Guys Of A Certain Age

Guys of a Certain Age don’t just watch Star Wars, attend comic conventions, and see movies with the aid of an app, they also read books. And if Andy Wolverton (https://www.andywolverton.com) has anything to say about it, they also have book clubs.  In this episode, Robbie sits with an old friend to talk about his new book, "Men Don't Read: The Unlikely Story of the Guys Book Club.”  

(Purchase at BookBaby Amazon non-affiliated links)

Andy jumps on with Robbie to talk his journey from band director to library and how he launched Guys Book Club and showed Oprah how it's done! Andy discusses the fateful first meeting, some memorable books read and how the club is still going strong over a decade later.

Art was out of the studio during this recording, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a Geek of the Week, as yet another DC artist passes on.  Jay keeps things in the DC universe with a new-ish podcast about the caped crusader, and Robbie updates Game of Thrones fans with news of a spin-off.  Join the Guys as another guy joins them to talk about what guys should be doing.    

In this strange new episode, aka new Strange episode, the Illuminati of a Certain Age gather to hear Jay’s wisdom and deep thoughts on the Multiverse of Madness movie, which he finally got around to seeing.  In the theater, no less. Listeners will be relieved to learn that all multiverses are not bad, and even zombies can be your friend, especially with the appropriate tie-ins.  

Spoilers abound, by the way, so be sure to watch the movie, all related movies, and prequel television limited series before listening to The Guys ramble on about it for 36 minutes.  Before getting to Strange (or too strange), however, The Guys are getting as pumped up as She-Hulk in a Mach 5 by the thought of being bought out by Team Coco.  Listen now before early retirement (or senility) sets in.  

Though they should be used to it by now, this podcast is a little STRANGE without Jay, as Robbie and Art try to weave in and out of multiverses to review the latest Marvel movie without going mad. In a spoiler-filled recap, the Guys give their thoughts on the good, the bad, and the unexpected in Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. 

Episode topics can originate in strange places, as all Guys of a Certain Age listeners are well aware.  

This one began in a grocery store parking lot, on a t-shirt that Jay happened upon.  To be clear, seeing a dude in a cool t-shirt in a parking lot is not exactly a milestone moment, but it triggered a memory of an event that is unlikely to be repeated (at least in Jay’s lifetime), and even less likely to be forgotten.  It’ll be one of those stories he tells his grandkids even if he can’t remember why he came into the room.  That’s how The Guys are defining signature experiences, and they each have one or two or ten that they share.  

From the Johnson Space Center, to the Ed Sullivan theater, and on to the offices of the Daily Mississippian, The Guys tell tales of wonder.  It’s like the Multiverse (which Nat Geo says might be real, by the way), only different.  Or like traveling to the the world of Pandora, only less blue.  Or like living in a world without iPods.  Wait, that one’s real.  Listen for the details, and be ready to plan your next adventure, GoaCA style.  

Like much of the Marvel fan community, the Guys were looking forward to the Moon Knight series, despite knowing very little about the character.  

And after 6 episodes, they still don’t know much.  What they do know is that Oscar Isaac is a brilliant actor, Ethan Hawke’s foray into the MCU was worth watching, and one shouldn’t make assumptions about hippos in costume.  At the least, the Guys were intrigued, but … spoiler alert … they probably wouldn’t rewatch it.

 In weightier matters, a new Dr. Who is regenerated (or soon will be), the CW “ungenerates” a handful of DC shows, and Canadian mounties are set to experience zero gravity.  The Guys could make this stuff up, but in this case, they didn’t.  At least they can look forward to Kenobi.  

On this week’s episode, The Guys welcome a special guest to the studio, and it’s not Robbie.  Stan Brown, a local author, joins Art and Jay to talk all things novel: his writing process, adventures with publishing, agents and editors, and how he went from writing kinesiology textbooks to paranormal thrillers.  Just for fun, Marvel Comics also gets a mention in his story. 

Meanwhile, it’s not just Robbie and the NFL draft in Vegas, it’s also CinemaCon, the convention of movie theater owners who get to hear all the big studios talk about their upcoming movie rollouts.  Then Art and Jay read about it and share it with our listeners.  It’s the next best thing.  

With Jay sitting this episode out (something about work?), Robbie and Art take a look at some of the movies and series that are coming up this summer...and beyond. (Though, no... they don't mention Buzz Lightyear.) Rest assured, there's plenty to look forward to, one project that may be gone in a Flash, and a current superhero movie that is more dead than undead. 

As the weather improves (except for the tornadic winds and such that The Guys have found themselves dodging of late), that means grilling season is coming.  It’s time to inventory the gear, scrape the dirt dauber nests out of the grill, and gather the ingredients for our favorite rubs and marinades.  

Art had better things to do on this recording day, so Jay and Robbie take to the microphones alone to talk outdoor cooking and generally make themselves hungry.  It doesn’t take much.  From go-to meats to favorite sides, fancy thermometers to new gear on the back porch, they talk of hopes and dreams, smoke and fire, and whether or not Art will ever really invite them over to see his pizza oven.  

Jay brings sad news from the pop culture side of graphic technology, and Robbie finds a way to dress like his soon-to-be favorite space geeks, for just a few dollars less than a Mini Big Green Egg, which is an oxymoron, isn’t it?  Light up the grill and listen, or vice versa.