Team

Arnie earned a liberal arts degree in Communications, focusing on filmmaking, TV and radio production, and creative writing. Even then, his academic work leaned genre. If there was a way to work Freddy, Jason, or Clive Barker into a paper, he found it. His senior thesis was a literary deep dive into Imajica, because of course it was.

In 2005, he combined that storytelling background with his web design skills and jumped into podcasting with Star Wars Action News, the first podcast devoted to Star Wars collecting. The show went on to win awards and build a global audience of collectors who care about cardbacks as much as canon. That show ran for 19 years before ending in 2023. Other podcasts he used to work on include Marvelicious Toys, Books & Nachos (which is now a part of Now Playing Podcast), Republic Forces Radio Network, The Star Wars Action News Book Club, and Comicpocalypse.

But in 2007, Arnie and his wife Marjorie launched Now Playing Podcast, an in-depth movie review show covering everything from horror to superhero franchises. That show grew beyond all original expectations and has gone without missing a single week (not even a week off for holidays) since 2011.

Favorite Movies: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, The Professional, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors, Baby Driver, Guardians of the Galaxy, It’s a Wonderful Life.

Contrary to his on-air nickname, Stuart is not a native of Los Angeles or even California. He was born in Atlanta, GA, and grew up just a few blocks from fellow host Arnie in central Illinois. Friends since the second grade, Stuart and Arnie have launched several unusual business ventures prior to their collaboration on Now Playing Podcast: detective agency, breakdancing crew, 80s synth pop band, and they are the original creators of Star Wars: Episode VII (suck it, JJ!!). Stuart attended Columbia College Chicago with the goal of one day being able to apply his Film Studies degree to slasher movie sequels and comic book-based television shows from the 1970s. He has lived in Los Angeles since the early 2000s. Stuart joined Now Playing Podcast in 2008 as a special guest co-host for The Midnight Meat Train and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He became a full-time host when Now Playing debuted the Friday the 13th Retrospective Series in 2009. In addition to his hosting duties, Stuart is responsible for scheduling Now Playing review, and he co-founded the Books & Nachos podcast, dedicated to reviewing all forms of print media. Favorite Movies: Silence of the Lambs, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, Network

Justin is a graphic designer with more than two decades of industry experience, working with brands including Apple, Nintendo, Budweiser, and Macware. A graduate of the Art Institute of Colorado, he started in industrial design before finding his lane in logos, branding, and visual identity. His design philosophy is simple: Creative. Compelling. Concise. If it doesn’t hit all three, it’s not done yet.

He’s just as comfortable designing for collectors as corporations. Justin also runs FigureShield, a company dedicated to protecting and displaying carded action figures, built from his own frustrations as a lifelong collector.

That collector mindset is what first connected him with Arnie and Marjorie. Justin began contributing animations and segments to Star Wars Action News and then co-founded Marvelicious Toys Podcast in 2010. For over a decade, he covered San Diego Comic-Con and broke down Marvel toy news with the precision of a designer and collector.

He joined Now Playing Podcast in 2017, debuting with the Pirates of the Caribbean series and diving headfirst into the punishing Video Game Movie Retrospective. On the show, Justin brings a designer’s eye to film analysis, focusing on visual storytelling, franchise evolution, and whether a blockbuster actually looks as good as its marketing promised.

He lives in Omaha, Nebraska, continues to collect Star Wars and Marvel Legends figures, and is a master of karate and friendship.

Marjorie formed Venganza Media Inc. alongside her husband, Arnie, and helped launch Now Playing Podcast in 2007. She is also a host of Venganza's Star Wars Action News and Marvelicious Toys podcasts. Marjorie grew up a fan of the Friday the 13th franchise - when she should have been watching more age-appropriate fare. Her first movie love was Star Wars, and she also ranks Halloween and The Terminator among her favorite films. Her favorite actor is Crispin Glover, and cites his performances in the cult films Rubin & Ed and Willard among his best works. Marjorie's guilty pleasure film is White Chicks. Outside of the recording studio Marjorie can be found running, working on crafts, and buying Starbucks City Mugs. Favorite Movies: Rubin & Ed, Star Wars, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, House of 1000 Corpses, and 13 Going on 30 (the only "chick flick" she'll watch)

Brock joined Venganza Media in 2006, helping Arnie coordinate the Star Wars Action News Book Club. He joined Now Playing Podcast in 2008 with a review of Pineapple Express. Brock's role expanded with the release of Now Playing's first retrospective series Friday the 13th in 2009. Since that series, Brock has seen more horror films than he ever thought he would, and is proud to say that he's come to appreciate the slasher genre in ways he never expected. In addition to his Now Playing duties, Brock does regular segments on Star Wars Action News and has made appearances on episodes of the Star Wars Action News Book Club, Books & Nachos, and the Republic Forces Radio Network. Of course, Brock's most famous role is that of announcer for nearly all of Venganza Media's programming. Favorite Movies: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Court Jester

Jason is a Las Vegas-based media and marketing professional who joined Now Playing Podcast in 2014. In his previous life as a television news producer, Jason worked diligently to book stars of the Halloween franchise on his shows, just so he could meet them. He also had the opportunity to interview Jingle All The Way star Sinbad, The A-Team's Mr. T, and the guy who sang the song from the end credits of The Running Man. In addition to his role as Associate Producer for Now Playing Podcast and Editor of the show's weekly newsletter, IN FOCUS, Jason acts as public relations and marketing advisor to the show and its hosts. When he has spare time, Jason can't stop watching the Fast and the Furious movies. Favorite Movies: Beverly Hills Cop, Clue, Ed Wood, The Dark Knight, Drive

Heath was born and still resides in Melbourne, Australia; and developed a lifelong obsession with film after viewing Star Wars and E.T. on the big screen as a child. He credits Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide as partial inspiration for his goal to become a film critic, and has had a successful career writing television and film reviews for nearly every newspaper published in Australia. As a Now Playing Podcast editor, Heath spends countless hours listening to the show's raw feed, while meticulously making cuts in order to deliver a quality product week after week. Favorite Movies: Back to the Future, Magnolia, The Blues Brothers, Die Hard, Unforgiven

Chris is a product manager at an e-commerce company by day, and a movie-obsessed family man at night. He used to be an academic, studying all things ancient history, But it turns out there aren't too many jobs in history, so he turned to the business world. When he's not working from home or spending time with his family, he's catching up on all of the great movies he's missed over the years. Chris actually is from L.A. originally, but now lives in North Carolina. His big claim to fame is sitting a table over from Cameron Diaz at a restaurant once. His spouse probably thinks he collects too many Blu-rays and soccer jerseys, but we all have to collect something, don't we? He helps out by writing articles and creating posts across Now Playing's social media feeds. Favorite movies: Casablanca, Star Wars, Wedding Crashers, Perfect Blue, Do the Right Thing

Starting out in Film school, Joie spent her time learning film editing and film history. After a few years of study film she discovered a natural inclination for marketing and graphic design within the gaming industry. This prompted a transition that led to a flourishing career as a Community Manager, where Joie has excelled in connecting with players and fostering a sense of community within popular game titles such as Age of Empires and Grand Theft Auto. In her free time she still loves to analyze the newest films and create graphic design pieces outside of gaming marketing.