The Cult Spark Podcast

As if suddenly awakened from a deep slumber, the Cult Spark Podcast is back, baby. And all it took was a new Batman movie that our intrepid hosts, Robert Taylor and Stewart Smith, just felt like they had to talk about. In this brand new episode of the podcast — our first in more than three years! — Bob and Stew discuss Matt Reeves’ new film, The Batman, from every angle: The cast. The story. The dark tone. The length. The Batsuit. The Batmobile. The upcoming HBO Max spinoff shows. No Bat-stone is left unturned! In addition, they pour through Batman film history, playing a game of “Overrated, Underrated, or Properly Rated” with every single theatrically-released Batman film dating back to Tim Burton’s 1989 crowd-pleaser. If you’ve missed our podcast, or if you’re just keen to hear two dudes talk about Batman for over an hour, you’re one button press away from giving your ears the sweetest gift we can offer — a brand new episode of the Cult Spark Podcast!

Our podcasters this episode are Robert Brian Taylor and Stewart Smith. To make sure you catch every episode, you can subscribe to The Cult Spark Podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or pick up our direct podcast feed.

Ethan Hunt has chosen to accept his sixth mission, and Bob and Stew are along for the ride to discuss if Fallout is the best Mission: Impossible ever, how much is too much when it comes to action scenes, whether Luther should be considered expendable, and how Fallout compares to other great actions films of the past decade. The fuse is lit … all you have to do is press play.

Our podcasters this episode are Bob Taylor and Stewart Smith. To make sure you catch every episode, you can subscribe to The Cult Spark Podcast via Apple Podcasts or pick up our podcast feed at CultSpark.com.

Theme music: Octopussy (Juanitos) / CC BY 2.0

You asked, we answered. Welcome to the first-ever installment of “Ask Bob and Stew Anything.” A few weeks ago we put out word that we were going to record an entire episode where we do nothing but answer listener questions. You guys quickly responded with a wealth of interesting questions. Bob and Stew picked the 14 best and spend a full hour in this episode answering them for you. Among the wide range of topics discussed are Star Wars, the DC Extended Universe, The Walking Dead, the highs and lows of Adam Sandler’s filmography, the state of modern studio filmmaking, which franchises we’d like to see revived, our favorite episodes of television, movie adaptations of videogames and much, much more. Thanks to everyone who took the time to submit a question for us. We plan on doing this again sometime down the road, so if you had a good time listening and have a question of our own you’d like us to answer in the future, submit it to us in the comments at our website, at Facebook or on Twitter.

Our podcasters this episode are Bob Taylor and Stewart Smith. To make sure you catch every episode, you can subscribe to The Cult Spark Podcast via Apple Podcasts or pick up our podcast feed at CultSpark.com.

Theme music: Octopussy (Juanitos) / CC BY 2.0

It seems like The Last Jedi just left theaters, but a new Star Wars movie is already here. In this episode, Bob and Stew head to a galaxy far, far away to discuss Solo: A Star Wars Story, the surprisingly great spinoff to the legendary sci-fi saga. Topics they touch on during the discussion include the tricky job Alden Ehrenreich faced in playing a young Han Solo, the public’s muted reaction to the film, and what that shocking cameo means for the Star Wars universe at large. Turn off that game of holochess and have yourself a listen.

Our podcasters this episode are Bob Taylor and Stewart Smith. To make sure you catch every episode, you can subscribe to The Cult Spark Podcast via iTunes or pick up our podcast feed at CultSpark.com.

Theme music: Octopussy (Juanitos) / CC BY 2.0

With Avengers: Infinity War Marvel Studios has released their biggest movie yet, and Bob and Stew are here to break it all down — the deaths, the surprises, the box office and what it all means for the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward. The spoilers come fast and they come early, so see the movie first (if you’re one of the three people who haven’t) and then come right back here to get our take on the film’s jaw-dropping twists.

Our podcasters this episode are Bob Taylor and Stewart Smith. To make sure you catch every episode, you can subscribe to The Cult Spark Podcast via iTunes or pick up our podcast feed at CultSpark.com.

Theme music: Octopussy (Juanitos) / CC BY 2.0

It’s a Cult Spark Podcast twofer as Bob and Stew chat about both Annihilation and Black Panther in this episode. First up is Annihilation, Alex Garland’s trippy, sci-fi mindfuck that sees Natalie Portman attempting to solve the mystery of a growing, otherworldly phenomenon. Then, starting at 29:29, talk turns to Black Panther, Marvel’s box-office and cultural juggernaut that has turned Wakanda into the most well-known fake country in the world. Both films are good; the question is how good? As you might expect, Bob and Stew don’t always see eye on eye on that matter.

Our podcasters this episode are Bob Taylor and Stewart Smith. To make sure you catch every episode, you can subscribe to The Cult Spark Podcast via iTunes or pick up our podcast feed at CultSpark.com.

Theme music: Octopussy (Juanitos) / CC BY 2.0

It’s time to open up the mystery box and pull out the brand new Cult Spark Podcast contained within! In this episode, our first of 2018, Bob and Terrence talk about the surprise Netflix release, The Cloverfield Paradox — the third installment of the J.J. Abrams-produced Cloverfield series. In addition to dissecting the film itself, they also discuss Netflix’s growth as a legitimate movie studio and debate whether their subversion of typical film distribution models is a good or bad thing. Oh, and Terrence also defends his decision to purchase Transformers: The Last Knight on Blu-ray. All of this and more can be streamed right to your ears immediately!

Our podcasters this episode are Bob Taylor and Terrence Aybar. To make sure you catch every episode, you can subscribe to The Cult Spark Podcast via iTunes or pick up our podcast feed at CultSpark.com.

Theme music: Octopussy (Juanitos) / CC BY 2.0

From Rey and Ren to Poe and the Porgs … Bob and Stew cover all the bases (Rebel and otherwise) in our Star Wars: The Last Jedi spectacular, 53 minutes of spoiler-filled, podcast-y goodness focusing entirely on the newest film in the Star Wars saga. Among the important questions they tackle are: Is this film great enough to stand alongside the best the franchise has to offer? Did writer/director Rian Johnson answer the mysteries set up by The Force Awakens in a satisfying manner? And exactly how much weeping happened in the theater when an original-trilogy character turned back up in a surprise appearance? Meanwhile, our podcasting duo also wonder if it’s fair to call Star Wars liberal propaganda and contemplate whether Poe should be demoted for inadvertently getting so many Resistance members killed. All of this and more is just a click away. We won’t use the Force to make you listen, but you totally should anyway.

Our podcasters this episode are Bob Taylor and Stewart Smith. To make sure you catch every episode, you can subscribe to The Cult Spark Podcast via iTunes or pick up our podcast feed at CultSpark.com.

Theme music: Octopussy (Juanitos) / CC BY 2.0

Justice League is here and it’s … just okay. Sort of good. At least better than Batman v Superman. Was that enough for Bob and Stew? And what does the film’s underwhelming box office mean for the DC Extended Universe going forward? Those questions and more are answered in this brand-new episode of the Cult Spark Podcast.

Our podcasters this episode are Bob Taylor and Stewart Smith. To make sure you catch every episode, you can subscribe to The Cult Spark Podcast via iTunes or pick up our podcast feed at CultSpark.com.

Theme music: Octopussy (Juanitos) / CC BY 2.0

It is officially a box-office sensation, and Bob and Terrence, two long-time Stephen King nerds, couldn’t be happier about it. In our latest podcast, the pair discuss what they loved about the film, how surprised they are by its mammoth success and what needs to happen in It: Chapter Two to keep the good times going. They also reminisce about the 1990 miniseries adaptation of It and rank their favorite King adaptations. A trip to the sewers awaits. All you need to do is press play.

Our podcasters this episode are Bob Taylor and Terrence Aybar. To make sure you catch every episode, you can subscribe to The Cult Spark Podcast via iTunes or pick up our podcast feed at CultSpark.com.

Theme music: Octopussy (Juanitos) / CC BY 2.0