Hard N.O.C. Life

Latest Episodes:

200. Pod Back Better Jan 25, 2021

Show notes

It's been a long time. We shouldn't have left you without a dope pod to listen to.

For the 200th episode of Hard NOC Life, Shawn, Dominic, and Keith are back and joined by the newest co-host, Jamal, to recap all the Nerd Pop we missed since the show's been on hiatus since July 2020. From the rise and fall of QAnon to the defeat of America's first toxic fandom president, there's a lot to catch up on. The fellas also discuss the death of Chadwick Boseman, the switch from cinemas to streaming, why Jon Favreau is better than JJ Abrams, and what they like and don't like about WandaVision.

All this and more on Hard NOC Life! Watch it on your screen, hit "play," and check this. Subscribe to all of the podcasts in the Hard NOC Media family on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and now on Stitcher Radio! Support us on GoFundMe and Patreon! Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

Bonus: Drawing Marvel Representation in Pop Culture, Presented by Scholastic Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

Hard NOC Life is still on hiatus; however, we have an exciting bonus episode to bring you!

Last week, Keith was asked to moderate a panel as part of Scholastic's "Power of Story" speaker series. Two artists, Eric Wilkerson and Pablo Leon, speak about the important of representation in comics and children's lit. You can also watch the original panel on Scholastic's YouTube channel and Facebook.

As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

Bonus: 'Hamilton' as Fan-Fiction (From 2016) Jul 03, 2020

Show notes

Hard NOC Life will go on a brief hiatus as we prepare for our landmark 200th episode. However, in honor of the streaming debut of Hamilton on Disney+, we're digging into the archives to bring you this conversation of the musical phenomenon.

Back in November 2016, we recorded a live edition of Hard NOC Life from the NOC Reading Lounge at CTRL+ALT — the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center's pop-up culture lab in the former Pearl River Mart location in SoHo. Hamilton superfans Constance Gibbs, Kendra James, and Kevin T. Morales joined Keith to nerd out over the smash Broadway hit musical Hamilton.

Special thanks to Lawrence Minh-Bui Davis and Adriel Luis from the Smithsonian APA for inviting us to be a part of CTRL+ALT!

As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

199. Batman Pride Forever Jun 29, 2020

Show notes

On the last Hard NOC Life of Pride Month, Shawn, Dominic, and Keith re-contextualize Joel Schumacher's contributions to the legacy of Batman.

In the wake of Schumacher's passing, the hosts look back at the late director's mid-90s Batman sequels with a new lens. Was the negative reaction to the Schumacher era the beginnings of the toxic fandom that permeates the internet today? How much of that backlash was couched in (cis male) homophobia due to the films' (not-so-subtle) queer subtext? In addition, they look at the character's inherent adaptability and why multiple interpretations of Batman is actually a good thing. They also dive into the possibility of Michael Keaton returning to the franchise and whether Batman stories can exist without the pro-police propaganda. Lastly, Shawn gives props to K-Pop fandom for using their superpowers for good -- which he originally predicted for Pop Culture Collab.

As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

198. Virtual Con Season Jun 22, 2020

Show notes

From Comic-Con at Home to DC FanDome, on Hard NOC Life, Dominic and Keith discuss the transition to a virtual con season this summer.

They also talk about the trend of political books aping pop culture for their titles (looking at you, John Bolton) and the recent PS5 event and confusion about the Spider-Man: Miles Morales game. Nerd poppin' this week: John Boyega Rebel Leader (and a possible Attack the Block sequel) and the anniversaries of several Batman movies.

As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

197. Lynn Chen 'Will Make You Mine' Jun 15, 2020

Show notes

This week on Hard NOC Life, Dominic and Keith are joined by the writer, director, producer, and star of I Will Make You Mine, Lynn Chen!

After eight years, the Surrogate Valentine trilogy is complete thanks to Lynn's determination, and the backing of dozens of Kickstarters. Now available to stream on every digital platform, as well as for purchase on blu-ray and DVD, Lynn tells the guys how she convinced Dave Boyle to take over the reins and her experience as a first-time filmmaker. Before Lynn, joins, Keith and Dom discuss DC Comics' split with Diamond, the passing of Dennis O'Neil, and the President's insistence on turning HBO's Watchmen into reality.

As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

196. This is America Jun 01, 2020

Show notes

Shawn, Dominic and Keith discuss the state of the world in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, another unarmed Black man in America killed by the police.

Here are some organizations to donate to, amplify, and support:

Please give what you can.

Nerd Pop covered in this episode include the Snyder Cut, Ruby Rose leaving Batwoman, the suicide of Terrace House's Hana Kimura, and how to mobilize fandom for just causes instead of toxic behavior.

195. DC Celebrates APA Heritage Month with Gene Yang, Sarah Kuhn, and Minh Lê May 25, 2020

Show notes

On a special Asian Pacific American Heritage Month edition of Hard NOC Life, Dominic and Keith are joined by a trio of authors -- Gene Luen Yang, Sarah Kuhn, and Minh Lê -- who all have AAPI-themed graphic novels out now from DC Comics!

In just the last few months, DC Comics has published a series of middle-grade and YA-focused graphic novels that not only appeal to new comics readers, but also feature Asian American characters in the lead. Yang's Superman Smashes the Klan, Kuhn's Shadow of the Batgirl, and Minh Lê's Green Lantern: Legacy -- not to mention Melissa de la Cruz's Gotham High -- mark a dramatic turning point in AAPI representation in mainstream comics. And we are lucky to have three of these accomplished authors on the podcast to discuss their contributions to the cause and the canon.

After the conversation, Dom and Keith share their initial thoughts on the Snyder Cut announcement.

As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

194. The Lin-Mando Takeover of Disney+ May 18, 2020

Show notes

On Hard NOC Life, Dominic and Keith welcome Lauren Lola -- who took a moment out of her busy CAAMFest schedule -- to talk about Hamilton and Mandalorian season 2 coming to Disney+.

Over the last few weeks, Disney+ announcements have turned the nerd world upside down. In addition to all of the casting news surrounding season 2 of The Mandalorian -- namely, Rosario Dawson, Temuera Morrison, and Katie Sackhoff potentially bringing animated characters to live action -- the Mouse House also announced exclusive streaming rights to the filmed version of Broadway's Hamilton which was originally scheduled for a theatrical run in 2021. In rule of three fashion, YA fantasy author Rick Riordan also revealed he's working on a Percy Jackson series for the Plus, satiating a legion of Demigods who have been who have been clamoring for years! Finally, in a special streaming of edition of what's #NerdPoppin -- Lauren is excited for Avatar: the Last Airbender on Netflix; Dom is watching old Spider-Woman cartoons on Disney+; Keith is curious about the new Captain Pike-centered Star Trek series on CBS All Access, while also attending the virtual premiere of TNT's Snowpiercer.

As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

193. Concluded, 'The Clone Wars' Have May 11, 2020

Show notes

On Hard NOC Life, Dominic and Keith discuss the end of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+ and how it re-contextualizes the prequel trilogy for the better.

Before diving in to the Clone Wars finale, they discuss Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez adding to her NOC cred by her recent embrace of Animal Crossing. What's #NerdPoppin this week: Dominic reminisces about Into the Badlands on the anniversary of its series finale, and Keith talks about being part of a webinar about getting out the vote created by the 2020 Project.

As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

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