Episodes

Thursday Oct 06, 2016
Needless Things Podcast 128 – 31 Days of Halloween – The Thing Needless Commentary
Thursday Oct 06, 2016
Thursday Oct 06, 2016
Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films!
John Carpenter’s The Thing set a new standard for horror films. Not recognized for the masterpiece it was upon its release in 1982, it has since been recognized as a high water mark of suspense and terror. The combination of actors, atmosphere, and Rob Bottin’s nightmarish special effects work create an unparalleled horror experience.
Phantom Troublemaker is joined by The Rad Ranger, Ryan Cadaver of The Casket Creatures, and The Thing superfan Gary Mitchel for this installment of Needless Commentary.
Grab your DVD, Blu-ray, or Betamax cassette and follow along at home as the gang share their thoughts about one of the greatest horror films of all time!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you think!
“Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?
You can follow Phantom Troublemaker on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest on pop culture!
Needless Things’ 31 Days of Halloween lasts all month long and everything on the site will be thoroughly Halloweeny!

Friday Sep 30, 2016
Friday Sep 30, 2016
It’s a LIVE panel from Dragon Con 2016!
A presentation of the American Sci-Fi Classics Track – Larry Hama answers questions about GI Joe, the universe, and everything!
Larry Hama is the man that created identities for the characters of the 1980s iteration of GI Joe – the 3.75” Real American Hero line. He wrote the file cards for the entire toy line. Duke, Zartan, Roadblock, Cobra Commander and all of the rest came from the mind of a man who only ever wanted to draw cartoon animals. And his characterizations were so strong that to this day they are still the touchstones of the franchise, even thirty years later.
Not only is Mr. Hama responsible for these beloved characters’ personalities, he is also the writer for the entire run of the GI Joe: A Real American Hero comic book, which continues to this day.
Listen in as the great Larry Hama discusses topics ranging from the whimsical to the emotional and extremely personal in this incredible episode of the Needless Things Podcast!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you think!
“Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?
You can follow Phantom Troublemaker on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for Dragon Con news!
If you’re here checking out Dragon Con stuff and haven’t visited Needless Things before, thanks for coming by. Our writers post five times a week about toys, movies, music, and all manner of pop culture dorkery. The Needless Things Podcast posts once a week, usually on Friday.
Our 31 Days of Halloween begins next week! It lasts all month long and everything on the site will be thoroughly Halloweeny!

Thursday Sep 22, 2016
Needless Things Podcast 126 – Dragon Con 2016: The Shining vs. The Shining
Thursday Sep 22, 2016
Thursday Sep 22, 2016
It’s a LIVE panel from Dragon Con 2016!
A presentation of the Horror Track - Phantom Troublemaker, authors Karen E. Taylor and Clay Gilbert, and Thomas Mariani from Horror News Radio discuss Stephen King's book and its various adaptations!
Stephen King's The Shining is widely recognized as one of his most chilling and personal novels. Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation has often been acknowledged as one of the most terrifying horror movies ever made. And then there's Mick Garris' television miniseires, which is generally considered to be a more faithful adaptation of King's work. What are the differences and which is the superior work? Do either of the adaptations live up to the quality of the source material?
Listen in as the panelists discuss all of this and more in Phantom Troublemaker's very first panel with the Dragon Con Horror Track!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you think!
“Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?
You can follow Phantom Troublemaker on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for Dragon Con news!
If you’re here checking out Dragon Con stuff and haven’t visited Needless Things before, thanks for coming by. Our writers post five times a week about toys, movies, music, and all manner of pop culture dorkery. The Needless Things Podcast posts once a week, usually on Friday. Come back after Dragon Con for full coverage of what went down, as well as audio recordings of our panels.
Our 31 Days of Halloween begins in October! It lasts all month long and everything on the site is thoroughly Halloweeny!

Thursday Sep 15, 2016
Needless Things Podcast 125 – Dragon Con 2016: Toy Stories
Thursday Sep 15, 2016
Thursday Sep 15, 2016
It’s a LIVE panel from Dragon Con 2016!
A presentation of the American Sci-Fi Classics Track - Phantom Troublemaker, Rebeccah Hunter, Noel Wood, Sean Reid, Gary Mitchel, and members of the audience share Toy Stories! Tales of Masters of the Universe, GI Joe, and creepy 80s toys share the spotlight this time around.
Also – will Joe Crowe arrive in time to show everyone his Big Jim or will Judge Reinhold prove to be too much of a handful for our Fearless Leader?
(Spoiler Alert – Joe didn’t make it)
Listen in as the panelists and the audience engage in a live discussion about some of their favorite toys and collectibles!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you think!
“Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?
You can follow Phantom Troublemaker on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for Dragon Con news!
If you’re here checking out Dragon Con stuff and haven’t visited Needless Things before, thanks for coming by. Our writers post five times a week about toys, movies, music, and all manner of pop culture dorkery. The Needless Things Podcast posts once a week, usually on Friday. Come back after Dragon Con for full coverage of what went down, as well as audio recordings of our panels.
Our 31 Days of Halloween begins in October! It lasts all month long and everything on the site is thoroughly Halloweeny!

Thursday Sep 08, 2016
Needless Things Podcast 124 – Dragon Con 2016: Wrap-Up w/ Mike Gordon
Thursday Sep 08, 2016
Thursday Sep 08, 2016
On today’s episode Phantom Troublemaker and Mike Gordon file their after action reports for Dragon Con 2016!
Mike Gordon ran his table for New Legend Productions, sat in on panels for with Earth Station One, Earth Station Who, and more, and established the first-ever Tiki Pop Phenomenon panel at Dragon Con! Featurng the likes of Derek Yaniger and Horror in Clay's Jonathan Chaffin, this panel was a FAN-TIKI-TASTIC hit!
Meanwhile, Phantom ran a game show, provided commentary for DCW's first-ever live streaming show, and sat in on panels for the Horror and Classics Tracks.
Listen in as these two busy men compare their experiences and run down the highs and highers of this year's Dragon Con!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you think!
“Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?
You can follow Phantom Troublemaker on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for Dragon Con news!
If you’re here checking out Dragon Con stuff and haven’t visited Needless Things before, thanks for coming by. Our writers post five times a week about toys, movies, music, and all manner of pop culture dorkery. The Needless Things Podcast posts once a week, usually on Friday. Come back after Dragon Con for full coverage of what went down, as well as audio recordings of our panels.
Our 31 Days of Halloween begins in October! It lasts all month long and everything on the site is thoroughly Halloweeny!

Tuesday Aug 30, 2016
Needless Things Podcast 123 – Dragon Con 2016: The Horror Track
Tuesday Aug 30, 2016
Tuesday Aug 30, 2016
In order to bring you the final episode of Needless Things’ 2016 Dragon Con lead-ins before Con actually starts, we’re posting two days early!
On today’s episode Phantom Troublemaker talks to Derek Tatum, Director of the Dragon Con Horror Track!
For the first time ever, Phantom is working with the Horror Track in 2016! Since 2005 the Director, Derek, has been programming a mixture of literary and media-based panels for all stripes of horror fans. Learn how the modern Horror Track came to be, how panels and panelists come together, and how Derek injects his own personal taste into the programming while still brining everything that Dragon Con attendees love!
Listen in as Phantom and Derek discuss the ins and outs of Horror at Dragon Con!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you think!
“Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?
You can follow Phantom Troublemaker on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for Dragon Con news!
If you’re here checking out Dragon Con stuff and haven’t visited Needless Things before, thanks for coming by. Our writers post five times a week about toys, movies, music, and all manner of pop culture dorkery. The Needless Things Podcast posts once a week, usually on Friday. Come back after Dragon Con for full coverage of what went down, as well as audio recordings of our panels.
Our 31 Days of Halloween begins in October! It lasts all month long and everything on the site is thoroughly Halloweeny!

Friday Aug 26, 2016
Friday Aug 26, 2016
2016 Dragon Con coverage continues! Phantom Troublemaker talks to Mr. Beau Brown, Director of the Dragon Con Puppetry Track!
It’s been well established on Needless Things that puppetry is a universal language that can be appreciated by all. Every year at Dragon Con it is the mission of the Puppetry Track to speak that language to as many people as possible while entertaining and educating.
Listen in as Phantom and Beau discuss this year’s guests, panels, and shows from one of the most beloved Tracks at Dragon Con!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you think!
“Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?
You can follow Phantom Troublemaker on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for Dragon Con news!
If you’re here checking out Dragon Con stuff and haven’t visited Needless Things before, thanks for coming by. Me and my writers post five times a week about toys, movies, music, and all manner of pop culture dorkery. I do the Needless Things Podcast once a week. And definitely come back in October for our 31 Days of Halloween! It lasts all month long and everything on the site is thoroughly Halloweeny!

Friday Aug 19, 2016
Needless Things Podcast 121 – Dragon Con 2016: Return of the Classics Track!
Friday Aug 19, 2016
Friday Aug 19, 2016
2016 Dragon Con coverage continues! Gary and Joe from the American Sci-Fi Classics Track return to the show! Plus a special segment with a whole other Gary; Gary Schaeffer updates us on the Outer Space Men toy line - a perfect fit for Sci-Fi Classics!
Every year the American Sci-Fi Classics Track strives to provide the best and most engaging entertainment at Dragon Con. From fan panels to exciting guests to game shows, Joe and Gary always have an eye towards not only entertaining Con-goers, but engaging them as well.
Listen in to today’s episode for a behind-the-scenes look at the process of scheduling the Track, as well as a preview of what 2016 has in store!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you think!
Be sure to check out the Outer Space Men website and Mel Birnkrant’s fascinating Outer Space Men Archive!
“Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?
You can follow Phantom Troublemaker on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for Dragon Con news!
If you’re here checking out Dragon Con stuff and haven’t visited Needless Things before, thanks for coming by. Me and my writers post five times a week about toys, movies, music, and all manner of pop culture dorkery. I do the Needless Things Podcast once a week. And definitely come back in October for our 31 Days of Halloween! It lasts all month long and everything on the site is thoroughly Halloweeny!

Thursday Aug 11, 2016
Needless Things Podcast 120 – Dragon Con 2016: Joshua Holden
Thursday Aug 11, 2016
Thursday Aug 11, 2016
2016 Dragon Con coverage begins here! Phantom Troublemaker talks to the Ambassador of Joy, puppeteer Joshua Holden!
Two years ago performer and puppeteer Joshua Holden attended the National Puppet Slam and Dragon Con in Atlanta. His Con performance brought an entire ballroom of attendees to joyous tears and formed a special bond amongst all who were there to witness. If you’ve heard the term “wear a cape” uttered in reverent tones in relation to Dragon Con, Joshua and his friend Mr. Nicholas are the reason why.
In today’s episode, Phantom learns Joshua’s story and the import with which he carries the title of Ambassador of Joy. Most importantly, they talk about Joshua’s return to Atlanta for this year’s Dragon Con and another exciting National Puppet Slam!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you think!
“Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?

Thursday Aug 04, 2016
Thursday Aug 04, 2016
It’s time once again for the Needless Things Irregulars to discuss all of the biggest movie and television dorkery to come out of San Diego Comic Con!
Every year at Comic Con Hollywood busts out teasers, tidbits, and trailers for the biggest upcoming genre projects. This year was no different, with clips for Doctor Strange, Luke Cage, Wonder Woman, and even the forthcoming Justice League! All of this and more generated huge levels of excitement amongst the fans and con-goers in attendance. If, like the Needless Things Irregulars, you weren’t there, you can find out about all of the hottest stuff in today’s episode!
Listen in as Phantom, Head of Research Ryan, and Belligerent Monkey Jay talk about the glitz and glam of SDCC 2016!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you think!
“Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?
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