The Banter Blender

Superlady extraordinaire Lisa Timmons (@timmonslisa) joins Ben to discuss local elections in LA: why people should get involved, what they should think about, and what's the deal with Measure S anyway??? (Spoiler: we're both against it). It's a very civic-minded episode, and even if you don't live in LA, hopefully it'll give you things to think about for your neck of the woods!

Oh hello there. 2016 received such terrible reviews that this podcast decided to sit the year out. But when guest Jessica Ogilivie suggested that it was time to record a Banter episode, I realized that yes, it was time to return. Come listen to an hour of petty complaints (the onerous perils of cracking eggs, for instance) and drunken frustrations with political junk. Thanks for still hanging around :)

Just in time for this year's Black Friday spending bonanza, "The Banter Blender" throws down the geeky gauntlet to talk board games for a full hour. Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) is joined by his gaming buddies Brendon and James as they chat about their favorite games as well as a new title recently reviewed on B-Side Blog, "Champions of Midgard." Here's a rundown of what to expect: 00:00 - Intro, obvs. 02:41 - Game recommendations for Thanksgiving get togethers 08:22 - Getting into the board game hobby; the appeal of gaming 19:22 - "Broom Service" 24:00 - "Nations" 26:05 - "Dead of Winter" 32:45 - "Dominion" 37:40 - Online communities, online gaming, apps 42:03 - "Viticulture" 46:55 - Board games for big groups / "Mysterium" 50:55 - "Champions of Midgard" A review copy of "Champions of Midgard" was provided by Grey Fox Games.

If it's Halloween, then it's time for "Banter" to get down with some hardcore candy rankings. Every year (or at least starting with last year), we sit down to discuss our favorite candies, and coming back to discuss this very important even are the hosts of the Deep Thots podcast Angie Thomas and David Clark! We get into all the important specifics, and when our sugar rush has passed, we move onto other pressing topics: the new Adele song, Carly Rae Jepsen's lack of respect, and Khloe & Lamar's whole situation. There's also brief chatter (mainly by me) about a new farming game called La Granja and the perils of an overstuffed sandwich. So basically, we're all over the map. And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Jessica Ogilvie (@jessicapauline on Twitter) joins Ben Mandelker (@bsideblog on Twitter) to discuss a variety of topics. First is the fine art of bagel consumption and the use of the word "shmear." Then Jessica discusses her recent "LA Weekly" cover article about women in Hollywood. Finally, the two recount a recent session of the magnificent game "Fiasco." Come listen!

Kyle Buchanan, Senior Editor at New York Magazine's Vulture, returns to look back at Summer 2015 at the American box office. Specifically, Kyle and Ben talk about "Mad Max," "Avengers," "Jurassic World," "Mission: Impossible," and "Ant Man." Plus, talk of Tom Cruise and the decline of the movie superstar. Follow this podcast on Facebook: http://facebook.com/banterblender

The beautiful Angie Thomas (Deep THOTS podcast) joins Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) to chat Emmy nominations and Caitlyn Jenner's ESPY speech. Did she deserve an award for courage? Also, there's plenty of discussion about "Tangerine," "The DUFF," Andra Fuller of "L.A. Complex," and the raucous game "Fiasco." Welcome back to the Banter Blender!

Comic and journalist Louis Virtel (Hitfix.com) joins Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com, Watch What Crappens podcast) to tell us everything about his recent appearance on "Jeopardy," which subsequently went viral. From the application process to life atop Reddit, Louis shares the whole experience. After that, it's just an avalanche of banter, most of it pertaining to Madonna, Whitney Houston, Garbage, Annie Lennox, and many more. It's a fun episode, and perhaps the longest one yet. Enjoy!

Kyle Buchanan (senior editor at New York Magazine's Vulture) returns to "The Banter Blender" to discuss summer movies with Ben Mandelker (@watch-what-crappens). The two talk "Avengers," "Mad Max," "Star Wars," "Trainwreck," "Spy," "Jurassic World," and more. Plus, there's talk of Rachel McAdams and the state of her career. Come listen!

This week on The Banter Blender, Ben Mandelker welcomes back Angie Thomas (the Small Potatoes podcast) to talk about a host of exciting topics. The two take on Easter Candy, Weight Watchers, Indiana's anti-gay laws, jambalaya, Passover foods, and Karrueche Tran (naturally). Plus, there's more chatter about board games such as Jenga and Dead of Winter, and some genial gushing about some of our friends at the top of the episode. Come listen!

There's an all star panel of guests on "The Banter Blender." Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) is joined by Marcos Luevanos, David Clark (The Lyon's Lair podcast), and Angie Thomas (Small Potatoes) to discuss the week in pop culture: Leonard Nimoy's death, the controversy over Zendaya Coleman's hair, the Oscars, Madonna's fall, and, of course, The Dress. Is it white & gold or blue & black? Oh, but there's more. We also visit "The Boy Next Door" and chat about our favorite fast food chains. Come listen!

This week on "The Banter Blender," Angie Thomas ("All the Way") joins Ben to chat about the usual grab bag of topics: the measles outbreak in CA, Bruce Jenner's possibly trans journey, the controversy surrounding American Sniper, and, of course, the best bagels in Los Angeles. Come listen! And remember to like the podcast on Facebook: facebook.com/banterblender

"The Banter Blender" is back! Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) and guests Jessica Ogilvie and Drew Staten kick off the new year by diving into the world of modern board games: Settlers of Catan, Dominion, and others. The group discusses what makes these games fun, how they got hooked, and what makes for a great tabletop experience. Be sure to follow The Banter Blender on Facebook: facebook.com/banterblender

This week on "The Banter Blender," Angie Thomas ("All The Way" podcast)and David Clark join Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) to rehash the Halloween weekend that was. This means bantering extensively about candy and costumes (and a little Annie Lennox, for some reason). Then it's on to more pressing topics: should "the Ebola nurse" quarantine herself? Should people shop at Trader Joe's? And when will pumpkin spice madness ever stop? It's a super fun, super-sized episode. Come listen!

Musician Ryan Cabrera drops by "The Banter Blender" to discuss his new song, his Ryan Gosling tattoo, his hair, his career, and of course his time on "The Hills." It's a boatload of fun; so come on in and listen!