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

No Preamble

Sarah and Ethan

How do you build a great D&D character? What is the most quotable horror movie? Which Zelda game has the best soundtrack? Is a hermit crab even a real crab? Sarah and Ethan answer these questions and more in No Preamble, a show about all manner of nerdy obsessions. Join these intrepid hosts as they hop between hobbies and dive deep into movies, games, comics, literature, and music.

leisure hobbies

All Episodes

01:14:55

Gunn gets Superman in his 2025 Superman film

No Preamble ·

2025/10/08

After a long hiatus, Ethan and Sarah are back at it to discuss James Gunn's 2025 Superman! An episode packed with general impressions, theories, comic book lore and inspirations, and — of course — an appreciation for the needle drops.Content Warning: Strong languageNo Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

en

01:11:51

"We did what?!" Getting hyped for Pathfinder 2e!

No Preamble ·

2024/06/12

As Ethan prepares to start a level 1 Pathfinder 2e (PF2e) campaign, he and Sarah discuss the setting, premise, character concepts, tarot inspiration, and somehow a variety of anime and other media. With a looming mystery of lost time and a mysterious payment, this unusual trio will soon be set loose in the city of Absalom to wreck havoc and sidetrack all of Ethan's plans.Content Warning: Strong languageNo Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and

en

58:08

"Wyrd Sisters" by Terry Pratchett - Ethan introduces...

No Preamble ·

2024/05/28

At long last, Sarah finishes reading a Disc World novel, starting with "Wyrd Sisters" by the acclaimed Terry Pratchett. Ethan kindly gifted her a copy, knowing the premise of grumpy Granny Weatherwax would appeal to her sensibilities. And right he was! But did Sarah enjoy the book was a whole? Will she become a Disc World fan as Ethan intends? And why does Sarah keep saying "Magrat" like that?Content Warning: Strong language, sexual themesNo Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy |

en

27:02

Champions Chat: Spider-Man

No Preamble ·

2024/05/14

In another solo outing (because Sarah didn't do her homework!), Ethan continues to ramble about his favorite card game, Marvel Champions. This time, he takes a look at Spider-Man's signature cards.Content Warning: Strong languageNo Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

en

27:37

Champions Chat: Captain Marvel

No Preamble ·

2024/04/30

In another solo outing, Ethan continues to ramble about his favorite card game, Marvel Champions. This time, he takes a look at Captain Marvel's signature cards. He also apologizes for the... somewhat diminished audio quality of this particular episode.Content Warning: Strong languageNo Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

en

01:15:56

"Lake Mungo" (2008) - can death haunt you?

No Preamble ·

2024/04/16

Sarah is pleasantly surprised that Ethan's recommendation for a scary move, "Lake Mungo", isn't actually very scary but is also very good. She is still, to this day, wondering where the alleged jump scare will be. Ethan and Sarah break down the themes of "Lake Mungo" and discuss why this mockumentary should be boring but is actually engaging and thought provoking. Content Warning: Discussion of suicide, sexual content, strong languageNo Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy | Written

en

55:12

Dungeon Crawler Carl - NEW ACHIEVEMENT! We finished...

No Preamble ·

2024/04/02

Sarah convinces Ethan to listen to the audiobook for "Dungeon Crawler Carl: A LitRPG Adventure", written by Matt Dinniman and narrated by Jeff Hays, after friend Kevin convinced Sarah to listen to it.Does Carl and Princess Donut's journey through the sadistic dungeon live up to the hype? Will Ethan, afflicted with a terrible curse, make it through the entire audiobook? Did those knockers really need to be that big?Content Warning: Strong language, fantasy violence, sexual themesNo Preamble website

en

52:49

Ethan talks Iron Man in Marvel Champions card game

No Preamble ·

2024/03/19

In a rare solo episode, Ethan talks about his favorite card game, Marvel Champions. After a brief explanation of how the game works, he examines one of the games many playable characters: Iron Man.Content Warning: LanguageNo Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

en

01:07:05

Currently Playing: Cassette Beasts and Final Fantasy...

No Preamble ·

2024/03/05

Ethan and Sarah discuss the games they've been recently playing, and get sidetracked along the way. Sarah has been enamored with the charming monster taming Cassette Beasts while Ethan replays beloved classic Final Fantasy VII Remake in preparation for Rebirth.Content Warning: Strong language, brief reference to a scene in FFVII (original) involving sexual assault, transphobia, and homophobia.No Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed

en

01:17:08

Perfect Blue (1997) - Satoshi Kon's reflection on...

No Preamble ·

2024/02/21

"Perfect Blue" (1997) was director Satoshi Kon's first major film. It was also Ethan's latest recommendation to Sarah. And it was a trip! Bewildered, Sarah has to piece together the plot and twists, while Ethan helps parse the narrative and overarching themes.This animated psychological thriller is set in Japan during the 90s. Mima Kirigoe, a young woman and famous idol singer, is looking to shake up her career. Her transition into acting is an uphill battle and comes at a great cost. Satoshi Kon

en

01:20:07

Is the Spider-Man 2 (PS5) video game woke? Yes it is...

No Preamble ·

2024/02/06

After spending too much time online Sarah finally snaps and coerces Ethan into talking about whether or not the 2023 PS5 game "Spider-Man 2" is woke. With empathy, care, and a wealth of comic book knowledge the hosts have a wide-ranging discussion. What is "woke"? Why does comic-adjacent media need diverse versions of classic heroes? Why is it okay to "race swap" white heroes but not minority heroes? Are disabilities woke? Is caring for planet Earth woke?Is Spider-Man 2 woke?Content Warning: Strong

en

01:09:22

A battery on their tummy! Talking Horizon Forbidden...

No Preamble ·

2024/01/23

In celebration of releasing 10 episodes, Ethan and Sarah enjoy a chill recording to catch up on hobbies. Sarah is back in the Dungeon Master's seat playing D&D with a new group. Meanwhile, Ethan is captivated by the world of Horizon: Forbidden West and the Zero Dawn board game.Content Warning: Brief languageNo Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

en

01:21:59

Novel "Bloody Rose" is another welcome tour through...

No Preamble ·

2024/01/09

"Bloody Rose" is the sequel to the "Kings of the Wyld" novel by Nicholas Eames. While Ethan reads it Sarah re-reads it, because her memory is terrible. Does it hold up as a sequel? Are the characters as lovable as Saga's band members? Is Cura the coolest character? Sarah and Ethan have some opinions on character deaths, the writing of substance abuse, story crafting, and the Chekhov's Gun that never was.Contains spoilers for the novels "Kings of the Wyld" and "Bloody Rose" by Nicholas Eames.Content

en

01:03:48

"Klaus" - a refreshingly unique approach to Christmas...

No Preamble ·

2023/12/26

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas! What says "Christmas" more than the postal service and a bitter family rivalry? Sarah and Ethan discuss the unique premise of Netflix's holiday film "Klaus" (2019) and why it especially works for their personal tastes. Director Sergio Pablos and the talented team of writers have created a truly interesting twist on the holiday tropes and Santa Claus mythos. With a little suspension of disbelief Ethan and Sarah walk through the plot, amazing voice cast, characters,

en

01:33:01

Humor and heart make "Kings of Wyld" a must read...

No Preamble ·

2023/12/12

At long last Ethan reads "Kings of the Wyld" per the recommendation of Sarah and the glowing reviews of his wife (both of whom have impeccable tastes in media). Spoiler alert: he loved it and thus Ethan and Sarah discuss the world, characters, and story that Nicholas Eames has crafted. There's a lot to enjoy with Pratchett-esque humor, a refreshing POV character, and an endless bounty of fantasy genre references.Contains spoilers for the novels "Kings of the Wyld" and "Bloody Rose" by Nicholas

en

01:29:19

Spider-Man 2 (PS5) a rogue's gallery of redeemable...

No Preamble ·

2023/11/28

Peter Parker and Miles Morales are back in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (PS5) and Sarah and Ethan are hyped for it! Returning alongside the spider men are a host of familiar villains, many of which are notably reformed and taking a break from crime. Ethan and Sarah dig into how Insomniac handles these characters and their rehabilitation, contrasted by the brutal Kraven, the twisted Flame cult, and the alien symbiote Venom.Contains major spoilers for Spider-Man 2.Content Warning: Strong language, fictional

en

01:12:12

James Gunn and the art of the Needle Drop

No Preamble ·

2023/11/14

Through his tasteful use of "needle drops" director James Gunn has crafted heartfelt and thematic soundtracks, where each song elevates the story without overstaying its welcome. Ethan and Sarah explore the music of "The Suicide Squad" (2021) and the "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy in an effort to showcase and understand these masterful soundtracks. Both hosts bring to the table their favorite OST picks for discussion. Some songs are silly, others score epic fight sequences, and a few are

en

59:41

Getting into the spooky spirit with "Trick 'r Treat"...

No Preamble ·

2023/10/31

Happy Halloween! Ethan posits that Halloween horror is a different beast from the traditional horror genre. Exhibit A: "Trick 'r Treat" the 2007 anthology film that takes place on Halloween night. Sarah dives into the movie, intent on dissecting it. Instead, she comes back bewildered. A spooky good time, "Trick 'r Treat" is a strong argument to back Ethan's point.Content Warning: Strong language, sexual content, fictional violence, and goreNo Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy |

en

59:48

Nostalgia in Media: The good, the bad, and the greedy

No Preamble ·

2023/10/17

Nostalgia is a powerful, but often abused, tool in popular media. Sarah and Ethan get into what makes nostalgia good and effective and where it goes wrong. Why are the biggest IPs the worst offenders of creating lifeless husks? Why do fans and nerds love to see recognizable characters and references? Does the Scream franchise get it right? Did Star Trek or Star Wars do nostalgia better?Content Warning: Strong languageNo Preamble website AttributionsIntro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton |

en

01:18:47

Experiencing John Carpenter's 1982 masterpiece "The...

No Preamble ·

2023/10/03

Convinced by Ethan's love of horror films, Sarah finally watches John Carpenter's classic "The Thing" (1982) for the first time. As an iconic movie in the genre there's a lot to unpack, from strong characterizations to the timeless monster designs. Can Sarah and Ethan answer long-standing questions: does a thing remain at the end of the movie? Is that alcohol or oil in that bottle? Did Blair get a chance to use that noose?Content Warning: Fictional violence, gore, fictional violence against animals,

en

23 results

Similar Podcasts

GameStar Podcast

GameStar

Bohndesliga

Rocket Beans TV

VoorWaarheid & Videowaarheid on Odysee

VoorWaarheid & Videowaarheid

Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast

Mark Rosewater

Matthew Kratter"s Bitcoin University on Odysee

Matthew Kratter"s Bitcoin University