This Is Rad!

As 2017 draws to a close, the gang meet up and Burnside and Laura's house to reflect on the past year. Now, before you run away screaming, we did a pretty good job of trying to find plenty of good that happened this year in and amongst some of the crappier parts of the year. We chat about movies, we let Burnside really go nuts talking about games (after all, this might be one of the best years for video games ever), we chat about some music we really liked this year, and Kyle shamelessly plugs “FantasticLand” again. Plus, everybody talks about how they have grown as people and how the podcast has been evolving along with those changes. But not matter what changes, just know that This Is Rad is gonna be right here every week with more rad stuff and rad people. We would also like to take a quick moment to thank everyone who listens to the show. When we started we had no idea if anyone would ever listen to the show and we honestly believe we have the coolest listeners in all of podcastland. You are all truly rad. Happy New Year!

 

No weekly rads this week but instead, tickets are almost sold out for the Yukon Comedy Festival. If you live in the great white north or just want to have an adventure with the Rad Gang (along with Mr. Goodnight and Rivers Langley of The Goods From The Woods). Plus, TIR will be doing it's first ever live show at the festival! Go to http://yukoncomedyfestival.com for tickets and information!

Direct download: TIR_Year_In_Radview2017_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

Beer. Billiards. Rad. This week on the show Kyle and Burnside sit down with comedian Doug Fager to break down what makes a good dive bar. In the process they go on a pretty sweet side tangent about Doug's yearly Nightmoon party. It gets weird and Matthew and Laura are definitely going to have to join Kyle and Doug next year. The gang discuss the proper music and décor for a dive bar. They share stories from some of their past haunts. Kyle recounts the year he spent as a townie secretly dreaming of a life in comedy. Burnside tells some war stories from Ohio. Also Burnside is able to work in some Overwatch commentary in. Laura is also hanging out and has some pretty sweet party stories. As the cold and the stress of the hoidays reach their hight, grab a beverage of your choice and come hang out where everyone knows your name... As long as you tell it to us first. Otherwise how would we know? Come on, be reasonable. What? I'm still typing?!

Weekly Rads:

Laura: Steven Universe (TV Show)

Kyle: Letterkenny (Canadian TV Show)

Direct download: TIR_Dive_Bars_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

I'd like to teach the world to rad, in perfect harmony. On today's show we are chatting with Greg Smith and Bridgid Ryan about the fizzy and delicious world of soda. Bridgid and Greg worked on Shudder's new series The Core with Kyle and the discuss the importance of lunch in a writers room. The group reminisce about their early experiences with soda. They also look back fondly at sodas that are no longer with us (RIP Fruitopia...). They break down the variations on Mountain Dew. They discuss the merits of Faygo. Kyle goes on a rant about the CocaCola museum in Atlanta. Plus you get some pretty interesting side tangents about social media and the concept of late capitalism. Yeah, it gets weird, but its also a lot of fun! So grab your favorite carbonated beverage, sit back, and enjoy!

 

Weekly Rads:

Kyle: I, Tonya (movie)

Laura: FoodStuff (podcast)

Direct download: TIR_Soda_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

Feel the Rad-thym! This week Kyle and Matthew travel to the exotic land of Marina del Rey to chat with comedian/playwright/salsa dancer Solange Castro. Kyle has known Solange for years through comedy and got super excited when she showed him her youtube series where she teaches comedians how to Salsa dance. They chat about Solange's history with Salsa dancing and how something can go from a curiosity to a lifestyle based on your willingness to try. Solange gives the boys an education into what makes Salsa different from other Latin American dances and also explains that within Salsa there are a ton of style variations. Plus you get some great talk about jazz music, meditation, and the state of social media. A delightful episode. Plus: after they recorded this episode, they filmed an episode of Solange's web series. Click the link below if you want to watch Kyle and Matthew get taught some basic salsa steps. Also, Kyle is so tall he doesn't fit on camera for a large portion of the video. It's pretty great.

 

Video Link:

Teaching Comics to Dance Salsa with Solange Castro

Episode #6: Kyle Clark and Matthew Burnside

https://youtu.be/jfzh16lcMDU

 

Weekly Rads:

Matthew: Utopia by Bjork (album)

Kyle: Call Me By Your Name (Movie), Bonus Rad: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (main theme) by Ryuichi Sakamoto (Song)

Direct download: TIR_Salsa_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

What happens when five podcasters stop being polite and start being real? They talk about the Real World (and Road Rules!). This week on the show Kyle and Burnside have an all-star line up featuring Becky Joiner, Julia Prescott, and Tom Seiniger to chat about two of the seminal shows in creating the world of reality television. In the process, they unwittingly open the floodgates for their guests to gab about their favorite reality shows in general. It turns out, The Bachelor is a very popular show and Tom, Becky, and Julia have some strong opinions. But there's still plenty of on topic discussion. Kyle and Julia chat about their love of The Real World: New Orleans and Road Rules: Latin America. Becky breaks down the modern MTV landscape and her love of the Real World/Road Rules Challenge spin off. They also chart the evolution of reality show personalities and the ways in which the format has evolved for better and for worse. They chat about how the show colored their ideas of culture and everybody feels old when they realize Becky is the only person on the episode young enough to still audition for the show.

 

Weekly Rads:

Kyle: Roar (movie)

Burnside: Riverdale (show)

Tom: Gwar (band)

Julia: Ladybird (movie)

Becky: The Disaster Artist (book)

Direct download: TIR_RealWorld_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

Welcome to Rad-burger, home of the rad-burger. Can I take your order? This week we have another full house as Kyle, Burnside, and Laura are joined by perenial show favorites Monika Scott and Tom Seiniger to talk about the great American culinary marvel: The Burger. They talk about what makes a good home made burger. They explore the highs and lows of fancy restaurant burgers. And they dig into the labyrinthine topic of fast fast food burgers. Plus, like any good rad episode, there are some truly insane side tangents. Tom might have found the perfect name for his future podcast. Monika gets really graphic describing molten cheese. And we learn a few things about Matthew Burnside's culinary creations. If you can finish this episode without desiring some kind of burger afterwards, you have a lot more emotional fortitude than we did.

 

Also! We have an instagram! Follow us @thisisradpodcast

 

Weekly Rads:

Kyle: Guppy by Charly Bliss (band)

Laura: Marveloous Miss Masel (spelling) (TV Show)

Monika: Deadwood (TV Show)

Tom: Alex Lahey (band)

Direct download: TIR_Burgers_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

Body mod y'all. To the beat y'all. This week Kyle and Laura (and eventually Burnside) sit down to chat with returning guest J Gonzo and one of our new favorites, Stephanie Savage, to talk about the wild world of body modification. We get a history of modern piercing and tattoos. Kyle recounts just hours ago when J Gonzo gave him a new tattoo (the words “Slow Ride” on his back, check out our social media for pictures). Steph blows our minds with her stories about doing suspensions. Plus we answer a ton of fan questions and get really in depth about the pros and cons of getting your dick pierced. If you've ever been curious about the world of body modification this is a fun place to start with two incredibly talented people.

 

Weekly Rads:

Kyle: His new “Slow Ride” tattoo (by J Gonzo)

Laura: Thor: Ragnarok (movie)

Gonzo: Bonfires on the beach

Steph: Vacations

Direct download: TIR_BodyMod_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

Six rads forward and five rads back. We've got (an episode about) an angry inch! This week on This Is Rad, Kyle and Matt welcome back the always wonderful Julia Prescott for a chat about her favorite play “Hedwig and The Angry Inch”. For those who don't know, this is a GREAT place to start if you want to know about this cult phenomenon. Julia recounts her first experience with Hedwig and how it has prfoundly effected her life. They also talk about the unique way that the show was originally staged, and how it defied nearly every aspect of a traditional broadway play. Kyle talks about his own personal history of hating musicals and how Hedwig (and our Joe Kaye episode on musicals) really opened him up to a larger vision of what musical theater can be. Plus, Burnside had pretty much no idea what the play was about so its pretty funny when he learns what the titular “angry inch” is referring to...

 

Weekly Rads:

Matthew: The Xbox One X (The one he won in that Taco Bell contest)

Kyle: Caifanes (band) and their self titled album. (Bonus rad: Cafe Tacvba (band) and their single “Futaro”)

 

Follow Us on Twitter!

Show: @ThisIsRadPod

Kyle: @kyleclarkisrad

Matthew: @MatthewBurnside

Art (Laura): @LMKnightArt

 

Direct download: TIR_Hedwig_JuliaPrescott_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

You don't follow the rad, you go to where the rad is going to be. A deep cut quote for a hilarious (and shockingly informative) episode of This is Rad. Today we have Tom Goss (from The Mean Boys Podcast) giving us a history and state of the union for the great sport of hockey. Joining us as a bonus guest fellow Mean Boy Keith Carey, because if you have 2 co-hosts who don't know much about the sport, you might as well add a third person for additional color commentary. Even if you don't dig sports this episode celebrates the full range of hockey well beyond the game into pop culture, video games, and some recommendations for classic fight videos. Kyle chats about his love for The Mighty Ducks 2. The boys debate the best hockey video game. Plus thrill as the gang learn and rock out to the song that plays when the Anaheim Ducks score a goal. Strap on your skates and enjoy a knuckle puck of radness coming straight at you.

 

Weekly Rads:

Kyle: The Blood Brothers – Young Machetes (Album)

Matt: Super Mario Odyssey (Video Game)

Keith: Dead Man's Bones (Album)

Tom: The Food Network (TV Channel)

Direct download: TIR_hockey_Tom_Goss_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

This podcast was 98 pounds of solid rad until it became... The Toxic Rad-venger! This week Radtober comes to a close for another year with a visit from director/podcaster/fart enthusiast Joe Lynch! The guys have a nice chat about where is the best place in Disneyland to let out farts. They also talk about extreme cinema and the type of person that chases movies that give you a visceral reaction. Yet again, like the Ghosts of the Comedy Store episode marvel as both Kyle and Matthew lean back and let an expert storyteller regal the boys with some insane stories. Troma is one of the longest running indie film company in America and has created and distributed some of the most insane movies ever made. Joe got a front row seat to experience the second wave of Troma's success in the mid to late 90's and man does he have some incredible stories. If you've ever wanted to hear a story about a guy walking in the snow covered in puke wearing a Toxic Avenger costume you have come to the right place. Check out Joe's new movie “Mayhem” starring The Walking Dead's Stephen Yeun out in theaters and on VOD November 10th!

 

Weekly Rads:

South Park: The Fractured But Whole (video game) 

FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven (novel) 

Direct download: TIR_JoeLynch_final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:30am PDT

"We recorded a podcast. We recorded a podcast for you. Oh, what a thing to do. And it was all Giallo…" This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie sit down with Radtober alum and spooky movie aficionado Alex Jacobs to talk about the uniquely Italian horror movie genre: giallo. Beginning in the 1960s, Italian filmmakers inspired by pulp novels and murder mysteries created proto-slasher films known for their stylistic use of music, color and black-gloved killers (along with brunettes and rampant murders at boarding schools). The gang discusses giallo's grand tradition of insane titles. Kyle and Alex get nostalgic about the use of the snap zooms in movies. Plus, we learn about vintage Italian cinema's total disregard for audio recording. But it wouldn't be "This Is Rad!" if there weren't some solid tangents, including a loving tribute to the non-giallo but still Italian horror classic “Suspiria." A fun and informative chat that lovingly celebrates a cool, lesser known corner of the horror movie landscape.

Weekly Rads: Raw, Happy Death Day, Stage Fright (1987)

Raddendums: Blood and Black Lace, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Suspiria, Dario Argento, Deep Red, The Case of the Bloody Iris, Five Dolls for an August Moon, All the Colors of the Dark, Bruno Nicolai, Twitch of the Death Nerve, Pieces, Four Flies on Gray Velvet, The Perfume of the Lady in Black, The Red Queen Kills Seven Times, City of the Living Dead, Berberian Sound Studio, The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears, Inferno, Goblin, The Night Evelyn Came out of the Grace, What Did They Do to Solange? John Saxon, Opera, Phenomena, Tom Atkins, Torso, Search Party, Jason Zinoman's Shock Value, Roger Corman's How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime, American Juggalo

Direct download: 181_Giallo_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Booooo...too! This week the rad crew revisits the topic of Ghosts, this time taking a Radtober field trip to a former speakeasy overrun with mobsters and murderers -- better known today as the World Famous Comedy Store! The Virgil to their Dante is return guest Steve Simeone, who managed the Store back in the day and has a lot of spooky stories to tell about the mysterious things he encountered working there, particularly when he was locking up alone at night. They learn about the history of the building, starting from its beginnings as a speakeasy (you can still see the bootlegging tunnels there today) before becoming the legendary Hollywood nightclub Ciro's. Steve is an amazing storyteller, and in this episode, the most haunting thing is how quiet Kyle and Burnside are as Steve marvels them with his experiences. Sit back, dim the lights down and know in your heart Kyle will never be this quiet on an episode again. Check out Steve's new album “What's up Nerds?” and his podcast “Good Times.”

Weekly Rads: Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Halloween Is Grinch Night, Four Tet's "New Energy," and our special guest Alex Jacobs!

Raddendums: Paula Shore's Dead, A Night at Ciro's, Andrew Dice Clay

Direct download: 180_Ghosts_II_The_Comedy_Store_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:41pm PDT

Dim the lights and gather round, children, because Radtober has begun! Kyle, Matthew and Natalie start the spooky season right with a little outdoor podcast about the internet lore that all the kids love: Creepypastas. They are joined by comedians and creepy aficionados Brian Cox and Vanessa Gritton to break down some of their favorite stories. They point out that not all pastas are created equal, with some being modern classics while others pretty impressively capturing the crude ruminations of a middle schooler with a keyboard. Creepypastas have become the modern version of the urban legend or twice-told tale updated for the world of smartphones and internet. They explore the origins of the genre and how it has evolved, review some of their favorite stories, and recommend some places to get your fix if you're new to this world. This episode is a pretty solid primer for the uninitiated and full of a ton of fun riffs if you're a longtime fan. It's a good time for pretty much everyone but Natalie who thinks they are very, very dumb. Also, in case you were wondering, yes, they do briefly discuss which ACTUAL pasta is the creepiest. Beware the Slender Man!

Weekly Rads: Bob’s Burgers fan art special, IKEA’s MALM and tiny villages, Twerkin' Mummy

Raddendums: SCP Foundation, 4chan, the NoSleep Podcast, Ted the Caver, Polybius, I'm a Search and Rescue Officer for the US Forest Service, The Sluts, A House of Sugar, Abandoned by Disney, Creeps McPasta on YouTube, Return to Sender, The Terrifying Note Addressed to My Six-Year-old Son, Dead Bart, Squidward's Suicide, The M Show, Candle Cove, Channel Zero, The Deepest Part of the Ocean is Not Empty, NoEnd House, Jeff the Killer, Slenderman, Night Mine on YouTube, Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, Marble Hornets, The Sixth Sense, Primer Impacto, Pet Stop, The Sacrament

Direct download: 179_Creepypasta_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

Yooooooou waaaaant a poooooodcast, but you can't have it... Actually, you can! This week Kyle and Matthew sit down with comedian and return guest Travis Clark to talk about one of rock music's weird and wonderful oddities: Mike Patton. For the uninitiated, Mike Patton was the singer for the band Faith No More, but his back catalogue is pretty incredible. If you've been listening for a while and thought, “boy, they haven't done an episode in a while where three guys nerd out about a bunch of bands I've never heard of...” then fear not, friends, because we have an episode chocked full of music nerd goodness. Kyle points out that Mike Patton might be rock music's most brilliant grouch. Travis breaks down what it is about the singer that has made him such a cult figure for so many. Travis and Matt also point out that all of Kyle's favorite Mr. Bungle songs are terrible. It's a very fun episode and one that has been requested for quite some time, so enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: Eating Raoul, Taco Bell, Mulholland Drive/Moana

Raddendums: Mr. Bungle, Dillinger Escape Plan, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Lovage, Judgment Night, Courtney Barnett, Fantomas

Direct download: 178_Mike_Patton_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:19pm PDT

This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie welcome film critic and podcaster William Bibbiani ("Canceled Too Soon") as he talks about his love of the Step Up franchise. He takes the gang through all five insane films and explains why Step Up is the Fast and the Furious of dance movies. He also talks about the pernicious art of hat theft, why you should always bet on Moose, and the need for a very Step Up wedding. But seriously, these movies are insane. Did you know one character is an effin' robot? This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: American Vandal, Plague Vendor, porcupines, lammergeiers, Kesha's Rainbow & "Godzilla"

Raddendums: Channing Tatum, Cry Baby Lane, The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage, Save the Last Dance, Step Up, Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D, Step Up: Revolution, Step Up: All In, League of Extraordinary Dancers, Jem and the Holograms, The Brady Bunch Movie, Addams Family Values, Baywatchin', Walker: Texas Ranger, Iron Man 3, Kevin Maguire, Ian Churchill, Air Buddies, Alejandro Jodorowsky

Direct download: 177_The_Step_Up_Movies_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:31am PDT

Cheers! This week Kyle and Matthew sit down with Jarrod Bruner and Carlos Huizar to talk about the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems: beer. They taste test some different kinds of beers, including several selections from Carlos' personal collection along with Jarrod's own homebrewed coffee IPA. They all discuss their first experiences drinking beer and how that affected their feelings about drinking over the years. Kyle gives some tips for the best way to shotgun a beer. Carlos shares some experiences with beer festivals. Jarrod takes us through his process of homebrewing. Burnside shares his experience drinking absinthe. Plus, they have a controversial discussion of the proper way to consume a Guinness. A super fun episode that will definitely leave you thirsty for more! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: Death from Above’s “Outrage! Is Now,” Destiny 2, The Cleveland Show, It

Raddendums: Stone Brewery, Monkish Pale Ale, Francis Connor, Sweetwater Brewery, Hazy Fuentes, Dark Lord Day, Three Floyds, Pliny the Elder, Allagash, Untapped

Direct download: 176_Beer_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

What happens when three podcasts unite to single-handedly destroy white supremacy? A live show of epic proportions! In this special bonus episode, This Is Rad! is joined by The Goods from the Woods (Rivers Langley & Mr. Goodnight) and The Mean Boys (Keith Carey & Tom Goss) in a podcast crossover extravaganza for the ages, with all proceeds benefiting the Southern Poverty Law Center. There's a charitable dominatrix (Catherine Walters), everyone’s favorite non-gendered corporate spokesbeing (Lootaclaus), a 90 second talk show (featuring Jordan Morris and Brandie Posey) and much more! The show took place at the NerdMelt Showroom on September 8, 2017. Watch the show here: http://bit.ly/2feAGER or make a donation to the SPLC today: https://donate.splcenter.org/

Direct download: 175_The_Good_The_Rad__The_Mean__-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

This week Kyle and Matthew sit down with comedian Billy Anderson and Taco Bell grandma Becky Joiner to talk about Stephen King movie adaptations. Kyle thinks we're currently in a "Kingassaince." They unpack the different versions of The Shining, which leads to a nice chat about what makes a good movie versus what makes a good book. They also discuss how Kyle and Billy's friendship comes from their mutual love of The Stand TV miniseries. They work through all the classic King adaptations (and a few of the not so classics) and also chat about how the non-canonical Pet Sematary 2 is pretty great. They explore the evolution of King's themes through the decades and how those themes have been addressed in film. Plus, they point out that there is an Annie Wilkes lurking inside of every nerd. They also propose how much cooler it would have been if the second season of Stranger Things had flashed forward to the kids as adults. Finally, they talk about their cautious optimism for the new It movie, and Kyle encourages everyone to check out the upcoming Gerald's Game adaptation for Netflix. If you are a fan of the King, then you do not want to miss this one - it's a real creepshow! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: Ben Dunn's wedding, MC Hammer's Addams Family Groove, Kid 'n Play's Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody

Raddendums: Carrie, The Rage: Carrie 2, The Shining, Creepshow, Creepshow 2, Cujo, The Dead Zone, The Talisman, Christine, Children of the Corn, Firestarter, Cat's Eye, Maximum Overdrive, Stand By Me, The Shawshank Redemption, The Breathing Method, Gerald's Game, Different Seasons, Apt Pupil, The Raft, The Lawnmower Man, The Running Man, Dollar Babies, The Stand, Pet Sematary, Pet Sematary 2, Misery, The Mangler, Thinner, Nightflyer, The Green Mike, Secret Window, Dreamcatcher, 1408, The Mist, It, The Dark Tower, The Stand miniseries

Direct download: 174_Stephen_King_II__The_Movies_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

Where we're going, we don't need rads… This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie sit down with comedian Caitlin Durante (The Bechdel Cast) to talk about her favorite movie thrillogy: Back to the Future! But first, in traditional "This Is Rad!" fashion, they talk about Titanic for a while and discuss the ill-fated movie Titanic 2, which shockingly does exist. They unpack what makes Back to the Future so great, why Michael J. Fox is a national treasure, and why Crispin Glover is so dang weird. Natalie is obsessed with the Eric Stoltz movie that never was, Kyle defends Back to the Future 2, Caitilin unpacks the "Briff Conundrum," and yes, Part 3 is... addressed. So fire up your flux capacitors, accelerate to 88 miles per hour and travel BACK! IN! TIME! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: The Good Place, Bubblegum by Mark Lanegan

Raddendums: Titanic 2, Thelma & Louise, The Full Monty, Billy Elliot, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, Billy Zane, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, Ruben and Ed, Aliens 2, The Bechdel Test

Direct download: 173_Back_to_the_Future_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

Seriously, are you even laxing, bro? This week Kyle and Matthew sit down with lax rat and @midnight alum Adam Toltzis to talk about lacrosse! … after about 20 minutes of nonsense about working at @midnight. The gang discusses the fascinating origins of the sport and explore why some sports have such strong regional ties. Adam recounts how his body adjusted for the better after retiring from the sport. Plus, they discuss why this obscure sport has such a bad rap. There is some discourse on douches and how it is unfair to blame a whole sport for the actions of a group of dipshits who enjoy it. (It's a real “the more you know” moment.)  Kyle, Matt and Nat learn what NARPS are. Kyle and Adam unpack the Mighty Ducks franchise. We learn Burnside is a "porpoise boy." Also, Adam shows them that lacrosse players have some of the greatest (i.e. most ridiculous) names in the history of sports. Come for the talk about brony vore porn, stick around for an interesting chat about an often misunderstood sport.

Weekly Rads: Burnside's birthday at Hurricane Harbor, Overwatch Animated Shorts, The Secret of Ventriloquism by Jon Padgett, Akira

Raddendums: Mighty Ducks 2, Tour de Pharmacy, Everybody Wants Some!!, 30 for 30: Fantastic Lies

Direct download: 172_Lacrosse_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

With great power comes great podcasting. This week Kyle and Matthew sit down with comedians Ed Greer and Ron Swallow (Nerd G.O.A.T. Podcast) to talk about everyone's friendly neighborhood webslinger: Spider-Man. The guys talk about what makes the wall crawler such an enduring character. From his origin story to his costuming, Spider-Man does a great job acting as a cypher for every kid who feels powerless in a world of adults. They also talk about his unique position in the Marvel universe. Ron talks about how great it is that there is a superhero with a sense of humor. Ed loves nothing more than watching the webhead fuck people up. Kyle talks about his love for Peter Parker's angst (because of course he does...) and Burnside almost entertains the idea of reading! They also talk about how Spidey has the best rogues gallery and recommend some seminal spider-stories. And don't for a second think that the gang forgot to talk about the nearly infinite film and TV adaptations. They talk about the best and the worst, and you might be surprised by a few of their rankings. Is Spider-Man a menace to society or the arachnid hero our city needs? Listen and find out!

Weekly Rads:  The following bands: Lychee, Cellos, Pony; Comrade Detective; Fabe's churro sandwiches full of gelato

Raddendums: Maximum Carnage, Ultimate Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Unlimited, Turkish Spider-Man, Spider-Man: Return of the Green Goblin, @8armedspidey on Instagram, Terry Brooks

Direct download: 171_Spider-Man_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

Pizza pizza! This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie are back in the studio after an awesome Summer of Rad to talk about an equally awesome topic: Pizza! (Seriously, it took them 170 episodes to talk about pizza?) They welcome comedian and all around good guy Steve Simeone to talk about everyone's favorite cheesy, tomato-y, crusty delight. And he takes his pies very seriously. Steve lays out his recipe for crafting a perfect pizza. They talk toppings. They talk about their favorite pizza chains and pizza places across the country. Pizza's great. It makes people happy. As this episode will make you! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: The President Show, Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later, Chuck Klosterman's I Wear the Black Hat

Raddendums: PizzaRev, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John's, Di Fara's Pizza, Grimaldi's, Two Boots, Vito's, The Amazing Pizza Machine, Pika's Pizza

Direct download: 170_Pizza_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

One year ago, Adam Tyler Murray promised "This Is Rad!" a boat. That promise went unfulfilled… until now. Join us on the high seas as we finish out the Summer of Rad 2017 with special guest Captain Lisa Curry! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: FYF 2017, Flying Lotus' movie Kuso Brigsby Bear, and check out our new merch on TeePublic! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/1781384-this-is-rad-podcast?

Direct download: 169_Boats_II_Truces_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:29am PDT

Hey good lookin'! Whatcha got cookin'? The Summer of Rad rages on in Kyle's backyard with a podcast cookout crossover extravaganza! The rad gang is joined by "The Goods from the Woods" own Rivers Langley and Mr. Goodnight and "What Did You Learn?"'s Monika Scott and Luke Jensen. Also, Kasey Clark and Jarrod Gilbreath are along for the ride! Rivers deep fries a whole mess of delicious food for everyone and shocks no one by knowing the entire history of Chick-Fil-A. (While working there, he found out their secret ingredient and now incorporates it into his own insanely good fried chicken recipe.) Monika spices things up with some hot links and cornbread, Luke sizzles up some steak fingers, Burnside bakes up some cheesy potatoes, Mr. Goodnight's all about that Milo's sweet tea and both Natalie and Kyle... forgot to make anything. It's a super fun summer episode you'll cherish forever!

Weekly Rads: Turtles Forever, Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling trailer

Direct download: 168_BBQ_II_-_Cookouts_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm PDT

Rad's up, dudes! The Summer of Rad continues in beautiful and sunny Malibu, where the gang returns to their buddy Spencer Emmons' beachfront abode to chat about the world of surfing. The rad crew are also joined by very special guest Zac McKeever. Zac is a longtime friend and the heart of the NerdMelt family where he is the head sound tech. Zac and Spence are lifelong serious surfers. The gang explores the origins and history of surfing. They talk about the natural, physical and mental factors that make surfing such a deeply loved and revered summertime staple. They also talk about optimum surfing conditions, the SoCal beach safety lesson the “stingray shuffle,” and bodyboards vs. Boogie Boards. Plus, Spence and Zac share some scary stories of wiping out. And Natalie sets out to understand what makes a wave “tasty.”

Weekly Rads: Bedbugs, I'm Alan Partridge

Raddendums: Howard Kremer, Duke Kahanamoku, Dogtown, Jeff Ho, Zephyr Surfboards, Larry Bertlemann, the Wedge, Clark Foam, Back to the Beach, Riding Giants, Laird Hamilton, North Shore, Point Break, Slater’s New Wave, Peralta, Endless Summer, Blazing Boards and Beyond Blazing Boards, Blue Crush, Snakes on a Plane, Disney Bears

Direct download: 167_Surfing_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:11pm PDT

The Summer of Rad returns! This week the rad gang hits the great outdoors (i.e. Kyle's lovely backyard) with Matt Lantrip and Brandie Posey, two Warped Tour veterans, to discuss this venerable summer music institution. It's the day after Kyle and Nat's big Fourth of July party, and Kyle and Laura spend a lot of the episode downing leftover Jello shots. The gang weighs in on the good, the bad, and the ugly side of the festival and talks about the influence of things like Hot Topic and Myspace on the way that a generation of kids found music. (The late '90s and early '00s pop punk ecosystem was a delicate place full of a lot of dyed hair with swoopy side bangs, and this group has some opinions about it.) About halfway through, Kyle's brother Kasey joins the fray. Together, they chat about the best acts they've ever seen along with a few of the worst. They also have a spirited debate about the most "Warped Tour" band of all time and give some tips for how to make it through a hot day at the festival without dying. Plus, The Living End might be the world's most underrated live band, Less Than Jake are still great after all these years, and there is some debate about the merits of pop punk. The group also explores some of the festival's recent and past controversies. Prepare to hear a bunch of people fire off about a million band names and enjoy Natalie shaking her head at every last one of them.

Weekly Rads: The Little Hours, Summer School

Raddendums: Blink-182 & Dude Ranch, Green Day, Underoath, Paramore & Riot!, The Damn Things, Sum 41, New Found Glory, Gwar, Bad Cop Bad Cop, Neck Deep, Lollapalooza, Save Ferris, Andrew WK, Thursday, My Chemical Romance, The Honda Civic tour, Matt & Kim, Against Me, Black Veiled Brides, Bring Me the Horizon, Atilla, Norma Jean, Brokencyde, Anti-Flag, Hawthorne Heights, 303, Flogging Molly, I Killed the Prom Queen, Pierce the Veil, The Casualties, Bad Brains, Fishbone, Less Than Jake, Joan Jett, Gym Class Heroes, Plain White Tees, Bad Religion, Manic Hispanic, Cadillac Tramps, Joyce Manor, Neil Hamburger, Chronic Future's Time and Time, Yellowcard, The Screamers, Limp Wrist, Story So Far, 45 Grave, Bikini Kill, The Dickies

Direct download: 166_Warped_Tour_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:04am PDT

Ommmm... This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie sit down and stretch out with comedian Dana Moon to discuss the meditative art of yoga! Dana talks about doing hot yoga next to Colin Farrell and Drew Barrymore. Kyle talks about his heady days finding inner peace with Wii Fit Yoga. Matt talks about doing yoga video tapes in Cleveland. Plus, Natalie talks about recently getting into yoga at her gym (and being jealous Dana can do crow pose). Everybody is disturbingly on topic this episode. But don't worry, because the gang also discusses the ideal way to eat Pop-Tarts, math, psychedelic drugs, and Nat exposes that Kyle went through a "sea shanty" phase (to the surprise of no one). Namaste!

Weekly Rads: ASSSSCAT 3000 at the Del Close Marathon, Culture Abuse, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's "The Nashville Sound," Brandie Posey's neighbors' 4th of July displays, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the Greek & "Lovely Creatures," Burnside's face when he went on Splash Mountain, Doom, and our special guests Laura Knight, Brandie Posey, Kasey Clark and Matt Lantrip!

Raddendums: Wii Fit Yoga, Carlos Castaneda, Third Eye Blind, Michael A. Singer's The Untethered Soul, Wayne Dyer, Class Pass

Direct download: 165_Yoga_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

Rad Break foreva... This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie sit down with comedian Kelly McInerney to talk about the odd yet super cool career choices of actor/filmmaker James Franco. Kyle thinks he's a modern day John Cassavetes and is impressed that he keeps making weird shit that should have ruined his career by now. Kelly dressed up as Alien from "Spring Breakers" for Halloween. The gang work their way through his filmography from mega-hit movies like Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" to the arthouse masterpiece "Spring Breakers" to lesser known works like "Interior. Leather Bar." (which Kyle is weirdly obsessed with). They chat about "Pineapple Express" and how it was able to find a new and interesting take on pot comedies. Plus, Kelly saw an early screening of "The Disaster Artist" at SXSW this past year and gives us a little preview of what we can expect from the upcoming film chronicling the making of the ultimate bad movie: "The Room." A fun chat about a guy who is a lot deeper than some folks give him credit for.

Weekly Rads: The Summer of Rad is coming!, My Morning Jacket's Okonokos, Dumb on Hulu

Raddendums: Spring Breakers, Pineapple Express, Actors Anonymous, The Interview, Freaks and Geeks, Alien: Covenant, 127 Hours, Shia LaBeouf, Randall Park, Milk, Howl, Planet of the Apes, This Is The End, Sausage Party, Why Him?, The Disaster Artist, King Cobra, Interior. Leather. Bar., General Hospital, Saturday Night, We're the Millers, Palo Alto, Kill Your Darlings

Direct download: 164_James_Franco_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

Rad-ama! This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie welcome comedian Bronston Jones to talk about the mighty Van Halen. Van Halen are almost as famous for their larger than life band members than they are for their amazing music. They discuss the insanity of David Lee Roth, debate Van Halen vs. Van Hagar, and give explanation to the band's famously insane "no brown M&Ms" request on their tour rider. Bronston reminiscences about sneaking into Van Halen concerts by just acting like he was supposed to be there. Kyle reminisces about getting a concussion while performing at Bronston's Venice Underground show. Burnside calls hair metal "hairy metal." And Slash (who is not in Van Halen) is apparently a big fan of dinosaurs. So if you are done runnin' with the devil, then sit down right now and JUMP into this episode.

Weekly Rads: County fairs, Hollywood Dead Film Festival, John Wick on the USA network

Raddendums: 1984, Top Jimmy, Crazy from the Heat, Guns N’ Roses, Alice in Chains, Head, The Osbournes, Some Kind of Monster, the Us Festival, Duff McKagan, Better Off Dead

Direct download: 163_Van_Halen_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

Rad control to Major Tom... This week we sit down with comedian/Animorphs expert Brent Schmidt to talk about Sekret Machines, the new multimedia project by Blink-182's Tom Delonge. Brent read the books Chasing Shadows and Gods, both first parts in two separate trilogies of books in the series. Brent first walks us through Chasing Shadows, the 700+ page novel, and it is a sci-fi epic of the highest caliber. Kyle, who was never a Blink fan, is blown away simply by the sheer scope of the project. There are a few spoilers along the way, but we'd be hardpressed to think that after everything you hear you won't be at least a little curious to give it a read. After breaking down the novel, the gang is just getting started. They move over to talk about Gods, the non-fiction sister book to Chasing Shadows, and this where things get weird, folks. Kyle and Brent take Natalie and Burnside on a journey around the stars and into the deepest recesses of the human mind. Thrill at the idea of theories beyond the comprehension of modern science! Marvel at the weird places where magic and science merge! Kick back, get groovy and enjoy one of the weirdest, wildest and most lively chats we've ever had on This Is Rad! Come in with an open mind. We are not presenting hard fast facts, but we do break open some very interesting ideas that lead to some fun conversations. Plus, we get into a couple sweet riffs about lip piercings. Take your protein pills and put your helmet on, radsters!  

Weekly Rads: Not E3, Emmylou Harris, One Punch Man, Moreton Bay Fig Tree, Fetch Quest & Doctor DC, and our special guest John Ungaro!

Raddendums: Coast to Coast; Chasing Shadows; Gods, Man, and War; Operation Paperclip; Gravity's Rainbow, Sightings, Anton Levay, Babylon 5, Jacques Vallée, Last Podcast on the Left, The Edgewood Arsenal, Necronomicon, Stargate, Battlestar Galactica

Direct download: 162_Tom_Delonges_Sekret_Machines_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:19pm PDT

Ceci n'est pas une podcast! This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie sit down with comedian Kevin Macias to talk about Art History, as they discuss their favorite time periods and artists through the ages. Natalie likes cave paintings and ancient art, Kevin and Kyle share their mutual love of fascist artwork, and Matthew phones a friend (Laura) to learn why Greek/Roman nudes weren't "packing heat." They also talk graffiti, performance art and give a lot of great recommendations for contemporary artists you should totally check out! 

Weekly Rads:  Our new website thisisradpodcast.com, The Limestone Comedy Festival and radsters in Bloomington, Indiana; Teen Witch Fan Club, David Cook aka Bonethrower, Octopus Pie by Meredith Gran, Bernie Wrightson's The Amazing Spider-Man Hooky, Slowdive, Day of the Dead

Raddendums: Nat Geo WILD, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Picasso, Rothko, Mondrian, Yves Klein, Keith Haring, Robert Arneson, Cindy Sherman, Pecker, De Chirico, Neo Rauch, Cake/Cake 87, The Artist Is Present, Narcissister, Basic Instinct, Frida Kahlo, Destino, Basquiat, Blank City, Yue Minjun, Bosch, Goya, Koontz, Ed Ruscha, Damien Hirst, Richard Serra, Walter De Maria, James Turrell, Oskar Kokoschka, Geoff McFetridge, Pettibone, Patrick Martinez, Banksy

Direct download: 161_Art_History_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30pm PDT

This one time at rad camp… Kyle and Matthew welcomed Grant Bubar, our youngest guest ever, to talk about Marching Band and Marching Band related memories! This week they talk quads, snares, timpanis and more! French horns are hard. Choir kids suck. And band camp is where you go to test the limits of hydration. But really this episode just turns into a middle school boy free-for-all as they talk about band trip make outs and fingering... like way more than appropriate. And Matt addresses the rumor about whether trumpet players are good at going down on girls (hint: "clenching my embouchure"). Natalie rolls her eyes through most of the episode until she’s caught looking at pictures of Pokemon, so who is she to judge? Grant is in a band called The Ladyfingers! Their EP is called "Couches"! Check ‘em out!

Weekly Rads: Casey's Buffet in Wilmington NC, Alien: Covenant, DC Comics/Dark Horse: Aliens Digital Comics, Friday the 13th The Game, SUPERHOT VR, Fargo: Season 3

Raddendums: Voodoo Glow Skulls, Kraftwerk, Bomb the Music Industry, Ohio University's NES performance, The Blue Devils, Rocksmith

Direct download: 160_Marching_Band_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:08pm PDT

Mucha Lucha! This week Kyle and Matthew sit down with graphic design/tattoo artist J. Gonzo (http://jgonzodesigns.com/) and author Keith Rainville (frompartsunknown.com) to talk about the art of Mexican wrestling: Lucha Libre. First, Gonzo talks tattoos, his history of giving them, and the scary ways to get 'em. Turns out Kyle has a lot of friends with prison tattoos, which should surprise no one. Natalie also gets upset because Gonzo has offered to give Kyle his long sought after “Slow Ride” tattoo. But that is a story for another day. The boys get down to business and discuss the history and cultural significance of Lucha Libre wrestling. They talk about how Nacho Libre was many Americans' first exposure to Lucha culture. Gonzo defends the film for all its flaws and points out a few ways that the film could have gone from third-tier Jack Black movie to legit love letter to Lucha wrestling. Speaking of movies, Kyle picks Keith's brain about the history of Luchadores on film. For those who don't know, Luchador films are an amazingly weird genre where you can watch a man in a mask fight guys dressed like Dracula. Believe it or not, that's something Kyle is SUPER into. Burnside, as the host most well versed in wrestling, works to understand the differences between American and Luchador wrestling. Gonzo and Keith also explain how the styles diverged and evolved over time and how Luchadore wrestling plays into the identity of Mexican culture. Keith talks about his history with Lucha Libre and the Lucha zines he published throughout the '90s. They talk about '90s zine culture and how zines about specific subcultures found their way around the world in a time before the internet. Both Gonzo and Keith's lives and careers have been massively affected by Lucha culture, and they share some experiences from their own lives that are pretty incredible. Get ready for some high flying moves, mysterious characters, and masked men punching werewolves in the face. This episode has everything! Viva!

Weekly Rads: White Reaper, Prey, Cowboy Bebop

Raddendums: Love and Rockets, Latino Comics Expo, Lucha Mexico, Tales of Masked Men, Santo vs. the Vampire Women, Ralph Bakshi’s Wizards, Champions of Justice, Nacho Libre, Lucha Lucha, Sonámbulos, Lucha Underground, Fantastic Planet, Los Straightjackets

Direct download: 159_Lucha_Libre_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:35pm PDT

This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie dip their balls in it with Beowulf Jones (RISK! Podcast) and talk about the seminal '90s sketch show The State, which launched all of your favorite comedians. The State taught him how to think and got him out of some dark times. The gang discusses favorite sketches, the Halloween special, the brilliance of Role Models and how Paul Rudd is charming as fuck. Beowulf talks about working on Wainy Days and as a professional techie for State alumn like Kevin Allison. And they calculate the cost of $240 worth of pudding today with inflation. Also, Matt has fond memories of Forever 21. Will there be a Cake Like reunion? We're outta hereeee! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.                                     

Weekly Rads: The Flaming Lips

Raddendums: The Sifl and Olly Show; Daria; Cake Like; You Wrote It, You Watch It; Writing Movies for Fun and Profit: How We Made a Billion Dollars at the Box Office and You Can, Too!; Stella; Cake Like; Viva Variety; Risk!; Wainy Days; Kevin Allison's WTF; They Came Together

Direct download: 158_The_State_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:21am PDT

Continue making mine Marvel! This week Kyle and Matthew welcome back comedian Jeremy Scippio for a Marvel movie threepeat. They start off sharing strip club stories before giving their rundowns: Jeremy makes a case for Doctor Strange. The expectations are set pretty high for Guardians 2. Kyle needs to get off his ass and watch Logan already. This Logan talk allows Kyle to bring up his hope for a hard reboot of the X-Men franchise. He wishes the show would get a more grounded feel similar to that of the Daredevil Netflix series. Speaking of Netflix, the guys talk about the hits and misses on the streaming front. They also point out that the new Thor trailer takes pretty liberally from the Guardians playbook. Plus, Jeremy breaks down why a solo Hulk movie is never going to work. It's a good old fashion nerd round up. Excelsior! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: The Black Angels, Soundboxing, Mindshow

Raddendums: Thor: Ragnarok, Legion, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, Logan, Old Man Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series, Dr. Strange

Direct download: 157_Marvel_Movies_III_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:42am PDT

VR

We are… we are VR! This week Kyle and Matthew are joined by The FOO Show's Will Smith - no, not THAT Will Smith - to talk about the past, present and future of VR. Will hosts a virtual reality talk show about video games and discusses building an avatar and parts of their show in VR. The gang discusses early gaming experiences (mad love for the Wavebird, yo), drone races, experimenting with narrative structure and, of course, the shittiness of VR Troopers. What are you waiting for? Move all your furniture out of the way, pop on your goggles and plug in for some virtual rad-ality! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: Clive Barker's Hellraiser Anthology, Squatty Potty, Snipperclips

Raddendums: Horizon, Red Dead, BioWare, Film & Odyssey, Breath of the Wild, Tilt Brush, Jedi Training Academy video, Google Cardboard, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, Daydream, The FOO Show

Direct download: VR_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Someone better call the fire department because "This Is Rad!" is smoooookin'! This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie welcome back comedian Brandie Posey (151 episodes later) to talk about her love of Canadian comedian Jim Carrey... and how he inspired her to be a big weirdo! She appreciates his physicality and commitment as a performer and the place of anger it comes from. She's seen basically every Jim Carrey movie and has been to every Jim Carrey movie on opening day since Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. Together they talk about his early and underrated stuff, the importance of bringing your own popcorn to the movies, and why taking your kid to see Scary Movie might be irresponsible parenting. This episode is sponsored by Mack Weldon. Enter the promo code RAD at mackweldon.com for 20% off your next order.

Weekly Rads: John Dies at the End, Dr. Luigi, Bill Nye Saves the World

Raddendums: VH1 Award shows, The Duck Factory, Once Bitten, Teen Wolf, Peggy Sue Got Married, Earth Girls Are Easy, In Living Color, Ace Ventura: Detective, The Mask, Dumb & Dumber, The Cable Guy, Batman Forever, Liar Liar, Man on the Moon, Courtney Love's Hole & Celebrity Skin, Andy Kaufman, Cannibal Corpse, Can't Hardly Wait soundtrack, Me, Myself & Irene, Dumb & Dumber 2, Batteries Not Included, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Wayne's World 2, Three Ninjas, The Majestic, Pecan Pie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Levity, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Number 23, Yes Man, I Love You Phillip Morris, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Kick-Ass, Talladega Nights, Walk Hard, Magic Mike XXL, Ride the Snake

Direct download: 155_Jim_Carrey_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:37am PDT

It's "Lifestyles of the Rad and Luxurious"! This week Kyle and Matthew welcome back comedians Monika Scott and Tom Seiniger to talk about personal luxury and comfort. Kyle and Natalie talk about their trip to a Korean spa and the massages, saunas and public nudity that followed. Monika comes bearing hydrating eye masks and talks about her years in the trenches working as an esthetician. Tom gives some cooking tips and sells Kyle on getting a tongue scraper to make his breath smell better. The conversation works to show that luxury is not something that should only be enjoyed by the super rich. By being better to your body and mind, you can live a better life without having to spend a lot of money. Plus, a certain Cajun mutant stops by to dole out some life advice. Treat yourself to a mani/pedi, pop in your headphones and enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Mack Weldon. Enter the promo code RAD at mackweldon.com for 20% off your next order.

Weekly Rads: Kendrick Lamar's Damn, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, Mass Effect Andromeda, Persona 5, Tickled and our special guests Alex Jacobs, D'arby Rose and Jarrod Gilbreath!

Direct download: 154_Luxury_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:38pm PDT

This week Kyle, Matthew and Producer Natalie welcome return guest Ron Babcock to nerd out about computer security. Ron discusses the importance of having a password manager, VPNs, and backing up your stuff (and porn) on both an external hard drive and somewhere off-site. Ron and Matt talk about the pros and cons of converting from Mac to PC. The gang also gabs about the trade-off between convenience and privacy, cleaning up your memory (and the satisfaction of "zap" noises), and everyone gives Natalie a hard time because her desktop is a cluttered wasteland but she likes it that way and everyone can go screw themselves THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Check out Ron's new album "This Guy" at http://www.ronbabcock.com. This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: Angie Tribeca, the Secret Skin podcast with Open Mike Eagle, Ben & Jerry's Cocoa Loco ice cream

Raddendums: ReBoot, Crashplan, Dashlane, Unroll.me, Appzapper, Daisydisk, Private Internet Access.com, Mr. Robot, Onion Browser

Direct download: 153_Computer_Security_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:57am PDT

This week Kyle and Matthew sit down with Harry Potter fanatics Laura Knight and Klee Wiggins to talk about their love for the movie Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. They feel like this 1920s take on the Harry Potter universe got a bad rap. They like the series and how it has reinvigorated the franchise and kept them from Harry Potter withdrawals. They discuss their favorite fantastic beasts, Dumbledore's middle names, what's the deal with Grindelwald, magical racism vs. just regular racism, how the current political climate has affected their re-reading of the books, and what was really going on with Moaning Myrtle. Plus, they debate Snape, and Kyle still hates all the camping in the 7th book. This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: Rick and Morty Season 3 premiere, Viveport subscription service, The Taxpayers' "To Risk So Much for One Damn Meal," and Look What I Did's "Minute Man for the Moment"

Raddendums: The Silmarillion, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Tolkien's adaptation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, George Lucas in Love (1999), The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Direct download: 152_Fantastic_Beasts_and_Where_to_Find_Them_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

To close out Varch/Garch/Smarch, Kyle, Matthew, Natalie and Laura bring you a special bonus episode which takes you back to their roots. That's right, they're finally releasing two episodes they recorded way back in the very beginning of the podcast (circa 2014) but had to hold back due to Burnside's work NDAs. In the first episode, they talk to comedian/podcaster Jordan Morris (from "Jordan, Jesse, Go!") about fighting games. Streetfighter is discussed. Water is spilled. Then they talk to their friend Aldrin Cornejo in their original Legend of Zelda episode, which serves as a good primer and overview of the series and why it's rad. Also, they make (now outdated) E3 predictions and talk Nintendo, and Natalie plays the ocarina. Two episodes for the price of one? It's a Garch miracle!

Direct download: 151_Lost_Episodes_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:30am PDT

It's This Is Rad!'s 150th episode radtacular! Two years and 100 episodes later, the rad crew saddles up for another game of Dungeons & Dragons. Kyle, Matthew, Natalie and Laura are joined on their quest by podcast friend Ben Dunn and podcast frenemy Adam Murray to play some 5th edition D&D. Together, their eclectic party ventures to the land of Maw to retrieve the stone of King Obouldwith kenku attacks, pan flute playing and Escape from New York-esque consequences along the way. Adam returns as their Dungeon Master, Kyle plays as Rad'amet, a chill druid, Natalie reprises her role as half-orc barbarian Deb the Destroyer, Ben is the foppish and acrobatic half-elf bard Poncifer de Cruise, and Matthew and Laura join forces as a two-headed tiefling named Tiefli-Amber Thiessen (and Mutt). Also, Cutesy the controversial miniature donkey is along for the ride. Hee haw! We would like to thank all our radsters for making our 150th episode possible. Here's to 150 more! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: Humble Bundle, Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends, RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 premiere, Natalie's staged reading of her screenplay "Perfect Failure" at the NerdMelt Showroom April 1st at 1pm, Adele getting attacked by a beetle onstage, Gundam Thunderbolt Season 2, and our special guest Hawk!

Direct download: 150_Dungeons__Dragons_II_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:33am PDT

You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you? This week Kyle, Matthew and Natalie celebrate Varch/Garch/Smarch by welcoming back Aldrin Cornejo ("Aldrintendo Power" podcast) and talking about the long-running Legend of Zelda series. (They first discussed the series 3 years ago in a soon-to-be-released lost episode but had to shelve it for various reasons.) They discuss the brilliance of the N64 controller, the drawbacks to the Wiimote and Skyward Sword and debate backwards compatibility. They also talk about their first Zelda gaming experiences, why Zelda II: Adventure of Link might not be terrible, and unpack the awesomeness of Breath of the Wild and how it breaks from Zelda tradition. At one point, they have a fight over stylus storage, in which Nat and Laura think putting it back in the DS is optional, while Kyle and Matthew think they are monsters (Moblins, Tektites, Bokoblins... you choose). So sit back and enjoy the episode, but first, remember to go into the cave and grab your sword. After all, it's dangerous to go alone! This episode is sponsored by Mack Weldon. Enter the promo code RAD at mackweldon.com for 20% off your next order.

Weekly Rads: The Belko Experiment, Man About Cake, Season 2 of Self-Obsessed with Sina Grace, American Movie, and our special guest Aristotle Acevedo!

Raddendums: Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Zelda I and II, NES Remix, Shovel Knight, Horizon, Mario 64, Mighty Max, Dark Tower, No More Heroes, Suda51, Saint's Row, Mad World, Wind Waker, Fantasia, Duck Hunt, Bust a Groove I & II, Dead or Alive, Soul Calibur II, Left for Dead

Direct download: 149_Legend_of_Zelda_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm PDT

Snake! Your mission this week on This Is Rad! is to talk about the visionary video game auteur Hideo Kojima with special guests Garrett Ross and Alexis Quasarano. Kojima is one of those beautiful people who makes the world extra special. From his legacy as one of video games' greatest directors to his insane yet brilliant Twitter feed, the gang celebrates the man, the myth and the legend behind Policenauts, Zone of the Enders, and of course, the Metal Gear Solid franchise. Thrill as Kyle and Garrett try to explain the madness of the Metal Gear continuity. Kojima deftly combines military history, science fiction and pervy anime weirdness into a web of classic games that has spread over numerous console generations. From the mind bending hardware tricks in the PSOne Classic to the bold narrative choices in Metal Gear Solid 2, Kojima's distinct voice is analyzed. If you've been a Kojima fan for years, you'll love the celebration of his weirdness. If you are new, this is a fun primer for where you might want to start. Either way, it's pretty rad. So put down that temperature-sensitive keycard and strap into your favorite nuclear-powered mech suit as we break down the delightfully weird world of Hideo Kojima. This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: Horizon, Matt built a computer, Marijuana Deathsquads' Oh My Sexy Lord, At the Drive In's in.ter a.li.a, Feud: Bette & Joan


Raddendums: X-Play on G4, Twin Snakes, Zone of the Enders, Yakuza Zero, Metal Gear Solid, PT, anime body pillows, Steven Universe, Quiet, Shin Godzilla

Direct download: 148_Hideo_Kojima_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:48pm PDT

Take me down to the Raccoon City where the zombies are green and the tank controls are shitty! Our all-gaming month Varch (Garch? Smarch?) kicks off with one of our most-requested episodes: Resident Evil! To help discuss the long-running franchise, Kyle and Matthew are joined by Jacob Davison and Ken Carr, Kyle's teammates from Dead Right Horror Trivia and lifelong fans of the series. They begin by breaking down the world of survival horror games before RE, including some talk about the NES gem Sweet Home, which heavily influenced the first game. They talk tank controls. They talk fixed camera angles. They ponder what product or service the evil Umbrella Corporation actually sold that made them so much money. They work their way through the series, talking about which games made the most impact on them. They chat about their favorite monsters in the series. Plus, they break down the shift in gameplay style between the classic RE games and Resident Evil 4. RE4 might be a masterpiece, but it also led to some dark times for the franchise. However, there is hope as the gang gushes over how great Resident Evil 7 is. Put down that Jill Sandwich and go listen! This episode is sponsored by Mack Weldon. Enter the promo code RAD at mackweldon.com for 20% off your next order.

Weekly Rads: Logan, I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore, Birdcloud

Raddendums: Shinji Mikami, Sweet Home

Direct download: 147_Resident_Evil_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:27pm PDT

This week Kyle and Matthew sit down with comedian, actress, musician and Chipotle-lover Zara Mizrahi to talk about the crazy life she's lived… and a bunch of other topics. Zara talks about her love of Disney trivia and how she dropped out of school at age 16 to become an actress and live her current, cool hippie lifestyle. The gang shares prom stories, drug stories and tattoo stories, and Natalie rambles about Forensic Files. It's like a fun "get to know the people on your freshman dorm floor" sesh. This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: The latest episode of The Flash, "My Brother, My Brother And Me" on Seeso, I Am Not Your Negro, Fire Emblem Heroes, the LA City Zoo, the 12th season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Direct download: 146_Independent_Studies_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:46am PDT

This week Kyle, Matthew and Producer Natalie sit down with comedian Jenny Chalikian to discuss her favorite actress: Lucy Lawless! …With a lot of topics in between. They discuss basic cable fantasy shows from the '90s like Xena and Hercules, the greatness of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Kyle goes apeshit at finally being able to talk with someone about Battlestar Galactica. Also, Eurotrip. Does it hold up? (Spoiler: No.) Hail Baltar!

Weekly Rads: Artist Juan Zamora, Caddyshack, Legion on FX

Raddendums: Xena: Warrior Princess, Ash vs Evil Dead, Hercules, Highlander, Melissa Etheridge, Spartacus, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Blind Spot, Parks and Recreation, Gillian Anderson, Hannibal, Chef's Table, Eurotrip, Saw, The Great Wall, Hostel, The Descent, XX, The Goods, Danny Devito, Detective Pikachu, Scream Queens, Glee, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Role Models, Hamlet 2

Direct download: 145_Lucy_Lawless_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:20am PDT

Let the good times roll! This week Kyle and Matthew sit down with comedian Christian Spicer to talk about rollerblading. Christian is a man who has led many lives, from being a professional roller blader to a lawyer to a father and a standup comedian. Christian discusses the rise and fall of rollerblading and what caused the fad to flip. The gang discusses rollerblading as seen in various pop culture franchises; Kyle insists that the rollerblading scene in Mighty Ducks 2 might be the greatest moment in film history. Plus, an in-depth chat about wrist guards and stylish wrist guard alternatives. And Kyle fondly remembers how rollerblading played a part in the plot to the first softcore porn he ever saw. Check out Christian's new stand up album “We're All Going to Die” on iTunes!

Weekly Rads: RuPaul's Drag Race: Ruvealed: Season 6, John Wick 2, La La Land, Adventure Time's miniseries "Islands," Fox Bodies, Sturgill Simpson, Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special, Fright Night 2, and our special guests Keith Carey, Joe Dosch, Rivers Langley, Brent Schmidt, Anna Valenzuela and Justin Williams!

Raddendums: Camp Woodward, Tiny Toons: How I Spent My Summer Vacation, Human Giant, Airborne, Brink, Jet Set Radio/Jet Grind Radio, Thrasher Skate & Destroy, Mighty Ducks 2, The Hoax, Jackie Chan's Lifetime Achievement Award on Chinese television

Direct download: 144_Rollerblading_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:09pm PDT

This week Kyle and Matthew go to the dark side of the rad with the Spoon Man himself Mike Mitchell (The Birthday Boys, Doughboys Podcast), to chat about Mitch's all-time favorite band: Pink Floyd. The gang talks about their first exposure to Pink Floyd and take a look at Floyd's place in the classic rock cannon. They also ruminate on why their music seems to hold up better over time than their contemporaries. Kyle and Mitch debate the merits of Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd (Kyle is a fan) vs. later era Post-Roger Waters Pink Floyd (Mitch is a fan). Mitch also talks about the film adaptation of The Wall and how there really is no other movie like it. Plus, all parties involved share their experiences with laser shows. There are some mighty fine tangents about the modern movie landscape, a defense for “uncool” bands, East Coast vs. West Coast hippies, and Kyle gushes about The Birthday Boys. (Note from Kyle: Seriously! The whole series is on Netflix! Go watch it! Now! We'll wait...) Get ready to shine on like a couple of crazy diamonds!

 

Weekly Rads: The NES Classic, Dr. Mario, and our special guest Ed Salazar!

Raddendums: The Wall, Roger Waters, Dark Side of the Moon, Led Zeppelin, Moondance, Boyhood, Dazed and Confused, Ummagumma, ask kyle what that sad thing he played was, Enema, Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Gordon Lightfoot, Joshua Tree, Wish You Were Here, Piper at the Gates of Dawn, The Final Cut, Momentary Lapse of Reason, The Ten, The Birthday Boys

Direct download: 143_Pink_Floyd_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:37pm PDT

Come sail away! This week Kyle, Matthew and Producer Natalie sit down with comedian Lisa Curry to talk about boats. (Lisa is unaware that this a contentious subject on the show, stemming from "Boatgate" and the traitorous Adam Murray during the Summer of Rad.) Lisa talks about getting her boating license at the tender age of nine, her life growing up on a marina, and her year in a lesbian sailing club. The gang also talks about water skiing, how boating and alcoholism go hand in hand, Bobo the firecracker-making marine, and the pros and cons of houseboat ownership. If you take one lesson from this episode, please remember, DON'T TOUCH THE FUCKING PIER! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: FXNOW app's streaming Simpsons channels, Stops Skeletons from Fighting YouTube channel, Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation by Blake J. Harris

Raddendums: James Traficant

Direct download: 142_Boats_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:51am PDT

This week the Rad Crew sits down with comedian John-Michael Bond to talk about musician Warren Zevon. John-Michael describes being exposed to Zevon's music at an early age by his cool minister dad and quickly being taught the difference between "home music" and "church music." Warren Zevon was a complicated guy, but John-Michael admires him for owning up to his dysfunctions, abuse and alcoholism - as well as his dark sense of humor. There's also talk of zydeco music, the band The Locusts, and Natalie frowns a lot.

Weekly Rads: The Women's March, A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix, San Francisco's The Walt Disney Museum and Winchester Mystery House


Raddendums: Lawyers Guns and Money, Excitable Boy, Desperados under the Eaves, GG Allin's cover of Carmelita, My Shed's Fucked Up, The Wind, Keep Me in Your Heart, Charles Bukowski, Poor Poor Pitiful Me, Hit Somebody, She's Too Good For Me, Billy Joel, Bad Day** check with Kyle, Plague Soundscapes from The Locusts, Mister Bad Example, Mutineer, Neil Young rockabilly, Frankenhooker, Street Trash, Dario Argento's Opera, The Promise Ring, Converge's Jane Doe, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Isbell, Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, Life'll Kill Ya, Sturgill Simpson, Billy Wayne Davis on "Goods from the Woods," The Gerbils, The Flaming Tsunamis, Leftover Crack, Miranda Lambert

Direct download: 140_Warren_Zevon_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:54am PDT

This week the Rad Crew welcomes return guest Anna Valenzuela (Comedy Central's Roast Battle) and Rad buddy Brian Cox (Return to Castle Wolfenshow) for another animated chat about anime. Anna is a pretty hardcore anime fan, and she and Kyle have had many conversations off-mic about the world of Japanese animation. They chat about the radness of Samurai Champloo and its hyper-stylized approach to historical inaccuracy. Anna tells Burnside to check out Ergo Proxy, describing it as the "Radiohead of anime.” Brian chats about his newfound love of One Punch Man. And we get to hear Producer Natalie squee at the sight of a cabbit from Tenchi Muyo. Plus, it wouldn't be an anime episode without Kyle continuing to ramble about his love for Evangelion, Gundam, and Cowboy Bebop. And what dive into the world of anime would be complete without some talk about anime girl body pillows and the dark and sexy world of hentai? Plus, Anna sells Kyle on giving Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex another chance. Great episode with some great people. See you, rad cowboy... This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: Multiple Maniacs on Criterion, The Herschell Gordon Lewis Feast: The (17-Disc Limited Edition Box Set), Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World, Jeff and Some Aliens on Comedy Central

Raddendums: Standalone Complex, Trigun, Biggo, Bubblegum Crisis, Ghost in the Shell, Perfect Blue, Millennium Darkness, Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Battle Royale High School, Samurai X, Samurai Champloo, Tenchi Muyo!, Spirited Away, Polar Bear Cafe, Kamichu!, The Cat Returns, Kiki's Delivery Service, Star Balls, Elfen Lied, Akira, Trigun, Fullmetal Alchemist, Angel Beats, Mongolian Chop Shop, Cowboy Bebop, Case Closed

Direct download: 139_Anime_II_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:38am PDT

This week Kyle, Matthew and Producer Natalie sit down with comedian Luke Jensen (from the "What Did We Learn?" podcast) to discuss scientific skepticism… or do they? Luke talks about growing up Lutheran and how becoming a skeptic led to his current path in comedy. They discuss the importance of having a skeptical mind and debunking falsities through science, as learned from the Amazing James Randi… as well as the insufferable nature of skeptics. Other topics include the dangers of confirmation bias, body image (because tangents), and Matt reminisces about once "helping" his friend with a jellyfish sting at the beach.

Weekly Rads: How sanitary is it to wash a handkerchief?, The Cadillac Tramps, Yogurtland's new fruit purees

Raddendums: The Amazing James Randi, Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, Adam Ruins Everything, Harry Houdini, Uri Geller, An Honest Liar, Skepticon, The Amazing Meeting, The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe, Michio Kaku, Penn Jillette, Skeptic magazine, Carl Sagan's "The Demon-Haunted World," James Randi's "Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions"

Direct download: 138_Scientific_Skepticism_-_This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:32pm PDT

This week Kyle and Matthew welcome back comedians Ed Greer and Klee Wiggins to discuss Star Wars: Rogue One. They also announce the winners of our Lootaclauntest! This episode is sponsored by Loot Crate. Give yourself a geeky gift this month! Visit www.lootcrate/thisisrad and enter the promo code thisisrad for $3 off on any new subscription.

Weekly Rads: Magic Mike XXL, The Moaning of Life, Vaporwave

Direct download: 137_Star_Wars_Rogue_One_-This_Is_Rad.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:23am PDT

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