history

Fallen Walls Open Curtains Episode 7

It’s the seventh chapter in a podcast miniseries that looks at the fall of the Iron Curtain and the popular culture of the Cold War. To start us off, I look at what happened in Eastern Europe from March 1991 to May 1991 with a special focus on Yugoslavia and the civil wars in Bosnia and Kosovo that lasted well into the Nineties. Then, Michael Bailey joins me to take a look at The Day After as well as other nuclear holocaust films of the 1980s.

You can listen here:

Apple Podcasts:  Pop Culture Affidavit

Direct Download 

Pop Culture Affidavit podcast page

And here are a few extras for you …

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In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 100

IC 100 Website CoverIt’s time to head back to the world!

That’s right, it is the FINAL episode of “In Country”!  And in this one, I am taking a look at the last issue of The ‘Nam, which is The ‘Nam #84.  Written by Don Lomax with art by Alberto Saichann, “The Letter” follows several NVA and VC fighters through the jungles of North and South Vietnam and centers around a letter a little girl wrote to her father, who has been fighting int he war for years.  After doing my synopsis and review, I then look at the ads and the last lettercolumn of the series, which includes an editorial farewell, and give my final thoughts on the series and this podcast.

You can download the episode via Apple Podcasts or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 100 direct link

Nam 84

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 99

IC 99 Website CoverOne episode and a wake-up is left!

In the penultimate episode of In Country, I take time out from comics, movies, and the Vietnam War to talk about the war’s aftermath and Vietnam itself.  The episode begins with the history of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. along with descriptions of two other Vietnam War memorials that I’ve been to on Long Island and in Charlottesville.  I then talk about the postwar history of Vietnam and U.S. relations with Vietnam as well as look at the country in the present day via season 8, episode 1 of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.  Plus, listener feedback!

You can download the episode via Apple Podcasts or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 99 direct link

Some extras for you.

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In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 98

IC 98 Website CoverTwo episodes and a wake-up are left!

This time around, I take one last trip to Vietnam at the movies by looking at the final film in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam trilogy, 1993’s Heaven and Earth.  I review the film and also take a look at its source material, two memoirs by Le Ly Hayslip, When Heaven and Earth Changed Places and Child of War Woman of Peace.

You can download the episode via Apple Podcasts or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 98 direct link

Some extras for you.

First, a link to Thrive Networks, Le Ly Hayslip’s charitable organization that began as the East Meets West Foundation:  Thrivenetworks.org

The trailer for the film …

Heaven & Earth

 

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 97

IC 97 Website Cover.jpgThree episodes and a wake-up are left!

This time around, I look at The ‘Nam #83, the final issue of Wayne Vansant’s longtime run as artist and the last part of our look at Ed Marks’ time working with Bulldog and Dai-Uy in Vietnam.  I also take a look at historical context for the end of the war, describing what happens throughout all of 1974 before looking at the events of January-April 1975, with a special focus on the fall of Saigon on April 29 and 30, 1975.

You can download the episode via Apple Podcasts or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 97 direct link

Some extras for you.  A YouTube video featuring NBC News’ reporting of the fall of Saigon …

A scan of my copy of The ‘Nam #83, which is signed by Wayne Vansant …

Nam 83 signed cover

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 95

IC 95 Website CoverFive episodes and a wake-up left!

It’s back to our regular comics coverage with The ‘Nam #82.  In “Hue”, we see more of the Tet Offensive and the story of Dai Uy, the ARVN soldier who has been telling Ed Marks about his experience in 1968.  It comes courtesy of Don Lomax and Wayne Vansant.  I also spend time looking at the rest of 1973, which includes events surrounding Watergate and the New York Mets.

You can download the episode via Apple Podcasts or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 95 direct link

Also, in case you want to watch it for yourself, here is the Brach’s Rocks commercial featuring Rocky D, Dinosaur Extraordinare:

Nam 82

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 94

IC 94 Website CoverSix episodes and a wake-up!

It’s time to do another tour with Frank Castle as I look at two separate Punisher storylines from the 1990s.  First up is the trade paperback The Punisher in The ‘Nam: Final Invasion, a post-cancellation publication of what was supposed to be issues #84, 85, and 86 of the series.  In it, Frank re-ups for another assignment and takes on a mission to rescue a group of POWs from a NVA camp called “The Death Hole.”

The second storyline is a five-parter from Punisher: War Zone #26-30 where Ice has to rescue Frank when he is captured by a powerful gangster who runs a cartel on an island nation in Latin America.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 94 direct link

 

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 93

IC 93 Website CoverSeven episodes and a wake-up!

This time around, I take a break from my regular coverage of the comic to bring you one of the landmark films about the Vietnam War, 1978’s The Deer Hunter, which stars Robert DeNiro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep.  For my look at the film, I’m joined by fellow TTF podcaster, Luke Jaconetti.  We talk about Michael Cimino’s Best Picture winner by looking at the plot and characters but also its symbolic/metaphorical meanings; and its reputation and resonance as a film about Vietnam, war, and America.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 93 direct link

Some extras for you …

A trailer for the film:

The theme to The Deer Hunter, which was composed by John Williams:

Deer Hunter

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 92

IC 92 Website CoverEight episodes and a wake-up!

This time around, I take a look at issue #81 of the series, which is part three of the three-part Tet Offensive storyline “The Beginning of the End”, plus historical context from the summer of 1973. Then, I look at five documentaries about the Vietnam War.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 92 direct link

Nam 81

Here are links and clips regarding the documentaries I talked about:

The Fog of War trailer

 

On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam.  Watch the full episode here.

 

Last Days in Vietnam:  PBS’ website, information and clips can be found here.

 

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam:  Purchase DVD from Amazon here.

 

Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s The Vienam War: PBS’ website, information, and clips as well as how you can watch it can be found here.

 

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 91

ic91itunescover

Nine episodes and a wake-up!

This time around, I take a look at part two of the three-part Tet Offensive storyline “The Beginning of the End”, plus historical context from the middle of 1973. Then, I look at the career of Vietnam Veteran Principal Seymour Skinner.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 91 direct link

Here’s a playlist of the Principal Skinner clips that I used in this episode: