Best Beastmaster Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 23: The BeastMaster 1:54:48

6d ago1:54:48

1:54:48

This week, the boys at the Top Shelf Video store continue their campaign of watching sword and sorcery movies with the 1982 Don Coscarelli classic The Beastmaster. Continuing the Dungeons and Dragons theme from Krull, Jaime and Eli discuss the things that drew them to making this a high rental for them and many Gen X kids, and where it stands in th…

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Bare-Handed Beastmaster: The Wild Life of Carl Akeley 1:10:10

8d ago1:10:10

1:10:10

Carl Akeley was an artist, scientist, inventor, conservationist, and the godfather of modern taxidermy—but don’t let the job title fool you. This dude once fist-fought a full-grown leopard with one hand, got body-slammed by an elephant and survived, invented a concrete-blasting cannon, and crossed a crocodile-infested river using a dead crocodile a…

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The Beastmaster: Deep Thoughts About Storytelling Conventions, Covert Blood Libel, and Marc Singer's Glistening...Line Delivery 53:47

8d ago53:47

53:47

Send us a text I have my eyes... I have my cunning... and I have my strength. This obscure sword-and-sorcery fantasy film from the early 1980s was a staple of the Guy sisters' formative pop culture years because it was on regular rotation on HBO (which people jokingly claimed stood for "Hey! Beastmaster's on!"). This week, Tracie delves back into t…

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The Shawshank Redemption: Deep Thoughts About Friendship, Slow Storytelling, and the Role of Prisons in American Pop Culture 59:28

1d ago59:28

59:28

Send us a text Though it's now consistently named #1 on IMDB's top 250 list of classic movies, Frank Darabont's 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption started out as a commercial flop with no pop culture cache. It's understandable why Shawshank struggled to find its audience: there's no romance or women, the storytelling is slow with anything resemblin…

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Jack Johnson: The Galveston Giant 1:03:58

15d ago1:03:58

1:03:58

In today's episode Mike Primavera talk about legendary boxer Jack Johnson. In the early 1900s, Jack Johnson became the first Black heavyweight boxing champion of the world—then spent the next decade daring America to do something about it. He fought with style, laughed in the ring, knocked out legends, and lived large in gold suits and bright yello…

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Titanic: Deep Thoughts About Pop Culture Feminism, Jack as a Trans Man, and the Relative Buoyancy of Wardrobe Doors 53:23

15d ago53:23

53:23

Send us a text Draw me like one of your French girls... This week, Emily finally introduces Tracie to the pop culture juggernaut Titanic, which the elder Guy sister somehow completely missed. Even in 1997, Emily appreciated how the spectacle, costumes, special effects, and even the storytelling serve writer and director James Cameron's purpose, bec…

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Episode 22: Krull 2:01:08

20d ago2:01:08

2:01:08

Join us for the quest of a lifetime or for the two-hour run time of this swashbuckling adventure called Krull. This week, Jaime and Eli dust off their old Dungeons and Dragons playbooks and revisit this cult classic. This 1983 movie was a major influence on our video store boys, and they discuss some of their favorite aspects of Krull, along with s…

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Rome Vs The Etruscans Part II: Ride or Die 35:04

22d ago35:04

35:04

In this episode Ben and Pat continue the story of Rome versus the Etruscans.... The siege is over—but the danger is just getting started. With Rome teetering between freedom and destruction, a group of young hostages is handed over to an enemy king as part of a fragile truce. But when one of them—Chloelia—leads a daring escape across the Tiber Rive…

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Mrs. Doubtfire: Deep Thoughts About Cringe Comedy, Feminist Backlash, and Hairy Leg Appreciation 52:54

22d ago52:54

52:54

Send us a text It was a run-by fruiting! Revisiting the beloved 1993 Robin Williams film Mrs. Doubtfire this week was a reminder to Tracie that you can never go home again. Though she was expecting some early nineties transphobia (and was mostly pleased at its absence), she was horrified to realize the film's plot relied on a kind of men's rights a…

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EP 55: The Shizz About Lethal Weapon 2:04:54

26d ago2:04:54

2:04:54

This is part of our A-Busey verse! There are buddy cop movies and there is Lethal Weapon! Amazing action and the best henchmen money can buy!!By tristanjmham

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Rome VS The Etruscans Part 1: Before the Republic, There Was Blood 1:07:40

28d ago1:07:40

1:07:40

Rome is cornered. The monarchy has fallen, the Republic is barely standing, and an Etruscan warlord is marching toward the gates with an army at his back and a puppet king in his pocket. The Romans are outnumbered, outmatched, and running out of time. So they do what Romans do best: they get dangerous. In this episode, Ben and Pat tell the stories …

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Mannequin: Deep Thoughts About Hiding Seriously Subversive Messages in Deeply Unserious Movies 53:44

29d ago53:44

53:44

Send us a text Two things I love to do: fight and kiss boys! This week, Emily revisits another of the silly Pygmalion movies from the Guy girls' childhood: Michael Gottlieb's 1987 film Mannequin, starring Kim Cattrall, Meshach Taylor, and Andrew McCarthy. While the story of an underemployed Philadelphia artist who falls in love with a department st…

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Episode 21: Johnny Dangerously 1:41:39

1M ago1:41:39

1:41:39

This week, the boys, particularly Eli, discuss why physical media is as important as it has ever been, as they explore Johnny Dangerously. This movie is often overlooked in discussions of Michael Keaton's filmography. This 1984 film was an early parody film of cinema and other aspects of crime movies, and its sharp wit and humor left a big impressi…

1
Abd al-Rahman: Prince of Blood, Lord of the South 1:04:19

1M ago1:04:19

1:04:19

Abd al-Rahman was supposed to die with the rest of his family. When the Abbasid Caliphate overthrew the Umayyads in a brutal coup, they made sure to slaughter every last male heir—except one. Abd al-Rahman, barely twenty, escaped across the Middle East and North Africa with assassins hot on his trail. He swam rivers, crossed deserts, and vanished i…

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Weird Science: Deep Thoughts on Pygmalion, Women's Agency, and Why 1980s Movies Thought Computers Were Magic 54:40

1M ago54:40

54:40

Send us a text So, what would you little maniacs like to do first? This week, Tracie takes a deep dive into Weird Science: yet another of the John Hughes movies that helped to define Gen X pop culture. This 1985 teen comedy is a modern retelling of Pygmalion, the Greek myth that finds a sculptor falling in love with his artwork that comes to life. …

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Film to Table (Side Cast) Episode 14: Companion 1:30:55

1M ago1:30:55

1:30:55

This week, Denise and Eli ask the important question, "If you could put your head on a robot body, would you?" but they also watched 2025's Companion starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. This ended up being a fun conversation about some deep aspects of the movie and what the film's story was saying in our opinion. The film is a great sci-fi fil…

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Banastre Tarleton: The Butcherous British Bastard of the American Revolution 56:58

1M ago56:58

56:58

They called him The Butcher. A young, cocky British officer with a flair for showmanship and a taste for brutality, Banastre Tarleton tore through the American South on horseback, leading a feared legion of dragoons who left fire and blood in their wake. He was ruthless, relentless, and exactly the kind of guy you build a revolution against. In thi…

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Independence Day: Deep Thoughts About American Exceptionalism, Sci Fi Disaster Movies, and Jeff Goldblum in a Flight Suit 50:59

1M ago50:59

50:59

Send us a text Welcome to Earth. The 1996 Roland Emmerich-helmed film Independence Day was one of the touchstone movies for Emily's generation, so her flabber was absolutely gasted to learn Tracie had never seen it until a few years ago. Just in time for the 4th of July, Emily walks Tracie through what made this movie such a monumental hit in the U…

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Episode 20: Stand and Deliver 1:48:28

2M ago1:48:28

1:48:28

This week, the boys from Top Shelf Video revisit their school days and Hispanic heritage as they discuss the 1988 film Stand and Deliver. A drama film discussing the trials and tribulations of a group of underprivileged high school students from East Los Angeles who are pushed to find success by their teacher, Jaime Escalante, in the subject of mat…

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Nuno Álvares Pereira: Portugal’s Holy Hammer 1:21:36

2M ago1:21:36

1:21:36

He was the undefeated general who saved Portugal from foreign conquest, crushed armies five times his size, and changed the course of European warfare—then gave it all up to become a barefoot monk. This week Ben and Pat tell the story of Nuno Álvares Pereira: battlefield genius, national hero, and the only medieval warlord to end up canonized as a …

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Encyclopedia Brown with Adam Gwon: Deep Thoughts About Potatoes, Problem Plays, and Pop Culture Expectations for Detective Stories 52:09

2M ago52:09

52:09

Send us a text 25 cents per day, plus expenses. No case too small! Adam Gwon, Emily's childhood friend and award-winning musical theater writer, joins the Guy sisters today to share how Donald Sobol's Encyclopedia Brown had an outsize influence on his understanding of storytelling. The delightful format of each short Encyclopedia Brown mystery--whi…

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Crowned & Dangerous: The Legend of Eleanor of Aquitaine 1:07:13

2M ago1:07:13

1:07:13

She was the most eligible bachelorette in Europe, the Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, and the queen of not one but two different countries. In today's episode, Ben and special guest author Shaina Steinberg tell the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine who outmaneuvered kings, went on Crusade, survived imprisonment, and spent decades pulling the str…

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Rosemary's Baby with Ryan Cunningham: Deep Thoughts About Gaslighting, Monstrous Men, and Satanism in Pop Culture 1:19:35

2M ago1:19:35

1:19:35

Send us a text This is no dream! This is really happening! On this week's episode, Tracie and Emily are delighted to welcome award-winning writer/director and producer Ryan Cunningham to talk about Rosemary's Baby, the film that most influenced her own filmmaking and storytelling--but also made her wonder if she was a bad feminist considering the t…

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Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) 1:49:35

2M ago1:49:35

1:49:35

The boyz discuss Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. Enjoy weekly episodes and bonus content at actionboyz.biz!

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Episode 19: The Raid 1:49:28

2M ago1:49:28

1:49:28

This week, the Top Shelf Video boys turn up the action dial as the summer heat turns up and watch the return of gunkata in 2011's The Raid. This action-packed movie is a tribute to the John Woo wave of movies in the 1980s and restarted the action movement that is seen in most films from John Wick to the Marvel movies. Although this movie was at the…

1
Conquistador? Conquista-Dead: Magellan, Lapu Lapu, and the Worst Beach Day Ever 49:02

2M ago49:02

49:02

Ferdinand Magellan was a glory-hungry Portuguese explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, out to prove he could circle the globe, convert entire civilizations, and maybe pick up a few spice islands along the way. But after months of storms, mutinies, and bad decisions, Magellan washed up in the Philippines thinking he could win a war with fifty guy…

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Poltergeist: Deep Thoughts About the Feminine Archetype in Pop Culture, Dubious Parenting Decisions, and Respect for the Dead 52:40

2M ago52:40

52:40

Send us a text They're heeeeere! In a moment that would echo through the 42 years that followed, Tracie and Emily's father let the girls watch the 1982 film Poltergeist on TV sometime in 1983, when the sisters were only 7 and 4 years old. This classic of pop culture horror drew the Guy girls in because of 5-year-old Heather O'Rourke, the adorable b…

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Film to Table (Side Cast) Episode 13 - Dark Match 1:00:05

2M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

Oh yeah, brother! Let me tell you a thing about...Yeah, I don't have that type of aura about me, but Densie and Eli love them some horror, and when you toss some wrastling with some delicious food, you've got yourself another episode of Film to Table. This week, we talk about the Shudder original Dark Match with Joe Bob Briggs fan Chris Jericho. We…

1
Spitfire: Fast, Furious, and In Your Nazi Face 1:05:38

2M ago1:05:38

1:05:38

It was fast. It was beautiful. And when the fate of the world was hanging by a thread, it helped save civilization. The Supermarine Spitfire wasn’t just a plane — it was a symbol of defiance, precision engineering, and sheer guts. In the skies over Britain, outnumbered RAF pilots climbed into these sleek warbirds and took on the full might of Hitle…

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Firefly and Serenity: Deep Thoughts About Storytelling, Strawberries, and Sci Fi Cowboys 54:15

2M ago54:15

54:15

Send us a text May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one. When Tracie first encountered the fan-favorite Western-in-space television show Firefly 20 years ago, she was delighted by Joss Whedon's subversion of tropes, his mastery of the written word, and his commitment to excellent storytelling. At the time, Whedon was …

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Episode 18: Crossroads 1:38:15

3M ago1:38:15

1:38:15

While Film to Table was down in the Mississippi Delta, the boys from Top Shelf Video made a double feature out of Sinners with 1986's Crossroads (no, not the Britney Spears joint). The classic story of a young man's journey to discover himself and what it means to know the Blues as he learns from his guide Willie Brown. Their adventures lead them t…

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Justinian II: Seriously dead this time 55:22

3M ago55:22

55:22

After clawing his way back to the Byzantine throne, Justinian II ruled like a man possessed—merciless, paranoid, and hell-bent on vengeance. But his enemies weren’t done with him yet. In the western city of Ravenna, a revolt brews that will bring down the emperor once and for all. This is the story of how the man who came back from the dead was fin…

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The Dark Crystal: Deep Thoughts About False Binaries, World Building, and What Emily Isn't Willing to Accept From Her Puppets 50:09

3M ago50:09

50:09

Send us a text What was sundered and undone shall be whole–the two made one. On today's episode of Deep Thoughts About Stupid Sh*t, Emily returns to a beloved film from the Guy girls' childhood: Jim Henson's 1982 epic fantasy The Dark Crystal. Though the film's main character Jen the Gelfling follows the familiar beats of the hero's journey, baby E…

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Film to Table (Side Cast) Episode 12 - Sinners 2:11:33

3M ago2:11:33

2:11:33

Meet us down in the Mississippi Delta to watch the summer’s hottest blockbuster! Ryan Coogler weaves history, music and horror in his latest masterpiece, and Eli and Denise are eating it right up. The Juke Joint is a pretty exclusive spot but we’re hoping they invite us in… Top Shelf Video – Reliving the Video Store Era with Gen X Please rate and r…

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EP 54: The Shizz About Under Siege! 1:32:03

3M ago1:32:03

1:32:03

So how did this pinched faced, lazy, unlikeable guy have such a run of successful films? Good supporting cast! Tommy Lee is frickin awesome and Gary Busey is a treasure! This film is truly something unique!By tristanjmham

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Justinian II: No nose. No mercy. 49:48

3M ago49:48

49:48

They cut off his nose, exiled him to the edge of the empire, and left him for dead. But Justinian II didn’t stay gone. This is the story of a Byzantine emperor who clawed his way back to the throne with a mutilated face and a murderous grudge. A tale of gold noses, broken alliances, double-crosses, and the bloodiest comeback in imperial history—whe…

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Splash: Deep Thoughts About Mermaids, Male Masturbatory Fantasies, and How Pop Culture Created the Name Madison 52:53

3M ago52:53

52:53

Send us a text All my life I've been waiting for someone and when I find her, she's... she's a fish. When Tracie and Emily saw the 1984 Ron Howard film Splash as little girls, they fell in love with the badass mermaid played by Daryl Hannah. She was smart, determined, and romantic--and she had a gorgeous tail she could unfurl in Tom Hanks' bathtub.…

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Episode 17: Invasion USA 1:41:15

3M ago1:41:15

1:41:15

This week, the boys go back to the Cannon Films library to watch another Chuck Norris classic. This one has it all: retired CIA agents, Soviet terrorists, alligator farms, swamp boats, tanks, and tons of explosions. Following up on a massive 1984 year in film, this 1985 movie is a video store classic, but does Chuck have it in him to get a second o…

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Admiral Yi: One Man. One Fleet. Zero Mercy 55:05

3M ago55:05

55:05

When Japan invaded Korea in 1592, one man stood defiantly against impossible odds: Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Outnumbered, betrayed by jealous rivals, and stripped of command, Yi clawed his way back from ruin, inventing the legendary “Turtle Ships” to wreak havoc on enemy fleets. Using unmatched tactics and sheer audacity, Yi crushed Japan’s armada again …

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Stand By Me: Deep Thoughts About Nostalgia, Mental Health, and Cherry-Flavored Pez 1:00:41

3M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

Send us a text Mickey's a mouse, Donald's a duck, Pluto's a dog. What's Goofy? Emily and Tracie always assumed their father loved the 1986 Rob Reiner film Stand By Me because the music and pop culture references were a delightful reminder of his childhood. Reiner’s period masterpiece features incredible performances from its child actors–a rarity i…

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Film to Table (Side Cast) Episode 11 - Civil War 1:50:47

3M ago1:50:47

1:50:47

Just in case the current political climate wasn’t stressful enough, let’s dive into fictional civil unrest! Today, we’ll shoot our way through Alex Garland’s Civil War, following some war journalists photographing their way across a nation divided. What’s a good food pairing for the dissolution of a nation? Let’s find out on Film to Table! Top Shel…

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Chuck Yeager: One Hand on the Stick, One Finger to Death 1:01:33

3M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

He broke the sound barrier with two broken ribs and a broom handle jammed into the cockpit of an experimental jet. Chuck Yeager wasn’t just the first man to fly faster than Mach 1—he was the embodiment of American grit, guts, and go-for-broke test pilot bravado. In today's episode, Ben and guest Brandon Fibbs dive into the wild life of a World War …

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Avalon: Deep Thoughts About Family, Money Psychology, and Waiting to Cut the Turkey 51:14

3M ago51:14

51:14

Send us a text "Where are the people who know where the people are?" On today's episode, Tracie introduces Emily to the 1990 Barry Levinson film Avalon, the director's love letter to Baltimore and his own Jewish immigrant family. The movie follows the Krichinskys from 1914 through to the 1960s as the large, tight-knit, extended family moves, change…

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Episode 16: Escape from New York 1:43:37

3M ago1:43:37

1:43:37

The boys are back for Season 2 of the Top Shelf Video Podcast and start with some of the employee favorites. The season kicks off with the John Carpenter classic Escape from New York. This iconic 80's helped shape Eli and Jaime and seeing it as adults the messages and themes of the movie have a different tone. Join the Eli and Jaime as they discuss…

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Handsome Mingyan: Too Fast Too Furious 1:10:15

4M ago1:10:15

1:10:15

Continuing the epic story of Handsome Mingyan, the loyal warrior of King Jengar as he’s tasked with the impossible: Capture the King of the Western lands, Mighty Kerman Kahn . Mingyan must travel vast distances, face three crazy trials, and somehow, someway, sneak into King Kerman’s castle, avoiding 16,000 soldiers, and a bear and leopard duo ready…

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Pretty Woman: Deep Thoughts About Bodily Autonomy, Realism, and Who Gets to be Human 55:04

4M ago55:04

55:04

Send us a text “We say who; we say when; we say how much.” This week, Emily takes a deep dive into Pretty Woman, the 1990 blockbuster romantic comedy that catapulted Julia Roberts to stardom. The film was originally written as a tragic story about awful characters, and many people (including those close to the Guy sisters) lamented the Hollywood ha…

1
Black Agnes: Throwing Shade, Throwing Rocks and Throwing Down for Scotland. 57:11

4M ago57:11

57:11

When the English army came knocking at the gates of Dunbar Castle in 1338, they expected an easy victory. What they got instead was Black Agnes — a Scottish noblewoman with a sharp tongue, a fearless spirit, and absolutely zero patience for invaders. With a handful of loyal soldiers, Agnes of Dunbar held off siege engines, taunted her enemies, and …

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Galaxy Quest: Deep Thoughts About Fandom, Tropes, and Science Fiction Storytelling 53:44

4M ago53:44

53:44

Send us a text By Grabthar’s hammer, you shall be avenged! The 1999 film Galaxy Quest was almost tailor made for the Guy sisters and their dad–all lifelong Trekkers. The sci-fi satire pokes gentle fun at Star Trek, lightly skewering everything from the story tropes to the actors to the fans, all while offering a lovely tribute to folks who get real…

1
EP 53: The Shizz About Batman 89! 2:05:14

4M ago2:05:14

2:05:14

Hot Damn! This paved the way! So much has been said about this film that to even try is a waste of time, but that's what we do best!By tristanjmham

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Doc Holliday: Death's Favorite Dentist - Part 2 39:55

4M ago39:55

39:55

The tuberculosis-stricken dentist is about to become a legend. In Part 2 of our Doc Holliday saga, Ben and Andrew ride into Tombstone—where Doc teams up with the Earp brothers, drinks like a dying man, and walks into the most famous 30 seconds in the history of the Wild West. We’ll break down the myth and the mayhem of the O.K. Corral, trace Doc’s …

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