The Protagonist Podcast

The Protagonist Podcast

By Dueling Genre ProductionsArts
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The Protagonist Podcast episodes

  • Kuzko, Yzma, Kronk, and Pacha from The Emperor’s New Groove (film 2000)

    Description

    Returning guest Kestra Darowski joins Joe to discuss the Disney animated film The Emperor’s New Groove. This episode has some of the most surprising behind-the-scenes trivia discussion of any story we have ever discussed! What happened during the development of this film is absolutely wild. 

    Support

    • Patreon
    • Show Notes

      • Emperor’s New Groove – Wikipedia
      • Emperor’s New Groove – Oral History from Vulture
      • 57 min
      • Frieren from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (tv 2023)

        Description

        Returning guest Norman Mitchell joins Joe to discuss Freiren from the anime series Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. The series is an adaptation of a manga series and explores what life is like for Frieren, an elf who had a decades-long adventure with two humans and a dwarf. Now, 50 years later, Frieren is unchanged, but her friends are much older and on death’s door. Freiren reassesses her life, and regrets not gaining a better understanding of her friends or forming closer bonds with them. 

        Support

        • Patreon
        • Show Notes

          Frieren – Wikipedia

           

          1 hr 4 min
        • Sergei Kravinov from “Kraven’s Last Hunt” (comic 1987)

          Description

          Returning guest Christopher “Mav” Maverick joins Joe to discuss a classic Marvel Comics story, “Kraven’s Last Hunt.” Written by J.M. DeMatteis with pencils by Mike Zeck and inks by Bob McLeod, this storyline tells about Kraven’s final hunt (for the time) to capture Spider-Man. We are discussing the classic comic book storyline involving Kraven the Hunter, not the recent film featuring the character that…exists.

          Suport

          • Patreon
          • Show Notes

            • Kraven’s Last Hunt – Wikipedia
            • Kraven the Hunter – Wikipedia
            • Spider-Man – Wikipedia
            • 1 hr 11 min
            • Survivor Season Mount Rushmore (Special 2025)

              Description

              First-time guest David Bloomberg joins returning guest Kate Darowski and Joe to discuss the best seasons of Survivor. We’re each building a Mount Rushmore of Survivor Seasons, so at the end of the podcast you have 12 seasons of Survivor you could go check out if you’re wanted to explore Survivor. David Bloomberg has been writing about (or eventually podcasting about) Survivor since the first season, and is one of the experts on the show. Kate and Joe have a new book, Survivor: A Cultural History, coming out this week.

              Support

              • Patreon
              • Show Notes

                • Survivor: A Cultural History – Amazon
                • David Bloomberg – Linktree
                • David Bloomberg – RHAP
                • 59 min
                • Louise Banks from Arrival (film 2016)

                  Description

                  Returning guest Rachel Armstron joins Joe to discuss the film Arrival. Starring Amy Adams as Louise Banks, Arrival is an adaption of Ted Chiang’s short story “Story of Your Life.” The contemplative film explores issues of language, aliens, and a surprise twist that flips the story on its head. 

                  Support

                  • Patreon
                  • Show Notes

                    • Arrival – Wikipedia
                    • Ted Chiang – Wikipedia
                    • Denis Villeneuve – Wikipedia
                    • 1 hr 4 min
                    • Romeo and Juliet from The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (play 159?)

                      Description

                      Returning guest Virginia McAlister joins Joe to discuss William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. We talk about the play’s history (it’s wild), it’s place in our culture (it’s everywhere), and, of course, dig into the characters themselves (they’re super-interesting).

                      Support

                      • Patreon  
                      • Show Notes

                        • Romeo and Juliet – Wikipedia
                        • William Shakespeare – Wikipedia
                        • 1 hr 3 min
                        • The ensemble from Grey’s Anatomy (tv 2005)

                          Description

                          Returning guest Kestra Darowski joins Joe to discuss the long-running tv show Grey’s Anatomy. We’re discussing the pilot, “A Hard Day’s Night,” which aired in 2005. We discuss the characters we meet in this episode and the long-term success of the franchise. We also touch on the medical show genre as a tv staple. 

                          Support

                          • Patreon
                          • Show Notes

                            • Grey’s Anatomy – Wikipedia
                            • Shonda Rhimes – Wikipedia
                            • 56 min
                            • Alicia Masters in Fantastic Four #19 (comic 2024)

                              Description

                              First-time guest Ryan North to discuss a comic book he wrote, Fantastic Four #19, “The Perfect Storm.” Ryan North is known for the webcomic Dinosaur Comics, as well as writing for Marvel Comics and other comic companies. In his this issue, Alicia Masters is the protagonist in a noir-adventure. We talk about the history of Alicia Masters in Marvel Comics, her role in North’s current run on Fantastic Four, and North’s collaboration with penciler Carlos Gomez and colorist Jesus Aburtov.

                              Support

                              • Patreon
                              • Show Notes

                                • Ryan North – Author Website
                                • Ryan North – Wikipedia 
                                • Alicia Masters – Wikipedia
                                • 48 min
                                • Silliness, Absurdity, and Comedy (special 2025)

                                  Description

                                  Returning guest Kevin Anthony joins Joe to discuss the value of silliness, absurdity, and comedy. We talk about shows like Taskmaster and comedians like James Acaster as we have an open-ended conversation about what makes us laugh and why it matters.

                                  58 min
                                • Ada Harris from Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (film 2022)

                                  Description

                                  Returning guest Kjerste Christensen joins Joe to discuss the 2022 film Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. Starring Lesley Manville as Ada Harris, the film is an adaptation of a 1958 novel. It tells the story of a war-widow, Mrs. Harris, deciding to go to Paris to purchase a haute couture Christian Dior dress.

                                  Support

                                  • Patreon
                                  • Show Notes

                                    • Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris – Wikipedia
                                    • Lesley Manville – Wikipedia
                                    •  

                                      1 hr 2 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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