Geek Actually Episode 15 - Rumspringa
November 20, 2008
Hosts: David McVay, Mirren Lee, Jacob Oberman and a special guest appearance from Sarah Kalpokas
This week, Mirren’s back and Sarah makes an unexpected Skype call. David tried to see “Dying Breed” but was denied, again! Jacob and David review the documentary “Celebrity: Dominick Dunne”. Sarah pops in from Canada to tell us her opinions on the new Bond film “Quantum of Solace” and David reviews the new teen comedy “Sex Drive”.
A bunch of Tech stories and movie news including, Terrorists recruiting on Facebook, Yang steps down from Yahoo, Obama on YouTube, Robotech coming to screen near you and many more. We also look at some of the hype and mixed stories around Baz Luhrmann’s new film “Australia”.
Due to the conversational and candid approach we take to the show, the episode carries an explicit tag for infrequent bad language.
Listen to it here or download (or subscribe) it on iTunes or Podbean.com
NOTE: You must have the latest Adobe Flash Player installed for the streams to playback correctly. Go to www.adobe.com to get the latest Flash Player.
Geek Actually Episode 14 - Not Funny Rob
November 12, 2008
Hosts: David McVay and Jacob Oberman with guest Nicholas McVay (The Little Geek)
David and Jacob talk tech, including Google’s G1 phone’s problems, YouTube and MGM join forces, iPhone beats Motorola’s Razr and key cutting from a distance. We also discuss the new company Digital Life Ware which offers software on demand.
David and Jacob review the new Rob Schneider film, Big Stan. Rob has made his directorial debut and you should be afraid, be very afraid! Jacob has seen Rock N Rolla, the verdict is in, it is good!
Little Geek tells us about finishing Lego Batman the Videogame and how he has discovered retro TV, yes, Nicholas watched black and white TV, and he enjoyed it!
Due to illness, Mirren Lee couldn’t join us today.
Due to the conversational and candid approach we take to the show, the episode carries an explicit tag for infrequent bad language.
Geek Actually Episode 13 - And The Winner Is …
November 6, 2008
David McVay, Mirren Lee and Jacob Oberman are proud that Barack Obama won the Presidential Election, 2008!!!! We discuss the election, the aftermath and the technology used in this history making election. Is Coca Cola good for you? That’s what an Australian ad is claiming! Also, new Facebook and Obama viruses hit cyberspace.
David reviews Guy Ritchie’s new film “Rock n rolla” and Mirren and David try and review “Death Race” without laughing.
This is a jammed packed show, but as usual we try and have a little fun along the way.
Due to the conversational and candid approach we take to the show, the episode carries an explicit tag for infrequent bad language.
Listen to it here or download (or subscribe) it on iTunes or Podbean.com
Congratulations to Senator Obama - President-Elect
November 5, 2008
Everyone associated with “…Geek, Actually” would like to offer our congratulations to Senator Barack Obama, the new President-Elect of the United States of America.
This was a historic, sweeping victory that I believe will change the future of America. Today, I am so proud to be an American!
The “…Geek, Actually” Podcast, What Is It?
November 3, 2008
I have noticed that as the popularity of this blog increases, we are not seeing the same sort of increases to our show, “…Geek, Actually”. Although the show’s numbers do increase each week, the increase isn’t as dramatic as the blog’s. So I thought it was about time to write a post to help inform you, the readers, about the show. Call it an FAQ if you like.
What is a podcast?
I’m glad you asked. A podcast (or netcast, same thing) is either an online radio show or online video show. In our case we are a radio show that is downloadable or streamable from the internet.
What is the show “…Geek, Actually”?
“…Geek, Actually” is a conversational internet radio show about movies and tech. But wait, there’s more! I need to qualify the tech aspect of the show. I have people say to me, “I don’t know anything about tech, it doesn’t interest me.” That is probably a good thing as we don’t tend to dwell very much on hardcore tech. I’ll leave that to Leo LaPorte and his group over at TWiT.tv, what we do is approach tech from the point of view of the every person. We try and bring up stories that are either fun or interesting or affect the every day person and then help to demystify the jargon.
So a Non-Geek might like the show?
Mirren Lee (one of my co-hosts) is very non-geek. If we can help her understand tech subjects we might be able keep your interest too.
So you said you also talk about movies?
By far the main focus of the podcast is movies. We are all movie fans and have all worked in the film and/or TV business in some way or another. I (David) host the show and I originally trained as a film director/producer before getting heavily involved with tech. I also used to review video releases on Radio 3AW (Saturday Night’s with Yvonne Lawrence). I am also an avid film buff and dabbled in an acting career for awhile (Neighbours, Feds, Mercury a CGU Ad Campaign). Mirren Lee (co-host) is an actress, acting coach, dialect coach and ex-actor’s agent. She has been working in the film and TV industry for 30 years and also ran her own theatre company in Melbourne. Jacob Oberman in an independent producer with a lean towards documentaries.
So what do you talk about?
We discuss current release moves, DVD releases, classics, TV stuff, trends in the industry and hot topic items in the news. We do this all with fun and accessibility foremost in our minds. As an example of this, Mirren is out trivia queen and she brings the latest gossip to the show.
This sounds interesting, but I don’t own an iPod.
No problem. Our show goes out in a stock standard MP3 format, it is playable on any device that supports MP3 (computer, mobile phone, any portable MP3 player, a lot of new car stereos, most DVD players etc.). You can stream it directly from geekactually.com or download it from iTunes (iPod users) or from geekactually.podbean.com (everyone else).
How much does it cost?
Best news of all, it is absolutely free! We do accept donations if you feel generous or if you have some time, try clicking a few of the ads on our site to help pay for it. You don’t have to do any of that though, you can just listen to the show free.
So why listen to the show when I can just read the blog?
This site was set up as companion to the show. I don’t blog all the stories we talk about on the show. I also don’t put many film reviews on the site because, well quite frankly, I like to talk about the films I see. I don’t want to write a boring old review like everyone else. Part of enjoying a film is sharing the experience with others and I don’t think you can really convey a sense of please or loathing with a written review 
If you want to get our latest news, trivia, reviews and opinions, you have to listen to the podcast. We blog some of it and sometimes we blog stuff that doesn’t make the show … it’s kind of symbiotic. The blog also acts as a way of communicating with the listeners when we have show news (eg. delays, day changes, release days etc.)
Can I input stuff for the show?
You sure can. Three ways to have your voice heard, 1) Post comments on the blog posts. 2) Post stuff in our forum and 3) Use the contact page to send us an email.
Just remember, keep your questions short and to the point. And not all stories can go in the show.
I just noticed that you carry an explicit tag in iTunes.
Yes we do. Let me explain, there is no middle ground on iTunes, you are either clean or explicit. Due to the conversational, candid approach we take, sometimes the language gets a little salty. I am a great believer in freedom of speech and I think we are too heavily censored in this world we live in. I do not beep out the swearing, so we have to carry the explicit tag. The language we use is probably no worse than you use around the house (most of the time).
Okay, that is it for now. If you have any questions about the show that I haven’t answered, please contact me. I hope you come and enjoy the show as much as we enjoy making it.
Episode 13 Delayed Until Thursday
November 2, 2008
Just a quick note to tell you loyal listeners that I am delaying the next episode by a couple of days because of the US Federal Election. We normally record on Monday and release Tuesday (we have been on Wednesday for the last couple of weeks, sorry) but due to the US Federal Election on Tuesday (Wednesday our time) we are going to record on Wednesday (our time) and release Thursday for this week only.
Why? Well, I think that is obvious, I want to be able to talk about the election outcome on the show and I don’t want to have to wait a week to do it.
Look for the show on Thursday (Australian Time, so for the US listeners that is Wednesday), it should be a doozy!
Geek Actually Episode 12 - X-Rays and Scotch Tape
October 29, 2008
Happy Halloween! Join us (David McVay, Mirren Lee and Jacob Oberman) as we have a little Halloween fun. We discuss Kevin Smith’s new film, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”. The controversy that it’s ad campaign is causing and other censorship subjects like internet censorship and the issue of the R rating for video games is given life yet again.
Jacob and David review the new Australian film, “Monkey Puzzle” and David and Mirren review the film, “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People”.
With the US Federal Election looming, we of course take a look at a couple of interesting strategies that celebrities are using to endorse Obama.
Due to the conversational and candid approach we take to the show, the episode carries an explicit tag for frequent bad language.
Listen to it here or download (or subscribe) it on iTunes or Podbean.com
Happy Halloween everyone and make sure you vote!
Show Notes: (the list is long, sorry)
Mirren Lee’s Website - mirrenlee.com
Monkey Puzzle - Official Website
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People - Official Website
The Original “Wassup” Bud Ad:
The new “Wassup 2008″ Obama Ad:
The X-Ray Scotch Tape Article - News.com.au
The Internet Censorship Article - News.com.au
The R Rating Needed for Games Article - News.com.au
The new Apple Ads - Apple.com
The Huffington Post - Huffington Post
The Ron Howard Obama Film:
See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die
NOTE: You must have the latest Adobe Flash Player installed for the streams to playback correctly. Go to www.adobe.com to get the latest Flash Player.
Geek Actually Episode 11 - Queen of Geeks!
October 22, 2008
This week David McVay, Mirren Lee and Jacob Oberman are joined via Skype (from Canada) by Sarah Kalpokas. The topic of the week is remakes! With the US version of “Kath & Kim” now viewed (and judged unworthy) we examine this alarming trend to remake everything. We also take a look at the US Presidential race by examining Sarah Palin’s appearance on “Saturday Night Live”.
Jacob reviews the new documentary “Man on Wire”, David reviews “Max Payne” and Sarah tells us all about “The Wackness”. We discuss a few tech things too, did you know The Queen of England was a bit of a geek too?
It was Jacob’s birthday so it is fun and entertaining party of a show, enjoy.
The episode carries an explicit tag for infrequent bad language.
Listen to it here or download (or subscribe) it on iTunes or Podbean.com
Geek Actually Episode 10 - Where’s the Firewire?
October 16, 2008
Join David McVay, Mirren Lee, Jacob Oberman and Nicholas “The Little Geek” as we return after our week off with a light hearted show about flowers, our nations capital and the Coen brothers.
David, Mirren and Jacob discuss the Floriade Flower Show in Canberra, its theme this year was Australian film. Mirren and David review the Coen’s new film, “Burn After Reading” (and the cinema we saw it in) and Apple announced their new line up of MacBooks and David and Jacob wonder if they are worth it.
David and Nicholas talk about the new film, “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” and the new video game, “Lego Batman : The Videogame”.
The episode carries an explicit tag for infrequent bad language.
Listen to it here or download (or subscribe) it on iTunes or Podbean.com
NOTE: You must have the latest Adobe Flash Player installed for the streams to playback correctly. Go to www.adobe.com to get the latest Flash Player.
Reminder About Episode 10
October 9, 2008
Just a quick reminder that episode 10 is next Tuesday. As mentioned in the last show, we went to Canberra this week to see Floriade and could not record this week. The show next week should be a good one as we will discuss the trip to Canberra and Mirren Lee and I went to see a preview of Burn After Reading last night, so we will review the film and our cinema going experience. Positive for the film, negative for the cinema. We also have some follow up information about Michael Moore’s new film and the Presidential election heats up.
Join us Tuesday (14th of October) on iTunes for another episode of “…Geek, Actually”
