Coolest Alive

On this episode of Coolest Alive our host Jesse Blaze Snider dives into the raw, unfiltered fury of Local H’s 2001 masterpiece “Here Comes the Zoo,” a blistering alternative rock classic that captures the duo at their most ferocious; Scott Lucas’ snarling vocals and crushing guitar riffs tear through tracks like “Hands on the Bible” and “Fifth Avenue Crazy,” delivering a middle-finger salute to post-grunge mediocrity and proving that two guys from Illinois could out-rock an entire scene with nothing but attitude, distortion, and unbreakable chemistry.

Deadpool is everywhere now, movies, memes, Marvel crossovers, video games, but most people don’t actually know where the real magic of the character came from. So today we’re throwing a full-blown chimichanga-powered celebration in honor of the true mastermind behind modern Deadpool: Joe Kelly, the writer who transformed Wade Wilson from a throwaway ’90s merc into the funniest, most tragic, most meta icon in comics. Plus, DP's evolution into film, animation, video games, and viral fan culture. The insane real-world story of how leaked test footage forced Hollywood to make the Deadpool movie. And yes, my own contribution to the mythos: Deadpool in “FUN With NINJAS!” from Marvel Comics Presents #10. If you love Deadpool, think you know Deadpool, or just want to celebrate a character who literally broke his way into pop culture by refusing to stay inside the box, this episode is maximum effort.

Jesse Blaze Snider closes the week on Coolest Alive, recommending Pikmin™ 3 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch. Command five flavors of adorable Pikmin, hurl them at 10-story apples, and race a 30-day juice clock to save a starving civilization; Nintendo’s cutest strategy game hides brutal stakes and OLED glory, perfect for anyone who wants to feel like a god in a garden.

Mel Gibson Wants His $70,000, And Your Soul. Host Jesse Blaze Snider recommends the 1999 revenge thriller Payback, with Mel Gibson as Porter, the double-crossed thief who claws back from the grave for one thing: his money; choose the lean theatrical cut or the bloodier Director’s Cut, either way, Brian Helgeland’s script turns a simple heist into a feral masterclass in cinematic payback.

On Coolest Alive, Jesse Blaze Snider recommends Joe Quesada’s brutal 2003 kinda fill-in run on Iron Man "The Man in the Iron Man", where Tony loses control of the suit to a love-sick & jealous AI that loves him so much he needs him dead. This is peak hubris horror and the raw blueprint for every MCU redemption arc. Please read it before the armor comes back to life!

Host Jesse Blaze Snider recommends Disney’s lo-fi 1973 gem Robin Hood, where a fox outlaw, a thumb-sucking lion prince, and a folk-ballad soundtrack turn recycled animation into pure comfort gold; grab your bow, sing “Oo-De-Lally,” and rediscover the only Disney classic that robs the rich with a country twang and zero budget shame.

Join host Jesse Blaze Snider on Coolest Alive as he recommends the unfiltered 1995 funk-metal riot Lemonade & Brownies, the Sugar Ray album that slams Red Hot Chili Peppers riffs into Beastie Boys scratches and pure SoCal skate-punk chaos; forget the pop hits, this is the fearless, weird debut that demands you crank “Mean Machine” and live in the alternate timeline where they never sold out.

13 films that crawled under my skin and nested in my marrow, from the childhood basement VHS that taught me monsters are real to the midnight theater scream that still echoes in my ribcage; each pick is a scar, a shiver, a story of how a single frame can haunt you longer than any ghost, ranked by the nights I couldn’t sleep and the shadows I still check twice.

Fridays are for the eclectic, think VIDEO GAMES, BOOKS, PLAYS, or STAND UP. Each week, we share something extraordinary and dive into why it’s a standout. Expect the unexpected as we explore the coolest picks across all mediums! THIS WEEK: "Marvel Snap" Mobile Card Game

Thursday’s “Coolest Alive” brings the spotlight to a stellar film or TV show. Forget formal critiques, we’re here to talk about what makes live-action filmmaking so great, from epic moments to why it’s a must-watch. Catch the cinematic love every week! THIS WEEK: "Fight or Flight" starring Josh Hartnett

Wednesday’s “Coolest Alive” is all about comic books/graphic novels that shine bright. We’re not reviewing, we’re celebrating what makes this medium so awesome! Join us to discover a visual storytelling gem you’ll want to check out! THIS WEEK: Kraven’s Last Hunt GN

Tuesday’s “Coolest Alive” brings the spotlight to an amazing cartoon or animated film. A celebration of what makes animation so great, from epic feature-length triumphs to must-watch animated series that appeal to the young & old. Catch the animated love every week! THIS WEEK: Disney’s The Sword and the Stone

Every Monday, “Coolest Alive” dives into a fantastic album worthy of your time. No stuffy reviews here, just records from across genres getting deserved praise as must-listen classics, packed with cool vibes and reasons to hit play. Tune in for the best in music weekly! THIS WEEK: Punky Brüster – "Cooked on Phonics" by Devon Townsend

That's right, everyone. Instead of bringing back his music show, "All Your Favorite Bands Suck", host Jesse Blaze Snider is simply EXPANDING the "Coolest Alive" Podcast to cover a wider range of topics, including MUSIC. But WHAT will that look like? Join us for a celebration of JBS' personal musical journey as an artist & fan with a wide range of good tastes that we look forward to sharing with you for many years to come.

Fridays are for the eclectic—think BOOKS, DOCUMENTARIES, STAGE SHOWS, VIDEO GAMES, STREET FIGHTS or anything else not covered on Tuesday thru Thursdays shows. Each week, we share something extraordinary (besides music, comics and movies), diving into why it’s a standout in its field. Expect the unexpected every Friday as we explore the coolest picks...across ALL mediums!

Today's “Coolest Alive” brings the spotlight to a stellar film or TV show. Forget formal critiques—we’re here to talk about what makes live action filmmaking so great, from epic moments to why it’s a must-watch. Catch the cinematic love every week, starting with "The Rock".

Wednesday’s “Coolest Alive” is all about comic books/graphic novels that shine bright. We’re not reviewing, we’re celebrating what makes this medium so awesome! Join us to discover a visual storytelling gem you’ll want to check out, starting with MAUS!

Every Tuesday, “Coolest Alive” dives into a fantastic album worthy of your time. No stuffy reviews here, just records from across genres getting deserved praise as must-listen classics, packed with cool vibes and reasons to hit play. Tune in for the best in music weekly, starting with Flight of the Conchords' “I Told You I Was Freaky”!

Netflix, what you've just helped to bring to the masses is one of the most insanely awesome things the Coolest Geek Alive has most recently seen! At no point in your fun, well-paced, animated, pop-musical, kung-fu action film were you even close to anything that could be considered boring. Every listener of this podcast will be better for having watched your film. We award you all of the points, and may God bless your soul eternally.

Quentin Tarantino is more than a filmmaker; he’s a genre all his own. In this episode, Jesse Blaze Snider celebrates the “Coolest Screenwriter Alive,” breaking down the 13 best flicks ever penned by the master of dialogue, reverence, and blood-soaked brilliance. From Reservoir Dogs to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, we dive into Tarantino’s razor-sharp storytelling, his pop-culture alchemy, and how his scripts redefined what it means to be “cool” on screen. Whether you’re a cinephile, a writer, or just a fan of badass movies, this countdown is pure, uncut Tarantino worship, served with a side of wit and a trunk full of style.

Today on Coolest Geek Alive, Jesse Blaze dives into the polarizing new film One Battle After Another—a movie critics are already praising, but one that raises disturbing questions about the stories Hollywood wants us to celebrate. The so-called “heroes” of the film aren’t noble freedom fighters at all: they’re selfish thrill-seekers, fetishized archetypes, and opportunists who betray each other when things get hard. Leonardo DiCaprio’s character admits he’s only in it for the specifically black women. The “strong Black woman” lead chases danger through sex and crime, then sells out her friends when caught. And yet this is being positioned as a glorification of “resistance” and “liberal freedom fighting.”What does it mean if Hollywood’s idea of rebellion is built on shallow fetishization, moral bankruptcy, and betrayal? Is this really the kind of representation and resistance we want shaping culture? Tune in for a fierce breakdown of One Battle After Another, where Jesse exposes the bizarre polarity of Hollywood’s storytelling and what it reveals about the ideological landscape we’re living in.

In this episode, Jesse Blaze Snider dives into the latest Kimmel controversy to expose a deeper double standard. When a comedian on “their side” courts backlash, the left rallies around free speech, but when others (from Trump to countless unapproved voices) face similar pressure, that principle suddenly vanishes. Jesse unpacks how the outrage machine works, why nothing has actually been proven against Trump or the FCC, and how corporate gatekeepers like Disney are actually the ones quietly deciding what the public is allowed to see. It’s a fast, no-spin breakdown of hypocrisy you won’t want to miss.

Robert Redford was the MAN! A charming, strong, often subtle, but always convincing actor and a damn good director/producer to boot! His films transcend genre, including comedies, action, drama & romance, with many films touching on all 4 of those genres in a single film. Whatever the movie Robert Redford seemed to ground them in some true reality and he will always be one of the Coolest Geek Alive's very favorite actors. And today only a single DAY after his death, host Jesse Blaze Snider celebrates with 11 of the greatest Robert Redford films of all time!

He's known for so many incredible films & shows including "History of the World: Part 1", "Young Frankenstein", "Blazing Saddles", "Get Smart", "Robin Hood: Men in Tights", "High Anxiety", "Caesar's Hour" (And other Sid Caesar variety shows), "Silent Movie", "12 Chairs", "The Producers" and the most classic of "Star Wars" parodies, "SPACEBALLS"! But what are the Coolest Geek Alive's TOP SIX?! Find out that & more, including a largely unknown 1982 film that Brooks has nothing to do with.