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Artwork for Needless Things

Needless Things

Phantom Troublemaker
GI Joe
Toys
Doctor Who
Star Trek
Pop Culture
Transformers
Stellar Fest
Dragoncon
Star Wars
Comics
Masters Of the Universe
Battle Action Force
Lady Gaga
G.I. Joe
Cold Slither
Nosferatu
2024
Frankencon
1986
Action Figures

Since 2013 Needless Things has been your one-stop hub for toys, movies, music, and all manner of pop culture dorkery.

Join your host Dave as he explores any and everything that interests him - from interviewing creators to discussing classic films, it's all on the table here at Needless Things!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes522Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Leisure

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Artwork for Needless Things

Latest Episodes

Lenny Panzica has spent the last few years leading a team that has been revitalizing the GI Joe brand. The GI Joe Classified Series is responsible for bringing about a new golden age of collecting and entertainment for Joe fans, both new and lifelong... more

Welcome to Cape Fear Chronicles on the Needless Things Podcast!

In the coming months we'll be revisiting the various iterations of Cape Fear, as well as some of its impact on pop culture, as well as a full review of the new Apple TV miniseries.

In ... more

Billy Peck is exactly the kind of guest we love on Needless Things - he's a lifelong musician, he works in the wrestling business as an announcer and manager, and he collects toys!

Listen in as Dave and Billy talk toy history, life as a musician, wr... more

YouTube

It's a BRAND NEW DAY for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Billy Peck
Musician, wrestler, and toy collector introduced as a guest on the episode
Horror Punk Band Graveyard Smash; Major Wrestling Figure Podcast; PWP Live
Episode: Collecting, Wrestling, & Rock N' Roll with Billy Peck
Kristian (CodenameLegionCub)
Head of Research, Audible Interlude connection to Needless Things
Audible Interlude
Episode: San Diego Comic Con 2026 Toy News & Highlights
Chris Scott
Guest from Grindhouse Toys
Grindhouse Toys
Episode: Evil Dead Burn with Chris Scott from Grindhouse Toys
Carlos Espinoza
Creator of Rise of Nexus
Rise of Nexus / Studio
Episode: Carlos Espinoza - Rise of Nexus Returns
Gary Mitchel
Writer, co-director of Good to Be a Geek Media
Good to Be a Geek Media
Episode: Toy Trek II: The Rise of Nacelle Live from Stellar Fest 2026
Mike Gordon
Podcaster and writer known for Earth Station Who and DragonCon coverage
Earth Station Who / DragonCon-related work
Episode: Toy Trek II: The Rise of Nacelle Live from Stellar Fest 2026
Bobby Nash
Writer, author of Star Trek fan materials
Self/Various collaborations
Episode: Toy Trek II: The Rise of Nacelle Live from Stellar Fest 2026
Ken Garrison
Trek collector and panel participant
Independent collector
Episode: Toy Trek II: The Rise of Nacelle Live from Stellar Fest 2026
Beth Van Dusen
Co-host Execute Chapter 66, a Star Wars Book Club podcast
Execute Chapter 66
Episode: The Empire Strikes Back Panel of Adventure Live from Stellar Fest 2026

Host

Dave West
Host of the Needless Things podcast; central figure coordinating the show with a strong focus on pop culture, toys, and conventions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 28 ratings
  • You need needless things

    Listen and you’ll see. Great show. Great content. Check Audible Interludes too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RevScottS
    United States2 years ago
  • Phantom Rules!

    Phantom Troublemaker is one of my favorite hosts! Such fun subjects and terrific guests!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NerdyLaser
    United States9 years ago
  • Fun for sure

    Cannot sing high enough praises. Phantom and his Irregulars always bring the laughs. From toy talks, movie commentary, and all other forms of pop culture nerdery.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    theAmazingGimp
    United States10 years ago
  • For those who remember what it was like to be a kid...

    More than just another toy/wrestling/pop-culture review show, Needless Things is a wonderful look into what it means to truly LOVE your hobbies and interests. Whether it’s a one-mic show or a room full of self-professed nerds, Phantom keeps the conversation going and the audience engaged.

    Usually shows with such diverse topics run the risk of meandering, but Needless Things manages to fit it all under the umbrella of “cool stuff that has stood the test of time.” In that way it makes perfect se... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sean R Reid
    United States11 years ago
  • You Need Needless Things

    Talk about toys, conventions, movies, music, puppetry, and more. Lots of fun. Good host, great guests. Always worth the listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jerry Chandler
    United States11 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the blend of nostalgia and informed discussion about toys and pop culture.
Fans praise the show's infectious energy and diverse guests.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jonathan Davenport
Q: Who right now are your favorites when they come out?
Jonathan echoes a love for the WWE Women's Division, particularly praising Rhea Ripley, Asuka, and Liv Morgan for their performances and gear.
Aaron Reynolds - Effin' Birds
Q: Where did your humor come from?
I was having a conversation with somebody else about how I don't interrogate the things I like so much... formative things that really nailed my sense of humor are definitely Adam West's Batman.
Howard "Quiggly" Chang
Q: Can you tell us about the new toy line Ancientz?
Ancientz is a new universe where spirit-fueled robots battle darkness, inspired by a spiritual awakening Quiggly experienced, and combines themes from biblical stories.
Howard "Quiggly" Chang
Q: What was it like being a part of the Ninja Turtles phenomenon?
Quiggly mentions that he didn't initially realize the extent of the turtles' popularity until he attended conventions years later and saw how fans were influenced by the toys he designed.
Howard "Quiggly" Chang
Q: How did you end up wanting to create art and design action figures?
Quiggly shares that he was always the best artist in class and his journey began when he applied for a sculptor position, leading to his discovery of toy design.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Needless Things

What is Needless Things about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on toys, pop culture, and entertainment with a candid, conversation-driven format. Episodes often thread personal storytelling with deep dives into toy design, collectibles, wrestling gear, and movie/music culture, mixing nostalgia with current trends. A standout quality is the host's enthusiastic, informal style and a steady stream of knowledgeable guests—from independent toy makers to industry veterans and performers—creating a friendly, nerdy community vibe that's approachable for newcomers and seasoned collectors alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Needless Things?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Needless Things. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Needless Things and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Needless Things get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Needless Things, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Needless Things?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Needless Things, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Needless Things have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Needless Things has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Needless Things?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Needless Things:

1. Audible Interlude: A GI Joe Podcast
2. The Full Force
3. Anything Joes: A Collaborative Journey Through The World Of G.I. Joe
4. Talking Joe: A G.I. Joe Comics Podcast
5. The Dragon Con Report

How many episodes of Needless Things are there?

Needless Things launched 14 years ago and published 522 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Needless Things?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Needless Things?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Needless Things from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Needless Things?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Needless Things. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Needless Things?

Recent guests on Needless Things include:

1. Billy Peck
2. Kristian (CodenameLegionCub)
3. Chris Scott
4. Carlos Espinoza
5. Gary Mitchel
6. Mike Gordon
7. Bobby Nash
8. Ken Garrison

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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