Join us this week as the chaos continues! We're thrilled to announce a new addition to the family: our sweet new dog, Indy! Get ready for adorable puppy updates and all the heartwarming moments (and maybe a few chewed shoes).

But that's not all! Our kids are keeping us on our toes. We've got an embarrassing story about Harry's latest tumbling adventure that you won't want to miss. Eleanor is making great strides with her OT and speech therapy, and we'll share an update on her journey. Plus, our two oldest are becoming quite the tech philosophers, probing us with all their burning questions about AI and lamenting that summer's slipping away too fast.

And speaking of dragons, we dive deep into the world of How to Train Your Dragon, speculating on the upcoming live-action movie and its rumored stars like Mason Thames as Hiccup and Nico Parker as Astrid.

In a more serious segment, Alondra critiques some quotes from my upcoming book, affectionately titled "The Lions." Then, in a moment of pure podcast gold, we unleash our inner lions (and maybe a little off-key harmony) with a rendition of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Finally, Alondra gives us the scoop on her fabulous book club, the "Book Club Baddies."

Tune in for a mix of family fun, thoughtful discussions, and a whole lot of laughs!

Summary

In this engaging podcast episode, John and Alondra Sellmeyer dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), discussing their top 10 MCU films, exploring rankings, and sharing personal insights on various characters and storylines. They touch on the impact of films like Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame, while also debating the merits of different superhero portrayals. The conversation is light-hearted, filled with humor, and showcases their unique perspectives on the MCU.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and New Equipment

(02:31) MCU Film Rankings and Personal Preferences

(05:14) Discussion on Spider-Man and Future Films, Plus Tom Holland as James Bond?

(07:55) Top 10 MCU Films Countdown Begins

(10:27) Exploring Guardians of the Galaxy and Character Development

(12:59) Thor: Ragnarok and Villain Dynamics

(15:43) Guardians of the Galaxy and Emotional Themes

(18:08) Spider-Man: No Way Home and Nostalgia

(19:44) The Impact of Iconic Villains

(20:43) Celebrating Black Panther's Legacy

(23:47) Avengers: Endgame and the Emotional Journey

(27:20) My Number 2 Film

(29:23) My Number 1 Film

Takeaways

Alondra feels honored to be called the 'Excalibur of a wife.'

The couple discusses their recent trip to a retail store for Amazon returns.

John expresses his disagreement with a friend's MCU film ranking.

Alondra shares her thoughts on the MCU films, emphasizing her lack of comic book knowledge.

The couple counts down their top 10 MCU films, starting with Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2.

They discuss the emotional depth of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.

Alondra shares her excitement about the upcoming Spider-Man film.

The couple reflects on the significance of Black Panther in the MCU.

They debate the merits of various MCU films, including Thor: Ragnarok and Doctor Strange.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the impact of Avengers: Endgame and Infinity War.

Keywords

MCU, Marvel, movie rankings, superhero films, Black Panther, Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Thor, Spider-Man, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Pratt, etc.

In this special episode of Because I’m John Sellmeyer, the host steps away from the usual lighthearted interviews and takes listeners on a thoughtful journey through two symbolic landscapes: the sun-scorched deserts of the Middle East and the icy expanse of the former Soviet Union.

We explore how the Middle East—birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—became a region where belief is not just cultural but deeply woven into the identity of entire civilizations. In contrast, the Soviet Union pursued a bold, often unforgiving experiment in state atheism, removing religion from public life in the hope of building a purely secular society.

What happens when belief is the foundation of your laws and legacy? And what happens when it's stripped away completely? Through stories, symbols, and a touch of poetic reflection, this episode dives into the power of faith, the risks of its absence, and the philosophical tension between sacred fire and ideological frost.

Whether you're drawn to history, religion, or just a good story, this episode invites you to think deeply—and maybe even rediscover the roots of the podcast itself.