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
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.
Feb 26, 2026 • 1h 54min
The Black TV Draft | The Midnight Boys
Four friends draft the greatest Black TV shows across five categories, debating classics, sitcoms, UPN gems, Shondaland hits, and a wild card. They argue over picks like The Cosby Show, Good Times, Martin, A Different World, In Living Color, Scandal, and The Wire. Nostalgia, industry context, and cultural debates about identity and representation fuel lively banter.
Feb 23, 2026 • 1h 6min
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Season 1 Finale Instant Reactions | The Midnight Boys
A lively, spoiler-filled reaction to the Season 1 finale of ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ with breakdowns of funeral scenes, shifting loyalties, and a wrenching character turn. They debate moral responsibility, knighthood and identity, and weigh choices between Storm's End and staying. Conversation veers to worldbuilding quirks, side character outcomes, and creator-community controversies.
Feb 20, 2026 • 1h 47min
'The Legend of Zelda' 40th Anniversary Draft | Button Mash
Zachary Small, NYT games reporter, offers reporting-based angles. Keza MacDonald, Guardian games editor and author of Super Nintendo, brings historical context. Maddy Myers, Mothership co-founder and critic, shares personal and critical takes. They discuss Nintendo history, Zelda origin stories, a playful draft of favorite Links, maps, items, bosses, dungeons, songs, and companion characters.
Feb 20, 2026 • 42min
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 and ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ Trailer Reactions | The Midnight Boys
Quick reactions to the new Mandalorian and Grogu trailer, debating whether it reads as a cinematic event or nostalgia play. First impressions of House of the Dragon Season 3, focusing on visuals, stakes, and tone. A brief detour into Toy Story 5 themes around aging and AI. Light banter about casting, Bond speculation, and franchise fatigue rounds out the conversation.
Feb 16, 2026 • 1h 18min
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Episode 5 Instant Reactions | The Midnight Boys
They debate Dunk’s character arc and whether this episode ranks among the best-written Game of Thrones installments. They unpack a bold long flashback and how it reframes motivations before the climactic duel. Combat choreography, realism, and the Trial of Seven’s symbolic weight get sharp attention. A playful tangent wonders who could lift Mjolnir while mapping what the finale should resolve.
Feb 13, 2026 • 1h 30min
February Games Blowout, Plus State of Play Reactions | Button Mash
Matt James, deputy art lead at The Ringer, offers sharp impressions and visual takes. Steve Ahlman, senior audio producer and recurring commentator, provides analysis and industry context. They race through reactions to Baldur’s Gate’s HBO adaptation and February’s State of Play. Then they share spoiler-free first impressions of six new games and debut a fun new segment highlighting quirky gaming moments.
14 snips
Feb 7, 2026 • 1h 29min
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Episode 4 Instant Reactions | The Midnight Boys
They kick off with a heated lightsaber battle debate about animated versus live-action action. The conversation focuses on Episode 4’s compact storytelling, Dunk and Egg’s emotional journey, and a standout performance by Peter Claffey. They unpack Baelor’s music cue and moral stance, debate tradition versus idealism, and note filmmaking choices that heighten the trial and its consequences.
