Join Matt and guest, Dr Esther De Dauw, for an in-depth exploration of women and gender roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in this special multi-part discussion for Woman's History Month. Esther is the author of 'Hot Pants and Spandex Suits: Gender Representation in American Superhero Comics' and is full of fascinating insights on the topics of gender and superheroes. In this episode, we look at the women of the 'Iron Man', 'Ant-Man' and 'Spider-man' movies. 

[Disclaimer: Unfortunately the sound quality is a little bit off at the beginning of the episode, but do bear with us. It does improve at 10 minutes in!]

Credits

Many thanks go, to Dr Esther De Dauw guest for being our guest on this show, to David Shaw, creator of our epic theme tune, 'The Moment Has Come', to Sophie Bates who assisted in the production of this episode, and to Dan Morrell, of Media for Ministry, our editor for this episode.  

Marvel Moments is a Human Happening Podcast. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter @OurMarvelMoment. and on Instagram @MarvelMomentsPodcast where you can join in the discussion. If you enjoy what you're hearing, please do hit 'like', 'subscribe', and/or 'follow' and all buttons of that nature. And if you're listening on Apple podcasts, do consider leaving us five stars and a review. It really helps people to find the show.

Join Matt and Steven for the second part of their discussion on mentoring across the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a look at a very special Stan Lee moment! 

Last time we discussed the numerous failings of the irascible Tony Stark as a mentor, and the many mentors of Peter Parker, Spider-man. This time, we explore whether Spider-man would make a good Spider-mentor, and ask just who has the best mentor-mentee relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

"How do you know what I can handle?"

When discussing the relationship between the younger Peter Parker and his adult mentors in the MCU, Matt refers to a conversation between Dumbledore and Harry Potter which might encapsulate the failings of Stephen Strange and Tony Stark in relating to Peter: 

“Youth can not know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.” ~ Albus Dumbledore, (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix).

When Matt and Steven discuss what makes a good mentee, Matt shared the following acronym from the book 'The Be With Factor', that states the ideal mentee would be R E A D Y, but he forgot what some of the letters stood for! 

Reliable - shows up

Stan Lee and the Voice of Young People

If you listened with interest to the clip from the pilot to Stan Lee's 1968 talk show that sadly never was, you can find the full show on Youtube. Part one is here. 

Mindful Mom

In our segment, ‘Mindful Moments in the MCU’, we make use of the ancient monastic practice of florilegia.  You can find out more about this practice at:  what is florilegia?, and discover the ‘Harry Potter and the Sacred Text’ podcast that inspired this segment here: https://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/

Fandom Spotlight

This episode we shine a spotlight on Steven's show 'Reel Faith', a podcast exploring the intersection between faith, culture, and youth work. I was a guest on the show before Christmas, when we discussed Spider-man: No Way Home in depth, and if you're a horror fan, I recommend you check out his episode, Finding God in the Gore, where he explains why he thinks Christian youth workers should show more horror films to the young people they work with.

Credits

Many thanks to Steven Mitchell, my guest for this show, to David Shaw, creator of our epic theme tune, 'The Moment Has Come', Jacob Allison who assisted in the production of this episode, and to Reuben Watt, our editor for this episode. Thanks also go to the editors of the Stan Lee Facebook page for sharing the clip from the pilot to his 1968 TV show.  And finally, thank you to Ames, for her letter which we thoroughly enjoyed discussing, and to all our listeners! If you enjoy what you're hearing, please do hit 'like', 'subscribe', and/or 'follow' and all buttons of that nature. And if you're listening on Apple podcasts, do consider leaving us five stars and a review. It really helps people to find the show. 

Marvel Moments is a Human Happening Podcast. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter @OurMarvelMoment. and on Instagram @MarvelMomentsPodcast where you can join in the discussion.

"I was wrong about you. I think, with a little more mentoring, you could be a real asset to the team."

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of heroes, but are any of them actually good role models?  And who are Spider-man's best and worst mentors? Join Matt and his guest and fellow youth worker Steven, as they discuss the many facets of mentoring across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Fandom Spotlight

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on Eric Beck of Dimension Xoriat.  As a tabletop gaming host, Eric offers the space and resources for people to improve their wellbeing through the power of gameplay. He runs board game and card game sessions, drawing upon a library of more than 75 games as well as various roleplaying games, both in person and digitally. In addition to classic Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, he can also offer RPGs like “Scum and Villainy” (a Guardians of the Galaxy-like game) and Venture City (a Fate RPG with superheroes). Eric hosts tabletop game sessions in-person in Edinburgh, Scotland, and offers Roleplaying Games both in-person and online. At the moment, he can only offer RPG one-shots. You can contact Eric either through Facebook @dimensionxoriat or through his email at [email protected]. Eric is also on Twitter and Instagram @DimensionXoriat.

Credits

Many thanks to Steven Mitchell, my guest for this show.  Recently I was a guest on Steven's show Reel Faith, a podcast exploring the intersection between faith, culture and youth work. We discussed Spider-man: No Way Home in depth, and if you're a horror fan, I recommend you check out his episode, Finding God in the Gore, where he explains why he thinks Christian youth workers should show more horror films to the young people they work with.

Thanks also go to David Shaw, who created our epic theme tune,'The Moment Has Come', Jacob Allison who assisted in the production of this episode, and to Reuben Watt, our editor for this episode. And finally, thank you to Bygonya, Richard, and Sophie, for their fantastic letters and thoughts and to all our listeners. If you enjoy what you're hearing, please do hit like, subscribe, and or follow and all buttons of that nature. And if you're listening on Apple podcasts, do consider leaving us five stars and a review. It really helps people to find the show. 

Marvel Moments is a Human Happening Podcast. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter @OurMarvelMoment. and on Instagram @MarvelMomentsPodcast where you can join in the discussion.  Come back soon for Part Two of our discussion on Mentoring In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where we’ll discuss whether Spider-man makes for a good Spider-mentor and ask just who has the best mentor-protege relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

"I am not ready to be without you..."

For a franchise that has been criticized both for undercutting serious moments with humour and for reversing the deaths of key characters, the Marvel Cinematic Universe really does deal with loss and grief, like a lot!  Join Matt and James as they journey through the MCU exploring the themes of loss and grief, and how they impact some of pop culture's most iconic characters.

Marvel Moments is a Human Happening podcast. All excerpts from movies and TV shows are copyright Marvel Entertainment and are used here for the purposes of criticism, review and quotation.  Special thanks go to David Shaw for the creation of our epic theme tune, ‘The Moment Has Come’, to our listeners Mary-Megan, Nick, and Sian for their thought-provoking messages, to Ellagrace and David for their invaluable help in creating a transcript of the original recording, without which we would have been lost when editing the episode, to the Marvel Moments Facebook group for their support and encouragement, and to our friends and families for all their help and faith in us. This episode is dedicated to all our loved ones who live on in the telling and retelling of stories and the songs they loved, and to the family and friends whom we are not ready to be without - Matt & James

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook @OurMarvelMoment, and on Instagram @MarvelMomentsPodcast to be notified of upcoming episodes and to join in the conversation.  Want to send us a message?  Maybe you have a thought on a Marvel moment that dealt with grief and loss you think we missed, or you want to respond to something we said in this episode.  You can email us at [email protected] or message us on Facebook at m.me/OurMarvelMoment.

“What is grief, if not love persevering?”

Grief is a natural process to go through. but if you do feel it's taking a bit too long or you need a little extra support, the first port-of-call might be to visit your GP who should be able to signpost you to the best local services. In the UK, Cruse offers specialist grief counselling through its national helpline. 

Cruse Bereavement Support, UK https://www.cruse.org.uk/  0808 808 1677

Cruse Bereavement Support Scotland https://www.crusescotland.org.uk/ 0808 802 6161

“Yes, but a thing isn't beautiful because it lasts.”

In our segment, ‘Mindful Moments in the MCU’, we make use of the ancient monastic practice of florilegia.  You can find out more about this practice at:  what is florilegia?, and discover the ‘Harry Potter and the Sacred Text’ podcast that inspired this segment here: https://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/

Every Local Comics Store Deserves a Moment in the Spotlight

This episode we would like to shine a spotlight on Little Shop of Heroes.  Alby, Lou & Sinead are the proud co-owners of this absolute gem of an independent comics store, which they run with the family’s very friendly cocker spaniel, Atticus. Since opening its doors opposite historic Dunfermline Abbey, Little Shop of Heroes has grown to become a feature of the local community. When you visit, why not mention that Marvel Moments sent you?  Word of mouth means a lot to all of us small business owners!

Address:  8 Maygate, Dunfermline KY12 7NH, UK

Website:  littleshopofheroes.co.uk

"Get up, come on. You’re human. You keep hope against the worst of odds."

Is hope a fundamentally human act? Join Matt and James as they trace the line between optimism and despair across the Marvel Cinematic Universe from Avengers: Endgame to Hawkeye, and into the multiverse with 'What If...?' 

"I believe in this universe as in every other, hope never dies… as long as someone keeps their good eye on the bigger picture.

In our segment, ‘Mindful Moments in the MCU’, we make use of the ancient monastic practice of florilegia.  You can find out more about this practice at:  what is florilegia?, and discover the ‘Harry Potter and the Sacred Text’ podcast that inspired this segment here: https://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/

“My point is that life on earth can take care of itself. ... If we are gone tomorrow, the earth will not miss us." - Ian Malcolm (Jurassic Park: the Novel, 1991)

Can taking an evolutionary perspective help us find unexpected resilience in the face of environmental catastrophe? Ian Malcolm might say so!  While Marvel movies and shows are our main focus, we are open to exploring other works too.

If you would like to explore the issues raised by this episode further, why not read 'Reasons to Stay Alive' by Matt Haig (2015)? In this inspiring book, Haig creates hope for everyone from the darkest times of his life. This recommendation comes with a content warning for suicide and depression, however those struggling with these issues, may find it very helpful indeed.

Frustrated with humanity?  'Humankind: a Hopeful History' by Rutger Bregman may change your mind! In this well-researched and optimistic non-fiction book, Bregman makes the case for the basic goodness of human nature. It's easy to get into, but difficult to put down. We highly recommend it to all.

"Don't give me hope."

Marvel Moments is a Human Happening podcast. All excerpts from movies and TV shows are copyright Marvel Entertainment and are used here for the purposes of criticism, review and quotation.  Special thanks go to David Shaw for the creation of our epic theme tune, ‘The Moment Has Come’, To AJ The Soundest Guy who edited the show, to Ellagrace who tireless proofreads and corrects our transcripts, to Jacob who assisted in production, and to Sophie whose help was invaluable. Our thanks also go out to Begonya, Katherine, and Nick, for their thought-provoking messages, and to the Marvel Moments Facebook group for all their support and encouragement. And finally a massive thanks to you, our listeners! If you enjoy what you’re hearing, please do hit like, subscribe, and or follow and all the buttons of that nature, and if you’re listening on Apple podcasts please do leave us 5 stars and a review.  It really does make all the difference.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook @OurMarvelMoment, and on Instagram @MarvelMomentsPodcast to be notified of upcoming episodes and to join in the conversation.  Want to send us a message?  Maybe you have a thought on a Marvel moment that dealt with grief and loss you think we missed, or you want to respond to something we said in this episode.  You can email us at [email protected] or message us on Facebook at m.me/OurMarvelMoment. 

Welcome to the party, pal!

It's December, festive lights are going up everywhere, and it's time to watch an action movie to set the mood.  That can only mean one thing: It's time for an adventure set at Christmas, where a lone hero relies on just their wits and the ad hoc allies they make along the way to defeat an evil group of terrorists, as they try to reunite with the love of their life.  It's time for... Die Hard in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"You know who I am, you don't know where I am, and you'll never see me coming."

When discussing the terrorist smokescreen provided by the Mandarin, Matt referred to a video essay from ScreenCrush.  You can find that video here:

The MANDARIN Was Right (And was Responsible for Tony's Snap!) | Iron Man 3 + Shang-Chi Explained

"If this is their idea of Christmas, I gotta be here for New Year's!"

Looking for more podcasts that take a look at Christmas action movies through a Marvel lens?  Hollywood Already Did It's 'Hawkeye: Tis the Season' covers everything from Batman Returns to the Shane Black Christmas movie sub-genre. You can find the first episode in this festive mini-series here.

"You start with something pure, something exciting, then comes the mistakes, the compromises."

In our segment, ‘Mindful Moments in the MCU’, we make use of the ancient monastic practice of florilegia.  You can find out more about this practice at:  what is florilegia?, and discover the ‘Harry Potter and the Sacred Text’ podcast that inspired this segment here: https://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/

Marvel Moments is a Human Happening podcast. All excerpts from movies and TV shows used in this episode are copyright 20th Century Fox, Marvel Entertainment and Disney, and are used here for the purposes of criticism, review and quotation. Special thanks go to David Shaw for the creation of our epic theme tune, ‘The Moment Has Come’, To AJ The Soundest Guy for editing this episode, to Ellagrace who tireless proofreads and corrects our transcripts, and to the Marvel Moments Facebook group for all their support and encouragement. And finally a massive thanks to you, our listeners! If you enjoy what you’re hearing, please do hit like, subscribe, and or follow and all the buttons of that nature, and if you’re listening on Apple podcasts please do leave us 5 stars and a review.  It really does make all the difference. 

This episode is dedicated to everyone looking to make a change this Christmas. We believe in you!

"I used to have nothing. And then I got this. This job. This family. And I was... I was better because of it. And even though they're gone... I'm still trying to be better."

Join Matt as he and guests, Keri and Nick Carnes continue their exploration of assembled family in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  In this episode we explore how familial connections and expectations shape not just the identities and destinies of our heroes and their villains but also our own. We listen to messages from our listeners on the shifting dynamics of assembled families, the royal family dramas of Wakanda,  and ask just how hard a deal do parents actually receive in the MCU?  We’ll also take a look at a Stan Lee moment on the theme of family, and finish with a mindful moment in the MCU.  Are you ready to take a Marvel Moment?

Find part one of our discussion on Assembled Family in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on your podcast app or via Linktr.ee/MarvelMoments.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook @OurMarvelMoment, and on Instagram @MarvelMomentsPodcast to be notified of upcoming episodes and to join in the conversation.  Want to send us a message?  Maybe you have a thought on a Marvel moment that dealt with grief and loss you think we missed, or you want to respond to something we said in this episode.  You can email us at [email protected] or message us on Facebook at m.me/OurMarvelMoment. 

Marvel Moments is a Human Happening podcast. All excerpts from movies and TV shows are copyright Marvel Entertainment and are used here for the purposes of criticism, review and quotation.  Special thanks go to our guests Keri and Nick Carnes, to David Shaw for the creation of our epic theme tune, ‘The Moment Has Come’, To AJ The Soundest Guy who edited this part of the show, to Ellagrace who tireless proofreads and corrects our transcripts, and to Jacob who knows what he did. Our thanks also go out to Mary-Megan, Sian, Michael, and Mama Gill for their thought-provoking messages, as well as to Hilla who gave us the stunning idea of What if TChaka took Erik back to Wakanda, and to the Marvel Moments Facebook group for all their support and encouragement. And finally a massive thanks to you, our listeners! If you enjoy what you’re hearing, please do hit like, subscribe, and or follow and all the buttons of that nature, and if you’re listening on Apple podcasts please do leave us 5 stars and a review.  It really does make all the difference. 

This episode is dedicated to our assembled families.  We are who we are because our lives have you in them.

"Please don’t say that. It was real. It was real to me". 

What makes a family real?  Is it birth ties? Choice? Or is the truth far more complicated?  Join Matt and his guests Nick, Keri, (and surprise guest Alex!) Carnes, as they examine the family ties of the heroes and villains of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Marvel Moments is a Human Happening podcast. All excerpts from movies and TV shows are copyright Marvel Entertainment and are used here for the purposes of criticism, review and quotation.  Special thanks go to our guests Keri, Nick, and Alex Carnes, to David Shaw for the creation of our epic theme tune, ‘The Moment Has Come’, to Taliesin for his heartwarming message, to Ellagrace for her tireless work in creating a transcript of the original recording, without which we would have been lost when editing the episode, to the Marvel Moments Facebook group for their support and encouragement, and to our friends and families for all their help and faith in us. This episode is dedicated to our assembled families.

"Natasha, don’t slouch."  "Listen to your mother."  "Oh, my God, this…"

When discussing family dynamics in the Black Widow dinner table scene and the firmly established roles we so easily slip into when around our family, Keri mentioned the podcast Where Should We Begin? by Esther Perel. "Step into iconic couples therapist Esther Perel's office and listen as real couples anonymously bare the raw, intimate, and profound details of their story. From infidelity, to sexlessness, to loss, it's a space for people to be heard and understood. It's also a place for us to listen and feel empowered in our own relationships. So.. where should we begin?"

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook @OurMarvelMoment, and on Instagram @MarvelMomentsPodcast to be notified of upcoming episodes and to join in the conversation.  Want to send us a message?  Maybe you have a thought on a Marvel moment that dealt with grief and loss you think we missed, or you want to respond to something we said in this episode.  You can email us at [email protected] or message us on Facebook at m.me/OurMarvelMoment.

With apologies to anyone who listened to the original version of this episode which had an editing error about 22 minutes in.  This was caught early on and has been fixed. We hope that it didn't spoil your enjoyment of the show.

Are you a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe who wants to dig deeper into the themes of the movies and shows? Then this is the new and upcoming podcast for you! Meet Matt and James as they explain the concept behind the show, share a little about their love of the MCU and give a sneak preview of Episode One, coming soon...