Best Ben Thede Podcasts (2024)

1
The Wheel of Time: The Great Hunt Chapters 15-17 1:19:50

1d ago1:19:50

1:19:50

We discuss the Star Wars Expanded Universe novels and nearly forgotten memories of the Young Adult fiction that we read growing up, before getting into a nicely rounded three chapter story arc. We meet a new traveling companion and Rand showcases not only his newfound leadership skills but displays some very impressive archery. Come for the first o…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Great Hunt Chapters 12-14 1:15:05

8d ago1:15:05

1:15:05

After a brutal and protracted war of attrition with Robert Jordan's endless first 10 chapters, we are finally back to 3 at a time! We somehow find a way to talk about post-apocalyptic fiction again before coming up with some new names for Nynaeve and Egwene. It's schooltime for our prospective Aes Sedai, while Rand is busy traveling the... stones a…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Great Hunt Chapters 10-11 1:22:41

20d ago1:22:41

1:22:41

The plot is finally on the move this week, and so are we! We show our range as we go from talking Furiosa and the emerging field of Forensic Scatology, to an updated discussion about Robert Jordan's writing(brought on by the inclusion of yet another clothing-oriented section). Come along with us for some of the darker chapters yet in the Wheel of T…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Great Hunt Chapter 9 1:06:51

27d ago1:06:51

1:06:51

Arrrrgh just when ye thought this were the last episode covering the extra long and meandering first 10 chapters, we found a way to make it last a bit longer. Join us to hear about some of our favorite death scenes as well as a ranking of the approximately 1 deaths so far in Wheel of Time, before getting into the reading and some new territory: Bay…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Great Hunt Chapters 7-8 1:27:59

1M ago1:27:59

1:27:59

Things are starting to get interesting this week as we talk annoying atheists and alleged cults before getting into dark prophecies and daddy issues. Join us for some of our favorite Wheel of Time chapters yet! YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at bridgeburnersbc@gmail.com

1
The Wheel of Time: The Great Hunt Chapters 5-6 1:31:00

1M ago1:31:00

1:31:00

Hope you like rooms and mildly interesting conversations because... wait what's this, a trolloc sighting?!? We discuss what we enjoy about post apocalyptic fiction before getting into some serious horn and dagger talk. Will Lord Bornhald's metophorical cloak remain spotless or will he get his hands dirty just like everyone else? Is Liandrin on the …

1
The Wheel of Time: The Great Hunt Chapters 3-4 1:05:09

2M ago1:05:09

1:05:09

On this episode we discuss the Fallout show and grocery store book nook nostalgia, before getting into a tangled web of Aes Sedai political intrigue. How many momentarily mentioned characters will be introduced this week? Will we remember all of them? Will we remember any of them? Like, the wheel weaves as the wheel wills man. This and all episodes…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Great Hunt Prologue Through Chapter 2 1:19:21

2M ago1:19:21

1:19:21

Wheel of Time is back, but not before we discuss our favorite weapons from science fiction and fantasy! We meet a man called Bors as he attends one of the Dark One's famous wiggle parties, Rand is still flighty and indecisive, and we make some of our famously correct predictions for the coming chapters. No better time than now to hop on the Wienerm…

1
Piranesi: Wrap-up 1:32:57

2M ago1:32:57

1:32:57

We welcome our first guest host to the show, Denny, for our Piranesi wrap-up episode! We discuss Piranesi's badass confrontation with the Other, trauma and its relation to memory, and becoming a new version of yourself. Stop by and enjoy the beauty of the house one more time before we launch right back into Wheel of Time! This and all episodes cont…

1
Piranesi: Part 5 57:56

3M ago57:56

57:56

This one is a relatively bite-sized episode, covering everything from the new Dune adaptation to the old Dune adaptation as well as that other Dune adaptation, but not before discussing the dangers of cheese grating. We even find a little bit of time to talk about Piranesi. Stay tuned for the season finale coming up next, including our very first g…

1
Piranesi: Part 4.5 1:21:04

3M ago1:21:04

1:21:04

This one is all about adaptation when we talk about Dune and our favorite books translated to screen before getting back into Piranesi's struggle to survive the often inhospitable environment of the house while working around the gaps in his memory. A flood is coming and the Other sees it as an opportunity to end things with 16, but Piranesi feels …

1
Piranesi: Part 4 1:22:14

4M ago1:22:14

1:22:14

This episode covers the last 3 entries for Part 3 of Piranesi and through the entry "Light in the Darkness" in Part 4. We talk cults of personality, digging through bird droppings, and the Other discovers how easy it is to buy a gun. Come along with us as we build to the exciting finale over the next few weeks, then back to Wheel of Time we go! You…

1
Piranesi: Part 3 1:14:15

4M ago1:14:15

1:14:15

We take on Part 3 of Piranesi and really start to solve some mysteries on this one! Travel between worlds is confirmed, the Prophet warns Piranesi about the other, and Ben gets cancelled. Again. This and all episodes contain original music by Ben Thede. YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at bridgeburnersbc@gmail.com…

1
Piranesi: Part 2.5 1:24:48

4M ago1:24:48

1:24:48

We finish out the second half of Part 2 in this one, but first we respond to a listener email! Then, the other tells Piranesi that he has a faulty memory and of the existence of a sixteenth person, before our guy goes sniffing around in that not-at-all fishy first hall. P.S. Please try to remember to take your multivitamin. This and all episodes co…

1
Piranesi: Part 2 1:30:33

4M ago1:30:33

1:30:33

This episode covers Part 2 from the entry "A white cross" through the entry "None of the Dead claim the name Addy Domarus". We discuss what we've been reading recently and our distaste for the way that the Other treats poor innocent Piranesi, before writing our own versions of small talk between Piranesi and the birds of the house. This and all epi…

1
Piranesi: Part 1 1:30:02

5M ago1:30:02

1:30:02

We take our first trip to the house this week, when we begin our reading of Susanna Clarke's Piranesi. Follow us through all of Part 1 and the first entry of Part 2: "Batter-Sea". We discuss how the book came to be, Italian artists, Plato, hypothetical cats, and indoor ecosystems. This episode features(more) of Ben's original music! YouTube Instagr…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Wrap-up 1:28:47

5M ago1:28:47

1:28:47

One more time around the wheel! We give our final critique and ratings, discuss the future books, the Amazon adaptation, and Robert Jordan's own words. One book ends... and with the turning of a page, a new one begins. YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at bridgeburnersbc@gmail.com

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 51-53 1:00:46

5M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

This is part 2 of our The Eye of the World Final Chapters Megasode! We discuss the Easter Egg Hunt of Valere, abrupt endings, and Robert Jordan hesitating to harm any of his characters. One more episode to wrap things up and bridge the gap to Susanna Clarke's Piranesi! YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at bridgeburnersbc@gmail.com…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 48-50 1:47:02

5M ago1:47:02

1:47:02

This is part 1 of our Eye of the World Final Chapters Megasode! We talked so long that we decided to split it up into two episodes after all. We discuss a new addition to the scope of the show before getting into the defensive capabilities of Fal Dara's watchtowers, get into what it means to be a Green Man for real this time, and act out some intim…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 45-47 1:41:25

5M ago1:41:25

1:41:25

We're out the the Ways and on to Fal Dara before you know it this week! Moiraine fires up her blowtorch, our boys are too embarrassing to take out into public, and we're *so* surprised that Lan is a secret king. YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at bridgeburnersbc@gmail.comBy Ben Thede, Tyler Blackwell, Sean Pass

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 42-44 1:14:32

6M ago1:14:32

1:14:32

The gang is finally back together and we have a convenient new fast travel and fast plot device known as the Ways, a place that the book spends longer discussing than describing. We really explore what it means to be a green man, Ba'alzamon is back up to his old dream tricks(more like Ba'alzayawn, amirite?), and Lan does some breaking and entering.…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 39-41 1:47:18

6M ago1:47:18

1:47:18

This one is a beast of an episode! We talk about what makes a good bookstore and discuss some of our favorites. Rand embraces his new role as "very special boy that can't truly make a mistake" and decides to fall into the lap of a princess, before being reunited with every one of his traveling companions outside of Thom Merrilin. We only mention sc…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 35-38 1:24:47

6M ago1:24:47

1:24:47

We took on four chapters this week and ended up with a neatly divided pair of stories! Rand adopts an Ogier who tells him that he's the most specialest boy in the whole wide world, Nynaeve goes Metal Gear Solid and everyone knows that Perrin is into some weird stuff with animals now. Stick around to the end for our chapter predictions and how there…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 32-34 1:25:08

7M ago1:25:08

1:25:08

Either we get into some Memento Tarantino fever dream non-linear storytelling this week, or Mat and Rand are stuck in some sort of time loop. Questionable structural decisions lead us into a broader discussion about the evolution of editing and publishing in the world of fantasy fiction. Make sure to stick around for the definitely not movie relate…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 29-31 1:14:44

7M ago1:14:44

1:14:44

As we dive a little deeper into the back half of The Eye of the World, we find ourselves along for a real American road trip style hitchhiking and busking tale with Mat and Rand as they use their underwhelming Gleeman's skills, earning a pittance that is somehow a step up from their previous circumstances: getting used for form labor before being c…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 25-28 1:32:42

7M ago1:32:42

1:32:42

We finally go big and make it through four chapters in one episode! Egwene and Perrin get caught up with a bad crowd(vegans) and barely escape before being conscripted into the pacifist army. Rand and Mat finally find their way to the freedom they've been chasing, and all it takes is one potentially dead gleeman. We debate oaths of total non-violen…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 22-24 1:05:14

8M ago1:05:14

1:05:14

Tyler dreams up a unique twist on a familiar business model, Perrin discovers that he's a dog person and Rand has an embarrassing manic episode up on the mast while Mat strokes his dagger. Thank you to this week's sponsor, Elyas Machera's Lupine Lie Detection Service! YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at bridgeburnersbc@gmail.com…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 19-21 1:18:18

8M ago1:18:18

1:18:18

It's spooky season and the gang gets involved in some zany Scooby Doo style hijinks. Thanks to our friends at the Shadar Logoth Board of Tourism for sponsoring this week's episode! YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at bridgeburnersbc@gmail.comBy Ben Thede, Tyler Blackwell, Sean Pass

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 16-18 1:05:29

8M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

We talk about more of our favorite fantasy characters, now with added femininity! This week's chapters include stories, songs, dancing, dancing, also dancing, and epic but brief battle scenes. Kaiju Moiraine wreaks havoc on 100% innocent whitecloaks and the party flees towards abandoned cities with ominous naming conventions. YouTube Instagram Twit…

1
The Bridgeburners Bonus Episode: The One Where They Didn't Discuss Any Chapters 24:44

8M ago24:44

24:44

We're coming at you with a little throwback this week! Due to unforeseen technical calamities, the release of our next Wheel of Time chapter discussions is delayed for a few days. To hold you over until then, we dug into the archives and put together this free-ranging recording we made as a test run before getting into the official episodes you kno…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 13-15 1:20:43

9M ago1:20:43

1:20:43

This week we have more travel, a training montage, bathhouse banter, dark dreams, falsely accused cats, smart mouthed spirit mediums, mud spattered white cloaks and the dread-inducing return of Nynaeve. All of that and a discussion of our favorite fantasy characters to top it off! YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at bridgeburnersbc@gmail.…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 10-12 59:40

9M ago59:40

59:40

The journey has kind of sort of mostly officially begun! After some time spent checking out each other's weapons in the stables, the party finally hits the road. We discuss hand-pulled ferries, whirlpools, and finally meet a Taren Ferry man! YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at bridgeburnersbc@gmail.com…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 7-9 1:00:45

9M ago1:00:45

1:00:45

Surely the group will leave Emond's Field at last in this episode... Surely! This week Sean makes an important confession before we discuss Neil Gaiman and magic systems. Tam is in need of some very special healing, Rand has a bad dream and Cenn Buie finally learns his lesson! YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at bridgeburnersbc@gmail.com…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 4-6 57:53

9M ago57:53

57:53

We finally cover more than 2 chapters in this episode! Things start to pick up in pace as Rand and Tam do chores, chop wood and chop trollocs. We discuss what makes a story fall into the category of fantasy, getting lost in the woods and things that go bump in the night. The real adventure begins now! YouTube Instagram Twitter Discord Email us at b…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Chapters 2 & 3 53:29

10M ago53:29

53:29

In this episode we discuss Cenn Buie's long list of complaints and the individual levels of thickness to be found in our favorite Two Rivers folk. We dive into chapters 2 and 3 of The Eye of the World, but not before spending some time to talk about which of the worlds from our favorite fantasy books we would most like to live in! YouTube Instagram…

1
The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Prologue & Chapter 1 57:32

10M ago57:32

57:32

Welcome to the very first episode of the Bridgeburners Book Club, where we read, discuss, criticize and get excited about all things fantasy! Each week we will read a few chapters of our current book and hold discussions about it! We would love it if you follow along with the journey and become a part of it yourself. We are starting things out with…

1
Journalism with Shane O’Neill 1:08:53

2y ago1:08:53

1:08:53

Shane O’Neill (The New York Times) joins the classroom to discuss journalism in media. Caitlin and Lauren each discuss unloved May-December romance journalism movies and we make Shane pitch shows based on headlines based on breaking news. The Bagel Brunch Buzz? Get into it! A big announcement about the future of We Stan Tog Learn more about your ad…

1
The Challenge with Kate Vatter & Bill Shaefer 1:23:53

2y ago1:23:53

1:23:53

Kate Vatter (XOXO Riverdale) joins Caitlin as a guest professor to discuss MTV’s long-running cult hit The Challenge. Bill Shaefer (Quality Time) is our guest as we interrogate the changing landscape of the show, Jenna’s cousin’s dad’s bakery, THE Betrayal and who our ultimate partners would be! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/…

1
Bravo with Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam 1:08:35

2y ago1:08:35

1:08:35

Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam (Watch What Crappens) join the classroom to discuss Bravo! We have them draft more B-List actresses to Real Housewives, pick their Below Deck fantasy charter and cast NBC primetime drama Sisters with Real Housewives. Caitlin guides the group through the mind-bending world of Real Housewives book titles. Learn more about…

1
Virgo Season with Glo Tavarez 1:18:26

2y ago1:18:26

1:18:26

Glo Tavarez (Late Night, noted Virgo) joins the classroom to discuss the best season, Virgo season. Caitlin talks about the Virgo window characters that raised Millennials, Lauren thinks Keke Palmer should be elected Queen of Virgos and Glo is concerned about the bullying Kevin Jonas is experiencing from his brothers. Weirdly, the show addresses th…

1
Food Movies with Bryan Yang 1:32:14

2y ago1:32:14

1:32:14

Bryan Yang (What’s Eating You?) joins the classroom to discuss food movies. Caitlin finds Nothing But Trouble disgusting, Lauren is inspired by Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Simply Irresistible, Bryan plays Breaking Chef and Help The Yelp, and can the three of them buy Rainforest Café? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
RERUN! The Meaning of Mariah Carey with Matt Rogers 1:20:18

2y ago1:20:18

1:20:18

We loved this Mariah Carey Christmas-tastic episode so much, we’re dropping it again with guest king of summer on Fire Island, Matt Rogers! Matt Rogers (Fire Island, I Love That For You, Las Culturistas) joins the classroom to emancipate our knowledge of Mariah Carey. Caitlin compares Mariah to Dolly, we torture Matt’s knowledge of Mariah’s Japanes…

1
Summah Explosion 53:56

2y ago53:56

53:56

Lauren and Caitlin pod sans-guest in an ep all about summah fun. Lauren laments the dearth of summer TV seasons, Caitlin stans Back To The Beach and they pick their dream celeb fantasy Below Deck guests if they were the primary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy More Banana

1
Games with Jason Sweeten 1:05:48

2y ago1:05:48

1:05:48

Jason Sweeten (SiriusXM) joins the classroom to talk about all things GAMES! Jason gives us the elevator pitch for Dungeons & Dragons, Caitlin thinks Kramer and Newman playing RISK showed us their true character, Lauren desperately wants someone to play the game from TheNew Girl and we unearth a gaming moment in Britney Spears’ history. Learn more …

1
Best Of PItchfire! 1:09:37

2y ago1:09:37

1:09:37

We revisit the Best of We Stan Together agnature game, Pitchfire. Featuring past guests Lauren Lapkus, Latisha Di Venuto, Steve Jeanty & Andrew Barlow, Tai LeClaire, Lisa Kleinman & Casey Jost, Chriss Shackelford, and Khalia Davis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy More Banana

1
Newlyweds with Ben Cohen & Sabrina Cartagena 1:08:57

2y ago1:08:57

1:08:57

Ben Cohen & Sabrina Cartagena (real newlyweds IRL!) join us to discuss newlyweds in the media. Caitlin worships at the altar of MTV’s Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, Lauren wants to convince us Gwyneth Paltrow’s Hush is underrated, and we dive into the multiple pop culture costume changes at Ben and Sabrina’s wedding. Learn more about your ad choices. V…

1
Family Sitcoms with Jonterri Gadson 1:02:20

2y ago1:02:20

1:02:20

Jonterri Gadson (The Upshaws) joins the classroom to discuss family sitcoms. Jonterri’s talks about her career inspiration Malcolm In The Middle, Caitlin wants to see more extended family chaos on television and Lauren apparently stans the Munsters. Learn what “The Shadow” means to Lauren. You’ll never guess. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

1
Duets with Mykal Kilgore 1:20:07

2y ago1:20:07

1:20:07

Mykal Kilgore (A Man Born Black) joins the classroom to discuss duets! We share our bizarre meet cute with Mykal, Lauren encourages the reboot of Celebrity Duets, Caitlin loves women dueting about cheaters and Mykal reveals his dream duet partners. We finally decide which Powerpuff Girls correlate to which Boyz II Men member. Caitlin maybe made a f…

1
Golden Girls with Khalia Davis 1:05:44

2y ago1:05:44

1:05:44

Khalia Davis (Bay Area Children’s Theatre) joins the classroom to discuss Golden Girls, the best show ever. Caitlin recounts all the cast’s Emmy wins, Lauren casts a reboot -- with added sexual tension! We play Golden Hallmark and Did You See Sophia after Khalia shows us her collection of Golden Girls shirts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

1
Strippers In Film with Gianmarco Soresi 55:50

2y ago55:50

55:50

Gianmarco Soresi (Hustlers, Comedy Central) joins the classroom to discuss Strippers in Film. Lauren reveals Channing Tatum canceled their Zoom meeting, Caitlin thinks it’s time for Striptease 2 and Gianmarco designs Hustlers: The Musical! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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