It’s the best! Literally listen to it whenever! Cleaning, walks, drawing, gym etc…

I love it

I love that they pull characters from all different types of media, and discuss characters as both fans and as academics. More than once I’ve gone to read or watch something based solely on this podcast’s recommendation and I’ve never been disappointed.

I found this podcast looking for shows about a random favorite character. Since then, I’ve gone back and listened to several episodes about a good variety of characters and stories. I love the positive vibes, the blend of nostalgia and analysis, and just the overall good humor in the show.

It's just so fun to hear Joseph and his guests’ (I got to be one!) shared love and excitement for great stories. I love their enthusiasm, the range of stories they discuss (comic books, TV shows, movies, books), and the special episodes where they have competitions (especially the TV show pitches one and the Mother's Day mother and orphan matching one). I listen to it while at home and with my kids, and it feels like I'm a part of the conversation. Thanks for the great work you do!

I'll admit, I don't read very much. I haven't taken in many graphic novels, and I don't watch Hallmark movies, but this podcast fills the gap for me. Many podcasts talk about film, literature, movies and other media; but the Protagonist Podcast reflects on motivations, story-telling techiques, and the emotions of a character. I was first intrigue by the familiar characters discussed in a couple episodes, but I have come to be enlighted by the stories of characters who I have yet to meet. Aside from the intelligent discussion of plot and character, the hosts have fun with games based on Hallmark/Lifetime movie titles and they have a year-long box office pool that has been shockingly close in past years. I really enjoy this podcast, and I always look forward to gaining some knowledge and having a laugh or two along the way.

Tell That Lady Over There that she did great in the Adams family episode

i really enjoyed this series the only only reason this is 3 star and not 5 is because of patreon. i paid, made my request and they told me it a year. i stayed on patreon and when the episode came they didn't do. they talked about the genra of my request and even then when they went into specifics they talk about the series i asked for. i immediately stopped paying them. i enjoy their show a i continue to listen and i reccomend it, but to don't pay for their rewards

Can't wait to hear what is new each week. I love to hear the banter, insight and introduction to many works I may have never visited. Its also fun to hear them discuss a work I am familiar with. Check it out, you won't be dissapointed.

I really, really enjoy this podcast series. The first episode I listened to regarded Holden Caulfield, and I was immediately hooked. Later on I would absolutely love for an episode about any character in Donna Tarte's "The Secret History." It is a phenomenal book with amazing characters, and I think these two could do it justice! Keep up the fantastic work!

Knowledgeable and reputable. I enjoy hearing what makes a protagonist tick and this show is definitely for those looking for some food for thought.

Very enjoyable listening

It's time to jump onboard the Protagonist Podcast! A great mix of entertainment and mental stimulation.

It's rare that you can say a show has something for everyone and actually mean it, but in this case, it's true. There are such a wide variety of topics to choose from that you'll be able to find an episode on something you love. And then you'll get pulled in by the hosts to where you're listening to episodes about things you have never heard of.

You have returned me to my roots as a lit major and lover of stories AND have saved my sanity as a daily commuter. Bless you!

I have recently come to this podcast (while looking for someone to talk about Calvin and Hobbes). It has become my favorite and is now a part of my daily routine. It is loads of fun and you guys are an absolute joy to listen to.

This is a great podcast! They are very entertaining to listen to! I also listen to the fandom podcast (They are linked and have each other on all the time) of you like this listen to them too!

If you don't mind listening to giggling gay(nothing against ALL gay men)guys who talk & giggle like a bunch of teenagers then this is the podcast for you. Not for me!

And every time, they have a great recommendation of what to watch next. Keep it up guys!

Listen, it is great

This one beats Stuff You Missed in History Class and The Cracked Podcast. It's entertaining, informative, and clean. There's quite a variety in what they discuss. Sometime I think they choose the topics just for me. Kinda freaks me out. :)

I've been listening to this podcast for a very long time and I've wanted to write a review but I wasn't sure how to go about it. There's just so much wonderful content and there hasn't been a bad week in over 100 episodes now. Most of those weeks I haven't actually read/seen the story being talked about, but unless the thing is on hold for me at the library (which has happened more than once) I'd rather stay caught up on the podcast than say I'll listen to an episode after I read/saw the thing and be all the more likely to forget about it. I don't need to know what they're talking about first-hand because their discussions are worth listening to without it. My personal history with these guys has been a bit of an interesting one (though if you don't care, feel free to skip this paragraph). I'd read stuff written by Joseph and we had some mutual friends, but I didn't really know him before the podcast started and I didn't know Todd or Producer Andrew at all. One of those mutual friends shared a link to the podcast on Facebook early on and I quickly got hooked. I didn't want to commit to liking the Facebook page, though, since that felt like a big step to me (I'm like that). I left an anonymous comment or two on the website, but as the months went by, I realized that I absolutely *did* want to interact with them. The fact that they asked their fans to design a logo and I actually had a couple of ideas made it a bit easier to say "yes, I want to be a part of this." I took out my cheapo amateur art tools (pen & paper, MS Paint, and Google's weird photo editor) and made a logo I liked and a banner I hated (seriously, that checkerboard thing was absolutely hideous) and promised I'd make a banner that looked better (which took forever and I was never completely happy with, but it was better than "absolutely hideous"; still, I was estatic when Nik English's excellent artwork replaced it) and they were just happy to use whatever I gave them. I made a couple suggestions for topics to talk about, which the podcasters were more than happy to use. Seriously, every time I talked to these guys they've been nothing but supportive. I've not been the most helpful fan in the world (Exhibit A: the fact that I took two years to get around to actually writing a review) but these guys don't care about that. They actually care about me, and about every fan they have, if what I hear in the podcast and see in the Facebook feed is any indication. Last week when I recorded an episode with them, it wasn't meeting internet strangers, it was finally being able to converse in real time as friends--because that's what they've become to me. If you're wondering whether or not to get into this podcast, don't let the lengthy back catalog or the close-knit nature of the fans stop you. Just start listening--it doesn't matter where because it's always good--and little by little, you'll realize (like I did) that this is the place you want to be. As soon as you're ready to join the conversation, you'll be so welcomed that you'll wonder why you waited so long.

Great show. Really enjoy listening to it when I get a chance.

It is a great show!

Fun, casual discussions of many of your favorite movies, shows, and books.

This podcast is a delight! It is interesting and engaging.

What more could you want?

This is one of my favorite podcasts; I look forward to it each week. The hosts are thoughtful and funny. Whether they're talking about a new story or one of my favorites, this show s always a great listen.

While my exposure to The Protagonist Podcast began with the random discovery of an episode while facing the prospect of a several hour drive, my experience has, many, many, many hours of driving/binging later become an enraptured relationship the likes of which I never expected to find! Is that hyperbole? Possibly. Do I mean every word? Absolutely! Every new episode is like sitting down with friends you didn't know you had, but feel like you've always known, to talk about stories, characters, and everything worth while in the world of imagination, narratives, and literature. Like a box of chocolates, you never quite know what you're going to get in terms of the subject. A blockbuster movie? A cult-classic television show? A 200 year old novel? Done, done, and done. However, that's pretty much where the analogy to a box of chocolates ends, as, unlike with mystery chocolates that often taste like they are potentially filled with toothpaste, every episode of the Protagonist Podcast is guaranteed to have fascinating discussion, quality insights, and plenty of genuinely enjoyable entertainment, while all the while maintaining the friendly, welcoming atmosphere. I can't count the number of fantastic stories I would have otherwise missed without being introduced through this podcast. As a tool for discovering fantastic stories alone, it is completely worth it! Not to mention the quality of the community, and the comments and interactions they provide on social media which take it yet one step further in terms of a quality podcasting experience. This podcast is great! Give it a try. It is, without a doubt, the best podcast I have ever listened to, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Joe, Todd, Andrew, and guests: Keep it up!

Excellent discussion on a wide range of media. I'm not just a listener, I'm also a contributor.

One of my favorite podcasts discusses one of my favorite books. Can't wait to hear it!

I just discovered this delightful show and am now binge-listening. The discussions are witty, insightful, and cover a wonderful range of topics, characters, and mediums. Love, love, love this podcast!

I started listening to the episodes featuring fandoms that I am interested in and have quickly moved on to listen to all the episodes. They are quite enjoyable to listen to. I also now am versed in more Argentinian popular culture than I ever thought I would be.

Just stumbled upon this podcast because Lizzie Bennet Diaries gave it a shout out, and I am SO GLAD. I've only listened to the LBD and 2005 Pride and Prejudice episodes, but I love it. The hosts (plus guest!) are so adorable and enjoyable to listen to. I'm definitely subscribing, and you should too!

This podcast is phenomenal!! I have many long days at work that I fill binge listening to many episodes, and I have been listening since day 1. I haven't been disappointed by the works I have picked to read or watch, and I look forward to my weekly dose of Todd and Joe.

This podcast changed my life forever. Ok, that's a little bit hyperbolic, but it is a great mix of intellectual and pop culture that is lots of fun to listen to while also having a lot of substance.

Never hurts to try a new podcast :)

Delightful! Eclectic topics and great conversations (and funny, makes me laugh).

Joseph Darowski and Todd Mack (or Todd Mack and Joseph Darowski), along with their gifted producer, Andrew Darowski, put on a well-organized (after they got the format figured out) show. Joseph's background in the study of popular culture and Todd's background in literature ensures interesting, insightful, and meaningful discussion. Occasional special episodes offer some variety and entertainment, and though the inclusion of guests does tend to exhibit a fairly strong US Intermountain West bias, it only marginally affects the entertainment value. Probably the most fun special episodes are the "draft" episodes, where each participant (sometimes including special guests) choose which stories or themes to include in a team for some purpose (e.g., best romantic couples, Mt. Rushmore of Fear, etc.). They make for some fun discussion and offer a deeper understanding of pop culture themes and references. Listeners can purchase a topic by making a financial donation to the podcast, leading to some interesting variation in the subject matter. This can be much more hit-or-miss than the quality of the guests, though Joseph and Todd have some interesting connections within their respective fields that provide some access to authors, artists, and aficionados of various forms or genres. Both men are committed to finding (in some cases, with some difficulty) interesting cultural, literary, or humorous themes. Looking on the bright side and showing works in a positive light seems to be the goal of the show, and almost every story with interesting characters seems to deserve equal treatment by Todd and Joseph. They treat books, TV series, movies, comic books, and even online comics with the same thoughtful consideration. One note - the first few episodes (maybe the first 8-10 or so?) are a bit rambling and harder to follow. As the format developed, the pacing really picks up, and the production improves dramatically. It's probably best to start at more recent shows, then go catch up when you get comfortable with the format. That way, it's easier to be forgiving of the lack of organization in the early episodes. The Protagonist Podcast is definitely worth the time. Students of literary criticism will enjoy the discussion, and people with some interest in understanding larger themes in pop culture will enjoy some educated perspective. Highly recommended! Oh, and it's extremely family friendly, so you can listen around nearly anyone, including small children (though they might find it less interesting...).

I have known these guy's sense high school and they are both very knowledgable. The podcast is very well done and has gotten me to broden my eyes in all different types of the media. Keep up the great work guy's.

If I had to rename this podcast, it would be "fanboys with PhDs." Good stuff. :)

I’ve started a lot of podcasts, but I’ve only listened to every episode of this one. I keep coming back to it because I love their discussions! My taste in movies and books seems to be pretty well aligned with the hosts as I’ve already read or seen about two thirds of the books they have covered, but that just means that the episodes when they discuss something I’m not as familiar with are even more enjoyable! The discussions are fun, captivating, and real. Great stuff.

My wife and I laughed through multiple podcasts. This is clever, witty, and insightful commentary on movies that shaped our youth.

I listen to at least one new podcast a day before going to bed. I love hearing your thoughts about these characters that I love. BEST PODCAST EVER!

I’ve pretty much devoured this podcast since I discovered it. It really makes me think through characters and why I like them or hate them. I love the banter between the hosts and producer and have found this entire podcast to be quite delightful. My only request would be that if they ever cover I Love Lucy again that they bring me in as an expert witness because there were a number of mistakes made in the assessment of Lucy Ricardo ;)

A good mixture of thought provoking and entertaining. A good listen.

Interesting grab bag of topics.

Excellent stuff.

:)

This here is a great show.