Batman: The Animated Podcast

VO superstar Maurice LaMarche (Pinky & The Brain, The Simpsons, Adventure Time, every single cartoon ever) chats about his brief appearance on Batman, why he left stand-up to pursue voice over, and what it takes to be the go-to Hollywood fake burp pro and funniest impressionist around. I also sit down with author and comedian DC Pierson (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Crap Kingdom, The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To) to watch and dig into The Man Who Killed Batman. Sponsored by The Ace Chemical Plant! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes. Donate on PayPal at btaspodcast@gmail.com. Follow @btaspodcast on Twitter for updates. More at www.BTASpodcat.com.

Listen to one of my favorite early episodes of the podcast in which we tackle the very first episode of BTAS in style! First, designer and musician Roxy Radalescu (Movies in Color, TUFT / Hi Ho Silver Oh) pops by to talk about the use of color in the pilot and the Man-Bat’s extremely perfect pants. Then I sit down with legendary voice director Andrea Romano (every show in the DCAU, TMNT, Spongebob Squarepants, Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, DuckTales) to discuss the joy of making cartoons, how she originally cast Batman, inside jokes from Mask of the Phantasm and what a keep-alive groan is. Also featuring Drew Tarver, Dan Lippert, Harry Chaskin and Jace Armstrong. Hosted and produced by Justin Michael. Sponsored by The Gotham Wharf! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes. Follow @BTASpodcast or go to www.BTASpodcast.com to donate and keep things free.

I sit down with Batman composer Carlos Rodriguez (Hellboy, The Royal Tenenbaums) and comedy writer Tim Neenan (Filthy Preppy Teen$, Newsreaders) to talk clock. We discuss making a character named The Clock King “a motherf*cker,” influences of Hitchcock and Miyazaki, and what’s at stake when Batman has to save a wiener from a wiener. Plus, The Mayor o’ Podcasts (Drew Tarver) returns to bother me. Sponsored by Clock King’s Clocks n’ Things! Donate at www.BTASpodcast.com. Follow the show on Twitter @BTASpodcast and myself @heyjustin.

Paul Dini (writer, creator of Harley Quinn) is back to talk about everyone’s favorite villainess. We discuss finding comedy in a show that takes Batman seriously, writing Harley as a human rubber band and the lost direct-to-video BTAS anthology! I also chat with artist and character designer Cheyenne Curtis (Powerpuff Girls, Star vs. The Forces of Evil) about her love of Harley, how Bruce Timm draws women and why this version of Batman is a better dude than others. Sponsored by Fish Nunchucks! Rate and leave a comment in iTunes. Follow @BTASpodcast for updates. Donate at www.BTASpodcast.com.

I celebrate 20 episodes by sitting down with the voice of Batman himself: Kevin Conroy. We discuss everything from how he stumbled into the role of a lifetime and channeled his inner darkness to hanging out with his neighborhood bartender, Bruce Willis. I also go behind the scenes of Mask of the Phantasm with writer Alan Burnett to talk about the genesis of the film and how it went from direct-to-video to last minute theatrical release. PLUS, comedy writer / director Alex Fernie (Hulu’s Hotwives, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver) pops by to discuss the movie in detail and explore the logic behind things like using a saw-horse to escape the cops and whether or not the Joker is doinking a 1964 World’s Fair robot. Sponsored by Dating Batman Style! Follow the show on Twitter @BTASpodcast and find more / donate at www.BTASpodcast.com.

Let’s talk up Lock-Up! First Echo Kellum (Mr. Terrific on Arrow, Rick & Morty) pops by to share his experience playing a DC superhero on TV, getting to be an extra in The Dark Knight and why Batman has “the finest rogue’s gallery.” Then BTAS scribe Robert N. Skir walks me through the writing process and creation of Lock-Up. Also featuring Jeffrey Combs and Marissa Strickland. Sponsored by Arkham Singles! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes. More at @BTASpodcast and www.BTASpodcast.com.

Paul Dini returns to talk everyone's favorite Gotham gals! We discuss the genesis of Harley Quinn, the cruelty and manipulation of Poison Ivy and how Harley brings out the best in her. I also sit down with animation creator and artist Julia Vickerman (Twelve Forever, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Powerpuff Girls) to talk about the importance of funny female characters and how Batman influenced her career in animation. Plus, the grand twisty turny musical finale of #PodQuestCast featuring Marissa Strickland, Jace Armstrong and Casey Trela. Donate to the show at btaspodcast.com. Follow the show on Twitter at @BTASpodcast. Rate + Subscribe in iTunes!

Happy Batman Day! On today’s surprise episode we talk Joker with Batman composer Michael McCuistion (Superman, Batman Beyond, Justice League) and comedian Jace Armstrong (Nathan For You, The Birthday Boys). Also featuring Alex Berg (Hell Baby, UCB’s Convoy) in the penultimate chapter of #PodQuestCast. Sponsored by Obviously Terrifying Clowns! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes. More at www.BTASpodcast.com or @BTASpodcast on Twitter.

Comic book legend Gerry Conway may have created The Punisher and killed off Gwen Stacy, but today he’s here to talk Batman and writing Appointment in Crime Alley. He shares the importance of bright spots in a dark narrative, why he likes Dr. Leslie Tompkins, and the two ways to deal with a cliche. He’s joined by artist and comedian David Kantrowitz (@midnight, Plot Twistagram). Also featuring Dan Lippert (Workaholics) and Ryan Rosenberg (Playing House) as The Ammo Bros and Alex Berg who returns as a literally groundbreaking return as Rid Ler. Sponsored by The Crime Alley Chamber of Commerce! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes. More at www.BTASpodcast.com and @BTASpodcast.

Paul Scheer (The League, Crash Test, How Did This Get Made?) swings by to talk magic, demons and little boys trapped in crystal balls in the weirdest Batman episode yet! Then we take an inside look at what goes into making a Batman: The Animated Series action figure with DC Collectibles design director Jim Fletcher. Also featuring Drew Tarver as The Mayor o' Podcasts and Jace Armstrong as Kevin Conroybot in the next chapter of #PodQuestCast! Sponsored by  Witch Boy Trapped In A Crystal Ball.com! Special thanks to Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and Pat Janssen. Rate + Subscribe in iTunes! More at www.BTASpodcast.com.  

Jake Goldman (Powerpuff Girls, Futurama) stops by to talk about extreme recoiling, compare Perchance to Dream to Calvin & Hobbes, and share why Batman's uniquely greatest asset is learning from his mistakes. Then, the incredible BTAS writer and producer Alan Burnett (Justice League: Gods & Monsters, Mask of the Phantasm, probably all of your favorite cartoons) explains how Hitchcock influenced this episode, why villains bring out the best in Batman stories, and shares details on a script that was never produced. Also featuring Drew Tarver's triumphant return as The Mayor of Podcasts in #PodQuestCast: Part 4. Sponsored by Perchance to Cream. Rate + Review + Subscribe in iTunes! More at www.BTASpodcast.com and @BTASpodcast.

The show flashes back to the Old West and I sit down with Eric Martin (This American Wife, Audie Nominated narrator) and Batman director / storyboard artist Kevin Altieri to talk Jonah Hex, Ra’s al Ghul and an actual U.S. politician who played a part in the making of this episode. Also featuring Natalie Palamides (Powerpuff Girls, Uncle Buck) as Dolores Dumply in PodQuestCast part 3. Sponsored by Jonah Hex-Mex! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes and donate at www.BTASpodcast.com.

Catwoman and Scarface team up in this episode and we talk all about the music with Emmy-nominated Batman composer Kristopher Carter (BTAS, Superman Batman Beyond, Justice League) and musician Casey Trela (Hi Ho Silver Oh, Dark Rooms). I also visit a cave to seek out the Ghost Witch AKA Betsy Sodaro (Monsters University, Another Period, Big Time in Hollywood, FL) in the second thrilling installment of PodQuestCast. Sponsored by The Gotham City Natural History Museum! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes. More at www.BTASpodcast.com.

The legendary Batman writer and creator of Harley Quinn stops by the podcast for an incredible interview! But first, Mark Rennie (The Onion, UCB) talks about his love of Baby-Doll, the potential happy ending of a tragic character, and the desperate need for a tumblr focused on the shoes of the DC Animated Universe. Then, Paul Dini (BTAS, Lost, Arkham Asylum, Arkham City) talks about injecting comedy into Batman, learning to trust the collaborative process and the never before heard origin of creating Baby-Doll. If that’s not enough for you, today marks the beginning of #PodQuestCast, a new multi-part story arc that will continue next episode! Also featuring Kirby Howell-Baptiste (House of Lies, 2 Hot Dogs), Marissa Strickland (Newsreaders, Happy Endings) and Harry Chaskin (Adult Swim). Sponsored by Mary Dahl’s Adult Dollpers! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes. Donate on the About Page of www.BTASpodcast.com.

10 time Emmy Nominated composer Lolita Ritmanis (Batman, Superman, Justice League, The Brave and the Bold) pops by to share how she created music for Batman and the theme song for Justice League, what it was like to get mentored by Shirley Walker and how she met her colleagues at Dynamic Music Partners while working on DC animated shows. She's joined by actor and comedian Mark Schroeder (Private Street, UCB's Dunk Tank) to talk priests, trains and why he's grown to like It's Never Too Late even more now that he's older. Also featuring Jace Armstrong (Comedy Bang! Bang!, Nathan For You) as Kevin Conroybot. Sponsored by the Gotham Train Museum! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes. More at www.BTASpodcast.com and @BTASpodcast on Twitter.

BTAS gets its Frank Miller, Dick Sprang and Bill Finger on as I tackle the fan-favorite anthology episode "Legends of the Dark Knight." First Nick Mundy (Conan, Comedy Central's Nothing to Report, Screen Junkies, Wonder Twins) digs into the episode and how this cartoon introduced him to The Dark Knight Returns and discusses the logistics of a building that houses giant musical instruments. Then I speak with comic historian and graphic designer Arlen Schumer about his love of the Fleischer Superman, the enduring storytelling of BTAS and what it was like to design merchandise for the show. Also featuring Jacob Reed (Before You Were Funny, Buzzfeed) as The Ol' Podspector. Sponsored by Police Blimps! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes. More at www.btaspodcast.com.

Robot Batman! Need I say more? First, Justin Donaldson (Tournament of Nerds, The Screen Junkies Show) talks "His Silicon Soul," action figures, and what it was like to visit the Batman Returns set as a kid. Then Marty Isenberg (Guardians of the Galaxy, Ben 10, Superman: The Animated Series) talks about writing a robot Batman episode, pitches that never made the cut, and how he straddled being a receptionist and writing for BTAS at the same time. Sponsored by Rossum Farms! Rate + Comment on iTunes. Donate to the show at www.BTASpodcast.com.

It's an episode full of circus freaks and Batman geeks as we tackle the Killer Croc episode "Sideshow." First, comedian Shelby Fero (Key & Peele, @midnight, Other Space) pops by to talk about why this episode is a bummer, compares it to Shakespeare and accidentally renames Alfred. Then actor, writer and director Whit Hertford (Wildlife, Jurassic Park, How I Met Your Mother) discusses what it was like to play Billy the Seal Boy, being a child actor when your contemporaries are Elijah Wood and Leonardo DiCaprio, and working with Phil Hartman on an Elmyra pilot. Also featuring Marissa Strickland (Newsreaders, Happy Endings) as a stinky old egg. Sponsored by The Croc Rock! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes. More at www.BTASpodcast.com.

We dive into Dick Grayson's past with the voice of Robin and Nightwing himself: Loren Lester! Loren explains why he loves Old Wounds, guides us through his approach to voicing both characters, and even shares info on some never produced Batman animated spin-offs. He's joined by Bat-nerd and comedian Hector Navarro (Geek & Sundry), who discusses the importance of Robin in the Batman universe and asks all the right questions along the way. Also featuring Jessica McKenna (The Goldbergs, Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Zach & The Jess) and Jace Armstrong. Sponsored by The Nightwing Insta-Mullet! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes.

Riddle me this: how does a podcast showcase its first Riddler episode? By celebrating the brains behind the show and interviewing our first BTAS writer: Robert N. Skir (Gargoyles, Superman: The Animated Series, Beetlejuice). Bob guides us through his career in animation, from how to write the perfect Riddler riddles to what it's like to be a comic book nerd working on your dream show. He's joined by comedian Yak Manrique (Private Street, UCB), who shares what it was like to take improv classes with his comic book and cartoon heroes. Also featuring Alex Berg (Key & Peele, Children's Hospital, UCB's Convoy) and Jace Armstrong. Sponsored by Daggett Cosmetics! Rate + Subscribe in iTunes.