Banter and Such

Well, friends, this is it. Nothing lasts forever, and it's now time for Banter & Such to end. In our final episode we share the story of how we started The Helios Network. And then we end it where it all began - with our favorite movies of all time. Well we love you all, and thanks so much for listening to any week's episode of Banter & Such. We're Brando and Owen, and from now on may your life be filled with BS.Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

How do you think you're going to die? I mean, it's going to happen. One day your heart will stop beating, your brain functions will cease, and you'll stop breathing. And you'll be dead. I wonder how many days until that happens? Where will you be? How will it happen? What will your last thoughts be, or last words? Will you be afraid? At peace? Alone? Do you ever think about it? Or do you just distract yourself with the shiny empty nonsense around you because it's too overwhelming to consider?Well anyway we watched the Final Destination movies with Spencer Nickel from Master and Debaters and sat down to talk about it. Feel free to spend 2 of the precious few hours of life you have left to listen to it. Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

The gore whore herself, Lexie Redding, is with us to talk about the unhealthy crush we have on Pennywise. What are the scares hidden in the background of these movies? How does the second movie live up to the first? How much cocaine did Stephen King snort when writing this fever dream? Its episode 1 of our final 3 episodes, and I know you're not even reading this description so what the fuck am I even doing this for? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

It's one of the best movies of the year! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a hilarious movie that came out of nowhere and surprised the heck out of us. Why should you go see it? Is it the best TMNT movie ever? Is it fun to be the third wheel on your friend's date?Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Let's set sail on a cinematic journey with the iconic movie, Titanic. We're diving deep to explore the timeless love and real tragedy that made this the biggest movie of all time. What parts actually happened? Is this the greatest romance of all time? Why should you not use composite carbon fiber for the hull of your deep sea sub?Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was one of the most movie ever. Was it better than Crystal Skull? Does old Indy work in a movie? How do we all feel about where it ended?Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Our neighbors are shooting off fireworks from dawn's early light until twilight's last gleaming. As the bombs are bursting in air we sat down to talk about two of the best 4th of July movies. -- Independence Day & Team America World Police --Which one holds up well and which one is wildly problematic? What happens when an alien pilot makes fun of Jada Pinkett's baldness? Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Maddie and Madison are getting into trouble. They're young women living through the chaos of life and they're sharing some of the insane stories. Learn from their mistakes, laugh with them, and  feel a little better about your own life. This is an episode of our favorite brand new podcast - Trouble HQ. We had to share it with you because we laughed so much, and we think you might too. Enjoy!Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

It's been 9 years in the making and finally the massively hyped Flash movie is out. And it's crashing. Hard.BUT! There were some really great things in it. And some things, well... Was this really a Batman movie disguised as a Flash movie? How was Supergirl? What was a delight to watch, and what was shockingly terrible?Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

The Spider-Verse sequel is out and everyone's talking about it, because it's Just. So. Good. We're in that post-viewing high and had almost as much fun talking about it as we did watching it. Did you catch all the easter eggs? How did they balance the humor, heart, and spectacle? What does this movie mean for the MCU? Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

What crazy shenanigans are happening in the back of every restaurant? Is serving the dinner rush more intense than disarming bombs? Exactly how much cocaine does one need to survive in a kitchen? Nik & Jill from WASTED TRUTH join us to talk about service industry movies. They're serving up stories of their own experiences and we're tipping generously.Wanna get into some BS with us?>> SEASON 2 OF WASTED TRUTH DROPS JUNE 6 <<Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

War is hell. Except when it's fun!We revisit Tropic Thunder and Starship Troopers, two GREAT satires with really interesting ways of showing and talking about war. Enjoy the fun and look deeper with us to see the real commentary. Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

The final Guardians of the Galaxy movie took us on an emotional rollercoaster that ended exactly how it should. So grab your walkman and join us talking about this banger of a movie. Is this Marvel's best trilogy?  Does this mean Marvel's back to making hits?  What broke our hearts?Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Grant Gelt sits down with us to share stories of the rowdy boys filming The Sandlot. We're laughing and having a nostalgic look back at one of the classics of childhood on its 30th anniversary. Wanna get into some BS with us? Check out Grant's non-profit here: PLAY FOREVERCheck out the Boys of Summer card collection here: BOYS OF SUMMERStay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Both nerds and normies are falling in love with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Well, the few who are actually seeing it. We're hanging out with the guys from the Twenty Sides podcast to laugh and talk about the sweet sweet fantasy candy in the new D&D movie. Wanna get into some BS with us? Check out Twenty Sides, the best D&D actual-play podcast out there, anywhere you get podcasts. Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

WHAT YEAR IS IT! It's 1995 and we're talking about one of our favorite movies from when we were kids - Jumanji. What scene in the first movie traumatized kids in the 90's? How did Jumanji 2 change the whole movie industry? Which video game body would you want?Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

The Last of Us on HBO is a masterpiece. It's the gold standard for how to adapt a story into live-action. It's thrilling and heart wrenching and it made us cry big blubbering man tears.We hugged it out with Puck Puckett from the truly spectacular Master And Debaters and talked about how The Last of Us is the best adaptation ever made.Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

The amazing Nick Perron invited us on to the hilarious show Tabletopped to talk about playing Dungeons & Dragons.What are some tips to playing, or leading, a game? What are some of our dumbest and favorite stories? How is this the greatest game ever?Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Owen doesn't like Superman at all. Brando is the biggest Superman fan of all. They both sat down to watch the new show Superman & Lois on HBO Max and then got together to talk about it.What was actually good that surprised Owen? How does the CW angsty drama play into it? Just how much obscure Superman trivia does Brando know? What exactly does pink kryptonite do?  Wanna get into some BS with us? Check out G Block Show here or wherever you get podcasts.Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Are you just dying to talk about the crazy movie with a pastor who can kung fu fight and turn into a dinosaur? No? Oh... Well shit, that's what this episode is about. Well, and the other movie with dinosaurs and kung fu. Y'know, I'm starting to see a theme here. We met up with the wonderfully funny Alex Alberico from the amazingly hilarious Master And Debaters podcast to talk about the best movies to play while you're hosting a party.Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Does blow make all forest animals homicidal? Could this be the beginning of the Cocaine Cinematic Universe? Is Pablo Eskobear a Smoky Mountain folk hero? We sat down to laugh our asses off with Nick Perron from the Tabletopped podcast about this insane fever dream of a movie. Wanna get into some BS with us? TABLETOPPEDListen HEREStay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

We're joined by the Gore Whore Lexie Redding to talk about our love for Jakey G.  From indie films to blockbusters, he's been in some incredible movies.  How did he go from being the weird kid to working with the greatest directors of our generation? Why do French people not pronounce half the letters in their words?  What does Seth Rogen have to do with any of this? Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Did you ever think a theme park ride would become a multi billion dollar movie franchise? I can't wait for the It's A Small World cinematic universe! We're joined by the super cool Nikoletti Spaghetti from the amazing Wasted Truth podcast, and the Pirate superfan Pat Daddy to talk about the most swashbuckling adventure movies. How did the MCU borrow from Pirates? How did the British become worse villains than literal monster people? Why does Owen keep emailing people late at night? Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

National Treasure truly is a national treasure. It's Nicolas Cage at his best and adventure at its most absurdly cool. We're joined by the smooth talking Spencer Nipple from the hilarious show Master and Debaters to talk about another one of our favorite adventure movies.What are the Masons hiding beneath the streets of our cities?  Why is Albuquerque the greatest city in the world? How fun could American history be without all those uncomfortable real world facts?Wanna get into some BS with us? EMO NIGHT NASHVILLEIn Nashville on Online hereStay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

They're some of the greatest movies of all time starring the big daddy of ADVENTURE MOVIES.Why were the Nazis so obsessed with the occult? Which characters do we absolutely hate? Why is Indy's dad NEVER IMPRESSED with how amazing his son is? Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

It's the first of our series on the best ADVENTURE MOVIES ever made, and we're starting out with the amazing Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz classics, The Mummy and The Mummy Returns!What makes a movie an adventure movie? How terrible is the Scorpion King CGI? Can these movies really cure erectile dysfunction? Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

The guys from Twenty Sides broke into our studio and forced us to talk about House of the Dragon season 1, and it turned into one of our favorite episodes ever. Where on the doll did Game of Thrones hurt us? Is birthing horror better than gratuitous sex? Can necromancy ensure George RR Martin finishes the books? Wanna get into some BS with us? CHECK OUT TWENTY SIDES@TwentySidesPodAnd listen to TWENTY SIDES wherever you get podcasts.Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

It's Space Supremacists vs Alien Al Qaeda, with talking whales! Why should you never meet your heroes? Will blue Jesus save earth from climate change? Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?JAMES BOB CAMERON PANTS "Zero cultural impact" my ass. Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

This is that fun movie that nobody has seen, and you can introduce it to your friends, then when you watch it together they'll go "Oh wow how have I never seen this before, it's great!" It's heartwarming and drenched in blood. It's innocent and insane. It's best watched with friends and liquor.  It's Violent Night.Wanna get into some BS with us?HUGE thanks to @Rickyjab and @Calirodi for letting us use their absolute banger of a Christmas song!   Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

The world sucks, but movies don't have to! Some movies make you want to be a better person, go on adventures, or just be happy that you're alive. And this episode is all about those wonderfully uplifting moments of escapism. These are the BEST FEEL GOOD MOVIES of ALL TIME.(according to Brando)Wanna get into some BS with us?HUGE thanks to @Rickyjab and @Calirodi for letting us use their absolute banger of a Christmas song!  Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Get a fire going, light some candles, and put on fluffy wool socks because we're bringing you our first episode of the Jinglecember Spectacular!Which movies make you feel cozy, and are perfect to watch on a snowy day? What happens when Owen & Brando disagree on a movie? Is it possible to warm Owen's ice cold grinch heart? Wanna get into some BS with us? HUGE thanks to @Rickyjab and @Calirodi for letting us use their absolute banger of a Christmas song! Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

From D&D to the MCU, what makes you fall in love with a character, root for their victory, or cry when they die? If you took two movie characters and merged them to make the most interesting D&D character, who would you pick? Find out this and more in today's episode where we sit down with Shane and Russ from the amazing Venture Forth show!  Wanna get into some BS with us? LISTEN TO VENTURE FORTH HERE!SEE VENTURE FORTH'S WEBSITE HERE! Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

What movies surpassed their originals and transcended into something new? What do you call a group of xenomorphs? What's the greatest villain of all time? Does Arnold Schwarzenegger sound cool in Japanese? Find out that and more in today's episode! Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

How do you recast one of the most popular characters of all time? Does BP break Marvel's pattern of goofball comedies? When did Okoye join the Power Rangers? It's the major movie event of the year and we're sitting down with  Venus Ann Serena to talk all about what was good and what was not so good. Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

It's 2 Banter 2 Such as our hilariously witty guest today is Nick Perron from the Tabletopped podcast, and we're sitting down to an LA celebrity BBQ to talk about The Fast and The Furious Saga.The series that's laughably absurd - but are we laughing AT them or laughing WITH them? What were some of the crazy behind-the-scene antics? Why does Vin Diesel keep hiring people bigger and cooler than him? TabletoppedPod.comNick PerronStay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Which movie was the forgotten start of the whole superhero movie wave?  Who's the king of the black trench coat techno kung fu fighters?  How many lives does Kris Kristofferson have? We're talking about one of the BEST action movie trilogies of all time - BLADE. Wanna get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Which movies are witch movies, and which movies are just movies with witches? This is the final Spooktober episode of 2022 and we're talking witch movies! How can you tell a witch who gets her power from nature, from a witch who gets her power from the devil? Is there ever a scenario where eating children for magic power isn't necessarily bad? Do all teenagers go through a Hot Topic phase?  Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

It's the monster that no one can escape.  No matter how clever, righteous, or strong, DEATH takes us all in the end. But they say when Hell is full, the dead will walk the earth. Tonight we're talking ZOMBIE MOVIES. What weapons would you have in a zombie apocalypse? Which zombie movie is the scariest, and which is the funnest? What are the practicalities of corpses causing civilization to fail?  Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

It's week two of the SPOOKTOBER SPECIAL and we're howling under the full moon with the amazing Puck Puckett. A crisp breeze rustles the orange leaves in the trees above you, when suddenly a low growl rumbles through the woods. The last thing you see is glowing yellow eyes leering at you from the shadows, and then your body is ripped apart with claw and fang. It's a WEREWOLF! Which movie has the best transition scene? Which version of the werewolf do you think is scariest? Which werewolf movies have aged poorly, and which are the ones you absolutely have to see?  Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

It's the first episode of SPOOKTOBER SPECIAL 2022 and we're stalking prey with Brett Woodall from Nash Vile. In the dark corners of the studio we stumbled upon cursed creatures of the night. They're one of the oldest monsters from folklore, and one of the most famous monsters in movies - Vampires! What exactly is a "Bram Stroker" and how many times can Owen mispronounce it? Do you prefer the magical demons, the romantic lovers, or the violent monsters? What's a hidden gem vampire movie that most people haven't seen yet?  Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

It's the rise and fall of one the the greatest horror filmmakers of all time. Well maybe not horror, but suspense? And is he one of the greats, or just overhyped? What was his masterpiece? How do you keep making movies with a twist when everyone is expecting twist? What's your favorite of his twists? What's your favorite of his movies? Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

You've heard us talking about it, and now we're FINALLY sharing an actual episode of one of our FAVORITE podcasts around - Wasted Truth. Nikki and Jill are hilarious and raw as they share stories of the service industry in Nashville. And this is the episode where they invited Brando on... Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Back to the Future is an example of a perfect movie, and the trilogy is possibly the best movie trilogy of all time. And we're here to tell you why. What makes Doc the quintessential eccentric scientist in movie history? Why is it so hard for Marty to keep from being cool for just one day? How many times does Biff eat shit and why does it never get old?Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Are these our favorite movies or the objectively best movies of all time? What's the difference?Owen shares his top three favorite movies while Brando staunchly declares his three as the best movies ever made. What is the quintessential adventure movie? What movie is equal parts scary and wondrous? Which movies do the boys absolutely disagree on?Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

In one of our final episodes of the season break, Owen gets together with Kyrie Dial and Tyler Philips to talk all about their favorite show, Supernatural!Who is the Supernatural daddy and why is it Crowley? Why is Castiel your favorite supporting character? Is The Mystery Spot really the best episode? Want to get into some BS with us?Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

We're in between seasons right now so we're bringing you something a little different. We wanted to share some bonus content that didn't quite fit anywhere else, but we had a blast making it anyway. Owen is allergic to Star Trek, so Brando sat down alone with the witty Keith Patterson and the articulate Robbie Sears to do a grand overview of the greatest scifi universe ever imagined - Star Trek. It's long and it's unapologetically nerdy. Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Ok look. We're a professional organization here at The Helios Network. I promise. And we could put a serious and professionally-written description here. But... that wouldn't really give you an accurate impression of what this episode is. In truth, we threw a party for the season 2 finale, with the amazing Puck Puckett, Nikki from Wasted Truth, and first timer Quint. We all drank a lot and things got hilariously crazy. It all crescendos in the ending, a perfectly wild symphony of insanity. And it was all totally unscripted. Also we talked about Thor Love & Thunder. Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

It's a wild raucous party as Owen & Brando have too many guests and everyone has too many drinks. The amazing Puck Puckett, Nikki from Wasted Truth, and first timer Quint join us to talk about Thor Love & Thunder. And the longer the episode goes the more ridiculously hilarious it gets. What's the good & bad of Thor's latest movie? What does this say about phase 4 of Marvel? What evidence do we have that Thor was uncircumcised? Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube

Owen & Brando consume entirely too much media. We can't help it, there's just so much great stuff out there. But it's often lost in a sea of streaming hot garbage. What are the shows the boys have been watching that they're loving? What was a surprise to them? What's something you'll be surprised to find out you like?Wanna get into some BS with us? Stay in touch with Brando here!Stay in touch with Owen here!Grab some merch while it's still there: TheHeliosNetwork.comHang out with us: InstagramTwitterYouTube