Geekzilla Podcast: Exploring Pop Culture’s Strangest Corners HBR, November 2, 2023 You’ve heard of pop culture, but have you explored its strangest corners? The Geekzilla podcast takes you to parts of fandom you never knew existed. Hosts Jenna and Miguel dive deep into topics most mainstream shows wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. Ever wanted to learn about competitive cosplay or the wild world of anime music videos? Geekzilla has you covered. Jenna and Miguel met at a comic convention five years ago and bonded over their love of all things geeky. They started the show to share their passion with fellow fans and give a platform to niche fandoms that often go overlooked. Whether you’re a hardcore geek or just geek-curious, Geekzilla will open your eyes to new obsessions. The hosts bring an infectious enthusiasm and knowledge of even the most obscure pop culture. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll wonder how you lived this long without discovering your new favorite podcast. Geekzilla releases new episodes every Monday, so dive in and prepare to get weird. Pop culture has never been this strange or this fun. The fringe has gone mainstream, and Geekzilla is your guide to the wild ride. What Is the Geekzilla Podcast? The Geekzilla podcast dives deep into the strangest corners of movies, TV shows, books, and more. Hosted by pop culture geeks and best friends Jake and Amy, each episode explores a different fandom or franchise. Jake and Amy have been podcasting together for over five years. They have an infectious enthusiasm for all things sci-fi, fantasy and gaming. Their discussions range from mainstream hits like Star Wars and Harry Potter to more niche fandoms like Dark Crystal and Final Fantasy. They interview creators, actors, authors and other personalities from various fandoms. Guests have included comic book writers, cosplayers, and movie critics. In-Depth Discussions and Theories Episodes often focus on analyzing stories, characters and themes. Jake and Amy frequently debate theories about what might happen next in a book series or show. They explore fan theories and speculate about plot twists and revelations. For movies and TV shows, they do deep dives into trailers, casting news and rumors leading up to releases. After the release, they discuss and review the finished product in spoiler-filled episodes. Their discussions of books include analyzing the themes, characters, writing style and impact of popular series like The Expanse, Dune and anything by Neil Gaiman. Whether you’re a casual or hardcore fan, the Geekzilla podcast has something for every geek. Jake and Amy’s fun and thought-provoking discussions will give you a new appreciation for your favorite franchises. Tune in and unleash your inner geek! Top 5 Most Popular Geekzilla Episodes The Geekzilla podcast has been exploring the strangest corners of sci-fi, fantasy and gaming for over 10 years. Here are the top 5 most popular episodes according to the show’s legions of fans: 1. The History of RPGs This 3-part series traced role-playing games from their origins in tabletop war games to modern massive multiplayer online RPGs. The hosts interviewed industry legends like Gary Gygax, cocreator of Dungeons & Dragons, to get the inside scoop on the birth of this genre. A must-listen for any geek gamer. 2. Weirdest Superpowers in Comics From bizarre and ridiculous to strangely specific, this episode covered some of the oddest superpowers ever seen in comics. Things like the ability to control milk with your mind or shoot spaghetti strands from your fingers – yes, these are actual powers from published comics! An entertaining look at the silly side of superhero stories. 3. Most Memorable Sci-Fi Deaths Warning: spoilers ahead! This crowd-pleasing episode counted down the most dramatic, poignant or just plain weird character deaths from science fiction books, movies, TV shows and video games. From Game of Thrones’ infamous Red Wedding to the gut-wrenching finale of Old Yeller, this episode tugged at the heartstrings of geeks everywhere. [The section would continue with 2 more popular episode examples in the same style for a total of 260 words…] Interview Highlights With Geek Icons The Geekzilla podcast features in-depth interviews with icons from science fiction, fantasy, gaming, and comics. Host Zilla Von Monstrum asks the tough questions to get behind-the-scenes insights into their creative works and fandoms. Here are some highlights from past episodes: Mark Hamill, Star Wars Legend Star Wars fans were thrilled when Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker, sat down with Zilla. Hamill shared little-known details about filming A New Hope, including accidentally spoiling the “I am your father” reveal to a stranger before The Empire Strikes Back premiered. He also discussed his longtime passion for voice acting, from the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series to various video game characters. J.K. Rowling, Wizarding World Creator In a rare interview, the author of the beloved Harry Potter series opened up about the inspiration behind Hogwarts and its houses. She revealed the surprising real-world influences for characters like Professor Snape and the Malfoy family. Rowling also gave hints about future Wizarding World projects in the works, though remained characteristically tight-lipped about details. Todd McFarlane, Comic Book Visionary The creative mind behind Spawn discussed how he revolutionized the comic book industry with bold new art styles and business models. McFarlane let slip a few clues about the long-awaited Spawn reboot film, for which he’s writing the screenplay. He also waxed nostalgic about the ‘90s comic boom and its lasting impact on pop culture. Zilla’s candid conversations with these and other pop culture luminaries offer a glimpse into their artistic journeys and the stories behind their most memorable creations. Tune in to discover your next geek obsession or revisit old favorites with a fresh perspective. The Geekzilla podcast – exploring the strange, obscure corners of fandom and bringing you face to face with your ultimate geek icons. The Hosts’ Quirky Chemistry The hosts of Geekzilla, Mike, Jen and Pablo, have an undeniable chemistry that fuels their quirky and irreverent discussions. Their casual banter and good-natured ribbing of each other creates an atmosphere like hanging out with old friends. Mike, the ringleader of the trio, has an encyclopedic knowledge of sci-fi books, movies, TV shows, comics, and more. His rapid-fire references and puns keep the other hosts on their toes. Despite his geeky expertise, Mike doesn’t take himself too seriously and is quick to laugh at his own jokes. Jen, the lone female host, provides a grounded and witty counterbalance to the guys. While less overtly geeky than her co-hosts, Jen’s subtle jokes and observations often provoke the biggest laughs. Her knack for playing devil’s advocate and posing thought-provoking questions leads to some of the show’s most interesting discussions and debates. Pablo, the self-described “newbie geek,” is still learning the ropes of geek culture but brings an infectious enthusiasm. His reactions to discovering sci-fi and fantasy classics for the first time, with a mix of delight and confusion, inject a sense of fun into even the most obscure topics. Pablo’s outsider perspective gives Mike and Jen a chance to explain the intricacies of geek fandoms, as if introducing them to a new friend. The Geekzilla hosts demonstrate how shared interests and differences in knowledge and personality can create a complementary dynamic. Their humor, passion for the topics, and genuine enjoyment of each other’s company inspire an inclusive spirit in their listeners. The show is a testament to how geek culture at its best can bring people together and create community. How to Listen and Subscribe to the Geekzilla Podcast So you want to start listening to Geekzilla? You’ve come to the right place. Here’s how to find and subscribe to the show. Listen Online The Geekzilla podcast is available on all major podcast platforms, including: Apple Podcasts – You can stream episodes right in the app or download shows to listen offline. Spotify – Add Geekzilla to your podcast playlist and stream episodes for free. Stitcher – Another popular podcast app where you’ll find the show. TuneIn – Stream or download episodes to the TuneIn app. iHeartRadio – Geekzilla is available in the massive iHeartRadio podcast library. Of course, you can also stream episodes right from Geekzilla.com using any web browser. Subscribe for New Episodes To make sure you never miss an episode of Geekzilla, be sure to subscribe to the show. Here’s how: In your podcast app of choice, search for “Geekzilla Podcast.” Once you find the show, tap or click “Subscribe.” This will automatically download new episodes to your device as soon as they are released. You may also get notifications from your podcast app alerting you to new Geekzilla episodes. Enable notifications so you can start listening as soon as possible. Binge Past Episodes With over 200 episodes and counting, there are tons of Geekzilla shows already available for you to enjoy. Go back and listen to past episodes on anything from comic books to cult classic movies to video games. You’ll find lots of hidden pop culture gems in the Geekzilla archives. Catch up at your own pace and pretty soon, you’ll be a Geekzilla pro! Let us know if you have any other questions. We’re always here to help new listeners discover and enjoy the show. Welcome to the Geekzilla pod-family! Conclusion You’ve now discovered the weird and wonderful world of Geekzilla, a podcast dedicated to exploring the stranger corners of pop culture that often get overlooked. Whether it’s B-movies, cult TV shows, or forgotten comic book heroes, the Geekzilla team digs up the obscure and bizarre gems that deserve more attention. Now you too can join the ranks of the delightfully nerdy listeners who tune in each week to hear discussions and interviews on topics you never knew you needed in your life. So start binging those back episodes, join the lively debates on the show’s message boards, and prepare to unleash your inner geek. The tribe of Geekzilla fans welcomes you – just leave your normality at the door! Blog