Best Nick Desai Podcasts (2024)

1
Jumanji (with Nick Desai) 1:20:13

13m ago1:20:13

1:20:13

We're rolling the dice on a new miniseries! We're covering three films in the JUMANJI series, starting this week with the 1995 original! Based on the classic picture book, JUMANJI has been delighting and traumatizing kids for generations, but despite the obvious potential, the film never received a great video game. We discuss the lost JUMANJI Wind…

1
Zathura (with Ailish Collins) 54:27

1h ago54:27

54:27

Get ready to blast off with the next (weirdly unofficial?) entry in the JUMANJI saga, the spacefaring spinoff ZATHURA! Starring future YA superstars Josh Hutcherson and Kristen Stewart and directed by Jon Favreau, this appealingly old-fashioned adventure was a box office flop but has been reappropriated by its young fans over the years. Ailish Coll…

1
Beetlejuice 1:04:13

12d ago1:04:13

1:04:13

It's showtime! Tim Burton's iconic Ghost With The Most, BEETLEJUICE, is our topic this week! We've covering the surprise hit 1988 film, plus the 1991 NES game, which blends elements from the film and the successful animated show. Hosted by Steve Guntli, Jennifer "JBan" Bannister, and Justin Wilhelm Logo by Douglas McCambridge Email: cinemarcadepodc…

1
Aladdin (with Bryan "Lubu" Roberts and John Gholson) 1:26:21

11d ago1:26:21

1:26:21

Your wish is our command! ALADDIN has become one of our most requested episodes, because it's one of the rare films that not only has a great game adaptation, it has TWO. Between the classic1992 film and the two games, we've got a lot of ground to cover, so we've invited actors and writers John Gholson and Bryan "Lubu" Roberts to join us to discuss…

1
Highlander (with Connor MacDonald) 1:38:33

27d ago1:38:33

1:38:33

This week, it's one of the most truly bizarre cult films of the 1980s, HIGHLANDER! A stylish but often dizzying mix of action, fantasy, and magic, the saga of Connor MacLeod touched a real nerve for a certain section of fans, including our very own JBan and special guest Connor MacDonald! We dig into the film franchise, the TV spin-off, and of cour…

1
Lesinda Leightley (Buy A Donkey) 37:30

22d ago37:30

37:30

Send us a Text Message. Buy-a-donkey or more accurately "Baie Dankie" is the Afrikaans for thank you - a gratitude we owe the lovely Lesinda Leightly (PSI) for the sensory overload that is this episode. She takes the TFTDL flight crew on a road trip along the Garden Route to Cape Town. We stop to ride an ostrich, swim with sharks, ride a foofy slid…

1
Dick Tracy 54:59

25d ago54:59

54:59

Truly one of the strangest summer tentpole movies of the last few decades, Warren Beatty's decadent, stylish, ultimately overwhelming 1990 film DICK TRACY needs to be seen to be believed. Beatty pulled out all the stops to bring the beloved 1930's comic strip to life, packing the film with stars, songs, and special effects, and riding a marketing b…

1
Surf Ninjas 57:28

1M ago57:28

57:28

Kwantzu, dudes! We're taking a trip back to the early 90's for the totally radical time capsule that is SURF NINJAS! Starring TMNT2's Ernie Reyes, Jr., a 30-year-old Rob Schneider playing a teenager, and of course cybernetic evil general Leslie Nielsen, this silly little concoction is weirdly notable for our show, as the Sega Game Gear adaptation o…

1
Small Soldiers 47:35

1M ago47:35

47:35

Joe Dante returns to tiny terror territory with 1998's SMALL SOLDIERS! The director of GREMLINS tries to recapture the dark comedy magic of his original hit, and if this film isn't quite of that tier, it's still a fun little romp. We're talking about the star-studded film, and then looking at the attempted launch of a SMALL SOLDIERS gaming franchis…

1
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie 1:08:34

2M ago1:08:34

1:08:34

Go, go Power Rangers! We're talking about the kids TV phenomenon of the 90s, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers! In 1993, the Rangers basically overtook pop culture, dominating TV ratings and toy sales and becoming an icon of 90's cheese. We're looking at the first full-length feature film in the series before playing four different versions of the g…

1
Vin Diesel is: xXx 1:09:32

2M ago1:09:32

1:09:32

Our unplanned Vin Diesel marathon continues as we visit our latest Justin's Choice: xXx! This 2002 spy thriller tried to disrupt Bond's spy supremacy with an X-treme sports superstar, and it's every bit as goofy and dated as it sounds. We're talking about the film, then looking at the GBA-exclusive game, which is weirdly a soft remake of... LILO & …

1
#43 Nik Higgins (My Feet Wander Free) 34:23

2M ago34:23

34:23

Send us a Text Message. Recorded on Australia Day, Nik Higgin's (The Ambassador Platform) beams us in to Sydney, a harbour view and the smell of eucalyptus. Drink it in... and then blackout at a 7-Eleven. A loveable character with his own unique style, Nik's life view is to live and let live, including his desire to take off his shoes. He has some …

1
Pitch Black / Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (with JC Chavez) 1:05:08

2M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

This week, we're learning to be afraid of the dark with the 2000 sci-fi action thriller PITCH BLACK! A breakout film for Vin Diesel, it's also become his favorite franchise, and he's been keeping the Richard B. Riddick torch burning across sequels, animated films, and of course video games. JC Chavez joins us to talk about the film and it's prequel…

1
#42 James Rice (Put The Cookie Down) 35:38

2M ago35:38

35:38

Send us a Text Message. At the age of 48, James Rice (IBT College) weighed 300 pounds (135kg/21.5 stone) was pre-diabetic, with high blood pressure and arthritis and could barely fit into XXXL shirts. Then one day a former student who he had supported to study in Canada, opened a gym, and James began a total life transformation. This episode is so …

1
The Italian Job (2003) 58:34

3M ago58:34

58:34

We're hopping back into our Mini Coopers for another turn at THE ITALIAN JOB! This time, we're looking at the vastly different 2003 heist movie, featuring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton and a standout supporting cast! This remake has a very different energy than the cheeky original, but is it still fun? We'll find out before diving i…

1
The Italian Job (1969) 1:10:27

3M ago1:10:27

1:10:27

We're blowing the bloody doors off of British classic THE ITALIAN JOB! The cult favorite starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward became one of the definitive films of London in the swinging 60s, and featured some of the most elaborate and impressive car stunts yet put on film. We talk about the film as well as the 2002 game adaptation, a faithful re…

1
The Mask of Zorro (with Diego de los Reyes) 1:18:03

3M ago1:18:03

1:18:03

This week, special guest Diego de los Reyes joins us for 1998's swashbuckling throwback, THE MASK OF ZORRO! We talk all about the film and the careers of Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, before transitioning to the Game Boy Color-exclusive game adaptation that tries some perhaps overly-ambitious gameplay ideas for the ti…

1
Frequent Flyers Club (Your Stories) May 2024 11:15

3M ago11:15

11:15

Send us a Text Message. In this short interlude episode we get to know Nat Cole, director of operations at The Ambassador Platform who have been sponsoring the podcast. We discuss the incredible student stories that have featured in recent episodes and Nat's own adventures learning to drive in India. Your stories, features the winners of our 'Road …

1
SPECIAL: Fallout Extravaganza! 1:31:28

3M ago1:31:28

1:31:28

We're taking a bit of a detour this week, deviating from our usual movie-to-game pipeline to talk about the recent release of the FALLOUT TV show! The three of us are FALLOUT fanatics and couldn't resist the opportunity to talk about both the show and the games, which have experienced a massive surge in popularity and seem to be dictating an intere…

1
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (with Syd Goin) 1:33:41

3M ago1:33:41

1:33:41

We're putting up our quarters for the dazzling, energetic, and heartfelt SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD! Edgar Wright's 2010 adaptation of Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novel series was a box office disappointment that has become one of the most beloved movies of the decade, and has found success in just about every other medium in the process. Actress…

1
The Last Starfighter 1:07:00

4M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

Greetings, Starfighter! We're taking the fight straight to the Ko'Dan Empire this week, because we're talking about the 1984 cult favorite THE LAST STARFIGHTER! The tale of a young video game whiz who gets recruited to join an interstellar war is renowned for its fun atmosphere and groundbreaking CGI special effects, but how does it hold up 40 year…

1
Beastly (with Whitney Benson) 1:26:49

4M ago1:26:49

1:26:49

A modern spin on the classic Beauty and the Beast trope, BEASTLY was a YA adaptation from 2011 that was plagued with delays, bad press, and some scathing reviews. But is it any good? No, it's not! But we still have fun talking about it, because we're joined by our friend Whitney Benson to break down this bananas movie and the even more bizarre, hil…

1
#41 Jeff Williams (Why Take The Risk?) 37:37

4M ago37:37

37:37

Send us a Text Message. Life is full of risks - including starting your own business, having a picnic in the Maasai Mara or saying way too much on a podcast. In this episode we take listeners on an audio safari with Jeff Williams (CEO and founder of Enroly). He tells us about his close encounters with a Dik-Dik, surviving the mean streets of London…

1
The Da Vinci Code (with Ashley Park) 1:35:08

4M ago1:35:08

1:35:08

This week, we're exposing the greatest cover-up in human history by cracking THE DA VINCI CODE! Ron Howard's 2006 film starring Tom Hanks was just one part of an unprecedented literary phenomenon, which also included an often-forgotten Xbox game adaptation! Actress and filmmaker Ashley Park joins us for a slappy and hilarious episode where we cover…

1
#40 Ula Tang-Plowman (不入虎穴，焉得虎子) 39:33

4M ago39:33

39:33

Send us a Text Message. Nothing ventured, nothing gained for our tiger queen, Ula Tang-Plowman (University of Central Lancashire). Forged in the steel city of Wuhan, she came to the UK as a student with a pocket full of cash and a taste for the hottest chillies on earth. Little did she know how much her inner strength would be tested in life and ho…

1
Tangled (with Ailish Collins) 55:15

4M ago55:15

55:15

The film that helped usher in a second renaissance for Disney, TANGLED's legacy may have been overshadowed by FROZEN, but it remains an important and interesting film for Disney nerds. We're discussing the film this week with returning guest Ailish Collins, before diving into the co-op platformer TANGLED: THE VIDEO GAME! Hosted by Steve Guntli, Jen…

1
#39 Adam-Lucas Pettit (Tag You're It) 35:59

5M ago35:59

35:59

Send us a Text Message. Is there a party at mother's? You bet there is. Life is just one big playground for Adam Pettit (AECC Global) who joins the TFTDL crew to discuss being a player in a global game of ‘tag’. After reading about a group of players in the New York Times, Adam and his friends decided to play the game themselves. A decade later, wi…

1
Creed (with Sid Desai) 1:16:20

5M ago1:16:20

1:16:20

Our ROCKY miniseries comes to an end as the Rocky passes the gloves down to the next generation in 2015's CREED! Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film was a surprise critical and commercial smash that reignited interest in the ROCKY franchise. We're discussing the film this week with our friend Sid Desai, before playing our first VR game, CREED: RISE …

1
#38 Tales from the Departure Lounge LIVE with Mark Pettitt 29:42

5M ago29:42

29:42

Send us a Text Message. London calling! Andy and Nick took to the stage at The PIE Live Europe '24 to record a live episode with Mark Pettitt, founder of Edified. Mark takes us on a magical mystery tour of his life adventures starting in 1970's New Zealand via Russia, Colombia and his home in Australia. Expect strong language (so much so we had to …

1
Rocky Balboa 1:01:32

5M ago1:01:32

1:01:32

An aging Rocky steps back into the ring 30 years after the first film for 2006's ROCKY BALBOA! Is this throwback a welcome return to the Italian Stallion's roots or does it adhere too closely to the classic formula? We give it a deep dive, as well as it's PSP exclusive game adaptation! Hosted by Steve Guntli, Jennifer "JBan" Bannister, and Justin W…

1
Rocky 1:10:49

5M ago1:10:49

1:10:49

The uplifting 70's classic ROCKY is a quintessential underdog story both on screen and in real life. It helped turn writer-star Sylvester Stallone into one of the most successful actors of his generation, and shaped the future of sports movies to come. We're kicking off a three-part exploration of the ROCKY franchise, starting with the 1976 origina…

1
#37 Anvee Bhutani (The Oxford Exposé) 39:03

5M ago39:03

39:03

Send us a Text Message. The University of Oxford is consistently ranked as the best university in the world, yet it is often accused of elitism and archaic traditions. The TFTDL crew speak to international graduate Anvee Bhutani, a journalist at The Telegraph, about her time at Oxford and she doesn't hold back! From celebrity classmates to abhorren…

1
#36 Devarshi Desai (Keep It Real) 36:56

5M ago36:56

36:56

Send us a Text Message. Dev Desai is part of the 'studytuber' phenomenon of student influencers. He generated millions of views on social media by documented his study abroad experience in Australia and answering questions from other students online. Fast-forward five years since his graduation and he has turned that online community into a success…

1
#35 Nhial Deng (A Refugee Story) 26:12

5M ago26:12

26:12

Send us a Text Message. A story of hope. At age 11 Nhial was separated from his family when armed militia attacked his village in Ethiopia that borders South Sudan. He fled to Kukama Refugee Camp in Kenya, a settlement over over 300,000 displaced people, where he found solace in school and pursued his dream of becoming a journalist. By reaching out…

1
#34 Wali & Wahab Yasini (The Great Escape) 34:24

5M ago34:24

34:24

Send us a Text Message. Wali and Wahab are two brothers studying in the UK having escaped Afghanistan after their mother was brutally murdered by the Taliban. Targeted because she was one of the first female judges in the country who had been trained by the International Bar Association, they too were at risk. Amid the chaos of withdrawal of US tro…

1
#33 Lane Murdock (Walk With Me) 35:44

5M ago35:44

35:44

Send us a Text Message. Gun violence is the number one killer of children and teens in the US. After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Florida, where a gunman killed 14 children and 3 teachers, Lane Murdock decided to take a stand. At just 15 years old, she led a global movement of National School Walkouts that inspired a generat…

1
The Flintstones 54:52

5M ago54:52

54:52

In 1994, Steven Spielberg bankrolled an ostentatious, live-action version of the beloved 1960's cartoon series THE FLINTSTONES, and it remains one of the weirder blockbusters of the 90s. We talk about it's strange production, it's failed sequel, and of course it's 1995 SNES adaptation, in which John Goodman's head is transported onto a cartoon body…

1
Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker 59:49

6M ago59:49

59:49

This week we're going undercover for ALEX RIDER: OPERATION STORMBREAKER! If you've never heard of this 2006 teen spy thriller, you're not alone; this adaptation of a the popular YA novel series flopped hard at the box office, despite having an unbelievably stacked cast. We're going to go over all of the various production and execution issues of th…

1
Seven Samurai / Seven Samurai 20XX 1:02:52

6M ago1:02:52

1:02:52

Akira Kurosawa's 1954 masterpiece SEVEN SAMURAI is maybe the defining film of Japanese cinema, a sprawling adventure epic that has influenced almost every action movie since. It's a momentous achievement, but how do you meet up to that standard with a video game? SEVEN SAMURAI 20XX attempts to tackle the original by not tackling it, moving the acti…

1
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story 57:50

6M ago57:50

57:50

Perhaps the only video game based on a biopic, but if any biopic lends itself to gamification, it's DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY. This 1993 confection is a highly fanciful, action-heavy portrayal of the martial arts legend that goes real heavy on the cheese. The belated video game adaptation translates the film's plot into an oddball fighting game. …

1
Reservoir Dogs (with Chuy Zarate) 1:16:22

6M ago1:16:22

1:16:22

Prepare to flash back to the 90s with the seminal indie film RESERVOIR DOGS, the tight, tense thriller that launched the career of Quentin Tarantino. Austin improv great Chuy Zarate joins us this week for one of our wildest and funniest episodes to date, as we cover both the 1992 film and the surprisingly forgotten 2006 Xbox adaptation! Hosted by S…

1
The Jungle Book (with Hannah Neuhauser) 1:18:49

7M ago1:18:49

1:18:49

Nothing but the bare necessities this week, as we discuss the 1967 Disney classic THE JUNGLE BOOK! Our friend and resident animation scholar Hannah Neuhauser joins us as we dig in on old Uncle Walt's last movie ever, a rollicking, jazzy adventure with a banger of a score. Then, we're taking on the game adaptations for SNES and Genesis, a couple of …

1
Cutthroat Island 1:08:19

7M ago1:08:19

1:08:19

It's one thing for a movie to fail; it's another for a movie to fail and take multiple careers, a studio, and even an entire genre down with it. But that's the legacy of CUTTHROAT ISLAND, a raucous 1995 pirate adventure that for a while was the biggest box office bomb of all time. We dig into the crazy and cursed production of the film before talki…

1
Naopleon Dynamite (with Woody Ciskowski) 1:05:42

7M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

We unleash our sick podcasting skills on the sleeper sensation NAPOLEON DYNAMITE from 2004! Woody Ciskowski of the Ultra 64 / Wii Universe podcast joins us to talk about the impact and legacy of Jared Hess' indie hit before moving on to the 2007 PSP game adaptation that may or may not be the most accurate representation of a movie we've yet talked …

1
The Recruit / Ice Nine 1:09:20

7M ago1:09:20

1:09:20

Though it was a hit at the time of release, the 2003 espionage thriller THE RECRUIT has essentially been lost to time, a footnote in the careers of Colin Farrell and Al Pacino. But improbably, the movie spawned an adaptation of sorts. Called ICE NINE when released, it's a Game Boy Advance first-person shooter, which is just... weird. We dig into it…

1
WALL-E 1:08:03

7M ago1:08:03

1:08:03

Disney's loveable trash robot WALL-E takes center stage this week! Our first PIXAR film, this heartfelt sci-fi opus blends the best elements of the company's feature length and short film output, with endlessly charming results. After the movie, we're gonna talk about the PS2 game adaptation, which has a lofty reputation of Disney games to adhere t…

1
The Punisher 1:13:27

8M ago1:13:27

1:13:27

Prepare for punishment, because this week we're talking about Marvel's original anti-hero, THE PUNISHER! The iconic comics character has had a few at-bats with big screen adaptations, but the 2004 version starring Tom Jane and John Travolta is the closest the series has come to cinematic legitimacy. But does this mid-aughts actioner stand the test …

1
Home Alone 2: Lost In New York 52:44

8M ago52:44

52:44

Is the second time the charm or is it just more of the same? We'll find out as we close out our miniseries on HOME ALONE, as well as our month-long Christmas extravaganza! We're watching the 1992 film and then playing the SNES platformer it inspired, complete with all the killer luggage and jumping mops! Hosted by Steve Guntli, Jennifer "JBan" Bann…

1
Home Alone 1:00:58

8M ago1:00:58

1:00:58

Merry Christmas, you filthy animals! No holiday celebration is complete without HOME ALONE, the mega-hit 90s comedy that made an unusual superstar out of 10-year-old Macauly Culkin! We're watching the film, and then playing the oddball game adaptations, which had the potential to be really interesting... Hosted by Steve Guntli, Jennifer "JBan" Bann…

1
Frequent Flyers Club (Christmas Special) December 2023 16:03

8M ago16:03

16:03

Send us a Text Message. Ho-Ho-Ho! Seasons greetings from the TFTDL flight crew. Andy and Nick are joined by Masha Kostromitina from the Duolingo English Test team to celebrate the podcast reaching 10,000 downloads in just 10 months. A huge thank you to all our Frequent Flyers Club listeners and sponsors. You are the tea to our biscuit. We recap our…

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