No Bad Ideas

Latest Episodes:

Tanking The Market (With Ethan Warren) Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

What's even better news than a new episode of NBI? What's EVEN BETTER news than a new 70mm print of Boogie Nights? Film critic extraordinary Ethan Warren has just the qualifications to help us turn horrible ideas into movie pitches, and we're delighted to invite him to the NBI hot seat.

First, Zach gives us a Twitch stream gone awry and we turn it into a truly twisted animated rom-com thriller about two fish (yes fish) with an entire Internet full of possibilities. Then Gabriel offers up an unusual relationship quandry and we turn it into a mumblecore classic of irrational love, and a married couple who both really need to break up and kind of deserve each other.

Finally, we talk to Ethan about the joys of writing about cinema, how to watch attentively, finding the right entrance to a rabbit hole, and just who this Paul Thomas Anderson guy is, anyway.

Plus: the perfect combination of high stakes and ASMR, a convenient paraglider, an overwhelming passion for Arbys, Kids in the Hall candy, and reading through the terms of service.

Today's Bad Ideas™:
Idea #1
Idea #2

For more of Ethan's work, you can buy his book! Check out The Cinema Paul Thomas Anderson: American Apocrypha as an ebook or pre-order a physical copy now! You can also find more of Ethan's work on his website and also check him out on Twitter.

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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A Grand Total of Zero Saw Movies Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

Today on No Bad Ideas... fraud! Inflatable dolls! Possessed objects! American cinema! And more!

For our first bad idea today, Zach brings us an article about some financial crimes inspired by the 1999 film Office Space. The gang decides to turn that into a radical reboot of a very, very different movie: Saw! Then, Gabriel presents the story of a man who used an inflatable Grinch doll in order to use the carpool lane on the highway. The trio turns it into a story of a man who is forced to reckon with his distaste for the Christmas holidays by a very unusual presence.

All of that, plus: people riding shotgun, shopping malls burning down, criminal masterminds, bonding experiences, and deep wells.

Today's Bad Ideas™:
Idea #1
Idea #2

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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The Wingman Argument Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

We're back! New year, same human species, which means EVEN MORE! BAD! IDEAS!
The NBI is back and better than ever in this year 2023 AC (after covid). We are tweaking the show's release schedule - because it's ours and we can do that - so look forword to bi-monthly episodes of NBI hitting your feed every *other* Monday.

Starting with this one! Gabriel kicks us off with one last holiday tradition that can also settle scores all year round, and we turn it into a heartwarming tale of two families who need to save face, protect cute animals, and fake an epic fight. Then Sarah brings us a tale of military misconduct that we spin right around into a story of byzantine beaurocracy gone mad... but as shot by Michael Bay.

Plus: not paying attention in Biology class, abusing power for oral health, failing upwards, dreams of becoming a rodeo clown, and the next step for The People's Court.

Today's Bad Ideas™:
Idea #1
Idea #2

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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Death Sandwich Nov 30, 2022

Show notes

It's the last episode of No Bad Ideas of 2022! We are celebrating with stories about online harassment and dysfunctional families!

For our first story, Zach brings us the story of weaponized online harassment. The gang does their best to turn it into a horror story about death that can be directly sent to those you don't like... and then bring back a classic NBI villain from a previous story to make it all come together. Then, Gabriel brings us the story of a family where half the members are treated as second-class citizens. The squad turns it into an anti-romcom about someone that wants to get out of a relationship without breaking up with their partner... and then into a Snowpierecer-style action thriller.

Plus: deadly tweets, the Lord's work, Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett dynamics, Star Wars villains, and NBI's first spinoff series, Monocle Zach.

Today's Bad Ideas™:
Idea #1
Idea #2

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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John Wick University (With Wil Williams) Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

We return this week, or at least two of us do, to inflict terrible ideas onto one of our favorite people in podcasting: Wil Williams!

Sarah kicks us off with a high school student's nightmare made somehow even worse, and we turn it into a spy heist thriller in the grand tradition of Agent Cody Banks. Then Zach takes us to a terrible idea that fortunately never reached 30,000 feet, but we imagine the terrible story and tonal chaos that would ensue if someone brought a gun onto an airplane... inside of a chicken.

Finally, we have a great conversation with Wil about finishing up the final season of Valence, how characters shift and reveal new facets of themselves across mediums, the importance of accountability and collaborators, the references that can help capture the feeling of a fictional world, and more.

Plus: a superspy double agent, a sound designer's dream, the goth girls/barbie girls alliance, #rawchicken, and stealing from Little Miss Sunshine.

Today's Bad Ideas™:
Idea #1
Idea #2

If you want to check out Wil and more of their work, you can check out Valence online or on your favorite podcatcher, and also check out Wil's website.

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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Legit (With Josh Rubino) Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

Today the NBI squad is joined by a voice actor of intrigue and mystery, the amazing Josh Rubino, to talk about bears, wolves, and evil villains!

In our first idea, Gabriel brings us the tale of two wrestlers who take on a bear and find it to be a... surprisingly challenging experience! Who knew?! The gang turns it into a gritty, grizzly reboot of a beloved cartoon show. Then, Sarah brings us the story of a scheme to make wolves less comfortable around people. The gang turns it into a heartwarming story of a child reconnecting with their estranged parent in the woods with paintball.

All of that, plus: the secrets of voice acting, riled-up savage animals, Ranger Rick, dangerous games, and a bloody collar, tie, and hat.

Today's Bad Ideas™:
Idea #1
Idea #2

To check out more of Josh's work, please check out their website and their Twitter!

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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Nobody's Perfect Nov 07, 2022

Show notes

We're back to take some more bad ideas to incredible new heights! First, Sarah brings us a tale of a dinner gone awry with potential links to organized crime, and we turn it into the gritty Princess Diaries reboot none of us realized we needed. Then Gabriel takes us to the never-ending well of Bad Ideas, Reddit's Am I The Asshole, and we turn the story of a big communication failure over dinner into a domestic horror/thriller made possible by working from home.

Plus: the world's saddest treehouse, straight assholery, Olivia Rodrigo's next single, the version of Don't Worry Darling that we deserved, and Anya Taylor-Joy, Queen of the Mafia.

Today's Bad Ideas™:
Idea #1
Idea #2

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The King of the Swamp Oct 31, 2022

Show notes

Today on No Bad Ideas... Alligators! Bees! Construction! Violence! Annoyance! And more!

In our first bad idea today, Gabriel brings us the story of a Florida man who resorts to violence to solve the problem of the loud construction site next to his home. The gang turns it into an action film about a construction crew to escape from a deadly game of hide and seek with forty alligators. Then, Zach brings us a story about bees being used as a deadly weapon. The gang turns it first into a sequel for the story from the first bad idea and then into a sequel to Home Alone! Let us dance a ballet with bees!

All of that, plus: the next Liam Neeson, disaffected youths, franchises, a rich and storied history with trauma, and one last job.

Today's Bad Ideas™:
Idea #1
Idea #2

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

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The Bubble (With Zoe Tokushige) Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

Today we have a fantastic guest in the NBI hot seat: Zoe Tokushige returns to No Bad Ideas hot off the publication of her first (very good) book, Airi Sano, Prankmaster General: New School Skirmish.

We begin with an idea of Zach's about a suburban mystery in the heart of Texas, and we turn it into a dark and twisting thriller with death (or at least social death) as the stakes. Then Sarah offers up an Am I The Asshole post about a snooping mother-in-law, and we transform it into the remake of Rear Window that the 21st Century deserves.

Finally we talk to Zoe about encountering her work in the wild, how she thinks about revision and feedback, different ways to visualize storytelling, and even more!

Plus: A Don Quixote moment, the link between media conglomerates and homeowners associations, the slow adoption of the iPhone, timid lawful good adolescents, and a lot of nervous energy.

Today's Bad Ideas™:
Idea #1
Idea #2

Plus: an emoji house!

If you want to check out Zoe's work, you can find Airi Sano, Prankmaster General: New School Skirmish wherever fine books are sold and you can also check out Zoe's website, Twitter, and Instagram.

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Grandma (Doesn't) Like That Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

Today on No Bad Ideas... NPCs! Internet drama! Bad communication! Grandma!

In our first bad idea, Zach brings us the story of a troubling trend online where people are starting to treat real life people as video game NPCs. The gang creates a story about a person who is transported into a video game just to play the part of a storekeeper NPC. Then, in our second bad idea, Gabriel gives Zach and Sarah a choice between two options. They choose the NSFW one, and have to contend with a woman's radical solution to the problem of her boyfriend calling her something she doesn't like in bed. It goes to the only logical place this story could go: the White House.

All of that, plus: the way it used to be, angry stump speeches, Poké Marts, compromise, and 24-hour paparazzo surveillance.
Today's Bad Ideas™:
Idea #1
Idea #2

Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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