Character Progression

Welcome to the introductory episode of Pod Pilot!  This is a sister Series to Character Progression and a new project for me that's all about giving each episode's guest a chance to be vocal about their passions!  Whether that's by allowing people to talk about them, coming up with creative avenues to get them out to the public, or giving people a stage to debate...this is all about you and the things you care about.  This series will release new episodes bi-weekly, during the off weeks of Character Progression so that you'll never have a week go by without some new material for you to listen to.  I hope you enjoy this episode and that you come back in two weeks for the next episode of Pod Pilot!

Starting season 2 off with a bang!  Unfortunately, that bang started a fire that destroyed the home and parents of the newly orphaned Baudelaire orphans.  Luckily, their dear Count Olaf will be there to take them into his home and our dear Lemony Snicket will be there to tell the tale!  Whether with Jim Carrey or Neil Patrick Harris, the story of these children who invent, read, and bite has captured the imaginations of millions through books, Nickelodeon movies, and Netflix shows.  And now they find a new home in the one medium they have yet to explore...unscripted audio conversations on the internet!

Eight months into this passion project called Character Progression and it's time to make this monster grow!  Both with the announcement of season 2 and the introduction of a new sister series called Pod Pilot!  Want to know what's going on?  Check out this episode to find out!

Few shows become part of the cultural zeitgeist as soon as they come out.  Friends did, The Simpsons did, and The Office did.  These shows didn't just have their finger on the pulse of what audiences wanted, they changed the beat to suit themselves.  And, with The Office still being the most streamed show on Netflix, it really says something when people still argue about when it was better than the producer's next show, Parks and Rec!  No matter what side you're on, there's no denying that Parks & Rec is an all-time classic show.  With character's like Ron Swanson and Andy Dwyer being endlessly quotable and launching Chris Pratt's career.  But none of that would have happened without the show's star, Amy Poehler, and her iconic portrayal of the  Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, Leslie Knope!

Phase three of the MCU has come to a close.  And with it, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been through a lot of changes.  Whether that's Captain America passing on the shield to Falcon, 2014 Gamora running around, or just the fact that many of the characters lost five years.  But no change has hit the universe or fans as hard as the death of Tony Shark...also known as Iron Man!  Between creating Ultron, escalating the super hero Civil War, or getting drunk while in his suit, Tony's flaws often got the better of him.  However, he always fought his way back and, through personal strength and determination, always found a way to win.  And that's the way we choose to remember him.  Not just as a superhero, but as a man!

For the Duck family in DuckTales, life was like a hurricane, there in Duckberg.  Scrooge McDuck, Launchpad, Donald Duck, Webby, Huey, Dewey, and Louie had used race cars, lasers, and airplanes to do everything from solve and mystery to rewriting history!  Few TV shows bring as many good memories as those from the Disney Afternoon block.  But, as great as Talespin, Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and Darkwing Duck were...there was something special about the wild adventures of the McDuck family.  Maybe it was the wild adventures or maybe it was scrooge's swan dives into his money bin.  But if you ask me, it was the fact that all of Scrooge's riches would've meant nothing if his family wasn't there to show him what real wealth is!

When you think of superheroes, who comes to mind?  Batman?  Spider-Man?  Iron Man?  Captain America?  They're all heroes, and some of the greatest examples in comics book history.  But none of them would exist without the inspiration of two men from Cleveland, when they created Clark Kent.  A reporter for the Daily Planet who grew up in Smallville...and is also know as DC Comics' Superman!  So with today being the Fourth of July, there didn't seem like a better time to do an episode all about the hero of heroes who stands for Truth, Justice, and the American Way!

Disney's library of original animated shows is second to none!  Shows like  Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers  and  TaleSpin  breathed new life into old characters.  Meanwhile Darkwing Duck and Adventures of the Gummi Bears forged their own paths with new shows.  And while all of them were fantastic, there was something special about Gargoyles!  Maybe it was the multicultural characters, the cast of Star Trek alumni, the adult themes, or the literary allusions, but this show stood out among a sea of other quality animated series.  Goliath, Elisa, Demona, Brooklyn, Hudson, Bronx, Broadway, and Lexington roared onto our tv's and have stood the test of time.  Even garnering interest from Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us).  This week's we're showing some love to the clan's jalapeno eating, Shakespeare reading, noir watching, warrior...Broadway!

William Shakespeare is considered to be one of the greatest playwrights of all time!  With classic's like Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth (aka The Scottish Play), there's no end to his talent and influence.  But the main characters aren't always the most influential.  For example, Hamlet is the story about a Danish prince who's on a quest to avenge the murder of his father.  For my guest this week, that isn't relatable at all.  But Ophelia, Hamlet's scorned lover who had her agency stolen by those she trusted until she had nothing left.  That possibility rings far truer.

The Yellow Hammer Fund