The Pop Break

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

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. 7h ago

    The Pop Break Presents: A Whole Lotta History Author Jason Lipshutz on One Direction’s Musical Evolution and Lasting Impact

    On the latest episode of The Pop Break Presents, Alex Marcus (Pop Break’s Podcast Director)  sits down with Jason Lipshutz, author of the new book, A Whole Lotta History: One Direction and the Sound That Shaped a Generation. The book will be released on November 3 via Atria Books.   In the interview Alex and Jason discuss the author’s personal connection to One Direction, revealing that he was already in his 20s and working at Billboard when the band emerged. Despite his indie music background, he found himself drawn to the narrative power of pop music, which led him to cover One Direction from their inception.   His dedication to the band is evident as he discusses how he covered their entire career, from their initial rise to their hiatus and solo projects.  .   Jason Lipshutz talks about One Direction’s legacy as well as their rise and cultural significance.   To pre-order the book, click here.

  2. 1d ago

    Anime x Pop: Avatar: Seven Havens, Black Clover, and Michael Carter-Williams & Jamaal Williams' Sentinel 6 Series!

    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 the newest member of House Pop Break - Branden Vice, cohost of The Court of Bros and Spice podcast and, making her Pop Break debut, prolific cosplayer Katlyn Martinez of Katkashi Cosplays to talk about the second and final season of Black Clover! Our enthusiasts take a stroll through the anime content minds to discuss favorite series they’ve been watching recently, including Josh's recommendation of Avatar: Seven Havens, Branden's recommendation of  The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System, Amanda's recommendations of Hellsing Ultimate and The Vermillion Mask, and  Katlyn's recommendations of Link Click, Apothecary Diaries, Black Torch, and Hello, I am a Witch and my Crush Wants me to Make a Love Potion! All recommendations are found on Crunchyroll except for Avatar: Seven Havens which is on Paramount +.   In Anime News, they discuss the Sentinel 6 anime series currently in development backed by NBA and NFL pros Michael Carter-Williams and Jamaal Williams In their feature review section, our enthusiasts discuss their history with the Black Clover franchise, character glow-ups, thoughts on this season being the final season of the anime, and so much more.  Next month, join us as Josh finally watches Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood!

    Anime x Pop: Avatar: Seven Havens, Black Clover, and Michael Carter-Williams & Jamaal Williams' Sentinel 6 Series!

  3. 4d ago

    The Anniversary Brothers: Double Dare 40th Anniversary with Randy Allain

    Aaron and Josh Sarnecky are here to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Double Dare. Joining them is special guest Randy Allain, co-host of Podelay. Double Dare is a children’s game show created by Geoffrey Darby, Michael Klinghoffer, Dee LaDuke, and Robert Mittenthal. It premiered on Nickelodeon on October 6, 1986. On the show, two teams of kids compete in trivia and messy physical challenges. The winning team goes through the obstacle course for fabulous prizes. The host of Double Dare (as well as Super Sloppy Double Dare and Family Double Dare) is Marc Summers.  The show changed formats multiple time as well as networks, from Nick to Fox and syndication and then back to Nick. The final episode of the 482-episode run aired on February 7, 1993. Double Dare was rebooted in 2000 as Double Dare 2000 and again in 2018, but neither revival was as successful as the original string of shows. Double Dare became the most-watched original daily program on cable and the franchise has been nominated for two Daytime Emmys. It is fondly remembered by millions and is credited as putting Nickelodeon on the map. Josh, Aaron, and Randy talk about their histories with Double Dare before going into the first aired episode. They also discuss the show’s format, host, trademark messiness, and the various iterations of the show.  For more Nickelodeon, you can listen to Josh and Aaron’s podcast on SpongeBob SquarePants. Double Dare is streaming on Paramount+

    The Anniversary Brothers: Double Dare 40th Anniversary with Randy Allain

  4. Oct 13

    The Court of Bros & Spice: Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods

    “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 week's adventure , The Court find themselves in the mystical land of “Texas” as they roll for initiative with "Roll for Romance" by Lenora Woods. Here we meet unemployed New Yorker Sadie Brooks who flees to small-town Texas to stay with her best friend and reluctantly joins his weekly D&D group that includes the Flanneled bartender Noah. As their in-game characters' romance begins to spill out into the real world, forcing Sadie to choose between returning to her fast-paced city career or building a new life in Texas. Branden and Tyler discuss the downplaying of Texas heat, who really is “the most boring Avenger” and get surprisingly deep as they figure out which characters they relate with in this debut novel from Lenora Woods.  Next time Branden and Tyler get ready for Halloween and have prepared an episode with a trick and a few treats as they dive into 3 bite sized books, you’ll have to hear to believe! You can find the podcast on both Instagram & TikTok @brosnspicepod

    The Court of Bros & Spice: Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods

  5. Oct 12

    Blerd Watchers: VisionQuest Trailer Breakdown, Ted Lasso & Lanterns Season Finale Reactions, and Avatar: Seven Havens First Impressions!

    In this episode, we get back to some of the juicy news and rumours coming out of NYCC, including more Zombies specials! We make sure we've seen the Disney+ recommended list to make sure we're ready for Doomsday, then discuss some of the castings for the MCU!  From there, we check in on some outstanding trailers that have dropped, including Blue Eye Samurai and Nobody Wants this. We also delve into expectations for VisionQuest after watching that banger of a trailer.  We finally get to give our thoughts on the newest Avatar show, digging into the first three episodes and talking about characters and what's going on with THAT mystery before getting into our season reviews!  Ted Lasso has completed its fourth season, so you know we had to dive in with our thoughts and review the season, before touching base on the Reacherverse and letting you know if you should be watching Reacher and Neagley or not.  Lastly but not least, we do an in depth examination and review of Lanterns Season 1! Enjoy the spooky episode everyone!

    Blerd Watchers: VisionQuest Trailer Breakdown, Ted Lasso & Lanterns Season Finale Reactions, and Avatar: Seven Havens First Impressions!

  6. Oct 7

    Roses & Rejections: Let's Marry Harry PLUS Traitors & The Great British Baking Show Check Ins

    Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and ⁠Mostly Nitpicking⁠’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too. Michelle and DJ are back to break down Netflix's latest reality show, Let's Marry Harry. They recap the entire show and give their feelings on how this "Bachelor Clone" landed. They also give an update on Traitors and the Great British Baking Show.

    Roses & Rejections: Let's Marry Harry PLUS Traitors & The Great British Baking Show Check Ins

  7. Oct 5

    TV Break: October 2026 - Reviews of Lanterns, Youth, East of Eden, & The Great British Baking Show + The NYT Top 100 TV Series of the 21st Century

    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 Lanterns & Youth and Netflix’s The Great British Baking Show.  Newsbreak – Bill, Josh, and Alex react to the New York Times’ list of the Top 100 TV Series of The 21st Century. They dig into surprise inclusions, surprise snubs, how the top 10 shook out, and the lack of animated, reality, and broadcast series. Then they give their own lists of the best shows of the 21st Century New Series Spotlight – This month, our trio is shining their spotlight on Netflix’s East of Eden, reviewing the first episode of the new limited series based on the classic novel, starring Florence Pugh, Mike Faist, and Christopher Abbott.

    TV Break: October 2026 - Reviews of Lanterns, Youth, East of Eden, & The Great British Baking Show + The NYT Top 100 TV Series of the 21st Century

  8. Oct 2

    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
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4
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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
    822
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alex Marcus
  • Show Website
    The Pop Break

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