Nostalgium Arcanum
A Repository For The Pop Culture That Made Us Who We Are
Episodes
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Spider-Man
July 27th, 2026 | 2 hrs 47 mins
comic book, comic books, comics, danny elfman, geek, kirsten dunst, marvel, mcu, sam raimi, spider man, spider-man, spiderman, stan lee, superhero, superheroes, tobey maguire, willem dafoe
Thwip! Our summer of Sam Raimi continues as we revisit Spider-Man's first outing with Toby Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Frano, and Willem DaFoe bringing the storied web-slinger to high-flying death-defying action. Borrowing lessons learned from Darkman, Sam Raimi's vision for Peter Parker took Marvel's premiere teen crime fighter out of development hell and into franchise heaven. We're joined by podcaster Matt Storm aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite) to revisit when Spider-Man's appearance truly was a brand new day.
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Darkman
July 20th, 2026 | 2 hrs 19 mins
1990s, 90s, action, coen brothers, comic book, comic books, comics, cult classic, cult classics, cult film, cult films, cult movie, cult movies, danny elfman, film, films, frances mcdormand, horror, liam neeson, movie, movies, phantom of the opera, sam raimi, the coen brothers, the phantom of the opera
Who is Darkman? That question, posed by the film's marketing, is answered with a laundry list including creator Sam Raimi, actor Liam Neeson, and a slough of influences from The Shadow, to The Phantom of the Opera, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Batman, and many more. A true Frankenstein of a film lurching wildly from comic book action, to horror, to tragedy, to manic comedy, the movie walks a hard-to-resist tightrope that only Sam Raimi can pull off. We're joined by guest filmmaker Alex Sosin ("The Canyon") to peel back Darkman's many faces to explore what lies underneath.
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Robots
July 13th, 2026 | 1 hr 45 mins
animation, capitalism, cartoon, cartoons, ewan mcgregor, greg kinnear, halle berry, ice age, mel brooks, robin williams, sci-fi, science fiction, scifi
In 2005 "Robots" rolled off the assembly line from Blue Sky Studios, and it surprisingly remains greater than the sum of its nuts, bolts, and other assorted parts. Celebrating the aspects of capitalism that reward ingenuity and innovation, and satirizing the aspects of capitalism that incentivise profit at any cost, the film features wildly inventive production design and winning performance from an enormous celebrity roster including Ewan McGregor, Robin Williams, Greg Kinnear, Stanley Tucci, Paul Giamatti, Mel Brooks, and many many many many more. We're joined by Sophia Riccardi of the Moviestruck podcast to discuss why this film's components are anything but outmoded.
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Songs of 1992
July 6th, 2026 | 2 hrs 41 mins
1990s, 90s, alice in chains, alternative, gin blossoms, grunge, hair metal, hip-hop, hiphop, metal, metallica, mtv, music, nirvana, pop, r.e.m., radiohead, rage against the machine, rap, red hot chili peppers, rock, the cure, weird al, whitney houston
After Nevermind permanently altered the musical landscape in 1991, the following year continued music's fractured attempt to catch up with rapidly changing styles. We wish-a-you joy and happiness in revisiting our personal favorites from 1992's jukebox with guest creeps and weirdos comedian Rich Baker, and our co-hosts from "Playing By Ear", Ami Lief and Kyle Lieberman.
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Labyrinth
June 27th, 2026 | 2 hrs 34 mins
1980s, 80s, brian froud, david bowie, fantasy, goblins, jennifer connelly, jim henson, monty python, muppets, musical, musicals, terry jones, the muppets
On this episode we celebrate 40 years of the babe with the power, as Jennifer Connelly braves her way through Jim Henson's "Labyrinth". Full of astounding designs, puppetry, humor, and iconic songs from a mesmerising David Bowie, while Labyrinth was not an immediate financial success, the film's undeniable awesomeness has proven it still has power over you. We're joined by guest Josh Covel of the Still Loading podcast (and our co-host on the Jim Henson retrospective podcast "Still Muppeting") to celebrate one of the greatest movies of the 1980s. Come inside, and have a nice cup of tea!
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The Rocketeer
June 21st, 2026 | 2 hrs 26 mins
1990s, 90s, alan arkin, billy campbell, comic, comic book, comic books, comics, disney, james horner, jennifer connelly, joe johnston, paul sorvino, superhero, timothy dalton
For the 35th anniversary of The Rocketeer, we don a jetpack and blast off for derring-do with test pilot-turned-hero Cliff Secord. The film's patriotic spirit, beautiful art deco design, and sparkling performances from leads Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino, and Timothy Dalton take what could have been an ordinary movie into the stratosphere. Guest Tarik Davis (@tarikrdavis, tarikrdavis.com) joins us to take to the skies, punch some Nazis, and celebrate 35 years of this high-flying adventure film.
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The Manhattan Project
June 15th, 2026 | 1 hr 30 mins
1980s, 80s, atomic, cynthia nixon, fallout, john lithgow, nuclear, physics, science, war games
Much like its subject, when "The Manhattan Project" premiered 40 years ago it did not go off with a bang, but this film remains a hidden gem of classic '80s kids-can-do cold war paranoia. When teenage genius Paul Stephens sets out to build his own nuclear bomb, his weird science quickly turns into some war games with spreading fallout. Returning guest B.T. Moorer joins us for a look back at a wonderful flim that likely passed you by, but is well worth your time.
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The Simpsons
June 8th, 2026 | 3 hrs 20 mins
animation, bart, cartoon, cartoons, conan o'brien, hank azaria, harry shearer, homer, jon lovitz, maggie, marge, matt groening, phil hartman, simpsons, sitcom, television, tv, voice acting
For our 200th podcast, we're covering "The Simpsons", a superlative satirical juggernaut that, for over 35 years, has held a yellow mirror up to our absurd world. Filled with endlessly quotable moments, pitch-perfect vocal performances, and expertly incisive comedy, Matt Groening's brainchild may arguably be the single greatest television show ever made, and easily one of the most important artistic works of all time. We're joined by four cromulent guests, improviser Dan Oster (MadTV, "A Podcast, But Evil"), comedian / musician Dylan Ris (www.lostmoonradio.com, www.themoonunits.com), comedian Rich Baker, and singer Sophie Gonzalez (also www.themoonunits.com). We are now truly all old men yelling at clouds.
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Back to the Future Part II
June 1st, 2026 | 2 hrs 15 mins
1950s, 1980s, 80s, christopher lloyd, comedy, delorean, elisabeth shue, michael j. fox, physics, robert zemeckis, sci-fi, science, science fiction, scifi, steven spielberg, time machine, time travel
We're going back to Back to the Future, or more accurately, going to the future and back. The second chapter of Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale's time-travelling comedy trilogy finds Doc and Marty battling causality and the horrors that might ensue were power to fall into the wrong hands. Returning guest improviser and lifelong BTTF fan Darren Lanning (darrenlanning.com) hops into the time machine that is this podcast to ride a hoverboard to Back to the Future Part II. Go on and listen to it. What's the matter? Are you chicken?
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Foo Fighters
May 25th, 2026 | 2 hrs 3 mins
chris shiflett, dave grohl, grunge, metal, music, nate mendel, nirvana, pat smear, rock, rock music, songwriting, taylor hawkins
When Nirvana ended, music held its breath wondering what would come next. Dave Grohl answered that question with Foo Fighters' resounding birth cry. Combinig winning pop melodies with thunderous screams and guitars that left no uncertainty as to why this band learned to live again. Guest podcasters Matt Storm a.k.a. Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite - djstormageddon.com) and Dave Jackson (Tales From The Backlog) joins us to roundtable why Foo Fighters have continued to fill stadiums for over thirty years.
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Paper Mario
May 18th, 2026 | 1 hr 34 mins
game, gamer, gamers, games, gaming, jrpg, mario, n64, nintendo, retrogame, retrogamer, retrogamers, retrogames, retrogaming, rpg, rpgs, video game, video games, videogame, videogames
Far from, leaving us flat, Paper Mario injected whimsy and dimensionally creative play into the standard turn-based RPG formula for an unforgettable romp through the Mushroom Kingdom. We're joined by Emily Merritt (@aspecificegg) of the No Small Games podcast (https://nosmallgames.com/) to unfold why this highly unusual game is so special.
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Steve Martin
May 11th, 2026 | 1 hr 48 mins
banjo, comedian, comedy, funny, little shop of horrors, martin short, omitb, only murders in the building, satire, saturday night live, snl, stand-up, stand-up comedy, the jerk
Steve Martin revolutionized comedy, not with vitriol, but with a seemingly impossible blend of banjos, balloon animals, dad jokes, tapdancing, and philosophy. From stand-up, to movies, to TV, and more, few performers have challenged and delighted audiences with such hilarious precision. We're joined by comedian Rich Baker (www.daretofailimprov.com) for a retrospective on Steve Martin's lifetime of laughs.
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
May 4th, 2026 | 2 hrs 33 mins
alec guinness, carrie fisher, darth vader, george lucas, harrison ford, james earl jones, jedi, john williams, mark hammill, sci-fi, science fiction, scifi, space, star wars
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, specifically in 1977, audiences flocked to a blockbuster that would become the largest IP in history. While George Lucas' brainchild has become a sprawling multimedia franchise, the original film still stands as a testament to adventure and craftsmanship. We're joined by guest filmmaker Alex Sosin ("The Canyon") to celebrate why the Force of this film still surrounds us and binds us.
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Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto Del Fauno)
April 27th, 2026 | 2 hrs 24 mins
cinema, fairy tale, fairy tales, fantasy, film, films, guillermo del toro, horror, movies, myth, mythology, spain, spanish
A rumination on fairy tales that firmly embraces the "grim" in Grimm, Guillermo Del Toro's haunting masterpiece "El Laberinto Del Fauno" (or as it is known in the English-speaking world "Pan's Labyrinth") confronts us with horrors real and fantastical, the ones that force us to grow up all too soon. We're joined by guests Jala Prendes (host of Jala-Chan' Place, and co-host of Monster, Dear Monster, and Duckfeed.tv's The Level) and her husband, Dave (co-host of Monster, Dear Monster), to enter the mesmerizing maze of one of the finest films of the 21st century.
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Final Fantasy VII
April 20th, 2026 | 2 hrs 55 mins
1990s, 90s, fantasy, final fantasy, game, gamer, gamers, games, gaming, jrpg, jrpgs, nobuo uematsu, playstation, ps1, psx, retrogame, retrogamer, retrogamers, retrogames, retrogaming, rpg, rpgs, videogame, videogamer, videogamers, videogames, videogaming
By 1997 SquareSoft had honed its turn-based JRPG engine and operatic story to a fine point. Although Final Fantasy VII followed on its exquisite predecessor, no one could have predicted what a groundbreaking phenomenon the series' first 3D entry would be. The fusion of cyberpunk and medieval motifs, its melancholy but striving world, emotional soundtrack, and unforgettable characters have stood the test of time. Guest podcaster Gen Moonen ("Fun" and Games, www.genmoonen.com) joins our party to celebrate nearly 30 years of Final Fantasy VII casting a planet-changing spell.
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2001: A Space Odyssey
April 13th, 2026 | 2 hrs 45 mins
ai, alien, aliens, arthur c. clarke, artificial intelligence, astronomy, cinema, entertainment, evolution, film, films, kubrick, movie, movies, sci-fi, science fiction, scifi, space, stanley kubrick
While the year 2001 has passed, Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece set in that year looms as large as its imposing monolith, and casts as long a shadow. A spectacular artistic achievement, the film is about nothing less than the entirety of the human experience, the exultation and terror of first contact, evolution, and Lovecraftian ideas of unfathomable cosmic power and insignificance. Few films have reached for such heights, let alone achieved them. We're joined on this mission by fellow podcasters Randy Allain and Kris Ingersoll (Media/Lit), and Case Aiken (Another Pass, Men of Steel) to journey to Jupiter and beyond the infinite.