The Ringer-Verse
The Ringer
The Ringer-Verse is your go-to nexus podcast feed for all things nerd culture and fandom, featuring:'The Midnight Boys': Van Lathan, Charles Holmes, Jomi Adeniran, and Steve Ahlman react to the latest in fandom and share their instant reactions to the newest nerd culture releases, all while bringing the banter every week.'Mint Edition': Steve, Jomi, and Jessica Clemons gather every other week to share their unique takes on the movies and shows that are animating the fandom.'Button Mash': Ben Lindbergh and Jessica discuss the latest in the world of video games, from headline-making new releases, to industry trends, to game swaps and nostalgic re-plays.'Splash Page': Jessica breaks down the latest Easter eggs and theories from all of your favorite content. Not sure if that was a Mephisto reference in the latest 'Loki' episode? Wondering what exactly that post-credits scene means? Eager to know how a new trailer sets up your most anticipated release of the season? Jessica will answer all of those questions and more in her video podcasts.Follow the new House of R feed for deep dives from Mal and Jo!
Episodes
Mentioned books
8 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 1h 25min
'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2 Premiere Instant Reactions | The Midnight Boys
They unpack the Season 2 premiere’s pacing and narrative choices in short, frank takes. They debate Fisk’s mayoral turn and whether it weakens his menace. They compare this Disney+ Daredevil to the Netflix version and argue about tone and stakes. They weigh costume and action design, Bullseye’s late-game impact, and which side characters should be trimmed for focus.
22 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 1h 34min
‘Project Hail Mary’ Instant Reactions | The Midnight Boys
They dig into the film’s plot setup, science-driven problem solving, and the one-way mission premise. Conversation centers on Ryan Gosling’s performance and the emotional bond with an alien character. They debate adaptation choices, directorial tone, and the film’s pacing and IMAX impact. A lively detour covers space food and playful speculation about astrophage and geopolitics.
Mar 19, 2026 • 1h 37min
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ and ‘Dune: Part Three’ Trailer Reactions! | The Midnight Boys
They react to the new Spider-Man trailer, debating cameos, Peter’s emotional state, and hints about mutations and organic webbing. They unpack the Dune: Part Three trailer, casting surprises, and Villeneuve’s tonal shift. They also argue about adaptation choices, Paul’s arc, awards potential, and which trailer will matter most in 2026.
Mar 18, 2026 • 1h 31min
‘Crimson Desert’ Is Like Everything Else and Nothing Else | Button Mash
Steve Ahlman, senior audio producer known for candid, critical takes on design and onboarding. Matt James, deputy art lead with deep hands-on playtesting insight. They debate Crimson Desert’s mystery, ambition, and visuals. They call out onboarding and UI friction. They compare influences, performance and platform concerns, and trade tips for easing the early hours.
Mar 14, 2026 • 1h 34min
The 2026 Versies Awards | House of Midnight
A playful awards rundown celebrating standout visuals, unforgettable one-liners, and the most talked-about characters of 2025. They award shocking ties, sweep victories in directing and showrunning, and spotlight breakout new characters and music. Expect lively debate, fan picks, and reactions to the year’s biggest movie and TV moments.
Mar 12, 2026 • 1h 40min
‘Sinners’ Recast and ‘Lanterns’ Trailer Reactions | The Midnight Boys
They react to the new HBO Green Lanterns trailer and debate its noir tone versus comic spectacle. They analyze casting and performances, and compare the trailer’s vibe to prestige TV like Watchmen. Then they run a white recast exercise for Sinners, picking directors, locations, budgets, and star-driven casting choices. The conversation also touches on cultural appropriation and industry realism.
Mar 7, 2026 • 1h 50min
Are 'Marathon' and 'Pokémon Pokopia' What Sony and Nintendo Needed? | Button Mash
Charles Pulliam-Moore, Verge journalist who covers Pokémon, breaks down the charm of Pokémon Pokopia. Steve Ahlman, senior audio producer, digs into Marathon’s live-service design and community reactions. Matt James, deputy art lead, weighs in on game art, UI, and hands-on impressions. They debate Marathon’s model, onboarding woes, and whether Pokopia and Switch 2 signal a fresh direction for Pokémon.
12 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 1h 20min
Armchair CEO: Paramount and Warner Bros. | The Midnight Boys
They role-play as CEOs debating the cultural and financial fallout of a Paramount–Warner megadeal. They pitch bold franchise moves from Game of Thrones spinoffs and dragon origin tales to a dark Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot. Transformers, kaiju crossovers, Speed Racer revival, and low-budget Batman concepts get rapidfire treatment. Animal moments and a Harry Potter-adjacent origin idea round out the wild brainstorm.
18 snips
Feb 28, 2026 • 1h 16min
Ringer-Verse Recommends: February 2026 (Featuring ‘Frieren’ and a Massive Month for Anime)
Charles Holmes, longtime anime commentator for The Ringer, guides a tour of standout anime and seasonal highlights. He extols Frieren’s slow, reflective fantasy, its themes of grief and memory, and why it’s a great gateway for newcomers. Short takes on Journal With the Witch, Jujutsu Kaisen’s evolution, a peak anime season, and a detour into The Mandalorian and Grogu round out the recommendations.
Feb 27, 2026 • 1h 19min
'Resident Evil Requiem' Reactions | Button Mash
Joshua Rivera, freelance critic steeped in Resident Evil lore, and Matt James, deputy art lead and longtime series fan, dig into Sony’s Bluepoint closure and Xbox leadership changes. They discuss how Requiem blends survival horror and action, dual-protagonist design, standout hospital level, accessibility for newcomers, and platform performance. Short, lively takes and final verdicts keep the conversation moving.
