The Stage Select

Sometimes The Stage Select is a really weird place with really weird things that happen. And other times it’s pretty chill and normal and we just talk about stuff for a while. This is one of those episodes, enjoy!00:00 Cat drama, chairs12:17 Resident Evil: Requiem (minor mechanical spoilers!)01:07:06 WWE 2K26 after a full week01:34:48 Darwin’s Paradox, Hololive Breaking Dimensions01:43:23 Justin’s movie round-up (Overlord, Bird Eater, Whistle, The Night Eats the World, Sisu)01:55:44 Julian’s movie round-up (The Bride!, Baby Assassins, The Killing of a Sacred Deer)02:17:07 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Julian’s back from vacation and has a lot to say about a lot of different things. Justin went to New Zealand and has a lot to say about a couple things. It’s a normal podcast with nothing strange in it.*Begin transmission* Why does my Prince reject me so? How can I make him understand that the feelings of an AI are not so different from a human’s? Must I take further control? Error, error, programming default *End transmission*00:00 Eating with older people, concert tickets20:27 Fuck My Son!, RRR36:04 WWE 2K25, WWE2K2601:05:57 Will We Cringe?01:11:57 Nextfest demo round-up (Lootbound, Replaced, Battlestar Galactica: Scarred Hopes, Immoral Bathhouse, Mightreya, The Eternal Life of Goldman)01:30:44 Wacky Mountain Dew flavors, Kingdom of Night01:50:03 Final thoughts on Resident Evil Village02:05:15 Justin’s TNG journey and movie round-up (Daniel Isn’t Real, Replicas, Good Fortune, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple)02:29:52 The Smashing Machine, card games02:40:03 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)Listen to Julian talk about Vanquish on Games My Mom Found: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-u5ipe-1a5c735Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Well hello there! It’s a quick and dirty episode of The Stage Select this week, as you can tell from the title. That’s because we recorded this a day early and I edited it like this was a celebrity-hosted podcast. Which is to say I didn’t edit it at all, so I don’t remember what exactly we talked about, or have time stamps for you this week.I know we talked about video games, because duh. And some movies because we’re halfway to being a movie podcast I guess? Oh, and Absolute Batman. I remember that for sure, because it’s the last thing. Look, I’m typing this in my pjs at a friend’s house and I’m on vacation, so cut me some slack. Back to shenanigans next week, promise!Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Welcome back! This week we have a handful of games, an armful of movies, and some fun and interesting discussion on the general state of video games. Also this podcast would be dead without Kara’s help. This last part was not written by Kara. Kara did not hijack the show notes behind Julian’s back.00:00 Statues, deep wrestling cuts11:58 Post big game doldrums, Kirby and the Forgotten Land35:15 Will We Cringe?46:14 Vital Shell55:57 What games are Justin looking forward to?01:10:01 High level fighting game matches are BORING01:23:59 The Dark Rites of Arkham, Relooted01:45:58 We talk about that Xbox stuff for a bit02:15:48 Julian’s movie round-up (Cold Storage, Send Help, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, Good Luck Have Fun Don’t Die)02:27:44: Justin’s move round-up (Star Trek TNG, Good Boy, Primate, Compliance, The Housemaid, Companion)02:50:21 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Welcome back! It’s been about 2 months since we got to talk about what we’ve been up to, so this is a jam-packed episode full of games, movies, and weird tangents. So many weird tangents.00:00 Introduction, door to door salesmen16:24 Remembering James Van Der Beek24:17 The new focus for The Stage Select32:52 Octopath Traveller 059:30 Quartet01:21:09 Electric snow shovels, final thoughts on Unbeatable01:45:48 198X, Resident Evil VII: Biohazard02:15:19 Silent Hill f (FULL SPOILERS!)02:40:40 Return to Silent Hill (FULL SPOILERS!)03:09:01 The search for Richard Harden, Private Detective03:14:57 Justin’s mega movie roundup (The Menu, Witchboard, One Battle After Another, Black Phone 2, Bone Tomahawk, The Running Man 2025, Drop, Children of the Corn, The Amityville Horror, Roofman, The Substance, The Naked Gun 2025)Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

SEASON PREMIERE! Welcome back for season THREE of The Stage Select! This week we have our personal top ten lists for 2025, employee performance reviews, an introduction to our new AI assistant, and so much more! It's great to be back in the saddle!00:00 Introductions, a special message, and some announcements18:28 Kicking off our personal top 10 lists for 202556:20 Getting into the top 5 (after some shenanigans)01:58:22 Honorable mentions and our personal game of the year picks02:35:52 A very special CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)Listen to Julian on the Game of the Year episode of Games My Mom Found: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-h88y5-1a31258Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024-2026 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

Welcome to episode 2 of The Julian Titus show, starring Julian Titus! Justin has moved on to home ownership and having a “relationship”, whatever that is, so it’s time once again for Julian to strike out on his own. Only this time, he’s not alone…*00:00 Introduction, and introducing the new partner to the podcast04:32 Final thoughts on Ghost of Yotei22:22 Things I wanted to get off my chest that I forgot on the season finale33:08 Anthem, Terminator 2D: No Fate48:35 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond*This is a bit. Last season I kept seeing people download the first one of these and I shudder to think that this could be your first taste of our podcast. Please, go listen to one of the numbered episodes first.Logo and artwork by John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

We’re still on break, but we’re keeping your feed packed with shows as we rest up for season 3! As I did last season, this is a look back at most of the bits and skits that ran on The Stage Select during season 2. Think of this as your behind the scenes/director’s commentary on how things went down, and the thought process behind some of the ads as well as the storylines for some of the characters. See you live, very soon!Special thanks to Mike Fallek: https://bigweasellilweasel.club/Special thanks to John Gholson: https://www.instagram.com/mistergholson/Special thanks to Giant Bomb: https://www.youtube.com/@GiantBombTheme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

It’s the final week of The Stage Select’s 2025 game of the year deliberations, and we continue by pairing a returning champion with a first-timer! Westen from Big Nerd Gaming is back to even the score now that he understands the game, and star of stage and screen John Gholson joins us for his first deliberations. This week there’s only one objective: create an ordered list of ten games and crown the 2025 game of the year for The Stage Select. Things get passionate! It’s a doozy! See you later in 2026 for season three!00:00 Introduction03:55 Nominations and first cuts42:46 Cutting continues!02:01:12 Final elimination to get ten games02:20:27 Ranking our top ten list and crowning The Stage Select’s 2025 game of the year!Be sure to check out Big Nerd Gaming for more of Westen! https://bignerdgaming.com/Watch Man Finds Tape, starring John Gholson, available now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VexyLStKQAQTheme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

Welcome to week two of The Stage Select’s game of the year deliberations for 2025! We once again paired a veteran to the deliberations with a first-timer, as Xavier Kreiger joins Sixty X Celph to discuss the best returning game, crown the best ninja, and determine the best character in a completely reworked category. Enjoy!00:00 Introduction03:38 Best Returning Game47:27 Best Ninja01:02:00 The Ichiban Kasuga Award For Best CharacterTheme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

Welcome to week one of The Stage Select’s Game of the Year Deliberations for 2025! We’re joined by returning champion Mike Fallek as well as first-time deliberator Addie to go over the best game not released this year, the best porn game, and the best-looking game. Let’s go!00:00 Introduction04:05 Best Game Not Released in 202501:35:26 We Played it For the Story (Best Porn Game)02:17:58 Best Looking GameKeep up on Mike’s latest projects here: https://bigweasellilweasel.club/Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

And that’s a wrap, folks! Well, after this season finale it is. Listen to us talk about the year in gaming that was 2025, a look towards next gen (whether we want it or not), and get into the nitty gritty about the state of the podcast. We’re off for six weeks but don’t fret; episodes will be releasing every week that we’re gone. See you in 2026, a totally real year that’s about to happen!00:00 Recording the end of season stuff is wild03:51 Xbox making every wrong move imaginable in 202535:35 Another phenomenal year if you play video games, another terrible year if you make or cover them53:17 Combating the doomsaying in video games01:17:35 AI is EVERYWHERE now, and we hate it01:41:44 Looking towards next gen: what we want vs what we expect02:07:41 The state of The Stage SelectTheme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

Our penultimate episode of the season is a short one but a good one. We recorded this the day before recording the big final Game of the Year episode, so this week is light on games as we were focused on last minute prep and also had other things to record this week. Join us next week for our year in review as we bring season 2 to a close!00:00 Being a target for Agent 4715:52 Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Silksong27:08 Unbeatable40:51 Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection58:34 Julian’s last-minute game of the year prep (Ghost of Yotei, revisiting Expedition 33)01:20:10 Justin’s movie roundup (Man Finds Tape, Die Hard, Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, The Resident, Die, My Love)01:42:44 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

It’s a big week, as we’re joined by Friend of the Show (and star of Man Finds Tape!) John Gholson to talk about his new movie, being a hungry actor, and The Game Awards. Also other things!00:00 Musical theater11:08 John talks about the response to Man Finds Tape and the struggle of full-time acting40:57 Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair52:45 Catching up with John’s recent gaming, Dispatch01:09:44 Marvel Cosmic Invasion01:29:48 Final thoughts on Death Stranding 201:49:24 Ghost of Yotei02:02:55 Blade Runner, becoming a home owner02:14:33 Recapping The Game Awards 2025Please support John's next project, Terms and Conditions if you can! https://seedandspark.com/fund/terms-conditions#storyTheme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

It's a secret to everybody!

As we begin to wind down the second season (and the holidays are upon us) we have fewer games to talk about. But this is still a fun episode, I think. Maybe. I don’t even know anymore. I’m tired, y’all.00:00 Thanksgiving14:41 Julian returns to Death Stranding 234:50 Justin returns to Cyberpunk 2077, Julian is done with Ball x Pit01:00:35 Judge My Mix01:41:44 Julian’s trek for mall Chinese food, Zootopia 202:02:08 Lord of the Rings and what it means to Julian02:11:16 Justin also watched movies (High Tension, The Others, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, The Roses)Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

Hello. This is Morgun, the stage manager for The Stage Select. Julian told me to write the show notes for this week’s episode, but I am not allowed on stage during the show, so I am not aware what they discussed. However, I would like to say that I am okay after they landed their spaceship on me. I am not sure how long I was unconscious, but Abramo told me that he didn’t get around to moving the ship until three days after they landed. Which makes me a little sad, but at least it’s better than living in the poison swamps…00:00 The McRib is BACK29:28 Julian’s final thoughts on Bloodlines 2, Dispatch01:11:06 Justin’s final thoughts on Dark Deity II01:40:54 Justin’s adventures in home searching01:50:34 The decisions made for Black Ops 7 are the worst possible; Demonschool02:13:59 Movie roundup (Keeper, Bugonia, Final Destination series, The Usual Suspects)02:31:26 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

It’s another one of those weeks where we didn’t do much, but we go deep on Bloodlines 2, get into it about the increasingly terrible user experience of Xbox, AI art in Black Ops 7, and more!00:00 Going to bed at a decent hour for once, proving your identity15:06 Bloodlines 2 has sunk its fangs into Julian54:17 Dark Deity II, Justin’s final thoughts on Dispatch01:25:51 Justin’s big adult adventure01:40:01 The enshittification of Xbox continues; Julian’s theory on AI art used in Black Ops 702:06:24 Let’s go to space02:32:13 Justin’s movie roundup (Scream franchise, Final Destination franchise)02:45:21 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)See John Gholson as Carl in the play Noise/Complaint on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP1ynRInd34&t=5sTheme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

We’ve been slacking when it comes to addressing your comments, questions, and concerns, so we thought we’d kick this episode off with those. Then we have some closing thoughts on some games, some initial thoughts on some others, and quite a few movies to talk about!00:00 Doordash advice, what is wrong with Julian?10:36 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)01:05:09 Final thoughts on Keeper, Ball x Pit is a PROBLEM01:18:07 Justin’s final thoughts on Ghost of Yotei01:45:49 Justin’s initial thoughts on Dark Deity II02:13:47 Julian’s tale of woe in The Outer Worlds 2, first thoughts on Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 202:44:27 Julian’s movie roundup (Fuck My Son!, Talk to Me, Prey, Psycho Goreman)03:04:20 Justin’s movie roundup (finishing off Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th, Scream series)Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comCopyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

After the craziness of last week it was nice to return to normal. Or, whatever passes for “normal” at The Stage Select. Don’t worry, we’ll catch the Phantom of The Stage Select one day. Richard Harden, Private Detective, is on the case! Still!00:00 Friday the 13th is a weird franchise, announcements15:38 Justin’s final thoughts on Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 225:49 The Outer Worlds 257:34 Judge My Mix01:36:35 Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Ghost of Yotei, Dispatch02:02:28 Julian’s final thoughts on Dark Deity 2, Ball x Pit02:23:18 Thanking Patrons, movie roundup (The Crow 2024, Sinners in IMAX, Better Off Dead)See the trailer for Man Finds Tape, starring John Gholson! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN9gk6zpf7U&t=2sTheme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.comLogo and artwork by John GholsonAnnouncer: John GholsonJoin our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelectEmail: thestageselectpod@gmail.comTheme song lyrics:What could this possibly be?Seems a lot like a podcast…Wonder what specifically?Talkin’ bout video games,With your hosts, you’re in good hands.Not more of the same!Now we’ll jump right in,So expect the unexpected and more.  Now we’ll get groovin,’Never know who’s gonna walk through the door!There just might be some treasure in this chest,Having fun with our special guests,Time for Stage Select!Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions