Survivor Maryland Wrapp Upp with Austin Trupp

It's been a while since ChrisT was sent from heaven to deliver us from sin, and it's time for Probst-in-training and friend of the show Austin Trupp to deliver the final words on a season which, in a crowded field, still holds its own as one of 2018's best Survivor seasons. You can listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

[unlocked] Survivor 38: Breaking News Reactions (June 1, 2018)

Originally recorded when Redmond broke the news, we've unlocked our same-day reactions to the Edge of Extinction returning players. Get future episodes like these plus our weekly coverage of classic reality seasons by supporting the show on Patreon here. Listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch with Taran Armstrong

Lest the festive cheer get too raucous, Black Mirror is once again on hand with a thriller that's variously psychological, psychotic, and psychedelic. For this adventure I chose Taran Armstrong to explore the twists and turns of this latest release, the challenges of this new format, and imagine where things could go from here. Gyre and gimble with us below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: Big Nick Energy -- Season In Review

After a seemingly inevitable (to all but us) march to the finish line, Nick slew Goliath(s) and slithered away with a million-dollar cheque. Why did nobody treat him as the threat he was? How well did the finale cap off a stellar season?And are any of us smart enough to know what a 'hypothesis' is? All this and more as we close the book on Survivor for another year below, here, or on iTunes here.

Idol Statistics

Somm (2012)

No matter if you're a wine snob and proud of it or can't tell your Merlot from your Malbec, Somm, the documentary series about the intense quest to become a Master Sommelier, is well worth your time. Open a fresh can of tennis balls with us as we take a deep dive into the wine world and meet its newest stars. Watch Somm (and Somm: Into the Bottle for a more detailed look at the history of wine) on Netflix, then find our episode below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: The Joubert Report -- Episode 13 Recap/Analysis with Werner Joubert

Only a few days away from the thrilling conclusion, we're honored to bring in Survivor: South Africa robbed kingpin Werner Joubert to get his take on David vs. Goliath thus far and preview the most hotly anticipated finale in years. Plus, a bonus-sized Edit Zone breaking down a race for the title that may now be closer than ever before, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

The Barkley Marathons (2014)

Today we gingerly saunter our way into the world of competitive ultrarunning as we take a closer look at The Barkley Marathons and Where Dreams Go to Die -- two documentaries about the single most grueling footrace in the world. Watch Barkley on Amazon, watch Dreams here, then listen to the podcast below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: Gift of Gabby -- Episode 12 Recap/Analysis with Amanda Rabinowitz

With Dom out building an empire on Twitch, Colin brings in psychologist/fake lawyer Amanda Rabinowitz to break down Gabby's shocking demise, haphazardly guess at the dynamics going forward, and award the first ever Aunt Patti Memorial Loved One of the Season trophy. Listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: Done Carl-eone -- Episode 10 (+11?) Recap/Analysis

The David vs. Goliath double-episode featured enlightening seminars on everything from rice negotiations to abstract verbal robotics, but today we're mostly here to belittle each other like Alec on the cross, available on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: Canadian Takesgiving -- Episode 9 Recap/Analysis with Kirsten MacInnis

It's a Canadian takeover and takesgiving this week as Colin is replaced by Big Brother Canada alum-ish and she-devil Kirsten MacInnis to ring in Sagittarius season and discuss how the dark horse galloped to the front of the pack, if anyone can truly be a David or a Goliath, and just what's wrong with Scorpios. As always you can listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: Top Rope -- Episode 8 Recap/Analysis

On a dreary winter Thursday (!!!), there's no better way to pass the time than to dial up an old friend and talk about our favourite show. As the season appears to have the momentum of a runaway freight train, why is it so popular? Were the Davids' antics at Tribal Council just kayfabe? And, as Colin and Dan seem increasingly similar, is it still true that superfans can't do basic math? All this and more on this week's episode, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

The West Wing On The Record with Kelly Bedard

The West Wing has captured imaginations for nearly twenty years - as a vessel for escapism and fantasy, as an instruction manual for aspiring politicos, and simply as amazing television. Kelly Bedard, owner of My Entertainment World and the world's closest canine Toby Ziegler analogue, joins Dom to scratch the surface of a show that remains a hot talking point in 2018. Which parts of it have aged well or poorly? What does it tell us about the age we live in? And how can one man have so many hot takes about one show? All this and more on a long overdue episode, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor: Australia Final Words with Dan Liebke

(Apologies for the audio trouble here!)

A few dozen episodes later, the sun has finally set down under and a Champion has been crowned. Dan Liebke returns to tell Dom about how Australian Survivors soured on mateship, the rise and fall of Mat Rogers (...and Brian Lake, somehow?), and why messing with Shane Gould is just not cricket. As always, you can listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Making a Murderer: S1+S2 with Domenick Abbate and Chris Hammons

In 2005, a Wisconsin man recently released after 18 years of false imprisonment once again found himself behind bars, charged with the murder of a young photographer last seen on his family's property. In 2015, Netflix released a groundbreaking docuseries highlighting the smattering of inconsistencies in the state's case against Steven Avery, raising serious doubts about the US judicial system in the process. Today, Domenick Abbate and Chris Hammons join us to take an in-depth look at the first two seasons, offer our own theories, and catch up on how the fight to free Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey has progressed. Listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: X Factorials -- Episode 7 Recap/Analysis

As a bunch of rowdy Davids start squatting in Slamtown, it's time for the merge episode to meet the high bar set by its peers and continue a surprisingly and refreshingly great season. Why does the Angelina Show already need to be renewed for a second season? Should we buy stock in Strike Force, or will the sheriff's office strike first? And will Gabby find everything she needs for a perfect merge? All this and more on this week's show, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: Tears-a for Lyrsa -- Episode 6 Recap/Analysis

Gabby isn't the only one in tears this week as Lyrsa and her jacket exit the stage. Find out why Colin is mourning and, with the merge looming, what might be in store for Johngelina, Brochachos, and whatever Nick's 57 alliances are called on this week's show, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: My Mourning Jacket -- Episode 5 Recap/Analysis with Jordan Parhar

With Dom and the rest of Natalie Stan Nation out battling in the Great Jacket War of 2018, Colin welcomes BBCAN alum and reality podcasting icon Jordan Parhar to break down the latest action in Fiji and forecast how things may shape up with the merge in the not-too-distant future. As always, listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Behaving Badly: Bojack Horseman S5 with Mike Bloom & Sadie Holloway

A lot has been said about this season of Bojack Horseman but we need younger words, newer words, fresher words, to feed the insatiable beast. Mike Bloom and Sadie Holloway joined me to provide them as we dive into the show's most relevant and relatable season so far. Can Bojack - or his real life counterparts - earn redemption, forgiveness, and friendship, and who gets to answer that? As Diane continues to be the show's moral voice, why does it matter who that voice belongs to? And, even though Bojack's eulogy had the wrong audience, why did the real audience react so strongly to it? We tackle all that and more in this episode, available below, here, or on iTunes here. 

Survivor 37: Don't Be Sorry. Shut Up. -- Episode 4 Recap/Analysis

DISCLAIMER: There are no lawyer rankings in this week's podcast. What does "lawyer" even mean? Everyone represents themselves in the courtroom of life. Listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

[unlocked] Heroes vs Villains: The Merge

After racking up over twenty hours of pre-merge podcasts, we've finally hit the individual phase of Heroes vs. Villains, and today we're offering a sneak peek into the Patron Zone for the historic occasion. Listen below, here, or on iTunes here, and find the rest of our bonus episodes on Patreon here.

Survivor: New Zealand Final Words with JT Muirhead

As the David/Contender/No Collar/Healer (??) of international Survivor, New Zealand received less fanfare than its peers, but it's no less deserving of it. Fan favourite (or at least the fan favourite's favourite) JT Muirhead dropped by to explain how Survivor made its way to New Zealand and how his season played out, with and without him. As always you can listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: You Are Dismissed -- Episode 3 Recap/Analysis

The boys are back in (Slam)town and have a lot to say about another great episode of a promising season as well as alleged extracurricular/extramarital activities. Which of John Hennigan's thirty  alter-egos is playing the best game so far, and how high is that bar? Who was really to blame for Jess' downfall last week, and can Jeremy blame anyone but himself for his own? And just how easy is it to be a lawyer these days? All this and more on this week's show, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

The Challenge 32: Midgame Check-in with Brian Scally and Matt Liguori

In today's podcast, Colin learns from the casting experts at MTV that life is much easier when you get the same people for the same task over and over, which means Brian Scally and Matt Liguori are back to catch up on all the drama from the last few rounds of Final Reckoning and forecast how things may play out from here. Listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: Hashtag Teen Life -- Episode 2 Recap/Analysis with Austin Trupp

With Dom out learning the fundamentals of lock management, Survivor Maryland creator Austin Trupp joins Colin to break down the second installment of David vs. Goliath and try his hand at America's game: Casual Anna Thinks. As always, listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 37: A Pat on His Back -- Premiere Recap/Analysis with Domenick Abbate

While British Dom works through the final steps of disowning a country that's done him nothing but favors, Colin makes the laziest possible co-host selection and finds himself a new Dom -- Ghost Island runner-up Domenick Abbate -- to break down the David vs. Goliath premiere and offer an in-depth look at life transitioning from a contestant back to a fan. Listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.

Catching Up on Australian Survivor 2018 with Dan Liebke

The first twelve episodes of Champions vs. Contenders have already flown by, unless you've fallen behind, in which case it will take months to catch up, and today Colin is joined by Australia's own Dan Liebke to break down the early highlights and check in on how everyone stacks up with the merge on the horizon. As always, listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor Maryland: Finale Preview with Kirsten MacInnis and Kos

With the All-Stars finale officially set for September 3rd, Colin is joined by icons of betrayal Kos and Kirsten MacInnis to break down the post-merge dramatics and forecast (wrongly) how the endgame might play out. Catch up on the season here, then listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

The Challenge 32: Episodes 1-5 with Matt Liguori and Brian Scally

Through five episodes of Final Reckoning, we've seen four showmances, three eliminations, two main matches, and one Califiore brother determined to be unemployed forever. Today Colin is back with Big Brother Twitter icons Matt Liguori and Brian Scally to talk through all the drama from the first month and forecast how each remaining pair stacks up below, here, or on iTunes here.

Tyrant Saw Us Brexit: Deal or No Deal?

With Donald Trump offering policy advice, hiring recommendations, and general moral support to a beleaguered Britain, saner voices are desperately need to explain what on earth is happening on that side of the pond; none were available, so Colin once again enlisted Dom to break down the Brexit progress (or lack thereof) two years in. How have his and his compatriots' opinions changed since 2016, and what do people expect to happen next? With important deadlines approaching, what might the final deal look like? And, if there isn't one, will there be panic on the streets of London, Birmingham, and/or Carlisle? Find out below, here, or on iTunes here.

Previous episodes:
Background
Further Analysis
Check-in
UK Election 2017

Unlocking The Room with Mario Lanza

The Room defies all explanantion, but that won't stop us trying. We decided not to leave our stupid comments in our pockets this time as we invited comedy writer and official staff pick Mario Lanza on a journey into The Room and through the mysterious mind of Tommy Wiseau. Dom has a Wiseau-esque struggle with the English language to find words to convey the majesty of watching the film with the man himself and dozens of spoon-bearing superfans. Get the results of your test back below, here, or on iTunes here.

Squaring the Survivor Circle with Quack Wabbit, Part 3: Character Studies

(This is Part 3 of a three-part episode on all/some/many things Survivor with writer, amateur anthropologist, and Abi-Maria apologist Taylor, better known to many as Quack Wabbit; shift your gestalt by reading his work here, here, or everywhere)

Any story is only as good as its stars, and Survivor has given us a deep well of compelling and confusing characters to chew over in our minds. We may all be water hyacinth plants, but who grows and flourishes while others wilt on the vine? We take a deep dive into the social dynamics that make the show so appealing and illustrate those with a deconstruction of Dawn Meehan's disintegration. Taylor then wraps up this marathon by conclusively settling the Michele vs Aubry debate as a final gift to the fanbase.

Part 1
Part 2

Squaring the Survivor Circle with Quack Wabbit, Part 2: Survivor Storytelling

(This is Part 2 of a three-part episode on all/some/many things Survivor with writer, amateur anthropologist, and Abi-Maria apologist Taylor, better known to many as Quack Wabbit; shift your gestalt by reading his work here, here, or everywhere)

At its best, Survivor has as much to enjoy and analyze as any classic work of art or literature; and if you can't handle it at its worst, it's probably because you've experienced it at its best and hold out hope that it can recapture that glory. In this segment, we discuss which stories the show is trying to tell, how it tells them, and how well it tells them, and track the changes in all of those over its 18-year run.

Part 1
Part 3

Squaring the Survivor Circle with Quack Wabbit, Part 1: Writing + Internet Fandom

(This is Part 1 of a three-part episode on all/some/many things Survivor with writer, amateur anthropologist, and Abi-Maria apologist Taylor, better known to many as Quack Wabbit; shift your gestalt by reading his work here, here, or everywhere)

In a time when there are more podcasts about any show than hours in the day, the hive mind's judgment is meted out in 140 280 character fragments, and nobody has an attention span any more, what place is there for long-form writing? Are blogs and forum posts relics of a bygone era or the last refuge of communal, thoughtful discussion? And, with the internet fandom evolving and proliferating every day, how do you engage in and encourage those conversations while keeping the trolls from doing yoga in your rock garden? Taylor weighs in with thoughts that all authors - whether of their own fate or of delightfully trenchant screeds on trashy television - will find valuable.

Part 2
Part 3

Consulting Ghost Island Management with James Lim

Channeling our inner Tony Robbins, we're harnessing the universe's positive energy by reliving one of the most popular pre-merges in history as Ghost Island blindsider/blindsee James Lim joins us for a deep dive that will hopefully go better than his dive in Fiji. As always, listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

International Survivor with Pooya: South Africa

The Survivor off-season is quickly becoming an outdated concept as New Zealand prepares to hand the baton to Australia and South Africa continues at a brisk pace. This week we have a global Survivor celebration as former Dubaite and current Canadian Pooya Zand Vakili makes the trip over from Big Brother and RHAP to join British stereotype and wannabe Canadian Dom in breaking down the seasons trying to show the Yanks how it's done. Part 2 covering Survivor South Africa can be found here, or on iTunes here. 

International Survivor with Pooya: New Zealand

The Survivor off-season is quickly becoming an outdated concept as New Zealand prepares to hand the baton to Australia and South Africa continues at a brisk pace. This week we have a global Survivor celebration as former Dubaite and current Canadian Pooya Zand Vakili makes the trip over from Big Brother and RHAP to join British stereotype and wannabe Canadian Dom in breaking down the seasons trying to show the Yanks how it's done. Part 1 covering Survivor New Zealand can be found here, or on iTunes here. 

Deep Dives and Degeneracy with Domenick Abbate

As the dust settles from the dramatic finish to Survivor: Ghost Island, we dial up Domenick Abbate to hear his reflections on his unique Survivor experience. The ins-and-outs of his game are well-documented already, and today he fills out the rest of his journey and its larger meaning in his life. What did he expect his own absence to mean for his family and does it match his wife Kristin's account, which she shared with us as she stole the stage in her own interview? How did he mature on Long Island from a young thrill-seeker to the driven and chiseled family man the world saw on Survivor, and how has the show changed his trajectory? And, if you need to escape the law or dig a grave, what's the way to go? Prepare to take many sips of coffee during this episode, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

[unlocked] Heroes vs Villains: Premiere Part 1

With the Heroes vs. Villains rewatch officially underway, we're unlocking the first part of our season premiere commentary as a free sample. As always, listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here, and if you still want more, get the weekly bonus episodes on Patreon here.

Shilling for Killing Eve with Sadie Holloway

As Jodie Comer steals our suitcase, Sandra Oh steals the show, and #Villaneve steal our heart, we invited Canada's own Sadie Holloway to talk all things Killing Eve: the twisted and enthralling relationship at the heart of the show, how ambitious it really is in pushing the boundaries of the TV crime thriller, and the creative yet enigmatic genius of Phoebe Waller-Bridge. You can listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor Maryland: Merge Preview with Charles Kurz and Mel Sullivan

It's merge time in College Park and today we bring in Survivor: Maryland superfans (Schuperfans?) Charles Kurz and Mel Sullivan to break down how each of the twelve candidates stacks up through the first eight electric episodes. As always, listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning Draft with Matt Liguori and Brian Scally

With a new season of The Challenge right around the corner, Colin is again joined by podcast mercenaries Matt Liguori and Brian Scally to settle their vendettas from last season and preview Final Reckoning in the form of a draft. As always, listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.

Surviving Life as a RTV Loved One with Kristin Abbate

For most reality TV fans, the contestants' loved ones are a fleeting distraction: they appear on cue from some jungle clearing or TV monitor, tug your heartstrings as required, and then disappear for good. For the loved ones themselves, those contestants going on TV leaves a massive void in their lives and can permanently change those relationships - for better or for worse. With so much attention focused on the games and their players, these perspectives are rarely found in the commentary. We did our part to fix that by chatting to Kristin Abbate, wife of Survivor: Ghost Island star Domenick and target of the fanbase's ire for being too candid about the strain that his absence put on their family. What happens when a parent and provider vanishes with no explanation? How does it feel to have hordes of internet stranges calling you a terrible wife and mother? And just what silliness do the loved ones get up to behind the scenes? Kristin takes the floor on this episode, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 36: Season In Review

(Take the survey here)

After constantly saying we'd podcast about the finale and never following through, we finally made a big move. With the new F4 format making its mark on the game in perhaps the most competitive finals ever, how do Wendell and Dom compare to each other and the all-time greats - and are these comparisons even possible? Does the crazy finish redeem this season? And will we remember it more fondly than we do now? All this and more in our wrap-up for this season, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 36: Finale Preview

With only a few days left before the (hopefully) thrilling conclusion, we're back for one final look at Ghost Island before results-oriented thinking sullies our takes irreversibly. As always, listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor: South Africa Hype Hour + World Tour with Adam Rida

As the international Survivor sweepstakes heat up, South Africa arrived back on the scene in dramatic fashion with what many are hailing as one of the best openings of all time. Global traveler and Survivor shock jock Adam Rida suits up and joins Dom to make sense of the chaos there before going on an amazing race through New Zealand, Australia, Ghost Island, and the University of Maryland to catch up on events elsewhere. As always, you can listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

1:36:30 end of South Africa/start of New Zealand
1:56 Ghost Island
2:09 Maryland
2:12 Australia rumours

Survivor 36: Resting On Your Laurels? -- Episode 12 Recap/Analysis

As the finale draws closer, there's little time to make moves or to podcast about them, but you can find this week's offering below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 36: Requiem for a Dreamz -- Episode 11 Recap/Analysis

After what probably could have been a more colorful episode, we're back with what surely should have been a much shorter podcast. This week: What might Kellyn have been thinking to put her vote(s) on Laurel? With the latest addition to his war chest, has Domenick become the official front-runner? And how will Michael's performance impact teenagers on future seasons? All that and more below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 36: Kellyn Heller -- Episode 10 Recap/Analysis with Austin Trupp

With Dom on a mission to soak up as much freedom as possible during his time in America, Survivor: Maryland creator Austin Trupp sits in to break down the latest goings-on in Fiji. Listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here, then watch the Maryland All-Stars premiere here.

Survivor Maryland: All-Stars Roundtable

Before the new season of Survivor: Maryland drops tonight on YouTube, check out the preview and draft we took part in with host/creator Austin Trupp, Millennials vs. GenX winner Adam Klein, and Survivor: Canada's Hillary on the players above, below, here, or on iTunes here.

Find cast bios here

Survivor 36: Perkins Up -- Episode 9 Recap/Analysis

It's crunch time on Survivor, and the outcome may be tough to swallow. As boy wonder Michael cheats death once again, is there any glimmer of hope for him? Did Laurel and Donathan miss an opportunity and can any of us even know that? And, with Dom and Wendell as joint kings of the hill, do they have to fear a revolution? All that and more on this week's show, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

AlphaGo And Analyzing AI

Machines haven't taken over the world just yet, but they captured the attention of the world in 2016 when DeepMind's AlphaGo conquered Lee Sedol and an important frontier in artificial intelligence research; this year, the hit documentary AlphaGo showed us all how it happened. For this episode the microphone turns inward as Dom, whom Colin insists has a degree in this stuff, gives a crash course in AI research, what it means for mankind, and why we should care. You can join us as we try to deepen our minds below, here, or on iTunes here.

Timestamps:
4:00 what is AI?
8:00 AI and games; why does this matter?
15:30 wider applications; what can AI do?
20:30 different priorities in games (exploitation vs GTO)
30:00 what humans and machines are/aren't good at
36:00 how does AI work? how does AlphaGo work?
48:15 crossover with other disciplines; AI and language
59:00 AI safety; the threat of superhuman AI
1:02:00 ethical and social implications of AI
1:16:00 AI and philosophy; what are consciousness and intelligence?
how are they possible?
1:29:15 AlphaGo, the documentary; what games teach us

Links:
Google Translate's transformation and backstory
A simple explanation of AI and AlphaGo
AlphaGo, in context

Survivor 36: Rhymes Against Humanity -- Episode 8 Recap/Analysis

It's merge week on Survivor and this blurb won't fit the meter. As Chris' nighttime excursions and lyrical diversions come to an end, who's the real winner? Will Dom and Wendell keep control or are they flying too close to the sun? And are we trash... at podcasting? Decide for yourselves on this week's show, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

Born Broken: Bojack Horseman with Mike Bloom & Liana Boraas

This podcast may not bring us to the heights of human drama more powerfully than literature ever dreamed - it's not even Ibsen - but it's pretty solid for what it is. How does Bojack Horseman manage to be fiendishly droll and depressingly deep at the same time? Why is Bojack Horseman - and Horsin' Around - meaningful for so many people? And, at the end of two hours, will we have resolution? Let's find out! As always you can listen below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 36: Breaking Bradley -- Episode 7 Recap/Analysis

(image via truedorktimes)

As Ozzy makes his fifth and surely not final appearance on Survivor, we consider the implications of his greatest legacy. What weird bluffs are in play when anything could be an idol? After doubting Domenick's playstyle for weeks, why are we siding with him and against the masses here? And as Kim Spradlin's heir walks out the door, is there a better place than his crotch for Wendell to hide his crown jewels? All this and more on this week's show, available below, here, or on iTunes here.