PODCAST · arts
Unboxing Story
by Jon and Melissa
Jon and Melissa Matos compare popular fiction with cult classics, fan favorites, and ancient allusions. Join their weekly celebration of good storytelling, and the positive impact stories have on our everyday lives.
Episodes
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Nerdcore: Pulp & Parody
Nerds were not always cool, but after Weird Al won us over with pop parody hit after hit, a shift began. Who are our favorite nerdy musicians, and are they "nerdcore" or nah?
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The Invisible Stan ft. Knives Out & Devs
The last days of winter simmered with suspense. We met the new Invisible Man, witnessed Rian Johnson's whodunnit, Knives Out, and shadowed two unusual sci-fi suspects: Devs and Alter Carbon (season 3.) Join authors Jon and Melissa Matos as they recount what stories kept them on the edge of their...
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Picard, Parasite & Post-Con Pondering
We're back from a strange and exciting Evil Expo to talk multi-genre movies and TV. How does the Star Trek spin-off 'Picard' compare to the OG series or the new reboot? Also, does the Korean dark comedy 'Parasite' live up to the hype? What are you waiting for?? Find out!
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Starry-eyed Sagas (ft. Star Wars IX & Little Women, 2019)
The cognitive bias is strong with these two! Much ado preceded the new Star Wars and Little Women, but did they live up to the hype? A new decade begins with some old stories ending and new binges beginning. Start the new year with some thoughts on story!
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Disney Festivus ft. Frozen 2
Melissa and Jon take a quick break from binging the Mandolorian, Gargoyles and Tailspin to review Frozen 2. Is baby Yoda the best magic companion? Is Elsa skating around a personality disorder? Find out here first!
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Mentalist Ghostbusters ft. Doctor Sleep
Leave your proton pack at the AA meeting? Your soul sister will help you cope AND catch ghosts! Join Melissa and Jon, author siblings and spiritual speculators, as they review the Shining sequel.
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Siren Song: Ghostly Mysteries
Sirens aren't only the only allusions in cop dramas. Join authors Jon and Melissa Matos as they investigate mysteries with a flare for the supernatural.
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Spooky Disney: Maleficent 2 & Toy Story 4
Put on your Mickey ears and grab your pumpkin pail: it's time for a Disney/Halloween movie mash-up! Fresh off a Disney Cruise voyage, Melissa and Jon discuss three scary sequels: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Toy Story 4 and Zombieland 2.
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Best in Show: El Camino
On the heels of a Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul binge, El Camino drops on Netflix. Muscle cars and cat-and-mouse mischief? Sounds like a formula for fun.
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Putting the Puzzle Together ft. The Westing Game
Pieces of this talk include: a mystery novel that feels like a puzzle, a brief discussion of how good theology can help fantasy writing, and what we're excited about in sci-fi and fantasy coming soon. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @Unboxing Story!
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Hipsterstellar ft. Ad Astra & Downton Abbey: The Movie
We packed in the feature presentations for this freestyle episode. Relax and enjoy our chat on Downtown Abbey (2019), Ad Astra, and the noir throwback, Sunset Boulevard.
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Breaking Genre: Cats Don't Dance
Combine Zootopia and Sing! and you've got the 90s animated feature film Cats Don't Dance. Produced during the Disney Renaissance, Warner Bros wrote a love letter to old Hollywood while maintaining their brand of slapstick comedy. Join Melissa and Jonathan Matos as they discuss this forgotten gem...
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Siren Song: Once (2007)
Provincial wisdom says roses from a street corner vendor aren't anything special, but the charming romantic drama 'Once' is anything but provincial. Discover the story of Guy and Girl, a vacuum repairman and flower girl who dream of making music. Melissa and Jon Matos take a break from humming…
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Magic Muppets ft. Netflix's Dark Crystal
Practical magic is tough in the age of visual effects. The Jim Henson Company recreates the world of Thra and make it look easy. Join Jon and Melissa Matos as they heap praise on one of their favorite studios, stories, and special effects.
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Good Vibes ft. Another Life
File this one under "current affairs." Not only did Melissa get a sweetheart novelette published, but she got donors to raise some $ for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. To celebrate these double convictions, your Boy & Gal Fridays eschew a topic for a chat about a dark but thrilling novel,...
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Fantasy Flops ft. MTV's Shannara Chronicles
The race to replace 'Game of Thrones' is underway, but after that ending, is sword and sorcery dead? Nearly a year after MTV cancelled Shannara Chronicles, Melissa and Jon Matos ask why it failed. Can new writers recapture the magic of the 80's fantasy renaissance, or is nostalgia killing...
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Siren Song: Ice Queens ft. Huntsman: Winter's War
Fairytale retellings are here, and they're bad (but, like: Michael Jackson bad.) Huntsman: Winter's War builds on Universal Studio's expanded universe of evil queens by introducing Freya, a snow queen out to stifle all love. It's bad news for the two "Huntsmen" at the story's center, forcing…
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Breaking Genre: The Signal (2014)
If storming Area 51 sounds like a stupid idea now, in 2019, it'll seem bonkers after you see 'The Signal.' The film follows Nic, a track and field star who suffers a dire diagnosis, then gets abducted by aliens. Jon and Melissa Matos review this break in the "mystery box" formula, and highlight...
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Aah! Real Pathos ft. Good Grief
Good books make you feel things, but what if that's all they do? Melissa and Jon review a local author's book, Good Grief, and discuss how it achieves a high level of intimacy and honesty without becoming melodramatic. Can a novel survive without ninjas and 80's nostalgia, even if its protagonist...
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Disney...! Live Action? | Live @ Philly Podfest
The magic of Disney animation is part of our DNA, so when it changes, has Disney changed or have we? Melissa and Jon recorded this special, nostalgia-filled episode at the 7th Annual Philly Podfest, thanks to the sponsors below and the lovely people at Indy Hall. Relive VHS tapes and discuss...
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Umbrella Academy & Black Parade
When I was a young boy, My Chemical Romance were the heartthrobs of the emo era. Looking back, their creativity set them apart, as frontman Gerard Way crafted concept albums, music videos and comics. Jon and Melissa discuss the band's biggest hit and Gerard Way's Netflix-adapted series, Umbrella...
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Iron Throne IRL ft. Stranger Things 3
Melissa returns from the live-action mega-game "Dragon Thrones," (played at an actual castle in Bryn Mawr, PA,) to give us her first impressions. The "LARPing" talk continues as Jon talks about his reading of Stranger Things as a millennial and role-playing newbie. Join us for Pancakes &…
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Best in Show: Warehouse 13
Authors Jon and Melissa Matos spotlight a show SciFi.com described as "part X-Files, part [Indiana Jones,] part Moonlighting." Melissa loves this action comedy that balances thrills with believable romance and character growth. Listen as we gush about our favorite tributes to history, mythology,...
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Breaking Genre: "Story of Your Life" aka Arrival
Aliens. Time travel. Portals into another world. These are mainstays of science fiction, and can make or break an audience's viewing experience. Ted Chiang crafted a short story that quietly broke the mold, and would later inspire a cerebral blockbuster by director Denis Villeneuve and…
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Live @ Wizard World Philly! ft. Dark Phoenix Saga
As X-Men films gaze further and further into their fuzzy blue navels, the original comics remain cult classics. Does Jean Grey's original rise to power in the Dark Phoenix Saga surpass the recent film and comics, or is it a hot mess? Relive a legendary X-Men run with authors Jon and Melissa…
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Godzilla: King of the Kaiju
Mon-Stars were around long before Space Jam. Giant blobs and fifty foot women towered above the audience in glorious 35 millimeter monochrome, but in 1956, the king of the monsters was anointed. Godzilla was born, and now he's back, but do authors Jon and Melissa Matos care about the kaiju...
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INKLINGS MONTH: "On Fairy-Stories" Essay Talk
Jon and Melissa Matos discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's defense of fairytales. Decades before D&D and Game of Thrones, the fantasy genre was limited to children's books and ancient history. In the last episode of INKLINGS MONTH, join our discussion on modern mythology. What is your favorite fantasy story?...
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INKLINGS MONTH: C.S. Lewis ft. Matt Crotts
The classics captured Lewis and Matt Crotts much in the same way. Host Jon Matos met Matt, an illustrious illustrator, through his comic book, Kyrie: an Indiana Jones-style adventure set in the 3rd century. Hear the comic creator and history buff baffle Jon with his know-how of Lewis' medieval...
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INKLINGS MONTH: Surprised by Shadowlands (1993)
Lewis was a man of many words, but only one woman made him speechless. Learn the love story that tested Lewis' "refining fire & brimstone" theology. Melissa and Jon Matos react to another tragic romance, and review how actors Debra Winger and Anthony Hopkins, (with a little help from Richard...
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INKLINGS MONTH: Tolkien (2019)
How do you solve a problem like Tolkien? The young poet and artist grew up an isolated orphan, but longed to share his love of language with the world. Melissa and Jon Matos review Tolkien (2019), a biopic about love, fellowship and the fantasy that makes reality more meaningful.
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INKLINGS MONTH: J. R. R. Tolkien & Modern Fantasy
Seventy years ago, if you walked into the right bar in Oxford, England, you might have heard J.R.R. Tolkien reading an epic poem, about dwarves searching for lost gold, a love beset by evil times, or a great Ring of Power that conquers men's hearts. Maybe you'd scoff at it, and join the likes of...
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The End of an Era ft. Avengers: Endgame
The sun sets on a decade of dynamite entertainment, with the definition of blockbuster bliss. Melissa and Jon revisit the start of their superhero fandoms and review the latest chapter in the Marvel saga, Avengers: Endgame. Maybe you'll laugh, maybe you'll cry, or maybe you'll roll your eyes: but...
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Poetic Justice: Lawrence of Arabia
If brownface could kill, would it murder your movie-watching experience? Melissa and Jon stumble upon a problematic piece of history watching 'Lawrence of Arabia.' The overlong epic's 3 hour and 45 minute run-time led them to read Ray Bradbury's short story, "Sun and Shadow," and opened a broader...
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Native Son Book Talk #readthe5th
Does injustice end with one hand-out? Richard Wright questions "pay-it-forward" morality through his novel, 'Native Son,' where an awkward racial encounter turns deadly, virtually setting Chicago on fire. Jon and Melissa struggle through a story even more dense and depressing than their previous...
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The Twilight Zone & Small Screen Sci-Fi
"You are about to enter another dimension, not only of sight and sound, but of mind." So began the most iconic sci-fi anthology series in history: 156 episodes over 5 years, and everyone has a favorite. Melissa and Jon reflect on the show's history, as well as the recent reboot's pilot episode,...
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Jordan Peele's 'Us' & Woke Horror
"A new nightmare" from screenwriter, director, and comedy giant Jordan Peele invites uncomfortable laughter and thoughtful thrills. Jon and Melissa offer (non-spoiler) thoughts on the how Jordan's sophomore movie fits into the horror genre, and what they expected going into 'Us.' But beware, all…
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Mid-Knights in Paris ft. Knightfall
Chivalry lives on in Knightfall, a series set in the twilight of the Knights Templar. These warrior monks seek to find and protect the Holy Grail, as powerful individuals seek to use or abuse it. Melissa and Jon praise this high watermark in holy war historical dramas, for its set pieces,...
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Captain Marvel & Female Superheroes
Gender-bent homages and femme fatales have fallen. From the rubble, Marvel re-envisioned classic characters to better represent their readers. Captain Marvel is the latest adaptation, and the perfect Rosetta Stone to decipher what makes a female hero tick. Melissa and Jon review the film, discuss...
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Heels & Feels ft. Song of Achilles
The classics and modernity clash in 'Song of Achilles,' a critically-acclaimed crossover of Greek myth, romance and historical fiction. 'Achilles' Trojan-horsed an Illiad prequel on your friendly neighborhood hosts, who expected an updated retelling of an ancient epic. Jon and Melissa interpret…
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Robin Williams: Mad Genius ft. The Fisher King
Absurdist director Terry Gilliam met his match when Robin Williams walked on the set of 1991's 'The Fisher King.' Few actors embody the chaotic creativity Williams brought to this Arthurian comedy, as well as a dozen other farcical films. After a few drinks, Melissa and Jon recount the plot of...
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#OscarsSoWhack: Snobs, Snubs & Our Picks
Ceremonies matter to film fans young and old, but social media has made 2018's carnival of controversies its own sideshow. Jon and Melissa eschew hot takes for a conversation on how style and substance clash. The most controversial show since 2018 will pit politically-charged biographies and...
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Jewish G.I. Joes ft. Philip Roth's "Defender of the Faith"
M*A*S*H meets Sedaris in this slice-of-life short story about being Jewish in World War II. Can you be an American soldier and keep kosher? Does army life mean no life at all? Jon and Melissa interrogate the text, and ask if a story can be political without being polarizing.
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Maniac Pixie Dream Girl ft. Miss Bala
"Bullets solve everything," or at least they do at the Mexico border, according to our bad boy antagonist. Ismael Cruz Córdova plays a gang leader and captor of our lead heroine played by Gina Rodriguez. Their cat-and-mouse relationship sparks conversations about cinematography, sexist…
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Breaking Genre: Neon Noir ft. Drive (2011)
Grab your synth cassettes and the keys to the Mustang. Nicholas Winding Refn's Drive updates crime noir all the way to the 80's, creating a new generation of retro thrillers that has invaded films, TV, and video games. Do the neon lights and electro-pop make it style over substance? Does Refn say...
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'Glass' and Quixotic Horror
Meet the kooky criminals at the center of 'Glass,' the third in a genre-bending trilogy including 'Unbreakable' and 'Split.' This superhero-thriller closes with a conflict between a vigilante, a mastermind, a man/beast, and a cynical psychologist. Fanboy (and -girl) Jon and Melissa team-up to...
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Poetic Justice: Langston Hughes
"Soul" is used to describe jazz music if the 20's and 30's, but it also fits the melodic poetry of Langston Hughes. Jon and Melissa try to express what makes Hughes poetry so accessible, despite it's contrast to today's turbulent racial politics. Is Langston's voice, established before the...
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Concept Albums: Third Reich Rush? ft. 2112
Alt-right Rush?? Say it isn't so! Before "progressive" was a political label, the band Rush were "prog" rockers: composing symphonies of screaming guitars and soulful ballads. But how did their space opera earn them a comparison with Nazis? Is "2112" just one of many half-baked sci-fi concept...
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Southern Gothic & Flannery O'Connor ft. "A Good Man is Hard to Find"
The nightmare after Christmas is Southern-fried with racism on the side. Melissa and Jon explore the imagery and irony in Flannery O'Conner's short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find," and compare it to Gothic writers and modern art theory. Does O'Conner's scathing satire conflict with her…
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More Than Thor ft. Norse Mythology
What if history had a three-act structure? For Vikings, the gods enacted the biggest blockbuster of all, with frost giants, comedic cross-dressing, and a bloody finale. Join Melissa and Jon as they use Neil Gaiman's book to discuss the wisdom of Odin, the cunning of Loki, the bravery of Thor, and...
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Breaking Genre: Mortal Engines is Steampunk Star Wars
The furnace burns, smoke billows, and Peter Jackson's mega machine gobbles up a YA series, just to spit it back onto the silver screen. Did Weta Workshops create the steampunk dystopia of Melissa's dreams? Meanwhile, Jon asks why ads for an adventure film (re: Star Wars) felt more like…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Jon and Melissa Matos compare popular fiction with cult classics, fan favorites, and ancient allusions. Join their weekly celebration of good storytelling, and the positive impact stories have on our everyday lives.
HOSTED BY
Jon and Melissa
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Unboxing Story have?
Unboxing Story currently has 87 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Unboxing Story about?
Jon and Melissa Matos compare popular fiction with cult classics, fan favorites, and ancient allusions. Join their weekly celebration of good storytelling, and the positive impact stories have on our everyday lives.
How often does Unboxing Story release new episodes?
Unboxing Story has 87 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Unboxing Story?
You can listen to Unboxing Story on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Unboxing Story?
Unboxing Story is created and hosted by Jon and Melissa.
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