Podcasts about Stranger than Fiction

This week, Kat takes the mic solo for a special live interview recorded at the exciting atmosphere of Indy Comic Con. Sitting down with a talented Black comic book creator Basi Affia, they dive into a conversation celebrating Black nerdhood, creativity, and a shared love of comics, science fiction, fandom culture, and storytelling. From the power of representation to the joy of creating art that inspires others, this discussion explores what it means to embrace geek culture while carving out space for diverse voices in the comic book world. It is a fun, thoughtful, and energetic conversation that showcases Kat's passion for a few of her favorite topics and highlights the creativity that fuels the worlds we love to escape into. Tune in for a lively conversation about art, imagination, fandom, and the importance of seeing yourself reflected in the stories that shape us. Cheers! *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!About our guest: Basi Affia https://www.sensiilstudios.com/abouthttps://www.instagram.com/sensiilstudioshttps://www.youtube.com/@sensiilstudios**Stranger than Fiction:

Sometimes, the truth is weirder and stranger than anything we could make up -- and that's something a worldbuilder can use to their benefit! Guest Gabriella Buba joins us to talk about building real science into our magical worlds -- and the implications that can, in turn, have about a society's relationship with information, education, and the power structures that both derive from and control them. When blending science and magic together, writers can play with a lot of different factors and considerations. Is magic in a given world really about the movement of electrons or the interaction of chemicals, or is it a truly unexplainable force? What do your characters think about the scientific realities of their world? How do they test theories, and do they have a magical R&D department? And what might be the difference between how much the writer needs to know, how much the characters need to know, and how much the reader needs to know? Finding the balance can be tricky, and won't be the same for every project, but getting it right can add invaluable texture to your world. [Transcript for Episode 182] Our Guest: Gabriella Buba is a mixed Filipina-Czech author-illustrator and chemical engineer based in Texas who likes to keep explosive pyrophoric materials safely contained in pressure vessels or between the covers of her books. She writes epic fantasy for bold, bi, brown women who deserve to see their stories centered. Her debut SAINTS OF STORM AND SORROW, a Filipino-inspired epic fantasy, was shortlisted for the 2025 Aldiss Award for World Building in Speculative Fiction. The sequel DAUGHTERS OF FLOOD AND FURY was a top trending Spotify LGBTQ+ Audiobook title. Her work as part of the anthology Witchcraft: Folk Tales & Horror Short Stories edited by Marie O'Regan & Paul Kane was a #1 New Release on Amazon. She has a Gothic Novella set during the Japanese Occupation of Manila coming with Absinthe Books Spring 2027. Alchemist of Bohemia her next novel will be out May 2027 with Titan Books. She has a Filipino Fantasy short stories in the anthologies Strange Religion: Speculative Fiction of Spirituality, Belief, & Practice & Of Stardust: A Queer Fantastical Anthology volume 1 & 2, Short stories placed with the Sci Phi Journal and PodCastle Fiction and essays on Filipino Identity in Prairie Fire Press and With Love: What We Wish We Knew About Being Queer and Filipino in America.

This week, the hosts take the stage at PopCon Indy for another live podcast adventure! Returning for their third year on the podcast stage, they bring the audience into the fun with a fun trivia game hosted by Kat. Filled with pop culture questions, friendly competition, audience participation, and plenty of laughs, this special live episode captures the energy and spontaneity that listeners have come to love. Whether you're testing your own trivia knowledge or just along for the ride, this episode is a celebration of community, fandom, and having a great time together. Cheers!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you! Thank you to https://www.instagram.com/brandon4kuhd/brandonpetersand https://www.instagram.com/popconnation for the opportunity!Moni: To the sunshine!Kat: To the Panda Fest Indy**Stranger than Fiction:

The Bible is full of beautiful, descriptive, rich, and wonderful truths! It also has some rather… odd… stories than by themselves leave readers with more questions than answers. Passages which on the surface standout as being weird, funny, confusing, or all of the above. This series dives into some of those unique stories to help us mine for the Truth within the curious. Today we look at the story of seven brothers who have a unique encounter with a man possessed by a demon.  Text: Acts 19:11-20Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) May 31, 2026Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction: Why Holy Thursday Changes Everything by Fr. Michael Denk

The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction… His Resurrection Changes Everything by Fr. Michael Denk

Welcome back! This week the ladies review The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. It is a cozy fantasy novel about Mika Moon, a lonely witch who must hide her magic but is recruited to teach three young witches at a mysterious house called Nowhere House, leading her to find a found family and a slow-burn romance with the prickly librarian, Jamie, while navigating the challenges of their secret society and a potential threat to their home.

The Bible is full of beautiful, descriptive, rich, and wonderful truths! It also has some rather… odd… stories than by themselves leave readers with more questions than answers. Passages which on the surface standout as being weird, funny, confusing, or all of the above. This series dives into some of those unique stories to help us mine for the Truth within the curious. Today we look at the story of a man possessed by a legion of demons and the freedom he finds in Jesus.  Text: Genesis 9:18-28Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) May 24, 2026Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

Episode Notes Darren Husted is back with Rob as the men try to decide what to do about the wounded German soldier on the other side of the river.

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And today's podcast features 3 stories that demonstrate that. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Inkling" -- A homicide detective stumbles upon a picture he can't believe is real (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1D-WfCQ7Fs) #2 -- "The Nosebleed" -- A woman's scary nose bleed just won't stop after she returns from a vacation (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt5j9VFQotk) #1 -- "James 3" -- A toddler has a vivid recurring dream, so his parents begin to dig... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhAi2A2dABU)   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back! This week the ladies dive into "The Drama", the uncomfortable, anxiety-inducing A24 film starring  Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. What starts as an awkward romantic drama about an engaged couple heading into their wedding week, quickly spirals into something much darker after a “worst thing you've ever done” conversation goes completely off the rails. Emma reveals a disturbing part of her teenage past, and that one confession detonates the relationship, the "friend"group, and the entire wedding weekend. We break down the film's tense atmosphere, uncomfortable chemistry, and the bigger conversations surrounding alienation, radical honesty, identity, and whether people should be permanently defined by their teenage years. We also discuss how the movie intentionally challenges audience expectations by centering a Black woman in a narrative typically associated with a very different demographic, and whether that changes the level of empathy viewers are willing to extend. If you watched this movie and immediately needed to unpack all of that emotional chaos with somebody, this episode is for you. Cheers!

Sometimes the truth does not just beat fiction. It drags fiction into a basement, ties it to a chair, and whispers, “You thought you were weird?”In this episode of Late Night Legends, Ashley leads the crew through true stories so bizarre, unbelievable, and beautifully deranged that they sound like rejected movie plots, cursed campfire tales, or something Tim would accidentally summon by reading the wrong Wikipedia page at 2:00 AM.Frank, Tim, K, Maria, and Charlie join Ashley for a night of strange-but-true stories, historical weirdness, real-life absurdity, and the kind of facts that make you stare into the middle distance and question whether reality is just improvising at this point.From unbelievable coincidences to real events that feel like urban legends, this one is for anyone who has ever heard a story and said, “There is absolutely no way that happened”… only to find out that yes, unfortunately, it very much did.Here at the Late Night Legends, we think spooky season should last all year long! Join our spooky community to ask the Legends questions, and keep the conversation going! https://discord.gg/kESdgRH47U

Welcome back! This week the ladies jump head first in the "The Cult of NatureBoy", a four-part docuseries that premiered on Hulu (and Disney+) on April 28, 2026. The series, produced by ABC News Studios and Zandland, chronicles the rise and fall of Eligio Bishop, a social media influencer known as "NatureBoy," who founded a controversial cult called Carbon Nation. We break down the rise and fall of NatureBoy, the formation of Carbon Nation, the cult dynamics at play, and how social media helped build a following in plain sight. From charisma and community to manipulation, control, and criminal consequences, this docuseries raises big questions about internet influence, vulnerability, and what happens when “finding yourself” turns into something much darker. If you watched the doc and needed somewhere to process all of that chaos, this episode is for you. Cheers!

On a new episode of FnA, Adam Auslund opens the show recapping the Knicks win over the 76ers & the Spurs taking a 2-1 lead over the Timberwolves. He then dives into James Harden’s constant postseason disappearances & historical fails. The Athletics' Law Murray joins the show to talk about the NBA Postseason storylines, constant referee controversy, LeBron legacy talk, & more! Adam then dissects the back and forth between Charles Barkley and Draymond Green & then the referee narrative surrounding the Lakers & Thunder series + new editions of Geek News, Stranger Than Fiction, & Brie’s Three! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

George C. Parker was an infamous con man. He sold the Brooklyn Bridge countless times. He sold Ulysses S. Grant's tomb. He sold Madison Square Garden. He sold the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He even sold the Statue of Liberty! Most often, the victims of his schemes were new immigrants who didn't speak English and were unfamiliar with America's public property laws. …but… was George C. Parker truly the prolific scammer he claimed to be? The internet sure thinks so! Normie C begs to differ.Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: Asbury Park Press. “Capt. Parker Held For Extradition.” June 30, 1928.Asbury Park Press. “Parker, Famous ‘Seller,' Seized Here, Gets Life.” December 18, 1928.Asbury Park Press. “Parker, Noted Confidence Man, Is Arrested Here.” June 29, 1928.Brooklyn Daily Times. “Famous ‘Con' Man Starts as ‘Lifer.'” November 23, 1928.Brooklyn Daily Times. “Smartest Bunco Salesman Faces Life Term If Convicted.” July 8, 1928.Brooklyn Eagle. “Albert Murch Dies.” August 11, 1931.Brooklyn Eagle. “Brooklyn Bridge's ‘Seller' Sent to Sing Sing For Life.” November 23, 1928.Brown, Peter Jensen. “Bridges, Bunco and Basso - a Gullible History of Selling the Brooklyn Bridge.” Early Sports and Pop Culture History Blog, October 1, 2020. https://esnpc.blogspot.com/2020/10/bridges-bunco-and-basso-gullible.html.Cohen, Gabriel. “For You, Half Price - The New York Times.” The New York Times, November 27, 2005. https://archive.is/5GeA4.Courier-Post. “Bunco Prince Faces Life For $150 Deal.” July 9, 1928.Daily News. “Con Man Uses Love Notes To Gag Dupes.” July 8, 1928.Detroit Free Press. “Selling Brooklyn Bridge.” November 23, 1928.Ellery Queen Magazine. “Stranger Than Fiction.” November 2022. https://www.elleryqueenmysterymagazine.com/the-crime-scene/stranger-than-fiction-november-2022/.Find a Grave. “‘Capt.' George C. Parker (1860-1937).” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/229047420/george_c-parker.HISTORY, dir. Modern Marvels: Building the Brooklyn Bridge (S2, E20) | Full Episode | History. Modern Marvels. 2023. 46:00. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I-JFnbJ19U.HowStuffWorks. “Meet the Conman Who Sold the Brooklyn Bridge — Many Times Over.” July 26, 2022. https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/conman-sold-brooklyn-bridge.htm.IrishCentral.Com. “The Man Who ‘Sold' The Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and Ulysses Grant's Tomb.” February 25, 2026. https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/man-sold-brooklyn-bridge-statue-of-liberty.Lincoln Journal Star. “Bridge ‘Seller' Is Caught in Law's Net.” December 11, 1928.Marysville Journal-Tribune. “Man Who ‘Sold' Brooklyn Bridge Again in Jail; Other Old-Time Crooks Come to Grief In New York.” December 1, 1928.Mimi Matthews. “The 19th Century Confidence Man.” June 20, 2016. https://www.mimimatthews.com/2016/06/20/the-19th-century-confidence-man/.Minium, Alice. “The Untold Truth Of 19th-Century Conman George C. Parker.” Grunge, April 4, 2022. https://www.grunge.com/820192/the-untold-truth-of-19th-century-conman-george-c-parker/.Naked History. “The Man Who Sold the Brooklyn Bridge.” https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114933/https://www.historynaked.com/man-sold-brooklyn-bridge/.NYC Walks. “The Brooklyn Bridge — ‘If You Believe That, I Have a Bridge in Brooklyn to Sell to You.'” https://nycwalks.com/blog/the-brooklyn-bridge-if-you-believe-that-i-have-a-bridge-in-brooklyn-to-sell-to-you/.Racing Nellie Bly. “Con Artist George Parker Sold Brooklyn Bridge And Famous Monuments.” Accessed April 24, 2026. https://racingnelliebly.com/strange_times/con-artist-george-parker-sold-brooklyn-bridge/.Sifakis, Carl. Hoaxes and Scams: A Compendium of Deceptions, Ruses, and Swindles. Facts on File, 1993.“Sing Sing Prison Admission Registers, 1865-1939.” n.d. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8922/.The Brooklyn Citizen. “Man, Suing State, Charged With Forging Contracts.” September 18, 1930.The Brooklyn Citizen. “News of the Day.” July 18, 1892.The Brooklyn Citizen. “Nothing Heard of Criminal Who Skipped Jail.” January 3, 1906.The Brooklyn Citizen. “Old Offender Once Again in Toils of Law.” July 7, 1928.The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. “Once Sold Brooklyn Bridge And Lots in City Hall Park, Rest of Life May Be In Jail.” July 8, 1928.The Brooklyn Daily Times. “Roamer, 58, Is Given Life For Forgery.” December 17, 1928.The Houston Post. “Selling Brooklyn Bridge.” December 26, 1928.The Mayfield Messenger. “Con Man Who ‘Sold' Brooklyn Bridge Gets Life in Prison.” December 18, 1928.The Miami Herald. “Dean of Slickers Given Life Term.” December 18, 1928.The News Journal. “Former Resident of Shore Gets Life Term.” December 18, 1928.The Saginaw News. “His Wasted Sales Talent.” July 10, 1928.The Washington Post. “Life for Brooklyn Bridge Swindler.” December 18, 1928.Times Union. “Big Claimant Against State Recognized by Judge Conway.” September 18, 1930.Times Union. “Lifer Recalls Nervy Escape.” November 23, 1928.Are you enjoying An Old Timey Podcast? Then please leave us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts!Are you *really* enjoying An Old Timey Podcast? Well, calm down, history ho! You can get more of us on Patreon at patreon.com/oldtimeypodcast. At the $5 level, you'll get a monthly bonus episode (with video!), access to our 90's style chat room, plus the entire back catalog of bonus episodes from Kristin's previous podcast, Let's Go To Court.

Just in time for Mother's Day, the hosts explore The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, a moving and multigenerational novel that examines the beautifully complicated relationships between mothers and daughters. Through the stories of four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters, this episode unpacks themes of love, sacrifice, identity, cultural expectations, and inherited trauma. The discussion reflects on generational differences, communication gaps, and the challenge of understanding the women who shaped us. Timely, thoughtful, and relatable, this episode offers listeners a great conversation on family, legacy, and connection ahead of Mother's Day. Cheers!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To all the mothers out there doing the work. Happy Mother's Day.Kat: To all the moms, also to Druski and Mike Epps for bringing "Coulda Been Records" to Indy, and to Angel Reese and her excellence. About the Author and Book: Amy Tan Genre: Literary fiction / historical fiction / family sagaOriginal Publication Date: March 22, 1989 Publisher (first edition): G. P. Putnam's Sons Later publisher/common paperback edition: Penguin Books / Ballantine BooksPage Count: Varies by edition 288-352 pages, Awards/Recognition: Finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction and adapted into the 1993 film The Joy Luck Club.**Stranger than Fiction:

Welcome back FAB friends, this week the ladies reviewed one of the most important and enduring books of the 20th century. "Their Eyes Were Watching God" brings to life a Southern love story with the wit and pathos found only in the writing of Zora Neale Hurston. Out of print for almost thirty years, due largely to initial audiences' rejection of its strong black female protagonist, Hurston's classic has since its 1978 reissue become perhaps the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature. The story follows Janie's journey from a voiceless teenage girl to a self-actualized woman through three marriages in the American South. Tune in to hear why this book is so beloved by the hosts. Cheers!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni:To all of those in the commentt section after Steven Miller's wife said Liberal men were unattractive. No notes...well done!

In this episode, the hosts take a peek at the Season 3 premiere of Euphoria and immediately clock a dramatic tonal shift. With a 4–5 year time jump pushing the characters out of high school and into early adulthood, the glossy, dreamlike aesthetic of earlier seasons gives way to something more raw, gritty, and unfiltered. The episode feels less like stylized chaos and more like a stark plunge into the “wild west” of adulthood. The conversation unpacks the show's signature graphic intensity, questioning whether this new edge signals deeper storytelling or leans too heavily into shock value. The hosts also wrestle with how the women are portrayed in this new chapter. Are these characters being developed with more nuance, or are they still framed through a lens of fantasy and fetishization? As always, the review balances humor, honesty, and cultural critique, asking whether Euphoria is evolving with its characters… or just getting darker with age.*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni & Kat: Cheers to 50 years of love, Happy Anniverasy to the Barneses!! About the Show: Air date: April 12, 2026 on HBODirector: Sam LevinsonWriters: Sam Levinson, Ron Leshem, Daphna LevinProducers: Amy J Schmidt, Julio C. Perez IV, DrakeStars: Zendaya, Coleman Domingo, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeny *Stranger than Fiction:

This week, the hosts explore There There by Tommy Orange. The book intertwines the stories of twelve urban Native characters in Oakland, California. It's a powerful, character-driven novel weaving together lives that at first seem separate, but gradually reveal deep and unexpected connections, all leading to a pivotal and gut wrenching event. As the narrative unfolds, the book explores the lasting impact of generational trauma, cultural erasure, and the search for connection in a modern world. Did the ladies keep every detail perfectly straight? Not quite...but did that stop them? Not even a little. The discussion, much like the book, is layered, complex, and and a lot to juggle all at once. Tune in to hear how it all comes together, Cheers!  *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! Thank you, we love you!Moni: To Druski and his response to criticism about his recent comedy sketch.

Born in 1984, Kai Neville came to surfing at age 11 on the Sunshine Coast, where his dad pushed him into his first waves. He loved it, aspired to be a pro, but soon realized he might be better off behind the camera rather than in front of it. He got a job at McDonald's, saved up for a High-8 Sony Handycam, and started creating short surf films, which led to a job making promo DVDs for Australia's Surfing Life magazine, and then a gig working with renowned filmmaker Taylor Steele. Under Steele, Neville got a crash course in surf filmmaking when he worked on 2008's Stranger Than Fiction, for which he was a videographer and editor.  Neville's first major surf film, 2010's Modern Collective, landed with a major splash. Not only did it announce a group of surfers that would define the decade to come—Jordy Smith, Dane Reynolds, Dion Agius, Yadin Nicol, Mitch Coleborn, Dusty Payne, and Craig Anderson—but it announced Neville's singular vision as the lenspiece of a new generation.  Then came Lost Atlas in 2011, Dear Suburbia in 2012, and Cluster in 2015—all of them oozing with innovative surfing. The Neville thumbprint is distinctive: He has a love of unbridled aerialists. His musical tastes are broad and experimental. His titles are also as eclectic as his eye. For instance, his shorts: "The Quieter You Are, The More You Can Hear." "Welcome Elsewhere." "No One Knows Me Like the Ocean." Along with his surf films, Kai is an accomplished commercial director and photographer, working with brands like Corona, Nike, IWC, Schaffhausen, and Shiseido. He also loves print media, and co-founded What Youth with Travis Ferre. Today, Neville lives with his wife and two boys in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, not far from Byron Bay. In this episode of Soundings, Neville talks with Jamie Brisick about chasing creativity, learning his trade under Taylor Steele, the magnetism of misfit surfers, the art of titling and soundtracking, his enduring love for print, and the grind behind some of his most iconic films.  Presented by Rainbow® Sandals. Produced by Jonathan Shifflett. Music by PazKa (Aska Matsumiya & Paz Lenchantin). Become a TSJ member at surfersjournal.com.

As the wait for the next Best Picture to reveal itself continues, Christine Peruski joins us to discuss her pick , "Stranger Than Fiction"!!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ : @oscarsgold @hidarknesspod @beatlesblonde @udanax19⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ : facebook.com/goldstandardoscars⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ : patreon.com/goldstandardoscars

This week, the hosts dive into The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and for once, they don't see eye to eye. In a rare twist, one host connected with the book while the other didn't, not because of the story itself, but because of its unique vignette-style format. Even with that divide, the conversation proves why this modern classic continues to resonate, sparking thoughtful discussion around voice, identity, and storytelling. You'll have to tune in to find out who was on which side. Cheers!! *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: Happy 90th B-day grandma Barbie. Sending love to all my family!Kat: To Victor Glover https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/victor-j-glover/To "First Contact Day" in the Star Trek  https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/First_Contact_Day, and to Dawn Staley https://www.instagram.com/dawnstaleyTitle: The House on Mango StreetAuthor: Sandra Cisneros: https://www.sandracisneros.com/mylifeandworkPublisher: Vintage Books (a division of Penguin Random House)Original Publication Year: 1984Genre: Coming-of-age / Literary fictionFormat: Series of short vignettes (not a traditional novel structure)Page Count: Typically ~110–130 pages (varies by edition)Notes:Source: The Washington Post: Israeli teens face military drafthttps://share.google/JotMjnrWf8HiLKcFqJosh Johnson's take on Manosphere:https://youtu.be/_JoshJohnsonManosphere**Stranger than Fiction:

I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU DIE is pitched as SCREAM meets STRANGER THAN FICTION, about a horror writer (Rushabh Patel) who realizes their story is coming to life within a dilapidated motel. Now, he needs to help his protagonist (Stephanie Hogan) escape the gruesome fate of being stalked and murdered by a serial killer.I appreciate some of the ideas presented, mainly the idea of someone covering up their internal turmoil with creative endeavors to routinely diminishing results. I like the idea that this writer is now forced to take on a different sort of responsibility to his characters and story; the stakes impose more heavily whenever real flesh and blood are involved.However, i found I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU DIE to be mainly a half-formed smattering of these ideas, often discarding character development and a sense of tension, urgency for meandering runtime-extending conversations and the kind of dream sequences that serve a similar attention-grabbing purpose as waving a set of keys in front of a baby's face.I think this team has potential but this movie ain't it.---I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU DIE is now available to watch, buy or rent via video on demand.Follow The Movies on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Throw a couple dollars in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tip jar!⁠

This is a Soul Sessions Extra, a shorter form episode focused on one thing we think you need to know about right now. And today, that's the second annual Stranger Than Fiction film series. Four documentary screenings at the Capri across the month of April, brought to you by the Mississippi Film Society and made possible in part by a grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission.

Could qualifying for the World Cup between to countries lead to war?! It's just soccer, right? It was more than that between Honduras and El Salvador.  Heated history and the love of futbol leads to much more.  

This week the ladies didn't read a book, they read the headlines. In this perfectly timed “fake book club” episode, the hosts showed up ready to connect, laugh, and unpack what's happening in the world. The episode leans into current events, and pop culture shaping the timeline, from global tensions and viral AI-generated propaganda circulating out of Iran and the US, to the cultural conversation sparked by Druski's Erika Kirk parody. They also touch on the recent Verzuz matchup  between Tyrese and Tank, insights from Jay-Z's recent interview with GQ, and much more. Just a reminder that this “book club” is really about showing up, staying curious, and having real conversations. Cheers!

Adam Ausland talks about why the MJ vs. LeBron debate isn't worth having and how Jordan himself would agree, Stranger Than Fiction, the struggles for the Rockets and Ime Udoka, and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stranger Than Fiction w/ Mr. B on Freeform, Portland (29 March 2026) (Edited Aircheck) Playlist Mr. B. used two more excerpts from one of my Mini-Mutations on his show again, which means I can make one last push for you to see the Willamette River Basin tour, coming near you, soon!   https://ia600806.us.archive.org/13/items/stranger-thank-fiction-29-march-2026-edited/Stranger%20Thank%20Fiction%2029%20March%202026%20Edited.mp3   Here’s more … Continue reading Stranger Than Fiction w/ Mr. B on Freeform, Portland (29 March 2026)

In this episode, the hosts dive into Louis Theroux's: Inside the Manosphere, Netflix documentary exploring the rise of online spaces centered around modern masculinity and “red pill” ideology. They unpack what the manosphere is, why it resonates with so many men, and how its messaging around success, relationships, and identity can be both appealing and concerning. The conversation takes a thoughtful turn as they examine the broader implications of this rhetoric,not just for men, but for women and society as a whole. Blending curiosity, critique, and real conversation, the hosts reflect on what the documentary reveals, what it leaves unanswered, and why it's sparking so much discussion right now. Tap in and join the conversation. Cheers!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni:Two of my favorite social media accounts right now: https://www.instagram.com/_paperplanet_& https://www.threads.com/@montemader .Also to China spoofing White House picture on social media: https://youtube.com/shorts/HsWYQPZvZM8?si=hh3MDtNan3EmTmJaKat: To the 2 books I read this week, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë' and Project Hail Mary:A Novel by Andy Weir. (Show off!) lol NOTES:Released date on Netflix: March 11, 2026 Creator / Host: Louis TherouxDirector: Adrian ChoaRuntime: ~90–91 minutes Rating: TV-MA Genre: DocumentaryAbout Louis Theroux: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Therouxhttps://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/louis-theroux-inside-the-manosphere-release-date-newshttps://deadline.com/2026/03/piers-morgan-hstikkytokky-netflix-inside-manosphere-1236760114/https://www.netflix.com/tudum/louis-theroux-inside-the-manosphere**Stranger than Fiction:

The American Radicals Podcast covers federal student loans, deporting illegal alien military veterans, Big Tech "helping" with Americans' energy bills, and trigger warnings for Shakespeare. Check us out on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/09AZ2WuYnWbZ2941wsb6jW?si=76c005605dc64dc1 https://www.fox5dc.com/news/quadruple-amputee-professional-cornhole-player-faces-murder-charges https://www.npr.org/2026/03/18/nx-s1-5751216/medicaid-minnesota-fraud-explained https://www.npr.org/2026/03/19/nx-s1-5753906/student-loans-trump-treasury https://www.propublica.org/article/microsoft-cloud-fedramp-cybersecurity-government https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/03/24/ai-big-tech-energy-bills/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/us/politics/veterans-deport-immigrants-trump.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/16/william-shakespeare-birthplace-trust-white-supremacy-empire/ https://reason.com/2026/03/22/murder-in-antarctica/

Stranger Than Fiction w/ Mr. B on Freeform, Portland (22 March 2026) (Edited Aircheck) Playlist I offer my continued thanks and gratitude to Mr. B of the “Stranger Than Fiction” radio show, who promoted our tour yet again on his show on the 22nd of March. Above you can hear an edited version of the … Continue reading Stranger Than Fiction w/ Mr. B on Freeform, Portland (22 March 2026)

Karen answers a listener's question about vaginal biofilms. What are they and why do they make recurrent BV and yeast infections so hard to treat? She explains how these bacterial or fungal communities form protective layers that resist standard treatment, reviews options that may help break the cycle and looks at at-home microbiome testing.Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.

Awards season is in full swing and while Hollywood is busy polishing statues and rolling out the red carpet for the Oscars, over here at the Fake Ass Book Club the ladies are getting ready for something just as prestigious… or at least as entertaining. This week they are looking back at the past year and handing their own F.A.B. Awards for the best books, looks, moments, and highlights. So grab your imaginary red carpet fit and join them as they celebrate the best, the boldest, and the most unforgettable books and episodes of the year at the 4th annual FAB Awards. Cheers!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To the best patrons in the world!! Thank you!Moni: To the lovers and artists out there (Side dedication to Hattie M Daniel

Stranger Than Fiction w/ Mr. B on Freeform, Portland (Edited Aircheck) Playlist Mr. B of the “Stranger Than Fiction” radio show in Portland, Oregon, was kind enough to include some music by Don Haugen and Austin Rich, and talk up the “Willamette River Basin” Tour that is happening at the beginning of April. Above you’ll … Continue reading Stranger Than Fiction w/ Mr. B on Freeform, Portland

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And today's podcast features 3 stories that demonstrate that. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "What's Wrong with Mommy?" -- Christmas day becomes a nightmare (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JPEtNglQ4o) #2 -- "Stealing a Slice" -- A standoff in a Domino's takes a wild turn (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6bh7mhT1Lk) #1 -- "Peak Experience" -- A man wakes up after an avalanche in a life and death situation (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6m1ImVG1MQ)   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 In this episode titled March Fakeness, the hosts switch things up with one of their signature Fake A$$ episodes. With no book on the agenda this week, they dive into a mix of the headlines, pop culture conversations, and internet moments that have been making noise lately. From current events to the latest cultural chatter, the hosts share their reactions, questions, and hot takes on what's been showing up in their feeds. After sorting through the week's mess, they wrap things up with a palate cleanser, talking about what they've been watching lately and what's worth adding to your own queue. It's a relaxed, wide-ranging conversation filled with curiosity, commentary, and the kind of tangents that make a Fake Ass episode a fan favorite. Cheers!!!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication:To our patrons thank you we love you!Moni:Shout out to Brotha2daknight also to Roderick! And to.... family!Kat:The Reel Poppycock podcast…and to @freerod05 for leaving a nice comment on YouTube.NOTES:Kristi Noem Fired: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/05/nx-s1-5667546/kristi-noem-homeland-security-fired Her replacement:  Mark Wayen Mullen from Oklahoma  https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/03/05/who-is-markwayne-mullin-dhs-noem/89002885007/Iran Wa https://www.npr.org/2026/03/06/nx-s1-5737627/iran-us-military-poll-trump-approvalhttps://www.npr.org/2026/03/07/nx-s1-5734381/white-house-messaging-iran-us-israel-warMandani “soft on crime?”https://veraaction.org/resource/five-takeaways-on-crime-in-the-new-york-city-mayoral-primary-making-meaning-of-the-election-results/AES privatized in Indiana: https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/state-treasurer-indiana-aes-blackrock-deal-electric-utilitiesA nearly $800 AES bill on their deceased fathers vacant home:https://fox59.com/news/indianapolis-family-frustrated-by-700-aes-bills-for-vacant-home/TI vs 50 Explained https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/980748-50-cent-t-i-beef-explained-hip-hop-news#google_vignette https://youtube.com/shorts/ddkkty9uOLc?si=r5G_agw8u7V-546h Domani Harris Diss Track: Ms.Jackson :https://youtu.be/dzMrgneToTo?si=_Kp3RN02YAFJjcv5King Harris Dis Track: https://youtu.be/xwzPfqehQBs?si=J7mV_2YX-5aePVcSThe N word heard around the world: The BAFTAs: The British Academy Film Awards is an annual film award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to honor the best British and international film contributions.https://deadline.com/2026/03/warner-bros-fury-bbc-bafta-debacle-tense-meeting-1236744940/https://www.npr.org/2026/02/23/nx-s1-5724001/baftas-tourettes#:~:text=The%20statement%20identified%20Davidson%20as,including%20swear%20words%20and%20slurs.**Stranger than Fiction:

Part 1 of our series Stranger Than Fiction!

This week, the hosts review Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, a sweeping multi-generational novel that traces the descendants of two half-sisters from 18th-century Ghana into the modern era. One sister, Effia, lives above the dungeon of Cape Coast Castle; the other, Esi, is imprisoned below and sold into American slavery. From that pivotal separation, the book follows their children and grandchildren across centuries, continents, and systems of power. Through alternating chapters, Gyasi explores the legacy of slavery, colonialism, identity, belonging, resilience, and generational trauma. Each descendant wrestles with the inherited shadows of the past, from plantations and Jim Crow to migration, incarceration, and cultural disconnection. The hosts unpack the book's structure, thematic depth, and emotional resonance, reflecting on how history lives in individual lives long after its origins. It's a layered, compassionate conversation that centers legacy, memory, and the ways personal story intertwines with collective history. Cheers!Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you! Moni & Kat: To the ancestors, old and new!About the  Book: :https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/533857/homegoing-by-yaa-gyasi/Title: Homegoing Author: Yaa Gyasi Genre: Historical Fiction Published: 2016 (Moni states 2026 in error) Pages: 320 (first edition)About the Author:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_GyasiYaa Gyasi is a Ghanaian-American novelist. Her work, most notably her 2016 debut novel Homegoing and her 2020 novel Transcendent Kingdom, features themes of lineage, generational trauma, and Black and African identities.WikipediaBorn: 1989 (age 37 years), Mampong, GhanaParents: Kwaku Gyasi, Sophia GyasiEducation: Stanford University, Grissom High School, University of IowaAwards: PEN/Hemingway Award, Audie Award for Literary Fiction & Classics, American Book AwardF.A.B. Episodes mentioned on the show:https://www.spreaker.com/episode/GreatGatsbyEpisodehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/-review-of-ketera-of-punishment-island-on-netflix--56231879**Stranger than Fiction:

In this conversation, Britten welcomes TMT 2025 alums Christine Gutierrez, Kate Eastridge, and Katrine Waugh to reflect on what it was like to ride the emotional waves of The Magician's Table through the lens of the Prince of Cups. Together, they share how they found the container, what they brought to practice, and what unfolded as they entered initiation weekend, navigated vulnerability, strengthened self-trust, and emerged with deeper confidence in their magic. This episode traces the arc of saying yes, being held, and carrying the medicine forward into the world.   Topics They Cover:  How each of them found The Magician's Table: from podcast serendipity to repeated returns to the sales page to the quiet build-up of the idea that they can be a part of this bigger thing What they brought to the container (mediumship, astrology, tarot) and how their practice evolved through consistent weekly readings and exchange The initiation weekend experience and what it felt like to enter a structured, intimate space that is designed to hold you The emotional rhythm of the container: nervousness, imposter feelings, surprise and delight, strengthening self-trust, and the feeling of time outside of time The power of structure and community: being witnessed, building integrity, honing skills, and learning to hold space for others  What it felt like to close the container and why they'd say yes again (and encourage others to honor the pull if they feel it) THE DOORS TO THE 2026 MAGICIAN'S TABLE ARE NOW OPEN! The Magicians of the Class of 2026 are taking their seats!  THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY NIGHT, MARCH 4! The only way to apply to TMT is to be on the mailing list. Join it now and you will receive the link to the application. About Christine Gutierrez: Christine is a certified hypnotist, performer, writer, spirit channel and mother. A student and practitioner of meditation for three decades, she creates calm, sacred spaces designed to support transformation and inner exploration. Her approach is intuitive, compassionate, and collaborative, with each journey uniquely crafted—whether guiding someone to ease anxiety, release limiting patterns, or deepen spiritual insight. Christine believes that both the subconscious and the luminous field hold hidden keys to growth and healing, waiting to be discovered. Her training includes certification as a hypnotist through the Hypnosis Motivation Institute and ongoing study in Evidence Based Hypnosis with Desiree Eckert. She has also studied spirit channeling and mediumship under the mentorship of Allison Pharmakis, founder of Medium for the Message. LINKS: http://www.theluminousfield.co https://theluminousfield.beehiiv.com/   About Kate Eastridge: With more than twenty years working behind the scenes in film and television, Kate Eastridge built a career helping bring imagined worlds to life. Before she ever stepped onto a set, she was captivated by stories of reinvention and reckoning blended with the farcical rhythm and profound questions of an existential comedy.   Drawn to stories that bend time such as Groundhog Day and Palm Springs or the sudden presence of an omniscient voice narrating one's life in Stranger Than Fiction.  Kate seeks stories about awareness. About how one's perceptions might change when we shine a light on the cycle of what's happening right now.   Kate's original fascination with astrology and use of tarot as tools for creative writing and character development led her to explore how tools of divination to prompt reflection while laughing her way through her own hero's journey.    If you feel inspired to walk with her ... you can find Kate at kateeastridge.com  or @kate.eastridge on Instagram.     About Katrine Waugh: Katrine Waugh, she/her, is devoted to the consciousness of night, the liminal spaces which fertilize our waking moments. As an Astrologer and Artist she's passionate about helping people to remember their innate belonging to this universe. She believes that each revolution of breath is a birth which offers a return to our sacred inner flame which can never be extinguished. She is the Mother of two feisty girls and runs a House keeping business called "Mama's Twelfth House Cleaning". She considers all of her roles in life to be training for deeper understanding of how to hold space for reciprocity and care. You can find Katrine in her instagram page @GeminiiWaves where a garden of offerings are being planted, tended and will soon grow.  +++   Learn More about The Magician's Table:  The Magician's Table is a 3-month container for personal growth, community connection, and practice growing one's tools as an intuitive and magical practitioner. Doors open on Sunday, February 22nd, with an early bird window and a Pick Your Tuition model offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Britten invites you to take your time attuning to the container, exploring the course page, and feeling into whether this experience is a true yes for you. Join the waitlist: ​​https://mailchi.mp/brittenlarue/tmt-2026-waitlist  Visit the course page: https://brittenlarue.com/course/the-magicians-table/    +++   Introducing the 13th Readers for 2026:  Arizona Smith: @arizonasmithhealing  Leanne Thurogood: @oftheearthesoteric Lily Hussey: @goodhussey Suprasensory Shahir: @suprasensoryshahir   +++   E M E R G E N C E  A S T R O L O G Y ⁠⁠https://brittenlarue.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@brittenlarue Order Living Astrology Join my newsletter here Check out my new podcast CRYSTAL BALLERS on Spotify, Podbean, and Apple.   +++   Podcast art: Angela George. Podcast music: Jonathan Koe.  

We're joined by Bad Religion co-founder and Epitaph Records founder Brett Gurewitz at Brain Dead Studios in Hollywood, CA. We discuss growing up in the West San Fernando Valley, discovering the Ramones in the late 70s, meeting Greg Graffin and Jay Bentley at El Camino Real High School and starting Bad Religion in the quad, founding Epitaph to put out the Bad Religion 7", the entire BR discography, leaving the band right before the overnight success of Offspring's Smash, rejoining for Process of Belief, his thoughts on streaming as it dominates the music landscape today, and his favorite hardcore records ever. A genuine honor with a genuine legend and one of the best punk songwriters to ever live. Check out Colin's hand picked Bad Religion playlist of hits and deep cuts and enjoy: Spotify & Apple Music. _______________ Cool links: • Get 15% off DUNABLE GUITARS with code HARDLORE: https://dunableguitars.com • Get 15% off TIMELESS COFEE site-wide, including coffee subscriptions, cookies and cakes with code HARDLORE. _______________ 00:00:00 - Start 00:00:48 - Brett Gurewitz, Epitaph Records in 2025/2026 00:02:26 - Growing Up in the San Fernando Valley, Finding Music, CCR 00:06:44 - From Elton John to the Ramones: Discovering Punk 00:08:40 - Meeting Greg Graffin & Jay Bentley, Starting Bad Religion 00:16:29 - When Does It Become "Bad Religion"? 00:19:40 - What is Punk, and What is Hardcore? 00:23:28 - The "Crossbuster" & The Bad Religion Logo (Fritz Quadrata Pro Bold) 00:27:32 - Starting Epitaph Records For the BAD RELIGION S/T 7" 00:36:41 - HOW COULD HELL BE ANY WORSE? 00:50:02 - INTO THE UNKNOWN... Selling 10,000 Records (and getting them all back) 00:53:13 - Going to Rehab/Leaving Bad Religion 00:55:17 - Pardon This Interruption... 00:58:32 - Epitaph During 1983-1987, Rejoining Bad Religion, West Beach Studios 01:04:54 - The Beach Boys to the The Adolescents to Bad Religion 01:06:56 - SUFFER... Operation Ivy, NOFX, Growth in Epitaph & As an Engineer 01:10:47 - NO CONTROL... Learning from Suffer, Doing Everything with Integrity, Tribute to the Germs 01:17:05 - Greg Songs That Gave Him Goosebumps, No Control Title Track 01:20:35 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, I Want Something More, Tape Editing in Recording 01:24:40 - AGAINST THE GRAIN... Being Insecure With 21st Century Digital Boy, Songwriting, Picking Singles 01:30:45 - Touring For Bad Religion By 1990 01:32:40 - GENERATOR... Never Writing on Drugs, Split 7" With Noam Chomsky, Bobby Schayer 01:36:20 - RECIPE FOR HATE... American Jesus, Eddie Vedder, Touring While Balancing Epitaph, Struck A MF Nerve 01:41:39 - Bad Religion Leaving Epitaph & Signing to Atlantic 01:45:31 - STRANGER THAN FICTION... Andy Wallace, Better Off Dead, Falling Off the Wagon 01:49:49 - Leaving Bad Religion, Offspring's Smash, Rancid's ... And Out Come The Wolves, Feel The Darkness Re-Release 01:57:44 - Brian Baker, Losing Contact with The Band 01:59:24 - The Landscape of Music Changing, Napster, Torrents, &  Brett's Thoughts on Spotify 02:12:39 - PROCESS OF BELIEF... Returning to Bad Religion, Brooks Wackerman, Sorrow 02:20:15 - EMPIRE STRIKES FIRST... L.A. Is Burning, The Iraq War, Why Brett Doesn't Play With BR Now 02:24:38 - NEW MAPS OF HELL, THE DISSENT OF MAN, TRUE NORTH, AGE OF UNREASON... 02:31:28 - Brett's Top 4 Hardcore Records HardLore: A Knotfest Series, Fueled by Monster EnergyEdited by Steven Grise • Title sequence by Nicholas MarzlufJoin the HARDLORE PATREON to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episodes.Join the HARDLORE DISCORD for community discussions and to participate in our future Q&A episodes.FOLLOW HARDLORE: INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, SPOTIFY, APPLEFOLLOW COLIN: INSTAGRAMFOLLOW BO: INSTAGRAM, TWITTER For sponsorship opportunities, email us! hardlore@knotfest.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, the hosts revisit the cultural chaos of early 2000s reality television through the lens of the documentary Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model  on Netflix. What a time to be alive! From the era that brought viewers Flavor of Love, I Love New York, Jersey Shore, The Real World, and Paris Hilton's reality TV dominance, the conversation explores how shock value, humiliation, and boundary-pushing became entertainment staples. At the center of the discussion is Tyra Banks' assertion that she was simply producing the content audiences wanted more of. The hosts critically examine that defense, questioning whether demand absolves creators of accountability. They unpack how reality television shaped beauty standards, normalized problematic behavior, and blurred the line between competition and exploitation. From controversial challenges to moments that feel deeply uncomfortable in hindsight, the episode explores what responsibility producers hold when entertainment has real-world impact.*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To positive personal growth and evoulution, Forgotten dedication: RIP Jesse JacksonKat: Dr Steven Hassan https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-modelRelease Date: The 3 part series premiered on Netflix on February 16, 2026.https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/reality-check-inside-americas-next-top-model-release-date-newsAbout the creators of the Doc: The series was directed by Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan (also co-executive producers). Executive producers are Ryan Miller, Jason Beekman, Vanessa Golembewski, Jon Adler, Amanda Spain, Ian Orefice, and Jonna McLaughlin. **Stranger than Fiction:

On a new episode of FnA, Kevin Figgers & Adam Auslund debate the NBA tanking solutions/rules that Adam Silver and the NBA league office plan to enact next season. The guys then discuss the narrative surrounding Myles Garrett’s comments about staying with the Browns or leaving the franchise for a ring + Adam and Kev dive into the various older athletes trying to force a comeback in their respective sports. FOX Sports NBA Insider & Essentially Sports Writer Mark Medina joins the show to recap Lakers and Clippers, the NBA tanking drama + new editions of Stranger Than Fiction & Brie’s Three! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back! With Valentine's Day serving as the perfect backdrop for the conversation, the ladies review Relationship Goals, the Prime Video film inspired by the bestselling book by Pastor Michael Todd. They examine the movie's portrayal of love, faith, and personal transformation, breaking down what resonated and what felt oversimplified.The discussion expands beyond the film into a broader exploration of purity culture, prosperity-based messaging, and how spiritual teachings can shape expectations around dating and marriage. From performative preaching styles to the idea of faith as a formula for relational success, the hosts thoughtfully unpack how influence, charisma, and theology intersect with real-life relationship work. The convo is full of strong feelings and opinions, so grab an even stronger drink and join the fun. Cheers!

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Draft2Digital, Bookshop DRM, Harper's Bazaar Short Story Contest, and AI Slop books. Then, stick around for a chat with Benjamin Hale!Benjamin Hale is the author of the novel The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore (Twelve, 2011), the short fiction collection The Fat Artist and Other Stories (Simon & Schuster, 2016), and the nonfiction book Cave Mountain: A Disappearance and a Reckoning in the Ozarks (HarperCollins, 2026).  He has received the Bard Fiction Prize, a Michener-Copernicus Award, and nominations for the Dylan Thomas Prize and the New York Public Library's Young Lions Fiction Award. His writing has appeared, among other places, in Conjunctions, Harper's Magazine, the Paris Review, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Dissent and the LA Review of Books Quarterly, and has been anthologized in Best American Science and Nature Writing.  He is a senior editor at Conjunctions, teaches at Bard College and Columbia University, and lives in a small town in New York's Hudson Valley. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On a new episode of FnA, Kevin Figgers & Adam Auslund wonder if there’s anything that can be done to fix the NBA All-Star Game as there seems to be way more attention on off the court stories, then dive into the decline of the different All-Star festivities + react to the news to Chris Paul announcing his retirement. The guys then debate Maxx Crosby trade destinations, and circle back to the NBA & what needs to change when it comes to the tanking dilemma. The Athletic’s Law Murray stops by to talk everything ASG related + new editions of Stranger Than Fiction & Brie’s Three! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, in honor of Black History Month, the ladies review Percival Everett's powerful and provocative novel The Trees. They begin with the book's gripping premise: when detectives from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation arrive in Money, Mississippi to investigate a series of brutal murders, they discover something unsettling at each crime scene, a second body resembling Emmett Till. Met with resistance from local law enforcement and racist townsfolk, the detectives begin to suspect these killings are acts of retribution. As eerily similar murders begin unfolding across the country, it becomes clear that the past refuses to stay buried and that something larger is underway.In this bold and biting page turner, Everett confronts the legacy of lynching, white supremacy, and racial violence in America with sharp satire and unflinching honesty. The hosts unpack the novel's layered storytelling, dark humor, historical weight, and cultural commentary, discussing how it challenges readers while refusing comfort. It is a thought provoking conversation about memory, justice, and what it means when history demands to be reckoned with. Cheeers!SPOILERS & Trigger Warning: This book discusses the use of racial slurs, racial violence, racial hatred, lynchings, and other forms of racist behavior. Depictions of violence in this novel are graphic. *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To Carter G Woodson the father of Black History Month, to all the victims of racial violence in America and around the world past and present, to my mother in law, get well soon & I love you!Kat: To the man who found and returned my wallet in Kroger, thank you. To the series Wonder Man.About the book:https://www.npr.org/2021/09/22/1039434714/percival-everett-the-trees-reviewThe Trees was published by Graywolf Press in 2021. The Trees was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2022. Pages: Approximately 288–320/8 hours Author:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31723. Percival Everett is the author of 22 novels. He has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and is a Guggenheim Fellow (2015).NPR Book Review:https://www.npr.org/2021/09/22/1039434714/percival-everett-the-trees-reviewMoni learned a new word: Nescience: lack of knowledge or ignorance (nesh-ence)Other topics on the show:Monkey Obama Meme/Trump https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-shares-racist-video-depicting-obamas-monkeys-rcna257756Surrage mix up: https://people.com/couple-sues-fertility-clinic-after-welcoming-baby-girl-not-biologically-related-to-them-11895783Epstein Files: No blacks allowed  https://www.ms.now/news/epstein-emailed-with-silicon-valley-elites-about-racist-eugenicist-ideas**Stranger than Fiction:

On a new episode of FnA, Kevin Figgers & Adam Auslund discuss the lower than normal hype surrounding Super Bowl 60, then dive into the some moves that happened before the NBA trade deadline, Giannis Antetokounmpo staying put in Milwaukee + other good, bad, whatever moves around the NBA. The guys then discuss this NFL coaching cycle & the lack of diversity in hiring, and possible reasons behind it. 13 year NFL Veteran Ephraim Salaam joins the show to talk Pro Football Hall of Fame voting techniques, playing in the Super Bowl + new editions of Stranger Than Fiction & Brie’s Three! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a new episode of FnA, Adam Auslund holds down the fort with KFigg out, & discusses all the media & talk surrounding Josh Allen & the Bills devastating loss, then dives into how the Golden States Warriors are being selfish when it comes to Steph Curry’s career. Adam then explains why this could be Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl to lose & wonders if newly crowned College Football Champion Indiana was ACTUALLY that good. Former All-Pro NFL safety Kerry Rhodes stops by to discuss is the Broncos still have a show without Bo Nix, his thoughts on the coaching carousel, his picks for Conference Championship Weekend + new editions of Stranger Than Fiction, Geek News & Brie’s Three! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Figgers and Adam Auslund fill in for Big Ben and recap the Cotton Bowl between Miami and Ohio State & discuss if there’s anything that could make bowl games more watchable + an edition of Stranger Than Fiction! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And today's podcast features 3 stories that demonstrate that. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast.Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos:#3 -- "Don't Mess With Doug" -- They picked the WRONG house (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzMwI_KMjr8)#2 -- "The Ring" -- Something is trapped inside the box... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK6MIl28b-8)#1 -- "Strange Calls" -- A fishing trip turns into a nightmare for 4 men (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0E0Br_PY28) For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.