Podcasts

Whisky Talking E11: Ukrainian Poker

Six or seven days into the invasion of Ukraine and Russia is struggling. They may have taken one town and on the verge of taking another - both in the supposedly pro-Russian area of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia is shelling cities and bombing TV towers. The 40 mile long convoy is apparently inching its way toward Kyiv. Will western aid help Ukraine? How much support can the west provide without triggering WWIII? What does all this have to do with Twisted Sister, strip poker, and cornered rats?

Mentioned in this episode:

improvethenews.org

@KyivIndependent

@IAPonomarenko

https://www.dancarlin.com/product/common-sense-323-gas-up-the-cold-war/

Whisky Talking E10: Ukraine Not Without a Fight

Second conversation about the war in Ukraine. Heavy fighting in Kyiv and Kharkiv; the reality TV hero we needed; talks in Belarus (hope it's not a trap); Putin pulling out the big threats; we are all international finance experts now.

Mentioned in this episode:

improvethenews.org

Whisky Talking E9: Ukrainian Speculation

In the early days of the full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Paul and Steve sat down to chat about first impressions and nervous speculation.

SCH S1 Russia E2 Another Brick in the Wall

You cannot talk about the Cold War without talking about Berlin. In a personal aside, Steve talks about the time he went to East Germany and East Berlin in 1987, and again in 1990. Before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Oh, and he was able to score a few souvenirs along the way.

SCH S1: Russia E1: Putin’s Green Men

Introducing Soft Core History Season 1: Russia. This is Episode 1: Putin's Green Men.

As you may have heard, Russia has been threatening Ukraine’s border again. Depending on who you listen to, Russia is either preparing a full scale invasion of Ukraine to try and restore the Soviet Union or they are understandably just protecting their borders from NATO expansion. So, you may think to yourself, I should maybe read up on what’s going on. Like, you remember something about Crimea which was part of Ukraine but is now part of Russia and you remember that Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union but left when the Soviet Union collapsed. But how did we get from their to here? Fear not, dear listener. Paul and I have read the Wikipedia articles for you. And we will get you caught up on how we got from point Y to point Z. Episode 1: Putin’s Green Men will cover the period from the collapse of the Soviet Union to the annexation of Crimea and the invasion of eastern Ukraine

We've Got Issues 12: Afterword

In this series wrap-up, Paul and Steve discuss their favorite stories in this series. Has Paul managed to turn Steve from sceptic to fan? What do the two friends see as the future of comics? Give a listen and find out.

Thanks for listening to this twelve episode podcast series that was a year in the making and a labor of love for us here at Big Broccoli Studios. There are plenty of other stories to tell, so if you would like a second season of We’ve Got Issues, let us know.

For more great shows or to connect with Paul and Steve, go to BigBroccoliStudios.com

We've Got Issues 11: Watchmen Part 2

What started out as a murder mystery unravels into a master plan of world peace by a madman as Steve and Paul wrap up ten comic book tales designed to turn any comic book naysayer into a fan.

For more great shows or to connect with Paul and Steve, go to BigBroccoliStudios.com

We've Got Issues 10: Watchmen Part 1

Heralded by Time Magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels, DC Comics’ 12-issue series Watchmen, published from 1986 to 1987, is just two big for just one episode. In part one, Steve and Paul discuss the first half of an epic story that begins as a murder mystery, where things aren’t as they seem in this alternate reality tale of the 1980s.

For more great shows or to connect with Paul and Steve, go to BigBroccoliStudios.com

We've Got Issues 9: Spider-Man Kraven's Last Hunt

Spanning six issues, across all three Spider-man titles, Kraven’s Last Hunt sees the wall-crawler squaring up against his most dangerous foe. Published in 1987, by Marvel Comics, it’s a personal tale for writer J.M. DeMatteis, with art by Mike Zeck, exploring what it means to be a man, what it means to be an animal, and the madness that lurks between the two, as well as what it means to be a hero.

For more great shows or to connect with Paul and Steve, go to BigBroccoliStudios.com

We've Got Issues 8: Dark Knight Returns

In an alternate reality mini series written and drawn by Frank Miller, published in 1986, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns told the tale of an aging Bruce Wayne’s return to the mantle of the Caped Crusader to save darkness that had befell Gotham City. The series also changed Batman’s image forever, as well as ushering in the fourth age of comics history, known as the Dark Age. Fans either love or hate this series, but it’s success cannot be disputed as many of its story elements have made it to the big screen version of the Dark Knight.

For more great shows or to connect with Paul and Steve, go to BigBroccoliStudios.com