Champion Casters: A podcast about heroes and craft

The Hot Ones Challenge is upon us! Since Michael lost our trivia sessions for Season 2, Joe got to interview him with questions that the listeners submitted. At the same time, they both had to eat increasing hot spicy wings. Well these wings were more like vegan nuggets, and the spice was inconsistent, but that's neither here nor there. Michael finally got to talk about things he loves like Final Fantasy, and sexy Riverdale actors! Thank you all for listening this season and submitting questions. Special shoutout and thank you to But Why Tho for giving us a space this season. We'll all be back in the late Fall for Season 3 of Champion Casters! 

The Season Finale of Champion Casters! We've done two seasons of this show (3 total seasons if you've been with us a while) and for our 100th episode we're talking about something near and dear to our hearts, The Spectacular Spider-Man. You may have heard us mention it off-handed in one of our other Spider-person-themed episodes. This is the greatest Spider-Man tv show and probably one of the definitive takes on Peter Parker. It's not perfect, but it's damn amazing a show of this quality got made and was abruptly cancelled. We have a lot to say about this web-head to buckle up for a nice Giant-Sized episode of Champion Casters. Tune in to the end of this episode to find out who lost the trivia challenge this season, we'll be releasing our hot sauce special in the coming weeks. 

In season 2 episode 24 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe find love. . . and some thunder in the newest Thor movie. There are two Thor's in this movie so really there's twice the love and twice the thunder, but that's neither here nor there. Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman are back, both as Thor's looking to rekindle their lightning. This movie is no Thor: Ragnarok, but with Taika Waititi at the helm again, there's still some great humor and heart in this film--more than some people are giving it credit for. Tune in for Michael and Joe to fight for Love. . . yeah and Thunder. 

In season 2, episode 22 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe take a detour from superhero antics and talk about environmental justice and Ashitaka's role in Princess Mononoke. Haiyo Miyazaki created a masterpiece of animation that's also an expression of frustration about our industrialism killing the environment and how to live with that. Ashitaka represents the struggle to reconcile, and boy does that feeling still resonate today. This movie was released in like 1997! Michael had barely hatched out of his turtle shell!

Get superhero gifted. In season 2, episode 21 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe get twisted while watching Static Shock. One of the most popular children's animated shows on television (at the time), Static was fundamental to the Saturday morning cartoon block. Virgil Hawkins was a stand-in for every good-hearted kid, but what makes him and this show special was the dedication to showing children how to be good community members. Yes, this show was the definition of Saturday Morning Cartoon, but it did it very very well. 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode covers a lot of tough subjects that the show covers like grief, housing instability, gun violence, and racism. 

Look who has the high ground, now! In season 2, episode 20 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe talk about Michael's older brother aka Obi-Wan Kenobi. In Disney's never ending pursuit of turning movies into 6 episode streaming shows, Obi-Wan is the latest to get his own--sorta. The show is set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, when Obi-Wan finally learns Anakin is alive and he must get back in the Jedi game to protect Leia and Luke. This show follows Obi-Wan and he's technically the hero but Champion Casters would like to argue Reva, the Inquizitor tasked with finding Obi-Wan, is the true protagonist and probably should have gotten her own show. 

In season 2 episode 19 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe ponder the likelihood of a heaven while watching Kristen Bell play Eleanor in The Good Place. The Good Place ran for 4 seasons and we'll be discussing Eleanor across all of them. Yes, we will be discussing the other characters, but we decided to focus on Eleanor since she can kind of function as the protagonist. We also decided to talk about the character who eats the most shrimp and, of course, it had to be her. 

Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me, but I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed. In season 2 episode 18 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe analyze not a Champion, but an All-Star: Shrek! Yes, the big green ogre is up for debate. How deep is this character? Is it just a bitter diss on Disney, or is there a significant meaning or lesson learned from this series. Michael and Joe revisited Shrek 2 as the pinnacle of this series. Surprisingly enough, when we waded into the swamp we found something of worth. 

Danny Phantom has had it coming for a while. In season 2, episode 17 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe go ghost and talk about one of their favorite zillenial shows, Danny Phantom. Imagine a world where "The MCU" doesn't exist and instead superhero shows had to be completely original--only nodding to existence of other heroes. Danny Phantom stands apart in this time because the concept is very simple: rip off Spider-Man, but make it about ghosts. The show succeeds in a lot of ways, but it isn't perfect. Michael and Joe use a couple of episodes to frame their conversation about what makes Danny Phantom work. 

In season 2, episode 16 of Champion Casters Michael and Joe drool over not one, but TWO Oscar Isaacs. The titular Moon Knight is a hero with multiple personalities imbued by the power of the Egyptian god of the moon, Khonshu. Steven Grant is a mild mannered British man who works at a museum and Marc Spector is a wanted mercenary. Both of them are tormented by their past and their present servitude to Khonshu. The Marvel show is about trauma and abuse, Steven and Marc react to their abuse differently. When they're interacting together, it's some of the best stuff in the show. 

Okay straight up, this episode is about Doctor Strange, Wanda Maximoff, and America Chavez. In season 2, episode 15 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe talk about a Sam Raimi directed Doctor Strange movie that's more about Wanda, and America Chavez just happens to be in it. This movie and episode functions as a direct sequel to the WandaVision series. If you have not watched that series or listened to our episodes about them, please go do that. You will be lost. That being said, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness is not so much a multiverse movie as it is a horror movie. We can thank Sam Raimi for that and it's honestly one of our favorite aspects of this film. Doctor Strange is in this movie, and he does have an arc--it's just not as prominent as Wanda's. Tune in to find out why. 

Hey yo Donnie! In season 2, episode 14 of Champion Casters, Joe finally convinces Michael to watch Creed on a whim--and now Michael wants to take up boxing. No, not to fight, but to look as good as Michael B. Jordan and to get really good at jump roping. Michael B. Jordan makes it look easy as Adonis Creed. His acting, directed by Ryan Coogler is a killer combination. The themes in this film about legacy, continuing the fight, and individualism are heartwarming and comforting. This is not the sequel/reboot to Rocky that we all expected, but boy are we glad its the one that exists. 

Look, we all know Nick Cage in one form or the other. We've seen him as the action hero and portrayed by Andy Sandberg on SNL, but we've never seen him like this. In season 2 episode 13 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe watch Nicholas Cage transform into. . . Nick Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Yes, this film is about a romance between a washed up Nick Cage and a charming--as--all--hell Pedro Pascal, but ultimately it's a love letter to Cage's career. Acting is hard. Making a movie is hard--even a bad movie. So when The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent takes aim at Nicholas Cage's movies it feels earnest, unlike some 4th wall--breaking or "nodding" senses of humor. Aside from all of this, the plot of this film is just bananas. 

Everything Everywhere All at Once's Evelyn Wang is the best everything because she is the best at nothing. In season 2 episode 12 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe stare into the dark void that is the everything bagel and find a champion of infinite possibility known as Evelyn Wang. The film Everything Everywhere All at Once is a technical marvel: a low budget indie sci-fi/action/comedy/drama with a wickedly smart script and a rapid editing style that's about taping into alternate realities. The movie is anchored by Evelyn Wang (played by Michelle Yeoh), the avatar of never figuring it out. Her journey reminds us that so long as there is a will there is a way and and the path forward in a meaningless void is to use kindness at every turn. 

CONTENT WARNING: The film and our episode touches upon themes of suicide and self-destruction as well as family/intergenerational trauma. 

They call him Knuckles! He doesn't chuckle! Well in this movie he gives us chuckles. In season 2, episode 11 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe are once again joined by Cameron Hennings to talk about Sonic The Hedgehog 2--but specifically Knuckles, Tails and the power the friendship. Knuckles, played by the sexy baritone of Idris Elba, is a bit of a departure from the games, while Tails is exactly the same--he's even voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey. Now that may be good for some, but not for others *cough Joe cough* and that's okay. If you stuck around for our first go at Sonic the Hedgehog, thanks for coming back again. This time we're bringing a bit more chaos.

Nope, this episode is not about our Michael, but Doctor Michael Morbius played by academy award-winner and everyone's favorite joker, Jared Leto. In season 2, episode 10 of Champion Casters, Michael (not Michael Morbius) and Joe discuss the epic highs and lows of Sony Picture's Morbius. In a desperate attempt to create a Spider-Man adjacent shared universe, the film is about a B-list Spider-Man villain/anti-hero who's a kinda vampire but kinda doesn't want to be. Look folks, this film isn't that great and you probably already know that. If you want to hear us laugh and cry about what Morbius is and what it could be, then please be our guest because this is a very silly episode. 

Starfire is the main character of Teen Titans and you can't convince us otherwise. In season 2, episode 9 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe are joined by friend of the pod and Teen Titans connoisseur, Hannah Langley, to talk about why Starfire is really the best character in the show. She may not have her own dedicated season like the rest of the members, but she experiences a lot of growth over the series. This episode talks about cooler older siblings, bad boy hunks, and the self-sabotaging tendencies of wanting to be liked by peers. We've seen the whole series (multiple times over), but for this recorded we revisited "Sisters," "Switched," "Transformation," and "How Long is Forever." We're keeping this discussion limited to the original Teen Titans show for the sake of the character arc.  

Meilin is not just your average teenager in 2002 Toronto, she also is a shapeshifting giant red panda! In Season 2, Episode 8 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe recall their cringiest moments from middle school and high school while talking about Pixar's latest hit: Turning Red. Mei is just a relatable kid and we are excited to share about how we, too, had awkward crushes and listened to boy bands. Turning Red is not just a usual Pixar film, instead choosing to be influenced by anime-styled expressive-ness and rapid editing. Which just so happens to be our taste because during the same age as Meilin, we watched some anime--just a little bit. Okay maybe more than a little. 

James Gunn has done this before. We've seen characters like Peacemaker--bad men who learned how to be bad from worse fathers--but none of them have been this complex. In Season 2, Episode 7 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe take on Mr. Gunn's trope and talk about why this version sets apart from the rest. And no, it's not just because Peacemaker (the show) has a killer opening. This show lets its off-putting humor fly, but actually lets its problematic fav be the butt of the jokes (yes, we said butt). Michael and Joe like a lot of the characters in this show, but they are excited to share why they actually like Peacemaker--even if he is a douche. 

Did you ever think Bruce Wayne. . . may not have it all together? Like he might be dealing with some issues? In the Season 2, Episode 6 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe dive deep into the depths of a dirty city called Gotham only to find a struggling man named Bruce Wayne. The Batman takes Bruce Wayne very seriously and chooses "gritty" or "grounded" approach to his characterization. Matt Reeves just applied basic psychology to this guy and said, "he'a bit emo and having an identity crisis." While The Batman may take Bruce seriously, the rest of the world isn't as realistic as one might think--and that's a bonus. This movie is emo in all the right and wrong ways. Tonally, it has more in common with Venom than The Dark Knight. If you've been listening to this podcast for a while you know Michael and Joe love the world of Batman. They love Gotham, they love the Robins, they love the psychological villains, but Bruce has alway been a sticking point. Well, that's not the case in this movie, that's for sure!

Is Katara the best Avatar character? In Season 2, Episode 5 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe revisit one of their favorite franchises, Avatar: The Last Airbender, to give Katara a more formal discussion. They take on some of Katara's highlights from the series, episodes like "Imprisoned", "The Painted Lady", "The Puppet Master", and "The Southern Raiders." Katara has a long history of fighting for hope, but what motivates her to fight for that, how does that fight manifest, and how does that affect other characters in the story? Michael and Joe discuss all of this--even more stuff--and why Katara undoubtedly deserves the Champion Belt. 

Mirabel Madrigal is a champion in her own right just for her hair game. In Season 2 episode 4 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe are joined by the EIC of But Why Tho: A Geek Community, Kate Sanchez, to talk about the family drama in Encanto. We discuss why Mirabel is such a likable character, in spite of falling into a "non-powered" trope. We also talk about why the Madrigals are not a dysfunctional family, but a totally normal one that just has a lot of secrets. Encanto really surprised us, especially considering Disney's track record on family narratives. Adding a new superpower to our trivia game, we've included a new mechanic for when guests appear on our show! Make sure to grab a cup for this episode because we're gonna spill a bit of tea on our own families, as well. 

We're going back to the Matrix! Well, Champion Casters has never been to the Matrix, but Neo has and we're talking about him. In Season 3 Episode 3 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe reminisce about growing up on these movies only for Lana Wachowski to completely crush our nostalgia and feed us a romance story we didn't know we needed. This film is very meta. Neo is programer in the Matrix, making a game about the Matrix and his tech bro coworkers are stand-ins for Warner Bros. And that's just the first 10 minutes--yeah this movie is bananas! It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but don't worry--we did our research and we'll ease you in nice and slowly. We will discuss the meta-textual commentary, a bit about Lana's history with the franchise, the themes from the previous movie, and all the wacky characters and language that goes in-between. So jump in and listen to us fly. 

In the Season 2, Episode 2 of Champions Casters, Michael and Joe continue to play holiday catchup by talking about Kate Bishop from the Disney+ Hawkeye series, performed by Hailee Steinfeld. One might think this is a good opportunity to talk about Clint Barton, but one might not remember Clint's character well because it wasn't written consistently. So instead we are talking about Michael's new crush, Kate Bishop. After all, she--too--is Hawkeye (it's not as confusing as you might think). This week's Champion comes from humble roots--a rooftop penthouse in the upper east side of Manhattan. She was inspired by the previous Hawkeye during the events of The Avengers (2012) to take up archery, eventually becoming the world's greatest archer. Kate has a lot of energy and really wants to prove herself to Clint, but she'll need to learn that with great trick arrows, comes great responsibility. Kate Bishop is a bright spot in this new era of the MCU and we are excited to tell you why. 

Kicking off Season 2 of Champion Casters, we revisit our old pal Spider-Man in the finale(?) of Tom Holland's spidey trilogy, Spider-Man: No Way Home. In this film, Peter messes with the multiverse to have everyone forget he's Spider-Man, only to bring villians from other dimensions to cause him and his loved ones trouble. Has Peter finally grown from a Spider-Kid to a Spider-Man? Where's Iron Man in this movie? And most importantly, which returning villain steals the spotlight and our hearts? Spoiler Alert: it's not The Spot. There's a lot to cover in this episode, but we hope you enjoy returning to us, and us returning to our favorite web slinger. What's new is we now have a mini trivia round in our episodes, so be prepared for a few Spider-Man facts about Tom Holland, and the other actors who had a go at playing Peter Parker. If you keep track of our trivia score, at the end of the season we will punish the host with the lower score--and you get to choose the punishment. Hopefully our Peter Tingles will help us out in this round. Welcome to Season 2 of Champion Casters! 

If you had eternity, would you build the atomic bomb, form a cult, or become a movie star? Ya know what, don't answer that. In the 38th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe take on the pantheon of characters in the MCU's latest venture. The film is full of twists, turns, and gorgeous cinematography, but does lay the groundwork for a good champion? But more importantly, will a new himbo be crowned Champion?!

Were you expecting someone else? This is the definitive version of The Dark Knight, who else would we talk about? In the 37th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe talk about one of the more under-appreciated Batman flicks. This film manages to hit at the core of what everyone loves about this character, while also respecting the differentiations between the previous incarnations--especially 60s Batman. Join us for a light romp with everyone's favorite caped crusader. 

Dune has finally brought the world together. For the first time in minutes, popular culture can revolve around a fantasy book series adaptation. In the 36th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe roll around in the sand dunes of Arrakis and ponder the question: is Paul evil or just a bad person? There are many jokes to be had and spices to be collected in this episode to kick back and listen to the sounds of two worms doing their thing. 

Michael Myers was done dirty. It really takes a special kind of movie to have empathy for The Boogieman. In the 35th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe partake in a journey through the darkness. They enter the void and return as the void after watching the horror that is Halloween Kills. You may notice this episode doesn't have a particular "champion," that's because in Haddonfield. . . there are no heroes.  

CONTENT WARNING: Our episode talks about graphic violence, suicide, poor portrayals of mental health, and school shootings. 

"I'll have my podcast shaken, not stirred." And so you'll have it Mr. Bond--in the 34th episode of Champion Casters Michael and Joe talk about Daniel Craig's final outing as 007 in No Time To Die. What does Craig bring to the role? Does this film really encapsulate that? Is this film any good? Is Daniel Craig any good as Bond? Are his eye really that blue?! All these questions and more will be answered in this podcast! 

Why is Eddie Brock the way he is? Why is he such a damn mess? In the 33rd episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe talk about their favorite space goo and how it's affected Tom Hardy's ability to speak in Venom: Let There Be Carnage. These movies are just plain silly with some interesting queer subtext (and text) going on. Be prepared for a ridiculous conversation about the "Lethal Protector!" 

Star Wars and Anime--what's not to love? In the 32nd episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe discuss each of the heroes from the individual episodes of Star Wars: Visions. They talk about what makes a "good Star Wars story" and how each of the studios behind the episodes bring their own flair. 

Does having a good heart make you a good nurse? Well, in episode 31 of Champion Casters Michael and Joe talk about a singular nurse with a kind heart. Marta is a unique character in contemporary film and tv in that she's honest and kind--it's her greatest strength and her greatest weakness. We don't see that too often nowadays. In this episode we talk about why that's important. 

We waited years for this movie--not just for it to release, but to review it too! In the 30th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe talk about the last film 20th Century Fox released for its X-Men franchise, The New Mutants. Yes, this movie is bad, and yes we knew this going into it. We just didn't know how it was bad. Folks you're in for a wild one. . .

CONTENT WARNING: this movie depicts content about trauma, racism, and self-harm. Our conversation touches on these subjects briefly. 

Who doesn't like to see a Muni Bus destroyed? I guess maybe SF's department of transportation. . . In the 29th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe get to talk about Kung Fu movies and the action story-telling of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Some of the set pieces are phenomenal! But not all that glitters like ten golden rings is actually gold. 

PO-TAY-TOES! In the 28th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe go on a journey. One filled with adventure, fear, temptation, and most of all: friendship. The hosts discuss the ways in which The Fellowship of the Ring is not actually about The Fellowship. They discuss the various Hobbits in the film and their roles in relationship to the themes. But not Merry and Pippin so much since they're basically the same character in this movie. 

Did ya'll see that Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer?! You must have it's been seen like 20 million times already. In the 27th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe talk about one of their favorite superheroes, the wall-crawler himself Spider-Man, and what are the pros and cons of Tom Holland's incarnation. What makes Spider-Man fans so passionate about their love/hate for this version of the character? And will Mr Ditkovitch be in the new movie?! 

The MCU dares to ask the question. . . what if we made our movies animated and slightly different? In the 26th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe tag team the two heroes first introduced in What If. . . They ponder questions like, what makes a good alternate version of a character, what are the pros and cons of a multi-verse, and how is T'Challa an "explorer"? All this and more in a multitude of episodes! 

We. Love. Dev Patel. In the 24th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe gush over The Green Knight and the depiction of Arthurian Legend. There's a deconstruction of myth, conversation about masculinity, criticism of war, honor, and chivalry--oh and there's some sexy times too. Did we mention we love Dev Patel? 

WARNING: there's some mention of graphic violence and sex in this episode.   

We're convinced Sam has more in common with Jackie Chan or Kevin McCallister than John Wick. In the 23rd episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe dissect the visual language and action set pieces of Gunpowder Milkshake, because honestly they say a lot more about the character of Sam than the dialogue. This campy noir crime/action movie is a lot of fun to look at. 

King James may have 4 rings, but can he win The Champion Belt?! In the 22nd episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe get up and slam, because they have a real jam going now. Welcome to a very serious, very nuanced discussion about Space Jam, featuring the NBA's current number one player: Lola Bunny. Michael and Joe discuss LeBron's parenting in the movie and how to criticize a film that doesn't seem to be targeted to people in their mid-twenties. 

Is this Loki now considered "The" Lokis, or is he still technically a variant? In the 21st episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe talk about the titular God of Mischief and his surprisingly good Sci-Fi series on Disney Plus. While the series plays with a lot of fun Sci-Fi concepts and asks some philosophical questions, does it give Loki enough character to earn the Champion belt? 

Natasha Romanoff isn't the only Black Widow. In the 20th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe talk about the introduction of a Black Widow family helps add more depth to the character. They also debate which themes of the movie are more resonant. You're in for a wild time of epic superhero poses and poor Dom Toretto impersonations. 

Who is the Prince of Hell? In the 19th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe take a break to discuss a video game character that has captured their hearts. Zagreus's story is one of pain, suffering, and death--lots of death. But what makes it particularly interesting is the non-linear and exploratory storytelling of Hades. 

Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot---we're talking all of them! In the 18th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe tackle an ensemble cast, instead of just one main character. Sure, you could argue Peter Quill is the protagonist, but really this whole cast is fun. And they're even more fun together. So strap in for a conversation about how heroes can be each other's greatest antagonists. 

Luca reminds us of our childhood days, running around looking for something to inspire us. In the 17th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe take a step back and ponder a hero whose stakes are a little bit smaller: not being caught living as a sea-monster trying to get a Vespa. So what are the strengths of being a part of an ensemble with low stakes? And will this movie inspire other kids? 

Gotta go fast! Sonic The Hedgehog was one of the last films to hit the big screen before the global pandemic. In episode 16 of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe--with special guest Cameron Hennings of Cameron Like Cartoons--figure out why the movie has an impact. They also discuss what it means for the legacy of Sonic and how did the CGI artists not win a damn Oscar for their work?! 

Regan reminds us that the children are the future. In the 15th episode of Champion Casters, Michael and Joe talk about what makes Regan a much more compelling character than anyone else in A Quiet Place Part II. They also discuss why horror movies tend to have action sequels like Aliens, and T2.