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Challenge Accepted

Challenge Accepted

By: Geek Freaks
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 Join hosts Thomas and Frank on their weekly podcast 'Challenge Accepted' as they take on the ultimate challenge of watching and reviewing a different movie, show, comic, or game each episode. From the latest in geek TV to classic favorites, no challenge is too big for these two friends. Tune in for their hilarious banter and insightful critiques on all things pop culture. Challenge accepted!© 2018 Art
Episodes
  • Thank you and Goodbye.

    Thank you and Goodbye.
    Jan 20 2026
    In this final episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank and Thomas Law reflect on what the show became over three years and 250-plus episodes, and why ending it now feels like the right move. They talk about the grind of weekly reviews, the fun of theme months, the lessons they're carrying forward, and how the best parts of this podcast will live on through Geek Freaks and what's next for the network. Thomas also shares where Sick Burn is headed, why the message matters more than the metrics, and how storytelling and vulnerability have become a core part of the work. Timestamps and Topics 00:06 – Welcome in, and why this is the final episode of Challenge Accepted 00:54 – Ending on a high, not because of listeners or quality 01:21 – Other commitments, new projects, and Thomas balancing a newborn 02:48 – We're not disappearing, we're shifting the energy somewhere else 03:28 – Looking back: 3 years, 250-plus episodes, weekly challenges and reviews 04:15 – The "three episodes a week" stretch and the Ahsoka grind 04:31 – Avatar episode-by-episode was the definition of podcast marathoning 05:01 – Theme months: Nolan Month, A24 Month, and expanding the watchlist 05:43 – "Prestige" and "Ex Machina" as challenge wins and rewatches 06:13 – Revisiting favorites through each other's eyes (Hook, Big Fish) 07:19 – Special guests, community moments, and what we learned from collaborations 08:48 – Building something "really special" and what made it work 09:06 – The biggest lesson: authenticity and being the brand 10:00 – Confidence on camera, anxiety, and learning to be vulnerable 12:13 – Using analytics without losing yourself, pushing past imposter syndrome 13:48 – Why disagreements made some of the best episodes (Dune: Part Two) 15:12 – Podcasting as a space for real conversation, not just hot takes 16:55 – Learning to talk about craft: music, tone shifts, and deeper analysis 19:09 – Thomas on Sick Burn: adversity, healing, and the message moving forward 22:16 – How Frank and Thomas linked up, Joystick Show roots, and what's next 23:22 – The reality of growing an indie network, and why it keeps evolving 26:13 – Geek Freaks goals: authenticity, bigger discussions, and themed episodes 31:14 – Cleaning up old feeds, early audio memories, and advice to new podcasters 33:04 – Farewell, the archive stays up, and the classic sign-off Key Takeaways Ending a show can be a positive move when it protects the quality and the friendship behind it. Challenge Accepted worked because it pushed both hosts to try new genres, new formats, and new levels of honesty. Theme months were a cheat code for discovery, and a reminder that structure can actually spark creativity. The best media conversations go past "this rules" or "this sucks" and dig into the why. Being yourself on mic and on camera is not optional anymore if you want longevity. Analytics can be useful when they guide you toward what the audience wants more of, without forcing you to fake a persona. Sick Burn is built around resilience and real stories, with growth measured by impact as much as numbers. The spirit of Challenge Accepted will continue through Geek Freaks and the broader network's next wave. Quotes "We figured it's best to put this away on a high than it is to struggle with scheduling." "It would be a disservice to everybody listening if we couldn't put the same time, energy and effort into this show." "The brand is me, essentially." "I should just trust being myself." "They need to be talked about if you actually want to get to what really happened." "We'll be here, just in a different way. Come find us." Call to Action If you've been with us for one episode or all 250-plus, thank you. Subscribe wherever you listen, leave a review if this show ever made your week a little better, and share this finale with a friend who needs a good podcast sendoff. Use #ChallengeAcceptedPodcast when you post about the episode. Links and Resources All news discussed on our podcasts comes from the Geek Freaks Podcast website (link below). Follow Us Sick Burn: https://www.sickburnpodcast.com/ Geek Freaks Instagram: @geekfreakspodcast Threads: @geekfreakspodcast Twitter: @geekfreakspod Listener Questions Got a movie or show you want us to cover on the next chapter of what we're building? Send your recommendations, challenges, and thoughts to: ChallengeAcceptedgfx@gmail.com Links: GeekFreaksPodcast.com Apple Podcast tags: Challenge Accepted, Geek Freaks, Geek Freaks Network, Movie Reviews, TV Reviews, Pop Culture, Geek Culture, Streaming TV, Film Discussion, Podcasting, A24, Christopher Nolan, Star Wars, Marvel, Stranger Things, Avatar The Last Airbender, Mental Health, Sick Burn
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    35 mins
  • 2025 Year in Review: Superman Takes the Crown, Thunderbolts Surprises, and Big 2026 Hype (Supergirl, Doomsday, Odyssey)

    2025 Year in Review: Superman Takes the Crown, Thunderbolts Surprises, and Big 2026 Hype (Supergirl, Doomsday, Odyssey)
    Jan 2 2026
    Thomas and Frank look back on the movies and TV that defined their 2025, from why Superman hit so hard to how Marvel's three-film run landed with Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, and Captain America: Brave New World. They also talk about the stuff that disappointed them, why TV felt like it "won" this year, and the shows they could not stop thinking about, including IT: Welcome to Derry, Alien: Earth, and Andor. To close it out, they shift into 2026 mode: what's got them genuinely excited again, which upcoming releases feel like "event" movies, and how they want to evolve Challenge Accepted next year by being more personal and more present on social. Timestamps and Topics 00:00 – Welcome back, what this episode covers (2025 favorites + 2026 hype) 00:33 – Thomas check-in and the newborn update 01:32 – The baby's first Marvel movie (yes, really) 03:31 – Quick run through the 2025 movie list 03:55 – Why Superman was the movie of the year 04:02 – F1 as the surprise hit 07:15 – What worked in Superman (comic-book storytelling and trusting the audience) 10:56 – "I needed that movie this year" 11:03 – Marvel's 2025 slate starts: Brave New World, Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts 11:56 – Why Thunderbolts is the one that felt different 18:12 – Sinners and the hunger for original stories 22:25 – Weapons (and the conversation spirals into other watchlist picks) 24:56 – K-Pop Demon Hunters love and why it clicked 28:38 – Disappointments and missed watches, including Star Trek: Section 31 30:24 – "TV shows dominate" and why this year proved it 30:53 – TV highlights sprint: Welcome to Derry, Stranger Things, Daredevil, Alien: Earth, and more 32:04 – Andor praise and why the release format worked 35:01 – Frank's top TV list: Chief of War, Paradise, Player Base 36:03 – Alien: Earth reactions (including the ending debate) 37:08 – Next year's challenge (Fargo Season 4) 39:10 – Revisiting Marvel 2025: what each movie represents and what Marvel should learn 41:33 – The big disappointment: Chair Company (plus Ironheart) 45:03 – Quick plug: Survivor 49 coverage and Survivor 50 excitement 46:11 – 2026 hype begins: Supergirl and the DCU momentum 50:02 – The Odyssey and why it feels like an "event" movie 51:15 – Marvel needs to "earn" the hype again 52:51 – Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping and why it could be huge 53:16 – Rapid fire 2026 watchlist: Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Project Hail Mary, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple 55:01 – Why seeing Spider-Man filmed "for people" matters 55:55 – The Mandalorian and Grogu as a real theatrical Star Wars moment 57:54 – What they want to improve on Challenge Accepted next year 58:40 – Social media mindset: be natural, be present, stop over-polishing 59:52 – Outro + how to send in your challenge Key Takeaways Superman landed because it played like an actual comic-book story and trusted the audience to keep up. Marvel's 2025 trio felt like three different "versions" of the brand, and Thunderbolts was the one that showed the most heart and restraint. Sinners is a great example of why original stories can still feel like a must-watch cultural moment. 2025 was stacked for TV, and the list of standouts is honestly longer than most years' movie lists. Andor remains the gold standard for prestige franchise storytelling, and the release strategy helped it stick. 2026 looks like it could swing back to a movie-forward year with multiple "event" releases on the calendar. They want the show to feel more personal in 2026, including more natural social posts and more listener involvement. Quotes "Talking about you, some of our favorite movies and shows from 2025 and what we're hyped for in 2026." "Yeah it was I needed that movie this year. Like I needed it." "They gave a director a chance to tell their story." "Right now, welcome to dairy. Holy cow. These last couple episodes have been so damn fire." "It makes me cry that it's the finale." "You don't necessarily need to make a polished post." "It's for people, not just, you know, for box office numbers." Call to Action If you enjoyed this year-in-review episode, subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next. Reviews help a ton, so please rate the show and leave a quick note. And if you share the episode on social, tag us with #ChallengeAcceptedPodcast. Links and Resources GeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source of all news discussed during our podcast. Follow Us Instagram: @challengeacceptedlive TikTok: @challengeacceptedlive Twitter: @CAPodcastLive Listener Questions Got a movie or show you want us to cover, or a challenge you want to throw at us? Email challengeacceptedgfx@gmail.com with your pick and why it's worth the watch. Apple Podcast Tags Movies, TV, Pop Culture, 2025 Year in Review, 2026 Preview, DCU, Superman, Supergirl, Marvel, Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, Captain America Brave New World, Andor, Stranger Things, IT Welcome to Derry, Alien Earth, The Odyssey, ...
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    1 hr
  • Night of the Living Dead | The 1968 Classic That Wrote the Zombie Rulebook

    Night of the Living Dead | The 1968 Classic That Wrote the Zombie Rulebook
    Dec 20 2025

    Frank revisits Night of the Living Dead (1968) and breaks down why it still feels ahead of its time, even with a shoestring budget and simple setup. He walks through the full plot from the cemetery opening to the brutal ending, calls out the movie's "proto zombie rules" (headshots, fire, escalating panic), and digs into the constant clash between Ben and Harry Cooper over how to survive. Frank also shares a handful of behind-the-scenes trivia, then closes by asking listeners to help pick the next holiday movie review.

    Timestamps and Topics

    • 00:00:05 Welcome to Challenge Accepted and why this zombie classic still matters

    • 00:01:00 Why black-and-white works best here, plus where to watch it

    • 00:02:50 The setup: Barbara and Johnny head to the cemetery

    • 00:04:30 Barbara reaches the farmhouse, Ben arrives, and the house gets fortified

    • 00:06:35 The radio updates and the first "rules" start taking shape

    • 00:07:55 Basement survivors revealed and the Ben vs Harry Cooper conflict begins

    • 00:10:40 The truck plan, Molotovs, fire tactics, and the risk of leaving the house

    • 00:12:45 The truck explosion, the fallout, and tensions boil over

    • 00:14:35 Karen's bite, the TV explanation, and the night spirals into tragedy

    • 00:17:30 Johnny returns, Barbara's fate, and Ben's last stand

    • 00:18:35 The posse arrives and the ending lands like a gut punch

    • 00:19:55 Fun facts and trivia roundup

    • 00:23:10 Holiday movie suggestions, reviews, and where to send your challenges

    Key Takeaways

    • Night of the Living Dead didn't just popularize zombies, it shaped the survival logic that later movies and games keep borrowing.

    • The horror works because the tension never lets up, and most of it comes from people disagreeing under pressure, not gore.

    • Ben and Harry Cooper feel like the blueprint for the "leader vs bunker guy" argument that shows up in tons of modern zombie stories.

    • The film's simplicity is part of the magic: one main location, clear stakes, and rules that get built in real time through broadcasts.

    • The ending is still sharp because it refuses to offer comfort, even after the long night is "over."

    Memorable Quotes

    • "Black and white is the best way to watch it."

    • "This is the one that kind of set the rules that we use even to today."

    • "If you shoot them in the body, that doesn't do anything. You have to shoot them in the head."

    • "We're in this together."

    • "We are entering into the Christmas phase of the year… what holiday movie is your favorite and what one should we review?"

    Call to Action

    If you enjoyed the episode, make sure you're subscribed and drop a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It seriously helps more people find the show. Share this episode with a friend who loves horror, and post your thoughts using #ChallengeAcceptedLive.

    Links and Resources

    • GeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source of all news discussed during our podcast.

    • Frank's trivia pull came from IMDb's Night of the Living Dead trivia section.

    Follow Us

    • Instagram: @challengeacceptedlive

    • TikTok: @challengeacceptedlive

    • Twitter: @CAPodcastLive

    Listener Questions

    Got a movie or show you want us to cover next, or a challenge for a future episode? Email us at ChallengeAcceptedgfx@gmail.com or message us on social. Also, send your pick for the best holiday movie so we can lock in the next review.
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    25 mins
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