Two public-school teacher-nerd-geeks (with surprisingly little overlap in our geekdom) teach each other through the common ground of history about our favorite things
301 episodes transcribedDamian and Ed discuss how Steve Rogers / Captain American is the personification of The New Deal.
This week, comic book writer Tim Watts joins Damian for a discussion of the changing resonance of V for Vendetta over time and across media (the comic...
This week, comic book writer Tim Watts joins Damian for a discussion of the changing resonance of V for Vendetta over time and across media (the comic...
A message from Producer George about the break we’re taking for the holidays. See you all in the next decade!
Our good friend Tessa Pogorelskin joins us for a discussion around the defining traits of the Houses of Hogwarts. As the lone Gryffindor at the table...
In this episode, Ed traces the development of Orcs from their origins in Tolkien’s work up through their current incarnation in World of Warcraft, and...
In this episode, Damian fully develops his argument about the connection between the Patriot Act and Civil War. Ed spends some time talking about wha...
Damian sets up the real-world background for the passage of the Patriot Act in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Ed laments how the Civil War series seem...
Damian reveals the results of far too much time spent reading old microfiche of “Variety” magazines, and he and Ed get into a discussion of the Apollo...
Damian describes the roots of the Screwball Comedy genre and its gender politics dynamics. Ed has an epiphany about screwball relating to the roots o...
In our first episode about Star Wars (!), Ed illuminates how the Jedi should be inherently countercultural figures. He explains where he thinks Lucas...
Producer George judges the contestants in the D&D Thunderdome- Ed continues to marvel at the brutality of Lyudmila, and Damian does likewise about the...
George joins the team to help bring up the technical quality of the whole operation. Damian and Ed initiate him by forcing him to pick the best D&D 5...
In this episode, Ed and Damian wrap up their analysis with a continued look at the representation of LGBTQ+ characters and issues in the X-Men.
In this episode, Damian lauds Stan Lee for his anti-racism, but deducts some points for well-meaning cluelessness. Ed calls Jim Shooter a jackass. G...
Damian summarizes the zeitgeist and current events in the United States at the time the X-Men started. Ed tries heroically to use clean language whil...
Damian continues his analysis of the appeal of possession stories in times of disillusionment with government. Along the way he gives Ed a week's wor...
We find out what possessed Damian to research the zeitgeist of horror movies in the '70s, and why Ed takes a dog with him when he goes house hunting.
Ed develops the connection between the "Stronghold" mechanic of 1st Edition AD&D and assumptions born out of agrarianism. Damian shares his favorite...
To start in on this topic, Ed and Damian share their own opinions on the “Edition Wars” of Dungeons and Dragons. Ed laments the poor toolbox granted...
