The Worst of All Possible Worlds

Renee Olstead (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Unfriended) and the lads grab some ice cubes and enter the cutthroat world of Vegas dancing as they cover Paul Verhoeven’s 1995 striptacular: Showgirls. Topics include the madness of Joe Eszterhas, the infamous VH1 cut, and the solidarity that can be learned from a movie that involves shoving your competition down a flight of stairs. Renee Olstead: Website // Instagram // OF // Twitter Coalition of American Sex Workers Media Referenced in this Episode: Showgirls. Dir. Paul Verhoeven. 1995. 'Showgirls' at 25: Gina Ravera discusses the cult movie's most controversial scene by Ethan Alter. Yahoo! Entertainment. September 22nd, 2020. Showgirls, Jade, and the Fall of Joe Eszterhas (Erotic 90’s, Part 14) — You Must Remember This TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “The Worst of All Possible Sex Tips” // Written by A.J. Ditty with additional lyrics by Brian Alford // Featuring Josh Boerman as “Sexy Josh” and Brian Alford as “Sexy Brian” // Music: “Careful Shouting” by Highway Superstar

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads grab their crossbows and make for the Space Needle as they cover the back half of Naughty Dog's 2020 revengefest: The Last of Us Part II. Topics include state quarters, the logistics of building crane bridges, and what it truly means to “look for the light”. Media Referenced in this Episode: The Last of Us Part II. Dir. Neil Druckmann. Naughty Dog. 2020. Grounded II: The Making of The Last of Us: Part II.  One Day, Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This by Omar El Akkad. Penguin Random House. 2025 TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “The CW’s The Last of Us: Season Nine” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “CW Announcer/Barnaby Bozo”

The lads grab their golf clubs and make for Seattle as they hop on the Ellie murder train that is Naughty Dog’s 2020 revengeapalooza: The Last of Us Part II. Topics include the chaotic development process, the CW-fication of the writing, and the inescapable conservatism at the core of The Last of Us universe. Media Referenced in the Episode: The Last of Us Part II. Dir. Neil Druckmann. Naughty Dog. 2020. 220: Josh Boerman and Dylan Rank Game Mechanics With Us | Anime Sickos - Podcast for Geniuses “The Evolution of Ellie” by Elise Favis. The Washington Post. July 1st, 2020. Grounded II: The Making of The Last of Us: Part II. “The Not So Hidden Israeli Politics of 'The Last of Us Part II'” by Emanuel Maiberg. Vice. July 15h, 2020. “We Talked To The Last Of Us Part II's Director About The Game's Violence (And More Treacherous Stealth)” by Stephen Totilo. Kotaku. June 12th, 2018. Interstitial: “The CW’s The Last of Us: Season Two” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “CW Announcer/Barnaby Bozo” (edited) 

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall When Bill Clinton won the US presidential election in 1992, two people were key to his success: James Carville and George Stephanopolous. This week, Brian and Josh step into The War Room, D.A. Pennebaker’s 1993 documentary about how these two men and their team of future top Democratic all-stars cajoled and bullshitted America’s electorate into sending Slick Willie to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Media Referenced in This Episode: The War Room, dir. D.A. Pennebaker (Pennebaker Associates/October Films, 1993) Feed, dir. Kevin Rafferty and James Ridgeway (Video Democracy, 1992) Primary, dir. Robert Drew (Time Life, 1960) Bob Dylan: Dont Look Back, dir. D.A. Pennebaker (Leacock-Pennebaker, 1968) Original Cast Album: Company, dir. D.A. Pennebaker (Castle Drive/Talent Associates-Norton Simon, 1970) “Jeffrey Epstein Was a Sex Offender. The Powerful Welcomed Him Anyway.” Jodi Kantor, Mike McIntire, and Vanessa Friedman, The New York Times, July 13, 2019. “Foreign Purchases by Bush Camp Alleged.” Paul Valentine, The Washington Post, September 29, 1992. “Second” campaign ad by Bill Clinton (1992) “Celeb” campaign ad by John McCain (2008) Yes We Can Obama Song by will.i.am (2008) Sensual Pantsuit Anthem (Official Rapped Music Video) by Lena Dunham (2016) “Carville: Trump collapse happened quicker than I imagined” on Smerconish (CNN, 2025) TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com

Our ongoing interview series with people working to fight the rising tide of fascism continues today as Josh sits down with Tim Faust, a healthcare activist who has been advocating for the preservation and expansion of federal and state healthcare programs in the United States for years. Tim recently began touring the state of Wisconsin, talking with local groups about what they can do to fight to preserve access to Medicaid benefits in their communities. Josh talked with Tim about how and why the federal government has been slashing access to Medicaid, what effects these cuts may have, and what people can do to fight back. RESOURCES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT: Watch Tim's talk (starting at 8:03) Medicaid State Fact Sheets from KFF STAT Health News Send Tim an email: tim.faust@gmail.com

Saddle up your horses as the lads, along with Rosey Armstrong (Hans Gruber and the Die Hards), slap on their Crosses of Gold and dive headlong into the varied and wild world of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). Topics include what makes Christian music Christian music, the rampaging sexiness of Michael W. Smith, and the importance of artistic integrity in an industry seemingly designed to destroy it.   Rosey Armstrong: Bluesky // Instagram   Hans Gruber and the Die Hards: Website // Bluesky   Media Referenced in this Episode: THE PLAYLIST Newsboys: Ex Lead Singer John James speaks about his fall and restoration.   TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com   Interstitial: “Contemporary Catholic Rock Vol. 1” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring A.J. Ditty as “Driveshaft Persimmon/Lead Homilist Gregory “The Greg” Gregorian”

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Good morning, everyone! The current date is March 20, 2020. Residents, I have some exciting news for you! The Lads have just moved onto our wonderful island! Let’s all give them a big island welcome! In other news, the museum is under construction and you’ll never go outside again. Be sure to visit Blathers tomorrow once construction is complete. Clean your groceries with bleach and head on down to the shore because we have a visitor to the island! It’s always so interesting learning about different people and the shops are closed and the streets are closed and there’s nothing but deathdeathdeath but don’t you worry because tomorrow Flick is due to come and somebody’s gotta catch those bugs. That’s all for now, I hope you have the loveliest of lovely days! Media Referenced in This Episode: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Animal Crossing (GCN) Animal Crossing: New Horizons: The Official Complete Guide by The Team at FuturePress. Future Press. 2023. i WiLl MaKe YoU rEmEmBeR Boss Fight Books #33: Animal Crossing by Kelsey Lewin.Boss Fight Books. 2024. CDC Museum of COVID-19 Timeline "How Villagers 'Read' Your Letters in Animal Crossing" by Hunter R. Interactive Map of the George Floyd Protests Monterey Bay Aquarium Tours the Animal Crossing Museum with Emily Graslie of the Field Museum! ”Pulse (2001): How J-Horror predicted 2020” by Brian Alford “Quest 64: Days of Grief and Werehares” by A.J. Ditty Spaceship You by CGP Grey Shredded Cheese Fajita Sad Wife / My Wife, Date Night After 3+ Months TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “A New Horizon” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring A.J. Ditty as “Orville” and Madeleine Bundy as “Katherine”

The lads take a knee and offer their football up to the Lord as they cover the 2024 Coach Joseph Kennedy biopic: Average Joe. Topics include the return of Harold Cronk, the Deadpoolification of Christian movies, and what it means to build a social movement around one of the most annoying narcissists alive. Media Referenced in this Episode: Average Joe. Dir. Harold Cronk. 2024. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Harold Cronk Presents: A Revival of His Much-Acclaimed Production of The Vagina Monologues at the Ivy Substation in Culver City, California” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring Brian Alford as “Announcer Brian” and A.J. Ditty as “Harold Cronk”

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall How did the lads meet? Well that’s a very interesting story, when Brian and A.J. moved to New York with two suitcases and didn’t know anyone and they have-uh-they head to YMCA with a $2000 check which they could not cash. Why? Well, because it was an out of state bank. Anyway, uh- they were working as busboys in a hotel, and uh-uh Josh was sitting, drinking his coffee, and he was so beautiful, and they say hi to him. That’s how they met. What’s the interesting part? Well the interesting part is that after their first recording, Josh paid for dinner. Media Referenced in this Episode: The Room. Wiseau Films. 2003. “The Crazy Cult of The Room” by Clark Collis. Entertainment Weekly, December 12, 2008. The Disaster Artist: My life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell. Simon & Schuster. 2013. Full Transcript of “The Room” transcribed by David Klion “Tommy Wiseau” by Steve Heisler. The A.V. Club. June 24th, 2009. Tommy Wiseau Guest Directs - Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! - Adult Swim “A vintage interview with The Room creator Tommy Wiseau: 'Believe in what you believe'” by Clark Collis. Entertainment Weekly. November 28th, 2017. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Dominic Miseau” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring A.J. Ditty as “Dominic Miseau”

Justin Roczniak (Well There’s Your Problem) and the lads walk in a straight line through Los Angeles and leave carnage in their wake as they cover Joel Schumacher’s 1993 boomer-palooza: Falling Down. Topics include LA geography, the fashion of mechanical engineers, and what it means to hold up an entire fast food joint because those darn cashiers won’t serve you your well-deserved Whomlette with a side of Whammy fries.   Justin Roczniak: Twitter // Youtube // Bluesky   Well There’s Your Problem is a podcast about engineering disasters and systemic failures, from a leftist perspective, with jokes. Youtube / Twitter / Instagram / Patreon Listen on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts   Media Referenced in this Episode: Falling Down. Dir. Joel Schumacher. 1993.   TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com   Interstitial: “Memories of Hoops” // Written by Josh Boerman // Featuring Brian Alford