Systematic Geekology

Kevin Schaefer and Will Rose dig into Alfred Pennyworth's role as the father-figure and mentor to both Batman and Nightwing right off the bat. Kevin calls Alfred the greatest father figure in comics and says he keeps Bruce and Dick from going off the rails. Will, fresh from a sabbatical, says the show’s "Faces Behind Us" theme made him think about who looks out for him in real life. They run through comics, movies, and cartoons, drop quotes from Mask of the Phantasm and Batman Begins, and laugh about which role they’d want. They keep it light and witty while showing why Alfred is Gotham’s quiet rock — a steady, classy, low-key badass who sews up wounds and the soul. Alfred takes the front seat as the steady dad, the patch-up guy, and the moral voice for Bruce and Dick. Kevin lays out how Alfred is more than a butler. He is the quiet hand that keeps Batman from slipping into darkness. Will brings the chill thoughts and jokes while also noting the deep stuff about trust and care. They trade clips and lines, like the soft hit of "Why do we fall?" and the stern line, "vengeance blackens the soul." These bits show Alfred as a compass, not a sidekick. The hosts keep it light and real. They point out how Alfred helps Batman hold on to his name and heart. They say that without Alfred, the hero might turn mean or break. The talk is full of simple claims and warm examples. It feels like two pals talking about a legend and saying, plain and clear, that Alfred is the glue that holds Batman and Nightwing together.Takeaways:They explain Alfred is the key father figure and steady moral compass for Bruce and Dick.They review Alfred across comics, movies, and cartoons, showing how each version shifts tone and purpose.They note Alfred's background as a spy and medic turns him into a badass caregiver and smart strategist.They argue Alfred's steady counsel stops Batman from tipping into pure vengeance and losing his soul.They cover Alfred's comic death and how his memory still guides Bruce like a living inner voice.They highlight Alfred giving Dick trust, money, and purpose, which really launches Nightwing's grown up arc.They joke Alfred's job is equal parts butler, medic, PR manager, and secret bouncer — messy but vital.They close by saying everyone needs an Alfred in life, a steady friend who shows up and cares..Be sure to check out our merch, find extra content, and become an official member of Systematic Geekology on our website:https://systematic-geekology-shop.fourthwall.com/.Check out all of our "The Faces Behind Us" series:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/dd903597-98be-49ed-998c-5cdaf73b6af4.Listen to our other DC episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/8c9da262-e657-44a7-b14a-9649933f5347.Check out other episodes with Kevin:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/84fd7d06-cf1f-48e5-b358-09a01c5a6bc9.Check out other episodes with Will:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/4559ab55-4b6a-4432-b0a7-b61540df8803Mentioned in this episode:Become a Member of Systematic Geekology Today!You can become a member of Systematic Geekology using the link below and gain access to free extra content, exclusive t-shirts, merchandise giveaways, and much more!SG on FourthwallThe Anazao Podcast NetworkBe sure to check out the network website to see other podcasts trying to engage honestly with Scripture, Theology, Pop Culture, Martial Arts, Science, and more!Anazao Podcast NetworkSystematic GeekologyOur show focuses around our favorite fandoms that we discuss from a Christian perspective. We do not try to put Jesus into all our favorite stories, but rather we try to ask the questions the IPs are asking, then addressing those questions from our perspective. We are not all ordained, but we are the Priests to the Geeks, in the sense that we try to serve as mediators between the cultures around our favorite fandoms and our faith communities.Get Your SG Merch now!Check out the link to see all of our different t-shirts, backpacks, drinking glasses, pajamas, and more! SG on FourthwallFollow us on Instagram and BlueSky to keep up to date!Follow our show on our socials to keep up to date and get some exclusive content and fun memes!

Joshua and Christian dive into the original Kingdom Hearts (2002) and the big idea is clear fast: friendship is the power — "My friends are my power" — cheesy but true. Joshua says this game is his fave and he plays it every year because it hits his nostalgia sweet spot. Christian calls the combat clunky but says the boss fights and Disney crossover vibes keep him hooked. They laugh about gummy ships, fight over platforming, and nerd out over worlds like Hollow Bastion and Halloween Town. They also talk about recent KH4 leaks and how the news always drops right after they record. Joshua says he’ll do a members-only bonus to spoil the leaked trophies. Joshua and Christian roll up their sleeves and nerd out over the original Kingdom Hearts like two pals at a late night diner. Joshua is the walking museum of nostalgia. He says he plays this game every year. He loves the clunky platforming and the goofy combat. He digs the feel of being a kid with a wooden sword that somehow turns into the Keyblade. Christian calls it clunky but charming. He stans the boss fights. They both smile at the weirdness: gummy ships that run on smiles, random Disney crossovers, and goofy platform jumps that make no sense but still slap. They go world by world, name-drop favorites (Hercules, Halloween Town, Tarzan, Aladdin) and point out why the choices actually matter. Joshua says every world has a reason to be there. Christian is hyped about Beast’s devotion to Belle and how that fits the story. They laugh at the moments that are pure cheese. Yet they also agree those cheesy bits hit hard. The big line—"my friends are my power"—gets treated like the anthem it is. It’s corny. It’s honest. It is why Joshua keeps coming back to this game year after year.Takeaways:Joshua and Christian are playing every Kingdom Hearts game in order for the 25th anniversary.They talk about a Steam trophy leak that spoiled some Kingdom Hearts 4 world info.Joshua and Christian argue if people should watch leaks or go in cold for surprises.He loves the original Kingdom Hearts for its cheesy friends are my power message and nostalgia.They note the game mixes kid stuff with dark themes like death and identity in bold ways.Christian praises boss fights and Disney world choices, but calls platforming clunky and combat dated.Joshua describes the Sora and Kairi scene as powerful, about true friends seeing you even when lost.They reflect on deep questions about soul, heart, and who someone really is after trauma or change.They invite listeners to join their membership, bonus episodes, merch and Discord to geek out together..Be sure to check out our merch, find extra content, and become an official member of Systematic Geekology on our website:https://systematic-geekology-shop.fourthwall.com/.Check out all of our Disney episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/09b1c796-b409-4cfe-bbd0-8b7a8032f846.Listen to our other gaming episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/409f2d81-9857-4426-b1f0-d8a02e58b150.Listen to all of our Kingdom Hearts episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/91eb2808-3652-46d5-9377-d0ff6a9cc354.Check out other episodes with Joshua:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/642da9db-496a-40f5-b212-7013d1e211e0.Listen to all of Christian's episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/ebf4b064-0672-47dd-b5a3-0fff5f11b54cMentioned in this episode:Become a member of Systematic Geekology on our Website!Check out the link to become a member of Systematic Geekology! All member get exclusive extras and shout outs on the show! Some of the paid tiers of membership get store discounts, free merch, and more!SG on FourthwallThe Anazao Podcast NetworkBe sure to check out the network website to see other podcasts trying to engage honestly with Scripture, Theology, Pop Culture, Martial Arts, Science, and more!Anazao Podcast NetworkJoin our Facebook group and Discord ServerFind our Facebook group, "Priests to the Geeks", then join our Discord server with this link to continue on the conversation with us!DiscordGet Your SG Merch now!Check out the link to see all of our different t-shirts, backpacks, drinking glasses, pajamas, and more! SG on FourthwallSystematic GeekologyOur show focuses around our favorite fandoms that we discuss from a Christian perspective. We do not try to put Jesus into all our favorite stories, but rather we try to ask the questions the IPs are asking, then addressing those questions from our perspective. We are not all ordained, but we are the Priests to the Geeks, in the sense that we try to serve as mediators between the cultures around our favorite fandoms and our faith communities.

Andy Walsh and Jill Elizabeth dig into Derek Walcott's stage version of The Odyssey, emphasizing its Caribbean retelling and how that shift remakes the poem’s tone and themes. He says the play’s playful language and stage directions make it feel like something that really needs to be seen, not just read. She loved the use of Billy Blind as a bard and the oral‑tradition rhythm that turns the sea from antagonist into companion. They riff on gods who lose clear moral authority, Penelope as more human and teasing, and a delightfully side‑questy Odysseus rather than a pure hero. He reminds listeners this was a member‑voted pick for the All Reading Counts series and she plugs merch and bonus content — all proceeds go to public libraries. It’s a warm, witty chat that makes a 3,000‑year‑old story feel refreshingly local, playful, and very stageable. Andy gets the ball rolling and Jill hops right in, and together they peel back Derek Walcott’s island-flavored Odyssey with a grin. He teases out the basics—Telemachus hunting for his dad, Odysseus bumbling through Cyclops, Circe, Sirens—while she keeps nudging the Caribbean lens, saying the sea here feels like a neighbor, not an enemy. He compares it to Nolan’s big-screen take and Homer’s grand poem, she praises Walcott’s musical rhythms and Billy Blind as the bardly storyteller who makes the lines beg to be heard aloud. They swap theater-kid banter about how the play probably shines brighter onstage than on the page; he imagines the staging, she imagines the laughs from the servant roles. Casual, funny, and oddly tender about a 3,000-year-old tale getting a new accent. They also wink at the play’s playfulness: Odysseus isn’t a marble statue of heroism here but a human with side quests and questionable priorities. She points out the clever dialect shifts—formal lines for the high-born, Caribbean lilt for the servants—that poke at who gets taken seriously. He applauds Walcott’s wordcraft and the oral-tradition vibe, while she dreams of seeing the Scylla/Charybdis tentacle sequence live. It’s a breezy, warm conversation that makes ancient epic feel like a neighborhood tale with punchlines and poetry.Takeaways:Jill praised Derek Walcott's Caribbean-set stage version, noting Billy Blind channels oral storytelling with lively Caribbean rhythm and humor.Andy pointed out that the play's staging would add colors, textures, and comic moments the page alone can't deliver.They reminded listeners that All Reading Counts merch and bonus-episode proceeds are donated to public libraries to promote literacy.Jill observed that setting the Odyssey in a Caribbean lens changes the sea theme into something nurturing rather than purely adversarial.Andy noted Walcott's rewrite makes Odysseus feel more human, distracted, and walked through side quests instead of constant heroics.Jill loved how servants' Caribbean dialects undercut 'proper' language, playfully challenging who and what gets treated as important.They teased a bonus 'Muppet Odyssey' idea, inviting members to hear which fuzzy puppets would play gods, heroes, and the lone human..Be sure to check out our merch, find extra content, and become an official member of Systematic Geekology on our website:https://systematic-geekology-shop.fourthwall.com/.Check out all of our "All Reading Counts" series:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/3706021e-22e5-4598-ae1d-732ec8e275a9.Check out other episodes with Andy:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/c86f7a67-357b-4324-bf95-e42cedb9932a.Check out other episodes with Jill:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/93b2d7c5-1f3a-4fdb-8d87-350f6ca167b9Mentioned in this episode:Get Your SG Merch now!Check out the link to see all of our different t-shirts, backpacks, drinking glasses, pajamas, and more! SG on FourthwallCheck out our Fourthwall site for quite literally everything to do with our show!All SG merch, extra content, our youtube page, SG memberships, tips / donations, etc. can all be found at this one convenient spot!SG on FourthwallThe Anazao Podcast NetworkBe sure to check out the network website to see other podcasts trying to engage honestly with Scripture, Theology, Pop Culture, Martial Arts, Science, and more!Anazao Podcast NetworkBecome a Member of Systematic Geekology Today!You can become a member of Systematic Geekology using the link below and gain access to free extra content, exclusive t-shirts, merchandise giveaways, and much more!SG on FourthwallSystematic GeekologyOur show focuses around our favorite fandoms that we discuss from a Christian perspective. We do not try to put Jesus into all our favorite stories, but rather we try to ask the questions the IPs are asking, then addressing those questions from our perspective. We are not all ordained, but we are the Priests to the Geeks, in the sense that we try to serve as mediators between the cultures around our favorite fandoms and our faith communities.

Kevin and Christian dig into how Martha and Jonathan Kent basically built Superman’s moral GPS, arguing the Kents are the real force behind who Clark becomes. They romp through movie and comic examples — from the 1978 film Smallville moments to All-Star and Red Son flips — showing how different origins still bow to the Kents’ influence. They joke about being tired and sick but get surprisingly deep about how those farm‑style values beat out flashy Kryptonian backstories. They even tie the Kents to real‑life grandparents, cooking, and the whole nature vs. nurture debate in superhero form. They close by asking listeners to shout back with hot takes, and they thank supporters while keeping the banter light and nerdy. Kevin kicks things off a little groggy and Christian sniffles through it, but they power through a warm, homespun dive into why Jonathan and Martha Kent are the quiet engine behind Superman. He teases out how the Kents aren’t just background props—these two plant the moral compass that turns an alien child into a neighborly legend. They riff on how continuity swings (one run the Kents live, another they don’t) yet the core traits—honesty, work ethic, and stubborn Midwestern kindness—keep resurfacing. He drops affectionate nods to the 1978 Superman movie’s funeral scene and its music, and they both agree those Smallville moments matter more than some critics claim. Christian plays tour guide through comics and alternate universes, pointing to All-Star Superman, Absolute Superman, Red Son and various Elseworlds as thought experiments: swap the Kents’ values and you get very different super-people (and sometimes monsters like Brightburn). They unpack nature vs. nurture in comic form with a wink—remove Ma and Pa and you might accidentally invent a supervillain. He even notes the Kents’ Methodism as a subtle origin of Clark’s conscience, which writers often tiptoe around. Between nostalgia, personal anecdotes about grandparents who “could cook like Martha,” and recommendations for readers, they keep it light, witty and affectionate.Takeaways:Kevin notes that Ma and Pa Kent's Midwestern values shape Clark's moral compass far more than his Kryptonian heritage.Christian observes that across movies, comics, and TV shows the Kents consistently embody warmth, moral guidance, and groundedness.They agree that removing the Kents or changing their ideology often creates darker, morally compromised super-figures like in Brightburn and Irredeemable.Kevin gushes about Glenn Ford's Jonathan in the 1978 film, calling that farewell scene absolutely crucial and emotionally devastating.Christian highlights comic moments like All-Star Superman issue six and Action Comics Annual 2022 to showcase parental influence on Clark.They talk about Red Son, The Nail, and Absolute Universe takes to show how different cultures or mistakes alter Superman's path dramatically.Both hosts personally connect the Kents to their grandparents, praising cooking, blunt care, and the everyday heroism of steady family values..Be sure to check out our merch, find extra content, and become an official member of Systematic Geekology on our website:https://systematic-geekology-shop.fourthwall.com/.Check out all of our "The Faces Behind Us" series:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/dd903597-98be-49ed-998c-5cdaf73b6af4.Listen to our other DC episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/8c9da262-e657-44a7-b14a-9649933f5347.Check out other episodes with Kevin:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/84fd7d06-cf1f-48e5-b358-09a01c5a6bc9.Check out other episodes with Christian:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/ebf4b064-0672-47dd-b5a3-0fff5f11b54cMentioned in this episode:Become a Member of Systematic Geekology Today!You can become a member of Systematic Geekology using the link below and gain access to free extra content, exclusive t-shirts, merchandise giveaways, and much more!SG on FourthwallSystematic GeekologyOur show focuses around our favorite fandoms that we discuss from a Christian perspective. We do not try to put Jesus into all our favorite stories, but rather we try to ask the questions the IPs are asking, then addressing those questions from our perspective. We are not all ordained, but we are the Priests to the Geeks, in the sense that we try to serve as mediators between the cultures around our favorite fandoms and our faith communities.Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky to keep up to date!Follow our show on our socials to keep up to date and get some exclusive content and fun memes!The Anazao Podcast NetworkBe sure to check out the network website to see other podcasts trying to engage honestly with Scripture, Theology, Pop Culture, Martial Arts, Science, and more!Anazao Podcast NetworkGet Your SG Merch now!Check out the link to see all of our different t-shirts, backpacks, drinking glasses, pajamas, and more! SG on Fourthwall

"People are going to be talking about that last kick for years." Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, to celebrate the two year anniversary of the show, I sit down with Christian Ashley of Systematic Geekology to re-review The Undisputed 2025 Downloads Champion, The Karate Kid pt 2. In this review, Christian offers his reasons why he thinks this film is better than the original, I pitch how I think the original trilogy should have ended, and we celebrate the acting performance of Pat Morita. Listen to Systematic Geekology here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/systematic-geekology/id1587589370Instagram: @kungfupizzapartyLetterboxd: KungFuPizzaPrty