Heroes & Whiskey: The Podcast
by Tim Whitney
Musings and conversations on life, the universe, and everything, with peaty undertones and a healthy dose of liquid courage. We get super-nerdy talking about the modern art of storytelling and the impact of those narratives on our lives through the lens of our favorite films, shows, books, and games - Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Marvel, and all lesser properties. Nerd out while exploring why you're nerding out. Meta-nerd out. The basement bar is open... grab your favorite cocktail and join us!
Episodes
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Is the Hero's Journey Good for Our Mental Health?
In this last episode before Jack hits the road for California, Tim and Jack discuss and debate whether the Hero's Journey is good for our psyche, and how it impacts different generations differently.
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The Heroine's Journey
Modern fantasy and adventure media (and storytelling in general) is dominated by the hero's journey, but does that archetype apply to girls and women? Tim invites some special guests to the basement bar to explore the evolution of female lead characters in modern media.
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Why The Last Jedi is the Star Wars We All Need
It's the most polarizing film in the Star Wars franchise, but is it unfulfilled promise or an abandonment of legacy? Tim and Jack unpack why everyone has such strong opinions about Star Wars as a whole, and The Last Jedi in particular, and what Yoda would like us to know about clinging to…
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Across the (Marvel) Universe
Seems like every movie property is building a "universe" these days... thanks, Iron Man! In this episode, Tim and Jack fight off colds and lack of sleep to explore the good, bad, and ugly of the Marvel-led shift in cinematic properties to universe-building.
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Outside Wonka’s Factory: The 35 Minutes from Your Childhood You Repressed
We all know the 1971 Willy Wonka movie was unsettling, but do we remember how unsettling? In this episode, Tim - alone for the first time at the basement bar - talks about Slugworth's scar, Mike Teevee's love of killing, and some religious symbolism that you may not have picked up on when you…
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Tell Aliens, not Alien, and definitely not Boba Fett
You know the structure and the theory, so now what? In this episode, Tim and Jack debate the best methods for becoming better storytellers in our everyday lives, looking through the lens of two great movies and one OK TV show.
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Why is Pokemon a Thing?
In this episode, Tim and Jack use their unique generational perspectives to discuss how Pokemon grew from a simple Nintendo game to something downloaded by 1/8 of the world's population. Prepare to evolve!
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The Incredible Shrinking Star Wars
It's one of the most iconic moments in cinema history, but is it responsible for the seemingly ever-shrinking Star Wars we know today ? Pick up a Not Your Father's and let's debate the impact of "I am your father."
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Deconstructing "The Village"
M. Night Shyamalan's 2004 "The Village" is one of the most polarizing films of the last 20 years. Is it possible to be both great and awful? Let's discuss!
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Deconstructing Great (and Awful) Characters
Jack and Tim talk about good and bad characters from our favorite movies and shows, and how good character development creates characters and stories that we remember.
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Deconstructing the Stories that Really Matter
Tim and Jack talk about their favorite movies, then deconstruct what makes them successful using the Hero's Journey and Story Clock.
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Will There Ever Be Another Star Wars?
In this inaugural episode of the Heroes & Whiskey podcast, Tim and Jack ruminate on whether another property with the long-running cultural impact of Star Wars will ever be created.
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Heroes & Whiskey: The Podcast: The Trailer
Life is too short for podcasts about things that matter. Join us as we escape into the narratives that made us!
About this show
Musings and conversations on life, the universe, and everything, with peaty undertones and a healthy dose of liquid courage. We get super-nerdy talking about the modern art of storytelling and the impact of those narratives on our lives through the lens of our favorite films, shows, books, and games - Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Marvel, and all lesser properties. Nerd out while exploring why you're nerding out. Meta-nerd out. The basement bar is open... grab your favorite cocktail and join us!
Hosted by
Tim Whitney