The Pop Break

This is Podelay, a podcast dedicated to alternative rock pioneer Beck Hansen! After completing their Pod of Doom series, Randy Allain (Media/Lit) and Justin Mancini (TheCineMaverick.com) are back to take on a whole new genre. Our resident music podcasters are joined by Kris Ingersoll of Batman by the Numbers and the Media/Lit podcast, and this time, Randy steps into the host chair so that Justin can discover something new.

In the eleventh episode, Justin, Kris, and Randy discuss Beck’s much acclaimed (and Grammy-winning) 2014 record. They recall needle drops in trailers for Oscar-nominated films, divine multiple meanings from lyrical discrepancies online, and refuse to pigeonhole Kris as Podelay’s resident “harmonica guy.” And as always, they recommend other artists for your listening pleasure.

In every episode, each host will spotlight the following:

·    Where It’s At: a track they really like.

·    It’s A Loser, Baby: a track they don’t.

·    Sing It Again: a favorite lyric.

·    Such A Beautiful Way: a favorite musical moment.

Join them as they travel to a destination a little up the road from the conversations and the pods you know. Please join us for the show that poses one simple question: I’m a podcast, baby, so why don’t you stream me?

Host Picks:

Where It’s At (A Song We Think Is Underrated or Just Really Like)

Justin – Wave

Kris – Say Goodbye

Randy – Heart Is a Drum

It’s a Loser, Baby (A Song We Don’t Like So Much)

Justin – Blackbird Chain (verse)

Kris – Unforgiven (qualified)

Randy – Don’t Let It Go (qualified)

Sing It Again (A Favorite Lyric)

Justin – Turn Away

Kris – Turn Away

Randy – Country Down

Such a Beautiful Way (A Favorite Musical Moment)

Justin – Waking Light

Kris – Cycle/Morning (transition)

Randy – Blue Moon

Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To:

Justin – Sly and the Family Stone

Kris – Judah & the Lion

Randy – Vampire Weekend

“Two dudes, too many morally gray men!” Welcome to the Court of Bros & Spice, join Co-hosts, The Smut Scholar Tyler Bishop and The Thirst Marshal Branden Vice as they do what their therapists recommended ... .start a podcast! Each episode the court will take you on a journey into various romantasy books, they’ll spread some pages while ignoring the red flags as they break down and discuss this genre that has become wildly popular across the world. 

In this inaugural episode, Branden and Tyler fall into the most basic of spices as they celebrate the annual release of their favorite coffee shop drink, and open up shop with The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore. Here we find stressed city worker Jeanie Ellis has escaped her corporate life after inheriting her aunt's coffee shop in the cozy small town of Dream Harbor. There she clashes with Logan, a grumpy local farmer who tries to avoid her upbeat energy. So grab your flannel, as the court tries to out basic each other in this slice of Hallmark. 

The journey continues on the next episode as Branden and Tyler leave Dream Harbor with the falling leaves and embrace the fantasy in romantasy as they roll for initiative in a Dungeons & Dragons themed novel, Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods

You can find the podcast on both Instagram & TikTok @brosnspicepod

There’s never a dull moment in the world of anime and Pop Break is diving right into the action! Join anime enthusiasts Amanda Rivas and Josh Sarnecky as they geek out monthly with dedicated experts and special guests on exciting anime news, trending anime in TV and/or movies, and anime recommendations spanning different genres that everyone should be watching. If you are a lifelong anime lover or taking the initial leap into the genre that has something for everyone, this is the podcast for you!

This month we are joined by friends of the pod and fellow Star Wars enthusiasts Randy Allain of the Media/Lit and Podelay! podcasts and Editor-in-Chief of The Pop Break and co-host of Socially Distanced Bill Bodkin to talk about Star Wars Visions Presents The Ninth Jedi!

Our enthusiasts take a stroll through the anime content minds to discuss favorite series they’ve been watching recently, including Josh’s recommendations of Kaiju Girl Caramelise and Bleach TYBW,  Randy’s recommendations of anime-adjacent My Adventures with Superman and The Owl House, Amanda’s recommendations of Bleach TYBW and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, and Bill’s recommendations of My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, and a surprise recommendation blending wrestling into anime. My Adventures of Superman is found on HBO Max, The Owl House and Bleach TYBW on Disney +, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust on Amazon Prime, and all remaining recommendations found on Crunchyroll. 

In Anime News, they review the trailer for I am Looking for Zombie premiering October 3rd on Crunchyroll. 

In their feature review section, our enthusiasts discuss the decision to select The Ninth Jedi as Star Wars Visions’s first in-depth anime project, Kara as a protagonist, the differences between the Jedi and Sith from canon Star Wars, and so much more! 

Aaron and Josh Sarnecky are here to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Designated Survivor.

Designated Survivor is a political thriller drama series. It premiered on ABC on September 21, 2016. It ran on the network for two seasons before being canceled. Netflix picked the show up for a shorter third season, which debuted in June 2019. Netflix canceled the series the following month, leaving the episode total at 53.

In the pilot, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) becomes the President after an attack on the State of Union address, by virtue of being the designated survivor. Kirkman, his wife (Natascha McElhone) and his children (Mckenna Grace, Tanner Buchanan) abruptly move into the White House. During the show, he must rebuild federal government, find those responsible for the attack, and run for election.

Kirkman is assisted by many characters, including Chief of Staff Emily Rhodes (Italia Ricci), National Security Advisor Aaron Shore (Adan Canto), Press Secretary Seth Wright (Kal Penn), Secret Service Agent Mike Ritter (LaMonica Garrett), and FBI Agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q).

Political players include Speaker of the House Kimble Hookstraten (Virginia Madsen), Former President Cornelius Moss (Geoff Pierson), the duplicitous Vice President Peter MacLeish (Ashley Zukerman), and Kirkman’s campaign manager Lorraine Zimmer (Julie White).

Other characters include attorney Ethan West (Michael J. Fox), aerospace businesswoman Andrea Frost (Kim Raver), White House Political Director Lyor Boone (Paulo Costanzo), geneticist Dr. Eli Mays (Chukwudi Iwuji), and Deputy Chief of Staff Isabel Pardo (Elena Tovar).

Designated Survivor Season 1 earned solid reviews, but the show lost steam shortly after Season 2 premiered. The show had five showrunners in three seasons. The revolving door of showrunners plus declining ratings led to its first cancelation. Upon its second cancelation, Netflix said the third season’s finale was a satisfying ending.

Designated Survivor received a South Korean adaptation titled Designated Survivor: 60 Days.

Aaron and Josh discuss watching and reviewing Designated Survivor before going into the show’s storylines and characters, how the show was affected by real life politics, and its relevance back then and today.

You can listen to Aaron and Josh talk about Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in their 24 podcast. You can also hear about his role in Stand by Me on last month’s podcast.

Designated Survivor is streaming on Netflix

Welcome to “Not Couple Goals” where co-hosts Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy do a deep dive into a different ridiculous romantic thriller from the vantage point of their long-term relationship.

Allie, a TV writer/producer and actress, has an affinity for romantic thrillers, the more salacious the better. Tyler, an entertainment reporter and critic, often finds himself drawn in despite his better judgment. Join them as they explore all the ways it’s possible to love too hard… like WAY too hard.

In this episode, Allie and Tyler kick things off by explaining why they missed last episode and poor Allie’s many medical troubles. Then, they dive full-force into the 2026 movie “The Drama,” starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya. Join them as they reveal very different opinions on what constitutes a wedding dealbreaker, battle the harsh rain and uncover the correct pronunciation of Zendaya’s name. 

Special thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music.

Please don’t forget to follow our hosts on Twitter @ANelRetentive & @TylerMcCarthy and Instagram @ANelRetentive and to check out Tyler’s writing at USA Insider and Allie’s at Parade and Business Insider!

Welcome to TV Break, where Pop Break’s Director of Podcasting Alex Marcus is joined by editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television.

Here’s the format of the show:

The Best Thing I Saw on TV Last Month  – Alex, Bill, & Josh talk about a show/episode/event they liked from the last month including HBO Max’s My Adventures with Superman, Hulu’s Furious, and Disney Plus’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars. 

2026 Emmys Preview – Bill, Josh, and Alex break down the race for the most nominations per network and highlight some of the most interesting acting races across the Comedy, Drama, and Limited Series categories.

2026 Program of the Year Award – Bill, Josh, and Alex review all 72 series, specials, and movies nominated for the best series/special/movie at this year’s Emmys and craft their own top eight across all categories before crowning their own winner of the best in show experiment.

New Series Spotlight – This month, our trio is shining their spotlight on HBO’s Lanterns, reviewing the first three episodes of the new series from DC, starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. The series was created by Chris Mundy, Tom King, and Damon Lindelof. 

This is Podelay, a podcast dedicated to alternative rock pioneer Beck Hansen! After completing their Pod of Doom series, Randy Allain (Media/Lit) and Justin Mancini (TheCineMaverick.com) are back to take on a whole new genre. Our resident music podcasters are joined by Kris Ingersoll of Batman by the Numbers and the Media/Lit podcast, and this time, Randy steps into the host chair so that Justin can discover something new.

In the tenth episode, Justin, Kris, and Randy discuss Beck’s first project with Danger Mouse behind the boards. They double-down on their penchant for blues guitar, contemplate the ideal Beck track for department store shopping, and imagine what a modern Blink-182 would sound like with 2026 anxieties. And as always, they recommend other artists for your listening pleasure.

In every episode, each host will spotlight the following:

·        Where It’s At: a track they really like.

·        It’s A Loser, Baby: a track they don’t.

·        Sing It Again: a favorite lyric.

·        Such A Beautiful Way: a favorite musical moment.

Join them as they travel to a destination a little up the road from the conversations and the pods you know. Please join us for the show that poses one simple question: I’m a podcast, baby, so why don’t you stream me?

Host Picks:

Where It’s At (A Song We Think Is Underrated or Just Really Like)

Justin – Volcano

Kris – Chemtrails

Randy – Modern Guilt

It’s a Loser, Baby (A Song We Don’t Like So Much)

Justin – Replica

Kris – Soul of a Man

Randy – Replica

Sing It Again (A Favorite Lyric)

Justin – Youthless

Kris – Volcano

Randy – Walls

Such a Beautiful Way (A Favorite Musical Moment)

Justin – Chemtrails

Kris – Soul of a Man

Randy – Chemtrails

Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To:

Justin – Kate Bush

Kris – The Paradox

Randy – The Velvet Underground

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and ⁠Mostly Nitpicking⁠’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.

Michelle and DJ are back with special guest Allie Nelson of Not Couple Goals to break down the Love Island Season 8 reunion. They cover all of the updates, which have some panelists more excited than others. They give their pitches on how the reunion could be reformatted to be more exciting. They wrap up with a preview of Let's Marry Harry and an update on the shows they missed while they were away.

The Pop Break's Alex Marcus and Amanda Rivas appeared on stage at San Diego Comic Con 2026 alongside Gigi Ford, Brandon Jackson, Derick McDuff, and Jason Patrick Galit. They debate the best fictional locations to visit in all of pop culture, from superhero worlds, fantasy lands, Star Wars planets, and animated environments!

Full Video of the event available at our YouTube channel!

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.

Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.

It’s just Daniel and Kris in the Batcave this month, and it’s all about TV.  One live action.  One animated.  Lanterns and Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2.  One of these we were very positive on.  The other one…not as much.

First, we dive into the pilot episode of Lanterns.  And yes, SPOILERS abound.  We’ve been building up to this one for a while.  Did it live up to expectations?  We heavily discuss the two leads, as we break down how Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre fare as Hal Jordan and John Stewart.  We discuss that BIG ending, and what it may mean for the DCU going forward.  And we reflect on the good and potentially bad when it comes to the Damon Lindelof of it all.

Next up, it’s a full-on SPOILER breakdown of all 10 episodes of Season 2 for Batman: Caped Crusader.  We compare it to Season 1, focusing heavily on how they handle new versions of classic villains.  

Did Daniel like this Riddler interpretation!!!???  

We also get into A LOT of Joker talk.  Did they nail the most important conflict in the Batman mythos?  We also discuss what we liked, and didn’t like regarding Batman himself, and the two delve into their favorite, and least favorite episodes of the season.

Also, if you like Daniel getting things wrong, he does so with one of the villains this season, so that’s reason enough to listen!

Enjoy this JAM-PACKED TV focused episode!