Jeff Has Cool Friends
By Jeff May
Jeff Has Cool FriendsSep 14, 2021
Jeff Has Cool Friends 78: Rocom
Holy hell, my latest Cool Friend, Rocom is like, the absolute coolest and best. You might know him from his amazing art and ridiculously popular indie toy line Mighty Maniax, which may have a VERY specific connection to a recent Cool Friend! Also, independent of that. his current kickstarter features a pin by one of my other Cool Friends! I'm serious when I say that Rocom and I are like, Forrest Gumping our way through each other's lives in the coolest ways possible. This is such a rad and fun episode, and it legitimately could've been 4 hours long. So do me a favor and enjoy this episode, go follow @Rocom on the socials, and check out the Mighty Maniax Kickstarter campaign if you like kick-ass toys right here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rocom/mighty-maniax-dark-earth and head over to patreon.com/jeffmay to enjoy the exclusive content we recorded JUST FOR PATRONS!
Jeff Has Cool Friends 77: Ken Napzok
My Cool Friend Ken Napzok is the COOLEST! He and I used to be next-door neighbors that love all the same stuff! Now we live slightly further away while loving the same stuff! You might know Ken from the innumberable amount of nerdy things he's been a part of, like ScreenJunkies, ForceCenter, and like, a skrillion other things. He even wrote a book called Why We Love Star Wars, and it's amazing!
We talk about so much cool stuff, that it's really hard to quantify in just this paragraph, so just trust me that Ken is amazing and you're going to love this episode. So listen, enjoy, follow Ken on the socials (@KenNapzok everywhere, including YouTube!) and head on over to patreon.com/jeffmay to enjoy our Patreon-exclusive content JUST FOR PATRONS!
NERD! Episode 21: GI Joe, A Real American Hero (feat. Adam Tod Brown)
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. This month, Dre and Jeff begin their season on Toy Reboots with special guest Adam Tod Brown as they dive into GI Joe, A Real American Hero, the line rebooting Hasbro's 12" action figure (definitely not a doll) lasting from 1982-1994! There's a lot to unpack about this seminal 80's toy line, so let's fight for freedom wherever there's trouble, never give up, and stay 'til the fight's won as we dive deep into GI Joe, A Real American Hero with our first toy line reboot! And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) and Jeff (@heytherejeffro) and Adam (@AdamTodBrown), and give Adam's podcasts a listen on the You Don't Even Like Podcasts Network and have a nerdy day!
Jeff Has Cool Friends 76: Tom Krajewski
My latest cool friend, TV and comic writer Tom Krajewski, is one of my oldest friends in Los Angeles, and one of the most impressive dudes I know. Among his countless achievements, we find Primer, the absolute DC comics PHENOMENON that is one of the fastest, highest selling books since it's inception a few years ago (co-created with Jennifer Muro, see JHCF episode 23). Well guess what? They are releasing Primer as individual issues, have a sequel coming, and WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE? We talk about it, sure, but we also talk about writing BATMAN COMICS, his various TV shows, Ninja Turtles, the music video he's in with PINK and so much more! We're just bros being bros.
So please enjoy, go gollow Tom on social media (IG: @krajewski_tom, Twitter @TomKrajewski) watch his shows, and find out what super secret project he's working on that'll crossover with a certain other podcast I co-host, and head on over to patreon.com/jeffmay to enjoy the Patreon-exclusive content we recorded JUST FOR PATRONS!
Jeff Has Cool Friends 75: Dan Bakkedahl
My Cool Friend Dan Bakkedahl has one hell of a resume under his belt. From movies like The Heat, Trumbo, and Action Point to television shows like The Daily Show, Legit, and Veep, Dan has proven himself to be filled to the brim with talent and charm. What you might NOT know, however, is that Dan is one of my best pinball buddies. Don't worry, we let you know ALL about it pretty quickly. On top of that, Mr. Johnson's Time Machine (his incredible new podcast with Joe Canale) is an absolute delight.
I'd tell you to follow Dan on social media, but he deleted them all. I've never been more jealous of a guest in my life. So enjoy this episode, and head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay for exclusive content we recorded JUST FOR PATRONS!
NERD! Episode 20: Double Dragon (1994)
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. This month, Dre and Jeff finish their season on Unfortunate Video Game Adaptations with the most unfortunate mainstream video game adaptation of all-time: 1994's Double Dragon! There's a lot to unpack about this absoulte violation of a film, so let's bleach our flaptops, engage in some questionable martial arts, and reunite our cheap plastic medallion as we dive deep into Double Dragon with our final unfortunate video game movie! And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) and Jeff (@heytherejeffro), have a nerdy day, and head on over to patreon.com/jeffmay for exclusives, early access to uncensored episodes, and so much more!
Jeff Has Cool Friends 74: Rey Taira, President of threezero Corporation
Oh boy is my latest Cool Friend a doozy! Honestly, I'm not sure how I even managed to snag Rey Taira for this long, as he was supposed to be getting ready for TF Con (Transformers) as his company, threezero, is going to have a HUGE presence there. But hey, I'm not complaining. Rey is one of the coolest, kindest, nerdiest nerds I know, and I'm so stoked to just geek out with him for a while. Wait until you hear about all the stuff that, not only his company produces, but that he himself does. It's so rad. And like, he's a PRESIDENT. HE PRESIDES OVER STUFF!
I could go on forever about Rey, but I think it's best if you just listen, follow him @ultramanrei and threezero @threezerohk, and head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay to enjoy our specially recorded bonus content JUST FOR PATRONS!
Jeff Has Cool Friends 73: Jon Jabs of The Past is Alive
My Cool Friend this episode is the amazing Jon Jabs of one of my favorite Youtube channels, The Past Is Alive. When I was researching card breakers a few years back in order to check out how it's done right, I stumbled onto his fascinating channel and it was just everything I could have hoped for. Jon is fun, knowledgeable, interactive, and charming as heck at every turn, and he's cultivated a fantastic and supportive community in the TPIA family. I quickly became a huge fan of his work, as his entire vibe is about the fun and friendship of the hobby. And hey, it's not every day there are TWO giant bearded dudes who colect toys and open cards on camera on the show, so let's soak this one up.
So please enjoy the episode, and I can't stress enough how much you need to check out Jon's Youtube Channel and Facebook community. Heck, you'll probably even see me in the Live Chats half the time. And head on over to my Patreon for early access to uncensored episodes AND exclusive content we record JUST FOR PATRONS!
Nerd Episode 19: Doom (2005)
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. This month, Dre and Jeff are joined by John and Tom Reimann of the Screamplay podcast as they continue their season on Unfortunate Video Game Adaptations with 2005's Doom! There's a lot to unpack about this absoulte whiff of a film, so let's inject some space chromosomes, chainsaw a mutant dog-man's robo-spine, and look down a microscope instead of a sniper scope, as we dive deep into Doom, creeping deeper into 2024 with another unfortunate video game movie!And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) Jeff (@heytherejeffro) John (@johnnyrimes) and Tom (startthemachine) on the socials, go listen to Screamplay (and all the other great podcasts) on the Gamefully Unemployed network, and have a nerdy day!
Jeff Has Cool Friends 72: Bob Fingerman
My latest Cool Friend is one of those friends that, when I met him for the first time, I kinda quietly geeked out. I grew up marveling at his images in secondhand Cracked magazines I got from my mom’s friend Cathy, and admiring his work from there on out at various points in my life. Bob is a master cartoonist, having credits all over the pop culture universe. From Cracked and MAD, to Marvel and DC, to TMNT and Heavy Metal, to his cult comic series Minimum Wage, I can’t imagine you HAVEN’T seen Bob’s work. And now he’s got “That’s Some Business You’re In,” an over-40-year retrospective of his art career (forwarded by the amazing Bill Sinkiewicz) that will have a compilation and notes on work spanning all the way back to his childhood, and which is currently being crowd-sourced at https://zoop.gg/c/bobfingermanWhen I noticed he had just started that campaign, I was about to beg to have him on the show to promote it. Turns out I just had to ask nicely. So here it is! Please enjoy my conversation with Bob, follow him on the socials @BobFingerman, and please, if you can, check out the landing page for That’s Some Business You’re In’s crowdfunding campaign, because I think a whole bunch of you are REALLY gonna want to see this. And while you’re at it, head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay and enjoy some Patreon-exclusive content we recorded JUST FOR YOU!
Jeff Has Cool Friends 71: Bailey Norton
My latest Cool Friend is the immensely talented comedian/host/rabblerouser Bailey Norton. Bailey is not only a masterful comic (I mean, she’s done Mint on Card several times and co-hosts the amazing Femmes the Rules live show) and fantastic podcast host (Hot Topic with Pickle and Bailey is a delight!), but she’s often found going viral across social media with her delightful traps laid out for toxic masculinity. Her bits have become so legendary, that she’s even partnered up with Reductress to make a sweatshirt using one of her most famous (and divisive) jokes (which you can find right here. This is a wonderfully fun and honest conversation with one of the most wonderfully fun and honest people I know, and I’m excited to bring it to you. So listen up, follow @baileyenorton on the socials, subscribe to Hot Topic with Pickle and Bailey, and head on over to patreon.com/jeffmay for access to Patreon-exclusive content where we talk about one intended thing and one accidental thing!
NERD! Street Fighter the Movie (1994)
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. Dre and Jeff enter their season on Unfortunate Video Game Adaptations with Street Fighter the Movie, the second direct adaptation of a video game ever! There's a lot to unpack about this campy blockbuster, so let's become undercover reporters, make a monster with some little videos, and keek that sunoffabeetch Bison's-asssss so hardt that thuh next Bison wannabee is going to fill it, as we dive deep into Street Fighter the Movie, easing us into 2024 with some awkward video game movies! And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) Jeff (@heytherejeffro) on the socials and have a nerdy day! Also, if you're feeling adventurous, head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay to access a SPECIAL exclusive episode of NERD! that dropped over the holidays.
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 70: Cat LaCohie AKA Vixen DeVille
OK, for real I'm not sure that I have enough space to list this episode's Cool Friend's accomplishments. Cat LaCohie (or Vixen DeVille, if you want to get all burlesque about it) is one of those people that is so filled to the brim with talent and drive, that I don't even know where to start. When we met, she out-comedied me before walking on shards of broken glass. You've probably seen her breathe fire on tv. She has an award-winning solo show that's dominated many festivals. She's just a friggin dynamo, I'll let the episode speak for itself.
So go follow @VixenDeVille and check out vixendeville.com for more, and hey, head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay to enjoy our Patreon exclusive content where we discuss that time she worked for...well, you'll see. It's WILD.
NERD! He Man and She Ra Christmas Special
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep This formerly Pateron-exclusive (and missing "Episode 5") episode of NERD! had Dre and Jeff continuing their season of TV Specials with He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special. There's a lot to unpack about this weird-ass classic, so let's go face off with the Beast-Monster, kidnap some alien children, and remind people the we are NOT NICE with this formerly PATREON EXCLUSIVE Holiday delight!
And, if you want to hear our CURRENT exclusive Holiday episode, head over to patreon.com/jeffmay and give it a listen, and follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) and Jeff (@heytherejeffro) and have a wonderful holiday!
NERD! Episode 17: Dutch (1991)
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. The 17th episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff EXTENDING their season on Cinematic Child Neglect with Dutch, the rare John Hughes misfire about a nightmare Thankgiving roadtrip starring Ed O'Neill and Ethan Embry. There's a lot to unpack about this hidden holiday classic, so let's buy some racy playing cards, drink some tasty looking water, and wiggle and grunt, as we dive deep into Dutch, juxtaposing our holiday themes because [a few of] YOU demanded it! And don't forget to head one over to Patreon.com/jeffmay for early access to shows like this, plus Patreon exclusives, goodies, and much more, and hey, go follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) and Jeff (@heytherejeffro) on the socials and, of course, enjoy your holidays!
Jeff Has Cool Friends 69: TJ Shevlin of Upper Deck
OK, so my Cool Friend TJ Shevlin may be the Product Development Coordinator for Upper Deck's Marvel Comics line of trading cards, and that's pretty amazing. But boy does that merely scratch the surface of all the cool, amazing stuff he's done. TJ is one of only SIX Eisner Awards judges (the Oscars of comics, given away at SDCC) and he's had his hands in almost every nerdy cookie jar you can imagine. This is a really geeky one in the best way, and we could've legit recorded for another 2 hours. Look, just listen up because you're gonna love this one, and go follow @strsmydestination as soon as possible.
And hey, head on over to patreon.com/jeffmay to enjoy our Patreon-exclusive content where TJ may or may not drop a very clear hint about something super secret on the horizon from Upper Deck.
Jeff Has Cool Friends 68: The Horror Virgin
I'm so stoked to put this episode up, as my Cool Friends Michael Randolph (@MRandolph24) Paige Wesley (@RampaigeWesley) and Todd Schlosser (@ToddJAwesome) from two of my favorite pods, Horror Virgin and Romancing the Pod are joining me this week. I've known Paige for quite a while, and since guesting on an episode of HV, I've become fast friends with the Tennessee-based Todd and Mikey. It made perfect sense to have the three of them on to talk about the cool-ass shows they do. We talk about a lot, and I have a lot of questions for the team in this one, so do yourselves a favor and, after you listen to this episode, go subscribe and listen to HV and RtP, follow these three on the socials, and head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay for early access to uncensored episodes and go enjoy our Patreon-exclusive content.
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 67: David Bell
Well, well, well, look what we have here. It's David Bell! He's my Cool Friend, and we talk about stuff! And things! Honestly, the way we gel when we talk made this one of the easiest episodes to record, and the time went by so quickly that we couldn't honestly believe that we had burned through an hour. You might know Dave from his work with Gamefully Unemployed (Hype Cast, Fox Mulder is a Maniac, Star Trek the Next Futurama) or as the head writer of Some More News. You might know him from his Cracked days. You might even know him from the previous version of this show from a few years back.
However you know Dave, you MUST know he's an absolute delight, and I'm so excited to have him on the show. Listen up, go follow @moviehooligan on the socials, listen to Gamefully Unemployed's impressive catalog, and hey, head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay for early access to uncensored episodes woith bonus content, and what might be my favorite Patreon-exclusive content to date with this episode.
NERD! Episode 16: Home Alone 2, Lost in New York
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. The 16th episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff finishing their season on Cinematic Child Neglect with Home Alone 2, Lost in New York, the redundant yet popular sequel (remake?) to the smash hit 1990 film that swept the nation. There's a lot to unpack about this certified rotten holiday blockbuster, so let's order our very own cheese Peet-ZA, fake a hotel shooting (wait, what???), and engage in WAY more attempted murder than we expected, as we dive deep into Home Alone 2, Lost in New York, easing us into the holidays and keeping our second year of the show moving full steam ahead! And don't forget to head one over to Patreon.com/jeffmay for early access to shows like this, plus Patreon exclusives, goodies, and much more, and hey, go follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) Jeff (@heytherejeffro) on the socials and keep the change, ya filthy animals!
NERD! Episode 15: Adventures in Babysitting
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. The 15th episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff continue their season on Cinematic Child Neglect (fun!) with Adventures in Babysitting, the mid-80's classic about Elizabeth Shue and maybe some other stuff, but mostly Elizabeth Shue. Yikes. There's a lot to unpack about this stacked piece of vintage nostalgia, so let's run away to the bus station, chop-shoplift a Playboy, and not [fool] with the Lords of Hell, as we dive deep into Adventures in Babysitting, celebrating my birthday, keeping our second year of the show moving full steam ahead! And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) Jeff (@heytherejeffro) on the socials and have a nerdy day!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 66: Joey Clift
My latest Cool Friend, the NEWLY EMMY NOMINATED Joey Clift, is a brilliant writer and comedian who also happens to be at the forefront of Native American entertainment, working on projects like Netflix's Spirit Rangers, his own project Gone Native (https://gonenative.tv/) and countless podcasts, panels, and live shows. Joey and I talk about a whole bunch of stuff in this illuminating and fun conversation, and, I could try to sell you on why you should love him, but just listen and you'll get it.
So listen up, go follow Joey on Twitter (@joeytainment) and IG (@joeycliiiiiift), then watch Gone Native and head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay for our Patreon exclusive conversation where I face my own idiocy.
Jeff Has Cool Friends 65: Dan Larson of Secret Galaxy
My latest Cool Friend, Dan Larson, is the first guest of the show that I haven't knowingly met, although I'm 99% sure we've bumped into each other. The co-creator/writer/host of the popular YouTube channel Secret Galaxy (née Toy Galaxy), Dan is a New England nerd with a career talking about dorky stuff on the internet and HEY WAIT A SECOND!!! Look, it should come as no surprise that I adore Dan and his work, and am extremely lucky that he took the time to sit and chat with me for a while.
So sit back, enjoy one of the dorkier episodes I've ever recorded, make sure you follow and support Dan (@ToyGalaxyDan) and Secret Galaxy (@toygalaxy), check out his fantastic Youtube show @SecretGalaxyTV and while you're at it, check him out on The Toys That Built America's Season 3 premiere on the History Channel!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 64: JHCF x In Sync Podcast
We’ve got a really great episode coming your way as I’m joined by my incredibly Cool Friends Aviv Rubinstein and Rachel Brodsky from the In Sync Podcast. As a matter of fact, this episode is a bit of what the kids call a collab, as I’m the beneficiary of a scheduling conflict that is allowing me to drop a “lost” episode of In Sync where we cover Seal’s Kiss From a Rose from Batman Forever. (Explains why we did the show together, no?) Consider this a preview, of sorts, of the In Sync pod, a fantastic and fun show hosted by two of the best people out there!
We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled program soon, but for now, please enjoy this really fun look into 1995’s song of the summer, and make sure to follow Aviv (@rambocalrissian), Rachel (@rebrods) and In Sync (@theinsyncpod) and hey, while you’re at it, go subscribe and give them a listen!
And if you want to hear this and many more shows like it, early and uncensored, with bonus content, hit up patreon.com/jeffmay for that and so much more!
NERD! Episode 13: Searching for Bobby Fischer
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. The 134th episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff beginning their season on Cinematic Child Neglect (fun!) with Searching for Bobby Fischer, the mid-90's, mid-budget film about the furious life of...a competitive chess prodigy, sprinkled with facts about one of the world's most famous living anti-semites. Yikes. There's a lot to unpack about this weirdly star-studded look analysis of childhood pressure, so let's slap those alarm clock looking thingies, maybe finally learn what "Castling" is, and become overbearing parental nightmares, as we dive deep into Searching for Bobby Fischer, celebrating chess (and numbers) nerd Dre's Birthday entering our second year of the show!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 63: Timmy Heague of Arsenal Comics
My latest Cool Friend, Timmy Heague, did something I can't even imagine, when at the age when most of us were figuring out what to do with our lives, he opened what would become one of the most succesful comic shops in Southern California, with Arsenal Comics and Games. Not only is this store the site of the infamous INSULT CGC 10 from the Zeb Wells episode, but it's a store that has reinvigorated an entire community to love and rally behind the comics industry. Here's the thing though: that's not enough for Timmy, as he finally got to WRITE his own comic with the upcoming book TOYBOX OF TERROR courtesy of Archis comics' Horror imprint, which you should preorder from your LCS ASAP, as it comes out on 10/18, which is literally my brithday. I'm so insanely impressed with Timmy's work ethic and love of the comic genre and you will be, too! So enjoy the episode, go follow Timmy on the socials (@comicbosstimmy) and, if you're in the Ventura County area, visit Arsenal Games and Comics (or check out the website) and buy some games and comics!
Jeff Has Cool Friend Episode 62: Lisa Wallen
Sometimes you meet a Cool Friend in the places you least expect them. Other times it's at Comic Con, where a ton of your other Cool Friends are. I met the incredible Lisa Wallen at the second one, and wouldn't you know it, less than a year later she was living within 3 miles of my place in Los Angeles. Funny how things work out. Lisa, aside from being a fantastic standup comic, is a power-nerd, through and through. She's a literal paid expert on anime, has a popular streaming channel on twitch, and is a current content producer/personality for Evil Geniuses. You bet your very good rump I asked her about that stuff, and so much more.
So enjoy the show, follow Lisa everywhere (@wisalallen on like, everything), watch her streams, and if you want to hear more, head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay for early access to uncensored episodes with exclusive bonus content!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 61: Kyle Ayers
My latest Cool Friend, Kyle Ayers (Never Seen It, Boast Rattle, Conan) is one of the most prolific and funniest people I know. He is an idea man, who executes some of the most unique and fantastic comedy ideas I've ever come across. His brain is SO sharp, that it's actually trying to kill him with Trigeminal Neuralgia, a rare brain disorder that is also known as Suicide Disease. Fun! Kyle is one of the easiest to talk to people I've ever met, and I'm so glad I could steal him for a bit to talk with me about his upcoming show at the Elysian theater in Los Angeles on September 15th (which he got some practice for at the latest Mint on Card).
So listen up and enjoy, then follow Kyle on the socials (@kyleayers) and head over to Patreon.com/jeffmay for early access to uncensored episodes and enjoy our dense Patreon-exclusive bonus content we recorded JUST FOR YOU!
NERD! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. The 13th episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff join up with Dre's brother Dan Alvarez finish their exploration into the world of insane sequels to popular films with The Secret of the Ooze, the too fast, utterly toothless follow up to 1990's smash hit, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There's a lot to unpack about this oft-romanticized letdown of a movie, so let's order some fake pizza, put our weapons away, and eat the nastiest confection in the history of merchandising as we dive deep into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze as we celebrate our FIRST YEAR FINALE!
And hey, don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) Jeff (@heytherejeffro) on the socials and, if you want early access to Nerd! as well as exclusive benefits and shows, head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay for more!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 60: Josh Gallegos (Joshy G)
My very Cool Friend Joshy G is, as I refer to him in this episode, the Forrest Gump of Hollywood. Many people know him as the trainer to many Wrestling superstars like Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Sheamus, and more, as well as for being one of the owners and operators of Deadboys Fitness along with the aforementioned Seth Rollins. Others might know him as my former co-host at our old job. Others still might know him as a member of the Jeopardy Clue Crew. Or maybe the person that connected two of wrestling's most legendary personalities diue to his work on various movies. Josh has done it all. I ask him a million questions about all of the stuff he's done and his interests and the like. Yeah, you get it. You've heard the show. Give him a follow on the socials (@joshygallegos) and hey, head on over to patreon.com/jeffmay and enjoy some Patreon-exclusive content you perfect, beautiful babies!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 59: Adam Tod Brown Part Deux
OK look: Adam Tod Brown is pretty much my bestest friend in the whole world. I've been podcasting with him for 10 years on shows like You Don't Even Like This Show (formerly Unpops), You Don't Even Like Sports, and our trading card show You Don't Even Like Sports Cards, but today I drop a bombshell that I never told him before. On top of that, we've got a TON to talk about with the shifts he's recently made professionally. I'm not gonna lie, a LOT has happened in the 2 years since he last appeared on the show, and I'm stoked to bring him back as my FIRST return guest.
Make sure you're following Adam and listen to all the great shows on the You Don't Even Like Podcasts network. And hey, head over to Patreon.com/jeffmay to enjoy early access to uncensored episodes and Patreon exclusive content!
Nerd! An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. The 12th episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff join up with comedian/podcaster/author Kym Kral (Kral Space, Ugh Fine!, Confessions of a Recovering Party Girl) continue their exploration into the world of insane sequels to popular films with Fievel Goes West, the 4-years too late, officially retconned sequel to the Don Bluth classic smash hit An American Tail. There's a lot to unpack about this complete left-turn of a movie, so let's avoid some cats, downgrade our fast food sponsorship, and cannibalize our creative vision as we dive deep into An American Tail: Fievel Goes West!
And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) Jeff (@heytherejeffro) and Kym (@KymKral) on the socials and have a nerdy day!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 58: Jeff Haidaczuk of Rucking Fotten
It's a big ol' Jeff Party as I'm joined by super cool friend Jeff Haidaczuk of Rucking Fotten. Sure, you might not know Jeff by name, but chances are he's been involved with something nerdy that you think rules. Come on and listen to us talk about goofing around at Cons, his work with the amazing clothing brand Rucking Fotten (seriously, go check em out if you haven't already) and so much more!
Then go follow Jeff and RF on the socials (@xvivahatex, @ruckingfotten) and have a Rucking Fadical day!
Jeff Has Cool Friends 57: Tom Reimann
Tom Reimann is not just one of my Cool Friends; he's one of my bestest friends and also my cohost on Tom and Jeff Watch Batman. CROSSOVER! Join us as we talk about some of our favorite TAJWB bits of the past 5 years (Holy smokes, we've been doing that show for 5 years???), the trials and tribulations of internet employment, the blast he's having at his current gig at Ranker (including Weird History AND Weird History Food) and SO much more!
Then subscribe to Gamefully Unemployed's Patreon, follow Tom and GU on the socials (@startthemachine and @gamefullyun, respectively) and hey, if you want early access to uncensored episodes, come on over to patreon.com/jeffmay for that AND SO MUCH MORE!
Nerd! Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. The 11th episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff begin their exploration into the world of insane sequels to popular films with the long-awaited, often maligned sequel to Joe Dante's smash hit Gremlins. There's a lot to unpack about this meta-foray into self-satire, so let's avoid bright lights, keep dry, and avoid eating after midnight as we dive deep into Gremlins 2: The New Batch!
And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) and Jeff (@heytherejeffro) on the socials and have a nerdy day!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 56: Aaron Wood
My Cool Friend Aaron Wood and I go back...jeez, a REALLY long time. When we first met, he was slinging his indie comic and trying to survive the nightmarish waters of being a freelance artist. We've shared so many memories together. This dude even came to my school for Career Day back when I was a teacher. I caught Urban Outfitters "accidentally" scamming him. He's surprised me by showing up in my audience. (Seriously, we have a weird-ass history.) He currently designs game stuff and makes incredible works of propaganda and travel art, hitting the convention circuit making cool money and even cooler friends! So enjoy the show, follow @AaronWoodDesigns on Instagram and hey, go visit him at a con, or his Etsy store (/Justonescarf) and buy some art!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 55: Emily Winter
My Cool Friend, the amazing Emily Winter, does so much cool stuff! She wrote a cool book (One Day Smarter), runs several amazing live comedy shows (Staff Picks, One Liner Madness), play comedian softball with me, and writes for Nickelodeon (That Girl Lay Lay). Oh hey, that means she's a member of the WGA. GUESS WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT!!! A lot, actually. Not just the strike. But we TOTALLY talk about the strike. Emily's been on NPR, the Today Show, and now she got that brass ring by appearing on her own episode of Jeff Has Cool Friends!
Enjoy the show, and HEY, gofollow Emily on social media (@EmilyMcWinter)!
Nerd! Pokemon Trading Card Game
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. The tenth episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff joined by the amazing Elise Golgowski as they continue their foray into the world of collectible card games with the Pokemon Trading Card Game. There's a lot to unpack about the dominant phenomenon of the card gaming world, so let's abandon our families, hit the local gym, and catch 'em all as we dive deep into the Pokemon Trading Card Game!And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) Jeff (@heytherejeffro) and Elise (@TheBigGolgowski) on the socials and have a nerdy day!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 54: Dallas McLaughlin
My Cool Friend Dallas McLaughlin does so much cool stuff! Not only is he a comedian and musician from San Diego, but he also wrote on the pilots for both Yo Gabba Gabba! AND The Aquabats! Super Show! (SO MANY EXCLAMATION POINTS) He's ALSO got a new album coming out called I Didn't Start the Fire (and Other Lies) that you should check out ASAP! Honestly, this episode is such a blast and the recording went by so quickly that I had no idea we went so long until we wrapped!
I hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed recording it, go follow Dallas on the socials (Tw: @dallas_mc, IG @dallassmclaughlin) and head on over to Patreon.com/jeffmay for access to early episodes with bonus content, exclusive shows, and more!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 53: Iva-Marie Palmer
We have an official JHCF First, as author Iva-Marie Palmer is the first guest of the show to punch me in the face (citation needed)! When she's not mercilessly beating me, Iva is a YA Fiction author who's written such books as Gimme Everything You Got, The End of the World As We Know It, and Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook. I am fascinated by her, her career, her incredibly funny tweets, her obsession with basketball, and her upcoming book The Jules Verne Prophecy with David Schwarz.
Editor's note: She was VERY nervous about doing the show and sounding weird, so make sure you hit her up on Twitter at @ivamarie and tell her she was great, because, you know, she was great. And please hit up patreon.com/jeffmay to enjoy the Patreon-exclusive bonus content where we do a fun little thing, as well as early access to uncensored episodes!
Nerd! Magic: The Gathering
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive. The ninth episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff joined by the incredible Brian Foster as they continue their foray into the world of collectible card games with the Magic: The Gathering. There's a lot to unpack about the granddaddy of the card gaming world, so let's tap some lands, summon a podcast enchantment, and break out our Power Nine as we dive deep into Magic: the Gathering!
And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) Jeff (@heytherejeffro) and Brian (@BoxScoreBrian) on the socials and have a nerdy day!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 52: Daniel Archambeault-May
My next Cool Friend is actually my longest running Cool Friend. There aren't many people on the planet that I can say I've known for 40 years, but my friend and foster brother Dann passes the litmus test. We've been through so much together, and I figured it would be really cool to start the new "season" of Jeff Has Cool Friends with my oldest Cool Friend. It doesn't hurt that he's essentially been curating, compiling, and uplaoding thousands of hours of classic wrestling footage for Ultimate Classic Wrestling, a channel available on Roku and Amazon Fire, as well as more spots down the line. So enjoy our conversation (including the numerous attempts not to fall into inside-jokes and In Living Color references) and go download the Ultimate Classic Wrestling channel on your Roku of Fire Stick!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 51: Ian Jacoby of Nudge Magazine
What do you do when the magazine you want doesn't exist? I guess you should do what my Cool Friend Ian Jacoby did and create it! Nudge is a pinball mag influenced by the punk/skater media of the 90's, complete with cool as hell visuals and incredible stories. I learned of Ian by purchasing the 1st issue of Nudge at a local retailer and immediately sought out Ian. Want to know what his favorite tables are? Dream tables? What actor from a hugely famous show was one of his first subscribers? No better way to find out than by listening to me and Ian's 2-hour long conversation! (Sorry it's so long, we just didn't want to stop talking!) So listen up, follow @nudgemagazine on the socials and head on over to nudgepinball.com!
Nerd! Star Wars Customizable Card Game
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep dive, all nerd. The eighth episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff begin their foray into the world of collectible card games with the Star Wars CCG (Jeff's personal favorite and primary hobby from 1996-2002). There's a lot to unpack about this confusingly canceled juggernaut of the card gaming world, so let's activate force, deploy headphones, and intitiate listening as we dive deep into the Star Wars Customizable Card Game!
And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) and Jeff (@heytherejeffro) on the socials and have a nerdy day!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 50: Nicolas Cowan
KWANTSU DUDES! My Cool Friend Nic Cowan is an artist, puppeteer, vinyl collector, and oh yeah, he was one of the main characters of the 1993 cult classic SURF NINJAS! You'll be surprised to know that we talk about all of this. Like, even writing a quick synopsis seems futile on this one, and I'm SO PUMPED ABOUT IT! So listen up and go follow @undeadguy on Instagram because his stuff is so cool!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 49: Laurie Kilmartin
My next Cool Friend Laurie Kilmartin is one of my favorite comedians on the planet. The author of two killer books (Shitty Mom and Dead People Suck) and Co-host of the Jackie and Laurie Show, Laurie was a writer for Conan (the tv host, not the barbarian) for like, a decade! Her latest album Corset is amazing (so go donwload it!) and she's simply the best!
So listen up, go follow @anylaurie16 on the socials, and have a great day!
Nerd! The Tick (Comic)
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep The seventh episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff take a moment to do a one-shot study of Ben Edlund's original The Tick comic book. There's a lot to unpack about this indie comics darling, so let's get some sidekicks, satirize some classic comic tropes, and go sane in a crazy world as we dive right into The Tick comics! SPOON!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 48: Anna Valenzuela
My incredibly Cool Friend Anna Valenzuela sat down with me to talk about a lot of cool stuff! We discuss standup, her black belt in karate, 2 decades of sobriety, appearances on Roast Battle, touring, and obviously much, much more. Anna and I have been buds for quite some time and I'm so glad I got to sit down with her to learn more about my wonderful friend! So listen up and follow @AnnaVisFunny on the socials ASAP!
Jeff Has Cool Friends Episode 47: Chogrin
My amazingly Cool Friend Chogrin stopped by to talk to me and man, we had some fun. Chogrin is an incredibly talented artist who has found his way collaborating with creators like Guillermo del Toro, Kevin Smith, and companies like Netflix with his new take on classic animation styles and creative gumption. Starting out as mutual fans, we have come together under one roof to discuss dream gigs, the ever-present struggle of being an independant artist, vintage animation, and much much more!
Enjoy the show and follow @Chogrin on the socials and check out CHOGRIN.COM for a closer look at his work.
Nerd! Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
Join mega nerds Dre Alvarez and Jeff May as they geek out on a different nerdy cultural touchstone every month. Part reminiscence, part historical deep The sixth episode of NERD! has Dre and Jeff continue their season of TV Specials with Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. There's a lot to unpack about this Star Wars "classic", so let's ride some Blurrgs, build some terrifying animatronic costumes, and hang glide-battle a clay dragon as we dive right into Ewoks: The Battle for Endor!
And don't forget to follow Dre (@nerdnumbers) and Jeff (@heytherejeffro) on the socials and have a nerdy day!
Jeff Has Cool Friend Episode 46: Zeb Wells
I've been wanting to do this episode for YEARS and I'm so stoked to have writer/producer Zeb Wells on the show. If you're a comics person, he's currently writing Amazing Spider-Man! If you're a TV person, he wrote on She Hulk and the upcoming Marvel Zombies! If you're a movie person, he was a writer for the upcoming The Marvels flick! Star Wars? He wrote on the Robot Chicken SW episodes!
Whatever you like, this is one of the most fun episodes I've ever recorded. We talk about everything. Like, everything. Which explains why it's so friggin long!
So listen up, follow Zeb on social media, watch/read his stuff, and if you want to hear more, head on over to patreon.com/jeffmay for bonus content, as well as early access to uncensored episodes and Patreon-exclusive content!