page and Twitter for more info on the movie, including upcoming air times on Showtime. And keep an eye out for Lose Feliz this December! Ben's recommendations: Dead Man's Bones and Scream Factory Blackout Los Angeles Haunted Hayride McKamey Manor The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor The Trilogy of Terror by the Freakling Bros Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Kevin Pedersen joins Jen this week to talk about children's horror. From Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, to Are You Afraid of the Dark?, to Goosebumps, there was no shortage of creepy entertainment aimed specifically at kids in the '80s and early '90s, but do children today have as many options when they're looking for a fright? And what exactly makes a scary story scary anyway? One thing's for sure: illustrations by Stephen Gammell certainly don't hurt. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Kevin on Twitter, and check out the 31 scary stories he's writing this October at modernhack.tumblr.com! Kevin's recommendation: Eric Carle's children's books Are You Afraid of the Dark? Deadtime Stories Christopher Pike Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark R. L. Stine's Goosebumps and Fear Street Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

With Halloween fast approaching and some potential paranormal experiences of their own in their pasts, it seemed only appropriate for Stephen C. James to finally teach Jen who she should call if there's something strange in her neighborhood. Having just watched Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II for the first time, Jen may not have come away with the same love for it that Stephen has, but as always there's at least one thing they can agree on: Winston's pretty much just the token black guy. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Stephen on Twitter and check out his improv show The Sunday Social at iO West. You can also see his group Nerdvana at the Saturday Night Main Event at Second City LA on 11/16/13 at 9:30pm. And keep an eye out this holiday season for the 8th Annual Tiny Tim's Christmas Follies, a toy drive show benefitting Southern California Toys for Tots! Ghostbusters Ghostbusters II The Real Ghostbusters Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Roger Barr and Jake Jabbour join Jen this week to usher in October by chatting about Halloween movies. Jen doesn't like to be scared so her Halloween movie marathon is less than traditional, but Roger and Jake more than make up for her missed frights with their terrifying recommendations. From old classics, to forgotten gems, to kid favorites still enjoyable as an adult, all of your Halloween movie bases are covered! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: Follow Roger and Jake on Twitter. Check out Jake's improv group Squeeze, see Roger in Doc Mock's Movie Mausoleum and the Tournament of Nerds at Upright Citizens Brigade, and check out his two month celebration of all things Halloween at I-Mockery. Candyman Clue Dark Night of the Scarecrow There are multiple versions of Disney's Halloween Treat Halloween III: Season of the Witch Hocus Pocus The Nightmare Before Christmas Prince of Darkness The Shining Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

John Ford and Nadia Osman join Jen to talk about the strangely singular popularity of everyone's favorite nearly finished TV show, Breaking Bad. From its unusually high word-of-mouth, to its delightfully pulpy elements, to the uniqueness of making the audience decide whether characters are good or bad rather than just telling the viewer, there are many reasons Breaking Bad has found itself with such a fervent fan base. And it's probably safe to say most of that fan base will need a hug after Sunday night. Since this podcast is airing just before the Breaking Bad series finale, be warned there are spoilers from the pilot right up through the penultimate episode. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: John isn't on Twitter but you can follow Nadia, and see them both in the Tournament of Nerds. Check out Nadia's UCB Beta team Sneak Thief! and John's UCB Maude team Tut. Breaking Bad Walter White and the Amazing Blue Crystal Meth: A Breaking Bad Rock Opera - Seasons 1-5 The Hollywood Forever screening of the Breaking Bad series finale and the contest to arrive at the screening in an RV with Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have raised more than $1 million for charity. Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Chris Teregis joins Jen to talk about Reddit, a social news and entertainment site on which information about anything and everything is disseminated into categories to which users can contribute and subscribe. With literally thousands of subreddits available to explore, Jen's a little overwhelmed, but longtime user Chris has tips for easing in and figuring out how to curate your own experience on Reddit. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Chris on Twitter and check out his podcast A Throne of Games Reddit IAmA subreddit, the place to find Reddit ask me anything threads (AMAs) Here's Woody Harrelson's AMA, plus a breakdown of why it was an epic fail Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Dan Lippert joins Jen to talk about British comedy duo David Mitchell and Robert Webb. From their sitcom Peep Show, to sketch show That Mitchell & Webb Look, to comedy book This Mitchell and Webb Book, the duo kills with most people who know who they are. Unfortunately most people in America don't fit that bill. But Dan and Jen can give you a million reasons to check them out if you're not already familiar with them! And if you are familiar with them, Dan and Jen can tip you off to some of their lesser known projects. It's a comedy win-win! If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: Follow Dan on Twitter, see him on Harold team Winslow at Upright Citizens Brigade on Monday nights, and check out his amazing show Friendship All-Stars! David Mitchell's Soapbox Magicians Peep Show That Mitchell and Webb Look This Mitchell and Webb Book Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Mark David Christenson joins Jen to talk about creative labors of love that are given away for free. From the indie improv show they host together, to their individual podcasts, to their respective paths in acting and writing, Dave and Jen are no strangers to doing something they love without a direct agenda other than the love of the craft. But how does giving something away for free affect other people's perception of the product and creator? What really defines a labor of love? And how many times can Dave say "butthurt" without Jen giggling at it? If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! You can also follow PrePopCulture on Twitter. Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: Follow Dave on Twitter and see his Harold team Mister Town City at UCB LA. Check out Dave's podcast One Photo Reviews Our indie improv show, The Manifesto Show, Fridays at 8pm at the Clubhouse in LA. Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Darien Clark joins Jen to talk about Lulu, an app only accessible to girls which lets them anonymously rate the dateability of their male Facebook friends. Concerned about what Lulu's success potentially says regarding the attitudes toward dating amongst the college-aged girls it targets, Darien and Jen break the app down step-by-step and go through the process of rating a guy on it in order to see if there's anything about it they aren't grossed out by. Spoiler alert: there's not. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: Follow Darien on Twitter and check out her baking blog Cake Walkthrough. She really is a shoo-in for the 5th Annual Good Food Pie Contest! Lulu Lulu Dude, where guys can see their profiles and remove themselves from the app if they wish Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Professional photographers Clay Larsen and Jon Mackey join Jen to talk about today's perceptions of photography. From the way technology and Instagram have affected how people view their own ability to take photos, to what now defines photojournalism, to the sometimes diluted definition of a "good" or "artistic" photo, the medium is at a much different place than it was even ten years ago. But no matter what lens you view it through, one thing is indisputable: don't have your friend take your headshot for free. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Clay and Jon on Twitter and check out their photography at claylarsen.com and itsjonmackey.com. You can also check out Clay's indie improv show Shapeshift and his UCB Beta team Muddleberry, and see Jon on Harold team Winslow at Upright Citizens Brigade on Monday nights. Instagram Check out SunTimes/DarkTimes to see comparisons of photos from the Chicago Sun-Times (a paper with no photojournalists) and the Chicago Tribune (a paper still employing photojournalists). Photographer Ian Ruhter The Public School collective in Austin And if you're in LA, check out the Annenberg Space for Photography for great photo exhibits. Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

James Mulholland joins Jen to discuss another franchise she's experiencing for the first time despite its pervasive presence in pop culture: the Terminator movies. From the franchise's own internal universe to its place in the canon of modern science fiction, there's a lot about The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day that is vastly different when viewed for the first time as an adult. Though no matter when you watch these movies, that orderly licking Sarah Connor's face will always be creepy. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: You can follow James on Twitter, but he doesn't necessarily advise it since he rarely tweets The Terminator Terminator 2: Judgment Day And if you want to know more about the Terminator universe, check out the Terminator wiki for info on other movies, TV, games, and even fan fiction Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Danny Mastrangelo and Andrew Wollman join Jen to talk about this week's exciting news for Doctor Who fans, the announcement of the Twelfth Doctor. They discuss what they think of the choice of Peter Capaldi, where the show might be headed with him as the Doctor, and how regenerations affect fans in general, which is quite different from Doctor to Doctor. Just ignore anything Danny and Andrew say about Jen and Bernard Cribbins. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Danny and Andrew on Twitter. You can check out Danny's video game development site Silhouette Games and see his Harold team Harbinger at iO West on Tuesdays at 8pm. You can check out Andrew's tumblr and see him in Doctor Who Live! at iO West at 10:30pm on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. On 8/10/13, Jen will be playing with Doctor Who Live! as well! The official Doctor Who site, which has information on Peter Capaldi and the special announcing him as the Twelfth Doctor In The Loop / The Thick of It The Hour Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

George Ouzounian joins Jen this week to talk about cord-cutting, the trend of cutting cable TV service. With alternatives running the gamut from antennas that receive broadcast networks, to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video, to the availability of nearly any show for those willing to turn to piracy, it hardly seems worth it anymore to put up with the expense and customer service nightmares that have become synonymous with cable providers. George and Jen delve into these alternatives and what, if anything, you might be missing by moving away from traditional cable. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: Follow George on Twitter and see him in see him in the Tournament of Nerds at Upright Citizens Brigade A comprehensive starter guide to cord-cutting Streaming services Amazon Prime Instant Video, Hulu Plus, and Netflix Set top boxes Apple TV and Roku put streaming services on your TV Check Can I Stream It? to find out which services stream or offer digital purchase for your favorite shows and movies Take My Money, HBO! And here's that lady going crazy in the Apple Store at the Grove in LA Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Art Tebbel returns to talk with Jen about what some cartoonists have acknowledged as the last great comic strip: Calvin and Hobbes. Whether having read it in the collected volumes, day to day in the paper, or both, it seems to be one of those very rare things that is loved by everybody who experiences it. From Calvin's alter egos, to whether or not Hobbes really is real, to the last strip, to how much fans are saddened by the lack of a Hobbes doll for kids (or let's face it, many adults) to cuddle at night, to what would make for the best Calvin and Hobbes tattoo, Art and Jen eventually have to rein themselves in since it's obviously possible to go on about this great strip forever. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: You can follow Art on Twitter and check out Box Office Democracy as a blog and podcast Calvin and Hobbes The Complete Calvin and Hobbes box set Dear Mr. Watterson Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

With three days in New York ahead of her, Jen decided to try a bit of what the city has to offer on as many fronts as she could. From pop culture to fine art to great food, she was never disappointed. 72 hours certainly wasn't enough to see everything she wanted to, but it was more than enough to send her back to LA with a smile and looking forward to her next visit. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show links: The Del Close Marathon High Line Park The Meatball Shop The Metropolitan Museum of Art Shopsins Veselka Wafels & Dinges The Way Station Music: Candlepower, The Life and Death of a Certain K. Zabriskie, Patriarch, Mario Brava Sleeps In a Little Later Than He Expected To, Out of the Skies, Under the Earth, I Need to Start Writing Things Down, Laserdisc, Androids Always Escape, Readers! Do You Read?, Virtues Inherited, Vices Passed On, and Air Hockey Saloon by Chris Zabriskie are used under a Creative Commons Attribution License Password by Go! Gadget is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License (Micro Invasion - East Jakarta Chiptunes Compilation (Indonesian Chiptunes) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

Clay Larsen joins Jen to talk about the explosion of amazing board, card, and storytelling games that have fallen under the umbrella of "tabletop games" in recent years. In the interest of trying out each of these categories plus a mix of competitive versus cooperative games, they played the Game of Thrones board game, Gloom, Grit, Pandemic, Zombies!!!, Ticket to Ride, Dominion, and Fiasco. It took a total of 17 hours but they now recommend seven of the eight games they played, though they might not recommend trying to play them all on the same day. If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook! Want to suggest a topic for an episode? Email prepopculture@gmail.com! Show notes: Follow Clay on Twitter and check out his indie improv show Shapeshift, his UCB Beta team Muddleberry, and his amazing photography! Dominion Fiasco The Game of Thrones board game Gloom Grit Pandemic Ticket to Ride Zombies!!! Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.