Popzara Podcast

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and the End of an Era

The Force is strong with this episode of the Popzara Podcast as Jedi Master Ethan Brehm and Sith Lord Nathan Evans attempt to bring balance to the Force by discussing (and spoiling) the ninth and supposed “final” chapter of the 42-year old Skywalker Saga in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the conclusion to Disney’s trilogy of episodic adventures that began with 2015’s The Force Awakens, now playing in theaters across the galaxy (and probably right down the street).

NPD November 2019 Game Sales Estimates and Analysis: Jedi Poké Power

The madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us, thank goodness, which means the clean up crew has arrived to help made sense of the aftermath. And by aftermath we're talking snapshots of the gaming industry's health at both physical and digital retail shelves across the United States. Just in time to help foster some much-needed holiday cheer and brand awareness for November 2019. This means estimates from our friends at The NPD Group and colorful analysis by our very own number-crunchers Cory Galliher and Nathan Evans.

NPD October 2019 Gaming Estimates and Analysis: Duty Calls

As nature continues its transition from Fall to Winter, consumers continue their transition from saving money to spending, especially on shiny new game consoles and games to play on them. For this we’ve got our own number-crunchers Cory Galliher and Nate Evans to share their thoughts on sales estimates from our friends at the NPD for October 2019, just in time before the madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday starts.

Death Stranding: Kojima’s Delivery Service

On this byzantine episode of the Popzara Podcast our own special couriers Cory Galliher and Herman Exum grab the popcorn and controllers to talk and explore Death Stranding, the latest game from acclaimed videogame producer Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid). Join Sam Bridges (Norman Reedus) on his star-studded journey as he explores and reconnects the broken fragments of a future America the only way he knows how: by delivering packages from sea to murky seas.

Cartoonist Scott Adams Talks Dilbert Turning 30, Loserthink and Untrained Brains

Joining our own comics enthusiast Nate Evans on this highly persuasive episode of the Popzara Podcast is none other than award-winning cartoonist, author, trained hypnotist and Periscope enthusiast Scott Adams, here to celebrate (and promote) two publishing milestones: the 30th anniversary of the Dilbert comic strip with the accurately titled comic collection Dilbert Turns 30, and his latest non-fiction manual of mental mastery, Loserthink: How Untrained Brains Are Ruining America.

Brian Volk-Weiss Talks More Toys and The Movies That Made Us

Back once again on this memorable episode of the Popzara Podcast is producer, director and nostalgia aficionado Brian Volk-Weiss to talk even more toys (and more movies!) as he readies not just the wildly anticipated third season of his smash-hit Netflix docuseries The Toys That Made Us, but its cinematic spin-off The Movies That Made Us.

NPD September 2019 Gaming Estimates and Analysis: 2K All The Way, Baby

As the Fall season changes the weather, the gaming industry itself experiences such a shift as it readies itself for the selling frenzy of what’s to come. To help make sense of this transitional madness our trusty number-crunchers Cory Galliher and Nate Evans are back, microphones and opinions at the ready, to discuss the estimates from The NPD Group’s monthly snapshot of the gaming industry’s physical and digital retail health for September 2019.

Sega Genesis Mini: 30 Years of Blast Processing Fun

In this arcade-perfect episode of the Popzara Podcast our own retro lovers Cory Galliher, Herman Exum and Nate Evans join the 16-bit revolution by talking all about the Sega Genesis Mini, the latest – and greatest – effort by Sega to monetize nostalgia via a dedicated micro-console absolutely packed with some of the very best games the platform had to offer.

NPD August 2019 Gaming Estimates and Analysis

The long, hot summer of 2019 is finally at an end, though we’re not quite done checking out what’s the new (and old) hotness heating up the gaming charts at retailers and checkout queues across the nation. This is where our reliable number-crunchers Cory Galliher and Nate Evans step in with their own analysis and colorful commentary in a vain attempt to make sense of it all.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance – The Future is Muppet

Return to another world, another time in the world of Thra on this enchanting episode of the Popzara Podcast as Skeksis Nathan Evans talks with his Mystic counterpart, Kevin from YouTube’s StoryDive, about the welcome return to Jim Henson’s pioneering all-puppet fantasy classic in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Filmmakers Brad Faye and Kelsey Dickerson Talk Geeks, Comics and Empathy

Get ready, true believers! On this courageous episode of the Popzara Podcast our own mild-mannered reporter Nathan Evans talks with Brad Faye and Kelsey Dickerson, the writing/producing and hosting dynamic duo behind the new documentary examining our never-ending love affair with comic books: Geek, And You Shall Find, now available on streaming and Blu-ray from Gravitar Ventures.

NPD July 2019 Gaming Estimates and Analysis: 20 Years of Madden

Chronologically, the summer may be coming to an end, but in the world of analyzing videogame sales it’s still mid-summer all the way! For this very purpose who better to have at the ready than our trusty number-crunchers Cory Galliher and Nate Evans ready and willing to dive into the NPD reports for July 2019, a month so completely dominated by one company that we’re tempted to give those gamers not completely smitten by all-things Nintendo a fighting chance to opt-out now while they still can. You’ve been warned. Momma mia!

Writer Christopher Malone Talks Romantic Ghost Stories and Love of Typewriters

On this nepotistic episode of the Popzara Podcast our own Nia Bothwell talks with fellow contributing editor Christopher Malone about his latest book Harold in the Name of Love, now available online and in printed form. It follows the sad tale of Harold Dancy, a man who will go to any length to be “reunited” with his deceased wife. Ghosts may be involved. Rock stars, too.

Cryptozoologist Linda S. Godfrey Talks New Monsters and Ancient Lore

Our guest on this mythical episode of the Popzara Podcast is acclaimed cryptozoologist, author and investigator of strange creatures Linda S. Godfrey to talk with Nathan Evans about her latest collection of incredible sightings and encounters with unknown nature in I Know What I Saw: Modern-Day Encounters with Monsters of New Urban Legend and Ancient Lore, available now from TarcherPerigee.

NPD June 2019 Gaming Estimates and Analysis: Mario Makes Money

Summer 2019 is well underway, but that won’t stop us from taking a look backward – to June 2019 as our indefatigable number-crunchers look at, examine, tear apart and analyze the monthly NPD report that gives gaming nerds across the land their best (and only) real look at the health and vitality of the videogame market in the United States. For this June, unfortunately, that snapshot could use a whole lotta happy filters.