The WAYWA Podcast

This week, the guys talk about BS High, an HBO documentary about the bizarre Bishop Sycamore football scandal that feels more like a serial killer interview. Plus, Phil has started One Piece. Find out how close he is to seeing all thousand-plus episodes of the anime series. Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! :30-BS High 10:45-One Piece 20:15-Hawaii Five-O 23:30-Gen V

This week, we’re talking Disney princesses. More specifically, which Disney princesses we’d want in a team competition. The mystery is, we have no idea what that competition is. We’re just drafting who we would want into teams of 4, then competing against each other in an AI-selected contest! So we’re breaking down every possible strength, weakness, ability, character flaw and more. Along the way, there’s a lot to talk about with the 8 original princesses. Which ones are our favorites, and which movies are the most classic? And do they hold up today? 5:00-Picking our princesses 27:30-The competition 33:15-Writer’s strike ended! Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more!

The guys bring a quick-hitting WAYWA update, including the unique real-life-meets-fiction concept Jury Duty. You’ll also want to stick around to find out which Ghibli movies Phil has decided to watch after Ben’s review of the franchise in the last episode, plus learn whether Bear Grylls would win on the show Survivor. :30-Jury Duty 6:20-Phil’s 3 Ghibli movies 12:10-Man vs Wild 17:30-Recent Disney+ adventures 22:45-Raiders of the Lost Ark Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more!

It’s time for the definitive countdown of the Japanese anime Studio Ghibli movies. And who better to review and rank all 22 of them than someone who just watched them all for the first time, all in a row?! That’s right, Ben is tackling this epic task. With 4 decades of tradition and countless childhood memories of generations attached for so many fans, it seems this is the only fair way to analyze them. How disappointed will Phil be at his picks? Which films are more accessible to a first-time viewer, and which ones will tumble down the list? Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! 3:15-What is Studio Ghibli? 13:10-Earwig and the Witch 17:00-My Neighbors the Yamadas 19:20-Only Yesterday 23:15-Princess Mononoke 26:25-Ocean Waves 28:00-The Secret World of Arrietty 30:35-When Marnie Was There 32:10-Tales from Earthsea 35:20-Ponyo 38:30-The Cat Returns 40:40-Spirited Away 43:55-Pom Poko 47:40-Howl’s Moving Castle 50:00-My Neighbor Totoro 52:00-Whisper of the Heart 54:00-Porco Rosso 55:10-The Tale of Princess Kaguya 57:15-Kiki’s Delivery Service 58:45-The Wind Rises 1:02-Castle in the Sky 1:04-Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more!

Friend of the pod Josh Roeloffs is back for his THIRD appearance on the show, and we need all the help we can get, because today we are breaking down 12 of our picks for most underrated movies! Some are blockbusters, some you have never heard of, and some of them are Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Find out what goes into calling a movie “underrated” and why our picks fit! Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! Follow Josh at @JoshRoeloffs. 16:25-What makes a movie “underrated?” 18:30-Paul Blart: Mall Cop 24:00-Parasite 27:35-Prisoners 31:00-Attack the Block 35:10-The Northman 44:30-3:10 to Yuma 50:40-Hanna 56:00-Blades of Glory 1:01:30-District 9 1:05:15-The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian 1:13:15-Mr. Right 1:15:50-Her

Remember us?!?! After a long layoff due to the Hollywood strike, Phil and Ben are back with a long-awaited episode of WAYWA. And there is so much to talk about. The guys catch up on a few things they’ve been watching, compare the expansive universes of Star Wars vs. Star Trek and discuss the all-important Barbie movie. Oh, and there are some Would-You-Rathers involved. Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! 3:30-WAYWA catch-up 20:40-Barbie 30:50–Star Wars or Star Trek?

Season 3 of The Mandalorian is up and running. Find out what we think so far. Is Star Wars finally back on top? Also, Ben is heated about the sorry excuse of a season 3 of Outer Banks and Phil has found a movie that’s changed his life. Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! 3:30–The Mandalorian season 3 13:50–Outer Banks season 3 18:30–38 at the Garden 22:00–Aftersun 26:15–Gridiron Gang

Guest alert! This week we’re joined by bookstagrammer Clarice Reads Stuff for a super interesting conversation on books screen adaptations and everything in between. Clarice talks about everything, from what makes a book adaptation a strong movie or show to the successes and failures of classic novels remade for the screen. We also learn about plenty of more recent movies and shows that we had no idea we’re based on books (The 100? Yes! Man on a Ledge? Sadly, no). Finally, the show wouldn’t be complete without a roundtable of WAYWA. Beware of princess classics and giant monster blobs. Find Clarice on Instagram @clarice.reads.stuff. Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! 1:30–News 9:15–Books + Movies conversation 40:30–WAYWA (The Death of Stalin, Tangled, Casablanca, The Blob)

This week’s discussion centers on Nausicaa of The Valley of the Wind, a 1984 Studio Ghibli creation about a post-apocalyptic earth where giant spore monsters battle against humans who use medieval swords and World War II airplanes. It’s epic, unique and serves as inspiration for so much of what we have in film today. Hear why it’s one of Phil’s classics and, for Ben, the best movie he’s seen since…(?) Other WAYWA topics include an aged Harrison Ford actually trying hard in Shrinking, and an aged Dennis Quaid not trying hard in GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! 1:00–News 6:15–Nausicaa of The Valley of the Wind 15:45–Rest of WAYWA (That 90s Show, Shrinking, The Amazing Race, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra)

HBO’s newest big series is The Last of Us, a zombie apocalypse creation based on the popular video game. All the pieces are in place, including the star power of Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, great visuals and a properly horrifying atmosphere. After the premiere of the series, hear our thoughts on the look and feel of the show and where it could go from here. A jam-packed WAYWA includes Ben’s journey into anime movies, a bone crunching Viking film and a particularly strong showing from Amazon Prime. Oh, and Cobra Kai Season 6 will be the final season of the show. Is this good news or bad news? Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! 1:20–News 8:00–The Last of Us 19:45–WAYWA (The Northman, Spirited Away, That 90s Show, The Hatchet Wielding Hitchiker, Emily the Criminal, Vengeance)

One week after Ben somehow didn’t know who Ethan Hawke is, he gets a crash course with Training Day. We’re here to talk about this 2001 police classic where he has to match wits (and screen presence) with Denzel Washington. This movie rocks, but does it get a little bit too convoluted for a first-time viewer? Also, is Amazon Prime cancelling season 3 of The Wilds??? Hear our reaction to this devastating news. Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! :15–Headlines 8:15–Training Day 27:00–WAYWA (The After Party, Band of Brothers, All American)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is the latest chart-topping Netflix product, and with it comes a fun twist on Rian Johnson’s first wildly successful installment of the series. Phil and Ben talk about the tweaks that worked and the performances that stood out. Also, what’s more embarrassing: That Ben actually finished his rewatch of The 100 or that he seemingly doesn’t know who Ethan Hawke is? 1:00–Headlines 7:40–Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery 27:00–WAYWA (The 100 [LAST TIME!], Divergent, Love & Basketball, 21 Bridges, This Place Rules)

On this episode, we take a deep dive into one show and one movie! Netflix’s Last Chance U is in its 7th season, and the second of which focuses on a junior college basketball program. The show has fantastic documentary storytelling of young players’ lives, and this season is no different. How does it compare to the previous season, and which players are Phil and Ben’s favorites? Then, it’s a better-late-than-never review of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The movie had the impossible task of paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman while telling a cohesive story in the MCU. And it does a pretty darn good job of both of those. For WAYWA, we get into a quick wrap-up of Wednesday and discuss Apple TV’s Spirited, its new original Christmas movie starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell that’s smashing viewership records on the platform. Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! 2:00–Headlines 6:45–Last Chance U: Basketball (season 2) 23:00–Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 35:50–WAYWA ( Spirited, Wednesday wrap-up)

We’re talking about a couple of popular recent Netflix releases this week! First, The Swimmers is a gripping true story film about two Syrian sister swimmers that acts as part sports movie, part immigration story. So much of the movie works well, but are the out-of-place elements scattered throughout enough to hold it back? Then, Tim Burton’s Wednesday has topped the Netflix charts as an Addams Family reboot focusing on the family’s troubled little sister as she struggles to fit in. Jenna Ortega more than owns the role, and there’s a lot to like. But there are some really odd creative choices to talk about too. Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! 1:55–Housekeeping & News 8:30–The Swimmers 18:20–Wednesday 27:45–WAYWA (The Fugitive, The Peripheral, Journey to the West, Emily the Criminal, Bullet Train)

Amazon Prime’s The Peripheral is one of the most popular things streaming. But should you actually give this futuristic thriller a look? Ben and Phil share their perspectives having watched the show to different points. What works and what doesn’t? Are the super long, intense episodes a problem? And what stupid connection to The 100 did Ben find? Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @waywa_podcast for all the latest show news, episode drops and more! 3:15–Housekeeping 7:45–The Peripheral 21:30–WAYWA (The White Lotus, Fahrenheit 451, Andor)

Netflix made a new sitcom about the last Blockbuster on earth. Is that kind of a low blow? And does the show work? Plus, you won’t want to miss this week’s discussion about the Sam Worthington classic, Man on a Ledge. We also leave plenty of space for an argument about which Star Wars movies are good and what the next generation of fans will remember as their favorite films. Follow the podcast on Twitter @WAYWAPODCAST for episode drops all the latest show news and to drop your mailbag questions! 2:30–Blockbuster 10:00–Man on a Ledge 14:30–Blockbuster memories 16:20–An argument about Star Wars

Phil and Ben discuss about Tales if the Jedi, an awesome new anthology series that tells amazing stories in just 15 minutes and teaches us things we never knew we needed to know about the Star Wars universe. Then it’s on to Black Adam and what our thoughts are on resetting the DC universe, or if it even matters at this point. Plus, hear some thoughts on Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza, the decade-old Cowboys & Aliens and whether Ben agrees that Rosaline is actually enjoyable. Follow the podcast on Twitter @WAYWAPODCAST for episode drops all the latest show news and to drop your mailbag questions! 1:30–Tales of the Jedi 7:10–Rosaline (Ben’s take) 10:40–Licorice Pizza 13:15–Cowboys & Aliens 16:45–Black Adam 22:20–Untold: Malice at the Palace

It’s been an eventful couple of weeks. Ben recounts how the Rings of Power finale got spoiled for him, plus a hard binge of The 100. Phil goes through The Watcher, Rosaline and season 4 of The Sinner, plus gives a glance at Tales of the Jedi. Follow the podcast on Twitter @WAYWAPODCAST for episode drops all the latest show news and to drop your mailbag questions! 2:55–The Watcher 6:20–How Rings of Power got spoiled 11:45–Rosaline 15:45–The 100 24:05–Tales of the Jedi 27:25–The Sinner season 4

This week we are bringing some movies to the pod that aren’t very good. Ben watched a familiar yet flawed favorite double feature, Clash of the Titans and Wrath of the Titans, and Phil was disappointed by Blonde, an oddity project from Ana de Arnas and Andrew Dominik. There’s also some good things, as the guys discuss the new Redeem Team documentary on the 2008 Olympic basketball team and share some thoughts on horror movies. Follow the podcast on Twitter @WAYWAPODCAST for episode drops all the latest show news and to drop your mailbag questions! 2:40–Clash of the Titans/Wrath of the Titans 10:15–Blonde 14:40–The Redeem Team 21:00–Spooky season, Halloween and horror

Since we finally got around to seeing Thor: Love and Thunder, we are finally going to talk about it. Where does it stack up coming off of Ragnarock? And what works and doesn’t work in the film? Plus, Phil’s hardcore recommendation of Abbott Elementary pushed Ben into watching. What are his initial thoughts? Follow the podcast on Twitter @WAYWAPODCAST for episode drops all the latest show news and to drop your mailbag questions! 4:50–Thor: Love and Thunder 13:45–Master of None 16:30–Abbot Elementary 19:30–Andor and Rings of Power update