It's MrBeast week on The Worst of All Possible Worlds. To kick it off we're unlocking a premium episode we released in March 2023 where THE LADS WATCH 8 MRBEAST VIDEOS AND THEN TALK ABOUT THEM (Not Clickbait). Topics include MrBeast’s humble origins, the monetization of altruism, and the internet’s canonization of St. Jimmy Donaldson.
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2025-06-23 06:00:07 +0000 UTC
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This is the first episode of Ill Conceived, a new podcast from Josh Boerman of The Worst of All Possible Worlds and June Sternbach of Western Kabuki. Get new episodes every Friday in your favorite podcast client:
Dr. Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters from the We’re Not So Different podcast join the lads on a medievalist romp through the world of morality plays as they cover the story of Everyman and two of its progeny: the works of Jack Chick and a little show called Adventures in Odyssey. Topics include the Dutch origins of Everyman, the horrors of being eternally judged while nude, and the insidious pedantry at the heart of the evangel...
2025-06-18 06:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Hey Worsties, Josh here. Over the past month I've been working with June Sternbach of Western Kabuki to develop a new podcast about natalism—the ideology that sees declining birthrates as the most important issue in modern American politics—and how it's a skeleton key to understanding both the MAGA movement and reactionary conservatism more broadly. We'll be releasing new episodes every Friday, starting on June 20.
Those of...
2025-06-11 19:40:41 +0000 UTC
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David Armstrong (Bonus Action) and the lads grab their ghosts and join the CIA as they cover Quantic Dream’s 2013 horror/sci-fi trainwreck: Beyond: Two Souls. Topics include David Cage’s whole deal, the intuitively unintuitive controls, and what it means when your storytelling is so bad, not even Elliot Page can save it.
Bonus Action: Hail and well met, Peaches! Adam and Jay from the reaction channel pReview’d have started an Actual Pla...
2025-06-11 06:00:06 +0000 UTC
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This lads kick off pride month by revisiting an oft-forgotten but foundational play in the queer canon: William M. Hoffman’s As Is. Topics include the history of the AIDS play, Hoffman’s exquisite weaponization of comedy in the face of overwhelming tragedy, and the legacy of a 90 minute play that inspired an entire genre of theater.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at
2025-06-04 07:00:09 +0000 UTC
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The lads grab their papers and hop a plane to Morocco as they cover Michael Curtiz’ 1942 Bogartfest: Casablanca. Topics include the goblin energy of Peter Lorre, the GOATness of Victor Laszlo, and what it means to drown out fascists by belting out “La Marseillaise”.
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On this episode of Fancy Movie Time with Brian and A.J., the Fancy Lads groove to Also Sprach Zarathustra and save the economy as they cover Hal Ashby's 1979 Gumpfest: Being There. Do this movie's melancholy tone and memorable performances make it a Fancy Feast? Or do its static characters and moderate incoherence make it a Failure to Fancy? One thing's for sure: somebody in Maine is gonna get moidered.
On the Next Fancy Movie Time with Br...
2025-05-23 16:07:53 +0000 UTC
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Abigail Thorn (The Acolyte, House of the Dragon) and the lads stand up for their beliefs and just kinda drive around New Mexico as they cover the 2014 evangelical political thriller: Persecuted. Topics include passion plays, the art of selling evangelicalism, and what it means to build your entire theological identity around whining like a smol bean.
Abigail Thorn: 2025-05-21 06:00:07 +0000 UTC
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The lads escape a chain gang and become men of constant sorrow as they embark on Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2000 Southern Odyssey: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Topics include the charms of George Clooney, the superlative soundtrack, and how to adapt the Odyssey without turning into a horny toad.
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Alex and Jeremy of the Quorators podcast join the lads for their triumphant return to Odyssey as they throw themselves headlong into adventures of magic bats, deceitful chickens, and Edwin Blackgaard staging The Merchant of Venice. Topics include the Twilife Zone, the ethics of Watto the Toydarian, and what it means to live your life in the service of a chicken whose real name is...
2025-05-07 06:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Caleb @BirdRespecter (Western Kabuki, 60 Minute Drill) joins Brian and Josh to tell the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell, a man who walked off his job as a baggage handler at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport one day in 2018 to steal an airplane. Russell and his ill-fated flight quickly became a cause célèbre among some of the darkest corners of the internet, continuing to this day. This episode tries to figure out how and why that happened.
Note: Thi...
2025-04-30 06:00:13 +0000 UTC
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On this episode of Fancy Movie Time with Brian and A.J., the fancy lads grab their Gaveston's and get caught in the gay labyrinth as they cover Derek Jarman's 1991 Marlowe-tacular: Edward II. Do the film's Jacobean tendencies and visual eccentricities make it a Fancy Feast? Or do its lack of emotional arcs and unrelentingly bleak tone make it a Failure to Fancy? One thing's for sure: that Edward II sure did love his soliloquy pool.
Next month's episode: Being There...
2025-04-26 19:20:13 +0000 UTC
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Renee Olstead (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Unfriended) and the lads grab some ice cubes and enter the cutthroat world of Vegas dancing as they cover Paul Verhoeven’s 1995 striptacular: Showgirls. Topics include the madness of Joe Eszterhas, the infamous VH1 cut, and the solidarity that can be learned from a movie that involves shoving your competition down a flight of stairs.
Renee Olstead: 2025-04-23 06:15:01 +0000 UTC
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The lads grab their crossbows and make for the Space Needle as they cover the back half of Naughty Dog's 2020 revengefest: The Last of Us Part II. Topics include state quarters, the logistics of building crane bridges, and what it truly means to “look for the light”.
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The lads grab their golf clubs and make for Seattle as they hop on the Ellie murder train that is Naughty Dog’s 2020 revengeapalooza: The Last of Us Part II. Topics include the chaotic development process, the CW-fication of the writing, and the inescapable conservatism at the core of The Last of Us universe.
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When Bill Clinton won the US presidential election in 1992, two people were key to his success: James Carville and George Stephanopolous. This week, Brian and Josh step into The War Room, D.A. Pennebaker’s 1993 documentary about how these two men and their team of future top Democratic all-stars cajoled and bullshitted America’s electorate into sending Slick Willie to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Media Referenced in This Episode:
Our ongoing interview series with people working to fight the rising tide of fascism continues today as Josh sits down with Tim Faust, a healthcare activist who has been advocating for the preservation and expansion of federal and state healthcare programs in the United States for years. Tim recently began touring the state of Wisconsin, talking with local groups about what they can do to fight to preserve acc...
2025-03-31 07:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Saddle up your horses as the lads, along with Rosey Armstrong (Hans Gruber and the Die Hards), slap on their Crosses of Gold and dive headlong into the varied and wild world of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). Topics include what makes Christian music Christian music, the rampaging sexiness of Michael W. Smith, and the importance of artistic integrity in an industry seemingly designed to destroy it.
Rosey Armstrong: 2025-03-26 06:00:10 +0000 UTC
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On this episode of Fancy Movie Time with Brain and A.J., the Fancy Lads conquer their narcolepsy and hit the mean streets of Portland as they cover Gus Van Sant's gay odyssey: My Own Private Idaho. Do the stellar performances and Shakespearean pizazz make it a Fancy Feast? Or does its meandering plot and limited bag of tricks make it a Failure to Fancy? One thing's for sure: Keanu Reeves seems like a pretty swell guy!
Next Month: Edward II (1991)
2025-03-21 06:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Good morning, everyone! The current date is March 20, 2020. Residents, I have some exciting news for you! The Lads have just moved onto our wonderful island! Let’s all give them a big island welcome! In other news, the museum is under construction and you’ll never go outside again. Be sure to visit Blathers tomorrow once construction is complete. Clean your groceries with bleach and head on down to the shore because we have a visitor to the island! It’s always so interesting learning ab...
2025-03-19 06:30:02 +0000 UTC
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The lads take a knee and offer their football up to the Lord as they cover the 2024 Coach Joseph Kennedy biopic: Average Joe. Topics include the return of Harold Cronk, the Deadpoolification of Christian movies, and what it means to build a social movement around one of the most annoying narcissists alive.
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TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton:
2025-03-12 06:10:01 +0000 UTC
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How did the lads meet? Well that’s a very interesting story, when Brian and A.J. moved to New York with two suitcases and didn’t know anyone and they have-uh-they head to YMCA with a $2000 check which they could not cash. Why? Well, because it was an out of state bank. Anyway, uh- they were working as busboys in a hotel, and uh-uh Josh was sitting, drinking his coffee, and he was so beautiful, and they say hi to him. That’s how they met. What’s the interesting part? Well the interesti...
2025-03-05 07:00:07 +0000 UTC
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In this episode of Fancy Movie Time with Brian and A.J., the Fancy Lads head for the Thai countryside to do battle with death as they cover Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 2010 surreal monkey-ghost-a-palooza: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. Does the film's adherence to Weerasethakul's confident style and deep philosophical musings make it a Fancy Feast? Or do its flat tone and lack of deep characters make it a Failure to Fancy? One thing's for sure: those two vultur...
2025-02-28 07:00:09 +0000 UTC
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Justin Roczniak (Well There’s Your Problem) and the lads walk in a straight line through Los Angeles and leave carnage in their wake as they cover Joel Schumacher’s 1993 boomer-palooza: Falling Down. Topics include LA geography, the fashion of mechanical engineers, and what it means to hold up an entire fast food joint because those darn cashiers won’t serve you your well-deserved Whomlette with a side of Whammy fries.
Justin Roczniak: ...
2025-02-26 07:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Devon (Kill James Bond!) and the lads return to Odyssey for more adventures in valentines, political blackmail, and volunteering for the Vietnam War. Topics include the logistics of Roman marriage, the intangible dread of grief, and what it means when the great loss that hangs over your entire series is a character as objectively terrible as Jerry Whittaker.
Devon: Twitter //&nb...
2025-02-19 07:00:07 +0000 UTC
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The lads pledge to the Phoenix Club and destroy democracy as they cover David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin’s 2010 techbro parable: The Social Network. Topics include Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ iconic score, the polarizing nature of Sorkin’s writing, and what it means to live in a world ruled by Augustus Caesar wannabes like Mark Zuckerberg.
TICKETS TO GO SEE JOSH’S PLA...
2025-02-12 07:00:24 +0000 UTC
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Our interview series about practical tactics to keep yourself and your community safe from the rising tide of fascism continues this week as Josh talks with maia arson crimew (it/she), a hacktivist and past guest on the show. Topics include:
Joe Kassabian (Lions Led by Donkeys) and the lads hop in the Highwind and fly it straight into Sephiroth’s face as they conclude their coverage of Square’s monumental 1997 RPG: Final Fantasy VII. Topics include the wild quests of Yuffie and Vincent, the gamer-rage fueled final dungeon, and what it means to fight the end of the world when you’ve got a Sephiroth still lodged in your head.
Joe Kassabian: 2025-02-05 07:00:08 +0000 UTC
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In this episode of Fancy Movie Time with Brian and A.J., the Fancy Lads grab their cigarettes and smoke out of the sunroof of a red Saab as they cover Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 2021 Chekhov/Murakami mashup: Drive My Car. Does the film's haunting portrayal of grief and its repercussions make it a Fancy Feast? Or does its slow, methodical pace and flat line deliveries make it a Failure to Fancy? One thing's for sure: you can't have two basses in a barbershop quartet.
Nex...
2025-01-31 07:00:03 +0000 UTC
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