Rephonic
Artwork for Purely Academic

Purely Academic with Jonathan Lack & Sean Chapman

Jonathan R. Lack & Sean Chapman
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Dragon Ball
Doctor Who
Akira Toriyama
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Superhero Movies
Persona 3
Persona 3 Reload
Spider-Man 2
Batman
Xbox
Robocop
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Dr. Slump
Dragon Quest
Analogue Pocket
Game Boy
Black Panther
Logan
Yuffie

Critics and teachers Jonathan R. Lack and Sean Chapman host this monthly variety series where we talk about our favorite video games, movies, anime, and much more, having fun and maybe even learning something along the way. From the creators of The Weekly Stuff Podcast and Japanimation Station. Visit www.jonathanlack.com for more!

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes564Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Film ReviewsVideo GamesLeisureTV & Film

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Purely Academic

Latest Episodes

In one of our most absolutely jam-packed Monthly Stuff installments to date, we live up to our moniker with a long discussion of teaching stories and curriculum planning (but it’s fun, we promise) before moving on to talk about the avalanche of games... more

YouTube

We spent a full year chronicling the history of Kyoto Animation on our anime podcast, Japanimation Station, back in 2024, which means we are very excited to talk about CITY: THE ANIMATION, the latest anime series from the renowned studio. Directed by... more

YouTube

We’re back for the month of October with an exciting episode covering both the highs and lows of the video game industry in 2025. In terms of ‘low,’ we’ve got more Xbox Pricing Madness, as Microsoft once again hiked prices on Xbox hardware, before un... more

YouTube

It’s a 2-part episode of Purely Academic as we discuss the recent Nintendo Direct presentation – our first big event from Nintendo since the launch of the Switch 2 – before reviewing the biggest movie in the world right now: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Thomas Lack
World champion in Persona 3, Dancing Moon Knight, Persona 4, Dancing All Night, and Persona 5, Dancing Star Knight
Episode: The Weekly Stuff #489 - Reviewing Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade Stage Play

Hosts

Jonathan Lack
Critic, educator, and host of the podcast, with a background in film studies and pop culture analysis.
Sean Chapman
Co-host and high school English teacher, bringing a critical lens to the discussions of media and culture.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 66 ratings
  • They like the new doctor who stuff......enough said

    Podcast Addict
    1
    RevanWake
    a year ago
  • Great Podcast

    Love the discussions on this podcast. Give you great things to think about. Should cover Gamera

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alexmaster13
    United States4 years ago
  • The (Not) Weekly Review of the Weekly Stuff Podcast

    my favorite podcast out there! it’s been going on for so long that there’s plenty to listen to

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    redcomet7107
    United States4 years ago
  • 1.5 years in and loving it, But the audio is low

    Love all the topics and rewatches these guys choose, and I really appreciate the addition of time stamps in the descriptions, but man it gets difficult listening in louder areas with headphones or even just in my car sometimes.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mrhopadopalus
    United States4 years ago
  • Amazing work

    Passionate, well informed and honest review/discussion about a wide range of of popular media. Both hosts are very self aware and both contribute deeply contrasting and complimentary opinions and perspectives in an organic and honest way. The show is a super refreshing listen and has become a part of my weekly routine. Great guys great content. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    eeb189
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the depth and humor of the discussions, often highlighting the dynamic relationship between the hosts.
Some critiques mention the occasional niche focus on specific topics that may not appeal to all listeners, but overall, the content remains relatable and entertaining.
The podcast is noted for its engaging critical analysis and nostalgic references, which resonates well with a diverse audience.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Purely Academic #10 – The Top 10 Most Unlikely Gundam Creative Collaborations
Q: Can you explain your idea involving the potential collaboration with Studio Trigger?
The collaboration would involve chaotic rivals piloting Gundams with emotional transformations.
Purely Academic #10 – The Top 10 Most Unlikely Gundam Creative Collaborations
Q: What did I challenge you with? What did you bring to the table this time, Sean?
Sean shares his list of the top 10 least likely anime team collaborations with Gundam.
Purely Academic #7 – Listener Mail Extravaganza! Plus Dynasty Warriors, Shows That Should Copy Dragon Ball, & more!
Q: Are you going to cover Cyberpunk 2077?
In a hypothetical scenario where I have infinite time, yes, I would probably like to play Cyberpunk 2077, but in reality where I'm limited on time, probably not any time soon.
Purely Academic #7 – Listener Mail Extravaganza! Plus Dynasty Warriors, Shows That Should Copy Dragon Ball, & more!
Q: If you could redo one episode of Weekly Suit Gundam or Japanimation Station, what would you choose?
I would choose to redo the Zeta Gundam episode to explore its context better, as we could utilize what we have learned since then.
Purely Academic #7 – Listener Mail Extravaganza! Plus Dynasty Warriors, Shows That Should Copy Dragon Ball, & more!
Q: If you could see any unfinished film, but you must erase one of that director's existing films to do it, what would you see and what would you delete?
I would choose to see The Magnificent Ambersons by Orson Welles and delete The Immortal Story, which is less significant in his filmography.

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 Purely Academic

What is Purely Academic about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers an engaging exploration of various aspects of pop culture, including video games, films, and anime. Through lively discussions, the hosts dive into specific titles, often providing a critical lens paired with humor, allowing listeners to gain insights into both creative works and the broader industry context. Unique features include in-depth analysis of themes, storytelling techniques, and character development in both mainstream and niche media, making it significant for enthusiasts looking to develop a nuanced understanding of the genres they love.

Listeners can expect a friendly dynamic between the hosts as they seamlessly blend personal anecdotes with expert analysis, making every episode feel like a conversation among ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Purely Academic?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Purely Academic. 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 Purely Academic and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Purely Academic get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Purely Academic, 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 Purely Academic?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Purely Academic, 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 Purely Academic have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Purely Academic 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 Purely Academic?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Purely Academic:

1. Japanimation Station Season 5 - Grand Tour!

How many episodes of Purely Academic are there?

Purely Academic launched 13 years ago and published 564 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 Purely Academic?

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 Purely Academic?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Purely Academic 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 Purely Academic?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Purely Academic. 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 Purely Academic?

Recent guests on Purely Academic include:

1. Thomas Lack

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days