This week, Josh and Dietrich dive into building a playlist for one of their favorite directors, Quentin Tarantino. Dietrich looks at a podcast that dissects the ways film scripts are built, as well as a video game that matches the surreal and exuberant tone that has defined Tarantino's work. Josh raves about a brilliant author, an incredible and hysterical film celebrating the best and worst of blaxploitation movies, and wildly cheats by selecting the films of an entire nation as his third choice. It works, but still... cheating. In addition, Jost talks about an astonishing book by Bari Wood and a extraordinary video game about exploration and a looping timeline, and Dietrich attempts to review five books in five minutes, with predictably stressful results. You can send any questions or comments to [email protected].

This week, Josh and Dietrich are thrilled to bring you the first of what they're calling the Playlist B-Sides, a series of playlists built with the actual subject of the playlist! For our first interview, we're joined by the exceptional and hysterical author Mary Roach. In a writing career that's seen her mugged by monkeys, pestering special forces soldiers about diarrhea, and watching people hump inside an MRI machine for science, Mary's writing has spanned six New York Times bestselling books, ranging from how we handle corpses to how we poop in space. Today, you can hear her talk about her new book Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, dealing with stubborn government officials, scandalizing her agent, and eagerly venturing forth to find a macaque to mug her, all while providing a unique look at some of the work that has inspired her remarkable career. 

This week, Josh and Dietrich attempt something quite different: a playlist about understanding and coping with mental health issues. It's a huge challenge for the pair, who approach it from different angles. Josh looks at work that has portrayed struggles with depression and anxiety, from the astonishing Melancholia to the grim, heartfelt, and moving HBO series The Leftovers. Dietrich discusses media that has helped him better understand the struggle faced by those coping with mental illness, including a webcomic that handles science fiction and trans rights equally deftly, and a video game that uses familiar mechanics to discuss the challenge of staying mentally healthy. Finally, they debate whether the Pixar film Inside Out belongs on this list. In addition, Josh raves about an astonishing urban fantasy novel, Dietrich looks at the newest title from the author of The Martian, and they discuss a movie Dietrich adores and Josh is dying to see. You can send questions or comments to [email protected].

On this episode, Josh and Dietrich assemble one of the strangest playlists yet: one based on the chaotic gleeful mayhem of professional wrestling. They look at the way archetypes from the WWE line up with the insanity of the Mad Max films and the video game Saints Row 3, discuss the physical and mental toll taken on those who perform as wrestlers as portrayed in GLOW and seen on Beyond the Mat, and close out by explaining all the ways that wrestling shares commonalities with the legendary role playing game Dungeons and Dragons. In addition, Josh revisits a surreal trilogy of films that always made the strangest choice, Dietrich raves about a new podcast recommendation, and they include a bonus section at the end looking at the highs and lows of the latest season of The Adventure Zone. You can send questions of comments to [email protected].

This week, Josh and Dietrich delve deep into their nerdy, nerdy pasts to explore media inspired by the themes, ideas, and stories of the iconic series Star Trek: The Next Generation. They talk about the extraordinary worldbuilding of the Mass Effect trilogy, the surreal and alien experiences in A Rendezvous with Rama, the sheer imagination of the explorations in the Bobiverse series, and the richly flawed characters of the Battlestar Galactica reboot. They wrap up with a board game recommendation that is a bit off the beaten path. In addition, Josh recommends a wonderful pair of stories by one of their favorite authors, and Dietrich looks at a pair of brutally difficult video games about surviving in the harshest of environments. You can send questions or comments to [email protected].

This week, Josh's significantly better half joins us to help us put together a playlist based on the hit series Bridgerton that will actually give you some solid suggestions. She discusses several excellent television series, including Reign, Outlander, and Sanditon, as well as the new film adaptation of Little Women. Dietrich and Josh attempt to throw a few suggestions into the ring as well, with Dietrich raving about the outstanding The Great, Josh recommending an excellent novel by Mackenzi Lee, and they wrap up with a contentious discussion about a new Sherlock Holmes adaptation. In addition, they discuss a new Sarah Langdon book, a surreal entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and more. You can send questions or comments to [email protected].

This week, Josh and Dietrich take a look at the recent Netflix phenomenon The Queen's Gambit, building a playlist off this remarkable miniseries about a young chess prodigy. Dietrich scandalizes pretty much anyone who knows sports with his claim of one of the best sports films. Josh looks at one of the few television series that can match The Queen's Gambit for style and setting. The pair discuss a controversial science fiction classic, a film that also tackles the intersection of genius and mental health, and Dietrich wraps up with some suggestions should this show have inspired you to pick up a pawn or two. In addition, Josh talks about a series of crime novels set in a different country, Dietrich raves about a French heist series, and the two discuss the latest film from Pixar. You can send questions or comments to [email protected].

This week, Josh and Dietrich tackle one of their most difficult playlists yet, in no small part because the inspiration is the most unique television show in the last few years. The Good Place featured a mix of philosophical thought and hysterical comedy, all presented with a honest yet unfailingly optimistic look at the human condition. Josh talks about a movie revolving around the idea of justifying your existence on Earth, while Dietrich explores a show that was as popular as its ending was divisive. They look at the remarkable novel Reincarnation Blues, another optimistic comedy by creator Mike Schur, and wrap up with a classic film that got added at the last minute. You can send questions or comments to [email protected]. 

This week, Josh and Dietrich discuss Eldrich horror, which has seen an explosion in popularity over the last few years. The pair discusses the unfortunate history of the genre, particularly in its founding author, and looks at ways modern creators have explored how to make it their own, while simultaneously addressing the racial issues inherent in the genre. Josh raves about Clive Barker and a storytelling podcast that brings the Elder Gods to the Ozarks. Dietrich looks at a short story pitting one of the unfathomable terrors against the greatest mind in the western canon, and an HBO series that uses Eldritch terror to highlight racism in the Jim Crow era. In addition, Josh raves about the second book by one of his favorite authors, and Dietrich explains what he'd rather be doing instead of this podcast. (Editor's Note: An unfortunate glitch resulted in the last few minutes of the recording being lost, particularly the discussion on the astonishing podcast Old Gods of Appalachia. We can't recommend this storytelling podcast enough, and hope you'll check it out on your own.) You can send questions or comments to [email protected].

This week, Josh and Dietrich are joined by an old friend, as Christopher Merchant decides to sit in on a difficult and challenging episode. How do you find storytelling about the police that still feels acceptable given recent events? The trio discuss the difficulty of the old tropes of "the cop that breaks all the rules" in an era highlighting the ugliest in police violence, and try to find stories that look at police through a more honest lens. The examine a dystopian film, a comedy that faces the darker side of policing, and debate whether the iconic David Simon series still holds up as the hallmark of police dramas. In addition, Josh talks about James Ellroy, Christ is published in a new San Francisco literary journal, and Dietrich talks about easily the most esoteric and bizarre thing they've ever touched upon. You can send questions or comments to [email protected].