The Worst of All Possible Worlds

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads boot up Newgrounds and take The Impossible Quiz as they dive into the bizarre and labyrinthine world of the bread and butter of the Web 2.0: Flash Games. Topics include the origins of Newgrounds, the boundless creativity (and trolling) of the flash scene, and what it means to be the lead gay technician of one of the most influential flash games of all time. Media Referenced in this Episode: Pico’s School by Tom FulpSimGirls by sim-manN by Metanet SoftwareThe Crimson Room by Toshimitsu TakagiThe Impossible Quiz by Splapp-me-doNanaca Crash! By UnknownCanabalt by Adam SaltsmanRobot Unicorn Attack by Spititonin Media GamesNewgrounds Wiki - TomFulpFrom the IAmA community on RedditTom FulpNewgrounds Wiki - HistoryHow Flash games shaped the video game industry by Jonas Richner. Flashgamehistory.com.Flashpoint Archive TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Pages 13-21 of ‘The Hidden Enemy’” // Written and Performed by Josh Boerman // Music by Wendy Carlos

Joe Kassabian (Lions Led By Donkeys) joins the lads in Odyssey for further adventures in monastic life, missionary work, and the dreaded attraction between cousins. Topics include evangelical views of Catholicism, the blatantly political work of missionaries, and why cruelty begetting cruelty is at the heart of the Evangelical project. Joe Kassabian: Bluesky // Twitter Lions Led by Donkeys: The Lions Led By Donkeys podcast is a military history podcast for laughing at the worst military failures, inept commanders, and crazy stories from throughout the history of human conflict. Patreon // Youtube // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Instagram STREAMING TICKETS FOR LIONS LED BY DONKEYS LIVE FROM GLASGOW Media Referenced in Episode: TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Thirteen Madmen for Twenty-One Monks on the Nineteenth of April at the End of the 20th Century” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “Estragon Estragonov/Melvin Mulligan/Phoebear”

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads take a walk through this beautiful world and feel the cool rain on their shoulders as they cover Anthony Bourdain’s award-winning CNN travelogue: Parts Unknown. Topics include Bourdain’s rise to prominence, his successes and failures as a documentarian, and the complex legacy of one of the most prolific observers of the modern world. Media Referenced in this Episode: “Anthony Bourdain obituary” by Tim Hayward. The Guardian. June 9th, 2018.Bourdain’s Tumblr Post “Fighting Mad”“Don’t Eat Before Reading This” by Anthony Bourdain. New Yorker. April 19th, 1999.“New Yorker Editor David Remnick on Anthony Bourdain” by Matt Buchanan. Eater. June 8th, 2018. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Anthony Ditty: Parts Known: Escondido, CA” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring A.J. Ditty as “Anthony Ditty/Producer/Dustin Bendin”

The lads throw back some drinks and bray the night away as they cover Edward Albee’s 1962 nightcap from hell: Who’s Afraid of Virignia Woolf? Topics include Albee’s traumatizing childhood, the music of his dialogue, and the boomer mentality of being afraid of Virginia Woolf. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this Episode: “Edward Albee, The Art of Theater No. 4” Interviewed by William Flanagan. The Paris Review. Issue 39. Fall 1966.Edward Albee: A Singular Journey by Mel Gussow. Applause Books. 2000.Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The Original Cast Recording. Columbia Records. 1963. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “The Autograph Theatre Company’s Season Announcement: The Unproduced Plays of Edward Albee” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. Josh Boerman as “Daddy/Albee”, Anne Huston as “Mommy”, David Armstrong as “Irish Priest”, Eleanor Philips as “Mrs. Wife/Sea Monster”, and A.J. Ditty as “Announcer/Tiniest Alice/Mr. Husband”

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Well, the dude croaked. https://jamesdobsonmemorial.com

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads grab their pencils and go back to the drawing board as they cover the never released behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of The Emperor’s New Groove: The Sweatbox. Topics include the history of Disney animation, the similarities between the animating and acting life, and what it means to make art while walking the llama-llama and taking in the panorama. Media Referenced in this Episode: “An Oral History of Disney’s ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’” by Bilge Ebiri. Vulture. July 26th, 2024. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Sting: The Kingdom of the Sun Sessions” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring A.J. Ditty as “Sting/Announcer”

The lads grab their engraved rods and play with some loose bones as they cover the LucasArts’ 1995 xenoarchaeologist point-and-click adventure: The Dig. Topics include the gaming prowess of Steven Spielberg, the incredibly fraught production process, and what it means to have have a point and click adventure imprint upon you as a child that requires you to turn a turtle into a bomb. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this Episode: A Conversation with Gary Brubaker. Tech Talk with Daniel Albu. April 6th, 2025.“The Dig is a weird LucasArts adventure dreamed up by Steven Spielberg” by Andy Kelly. PC Gamer. May 15th, 2020.The Dig by Jimmy Maher. Digital Antiquarian. July 23rd. 2021.“Exclusive Interview with Noah Falstein” by Santiago Mendez. The Dig Museum. December 27th, 2004.“Interview with Brian Moriarty” by Paco García. Aventura y CÍA. March 2006.“LucasArts Secret History #11: The Dig Bills Tiller and Eaken”. The International House of Mojo.“LucasArts Secret History #11: The Dig Sean Clark’s Recollections of Joy”. The International House of Mojo.Original Design Document for The Dig“So, a Giant Asteroid is Heading for Earth…Again…” by Luke Plunkett. Kotaku. November 2nd, 2011.“Steven Spielberg Apparently Won’t Play Uncharted Because He’s a Big PC Gamer and Only Likes Mouse and Keyboard” by Kat Bailey. IGN. October 2nd, 2024. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Brink” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring A.J. Ditty as “Professor Ludger Brink”

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads return once again to Odyssey for further adventures in jet-lag, cyber security, and the long awaited return of the godking of Odyssey: John Avery Whittaker. Topics include the interminable will-they/won’t-they of Eugene and Katrina, the logistics of proposing in the year 1996, and what it means to grow up in a religion that asks you to actively throw your feelings through the No-No Door. Media Referenced in this Episode: TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Evidence #381914: Camcorder Belonging to Chester A. Chandler, Found at the Scene of the Lakeshore Lodge Incident on June 22nd, 1996" // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring Brian Alford as “Chester A. Chandler” // “The Chain Piano Cover” by GleesinnPiano

In 1998, Looking Glass Studios released THIEF: THE DARK PROJECT, an unprecedentedly immersive and technically impressive first-person stealth simulator. Two years later, they followed it up with their masterpiece, THIEF 2: THE METAL AGE. After hounding Brian and A.J. to talk about this one for years, Josh finally got his wish. Plus, we got Jay Anthony Franke back to voice JC Denton for the interstitial. Thanks for sticking with us for 200 episodes and here’s to 200 more. Jay Anthony Franke - Cameo // Instagram Media Referenced in the Episode: Ahead of its time: The history of Looking GlassHow Thief's Stealth System Almost Didn't Work | War StoriesThe Story of Thief & Looking Glass StudiosThief-TheCircle.com --- Thief II: The Metal Age Strategy IndexThief II - The Metal Age Walkthrough by Orgulo. Gamefaqs. July 5th, 2025Thief vs. AAA GamingThrough the Looking Glass Forums TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “The Pigeon Job” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. Josh Boerman as “Garrett”, Brian Alford as “Benny”, A.J. Ditty as “Karras”, and Jay Anthony Franke as “Cramble Grenton.”

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Aysha U. Farah (All My Maidens) and Lenore (The Socialist Shelf) return to the pod to take the lads on a heartfelt journey of death and birds as they cover Giant Sparrow’s 2017 walking sim megahit: What Remains of Edith Finch. Topics include games about death, the importance of twee in the face of tragedy, and what remains of both the walking sim genre and the titular Edith Finch. Aysha U. Farah: Website // Bluesky // Instagram Lenore: Bluesky BUY AMPLITUDES HERE PREORDER JACOB’S BOOK HERE The Socialist Shelf: A podcast where we care about two things: good fiction and changing the world. From your favorite pseudointellectuals, Jacob Dallas-Main and Lenore Olson. SpotifyApple PodcastsInstagramYoutubeBluesky All My Maidens: Welcome to All My Maidens, an Elden Ring lore podcast. Have you ever played 100 hours of Elden Ring and then thought, wow. I have no idea what the heck this game is about? Well, join award winning game writer Aysha U. Farah as she invites various friends and confidants to come on and Explain Elden Ring to her. What is an Elden Ring, anyway? What makes it elden? Who are the Tarnished? Why do a bunch of guys have weird horns on their faces? Who is that dude made of roots? Answer all these questions and more, right here! Spotify Apple Podcasts Media Referenced in this Episode: “The making of What Remains of Edith Finch” by Chris Schilling. PC GAMER. June 2nd, 2018.“Whitespace: The man behind ‘The Unfinished Swan’” by Evan Shamoon. Polygon. October 9th, 2012. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “What Remains of Joshua Boerman” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring A.J. Ditty as “AJ Ditty”, Brian Alford as “Brian Alflord”, Josh Boerman as “Joshua Boerman”

Andrew Law (Boonta Vista) and the lads make for the Pacific Northwest and set up little traps in the woods as they cover Ted Kotcheff’s 1982 debut of Rambo: First Blood. Topics include the joys of practical stunts, the brilliance of Brian Dennehy, and the reactionary politics at the center of both the film and the Italian Stallion himself: Sylvester Stallone. Boonta Vista: The least consequential news from around the world from the least informed minds in Australia. Andrew, Theo, Lucy and Ben bring you the week’s stories that conveniently fit into one of their countless, concerningly specific segments. Keep up with the latest news from Nature Corner, Paging Dr. Lucy, Planely Speaking, Omens and Portents, The Hole Report and many, many more. PatreonWebsiteMerchSpotifyApple Podcasts Media Referenced in the Episode: My First Thriller: David Morrell TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Rambo: Last Blood Part II” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “Sly/Sico”

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Josiah Sutton (Fruitless) joins a lads-less Brian as he revisits the inspiration for his first video essay: Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse. Topics include revisiting old work, breadtube, and what we can learn from the ghosts from internet eras long past. Josiah Sutton: Twitter // Substack // Instagram Fruitless Podcast: A show about history, politics, faith, media, and the internet hosted by Josiah Sutton. PatreonApple PodcastsSpotify Fruitless video essays: “A Brief History of Zombie Films”Why You Should Watch Motern Media (feat. Will Sloan)”“Everyone Else is an NPC” Media Referenced in the Episode: The Tunnel by Friedrich DurrenmattPulse (2001): How J-Horror Predicted 2020” by Brian Alford. 2020.“I Can’t Stop Watching Contagion” by Folding Ideas. March 31st, 2020.“Massacre on Martin and 3rd” by Jack Saint. October 20th, 2018.Mike D’Angelo’s Scenic Routes: Pulse“The Problem With Video Essays” by Philosophy Tube. June 27th, 2025.“Steve Bannon” by Philosophy Tube. February 4th, 2019.“Wo Ich Wohne” by Ilsa Aichinger. The Dedalus Book of Austrian Fantasy 1890-2000. Translated by Mike Mitchell. Dedalus Limited. 2003. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “A Little Ditty” // written and performed by A.J. Ditty

The lads hop on their choppers and make for the 4077th as they return to Korea for another installment in their ongoing coverage of the most critically acclaimed sitcoms of all time: MASH. Topics include the evolution of Margaret O’Houlihan, the zaniness of Frank Burns, and how losing some of your best cast members can transform your show into the best version of itself. GOATMAN: Tickets // Gofundme 2002: Tickets Media Referenced in this Episode: MASH Season Four, Episode One: “Welcome to Korea” Season Four, Episode Two: “Change in Command” Season Five, Episode Two: “Margaret’s Engagement” Season Five, Episode Seven: “Dear Sigmund” Season Five, Episode Twenty-Four: “Margaret’s Marriage” Have You Seen This? Episode 135 “It!” feat. Josh Boerman and Brian Alford TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Another Brief Message from Alan Alda” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. Eleanor Philips as “Ellie Philips” and A.J. Ditty as “Alan Alda”

We hope you've enjoyed Beast Week. To conclude the week in style, we went on Western Kabuki to observe Mr Beast, learn from Mr Beast, and love Mr Beast. We watched some of Mr Beast's videos and diagnose the Beast and what he means for the world. Part 2, where we talk about what he's been up to this year specifically, will be released to the Western Kabuki Patreon this weekend. Make sure to subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/c/westernkabuki/posts

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Juniper (Western Kabuki, Ill Conceived) and the lads grab their blue jerseys and throw coconuts down a hill as they cover the first season of MrBeast’s nightmare of a game show: Beast Games. Topics include the horrific filming conditions, the so-called “games”, and what it means to watch the full-villain arc of one Jimmy Donaldson. Juniper: Twitch // Patreon // Bluesky Western Kabuki: Juniper and Caleb with their trusty producer Alex delve into internet topics du jour. SpotifyApple PodcastsBluesky Ill Conceived: A podcast about natalism. Hosted by Josh Boerman (The Worst of All Possible Worlds, Traditional Scrench) and June Sternbach (Western Kabuki, The Onion) SpotifyApple Podcasts Media Referenced in this Episode: 2,000 People Fight For $5,000,000Beast Games is the Average Mid Show on TV'Beast Games' Is the Biggest Competition Show Ever. Crew Claims Behind the Scenes Was ChaosFrom the BeastGames community on Reddit: Akira has won money in 5 previous Mr. Beast challenges going back 5+ yearsLas Vegas staff say MrBeast should be 'blacklisted,' cite OSHA, medics set for failureMrBeast’s ‘Beast Games’ Hits 50 Million Viewers in 25 Days, Amazon’s Biggest Unscripted Show Ever"Player 991 - Jeremy AMA!"State Of New York v Moneylion Complaint 2025 TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “1,000 People Play Go-Fish for $1,000,000" // Written by A.J. Ditty // feat. David Armstrong as “Mr. Beast/Mister Beast/Confused Contestant #1”, Eleanor Philips as “Karl/Confused Contestant #2", and A.J. Ditty as “The Man in the Trench Coat/Confused Contestant #3/Overworked Crew Member”

It's MrBeast week on The Worst of All Possible Worlds. To kick it off we're unlocking a premium episode we released in March 2023 where THE LADS WATCH 8 MRBEAST VIDEOS AND THEN TALK ABOUT THEM (Not Clickbait). Topics include MrBeast’s humble origins, the monetization of altruism, and the internet’s canonization of St. Jimmy Donaldson. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this Episode: The Beast Playlist “Is MrBeast for Real? Inside the Outrageous World of YouTube's Cash-Happy Stunt King” by EJ Dickson, Rolling Stone April 9th, 2022. “Mr. Beast, YouTube Star, Wants to Take Over the Business World” by Taylor Lorenz, NYTimes, May 4th, 2021. The CouRage and Nadeshot Show, Episode 38: "MrBeast Shares His BIGGEST YouTube Secrets!" The Joe Rogan Experience, Episode #1788: MrBeast. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com

This is the first episode of Ill Conceived, a new podcast from Josh Boerman of The Worst of All Possible Worlds and June Sternbach of Western Kabuki. Get new episodes every Friday in your favorite podcast client: RSS FeedApple PodcastsSpotifyPocket CastsYouTube Josh and June take a look at Promise Keepers, the organization that massed 700,000 men on the National Mall in Washington, DC for a 1997 rally that promised to bring spiritual renewal to its attendees and a new order to the social health of the country. While they didn't quite pull off the fundamental transformation they were hoping for, Promise Keepers left a significant impact on the evangelical Christian psyche. And somehow, they're still around today, desperately trying to convince the world of their definition of fatherhood and family. SOURCES: The First Promise Keepers Event: Witnessing the Power of God"Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation"Promise Keepers pledge to move from stadium rallies to the marketplace""New Promise Keepers CEO ready to see a revival among men""Promise Keepers Pour Into The Nation's Capital""The Promise Keepers Opens Its Doors To Women" AUDIO CLIPS: profile by WXYZ-TV Detroit (September 24, 1994)Saturday Night Live Weekend Update (October 4, 1997)1997 Stand in the Gap rallyCharlie Rose (October 3, 1997)1997 Stand in the Gap rallyLarry King Live (October 7, 1997)Morning Joe (April 3, 2025)Wake-Up Call, the 2025 Promise Keepers in-person summit FOLLOW THE SHOW: illconceivedpodcast.com@ill-conceived-pod.bsky.social@illconceivedpod FOLLOW JOSH: joshboerman.com@bosh.worstpossible.worldThe Worst of All Possible WorldsTraditional Scrench FOLLOW JUNE: @junlper.beerWestern KabukiJune's Substack

Dr. Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters from the We’re Not So Different podcast join the lads on a medievalist romp through the world of morality plays as they cover the story of Everyman and two of its progeny: the works of Jack Chick and a little show called Adventures in Odyssey. Topics include the Dutch origins of Everyman, the horrors of being eternally judged while nude, and the insidious pedantry at the heart of the evangelical movement. We’re Not So Different: A mostly Medieval history podcast about how we’ve always been idiots PatreonSpotifyApple PodcastsBlueskyInstagram WNSD and American Prestige Present: Welcome to the Crusades: The First Crusade The hosts of American Prestige and We’re Not So Different join forces to examine one of the seminal events in world history: the Crusades. Season 1 focuses, appropriately enough, on the First Crusade, requested by a Byzantine Empire under threat and called by a Catholic Church eager for a “great cause.” You’ll follow the expedition from its origins in Europe to the walls of Jerusalem as we try to understand why this Crusade, unique among its sequels, ended in success for the Crusaders. Website Dr. Eleanor Janega: Bluesky Luke Waters: Bluesky Media Referenced in the Episode: The Text - Project GutenbergLego VersionGSMC Classics: Great Plays Episode 120: EverymanThis Was Your LifeYou Have a Date!“Human Boyg Guy: Peer Gynt, ft. Brian Alford” The Socialist Shelf. October 8th, 2024. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “C.S. #2085: The Provenance Incident, as Recounted by Alistair Adelman on the Carolinian Bound for Provenance, North Carolina on June 18th, 2000” // Written by A.J. Ditty // feat. Brian Alford as “Alistair Adelman”, A.J. Ditty as “Melvin Mulligan”, and Josh Boerman as “The Conductor” // “The Chain” Violin Cover by Steve Bingham, Arrangement by Rowan Marshall

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall David Armstrong (Bonus Action) and the lads grab their ghosts and join the CIA as they cover Quantic Dream’s 2013 horror/sci-fi trainwreck: Beyond: Two Souls. Topics include David Cage’s whole deal, the intuitively unintuitive controls, and what it means when your storytelling is so bad, not even Elliot Page can save it. Bonus Action: Hail and well met, Peaches! Adam and Jay from the reaction channel pReview’d have started an Actual Play TTRPG channel with their DM friend David Armstrong. Come by Mondays at 7pm EST as your #internetbestfirends, along with their comedian friends as they goof and gab through the magical world of Wild Country. Youtube Media Referenced in this Episode: “David Bowie cameos and fully-rendered penises: the bizarre history of Quantic Dream” by Richard Murphy. Gamesradar. October 7th, 2013.David Cage: From the brink“Game designer Warren Spector commends David Cage's work on Heavy Rain” by Zak Islam. Neoseeker. July 5th, 2012.“Omikron: the Nomad Soul Review” by Jeremy Dunham. IGN. June 22nd, 2016. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Quantic Dream Presents: Mulhouse: Become David” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. David Armstrong as “David de Gruttola/David Cage”

This lads kick off pride month by revisiting an oft-forgotten but foundational play in the queer canon: William M. Hoffman’s As Is. Topics include the history of the AIDS play, Hoffman’s exquisite weaponization of comedy in the face of overwhelming tragedy, and the legacy of a 90 minute play that inspired an entire genre of theater. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this Episode: As Is by William M. Hoffman. 1985. AIDS-Involved Drama Syndrome by William M. Hoffman. Poz Magazine. February 1st, 1997. Acts of Intervention by David Roman The AIDS Show Warren by Rebecca Ranson “Playwright Rebecca Ranson’s Journals Reveal Turmoil in Atlanta’s Queer Community During the AIDS Crisis” by Oli Turner. The South and the Archive. October 31st, 2023. As Is script As Is movie Interview with William Hoffman TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Writer’s Block” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “A.J. Ditty” Additional Voices for As Is Excerpts: Anne Huston, Eleanor Philips, Dara Swisher and Brent Shultz