Choice Media Pod
by Nathan Lamb
This is podcast dedicated to the great stories, the ones that really mattered. You know, comic books, literature, movies, video games, and everything in between. Your host, Nathan, is a writer/media professional who earned a degree in literature a billion years ago, and loves examining great stories through that lens. I'll also have guests sometimes too! This is also the home of the Amazing Gamers podcast, my original show that was focused on video games (but constantly went off topic, hence the change)... Also, if you like the show, please consider dropping a couple of bucks to buy me podcast beverage through the Support the Show tab on the Choice Media Podcast page.
Episodes
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Absolute Poison Ivy: A Horror Story Based on Obsession and Transformation
What happens when one of DC's most fascinating characters is reimagined as something truly monstrous? In this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I explore the dark reimagining of Poison Ivy in Absolute Batman #17–18. The Absolute Universe takes familiar DC characters and pushes them in…
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The Hobbit (1977): The Rankin/Bass Classic That Introduced Me to Tolkien
Before Peter Jackson brought Middle-earth to the big screen, Rankin/Bass introduced a generation of viewers to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien with their 1977 animated adaptation of The Hobbit. For many of us, this charming made-for-TV movie was our first journey into Middle-earth. It was the…
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Transformers: That Time Paul Dini Unleashed Cybertron's Balrog
What happens when an army-men-robots cartoon takes a detour into Lovecraftian horror? This week on the Choice Media Podcast, I take a closer look at The Dweller in the Depths, a memorable episode of the original Transformers animated series written by legendary comics author Paul Dini. Featuring...
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Bad Seeds Week 10: A Finale Centered on Power, Passion and Poison Ivy
After ten weeks of chaos across Gotham City, Batman: Bad Seeds reaches its conclusion! In this episode I review the three issues that bring the crossover to a close: Harley Quinn #67, Poison Ivy #49, and Batman: Bad Seeds: Sunrise. Harley Quinn's psychedelic journey through Gotham becomes an...
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Bad Seeds Week 9: Family, Frost, and the Fight for Gotham
The Bad Seeds crossover is hurtling toward its conclusion, and Gotham is running out of time! This week on the Choice Media Podcast, I dive into four issues as Poison Ivy’s plan to transform Gotham pushes the city toward catastrophe. In Batwoman #8, Kate Kane and Huntress must put aside their...
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Raiders of the Lost Ark: Why Marion Ravenwood was an Essential Co-Star
Indiana Jones may be the hero of Raiders of the Lost Ark, but is Marion Ravenwood the secret ingredient that makes the adventure so memorable? On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I revisit Steven Spielberg's 1981 classic and discover a new appreciation for Karen Allen's terrific...
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Ares: The Bringer of War — George O’Connor’s Epic Retelling of the Iliad
What happens when you take one of the most famous stories in Greek mythology and tell it through the eyes of the god of war? On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I explore Ares: The Bringer of War, George O’Connor’s graphic novel from his Olympians series. What began as a look at one of…
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Bad Seeds Week 8: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Crisis
Gotham City is being overrun by Poison Ivy's killer plants, but what happens to the people who aren't Batman or members of the Bat-family? On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I explore Gotham Central #2, where Jim Gordon and his fellow officers are caught in a nightmare as Gotham's plant...
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The Olympians Aphrodite: The Eternal Struggle Between Love, Wisdom, and Power
On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I explore Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, George O’Connor’s 2014 graphic novel about one of the most fascinating figures in Greek mythology. Aphrodite may be the goddess of love and beauty, but her stories are about much more than romance. They explore...
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The Night Sting Played Vermont: Remembering the 1991 UVM Concert
In 1991, a young Police fan from rural Vermont got the chance to see Sting perform live at the University of Vermont Gymnasium. More than three decades later, that concert remains an unforgettable memory. On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I look back at Sting's Soul Cages tour…
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Bad Seeds Week 7: Resilience and Choices that Define Us
This week on the Choice Media Podcast, I look at Batman #14, “Home Invasions,” and Batgirl #24 as the Bad Seeds crossover event pushes its characters to their limits. In Batman #14, Batman turns to Mr. Freeze as he searches for a way to stop Poison Ivy's transformation of Gotham. Meanwhile…
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Poison Ivy: House & Garden and the Making of a More Human Antagonist
In this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I look back at “House & Garden,” the classic Batman: The Animated Series episode written by Paul Dini and directed by Boyd Kirkland. This was one of the most intriguing Poison Ivy stories: Gotham is experiencing a series of crimes involving poisonous...
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Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death — An Ambitious First Pass at Her Own Series
On this episode of the Choice Media Podcast, I take a look at Amy Chu and Clay Mann’s Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death, DC’s 2016 limited series that finally gave Poison Ivy her own starring vehicle nearly 50 years after her debut. This series explores Pamela Isley as a scientist and mother...
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Bad Seeds Week 6 Recap: Ivy Faces Some Hard Truths
Poison Ivy crashed out in the first week of Bad Seeds. So what happens next? Poison Ivy #46 has the Queen of May facing some hard truths, about her situation and herself. She's picked herself up off the ground-- where does she go from there? I discuss.
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Five Classic Haunted House Stories for Spooky Season
I'm a big fan of horror stories, and this time I'm rolling with five classic Haunted House stories: Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Hell House by Richard Matheson Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco Return to Hell House by Nancy Collins Usher's Passing by Robert McCammon I want folks to...
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The Glory of Hades: A Rogues-Like Action Game Rooted in Greek Myths
Hades isn't the sort of game I normally play, but it's probably the best new game I've picked up this year, with a great mix of action, myth, characters and replay value. I chatted this recent classic with the scholars of Nibelheim, during our larger discussion about shipping in games.
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Two Peak Spider Man Cartoons (One is Peak Storytelling, the other is Peak Cheese)
Watching the 2025 Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman show with my son and it's fantastic. But I'm pretty sure he prefers the astronomical cheese of the original Spider Man cartoon from the 60s. I discuss both.
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Bad Seeds Week 5: And Then There Was Harley
We are halfway through the 10-week Bad Seeds crossover event, and week 5 belonged to Harley Quinn. The good news is that she wants to get back together with Poison Ivy. The bad news is Gotham is falling apart and everyone needs her help. I discuss. I also respond to a Redditor who was worried…
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Like a Ship Over Troubled Waters: Where Romance and Fandom Collide
After lengthy hiatus, the Choice Media Podcast welcomes back the Scholars of Nibelheim, my bluesky friends FACTs (@damned-writer.bsky.social), Alex (@gwentchamp.bsky.social) and Wander (@wandererssong.bsky.social). We discuss Final Fantasy 7—the game that launched a thousand shipping wars, along...
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The Olympians: Artemis is a Wild Good Time with the Goddess of the Hunt
My recaps of the Olympians series by George O'Connor continues with the volume dedicated to Artemis, Goddess of the hunt.
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Bad Seeds Week 4 Recap: All Hell Breaks Loose
The 10-week Bad Seeds Crossover event rolled into week 4 with four comics extending the story. The highlight of this week was probably Batman confronting Vandal Savage in an aerial race against time, but we also got to see Batwoman, Catwoman, and Nightwing get into the action. It was good. I...
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The Greatness of New 52 Ivy; Recaps on Everybody Loves Ivy, Heroes in Crisis and Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy
Any fan of serial fiction probably has that era with their favorite character where the starts aligned. For me, that was New 52 Ivy, which took the best of her assorted past and compiled it into a truly badass and legendary woman. This episode was inspired by reading the Everybody Loves Ivy saga,...
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Bad Seeds Week 3: Officer Gordon Gets Into the Action
The third week of Bad Seeds was a tie-in with Gotham Central. I wasn't sure what to expect with this title, and was pleasantly surprised to find it centered former Commissioner Jim Gordon on patrol car duty and investigating a big case-- while a familiar figure from his distant past makes…
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Classic Relationship Fumbles in Fiction
A fumble is one of the most painful plays in football, and when it comes to fiction, there's no tougher pill to swallow than the hero dropping the ball with a fantastic love interest. We've all been there, and this episode I share the five that stayed with me the most. I also tried to label them...
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The Olympians Graphic Novels; A Divine Introduction to Greek Myths
I recently discovered the Olympians graphic novel series by George O'Connor and it's a fantastic introduction to Greek Myths, both for children and older fans too. I also discuss some of the revisionist aspects that really panned out for the series.
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Bad Seeds Week 2 Recap + unpacking the response to Week 1
Week 2 of Bad Seeds is here; I recap the story from Batman #13 and the start of a two-issue Batgirl tie-in. I also discuss a recent interview with Poison Ivy author Willow Wilson, who shared some thoughts on the saga so far...
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Bad Seeds Recap: Week 1- Prelude and Sunset
The 10-week Bad Seeds crossover event is underway, This big crossover brings a number of storylines from the Poison Ivy series to a head; I recap and offer my thoughts on the story thus far...
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Introduction to Genius; My Warren Zevon playlist
By some accounts, Warren Zevon considered himself a novelty musician. He was long seen as a one-hit wonder in media discourse. But his music was real and it connects with many, building a cultlike following that eventually got him voted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Which is awesome, but...
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Five Star Film; The Big Sleep Brings the Heat with Smart Writing and Star Power
Raymond Chandler, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall-- the Big Sleep is a sharply written Noir classic that's equal parts gumshoe investigation, slow burn romance, and thirsty fever dream. If you've never seen a noir and are wondering what the fuss was all about, this is a pretty good place to start.
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The Bad Seeds Predictions and Probabilities
DC is launching a massive 10-week crossover event this week. Normally I'm not into those, but this one has Pamela Lillian Isley at the center of things, so I'm all in. In this podcast I take my best guesses on what is likely to happen in the series, and also share my dream scenario from when this...
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The Canada Episode: 12 Great Things from Canada
Longtime host Nathan finished the summer with a weekend in Quebec-- the perfect time to discuss favorite things from Canada. In this on-location podcast, I cover favorite book, video game, comics, and more, and even throw in some hockey talk, eh?
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The Leadup for Bad Seeds: What you need to know about DC's next big crossover
I've read the entire Poison Ivy series through 45 issues, and most of the stories she's appeared in over the past 60 years. One could say I'm fairly qualified to weigh-in on DC's next big crossover event. In this episode, I discuss events from the past six months of Poison Ivy, which very clearly...
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Boston Fan Expo 2026 Recap; Even the Greats Grapple with Perfectionism
Boston Fan Expo is always fun, but this year might have been the best. I met Batman the Animated Series legend Kevin Altieri- who shared a very interesting perspective about how even the greats wrestle with perfectionism. It had me thinking for days after...no lies there! I also recap the best...
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Pushing Through My Top 5 Video Game Enduro Challenges
We've all been there...that part of a video game that tests your patience and stamina to the breaking point. I call those enduro challenges, in a nod to the racing style that takes a similar approach to the finish line. In this episode I give my top 5 enduro challenges and invite listeners to do...
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Two Extremes of Batman; Both Classics
Sometimes like drops you a bouquet. This happened to me today, when I cracked open Batman: Dark Knight Adventures and Absolute Batman for the first time. Two classics, two polar extremes of the Caped Crusader. One is the ultra-gritty tough guy man. The other, a gentler and more nuanced detective...
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Literary Context on the Biggest Batman Bomb of All
Batman and Robin is notorious in comic book circles as one of the worst adapations ever for the Caped Crusader. I recently watched it for the first time, and I'd say it's more a case of a movie going for "so bad it's good" and mostly getting there. I cant' say this movie is good, but I did enjoy...
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The Leadup to DC's Bad Seeds Crossover Event
DC is launching the 10-week Bad Seeds crossover event in August, and this Poison Ivy fan definately has some thoughts. In this episode, I put the event into the context of the Poison Ivy series, which started out as a redemption arc, but now has her on a collision course with a half dozen enemies...
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Weird Al and Puddles Were Amazing in Concert
After roughly 40 years of fandom, I finally saw Weird Al in concert. He was amazing, and I also really enjoyed Puddles Pity Party, who was the opening act. I tried to unpack what made Puddles such a hit with the audience, and share perspectives from many years of Weird Al Fandom.
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The Odyssey Discourse and How I Got Over Being an Insufferable Purist
The Odyssey movie is making a ton of money and the discourse about it is getting silly. This week an expert denounced the movie in strong terms, kind of a sparking a backlash and circling of the wagons. Can't we just enjoy things? I found a way to enjoy the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movies,...
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Absolute Wonder Woman is why I love DC Comics
I am an extremely basic comic book fan, who is just getting around to Absolute Wonder Woman...and it's a pretty fantastic re-imagining of a classic! The timing was good, because Circe is being featured right now in the new adaptation of The Odyssey, and she also has a major role in Absolute…
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Getting to Know the Queen of May: Five Lessons Learned on my Odyssey of Poison Ivy
I've always been a big fan of scoundrels. Han Solo from Star Wars. Cao Cao from Romance of the Three Kingdoms-- and Poison Ivy from DC comics. I recently dove into the Poison Ivy backlog, with the goal of reading all of her appearances. That is still a work in progress, but I have read and...
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End of a Golden Age: Trails of Cold Steel 3 Doesn't Match its Predecessors
The Trails series did something unique and amazing in RPGs: It created an entire world for an ongoing RPG saga, but more importantly FalCom stuck the landing on the first seven games in the series. It was an amazing ride, but nothing lasts forever-- and the Trails series came back to Earth a bit...
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Leaning Into What you Love; Why I'm Launching The Choice Media Podcast
Welcome to the Choice Media Podcast. A new production by Amazing Gamers Podcast host Nathan. This podcast is dedicated to unpacking great stories, the ones that really mattered. Whether it's video games, literature, comics, movies, or legends. Comics have kind of been my focus lately, so I talked...
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BONUS TIME: The Hammer of Thor has Entered the Chat
Life is like a box of chocolates when chatting with Highly Ginger, but in this case the surprises were all good ones. Wonder Woman versus Thor, and could she lift Thor's hammer? The best medium for DC adaptations and choosing between Batman and Superman... similarities between Wonder Woman and...
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From Femme Fatale to Misunderstood Anti Hero; The Many Iterations of the Peerless Poison Ivy
The genius of DC Comics is that they’re always finding ways to re-invent the classics. There may be no better example of this than Poison Ivy. From her Femme Fatale roots to Harley’s ride-or-die partner and the antihero of her own series, life is good for Ivy fans. So this pod conversation kind…
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The Difference Between Good Enough and Just Right
Nathan returns for episode 25 with another solo flight, to discuss an idea he's been kicking around for a while: the difference between "good enough" and "just right." I had an experience a couple of months back that crystalized the whole idea in my mind. And I also provide a few examples of the...
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Transformers the Movie, 40 years later
Sometimes it all comes together at once. I watched Transformers the Movie with my son last weekend, and this week the 40th anniversary apology tour for the movie took flight. In this solo discussion I broke down: What was great about the movie Where it kind of fell flat and What it makes sense to...
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4,000 Hours with That Game Where Hockey Takes the World by Storm
I talk about RPGs a lot on Amazing Gamers, and I recently realized I've been overlooking my beloved second genre-- turn-based strategy games. That changes today! The grand pubah of that genre-- in my book anyways- is Civilization 6, and I decided it's time to pay homage to its greatness. I might...
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Why Trails of Cold Steel 2 was an all-timer RPG
It could just be recency bias, but Nathan just had to share why Trails of Cold Steel 2 was the best RPG he'd played in a long time. This discussion highlights how the game is similar to Final Fantasy 6, while also highlighting the Trails depth and worldbuilding that make this series so special.…
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The Boxing Day I Lost it All (and was fine!)
Nathan closes out 2025 with a solo story about riding it out and figuring it out during the holidays. This is a true story: I really did lose everything the day after Christmas...but it turned out fine. Better than fine, really. Well...except that one part where I missed out on the best beer in...
About this show
This is podcast dedicated to the great stories, the ones that really mattered.
You know, comic books, literature, movies, video games, and everything in between.
Your host, Nathan, is a writer/media professional who earned a degree in literature a billion years ago, and loves examining great stories through that lens.
I'll also have guests sometimes too!
This is also the home of the Amazing Gamers podcast, my original show that was focused on video games (but constantly went off topic, hence the change)...
Also, if you like the show, please consider dropping a couple of bucks to buy me podcast beverage through the Support the Show tab on the Choice Media Podcast page.
Hosted by
Nathan Lamb