Small Beans

Join the co-hosts as they hilariously navigate the chaotic multiverse while dissecting our cultural fascination with parallel worlds. They tackle moral dilemmas in the MCU, focusing on the grief-driven choices of Doctor Strange and Wanda. The conversation blends humor with deeper philosophical questions about heroism and relationships. With insights into comic book crossovers and character portrayals, they reflect on the implications of alternate realities for modern storytelling. It's a playful yet thought-provoking ride through postmodern art and pop culture!

Happy 500th podcast! We did it! Celebrate by finding the closest bean and lighting it on fire! AHHHHH!!!! The sacrifice has been made!!! On that note, we have another patron-chosen episode! This episode dives into the movies that defined friendship for our hosts. You know, what you’re looking for in a friend. The hosts as always choose two different films and discuss them. This time they both picked boomer movies with Sally Field! Also, this is the episode Maggie brags about her muscles. Vote every month on our poll for the topic of the next episode! Email us suggestions for episodes at magsandganz@gmail.com as well. Adam Ganser: https://twitter.com/therealganz Maggie Mae Fish: https://twitter.com/MaggieMaeFish Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

Michael and Abe have been looking forward to covering a Satoshi Kon film and we figured we’d get one of our good friends, Zach Sherwin, who hadn’t seen it to come and discuss it with us! The film covers three unhoused citizens of Tokyo who find a baby in a dumpster and spend the entire film trying to find her parents, despite the night having a different plan at almost every turn. It’s a heart-warming human-affirming movie, so while the topic is dark, it goes down pretty nice. Features: Zach Sherwin: https://www.crosswordshow.com/ Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

The year is 1964. Cold War tensions are high. “Funnyman” Stanley Kubrick tells an entire generation: “Wait, I can make this hilarious.” Somehow, this movie is a classic. Three dorks, including our longtime friend, novelist and comedian Clint Gage, sit down to talk about what makes this dark comedy work and what doesn’t hold up. Features: Clint Gage: https://twitter.com/clintgage Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

It’s a Paul month. This time we discuss his 2002 film Punch-Drunk Love which reframes the traditional romantic comedy. The grating sound scape, anxiety-inducing scene work gets you right into Barry Egan’s (Adam Sandler) world. The boys talk about how choice direction and editing makes you feel something, for better or worse. Features: Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

This week the professor discusses the nature of Hell and demons. We are blessed, I guess, to have with us the Devourer of Soul-kin, Grief Incarnate, and Demon of the 5th realm of Hell, his Majesty, the Acolyte of Damnation: Lycus, Author of all calamities and sinful pleasure. The conversation does not go well. Features: Professor Scott Bug: https://twitter.com/profscottbug Cody Johnston: https://twitter.com/drmistercody Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

In this episode, Bridgett and Sarah discuss Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy’s final film. They talk about Jesse’s evolution, casting kids that look like their parents, being a Sagittarius, how Europeans initiate “sexy time” (Bridgett’s words), and cheating protocols. Consider this trilogy wrapped! Next trilogy coming soon. Expect cuteness and put your guesses in the comments section! Features: Sarah Griffith: https://twitter.com/sk_griffith Bridgett Greenberg: https://twitter.com/BridgettTweets Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

Adam and Abe talk about how Die Hard’s John McTiernan secretly has the soul of an artist, adjusting a heist movie into a drama. We go through his techniques and script changes that tell a far more interesting story than just a run-of-the-mill action thriller. Features: Adam Ganser: https://twitter.com/therealganz Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

This show goes over the short stories of Michael’s favorite speculative fiction author and notable curmudgeon Harlan Ellison. Each episode Michael pairs (read: forces a friend to read) a short story with a guest that it “applies especially to.” This episode it’s the short story “The Silver Corridor” (from Ellison Wonderland) and the guest is Bridgett Greenberg. They discuss the competitive spirit, it’s impact in other aspects of their lives, and how sometimes “cog feel bad.” We apologize in advance for Michael’s audio. Apparently a tiny bean made its way into the microphone wire and wreaked havoc (tiny beans feel competitive and sometimes lash out on the podcast). Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Bridgett Greenberg: https://twitter.com/bridgetttweets Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691

Another Pick the Flick by the audience! This time, we thank A. Ron, Defender of the Galaxy for the suggestion of 1990’s The Hunt for the Red October! Cristian joins the hosts to discuss the unique nationalism of the film, the trends of action movies, and proper protocols for pooping. Features: Cristian Ramirez: https://twitter.com/fanboycristian Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-small-beans-store?ref_id=22691