The Power Trip: A Journey Through the Power Rangers Franchise
Michael Hamilton & Nathan Marchand
To celebrate the 29th anniversary of Power Rangers, Michael Hamilton (Kaiju Weekly, The Kaiju Groupie Podcast) and Nathan Marchand (The Monster Island Film Vault, Henshin Men) embark on a journey through every season of the famous morphenomenal franchise.
Lightning Round #21: INTERVIEW - Nathan Marchand, Creator of ‘Origins: Rito Bandora’
In this dual-upload with The Power Trip's spiritual successor, Henshin Power V3, the tables have turned—Nathan is interviewed on his own podcast! Why? Because he “Mel Gibson’d” (wrote, directed, edited, produced, and starred in) a one-shot origin episode for Scyther Podcasts’ Power Rangers: The Audiodrama titled “Origins: Rito Bandora.” Nathan explains how he got the role of Rito Bandora (or Rito Revolto, depending on who you talk to) and how this special episode came about. Also, the Snarky Bon
Jan 6, • 57:42
ANNOUNCEMENT: Subscribe to Henshin Power V3 on Its Own Podcast Feed!
Nathan clears up some confusion regarding the new podcast, Henshin Power V3, which picks up where The Power Trip and Henshin Men left off. This podcast is on its own feed. Below are links to the most prominent places you can hear it, but subscribe to it wherever you get your podcasts! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/henshin-power-v3/id1755399974 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mLqoHlO7IvTDivem9T1iv YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HenshinPowerV3 Podbean (official w
Sep 17, 2024 • 2:30
BONUS - Henshin Power V3, Episode 1: “The Henshin-itiation” (Introduction)
Listeners! Lend us your…henshin power! Nathan Marchand (aka “The TsuBro”) returns to tokusatsu TV podcasting in this fused sequel to Henshin Men and The Power Trip. He’s joined by his friends Christopher Riner (aka “Sentai Guy”) and Jake Hambrick (aka “The Metal Don”) for this journey. In this episode, they introduce themselves, how they got into tokusatsu, and why they wanted to podcast about it. Then they outline the show’s format and reveal what three series they’ll cover first—after Kamen Ri
Jul 10, 2024 • 1:26:09
NEW PODCAST - Henshin Power V3 (promo trailer)
Henshin Power V3: Where three friends have three minutes to talk about tokusatsu! Nathan (aka “The TsuBro”) has finished both Henshin Men and The Power Trip, but his friends Chris (aka “Sentai Guy”) and Jake (aka “The Metal Don”) won’t let him stop discussing henshin heroes just yet! A new tokusatsu journey begins July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)! Podcast Socials: Twitter/X: @HenshinPowerV3 The Markalite Lounge (official Facebook group) The Markalite Lounger (official Discord server) Power Rangers L
Jul 3, 2024 • 2:03
Lightning Round #20: “The Final Henshin” (Henshin Men and Power Trip Postmortem) | Ft. Christopher Riner and Jake Hambrick
All good things must come to an end, and today that is Henshin Men (and to a lesser extent, The Power Trip). Nathan’s friends/fans/past guests Christopher Riner and Jake Hambrick return to discuss their favorite episodes and moments from both podcasts—for three minutes! Why’s that? Well, the end is not the end, Heroes of the Internet and Listeners with Attitude! This is all being done because both podcasts will do a fusion dance to merge into a new show—Henshin Power V3! Time to get the Hype Tra
May 1, 2024 • 1:34:39
Lightning Round #19: An Interview with James Santana, Founder of TokUSA Studios, on The World of Nebulon (abridged)
In this excerpt from a Patreon-exclusive livestream for his other podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault, Nathan interviews James Santana, a comic nerd and tokusatsu fan who combined his passions by starting his own comic book label, TokUSA Studios. His goal is to bridge the gap between tokusatsu/manga fans and comic readers by offering them books inspired by the likes of Super Sentai and Ultraman, among others. He's currently spearheading a Kickstarter for The World of Nebulon, a preview book s
Apr 22, 2024 • 1:53:22
The World of Nebulon - A Tokusatsu-Inspired Comic Now on Kickstarter!
This Preview Book will allow you to take a look into, "The Nebuverse," a world of Tokusatsu heroes & villains. Behind the scenes, Hunter van Lierop & James Santana have been working with their amazing team of Gaspar Flores & CJ Billotto to create a universe inspired by some of their favorite franchises and genres. Go to Kickstarter to support this new indie comic from TokUSA!
Apr 12, 2024 • 0:59
Episode 41: “What a Long, Strange (Power) Trip It’s Been” | Franchise Overview & 30 Best Power Ranger Characters
All good things must come to an end…including The Power Trip. After recording nearly one week of audio over almost 60 uploads, Michael and Nathan complete their journey through the Power Ranger franchise in this finale livestream recorded before the members of the show’s official Facebook group, Power Ranger Legacy. They reflect on the franchise, what the podcast has meant to them, their 30 favorite PR characters, and what the future of the podcast (and their related endeavors) will look like. T
Feb 20, 2024 • 3:04:29
Episode 40: Power Rangers: Cosmic Fury (2023)
Well, we’ve made it, Listeners with Attitude. The 30th season of Power Rangers has come and gone, but did it go out with a bang or end with a whimper? Michael and Nathan discuss the 10-episode season and try to determine if Power Rangers: Cosmic Fury is a fitting end to the franchise’s epic 30-year run, or if it will be remembered more for its unrealized potential. Prepare yourself for a lively discussion full of laughs and an abundance of Dragon Daggers … sooo many Dragon Daggers! -------------
Oct 31, 2023 • 3:35:19
Episode 39: “Monkey Man and Bastard Must Get Along!” | Denji Sentai Megaranger | Ft. Kaiju Kim
The Queen of the Fabulous Empire, YouTuber extraordinaire, Kaiju Kim, returns to help the boys discuss the Sentai that became her favorite Power Rangers season: Denji Sentai Megaranger. What’s ironic is this Sentai feels more like a classic PR season while its counterpart, Power Rangers in Space, feels more like a Sentai. But is it fair to compare these shows when PRIS has the advantages of legacy and finality while Megaranger is just another Sentai? Can the #BlueWigsAndBlackLeather finally brea
Sep 29, 2023 • 3:10:09
Episode 38: “Let’s Send That Dinobot Packing!” | Himitsu Sentai Gorenger Manga by Shotaro Ishinomori | Seven Seas Entertainment
Today’s episode is a weird one. It’s The Power Trip’s first solo episode, with Nathan doing more comic book coverage…except it’s a manga…about the first Super Sentai…so it’s only peripherally related to Power Rangers. Anyway, thanks to Seven Seas Entertainment (who also translated and published the original Kamen Rider manga), Americans can now experience Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, which was created in 1975 by the Jack Kirby of manga, Shotaro Ishinomori. But if you read this graphic novel, be prep
Sep 27, 2023 • 56:18
Episode 37 – “You Aren’t Allowed to Like Turbo Without My Permission!” | Gekisou Sentai Carranger | Ft. Drew Dodgen of The Cel Cast
Save the “Earsh”! Michael and Nathan risk their friendship returning to a controversial subject—Power Rangers Turbo—which is why they brought on Drew Dodgen of The Cel Cast to moderate. Today they discuss Turbo’s source material, Gekisou Sentai Carranger, a parody Sentai that lovingly mocks the franchise. To say most of the humor was lost in translation would be an understatement. Not that American kids would understand most of it, anyway, because it’s weird. But that’s the charm…even if it bord
Sep 16, 2023 • 4:07:46
Lightning Round #18: Godzilla vs. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (IDW/Boom Studios)
Happy (belated) Power Ranger Day, Listeners with Attitude! To celebrate, Nathan held a colossal crossover of content creators for an equally colossal comic crossover: IDW/BOOM Studios’ Godzilla vs. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers! He’s joined by Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project), Rob Buck (The Power Chamber podcast), Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins (and his sidekick, Snazzy Chapeau), Elijah Thomas of Kaiju Conversation (who finally completes his “Infinity Gauntlet” of Nathan and Michae
Sep 6, 2023 • 2:48:39
Episode 36: “The Peanut Butter and Chocolate of Badness” | Power Rangers Turbo vs. Beetleborgs Metallix (Acclaim Comics)
In this episode, Michael and Nate discuss arguably one of the weirdest entries in Ranger history—a crossover of Divatoxic proportions—Power Rangers Turbo vs. Beetleborgs Metallix, a comic published in 1997 by Acclaim (now Valiant) Comics. It was one of three Turbo stories published in the short-lived Saban Powerhouse magazine. After Nathan gives Michael a crash course in the history of Big Bad Beetleborgs and Valiant Comics, your hosts do talk about Turbo—and are frequently interrupted by Beetle
Jul 24, 2023 • 1:18:04
Episode 35 - ”Mechanical Kissing Cousins” (Chouriki Sentai Ohranger)
We’re back, baby! After a brief hiatus thanks to Once & Always,Michael and Nathan resume their Super Sentai coverage with Chouriki Sentai Ohranger. This was the basis for Power Rangers Zeo, but it’s quite different. It even has shades of Ultraman with its military team battling evil robots. Speaking of which, the “Machine Empire” in this is like watching Game of Thrones except it’s tokusatsu. It’s just too bad the show ends up being bipolar tonally thanks to real-life tragedies. What were those?
Jun 20, 2023 • 4:30:20
Tokusatsu 101 (JAFAX 2023 Panel)
Nathan Marchand gives you a crash course on the tokusatsu medium! This was recorded at JAFAX (Japanese Animation, Film, and Art Expo) June 9-11, 2023. This is also premiering on The Monster Island Film Vault YouTube channel, and the audio will be shared on the MIFV podcast feed. Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/zvh09FrXqLM. ----------------------------------------------- EMAIL FEEDBACK TO THE SHOW: powertrippod@gmail.com ----------------------------------------------- FOLLOW THE S
Jun 14, 2023 • 1:04:51
Episode 34 - Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Once & Aways (2023)
And there came a day unlike any other…oops, wrong superhero franchise. Anyway, it’s finally here! Power Rangers celebrates its 30th anniversary with its best anniversary special (although, that bar isn’t set too high). Michael and Nathan dive deep (3 ½ hours on a one-hour special?!) into this MMPR reunion. Is this the mature take on the franchise we’ve been wanting? They sure think so! That’s especially true with its theme of grief, because—holy Zordon!—a Ranger dies! And it finally sticks! And
Apr 28, 2023 • 3:39:02
Episode 33: “Addicted to Goldar Dust” | Saban’s Power Rangers: Aftershock (BOOM! Studios)
For this live recording, Michael and Nathan discuss BOOM! Studios’ follow-up to the polarizing Saban's Power Rangers (2017): Power Rangers: Aftershock. While this comic unfortunately exists within a vacuum, the guys discuss whether it's a worthy, or at least satisfying, successor to the controversial film. In some ways, it feels more like classic Power Rangers (more time morphed, witty banter) but in other ways, it doesn’t (the villains feel straight out of Marvel Comics). Much to the chagrin of
Apr 20, 2023 • 1:06:54
Episode 32: “Today is Friday in California!” (Ninja Sentai Kakuranger)
Michael and Nathan come to the strangest and most meme-tastic Super Sentai series yet with Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (not to be confused with the Dairangers’ mentor, Master Kaku). After several seasons based on foreign literature and mythology, Kakuranger goes full-tilt Japanese with ninjas fighting Yokai. The fact that any of this was adapted into Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers season three is a small miracle (a flasher monster?!), but it’s Alien Rangers’ radical re-contextualization that’s the mo
Apr 7, 2023 • 4:18:08
Episode 31: “Putties Stole My Dog!” | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 25th Anniversary Special #1 (BOOM! Studios)
With the 30th anniversary of Power Rangers around the corner, Nathan and Michael dive into their longboxes (well, a shortbox for Michael) to discuss Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 25th Anniversary Special #1. This was an extra-large anthology comic with several short stories that span the franchise. It naturally includes two (-and-a-half) MMPR stories, but it also inexplicably has a Mystic Force tale and a Ninja Steel crossover. The meat of the episode, though, is dedicated to the issue’s final st
Mar 22, 2023 • 1:38:05
Episode 30: “Can You Dodge Our Lai Lai Balls?” | Gosei Sentai Dairanger | Ft. Daniel DiManna and Travis Alexander
You spoke it into existence, Listeners with Attitude! Our first five-hour episode! We’re joined by our two friends, Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) and Travis Alexander (Kaiju Ramen Magazine) to discuss Gosei Sentai Dairanger. This Sentai is in a weird place because it was only sorta adapted by Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers—as in they used mecha footage and some monster footage. The awesome costumes in this series were unused…until Megaforce (but we don’t talk about Megaforce). Da
Mar 1, 2023 • 5:23:09
Episode 29: “Twelfth Level Stupidity ” (Justice League/Power Rangers - DC Comics/BOOM! Studios)
Nathan is in his element while Michael tags along when The Power Trip finally covers its first BOOM! Studios Power Ranger comic…that was a co-production with DC Comics. So…does it count? Regardless, in Justice League/Power Rangers, the most iconic superheroes in the world join forces with the Teenagers with Attitude—and it’s a match made in comic book heaven. Nathan schools Michael on characters like the villainous A.I. Brainiac, but both of them gush over how incredibly cool Alpha-5 is in this
Feb 14, 2023 • 1:38:08
Episode 28: “Do-do-ra-ra Bandora!” (Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger)
The Power Trip begins its Super Sentai coverage! Michael and Nathan make a U-turn and go back to Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers—sorta—with Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger, which became MMPR season one. How does it compare? These shows are the same and yet quite different, if that makes sense. It was hard for your hosts to choose one over the other. Contrary to popular belief, Super Sentai isn’t “perfect.” Regardless, this show does hit both hosts differently in light of Jason David Frank’s death. They al
Jan 31, 2023 • 4:08:10
Lightning Round #17: Hasbro Pulse Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Fanstream Reaction (feat. Danny DiManna)
For the first Lightning Round of 2023, Michael and Nate are joined by their friend Danny DiManna of the Godzilla Novelization Project to discuss all the things surrounding the 30th Anniversary of Power Rangers, Power Rangers: Cosmic Fury, new product teases, and all things in between. The guys speculate what Hasbro has in store for "Once and Always", and try to decipher the easter eggs found in the "Rangers Reunited" behind the scenes first look. -----------------------------------------------
Jan 18, 2023 • 1:41:22
Episode 27: “Call Me Mommy Repulsa!” (Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers – Going Green | Papercutz Comics)
Happy New Year, Listeners with Attitude! We’re kicking off Power Trip 2: Taisaku Sentai Podranger (aka season two) with some comic coverage—but not BOOM! Studios! No, it’s Going Green, the last Ranger comic produced before BOOM! acquired the license, and it’s…wacky, to say the least. If you heard our episode on The Monster Island Film Vault about “Green with Evil,” then you know this comic is a prequel to that miniseries. It explains how Rita acquired the Green Power Coin—while fighting vegetabl
Jan 17, 2023 • 1:22:24
Power Trip 2: Taisaku Sentai Podranger Trailer (Season 2 Promo)
Michael (Kaiju Weekly, The Kaiju Groupie Podcast) and Nathan (The Monster Island Film Vault, Henshin Men, Power Rangers: The Audio Drama) have spent a year analyzing the nearly 1,000 episodes and three movies in the Power Rangers franchise. Michael is content to finish, but Nathan wants a season 2—and so does the great Ninjor, er, Ninjaman! He tells the “Power Nerds” what they can do to tide themselves over until the anniversary. Listen to find out! Featuring Daniel DiManna as Ninjaman. --------
Jan 10, 2023 • 2:47
Lightning Round #16: Aye-Aye-Aye’ll Be Home for Christmas (‘Alpha’s Magical Christmas,’ MMPR Season 2)
Merry Christmas, Listeners with Attitude! In true Power Rangers fashion, The Power Trip’s first season “ends” with a holiday special! Nathan and Michael harken back to Mighty Morphin’ season two to discuss a VHS episode that originally went out to members of the Power Rangers Fan Club: “Alpha’s Magical Christmas.” Oh boy, this (thankfully) non-canonical special is so saccharine, it’s guaranteed to give you diabetes. And it’s nothing like the show. What’s funny is your intrepid hosts discovered t
Dec 20, 2022 • 1:08:31
Episode 26: Countdown to Celebration (Afterword, Season 1 Finale)
And so Michael and Nathan come to their journey’s end…for now. After one year, 995 TV episodes, and three movies, your intrepid hosts have much to say about the Power Rangers franchise. They begin with some personal reflections on this long endeavor followed by having some fun picking their Ranger “dream teams” (and yes, they both felt obligated to include Tommy Oliver). The main event of the episode, though, is when they put every series and film into a Tiermaker tier list. There was gushing an
Dec 17, 2022 • 4:24:44
Lightning Round #15: A Conversation with Andrew Bush, Director of ‘Amano Recon’ (an IndieGoGo Project)
Looking for an independent R-rated horror-comedy tokusatsu series about a metal band fighting the men in black? If that outrageously unique premise strikes your fancy, Amano Recon is for you! Nathan sits down with Andrew Bush, the director of this upcoming series, and discusses the characters and many influences that went into this crowdfunded project—including Kamen Rider Black, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, and The X-Files. There’s even a possibility that a pair of Power Ranger alumni could b
Dec 15, 2022 • 57:04
Lightning Round #14: Ranking the Neo-Saban and Beyond Era of Power Rangers
Nathan and Michael reach end of the third era of Power Rangers and the beginning of the current one. So, since the Hasbro Era only has two series (currently) to it, they’ve combined it with the previous one and calling it “Neo-Saban and Beyond.” This isn’t the shortest era, but it does have the fewest entries for them to discuss (six series and a movie). Strangely, your intrepid hosts disagreed most on what should be on the bottom of the list more than anything else. What did they rank as the wo
Dec 14, 2022 • 1:22:48
Episode 25 – Power Rangers: Dino Fury (Ft. Rito Revolto)
They did it! Michael and Nathan reached the “new hotness” in Ranger Nation! That being Power Rangers: Dino Fury, which, while a typical PR series in many ways, broke new ground in others. It reintroduces Michael’s favorite PR villain, Lord Zedd (who has no time for glitter) and features the first LGBTQ+ Ranger in a mainline PR series with Izzy Garcia. But much to Michael’s chagrin, the conversation is derailed for a while by everyone’s favorite snarky bonehead, Rito Revolto, who punches out Nath
Dec 14, 2022 • 4:13:27
BONUS – Remembering Jason David Frank: A Charity Livestream (audio version)
On November 28, 2022, a multitude of podcasters and YouTubers—Nathan Marchand, Michael Hamilton, Travis Alexander, Jack “GMan” Hudgens (The Drift Space), J.R. Villers (The Drift Space), Rebecca Hudgens (The Drift Space), Kaiju Kim, Chris Cooke, and Jimmy from Zeo to Hero—came together to celebrate the life and work of Jason David Frank. From acting to martial arts to teaching to motivational speaking, he did it all. But he’ll always be remembered as Tommy Oliver, the most popular Power Ranger. H
Dec 1, 2022 • 4:48:28
Episode 24 - Power Rangers: Beast Morphers
The Hasbro Era begins! Michael and Nathan definitely don’t miss the previous season or They-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. While your intrepid hosts knew some of the spoilers going into Power Rangers: Beast Morphers, it didn’t ruin their enjoyment. Heck, this series did in five episodes what all 40+ episodes of Megaforce couldn’t do! While Nate does threaten to “whip Rito out early,” he and Michael spend most of their longest episode ever (4.5 hours!!!) praising a series that surprised them with its st
Nov 27, 2022 • 4:33:08
Episode 23: Power Rangers Ninja Steel
The Neo-Saban Era comes to an end—and what a whimper it is! Nathan and Michael tackle Power Rangers Ninja Steel, whose greatest sin could’ve been being painfully mediocre—but then those two Nickelodeon-mandated characters had to ruin everything! So, for the first time ever, “Rantmaster” and “Blue Streak Ranger” join forces! Otherwise, your hosts spend this four-hour cluster of a recording (those two characters even broke their internet reception) discussing the few highlights in this show, inclu
Nov 15, 2022 • 4:09:03
Lightning Round #13 – The Monster Island Film Vault, Episode 61: Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers – ‘Green with Evil’ (Reupload, Abridged)
Where’s the Ninja Steel episode? That recording was a cluster, so Michael needs a little more time to edit it. In meantime, we’re sharing an abridged version of an episode of one of Nathan’s other podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault. In this, Michael, who is a Patron of MIFV, sponsored an episode that spotlights the classic MMPR five-parter, “Green with Evil.” Here are the original show notes for the episode: Hello, kaiju lovers! In our first Patreon-sponsored episode of season three, Nate
Nov 8, 2022 • 1:43:02
Lightning Round #12: Pumpkin Rapper Spice (MMPR S1 EP. 25 & 54)
Happy Halloween, Listeners with Attitude! To celebrate the spookiest time of year, Michael and Nathan harken back to season one of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers to discuss a pair of Halloween-themed episodes. (It was a welcome break from Ninja Steel and They Who Shall Not Be Named Until the Ninja Steel Episode). Frankenstein and Pumpkin Rapper are a pair of truly monstrous foes for the OG Power Rangers. You won’t believe who donned the Frankie suit in the Saban footage, and if you ever wondered
Oct 31, 2022 • 1:09:13
Episode 22: Saban’s Power Rangers (2017) | Ft. Jack ‘GMan’ Hudgens
Nathan’s been waiting for this episode for a long time. He even popped popcorn for the occasion. But he doesn’t get what he wanted—he got something better! Michael changed his mind about the Power Rangers (2017) movie! They’re joined by writer, critic, and co-host of The Drift Space podcast Jack “GMan” Hudgens to discuss the most divisive and, arguably, most underrated piece of Power Rangers media. For all its faults with its aesthetics, it gets the heart of the franchise right. It was made by p
Oct 25, 2022 • 3:26:30
Episode 21: Power Rangers Dino (Super) Charge | Ft. Alex Cornett of Monsters vs. Men
Michael and Nathan reach the apex of the Neo Saban Era: Power Rangers Dino Charge. They bring along their friend Alex Cornett of the Monsters vs. Men podcast to discuss a series that was hyped by one of their listeners for months. Does it live up to that hype? Short answer: yes. And not just because your hosts are coming out of 80+ episodes of crap with Samurai and Megaforce. The characters are fun, the acting is good, and the stories are “old school.” That ending, though…Nathan fought hard not
Oct 18, 2022 • 3:46:25
Lightning Round #11: A Conversation with Ron Wasserman
Surprise, Listeners with Attitude! Thanks to one of you (and Words with Friends), we were able to sit down with the man who composed your childhood: Ron Wasserman. He’s a rock star in every way (except the sex and drugs, he says), who’s composed music for TV, film, commercials, and his band Fisher. We talk about his musical influences (Black Sabbath, no surprise), how he got the gig at Saban Entertainment, and how he composed the iconic “Go, Go, Power Rangers.” He even gives some advice to aspir
Oct 11, 2022 • 1:04:15
Lightning Round #10: Power Rangers Unauthorized Crossover with The Giant Sized Violence Podcast
This episode was recorded as part of a crossover between us, and the Giant Sized Violence podcast where we discussed the fan film from 2015, Power Rangers Unauthorized. Thank you to Tomi, the host of GSV, for having us on and facilitating such a good discussion. Links to where you can follow and subscribe to Giant Sized Violence are found below. ----------------------------------------------- Follow GSV on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UltraMegaCast Subscribe to GSV on Apple Podcasts: https:/
Oct 5, 2022 • 1:24:45
Episode 20: Power Rangers (Super) Megaforce
Longest…episode…yet! On the…worst…PR series…ever! We’re as surprised you are. Strap in, Listeners with Attitude, because just when Nathan and Michael thought it couldn’t get worse than Turbo and Operation Overdrive, the Neo-Saban era breaks their brains. Mitch from the “Entertain This!” podcast joins them to discuss the emptiest Power Ranger season they’ve ever seen. Seriously, all but one of the characters is prettier than they are talented; the villains are lame; and the so-called “Legendary B
Oct 2, 2022 • 4:12:50
Lightning Round #9: Power Rangers: Dino Fury Season 2 Part 2 First Reactions
There may be “no time for glitter”, but there is time for our first impressions of Power Rangers Dino Fury Season 2 Part 2! After binge-watching all 11 episodes of the last quarter of Dino Fury, Nate and Michael need another cigarette! with high production value and likable characters, and the return of a classic villain in Lord Zedd, they guys really enjoyed their time with this stretch of episodes. Was it perfect? No, but it was a lot of fun and worth the wait. Stay tuned for our full discuss
Sep 30, 2022 • 51:28
Lightning Round #8: A Conversation with Jackie Marchand
On this very special bonus episode of The Power Trip, we had the privilege of sitting down with the writer, story editor, and co-producer of the Power Rangers franchise from 1995-2008, the lovely Jackie Marchand. In a fantastic conversation, you'll learn some behind-the-scenes details from her time on Power Rangers, as well as hear her answer questions like what was her favorite season? What were some of the biggest challenges working on Rangers, and more! A special thank you to Miss Marchand f
Sep 20, 2022 • 1:53:47
Episode 19: Power Rangers (Super) Samurai | Ft. Billy and Jimmy Wilson of Zeo to Hero
To kick off the Neo-Saban and Hasbro Eras, Michael and Nathan bring on Jimmy and Billy of the Zeo to Hero podcast—which leads to some sibling squabbles between the guests! Why? Because Billy requested to guest host for Power Rangers Samurai. This series infamously adapted its Sentai counterpart, Shinkenger, exactly, going so far as to have a Caucasian red ranger with a Japanese last name. Then they set it in the most western-looking “Japanese” city ever. Talk about awkward! Nathan loses his mind
Sep 16, 2022 • 3:29:59
Lightning Round #7: All Podcasts Attack Special: Days of the Dead: All Monsters Attack Convention
Welcome, kaiju lovers, heroes of the internet, and listeners with attitude! This past weekend, Nathan and his Power Trip co-host, Michael Hamilton, met each other in real life for the first time (and the world somehow didn’t explode). They attended a small upstart “spin-off” convention called Days of the Dead: All Monsters Attack, which was held in Indianapolis. This bonus episode is a late-night postmortem chat they had afterward, and it’s being shared on the feeds for Monster Island Film Vault
Sep 12, 2022 • 1:14:55
Lightning Round #6: Ranking the Disney Era of Power Rangers / MMPR Re-Versioned
We’ve come to the end of another era, and now it’s time to rank it! Michael and Nathan discuss the many peaks and valleys from when Disney owned Power Rangers as they compile their lists of those seasons from worst to best. It’s a bit less surprising than the Saban era ranking, but there is some disagreement. They also share some final thoughts from Kaiju Kim on Dino Thunder (because they forgot to do so on that episode) and briefly give their opinions on the silly and redundant Mighty Morphin’
Sep 6, 2022 • 1:36:37
Episode 18: Power Rangers RPM | Ft. Chris Cooke
The Disney era ends with the biggest of bangs with one of the most popular series in the franchise: Power Rangers RPM. This is so huge, Michael and Nathan had to get in gear by inviting RPM super-fan Chris Cooke (One Cross Radio, Radio Arcade) to discuss it—and the episode is as long as the series! This is the darkest Ranger show yet, and it was adapted from a silly Sentai! This shouldn’t work—but does it? Michael saw it before, but he didn’t remember liking it. Did he change his mind? Nathan we
Aug 30, 2022 • 4:09:26
Episode 17: Power Rangers Jungle Fury
Nathan and Michael, having survived Operation Overdrive, come to the penultimate Disney era season: Power Rangers Jungle Fury. On the surface, it just looks like another animal-themed series, but they quickly learned it’s steeped in martial arts movie tropes. Think of it as the lovechild of Wild Force and Ninja Storm. The Rangers’ mentor/ purple Wolf Ranger, RJ, steals every scene he’s in with his quirky Mr. Miyagi wisdom. The villains are a huge highlight, having the most depth and complexity o
Aug 21, 2022 • 3:41:26
Episode 16 - Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive
Believe it or not, Nathan issues the smallest of apologies to Power Rangers Turbo! And Michael snaps because there’s no nostalgia or a corset to save this series. Yes, the lowest of valleys for the Disney era, Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive. It has a solid premiere and a few good episodes. It showed what this season could’ve been but wasn’t, which makes it even more frustrating. Almost nothing in Overdrive works—especially a certain son of a certain pair of iconic Power Ranger villains. The
Aug 3, 2022 • 3:38:41
Episode 15: Power Rangers Mystic Force
Podcastros temporarium maximus! Welcome to Power Rangers Hogwarts, er, Mystic Force. This PR season was made at the height of “Pottermania,” and given it was filmed in New Zealand, it must’ve been trying to catch some of that Lord of the Rings, well, magic. It’s unique in both the Power Ranger and Super Sentai franchises with its focus on high fantasy. It’s just too bad it’s mildly obsessed with its Red Ranger, Nick, who isn’t the most likable guy. It’s an uneven season, for sure. Also, Nathan a
Jul 19, 2022 • 3:28:52
Episode 14: Power Rangers SPD (feat. J.R. Villers of The Drift Space)
The Disney Era leg of our journey through the Power Rangers franchise continues with Power Rangers SPD, and Michael and Nathan are joined by their friend J.R. Villers of The Drift Space podcast. J.R. is a mega-fan of this series, while Nathan and Michael are watching it for the first time—and are surprised by how good it is. The show has many elements that, in lesser hands, would’ve been stupid, but here they work. It breaks the PR formula a bit with its episode structure, among other things, an
Jul 6, 2022 • 3:54:45
Episode 13 - Power Rangers: Dino Thunder (feat. Kaiju Kim)
Dr. Tommy Oliver barely escapes from a mysterious island crawling with dinosaur mutants before it explodes. Some years later, he lives a quiet life as a high school science teacher. But when the evil saurian overlord Mesogog sets his sights on bringing back the age of dinosaurs, Tommy jump-kicks into action by collecting the Dino Gems. These artifacts choose three unlikely teens from very different worlds with a Dino Thunder power-up (ha!) to defend the world. As their battles with Mesogog and h
Jun 23, 2022 • 3:22:11
Episode 12 - Power Rangers: Ninja Storm
Nathan and Michael reach the first true Disney season, Power Rangers Naruto, er, Power Rangers: Ninja Storm. These Rangers—no joke—have a guinea pig as their mentor, and this show is Disney’s guinea pig for the franchise. Its equal parts experimentation and trend-following. It introduces fourth wall-breaking self-parody while embracing the popularity of extreme sports at the time. The show also gets back to its MMPR roots by having a lighter tone and comedic villains. It doesn’t always work, but
Jun 7, 2022 • 2:43:29
Episode 11: Power Rangers Wild Force
Michael and Nathan come to what some call the end of the Saban Era (which they don’t) or the start of the Disney Era (which they do) of Power Rangers: Power Rangers Wild Force. This transitional season is an odd hodgepodge of both Saban and Disney sensibilities. To say it’s uneven would be an understatement. On one hand, it’s compelling and dark when the villain Zen-Aku is on screen, but it’s also heavy-handed and saccharine when Kite/Animus is the focus. The latter even brings “Rantmaster” back
May 25, 2022 • 3:06:54
Lightning Round #5: Ranking the Saban Era of Power Rangers
Nathan and Michael have reached the end of an era—the Saban Era, that is! Join them as they rank the first entries in the Power Rangers franchise from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to Time Force (including the two movies) in a pair of epic top ten lists. Both hosts surprised each other all the way up to their respective number ones. Did their rankings match yours? Did Michael succumb to nostalgia and throw objectivity out the window? Did Nathan’s love for Astronema and hate for Turbo cloud his ju
May 17, 2022 • 1:23:33
Episode 10: Power Rangers Time Force
Make time for…Time Force! You’re gonna need some quantum power to listen to this. Longest. Episode. EVER!!! But it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Michael and Nathan would dive deep into the final Saban Era season that was so dark and grown-up, it really aired in primetime before The X-Files. This season has everything: time travel, robots, and mutants. It’s at once embedded in its time while also timeless (see what I did there?). Yes, it reminds us The Matrix just came out, but it also tackles t
May 10, 2022 • 3:32:22
Episode 09: Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue
Nathan and Michael get to the neglected middle child of the post-Zordon Saban Era: Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. It’s underrated and underappreciated because it’s sandwiched between two popular and excellent seasons. While it has its faults—it tries and fails to recapture the magic of “Green with Evil,” it crams in too many plotlines, and the villainous Vypra is prettier than she is talented—it also has some good characters, an original Ranger, and a solid finale. Your hosts discuss how servi
Apr 26, 2022 • 2:49:58
Lightning Round #4: Nathan’s Power Trip to Indiana Comic-Con to Meet Jason David Frank
For this special bonus episode, Michael and Nate discuss Nate's "power trip" to Indianapolis for Indiana Comic-Con over the weekend. Nate talks about his experience meeting four Power Rangers, including the original Green Ranger, and Michael's personal G.O.A.T., Jason David Frank! It was a fun, laid-back discussion about a really great weekend. ----------------------------------------------- EMAIL FEEDBACK TO THE SHOW: powertrippod@gmail.com ----------------------------------------------- FOLLOW
Apr 19, 2022 • 1:18:11
Episode 08 - Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy
Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy marks a crossroads for the franchise—and for Michael! This was the season where Saban Entertainment fully embraced the Super Sentai model with new characters and a new team every year. Even so, this is sometimes grandfathered into the Zordon Era because it does carry over a few things from the previous season, like Alpha-5 and the Astro Mega Ship. But this is also where Michael’s nostalgia for Power Rangers ends (so hopefully he gets more objective after this). Meanwhi
Apr 12, 2022 • 2:43:28
Episode 07: Power Rangers In Space
The rumors of a three-hour PowerPoint (ba-dum-tsh) presentation were untrue—it’s 2.5 hours. Like Nathan said in the previous episode, Power Rangers Turbo broke the franchise’s leg so Power Rangers In Space could put it in a splint, run, and then break the splint while sprinting. In fact, the franchise flies higher than ever before—and it inspires the “professor” side of Nathan to come out and educate Michael. It also gives Nathan an excuse to be a raving Astronema fanboy (“best villain in Power
Mar 29, 2022 • 2:35:20
Episode 06 - Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie / Power Rangers Turbo
If Nathan was a Power Ranger monster-of-the-week, his name would be “Rant Master.” Michael gets earfuls of it this week when they discuss the infamous double whammy of Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie and Power Rangers Turbo. Michael tries to counter Nathan…by raving about Divatox’s corset. They hit all the usual topics with this low point of the franchise—Justin (aka “Power Kenny”), the laughable villains, Bulk and Skull as monkeys—and have a discussion about identity crisis as a meta-textual theme
Mar 15, 2022 • 2:08:28
Lightning Round #3: An Interview with Karl Dutton, Creator of Power Rangers: The Audio Drama
Here’s a special “Lightning Round” for you today, Listeners with Attitude! Michael and Nathan are joined by Karl Dutton, the founder of Scyther Audio Drama Podcasts, which includes Power Rangers: The Audio Drama. Yes, after referencing it in nearly every episode of The Power Trip so far, its creator graces your hosts with his presence. They discuss everything from the Audio Drama’s beginnings (which are connected to a certain movie that will be discussed later this year on the podcast) to writin
Mar 8, 2022 • 1:22:52
Episode 05: Power Rangers Zeo
Michael and Nathan get to the first season that was radically different in more ways than one: Power Rangers Zeo. Saban took one step closer to embracing the Super Sentai formula by changing costumes, Zords, and villains! It was a paradigm shift that felt like an earthquake, but in the end, the franchise was STRONGER THAN BEFORE. With Tanya joining the team and Machine Empire usurping the Moon Crew’s claim on Earth, this season is all about displacement, both for the characters and the audience.
Mar 1, 2022 • 2:42:51
Lightning Round #2: ”Glow up of Squabbling Hoboes” (feat. Jim and Billy of the Zeo to Hero Podcast)
Michael and Nathan make their first guest appearance on a fellow Ranger podcast on Zeo to Hero, a gabfest show about all things Power Rangers, Gundam, and more. They ramble about a bunch of things—and sometimes talk about serious stuff like the Lightning Collection and prejudice. This was originally posted on the Zeo to Hero feed. The original episode description: “The Bulk and Skull of Podcasting is back at it again. The Boys (Billy and Jimmy) team up with The Power Trip's Michael and Nathan, a
Feb 22, 2022 • 1:43:23
Episode 04: Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (Season 3) / Mighty Morphin’ Alien Rangers
We’ve reached the end of the most iconic era of Power Rangers—and it goes out with a bang and a whimper! This season has some of the highest points of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Lord Zedd invading the Command Center, Lord Zedd fighting Tommy, and a backdoor pilot for Masked Rider (see our crossover episode with Henshin Men for more on that). Amy Jo Johnson left the series, so fans (like Michael) had to say goodbye to their beloved Kimberly and hello to her Aussie replacement, Cat. That story
Feb 15, 2022 • 2:04:39
Lightning Round #1: Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Eps. 113-115 – ‘A Friend in Need’ | The Power Trip x Henshin Men
It's henshin time! In a special bonus episode, The Power Trip joins forces with Henshin Men! Yes, in a crossover of many firsts, Michael and Nathan are joined by their co-host in kamen (ba-dum-tsh!), Travis, from their fellow Kaiju Ramen Network podcast, Henshin Men. What could possibly bring them together? None other than the three-part backdoor pilot on Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers that introduced the world to Kamen Rider, er, Masked Rider! But while he’s a “Power guru,” Michael quickly shows
Feb 8, 2022 • 1:38:18
Episode 03: Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie
The Power Rangers “go, go” to the movies! Michael and Nathan discuss the Teenagers with Attitude’s first big screen outing, which was a HUGE pop culture event. Some might even say the franchise went downhill from here, but that’s debatable. This movie takes place in its own little universe, so it has no ties to the show aside from the characters and actors. The CGI is bowling shoe ugly now, but the practical effects still hold up in this, the most morphenomenal example of Joseph Campbell’s hero’
Feb 1, 2022 • 1:35:55
Episode 02: Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (Season 2)
We have reached peak Power Rangers—at least according to Michael, because he likes low-hanging fruit named Lord Zedd. :P Joking aside, Nathan does agree that the first third of this season of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers has tremendous high points, but then the combined powers of moms and the almighty dollar wrecked it. Zedd is one of the most terrifying villains in the franchise (did Toei ever wish they could use him in a Sentai?). Tommy losing his Green Ranger powers in heroic fashion before
Jan 18, 2022 • 1:44:34
Episode 01: Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (Season 1)
After a few false starts (as discussed in episode 0), lightning strikes! Five “teenagers with attitude” (and one more later) are recruited by an interdimensional wizard to battle a space witch bent on world domination. (Of course!) This season lays the groundwork for everything that follows: the tropes, the Zords, the campiness, and more. No matter how many actors have been Rangers and villains, whenever the franchise is rebooted, filmmakers use these iconic characters from season one. Nathan an
Jan 4, 2022 • 1:54:13
Episode 00: ”Day of the Info Dump-ster” (Introduction to The Power Trip Podcast)
A journey of 29 seasons begins with a single episode. Michael Hamilton (Kaiju Weekly, The Kaiju Groupie Podcast) and Nathan Marchand (The Monster Island Film Vault, Henshin Men) begin their “power trip” (see what we did there?) through the Power Rangers franchise by introducing themselves, the show’s format, and the goals of the podcast. You’ll hear Michael wax nostalgic about growing up with the “Teenagers with Attitude” while Nathan explains how he’ll apply his “English major analytical skills
Jan 4, 2022 • 59:39
