Mega Ran and Marcos and BACK with a new pod to step to. it's 1997 all over again and the X-Men have returned with an incredible new series that picks up where the classic left off. Ran and Marcos are breaking down each episode of "X-Men 97," starting with episode one: "To Me My X-Men"

AJJ is an American folk punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, originally formed in 2004 as Andrew Jackson Jihad. Their lyrics handle themes of shyness, poverty and more. The band has undergone many changes but the constant is Sean, who we speak to today. Hear about the band's journey through the Phoenix punk scene and how he's managed to stay afloat in …

Sometimes you find out you're best friends with folks who you just never met yet. I got to talk sports, music, video games and so much more with a guy that I had more in common with than I ever would have thought. Mike "The Hitman" Wright of The Fantasy Footballers wanted me to call him "Mr. Wright, but I couldn't do that-- though he's often right.…

“I’ve always lived a double life,” said Felicia Temple, BSN, RN, CAPA, an international recording artist who, after cutting her world tour short, went to work as a nurse in a COVID-19 ICU, while being monitored for metastatic neuroendocrine cancer. The talented singer/songwriter knows all about balance and success, and has been able to maintain a h…

Conan + Heavy Metal + Metallica. with these inspirations it's not hard to tell that the new MOTU series music slaps. Bear McCreary has composed soundtracks for some legendary pieces of pop culture, from Battlestar Gallactica to The Walking Dead to the new God of War game, but MOTU was the first animated series job. 10 months of work led to epic 16-…

***SPOILER ALERT**** watch the show before you get here. That cliffhanger tho. But let's talk about it.. are you Team Adam or Team Teela? Time to choose a side. We are at the final episode and we have questions, and the show gives us answers that we aren't ready for. What a ride! Thanks for hanging with us! Follow us on twitter or instagram: @megar…

Orko finally gets his moment! Mega Ran and Marcos get into it. Now, no one is safe from our commentary and thoughts on episode 4. We talk about the new destination for our heroes, are we also talking about who do we side with this episode and some small spoilers are abound. Mega Ran theorizes on what may happen to some characters. Follow us on twit…

Ran and Marcos break down arguably the best episode of the series, with talks about if Man At Arms is the GOAT (spoiler, he is), Evil Lyn just being Lyn, if Orko's days are numbered, and the journey to H-E double hockey sticks. Ran impersonates the old Mer-Man voice and it's silly. Follow us on twitter or instagram: @megaran and @thesunsetlkid56 Ou…

Mega Ran and Marcos return to chat about the 2nd episode of Masters of the Universe: Revelation. We talk cults, representation in MOTU, what is in store for our favorite character and so much more. Wanna discuss the show with us? join us online with the hashtag #GreyskullPod

Random Encounters presents CASTLE GRAYSKULL RADIO: a limited-run Masters of the Universe Series Podcast, digging into the new Netflix Series! In the center of the universe, on the planet Eternia, is castle grayskull, ancient fortress of mystery, its power sought by the dark forces of Snake Mountain, sanctuary of sin and sorrow, ruled by Skeletor. T…

If you don't know Jim, you surely know his work. Jim's list of clients that he's shot photos or videos for is a literal who's who of rock, from the late Chester Bennington, or Arizona's top sports figures like Devin Booker, Larry Fitzgerald and more. Learn Jim's incredible story of old dogs using new tricks to not just survive the pandemic, but thr…

Meet Daniel Rustage. He might be the most successful indie rapper that you've never heard of. As the latest anime themed nerdcore rapper to cross one million subscribers on YouTube, Rustage writes, produces and mixes high level rap songs weekly for his legions of supporters. Rustage plays by his own rules and makes some sick tracks in the process. …

Touré Masters in an artist who wants to use his art to help others be more comfortable with self-expression and does so through heartfelt songs and lyrics. The Phoenix, AZ born and bred rapper sits down with Ran to talk about wrestling, hip-hop and much more. Winning Wars Everyday isn’t just an album title, it’s a way of life for marginalized peopl…

Chris Bey moved from the east coast out west to pursue a career goal that many said he could never achieve. he's now IMPACT Wrestling's newest star, wowing fans every week on the live TV show. Find out how he managed to overcome obstacles, the feeling of wrestling on WWE's 205 Live, and even his love for music, as well as hear a song from Bey, "Lon…

BACK TO THE SOLO CHATS! Mega Ran talks candidly about the process of conceptualizing, writing and then releasing his memoir "Dream Master." What's it like, what were the challenges and....why a memoir? Enjoy, and make sure you pick up the book: https://dreammasterbook.com ALSO! Mega Ran's just announced a show! "The Songs That Made The Book" live s…

Finally at 30! Been a while, eh… Where have I been?? Well, I’ve been writing a book. That’s right, your boy is a published AUTHOR! You can get a copy of “Dream Master” right now! dreammasterbook.com If the book’s cover art looks familiar, it’s from Daniel Hill, the Liverpool-based designer behind Danji’s Designs. He’s been drawing covers and tour p…

I first met Monteasy in 2016 at WrestleCon, and since then I have followed his career evolution, from Theme Song King to Titan, to media personality. Monteasy sits down with me to talk about the rap and wrestling connection, the writing process, mentors, as well as some fun comparisons between hip hop and wrestling legends. Monteasy's new album “Er…

Chris King and crew started Batterystaple in 2013 as a two man outfit to work on 20XX, the critically acclaimed action-adventure roguelite that looks and feels very familiar if you’re a Mega Man fan like myself. In fact, it was the first game I played on Steam way back then. We talk about the upcoming title 30XX, what’s new and different, the diffe…

Josh Hill, a network engineer in North Little Rock, became famous after taking home $163,721 over a seven-game winning streak in May of 2020 on Jeopardy. He's also a nerd to the core. He's a convention going furry who plays piano and spits bars about his tech exploits. Additionally, he's a great guy. Hear Josh's story and how he made the unthinkabl…

Mega Ran reflects on the sudden passing of actor Chadwick Boseman and how both his legacy and work ethic continue to inspire. Artwork by Nikkolas Smith: https://www.instagram.com/nikkolas_smith/

Austin is currently at home recovering from an injury, but this has given him lots of time to perfect other skills. As a do-it-all kinda guy, and member of a legendary WWE tag team that wasn’t exactly expected to be successful, Austin is used to beating the odds. We get to talk to him about life in quarantine, injury recovery, fighting for your dre…

Be a little bit better than yesterday. The “Swiss Superman” Cesaro of the WWE and AEW lives by that motto, and along the way finds time to be one of the most physically gifted athletes in the business, yet maintains he love for dad jokes. We exchange a few groan-worthy jokes and then get down to business. Cesaro aka Claudio Castagnoli even manages …

In part 2 of our chat, 1/2 of the AEW Tag Team Champions Kenny Omega talks about what growing up in Winnipeg did to inspire his career, how his unorthodox training (or lack thereof) made him better, then we begin a gamer-heavy episode as we learn what great system Kenny has never played, what he’s platinum, so hopefully a mini version is coming soo…

Current AEW Tag Team Champion Kenny Omega has done it all, yet finds new ways to stay motivated. Find out how he's been living since the quarantine, what he feels about empty-arena shows, pleasing audiences in Japan vs the USA, what he'd be doing if not for wrestling today, training young wrestlers, and why pro wrestling is the most mentally and ph…

In part two of our chat, K-Murdock and Mega Ran pinpoint the songs that made the album the most special to them, including “Dream Master” and “2K10.” We also talk about the song we would add to the album, Whosampled.com's effect on the genre, and reflect on the creation of what many people call a classic a decade later. Thank you for listening!…

Mega Ran and K-Murdock released their landmark album "Forever Famicom" ten years ago this month. To celebrate, the two reminisce about the process of the album's creation and the journeys that the album's success made possible for them. Part one of a two-part conversation. Edited and sound designed by K-Murdock. Get information on the special Forev…

Lio Rush has seen the highest highs of Wrestlemania and the lowest of lows in a state of depression, and through it all he maintains a positive outlook. As one of hundreds of WWE personnel released on April 15 dubbed “Black Friday,” Lio has quickly adjusted to life after WWE through music and family. Hear from Lio on his musical output and influenc…

WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze holds the distinction of being the only superstar to wrestle the legendary Jyushin Thunder Liger in a WWE ring….and managed to kick him in the nuts during that match. From sledding to school in a small Canadian town to hockey player to wrestling star who’s won championships all over, Breeze keeps himself occupied while st…

As a multiple time champion, and current manager to New Japan tag team Roppongi 3K, Rocky Romero has wrestled all over the world, and we talk about his journey, wrestling post-COVID-19 and what’s left to accomplish in such a long career. He’s also doing podcasts, music and amazing TikTok content, so stay up with all things Rocky Romero on twitter: …

Just Create. Those words from eSports rep/freelancer/journalist Erin Ashley Simon pushed her to astounding heights while recognizing her worth and claiming her greatness. From collegiate athlete to content creator, Erin’s journey has been extremely inspirational, so we talk about what the pandemic has done to her creative process, the mainstream me…

If Mickey Factz hadn’t been bitten by the radioactive rap bug, during a stint at NYU Law, he would probably be a lawyer or accountant. As it stands though, Mickey is one of the world’s best freestyle MCs. He’s also a new father. How has the pandemic affected his workflow? Ran and Mickey talk about strategies on navigating the new world post-COVID-1…

How does life change for a professional gaming speed runner in the midst of a worldwide pandemic? More than you’d think. Redbull-sponsored speed runner GrandPooBear is a former snowboarder who turned near-tragedy into triumph when he decided to “get good” at gaming and eventually make it his profession. Get more GrandPOOBear at https://www.twitch.t…

How does a 135-pound man make it in one of the most physically demanding sports ever? Hard work, that’s how. Cheeseburger talks about his start, what it takes to get into the business, and of course, the best Cheeseburgers in the world. Follow Cheeseburger on twitter at @CheeseburgerROH If you’re interested, ‘Burger runs a wrestling school in PA, T…

DMC world champion DJ Q*Bert explains how he’d probably be doing bad things if he had not found the turntables. He's lost far more battles than he’s won, and learned a lesson from each one. He also explains that money is karma, and the importance of maintaining a hustler’s spirit, and how he only allows himself to play video games for 20 minutes. H…

Ran and Myq talk about the beginnings, college, and what brought them down this path of entertainment. Also, A caller tells us about Nashville coming together in the midst of crisis. Get more Myq Kaplan at http://myqkaplan.com/

While on the JoCo Cruise, Mega Ran sat down with comedian Myq Kaplan to talk about the highs, the lows and some general tips for living in these times. Music by DJ DN3. Get bonus footage from this episode at https://patreon.com/megaran. Follow Myq Kaplan at @MyqKaplan on all socials. His podcast "Broccoli and Ice Cream" is also available wherever y…

Mega Ran shares thoughts on the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant. Thanks to Chris H. for the kind words. Join the convo on Mega Ran's Patreon page: http://patreon.com/megaran Upcoming Shows: Feb 27-March 1 - PAX East Thursday, March 26, 2020 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie Friday, March 27, 2020 New York, NY Cmon Everybody (LPR Presents) Saturday,…

Mega Ran shares a story of accepting criticism and self-doubt....It happens to the best of us. Thank you for listening. Beats by The Alumni. Special Shout out to Patreon supporter Rodney W. Become a Patron at patreon.com/megaran Upcoming Show Dates: 1/24/20 - Valley Bar, Phoenix, AZ 8 PM 1/25/20 - The Game Preserve NASA, Houston, TX 4-7 PM…

Mega Ran gives the story on how his first Kickstarter success and what he’s learned since then. Follow these tips for GUARANTEED crowdfunding success!* Music by DJ DN3, Yon.Li and Rifti Beats Ran is back on Kickstarter funding BLACK MATERIA: THE REMAKE: check that out and support here: http://bit.ly/BlackMateriaRemake *nothing is guaranteed.…

Mega Ran recently announced he was stepping down from the Mat Mania Podcast (hear that on Episode 152). In quitting, he reflects on how quitting is good, and talks about the lessons learned from stepping down from a few previous jobs, including the heartbreaking story of how teaching ended for Mega Ran. Thank you for listening! Upcoming Mega Ran sh…

Ran tells the story of a trip to Washington DC reshaping his young mind, and how a girl broke his heart in 6th grade. Background music by Crunk Witch.

Mega Ran tells the story of losing loved ones, through stories about Michael Jackson, Nipsey Hussle, Trap House and Dave New York. Rest in Peace. Upcoming tour dates: Aug 23 @ Dante's Portland OR Aug 24 @ West Seattle Beer and Music Fest, Seattle, WA Sept 10 @ Illegal Pete's, Tucson, AZ Sept 11 @ Last Exit Live, Phoenix, AZ Sept 12 @ Toxic Toast Th…

Mega Ran tells the story of how 1988 was a crucial year of his upbringing, from drugs to Pro-Wrestling to Nintendo. Thanks for listening! Upcoming Tour dates: Sept 10 @ Illega Petes, Tucson, AZ Sept 11 @ Last Exit Live, Phoenix, AZ Sept 12 @ Toxic Toast Theatre, Long Beach, CA Sept 13-15 @ MAGWest, San Jose, CA Sept 16 @ Bottom Of The Hill, San Fra…

Mega Ran tells the story of moving from Philly to Arizona and attending his first San Diego Comic Con.

Mega Ran talks about some of the worst show experiences ever.