Legendary voice actor, Dungeon Master, and Critical Role creator Matt Mercer joins Simpsons Declassified for an unforgettable crossover of animation, fantasy, and storytelling. From rolling dice to reimagining Springfield as a tabletop campaign, this episode blends Dungeons & Dragons, voice acting, and The Simpsons in a way only Matt Mercer can.

Matt walks listeners through a live D&D roleplay demo, guiding Nancy Cartwright into an improvised fantasy adventure that perfectly explains how tabletop storytelling works—choices, dice rolls, danger, humor, and heart included. Whether you’re brand new to D&D or a longtime fan, this segment makes the magic instantly click.

The conversation dives deep into world-building, including how Matt created Exandria (Zandra), his inspirations from Tolkien, sci-fi legends, Final Fantasy, and why fantasy worlds can empower people to make the real world better. He explains the difference between preparing as a Dungeon Master versus a player, how NPCs are born, and why unused ideas are never wasted.

Simpsons fans will love the crossover chaos as Matt answers fan questions like:

The episode also tackles serious, timely topics—especially AI voice cloning, ownership of performance, and why technology can never replace the heart, soul, and humanity behind real voice acting. Matt and Nancy share powerful insights on protecting creative integrity in an evolving industry.

And yes—there’s donuts. A full donut tasting segment with expert-level descriptions, crunch analysis, and surprisingly passionate scoring adds pure Simpsons-energy fun to the episode.

Packed with laughter, improv, fan questions, heartfelt reflections, and storytelling wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for D&D fans, Critical Role viewers, voice actors, animators, gamers, and Simpsons fans alike.

🎲 Eat your shorts… and roll for charisma.

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Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Simpsons) joins Simpsons Declassified for a hilarious, revealing conversation that jumps from Springfield to Hollywood—and straight into the stories fans beg for. Beverly finally explains the infamous “crotch grab” moment on Christmas Vacation, why she did it, and how it accidentally became the take they had to use.

Then the episode dives deep into her Simpsons legacy as Lurleen Lumpkin, including the wild truth that Beverly wrote “Finally Bagged Me a Homer” with her brother in about ten minutes—and how that song became a long-term “gift that keeps on giving.”

You’ll also hear how she met Matt Groening through Frank Zappa, why musical theater rules made the Lurleen episode work so well, and what it was like recording in the early days of the show (plus the best Simpsons perks—yes, the luggage!). The conversation turns personal as Beverly shares advice she’d give her younger self: self-validate, trust your creative engine, and don’t conform for approval.

Packed with classic improv, behind-the-scenes trivia, and real-life wisdom—this one’s a must-listen.

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In this special Ask Me Anything episode, Nancy Cartwright goes fully “behind the yellow curtain” to answer fan questions about The Simpsons, voice acting, and the real-life mischief that shaped Bart Simpson.

Nancy reveals how she accidentally became Bart: originally called in to audition for Lisa, she spotted the description of “10-year-old, school-hating underachiever and proud of it” and instantly knew that was her character. One bold ask later, Bart’s now-iconic voice was born on the spot in front of Matt Groening.

From there, Nancy dives into her early days on the speech team, discovering she could create characters, win trophies, and literally pay for college with her voice. She shares a hilariously “very Bart” story about getting busted for writing something awful on a school bathroom stall in brown marker—and the painfully creative punishment that followed.

Fans also get rare behind-the-scenes insights, including:

How she combined Ralph Wiggum and Nelson Muntz to build new characters

Why Nelson is the biggest vocal “throat ripper” to perform

How multi-character scenes with Bart, Rod, Todd, and Ralph pushed her early in the series

The secret reason some couch gags run extra long

What it was really like working with Michael Jackson on “Do the Bartman” and the “Happy Birthday Lisa” song

Nancy also talks about Bartmania, early anonymity, her first big voice job as Gloria on Richie Rich, the mentorship of voice legend Daws Butler, and why the show’s integrity and emotional center—especially Lisa as the moral compass—are a huge part of The Simpsons’ long-term success.

Packed with stories, confessions, and fan-favorite lore, this AMA is a must-listen for anyone who loves Bart, animation, or the craft of voice acting.

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Legendary impressionist Jim Meskimen (Parks and Rec, America’s Got Talent) joins the show for a fast-paced, hilarious, and insightful deep dive into the craft of voices and impressions. From his earliest days imitating Tiny Tim to voicing iconic characters for Disney, Jim breaks down how he studies vocal patterns, physicality, pitch, and personality to bring celebrity impressions to life—sometimes within seconds.

Jim and Nancy jump into rapid-fire Simpsons challenges, reimagining Bart catchphrases as delivered by celebrity voices, plus dramatic reenactments, Krusty Burger clashes, and Springfield improv that only a world-class mimic can pull off. He also shares stories about stepping into Robin Williams’ Genie roles, meeting actors he imitates, and the surreal moment he “lost” an impression the same day the real performer passed away.

Beyond impressions, Jim opens up about his artistic roots, his mother Marion Ross, his early animation days at Hanna-Barbera, and how he approaches acting in both comedy and drama. He explains why authentic humanity—not tricks—makes performances memorable, and how he prepares characters for film, TV, and his upcoming projects.

Whether you’re a Simpsons fan, a voice-acting nerd, or someone who loves celebrity impressions, this episode is packed with technique, nostalgia, storytelling, and nonstop comedy from one of the greatest vocal performers working today.

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In this episode, Rick and Morty star Spencer Grammer sits down to talk voice acting, growing up in a Broadway family, and her dad Kelsey Grammer’s iconic Simpsons role as Sideshow Bob. She shares behind-the-scenes insights on improv in animation, how episodes are rewritten and re-recorded, and what it’s like performing emotional turns in the booth. Spencer also opens up about recovering from a life-changing injury, finding music as healing, and building her band Bell and Chain.

You’ll hear hilarious Simpsons × Rick and Morty crossover improv, movie scene reenactments, and Spencer’s spontaneous song “Sunshine.” Fans will love her thoughts on multiverses, Easter eggs, and why Springfield is in “every state.” This fun, heartfelt, and creatively wild episode is packed with comedy, storytelling, and exclusive insights from one of animation’s most dynamic voices.

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Ever wondered what happens when Bart Simpson collides with the queen of cartoon multiverses? Nancy Cartwright sits down with Tara Strong for a wild, heartfelt romp through voice-acting mayhem—Timmy Turner, Harley Quinn, Raven, Bubbles, Batgirl, Miss Minutes, and more. Tara shares fangirl moments (singing with Jodi Benson in Little Mermaid II), origin stories (Hello Kitty’s first English voice!), and the craft behind “singing in character.” She opens up about fandom’s real impact—from tear-jerker con hugs to helping a bullied My Little Pony artist find her community. Then chaos ensues in “Fanfiction Theater,” as Tara and Nancy swap voices, trade Bartman bars, and mash up Springfield with Toy Story, The Shining, and a Harley-babysits-Bart scenario that would definitely set the town on fire. Tara even pitches a new Springfield resident—Nova, a cosplay-rock star who pulls Lisa out of her shell. It’s jokes, joy, and genuine magic with one of animation’s most beloved voices.

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Ever wondered who really sang for Michael Jackson’s character on The Simpsons? Nancy Cartwright welcomes legendary vocalist Kipp Lennon—the hidden voice behind Stark Raving Dad’s unforgettable tunes. Kipp shares the wild story of how he ended up channeling the King of Pop in Springfield, from the day he got the call to performing live years later at The Simpsons Take the Bowl concert. Along the way, he dishes about his musical roots as a founding member of the harmony-rich band Venice, and drops hilarious behind-the-scenes tales—like the time Conan O’Brien and Weird Al turned a hallway into an impromptu jam session. This episode hits every note: nostalgia, laughter, and pure Simpsons magic

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Ever wondered what happens when the voice of Bart Simpson sits down with the director who helped make Treehouse of Horror iconic? Nancy Cartwright welcomes Simpsons legend Mark Kirkland for a spooky, laugh-packed deep dive into Springfield. Mark lifts the lid on classic Halloween segments—from “The Omega Man” to “Easy-Bake Coven”—sharing how colonial research, crooked sets, and even the color of falling leaves shape the scares. He recalls his path from Hanna-Barbera to CalArts mentors, treating animators as “actors with a pencil,” and why sitcom timing beats long crosses every time. The trio play a chaotic “Simpsons Catchphrase: Halloween Edition,” revisit Bart-the-Fly’s squeaky register, and reveal how lines are stitched together take by take. Mark shouts out Suzie Dieter’s Grinch homage, dishes Easter-egg signage lore, answers fan mail (yes, “The Shinning” wins), and crowns donuts the ultimate studio “candy.” Plus: his favorite to direct (“Last Exit to Springfield”) and what he’s creating in his fine-art life now.

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Produced and showrun by Monica Gil-Rodriguez. From Audacy Podcasts and CRE84U Entertainment—this is your all-access pass to Springfield.

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Today’s episode features one of the original architects of The Simpsons, John Vitti! A true comedy writing genius, John penned some of the show's most iconic and beloved episodes, including "Bart the Genius," "Bart Gets an F," "Mr. Plow," "Cape Feare," and "Lisa's Substitute." In this unforgettable interview, John and Nancy Cartwright geek out about the show's legacy and its chaotic-yet-brilliant origins. Jon also shares what it was like to pitch to James L. Brooks, why the full-face shot of a Simpson character is never a good idea, how much the voice actors, like Nancy, shaped characters like Ralph Wiggum and Mr. Burns, and those high-pressure days writing early-season episodes.

Plus, Nancy and John play a hilarious writer's room game, pitching plots for ultimate crossover episodes: "Jaws at Springfield Lake," "The Godfather at Springfield’s Mob Summit," and "Star Wars at Springfield Space Expo!"

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Ever wondered what happens when an Oscar-winning actress meets the voice of Bart Simpson? Allison Janney and Nancy Cartwright sit down for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation talking about The Simpsons, I, Tonya, West Wing, Minions, and more. In this exclusive interview, Allison shares her experience guest-starring on The Simpsons and pitches wild new ideas for the show, including a character for herself and a storyline involving a new dog for the family. Nancy, a voice-acting legend, offers Allison tips on character voices and reveals behind-the-scenes stories from the show's history. They also reminisce about their shared connections to their hometown, from local pizza joints to the Kenley Players theater. They put their skills to the test in a chaotic game of "Simpsons or Real Life" and even attempt to rap! 

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Produced and showrun by Monica Gil-Rodriguez. From Audacy Podcasts and CRE84U Entertainment—this is your all-access pass to Springfield.

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