Latest Episodes
Yes, that's right! Although we began Cinema Excelsior with a discussion of "Howard the Duck", only two of our five regular panelists were actually a part of that landmark episode. As a holiday present to you, dear listener, we have re-viewed the film and subjected it to a full five-panelist dissection. Have our thoughts changed since our initial viewing four years ago? Listen to find out!
A priest beat up Valerian, John Adams, and Ray Charles to impress his girlfriend. It doesn't work.
We are not Spider-Fans.
In this episode: Stefan and Drew take their destiny into their own hands.
WWE is the biggest American wrestling promotion, but it isn't the only one. In a post-WCW world, the independent wrestling scene has flourished, reaching audiences via digital distribution and differentiating themselves from the big dog. But what does it mean to be an independent promotion - or wrestler - in 2018, and is the industry's history of consolidation doomed to repeat itself?
In this episode: Stefan and Drew talk.
There comes a moment in any wrestling story where the performers will take the time to stop and speak directly to the audience. This fourth-wall breaking tradition has its roots in traditional sports interviews, but over the last half century has evolved into a staple of the medium. In this episode, we explore the past, present, and future of the promo, analyze what separates a good talker from a bad talker, and discuss some of our personal favorites on the mic.
In this episode: RAM JAM! RAM JAM! RAM JAM!
It's one of the most important representations of wrestling in mainstream culture of the last twenty years, but is 2008's Darren Aranofsky film The Wrestler really a "wrestling picture"? It's a question too big for Stefan and Drew to answer even in our tag-team configuration, so in this special Trios Edition podcast, we invite Dr. Derek Long, Assistant Professor of Media and Cinema Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and secret uncredited creator of Smarten Up, to join us in breaking down Mickey Rourke's big comeback.
In this brief special episode, we discuss our thoughts on tonight's NXT Takeover event and whether the time is right for Johnny Wrestling to become Johnny Champion, among other topics.
In this episode: Buzzer. Pause. Music.
The Royal Rumble is WWE's crowning achievement in the world of gimmick matches. Brilliant in its simplicity yet endlessly flexible, it is a unique stage upon which to tell stories. The Rumble is in many ways the perfect introduction to what WWE is at any given moment in time. This time around, we explore what makes the Rumble unique, the kinds of stories that it can tell, its significance in the WWE calendar, and what separates a great Rumble from a bad one. With the 2018 edition airing on Sunday, January 28, consider this your introduction to one of wrestling's greatest treats.
In this episode: Drew and Stefan walk the runway. (Do you ever run the runway?)
One of the primary objectives of any wrestling performer is to distinguish himself or herself from the crowd. In a primarily visual medium, costuming and ring attire are effective tools for standing out from the cavalcade of similar looking athletic performers. Costuming communicates critical information about a performer's character and may play an important role in helping a wrestler get over with an audience. In this episode, we dive into the clothes that make the men, and explore what the choice of attire says about the performer.
In This Episode: Stefan and Drew have a price.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Incorporated is a publicly-traded corporation worth approximately $2.5 billion. It is one of the largest companies in a global industry, boasting a surprisingly diverse set of revenue streams and one of the most innovative and important media technology services of the last decade. It cannot be overstated: wrestling is a business first and foremost, and the first objective of its leading promoters is and always has been to make money. This week, we dive deep on how that money is made - by promotions in general, and specifically by WWE. We also touch on a number of related issues, including talent compensation, labor market dynamics, and how business practices best suited to the carny circuit have been folded into a modern media empire.
In this episode: Stefan and Drew get silly.
Professional wrestling is at its core a variety show, with different segments meant to appeal to different audiences. But while its dramatic aspects are often highlighted, its comedic segments are rarely appreciated in the same way. Sometimes its easier to laugh at wrestling than with it, but there is a proud tradition of wrestling comedy, and the masters of the form are those that understand how to combine fists and farce to make something sublime.
This week: Stefan is Drew's hype-man.
Although less prominent than it once was, the role of the manager has a proud place in the annals of professional wrestling. Managers can make or break storylines, give voice and credibility to performers, and drive programs to new heights. A manager, like a wrestler, is tasked with creating a connection with an audience, but the tools in his or her toolkit are radically different than those of their in-ring charges. Those who wield those tools well can become as big a draw as the grapplers they lead.
In this episode: Stefan and Drew are en fuego.
Wrestling's reach extends far beyond the United States, and as the medium has moved into different countries, it has come to both reflect and influence local cultures in surprising ways. In Mexico, wrestling is lucha libre, and although the basic structures are largely the same as its US counterpart, its substance, presentation, and place in Mexican culture could not be more different. In this, the first of our journeys outside of the American circuit, we present an introduction to wrestling in Mexico, its history, and what distinguishes it as a unique variation on the form.
“Any understanding of this nation has to be based, and I mean really based, on an understanding of [Big Willie Style]. I believe that firmly. It defined us.” - Shelby Foote
Lovingly Handcrafting Podcasts Since 2013
Here at Stoutbot Industries, we're focused on bringing you deeply insightful commentary on media and culture, and certainly not interested at all in just messing around with friends and talking about things we love. We are sober-minded professionals, not the sort of people who would spend hours on bantering about the meaningless and banal aspects of popular culture. We're certainly above that! Don't believe us? Well, have a listen to one of our fine artisanal podcasts and decide for yourself!
Cinema Excelsior
Smarten Up
Investors Needed
Cinema Excelsior is a chronological exploration of films based on Marvel Comics. From the heady days of Howard the Duck to today's premiere blockbuster franchises, our roundtable dives deep into the history and significance of the House of Ideas's cinematic output.
Smarten Up is a conversation about the tropes, traditions, and history of professional wrestling. Whether you're a long-time enthusiast or a new fan, our conversation will help you learn more about one of the world's most influential and misunderstood entertainment genres.
Hi. Trying to get rich? Searching for ways to try to stick it to The Man and make a buck too? Wondering if you left your wallet in the oven and if you left the oven on? Then check out Investors Needed, your guide to greasing the wheels of progress. Consider this our proposal to you. Hi.
Your Favorite Hosts

Nick Bestor (@Bestorb) is PhD candidate in film at the University of Texas. Hosts Cinema Excelsior.
Derek Long (@DerekLong08) is a PhD candidate in film at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Hosts Cinema Excelsior.

Daniel Watson-Jones (@movebywillalone) is a seeker of truth. He currently aspires to become a Yoda. Hosts Cinema Excelsior.

Stefan Claypool (@StefanClaypool) is a product Manager and aspiring novelist currently residing in Berkeley, CA. Hosts several shows.
Patrick Regan (@underwoodfive) is a screenwriter currently based out of Los Angeles. He was also a featured extra in Jonah Hex. Hosts Cinema Excelsior.
Drew Zolides (@dzolides) is an Assistant Professor of Digital Media at Xavier University. Co-hosts Smarten Up

Lillian DeRitter (@lillianlemoning) is a writer, director, geek, gamer, comics and Shakespeare hipster, and, every now and then, a girl. Occasional host on Cinema Excelsior.
Nick Smith (@WhoIsNickSmith) is a stand-up comic currently based in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a man of at least three hats. Hosts Investors Needed.
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Tony Stark built a killer robot and things didn't go as planned.