The Protagonist Podcast

Joe and Todd are talking about Amaar Rashid and Rayyan Hamoudi from the Canadian sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie. They discuss why being a fairly normal sitcom makes this a pretty special show, problems of prejudice, and issues that exist inside and outside of tight-knit communities.

This week, Joe and Todd are talking about Liesel from the instant classic: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. They discuss the novel’s unique narrator, the trauma of war, and the great characters that surround Liesel.

Joe and Todd are talking about the cast of the film Dilwale. They discuss Bollywood films, the accepted ethics in the narrative world of the film, and revel in the anything-can-happen nature of the film.

This week, Todd and Joe are joined by returning guest Norman Mitchell to play a game we’re calling Anime Truth and Lie. We take turns sharing the title of a Japanese Anime series, then reading off one real and one fake summary of that series. Then, everyone else has to try and guess which one was the true description of the series. Feel free to play along and let us know which series you’d watch.

This week, Joe and Todd are joined by special guest Norman Mitchell to discuss Edward and Alphonse Elric from the Manga series Fullmetal Alchemist. They talk about the balance between the brothers’ personalities, the creativity of the series’ creator Hiromu Arakawa, and the sadness of Nina Tucker.

This week, Dr. Who expert and friend of the show Cassandra Fredrickson joins Todd and Joe to discuss the amazing Dr. Who episode “Vincent and the Doctor.” Topics include: reactions to the chicken monster, the especially timey-wimey handwaviness of this episode, depression, suffering, and beauty. We hope you enjoy it.

This week Todd and Joe tackle a couple of eerily similar short stories: “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and “The Man Who Buried Himself” by Miguel de Unamuno. Topics include doppelgängers, the uncanny, and how literature can help us approach life’s mysteries.

Joe and Todd are joined by special guest Jeff Dumas to discuss the 2006 film The Prestige. In this episode you’ll hear one of the most difficult summaries ever attempted and a discussion of how perfectly plotted this film is.

This week Joe and Todd tackle Snoopy from Charles Shulz’s comic strip Peanuts. Topics include Shulz’s amazing consistency, Snoopy’s universal appeal, and the ways the imaginative cartoon dog infuses a dark world with hope.

Joe and a Todd are talking about Rob and Laura Petrie from The Dick Van Dyke Show, one of the greatest sitcoms of all-time. They discuss the different kinds of comedy on the show, the brilliance of the cast, and how well the show has aged.