Best Betamax Podcasts (2025)

1
Jaws 50th Anniversary - Part 1 23:49

1d ago23:49

23:49

Welcome to the first part of our Jaws 50th podcast! Lots of chat about the movie, the production, and shitting yourself in the water! Listen to the whole episode and all our spin-off podcasts on our Patreon now! Sign up hereBy 11-29 Media

1
Betamax vs. VHS (Encore) 14:23

3m ago14:23

14:23

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a war erupted in the world of video technology. Two competing video tape formats fought to gain supremacy in the market. In the end, one format crushed the other and was left as the victor. However, legend holds that the inferior format was actually the victorious one. Learn more about Betamax vs. VHS videotape wa…

1
S15E10: Tron 2:11:18

1d ago2:11:18

2:11:18

Matt is supposed to take notes during the podcast... He didn't... At least Doug paid his internet bill this week... Fewer whores this week... Doug is a Milwaukee celebrity... Matt is having someone look into his ass... Matt prepares for divorce... Doug watched this movie so long ago the movie is a dot to him... A technological marvel, is it marvelo…

1
Ep. 187 - Betamax and The Banfield Murders 1:06:10

3d ago1:06:10

1:06:10

Send us a text In this week's thrilling episodes Zig talks about Betamax players and why they lost the video recording wars. Then stick around as Geoffrey tells the twisted story of The Banfield Murders. For your 30 day free Audible Trial go to: Audibletrial.com/nerderyandmurdery For 10% off with BetterHelp go to: betterhelp.com/nerderyandmurdery S…

1
Earth’s Magnetic Pole Reversals (Encore) 12:45

6h ago12:45

12:45

Once every 450,000 years or so, the Earth undergoes a radical transformation. The planet’s magnetic field will literally flip. The North Pole becomes the South Pole and vice versa. Despite the fact that we know this has happened many times in the Earth’s history, we really don’t know what would happen if the poles were to reverse today. Learn more …

1
March Madness 16:35

4m ago16:35

16:35

Every March, the United States experiences a period known as March Madness. It is the time when college basketball teams compete for a national championship. The process of crowning a national champion is a months-long process where teams vie for a chance to make the national tournament. From there, in theory, every team that makes the big dance ha…

1
Why is the Alphabet in Alphabetical Order? 15:30

15m ago15:30

15:30

All of you are familiar with the ABCs. It is one of the very first things that children are taught. Not only are they taught the letters that comprise the alphabet, but they are also, usually at the same time, taught the order of the alphabet. The order of the alphabet is something that is so ingrained that most of us usually don’t even think about…

1
The Battle of Gettysburg 14:59

4m ago14:59

14:59

In the summer of 1863, after two years of war, Confederate General Robert E. Lee felt it was possible to swiftly end the conflict by taking the fight to the Union. Up until this point, almost all of the fighting had taken place in Virginia. Lee felt that by moving to the north, he could achieve several objectives that would lead the Union to seek p…

1
The Invention of the Telephone 16:38

5m ago16:38

16:38

The 19th century was one of rapid technological advancement. Of all of the innovations to come out of this century, and there were many, perhaps none was more important than that of the telephone. The telephone radically changed communications, allowing personal communications over long distances. Despite what many people are often told, this inven…

1
Ep. 188 - Three Movies by the Coen Brothers that No One Saw and The Murder of Vickie Deblieux 1:33:36

2h ago1:33:36

1:33:36

Send us a text Join in this week as Zig talks about three movies by the Coen Brothers and no one saw but you need to while Geoffrey tells the sad story of the murder of Vickie Deblieux. Make sure to stay until the very end and see if Zig and Geoffrey remain friends through a heated debate. For your 30 day free Audible Trial go to: Audibletrial.com/…

1
The Cardiff Giant 15:04

5m ago15:04

15:04

In 1869, the world was shocked by a discovery that was made outside of the town of Cardiff, New York. Two workers discovered what was claimed to be the remains of a 10 foot tall, petrified human being. The claim set off a fiery debate between those who thought it was proof of the Bible and those who just thought it was a long lost statue. It turned…

1
Lunar Eclipses 15:58

11m ago15:58

15:58

For as long as humans have been watching the night sky, they noticed that every so often, during a full moon, the moon would briefly go dark, or at least change color. They often created mythical explanations for the event. Eventually, this ancient people began to record its occurrences and were able to calculate when it would happen. As we learned…

1
The Crossbow 16:22

2h ago16:22

16:22

One of the most devastating weapons in the medieval world was the crossbow. It evolved from early hand-held projectile weapons into a powerful tool of warfare that shaped battles for centuries. It was one of the few weapons powerful enough to stop a fully armored knight. Yet, despite its power, it wasn’t necessarily the most powerful ranged weapon …

1
Emperor Claudius (Encore) 14:40

8d ago14:40

14:40

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, known to history as Claudius, was the fourth Emperor of Rome. Of the emperors that came before him and all those who came after him, he was the most unlikely of emperors. Up until the moment he became emperor, no one during his entire life seriously thought of him as emperor material. When he became emp…

1
Messier Objects 16:26

2d ago16:26

16:26

In the 18th century, a French astronomer who was a regular comet hunter kept finding things in the sky that weren’t comets, but they also weren’t stars or planets. He created a list of these objects, not because he was trying to catalog the night sky, but rather to help other comet hunters avoid these common objects. It turned out his list consiste…

1
Primate and Global Cities 15:59

3d ago15:59

15:59

Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Stitch Fix Go to stitchfix.com/everywhere to have a stylist help you look your best Tourist Office of Spain Plan your next adventure at Spain.info Stash Go to get.stash.com/EVERYT…

1
Artificial Turf 17:34

4d ago17:34

17:34

In 1965, the world’s first full enclosed sports facility, the Houston Astrodome, was opened to the public. The Astrodome itself was a marvel of engineering, but because it was enclosed, the grass that was initially planted soon died. It was replaced with artificial grass, which was basically a synthetic carpet that looked like grass but played and …

1
Hydropower 15:29

5d ago15:29

15:29

For thousands of years, humans have used the power of water to do work for them. At first, it was very simple, then it gradually evolved to more complex and more efficient devices to harness the power of water. Eventually, we were able to harness some of the world’s largest rivers to produce incredible amounts of power for millions of people. Despi…

1
The Maginot Line (Encore) 14:14

6d ago14:14

14:14

After the First World War in France, many generals thought that the end of the war was really just a pause before another war began. They wanted to make sure that the next time war broke out with Germany, they were ready and could never be invaded again. To that end, they created a series of defensive fortifications they believed to be impregnable.…

1
S15E09: Unforgiven 2:29:51

6d ago2:29:51

2:29:51

Death of a legend... Doug's internet woes continue... Should we just call this a whore cast... How our wives improved us... The delay in our show just allows more time to fill our hearts... Is the movie as good as advertised, or just over-rated... Whores...whores everywhere... All that and more as we put on our cowboy hat and see if we're...…

1
The Underground Railroad 17:05

7d ago17:05

17:05

Before the US Civil War, a group of abolitionists didn’t just sit around passively to wait for the end of slavery to arrive. They took matters into their own hands. They set up a clandestine network that operated over multiple states to bring escaped slaves to freedom. Their network wasn’t a top-down organization, which centrally organized everythi…

1
Timor-Leste (East Timor) 17:37

8d ago17:37

17:37

Located in the Indonesian Archipelago, it is one of the newest countries in the world, Timor-Leste, or, as it's sometimes known in English, East Timor. While geographically very close, and pretty much surrounded by Indonesia, Timor-Leste has had a history very different from Indonesia. Their histories diverged when they became colonized by differen…

1
The Academy Awards 16:47

9d ago16:47

16:47

On May 16, 1929, 270 people assembled in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel's Blossom Room. They were there to honor the highest achievements in filmmaking over the last year. It was not broadcast on radio, was not recorded, and the entire event only took 15 minutes. Those present on that day didn’t know it, but they were witness to the start of the mos…

51
The Year 1700 16:07

10d ago16:07

16:07

Over 300 years ago, humanity was in the early stages of what would be its greatest transformation in history. Around the world, there were new ideas that were just starting to take root. That isn’t to say that all was great in the world, but seeds were planted that would bear fruit centuries later socially, politically, economically, scientifically…

1
Ep 186 - Three Science Fiction Films You Should See and The Murder of Kayden Mancuso 1:32:03

10d ago1:32:03

1:32:03

Send us a text Make sure to check out Magic Mind. It is amazing! You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one-time purchase. You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/nerdery20. Buckle up for another trip with your hosts as Zig discusses three Science Fiction Films you should see …

51
Questions and Answers: Volume 28 16:07

11d ago16:07

16:07

You have questions. I have answers. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Stitch Fix Go to stitchfix.com/everywhere to have a stylist help you look your best Tourist Office of Spain Plan your next adventure at Spain.i…

51
Nellie Bly (Encore) 13:16

12d ago13:16

13:16

In 1864, Elizabeth Jane Cochran was born in Cochran Mills, Pennsylvania. At the age of 18, she began a career as a journalist writing under a pen name. During her career, she became a pioneer in both investigative journalism and travel writing. She later became a novelist, ran an industrial factory, and was one of the leading voices for women’s suf…

51
Economic Statistics 16:32

13d ago16:32

16:32

Every month, or sometimes every quarter, governments around the world release economic statistics. Markets will often wait for the release of these statistics, and billions of dollars of investments will often hang on what these statistics reveal. While the announcement of economic data will often make the news, many people aren’t aware of what the…

51
Andalusia 15:28

14d ago15:28

15:28

Located at the southern end of the Iberian peninsula is the largest autonomous community in Spain by population and the second largest by area: Andalusia. Andalusia is different from the other regions of Spain for a host of reasons. It has a unique history, a unique geography, and a unique culture. Moreover, many of the things that people associate…

51
The Mexican-American War 16:19

15d ago16:19

16:19

After several years of rising tensions, on May 13, 1846, the United States Congress declared war on the nation of Mexico. The war lasted only two years, and the conduct of the war was decidedly one-sided. The conclusion of the war resulted in changes to both countries, which can be seen on the map and felt on the ground today. Yet, despite being on…

1
S15E08: Escape from Alcatraz 2:10:39

22d ago2:10:39

2:10:39

Audio issues 'cause Doug won't pay for non dial-up internet... Probably a few janky edits... Podcasting on a weeknight... Matt and Doug get called out for being dicks... A bed that could have been good... Kevin Costner appears...or doesn't... A competition for who watches crappier filler... A podcast that sound like episode 5, not episode 255... Th…

1
How the Dutch Reclaimed Land From the Sea 15:30

17d ago15:30

15:30

The Netherlands is unlike any other country on Earth. What sets the Netherlands apart from every other country isn’t its size; it's the fact that 17% of the area of the country was once in the sea. Turning the sea into land is no easy feat, but it is something that the Dutch have been doing for centuries. Not only have they expanded the territory o…

101
The Tensho Embassy (Encore) 15:29

17d ago15:29

15:29

In 1582, a Japanese nobleman by the name of Lord Otomo Sorin sent a group of envoys to Europe. The entire round trip of their journey took eight years, and along the way, they visited several European countries and met multiple European heads of state, including two popes. It was hoped that their mission would revolutionize relations between Europe…

1
Ep. 185 - Three More Albums by REM and The Murders of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett 1:33:11

17d ago1:33:11

1:33:11

Send us a text Make sure to check out Magic Mind. It is amazing! You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one-time purchase. You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/nerdery20. Join in for another week of the highs and the lows, the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, and th…

101
The Greek Gods 15:43

18d ago15:43

15:43

The ancient Greeks had a polytheistic religion and a pantheon of gods. They didn’t just have many gods; they had a LOT of gods. Gods that ruled over many different aspects of human endeavor and the natural world. These gods had a mythology that bound them up together in a very dysfunctional and often disturbing family tree. You’re probably familiar…

101
The Medal of Honor 17:36

19d ago17:36

17:36

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is presented to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have displayed extraordinary bravery and valor in combat, often at great personal risk and beyond the call of duty. The Medal of Honor has a rich history dating back to the American Civil War and has…

101
The MItford Sisters 17:33

20d ago17:33

17:33

In the early 20th century, David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, and his wife Sydney Bowles had seven children, six girls and one boy. The sisters all achieved notoriety for entirely different reasons. They were, how can I say, different from each other. Very different. Several of them found themselves associated with some of the most importa…

1
The Aswan High Dam 16:53

27d ago16:53

16:53

In 1970, one of the world’s largest infrastructure projects opened in Aswan, Egypt. It was a dam that harnessed the power of the Nile River, the longest river in the world. The dam provided electricity for half of the country and tamed the annual floods, a regular feature on the Nile. But the project wasn’t without its drawbacks. It became a point …

1
Lifeforce 41:24

27d ago41:24

41:24

The chaps look back at the frankly eye-popping sci horror extravaganza Lifeforce. So bad yet so good. Subscribe to Betamax Babylon's New Home on Patreon: https://patreon.com/betamaxbabylon?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkBy 11-29 Media

101
The Battle of Gaugamela 16:47

22d ago16:47

16:47

In the year 331 BC, one of the most important battles in world history took place. The vastly outnumbered forces of Alexander the Great lined up against those of Darius III, leader of the Persian Empire. The outcome of the battle didn’t just change the map of the world in the 4th century BC; it changed the world in a way that can still be seen toda…

101
Antimatter (Encore) 15:06

23d ago15:06

15:06

It is the most expensive substance in the world by a wide margin. When it was first proposed, it was actually proposed in jest. However, decades later, the joke turned out to have been true. It is a fundamental part of the universe, and by all accounts, it should be everywhere, yet it can’t be found anywhere, and physicists aren’t really sure why. …

1
S15E07: Battleground 2:43:18

1M ago2:43:18

2:43:18

Sharing or oversharing information... Smell the fart acting... Doug retains council... An old movie... Doug misses an obvious thing... Lots of clips... Matt gets pissy about politics... Doug is in his WW2 element... Lots of stock footage, if only we had stock podcast audio... All this and more in black and white and in 4:3...…

1
The History of Poker: From Ancient Games to Modern Tournaments 15:22

1M ago15:22

15:22

One of the most popular card games in the world is poker. The game was played in the old west among cowboys, by dogs on velvet paintings, and by the crew of the Star Ship Enterprise. Poker is played informally among friends and family, yet it is also a high-stakes competitive game where millions of dollars can be won or lost. It is a game that has …

1
Ep. 184 - Arthur Miller and The Boston Strangler 1:21:41

24d ago1:21:41

1:21:41

Send us a text Make sure to check out Magic Mind. It is amazing! You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one-time purchase. You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/nerdery20. In this week's episode Zig covers American Playwright, Arthur Miller. Then Geoffrey tells the story of …

1
Special Forces 16:53

26d ago16:53

16:53

Perhaps the most respected and feared soldiers in the world are those who belong to Special Forces. Special Forces are considered to be the elite of the elite. Most nations have some sort of Special Forces units in their military. Some of the best-known Special Forces units are household names and others are, how shall we say, more secret. While Sp…

151
The St Valentines Day Massacre 15:06

26d ago15:06

15:06

On the morning of February 14, 1929, a horrific crime took place on the north side of Chicago. Seven men were lined up against the wall of an auto garage and gunned down in cold blood by machine gun fire. The event marked the low point of the violent mob wars that took place in the city of Chicago. It also marked a turning point in attitudes toward…

151
Spy Satellites 16:20

27d ago16:20

16:20

A reconnaissance satellite, otherwise known as a spy satellite, is somewhere above your head right now, collecting images and gathering intelligence on whatever it sees below it. Ten countries are currently believed to have at least one spy satellite. While these satellites can gather an enormous amount of data, they do not have the superpowers tha…

1
Separated at Birth (Encore) 14:29

1M ago14:29

14:29

In the 1960s, a New York clinical psychiatrist and an adoption agency conducted an experiment. They separated multiple sets of identical twins and one set of identical triplets into different families to test how much of personality is due to genetics or the environment. None of the children or families were ever told about this. The results of thi…

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