Always Hold On to Smallville (2016-present) (2 appearances)
Unofficially regarded as the sister podcast to The X-Cast, given they launched around the same time with a similar format, Always Hold on to Smallville sees my friend Zach Moore going through classic superhero series Smallville one episode a time, with some DC comics stopoffs on the way. I had never seen Smallville before Zach invited me on but its always fun podcasting with Zach, even if Smallville isn’t–being brutally honest–ever going to trouble my favourite shows of all time list!
2016
34 – Suspect
with Zach Moore
Discussing episode 2×13 ‘Suspect’
2019
96 – Solitude
with Zach Moore
Discussing episode 5×08 ‘Solitude’
Character Unlock (2016-present) (2 appearances)
Originally devised as a spin-off to Failed Critics, part of the Failed Media network of podcasts, Character Unlock has now branched off to become its own beast. A video game podcast created by my friend Andrew Brooker and his old mate John Miller, it’s a relaxed, down to earth listen (much like FC).
These guys have forgotten more about games than I’ll ever know, but it’s been much fun shooting the breeze with them on a couple of occasions.
2016
3 – The Horror… The Horror
with Andrew Brooker & John Miller
Discussing Resident Evil and horror in video games
2017
32 – Assassins Pod Pt 2: Enhanced for X-Box One X
with Andrew Brooker & John Miller
Discussing Assassins Creed: Origins and the franchise
Don’t Say the ‘C’ Word (2020) (1 appearance)
Also part of my We Made This network, Don’t Say the ‘C’ Word is a podcast created by Mark Adams during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown talking about anything *but* coronavirus.
A lovely idea, which aired daily during the 2020 lockdown, and one I was very glad to help facilitate.
Failed Critics (2012-2018) (19 appearances)
One of the first shows I had the pleasure of guesting on, Failed Critics has been among the best DIY film shows on the web, and arguably deserves a larger following. Hosted by Owen Hughes & Steve Norman, it’s conversational, down to earth and always a great laugh to be on – like chatting movies down the pub with mates.
FC has sort of now drawn to a close but returns for the occasional new episode. We can only hope one day it’ll rise like a phoenix from the flames…
2015
Avengers Minisode 4: Thor
with Owen Hughes
Discussing Thor in the run up to Age of Ultron
San Andreas, Tomorrowland & A Pod Virgin
with Owen Hughes & Steve Norman
Discussing Tomorrowland
In SPECTRE, It’s Columbo
with Owen Hughes, Steve Norman & Brian Plank
Discussing Spectre and the Bond franchise.
2016
Your Toughest Opponent
with Owen Hughes, Steve Norman & Andrew Brooker
Discussing Creed and the Rocky franchise
Quizcast: Return of the Matt
with Owen Hughes, Steve Norman, Matt Latham, Carole Petts, Matt Lambourne & Matt Aguilera
Panel quiz episode
Nice Matte
with Owen Hughes & Andrew Brooker
Discussing Green Room
Rubber Faced Bottom Buckets
with Owen Hughes, Daryl Bar & Ben Challoner
Discussing Mechanic: Resurrection and The Purge: Election Year
Blair Witch or Killer B*tch
with Owen Hughes, Steve Norman & Paul Field
Discussing Blair Witch and the franchise
Trilogy Trashing Triple Bill
with Owen Hughes, Matt Lambourne & Brian Plank
Discussing bad movie trilogies
Halloween Necromancing Triple Bill
with Owen Hughes & Steve Norman
Discussing horror movie triple bills.
Arrival
with Owen Hughes, Steve Norman & Andrew Brooker
Discussing Arrival and The Danish Girl
Unremarkable Gits & Where to Find Them
with Owen Hughes & Steve Norman
Discussing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Secret Sandra Xmas Special
with Owen Hughes, Steve Norman & Brian Plank
Quiz based panel episode
2017
The Old Contemptibles
with Owen Hughes & Andrew Brooker
Recorded live from The Old Contemptibles pub in Birmingham.
Mugs, Tugs & Logan
with Owen Hughes, Steve Norman & Andrew Brooker
Discussing Logan & Friend Request
Get In!
with Owen Hughes & Steve Norman
Discussing Get Out & We Still Kill the Old Way
The Dudleycast / Comedy Triple Bill
with Owen Hughes, Steve Norman & Paul Field
Discussing Mindhorn and comedy triple bills
Unplugged: Ultimate Haddocks
with Owen Hughes & Andrew Brooker
Recorded live from The Mitre pub in Oxford
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
with Owen Hughes, Steve Norman & Brian Plank
Discussing Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Missing Frames (2016-) (1 appearance)
Part of The Nerd Party podcast network, Missing Frames is a great film podcast in which Shawn Eastridge discusses the films people should have seen but haven’t yet, and does it on the day they first watch.
Shawn was a really fun guy to record with and since I have loads of films I probably should have seen yet haven’t, I hope I’ll pop up on this again down the road…
Observing the Pattern (2020-present) (2 appearances)
Also part of my We Made This network, Observing the Pattern is dedicated to exploring the TV series Fringe, episode by episode, in the style of shows such as The X-Cast or The Time is Now.
Originally created by Andrew Brooker, and now being show ran by Luke Winch, this is an intelligent and fun podcast which goes into depth on a great TV series. I’ve had fun in the two discussions I’ve had on it so far and I look forward to appearing on episodes down the line.
Pick a Disc (2019-present) (2 appearances)
Part of my network, We Made This, Pick a Disc is developed by my old friend, Matt Latham, and is a sort-of spin-off from Pick a Flick!, as Latham developed and toyed with this idea back when that podcast was in production. In it, Latham talks to various music fans and artists about a favourite album, unpicking why they love it.
Not the sort of show I would normally appear on, it’s nonetheless a really good podcast for music fans and podcasters.
2019
11 – Lost Horizons: Lemon Jelly with Tony Black
with Matt Latham
Discussing the album ‘Lost Horizons’
2020
Pick Up a Podcast (2019-) (1 appearance)
Also part of my We Made This network, Pick Up a Podcast sees Kurt North talk to podcasters about podcasting, basically, unpicking their process and their podcast journey.
It was a pleasure to talk my journey over the last 7 years and it leads into me taking turn as host to talk to a few other people soon, so I’ll be on this one again in a different way next time…
Podcast-616: A Marvel Universe Podcast (2021) (1 appearance)
Rarely Going: An Animated Star Trek Podcast (2 appearances)
The 250 (2017-present) (8 appearances)
Created by podcasting friend Darren Mooney, who I met through The X-Cast, and his friend Andrew Quinn, The 250 has swiftly become one of the best Irish podcasts on the web, talking through all 250 movies on the Top IMDB list one at a time, as well as any new films that pop in and out.
Erudite, interesting yet relaxed and funny, The 250 has been a real pleasure to appear on.
2017
28 – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
with Andrew Quinn & Darren Mooney
Discussing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 & the Marvel franchise.
51 – The 250 Anniversary Special 2017
with Andrew Quinn & Darren Mooney
Segments discussing film lists.
2018
77 – Avengers: Infinity War
with Andrew Quinn & Darren Mooney
Talking about Avengers: Infinity War.
103 – The 250 Anniversary Special 2018
with Darren Mooney & Carl Sweeney
Segments discussing film lists, this time in discussion with Darren and Carl.
2019
129 – Avengers: Endgame
with Andrew Quinn & Darren Mooney
Talking about Avengers: Endgame.
155 – The 250 Anniversary Special 2019
with Darren Mooney & Carl Sweeney
Segments discussing film lists, this time in discussion with Darren and Carl.
2020
2021
The Fandomentals (2020-present) (2 appearances)
The Movie Palace (2018-present) (10 appearances)
The first podcast from Carl Sweeney, who cut his podcasting teeth on The X-Cast, and continues to be a regular producer on that show. The Movie Palace corners a niche rarely seen in film podcasts – the Hollywood studio system, covering films roughly pre-late 1960’s.
It’s a relaxed, erudite and engaging stroll through cinema of old and for someone like me not reared on these movies, a real education.
2018
10 – Singin’ In the Rain
with Carl Sweeney, Earl J. Hess & Prahtiba A. Dabholkar
One originally put together by me for an aborted film podcast. It found a much more suitable home here.
13 – The Night of the Hunter
with Carl Sweeney
Discussing Charles Laughton’s one and only directorial effort from 1955. Warning: contains me singing.
22 – Mary Poppins
with Carl Sweeney & Sarah Blair
Discussing the Disney classic from 1964. Warning: contains more of me singing.
2019
37 – Goldfinger
with Carl Sweeney & Gabriela Masson
Discussing the classic James Bond sequel from 1964. Warning: contains bad Sean Connery impreshions.
39 – 1st Anniversary Special
with Carl Sweeney
A brief segment discussing 1962’s The Fast Lady.
2020
2021
The Projection Booth (2011-present) (3 appearances)
For my money, The Projection Booth is the best movie podcast on the web. Mike White, the host, delivers podcasts of incredible length and detail, frequently interviewing people in front of and behind the camera for obscure or lost pictures. What it sometimes loses in audio quality it more than makes up for in substance, and I am thrilled to be invited to contribute to the show.
2018
368 – Twelve Monkeys
with Mike White & Jedidiah Ayres
Talking about Terry Gilliam’s 1995 film, Twelve Monkeys.
2019
397 – Big Trouble in Little China
with Mike White & Vincenzo Natali
Talking about John Carpenter’s 1986 film, Big Trouble in Little China.
423 – Annihilation
with Mike White & Chris Stachiw
Talking about Alex Garland’s 2018 film, Annihilation.
Trek FM’s Standard Orbit (2013-present) (5 appearances)
My introduction to the Trek FM podcast network, Standard Orbit is a fun, enjoyable series dedicated to The Original Series, hosted by Ken Tripp & my friend Zach Moore, who I met via The X-Cast. Had Zach not invited me to guest on his show, there undoubtedly would have been no Primitive Culture, my own show on the network.
This show is always fun to pop up on.
2016
144 – Across the Pond
with Zach Moore
Talking about Destination Star Trek 2016, the show in Birmingham, UK.
2017
165 – Star Trek at its Best
with Zach Moore
Discussing The Original Series movies.
197 – Risk is Our Business
with Zach Moore & Ken Tripp
Talking the making of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
2019
268 – TOS Season 0.5
with Zach Moore
Talking Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery and links to The Original Series.
Time for Cakes and Ale’s ‘Homebrew’ (2020) (1 appearance)
A similar concept to Don’t Say the ‘C’ Word from the lovely duo Becks & Eeson from the Time for Cakes and Ale podcast, Homebrew talks to artistic people during the Covid-19 lockdown to tap them for insight and inspiration.
I was honoured to be asked to appear discussing podcasting, The X-Cast, fandom and beyond, and it was a real delight to connect with them both…
Without a Mouse (2019-2020) (2 appearances)
Also part of my We Made This network, Without a Mouse is produced by Tim Henton and my old buddy, Chris Wilson, as they discuss live action Disney movies from across the history of cinema.
It’s a very relaxed, fun podcast which takes the subject matter with an appropriate amount of seriousness, and it’s been a lot of fun to appear on. The podcast ended in August 2020.
2019
28 – The Love Bug
with Tim Henton
Discussing the 1968 Disney debut of Herbie the Volkswagen Beetle.
2020
As of September 13, 2020:
736 podcast episodes produced
389 podcast appearances
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Want to invite me onto your podcast, or interested in appearing on one of mine? Give me a shout – always keen, where possible, to meet new podcasters and explore new audio horizons.
LAST UPDATED: September 13, 2020
A. J. Black - Writer/Podcaster 