Talking SMAC: Superheroes, Movies, Animation & Comics

232. 2026 SMACademy Awards

Josh and Alex breakdown the year 2025 in pop culture with our favorite movies, comics, games, and more!
Intro (0:00)
Sugar Coated Murder promo (4:11)
Best Movie (5:21)
Best Animated Feature (12:33)
Best TV/Streaming Show (14:42)
Best Video Game (23:37)
Favorite Comic (31:05)
Favorite Live-Action Movie Character (35:04)
Favorite Video Game Character (41:11)
Favorite Live-Action TV Character (45:02)
Favorite Documentary (49:28)
That was This Year?! (1:01:52)
Biggest Disappointment (1:03:52)
Favorite Episode of Talking SMAC (1:10:39)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:18:10)
Have a happy new year, SMAC heads!
Please remember to check out the Sugar Coated Murder podcast, and don't forget to join our Discord

231. Avatar: Fire & Ash Review

Josh & Alex return to Pandora and review the latest installment in James Cameron's sci-fi epic and first trilogy.
Intro (0:00)
No On 15! Allcast promo (1:53)
Non-spoiler Avatar Fire & Ash review (3:16)
Spoilers for Avatar Fire & Ash (23:04)
Avengers: Doomsday teaser trailer campaign (1:00:05)
Goodbyes & social media plugs (1:04:39)
Please remember to check out the No On 15! Allcast, join our Discord

230. Wake Up Dead Man review

Josh and Alex break out their magnifying glasses to try and deduce the latest Benoit Blanc mystery in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Intro (0:00)
Why no Star Wars sequel trilogy conversation? (1:07)
Why Josh doesn't like the Packers all-white uniforms (6:23)
Movie Wire Promo (10:00)
Our Instagram is gone! (10:15)
Wake Up Dead Man review (13:00)
Josh hates 4k and high frame rates (46:58)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (53:07)
Please remember to check out the Movie Wire podcast, and join our Discord!

229. Five Nights at Freddy's 2 & Zootopia 2

Josh went and saw Zootopia 2, while Alex saw the brand new Five Nights at Freddy's 2.
Intro (0:00)
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 w/Slade providing context (1:29)
I Have Some Notes promo (23:13)
Zootopia 2 (24:29)
WB/Netflix merger, Goodbyes and social media plugs (59:49)
Please remember to check out I Have Some Notes, join our Discord! 

228. Friends of the Pod: Nerd Ranks w/Stephen

Josh and Alex take a moment to talk with Stephen from the Nerd Ranks podcast about everything under the sun, including their podcast, and what makes their nerd heart sing. 
Intro (0:00)
The shared love for Zombies Ate My Neighbors (4:48)
Stephen, what'cha doin'? (7:27)
What inspired the creation of Nerd Ranks? (8:36)
Where is Stephen's happy nerd place? (10:03)
Alex confuses Christopher Lee with Vincent Price (27:54)
Horror movies, Rob Zombie and horror tropes (31:41)
What kind of horror movies does Josh like? (37:13)
We share our love of Jim Varney (39:01)
Does Stephen have any upcoming Nerd Ranks episodes he's excited for? (40:38)
Alex forgets Sam Niell's name (44:44)
The Last of Us video game conversation leads to obligatory Expedition 33 mention (46:12)
Physical media and Super Princess Peach on DS (49:28)
Favorite Mario Game? (50:59)
Crash Bandicoot & Assassin's Creed franchises (57:21)
Games with companion apps (1:01:09)
Exceptions to the rules for game genres we don't like (1:04:07)
Stephen's music (1:12:08)
Donkey Kong Country music history lesson (1:16:21)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:18:27)
Don't forget to join our Discord and join in on the SMAC talk. 

227. Wicked: For Good

Josh and Alex reunite with Justin from the Movie Wire to review Wicked For Good
Intro (0:00)
gaming Views promo (2:59)
Wicked For Good review (3:37)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (57:22)
Please remember to check out Gaming Views, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

226. The News w/Josh

Josh flies solo this week to discuss the biggest news and trailers announced in the last few weeks. 
Intro (0:00)
Game Club Pod promo (0:55)
Disney planning to introduce generative ai into the Disney+ platform (2:48)
Alien: Earth got a renewal?! (6:44)
Gremlins 3 announced (9:48)
Avengers: Doomsday trailer confirmed to play in front of Avatar: Fire & Ash (11:51)
The Super Mario Galaxy trailer (14:27)
The Devil Wears Prada 2 trailer (18:01)
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 trailer (19:29)
Toy Story 5 trailer (21:17)
Moana (2026) trailer (26:11)
Goodbyes and social media plugs (28:28)
Please remember to check out the Game Club Pod podcast, join our Discord and check out our merch store! 

225. Predator Badlands

It's a special all-guest episode of Talking SMAC!
Antonio (the Josh for this week) and Justin (the Alex for this week) from Back 2 the Balcony fill in to give a full-SPOILER review Predator Badlands!
Don't forget to support Antonio and Justin's respective solo podcasts, as well. Click here to check out the Cultworthy and the Movie Wire. 
Please join our Discord and check out our merch store!