

The Worst of All Possible Worlds
Josh Boerman, A.J. Ditty, and Brian Alford
The first and only podcast bringing you weekly case studies in the pop culture of a dying empire. Every Wednesday, co-hosts Josh, Brian, and A.J. dissect an artifact of popular culture, breaking down how its narrative choices reflect or subvert the reactionary political project. From video games to movies to theater to an apparently infinite supply of evangelical Christian radio drama, we expose the machinations of the worst of all possible worlds in order to figure out how to build a better one.
Also, we have bits.
Also, we have bits.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 27, 2023 • 2h 4min
106 - You Only Whit Twice (feat. Chas LiBretto) [Whit’s Endless Summer #28]
Playwright Chas LiBretto (Cyclops: A Rock Opera) joins the lads for some globe-trotting Odyssey adventures as Jason Whittaker and Jack Allen do battle with secret societies, synthetic viruses, and the return of the most evil child psychologist in all of radio drama: Dr. Regis Blackgaard. Topics include spy stories, adapting the Odyssey, and the limits of the imagination when seen through the evangelical lens.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Chas LiBretto - Twitter // Instagram // Website
Cyclops: A Rock Opera at The Tank, October 20th-November 3rd
Media Referenced in this Episode:
Adventures in Odyssey
#42: The Last Great Adventure of the Summer
#290: A Name, Not a Number, Part 1
#291: A Name, Not a Number, Part 2
#292: A Code of Honor
Birds of a Feather - #1 by Jim Daly
“Christian Broadcaster Will Focus on Families--in Russia: James Dobson will visit the Soviet Union in August and try to influence policy there with books and videos” by Mike Ward. LA Times, July 4th, 1991
“Embracing God's Truth in a Hostile Culture” by Jim Daly
“The Wild East” by Seymour M. Hersh. The Atlantic, 1994.
TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Commercial: “A Public Service Announcement from the ESA”

Sep 21, 2023 • 23min
105 - Assassins
THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
The lads grab their Iver-Johnson .32s and make their way to the head of the line as they cover Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s 1990 murderous musical: Assassins. Topics include the show’s initial negative reception, the inevitable critical reappraisal, and the dissonant, violent chords lurking just beneath the promise of the American Dream.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Media Referenced in this Episode:
Assassins by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman
Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording
2004 Broadway Revival Recording
2022 Off-Broadway Revival Recording
The 2009 Korean Cast
The 2013 Swedish Cast
Look, I Made a Hat: Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany by Stephen Sondheim.
TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Commercial: “The Ballad of Sam Bultch”-Music by Stephen Sondheim, Lyrics by Dr. Samuel Bultch, D.D.S. Featuring David Armstrong as “Horny Fairgoer/Stephen Sondheim” and Eleanor Philips as “Gossipy Fairgoer”.

Sep 13, 2023 • 2h 13min
104 - Death Stranding (ft. Drew Toothpaste)
Drew Toothpaste (@drewtoothpaste) and the lads gulp down some cryptobiotes with a Monster energy chaser as they strap on their packages and unite the United Cities of America in Hideo Kojima’s 2019 mail-delivery simulator: Death Stranding. Topics include the wonders of nature, the terrors of the afterlife, and what it means to build community in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by malevolent ghost babies.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Drew Toothpaste - Twitter // Bluesky // Patreon // Instagram
Everything is Real - In Everything Is Real, Natalie Dee & Drew Toothpaste investigate the conspiracies and strange happenings that peel back the edge of reality. Join Drew (a research chemist) and Natalie (a Ph.D in Metaphysics) as they study the fringes of society.
Media Referenced in this Episode:
Death Stranding Available on PS4, PS5, and PC.
P.T. by 7780s Studios
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Commercial: “Graham Sorter Brücken: A Life of Great Import(er)”

Sep 10, 2023 • 1h 12min
GRUBESCAST
The lads sat down live and in person with our friends from the band Hans Gruber and the Die Hards, currently on their national tour! We enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation about what it’s like working as a touring musician in 2023, including topics like selling out, the joys of performing, the difficulties of touring, and the value of merch.
Over the next couple weeks, the band will be making stops in Asbury Park, Baltimore, Washington DC, Virginia, Birmingham, New Orleans, and of course their hometown of Austin. Check out the links for more info and buy your tickets now!
TOUR DATES AND VENUES
Twitter: @Gruberites
Instagram: @hansgruberandthediehards
Bandcamp: With a Vengeance
Youtube: Hans Gruber
Merch: Grube Shop
Ska Punk International
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!

Sep 6, 2023 • 28min
103 - Gone Apes: An NFT Postmortem (feat. Nate Lamagna)
Nate Lamagna helps the lads escape apes and dive into the world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in this entertaining podcast. They discuss the history of cryptocurrency, the life-draining art style of NFTs, and the absence of human biases in code. The speakers also analyze a figure in blockchain technology, explore the risks of reinventing ideas in the tech world, and highlight the need for a decentralized framework.

Aug 30, 2023 • 2h 21min
102 - We Didn’t Start the Fireproof (feat. Radio Free Tote Bag)
Audrey and Donovan from the Radio Free Tote Bag podcast (@rftbpod) join the lads as they grab their baseball bats and battle the infernos of marriage and pornography as they sprint headlong into the blaze of the disastrous Kirk Cameron vehicle: Fireproof. Topics include the importance of communication in relationships, why there isn’t a Jay Leno recap podcast, and the horrifying menace hiding just behind the eyes of one of the Christian Right’s biggest movie stars: Kirk Cameron.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Radio Free Tote Bag - Patreon // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Twitter // Instagram
Audrey Brehm - Twitter
Donovan Eyre - Twitter
Media Referenced in this Episode:
Fireproof Dir. Alex Kendrick. Sherwood Pictures, 2008.
The Love Dare by Alex and Stephen Kendrick
Fireproof Your Life: Building a Faith That Survives The Flames by Michael Catt
TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Commercial: “A Special Message from Kirk Thomas Cameron” feat. David Armstrong, Eleanor Philips, and A.J. Ditty as “Jeremiah”

Aug 23, 2023 • 26min
101 - Tom Goes To (And Runs For) The Mayor (feat. Lev Novak) [Whit’s Endless Summer #27]
THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
Fan-favorite Lev Novak (@levnovak) returns to Odyssey as he takes the lads on adventures through the Old Testament, household budgeting, and the art of running for mayor of Odyssey. Topics include dull retellings of thrilling stories, pursuing your passions, and the confusing machinations of a certain evil child psychologist.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Lev Novak - Twitter // Instagram
Media Referenced in this Episode:
Adventures in Odyssey
#272 “Two Brothers…And Bernard Part 1”
#273 “Two Brothers…And Bernard Part 2"
#285 “George Under Pressure”
#286 “Tom for Mayor Part 1"
#287 “Tom for Mayor Part 2”
TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Commercial: “Grievin’ Steven’s Midnight Rodeo”

Aug 16, 2023 • 2h 32min
100 - Deus Ex
In their 100th episode, the hosts cover the game Deus Ex, discussing gameplay styles, iconic dialogue, and the legacy of the first PC game that allowed leg-killing. Topics include Warren Spector's impact on game design, frustrations with robot spiders and greasals, and the satisfaction of overcoming hurdles. They also explore the unique mechanics, weapon retrieval, and backtracking in the game, as well as strategies to avoid boss battles. With diverse voice actors and references to literature, the hosts delve into the paranoia and home design in Deus Ex, concluding with a threatening call from Bob Page.

Aug 14, 2023 • 35min
SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Jay Anthony Franke on Deus Ex and becoming JC Denton
Welcome to Deus Ex Week. In advance of Wednesday’s episode, Jay Anthony Franke, the original voice of JC Denton, sat down with Josh to talk about his experience working on Deus Ex, both as a QA tester and a voice actor. Topics in this half-hour interview include Jay’s career in acting, the process of making such an influential game, and how Deus Ex continues to be so resonant 23 years after its original release.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Jay Anthony Franke can be found on Instagram @jayanthonyfranke and on Cameo @jayanthonyfranke.
Tickets for the 90s Dreams Fan Fest on Friday, October 13th at Stitch Bar & Blues in NYC are available through Prekindle.

Aug 9, 2023 • 22min
99 - Sorry/Not Sorry: Apology Videos and the Toxic Gossip Train
THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall
hi. There have been a lot of allegations going around and the lads would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight: this is an episode about apology videos. I know you’ve heard the ugly accusations that, in this episode, they talk about the origins of the American apology video, Shane Dawson’s seeming addiction to making them, and the impossibility of true repentance when you’ve turned your life into a brand. Well, let me assure you, it’s all true. Suck it h8ers.
Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!
Media Referenced in this Episode:
The Youtube Playlist of All Apology Videos Referenced
Richard Nixon - "Checkers" Speech
Jackie Gleason “You’re in the Picture” Apology Episode Part One
Jackie Gleason “You’re in the Picture” Apology Episode Part Two
Bill Clinton Admits to Having Inappropriate Relationship with Monica Lewinsky
Shane Dawson: “My Apology (Blackface & Offensive Videos)”
Logan Paul: “So Sorry.”
Kevin Spacey: “Let Me Be Frank”
Colleen Ballinger: “addressing everything”
Jenna Marbles: “Jenna Marbles Apology”
Shane Dawson: “Taking Accountability”
Try Guys: “what happened.”
Colleen Ballinger: “hi.”
“Image repair discourse and crisis communication” by William L. Benoit
“The Youtube Apology” by Gabriella Karlsson
TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Commercial: “An Apology Song” by Richard Milhous Nixon


