The Occasionalists Podcast

For our final Political Rewind episode, we go all the way back to almost the very beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Do you guys remember that? April 2, 2020, we were but innocent babes wading through a very shallow pool of political shit that was about to become a tidal wave of misinformation and distrust in all of our institutions. Good times! More importantly, we pitch our coronavirus movies, one of which is more than a little out there and one that turned out to be closer to life than expected.  Is anyone else still waiting on their N95 mask?

Our next Political Rewind episode has us looking at one branch of a villain archetype we established years ago: The Body Politic. The Body Politic was the inspiration for last year's Fright Fest as we looked at the cross-section of horror and politics and found that there is much more crossover than people would think. This Fright Fest episode looks at The Elites, the individuals in the ruling class that make things a nightmare for the rest of us. Enjoy!

We are replaying a few of our best political episodes this month, starting with an absolute doozy! The Occasionalists vs The Misinformation Machine: From February of 2022, the third in a series of episodes from "Factual February," where we tackle rampant misinformation clogging social and traditional media. Bonus: Movie recommendations where lying is central to the plot!

Our final Satanic Panic episode is here! Despite some unusual technical difficulties, we were able to dissect the wonderful, frightening, freaky and all-around fun Late Night With The Devil!  What happens when Jack Delroy, a desperate TV host, sells his soul for ratings? A lot of things and none of which are particularly good for him, but great for this discussion. Also, we may have accidentally summoned Satan from the depths of Hell, but check out this outstanding episode before darkness overtakes us all.

We are back with our penultimate episode for this year's Fright Fest. That's right! We are almost to the end of our personal Satanic Panic, but before we check out, we have to take a look at two very different movies with two very different Devils at the center of them. We're reviewing Angel Heart (1987), a noir detective horror story in which a private investigator takes a trip into darkness, and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999), a musical about the South Park boys preventing a war with Canada and Satan's rise to power.  Could they be any farther apart?! Or are they??? Tune in to find out, and as always, Hail Satan! \\m//

We are back and putting together an absolutely dastardly, devilishly good playlist for you. Chemma makes his triumphant return to help us discuss the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and some of the repercussions of this movement as it swallowed up reputations and spit them out on live tv for parents everywhere to become afraid of a completely fabricated boogeyman.  We wrap up with our epic 20 song playlist: Supersexy Satanic Sounds. \m/ Hail Satan! \m/

The second part of our Origins of Evil intro episode covers ancient, not-so ancient, and recent depictions of the Dark Lord in various forms of pop culture. What attributes carried over? What didn't? What was the keystone literature I the Satan mythos that still informs the idea of this evil entity to this day? Find out now! And Hail Satan!

For the first official episode of this year's Fright Fest 666, we are diving deep into Satan's ancient beginnings and how, over the centuries, various religions and misinterpretations have transformed him from one of God's henchmen to his most fierce rival.  The Satanic Panic has officially started!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! October is here and with it comes Halloween and a staple series here at The Occasionalists, Fright Fest! It's our sixth edition and because of that, we were left with no choice but to take a trip to hell and focus this Fright Fest on the Prince of Darkness himself, Satan! The first full episode of Fright Fest 666: Satanic Panic is on its way, but in the meantime, how about a little teaser episode and a lightning round question:  What would you sell your soul to the Devil for?

What's that sound? That's just Smoke and The Big Freeze crashing your soundwaves with another hard-hitting edition of the number one rated sports podcast in all of the former Soviet Satellite Nations, Over The Line!

We are back with our third episode of Sports September, this time with none other than hockey correspondant Rob Nugent! We combine two concepts for this episode: our blind sports episode where we don't know what subjects the other is going to bring up. Then we mix it with a little trivia challenge at the end.  Put your thinking rally caps on and join us to get more smarter!

Sports September rolls on as we review some short-form sports documentaries and give a few movie pitches for people and situations that would make excellent sports movies.  Is there a brief discussion about 10 Cent Beer Night? Yes! What about oiled up Greek men? Also yes!

Sports September kicks off this week with a dive into some of the many reasons why sports are beloved by so many people, but especially the one person doing this podcast. Lightning Round Question: Who was your first favorite athlete?

Our final stop of Back To School month takes us to our college years and the cult classic PCU from 1994. However, you would be forgiven if you thought this was a modern-day critique of the current culture wars.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.

We have graduated from elementary school and are heading on to high school, with the review of The Substitute (1996).  It is a deeply flawed but fun action movie that will remind you of simpler times in the world of action movies when squibs, practical effects, and physical stunts were still in demand. One tip for enjoying this movie: don't let the horrid messaging on the education system, teachers and the inner city get in the way.

We are back with our first of three big movie reviews for Back To School month. Obviously, we have have to start at the elementary school with an entry that deals with younger kids. What better way to start off than with Damon Wayans barking insults at teenagers as Major Payne. Nearly 30 years later, does this movie still hold up? (Yes.)Is some of it problematic? (Maybe. Context is king!)Would I do anything Ms Walburn asked me to do? (Absolutely Yes.)Is this the most quotable movie of my childhood? (10000% Yes.)

Our second minisode (and one of these times it will actually be short, pinky promise) for our Back To School month has us discussing some essential school-related movies, but maybe not the ones you're thinking about. From scandal at the ballot box to kidnapping, impersonation, frightening powers, and serial murder, these movies have it all. Are you taking notes?

WE. ARE. BACK.  That's right. Vacation is over, and it's time to get back to the podcasting grind. A newish season starts this month with a brand new theme: Back to School! August is the final countdown for students and teachers alike, as they watch their last few days of sun, fun, and freedom slip by. What better way to celebrate such a glorious time than to kick off a whole month dedicated to the pursuit of education in the field of pop culture with a mixtape spanning the academic years of your typical elder millennial? It's rhetorical. There is no better way! Pencils down, headphones on.

Looks like we can get one more episode in before summer vacation officially wraps up around here. Why not revisit one of the best episodes of this past year: The Four Way Fatal Drinking Deathmatch! Yes, we got the whole crew together to crack a few drinks, reminisce, and generally have a great time on the pod. Enjoy!

Part two of our B Movie May vacation episode. Enjoy it!