The Thrifty joins us this week for a discussion on the dilemmas of keeping a stable job vs pursuing art. Somewhere in that discussion, we veer into TruckNutz, Game of Thrones (spoilers 41:00-45:15), and whether anybody cares about Star Wars anymore.

There will be spoilers! Yike and Zak dive headlong into a winding discussion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe! So much MCU! But before they do that, they catch up on Yike's C2E2 experience, talk some Borderlands, and prep for the return of Game of Thrones. Will Zak reveal his tier list for the MCU movies? Will Zak go on a 5 minute tangent about the comic book versions of MCU characters? Will Yike say that Thor: Ragnorak is a weird movie? GoT discussion starts at 16:00 and MCU discussion starts at 27:50.

Chicago podcast mogul Eric Scull visits the podcast this week as the X-Factor. He lets us know about the podcasts he's been doing lately. He tells us about his various fandoms, including his love for Harry Potter. We discuss our Star Wars Episode 8 thoughts.

Also, we talk about Star Trek. A lot. If you're into that, let us know who your favorite captain is, and your favorite character. If you're not into that, skip to 43:50 as soon as you lose interest in Star Trek talk.

This week's X-factor, Kelsey Fehlberg, gushes to us about Treasure Planet (the greatest Disney film ever made?) and the virtues of Emma Thompson. What are our origin stories? Should we be scared of Smart Homes? What is a love language? Who is Zak's favorite Bond? Will we ask the Steve Israel Memorial Question too early? Tune in to find out!

In this polar vortex edition of the XYZ podcast, we talk to Josh Cahlik, a Chicago based writer and comedian, about poker, VR, his experience leaving Facebook, TV show backlogs, Star Trek, and his Oscar takes!

Join Yike, Zak, and Juan in a nerdtastic episode. We discuss the new Spiderman Movie, Borderlands addiction, trading card games, exponential power scaling in fictional universes, and Star Wars!

This edition of the XYZ Podcast comes full circle with our friend Rick Sunderman, the man who planted the seed in our heads to do a podcast! Join us in our longest episode yet, as we wind through topics including

- How difficult it is to find silence in the modern world.

- Sleep hacks.

- Chicago drinking culture.

- Different approaches to improv.

- FOOD.

- Metallica history.

In this week's episode, a guest snafu and general tiredness make for loopy ranty tangential weirdness! Yike and Zak talk about their experiences voting in midterms, realize that the podcast is #mumblecore, then wind their way through a conversation about musical theater, James Bond, Humphrey Bogart, The Last Jedi, Beast Wars, and Grant Morrison comics!

In this special not very spooky Halloween episode, Yike and Zak talk to Alexa, who they learn has been alive for 100 years. She teaches them the secrets to looking great in your old age, and she explains how she has been cursed to watch Mad Men for eternity.

Join Yike, Zak, and guest Carlos Cerutti as we wind our way through a conversation about Dr Who, spoilers, biking on the sidewalk, bad rideshare manners, and aliens!