DNA Podcast 111 – The Secret Origin of Generation X

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DNA Podcast 111 - The Secret Origin of Generation X
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Generation X (1994) comic books
No! Not the Marvel comic! Technically, none of those kids are actually Gen-Xers, since they were born after 1980!

In this episode, Don and Rob are joined by Jack Ward to discuss the cultural foundations of the children born between 1965 and 1980 – Generation X! Like the mutant superheroes they share a name with, these young people were bridges between the old world and the new – the pre and post internet ages. From Saturday Morning TV to Dungeons and Dragons – this episode looks at the things that have shaped their choices as they’ve stepped out to take the reins of society. So, come join us as we explore, the secret origins of Generation X in this episode of The Departemnt of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Gen X Notes
Generation X *(definition)
Generation Eccchh
Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture by Douglas Coupland
The Prime Time Access Rule 1972
Goofus and Gallant
Highlights Magazine
Weird Al’s UHF
William Shatner’s “Get a Life” Speech
Mazes and Monsters
Pirates of Silicon Valley (film)
Starsuckers Documentary (YouTube)
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future
CNN’s first broadcast
Bubblegum Crisis

DNA Podcast 110 – H.P. Lovecraft with Dave Towers

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DNA Podcast 110 - H.P. Lovecraft with Dave Towers
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In this episode, Rob and Don sit down with their friend Dave Towers to talk about the legendary horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. They talk about Lovecraft’s life, his approach to writing, his legacy, and make a few story suggestions for those who want to dip their tow into Inssmouth Bay. Along the way, they discover that Lovecraft may in fact be one of the most inspiring writers of all time, if he could get off the damn Internet! All this, and more, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

HP Lovecraft (wikipedia)
HP Lovecraft Archive
On Writing by Stephen King
Lovecraft: A Biography by L. Sprague de Camp
Robert E Howard
Call of Cthulhu RPG
Ghost Masters : Weird Tales from Famous Writers
The Lovecraft Lexicon: A Reader’s Guide to Persons, Places and Things in the Tales of H.P. Lovecraft
Jojo’s Bizaare Adventure
Night Gallery
Junji Ito (who cites Lovecraft as an inspiration)
Brian Lumley
The Enigma of Amigara Fault
HP Lovecraft Movie Adaptations
HP Lovecraft Podcast (note, I mistakenly thought they did readings, but they actually do summaries and discussion in each episode, not read the story. They have done some full story readings, which can be found here.)

DNA Podcast 109 – Competition in Popular Culture

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DNA Podcast 109 - Competition in Popular Culture
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In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by their friend Jack Ward to discuss the concept of competition as it plays out in our society and media. Some societies see competition as healthy, while others consider it destructive and wasteful, and the media often goes back and forth between the two approaches. Along the way, the three discuss comics, politics, old TV, and crappy movies, and how each offers an insight into competition. So come on and join us, if you think you can handle it! All this, and the most watched TV show of all time, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Act-Age Manga
Ratemypoo.com
Geeks versus Nerds
Most Watched TV Show of All Time
Cerebus the Ardvark
John Carter of Mars
Dark Shadows
Magnum PI
Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas
Life of the Party
The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment (Don calls it candy, but the experiment with kids was originally marshmallows.)
Tragedy of the Commons
George Orwell’s Theory of Revolution

DNA Podcast 108 – 80s Action Movies with Chad

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DNA Podcast 108 - 80s Action Movies with Chad
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In this episode, Don and Rob are again joined by their friend Chad for a dangerous mission back in time to the 1980s where tough guys ruled the screen and one-liners flew thick and fast. Along the way, the three discuss what makes an 80s action hero, how these movies reflected the times they were made, and their top three 80s action films. All this, and why Miami Connection is the greatest 80s action movie you’ve never heard of (but not in a good way), is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Rambo: First Blood Part 2
Commando
The Terminator
Red Dawn
The Karate Kid
The Last Action Hero
Die Hard
Commando Mall Scene
Escape from New York
Damnation Alley
Dead Heat
ALIENS
AVATAR
PREDATOR
No Retreat No Surrender
Corey Yuen
The Street Fighter (Sonny Chiba)
Sukeban Deka
ROBOCOP
Robo Attempted Rape Scene
Robocop Trivia Page on IMDB
Future Kill
R.O.T.O.R
Lady Battlecop
Metal Hero Japanese Superhero TV Series
The Running Man
Total Recall
Miami Connection
YOR: Hunter From the Future
The Killer (John Woo)
A Better Tomorrow
Police Story
Police Story Opening Sequence
Death Wish III
Invasion USA

DNA Podcast 107 – Dinosaur Movies

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DNA Podcast 107 - Dinosaur Movies
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In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by their friend Chad to talk about their common childhood passion – dinosaur movies! From The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms to Jurassic Park, the trio explore the history of dinosaurs on film and how they’ve been portrayed through the decades. Along the way, they discover there are really only six kinds of dinosaur films, and delve into the many techniques people have used to bring dinosaurs to life over the years – some more successful than others! All this, and giant robot apes, are waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

List of Films Featuring Dinosaurs (Wikipedia)
Evolution of Cinema Dinosaurs (1920-2015) (YouYube)
Charles R. Knight (dinosaur artist)
Charles R. Knight Dinosaur Art
Brute Force (1914)
Willis O’brien
Ray Harryhausen
The Lost World
King Kong (1933)
Lost King Kong Spider Footage
Giant King Kong Robot
Dino De Laurentiis
Mighty Joe Young (1949)
Stop Motion Monster Trailer Reel (YouTube)
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
THEM
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms Poster
Charlton Comics GORGO
The Land of the Lost
The Last Dinosaur 1977 great clips (Tsubaraya Foam Rubber Dinosaurs)
FLESH (2000 AD Comic)
Attack of the Super Monsters (Izenborg)
Dinosaur Prince
The Land Before Time
Dinosaucers
Terra Nova TV series
Primal TV series
DINOSAURS TV series
Velocipastor
Tammy and T-Rex
Roger Corman

DNA Podcast 106 – Lost Genres 2 Sitcom Bugaloo

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DNA Podcast 106 - Lost Genres 2 Sitcom Bugaloo
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In this episode, Don and Rob dive into another round of the genres that time forgot as they explore more things that have washed away into the river of time. The pair jump right into the types of TV shows and TV stories that once ruled the airwaves but have faded, and then go on to explore lost corners of print, toys and music. All this, and why Pac Man Fever was the end of an era, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Variety TV Shows
Texaco Star Theatre
Pink Lady and Jeff
Carol Burnett Show
Smothers Brother’s Comedy Hour
Sitcoms
The Spin-Off
All in the Family
Happy Days
Laverne and Shirley
Hooterville Trilogy
Good Times
Diff’rent Strokes
High Concept
Mork and Mindy
Quark
Herman’s Head
My Mother the Car
The Munsters
Daytime Soap Operas
Christmas Specials
That’s Incredible!
America’s Funniest Home Videos
Magazines
Korean Webtoons
Video Game Market Crash of 1983
Pac Man Fever
Shining Force
Novelty Songs
Dr. Demento
Nerdcore
Gloryhammer
Edguy
Beast in Black
Outlaw Country
Crooners
Surf Music
Gangsta Rap

DNA Podcast 105 – Disaster Films

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DNA Podcast 105 - Disaster Films
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In this episode, Don and Rob struggle to understand the apocalypse they’ve found themselves in by talking about disaster films and how they reflect human society. They’re joined in the raging chaos by Jack Ward and Dave Towers, who drop by to share a few thoughts on the genre. Along the way, the group discusses Irwin Allen, Social Anxiety, and why disaster films may have been ruined by CGI. All this, and Jack Ward’s creepy new hobby, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

The Fire (1901)
The Omega Man
The Poseidon Adventure
The Children of Men
2012
Godzilla (1953)
War of the Worlds (1950)
Empire of the Ants
The Birds
Kingdom of the Spiders
The Swarm
Left Behind
Twister
A Night to Remember
Top 100 Best Disaster Films
Virus
Towering Inferno
Irwin Allen
The Day After
Threads (movie)
Panic in Year Zero
The Mist
When the Wind Blows
On the Beach
METEOR
Skyscraper
Night of the Comet
Roland Emmerich
The Kingdom (Netflix Korean Disaster Drama)
Snowpiercer
World War Z
Cracked Podcast on Apocalypses
The East Coast Blackout of 2003
The Bird Box
The Road
One Upon a Time: Man

DNA Podcast 104 – Lost Genres

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DNA Podcast 104 - Lost Genres
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In this episode, Don and Rob cast a look back in time to the 20th century and look at comic book and film genres that were once popular but have faded into the past. Hillbillies, Funny Animals and Greek demi-gods abound in this journey into the vaults of time. All this, and the amazing art of Mel Birnkrant, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Cracked Podcast – How We Get the Old West Wrong
Hillbilly Comics
L’il Abner
The Hooterville Trilogy
The Beverly Hillbillies
Deliverance (film)
Sports Comics
Joe Palooka
Anthology Comics
Heavy Metal Magazine
Jungle Comics
Romance Comics
Funny Animal Comics
Howard the Duck
Movie Adaptation Comics
Gorgo
Reptilicus
Konga
Dell Comics
Gold Key/Disney/Dell Comics Connection
Kids Comics
Star Comics
Animax Toys
MelBirnkrant.com
Starship A.R.C.
Gag Comics
Archie Ripoffs (part1/part2/part3/part4)
Meet Corliss Archer
Dan Decarlo
Erotic Comics
Singing Cowboy Films
Sword and Sandal Films (wikipedia – scroll down the whole page, I dare you!)
MST3K Heracules Films on YouTube
Luchador Films
Deepfakes
Beach Movies/Teen Sex Romp

DNA Podcast 103 – Murder Hobos

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DNA Podcast 103 - Murder Hobos
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In this episode, Don and Rob explore the concept of the “murder hobo” and how this approach to fantasy roleplaying connects with other parts of movies, games, and popular culture. The pair look deep into the roots of D&D, discuss how murder hobos reflect the fantasies of the audience, and the idea’s connections with Westerns. All this, and why Bridget Jones just might be a murder hobo, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Knight Errant
Ronin
OGRE Tabletop Wargame
Aaron Allston’s Strike Force (for Champions RPG)
Buckaroo Banzai
Ramayana
Unforgiven
The Boys
Into the Badlands
Deadlands
Death Wish Films
Fist of the North Star
Isekai

DNA Podcast 102 – Scooby Doo

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DNA Podcast 102 - Scooby Doo
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In honor of the canine sleuth’s 50th anniversary, Don leads Rob and the audience on a thrilling mystery through the history of Scooby Doo. Along the way, they discuss how Scooby’s success has been linked with Archie, The Battle of the Network Stars, and 80’s Sitcoms. They wrestle over the enigma that is Scrappy Doo. And, they discuss the many clones of Scooby Doo, all in an effort to find out the truth. All this, and Richie Rich Teams up with Pac Man, in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Scooby Doo
Archie
Sugar Sugar
Hanna-Barbera
I Love a Mystery
Dobie Gillis
Hardy Boys
Nancy Drew
The Famous Five
Tom Swift
Meddling Kids + Sidekick + Mysteries = Series: 13 Hanna-Barbera productions that recycled the Scooby-Doo format
The Battle of the Network Stars
Total Drama Island
Diff’rent Strokes
The Blair Witch