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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
Baby Reindeer
Pearl Harbor
Goku
Focus On the Family
Christmas
Left Behind
Netflix
American Revolution
Industrialization
Enlightenment Era
Christian Radio Dramas
Doki Doki Literature Club
Cyberpunk 2077
Whitaker
Christianity
Kirk Cameron
Forgiveness
Scott Benson
CD Projekt Red

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 weeklyEpisodes257Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Worst of All Possible Worlds

Latest Episodes

Joe Kassabian (Lions Led by Donkeys) and the lads throw on their expedition armbands and make for the Paintress as they cover the first act of Sandfall Interactive’s hit 2025 French simulator: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Topics include the AI contro... more

YouTube

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

The lads cast off their pop idol personas and get caught up in the murderous world of Japanese procedurals as they cover Satoshi Kon’s first animated feature: Perfect Blue. Topics... more

YouTube

Peter Shamshiri (5-4, If Books Could Kill) and the lads throw on their green cloaks and make for the castle at Inverness as they cover the fourth season of the hit reality game show: The Traitors. Topics include the show’s Dutch origins, Alan Cumming... more

YouTube

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

The lads return to Odyssey for more adventures in fractured fairy tales, the start of the Novacom Saga, and the final and fond farewell to everyone’s favorite devious Dutchman: Dr... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

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)
Justin Roczniak
Co-host of Well There's Your Problem, a podcast about engineering disasters with slides
Well There's Your Problem
Episode: 225 - Trading Places (feat. Justin Roczniak)
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)
Jacob Bridges Dallas
Co-host of Workers' Lit
Workers' Lit
Episode: 220 - Death Stranding 2 (feat. Workers’ Lit)
Scott Benson
Co-creator of Night in the Woods and returning guest on the podcast
Night in the Woods
Episode: 219 - Bram Stoker’s Dracula (feat. Scott Benson and Bethany Hockenberry)
Bethany Hockenberry
Co-creator of Night in the Woods and passionate about storytelling
Night in the Woods
Episode: 219 - Bram Stoker’s Dracula (feat. Scott Benson and Bethany Hockenberry)

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 426 ratings
  • 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 States19 days 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 States3 months ago
  • Pop

    I HOPE YOU EXPLODE

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Guthfana
    United States4 months ago
  • If you like your parasociality to be about a shared experience of media this is a good listen

    I first tried out this show after I’d just finished Disco Elysium and had an intense need to see someone else’s reactions to this… thing I’d also experienced. Since then I’ve used their back catalog to pick out what games I should try next. One issue is I’m not a fan of spoilers so I have to play before I listen. I’m a Monkey Island kid from way back so these guys got me to play Day of the Tentacle which I have to say is possibly the best of the Lucasarts oeuvre. Also Outer Wilds which might be ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Perisaccadic
    United States4 months ago
  • IM SAYING IT

    AND ALSO WITH YOU

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nosam 122
    United States5 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.

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.
189 - O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Q: Why do you care so much about adaptations of The Odyssey?
Because I'm currently adapting The Odyssey as he speaks.

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. Kill James Bond!
3. TRASHFUTURE
4. No Gods No Mayors
5. Kill The Computer

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

The Worst of All Possible Worlds launched 5 years ago and published 257 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. Peter Shamshiri
2. Rax King
3. Lucy Valentine
4. Justin Roczniak
5. Jake Beckhard
6. Caleb Booker
7. Jacob Bridges Dallas
8. Scott Benson

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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