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PODCAST

The Worst of All Possible Worlds

Josh Boerman, A.J. Ditty, and Brian Alford

The first and only podcast bringing you weekly case studies in the pop culture of a dying empire. Every Wednesday, co-hosts Josh, Brian, and A.J. dissect an artifact of popular culture, breaking down how its narrative choices reflect or subvert the reactionary political project. From video games to movies to theater to an apparently infinite supply of evangelical Christian radio drama, we expose the machinations of the worst of all possible worlds in order to figure out how to build a better one

society & culture video games

All Episodes

02:14:41

204 - Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/08/27

The lads throw back some drinks and bray the night away as they cover Edward Albee’s 1962 nightcap from hell: Who’s Afraid of Virignia Woolf? Topics include Albee’s traumatizing childhood, the music of his dialogue, and the boomer mentality of being afraid of Virginia Woolf.Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this Episode: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? By Edward Albee

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04:45

EMERGENCY POD - Dobson Died, Dead Dobson

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/08/22

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofallWell, the dude croaked. https://jamesdobsonmemorial.com

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25:26

203 - The Sweatbox/The Emperor’s New Groove

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/08/21

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads grab their pencils and go back to the drawing board as they cover the never released behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of The Emperor’s New Groove: The Sweatbox. Topics include the history of Disney animation, the similarities between the animating and acting life, and what it means to make art while walking the llama-llama and taking in the panorama. Media Referenced in this Episode: The Sweatbox. Dir. Trudy

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02:24:05

202 - Steven Spielberg’s The Dig

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/08/13

The lads grab their engraved rods and play with some loose bones as they cover the LucasArts’ 1995 xenoarchaeologist point-and-click adventure: The Dig. Topics include the gaming prowess of Steven Spielberg, the incredibly fraught production process, and what it means to have have a point and click adventure imprint upon you as a child that requires you to turn a turtle into a bomb.Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month

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24:48

201 - My Big, Fat Shank Wedding [Whit’s Endless...

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/08/06

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads return once again to Odyssey for further adventures in jet-lag, cyber security, and the long awaited return of the godking of Odyssey: John Avery Whittaker. Topics include the interminable will-they/won’t-they of Eugene and Katrina, the logistics of proposing in the year 1996, and what it means to grow up in a religion that asks you to actively throw your feelings through the No-No Door. Media Referenced in this

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03:06:34

200 - Thief II: The Metal Age

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/07/30

In 1998, Looking Glass Studios released THIEF: THE DARK PROJECT, an unprecedentedly immersive and technically impressive first-person stealth simulator. Two years later, they followed it up with their masterpiece, THIEF 2: THE METAL AGE. After hounding Brian and A.J. to talk about this one for years, Josh finally got his wish. Plus, we got Jay Anthony Franke back to voice JC Denton for the interstitial. Thanks for sticking with us for 200 episodes and here’s to 200 more. Jay Anthony

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31:38

199 - What Remains of Edith Finch (feat. Lenore and...

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/07/23

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofallAysha U. Farah (All My Maidens) and Lenore (The Socialist Shelf) return to the pod to take the lads on a heartfelt journey of death and birds as they cover Giant Sparrow’s 2017 walking sim megahit: What Remains of Edith Finch. Topics include games about death, the importance of twee in the face of tragedy, and what remains of both the walking sim genre and the titular Edith Finch. Aysha U

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02:12:51

198 - Rambo: First Blood (feat. Andrew Law)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/07/16

Andrew Law (Boonta Vista) and the lads make for the Pacific Northwest and set up little traps in the woods as they cover Ted Kotcheff’s 1982 debut of Rambo: First Blood. Topics include the joys of practical stunts, the brilliance of Brian Dennehy, and the reactionary politics at the center of both the film and the Italian Stallion himself: Sylvester Stallone.Boonta Vista: The least consequential news from around the world from the least informed minds in Australia. Andrew, Theo, Lucy and Ben bring

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27:50

197 - Ghosts From the Internet (feat. Josiah Sutton)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/07/09

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofallJosiah Sutton (Fruitless) joins a lads-less Brian as he revisits the inspiration for his first video essay: Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse. Topics include revisiting old work, breadtube, and what we can learn from the ghosts from internet eras long past. Josiah Sutton: Twitter // Substack // Instagram Fruitless Podcast: A show about history, politics, faith, media, and the internet hosted by Josiah Sutton. Patreon // Apple

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02:15:24

196 - 2 Bangers 2 M*A*S*H

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/07/02

The lads hop on their choppers and make for the 4077th as they return to Korea for another installment in their ongoing coverage of the most critically acclaimed sitcoms of all time: MASH. Topics include the evolution of Margaret O’Houlihan, the zaniness of Frank Burns, and how losing some of your best cast members can transform your show into the best version of itself.GOATMAN: Tickets // Gofundme 2002: Tickets Media Referenced in this Episode: MASH Season Four, Episode One: “Welcome to

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01:03:29

BONUS - Western Kabuki: Beast Week Part 1 Ft. The...

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/06/27

We hope you've enjoyed Beast Week. To conclude the week in style, we went on Western Kabuki to observe Mr Beast, learn from Mr Beast, and love Mr Beast. We watched some of Mr Beast's videos and diagnose the Beast and what he means for the world. Part 2, where we talk about what he's been up to this year specifically, will be released to the Western Kabuki Patreon this weekend. Make sure to subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/c/westernkabuki/posts

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32:24

195 - Beast Games from MrBeast® (feat. Juniper)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/06/25

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofallJuniper (Western Kabuki, Ill Conceived) and the lads grab their blue jerseys and throw coconuts down a hill as they cover the first season of MrBeast’s nightmare of a game show: Beast Games. Topics include the horrific filming conditions, the so-called “games”, and what it means to watch the full-villain arc of one Jimmy Donaldson. Juniper: Twitch // Patreon // Bluesky Western Kabuki: Juniper and Caleb with their trusty producer

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02:31:21

77 UNLOCKED - Who's Afraid of MrBeast?

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/06/23

It's MrBeast week on The Worst of All Possible Worlds. To kick it off we're unlocking a premium episode we released in March 2023 where THE LADS WATCH 8 MRBEAST VIDEOS AND THEN TALK ABOUT THEM (Not Clickbait). Topics include MrBeast’s humble origins, the monetization of altruism, and the internet’s canonization of St. Jimmy Donaldson.Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this

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01:02:01

Promise Keepers: 700,000 Dicks Out for Jesus [ILL...

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/06/20

This is the first episode of Ill Conceived, a new podcast from Josh Boerman of The Worst of All Possible Worlds and June Sternbach of Western Kabuki. Get new episodes every Friday in your favorite podcast client: RSS Feed Apple Podcasts Spotify Pocket Casts YouTube Josh and June take a look at Promise Keepers, the organization that massed 700,000 men on the National Mall in Washington, DC for a 1997 rally that promised to bring spiritual renewal to its attendees and a new order to the social

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02:08:06

194 - Everywhit (feat. We’re Not So Different)...

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/06/18

Dr. Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters from the We’re Not So Different podcast join the lads on a medievalist romp through the world of morality plays as they cover the story of Everyman and two of its progeny: the works of Jack Chick and a little show called Adventures in Odyssey. Topics include the Dutch origins of Everyman, the horrors of being eternally judged while nude, and the insidious pedantry at the heart of the evangelical movement. We’re Not So Different: A mostly Medieval history podcast

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30:52

193 - Beyond: Two Souls (feat. David Armstrong)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/06/11

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofallDavid Armstrong (Bonus Action) and the lads grab their ghosts and join the CIA as they cover Quantic Dream’s 2013 horror/sci-fi trainwreck: Beyond: Two Souls. Topics include David Cage’s whole deal, the intuitively unintuitive controls, and what it means when your storytelling is so bad, not even Elliot Page can save it. Bonus Action: Hail and well met, Peaches! Adam and Jay from the reaction channel pReview’d have started an

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02:03:38

192 - As Is: The First AIDS Play

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/06/04

This lads kick off pride month by revisiting an oft-forgotten but foundational play in the queer canon: William M. Hoffman’s As Is. Topics include the history of the AIDS play, Hoffman’s exquisite weaponization of comedy in the face of overwhelming tragedy, and the legacy of a 90 minute play that inspired an entire genre of theater.Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this

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26:51

191 - Casablanca (1942)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/05/28

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofallThe lads grab their papers and hop a plane to Morocco as they cover Michael Curtiz’ 1942 Bogartfest: Casablanca. Topics include the goblin energy of Peter Lorre, the GOATness of Victor Laszlo, and what it means to drown out fascists by belting out “La Marseillaise”. Media Referenced in this Episode: Casablanca. Dir. Michael Curtiz, 1942. Everybody Comes to Rick's TWOAPW theme by Brendan

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02:35:48

190 - Persecuted (feat. Abigail Thorn)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/05/21

Abigail Thorn (The Acolyte, House of the Dragon) and the lads stand up for their beliefs and just kinda drive around New Mexico as they cover the 2014 evangelical political thriller: Persecuted. Topics include passion plays, the art of selling evangelicalism, and what it means to build your entire theological identity around whining like a smol bean.Abigail Thorn: Bluesky // Instagram The Prince: A transformative new play that has everything: sword fighting, lesbianism, Hamlet, and disappointed

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30:34

189 - O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/05/14

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofallThe lads escape a chain gang and become men of constant sorrow as they embark on Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2000 Southern Odyssey: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Topics include the charms of George Clooney, the superlative soundtrack, and how to adapt the Odyssey without turning into a horny toad. Media Referenced in this Episode: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Dir. Joel Coen. 2000. Why it’s crazy that ‘Oh Brother Where Art Thou’ was pulled

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