The Protagonist Podcast

The Protagonist Podcast

By Dueling Genre ProductionsArts
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The Protagonist Podcast episodes

  • Halloween 2025 (special)

    Description

    Protagonist Podcast co-founder Todd Mack is back for our annual Halloween Special. In this episode, we play a game of Halloween Fives, where a random Halloween topic is given and we each need to fill out a list of five that fits that criteria. Enjoy the spooky season!

    58 min
  • Ben Mears and others from ‘Salem’s Lot (novel 1975)

    Description

    Returning guest Josh Allen joins Joe to discuss the Stephen King novel Salem’s Lot. King’s second novel tells the story of a small town in Maine being overrun by vampires, and the few citizens who realize what is happening and try to stop them. 

    Support

    Patreon

    Show Notes

    • ‘Salem’s Lot – Wikipedia
    • Stephen King – Wikipedia
    • 1 hr 7 min
    • Harry Vanderspeigle from Resident Alien (tv 2021)

      Description

      Returning guest Nik English joins Joe to discuss the tv show Resident Alien. This sci-fi dramedy series stars Alan Tudyk as an alien who wants to destroy earth but is disguised as the human Harry Vanderspiegle. We discuss the tone of the series, Alan Tudyk’s performance, and also the delightful side characters in the series.

      Support

      • Patreon
      • Show Notes

        • Resident Alien – Wikipedia
        • Alan Tudyk – Wikipedia
        • 51 min
        • Jack Kamen from Kamen’s Kalamity (comic 1952)

          Description

          First time guest Valentino Zullo joins Joe to discuss “Kamen’s Kalamity,” a story from the EC Comics Tales from the Crypt #31. We discuss the place of EC Comics in pop culture history, and also dig into this particular story which is a fantastical semi-autobiographical story of how the artist Jack Kamen came to draw horror comics for EC Comics. 

          Support

          • Patreon 
          • Show Notes

            • Jack Kamen – Wikipedia
            • EC Comics – Wikipedia
            • 52 min
            • Kat Stratford and Patrick Verona from 10 Things I Hate About You (film 1999)

              Description

              Returning guests Lena English and Tayler Iverson join Joe to discuss the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You. Based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, this film moves the plot to an American high school in the late 1990s. Starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, the film follows the tangled love lives of a group of teenagers.

              Support

              • Patreon
              • Show Notes

                • 10 Things I Hate About You – Wikipedia
                • 10 Things I Hate About You – IMDB
                • 59 min
                • Mr. Joyce-Armstrong from “The Horror of the Heights” and Mr. Wilson from “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”

                  Description

                  First-time guest Joseph Darowski (hi, Dad) joins returning guest John Darowski and Joe to discuss to stories about supernatural dangers faced by humans as they take to the skies. “The Horror of the Heights” is a 1913 short story by Arthur Conan Doyle about the mysterious deaths of pilots who are attempting to break altitude records in the early days of manned flight. “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” is a classic Twilight Zone episode about a man trying to overcome his fear of flying who is the only one on a flight who sees a gremlin damaging the wing of the plane.

                  Support

                  • Patreon
                  • Show Notes

                    • The Horror of the Heights – Wikipedia
                    • Arthur Conan Doyle – Wikipedia
                    • Nightmare at 20,000 Feet – Wikipedia
                    • The Twilight Zone – Wikipedia
                    • 1 hr 9 min
                    • Mabel and Dipper from Gravity Falls (tv 2012)

                      Description

                      Returning guest Josh Allen joins Joe to discuss the animated series Gravity Falls. The series is animated fantasy/comedy/cryptid/coming of age/mystery/adventure show and it is fantastic. We’re talking about the 12-year-old twins Mabel and Dipper, who go to spend the Summer with their Great Uncle Stan in the small town of Gravity Falls where they start to discover strange supernatural conspiracies.

                      Support

                      • Patreon
                      • Show Notes

                        • Gravity Falls – Wikipedia
                        • Alex Hirsch – Wikipedia
                        • 54 min
                        • Adapting Superman (special 2025)

                          Description

                          Returning guest John Darowski joins Joe to discuss the long history of adapting Superman into additional media outside of the comic books where the character first appeared. John is the editor of the essay collection Adapting Superman, making him an expert on this topic.

                          Support

                          • Patreon
                          • Show Notes

                            • Adapting Superman – Amazon
                            • 56 min
                            • The teammembers from X-Factor #87 (comic 1992)

                              Description

                              Returning guest Andrew Deman joins Joe to discuss the comic book issue X-Factor #87 which had a cover date of December 1992. This classic issues sees a therapist meet with each member of the team and provide new insights into their personalities and motivations. The issue was written by the legendary comic book writer Peter David, and we take some time to discuss his legacy and impact on the industry.

                              Support

                              • Patreon
                              • Show Notes

                                • X-Factor – Wikipedia
                                • Peter David – Wikipedia
                                • Joe Quesada Wikipedia
                                • 57 min
                                • Shane and Joe from Shane (film 1953)

                                  Description

                                  Producer Andrew joins Joe to discuss the classic western film Shane. Based on the 1949 novel by Jack Schaefer, the film was directed by George Stevens and stars Alan Ladd as Shane and Van Hefline as Joe. It tells the story of a drifter cowboy coming into town and helping the homesteaders fight off an evil cattle baron.

                                  Support

                                  • Patreon
                                  • Show Notes

                                    • Shane (film) – Wikipedia
                                    • Shane (book) – WIkipedia
                                    • 56 min

                                    About The Protagonist Podcast

                                    From the publisher's feed

                                    Each week we discuss a great character in a great story. Hosted by Joseph J. Darowski.

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