The Economy of Nothing Podcast

This week in The Economy of Nothing, the Captain attends his first day at Pilot School — and Mr. Green immediately regrets opening enrollment. We dig into the Scrubs pilot "My First Day" and break down why it works, how it builds character relationships, and how it accidentally becomes Nothing Corp's official training video. We talk Steadman disappearing mid-episode, Cox and Kelso as dueling mentors, JD's guilty conscience, and the infamous Janitor Penny conspiracy. Along the way, we spiral through the abandoned-hospital economy, the Turkish Disney castle ghost town, why real estate collapses are comedy, and how capitalism always ends with someone buying a haunted building at auction. Plus: Mississippi the Dog briefly becomes CEO, the Polar Express becomes a tax write-off, and Captain Tracy struggles to start the episode without sounding like he's reading a ransom note. It's an hour of TV-nerd analysis, failed improv, and corporate worldbuilding disguised as media criticism — the official beginning of Pilot School. Timecodes: 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Opening 00:23 Casual Banter and Podcast Dynamics 01:13 Discussion on Comedy Shows 05:28 Engagement and Audience Interaction 07:18 Documentary Series Recommendation 11:42 Economic Commentary and Capitalism 14:34 Kevin Hart and Celebrity Culture 15:53 Introduction to Scrubs Discussion 17:21 Scrubs Pilot Analysis 23:18 Character Dynamics in Scrubs 36:58 Analyzing Steadman's Role in Scrubs 40:40 Character Dynamics: JD, Elliot, Turk, and Carla 42:37 Dr. Cox and Dr. Kelso: Opposing Forces 45:03 The Elevator Episode: A Unique Perspective 48:11 The Art of Jump Cuts in Scrubs 54:09 Scrubs' Commentary on Healthcare 56:02 Evaluating the Scrubs Pilot 01:00:02 Applying Scrubs' Lessons to Our Show 01:04:26 Organizational Structure in the Nothing Corporation 01:12:31 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Marvel's First Family is back — and somehow more boring than ever. In this week's episode of The Economy of Nothing, Mike and Mike break down the new Fantastic Four (2025), a film that manages to be ambitious, confused, and shockingly uneventful all at once. They dig into the movie's strange pacing, Reed Richards' complete lack of stretching, and the bizarre decision to open with a pregnancy test. The conversation also covers Marvel's ongoing identity crisis, the era of reshoots-as-plot, and why every scene now feels written for people who are only half watching. The episode expands beyond the movie into larger questions about the state of the MCU, the future of superhero storytelling, and how modern blockbusters keep solving their problems by talking instead of showing. Highlights include: Why Reed Richards never stretches (and what that says about the script) Galactus looking weirdly small for a "planet eater" The Silver Surfer thirst subplot no one asked for The car-seat scene that broke both of us Marvel's post-Endgame identity crisis Disney's algorithmic content era and what's coming next By the end, the question isn't just whether Fantastic Four works — it's whether the MCU still knows what it wants to be.

The Captain and Mr. Green dive into the trillion-dollar economy of modern villainy — from Elon Musk's $1 trillion pay package to the expanding shadow of the Nothing Corporation and the rise of the Dark Orbit. We talk: • Trillion-dollar compensation and the myth of genius • Government shutdowns as content strategy • Gil's golden shield — the rise of the nepotism cyborg • The Dark Orbit — building the universe's villain council • Gremlins 3, The Mummy, and nostalgia as economic fuel It's an hour of improvised worldbuilding, late-stage capitalism, and the comforting realization that evil scales faster than empathy. Patreon Cut available at: https://www.patreon.com/economyofnothing

"Everyone's getting paid — just not by each other." In Episode 117 of The Economy of Nothing, Mike & Mike chart the endless feedback loops of modern capitalism — the tech giants investing in each other, the fake profits, and the divine grifts that hold it all together. The cold open starts with Mike's "laser pointer whip" moment — the classic EoN chaos that perfectly transitions into a conversation about how value gets invented, how faith becomes a business model, and how America's economy turned into a perpetual motion machine made of belief and branding. From there, we spiral through: AI's round-tripping shell game — OpenAI, Nvidia, and Google all paying each other to pretend something real is happening. Quantum computing hype — the modern version of turning lead into gold, complete with its own priesthood. Schrödinger's cat and dark matter — science as metaphor for markets you can't observe without changing. Jesus Christ vs. the stock market — when both rely on blind faith, miracles, and infinite returns. Indiana Jones' missing whip — what happens when storytelling, like capitalism, loses its texture. Blood diamonds, Jamaica, and the illusion of value — the global cost of the American circle. It's an hour of quantum confusion, theological meltdown, and patriotic recursion — a sermon on the hill for the attention economy. YydatNBDEVGSC8sFpEYh

In Episode 116 of The Economy of Nothing, Mike Allen and Mike Bedont explore how capitalism has learned to fail profitably. Starting with a broken washing machine and ending in Hollywood's AI assembly line, the conversation tracks how everything — from appliances to art — is now optimized for replacement. Topics include: Planned obsolescence and the "five-year washer" problem Netflix, Disney+, and the streaming arms race Warner Bros. Discovery's failed Paramount bid The rise of private-money studios like Skydance AI in Hollywood and the future of creative labor The debut of Mr. Green's Pilot School concept Oceans 14 and why every heist movie feels like propaganda Stocks, antitrust, and the illusion of infinite growth "It's not broken — it's optimized." 🎧 Listen on Libsyn, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 📺 Watch the Visual Radio cut on Patreon. 🔗 patreon.com/economyofnothing

From Pokémon to Tron, this one's a slow-motion spiral into the economy of failure. Mike & Mike try to figure out why Jared Leto keeps getting work despite every movie bombing, how the Oscars turned into a feedback loop of fake credibility, and what happens when sincerity itself becomes a business model. Somewhere in the middle, Pokémon becomes an accidental metaphor for Hollywood's ranking system, Tron: Ares becomes a prophecy, and 30 Seconds to Mars gets exposed as the official sound of fake profundity. It's an episode about fame, myth, and the way art keeps eating itself — with the usual amount of chaos and unplanned accuracy. Visual Radio: https://youtu.be/StCgpvK7wgE

Bill Burr performs in Saudi Arabia. HBO Max cancels another show. Freddy vs Jason still makes no sense.   From horror nostalgia to billion-dollar hypocrisy, Mike and Mike unravel what we choose to forget — from streaming traps to the blood money behind the camera. • HBO Max and the streaming trap   • Freddy vs Jason (2003) and lost horror tropes   • Bill Burr & Saudi Arabia – comedy vs conscience   • EA Games, Dead Cells, and creative control   • Slipknot, Suicide Squad, and nostalgia fatigue   • The price of attention and the illusion of freedom    "Freddy isn't the only thing time forgot."   Visual Raido: https://youtu.be/jn1DkrSGoB4

James Gunn's Superman has arrived — but does it fly? In this week's episode of The Economy of Nothing, Mike and Mike pull apart the latest DC reboot, examining everything from plot structure to Lex Luthor's questionable plan. They debate Superman's characterization, Jimmy Olsen's sidelined role, and the film's uneven tone — balancing sincerity with Gunn's trademark irony. The conversation also dives into broader questions about modern superhero fatigue, CGI dependency, and what storytelling looks like when perfection becomes boring. Highlights include: The promise and pitfalls of James Gunn's direction Lex Luthor's flawed plan (and redemption?) Superman's inconsistent moral core Why the action doesn't land (literally) The future of superhero movies in a post-Gunn landscape By the end, the question remains — did this reboot save the Man of Steel, or just repolish the myth? Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Initial Banter 00:25 Superman Movie Discussion Begins 01:57 Plot Breakdown and Critique 03:22 Character Analysis and Performances 26:36 Villains and Their Impact 38:51 Final Thoughts and Criticisms 43:45 CGI and Camera Work in Modern Films 44:41 Superman's Unrealistic Action Scenes 46:44 Jimmy Olson's Character Arc 51:41 Lex Luthor's Flawed Plan 55:14 Superman's Characterization Issues 58:49 Comparing Superman to Other Superheroes 01:06:37 The Future of Superhero Movies 01:22:36 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

On this week's Economy of Nothing, we ask the big questions: 👉 Did the rapture already happen and we just didn't make the cut? 👉 Why does America feel more Idiocracy every year? 👉 And why is 28 Years Later suddenly #1 again, even though it's trash? We spiral from fake rapture infomercials to Andrew Jackson's bare-knuckle White House parties, UFC politics on the front lawn, Snowpiercer, nepotism in Hollywood, Netflix bumps, and how every scam becomes real once the media reports on it. Also: the upcoming EoN Christmas special, nepo babies, and the void that is the modern algorithm. 🎧 Full episode + bonus cuts at: patreon.com/economyofnothing Viseo Radio: https://youtu.be/e7pkggS5MyI 00:00 Planning for Christmas 01:16 Podcast Introduction and Rapture Discussion 02:36 Rapture Hoax and Media Influence 05:28 Scams and Media Complicity 08:07 Andrew Jackson and Historical References 16:39 Podcast Dynamics and Audience Engagement 19:19 The Quest for a Funny Subscribe Prompt 20:53 The Trump Effect on Trust 21:16 The Grift and Its Longevity 21:33 Podcast Realization and Tangents 24:46 Trailer Park Boys and J-Roc References 27:37 Rant on 28 Years Later and Zombie Movies 32:27 Nepo Babies and Hollywood's Downfall 35:54 Conclusion and Call to Action

Bitcoin, Fight Club, and The Economy of Choices! In this week's episode of 'The Economy of Nothing' podcast, we dive into a range of topics from Bitcoin's impact on the economy and choices to an in-depth discussion on the 1999 movie Fight Club. Mike Bedont AKA Captain Tracy reveals his thoughts on Bitcoin's future, debates the nuances of the film Fight Club, and whether he actually watched it.  We also review various shows on HBO Max, including Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Rick and Morty, and the new Apple TV show starring Seth Rogan and our disdain for Jared Leto. Tune in for a lively discussion filled with insights and humor!  Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to The Economy of Nothing 01:17 Cash vs. Digital Transactions 05:04 Bitcoin: Digital Gold or Scam? 17:05 The Future of Technology and Society 29:10 Fight Club Revisited 42:00 Starting with a Tangent 42:15 Diving into the Movie's Ending 45:14 Mental Health and Generational Shifts 46:54 Brad Pitt's Role and Charisma 48:37 Comparing Fight Club to Other Movies 01:06:29 Rick and Morty Discussion 01:14:57 Podcast Wrap-Up and Miscellaneous Topics  Visual Radio: https://youtu.be/LEDBwa5Zmo8 🌐 Website https://economyofnothing.com 🛠️ Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/economyofnothing 👕 Merch https://www.teepublic.com/user/economyofnothing  

This week Mr. Green and Captain Tracy map out the manifest destiny of franchises: FX/Hulu's Alien Earth (synths, cyborgs, xenos & Timothy Olyphant) The Super Mario Galaxy teaser and Nintendo's inevitable Smash-verse Spider-Man sequel fatigue and why anthologies might save superheroes The graffiti Cool S as proof we're all living in a simulation AI "shutdowns" (robots can't trip, sorry Skynet) Westerns as American myth (Deadwood, Hell on Wheels) Peacemaker and the DC Universe shuffle Plus: Oreos, Pepsi, and how podcast sponsorships might save the world™ Welcome to Episode 110 of The Economy of Nothing™ — All Simulated.

Title: $98 Is Better Than a Job | Economy of Nothing Podcast 109 Description: Mike Allen and Captain Tracy return with another round of The Economy of Nothing Podcast, and this week's theme is simple: everything's broken, but $98 at the casino is still better than a lifeguard job. 🥀 Unemployment & Gambling — Mike's $98 saga and why gambling pays more than lifeguarding. 🤖 AI Is a Grift — Google Gemini demos, NPCs, and why "Clippy 2.0" is back. 🏈 Football Is Broken — TV timeouts, betting, fantasy leagues, and refs as a metaphor for America. 🎬 Hollywood Problems — Austin Butler as the "new Brad Pitt," Dave Franco's Together movie, and the Real One Test™ (Brendan Fraser vs. The Rock). 📱 Attention Economy — Doomscrolling, smoking as a substitute habit, and phones as your second job. 🎤 Meta & Recap — From "Congress can't fix the sun" to Taylor Swift's NFL takeover, it's nothing and everything at once. 🎙️ The Economy of Nothing is a comedy podcast about capitalism, culture, scams, and surviving in a world where even AI feels like a pyramid scheme. Links: 🌐 Website: https://economyofnothing.com/podcast 🛠️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/economyofnothing 👕 Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/user/economyofnothing 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5oq4FslrPyMMql9qa7s72I 🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-economy-of-nothing-podcast/id1805857583 📻 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/082f0e43-dac5-4334-a3e4-bc82e0d50f50/the-economy-of-nothing-podcast Do you want me to also generate a shorter punch-line summary (1–2 sentences) that can sit at the very top of the Libsyn feed before the bullet breakdown? That way people see a quick hook in apps like Spotify/Apple Podcasts.      

Episode 108 of The Economy of Nothing jumps from sex myths to zombie movies to the rise of diabetes — and somehow it all makes sense (in our universe, anyway). We kick things off with a freestyle announcement and a pitch for a Mass Effect TV show, before diving into the now infamous "missionary misunderstanding." From there it's a full ride: reviewing 28 Years Later, asking life's fundamental questions, running into bureaucratic walls, and confronting heavier topics like school shootings and the diabetes epidemic. We also look at how advertising, media, and even modern video games reflect the absurd state of the world. As always, it wraps with a franchise breakdown (Mission Impossible) and a little Patreon love. Episode Highlights: The infamous "Jesus on the cross" missionary misunderstanding Why the Mass Effect TV show could be brilliant or cursed A review of 28 Years Later that spirals into a zombie rant Mike vs. unemployment bureaucracy Serious turns into school shootings, diabetes, and advertising culture The state of modern video games Wrapping up with Mission Impossible analysis Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction and Freestyle Announcement 00:41 — Welcome to the Economy of Nothing 02:27 — Mass Effect TV Show on Amazon 07:37 — Missionary Position Explained 19:01 — Zombie Movie Review: 28 Years Later 27:02 — Fundamental Life Questions 30:29 — Navigating Bureaucracy: Mike's Unemployment Struggles 33:56 — School Shootings: A Grim Reality 37:24 — The Diabetes Epidemic: A Growing Threat 41:42 — The Evolution of Advertising and Media 47:50 — The State of Modern Video Games 53:13 — Mission Impossible: A Franchise Analysis 57:36 — Closing Thoughts and Patreon Appeal

Episode 107 — Rick Mission Mort-Possible: Tom Cruise Jumps Into the Streaming Wars Tom Cruise still won't go to space, Rick & Morty isn't the same without Roiland, and the Streaming Wars keep burning bad money after bad money. In this Visual Radio cut of The Economy of Nothing, we break down: The Mission Impossible stunt obsession (Go to Space, You Coward) Rick & Morty's future without Roiland and the Dan Harmon takeover Why Netflix feels cheap, Disney feels empty, and Apple keeps throwing money at vanity projects Unemployment lifeguards, Hollywood nepotism, and corporate contradictions that make no sense It's the impossible crossover you didn't know you needed: Rick, Morty, Tom Cruise, and the Streaming Wars. Chapters: 00:00 — Introduction to The Economy of Nothing 00:48 — Podcast Overview and Host Introductions 02:43 — Unemployment Stories and Lifeguarding Jobs 08:52 — Mr. Green's Silver Screen Critiques (Tom Cruise & Mission Impossible) 18:55 — Rick and Morty: Voice Changes and Show Evolution 28:00 — Stock Picks and Market Insights 32:58 — The Evolution of Investment Strategies 33:36 — The Rise of Meme Stocks 36:30 — The Rule of Three in Branding 37:44 — Disney's Dominance and Challenges 39:01 — The Streaming Wars: Netflix vs. Disney 45:52 — Apple TV's Original Content Dilemma 53:24 — Nepotism in Hollywood 58:29 — The Future of Streaming and Content Creation 🌐 Website https://economyofnothing.com 🛠️ Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/economyofnothing 👕 Merch https://www.teepublic.com/user/economyofnothing 🎙️ RSS Feed https://feeds.libsyn.com/574135/rss

The Moonshine Crew is back, and this week Mr. Green reveals his Totally Real Stock Tips™ (please, absolutely do not invest). Along the way, Captain Unemployment battles HOAs, Cheyenne threatens society with fruit trees, and the crew decides once and for all whether movies break physics or just common sense. We rant about streaming ads as harassment, cross a Rubicon that technically doesn't exist, and dip into the ethics of AI, dictatorships, and why tire pressure lights are the true enemies of freedom. It's financial advice you can't afford to take — wrapped in car trouble, Star Wars meltdowns, and one very suspicious Hamilton reference.

From dragons to $10 ice cream in 63 minutes. In this episode of The Economy of Nothing, hosts Mike Allen and Mike Bedont veer from $10 ice cream cones to streaming ads (or as they call them, "subtracts"), with plenty of detours in between. They debate whether dragons might have been real, celebrate Twisted Metal for getting TV right, and roast the decline of modern writing. Along the way, they dig into corporate collusion, the economics of novelty pricing, and Big Pharma's slow-motion disclaimers, all while keeping the conversation funny, fast, and just a little unhinged. From nostalgic TV rants to full-on ice cream conspiracies, it's another unpredictable, entertaining ride through capitalism, pop culture, and the weird logic of the algorithm. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:28 Meet the Hosts 01:16 Unemployment 03:30 The $10 Ice Cream Rant 08:53 Streaming Services & Ads 13:04 Pharma Ads & Medicine 24:04 Economic Rants & Conspiracies 40:44 Pivot / Closing Thoughts 41:11 Twisted Metal (the show!) 45:10 The Decline of TV Writing 52:36 Dragons: Myth or Reality? 59:27 "Subtracts": What We're Calling Ads Now 01:03:58 Political Rants & Social Commentary 01:11:55 Future Plans

This week we talk pirates, billionaires, and the algorithmic rot of corporate booze.  It's a classic EoN hangout: Mike and Mike spiral through *Pirates of the Caribbean 5*, Nintendo nostalgia, weird fitness VR, and the slow death of flavor. The ghost of Four Loko lingers over everything. Also: livestream call-in culture, Google Calendar breakdowns, and the real reason Portal games feel like jobs. 📺 Visual Radio™: https://youtu.be/a79JQAQkGG4 🎧 Extended episodes + bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/economyofnothing   🌐 Official site: https://economyofnothing.com   📬 Contact: economyofnothing@gmail.com https://economyofnothing.com/portfolio

This week on The Economy of Nothing, we ask the big questions: What if Forrest Gump had AIDS? What if Liam Neeson's wolf fight was real? And what if your guest couldn't speak… because she was an octopus robot? Mike Allen (Mr. Green) opens the Man Cave™ for a cinematic breakdown of The Grey, The Punisher, and the existential dread of survival movies. Meanwhile, Captain Tracy fights malfunctioning tech, Mississippi the dog, and a sentient Nanny Bot. Sarah joins the crew—sort of—but due to technical difficulties, her voice is silenced... leading to a cascade of bits about compliance robots, gender, and divine absence. Featuring: • 🐙 Sarah the robot-octopus • 🐺 Wolf metaphors & Mr. Green's PTSD • 🙏 God's Not Dead, He's Just Off-Duty • 🐶 Mississippi the dog and her nannybot • 🕶️ 3D Glasses, Full-Conductors, and survival despair0 0

This week, we broadcast directly from Yavin 4 to bring you the Star Wars Special—a rogue transmission of hot takes, nostalgic rewatches, and corporate-media despair. Mike B is joined by Brent and David for a full-scale nerd-out over Andor Season 2, the tragic brilliance of Rogue One, and whether Clone Wars ever really worked. From Ewok basement parties to the bureaucracy of fascism, we ask the big questions: 📼 What makes Andor so good it breaks Star Wars? 🧮 Can any future Star Wars match it—or are we just optimizing content for the algorithm now? 📺 Does Resistance even exist? Also discussed: Droids, Rebels, The Phantom Menace, Caravan of Courage, Tony Gilroy, the MCU problem, and the feeling of existential dread when you realize The Search for More SEO might be the last time this galaxy had anything worth saying.

Welcome to Episode 101 of The Economy of Nothing — the first official episode of the podcast reboot, where we start building a universe from the basement up. Literally. Join hosts Mike Allen (aka Mr. Green) and Mike Bedont as they draft the blueprints for Mr. Green's man cave, dream up a parody of Wall Street inside a cartoon space truck, and argue over how much a Patreon tier should cost. Also in this episode: Is The Economy of Nothing a parody of Spaceballs or Star Wars? Yes. Mr. Green's La-Z-Boy, red-blue 3D glasses, and whip wall. "Don't date your boss's prostitute." (Life lessons from Wall Street.) Visual Radio vs. Real Radio: what even is this show? Patreon tiers, leaderboard schemes, and audience participation capitalism. 👽 Visual Radio is coming. 🍿 Let's all go to the man cave. 🎩 Mr. Green's hat is real. 💸 $150/month = immortality on the Founders Wall. 🎙️ Podcast + Visual Radio + Shorts + Sketches 📼 Full archive at: https://economyofnothing.com 💰 Patreon: https://patreon.com/economyofnothing Some times: 00:00 Welcome to the Economy of Nothing Podcast! 01:12 Space Balls Parody and Merchandise 02:31 Mr. Green's Silver Screen Critiques 03:56 Building Mr. Green's Man Cave 13:41 Patreon and Funding Discussion 22:55 Visual Radio and Content Strategy 42:03 A Tangled Start 42:10 Hair Dilemmas and Producer Woes 42:53 Social Media Deep Dive 43:45 Wall Street Talk 46:03 Mr. Green's Man Cave 49:43 Wall Street Movie Analysis 01:04:18 Investment Strategies and Market Realities 01:17:19 Show Plans and Future Episodes