Podlings, assemble!

Randy and Kris gather some fellow MCU fans to get hyped for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film. The panelists each draft a dream cast from the performers revealed during Marvel’s massive and time-consuming chair stunt, then they each pitch a tie-in series or special they would love to see ahead of Doomsday. 

Joining the Media/Lit hosts are writer and producer of the Newcomers: Marvel podcast with Nicole Byer and Lauren Lapkus…and returning podling…Leah Marilla Thomas! Also joining the panel is The Pop Break’s podcasting director and co-host of the Bill vs. The MCU podcast, Alex Marcus!

Please join in the conversation, get hyped, and VOTE FOR THE BEST PITCH!

Want to get in touch? Visit our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ page! Follow us on YouTube:⁠⁠ ⁠@MediaLitPodcast⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Bluesky:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at [email protected].

Randy and Kris welcome motivational speaker and educator Chuck Jones to share an open, honest, and vulnerable discussion of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr’s Letter From Birmingham Jail. As we approach the 62nd anniversary of this historic letter, its message remains timeless and its lessons remain relevant. 

After establishing the ground rules for a responsible discussion, the panel digs into the roots of their individual relationships with MLK and his words before exploring how the impact of his work continues to echo into the present. 

Chuck also shares some of his favorite resources for being a leader in equity:

Building Culture Back Better

Leading For Equity

Inspiring Educators Leadership Competencies

The Contributions Approach: This is a basic level where ethnic heroes and holidays are added to the curriculum, but the main structure remains unchanged.

The Ethnic Additive Approach: Ethnic content is added without changing the curriculum's basic structure.

The Transformation Approach: This approach changes the curriculum's basic assumptions to allow students to view issues from diverse ethnic perspectives.

The Decision Making and Social Action Approach: This approach includes elements of the 

Transformation Approach and requires students to make decisions and take action on social problems.

Want to get in touch? Visit our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ page! Follow us on YouTube:⁠ ⁠@MediaLitPodcast⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Bluesky:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at [email protected].

This Media/Lit sound bite introduces you to our upcoming guest, educator and motivational speaker Chuck Jones. In this clip, cut for time from our upcoming episode on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter From Birmingham Jail, Chuck discusses a recent moment that captures the power of neighbors coming together to share constructive dialogue and build bridges.

Please enjoy this sound bite and be sure to catch our enlightening chat on Letter From Birmingham Jail when it drops tomorrow!

Want to get in touch? Visit our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ page! Follow us on YouTube:⁠ ⁠@MediaLitPodcast⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Bluesky:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at [email protected].

Kris and Randy find themselves locked in an O.X.E. Vault for their first ever VIDEO minisode. They have 30 minutes to react to Thunderbolts* (2025) and that mysterious asterisk. They dig into how the movie made them laugh, how the movie made them cry, and how the cast delivered a very special new entry in the MCU canon. 

Want to get in touch? Visit our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ page! Follow us on YouTube: ⁠@MediaLitPodcast⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Bluesky:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at [email protected].

Randy and Kris are joined by the host of the Socially Distanced and Anime x Pop podcasts, Amanda Rivas, and professional wrestler Branden Vice. Together, the panel takes on one of the world’s largest media properties: WrestleMania! Of course, this is Media/Lit, so the conversation aims to treat this event with respect, dignity, and a sense of real thematic value. 

Not only do the hosts get to the bottom of why wrestling was so foundational in the lives of their guests, but the team works together to tie the drama and storytelling of wrestling back to great works of classic literature and other pop culture properties and trends. Additionally, the crew dreams up some fantasy tag teams and everyone takes home a prop from WrestleMania 41!

If you step into the ring with us, we’ll all come out on top!

Want to get in touch? Visit our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠YouTube⁠ page! Follow us on YouTube: @MediaLitPodcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Bluesky:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at [email protected].

Randy and Kris are joined by three members of the original Media Literacy course that inspired this podcast: librarian Bella Rodrigues, actress Julia Melloni, and campaign finance watchdog Ethan Mort! These former students may be full-fledged adults now, but they asked the Media/Lit hosts to dive deep into a film they loved to hate in their teens: Strange Magic (2015), a jukebox musical fairy tale made for tweens by…well…old dudes.

In addition to unpacking the many…choices…that make up this cultural oddity from the mind of George Lucas, the panel also explores the role that pop cultural plays in building friendships, debates the definition of a good jukebox musical, and uncovers a 2015 fanfic landscape dominated by edgelords and other brooding outsiders.

Kris even takes a moment to grill the panelists about their classroom experience back in the day. Somehow, Randy still comes out looking like a decent teacher!

Want to get in touch? Visit our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & YouTube page! Follow us on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Bluesky:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠⁠⁠! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at [email protected].

Randy and Kris respond to the Bat Signal and sit down for a Bat Chat with ⁠Doug Lief⁠, host of the ⁠Nostalgium Arcanum⁠ podcast, to discuss a double-header of classics from Batman: The Animated Series. The panelists dig into “Almost Got ‘Im” and “Baby-Doll” in order to get to the bottom of the magic that allowed this children’s program to both bring out the best of Batman’s Rogues’ Gallery and establish memorable new foes.

Of course, the team also digs into Doug’s personal history with the show, celebrates the creative team behind the program, and ties the themes and ideas of the episodes to the larger world of literature and pop culture. Also, as is customary on Media/Lit, the guys each take home one memorable still frame to commemorate their chat!

Be sure to check out Doug’s absolutely phenomenal podcast, ⁠Nostalgium Arcanum⁠, wherever you get your podcasts! While you are checking out his work, don’t miss the very special guest spots from your Media/Lit hosts covering The Land Before Time and The Santa Clause!

Want to get in touch? Visit our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Follow us on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Bluesky:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠⁠⁠! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at [email protected].

With every broken heart,

We should become more adventurous.

Randy and Kris are joined by beloved Podlings Madison Charbonneau and Stevie Gonzales to step back in time to the mid-2000s and celebrate Rilo Kiley’s definitive 2004 album, More Adventurous. Not only does the episode serve as an impromptu college reunion for Randy, Madison, and Stevie, but it also allows three old friends to introduce Kris to a band that helped each of them get in touch with the identity of the person they were becoming twenty years ago. 

In addition to capturing the special appeal of actress/frontwoman Jenny Diane Lewis and the unique vibe and chemistry of the band, the panel also identifies ideal listening conditions for the album, ranks all eleven tracks, and drops some recommended follow-up listening.

It's not a hit, it's a holiday.

Shoo-bop, shoo-bop, my baby.

Want to get in touch? Visit our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Follow us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Bluesky:⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠, and Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠⁠! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at [email protected].

It was Friday night, and Playland was jammed. For thousands of kids, it had everything they wanted. But for one kid, it had just a little too much.

Randy and Kris are joined by the hosts of the Not Couple Goals podcast, Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy, to revisit their shared childhood trauma from watching the formative horror stories of Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark? television series. Together, they confront personal demons ranging from clowns & balloons to isolation and home invasion. They also explore how these same stories helped them forge important relationships in their lives.

Of course, they also spend plenty of time critiquing low-budget acting, questionable 90’s fashion, and egregious fire code violations. Before wrapping up, the panelists explore which members of The Midnight Society they’d most like to hang out with, and conversely, which ones they’d love to cast into that iconic campfire. Finally, everybody takes home a prop from the episode. After all:

It’s the most fun in the park, when you’re laughing in the dark!

Want to get in touch? Visit our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Follow us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Bluesky:⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠, and Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠⁠! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at [email protected].

In Part Four of Media/Lit’s “LOST & Lit” series, Randy and Kris welcome back die-hard LOST fans James Princivalle and John Aspler, PhD. (aka Doctor John) to discuss one of James’ favorite episodes of LOST:“Catch-22” (3.17).

Before the gang digs into the episode, they look back on their experience with Media/Lit’s two-part “LOST: Draft & Pitch” event from September 2024. They critique their own performances in the Draft & Pitch and also take a moment to celebrate some of the other great concepts. After a surprise Cameo, the panel some time to better understand the roots of James’ LOST fandom.

Finally, they get to the heart of “Catch-22.” They explore the literary connections at the center of the episode, tie the episode to other great works of literature, unpack the Losties evolving power dynamics, and play a lightning round of Media/Lit’s “Do You Ship It?” segment. 

We hope you enjoy the episode, but no matter what, we’ll see you in another life, brotha.

Want to get in touch? Visit our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Bluesky: ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠, and Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at [email protected].