(Update: still listening in 2019!) I love this podcast! The podcasters have great camaraderie and their conversation sparkles with wit. They are at their best when bantering about their own lives, so don't mind the numerous tangents. Also, not every episode is a gem, but you'll still be entertained and still appreciate the effort these guys put out each week!

This was the first podcast I was ever a regular listener to, and I haven't missed an episode since around 2013. I enjoy listening to the guys just talking, even if I haven't seen the movie yet. But when they touch on pop culture that I've already enjoyed, I feel like their conversations help illuminate parts of the story that even I didn't pick up on.

For 8 years and counting I have dropped witty thoughts and analysis in casual conversations around pop culture thanks to overthinking it.

Sometimes it's good sometimes it's not. Sometimes they touch on great subjects and sometimes they just seem drunk and talking over each other. They also end each point with "right?" Which is really annoying, right? Right? Right? Right? Just because you ask if you're right doesn't makes your point always correct, right? Right.

If you enjoy the smug staccato prattling of a bunch of snarky hipsters talking over each other then look no further - this podcast is for you.

iTunes is telling me I already reviewed this podcast five years ago, but since I have listened to every episode since then (usually the day it comes out) and I’ve gone back and listened to all previous episodes (and then re-listened), I thought it was time to review it again. Five stars! Best podcast on the web! If you want some semi-scholarly (and at times mind-blowing, see the chorus of iron girders in the Superman episode) pop culture analysis and a lot of heartening friendship, then listen to this! It really is about the podcasters as characters almost as much as it is about the pop culture content. What would this be without Wrather’s pedantry and Fenzel’s enthusiastic monologues and hearty giggles? My favorite is the brunch podcast, but I think you have to be a little familiar with the podcasters in order to really enjoy it, so I would start with something like the Star Wars episodes (390 & 391) or episode 293 on the LEGO Movie or the great Superman episode itself, 259.

The end of the most recent episode crystalizes why this is exactly what I’m looking for in entertainment: “We will never, ever be the biggest pop culture site... that's not our goal. We want to be your favorite..."

I stumbled upon the Overthinking it crew when I was bored a few years ago and wanted more pop culture commentary in my life, and without any idea on where to start I typed "Overthinking Pop Culture" into the google machine and imagine my surprise when the first thing that pops up is a site LITERALLY called overthinking it! Since then, I have listened to every single episode and with their semi-recent backlog uploaded to itunes have begun going backwards. Once a month or so I have long drives, an hour both ways, and even the ten minutes to drive to and from work I listen to them talk. And even though they often joke about it, sometimes I really feel like I have them in my car. I laugh at their jokes, I understand their personality, heck even my vocabulary has increased (I have had to explain what a normative discourse and a false dichotomy is to so many people). If you at all think of yourself who wants something more out of your pop culture, you think that there isn't anything in the odd sci fi or tween drama movies, let me tell you that this is the podcast for you, I hardly ever watched movies before I started listening, and now once or twice a month I make sure I go see a new film, not for the film itself, but becasue I want to hear my smart funny friends talk about its spoilers. Thank you overthinking it, for making my drives bearable and making me a smarter, funnier human being Greetings From Missouri Ian Diamond

This group is what your drinking buddies become when you add multiple liberal arts degrees, improv training, and the perspicacity of ... someone very perspicacious.

"This podcast is swag. 11/10" ign

The chemistry of this show fantastic. So good and so natural. Highly recommended!

It's like hanging out with your friends and chatting about pop culture, classical philosophy, and both of their impacts on humanity.

Really top notch.

At this point I have listened to the entire archive and it is consistently excellent, many a chortle has been drawn forth by these amusing and insightful fellows.

Listening to this pod cast was by far the biggest waste of my time. The poor editing coupled with the obnoxious banter are reason enough to not invest any time and/or energy into downloading or listening.

Really enjoy this podcast. I've got young kids which means I never see movies anymore and I rarely get to gather with my crew to overanalyze the movies I see. Listening in on these guys fills that void.

If you want to listen to a discussion of the movie Looper that references the poetry of Wallace Stevens, this is the podcast for you. Very smart people talking very earnestly (but certainly not seriously) about pop culture.

.... in a _podcast intervention_ sort of way, it's addictive. Not in a _explaining to your relatives why you sold a kidney to fund your iTunes bill for it_ sort of way; because well, it's free... and that would be silly.

Great dudes, great podcast :) I expect to hear many many more episodes!

It's refreshing to have a somewhat academic dissection of popular culture. The ability to apply Proust to pretty much everything is shocking.

Oh man you guys. This is one of the very few podcasts I make a habit of listening to. These guys are great and put a lot of effort into their product and have amazing on-air chemistry. I only get like 60% of their pop culture references but they've turned me on to a lot of great things. Also I would totally grab a beer with any of these guys.

This podcast uses the tools of critical analysis and applies them to popular media, primarily movies and television. The result is frequently hilarious, but often also gives a different perspective on the work that one might not have considered. Episode 190, for example, considers the Ghostrider sequel in light of Schopenhauer's theory of the will. If that sounds like something you want to hear, go listen to it. If you enjoy it, by all means, subscribe!

This is still a required podcast for me to start my Monday mornings. If you love pop culture, especially film, this is a great listen. The guys take me back to best conversations I had in school over my favorite books. The way they dissect things brings a fresh perspective to any topic. Fenzel's rants are great and this is the most work Harvey Firestein's voice has had in years. Love it!

RE: Episode 182 It's like these guys are playing some kind of bizarre version of Magic: The Gathering. First Mark Wrather plays the "action set pieces" card. Followed by Jordan Stokes playing the "gay panic" card and Josh McNeil playing the "Bond film" card. And then Pete Fenzel kills everyone by slamming down the "AD&D Complete Paladin's Handbook (1994)" card. Somehow, it was all relevant to Sherlock Holmes. Wicked awesome.

I love this podcast. Its funny as all get out and makes the time fly by on long drives. Only complaint: guys, you have got to quit spoiling The Wire.

I love this podcast! Thanks for all the laughs and the overthinking. And for the Harvey Fierstein too!

Don't expect 1) great sound quality (podcasters are all over the map so they use Skype) 2) the podcasters to always be extremely familiar with the stated topic 3) the podcasters to stay on topic at all. Do expect 1) an extremely funny podcast 2) a very intelligent podcast 3) this to quickly also become your favorite podcast! Podcasters will rotate amongst their group of writers and sometimes include guests. The podcast will begin with a question posed and everyone taking a turn answering, and then it will devolve into a general chat format, similar to what you might hear on a morning radio show, only not as completely superficial and inane as a morning radio show. The pop culture discussed can be nearly anything but most often covers movies, tv, books, games, etc. All will be over thought in a manner that oscillates between silly and insightful. The podcast will then end all too soon and you will make a sad face!

They don't always stay on topic but often their tangents are better then the original topic.

I always make time for this podcast. Goes way beyond the typical Hollywood superficiality when covering film and television. Expect intelligent conversation about the themes and meaning behind even the most arcane and obscure pop cultural moments. Love it.

I think the tagline pretty clearly describes the podcast. If you like that sort of thing, you'll love the podcast, because these guys overthink with aplomb.

Download it. And listen

Super-intelligent pop culture awesome fun times. I love podcasts, and this is absolutely one of my favorites. It offers the depth of intellectualism of Radiolab combined with the kinds of cultural analyses you get with podcasts on similar subjects from Slate and NPR. They are also hilarious. I am grateful these guys exist. They make doing dishes and ignoring toddlers a lot less painful.

The OTI podcast offers a unique, intelligent, and fascinating take on the popular culture phenomena of the week. While the OTI gang may make the occasional detour from the intended topic into the abyss of the Wu-Tang Clan or My Little Pony, the rapport amongst the Overthinkers is great and their collective knowledge of so many topics make every episode a terrific listen. I've probably learned more about literature, philosophy, Star Trek and Terminator from this podcast than from my liberal arts college professors (way to drop the ball, American university system!), and each episode is entertaining and, dare I say, delightful. Give this podcast a try and subject it to a level of scrutiny it probably does deserve.

These guys are the best! Smart, witty, humble and funniest podcasters ever. I love each and everyone of them! And this from a 50+ y.o. jr. college educated working mom! Thanks for helping to keep my sanity at work and my brain ever entertained!

This is where you learn you HAVEN'T wasted countless hours of your life devouring pop culture. Each week the Overthinkers delve into the depths you didn't even know were there. By bringing academic level discourse to all manner of seemingly shallow topics, this podcast is a treat to listen to and always leaves you feeling like you learned something.

And so is their content. It's funny, it's informative (today's topics included blacksploitation, price fixedness and the long standing tradition of TI-83 programming), and it's inspires interesting conversations (hell, it is an interesting conversation). If "subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve" appeals to you, listen to this podcast.

Long time listener, and by far my favorite episode! Great job guys!

An intellectual insight into pop culture, with scrutiny taken beyond that of your standard moviegoer. Special guests such as the video game producer Zack Johnson and the British guy keep things fresh.

This podcast is scratching an itch in my brain that no other podcast I listen to does. Critiquing aspects of popular culture from Eurovision to the latest summer blockbuster to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia using academic lenses isn't going to work for everyone, but I find myself going "I know, right?!" at least once an episode. The single problem that I have with this show is that it is very clearly a bunch of white males trying to project confidence in subjects that they don't always understand, and so any discussion of race, gender or female interest in particular can get really, really awkward. I can't help but think that they could solve that problem easily if they wanted to, but I will continue to listen despite this, as the podcast is meeting my needs on a level unmatched elsewhere.

Each week is always related to some sort of entertainment, but the panel talks about something different each week, so its always fresh and interesting. Its also nice that sometimes they have different view points, so they are forced to explain their reasoning in detail. The audio quality is also awesome. Love this podcast :)

The Overthinking It website has excellent, concise, informative write-ups. But this podcast is only half-focused, they're talking over each other, repeating each others' "funny" lines that weren't all that funny to begin with, being redundant -- and they're all supposedly struggling actors or comedians? Shouldnt they display SOME mastery at presenting information informatively?

This podcast is the only podcast I've managed to continually listen to without getting bored. I've enjoyed it so much that I'd sit for four or five hours at work devouring the archive. The commenters are genuinely funny, intelligent, and you can tell most of them have been friends for a long time. They can be a bit long winded and easily distracted but that's part of the charm. Give it a listen if you would like to hear some interesting perspectives on pop culture topics and events. I do wish they could offer transcripts of each episode (perhaps a project I could start working on myself)

142. best episode ever

I enjoy the podcast, it makes me feel smarter than I really am. I don't understand what their talking about most of time (Mostly my fault, partially theirs). This being said who can resist when they digress into a Sean Connery-off?

This podcast has me waiting with great anticipation for mondays. I'm beyond excited when I see a new episode downloading in my iTunes. The segways, tangents, and rants about pop-culture remind me of late saturday night conversations with good friends. Incredibly entertaining and sometimes surprisingly informative.

Even when these guys have had a bottle or two of Two Buck Chuck (a not infrequent occurrence, it seems), they're still have a more intelligent discourse than pretty much any other pop culture show out there. Fenzel rocks.

It's quite random and digressive and usually only barely about anything in particular, but that, my friends, is its charm. For this crew of over-educated 30ish nerds from fields of varied scholarly and artistic endeavor are FUNNY AS HELL, and even at their corniest never fail to make my Mondays a little less blue. Not least because I feel like I wish I were friends with them in real life, because seriously these are like a funnier, more clever version of a lot of my own random thoughts. If you are looking for a focused, critical podcast, this is not for you, but if you're looking for random and frequently hilarious riffing on all matter of phenomena, you could scarcely do better.

So many podcast hosts try to prevent themselves from going off on tangents. On the Overthinking It Podcast, tangents are the whole point! The hosts begin with some artifact of the pop culture and then have a free flowing discussion that takes them to any number of bizarre, quirky, and intellectual places.

NEEEEERRRRRRDDDS!

Ok, I really love this podcast--it's pretty much the first one I listen to of all the podcasts I download weekly. There is some actual analysis of pop culture texts here (though not always the ones advertised), as opposed to the merely bashing and/or fanboying discussions of some other TV/movie-related casts. One complaint--can we please get a regularly-appearing female? Is that so hard? Or, hey, I don't know... even two? No, nevermind. Let's not go overboard. One token female should do it. Kthx.