The Pop Break

Alex Marcus
  • 4.0 (8)
  • TV & Film
  • Updated Weekly

The Pop Break is a collection of podcasts executive produced by Pop Break Director Alex Marcus, featuring the very best conversations about television, film, music, anime, wrestling, and more! This includes weekly pods like Roses & Rejections on Wednesdays, providing coverage of the best of reality dating, as well as new episodes of monthly podcasts like The Anniversary Bros, TV Break, Not Couple Goals, Blerd Watchers, Anime x Pop, Batman By The Numbers, & Bill vs. The MCU every Monday and Friday!

  1. 3d ago

    Batman By The Numbers: Remembering The Dark Knight Trilogy + Ranking Nolan Action Scenes

    There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters. Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening. The Christopher Nolan Dark Knight Trilogy. Need I say more? That’s right – we are BACK to our Eras of Batman yearlong theme, and today’s episode is none other than the Batman films of Christopher Nolan.  Yes, we’ve done extensive episodes and discussions on these movies.  We did a Dark Knight 15th Anniversary pod, and we even did a 3-hour Christopher Nolan movie rankings episode back in 2024. But this is it.  This is the most in depth, analytical, get all your hot takes out there Nolan Batman episode we’ve ever done.  We discuss EVERYTHING regarding all three movies.   Alex Marcus, Podcasting Director of the Pop Break, and returning guest Bill George of the Should I Go See It Podcast are here for this justifiably long episode!  We discuss it all.  The villains.  The themes.  Our first time seeing each movie.  Daniel complains incessantly about the Tumbler.  Alex gives his final all out praise for one Talia Al Ghul.  Oh, and we got a hot take from Kris Ingersoll on Rachel Dawes, in which he essentially gave a precursor to back in the Best Batman Romantic Partners Rankings episode! So you would think discussing three Nolan movies is enough for one podcast episode, right?   Nope. Oh yeah, we got a rankings topic into this episode as well, don’t you worry! We are ranking the BEST NOLAN BATMAN ACTION SCENES FROM THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY. Do I really need to hype this up more? If this is your favorite era of Batman, this is the episode that will truly do justice to these three movies.  Listen right now!

    Batman By The Numbers: Remembering The Dark Knight Trilogy + Ranking Nolan Action Scenes

  2. Sep 28

    Podelay: Josephine Riesman on The Last Temptation of Beck: The Untold Story of a Pop Messiah

    In this very special episode, Podelay host Randy Allain (Media/Lit) interviews New York Times Bestselling Author Josephine Riesman about her upcoming book: The Last Temptation of Beck: The Untold Story of a Pop Messiah. Josephine discusses Beck’s value as a pop culture fixture during her formative years and the process of digging into the blank spaces between years of mysterious interviews to put together one of the most complete portraits of this alt rock superstar that fans have ever seen.  The Last Temptation of Beck: The Untold Story of a Pop Messiah hits bookshelves on October 6, 2026 along with a companion album of music inspired by this one-of-a-kind artist profile.

    Podelay: Josephine Riesman on The Last Temptation of Beck: The Untold Story of a Pop Messiah

  3. Sep 25

    Podelay: Morning Phase, 2014

    This is Podelay, a podcast dedicated to alternative rock pioneer Beck Hansen! After completing their Pod of Doom series, Randy Allain (Media/Lit) and Justin Mancini (TheCineMaverick.com) are back to take on a whole new genre. Our resident music podcasters are joined by Kris Ingersoll of Batman by the Numbers and the Media/Lit podcast, and this time, Randy steps into the host chair so that Justin can discover something new. In the eleventh episode, Justin, Kris, and Randy discuss Beck’s much acclaimed (and Grammy-winning) 2014 record. They recall needle drops in trailers for Oscar-nominated films, divine multiple meanings from lyrical discrepancies online, and refuse to pigeonhole Kris as Podelay’s resident “harmonica guy.” And as always, they recommend other artists for your listening pleasure. In every episode, each host will spotlight the following: ·    Where It’s At: a track they really like. ·    It’s A Loser, Baby: a track they don’t. ·    Sing It Again: a favorite lyric. ·    Such A Beautiful Way: a favorite musical moment. Join them as they travel to a destination a little up the road from the conversations and the pods you know. Please join us for the show that poses one simple question: I’m a podcast, baby, so why don’t you stream me? Host Picks:   Where It’s At (A Song We Think Is Underrated or Just Really Like) Justin – Wave Kris – Say Goodbye Randy – Heart Is a Drum   It’s a Loser, Baby (A Song We Don’t Like So Much) Justin – Blackbird Chain (verse) Kris – Unforgiven (qualified) Randy – Don’t Let It Go (qualified)   Sing It Again (A Favorite Lyric) Justin – Turn Away Kris – Turn Away Randy – Country Down   Such a Beautiful Way (A Favorite Musical Moment) Justin – Waking Light Kris – Cycle/Morning (transition) Randy – Blue Moon   Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To: Justin – Sly and the Family Stone Kris – Judah & the Lion Randy – Vampire Weekend

    Podelay: Morning Phase, 2014

  4. Sep 22

    The Court of Bros & Spice: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

    “Two dudes, too many morally gray men!” Welcome to the Court of Bros & Spice, join Co-hosts, The Smut Scholar Tyler Bishop and The Thirst Marshal Branden Vice as they do what their therapists recommended ... .start a podcast! Each episode the court will take you on a journey into various romantasy books, they’ll spread some pages while ignoring the red flags as they break down and discuss this genre that has become wildly popular across the world.  In this inaugural episode, Branden and Tyler fall into the most basic of spices as they celebrate the annual release of their favorite coffee shop drink, and open up shop with The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore. Here we find stressed city worker Jeanie Ellis has escaped her corporate life after inheriting her aunt's coffee shop in the cozy small town of Dream Harbor. There she clashes with Logan, a grumpy local farmer who tries to avoid her upbeat energy. So grab your flannel, as the court tries to out basic each other in this slice of Hallmark.  The journey continues on the next episode as Branden and Tyler leave Dream Harbor with the falling leaves and embrace the fantasy in romantasy as they roll for initiative in a Dungeons & Dragons themed novel, Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods You can find the podcast on both Instagram & TikTok @brosnspicepod

    The Court of Bros & Spice: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

  5. Sep 21

    Anime x Pop: Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi Deep Dive + My Adventures with Superman, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, and I am Looking for Zombie!

    There’s never a dull moment in the world of anime and Pop Break is diving right into the action! Join anime enthusiasts Amanda Rivas and Josh Sarnecky as they geek out monthly with dedicated experts and special guests on exciting anime news, trending anime in TV and/or movies, and anime recommendations spanning different genres that everyone should be watching. If you are a lifelong anime lover or taking the initial leap into the genre that has something for everyone, this is the podcast for you! This month we are joined by friends of the pod and fellow Star Wars enthusiasts Randy Allain of the Media/Lit and Podelay! podcasts and Editor-in-Chief of The Pop Break and co-host of Socially Distanced Bill Bodkin to talk about Star Wars Visions Presents The Ninth Jedi! Our enthusiasts take a stroll through the anime content minds to discuss favorite series they’ve been watching recently, including Josh’s recommendations of Kaiju Girl Caramelise and Bleach TYBW,  Randy’s recommendations of anime-adjacent My Adventures with Superman and The Owl House, Amanda’s recommendations of Bleach TYBW and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, and Bill’s recommendations of My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, and a surprise recommendation blending wrestling into anime. My Adventures of Superman is found on HBO Max, The Owl House and Bleach TYBW on Disney +, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust on Amazon Prime, and all remaining recommendations found on Crunchyroll.  In Anime News, they review the trailer for I am Looking for Zombie premiering October 3rd on Crunchyroll.  In their feature review section, our enthusiasts discuss the decision to select The Ninth Jedi as Star Wars Visions’s first in-depth anime project, Kara as a protagonist, the differences between the Jedi and Sith from canon Star Wars, and so much more!

    Anime x Pop: Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi Deep Dive + My Adventures with Superman, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, and I am Looking for Zombie!

  6. Sep 18

    The Anniversary Brothers: Designated Survivor 10th Anniversary

    Aaron and Josh Sarnecky are here to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Designated Survivor. Designated Survivor is a political thriller drama series. It premiered on ABC on September 21, 2016. It ran on the network for two seasons before being canceled. Netflix picked the show up for a shorter third season, which debuted in June 2019. Netflix canceled the series the following month, leaving the episode total at 53. In the pilot, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) becomes the President after an attack on the State of Union address, by virtue of being the designated survivor. Kirkman, his wife (Natascha McElhone) and his children (Mckenna Grace, Tanner Buchanan) abruptly move into the White House. During the show, he must rebuild federal government, find those responsible for the attack, and run for election. Kirkman is assisted by many characters, including Chief of Staff Emily Rhodes (Italia Ricci), National Security Advisor Aaron Shore (Adan Canto), Press Secretary Seth Wright (Kal Penn), Secret Service Agent Mike Ritter (LaMonica Garrett), and FBI Agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q). Political players include Speaker of the House Kimble Hookstraten (Virginia Madsen), Former President Cornelius Moss (Geoff Pierson), the duplicitous Vice President Peter MacLeish (Ashley Zukerman), and Kirkman’s campaign manager Lorraine Zimmer (Julie White). Other characters include attorney Ethan West (Michael J. Fox), aerospace businesswoman Andrea Frost (Kim Raver), White House Political Director Lyor Boone (Paulo Costanzo), geneticist Dr. Eli Mays (Chukwudi Iwuji), and Deputy Chief of Staff Isabel Pardo (Elena Tovar). Designated Survivor Season 1 earned solid reviews, but the show lost steam shortly after Season 2 premiered. The show had five showrunners in three seasons. The revolving door of showrunners plus declining ratings led to its first cancelation. Upon its second cancelation, Netflix said the third season’s finale was a satisfying ending. Designated Survivor received a South Korean adaptation titled Designated Survivor: 60 Days. Aaron and Josh discuss watching and reviewing Designated Survivor before going into the show’s storylines and characters, how the show was affected by real life politics, and its relevance back then and today. You can listen to Aaron and Josh talk about Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in their 24 podcast. You can also hear about his role in Stand by Me on last month’s podcast. Designated Survivor is streaming on Netflix

    The Anniversary Brothers: Designated Survivor 10th Anniversary

  7. Sep 14

    Not Couple Goals: “The Drama” (2026)

    Welcome to “Not Couple Goals” where co-hosts Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy do a deep dive into a different ridiculous romantic thriller from the vantage point of their long-term relationship. Allie, a TV writer/producer and actress, has an affinity for romantic thrillers, the more salacious the better. Tyler, an entertainment reporter and critic, often finds himself drawn in despite his better judgment. Join them as they explore all the ways it’s possible to love too hard… like WAY too hard. In this episode, Allie and Tyler kick things off by explaining why they missed last episode and poor Allie’s many medical troubles. Then, they dive full-force into the 2026 movie “The Drama,” starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya. Join them as they reveal very different opinions on what constitutes a wedding dealbreaker, battle the harsh rain and uncover the correct pronunciation of Zendaya’s name.  Special thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music. Please don’t forget to follow our hosts on Twitter @ANelRetentive & @TylerMcCarthy and Instagram @ANelRetentive and to check out Tyler’s writing at USA Insider and Allie’s at Parade and Business Insider!

    Not Couple Goals: “The Drama” (2026)

  8. Sep 7

    TV Break: September 2026 - Reviews of Furious, Lanterns, & My Adventures with Superman + 2026 Emmys Preview

    Welcome to TV Break, where Pop Break’s Director of Podcasting Alex Marcus is joined by editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television. Here’s the format of the show: The Best Thing I Saw on TV Last Month  – Alex, Bill, & Josh talk about a show/episode/event they liked from the last month including HBO Max’s My Adventures with Superman, Hulu’s Furious, and Disney Plus’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  2026 Emmys Preview – Bill, Josh, and Alex break down the race for the most nominations per network and highlight some of the most interesting acting races across the Comedy, Drama, and Limited Series categories. 2026 Program of the Year Award – Bill, Josh, and Alex review all 72 series, specials, and movies nominated for the best series/special/movie at this year’s Emmys and craft their own top eight across all categories before crowning their own winner of the best in show experiment. New Series Spotlight – This month, our trio is shining their spotlight on HBO’s Lanterns, reviewing the first three episodes of the new series from DC, starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. The series was created by Chris Mundy, Tom King, and Damon Lindelof.

    TV Break: September 2026 - Reviews of Furious, Lanterns, & My Adventures with Superman + 2026 Emmys Preview
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About

The Pop Break is a collection of podcasts executive produced by Pop Break Director Alex Marcus, featuring the very best conversations about television, film, music, anime, wrestling, and more! This includes weekly pods like Roses & Rejections on Wednesdays, providing coverage of the best of reality dating, as well as new episodes of monthly podcasts like The Anniversary Bros, TV Break, Not Couple Goals, Blerd Watchers, Anime x Pop, Batman By The Numbers, & Bill vs. The MCU every Monday and Friday!

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Marcus
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    815
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alex Marcus
  • Show Website
    The Pop Break