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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

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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01:59:08

188 - The Merchwhit of Venice (feat. Quorators)...

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/05/07

Alex and Jeremy of the Quorators podcast join the lads for their triumphant return to Odyssey as they throw themselves headlong into adventures of magic bats, deceitful chickens, and Edwin Blackgaard staging The Merchant of Venice. Topics include the Twilife Zone, the ethics of Watto the Toydarian, and what it means to live your life in the service of a chicken whose real name is drugs.Alex Ptak - Bluesky // Twitter // Instagram Theater of Delights featuring Gran Nidorino! Jeremy

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25:15

187 - Sky King: The Story of Richard Russell (feat....

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/04/30

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE GO TO Patreon.com/worstofallCaleb @BirdRespecter (Western Kabuki, 60 Minute Drill) joins Brian and Josh to tell the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell, a man who walked off his job as a baggage handler at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport one day in 2018 to steal an airplane. Russell and his ill-fated flight quickly became a cause célèbre among some of the darkest corners of the internet, continuing to this day. This episode tries to figure out how and why

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02:09:55

186 - Showgirls (feat. Renee Olstead)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/04/23

Renee Olstead (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Unfriended) and the lads grab some ice cubes and enter the cutthroat world of Vegas dancing as they cover Paul Verhoeven’s 1995 striptacular: Showgirls. Topics include the madness of Joe Eszterhas, the infamous VH1 cut, and the solidarity that can be learned from a movie that involves shoving your competition down a flight of stairs.Renee Olstead: Website // Instagram // OF // Twitter Coalition of American Sex Workers Media Referenced in this

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30:36

185 - The Last of Us Part II (Part 2)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/04/16

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofallThe lads grab their crossbows and make for the Space Needle as they cover the back half of Naughty Dog's 2020 revengefest: The Last of Us Part II. Topics include state quarters, the logistics of building crane bridges, and what it truly means to “look for the light”. Media Referenced in this Episode: The Last of Us Part II. Dir. Neil Druckmann. Naughty Dog. 2020. Grounded II: The Making of The Last of Us: Part II. One Day,

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02:46:19

184 - The Last of Us Part II (Part 1)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/04/09

The lads grab their golf clubs and make for Seattle as they hop on the Ellie murder train that is Naughty Dog’s 2020 revengeapalooza: The Last of Us Part II. Topics include the chaotic development process, the CW-fication of the writing, and the inescapable conservatism at the core of The Last of Us universe.Media Referenced in the Episode: The Last of Us Part II. Dir. Neil Druckmann. Naughty Dog. 2020. 220: Josh Boerman and Dylan Rank Game Mechanics With Us | Anime Sickos - Podcast for

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30:05

183 - The War Room (1993)

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/04/02

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofallWhen Bill Clinton won the US presidential election in 1992, two people were key to his success: James Carville and George Stephanopolous. This week, Brian and Josh step into The War Room, D.A. Pennebaker’s 1993 documentary about how these two men and their team of future top Democratic all-stars cajoled and bullshitted America’s electorate into sending Slick Willie to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Media Referenced in This

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38:03

INTERVIEW: Tim Faust on Defending Medicaid

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/03/31

Our ongoing interview series with people working to fight the rising tide of fascism continues today as Josh sits down with Tim Faust, a healthcare activist who has been advocating for the preservation and expansion of federal and state healthcare programs in the United States for years. Tim recently began touring the state of Wisconsin, talking with local groups about what they can do to fight to preserve access to Medicaid benefits in their communities. Josh talked with Tim about how and why the

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02:36:10

182 - Video Redeemed The Radio Star: Definitive...

The Worst of All Possible Worlds ·

2025/03/26

Saddle up your horses as the lads, along with Rosey Armstrong (Hans Gruber and the Die Hards), slap on their Crosses of Gold and dive headlong into the varied and wild world of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). Topics include what makes Christian music Christian music, the rampaging sexiness of Michael W. Smith, and the importance of artistic integrity in an industry seemingly designed to destroy it.Rosey Armstrong: Bluesky // Instagram Hans Gruber and the Die

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