Guys Of A Certain Age

The Guys have a really geeky episode this week as Robbie and Art take a look at the recent trend of using AI to recreate Adobe's Creative Cloud Suite, specifically the clones offered by ArtCraft. While many creatives are excited about a free alternative to the expensive Adobe subscriptions needed to produce graphic design and video, there are questions concerning the legality, the morality, and the security of using these open source products. 

In brightest day, on mics so clear,
The Guys' Lantern podcast now is here.

Did it ever occur to a Trekkie that the “red alert” warning might actually mean there are people in red shirts are about to die?  Or that the three uniform colors are also the three primary colors?  Or that this season of Strange New Worlds got even stranger?  

You just thought a Broadway musical episode was quirky, but in this season Pelia tells the rest of the crew to have fun storming the galaxy, puppets are put in charge, and an NBC mainstay soap opera star finds her way to a Paramount set - and looks good doing i...

You just thought A.I. was dangerous and lurking in plain sight, read to take over the world as we know it.  J.I. could be even more threatening.  

After a virtual arena snack of brie grilled cheese infused with Nerds Clusters alongside a deep fried Uncrustable with decadent toppings, followed by news of a revival of Disney’s quacking Batman wannabe (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?), Robbie attempts to answer Jay’s questions about A.I..  

The Guys (sans Art this week, who had better sense and has already talked about this on...

An AppleTV a day keeps the Emmy awards coming, or so it seems.  Record numbers of nominations and record numbers of wins came on Emmy awards night (or nights, as it happened) for the streaming service that used to just make computers.  

You’ve heard The Guys talk about it already: AppleTV is the place to be for science fiction and so much more, and the folks at the Academy must be listening to this podcast.  Gone are the days of the alphabet networks taking home all the statuettes - NBC, we barely knew ye.

In th...

Robbie and Jay were faced with a dilemma: what should we talk about today while Art is out near the birthplace of pickle ball? Tradition and hunger led to yet another invitation for friend of the show, most frequent guest host, and oft-mentioned candidate for Jay’s replacement: Wes Shelton.  

Wes even brought a Geek of the Week: one of his favorite Reeds (Jay is surely the other) is being inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame.  Jay stays food-related, too, with another travel tip, this time to Storm Crow Manor, a bar and grill for nerds (like...

The Weekly Geeks take a break this week, as the The Guys (not the same as the weekly geeks, but it’s a fair comparison) riff on more news from D23 not previously riffed on in another episode.  

Jay begins with his announcement of their announcement of a Harrison Ford/Indiana Jones documentary coming to Disney+ this fall, and was almost as excited as Robbie to find out that a Greatest Showman musical would be soon coming to Broadway.  D23 wasn’t just an X-men cast reveal, it was also about Incredibles 3, Ahsoka 2, Frozen 3, Princess Diaries 3, Tangled live a...

In this episode, The Guys take a bite of the big Apple.  Not the city, though.  It’s the behemoth that may have invented the phone on which you are reading this, the pods with which you listen to the podcast, and essentially everything in the world that begins with a lower case “i”.  

Apple has new leadership, and The Guys go down memory lane to see what the great (not late) Tim Cook came up with during his tenure at the helm, then speculate on what the new guy (whose name is harder to spell than “Cook”) migh...

Fans of music and philanthropy of all genres were heartbroken to learn of the passing of Dolly Parton this week.  It’s been a while since someone so universally beloved has left the world, and The Guys wonder aloud who else might fall in this same category?  

Elvis? Michael Jackson?  Does anyone make the cut?  Stories of her life are all over the interwebs, and The Guys have memories of their own.  Do you need a quiet place to contemplate things such as this?  

ay tells of a new shire-like home you can rent, and you don’...

He’s back!  And he’s regrettable.  Jay has returned to the studio and this time Robbie didn’t forget his segment.  In fact, it’s a Jay’s Regrettable Segment Roundup, with three - that’s right, the magic number - three Regrettable Supervillains to relay and rate this week.  

And be warned: the redeemable badge is particularly hard to come by this go-round.  They start with Dr. Voodoo vs Wonder Man (and it’s not the one you think), Fang up against The Snowman (he’s no Olaf, but he’ll do), and Hawk swooping down unsuccessfully on...

In this episode, the Guys finally deliver a primer on Artificial Intelligence. As creatives, both Robbie and Art have concerns about the use of generative AI to create content, but recognize that it can be an incredible tool for data analysis. Robbie shares ways he is using Claude in business applications, computer file management, and even home appliance repair. 

It’s a Brand New Podcast!  Not really. Same 3 old Guys living out their superhero dreams vicariously through watching highly paid actors actually wear the costume and fly through the air.  

This week it was Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and The Guys all agreed this is one of their faves.  Plenty of action, new powers, old friends new again, and a villain that may or may not be a villain in the end.  (By the way, SPOILERS ABOUND!)  

Speaking of Avengers and such, if one was to try to watch all the Marvel content from Iron Ma...

Another San Diego Comic-Con, another year The Guys watch from afar.  (It’s not too early to sponsor a 2027 trip, wealthy listener!)  But they’re still interested in the news, and this event does bring the news.  

Here are some of the “news”: new Black Panther, new Ghost Rider, new cosplays, new Doomsday announcements, new trailers, new stars roaming the hallways in costume, and a new first-time whopper of a guest.  Plenty of things for The Guys to ramble on about after they lament a bit because rambling is all they could afford to do.  (Did we mention that...

Who knew The Guys were handymen? Mechanics.  Consultants, if you will.  

And this week they are here to fix Dr. Who.  Of course, it’s mostly Robbie with his hands on the dials, but Art and Jay do have opinions.  Is it back to basics?  Pleasing the core fans?  More tech and modern effects, or less?  They all agreed that characters and story make the difference.  And they are willing to move to England and be co-show-runners if the BBC will cover the tab.  

Since that’s somewhat unlikely, there is a backup plan: travel just a couple...

The pessimist would call this an obituary-focused episode.  The Guys (optimists to the hilt as far as you know) call it a celebration of geek lives.  

From actors remembered from when The Guys were but wee lads: Louise Lasser and Randolph Mantooth, to the oldest astronaut ever to go into space (it’s not who you think).  From the sponsor of Soul Train to Bright Eyes (not Caesar’s mom - the one beseeched to turn around.  And of course, one of the patriarchs of the Jurassic Park series, who likely has a pretty high Geek Index.  It was a...

This week The Guys revisited a tradition of going to a movie none of their wives wanted to see.  Permission to watch Supergirl was granted and acted upon.  

No Oscar nominations are expected (though the CGI dog is pretty good), but The Guys give it 3 thumbs up.  Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa seem to fit their roles, and David Corenswet seems very Superman-ish in his appearances.  Despite Jay’s confusion (why is this movie taking place mostly in space with what seemed like cameo appearances from Star Wars aliens?), the story moves along and makes sense.  Lots of plan...

The fix is in this week, as Robbie and Art take a look at the changes they would make to the Star Trek franchise, which is currently no longer developing new material. Could they go where no Guy has gone before and be onto a possible gold mine idea? Or will Paramount respond with ways to fix our podcast?

Only the best streaming series make it to five seasons or more, and For All Mankind (hello, it’s another Apple TV show) does it again, with a sixth and final season coming as soon as the production crew gets back from Mars.  

When that happens, it will certainly be watched not just by The Guys but by Mrs. Reed as well, who lived in Houston when none of these people were doing any of these things.  As their discussion of “actual” outer space comes to a close, it turns to another alternate universe where Skeletor and He-Man b...

As it turns out, The Guys are capable of being frightened.  Not just by their wives, not just by Mrs. Reed, but by moving images they see on screens.  That is precisely the reason Jay stays away from horror flicks as a rule, but he made an exception when Art and Robbie said Widow’s Bay was both scary AND funny.  

And they were right!  Recently added to the number of high-quality shows on Apple TV, Widow’s Bay has a nice mix: of fresh faces and veteran actors, of laugh-out-loud moments and jump-off-the-couch scenes, of awkward characte...

One of the first potential Geek Blockbusters of the season has come (and gone) from theaters, and The Guys are wondering if it is a bust, indeed.  Robbie’s annual birthday movie was spent at The Mandalorian and Grogu and his immediate reaction was: No-gu.  

Jay and Art had to see it for themselves so they invested in a discounted matinee ticket and went in with low expectations.  Final verdict?  Entertaining, but they had questions.  Is it a kids’ movie with excessive violence? Why was Sigourney on the journey?  Why isn’t Scorcese muppetized in more films? How many mon...

The Guys are back to hear more from Kevin Ivey, a local boy of sorts who rose in the ranks from minimum wage editor/reporter at CNN to VP of Strategic Planning and Advanced Projects (or something even cooler than that.)

In part 2 of Robbie’s interview with Kevin, listeners get the inside scoop on Fidel Castro, who in turn gives his own inside scoop.  From Meridian, MS to Ted Turner’s box at Braves Stadium, it’s an interview not to be missed.  

Art and Jay did get to come in and share their Geeks, t...

With Ted Turner’s passing still in the rear-view mirror, Robbie reaches out to hometown friend Kevin Ivey.  Not only did Ted Turner know Kevin by name, he also brought him into the CNN world when it was just coming into its own.  

This is a true behind-the-scenes, other side of the camera view of Turner’s world.  And there are stories.  In fact, there are so many stories, The Guys had to break this one up into two episodes.  And that, of course, means the loyal listeners get to hear two sets of Geeks of the Week!  <...

Just when you thought only Art brought the celebrity obits every week, this episode focuses on the media’s recent loss of Captain Outrageous, the Mouth of the South…the inimitable Ted Turner. And lest any mourner be left out: the sailing world, Major League Baseball, and bison-lovers everywhere are also spilling tears into their dry vodka martinis at 5 minutes after every hour. 

Thanks to Turner’s WTCG, which later became WTBS, The Guys in their young (ish) teenage years had the opportunity to watch almost every Braves game and cheer for the Goldar (the Space Giant) in his ...

The Supervillains are back!  And no, we’re not talking about The Guys, though all three of them are in the studio today.  It’s time for a catch-up episode on the Regrettable Supervillains segment, aka Jay’s Regrettable Segment. 

He mustered up a couple of doozies in this episode.  Let us begin.  First up is The Dictator, aka Hitler disguised as the devil.  The Guys aren’t sure he’s redeemable, but his arch-enemy Mr. Justice has a quirky backstory.  Then comes Dr. Dracula, who neither sees patients, teaches students, or hails from Transylvania.  What’s up with this guy?  N...

Pluribus.  It’s not just a Latin word on American money.  It’s also a surprise hit show on AppleTV.  The award nominations and wins are still coming.  

It’s not a zombie series, exactly.  It’s not an alien series, exactly.  It’s not exactly Tough Jobs - it’s more “everybody can do every job” with a splash of Undercover Boss.  It’s got tragedy and comedy, but it’s not The Bear, exactly.  It has complicated and interesting characters, and only 3 of them out of around 7 billion are cranky.  It has beautiful southwestern US backdrops, plus a precarious...

Wondering what the Hail the Guys are up to this episode? With Jay out, Robbie and Art share their thoughts on the extremely popular movie (and book) Project Hail Mary.   What did the Guys think of Ryan Gosling’s latest film? Did the filmmakers do enough to have it live up to the book?  

Geeks for the week include a Star Wars veteran being brought into help with the Mandalorian and Grogu movie.  

Robbie shares his views from the most recent NAB in Las Vegas. Spoiler alert: it was disappointing.  And the Guys ramble a bit ab...

Jay missed the Apple products episode a few weeks back and asked to revisit it.  

Imagine his surprise when he arrived to find out it wasn’t about pie or caramel covered orbs.  But after a short recovery period, he chimes in on his favorite Apple products through the years before Art and Robbie take listeners through the history of missteps related to the fruit company that remains.  (RIP, Blackberry).  

In Geeks of the Week, Art revisits the Avengers: Doomsday trailer with a list of scenes, and mourns the loss of a major Saturday morning kids’...

This podcast is paradise: a cool underground lair, things going on outside that The Guys know nothing about,  potentially run by a nefarious AI entity known as “Mrs. Reed”.  

Much like the Paradise series on Hulu, which is the subject of today’s episode.  Jay wasn’t quite finished watching season 2, but that didn’t stop him from expressing opinions on how it may or may not end.  He was also that day old when he learned what a caldera is.  Jay’s ignorance notwithstanding (despite firsthand knowledge of the true Graceland), all three Guys agreed that this is a series...

If there were a Webby Award for best adaptation of a lunch conversation into a podcast, Guys of a Certain Age would surely win.  Right?  The Guys will have to lobby for that one.  

Meanwhile, in the studio, Robbie and Jay take an episode to talk about adaptations of books into streaming series and movies. The conversation begins with Murderbot (doesn’t it always?), which Jay listened to as an audiobook.  (Listen to the end to hear Robbie’s opinion on whether or not he can say he “read” the book.)  Another book, Project Hail Mary, is in theaters a...

In this episode of Guys of a Certain Age Robbie and Art discuss the successful launch of the Artemis II as the return to the moon begins.

Robbie mentions a Mississippi State grad who played a role in making the mission happen. A mission that may be harder to accomplish is finding a new streaming home for Dr. Who. Could HBO be where the Tardis ends up?

In the second half the Guys take a look back at 50 years of Apple. What were their first devices, their favorites, and which Apple product has had...

If you’re truly a Luddite, you’re probably not listening to this podcast anyway.  But if you love your tech, but still like to hold a paper book in your hand, or you’re a wiz with GPS, but have a glove compartment full of maps you actually know how to use, this episode might just be for you.  

This week, Art and Jay talk about their favorite analog tools, sprinkled with a dose of when they like to use tech vs when wireless living is preferred.  From journals to ink pens, maps to books, and even a le...

The Guys have covered summer grilling, but what to do in between meals?  Go to the movie theater, of course.  

Robbie and Jay take a journey through 2026 and talk upcoming movies of interest: expectations, scheduling, fake trailers, and more.  From Masters of the Universe through Dunes-Dooms-Day, 2026 could be a big year for movies on The Guys’ radar…or not.  There is hope that Masters and Supergirl will be fun, Spider-Man will be a brand new day indeed, Dune will be worth the length, and Doomsday will continue to bring cred back to the MCU.  And who is this Clay...

G’day Sers and Ladies!  

This episode of Guys of a Certain Kingdom is brought to you by a famous donut chain and the incredible, edible (and apparently “unlikely”) chicken product - Dunk'n Egg.  These are the stars of the podcast today, followed in lesser brightness by minor stars Robbie and Jay, who are making do while Art continues to celebrate retirement from his day job.  A Knight of the 7 Kingdoms is the topic, and it comes highly recommended by The Guys for its characters, stand-aloneness, brevity, and leave-you-wanting more factor.  Even Westeros novices like Jay who just like...

He’s baaaack.  But don’t be afraid!  It’s not Jason, it’s Wes Shelton.  

Back for the umpteenth time and The Guys are always happy to have him.  It’s springtime at the studio, which means there was a frost last week, and Jay is baring his pale legs in shorts this week.  Mississippi listeners understand.  Since spring in Mississippi can be like summer anywhere else (minus the frost, perhaps), The Guys are already preparing for grilling season.  But what does “prep” actually mean when it comes to the equipment?  That’s why they call on Wes, Griller of a Cer...

It’s a nerd!  It’s a plane!  Nope - it’s an actor.  

An actor who happens to have super powers.  Or a superhero who happens to be an actor.  Either way, it’s Wonder Man, Marvel’s latest streaming series.  The Guys all recommend it, but be aware: this is not your typical superhero show.  People with powers? check.  Sidekicks with witty repartee? check.  Dastardly villains? It kinda depends on how you look at it.  But it also has celebrity cameos, family drama, and a genuine Knight Bachelor who steals the show. And it’s easily binge-able so g...

Ya’ know how Jay is always Geek-of-the-Weeking about travel spots he’d love to go to but probably never will?  (At least until the right SPONSOR comes along…) Well, this week it’s the other way around - he’s telling Art (and all the listeners, of course) about his recent trip to the edge of the galaxy.  Or more specifically, Galaxy’s Edge.  At Walt Disney World, in Florida - not outer space.  (Though there are similarities.)  

He reviews the Rise of the Resistance. gives tasting notes on his Ronto Wrap and blue milk, recounts his granddaughter’s s...

Just when you thought things couldn't get any stranger, Robbie and Art discuss the final season of Netflix's hit series, Stranger Things, starring a group of kids who are almost old enough to qualify as hosts of our podcast. Was it a satisfying conclusion to the series? Who are the breakout stars?  Hear our thoughts on this episode or face the wrath of Vecna.

Before this episode gets too regrettable—even villainous—The Guys bring news from the world of geekdom.

Art joins Jay's travel planning service and suggests a Disney-Star Trek (you read that right: Trek, not Wars) mashup show somewhere in Seattle. Robbie asks Siri about her underlying software and, after a virtual slap, she confesses that she's now Googling it. Jay reveals the source of the face behind Yoda and discovers a makeup artist who might just have the highest Geek Index yet. But go away, you should not.

After a brief respite, Jay is back with...

With the announcement of Apple TV’s recent agreement to make movies and TV (and probably some money) based on Brandon Sanderson’s prolific fantasy books, the attention of The Guys turns to the only streaming service that tastes good ala mode.  

Whilst they  wait for the Mistborn movie to arrive, there is plenty more to watch that is already beloved.  Ted Lasso is coming back, For All Mankind returns, and some of us haven’t even watched Pluribus yet.  Apple TV seems the place to be for geeks, with or without the  Plus.  

In Geeks of the...

No toys were harmed in the making of this episode, but the feet of many fathers worldwide have been temporarily damaged in the night due to the toys discussed.  Its time to talk Legos.  

With the introduction of Lego’s new Smart Brick play system, it seemed a good time to bring in someone with a literal trunk full of Legos and who also happens to work with children, repeat guest Jacob, son of Jay.  The last episode he joined was all about board games…anyone see a pattern here?  With Art doing day job things in another...