In the first of our new interview series, we spoke to John Hendrick of Big Bang Comics Dundrum about the store, about comics, and about people.
Presented by Leandro Pondoc, Directed & Edited by Mark Crabbe, Camera by Billy Keenan, Graphics 3by Kimmy Choon & Produced by Emmet Jones
Special thanks to John Hendrick and to Big Bang Comics for giving us their time.
Podcast Interviews
Episode 9 – Razzies Roasted with Dave Rudden
On this SPECIAL edition of Virtual Citizens, the gang are joined by author, actor, storyteller and all-around Renaissance man Dave Rudden to talk about his book series, Knights of the Borrowed Dark, the travails of being an author, dealing with transitioning from book to film and torturing fictional characters for fun and profit!
Dave also joins the gang for the usual VC look into a pop culture topic, in this case the rewarders of bad that is the Golden Raspberries Awards. How has Ben Affleck squeezed into a red latex suit stand the test of time? Has Halle Berry survived having to sniff catnip and lick cans of cat food? Can Pierce Brosnan survive in Broadway? Listen and find out!
Virtual Citizens is a pop culture podcast taking in the trappings of modern media in odd angles. It’s long and articulate and quite positively charming thank you very much.
RAZZIES DISCUSSION
Kimmy – The Love Guru
Emmet – Mamma Mia!
Leandro – Catwoman
Dave – Daredevil
Episode 11 – Giant Ants with Rick O’Shea
On this SPECIAL edition of Virtual Citizens, the gang are joined by broadcaster extraordinaire Rick O’Shea of RTE 2fm fame to talk about his start in radio, his passion for books, Britpop bands lighting the heck up and his rather extensive nerd credentials. He also has a delightful anecdote of his misadventures with Dave Rudden at a certain Listowel Literary Festival.
Joining the gang, Rick also dives straight into the geeky black hole that is the main topic of sci-fi B-movies! From giant ants to Vincent Price, Japanese monsters beating the living manheck out of each other to sharks in the sky! What makes these movies tick? Listen and find out!
Virtual Citizens is a pop culture podcast taking in the trappings of modern media in odd angles. It’s long and articulate and quite positively charming thank you very much.
SCI-FI B-MOVIE DISCUSSION
Barry – The Tingler
Emmet – Sharknado
Leandro – Them!
Rick (Hero)- Destroy All Monsters – Godzilla 9
Episode 16 – Celluloid Ireland with Tramp Press
On this week’s special VC episode, the gang are joined by Lisa Coen and Sarah Davis-Goff, the two behind Tramp Press, to talk about their work in Ireland’s publishing scene, their ethos in putting out diverse voices and commitment to excellent writing, not to mention all the cool stuff they’ve published over the years.
They also join the usual VC gang to talk about films set/based/representing Ireland and see how this little green isle fares in the big screen. Turns out Ireland’s more than just green hills, pub fights, faith and begorrah potahto, banshees and all that stuff. Who knew!
IRELAND ON FILM DISCUSSION
Kimmy – What Richard Did
Sara – Brooklyn
Leandro – Hunger
Lisa – Adam & Paul
HOSTS: Leandro Pondoc
CONTRIBUTORS: Kimmy Choon
GUESTS: Sarah Davis-Goff, Lisa Coen
Episode 20 – Thespian Tunes with Dave Fanning
On this week’s special VC episode, we chat with RTE’s Dave Fanning about his lengthy career as a regular voice amongst the Irish airwaves, from his start in pirate radio to his tenure in RTE, the many interesting artists he’s met and more.
The regular crew, including friend of the podcast Jordan Moran, also come together to talk about actors turned musicians. What happens when a thespian such as David Duchovny decides to try and employ his dulcet tones for something more musical? What of the legacies left behind by Eddie Murphy and Christopher Lee behind the microphone? Tune in and find out!
Virtual Citizens is a pop culture podcast taking in the trappings of modern media in odd angles. Every episode, we take a topic from pop culture from odd angles and try to divine aspects of how we consume the media around us. From binge-worthy shows to first acting gigs by way of international TV, anything goes!
HOSTS: Leandro Pondoc
CONTRIBUTORS: Emmet Jones, Jordan Moran
GUESTS: Dave Fanning
Episode 23 – Adult Animation with Matteo Ceccotti
On this special interview episode of Virtual Citizens, we speak to animator Matteo Ceccotti on his long career in the animation industry, from studying in Canada and Italy to working for companies such as Lucasfilm and Ubisoft to his current work at Dublin’s Brown Bag Films.
He also joins the gang to talk about adult animation, films that range from “on the edge of fine for children” to “should not be screened by any circumstances for children” and discuss whether each film succeeds at their aim. From esoteric French weirdness to Japanese anime weirdness by way of nuclear horror, there’s a lot of ground to cover!
Virtual Citizens is a pop culture podcast, as the parlance goes, from a pop culture generation, with each episode taking in the trappings of modern media and pop culture in odd angles.
ADULT ANIMATION DISCUSSION
Matteo – The Secret of Nimh
Alastair – Fantastic Planet
Emmet – When the Wind Blows
Leandro – Paprika
HOSTS: Leandro Pondoc
CONTRIBUTORS: Alastair Dennehy, Emmet Jones
GUESTS: Matteo Ceccotti
Episode 28 – Netflix Natter with Richard Chambers
On this special episode of Virtual Citizens, we welcome radio journalist Richard Chambers of Newstalk to the podcast, talking about all things Irish radio journalism, his love of hip hop and dealing with hurricanes and Trumpists along the way.
He also joins the gang to talk about that behemoth of pop culture that is Netflix, specifically the streaming service’s original offerings, from depressed horses, serial killers and the concept of interconnectivity among human beings in far flung reaches of the globe. Definitely a varied bunch.
Virtual Citizens is a pop culture podcast, as the parlance goes, from a pop culture generation, with each episode taking in the trappings of modern media and pop culture in odd angles.
NETFLIX ORIGINALS DISCUSSION
Richard – Bojack Horseman
Kimmy – F Is For Family
Emmet – Mindhunter
Leandro – Sense8
HOSTS: Leandro Pondoc
CONTRIBUTORS: Kimmy Choon, Emmet Jones
GUESTS: Richard Chambers
Episode 30 – Beguiling Biopics with Mark O’Halloran
On this special Virtual Citizens joint, the gang, with regular guest Cormac O Broin, we talk to Irish actor/playwright Mark O’Halloran of award winning work such as Adam & Paul and Garage to talk about the ins and outs of acting in the Irish independent scene, the transition from acting to writing, the interesting avenues of his careers and much gentle chat.
They also do a brief talk on the idea of biopics, movies that cast real life into the shapes of drama and fiction. How successful can they be and how can they fail?
Virtual Citizens is a pop culture podcast, as the parlance goes, from a pop culture generation, with each episode taking in the trappings of modern media and pop culture in odd angles.
HOSTS: Leandro Pondoc
CONTRIBUTORS: Cormac O Broin, Emmet Jones
GUESTS: Mark O’Halloran
Episode 35 – Rock N Roll With Christy Dignam
On this week’s special interview installment of Virtual Citizens, Irish rock legend Christy Dignam joins the gang to talk about the gamut of his career, from Electron to Aslan and now, meeting David Bowie and who would be in his ideal Irish band.
Virtual Citizens is a pop culture podcast, as the parlance goes, from a pop culture generation, with each episode taking in the trappings of modern media and pop culture in odd angles.
HOSTS: Leandro Pondoc
CONTRIBUTORS: Emmet Jones, Vinny Kenny