The Worst of All Possible Worlds

Josh Boerman, A.J. Ditty, and Brian Alford

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 the machinations of the worst of all possible worlds in order to figure out how to build a better one. Also, we have bits.

  1. 2d ago

    252 - Shrek (feat. Memoria)

    Memoria (@memoriamatters) and the lads grab their tiny vests and make for Duloc as they cover the movie that launched a thousand memes: Shrek. Topics include William Steig’s original book, the politics of Disney in the 90s, and what it means to discover the truth buried deep in the heart of Shrek. Memoria: YouTube // Twitch gl;hf podcast: the world’s first podcast in video games Media Referenced in this Episode: Shrek. Dir. Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson. 2001. Shrek! by William Steig. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. 1990. “The Agony and Shrekstasy: The Unlikely Legacy of America’s Favorite Ogre” by Jonathan Parks Ramage. Vice. April 22nd, 2016. “The Epic Disney Blow-Up of 1994: Eisner, Katzenberg and Ovitz 20 Years Later” by Kim Masters. The Hollywood Reporter. April 9th, 2014. Fairy Tales Transformed? Twenty-First Century Adaptations & the Politics of Wonder by Cristina Bacchilega. Wayne State University Press. 2013. Shrek Retold TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “The Exclusive Access Hollywood Interview of Shrek” // Written by Brian Alford and A.J. Ditty // feat. A.J. Ditty as “Billy Bush” and Brian Alford as “Shrek” Credits: Episode and Interstitial Edited by: Brian Alford Produced by Josh Boerman, A.J. Ditty, and Brian Alford. This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Agreement.

    252 - Shrek (feat. Memoria)

  2. Jul 29

    251 - The Amazing Digital Circus (feat. Radio Free Tote Bag)

    THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Audrey and Dono (Radio Free Tote Bag, No I’m Listening) join the lads on some wacky adventures with Pomni and Co. as they cover Gooseworx’s indie animation megahit: The Amazing Digital Circus. Topics include the origins of Gooseworx, the hugbox of Tumblr, and what it means to find meaning in a world where a sentient mouth can absolutely ruin your life. Donovan Eyre: Twitch // Bluesky // Instagram // SoundCloud Audrey: Twitch // Bluesky Radio Free Tote Bag: A weekly relationship advice podcast hosted by Audrey and Donovan. Patreon // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Instagram Media Referenced in this Episode: The Amazing Digital Circus. Dir. Gooseworx. 2023-2026 How to Attract the Wrong Audience by The Ludo Mancer Is this LOST? By Door Monster I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Harlan Elison “‘The Amazing Digital Circus’ Team Talk the Making of a Viral Hit” by Dani Di Placido. Forbes. December 22nd, 2023. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “The Disappearing Guy Presents: ‘Here for a Good Time, Not a Long Time!‘: A Treatise on the Ephemeral Nature of Being and The Unknowability of a Finite Universe Speeding Hastily towards its Demise: A Rootin’-Tootin’ Fantasia on Mannequin Themes Featuring Text from William Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’” // Written by A.J. Ditty // feat. A.J. Ditty as “Announcer” and Donovan Eyre as “Disappearing Guy” Credits: Episode Edited by: Brian Alford Interstitial Edited by: A.J. Ditty Produced by Josh Boerman, A.J. Ditty, and Brian Alford. This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Agreement.

    251 - The Amazing Digital Circus (feat. Radio Free Tote Bag)

  3. Jul 27

    INTERVIEW: Mike Isaac on Mark Zuckerberg and the future of Meta

    Mike Isaac is a long-time technology writer who has been Technology Correspondent at the New York Times since June 2014. During that time he’s covered a variety of technology companies, including OpenAI, SpaceX, Anthropic, Apple, and Uber, which he published a book about in 2019 called Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber. But the bulk of his recent reporting has been about Meta, the company that owns Facebook. Last week Josh interviewed Mike about what exactly is going on over there, what prompted Meta to make such a big bet on a VR metaverse, and what—from wearable smart glasses to prediction markets—we can expect Mark Zuckerberg to do next. MIKE ISAAC: Bluesky / Instagram Buy Mike's book Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber WANT MORE TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Relevant back catalog episodes include: 245 - Meta Horizons and the Death of the Metaverse 176 - The Social Network 146 - Shrimp Jesus and the Death of Facebook

    INTERVIEW: Mike Isaac on Mark Zuckerberg and the future of Meta

  4. Jul 22

    250 - Undertale

    Despite everything, it’s still us. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Hollis Beck: Website Media Referenced in this Episode: Undertale. Toby Fox. 2015. “What the Internet did to Untertale” by Super Eyepatch Wolf. 2020. Game Informer’s Interview with Toby Fox. Retrospective on Untertale’s Popularity by Toby Fox. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Everybody Comes to Grillby’s” // Written by A.J. Ditty // feat. David Armstrong as “Grillby”, Brian Alford as “Papyrus”, A.J. Ditty as “Sans/Aaron/Napstablook”, Josh Boerman as “Flowey”, and Hollis Beck as “Undyne/Alphys/Temmie” // Music from the Undertale Soundtrack by Toby Fox This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Agreement.

    250 - Undertale

  5. Jul 20

    INTERVIEW: Ben Collins on Infowars' past, present, and future

    Ben Collins is CEO of The Onion, the satirical newspaper that bills itself as America's Finest News Source. In 2024, Collins announced that The Onion had acquired Infowars, the longtime flagship brand of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, at bankruptcy auction. However, thanks to a series of higher court stays, the Infowars name remains in legal limbo. This month, The Onion relaunched "Real Infowars" at theonion.info as part of a broader strategy to pressure the courts into unblocking the deal. Josh sat down with Ben Collins to learn about the history of the case, the legal roadblocks that remain in their way, and the longer-term plans to build a comedy network using the brand as a flagship logo.

    INTERVIEW: Ben Collins on Infowars' past, present, and future

  6. Jul 15

    249 - VeggieTales

    THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads waltz with potatoes up and down the produce aisle as they begin their coverage of Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki’s seminal Christian children’s video series: Veggietales. Topics include Vischer’s Disney-esque upbringing, the horrors of divorce, and what it means to advocate for the importance of silliness for silliness’ sake. Media Referenced in the Episode: Veggietales. Big Idea Productions. #1: “Where’s God when I’m S-Scared?” #2: “God Wants Me to Forgive!?!” #4: “Rack, Shack, and Benny” All 1990s Veggietales Commentaries “Big Idea Productions: A Success Story Anyone Can Believe In” by Rick DeMott. Animation World Network. October 4th, 2002. Me, Myself, and Bob: A True Story About Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables by Phil Vischer. Thomas Nelson Incorporated. 2008. Original “Where’s God When I’m S-Scared?” “One Cool Cucumber” by Chicago Tribune. October 2nd, 1998. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Oh No, What’s It Gonna Be?” // Music by Kevin Heinecke // Lyrics by A.J. Ditty // feat. A.J. Ditty as “Marshall”, Brian Alford as “Paul”, Josh Boerman as “Phil”, and Eleanor Philips as “Narrator”. This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Agreement.

    249 - VeggieTales

  7. Jul 8

    248 - Whit Side Story [Whit’s Endless Summer 52]

    The lads dive right into the heart of NOVACOM as they return to Odyssey for further adventures in franchising, gang warfare, and the terrifying video game that makes you old: Gloobers. Topics include the “evils” of VR, the inescapable childhood of the Boomer, and the vital importance of gloobin’ it with your buds. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this Episode: Adventures in Odyssey #455: “Best Laid Plans” #462: The W.E. #463: Green Eyes and Yellow Tulips #415: Gloobers! The Dobson Newsletters November 1998 November 2000 February 2001 The Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast #66 TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Sister Location” // Written by A.J. Ditty // feat. Josh Boerman as “Timmy ‘Taxman’ Thompson”, A.J. Ditty as “Estragon Estragonov/Phoebear/Melvin Mulligan”, and Brian Alford as “John/Alistair Adelman” // Music: “The Chain (Violin Cover) by Steve Bingham

    248 - Whit Side Story [Whit’s Endless Summer 52]

  8. Jul 1

    247 - Hamilton

    THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall   We’re not throwing away our shot.       Media Referenced in this Episode: Hamilton. Dir. Thomas Kail. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. 2015. “Alexander Hamilton, the Wrong Founder” by William Hogeland. The Nation. June 16th, 2026. “Disaster Act” by Shellyne Rodriguez, Iris Dipni and Comité Por La Defensa Antillana. The New Inquiry. September 11th, 2019. “Father's Day with Luis and Lin-Manuel Miranda: Joy, Hustle, and Building a Legacy” by Ana Navarro. Bleep! With Ana Navarro. June 22, 2026. “Hamilton’s America”. PBS. “Hamilton and the Death of the Obama Era” by Alexander Avila. “'Hamilton' Arrives In Puerto Rico, Bringing A Bit Of Controversy With It” by Adrian Florido. NPR. January 11th, 2019. Puerto Rico: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) “The Mixed Reception of the 'Hamilton' Premiere in Puerto Rico” by Daniel Pollack-Pelzner. The Atlantic. January 18th, 2019. Siempre, Luis. Dir John Antonio James. 2020 Black Actors Dress Up like Slave Traders…and It’s Not Halloween - ISHMAEL REED TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Princess Track” // Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda // Lyrics by Dr. Samuel Bultch, D.D.S. // feat. Josh Boerman, Eleanor Philips, and Anne Boerman as “Ensemble” and A.J. Ditty as “Dr. Samuel Bultch, D.D.S.”

    247 - Hamilton
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Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
164 Ratings

About

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 the machinations of the worst of all possible worlds in order to figure out how to build a better one. Also, we have bits.

Information

  • Creator
    Josh Boerman, A.J. Ditty, and Brian Alford
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    282
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021-22 TWOAPW. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Worst of All Possible Worlds