FYIz

The Boys is wrapping up its fifth and final season on Amazon Prime, so there's no better time than now to spin theories about where exactly this boundary-pushing, darkly funny superhero saga has been taking us. Then, we move on to the next obvious topic: three carefully selected episodes of The Golden Palace, the short-lived Golden Girls spinoff that lacked one important ingredient: Bea Arthur. Oh, ma!

Bekah Eaton is back for another round of book chatter, and this time we’re trying not to say the word “interesting” so much! It’s very unsuccessful. Even so, we manage to wrap up our discussion of Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin, dig into the squirrelly metaphysics and absurdism of There Is No Antimemetics Division, and extol the virtues of recent reads like Chuck Tingle’s Lucky Day, George Saunders’s Vigil, and Mona Awad’s Bunny! It all concludes with a few favorite or not-so-favorite book-to-film adaptation picks.

Welcome to the first episode of another monthly sub-series here on the FYIZ feed, a free-range chat with filmmaker and podcaster Bob Rose called Not Great, Bob. Each installment will focus on comedy or movies or culture or social media or whatever we find most delightful or irritating or both. This time we're taking a long look at SNL UK. What happens when a 50-year-old late-night institution attempts to stake new ground with a spinoff across the pond? We have thoughts and we're not afraid to share them.  We also go on a few tangents along the way. Listen and enjoy! And be sure to share feedback or suggest topics at [email protected].

We're kicking off a fresh batch of FYIZ episodes with something new: a monthly check-in with Bekah Eaton where we discuss the books we've just finished reading, the books we're reading now, and the books we plan to read next. So, in other words it's the coolest thing in the world that anyone could listen to. Featured in this installment: Watership Down! Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin! A lengthy breakdown of J.M. Barrie's Peter & Wendy! And more!

This emergency podcast exists purely because the first season of Alien: Earth ended and there was too much to talk about. Thankfully Bekah and Jonathan Eaton heeded the call and brought their own torrents of thoughts. Topics include the creepiness of Peter Pan, eerily intelligent alien life, and the nature of consciousness itself. We pretty much sort it out.

Longtime musician/current Jungian Depth Coach Orenda Fink's emotional and acerbically witty memoir, The Witch's Daughter—all about her fraught connection with her troubled mother and how that relationship affected her life—is a must-read for anyone interested in what it takes to emerge from a toxic family situation with your identity intact. In this soul-searching conversation, Orenda opens up about the experience of sharing her story, from the structuring of the book itself to the way that her process of self-discovery fed into to a midlife career pivot. Don't miss this one! Find out more at orendafinkcoaching.com!

This is an exciting one! Multimedia artist Landis Expandis sheds some light on the inspirations and irritations that led to Landis Harry Larry's brand new glitch-pop EP, FKIN WITH STUFF, out now on Big Curve Music.

In this FYIZ Halloween special—which is actually the lost, final episode of SKEERT - A Real Horror Show—beloved guests Bekah Eaton, Jonathan Eaton, and Chris Zaleski pop over to read some spooky stories from a scary collection for kids published in 1980, The Haunted Planet (By DJ Arneson). Hang out with us... IF YOU DARE!

Friend of the show Polly Schattel is back to talk about her darkly comic novella 8:59:29 (Trepidatio Publishing), and we dig into every aspect, from the origins of the idea to the narrative implications. Along the way we ponder whether characters need to be likable (short answer:no), extol the virtues of novellas as a form, and find out what Polly’s working on next. It’s a nerdily analytical and story-obsessed chat, and it pairs well with your favorite morning beverage. For the sake of all humanity, listen! And find all things Polly at pollyschattel.com.  Find John on Instagram and Twitter @giannidubya!

This episode is an epilogue to Saul Searching, the Better Call Saul (BCS) recap podcast that ended last year (along with the show, which only makes sense). Now that the whole six-season run of BCS is up on Netflix, it's a good time to binge, whether for the first time or as a repeat play. Thus it's also a good time to share this long conversation, recorded last year, that digs into the entirety of the series—psycho-analyzing all the characters, tracing themes and recurring gags, and celebrating the innovative filmmaking and powerful performances on display. Filmmaker and musician Chance Shirley is the only man both cool-headed and chatty enough to co-pilot this steamboat full of tangents, so thank gosh he agreed to it. Follow Chance on Twitter: @notevenchance. Follow John on Twitter and Instagram: @giannidubya.

Prolific author Jeff VanderMeer (The Ambergris Trilogy, Area X, Borne, Hummingbird Salamander) has a knack for creating engrossing and immersive scenarios that straddle the line between a world that is palpably our own and someplace entirely other. In this freewheeling conversation, he discusses his environmental work, his writing habits, and how even his boldest literary experiments are rooted in truth of character.

Barb and Allan Vest make music together under the name doubleVee and have just released a new album full of big hooks and infectious harmonies, Treat Her Strangely. In this overdue appearance on Playing Records with John, they discuss selections from all their releases, the way they came together as partners and bandmates, and how their collaborative songwriting process works. Allan’s background in indie chamber pop heroes Starlight Mints is also covered, as is Barb’s musical upbringing, including the influence of her grandmother, the whimsical and beguiling songwriter Margaret Dove.

Brian Woodbury has a sharp wit and a penchant for tuneful compositions that break genres apart and rebuild them around his often exploratory ideas. Whether he’s trying out new pop music forms, skewering old ones, or blurring the lines between the two, he’s always got something on his mind, and it’s usually pretty funny. Except when it decidedly isn’t! In this career-spanning conversation he unfurls some of the deep thinking and gut instincts that fuel his distinctive body of work. Follow John on insta/twit: @giannidubya Follow Brian on insta: @brianwoodburymusic and on twit: @MrBrianWoodbury  

Over the course of sixty years and counting of publishing his increasingly potent and idiosyncratic genre fiction, Ramsey Campbell has authored hundreds of short stories and thirty-five novels (with a thirty-sixth due next year). He was kind enough to take a break from all that ink-stained wretchedness in order to chat about his early career start, how important it is to engage a reader’s imagination, and Fellstones, his latest novel, out now from Flame Tree Press. Listen in, check out a few of the man’s works, and find out why none other than Guillermo del Toro calls Ramsey “an absolute master of modern horror.” Follow John on Instagram and Twitter @giannidubya Follow Ramsey on Twitter @ramseycampbell1

What a ride! Better Call Saul wraps up a historic run as one of the most consistently thoughtful and well-made television shows ever (there, we said it) with "Saul Gone," a finale written and directed by the man who created the Saul Goodman character, Peter Gould. And we're wrapping up our coverage of this satisfying series with a couple of our favorite guests co-hosts: Bekah and Jonathan Eaton. IT JUST MAKES SENSE. Find out how the story ends, who's left standing, and where they stand—both in terms of plot and in terms of the themes of self-awareness, morality, truth, and consequences that have made this saga so rich. Serve yourself a scoop of mint chocolate chip and enjoy! It won't happen again.

New friend of the show James Brown is here to discuss the penultimate episode of Better Call Saul, but first he reminds you to support the eclectic and long-running Sidewalk Film Festival, which runs from August 22-29 in Birmingham, Alabama—now for its 24th year! Meanwhile, Kim tries to mind her own business but Gene spins further and further out of control. Is the protagonist of this series too self-destructive to root for? How about that Jesse cameo? And what's up with Miracle Whip? Join us in wondering what happens next, for the very last time. Sidewalk Film Festival: https://www.sidewalkfest.com

Over in Omaha, Gene's already dysfunctional moral compass has become even less reliable after he received some unhappy news over the phone. He's taking bigger chances and showing less empathy and reminding us more than ever that Saul was always sort of a bastard on Breaking Bad. Naturally this sort of thing has us Jimmy McGill boosters in a panicky state! Bekah Eaton and Jonathan Eaton are back on the show to discuss "Breaking Bad," the latest gut-punchy episode of Better Call Saul, and sift through the wreckage to find any hope for the future of our self-defeating protagonist.

"Nippy" is the episode of Better Call Saul we've been waiting for since the series began; we finally get to spend a whole hour with Gene Takovic, Cinnabon Manager with a secret. In the wake of this momentous turn of events, podcaster/filmmaker/friend Bob Rose returns to discuss Gene's approach to problem-solving, the power of sweet treats, and the futility of guessing what happens next. Some attempt is also made to sort out the Better Call Saul timeline, including the post-Breaking Bad part of the story.

In this giant-sized episode, Erin Oliver-James and Ronald James help clean up after recent horrific events in the world of Jimmy and Kim. Have a smoke on the balcony and get ready for a detailed dissection of "Fun and Games," the deceptively-titled installment of Better Call Saul that answers several long-running plot questions in typically heartbreaking fashion (and gives us a combover for the ages).

It's been six tense weeks for viewers of Better Call Saul, but only a few seconds have passed for Jimmy and Kim, who have a corpse in their apartment and a big Lalo problem. Luckily, friends of the show (and of the host) Bekah and Jonathan Eaton have returned to take a deep breath and discuss "Point and Shoot," one heckuva nerve-wracking and beautifully shot episode of television.

Hey kids! Comedian, podcaster, and delightful person Michael Furr is here to chew gum and discuss the members of Canadian superhero team Alpha Flight, and he only has a couple pieces of gum left. But soon! Follow Michael everywhere: @michaelcfurr Follow John in most places: @giannidubya

With "Plan and Execution," the seventh installment of Better Call Saul's final season, the show has taken what may be its most shocking turn yet! So it's a good thing returning favorites Bekah and Jonathan Eaton are here to assist with the cleanup of this very messy situation, including the pressing matter of who, exactly, we're rooting for, as well as some half-baked predictions for the remainder of the story.

For the first time on Saul Searching: A guest with a law degree! Erin Oliver-James makes a case for "Axe and Grind," the latest episode of Better Call Saul, written by Ariel Levine and directed by the actor sometimes known as Gus Fring, Giancarlo Esposito. It happens today.

When Ronald and Steve—John's co-hosts on the long-running Movie Schmovie podcast—pop in for a chat, you can count on two things: pure unbridled chemistry and fart jokes. So with that as a promise and a warning, listen in as the guys dig into "Black and Blue," the fifth episode of Better Call Saul's final season.

She's back! Friend, podcaster, and generally creative person Bekah Eaton takes a break from several elaborate and vindictive schemes to discuss "Hit and Run," the fourth episode of Better Call Saul's sixth season, which is directed by Kim Wexler herself (aka Rhea Seehorn).

Podcaster and filmmaker Bob Rose crawls out of a giant oil puddle in an abandoned tanker to discuss the Nacho-centric third episode of Better Call Saul's sixth season, "Rock and Hard Place."

In a bold return to television recapping that some are calling irresponsible and others, merely unnecessary, John Walker hereby revives Saul Searching, the podcast all about AMC's beloved Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul. To help break down "Wine and Roses" and "Carrot and Stick," the first two episodes of BCS's final season, good friends Bekah and Jonathan Eaton pop in bearing insights and good cheer. It's a fun nerdy time for you.

Our first guest ever on Playing Records with John is back! It's Brad Armstrong and the occasion is the release of Heart Like a Sigil—his third solo album overall but his debut on Flower Moon Records, the label founded by frequent collaborator Maria Taylor. Songwriting shoptalk, recording secrets, and theories about the nature of the universe are contained herein. Proceed with caution! And for gosh sakes, don’t mess up the vibe.

Author and filmmaker Polly Schattel returns to talk about her second novel, the bracingly violent but enjoyably pulpy Shadowdays, available now from Journalstone Publishing. Find out why Polly decided to convert a shelved screenplay into a book, who Robert Longstreet would have played in the movie that never happened, and what makes troubled protagonist Melissa Sweet tick (in a "broken clock" kinda way). Find all things Polly at pollyschattel.com! Find John on Instagram and Twitter @giannidubya!

Making a good third movie in a cinematic trilogy is hard enough, without it also being the third trilogy in a trio of trilogies! (The previous sentence was intended to weed out the faint of heart. Only the heroes are left. You may continue.) In this galaxy-spanning podcast, pop culture obsessives Bekah Eaton, Jonathan Eaton, John Walker, and Mike White discuss the third Star Wars trilogy, aka Episodes 7 though 9, aka The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker. These movies were all huge box office successes, but critical and fan opinion ranges from mixed to toxic. What does "new Star Wars" even mean in the age of the unending franchise? Should Palpatine have come back? And what's in the mystery box? All this and more.   Find us on Twitter! Mike is @proboothcast! Bekah is @bekaheaton! Jonathan is @jonbrak! John is at @giannidubya!

Horror author Gemma Files is back, this time to chat about tales from her most recent collection of short stories—In That Endlessness, Our End—as well as a couple excellently creepy films, the mystery of mortality, how to run a shared fictional universe, and a gaggle of horror books, both classic and recent, that you need on your shelf. (Part 2 of 2)   Follow Gemma on Twitter! - @gemmafiles   Follow John on Twitter and Instagram! - @giannidubya

Multi-hyphenated, autodidactic creative force Gemma Files writes horror fiction that is sharp-witted, often disturbing, and fun as hell. In this episode, she talks about her 2015 novel Experimental Film, from the development of the characters to the book’s themes of parenthood, artistic integrity, and the importance of hard work. (Part 1 of 2) Follow Gemma on Twitter! - @gemmafiles Follow John on Twitter and Instagram! - @giannidubya

Sue Drew has been in the music biz since the late 80s and as an A&R exec for various labels, she’s worked closely with acts like Michelle Shocked (back when she seemed cool), They Might Be Giants, Phish, and Barenaked Ladies. Sue is also a very direct and open person, so this conversation covers the decisions she’s proud of as well as candid assessment of a few missteps—a must-listen for anyone who likes a peek behind the curtain.

After a ten-year break from releasing albums, Azure Ray is back with Remedy, a gorgeous set of shimmering songs that redefines their classic sound. Singer/songwriters Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor open up about the process of making a record in isolation, the thoughts behind a few standout lyrics, and a variety of topics ranging from vocal cord surgery to wild suburban parrots.

Birmingham, AL-based rock band Dree Leer is here to hype their brand-new debut LP, Throw Hands, so a good time is guaranteed! Singer/guitarist Jackie Lo, bassist Mandy Graffeo, and drummer Mikey D Williams share tales about the forming of the current lineup, explain the logistics of finishing an album during quarantine, and reveal why they call Mikey The Living Shitzam. So, yeah, like I said, a good time.

Velena Vego, longtime talent buyer for Athens, Georgia’s storied 40 Watt Club and Atlanta’s Buckhead Theatre, as well as manager for veteran indie rockers Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven, looks back on her decades in the music biz, from her early days fronting 80s band Mystery Date, to this weird year of lockdown with no shows to run.

Otis Ball released an album of guitar pop called I’m Gonna Love You ’Til I Don’t in 1989, then recorded a more classically rockin' follow-up that was never released. But that doesn’t mean Otis hasn’t been busy! In this candid, career-spanning conversation, Mr. Ball fills in the story of his early days and his continued love of collaboration through a batch of intimate, energetic, and sometimes experimental home recordings.

Recording Artist Jordan Cooper, aka Trouble’s Afoot, aka co-host of the Don’t Let’s Start podcast, aka a guy who wrote and recorded a bunch of songs, is BACK. This time we delve into some of his favorite demos from his considerable backlog of ideas, including at least one instant novelty classic! Get [expletive] stoked. Buy Trouble’s Afoot’s album “Looking For Parking” at: troublesafoot.bandcamp.com Follow Jordan and Dave Fox’s encyclopedic They Might Be Giants podcast “Don’t Let’s Start” @dontletspod

New York—based musician and podcaster Jordan Cooper, aka Trouble’s Afoot, makes tuneful, witty, observational songs that could only come from his point of view. In this episode, he tells the tale of his early development as a songwriter and audio addict. Buy Trouble’s Afoot’s album “Looking For Parking” at: troublesafoot.bandcamp.com Follow Jordan and Dave Fox’s encyclopedic They Might Be Giants podcast “Don’t Let’s Start” @dontletspod

Country artist India Ramey joins in for a candid conversation about bad dads, cheap whiskey and black magic. All four of her albums are covered, including the stories behind key tracks. This is a must-listen for fans and a great introduction for newcomers to India's powerful, rousing, and sometimes gut-wrenching songs.   Follow India on Twitter @indiaramey!   Follow India on Instagram @indiarameymusic!   Follow John on twit and insta @giannidubya!

Ron James and Sir Tizzy, aka Catch the Fade, released their second EP, Black and Highly Favored, in 2019.  When it was still brand new (and people still sat down face to face), we sat down face to face to talk about each track, from the concepts to the execution.   Check out Sir Tizzy’s new solo EP, The MidKnight Hour! https://lnkfi.re/tmkh   Dig into Catch the Fade’s singles series from 2020! https://spoti.fi/2XCxysm

Multi-faceted talent Kristen Toedtman drops by to discuss her musical beginnings, her songwriting process, and the possible meaning of her last name. Along the way we hear some rare recordings, from voice memos to demos with fleshed-out alternate arrangements. Not to be missed!

One year ago we lost the beloved Neil Innes, a gently acerbic comedian with a knack for sideways pop pastiches that are as sturdy and hook-filled as the hits they’re sending up. Longtime friend of the show Skizz Cyzyk returns to pick some gems from Innes’s storied career, including memorable work with The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and The Rutles. Stick around till the very end for a musical surprise.

Funtime nerds Bekah Eaton, Jonathan Eaton, and John Walker gather for the second meeting of Star Wars Support Group, a safe place to enthuse shamelessly and voice concerns about the most overhyped, overrated, overexposed and totally awesome film franchise ever. This time around, they talk about Solo, Rogue One, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and The Mandalorian! The episode turned out more jam-packed than we could imagine. (And we can imagine quite a bit.)   Find us on Twitter! Bekah is @bekaheaton! Jonathan is @jonbrak! John is at @giannidubya!

In the debut episode of TV Treasure Trove, we dig into The Randy Fellows, a once-beloved sitcom that has all but disappeared from the collective consciousness.

Sarah Read’s fiction is brutal, strange, and beguiling, so it’s a pleasure to have her on the season finale of SKEERT. And she exceeded already high expectations, affably breaking down the inspirations and intentions behind some stories from her disturbingly good collection, Out of Water. Add in some gorgeous ambient music from sonic wizard Daniel Farris, and this is the Halloween podcast that you need. Follow Sarah on social media at @inkwellmonster! Keep up with her blog at inkwellmonster.wordpress.com! Find John on twit and insta @giannidubya!

A couple weeks ago we discussed Henry James's The Turn of the Screw and its 1961 film adaptation, The Innocents, with friends/podcasters Bekah Eaton and Kelly Fuller. Now the same gang is back to follow up with our thoughts on another adaptation of this material, Netflix's brand new horror/drama mini-series The Haunting of Bly Manor. Follow Bekah and Kelly's erotic fiction podcast @seedyreads! Follow John on Instagram and Twitter @giannidubya!

Last week on the show, Mtn_Dew69 and Gavin played excerpts of an NPR program called Looking Down Our Nose, hosted by Pledge Krackelbar and featuring an interview with indie director Marlicia Renji-Pirdoux. Mtn and Gavin's commentary was bizarrely if predictably emotional. They have yet to send us another completed podcast. So, while it might be considered piracy to do so, we've decided to post the full episode of Looking Down Our Nose on our feed, as this week's installment. You know, for context. Be among the first people to even notice our presence on Twitter @gundaharpodcast!!!

In a particularly satisfying episode, filmmaker and author Polly Schattel joins the show to talk about her debut novel, The Occultists, a richly-detailed, propulsive, and sometime gruesome period piece/ adventure story available now from JournalStone Publishing. It's a wide-ranging conversation that includes Polly's early years in rural Alabama, the research that went into her book, and a lot more. Folks who have read The Occultists should stick around till the end for a spoiler-y discussion of a few key events and characters. Find all things Polly at pollyschattel.com! Find John on Instagram and Twitter @giannidubya!

In the first episode of their strange new podcast here on the FYIZ feed, bickering super-fans Mtn_Dew69 and his pal Gavin celebrate the Moons of Gundahar books by doing a dramatic reading, expounding about their fandom, and catching up on movie news concerning the impending Gundahar film adaptation, to be directed by indie firebrand Marlicia Renji-Pirdoux. Be among the first people to even notice our presence on Twitter @gundaharpodcast!!!