Chuck and His #1 Phan talk about celebrating Halloween as sons of immigrants who had no idea why it was important or even worthwhile. Through their reminiscence, they recall how awkward it was to costume on a budget and gather candy that their parents saw as toxic - and yet now as adults they've kept that spirit alive. This episode is an ode to their mothers in particular for their creativity and sacrifice - "for ANY occasion."

After our episode on our thoughts on California, Chuck and His #1 Phan received a message from one of their cousins. What began as a "reaction clip" turned into a clear interest in inviting her into this episode of our podcast. We spoke for so long that it ended up being two parts. Have a listen!

For the episode of relevance: https://whatseatingchuck.buzzsprout.com/1388275/8848365-21-california-made-us-feel-weird-about-ourselves

After our episode on our thoughts on California, Chuck and His #1 Phan received a message from one of their cousins. What began as a "reaction clip" turned into a clear interest in inviting her into this episode of our podcast. We spoke for so long that it ended up being two parts. Have a listen!

For the episode of relevance: https://whatseatingchuck.buzzsprout.com/1388275/8848365-21-california-made-us-feel-weird-about-ourselves

We both saw Shang-Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings in theaters, and we loved the experience. Yet there are still some chips on our shoulders we'd like to address. Why were the expectations set so low for this film, even from its parent company? Were some of the "platonic" character developments intentional? We explore these questions and more in this episode and ultimately express nothing but pride and gratitude for everyone involved.

Also, listen to our last episode about Shang Chi here (Episode #17): https://whatseatingchuck.buzzsprout.com/1388275/8444558-17-what-s-a-shang-chi-please-take-our-money-anyway

Reacting to the latest updates from the Netflix live-action adaptation, Chuck and His #1 Phan dig deep into their years of fandom over (inarguably) the greatest anime of all time. Genre-breaking, highly influential, and still relevant well into the present, we invite you to join our crew of melancholy space bounty hunters and endure the lingering sadness of life ... together. 

A few days ago, Netflix announced the new main cast of the upcoming live-action adaption of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Super-fans of the animated series Chuck and His #1 Phan share their reactions and differ (slightly) about their expectations for how this will all play out.

Chuck wants to talk with His #1 Phan about a complicated matter within our community: at the end of a meal or a shared transaction, who pays? Does it get more complicated among class, gender, age, host vs guest, and other factors? Why do our dads seem to want to pay every time but also secretly don't mind (after much negotiation) when their sons cover the bill? We draw from history, anthropology, and personal experience... and figured out a system that works for the both of us.

In this episode, Chuck and His #1 Phan reflect on their experiences in California. They're oddly similar: all-day car trips crammed in a tiny hatchback, visiting family in Orange County and Los Angeles with very different mindsets, and this lingering feeling that they're possibly "missing out." Does that feeling still hold up now that they're middle-aged and settled in their home state of Oregon ... still? Sure, you can check in anytime you like ... but can you ever leave? Listen and share your thoughts!

In this episode, Chuck and His #1 Phan reminisce about a bizarre Saturday Night Live sketch from the mid-1990s where an American tourist (Chris Farley) accidentally participates on a wacky game show hosted by Mike Myers and competing against Alec Baldwin. The sketch would not likely hold up into today's cultural climate (arguably, it didn't hold up them), and yet even the most ornery vanguards of cultural appropriation and representation argue that this sketch is ... awesome. How do we reconcile things that are both problematic and impressive?

We explore this and more. Have a listen!

According to few sources, the Netflix live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender is potentially making some major changes from its source material. Chuck and His #1 Phan are not sure how to feel about it, especially given how much they love and appreciate the original animated series (and yes, they are also fans of the sequel, The Legend of Korra). This episode dissects some of these details and expresses strong concerns over the future of the franchise.