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Artwork for The Worst of All Possible Worlds

The Worst of All Possible Worlds

Josh Boerman, A.J. Ditty, and Brian Alford
Adventures In Odyssey
Focus On the Family
Evangelical Christianity
Bloodborne
Broadway
Disney
Youtube
Final Fantasy VII
The Last Of Us Part II
Steven Spielberg
Christianity
Donald Trump
James Dobson
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Chrono Trigger
Animation
AIDS
Silent Hill 2
Catholicism
Robert Zemeckis

The first and only podcast bringing you weekly case studies in the pop culture of a dying empire. Every Wednesday, co-hosts Josh, Brian, and A.J. dissect an artifact of popular culture, breaking down how its narrative choices reflect or subvert the reactionary political project. From video games to movies to theater to an apparently infinite supply of evangelical Christian radio drama, we expose t... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes269Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Worst of All Possible Worlds

Latest Episodes

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall

TICKETS TO OUR MAY 24 LIVE SHOW IN BROOKLYN ARE ON GENERAL SALE NOW! LIVE STREAM AVAILABLE! To get your tickets, go to Littlefieldnyc.com

The lads hide their demon marks and move... more

YouTube

Hi everyone,

Josh here with your (hopefully) one-stop shop for all details regarding the May 24 7PM ET live show, including how the livestream will work. HERE'S THE LINK TO TICKETS AT LITTLEFIELDNYC.COM.

TL;DR:

• We're excited to have you on the l... more

YouTube

LIVESTREAM AND IN PERSON TICKETS TO OUR MAY 24 LIVE SHOW IN BROOKLYN ARE AVAILABLE NOW! To get your tickets, go to Littlefieldnyc.com

The lads ring in their fifth anniversary by finally explaining the show’s title as they cover the 1974 revival of L... more

YouTube

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall

TICKETS TO OUR MAY 24 LIVE SHOW IN BROOKLYN ARE ON GENERAL SALE NOW! To get your tickets, go to Littlefieldnyc.com

The lads grab their fedoras and make for Cairo as they cover St... 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.

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Recent Guests

Maggie Kang
Creator, co-writer and co-director of KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters / DreamWorks scouting
Episode: 241 - KPop Demon Hunters
Heath Saunders
Actor, composer, dancer
Spectra.Theater
Episode: 238 - A Chorus Line (feat. Heath Saunders)
Mark Taylor
Lieutenant, firefighter and subject of the Trump Prophecy
Bedford Fire Department, Orlando, Florida (subject of the film)
Episode: 237 - The Trump Prophecy (2018)
John-Paul Brammer
Writer of Ola Papi, columnist; planning return to Catholic Church in American Schism
johnpaulbrammer.substack.com
Episode: 236 - American Psycho (feat. JP Brammer)
Peter Shamshiri
Former lawyer, co-host of Five Four and If Books Could Kill
Five Four
Episode: 230 - The Traitors (feat. Peter Shamshiri)
Rax King
Author and co-host of the Low Culture Boil podcast
Low Culture Boil
Episode: 228 - Alone (feat. Rax King)
Lucy Valentine
Comedian and podcaster, diehard Kingdom Hearts enthusiast.
Boonta Vista
Episode: 226 - Kingdom Hearts (feat. Lucy Valentine)
Jake Beckhard
Host of Blue Balls, the podcast, theater director, and producer.
Blue Balls Podcast
Episode: 59 UNLOCKED - Chess: The Musical (feat. Jake Beckhard)
Caleb Booker
Co-host of "Kill the Computer" and cultural commentator
Kill The Computer
Episode: 187 UNLOCKED - Sky King: The Story of Richard Russell (feat. Caleb from Kill The Computer)

Hosts

A.J.
Host of The Worst of All Possible Worlds; frequent, central voice across episodes.
Brian
Co-host with a strong presence in discussions and humor, often driving group dynamics.
Josh
Co-host known for quick wit, references, and balancing the trio's energy.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 448 ratings
  • A Best of All Possible Nerds

    First (in pompous aristocratic tone, weirdly unsarcastic but nonetheless very silly): Gentlemen of TWOPW, thank you for your incomparable work dissecting some of the best pieces of pop culture of my childhood. I was delighted that you devoted an entire episode to Day of the Tentacle, a game that has haunted me since 1998. A game that, dare I say, encapsulated the very zeitgeist of dorky children who loved idiotic quests that by their very nature were Quixotic in their inanity, but offered respit... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Albobadalbo
    United Statesa month ago
  • I came here when I ran out of Kill James Bond

    I keep telling myself I don’t understand hangout media where people who have some sort of chemistry hang out or play video games or whatever and you listen to them and live a kind of safe friendship vicariously through them in order to make life in The Hellscape a little more bearable.

    Anyway this is a show about pop culture. It’s quite good! Good enough that I’m paying for it, even though I told myself I couldn’t afford another patreon.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    amanda.systems
    Sweden2 months ago
  • I hope they EXPLODE (respectfully)

    A hugely entertaining, funny and insightful podcast on culture from three wickedly talented hosts with extensive experience in theater and entertainment. The Kingdom Hearts episode drew me in and made me laugh, the episode on the 1985 play “As Is” on the AIDS epidemic made me tear up. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wee Bb Shaymouse
    United States2 months ago
  • Insightful and educational

    For anyone who wishes at some point they moved to NYC in their youth and worked in the theater, this is for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nickhalfasleep
    United States5 months ago
  • Pop

    I HOPE YOU EXPLODE

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Guthfana
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Appeals to fans of theater, games, and cultural analysis; some praise long-form depth while others love the humor.
The hosts deliver hilarious, insightful media critique with strong rapport.
Listeners praise production quality and guest variety.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

236 - American Psycho (feat. JP Brammer)
Q: What jumped out to you about American Psycho, JP?
JP Brammer discusses Ellis's transgressive approach, the way the book's stream-of-consciousness builds a mindscape for Bateman, and how the movie shifts that through visual storytelling and character focus, while also noting Ellis's public persona and the ongoing dialogue about what the text says about masculinity and consumer culture.
230 - The Traitors (feat. Peter Shamshiri)
Q: How does the host's persona affect the show's dynamics and viewer engagement?
Alan Cumming's hosting is praised as a crucial element, blending camp, humor, and a sharp sense of theatricality that sustains engagement and shapes how contestants perform under scrutiny.
230 - The Traitors (feat. Peter Shamshiri)
Q: What are the key gameplay mechanics that stand out to you in this season?
The panel highlights the daily cycle of challenges, banishments, and the secret traitor mechanic, along with the endgame shifts, chairs, and the role of the roundtable as the core strategic battleground.
230 - The Traitors (feat. Peter Shamshiri)
Q: Tell me about your history with The Traitors. How it came into your life. Have you been watching it since the beginning?
Peter describes watching the US version from early seasons, noting the show's evolution, casting evolution, and cross-border adaptations, and discusses how the format has shifted from normies to career performers and the meta-game around traitor dynamics.
187 UNLOCKED - Sky King: The Story of Richard Russell (feat. Caleb from Kill The Computer)
Q: What is it about this story that still resonates with you?
Caleb shares personal parallels between his life and Richard Russell's, highlighting shared experiences of struggle and introspection.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Worst of All Possible Worlds

What is The Worst of All Possible Worlds about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, pop-culture critique show that dissects artifacts from video games to theater and evangelical media through a politically inflected lens. Hosts trade rapid-fire analysis, weaving humor with critique of narrative choices, production decisions, and cultural impact. Guests frequently bring specialized perspectives, enriching debates about media as a reflection of society and a tool for imagining better futures. The format blends rigorous commentary with recurring bits, creating a distinctive, talky vibe that appeals to listeners who enjoy friendly banter, deep dives, and cultural context.

The show often foregrounds themes like narrative manipulation, political subtext, and the social functions of entertainment, making it useful for au... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Worst of All Possible Worlds?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Worst of All Possible Worlds:

1. Ill Conceived
2. No Gods No Mayors
3. Kill James Bond!
4. Kill The Computer
5. TRASHFUTURE

How many episodes of The Worst of All Possible Worlds are there?

The Worst of All Possible Worlds launched 5 years ago and published 269 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Worst of All Possible Worlds?

Recent guests on The Worst of All Possible Worlds include:

1. Maggie Kang
2. Heath Saunders
3. Mark Taylor
4. John-Paul Brammer
5. Peter Shamshiri
6. Rax King
7. Lucy Valentine
8. Jake Beckhard

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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