The Socially Distanced Podcast closes out 2021 with its shortest episode ever! Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin discuss their extremely busy 48 episode year. Al and Bill talk about their favorite episodes of the year including their interviews with comedian Eddie Pence and comic book creator Pornsack Pichetshote, as well as their specialty episodes and their many review mini-series. The episode closes out with them awkwardly planning out 2022 including their new Book of Boba Fett review series...
Dec 31, 2021•29 min
The Pizza Dog Chronicles comes a conclusion as the Socially Distanced crew talks about the Hawkeye finale. Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined by returning guest Tyler McCarthy and Pop Break senior writer/editor/photographer Murjani Rawls to discuss everything about "So This is Christmas." In the episode they break down the best performances, the complexities of Hailee Steinfeld and Florence Pugh's performances, the awesomeness of Tony Dalton's Swordsman, how the series wasn't really a...
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 29 min
It's the penultimate episode of Hawkeye so that can only mean one -- Pop Break's Podcast Guru Alex Marcus is on the show. Alex along with host Bill Bodkin discuss Hawkeye Episode 5, 'Ronin' and why this episode is both their favorite of the series so far. In the episode they discuss the validity of the "murder mystery" plot, the BIG REVEAL, Yelena and Kate's hangout, the Blip, Bill's lack of latter day MCU films, the beauty that is the Track Suit Mafia, Echo's development and more.
Dec 17, 2021•1 hr 24 min
The final review series of 2021 finally has a name! The Pizza Dog Chronicles is the official name of our Hawkeye review series and we're having a blast talking about Episode 4, 'Partners, Am I Right?' Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined by resident guest for the series Murjani Rawls (Pop Break Editor & Photographer, TV & Film Writer for Substream) and a brand newcomer to the pod -- Tyler McCarthy (Den of Geek, FOX, Giant Freakin Robot). The episode finally has segments -- It's ...
Dec 10, 2021•1 hr 5 min
The second season of Socially Distanced is coming to a conclusion, but not before we review one more Disney+ series. Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined by podcast producer Lucas P. Jones and resident guest Murjani Rawls (of Pop Break & Substream) to discuss the first three episodes of Hawkeye. In the episode Murjani, Lucas, Al and Bill discuss the series being set during Christmas, the introduction of Echo, the supporting cast, Pizza Dog, the mysterious uncle and so much more....
Dec 03, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Hello Space Cowboy! The long-awaited Cowboy Bebop episode of the Socially Distanced Podcast is here. Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined by the least favorite member of the Pop Break (Ryan DeMarco) and the show's new favorite guest (Amanda Rivas - making her SD debut). The quartet gather to discuss Netflix's episodic adaptation of the classic anime, Cowboy Bebop . They talk about the damned if they do/damned if they don't issues with any adaptations, the cast and its chemistry, what di...
Nov 24, 2021•1 hr 47 min
The unofficial (but really official) third host of The Socially Distanced Podcast, Pop Break Music Editor Kat Manos, returns to the podcast after way too long. She joins Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin to discuss Disney Plus Day and help the guys drop some holiday hot takes! Topics discussed include: Thoughts on Disney+ two years as compared to its launch; Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, X-Men 97, the lack of Star Wars, Pixar and more. Also discussed are holiday pop culture traditions -...
Nov 19, 2021•2 hr 1 min
Football talk is back on Socially Distanced -- and this time it's a group therapy session for fans of the NFC East. Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin (lifelong Giants fans) are joined by fellow Giants fan (and podcast producer) Lucas P. Jones, long-suffering Washington Football Team fan Ben Murchison and Marshall Stephenson of Blerd Watchers - a diehard Eagles fan. The five commiserate over their teams struggles in the NFC East, and how each team does have a glimmer of hope when it comes to mak...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 29 min
Welcome to Arrakis! Pop Break's editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin is joined The Pop Break's version of Duncan Idaho, Social Media Editor Alisha Weinberger and Wrestling Editor/Senior Photographer "The Golden Star" Murjani Rawls (making his Socially Distanced debut) to discuss Dennis Villenueve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune. They discuss their history with the subject material (the books, the David Lynch film, the STARZ series), their favorite Villenueve film, the special effects, Hans Zimmer's ...
Nov 05, 2021•1 hr 16 min
The Socially Distanced Podcast is throwing a Halloween Spooktacular this week! Hosts Bill Bodkin and Al Mannarino are joined by an esteemed panel of horror and Halloween aficionados. Longtime friend of the podcast (and multi-time guest) Kelly McGovern returns to The Black Lodge along with Pop Break staff writer and the king of bangers and bops, Ben Murchison. Also joining the podcast, making their Socially Distanced debuts, are longtime Pop Break editor Ann Hale and Pop Break senior writer Tommy...
Oct 29, 2021•2 hr 8 min
This week, hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are rejoined by Pop Break staff writer Tom Moore to discuss a plethora of pop culture subjects. First, the trio do a deep dive into the new James Bond film, No Time to Die. Tom admits this is the first Bond film he's ever seen, which may or may not have broken Bill's mind (he's had a rough year). They discuss the future of Bond, their takes on the fate of the iconic character, their favorite actors in the role, Bond tropes that need to go as well as ...
Oct 22, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Pop Break Podcast Editor Alex Marcus is the special guest host of The Socially Distanced Podcast this week. He joins Bill Bodkin to preview some of their most highly (and not-so highly) anticipated movies and television shows debuting this fall. First, they dive head first into the new Hawkeye trailer and ponder if She-Hulk or any of The Defenders may debut in the November slated series. From there they discuss Alex's three-week odyssey where he watched nothing but The Sopranos in order to prep ...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 33 min
The What If? review series comes to a close! Hosts Bill Bodkin and Al Mannarino are joined by series regular and Pop Break senior editor Michael Dworkis and the magnificently named Ken Grand-Pierre to discuss the final episode of the first season of What If? "What If? The Watcher Broke his Oath." They discuss the good and bad the episode, their love of Party Thor, the end credits sequence as well as the series as a whole.
Oct 08, 2021•1 hr 16 min
The Socially Distanced Podcast returns to its review of Marvel's What If? Bill Bodkin is flying solo as Al Mannarino is on "assignment" this week. Good news is he's rejoined by two excellent guests -- senior writer Matt "Big Cat" Widdis and senior editor Michael Dworkis to discuss the penultimate episode the animated series' first season. The triumvirate discuss the physical involvement of The Watcher in the episode, the bizarre Armin Zola subplot, the vocal chops of Ross Marquand (who voiced Ul...
Oct 01, 2021•47 min
The least-liked member of ThePopBreak.com, Ryan DeMarco, joins hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin to discuss the third installment of the Sea.Hear.Now Music & Arts Festival that took place in Asbury Park, NJ on September 18 and 19. Ryan, Al and Bill talk about the performances that blew them away, how great Billy Idol's band was, attending a massive musical festival after nearly two years of social distancing, who they'd like to see for the 2022 version of the festival and more.
Sep 24, 2021•1 hr 15 min
One of the greatest MCU characters of all-time is the subject of the 74th edition of The Socially Distanced Podcast. Pop Break Senior Writer Tom Moore (also of In Their Own League & Moore Reviews) joins hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin to discuss the 6th episode of What If? -- the animated MCU series streaming every Wednesday on Disney+ They discuss the vocal performances in the episode and how Michael B. Jordan's return to the Killmonger role was vital to the success of the episode. They ...
Sep 17, 2021•1 hr 9 min
It's the dreaded zombies episode of Marvel's What If...? or IS IT dreaded? Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined by Pop Break senior writer and host of the soon-to-debut podcast series 'Wrestling with Mental Health' Michael Dworkis to discuss What If...? Episode 5. They discuss if the zombie-laden episode actually worked or did it fall victim to the fact zombies have become a tired pop culture trope. They talk about the lack of runtime for the episode, the inclusion of the always-amazing...
Sep 10, 2021•1 hr 12 min
This week Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin enter the multiverse of madness with special guest and #1 fan of the podcast - Nick Porcaro! This week the guys talk about What If ...? Episode 4 "What if Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?" In the episode they break down the very uncharacteristic vocal performance from Benedict Cumberbatch, the darkness of the episode, how the episode will impact the MCU going forward (if at all), the art and animation style of the episode as well as the i...
Sep 03, 2021•56 min
The What If...We Podcasted About What If...? review series continues with a look at the third episode 'What If...The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?" Bill Bodkin flies solo in the host seat as Al Mannarino takes his annual summer holiday from the show. However, he's not alone! It's a double debut as one of Pop Break's longest running writers, Senior Editor Mike Dworkis and Senior Staff Writer (and What If...? Reviewer) Matt Widdis join the show. On the pod, Mike and Matt talk about their histor...
Aug 27, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Another podcast, another chance to talk about a Disney+ series. Yes, the podcast that is definitely not sponsored or acknowledged by Disney, Marvel or Disney+ is backing talking about the latest MCU series streaming on Disney+, What If...? Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined by their friend and multi-time Socially Distanced guest, Ken Grand Pierre (host of The New Exchange with Ken Grand Pierre ). In this episode they discuss the first two episodes of the show -- which was adapted from...
Aug 20, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Squad up! The Socially Distanced Podcast is back at the movies. In the 69th episode hosts Al "Rick Flagg" Mannarino and Bill "King Shark" Bodkin are talking about James Gunn's The Suicide Squad -- now streaming on HBO MAX and playing in theaters. However they are not alone. Pop Break Podcast Guru Alex "Please Don't Call Me Amanda Waller Ever" Marcus (he's more akin to Sebastian aka Chrispratt) and Pop Break Social Media gun-for-hire Alisha "Black Guard" Weinberger join the episode to discuss all...
Aug 13, 2021•1 hr 16 min
We're back from our short break with the old format! Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin return for a low-key two-person show focusing on trailers and news. In the "Seriously WTF" segment they look at the releases of F9, Black Widow, Space Jam: Legacy and Jungle Cruise and their box performances and wonder if we can consider any movie released in 2021 a "flop" by pre-pandemic standards. They also look at the conundrum of releasing films in theaters and on streaming platforms and how that will imp...
Aug 06, 2021•1 hr 5 min
The Socially Distanced Podcast stays in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as they review the latest MCU entry, Black Widow. Bill Bodkin hosts the episode and is joined by the unofficial (but really official) hosts of the show, Pop Break Music Editor Kat Manos and former WandaVision resident guest, Cole Rothacker. They discuss an article in The Atlantic which theorizes that Black Widow's box office performance is not only hurting movie theaters, but also backfiring on studios due to the simultaneous ...
Jul 23, 2021•1 hr 23 min
The Socially Distanced Podcast wraps it up its 'Low-Key' Loki Review Series by discussing the announced "season one" finale of Loki, 'For All Time. Always.' Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin jump through the sacred timeline and are joined by Pop Break's podcast editor Lucas P. Jones and Pop Break senior writer Ryan DeMarco to discuss the finale. For those who don't now this is a reunion of the News Over Brews podcast -- a show Al, Ryan and Lucas ran in the mid-2010s. In the episode, they discus...
Jul 16, 2021•1 hr 20 min
The King of Penultimate Reviews Alex Marcus (Pop Break's Podcast Editor & Host of the Cinema Joes Podcast) joins Bill Bodkin and Al Mannarino for the penultimate review of Loki's first season. In the episode the trio truly 'Journey Into Mystery' when they discuss the multitude of Lokis, the motivations of Renslayer, the future of Sylvie, how the episodes ties into the MCU and so much more.
Jul 09, 2021•1 hr 25 min
The Socially Distanced Podcast returns for the fourth installment of their "Low-Key" Loki podcast. Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined by the first couple of the Socially Distanced Podcast -- Pop Break Music Editor Kat Manos and former WandaVision (aka The WandaDistanced Review Series) resident guest Cole Rothacker. In the episode they discuss a lot of theories and breadcrumbs: Is Mobius M. Mobius dead? Where did Loki end up? What's up with alligator Loki? Who are The Timekeepers reall...
Jul 02, 2021•1 hr 36 min
The third part of the 'Low Key' Loki Review Podcast looks at Episode 3 of the MCU series, 'Lamentis.' Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined on the sacred timeline by Courtney & Marshall -- the hosts of Pop Break's monthly "Blerd Watchers" podcast (found in the Pop Break TV hub) as well as the Blerd Life with My Wife Podcast (available on Spotify, Anchor, Google and Apple Podcasts). On the podcast they discuss the introduction of Sophia Di Martino's "Sylvie" character -- how she stack...
Jun 25, 2021•1 hr 28 min
DJ and Michelle Chapman of the Roses & Rejections Podcast invade the sacred timeline of The Socially Distanced Podcast to discuss Loki Episode 2, 'The Variant.' In the episode DJ & Michelle discuss the awesomeness of Owen Wilson, Lady Loki, Easter Eggs, disasters, and Disney+ event series moving to Wednesdays with Bill & Al.
Jun 18, 2021•1 hr 22 min
The Socially Distanced Podcast returns to the MCU and kicks off their Loki review series. Pop Break Social Media Guru and unofficial Blade Runner, Alisha Weinberger rejoins the podcast (after a lengthy time between eps) to discuss the premiere episode of The God of Mischief's first starring role. Alisha, Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin discuss the definitive and distinctive aesthetic of the series, the performances of Owen Wilson and Tom Hiddleston, theorizing where the series will take us and how ...
Jun 11, 2021•1 hr 2 min
The Socially Distanced Podcast return to its old format (well, for one week at least). Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined by Pop Break's music editor and the unofficial third host of the series -- Kat Manos. The trio discuss the purchase of MGM by Amazon and what that means for the future of James Bond. They also look at the trailer for Edgar Wright's new film Last Night in SoHo and the return of concerts and festivals to the U.S.
Jun 03, 2021•1 hr 52 min
