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Spring is approaching, the world is overwhelming, and it’s a great time to take a walk. Allan McLeod’s hit podcast, Walkin’ About, joins the employee-owned podcast network Maximum Fun today.

In each episode of Walkin' About, Allan is joined by a guest in conversations that marry humor with very light cardio, and feature some of the hidden gems of Los Angeles and beyond. Past guests include Andy Richter at the Ferndell Nature Preserve, Lauren Lapkus at the Huntington Botanical Gardens, and Ed Begley, Jr. at Barnsdall Park. The Los Angeles Times featured the show last Fall, calling it “a soundtrack for an L.A. stroll.”

Walkin’ About’s third season begins with an episode featuring Ayden Mayeri and a walk through Little Tokyo, while next week’s guest will be Paul Rust.

“I listen to a lot of podcasts,” says MaxFun C.E.O., Bikram Chatterji, “and I...

The Game of Thrones saga still ranks as one of the best works from author George R.R. Martin, even though the live-action remake of the same left most fans scarred because of its abrupt end. Apart from the live-action series’ concluding era, the drama is regarded among the most iconic works ever created, with all its grit, gory, and violently dark themes.

A still from Game of Thrones. | Credits: HBO.

Turns out, fans seemingly owe a certain amount of credit for this pleasure to Marvel Comics. This is because Wonder Man from the comics had a great impact on Martin when he was a school-going teenager. In fact, as the author admits himself, it was none other than Stan Lee, whose creativity for the saga became a greater influence on his work than he would have ever dreamed.

Wonder Man Had a Great Impact on George R.R. Martin

Out of all the characters,...

Martin criticizes Gandalf's return in The Lord of the Rings, arguing that his death's impact should have been permanent for a more powerful narrative. Despite Martin's preferences, Gandalf's resurrection in Lotr serves a crucial role and sends a strong message. Gandalf's role in Tolkien's universe as an angelic being means he shouldn't be subject to the same rules as Game of Thrones' human characters.

Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin is clearly a huge fantasy fan, but one of his Lord of the Rings criticisms misses the point of Gandalf's death. Martin has a reputation for killing off characters, as A Song of Ice and Fire isn't shy about eliminating even major players like Ned Stark. Martin has strong feelings about character deaths, as the Game of Thrones writer believes death scenes should leave strong impressions. Many other authors are less willing to ax characters, and in some cases,...

Today, Podfest Expo, in conjunction with presenting sponsor Liberated Syndication Inc. (“Libsyn”), the leading all-in-one podcasting platform for creators and advertisers, unveiled the 2024 Podcast Hall of Fame Inductees. The 6th Podcast Hall of Fame celebrates the outstanding individuals who have left an indelible mark on the podcasting industry. This year’s eight inductees include the following internationally renowned and lauded luminaries: Adam Carolla, Aaron Mahnke, Daniel J. Lewis, Doug Kaye, Jesse Thorn, Laurie Sims, Maria Hinojosa, and Michael Butler.

The in-person Class of 2024 Induction Ceremony is taking place during Podfest Expo on Friday, January 26, 2024 between 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Et, at the Wyndham Orlando International Drive in Orlando, Florida. Tickets are available for $49 and can be purchased here. This event will also be live-streamed on the Libsyn YouTube page. What’s more, the 2024 Podcast Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky, widely recognized as Dr.

Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has opened up about his battle with depression in a new interview.

Speaking on NPR’s Bullseye With Jesse Thorn, Butler recalled his first time experiencing depression during the early days of Black Sabbath. From then on, it would recur throughout his life, leading him to seek medical advise — though depression was often stigmatized back then, and Butler’s condition went undiagnosed for years.

“I wasn’t depressed all the time,” the bassist said. “Just the occasional bout would come on me. At first, when it was getting really bad… Back then nobody ever said anything about depression or anything like that, and people were terrified to mention that you might be depressed because you automatically thought you were gonna be taken away to a mental hospital and be locked away forever. So you couldn’t talk about it to people in case that happened.

Kobe Bryant was nominated for an Oscar on Tuesday, which has led some to criticize the Academy for recognizing the former NBA star in the #MeToo era — in light of his 2003 sexual assault arrest. “Kobe Bryant’s short film was nominated for an Academy Award! That puts him on a very short list of people who have been nominated for an Oscar And have been publicly accused of rape,” comedian Hari Kondabolu wrote. “Congrats Kobe!” “Kobe Bryant was just nominated for an Oscar. I believe that he raped a woman,” wrote Jesse Thorn of the podcast network Maximum Fun. “To...

Though Carrie Fisher initially passed away in December of 2016, with the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, moviegoers were given the chance to say goodbye to the People’s Princess.

Fittingly, General Leia Organa was given a powerful, profound arc in Rian Johnson’s sequel, as she led the tattered remnants of the Resistance to Crait only to encounter her long-lost brother, Luke Skywalker – or, at least, a Force projection of Mark Hamill’s all-powerful, all-seeing Jedi, who was actually still meditating on Ahch-To just as The Last Jedi reached its beautiful climax.

True to his original promise, Johnson also ensured that Leia was left alive by the time the credits rolled, leaving the fate of her Resistance leader in the hands of J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: Episode IX). Exactly how Abrams and co-writer Chris Terrio (Justice League) plan to bring the curtain down on Leia’s story remains to be seen,...

Ask any Star Wars aficionado to identify the greatest entry in Lucasfilm’s saga, and they’ll likely point you in the direction of Empire Strikes Back.

First released all the way back in 1980, Irvin Kershner’s blockbuster sequel was a storytelling masterclass filled with spectacle and unforgettable moments, along with the instantly recognizable “I am your father” line – arguably one of the greatest twists in modern cinema.

It’s small wonder, then, that Empire is still considered to be one of the best sequels ever made. And though Rian Johnson consistently downplayed its similarities with Star Wars: The Last Jedi all throughout production, the so-hot-right-now filmmaker recently outlined the ways in which Empire‘s cliffhanger inspired his first (and seemingly last) entry into the world-famous Skywalker Saga:

The Force Awakens was the first chapter in our trilogy, Empire Strikes Back was the second chapter. We’re the second chapter in this trilogy.