PODCAST

Open World Chat

John Odum and Mark Card

Discussing all "genre" media and geek culture.

arts

All Episodes

71:12

TV themes! Mark and John Share Their Top 10s!

Open World Chat ·

2025/11/24

There are way too many TV themes to call Mark's list and John's lists definitive, but they've got some good ones (and just to make the point, there was no overlap between the lists). That adds up to 20 awesome things ranging from the 1960s to the 2010s! We've left out a LOT but take a listen and see if you agree!

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80:43

Movie and TV apocalypses - what makes a good one and...

Open World Chat ·

2025/11/10

Mark and John go apocalyptic. What's the difference between an apocalypse and a dystopia in TV and film? Do they have to be scary or can they be silly? Cute? Join us for a discussion of the big booms and why we love them.

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85:47

Genre Swapping! Movies that flip genre in mid-viewing

Open World Chat ·

2025/10/27

You ever watch a movie of a particular genre and have it flip genres right in front of you, leaving you wondering what the heck just happened? We have! And we talk about them for an hour! Some are on the bubble, while others make your head explode - and while it could be a recipe for disaster (or at least crappiness), these are the films where it works. Have a listen!

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82:55

Fascism in Sci-Fi

Open World Chat ·

2025/10/13

Mark and John break out what the heck fascism is and then find it in Sci-Fi. Who gets it right?

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65:53

Time Travel in Film and TV (and what a mess it is)

Open World Chat ·

2025/09/29

Mark and John look at examples of time travel across a broad range of movies, TV and other fiction to examine it's logic (or - more often - lack thereof) and it's use as a storytelling tool. Have a listen!

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68:02

Utopian fiction (and is anybody buying in?)

Open World Chat ·

2025/09/15

Mark and John start of with the grandaddy of all Utopias (that would be "Utopia") and segue into a discussion of our utopian fiction, or just fiction where utopia shows up, even if it's not the star. We may surprise you with some of our choices.

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85:52

Our Favorite Fight Scenes

Open World Chat ·

2025/09/01

Mark and John review and compare their favorite fight scenes and discuss what it is that makes a fight scene really stick with you (hint: it's not just choreography).

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67:42

Why does the Right hate Superman (the movie AND the...

Open World Chat ·

2025/08/18

With James Gunn's Superman still in theaters, Mark and John try to understand why the modern Right hates it so much - not just the movie, but the character. Why do they fixate on words like "refugee" in their anti-"woke" hysteria and why is Superman just not Homelander enough for them?

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86:30

20 Films to get you through the Trump Era

Open World Chat ·

2025/08/04

Mark and John go through a whopping and eclectic list of movies to help you deal with these dark times. They deliver catharsis, escape, inspiration, education and more. It's a long one for sure, but worth it.

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49:07

The Sounds of the Movies

Open World Chat ·

2025/07/21

Mark and John are joined by Reinhard Denke, co-founder of RNDM ORDR and founder of award-winning commercial sound-design studio firm Stimmüng to discuss sound in film; what's good, what's bad, and why it's so important.

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45:16

Jim Shooter: Superhero or Supervillain?

Open World Chat ·

2025/07/07

On the passing of legendary writer and former Marvel Editor-in-Chief, John and Mark discuss his complicated legacy in the 70s, 80s, and beyond. While his impact on comics is unquestionable, some of his decisions, both creatively and editorially, may not have been so noble. We have a no-holds-barred conversation about this well-loved and well-hated leader.... genius or jerk (or both)?

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64:54

Identity in Sci Fi: Who Am I Really?

Open World Chat ·

2025/06/21

From the mindbending epiphany to the hero's journey, knowing or finding out who you really are (AI? Hero? Simulation?) has always been a big part of genre fiction and Mark and John touch on what could easily be the topic of its own ongoing podcast all by itself. Amazingly we don't mention The Matrix. Oh well. The Matrix too.

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70:13

The best bits from film soundtracks

Open World Chat ·

2025/06/09

Mark and John share their personal favorite, if not the "best" per se, songs from film soundtracks and why. Lots of fun!!

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64:10

Cursed productions: figuratively and..... literally?

Open World Chat ·

2025/05/26

Mark and John go through the disappointingly large list of films consigned to production hell (and maybe a couple where - so they say - Satan himself joined the production team). Wanta know what the hell (haha) that might mean? Give a listen!

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77:46

The scariest moments in film and TV

Open World Chat ·

2025/05/12

Mark and John wander down the broad and deep history of horror in film and TV to pick out some of their favorite moments, from the more "objectively" scary, to the disturbing, to the crap that freaked us out as kids. I guarantee you we've come up with some you haven't seen (as well as plenty you have, no doubt).

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52:12

Hidden gems from legendary directors

Open World Chat ·

2025/04/28

In part 2 of our "directors" series, Mark and John look at great movies from legendary directors that have flown WAY under the radar, and should be viewed immediately!!

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55:13

The REAL masterpieces of legendary directors

Open World Chat ·

2025/04/14

Mark and John look at directors who are generally accepted as having a particular masterwork and explain why - no - a DIFFERENT movie is actually their masterpiece and why. Part 1 in our 2 part director series.

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58:10

The Democracy Episode! Policy, Cybersecurity and more!

Open World Chat ·

2025/03/31

Mark and John go full pundit and talk about the current state of elections and democracy in the US. Are our rights safe? Are our systems safe? What policies help us or hinder us? The answers, of course - complicated in the details, but maybe not so much at the end of the day. Join in for a break from our usual fare.

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44:39

Christ figures in sci-fi and fantasy

Open World Chat ·

2025/03/17

When Jesus turns up in your favorite stories! Mark and John talk about the archetype of the "Christ Figure," and it turns out it pops up everywhere.

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50:35

How will DEI pushback affect geek media?

Open World Chat ·

2025/03/03

The war on DEI is hitting companies like Disney and Warner Brothers and they've have already begun to alter their policies in response. Will this backlash affect our favorite movies, books, and comics?

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Open World Chat

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