Talking in Circles

Dan sits down with filmmaker Steve Kahn to discuss his short film Fear—a psychological exploration of how small concerns spiral into overwhelming anxiety. They dive into Kahn's filmmaking philosophy of quality over quantity, his approach to visual storytelling inspired by Hitchcock, the challenges of breaking through in Los Angeles, and the frustrations independent filmmakers face with film festivals and submission fees.

Six months after their first geek power rankings, the hosts revisit what's changed in geek culture. They discuss which franchises and properties have faded (Guardians of the Galaxy, Batman, Wolverine), which have stayed relevant (Star Wars, Age of Ultron, The Flash), and what new things deserve a spot in the top ten—including The Walking Dead, Daredevil, Funko collectibles, and a viral Power Rangers fan film. The result is a fresh top-ten list reflecting the current state of geekdom.

The hosts create their own awards ceremony for geek culture, giving out Oscars in categories the Academy ignores. Awards cover iconic movie lines, action heroes, comic book artists and weapons, villains, and 2014 pop culture moments, with discussion and voting breakdowns for each category.

The hosts reveal the movies, TV shows, and graphic novels they've shamefully never watched or read—despite these being some of geekdom's most celebrated works. From Breaking Bad and Pulp Fiction to Halloween, Alien, Predator, The Terminator, and Watchmen, they discuss why they've missed these classics and what's kept them off their lists. Includes Spider-Man joining the MCU news and takes on Better Call Saul, Homefront, and The Purge.

Greg and Dan tackle the Daredevil Netflix trailer, breaking down its production quality, tone, and how Kingpin appears in the footage. They discuss the X-Men comic 'Battle of the Atom' and its time-travel complexity, then dive into Amazon's 'A Man in a High Castle' pilot as inspiration for a creative exercise: inventing their own alternate universe storylines across various properties. The episode closes with Dan's passionate letter to anti-vaxxers, arguing vaccination is a rational issue, not a political one.

The hosts conduct a draft to build the ultimate supervillain team, selecting characters from Marvel, DC, and beyond. Each host presents their team concept and explains how their villains would work together, followed by a listener vote to determine the winner.

The hosts react to Marvel's announced reboot of its comic book universe following Secret Wars. They discuss which character origins and storylines are essential to preserve—like Magneto's Holocaust survivor background and the X-Men's founding story—and what Marvel as a publisher needs to fix, from inconsistent rosters and constant retooling to overpowered characters and overuse of time travel. They also explore opportunities to reimagine the Avengers lineup and share concerns about storytelling depth in the new continuity.

The hosts revisit the classic Oregon Trail computer game, discuss Marvel's Hulk and the Agents of Smash animated series, and play a round of Sequel Reboot or Destroy covering He-Man, Indiana Jones, Agent Carter, Hellboy, Friends, and Jaws.

Chuck, Greg, and Dan celebrate Talking in Circles' first anniversary while discussing what they're anticipating from geek culture in 2015. They recap Agent Carter's debut, explore upcoming Marvel Netflix series like Daredevil and Luke Cage, and dive into comics they're excited about including the Galactus Trilogy and Saga. The hosts also preview movies and TV shows on the horizon, from Star Wars and Ant-Man to The Expanse and Westworld, while sharing personal stories from their week.

The creators and cast of the short film Game Companion discuss making the 12-minute movie that blends video game, anime, and cosplay cultures. Gord Vestwick (who plays the lead character Bob), costume designer Leela Parks, and actress Sydney talk about the creative process, fight choreography with real steel swords, and how one actor accidentally cut off the tip of his toe during filming. They also preview their upcoming sci-fi short film Mining Moon.