New Episode of Banter Blender is Up!

Sorry folks, I really do want to get these episodes up more regularly again, but I’m happy to report we’ve made up for lost time with this latest installment of The Banter Blender. We touch on all the important stuff: reality stars downstairs, Lamar Odom, oversized sandwiches, Adele, my new board game, and candy. Lots …

BANTER BLENDER #111: Bagels, Hollywood, and The Game of Fiasco

Last week, my friend Jessica Ogilvie (twitter.com/jessicapauline) joined me on The Banter Blender for some good old fashioned banter. As usual, the topics spanned a large variety of topics, starting with another lengthy dissertation on bagels: how we like our cream cheese, how we feel about the word “shmear,” and other important observations from our …

BANTER BLENDER #108: Louis Virtel Talks About Snapping on Jeopardy and Going Viral

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, …

BANTER BLENDER #104: Measles, Bruce Jenner, ‘American Sniper,’ and Bagels

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 …

Banter Blender #103: Settlers of Catan, Dominion, and Modern Board Game Culture

“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. …

BANTER BLENDER #99: Ray Rice, Taylor Swift, Joan Rivers, and ‘Utopia’

Writer Jessica Ogilvie (Playboy) returns to the Banter Blender podcast to discuss the latest events in a summer of craziness. We start with Ray Rice and the larger question of can bad behavior ever be forgiven? This leads to discussion of Chris Brown and Michael Vick before eventually landing on the most pressing debate of …

BANTER BLENDER #92: Discussing Bieber’s Racism, the Kimye Wedding, and Hot Actors

On this very special episode of “The Banter Blender,” Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) is joined by three of his high school friends: Michelle, Lauren, and Caty. The three immediately launch into a variety of topics, including Justin Bieber’s racist rant, the Kim Kardashian/Kanye West wedding, and, of course, ranking hot actors and athletes. Plus, no high …

BANTER BLENDER #87: All About Vine with Guest Darius Benson

This week on “The Banter Blender,” Vine superstar Darius Benson (twitter.com/mrlegendarius) joins Ben Mandelker (twitter.com/bsideblog) to talk about Vine. Darius breaks it all down: from his humble beginnings to his big successes and everything in between. He also talks about how he creates his Vines, how his popularity has affected his life, and how he …