Crystal Ball chose to take the road less traveled this week by bee-lining down the Valor Lakefront and right into the hungry battlefields of the Seven Stars Restaurant. Shadow Josh, on the other hand, stuck to the rivers and lakes that he’s used to—by taking what may or may not be the prescribed route down to Pastoria City. Either way, both… creatures made it to take on Crasher Wake, but it was pretty brutal for one of them. #GrimSeason Featuring: "Santeria (Sublime)" by CC Karaoke....
Oct 24, 2023•53 min•Season 8Ep. 19
Traversing like a fifth of the map this early on in a Nuzlocke is no small feat, and regrettably some small feet on someone's team didn't make it through the other side of Mt. Coronet pass. But, we didn't let that stop us from enjoying the jaunty music and wind in our hair careening down Cycling Road—at least that buoyed our spirits enough to weather fighting some dad impersonating a Pichu's mom or the freak with three Mr. Mimes. Oh, and Maylene's fearsome Lucario. The #GrimSeason continues down...
Oct 17, 2023•56 min•Season 8Ep. 18
Some of us tried our best but we STILL didn’t succeed this week, but that’s okay, because we’re taking the long view as we look ahead to, well, a very easy gym in Eterna City. The road was a little rocky along the way, and not like ice cream, like difficulties. it wasn’t nice. We didn’t have a nice week. #GrimSeason Notes: Featuring "Longview (Green Day)" and "Fix You (Coldplay)" by CC Karaoke.
Oct 10, 2023•55 min•Season 8Ep. 17
Welcome to the Grim Season. Not only have we dragged ourselves back to Sinnoh for 2021's kawaii/chibi/uwu overhaul, but we've decided to doubly punish ourselves with another take on the Nuzlocke: SOUL LINK! Meet our twisted new avatars for the season, our first impressions of Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, and find out if one (aka both because our souls are intwined) of us happened to suffer any dearly departed 'mon on the first leg. Notes: Featuring "(Free) Horror Ambiance - Ominous Backgroun...
Oct 03, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 8Ep. 16
Hi, it’s us, Todd Snap. (Not the hunk, a different one.) We didn’t want to leave you all high and dry for three weeks so we met up to play through the new Pokémon Snap! Then we had a few too many and went back to the studio to complain about it, mostly. Enjoy!
Sep 12, 2023•26 min•Season 8Ep. 15
In the season 8A (that's right, we're calling it now) finale, our podcast titans recount their trials and travails conquering the Crown Tundra; attempts to land that hot date with Miss Honey; the hideous Legendaries they fought in Dynamax Adventures; the Galarian Star Tournament and Ball Guy's bogus grand prize; and finally throw Drew England's Connecticut champions up against Wellington Smithsmith's wealthy industrialists to determine who has the most powerful team on the archipelago.
Sep 05, 2023•51 min•Season 8Ep. 14
This week we downloaded some content from the eShop to continue our journeys for the hefty sum of $29.99 American, but you know what they say: do it for the Vine. And we’re glad we did, because we love this dang place. Some of us more than others.
Aug 29, 2023•48 min•Season 8Ep. 13
Wellington Smithsmith & Drew England make landfall on the Armor of Isle—sorry, that is, the Isle of Armor. They're immediately accosted by a couple of escaped circus freaks, who inadvertently introduce them to the locals' warriors path. Along with several children who have seemingly never wielded a Poké Ball before, they must complete three trials in order to ultimately take on the island's defender, Master Mustard. (And, in Drew England's case, win the affections of Miss Honey.) But it does...
Aug 22, 2023•48 min•Season 8Ep. 12
It’s that time of the season once more are we set aside our goals and ambitions and finally just wander around the Galar region aimlessly just trying to find stuff we missed during our playthrough. We promise, it’s much more exciting than it sounds. If you’re expecting a battle, you’ll be sorely disappointed though, because Josh doesn’t have the chutzpah to take on Tanner’s All-Connecticut All-Stars. Music: TLC - Waterfalls (SNES Remix), used with permission from Meme Music....
Aug 15, 2023•44 min•Season 8Ep. 11
30+ hours into the game, it appears that Pokémon Company finally remembered that they needed to have some bad guys in this game. So they crammed both the criminal syndicate and corporate overlord into one big, confusing plot that involves a bunch of guys in Oakleys, an underground power plant, and a non-Euclidean pile of poison bones. Oh, and Drew England meets someone(s) new from the Great State of Vermont.
Aug 08, 2023•53 min•Season 8Ep. 10
A brief leg this week that we’ve bulked up with plenty of Wild Area shenanigans and by playing ahead to Wyndon JUST A LITTLE BIT. But you’ll be glad we did, because there was PLENTY to take care of this week, especially for Josh who toiled for hours to catch Tanner a Stonjourner that he doesn’t even like. Special apology to anyone from New Hampshire this week.
Aug 01, 2023•49 min•Season 8Ep. 9
It's been a generation or two, but eventually the water routes come for us all. Fortunately, this time we have the aid of a beleaguered doctor who mysteriously controls all of the bike technology in Galar, and he's upgraded our Bikes into Water Bikes. Hope our indentured Rotom like to swim! On the far shore, we discover that Marnie is yet another nepo baby, who takes us to her family's private entrance to the giant garage that is Spikemuth—and away from the riot of challengers who she decided we...
Jul 25, 2023•48 min•Season 8Ep. 8
Lock up your Hot-Mom-loving spouses and loved ones this week—at least, if you’re playing Shield, because Circhester (pronounced see-sir-shrrr-sr) Gym has plenty to go around! You ever just start writing a sentence just to see where it goes? We're as surprised as you are by that last one. Anyway, the other game has someone called Gordie. ¯\(ツ)/¯
Jul 18, 2023•42 min•Season 8Ep. 7
Tough week for Drew England as we check in on all the various Wild Area competitions, but can he redeem himself in a head-to-head battle with Smithsmith’s team of titans? To find out, you'll have to follow us through the unsavory, drug-addled Glimwood Tangle, into Ballonlea (pronounced baloney-ah)—where we’re invited to battle in an opium den—and through a sidequest to secure a representative for the great state of Vermont. It’s quite a journey.
Jul 11, 2023•52 min•Season 8Ep. 6
Drew England spends some time chilling in the Wild Area, and Wellington Smithsmith recruits a new entrepreneur there after learning about another one of Chairman Rose's sham companies while touring Hammerlocke. Josh reveals a provocative new theory about Galar's Two Princes, and Tanner has some provocative thoughts about Gigantamax Gengar as well as Ball Guy (as usual). They also unveil a couple of new competitions—both of which Josh didn't know about—both for themselves as well as you, Bug Catc...
Jun 27, 2023•56 min•Season 8Ep. 5
Drew & Wellington push on this week into new ventures and new areas as they finish what they now know was essentially the opening tutorial sequence. With just Kabu left to stop them, a pitiful Fire-type gym leader, it’s only a matter of time before their sick machinations are unleashes upon the Galar region. (We’re talking mostly about Wellington Smithsmith here, obviously.) It was a pretty breezy visit for both gents, to be honest. But at least they got the chance to stop by and see Motosto...
Jun 21, 2023•1 hr•Season 8Ep. 4
The route was short and yet, it was still full of terrors. Or maybe that's just the bit when we tried to figure out how to battle each other online for the first time. You be the judge, but please don't make fun of us too much. We're two grown adult men after all, how were we supposed to know that a hidden menu is what you use to fight each other, rather than the one on the main menu THAT SAYS "VS" ON IT. Please excuse us. We also have a controversial pick for Trainer Danger, but Joshy's Sweetie...
Jun 13, 2023•49 min•Season 8Ep. 3
We’re joined by Greg Leatherman this week, aka Madison Sinclair, who is busy, busy, busy building the most fabulous team of “Pokémon Drag Race” stars. Meanwhile, Drew England and Wellington Smithsmith are just trying to make it to Turffield so they can take on *checks notes* J.K. Rowling? Huh. Along the way we learn about hawk in Timbs, a pretty complicated conspiracy about Gigantamaxing, and a Pokémon that’s just a big wad of, well, it’d be impolite to day what it looks like. Notes: Thanks to G...
Jun 06, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 8Ep. 2
‘Ello guv! Welcome to a new season of EXP. Share on an all-new system, in an all-new region, and on a lovely emerald isle (close enough) FILLED with all-new Barfies and Sweeties. Join wealthy industrialist Wellington Smithsmith and New England ambassador Drew England as they make their way to Motostoke City for Galar's Pokémon League opening ceremony. Along the way they meet weird dogs with lovely voices, some rowdy and fun-lovin’ stans, and the single most dangerous stranger to date: The Ball G...
May 30, 2023•58 min•Season 8Ep. 1
Season 7B/C draws to a close, even if maybe everyone participating in it didn't quite make it to the finish line. We've cleared the runway for David Sims, aka GringusD, to join us again after a brief hiatus to talk about Let's Go, the first time he played versus returning to it. Aside from traversing the surprisingly devastating Victory Road and taking on the Elite Four, we cover what we like and don't like both about the game and our own EXPLocke—with which one of our hosts once again struggles...
May 09, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 7Ep. 29
This long and storied saga is finally drawing to a close. It was months in the making, but we’ve finally pushed through and all it took was some light penis trauma along the way. We are, of course, referring to Tanner’s kidney stone, but while we’re on the topic of penis trauma, we’ve got a HOT new segment for you this week and the best part is that we want to hear from you—so make sure to tag us when you take to Twitter and TikTok to tell us about your most #MountablePokemon. We also played a l...
May 02, 2023•47 min•Season 7Ep. 28
Apparently seeking to clean up a Saffron City that's rotten to the core, Dorito Doug decides to burn it to the ground. After making such a move that's clearly not on-brand for Doritos, he's forced to cool his heels down south for a while. On the journey to Cinnabar Island, he and Caprica-Six are joined by "Daniel" aka Daniel Golson, whose team is like a delicious bowl full of pasta and named thusly. The trio debates saving the many struggling Swimmers on Routes 19-20 but ultimately decides that'...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr•Season 7Ep. 27
Look forward to some, frankly, phoned-in eulogies because Dorito Doug lost a ‘mon none of you had even MET yet and Caprica-Six can’t manage to keep the ‘mon she lost this week alive even if the fate of the entire human—sorry, Cylon—race depended on it. Otherwise, we pulverized the Power Plant. Destroyed the Dojo. Saved Silph. Sacked Sabrina’s gym. And Tanner managed to do all of that while only cheating just a little!
Apr 18, 2023•49 min•Season 7Ep. 26
First, the Rules Court convenes once again to look at the eligibility of our request for rerolls last week. To resolve the issues with Josh's Favorite Pokémon Is Mewtwo clause, we're joined by @asteroidera, aka Kel, who was the first Bug Catcher to volunteer and benevolently offer up their Mewtwo. They do EXP. Share's first-ever live trade on-air, and then after some fawning by Josh, we begin our journey in earnest. Although one of us whose name rhymes with Burrito Chug is a Mayor Cheat who had ...
Apr 11, 2023•52 min•Season 7Ep. 25
The leg was long and our legs are tired. Yours must be too, traveler. Take a seat and rest your weary body. We’ll get you a warm meal and a cold drink. Just sit back and enjoy a wonderful evening of music we have planned for you, because we’re more or less a house of blues this episode with all the damned eulogies we need to get through for all those tragically lost on Route 8. That was AFTER the grueling trip through Rock Tunnel, and BEFORE the monotonous grind through the Team Rocket Hideout, ...
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 7Ep. 24
After a frankly disturbing experience on the Cerulean Cape, our trainers needed the kind of mind-clearing reprieve only the open sea can offer. Or, at least being on a nice big boat that's adjacent to it. But from a fan club with a chairman who's a little too enamored of his Rapidash to another devastating encounter with a Machop, their troubles only seem to multiply before climbing aboard the S.S. Anne—where they will be once again denied the reprieve they so desperately long for. Caprica-Six &...
Mar 28, 2023•46 min•Season 7Ep. 23
Here's what you're looking for: https://giphy.com/gifs/YTa2CNIsZZP9x4Zb74
Mar 22, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 7Ep. 22
We might somehow still be in Gen VII, but we're finally on the Switch, baby! And we're doing it big. We've put together our own Nuzlocke variation we're calling "EXPLocke," and in this episode we go over the rules in detail—perhaps too much detail—issue some rulings on some vagaries, explain our characters, and then let them loose on the road to Viridian City. If you want to join in on the fun, we've posted the EXPLocke rules on our Twitter & Instagram @expsharepod as well as the text-only (...
Mar 14, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 7Ep. 21
The week starts with a little light teen murder and only somehow gets more explicitly illegal as Detective Tanner Greenring and his trusty “concierge” Fjillish manage to sneak themselves aboard a luxury yacht anchored in international waters where an “Eyes Wide Shut”-style bacchanal can take place without any government oversight. Detective Pikachu and Trusty Tim fuck around and find out with a cool 90 million and secure a few bags along the way before securing the biggest bag of the all… the fr...
Mar 07, 2023•47 min•Season 7Ep. 20
After closing a slew of successful cases and nursing their celebratory hangovers, Detectives Tanner and Feebosh find their next lead: one Dr. Waals, who a tortured scientist reveals is the real brains behind the creation of R. He's living on the tropical island community called Cappucci, and everyone there is a suspect. The sleuths make landfall and immediately hit the ground running, interviewing a failing Pokémon Ranger, a scheming girlboss, a gross old man, a crooked cop, and then the notorio...
Feb 28, 2023•48 min•Season 7Ep. 19
