PrePopCulture

PrePopCulture

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PrePopCulture episodes

  • 17: Indie Game: The Movie

    Guest James Mulholland returns to discuss Indie Game: The Movie, a great documentary about indie game development and culture. Braid, Fez, and Super Meat Boy certainly gave the documentarians plenty to focus on, so it's no surprise that James and Jen nerd out about the games themselves as much as the movie. And despite reassurances that he has no intention to "Danny Cohen" the end of the podcast, James has an extensive list of things to recommend since a second time guesting means he's come super prepared.

    If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook!

    Show Notes:

    • You can follow James on Twitter, but he recommends against it. 
    • Indie Game: The Movie
    • Braid
    • Fez
    • Super Meat Boy
    • Double Fine, makers of Double Fine Adventure
    • Journey
    • The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
    • Limbo
    • Penny Arcade
    • Republique and the WIRED article about its Kickstarter campaign
    • Telltale Games, makers of Nelson Tethers: Puzzle Agent
    • Wasteland 2
    • Theme Song:

      Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License

      1 hr 11 min
    • 16: Micro/internet publishing

      In this episode, Danny Cohen (Minutiae) joins Jen to discuss the almost oxymoronic expansion of niche publishing. By offering an easier delivery system for content whether it be journalism, narrative, or comedy, the internet has completely changed the scope and potential for micropublications, taking endeavors that were once limited to zines and turning a lucky few into near media empires. Also, Danny decides to make the recording an editing nightmare for Jen by talking as long as possible, which means he resorts to things like telling the ladies why he'd make a good boyfriend.

      If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes and like it on Facebook!

      Relevant Links:

      • Follow Danny on Twitter and check out Minutiae
      • Boppbopp really does have a creepy privacy policy
      • Matter
      • McSweeney's
      • The Onion
      • Theme Song:

        Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License

        1 hr 13 min
      • 15: Scorsese B-sides

        This week, guest Leigh Myles joins Jen to talk about The King of Comedy and some of Scorsese's other lesser known gems. From comedy to obsession to love of cinema, there's plenty beyond the mafia in Scorsese's CV even if these aren't the first things that come to mind when thinking about this great director. Plus Leigh reveals her dream movie cast and Jen tells a cryptic anecdote relating why Leigh's dream will sadly never be.

        If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook!

        Show Notes:

        Follow Leigh on Twitter and check out her website for great videos ahe's produced, directed, written, and acted in.

        Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore on Netflix / Amazon

        The King of Comedy on Netflix / Amazon

        Who's That Knocking at My Door? on Netflix / Amazon

        Theme Song:

        Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

        1 hr 6 min
      • 14: Late to the Star Wars party

        In this week's episode, guest Scott Narver (Curtain Jerks) joins Jen to discuss something she was waaaay behind the times on: Star Wars. Having watched A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back for the first time ever this week, Jen has a lot of reactions, some of which are valid, some of which are weird, but all of which Scott is really nice about. He even talks her into trying to use the Force, but of course nothing comes from the attempt. Or does it...?

        If you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook!

        Show Notes:

        Check out Scott's podcast Curtain Jerks and follow the show on Twitter, and also check out his improv group Bro Squad 5 and follow them on Twitter

        And on the off chance you've also reached adulthood without having seen Star Wars, you should watch it. This is just a suggestion without a link since there are so many ways to see it.

        Theme Song:

        Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License

        1 hr 19 min
      • 13: A podcast podcast

        In this episode, Jen and her guests Robert Chan (Box Office Democracy, The One Four Oh) and Stephen Perlstein (Improv Obsession Podcast) chat about different styles of podcasting, how they got into hosting their own shows, and of course, the myriad of podcasts they listen to. And if you're looking for the inside track on which podcasts have the most dulcet-toned hosts, they've got you covered. Basically, in meme speak, "Yo dawg, I heard you like podcasts, so I put some podcasts in your podcast so you can hear about podcasts while you listen to a podcast!"

        And if you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook!

        Links:

        • Follow Robert and Stephen on Twitter and check out their podcasts Box Office Democracy, The One Four Oh, and Improv Obsession Podcast.
        • And since about a thousand podcasts came up, here's an abbreviated list of the the ones that were mentioned more than once:

          • 99% Invisible
          • The Bugle
          • WNYC's Radiolab
          • WTF with Marc Maron Podcast
          • Theme Song:

            Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

            1 hr 16 min
          • 12: Tournament of Nerds

            Ever wonder who would in a fight between Cthulu and the Swedish Chef? Or Mr. Spock versus Ren & Stimpy? Believe it or not, there's a show that has the answer: Tournament of Nerds. Started as a live stage show in 2008, this monthly endeavor is now a part of The Nerdist Channel on YouTube, bringing the most bizarre character battles you never imagined to anyone with the internet. This week, Jen's joined by two of the show's nerds, James Ross (The 11th Hour Show) and Jonny Svarzbein (TNT) to discuss past battles, strategies for defending characters close to their hearts in nerd versus nerd debate, and what it was like bringing the live stage show to this year's Comic-Con.

            And if you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook!

            Relevant Links:

            • Follow James and Jonny on Twitter, and check out their indie improv shows The 11th Hour Show and TNT.
            • Check out the Tournament of Nerds website, Facebook page, and the Nerdist Youtube Channel to watch videos of past battles and vote in current brackets.
            • And go see Tournament of Nerds live at UCBLA!
            • Theme Song:

              Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License.

              1 hr 5 min
            • 11: Another Earth and Sound of My Voice

              Rene Gube (writer, Up All Night) joins Jen to talk about a couple of amazing indie movies starring and co-written by Brit Marling. Whether playing a girl whose quest for redemption after a drunk driving accident coincides with the discovery of another Earth that's a mirror to ours, or a girl forming a cult of followers around herself by claiming to be from the year 2054, Marling makes movies that leave a great deal up to the viewer's interpretation. Which means Rene and Jen have an awful lot to talk about.

              An important note on spoilers! Rene and Jen discuss the end of Sound of My Voice from 49:25-56:19 and the end of Another Earth from 56:19-1:03:26, so if you haven't seen either or both of these movies yet, you can safely listen to the rest of the episode and just avoid the relevant spoiler-y chunks.

              And if you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook!

              Show Notes:

              • Follow Rene on Twitter and check out Hop Hop Penguin, UCB Harold Team John Velvet, indie improv show Room 101, Werner Hotdog: The Documentary, and the show he writes for, NBC's Up All Night.
              • Another Earth is available on DVD and Blu-ray
              • Sound of My Voice will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 2, 2012
              • Theme Music:

                Theme song: Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial No Derivatives (aka Music Sharing) License

                1 hr 10 min
              • 10: Adapting British comedies for the US

                Stephen C. James (The Sunday Social) joins Jen to discuss a myriad of attempts at brining UK sitcoms to the US. Whether it's down to different styles of humor, level of adherence to the original, or simply the right or wrong actor taking over a role, few shows handle the transition as successfully as the one from Wernham Hogg to Dunder Mifflin. But that doesn't mean an awful lot haven't tried. Seriously. So many failed attempts.

                Relevant Links:

                • Follow Stephen on Twitter
                • Coupling
                • Friday Night Dinner doesn't air in the US and isn't available here on DVD, but as of now you can watch the first series here on Youtube
                • The Inbetweeners
                • The IT Crowd
                • The Kids in the Hall on the Nerdist Channel
                • Peep Show
                • Really Awesome Improv Show
                • Red Dwarf
                • The Sunday Social
                • Tuskegee Experiment
                • Theme Music:

                  Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) License

                  1 hr 6 min
                • 9: Indie improv, with Casey Feigh and Nick Mandernach

                  In the second installment of a two-part series on improv, Jen chats about the indie improv community with guests Casey Feigh (Crashbar) and Nick Mandernach (Room 101). They cover everything from the genesis of each show to how a line-up is put together to social anxiety about hosting. They also recall the dirty thirty and discover a mutual admiration for weird ball games, but don't worry, nothing about either of those things is blue.

                  For the first part of the series, check out Episode 8: Long form improv, with Neil Campbell.

                  And if you're enjoying PrePopCulture, please rate/review it on iTunes, and like it on Facebook.

                  Relevant Links:

                  • Follow Casey and Nick on Twitter
                  • Check out their indie improv shows Crashbar and Room 101, plus other LA indie improv shows TNT, The 11th Hour Show, and The Manifesto Show
                  • Hip Hop Penguin
                  • UCB Harold Team John Velvet
                  • Theme Song:

                    Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - Non-Commercial No-Derivatives (aka Music Sharing) License

                    1 hr 17 min
                  • 8: Long form improv, with Neil Campbell

                    In the first installment of a two-part series on improv, Jen talks with guest Neil Campbell (Artistic Director, Upright Citizens Brigade Los Angeles) about long form improv. They discuss why it's lesser known than short form improv, and whether or not it ever could (or should) be more broadly consumed. And because they're both improv nerds, they get into some of the nitty gritty about performing long form as well. But odds are if you're listening to this, you're an improv nerd too, so yes, and this episode by tuning in next week for part 2, indie improv with Casey Feigh (Crashbar) and Nick Mandernach (Room 101). And if you've got any questions for them about improv, email [email protected]!

                    Relevant Links:

                    • You can find Neil on Twitter
                    • The Birthday Boys
                    • Comedy Bang Bang
                    • Gravid Water
                    • A Kiss From Daddy
                    • Last Day of School: The Txt Msg Show
                    • Upright Citizens Brigade
                    • Theme Song:

                      Alps by Motorama is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - Non-Commercial No-Derivatives (aka Music Sharing) License

                      1 hr 18 min

                    About PrePopCulture

                    From the publisher's feed

                    PrePopCulture is a weekly one hour podcast in which my guests and I tackle all things pop culture. We'll chat about cool stuff that's under the radar, examine how things currently in pop culture got…