x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Gobbledygeek

Paul Smith and Arlo J. Wiley

A more-or-less weekly podcast dedicated to all things geeky in pop culture and entertainment. We talk about everything from film and television to books, comics, video games, and more.

All Episodes

01:02:36

374 - “The Paranoia Is Coming From Inside the House!”

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/05/17

To paraphrase Olivia Newton-John, “Let’s get political--political!” Paul and Arlo discuss politics only occasionally, but this week, they unload. With anti-abortion bills being signed into law in both of their home states, Alabama and Ohio, the boys have a thing or two to say. (Spoiler: they are loudly and clearly pro-choice.) Where do you go after that? Well, Paul saves a restaurant bird, Arlo goes down a murderous Reddit rabbit hole, and Paul cannot get the fuck to sleep. Sweet dreams, kids.

en

01:11:46

373 - “Watered-Down Dr. Pepper”

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/05/13

Welcome to another Freestyle episode of Gobbledygeek, wherein you can either choose to hear Paul yell at clouds or Arlo have an existential crisis about adulthood. Just remember: whatever you choose, it’s gonna taste like watered-down Dr. Pepper. Paul and Arlo discuss Arlo’s new house; their digitally-assisted strolls down memory lane; how nostalgia can lead to arrested development (neither the show nor the hip-hop group); and how “take” culture has sucked a lot of the joy (and nuance) out of pop

en

02:04:13

372 - Avengers: Endgame - It’s Been a Long, Long Time...

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/05/01

All good things must come to an end. And while the Marvel Cinematic Universe is not one of those things--there’s another one of these bad boys coming out in a few months--Avengers: Endgame does represent the culmination of this first wave/cycle/saga of the MCU. Paul and Arlo are joined by their The Deli Counter of Justice co-creator Eric Sipple to discuss just how in the hell directors Anthony and Joe Russo, screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and many many other talented

en

01:21:48

371 - Four-Color Flashback: Persepolis

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/04/24

For the next black-and-white non-fiction graphic novel of Four-Color Flashback 2k19, Paul and Arlo head East to discuss Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis. Published between 2000-04, Persepolis tells Satrapi’s autobiographical story of growing up during the Iranian Revolution and coming of age in a totalitarian society. The boys discuss Satrapi’s simplistic, cartoony artwork and its heavy use of black ink; why comics is the perfect medium to make this story a universal one; how Satrapi challenges our

en

01:59:37

370 - Us: Down the Rabbit Hole

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/04/08

It’s 11:11, better grab your gardening shears and press play on this week’s Gobbledygeek, a discussion of writer-director Jordan Peele’s Us. This is a tricky one; it’s got more layers than a cake. Paul and Arlo discuss Peele’s extensive use of duality and mirroring, the awards categories they’re going to have to invent to honor Lupita Nyong’o’s tremendous performance, the film’s transitions between humor and horror, and what it all means. Next: back to the void. THE BREAKDOWN Run Time: 01:59:37

en

02:06:54

369 - Four-Color Flashback: Blankets

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/03/22

Marks on paper, sheets of snow, first loves crowned with halos. These are some of the images that make up Craig Thompson’s 2003 illustrated novel Blankets, a modern classic if ever there was one. Paul and Arlo continue this year’s “nondenominational” Four-Color Flashback with a discussion of Thompson’s masterpiece, an autobiographical story of childhood, sexuality, first love, and the author’s struggle with faith. The boys discuss Thompson’s brave and uncomfortable truth, their experiences (or lack

en

01:51:55

368 - Captain Marvel: Hello Flerken

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/03/17

It only took ‘em 21 movies, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally debuted a solo female superhero with Captain Marvel. Acclaimed indie filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck take to the stars for the story of Carol Danvers, ace pilot turned intergalactic warrior. Drenched in ‘90s nostalgia, the film finds buddy comedy with the spirited Brie Larson/Samuel L. Jackson dynamic; it finds Memento-lite storytelling gymnastics with Carol's fractured memories. Paul and Arlo debate this approach's

en

01:22:12

367 - Dentophobia

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/03/09

In which our daring duo defies devilish dentists. In all sincerity, here’s a big fat content warning: if, like Paul and Arlo, you are one of the 5-15% of adults with dentophobia, we talk about the dentist. A whole bunch. From childhood orthodontic nightmares to phantasmagoric periodontics of the present day, the boys discuss in (perhaps excruciating) detail their toothy troubles. Plus, if that doesn’t turn you off of the whole damn enterprise, there’s also talk of How to Train Your Dragon: The

en

02:28:10

366 - How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World...

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/03/02

Paul and Arlo return to the land of Berk one last time for a discussion of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Joining them is their fellow dragon rider (and The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor) Eric Sipple. The gang discusses their journey through the years with Hiccup and Toothless, whether or not the supporting cast weighs the series down, writer-director Dean DeBlois’ original intentions for the villain, and their differing interpretations of the conclusion. Next: enter the void. THE

en

01:43:02

365 - Four-Color Flashback: March

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/02/25

In honor of Black History Month, Paul and Arlo are discussing John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell’s March for their second Four-Color Flashback of 2019. This three-volume set, published from 2013-16, follows Rep. Lewis from his days raising (and baptizing) chickens in Pike County, Alabama, to standing side-by-side with leading figures of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. The boys discuss how their whiteness both helps and hinders the discussion, their admiration for Lewis’ adherence to the

en

01:40:47

364 - Bedknobs and Broomsticks / Chicago: We Both...

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/02/08

This week finds Paul and Arlo being a coupla ding-dong daddies as another musical Geek Challenge is summoned from a mail-order spellbook. First, Paul challenges Arlo to Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Robert Stevenson’s 1971 follow-up to Mary Poppins. Then, Arlo forces Paul to endure Rob Marshall’s 2002 Best Picture winner Chicago. Witchcraft and murder...this one’s got it all. The boys discuss Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ unlikely connection to The Island of Dr. Moreau, whether or not Chicago deserves its

en

01:18:46

363 - Four-Color Flashback: Understanding Comics

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/01/25

For Four-Color Flashback 2019, Paul and Arlo are venturing beyond the realm of superheroes and into the wide world of comics many Americans never visit. To first appreciate comics, though, it’s important to understand their capabilities. There’s nowhere better to turn than Scott McCloud’s seminal 1993 tome Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. It’s an academic, analytical study of the comics form--but it’s also a friendly, entertaining, flat-out fun read. Paul and Arlo discuss why everyone should

en

01:12:27

362 - 23% Different

Gobbledygeek ·

2019/01/18

We’re back, babies! Gobbledygeek returns for its 10th season--though not its 10th anniversary, get your math right--with our hosts doing the bare minimum to keep this thing afloat. The centerpiece is an anxiety-fueled story about chicken wings, for gods’ sakes. Meanwhile, Paul went to Disney World again and lived to tell the tale. Arlo has thoughts on Jason Reitman directing the next Ghostbusters film. Beards are soothed. Y’know, the usual. Plus, Paul has seen Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse once

en

01:59:01

361 - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (feat. Nate...

Gobbledygeek ·

2018/12/15

Paul and Arlo swing into the Gobbledygeek season 9 finale with a discussion of the latest (and possibly greatest?) Spider-Man movie, Into the Spider-Verse. Popping in from an alternate dimension where “Curtis” has two s's is their pal Nate Curtiss. The gang discusses how the movie nails the characterizations of Miles Morales and Peter Parker, its dazzling visuals, the film's message of inclusion, and moviegoers’ animation biases. Plus, Paul and Arlo both make important announcements, and we discuss

en

02:20:57

360, “The Vision (feat. Jed Waters Keith)”

Gobbledygeek ·

2018/12/09

This year's superheroic Four-Color Flashback comes to a close as the Visions of Virginia move into their house at 616 Hickory Branch Lane, Arlington, VA, 21301. In Tom King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta's The Vision, the synthezoid Avenger creates his own family in an effort to achieve normalcy--and watches as his efforts fail, early and often. Joining Paul and Arlo to discuss one of the decade's best comics is FreakSugar contributing editor Jed Waters Keith. The gang discusses the foreboding on every

en

01:49:44

359, “Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters”

Gobbledygeek ·

2018/11/19

Ollie, draw back your bow and let your arrow go straight to that killer’s heart. For the penultimate Four-Color Flashback of the year, and the final DC installment of our Age of Heroes project, Paul and Arlo head to the asphalt jungle of Seattle as Oliver Queen stalks his street punk prey in Mike Grell’s 1987 miniseries Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters. As was common practice in the ‘80s, Grell reimagined the character of Green Arrow as grimmer, grittier, and existing in a real world full of boobs

en

01:37:29

358, “The Brunette Wore Mauve”

Gobbledygeek ·

2018/11/11

Jazz hands, everyone! It's time for a new episode of the new era of Gobbledygeek, which is either painfully self-indulgent or--well, there is no other option, BUT. Paul and Arlo freestyle about why they're freestyling, discuss how perspectives on art change, extoll the complicated virtues of Miles Davis and Queen, and become flummoxed at the hyper-realistic minutiae of Red Dead Redemption 2. Next: back to your regularly scheduled podcast with a Four-Color Flashback discussion of Green Arrow: The

en

01:43:20

Episode 357, “Gobbledygeek 2: The New Batch”

Gobbledygeek ·

2018/11/02

Everybody loves reboots, preboots, remakes, prequels, sequels, midquels, all the different -quels and -boots. The latest long-running franchise to get the reboot treatment is none other than your friendly neighborhood Gobbledygeek, as Paul and Arlo attempt to take the show in a new, looser, more banter-y direction. Fittingly, they talk about a couple of other high-profile remakes: The Haunting of Hill House and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, both available on Netflix. Speaking of, Netflix has

en

02:05:52

Episode 356, “Gobbledyween: Creepshow (feat. Greg...

Gobbledygeek ·

2018/10/26

Gobbledyween returns! Again! Greg Sahadachny, once and future host of The Debatable Podcast, returns! Again! To close out our truncated season of horror happenings, Paul, Arlo, and Greg flip ahead to George A. Romero and Stephen King’s kooky 1982 splash page Creepshow. Indebted to old EC horror comics, Creepshow has become a cult classic in its own right, as silly and lowbrow as it is reverent and artful. The gang discusses why the meeting of these two horror masters may not be what you would

en

02:10:51

Episode 355, “Gobbledyween: The Witch (feat. Matt...

Gobbledygeek ·

2018/10/06

Leaves are on the ground, blood is on the silver screen. It's time for Gobbledyween. Paul and Arlo's beloved horror movie festival returns for the first time since 2015, and their opening selection debuted that same year: Robert Eggers’ new cult classic The Witch. Emerging from the wood to terrorize the boys is SyfyWire.com contributing editor Matthew Jackson. The gang discusses the rural dread Eggers exploits, if the film can be read as an empowerment tale, if anything on the screen actually

en

531 results