Best Zillo Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 96: ‘The Lake’ (2022) vs. Jacob Lyngle 2:42:24

1d ago2:42:24

2:42:24

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! With Korea finally behind them—much to Nate’s relief—he and Jimmy migrate to Thailand. There they are joined by the founder and editor of Kaiju United, your premiere kaiju website, to discuss the ambitious “thaiju” (ba-dum-tsh!) film, The Lake (2022). Jacob had the privilege of interviewing its director, Lee Thongkham, for KU, …

1
OTL #930: No Games Chicago, Inequities in mental health services for justice-involved youth 38:38

3d ago38:38

38:38

Mike Stephen talks to community organizer Tom Tresser about his new book on the history of No Games Chicago and then talks to Maria Jose Luna, doctoral candidate in the clinical psychology program at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, about a new study that examines the inequities in mental health services for justice-involved y…

1
OTL #929: Preserving Illinois wetlands, Red Spot Rhythm Section’s new music, The Secret History of William Warren 40:07

10d ago40:07

40:07

Mike Stephen learns about efforts to preserve Illinois wetlands from Jennifer Bamberg, investigative reporter at Investigate Midwest, gets into Red Spot Rhythm Section’s new music with band founder Josh Siegal, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago blues drummer William Warren.By Mike Stephen

1
MIFV Interview Series - Elijah Thomas 2:43:11

12d ago2:43:11

2:43:11

While Nathan catches up on his podcast production (watch for updates), join him as he launches yet another subseries by interviewing his friend and fellow podcaster, Elijah Thomas (Kaiju Conversation), who is also an aspiring filmmaker. They discuss Elijah's new short film, Edo Kami no Gyakushu, which premiered at G-Fest XXIX. They'll also discuss …

1
OTL #928: The future of additional dwelling units in Chicago, Money in the Chicago school board election, Hope for Homes Day 40:10

17d ago40:10

40:10

Mike Stephen learns about Chicago City Council action regarding additional dwelling units from Cityscape Chicago founder and CEO Steven Vance, discusses the money flowing through the upcoming Chicago School Board election with Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chief Becky Vevea, and chats with La Case Norte executive director Jose Munoz about Hope for Homes…

1
OTL #927: Injustice Watch’s judicial election guide, Revisiting Chicago Rents, The Secret History of Avondale Electric 42:28

24d ago42:28

42:28

Mike Stephen learns about the upcoming judicial election guide from Injustice Watch with senior reporter Carlos Ballesteros, revisits an initiative that provides housing opportunities for Chicagoans, and discovers the Secret History of North Side rockers Avondale Electric.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #926: Remembering the Chicago Race Riot of 1919, Police settlement transparency ordinance, Removing lead pipes in Chicago 44:03

1M ago44:03

44:03

Mike Stephen discusses the significance of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 with Peter Cole, founder and co-director of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project, learns about a proposed ordinance aimed at improving police settlement transparency from Tracy Siska, executive director of the Chicago Justice Project, and gets an update on Chica…

1
Episode 95: “The Zillo Beast Saga” | Ft. The Cel Cast | Star Wars: The Clone Wars & The Bad Batch | Patreon 2:57:04

1M ago2:57:04

2:57:04

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In our second Patreon pick of season 4, Nate is joined by Drew Dodgen of The Cel Cast (his co-host, Jacob, was too busy planning a wedding to come) to discuss kaiju in Star Wars! Specifically, the Zillo Beast, who appeared in two episodes of The Clone Wars and three episodes (sorta) of its spin-off, The Bad Batch. This was an e…

1
OTL #925: Local metalpoint art, New music from Joe Di Zillo, The Secret History of Jackie DeShannon 37:53

1M ago37:53

37:53

Mike Stephen chats with local metalpoint artist D. Lammie-Hanson, gets the lowdown on new tunes from Chicago musician Joe Di Zillo, and discovers the Secret History of local singer Jackie DeShannon.By Mike Stephen

1
Episode 94 Epilogue: “The Hunting of the Snarky Nate” (Part 2) 10:22

1M ago10:22

10:22

No sooner is the broadcast finished does what seems like the entire North Korean military bombard Uber-Moguera in retaliation for Nate's sarcasm. When that fails, they lure a very hungry Pulgasari to the airfield, and seeing the mecha as a huge piece of exotic metal food, he attacks. Unable to fight him off, Nate suggests one last desperate measure…

1
NEW PODCAST - Henshin Power V3 (promo trailer) 2:03

1M ago2:03

2:03

Henshin Power V3: Where three friends have three minutes to talk about tokusatsu! Nathan (aka “The TsuBro”) has finished both Henshin Men and The Power Trip, but his friends Chris (aka “Sentai Guy”) and Jake (aka “The Metal Don”) won’t let him stop discussing henshin heroes just yet! A new tokusatsu journey begins July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)! Podc…

1
OTL #924: The impact of Hope Chicago 38:10

2M ago38:10

38:10

Mike Stephen visits the Hope Chicago Goal Getters 2024 Conference at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Hope Chicago is a scholarship-focused non-profit designed to provide students and their parents/guardians with the support they need to graduate from college debt-free. We learn about the amazing work of this local nonprofit from program manag…

1
Monster Conversation Harryhausen Annual #3: ‘The Golden Voyage of Sinbad’ 3:14:43

2M ago3:14:43

3:14:43

In Nate and Elijah’s epic triple birthday celebration with Ray Harryhausen (“Yours, Mine, and Ray’s”), they continue their annual crossover with The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973). While they’re going in reverse chronological order, they agree with this is a “step up” from Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, which they discussed last year. It helps th…

1
Episode 94: ‘Pulgasari’ vs. Tomi Trembath 2:16:36

2M ago2:16:36

2:16:36

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Nate and Jimmy venture across the 38th parallel into North Korea to cover the most infamous kaiju film ever made and recapture its star monster: Pulgasari. Tomi Trembath of the Giant-Sized Violence podcast, who grew up with its strange American remake, The Adventures of Galgameth, joins Nate via video call (for obvious reasons)…

1
Episode 94 Prologue: “The Hunting of the Snarky Nate” (Part 1) 6:51

2M ago6:51

6:51

Uber-Moguera lands in North Korea, and Nate meets a squad of soldiers on the airfield. He gives their Commander documents showing they have authorization to be in the country--but with one sarcastic comment, Nate finds himself on their “most wanted” list and dodging bullets! Can he survive this international incident? Featuring Nate Chen as the NK …

1
Special Report #7: ‘Ultraman: Rising’ Ft. Jeff Gomez of Ultraman Connection 1:32:12

2M ago1:32:12

1:32:12

Nathan is joined by the CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Jeff Gomez, an “ultra-fan” who presides over the website Ultraman Connection, to discuss Netflix’s new animated Ultraman movie. Is it truly one of the best animated films of the year? We get into that and more! Watch the video version here: https://youtube.com/live/B_pBsvH7CeE. Check ou…

1
OTL #923: Tutoring and tech’s impact in schools, The Secret History of Motorhome 39:01

2M ago39:01

39:01

Mike Stephen learns about the latest education research showing the benefits of tutoring combined with educational technology in schools from John Wolf and Monica Bhatt of the University of Chicago Education Lab and then discovers the Secret History of 1990s Chicago fuzzy pop-rockers Motorhome.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #922: Illinois’ hands-off approach to homeschooling, The legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks 37:22

2M ago37:22

37:22

Mike Stephen explores the impacts of the lack of homeschooling regulation in Illinois with Capitol News investigative reporters Beth Hundsdorfer and Molly Parker and then discusses the legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks with her daughter and president of Brooks Permissions: Nora Brooks Blakely.By Mike Stephen

1
Bonus Episode #17: ‘War of the God Monsters’ 31:57

2M ago31:57

31:57

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! The South Korean leg of The Monster Island World Tour comes to an end in this bonus episode with a movie that exemplifies what Korean kaiju cinema did wrong before The Host: War of the God Monsters (aka The Flying Monster). This movie, which was released stateside by SRS Cinema, floundered in obscure infamy for years, and with …

1
Episode 93 Epilogue: “I am the Moth: A Bug Lady’s Psychedelic Revenge!” 14:07

2M ago14:07

14:07

Nate finishes his broadcast, but instantly learns it was all a hallucination (what a twist!) perpetrated by a rogue Bug Lady named Psychodelia. She takes him hostage to lure Crystal Lady and Mimo to their location—not to kill her, but to kill Nate! Why? To make Crystal Lady suffer for the death of her sister, the first Bug Lady, Peppermoth! Will Cr…

1
OTL #921: How do Chicagoans consume their news?, Plant-based school lunch options, The Secret History of The Pearl Handle Band 47:52

2M ago47:52

47:52

Mike Stephen dives into a new report about how Chicagoans consume and perceive their local news with Tim Franklin, director of the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University, learns about the option for plant-based school lunches in Illinois with Balanced founder Audrey Lawson-Sanchez, and discovers the Secret History of The Pearl Hand…

1
Episode 93: ‘Godzilla vs. Hedorah’ | Ft. Daniel DiManna, Ben Avery, and Giant Monster BS | Godzilla Redux 3:03:55

2M ago3:03:55

3:03:55

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! It's a full house (“full mecha”?) in today's Godzilla Redux episode on the infamous but now-popular-to-like G-film, Godzilla vs. Hedorah (aka Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster). Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project), Ben Avery (Strangers and Aliens; Welcome to Level 7), and Matt and Gratton of Giant Monster BS all return t…

1
“What a Stinker! The Ugly Truth about Mothball” (a Crystal Lady short story) 23:35

2M ago23:35

23:35

Nate's cloned “pseudo-sister,” Jessica Shaw (aka Crystal Lady) takes some specially-selected tourists on a, well, tour of Monster Island, and on their last stop at the Denham Theater, a smelly, frumpy girl literally bumps into her. She is Fausta Bevan, a missing member of Jessica’s tour group. She's annoying but also kind. Unfortunately, she's also…

1
OTL #920: Why did Bring Chicago Home fail?, Jerry Smith on The Flock reunion 46:46

2M ago46:46

46:46

Mike Stephen talks to Roberta Garner, professor emerita of sociology at DePaul University, about why the Bring Chicago Home initiative failed and then chats with Jerry Smith of The Flock about that band’s upcoming reunion show. Jerry shares some great stories about his time in the music business.By Mike Stephen

1
Episode 92 Epilogue: “Snazzy vs. Gwoemul” 12:33

3M ago12:33

12:33

Having been “military volunteered” during the broadcast, the Omni Viewer's neat-freak of a dinosaur-lizard-thing sidekick, Snazzy Chapeau, accompanies Jimmy From NASA into the Seoul sewers to bag-and-tag Gwoemul. Shenanigans ensue. Meanwhile, Omni tries to get Nate to open up about what’s got him down in the dumps. It goes about as well as you’d ex…

1
Episode 92: 'The Host' (2006) vs. the Omni Viewer 2:23:18

3M ago2:23:18

2:23:18

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! After several months in Seoul, Nate finally reaches the point where Korean kaiju cinema comes into its own: Bong Joon-ho's The Host (2006). He's joined by YouTuber and author Omni Viewer and his "kaiju" sidekick, Snazzy Chapeau, to discuss this momentous film. While it arguably has more in common with Jaws than Godzilla (1954),…

1
OTL #919: A local education update, The Secret History of the Drew-Vels 37:12

3M ago37:12

37:12

Mike Stephen welcomes Chalkbeat reporter Reema Amin to discuss the latest on Chicago Public Schools’ position on police officers in schools and how schools are funded and then discovers the Secret History of the 1960s soul group from Evanston: The Drew-Vels.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #918: A failure of local government, Simon’s Tavern turns 90, New local music from Brett Ratner 37:32

3M ago37:32

37:32

Mike Stephen learns how the Chicago Housing Authority allows for nefarious deeds on some of its vacant properties from Block Club Chicago investigative editor and reporter Mick Dumke, celebrates 90 years of Andersonville’s Simon’s Tavern, and chats with local musician Brett Ratner about his new instrumental rock.…

1
Episode 91 Epilogue: “A Decent Proposal” 15:34

3M ago15:34

15:34

A tired Nate returns to Uber-Moguera from a film curation trip in Seoul and overhears a conversation between Jimmy and Kaguya. Jimmy sounds uncharacteristically nervous, but not because things have been a little tense between him and his girlfriend the last few months. No, it’s because he pops the question. Introducing, in her MIFV debut, Rebecca O…

1
OTL #917: The Takeout 25 Effect, Chicago Truck Data Portal, The Secret History of Charlie Schmidt 48:07

3M ago48:07

48:07

Mike Stephen learns about a new book about the impact of the local nonprofit Takeout 25 called The Takeout 25 Effect: Mobilizing for Positive Change with author Ravi Parakkat, explores a project mapping high concentration of truck traffic in Chicago called the Chicago Truck Data Portal with Jose Acosta Cordova of the Little Village Environmental Ju…

1
Episode 91: 'All Monsters Attack' | Ft. Neil Riebe and John LeMay | Godzilla Redux 2:12:08

3M ago2:12:08

2:12:08

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! This film was popular to hate and now it’s popular to “reevaluate” it: All Monsters Attack (aka Godzilla's Revenge). Nate is joined by not one but two fellow kaiju authors to unpack this grossly misunderstood G-film: Neil Riebe (who's practically Nate’s new co-host) and the most-cited man on MIFV, John LeMay. They get into the …

1
OTL #916: Should Chicago lower its speed limit?, Is Mayor Johnson incompetent or inexperienced?, Revisiting Chicago as a cycling city 39:10

3M ago39:10

39:10

Mike Stephen discusses the possibility of Chicago lowering its speed limit with Active Transportation Alliance managing director of advocacy Jim Merrell, explores the debate around Mayor Johnson’s possible incompetence or inexperience with Chicago Magazine contributing editor Ted McClelland, and revisits the topic of Chicago’s bikeability.…

1
OTL #915: Unpacking Chicago’s community map, The West Side Spring Book Fair, The Secret History of Plastics Hi-Fi 42:23

4M ago42:23

42:23

Mike Stephen learns about the significance of Chicago’s community map from and explores the possibility of updating it with Emily Talen, professor of urbanism and director of the Urbanism Lab at the University of Chicago, discusses the importance of literacy on the West Side of the city with founder of The Queen Within, Bridgett McGill, and discove…

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