Frank & Sense

Nicole Vaunt returns to the show for the smuttiest and most blood sucking-est podcast episode ever! Grab a pair of tiny sunglasses, put on some hip-hop, and prepare to talk the spicy vampires of J.R. Ward's "Dark Lover." We talk about vampire powers, vampire aristocracy, vampire butlers, and oh so much more! We also talk about about changing attitudes towards the romance genre, the digitization of books, and how the internet has built community around romance. Will this podcast have a happily ever after? Tune in now to find out!

Check out Katie Futisch's article "Unguilty Pleasures: My Year of Reading Romance Novels."

Follow Nicole on her new Instagram page!

Believe science. The science of the X-Men, that is! Professor Z (aka Zachary Fern) returns to the show to talk about the science of the X-Men. Both the science itself, and the 2000 book by Link Yaco and Karen Haber. Before we do that, Zach and Frank do some CorreXions from our previous episode to clarify a few points that our audience brought to our attention. After that, we talk about all sorts of X-Men: Jean Grey, Iceman, Kitty Pryde, and Rogue. What would it take for their powers to be possible in our world? There's only one way to find out. Listen now to find out how!

X-celsior! Zach Fernebok, Matt Sparacino, and Greg Twomey return to the show to talk about "X-Men '97" and the state of the nostalgia industrial complex. It's been two years since "X-Men '97" season one, and a lot has happened in Marvel and the MCU. We talk about what made season one so successful and not just a hollow cash grab. We also talk about what we love about the X-Men - especially the themes of othering and oppression. Then we get into "X-Men '97" season two. Should it have been titled X-Men '98? Probably! But, putting that aside, what did we like about it? What didn't work? And will we ever see X-Men: Love Island? Tune in now to find out!

Full spoiler warning after about 25 minutes or so! You have been warned.

Far Right Fright Nights is coming soon! Over the course of three episodes this October, we will be profiling a spine-tingling, fright-tastic ghoul of the far right. This year, Mitch Lerner and I are each selecting one ghoul to cover. But for our third episode, we want to do something a little different. That's right - we want to let you, the fans, select the topic for our third episode! Check out the Frank & Sense newsletter and our social media next week to cast your ballot for who you'd like us to cover in our third episode!

ENCORE! In two weeks, we'll be covering "X-Men '97" Season 2 (now airing on Disney+). So what better way to get ready for that episode than by revisiting this classic episode from the Frank & Sense vaults? This episode originally debuted on July 5, 2024. Check it out, and we'll see you again in two weeks for our coverage of "X-Men '97" Season 2!

X-celsior! Frank is joined by X-Men x-pert Zach Fernebok and Matt Sparacino to discuss all things X-Men. We discuss the history of the characters, the arc of the comics, the film adaptations, and the x-cellent new series "X-Men '97." We also discuss our personal history with the X-Men, who would make our X-Men Mt Rushmore, and much more. Put on your black leather (or blue and canary yellow) outfit and join us for an x-tra special episode!

Follow Frank & Sense on Instagram and Bluesky! Sign up for the newsletter here!

Jason Consolacion, Greg Twomey, and Ashley Arnold return to the show to talk about "Supergirl," the 2026 film about...well, Supergirl! We discuss our relationship with the character and then do a brief overview of the history of the character. We also talk through the plot of the movie, some of the (dumb) controversy around it, and the misogyny of it all. We also take some listener questions and get an exclusive interview with one of the stars of the movie! All of that plus another edition of one of our favorite games. Come learn how three is half of five!

Ali Grusell returns to the show for our very first travel episode! Frank and Ali go to Iceland, and you get to come along for the journey! It's our most Nordic episode yet. We talk Icelandic facts, like the 24 hours of daylight, the history of women leading the country, their lack of a military, their lack of crime, and, of course, PIZZA. Apologies to any Icelandic listeners for all of our pronunciations - we tried!

Check out Ali's Instagram for all of the incredible travel diaries that she made. And while you're there, check out her awesome business, Don't Sort Yourself!

Shout out to the following people/places/things for making the trip so wonderful:

• How Iceland Changed the World by Egill Bjarnason
• Reykjavik Roasters for the American breakfast
• The Big Lebowski Bar in Reykjavik. The rug really tied the room together.
• Luka, our incredible walking tour guide
• Przemek and Angie, our incredible glacier guides
• Hvammsvík, the best hot springs in Iceland
• Dill, the Michelin rated restaurant
• Padre Pizza, who made us pizzas we couldn't refuse

YAY ICELAND!!!

Today we are talking about a topic near and dear to my heart: Pointless Theatre. My guests today are Matthew Reckeweg, Patti Kalil, and Lex Davis. Matthew and Patti are the co-founding artistic directors of Pointless, and Lex and I served as chairs of Pointless for the last two years.

For those of you who are listening who may not be familiar, Pointless Theatre is a theater company based in Washington, DC. Pointless Theatre is dedicated to creating bold, visceral, and affordable spectacles that gleefully smash the traditional boundaries between puppetry, theatre, dance, music, and the visual arts. 

This episode has been a long time in the making. Pointless was founded 16 years ago by a band of misfits and miscreants from the University of Maryland. Many of the guests you know and love from Frank & Sense are in some way a part of the Pointless collective, including Matt Sparacino, Aaron Bliden, Jay Kasten, Michael Saltzman, Zach Latta, Lee Gerstenhaber, Becca Ballinger, Ali Grusell, and Navi, just to name a few. Over the past 16 years, the company has produced more than 20 original productions. 

The scope of this episode is ambitious - from the origins of the company in a smoke-filled college group house to today, where it is evolving, once again, into something new. 

We discuss ignoring bad advice, ruthless editing, and being dumb, stubborn, and brave. We also share some tough lessons learned about the pressure to professionalize, the limitations of the nonprofit structure, and how it can impact theater companies. We also share the story behind the origin of the name Pointless, and much more!

Click here to watch the POV Waltz!

Click here to read the statement from Matthew and Patti!

Our old pals Becca Ballinger and Rebecca Wahls are back on the show to talk about Taylor Swift's most recent album, "The Life of a Showgirl!" Since the last time we talked about Taylor, she got the rights to her music back, she got engaged, and she did a podcast. (She’s welcome on our show anytime, btw!) She's done dating Hamlets and she's knocking on Wood. She's back with an album that is...interesting! We talk about the rope era of show business, different types of pens, and going to the dentist. Plus, Lady Gaga makes a special appearance!

In the final episode of Oscarspalooza 2026, Frank is joined (as always) by Matt Sparacino and Mitch Lerner as they bid a fond farewell to the year in film. It's our wrap party, and you're invited! We discuss the Oscars themselves and reveal our rankings of the 2026 Best Picture nominees. Then, Matt takes the stage to host the 2nd annual Matty Awards! We also hear some voicemails from the listeners, talk about the unceremonious firing of the Burger King, and much more. Crack open one small beer and join us for a super-sized spectacular! YAY MOVIES!

Video available on Spotify and YouTube!

Follow Mitch on Instagram and Letterboxd!

Follow Matt on Instagram and Letterboxd!

Follow Frank & Sense on Instagram, Bluesky, and Letterboxd!

ALL ABOARD! It's time to board the train. One. Last. Time. That's right, our final Best Picture nominee episode is here, and it's the 2025 film "Train Dreams!" Matt, Mitch, and Frank have an absolutely normal conversation about this whimsical, melancholy, meditative film and do not get sidetracked by any stupid train jokes. They talk about male loneliness, the effect of being a bystander, the beauty of the outdoors, William H Macy, and so much more. And they also play a game of Famous Trains. Join us for a wild ride that definitely doesn't go off the rails!