Stolendroids Podcast

Although the media has been more prevalent in showing cases of police brutality and systematic racism in recent weeks, these are problems that have plagued our communities for years. And it is becoming increasingly difficult to watch our friends, neighbors, and loved ones suffer repeated injustices based solely on the color of their skin. Unfortunately, the source of this mistreatment isn’t exclusive to government offices or police units… sometimes it’s ordinary citizens perpetuating this appalling behavior.

This disrespect, prejudice treatment, and hate speech is also prevalent throughout the geek community. Whether it's due to sexual orientation, gender, or skin color, geeks have become known for their gatekeeping and overall general toxicity.

This week we are extremely acknowledged to have three special guests: Malinda Money, Stephan Watson, and Jay Whittaker. Each of them is a person of color who is willing to share their experiences with being black in both the geek community and in modern America. And what's best is that they all bring a unique perspective to things that many of us take for granted.

Our first guest is Malinda Money. She is an actor, singer, performer, cosplayer, and self-professed geek. In addition to making some pretty epic cosplays, she has also worked with hundreds of talented artists in both professional film and theatrical productions. You can follow Malinda on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Next up is Stephan Watson. Stephan is the founder and CEO of Cracked Brain Productions and hosts Cracked Brain Podcast. He also works as a voice actor for games, commercials, audiobooks, short stories, audio dramas, and more! Be sure to follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

And finally, Jay Whittaker is an award-winning stand-up comedian, actor, and podcast producer. He is also one of the co-hosts of Geek Show and an avid birdwatcher who hosts Full Feather Friday where he educates viewers about the amazing world of birds. Check out Jay's website and be sure to follow him on social media at @itsjaywhittaker.

Now, if you take anything from this episode, let it be this: please hear our guests. Take their words to heart and strive to be better. Though each of us may look different, come from different places, and have different backgrounds, we are more alike than not. Simply being kind goes a long way. So does listening. Your perspective isn't the only one out there. Your stories aren't the only ones that matter. Take some time to get to know and understand those who are different from you. You'll be glad you did.

And one more thing, Jay mentioned a video of Kimberly Jones during the show. Please take a few minutes and check it out here (language warning).

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Just when we thought things were starting to calm down, 2020 struck again. But we're back, and on this episode, we're discussing a classic argument: Which is better: DC or Marvel?

Of course, as we find out, it's not that simple. To pit one entertainment powerhouse against the other and call the matter settled doesn't work. And while the argument was once pretty straightforward, things have become vastly more complicated as each company's reach has grown.

DC and Marvel both bring something unique to the table. However, what that is varies depending on which medium we're discussing. Comic books? Video games? What about movies?

Listen as the Stolendroids panelists break down each company's strengths and decide who is the better of the two as only we can. And then, after you have finished listening, let us know what your thoughts are either on social media or at [email protected]!

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Two years after Justice League disappointed fans worldwide at the box office, the demand for Zack Snyder's original vision for the film finally reached a crescendo. Fans had been demanding the "Snyder Cut" for long enough. Even stars of the film such as Gal Gadot and Ben Affleck took to Twitter to lend their voice to the #ReleasetheSnyderCut movement. Their voices were heard and it was soon announced that the fabled "Snyder Cut" would air on HBO Max in 2021. 

Some would see this as the successful campaign of a devoted fanbase. Others look at it and see a studio who caved into fan demands. While both may be true, the "Snyder Cut" movement isn't the first time that something like this has happened in recent history. Is that necessarily a bad thing though? Our panel discusses some recent examples and shares their thoughts on "fan service" versus succumbing to fan demands. 

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Jake has been watching Prop Culture on Disney+ recently. (For those who are unfamiliar with the show, it follows film historian and prop collector Dan Lanigan as he reunites iconic Disney movie props with the filmmakers, actors, and crew who created and used them in some of Disney’s most beloved films.)

That brings us to this week's topic of discussion.

Watching Prop Culture put has put Jake in the mood to discuss the things that he likes to collect with others. But it's not just about him. He also wants to know what others collect and why.

We all know that person who collects stuff to the extreme. They're the ones who visibly cry when a kid a birthday party actually opens the toys that they received as gifts. Maybe it's your best friend or your significant other. Maybe that person is you. Or maybe that person is one of the Stolendroids Podcast hosts. Listen to find out.

NOTE: In this episode, we show off a lot of stuff that doesn't always translate well to an audio format. If you'd like to see the video of this episode you can check it out on our YouTube channel. 

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Sidekicks are an important part of storytelling. Captain America has Bucky. Frodo has Samwise. Batman has Robin. Stolendroids has Collin...

Sidekicks often get a bad rap. We can probably blame the 1950's and 60's for this. (Thanks 1966 Robin.) Characters that were once simply comic relief have morphed into something more. A good sidekick will help make the protagonist a better character. They will help improve the story. And they will point out "holy rusted metal." (Thanks Robin from Batman Forever.)

In this episode of the Stolendroids Podcast, Collin, Marlee, Jake, and Zach discuss some of their favorite front pockets, better known as sidekicks! What makes a good sidekick? Are sidekicks more than just lovable, but incapable dorks? Who are some of the best sidekicks out there? Let us know who we missed in our discussion in the comments below!

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Everybody loves a good bad guy. From Darth Vader to Hannibal Lecter to the Joker, some of the most iconic characters in books, film, and television are villains. Why is that? What is it that draws us to them? Is it because we secretly want to be the villain, or is it something more?

In this episode of Stolendroids Podcast, we ask what is it that makes a good villain. Is it their charm? Or maybe it's their rugged good looks? Maybe it's something else, something that can't be described other than as an "it" factor?

Listen as we analyze what it is that all of the best villains share, and what makes them the characters that we love, or that we love to hate. And if there are any qualities that we left out, please be sure to let us know.

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Have you ever wondered who would win in a deathmatch between Snap, Crackle, and Pop and Tony the Tiger? Or what about Sonny, that CocoaPuffs addicted bird, and Cap'n Crunch? So have we. And on this week's episode, we break down the most famous of the cereal mascots' strengths and weaknesses and pit them against one another in a super violent, winner-takes-all bracket of carnage and mayhem.

This episode is not for the faint of heart. Those suffering from heart conditions or abnormal blood pressure, back, neck, or similar problems, motion sickness, or sensitivity to strobe effects should turn around now. And take those expectant mothers with you. Wait! Those are people who shouldn't ride roller coasters. Y'all can totally listen to this episode without fear of stroke, seizure, or paralysis.

Well? What are you waiting for? Hit that PLAY button and start enjoying the first-ever Stolendroids Podcast Breakfast Bowl. 

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While some might say that the 1980s produced the greatest cartoons ever, I could argue that those from the 1990s were far superior. Not only are they better overall, but I believe that 90s cartoons have greater staying power than their 80s counterparts. Let me explain. 

Even though the 80s gave us amazing shows like Thundercats and Masters of the Universe, have you watched them recently? I have. Masters of the Universe was almost painful to watch, and my kids had lost all interest within five minutes.

I can hear the haters now, "You're just not a real fan! Plus, you're probably too young to truly appreciate them!" Nope. Gen Xer here. I had the action figures. I watched the cartoons (all of them) every day after school. I woke up at 5:30 every Saturday morning and sat on the couch until the animation ended. So this isn't a case of me not appreciating or understanding what came out of the 80s. This is an objective opinion that the subsequent decade had overall better cartoons. 

Watch any cartoons from the 80s and then watch Batman: The Animated Series or Animaniacs. How do they compare? If your experience is like mine, they don't. Almost everything about cartoons in the 90s was better. And that's why we're here today... 

With the Great Time Out/quarantine/lockdown still in effect, it's important to have some enjoyable viewing options, so our panelists each brought their top five cartoons from the 90s to the table for discussion on this week's show. And we know that there are A LOT of shows that could have made the list but didn't, but that's where you come in. Let us know what your favorite cartoons from the 90s are. Did we include any on our lists that we shouldn't have? And are there any glaring omissions that we should have discussed? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter.

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The world is still on time out, and frankly, some of us are starting to get bored. Sure, we could try to better ourselves, but sometimes it's a lot more fun to just watch movies, TV shows, or play video games that we haven't gotten around to yet. But you know, it probably is a good idea to at least think about trying some "self-improvement" stuff.

This week our panelists discuss their quarantine bucket lists. Or as the dummies are calling them, their "corn teen" bucket lists. Seriously. People think it's "corn teen." Look it up. You'll lose a bit more faith in humanity.

Seriously though, this is an episode that you don't want to miss. Not only do you get some great ideas for how to spend what could be the rest of your life, but Zach also gives some amazing advice that pertains to not only video games but also relationships. Really. You want to hear this. 

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A lot has changed since we last were able to bring you an episode of Stolendroids Podcast. For instance, it wasn't very long ago that we were able to go buy toilet paper. And remember how we could shake another person's hand without fear of dying two weeks later? Those were the days…

Anyway, our panelists have managed to utilize technology and record an episode detailing exactly how they're handling being under a somewhat lax, mostly self-imposed (up to this point) quarantine. And in addition to some great advice for getting through this difficult time, we also get to hear what their plans are for Las Vegas now that the Strip has gone dark. Collin and Zach also pull back the curtain to share more than anyone else really expects, but it is definitely entertaining.

We know how hard things have been lately so take a few minutes for yourself and laugh. This episode will help you do that. Now hurry up and listen before the next Horseman of the Apocalypse decides to show up!

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