The Pop Break

Welcome to “Not Couple Goals” where co-hosts Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy do a deep dive into a different ridiculous romantic thriller from the vantage point of their long-term relationship.Allie, a TV writer/producer and actress, has an affinity for romantic thrillers, the more salacious the better. Tyler, an entertainment reporter and critic, often finds himself drawn in despite his better judgment. Join them as they explore all the ways it’s possible to love too hard… like WAY too hard.In this episode, Allie and Tyler kick things off by explaining why they missed last episode and poor Allie’s many medical troubles. Then, they dive full-force into the 2026 movie “The Drama,” starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya. Join them as they reveal very different opinions on what constitutes a wedding dealbreaker, battle the harsh rain and uncover the correct pronunciation of Zendaya’s name. Special thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music.Please don’t forget to follow our hosts on Twitter @ANelRetentive & @TylerMcCarthy and Instagram @ANelRetentive and to check out Tyler’s writing at USA Insider and Allie’s at Parade and Business Insider!

Welcome to TV Break, where Pop Break’s Director of Podcasting Alex Marcus is joined by editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television.Here’s the format of the show:The Best Thing I Saw on TV Last Month  – Alex, Bill, & Josh talk about a show/episode/event they liked from the last month including HBO Max’s My Adventures with Superman, Hulu’s Furious, and Disney Plus’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars. 2026 Emmys Preview – Bill, Josh, and Alex break down the race for the most nominations per network and highlight some of the most interesting acting races across the Comedy, Drama, and Limited Series categories.2026 Program of the Year Award – Bill, Josh, and Alex review all 72 series, specials, and movies nominated for the best series/special/movie at this year’s Emmys and craft their own top eight across all categories before crowning their own winner of the best in show experiment.New Series Spotlight – This month, our trio is shining their spotlight on HBO’s Lanterns, reviewing the first three episodes of the new series from DC, starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. The series was created by Chris Mundy, Tom King, and Damon Lindelof. 

This is Podelay, a podcast dedicated to alternative rock pioneer Beck Hansen! After completing their Pod of Doom series, Randy Allain (Media/Lit) and Justin Mancini (TheCineMaverick.com) are back to take on a whole new genre. Our resident music podcasters are joined by Kris Ingersoll of Batman by the Numbers and the Media/Lit podcast, and this time, Randy steps into the host chair so that Justin can discover something new.In the tenth episode, Justin, Kris, and Randy discuss Beck’s first project with Danger Mouse behind the boards. They double-down on their penchant for blues guitar, contemplate the ideal Beck track for department store shopping, and imagine what a modern Blink-182 would sound like with 2026 anxieties. And as always, they recommend other artists for your listening pleasure.In every episode, each host will spotlight the following:·        Where It’s At: a track they really like.·        It’s A Loser, Baby: a track they don’t.·        Sing It Again: a favorite lyric.·        Such A Beautiful Way: a favorite musical moment.Join them as they travel to a destination a little up the road from the conversations and the pods you know. Please join us for the show that poses one simple question: I’m a podcast, baby, so why don’t you stream me?Host Picks: Where It’s At (A Song We Think Is Underrated or Just Really Like)Justin – VolcanoKris – ChemtrailsRandy – Modern Guilt It’s a Loser, Baby (A Song We Don’t Like So Much)Justin – ReplicaKris – Soul of a ManRandy – Replica Sing It Again (A Favorite Lyric)Justin – YouthlessKris – VolcanoRandy – Walls Such a Beautiful Way (A Favorite Musical Moment)Justin – ChemtrailsKris – Soul of a ManRandy – Chemtrails Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To:Justin – Kate BushKris – The ParadoxRandy – The Velvet Underground

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and ⁠Mostly Nitpicking⁠’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.Michelle and DJ are back with special guest Allie Nelson of Not Couple Goals to break down the Love Island Season 8 reunion. They cover all of the updates, which have some panelists more excited than others. They give their pitches on how the reunion could be reformatted to be more exciting. They wrap up with a preview of Let's Marry Harry and an update on the shows they missed while they were away.

The Pop Break's Alex Marcus and Amanda Rivas appeared on stage at San Diego Comic Con 2026 alongside Gigi Ford, Brandon Jackson, Derick McDuff, and Jason Patrick Galit. They debate the best fictional locations to visit in all of pop culture, from superhero worlds, fantasy lands, Star Wars planets, and animated environments!Full Video of the event available at our YouTube channel!

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.It’s just Daniel and Kris in the Batcave this month, and it’s all about TV.  One live action.  One animated.  Lanterns and Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2.  One of these we were very positive on.  The other one…not as much.First, we dive into the pilot episode of Lanterns.  And yes, SPOILERS abound.  We’ve been building up to this one for a while.  Did it live up to expectations?  We heavily discuss the two leads, as we break down how Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre fare as Hal Jordan and John Stewart.  We discuss that BIG ending, and what it may mean for the DCU going forward.  And we reflect on the good and potentially bad when it comes to the Damon Lindelof of it all.Next up, it’s a full-on SPOILER breakdown of all 10 episodes of Season 2 for Batman: Caped Crusader.  We compare it to Season 1, focusing heavily on how they handle new versions of classic villains.  Did Daniel like this Riddler interpretation!!!???  We also get into A LOT of Joker talk.  Did they nail the most important conflict in the Batman mythos?  We also discuss what we liked, and didn’t like regarding Batman himself, and the two delve into their favorite, and least favorite episodes of the season.Also, if you like Daniel getting things wrong, he does so with one of the villains this season, so that’s reason enough to listen!Enjoy this JAM-PACKED TV focused episode!

Hello and welcome to Bill vs the MCU! Each month your hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Pop Break Podcasting Director Alex Marcus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pop Break Editor in Chief Bill Bodkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are taking another step into the wider Marvel Multiverse as the MCU dives deeper into their Multiverse Saga.Bill & Alex spent all of 2022 rewatching the first four phases of the MCU, and, in the years since, they have covered the first four seasons of Agents of SHIELD, the entire Netflix Defenders Saga, Fox’s X-Men,  Fantastic Four, and Daredevil films, the Blade trilogy, a few Punisher films, Ang Lee’s Hulk, Marvel’s Modern Animation line up of shows, and, most recently, Sony’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man related films.Welcome to Season 9 of Bill vs The MCU: Agents of Doomsday, where Alex & Bill cover all the most apocalyptic Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter seasons in anticipation of Avengers: Doomsday this December!This month, it’s all about Agents of SHIELD S5 E1-10, where their favorite agents wake up in space, in the future, and in front of an earth that’s allegedly been exploded into tiny pieces by our favorite inhuman super-spy, Daisy “Quake” Johnson, destroyer of worlds. However! Before they get there, Bill and Alex break down the latest X-Men casting news out of D23. They also circle back from last month’s cliffhanger, by ranking all 17 Sony Picture’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man Adjacent movies! Check back next month as Alex & Bill deep dive on Agents of SHIELD Season 5 Episodes 11-22, also known as the Save The Future arc, available to stream on Disney Plus!

There’s never a dull moment in the world of anime and Pop Break is diving right into the action! Join anime enthusiasts Amanda Rivas and Josh Sarnecky as they geek out monthly with dedicated experts and special guests on exciting anime news, trending anime in TV and/or movies, and anime recommendations spanning different genres that everyone should be watching. If you are a lifelong anime lover or taking the initial leap into the genre that has something for everyone, this is the podcast for you!Join us as we talk about the explosive final cour of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Calamity!Our enthusiasts take a stroll through the anime content minds to discuss favorite series they’ve been watching recently, including Josh’s continued recommendations of Marriage Toxin and anime-adjacent My Adventures with Superman and Amanda’s recommendations of Tomb Raider King and The Ogre’s Bride. All recommendations are found on Crunchyroll except for My Adventures of Superman, which is on HBO Max. In Anime News, they talk about D23’s announcement on the upcoming Kingdom Hearts anime and what they are most excited to see coming out of Anime NYC. In their feature review section, our enthusiasts discuss all three major Bankai revealed this season, Ichigo’s and Orihime’s on-going battle with Yhwach, their theories on the remainder of the season and so much more!

Aaron and Josh Sarnecky are here to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Stand by Me.Stand by Me is a coming-of-age drama film directed by Rob Reiner. It an adaptation of the Stephen King novella The Body with a screenplay by Raynold Gideon and Bruce A. Evans. The movie title comes from the Ben E. King song of the same name. It opened nationwide on August 22, 1986.In the film, Gordie Lachance (Richard Dreyfuss, Wil Wheaton) recounts how in 1959 he and his friends Chris (River Phoenix), Teddy (Corey Feldman), and Verne (Jerry O’Connell) went looking for a dead body. Along the way, we learn about the boys’ problems. The four come into conflict with Castle Rock’s gang of bullies, led by Ace (Kiefer Sutherland). The film also introduces us to Gordie’s deceased older brother, Denny (John Cusack), via flashback.Stand by Me was a critical and commercial success, grossing $52 million domestically on an $8 million budget. It was hailed as one of the top 10 films of 1986 by the National Board of Review and nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars. The film continues to attract tourists from around the word to Brownsville, Oregon, where much it was filmed. The town has an annual Stand by Me Day on the fourth Saturday in July. Stephen King also remembers the film fondly, listing it as his favorite adaptation of his work, along with The Shawshank Redemption.Aaron talks about watching the movie years ago and then watching it again, while Josh talks about watching Stand by Me for the first time. They go into the plot, performances, and the scant few differences between the movie and the novella, which they both read in preparation. They also discuss Rob Reiner’s filmography and other Stephen King adaptations. For another classic movie from 1986, you can listen to last month’s podcast on Aliens.Stand by Me is streaming on HBO Max

Welcome to Blerd Watchers! ThePopBreak.com's monthly podcast about TV shows with a Blerdy twist! Come hang out with Courtney & Marshall, two married Blerds, as they navigate all the dopeness on TV and share insights and opinions on the monthly show topics!In this episode, your dynamic duo kick things off with Entertainment News and Rumours, before jumping into Snap Trailer Reactions including a special Reacher Report on BOTH Reacher show trailers, among other bangers!After that, they head to Kansas City Missouri (maybe?) to catch up on Ted Lasso Season 4! Dragons then take flight, as they break down the back half of House of the Dragon (Note: This episode was recorded prior to this week’s season finale).Then, they put on their movie critic hats and give in-depth thoughts and impressions on Avatar: The Legend of Aang, The Odyssey (including Marshall's Top 5 Nolan Films) and Spiderman: Brand New Day!

Welcome to TV Break, where Pop Break’s Director of Podcasting Alex Marcus is joined by editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television.Here’s the format of the show:The Best Thing I Saw on TV Last Month  – Alex, Bill, & Josh talk about a show/episode/event they liked from the last month including Prime Video’s Batman: Caped Crusader, HBO Max’s House of the Dragon, and Disney Plus’s X-Men ‘97. ANIME AUGUST ROUNDUP – This month, your trio of TV triumphantalists take a break from TV news and new series to run through some of their favorite anime series, including Hulu/DisneyPlus’s Spy x Family, Crunchyroll’s Buddy Daddies, and Netflix’s Rurouni Kenshin remake.

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.EMERGENCY EPISODE!We’ve got a special bonus episode this month on Batman by the Numbers, as Pop Break’s Director of Podcasting Alex Marcus made the trip to San Diego Comic-Con this year, where he was able to attend the DC Comics Panel.  It was a star-studded lineup that included Scott Snyder, Matt Fraction, and many others!Alex breaks down all the big Batman comics coming our way, including a special crossover event with Absolute Batman, a comic just recently covered by Kris and Alex on the podcast.  Alex also breaks down a couple other notable comics coming our way, including Batman: Bad Seed, a storyline that takes place over the course of one day.Aside from the comics talk, Alex gives us the vibes, sights, and sounds of San Diego Comic-Con with regards to DC, including all the buzz surrounding Lanterns, in which the crew close out the episode with their thoughts on the new trailer.If you’ve been keeping up with Batman comics, or thinking about maybe, possibly, could be interested in getting back into comics (like Dan!), this episode is a GREAT listen!  Your interest will be piqued!

Hello and welcome to Bill vs the MCU! Each month your hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Pop Break Podcasting Director Alex Marcus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pop Break Editor in Chief Bill Bodkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are taking another step into the wider Marvel Multiverse as the MCU dives deeper into their Multiverse Saga.Bill & Alex spent all of 2022 rewatching the first four phases of the MCU, and, in the years since, they have covered the first four seasons of Agents of SHIELD, the entire Netflix Defenders Saga, Fox’s X-Men,  Fantastic Four, and Daredevil films, the Blade trilogy, a few Punisher films, Ang Lee’s Hulk, Marvel’s Modern Animation line up of shows, and, most recently, Sony’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man related films.This month, Alex & Bill bring their seven month journey through the web crawling world of Peter Parker and his amazing friends to a close with their instant reaction to Phase 6’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day. To kick things off, your hosts give you some on location audio as they provide final pre-screening predictions for the film in the back of a classic New Jersey Diner. Then immediately after the screening, Alex & Bill ran back to their car in an extremely overcrowded parking lot to give you their instant reaction to all the highs and lows of this astonishing installment of Peter Parker’s journey as he steps into adulthood to contend with past choices and new, unseen threats!Come back at the end of August for the start of their next season of Bill vs. The MCU entitled Agents of SHIELD Doomsday, as your favorite Marvel podcasters breakdown the world ending arcs of Agents of SHIELD’s final seasons while they get ready for Avengers: Doomsday this fall. First up is Agents of SHIELD Season 5 Episodes 1-10, also known as the World Destroyed arc, available to stream on Disney Plus!

This is Podelay, a podcast dedicated to alternative rock pioneer Beck Hansen! After completing their Pod of Doom series, Randy Allain (Media/Lit) and Justin Mancini (TheCineMaverick.com) are back to take on a whole new genre. Our resident music podcasters are joined by Kris Ingersoll of Batman by the Numbers and the Media/Lit podcast, and this time, Randy steps into the host chair so that Justin can discover something new.In the ninth episode, Justin, Kris, and Randy dig into a less celebrated record in Beck’s discography that still has its strengths. They find Beck’s anthem to his upset stomach strangely relatable, wonder about the originally proposed Dave Eggers/Spike Jonze commentary track, and find reason to disagree with an otherwise reliable Beck biographer. And as always, they recommend other artists for your listening pleasure.In every episode, each host will spotlight the following:·        Where It’s At: a track they really like.·        It’s A Loser, Baby: a track they don’t.·        Sing It Again: a favorite lyric.·        Such A Beautiful Way: a favorite musical moment.Join them as they travel to a destination a little up the road from the conversations and the pods you know. Please join us for the show that poses one simple question: I’m a podcast, baby, so why don’t you stream me?Host Picks: Where It’s At (A Song We Think Is Underrated or Just Really Like)Justin – Think I’m in LoveKris – Strange ApparitionRandy – Nausea It’s a Loser, Baby (A Song We Don’t Like So Much)Justin – 1000BPMKris – The Horrible Fanfare/Landslide/ExoskeletonRandy – Motorcade (qualified) Sing It Again (A Favorite Lyric)Justin – Dark StarKris – Strange ApparitionRandy – New Round Such a Beautiful Way (A Favorite Musical Moment)Justin – Soldier JaneKris – Dark StarRandy – Cellphone’s Dead Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To:Justin – ClutchKris – James Taylor, 311, Led Zeppelin, Blink-182, StyxRandy – Wilco

In this special episode of Bill vs. The MCU, Alex and Bill give their reactions to all the news related to the MCU that broke out of this year’s San Diego Comic Con, including reactions to new footage from Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man: Brand New Day and casting news related to Black Panther 3. Plus, Alex provides a detailed account of everything he experienced over the two days he spent outside on line and inside Hall H. Wristband melodrama, line cutters, sleeping overnight on sidewalks, concessions fist fights, and Herbie the robots’ surprise appearances are all discussed, as is a detailed run through of the entire panel, blow by blow.Come back later this week for Bill and Alex’s instant reactions to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, in theaters this Friday, as they put a cap on their six month tour through the highs and lows of Spider-Man’s filmography!

Welcome to Blerd Watchers! ThePopBreak.com's monthly podcast about TV shows with a Blerdy twist! Come hang out with Courtney & Marshall, two married Blerds, as they navigate all the dopeness on TV and share insights and opinions on the monthly show topics!Marshall and Courtney start, as usual, with Entertainment News and Rumours, including their new sub segment, The Reacher Report! This touches on all the news regarding Amazon's Reacher Universe! After that, they get caught up on new trailers for shows and movies they are interested in, including The Avatar movie coming to Paramount + and a new Pedro Pascal thriller coming to theaters! From there they get into the shows they are currently watching, including House of the Dragon on HBO Max (Beware of Book Spoilers!) and The Vampire Lestat on AMC+! Finally, they review Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, and answer the question of "Was it Good?" before switching gears and covering Season 2 of Bloodhounds, also on Netflix. This month's pod ends with their thoughts on the stellar season 4 of The Legend of Vox Machina on Amazon Prime!

Welcome to “Not Couple Goals” where co-hosts Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy do a deep dive into a different ridiculous romantic thriller from the vantage point of their long-term relationship.Allie, a TV writer/producer and actress, has an affinity for romantic thrillers, the more salacious the better. Tyler, an entertainment reporter and critic, often finds himself drawn in despite his better judgment. Join them as they explore all the ways it’s possible to love too hard… like WAY too hard.After last week’s incredibly heavy episode, Allie and Tyler are keeping it light with the heist-oriented film The Thomas Crown Affair. Join them as they talk about all the subtle ways Pierce Brosnan had to pretend this character wasn’t similar to James Bond and discuss the weird amount of times Allie watched this with her family. Did Crown make the right call to become a fugitive? Listen and find outSpecial thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music.Please don’t forget to follow our hosts on Twitter @ANelRetentive & @TylerMcCarthy and Instagram @ANelRetentive and to check out Tyler’s writing at USA Insider and Allie’s at Parade and Business Insider!

In this special bonus episode of Bill vs. The MCU, Alex and Bill give their instant reactions to the Avengers: Doomsday trailer while wildly speculating about what Alex might see at Marvel's Hall H panel later this week at San Diego Comic Con 2026!

There’s never a dull moment in the world of anime and Pop Break is diving right into the action! Join anime enthusiasts Amanda Rivas and Josh Sarnecky as they geek out monthly with dedicated experts and special guests on exciting anime news, trending anime in TV and/or movies, and anime recommendations spanning different genres that everyone should be watching. If you are a lifelong anime lover or taking the initial leap into the genre that has something for everyone, this is the podcast for you!This month, Josh and Amanda are pleased to dive deep into the world of anime and voice acting with none other than Zeno Robinson, a prolific voiceover artist known for his roles in popular series like My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer. In their chat with Zeno, they explore his journey as a voice actor, the impact of anime on his career, and his latest projects, including the award-winning series The Comic Shop.Zeno Robinson has become a recognizable name in the anime industry, captivating audiences with his performances. His journey began with a passion for storytelling and a desire to connect with viewers on an emotional level. In their discussion, Zeno reflects on how pivotal moments in anime inspired him to pursue voice acting, including his emotional connection to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.Zeno also shares behind-the-scenes insights into the creation of The Comic Shop. He talks about the initial proof of concept, the creative team involved, and how they navigated the challenges of production. Looking ahead, he hints at exciting developments for The Comic Shop, including ways to keep the momentum going while fans await the second season.

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.On this month’s podcast, we dive back into the DCU and the second live action film in James Gunn’s universe – Supergirl.  It’s no secret this movie has been a massive disappointment from a box office perspective.  That is certainly a topic of discussion in this podcast, but more importantly…how did we like the movie?   Alex Marcus, Podcasting Director of the Pop Break, returns once again as the Bat Crew review this movie in detail, spoilers and all!  And we’ll just tell you right now, it’s two against one!  Did two people like it, and one disliked it, or was it the other way around?  And who was on which side!We review this movie in depth: the performances.  The villain.  The story.  The filmmaking.  Where did it go wrong?  Where it went right.  What does this mean for the DCU going forward?  And what will its impact be on the superhero genre (you knew we had to dive into the superhero movie discussion!).We recorded this podcast the weekend Supergirl came out, and while it’s certainly losing relevance by the day, we hope you'll enjoy this spirited discussion about the film!

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and ⁠Mostly Nitpicking⁠’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.Michelle, DJ with special guest Allie Nelson return to talk about the Love Island USA Season 8 Finale. They discuss what they thought of this season and the outcome of who won. They give their critiques of what went well and what could be improved for future season, and look ahead to what can be expected during next month's reunion.

Aaron and Josh Sarnecky are here to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Aliens.Aliens is a sci-fi action film directed by James Cameron. It is the sequel to 1979’s Alien. Cameron developed the story with David Giler and Walter Hill and wrote the screenplay. It opened in theaters on July 18, 1986.In the film, a salvage crew finds Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in stasis 57 years after events of the first movie. Though the higher-ups at the Weyland-Yutani Corporation initially dismiss her story about the deadly xenomorph, one of the representatives, Carter Burke (Paul Reiser), asks Ripley to help rescue colonists on the moon where she first encountered the alien.Joining them is a group of space marines. Notable marines include Corporal Hicks (Michael Biehn), Private Hudson (Bill Paxton) and Private Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein). Also part of the crew is an android, Bishop (Lance Henriksen). The only survivor they find is a girl called Newt (Carrie Henn). Xenomorphs have overrun the colony.Aliens opened to positive reviews, though it was too intense for some critics’ liking. It is now considered a classic, just as good as the original, if not better. It was the seventh highest-grossing film at the U.S. box office and made approximately $183 million worldwide. Aliens was nominated at the Oscars for Best Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score and Best Sound. The film won Best Visual Effects (like the first film) and Best Sound Effects Editing. Weaver’s nomination broke the mold for science fiction roles, often passed up for recognition. Aaron had seen Aliens before, but Josh had not. Aaron talks about his first time watching it before the Josh shares his opinion. They talk about the plot, characters, the effects, and parts they thought didn’t hold up. They also discuss its place in the Alien franchise and James Cameron’s filmography.You can also listen to Aaron and Josh’s podcast with Editor-in-Chief Bill Bodkin on James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Aliens is available to rent on Prime Video

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and ⁠Mostly Nitpicking⁠’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.This week Michelle and DJ return to discuss the latest batch of Love Island USA episodes. With only a week left they discuss who they think the most compatible couples are and who actually has a shot at winning. They wrap up with an update on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and who their favorite queens are now that we're in the semi-finals.

Welcome to TV Break, where Pop Break’s Director of Podcasting Alex Marcus is joined by editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television.Here’s the format of the show:The Best Thing I Saw on TV Last Month  – Alex, Bill, & Josh talk about a show/episode/event they liked from the last month including Prime Video’s Spider-Noir, HBO Max’s House of the Dragon and My Adventures with Superman, AppleTV’s Widow’s Bay and Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, and Disney Plus’s The Bear, Not Suitable For Work, and X-Men ‘97. Newsbreak – This month, they are discussing the news that Comcast plans to spinoff NBCUniversal into a stand alone media corporation, potentially as a first step in a larger media merger.Streaming Wars – Alex, Bill, & Josh each selected their top streamer of the month. Josh opted for Peacock on the strength of Love Island, as well as their being the exclusive streaming home of Super Mario Galaxy and Spanish Language World Cup coverage. Alex went all in on Tubi after it’s parent company Fox purchased the to digital TV distributor and a key Tubi rival in the FAST market, Roku. Meanwhile, Bill handed it to Disney Plus after the historically high NBA Finals ratings, new season drops from The Bear and X-Men ‘97, and becoming the exclusive home of Hoppers and Avatar: Fire & Ash!New Series Spotlight  – This month Alex, Bill, and Josh discuss HBO’s Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, a new series from Barack and Michelle Obama and Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Larry David that attempts to answer the question, would the 90 historical kids cartoon Hysteria be better if it starred Larry David. 

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and ⁠Mostly Nitpicking⁠’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.This week DJ and Allie return to talk about the latest week of Love Island USA. They discuss all of the drama with movie night and what it means for some couples going forward. They discuss how the men could do a better job of learning to take some L's. Finally, they discuss whether or not it is fair to make people sit on a cake."

Hello and welcome to Bill vs the MCU! Each month your hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Pop Break Podcasting Director Alex Marcus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pop Break Editor in Chief Bill Bodkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are taking another step into the wider Marvel Multiverse as the MCU dives deeper into their Multiverse Saga.Bill & Alex spent all of 2022 rewatching the first four phases of the MCU, and, in the years since, they have covered the first four seasons of Agents of SHIELD, the entire Netflix Defenders Saga, Fox’s X-Men,  Fantastic Four, and Daredevil films, the Blade trilogy, a few Punisher films, Ang Lee’s Hulk, and, most recently, Marvel’s Modern Animation line up of shows.This month, Alex & Bill kick things off with a quick check in on Spider-Noir, the new Spider-Man live action MGM+ and Amazon Prime Video series starring Nicolas Cage as Ben “The Spider” Reilly. Then, they finally make it back to the MCU after nearly a year away, as they give their thoughts on the latest entries into Marvel’s Phase 6: Wonder Man, Daredevil: Born Again S2, and The Punisher: One Last Kill.Come back next month for their grand finale of this season of Bill vs. The MCU as the Marvel returns to the big screen with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, in theaters everywhere July 31st, 2026!

This year, The Pop Break is excited to bring you some very special programming during those extra long months when your favorite Pop Break podcasters are taking a rest. Pop Break staffer and host of the Media/Lit Podcast Randy Allain is your master of ceremonies as we take some creative journeys down the corridors of popular culture. This month, we gather to celebrate a jam-packed summer movie slate with a couple of cinephile podcasting duos. So far, horror has reigned supreme at the box office, so Hannah Ayars and Matt Hanna of Horror Hour With the Hannas are here to help us unlock the blood, gore, and chilling existential mystery of the summer. It’s also a big summer for Hollywood’s top power couple, so we had to invite the hosts of It’s Tom-plicated: A Tom Holland Podcast: Pop Break Podcast director Alex Marcus, and Manish Mathur!Join us as we decide what was hot, what was not, and what we anticipate from the rest of the cinematic summer.

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.In honor of the new DC Universe’s upcoming second movie, Supergirl, we are honoring all the great DC female superheroes, and what better way to do that than with a draft!Joining Kris and Daniel this month, we have several Draft and Batman by the Numbers Alumni!  Once again, Alex Marcus, Podcasting Director of the Pop Break, is back again, as are both hosts of the Anime x Pop Podcast, Josh Sarnecky (also co-host of the Anniversary Brothers Podcast), and Amanda Rivas (also co-host of the Socially Distanced Podcast).Also making their return, it’s Perry Constantine of the Superhero Cinephiles Podcast, and Derrick McDuff (of the Underrated and Midnight Film Society Podcasts), who last joined us last year for our Definitive Superman Draft!Per usual, the categories for this draft will span multiple media, and all will be discussed at the beginning of the podcast!  If you’re a fan of these great DC Female Superhero (and Villian) characters, this draft is simply a must listen!

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and ⁠Mostly Nitpicking⁠’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.Your favorite pod trio returns as Allie Nelson from Not Couple Goals joins Michelle and DJ to discuss the latest week of Love Island USA episodes. They discuss Sol and Gabe's unfair exit and what it reveals about the current islanders. They then deep-dive into Casa Amor and how this season differs from recent ones in how the show has shaken up the couples.

This is Podelay, a podcast dedicated to alternative rock pioneer Beck Hansen! After completing their Pod of Doom series, Randy Allain (Media/Lit) and Justin Mancini (TheCineMaverick.com) are back to take on a whole new genre. Our resident music podcasters are joined by Kris Ingersoll of Batman by the Numbers and the Media/Lit podcast, and this time, Randy steps into the host chair so that Justin can discover something new.In the eighth episode, Justin, Kris, and Randy are joined by Doug Lief of Nostalgia Arcanum and Playing by Ear as they get back to Beck’s wide-ranging, eclectic rhythms. They offer thoughts on the religious connotations of scarecrows, stadium anthems that may (or may not) wear out their welcome, and the versatile voicework of one Christina Ricci. And as always, they recommend other artists for your listening pleasure.In every episode, each host will spotlight the following:·        Where It’s At: a track they really like.·        It’s A Loser, Baby: a track they don’t.·        Sing It Again: a favorite lyric.·        Such A Beautiful Way: a favorite musical moment.Join them as they travel to a destination a little up the road from the conversations and the pods you know. Please join us for the show that poses one simple question: I’m a podcast, baby, so why don’t you stream me?Host Picks: Where It’s At (A Song We Think Is Underrated or Just Really Like)Doug – Rental CarJustin – MissingKris – Qué Onda GueroRandy – Go It Alone It’s a Loser, Baby (A Song We Don’t Like So Much)Doug – Broken DrumJustin – E-Pro (qualified)Kris – Missing (qualified)Randy – Rental Car (qualified) Sing It Again (A Favorite Lyric)Doug – E-ProJustin – ScarecrowKris – Emergency ExitRandy – Hell Yes Such a Beautiful Way (A Favorite Musical Moment)Doug – Earthquake WeatherJustin – Earthquake WeatherKris – Earthquake WeatherRandy – Black Tambourine Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To:Doug – The Who, Led Zeppelin, The War on Drugs, The National, ShearwaterJustin – Jonny GreenwoodKris – Jimmy Eat WorldRandy – Harry Styles

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and ⁠Mostly Nitpicking⁠’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.This week Michelle and DJ discuss the second week of Love Island USA. They cover all of the re-couplings and which couplings they think will stick. They wrap up with catching everyone up with Ru Paul's Drag Race All Stars.

There’s never a dull moment in the world of anime and Pop Break is diving right into the action! Join anime enthusiasts Amanda Rivas and Josh Sarnecky as they geek out monthly with dedicated experts and special guests on exciting anime news, trending anime in TV and/or movies, and anime recommendations spanning different genres that everyone should be watching. If you are a lifelong anime lover or taking the initial leap into the genre that has something for everyone, this is the podcast for you!Join us as we bring the band back together to chow down on pizza and strawberry sundaes while doing karaoke! Blerd Watchers’ Marshall and Courtney Stevenson and DJ Chapman of Roses and Rejections and Mostly Nitpicking make a triumphant return to talk about the second season of Netflix’s Devil May Cry. Our enthusiasts take a stroll through the anime content minds to discuss favorite series they’ve been watching recently, including Josh’s recommendation of Marriage Toxin, Amanda’s recommendation of Agents of the Four Seasons, DJ’s recommendation of Ace of Diamonds - Season 2, Marshall’s recommendations of Daemons of the Shadow Realm and Claymore, and Courtney’s recommendation of Witch Hat Atelier. All recommendations are found on Crunchyroll except for Claymore, which is on Amazon Prime. For our Anime Pregame, they share their thoughts on what video games they would like to see adapted into a future anime or animated series as an homage to this month’s topic.  In their feature review section, our enthusiasts discuss Vergil’s anime introduction, Dante’s story arc this season, new characters and villains, the soundtrack, and so much more. 

Josh and Aaron Sarnecky are here to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Superman Returns.Superman Returns is a superhero film directed by Bryan Singer, who co-wrote the movie with Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris. It is based on the DC Comics character Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film acts as both an alternate sequel to Superman II and a reimagining for the 21st century. The film opened in theaters on June 28, 2006.In the film, Superman/Clark Kent (Brandon Routh) returns to Earth after five years in space looking for the remains of Krypton. He must stop Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) from reshaping the map with stolen Kryptonian technology. Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) now has a husband and son, Richard (James Marsden) and Jason (Tristan Lake Leabu). She has moved on from Superman until he flies back into her life.Other characters include Daily Planet Editor-in-Chief Perry White (Frank Langella), photographer Jimmy Olsen (Sam Huntington), Luthor’s henchwoman Kitty Kowalski (Parker Posey), and Clark’s mother Martha Kent (Eva Marie Saint).Superman Returns received generally positive reviews, though over the years it has been less well-received by fans. The desire to forget the film is due in part to Singer and Spacey’s legal issues. The film was nominated for one Oscar for Best Visual Effects.Superman Returns was the ninth-highest grossing film of 2006 but a commercial disappointment, grossing $391 million on a $204 million budget. No sequel was made and the franchise was rebooted with Man of Steel. Brandon Routh donned the cape again on The CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths.Josh and Aaron discuss the first time each of them saw Superman Returns before going into the movie’s plot, performances, action, and how the movie ties into previous installments. They also ponder the tricky question of what the movie’s legacy is.For more superheroes, you can listen to Josh and Aaron’s podcast with Kris Ingersoll on Captain America: Civil War.Superman Returns is streaming on HBO Max

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and Mostly Nitpicking’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.This week we’re cracking open the first seven episodes of Love Island USA Season 8 with guest host Allie Nelson from Not Couple Goals — and trust us, the villa is already a beautiful disaster. We roast the Islanders, salute the bombshells who showed up ready to ruin someone’s week, and marvel at the sheer volume of questionable choices being made under the guise of “connection.” If you like romance, chaos, and people confidently making the wrong decision, this episode is your new home.

Welcome to Blerd Watchers! ThePopBreak.com's monthly podcast about TV shows with a Blerdy twist! Come hang out with Courtney & Marshall, two married Blerds, as they navigate all the dopeness on TV and share insights and opinions on the monthly show topics!Fresh off the celebrations of Courtney's birthday, she and Marshall return with plenty of news and rumours to discuss! From Alan Ritchman expanding his footprint at Amazon, to the return of a hidden gem anime, the duo cover all the news you need to know this month!  From there, its snap trailer reaction time, as they cover the run-down of trailers that have been released since they last recorded. These include, X-men: '97, Avatar the Last Airbender, Lanterns and more! Turning the page on those, the couple then gets into wrapping up the Boys for the final time, reviewing s5 and giving their lasting thoughts on a great show and THAT finale! They then review Punisher: One Last Kill-a Disney+ one shot that lets us know what Frank Castle has been up to, before telling you why you NEED to be watching Man on Fire on Netflix! Finally, a blast from the past returns in the form of Bloodhounds on Netflix, the first season of which Courtney and Marshall finally finished. 

Welcome to “Not Couple Goals” where co-hosts Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy do a deep dive into a different ridiculous romantic thriller from the vantage point of their long-term relationship.Allie, a TV writer/producer and actress, has an affinity for romantic thrillers, the more salacious the better. Tyler, an entertainment reporter and critic, often finds himself drawn in despite his better judgment. Join them as they explore all the ways it’s possible to love too hard… like WAY too hard.It’s a terrifying new release as Allie and Tyler break down the 2025 movie “Obsession” at the height of its theatrical dominance. Join them as they discuss writer/director Curry Barker’s masterpiece and cover everything from Inde Navarrette’s shockingly impeccable and horrifying performance, Barker’s not-so-humble YouTube beginnings and (for some reason) shout out their favorite pasta place in NYC. Is “Obsession” worth the obsession? Listen and find out. Special thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music.Please don’t forget to follow our hosts on Twitter @ANelRetentive & @TylerMcCarthy and Instagram @ANelRetentive and to check out Tyler’s writing at USA Insider and Allie’s at Parade and Business Insider!

Welcome to TV Break, where Pop Break’s Podcasts Editor Alex Marcus is joined by editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television.Here’s the format of the show:The Best Thing I Saw on TV Last Month  – Alex, Bill, & Josh talk about a show/episode/event they liked from the last month including Prime Video’s Spider-Noir, HBO’s Rooster, HBO Max’s Hacks, AppleTV’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles and Disney Plus’s Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord. Newsbreak – This month, they are discussing the news that Netflix and CBS/Paramount Plus dominated the Nielsen ratings for the 2025-2026 TV year.Streaming Wars – Alex, Bill, & Josh each selected their top streamer of the month. Josh opted for YouTube after a few YouTube grads who used the platform to build a cult following recently springboarded those humble beginnings into massive box office returns with a pair of hit horror films in Obsession and Backrooms. Alex went all in on AppleTV on the strength of their recent programming slate, their big Peanuts summer, and the recent news of a new spy thriller starring James Marsden on the horizon. Meanwhile, Bill stood up for Prime Video after they earned praise for the final season of the Boys, their new hockey romance Off Campus, Spider-Noir, and lots and lots of sports!New Series Spotlight  – This month Alex, Bill, and Josh discuss Apple TV’s Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed created by David J Rosen and starring Tatiana Maslany as a recently divorced mom and professional fact checker who, while in a custody battle with her ex-husband, played by New Girl’s Jake Johnson, she finds herself blackmailed by a camboy, which is only the start of her troubles.

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.If you're a Batman aficionado or a curious newcomer, you're likely asking: What makes the latest "Absolute Batman" series so compelling? How does this reimagined universe differ from the classic Gotham stories we know, and why does it matter now? In this episode, Dan had to take some time this month for his wedding and honeymoon, so Pop Break Director of Podcasting Alex Marcus has returned to his old cohost chair, and he and Kris welcome the fantastic Justin DeVoe aka @reallifelobo for an in depth discussion of Absolute Batman Vol 1: The Zoo. Together, they uncover the innovative storytelling, character redesigns, and the fresh take on familiar characters — all crafted with love for the mythos and a desire to push boundaries. From the towering, terrifying new Batman to the gritty, real-world Gotham, this series offers a bold twist on a beloved universe. They explore how the creative team balances fresh storytelling with respect for tradition, reimagining heroes and villains alike. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the world of comics, this is the future of Batman that deserves your attention, so let Kris, Alex, and Justin be your guide!

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and Mostly Nitpicking’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.This week Michelle and DJ cover Ru Paul's Drag Race All Stars 11 Episode 4. They talk about the start of the Pink bracket, which Queens they like and who they think will move forward. They wrap up the pod getting ready for Love Island USA Season 8!

Hello and welcome to Bill vs the MCU! Each month your hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Pop Break Podcasting Director Alex Marcus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pop Break Editor in Chief Bill Bodkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are taking another step into the wider Marvel Multiverse as the MCU dives deeper into their Multiverse Saga.Bill & Alex spent all of 2022 rewatching the first four phases of the MCU, and, in the years since, they have covered the first four seasons of Agents of SHIELD, the entire Netflix Defenders Saga, Fox’s X-Men,  Fantastic Four, and Daredevil films, the Blade trilogy, a few Punisher films, Ang Lee’s Hulk, and, most recently, Marvel’s Modern Animation line up of shows.This month, Alex & Bill are wrapping up the Sony Pictures rewatch portion of their season with a deep dive into SPUMC! That’s right they are reviewing Morbius (2022), Madame Web (2024), and Kraven the Hunter (2024) - aka the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters or SPUMC for short!Come back next month for their biannual check in on the MCU with reviews of Wonder Man Season 1, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, and The Punisher: One Last Kill, all available to stream on Disney Plus!

This is Podelay, a podcast dedicated to alternative rock pioneer Beck Hansen! After completing their Pod of Doom series, Randy Allain (Media/Lit) and Justin Mancini (TheCineMaverick.com) are back to take on a whole new genre. Our resident music podcasters are joined by Kris Ingersoll of Batman by the Numbers and the Media/Lit podcast, and this time, Randy steps into the host chair so that Justin can discover something new.In the seventh episode, Justin, Kris, and Randy explore a far more somber outing with the fittingly named Sea Change. They cover the poetry of Elizabeth Bishop, the oscillations in the stages of grief, and what it means to drive all night…even when it’s day. And as always, they recommend other artists for your listening pleasure.In every episode, each host will spotlight the following:·        Where It’s At: a track they really like.·        It’s A Loser, Baby: a track they don’t.·        Sing It Again: a favorite lyric.·        Such A Beautiful Way: a favorite musical moment.Join them as they travel to a destination a little up the road from the conversations and the pods you know. Please join us for the show that poses one simple question: I’m a podcast, baby, so why don’t you stream me?Host Picks: Where It’s At (A Song We Think Is Underrated or Just Really Like)Justin – Round the BendKris – The Golden AgeRandy – Lonesome Tears It’s a Loser, Baby (A Song We Don’t Like So Much)Justin – Sunday Sun (qualified)Kris – Side of the Road (qualified)Randy – Already Dead (qualified) Sing It Again (A Favorite Lyric)Justin – Lonesome TearsKris – The Golden AgeRandy – Round the Bend Such a Beautiful Way (A Favorite Musical Moment)Justin – Already DeadKris – Paper TigerRandy – Guess I’m Doing Fine Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To:Justin – YesKris – Punk Rock FactoryRandy – Jocie Adams

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and Mostly Nitpicking’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.This week Michelle and DJ discuss Ru Paul's Drag Race All Stars 11 Episode 3. They discuss their thoughts on the Orange bracket now that we know who the top 2 Queens are and if the right decision was made. They also briefly dish on the news that Kwame and Chelsea from Love Is Blind Season 4 have broken up.

Josh and Aaron Sarnecky are here to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Captain America: Civil War. Joining them is special guest Kris Ingersoll, co-host of Batman By The Numbers.Captain America: Civil War is a superhero movie directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. It is the sequel to Captain America: The Winter Soldier and a loose adaptation of the Marvel Comics event series “Civil War” by Mark Millar. It opened in theaters on May 6, 2016. In the film, Captain America (Chris Evans) must clear the Winter Soldier’s (Sebastian Stan) name after a bombing at a United Nations summit. Complicating matters is the UN’s Sokovia Accords, restricting the actions of the Avengers. The Accords cause a schism in the team, with those for led by Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and those against led by Captain America. Pulling each’s strings is the mysterious Zemo (Daniel Brühl).Other heroes include Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Black Window (Scarlett Johansson), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Vision (Paul Bettany), War Machine (Don Cheadle), and Spider-Man (Tom Holland). Additional characters include Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt), CIA agents Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), and Aunt May (Marisa Tomei).Captain America: Civil War was the highest-grossing film of 2016, making over $1.1 billion on a $250 million budget and received mostly positive reviews.Aaron, Josh, and Kris talk about their relationships with the movie before going into its plot, characters, and action. They also discuss the legacy of the film.For more Captain America, you can listen to Aaron and Josh’s podcasts on Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.Captain America: Civil War is streaming on Disney+

There’s never a dull moment in the world of anime and Pop Break is diving right into the action! Join anime enthusiasts Amanda Rivas and Josh Sarnecky as they geek out monthly with dedicated experts and special guests on exciting anime news, trending anime in TV and/or movies, and anime recommendations spanning different genres that everyone should be watching. If you are a lifelong anime lover or taking the initial leap into the genre that has something for everyone, this is the podcast for you!In this episode, Josh and Amanda celebrate Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with a high-energy Pokémon draft packed with nostalgia, strategy, and plenty of passionate debate. Joined by a panel of fellow Pop Break favorites, they build their dream teams across categories like cute, powerful, legendary, psychic, ghost, and wild card picks. From Mewtwo and Cubone to Nidoking, Wheezing, and beyond, each selection sparks memories, arguments, fun facts, and unexpected emotional connections. The draft balances competitive team-building with pure Pokémon love, as the panel weighs type synergy, personal favorites, childhood icons, and undeniable vibes. As the final teams come together, everyone makes their case for why their lineup deserves to win.

Welcome to Blerd Watchers! ThePopBreak.com's monthly podcast about TV shows with a Blerdy twist! Come hang out with Courtney & Marshall, two married Blerds, as they navigate all the dopeness on TV and share insights and opinions on the monthly show topics!Marshall and Courtney are back for May 2026. wishing a Happy Mothers Day to all the amazing Mothers and Mother Figures out there! They start with Entertainment News, highlighting a few live action films that have been announced to be in the works as well as announcements for upcoming movies like I Am Legend 2 and possibly Marvel's Midnight Suns! Then, they get into this month's Snap Trailer Reactions, including what could be a redemption season for Devil May Cry on Netflix, Practical Magic 2 coming to theaters, the final season of Legend of Voxx Machina on Prime Video, a *very* sneak peak at Kagurabachi from CrunchyRoll, the Season 3 trailer of House of the Dragon, and finally, an emotional Trailer for Season 4 of Ted Lasso!The couple then chill out a bit while discussing their Anime recommendations for comfort Anime, if we all end up stuck inside during another Panini, before finishing up with thoughts on the current season of The Boys on Amazon Prime as well as season reviews of Daredevil: Born Again on Netflix and Invincible on Prime. This is an episode of peak that you won't want to miss!

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and Mostly Nitpicking’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.Michelle and DJ are back to discuss the premiere of Ru Paul's Drag Race All Stars 11. Before that, they give a quick update on some Bachelorette news. Then, they discuss the updated bracket format and what they think from the first 6 Queens showcased. They give their predictions for who they think will come out of the orange bracket and what Queens they are looking forward to in the upcoming weeks.

Welcome to TV Break, where Pop Break’s Podcasts Editor Alex Marcus is joined by editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television.This month Alex is continuing his work to get Suits: LA back on the air, so this month Josh & Bill are flying solo.Here’s the format of the show:The Best Thing I Saw on TV Last Month  – Bill, & Josh talk about a show/episode/event they liked from the last month including: Netflix’s Frieren Season 2 and This is a Gardening Show, Demons of the Shadow Realm on Crunchyroll, and  Disney Plus' Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and Maul: Shadow Lord.Newsbreak – This month, they are discussing the news of Netflix adding “clips” feed on vertical video on their mobile app. This feed will feature YouTube Shorts/TikTok-esque clips from current shows and movies as well as past favorites. Disney+ has done something similar called “Verts.” Bill and Josh discuss this and if it’ll work … and if they’re too old to be the target audience.Streaming Wars – Bill, & Josh each selected their top streamer of the month. Josh honorably mentions HBO MAX due to the buzz around Euphoria Season 3, The Pitt and its finale, but ultimately picks AppleTV. This is due to the new series Widows Bay which has received high reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. There’s also Shrinking Season 3, the return of F1 Racing, For All Mankind and Ted Lasso, the success of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and the new season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Meanwhile Bill gives it to Disney+/Hulu/ESPN due to May being a huge month for Star Wars, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and Zootopia 2 as well its sports presentation of the NFL Draft, the NBA Playoffs, Savanna Bananas, and their first broadcast Wrestlemania.New Series Spotlight  – This month Bill and Josh return to TV Break’s most watched streamer (that could be a lie) AppleTV for Widows Bay. The series was created, written and produced by Katie Dippold who wrote Ghostbusters (2016), The Heat, Spy, and Haunted Mansion … and is a fellow Rutgers University Journalism alumnus like Bill. The series stars Matthew Rhys (The Americans, Perry Mason) as the beleaguered mayor of a small New England island. He’s trying desperately to drum up summer tourism business via a NY Times article, but a mysterious fog and an apparent curse may derail his plans.

Welcome to “Not Couple Goals” where co-hosts Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy do a deep dive into a different ridiculous romantic thriller from the vantage point of their long-term relationship.Allie, a TV writer/producer and actress, has an affinity for romantic thrillers, the more salacious the better. Tyler, an entertainment reporter and critic, often finds himself drawn in despite his better judgment. Join them as they explore all the ways it’s possible to love too hard… like WAY too hard.In this episode, Allie and Tyler peel back the curtain behind cinema’s most poorly kepy secret society with “The Skulls.” Join them as they rage at this movie’s poorly executed plot, unnecessarily shaky camera work and its ability to get Creed’s “Higher” stuck in their heads. They also briefly get into this film’s two — yes, somehow TWO — direct-to-DVD sequels.Special thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music.Please don’t forget to follow our hosts on Twitter @ANelRetentive & @TylerMcCarthy and Instagram @ANelRetentive and to check out Tyler’s writing at USA Insider and Allie’s at Parade and Business Insider!

This year, The Pop Break is excited to bring you some very special programming during those extra long weeks when your favorite Pop Break podcasters are taking a rest. Pop Break staffer and host of the Media/Lit Podcast Randy Allain is your master of ceremonies as we take some creative journeys down the corridors of popular culture. This month, in anticipation of May the Fourth, we’ve gathered some Pop  Break all stars and friends to build multiversal super teams from across the Star Wars canon. Randy is joined by Pop Break superstars Bill Bodkin, Amanda Rivas, Ben Murchison, and Kris Ingersoll; also travelling to a galaxy far far away are Kris “PerCos” of the Conculture Podcast, Case Aiken of the Certain POV podcast network, and Kelvin Kately of the DFPN.Join us as we gather unique crews and forge new partnerships to tell epic stories across the Star Wars canon we know and love.

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.In our continuing yearlong theme for the Eras of Batman, we enter one of the most divisive eras of them all…THE SCHUMACHER ERAThe Batman franchise has seen many iterations, but few are as polarizing as the films helmed by director Joel Schumacher in the 1990s: Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. If you've ever wondered about the legacy of these films, or if you’ve found yourself laughing at their campy charm, you’re not alone. In this episode, we’ll delve into the Schumacher era of Batman, examining its initial reception, the nostalgic reassessment it has undergone, and why it remains a beloved topic among fans today. After that, they run down the top ten most iconic 90s costumes and gear from these two films!Joining Kris and Daniel to break it all down, we have both hosts of the Anniversary Brothers Podcast, Aaron and Josh Sarnecky!