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The Rick & Don Show

The Rick & Don Show

By Rick Osowski

In the fall of 2016, two friends, Rick and Don, decided they wanted to create something bigger than themselves. They decided to start a podcast. Every week, the pair tackle a topic ranging from the inane idiosyncrasies of nerd and pop culture to engaging, complex looks at art, technology, and the human experience. The two, from time to time, dabble with the rose-colored substance known as nostalgia and discuss stories from the years of past. Through their sharing of stories, discussions, moments of reflections, and a few jokes, both Rick and Don hope to show their listeners they aren’t alone when they face challenges in their lives and their moments of happiness. Rick and Don just want to make the world a better place, no matter how small the impact.
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Episode 5: Rick And Don Show - Episode 5

The Rick & Don ShowFeb 22, 2017

00:00
01:36:53
Episode 58: One Lives, One Dies - Gamestop vs Royal Rumble
Mar 05, 201901:39:52
Episode 57: Runaways, Royal Rumble, and Ron Funches
Feb 08, 201901:26:57
Episode 56: Super Sad Bros
Jan 11, 201901:11:43
Episode 55: Back From Japan

Episode 55: Back From Japan

This week, Rick and Don catch up on Don's recent trip to Japan!!! And his adventure to Savannah Video Game Expo upon his return.

Dec 27, 201801:09:55
Episode 54: All In Review

Episode 54: All In Review

Rick and Don review the all-star independent wrestling show, All In, that took place in the suburbs of Chicago on September 1st, 2019. Go give it another watch and come back for our review!

Dec 03, 201801:03:54
Episode 53: Lad of the Rising Sun

Episode 53: Lad of the Rising Sun

This week, our hosts discuss Don's plans for his upcoming trip to Japan, what his agenda looks like while overseas, and what he hopes to get out of the trip. Closing out the show, Rick and Don discuss their views on grading collectibles - is it worth it? Is it a waste?

Oct 29, 201801:09:26
Episode 52: Nintendo Online & Playstation Classic

Episode 52: Nintendo Online & Playstation Classic

We catch up on Don's recent television and streaming media consumption, as well as dive into the recent announcments of the Nintendo Online service for the Nintendo Switch, as well as the announcment for the Sony Playstation Classic. We also discover that Don is just two months older than the Simpsons television show!!!

Oct 15, 201801:08:13
Episode 51: Stand Back!!!

Episode 51: Stand Back!!!

While Don preps for a hurricane with less than stellar enthusiasm, we chat up Don's recent viewing habits, including the underwhelming Hard Knocks, wrestling YouTube series, and nine-tenths of the new Marvel Cloak & Dagger series. There's also plenty of wrestling coverage thrown in from Rick attending a night of Starrcast, the wrestling podcast convention that took place the same weekend as All In, the largest North American independent wrestling event in history!

Sep 27, 201801:40:31
Episode 50: SummerSlam & Southeast Game Exchange

Episode 50: SummerSlam & Southeast Game Exchange

This week it's all about Don's excellent experience at Southeast Game Exchange and how he turned $20 into close to 30 games. Then we pivot into watching the wrestling show of the summer, SummerSlam... or so it was billed. There were some hits, there were some misses, but Rick & Don cover all of them.

Sep 07, 201801:44:44
Episode 49: Supercon, Oh My!!!

Episode 49: Supercon, Oh My!!!

This week we cover Don's Raleigh Supercon 2018 experience. And he has a lot to say about it, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Don also ventured out to the Nippon Club of the Triangle's "NC Japan Summer Festival" in downtown Raleigh to much better results. Rick and Don then close out the show by taking a walk down nostalgia lane and discussing all the old & current non-Magic trading card games they are playing or want to play.

Aug 20, 201801:41:57
Episode 48: Comic Con or Bust!!!

Episode 48: Comic Con or Bust!!!

We catch up on Rick's experience at San Diego Comic Con 2018 and review the big trailers that were released there, including DC Universe's Titans, Aquaman, and Godzilla. Our hosts also catch up on their recent wrestling indulgences and how disappointing the summer of 2018 has been for any excitement whatsoever in WWE programming.

Aug 04, 201801:17:57
Episode 47: Meatloaf for the Soul

Episode 47: Meatloaf for the Soul

This week, Rick introduces Donald to the Enneagram and walks him through a quick test to discover his Enneagram type. The Enneagram is "a model of the human psyche which is principally understood and taught as a typology of nine interconnected personality types." (per Wikipedia). Per Rick, it is a wonderful way to understand your personality type further, why you do the things you do, why you react the way you do, and why you have the relationships that you have. It's an insightful look into Donald's brain, so follow along for yourself and see how you map out!

Jul 26, 201801:27:50
Episode 46: Money In The Bank

Episode 46: Money In The Bank

It's all wrestling this week, as the hosts recap Rick's experience attending WWE's Money In The Bank 2018 event in Chicago (technically Rosemont), Illinois.

Jul 02, 201801:39:19
Episode 45: #GetALifeNerds

Episode 45: #GetALifeNerds

We dive deep into the recent online controversies surrounding the Star Wars fandom and address some of the "ownership" issues from certain parts of the fandom. An inclusive look at what can be done to rectify the need for tearing down art, how to appreciate other points of view, and the fact that everything is not made "just for you" has us talking much longer than anticipated - all for the better!!!

Jun 17, 201801:11:13
Episode 44: Holy Chimichanga Conventions!!!

Episode 44: Holy Chimichanga Conventions!!!

This week, we detail the Mordor-esque journey of Donald through Animazement... Just as much walking, not as many talking trees. Then, we breakdown why we both loved Deadpool 2 so much, even if we differ on if it's better than Deadpool.

Jun 14, 201801:17:03
Episode 43: The Big Three-Oh-Oh!

Episode 43: The Big Three-Oh-Oh!

The final countdown!!!! Or at least, the countdown of the top three hundred video games of all time, per Donald's extensive criteria! We count down the entire list from 300 to 1, with a couple honorable mentions thrown in for good measure. Settle down and strap in for the best video games you've ever played!

Jun 03, 201802:39:10
Episode 42: Avengers Hot Takes & Video Game Prereqs 101

Episode 42: Avengers Hot Takes & Video Game Prereqs 101

An unprompted review of Avengers: Infinity War kicks off this week's episode. Spoiler Alert: There are plenty of hot takes... AND SPOILERS!!! We wrap up the episode with some more video game chat, why gamers fade away, and what we need to come back to some quality gaming experiences!

May 12, 201801:08:17
Episode 41: Where Have All the RPGs Gone?

Episode 41: Where Have All the RPGs Gone?

This week kicks off with a preamble to Don's review of Game Informer's "300 Greatest Games of All-Time". Then our hosts go on a search to find the perfect role-playing game for Rick to play on the Switch while on the road. Finally, our own Statler and Waldorf discuss their blockbuster movie fatigue and anti-trailer stance.

May 03, 201801:31:54
Episode 40: Wrestlemania Results and 2018 time sinks, er Video Games!

Episode 40: Wrestlemania Results and 2018 time sinks, er Video Games!

In a timely manner, our hosts circle back on their Wrestlemania viewing experiences, with some in-depth analysis of how long is too long? Then, after some unexpected Instagram follows, Rick is interested in some new & upcoming Switch releases (Pokemon!), while Donald waxes poetically about some ill-informed "all time gaming lists".

Apr 23, 201854:13
Episode 39: Media Swap, Part Deux & Wrestlemania Preview

Episode 39: Media Swap, Part Deux & Wrestlemania Preview

We're finally back with the back half of our second (annual?) media swap... Rick returns with his experience with Sara Manguso's "The Two Kinds of Decay: A Memoir" and Don spills his feelings on Propaganda's most recent album, "Crooked". Our hosts then close it out and wax poetically on what they hope for from Wrestlemania 34, what they know won't happen, and begin to doomsday prep for the rest of the WWE 2018 year.

Apr 15, 201801:20:49
Episode 38: Donald's Guide to Finding a Band's Best Stuff

Episode 38: Donald's Guide to Finding a Band's Best Stuff

In the middle of an extended media swap, Don drops his knowledge on how to find a band's best stuff - both songs and sounds! Rick and Don put this to the test across multiple genres to see where it succeeds and fails. Once Don's theory is proven, our hosts then turn towards some of the recent and not-so-recent social issues that have been in the headlines.

Apr 13, 201801:19:02
Episode 37: Forecasting Fails & Apocryphal Discoveries

Episode 37: Forecasting Fails & Apocryphal Discoveries

Our hosts circle back on their first annual event, the Magic The Gathering Modern Masters 17 price forecasting bonanza! Covering 10 staples of eternal formats, Rick and Don predicted where these card prices would settle back in Episode 8. Now 365(-ish) days later, after the dust has settled, we see just how accurate our hosts could be! The latter half of the episode covers one of Don's missed opportunities of his childhood, the chance to play DragonRaid with many of his young friends. For those not in the know, DragonRaid is a full role-playing game system, based entirely upon the mythos of Christianity!

Apr 05, 201801:30:46
Episode 36: NeoGeos & Unlicensed Childhood

Episode 36: NeoGeos & Unlicensed Childhood

After spending a week with his very own NeoGeo cabinet, Don catches us up on the pros and cons, the ins and outs, and the downright fun that comes with having a versatile arcade cabinet in your home. Rick then pivots to the ridiculousness of recent WWE bookings, including Brock Lesnar in Chicago. We close it out with a review of Don's experience at Raleigh Playthrough Gaming Convention, which then blows Rick's mind with an entrance into unlicensed video game clones... You need to hear this to believe!

Mar 14, 201801:17:40
Episode 35: Wakanda Forever... and some common sense

Episode 35: Wakanda Forever... and some common sense

You get a Neo-Geo! You get a Neo-Geo! Everyone get's a Neo-Geo! Well, at least Donald is getting one. Our hosts open up about Donald's most recent find and Rick's pizza-flavored nostalgia around the multi-game arcade cabinet. Then it's time for the in-depth and philosophical review of Marvel's The Black Panther. Both our hosts end up going in a direction they didn't expect! Finally, Rick and Don wrap it up with some of the recent current events on the national stage that can't help but be addressed. Hoping for some common sense in government can't be too much to ask, can it? Can it?

Mar 03, 201801:30:43
Episode 34: Worldwide Athletic Competition of Excellence
Feb 13, 201801:17:35
Episode 33: Super Bowl Champions!

Episode 33: Super Bowl Champions!

Rick reports in from The Upside-Down on the Philadelphia Eagles winning Super Bowl 52. Donald then confirms that Rick is not in The Upside-Down and that actually happened! Our hosts then review the Super Bowl from different points of view, one from someone who actually watched it and one from someone who was just trying to survive it...

Closing out the episode, Rick and Don cover one of the top-five all-time Royal Rumble pay-per-views, including both a Men's and Women's Royal Rumble match. Setting up plenty of storylines for 2018, this event had more than its share of surprises, shocks, and hi-points.

Finally, some additional blog series by Donald are live on our site, such as Game of the Year Reviews and Donald Reviews Movies Poorly. Be sure to check out rickanddon.com for more details!

Feb 10, 201801:30:58
Episode 32: Ravenclaws Speak from the Heart

Episode 32: Ravenclaws Speak from the Heart

First and foremost, we ensure Don admirably survived Snowpocalypse II: The Return of Snowmageddon... or as the rest of the country would call it, some snow. Then we get an update on Don's plans for traveling to Japan as a lead in to the bulk of our conversation. Kicking that off, we have our (completely unsponsored) first mid-roll, where Rick discusses why you need to attend Heart Camp. Once they break it down, Rick and Don get into the rationalization of being a creative person, imposter syndrome, and breaking through your own mental gatekeeping. This one is from the Heart, even if both our hosts reveal their Ravenclaw-ness at the end.

Jan 20, 201801:36:44
Episode 31: Serendipitous Japanese Arcade Machines

Episode 31: Serendipitous Japanese Arcade Machines

Kicking off the year, Rick and Don jump into what they did over their Christmas Vacation... somehow both of them ending up in vintage arcades and playing Japanese arcade machines! Don's experience was a bit more fruitful than Rick's, but both our hosts had some interesting finds along the way.

Rick then covers his experience attending Smackdown Live! when the WWE was in town over Christmas. Spoilers - somebody was bashed in the head with large wrapped Christmas presents...

Jan 12, 201801:16:53
Episode 30: The Game of the Year Edition

Episode 30: The Game of the Year Edition

Rick and Don wrap up 2017 with a nice little bow, covering Don's 2017 Game of the Year work. There's a hot top three and an honorable mention that is close to Rick's heart. The guys then jump into some discussion around why Psych may possibly be the best show of all time. Or something like that...

Jan 02, 201858:34
Episode 29: Rick and Don Show - Episode 29

Episode 29: Rick and Don Show - Episode 29

No pulling punches this week! After a quick mea culpa on Rick's AJ Styles position, our hosts jump right into The Last Jedi. Plain and simple, there's more to this movie than meets the eye. Which is more than can be said for Donald's 5 in-theather viewing experiences of Michael Bay's original Transformers.

Dec 22, 201701:23:45
Episode 28: Rick and Don Show - Episode 28

Episode 28: Rick and Don Show - Episode 28

This week Rick and Don preview some of Don's upcoming Game of the Year reviews, along with the current overall fan experience of the video gaming industry. Then they jump into their excitement and anticipation for Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi. Finally, they wrap it up with a discussion of their favorite Christmas vacation memories.

Dec 20, 201701:19:39
Episode 27: Rick and Don Show - Episode 27

Episode 27: Rick and Don Show - Episode 27

Our hosts open this week discussing some of the recent controversy in the Magic Community and how to approach being a better community member. Then Rick shamelessly plugs some of Donald's recent poetry publications. Rick covers his airplane viewing experience of Spider-Man: Homecoming and the predicament what to watch afterwards! Finally, our hosts wrap up with some of Donald's Black Friday finds for gaming and beyond!

Dec 11, 201701:08:23
Episode 26: Rick and Don Show - Episode 26

Episode 26: Rick and Don Show - Episode 26

Welcome to our Thanksgiving episode! Well, it's more of a Black Friday episode, but we're still talking turkey. We kick it off with Don diving into his Pokemon Ultra Sun/Moon experiences, then re-previewing his Game of the Year research and festivities. Then we jump into some deep reviews of Black Friday deals and bargains that our video game-focused listeners will not want to miss.

Nov 23, 201701:12:14
Episode 24: Rick and Don Show - Episode 24

Episode 24: Rick and Don Show - Episode 24

This week it's our Halloween episode! Rick & Don cover their favorite Halloween costumes, some that were painstakingly hand-crafted and some that were worn after some very bad decisions. Don then covers his year so far in video gaming and previews what he'll be covering in his "Gaming Year In Review".

Nov 21, 201701:00:37
Episode 25: Rick and Don Show - Episode 25

Episode 25: Rick and Don Show - Episode 25

Another bonus episode this week is Don's Epic Comic-Con Attendance. We cover Don's experience at the Bull City Comicon in Durham, NC. We close it out with some discussion on what we're watching... And as of today, that is Marvel's Runaways on Hulu!

Also, Don previews some blogging he'll be bringing to rickanddon.com as well, including Donald Reviews Movies Poorly and Journey to Japan.

Nov 21, 201701:05:38
Episode 23: Rick and Don Show - Episode 23

Episode 23: Rick and Don Show - Episode 23

Rick kicks it off with his Jury Duty summons and missing out on talking about that last episode. Detailing with even more agonizing detail, Rick spent some time in the Emergency Room and covers the ins & outs of Kidney Stones! On happier topics, Don covers some of his recent video game playing and what the rest of his year looks like for big name titles! Closing it out, both our hosts agree they'll be putting a lot of time into the upcoming Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch!

Nov 08, 201701:06:30
Episode 22: Rick and Don Show - Episode 22

Episode 22: Rick and Don Show - Episode 22

Rick & Don continue some of the wrestling talk this week with some of the most random wrestling gimmicks going today and follow it up with a run-through of the Hell in a Cell card. We close out the week with a thorough examination of Don's new job and what he really plans to do from 9 to 5.

Oct 23, 201701:06:08
Episode 21: Rick and Don Show - Episode 21

Episode 21: Rick and Don Show - Episode 21

This week Rick & Don ponder over nostalgia, the "you can't go home again" feeling, & high school reunions. After dabbling on some of their favorite younger-self TV obsessions, they dive into some wresting talk and also awkward plane viewing experiences.

Oct 10, 201701:01:36
Episode 20: Rick and Don Show - Episode 20

Episode 20: Rick and Don Show - Episode 20

We're on the road this week, coming to you (previously recorded) live from Duck, North Carolina! Starting off, Rick and Don redefine the "no shoes, no shirt, no service" policy before jumping into Don's plans for moving to Japan! Lots of good stuff this week on the first live recording that you won't want to miss!

Sep 18, 201752:21
Episode 19: Rick and Don Show - Episode 19

Episode 19: Rick and Don Show - Episode 19

Rick and Don Show - Episode 19 by TheRickAndDonShow

Aug 29, 201701:05:31
Episode 18: Rick and Don Show - Episode 18

Episode 18: Rick and Don Show - Episode 18

After a long summer break, our hosts reunite with a lot to catch up! Don talks about his new-found obsession, Persona 5, and why it is definitely worth 100+ hours of your time. Rick and Don then miraculously both end up watching different Dana Carvey specials and discuss the pros & cons (mostly cons) of each. Finally, they circle back on one of the more popular topics, WRESTLING!!!, and talk about why everyone is now 15-time WWE world champion!!!

Aug 10, 201701:20:43
Episode 17: Rick and Don Show - Episode 17

Episode 17: Rick and Don Show - Episode 17

Rick enjoys an unexpectedly awesome Independence Day from the comfort of his apartment, while Donald discovers some very personal information on Hacksaw Jim Duggan and other guests of Raleigh SuperCon!

Jul 14, 201701:11:30
Episode 16: Rick and Don Show - Episode 16

Episode 16: Rick and Don Show - Episode 16

We're back after a bit of a hiatus! Thanks to Rick's travel to GP Las Vegas and stupidly getting sick... But this week our guests cover the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, in depth for what goodies are coming soon and how the show has changed since we were kids. Rick then covers his Magic playing experience in Las Vegas and the hope for more of the same in the future! Finally, Don circles back on one of his pre-reviews with some eyeballs-on experience for a movie screener!

Jun 30, 201701:20:05
Episode 15: Rick and Don Show - Episode 15

Episode 15: Rick and Don Show - Episode 15

This week it's all about games! Video games created much of what our hosts are today, so Rick and Don jump into some of their history, favorite games, current likes & dislikes, and what they are looking forward to in gaming it up solo and with friends.

Jun 12, 201701:05:50
Episode 14: Rick and Don Show - Episode 14

Episode 14: Rick and Don Show - Episode 14

The Top Ten lists of all Rick & Don's top ten lists... Covering their top ten favorite characters across all of media - from movies to TV to books to anime and beyond! Get a peek into the psyche of our hosts with their most beloved characters and all the reasons why! And be sure to check back for the eventual sequel... The Top Ten Most Loathed Characters!

May 26, 201701:58:46
Episode 13: Rick and Don Show - Episode 13

Episode 13: Rick and Don Show - Episode 13

Lucky number 13 brings Rick and Don their first guest! This week Chris Hendricks joins our hosts to talk about how Rick and Chris met, the definitions of geeks versus nerds, why being a nicer person is better for all of us, and... Aliens! We barely scratch the surface this week with all the communal interests between the guys, so look for Chris to join us again very soon!

May 17, 201701:13:17
Episode 12: Rick and Don Show - Episode 12

Episode 12: Rick and Don Show - Episode 12

This week it's all about guests! We're planning some great stories with great friends, so we cover a bit of what we like about other podcasts and their guests.

Rick also surprises Don with a new game... Don't miss out on "Donald's Summer Movie Reviews," saving you time, money, and brain cells, all based on the IMDB tagline for the summer's hottest movies.

May 04, 201701:11:26
Episode 11: Rick and Don Show - Episode 11

Episode 11: Rick and Don Show - Episode 11

This week, it's all about cons! No, not Nic Cage or Sean Connery! Comic Conventions, also known as Cons! Rick covers his experience at this past weekend's C2E2 2017 in Chicago and compares it with past large Con experiences. Our hosts also dive into the drive to attend Cons and what is just so darn fun about them!

Apr 27, 201701:14:06
Episode 10: Rick and Don Show - Episode 10
Apr 12, 201701:15:23
Episode 9: Rick And Don Show - Episode 9

Episode 9: Rick And Don Show - Episode 9

Our hosts are back this week, after a bit of a travel delay, to discuss all things Netflix comedy (read Dave Chappelle), traveling in Vegas, and the recent Modern Masters 17 release for Magic.

Mar 31, 201701:13:54