Patreon Newsletter #70: August 2025

HRR Updates/News:

• Portland, Seattle and L.A. you were incredible! Thank you everyone who came out and was so kind, supportive and LOUD! You made us feel like Limp Bizkit in 1997! You can find info and tickets for the rest of our touring this year HERE 

• If you happened to be at any of our recent live shows, you can find merch (or will soon find merch!) based off a live moment HERE 

• We’re all on a new podcast (Gumshoes & Dragons!) in collaboration with Anthony Burch that debuted yesterday! Check out episode 1 with guest Brennan Lee Mulligan and follow us on Instagram

• The August Review Crew live-stream will be on Monday August 11th from 8pm to 9pm CST

• August’s Review Crew episode (Dinosaucers episode 1 w/ Thomas Sanders!) will be released on Monday August 18th

 From Adal: 

Here’s what I was up to in July. Let me know if you have any recommendations for me!

TV: 

• Dept. Q

• Such Brave Girls season 2 (incredibly funny British sitcom on HULU)

• Always Sunny season 17

• Big Brother season 27

• Quarterback season 2

MOVIE:

• Josh Gondelman - Positive Reinforcement 

• Sinners

• Superman (4DX)

• Now You See Me

• Becoming Led Zeppelin

• Happy Gilmore 2

OTHER: 

• Was July fronted by Damon Albarn? Because it was a BLUR. Boston, NYC, Portland, Seattle and L.A. were all a goddamn delight but I feel about 3 months behind on life. The rest of the Hey Riddle tour dates and tickets are HERE and the upcoming second leg (Philly & D.C.) of the Hello From the Magic Tavern info is HERE

• Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl was outstanding. If you ever get a chance to see Cynthia Erivo belt a song live…take the chance.

• July had me listening to a ton of early Little Richard which is my main rec this month. Listen to early era Little Richard. I always thought of him of just a weird tv personality but it turns out he was a pretty incredible performer and pioneer of rock/r&b (I guess I did always know that but had only heard Tutti Frutti)

• Tomorrow I’m excited to guest on a Twitch Livestream with King Cockroach at 7pm PST/9pm CST/10pm EST. I’ll be improvising and playing video games w/ the titular King Cockroach (as played by the brilliant Dan Lippert). Tune in or watch previous streams HERE

• Two of my friends who happen to create some of the best escape rooms I’ve ever done are looking for a bar manager for their new escape room/mini golf/cocktail spot in Champaign/Urbana, IL! If you’re interested please check out the listing; but otherwise bookmark the spot as a must visit next time you’re in the area after it opens this Fall

• Jemma’s family is heading to Greece in September and I’m tagging along to pay tribute to a select few chosen gods & goddesses. If you happen to have any recommendations for Athens, Mykonos or Santorini - please send them my way! 

Adal

From Erin: 

Hey everybody! 

I talked about this on the show recently and had a hard time editing it down so I apologize for how long this recommendation list is. But here they are as promised 

Erin’s Favorite Documentaries

1. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

A lovable underdog challenges a reigning champion for the Donkey Kong world record in this surprisingly emotional arcade saga. If you’re going to watch anything from this list have it be this. It’s a perfect portrayal of good vs. evil. 

2. Set!

Competitive table setting becomes high drama in this quirky dive into the world of overachieving decorators. This is funnier than any comedy and I stand by that. 

3. 7 Up Series

A groundbreaking British series that follows the same group of people every seven years from childhood into adulthood. Every time I reach one of these ages I rewatch the series. 

4. The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young

A nearly impossible backwoods ultramarathon attracts the world’s most determined (and slightly unhinged) runners. I have a google alert so I can follow the races every year. 

5. Mad Hot Ballroom

Fifth graders from New York City schools train for a ballroom dance competition and show surprising wisdom and grace. This feels so cracked open and vulnerable and I love it so much. 

6. Searching for Sugar Man

Two South African fans go on a quest to find a long-lost rock musician whose music unknowingly became a movement. A perfect movie. 

7. 20 Feet from Stardom

The unsung voices of legendary backup singers finally get their time in the spotlight. If you like music this is a must see.

8. Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

A buried 1969 Harlem music festival reemerges in stunning footage and powerful cultural context. Another must be if you love music! 

9. Spellbound

Eight American kids compete in the National Spelling Bee in this nail-biting and heartfelt competition doc. This can feel so vulnerable and if you’re too empathetic to is might be a hard watch.

10. The Biggest Little Farm

A couple turns 200 acres of depleted land into a thriving, biodiverse farm through patience, nature, and love. I learned so much from watching this. 

11. Wicker Kittens

The surprisingly cutthroat world of competitive jigsaw puzzling is as intense as it is endearing. It’s very gentle and an easy watch! 

12. Chicken People

Chicken breeders prepare their prized birds for glory in the glamorous world of poultry pageants. Fun!

13. American Movie

An ambitious Wisconsin filmmaker chases his dream to make a horror film—armed with heart, hustle, and duct tape. Jon Mackey showed me this movie and I feel like it’s a must watch for anyone trying to pursue creativity.

14. A Most Beautiful Thing

The first black high school rowing team rises out of the West Side of Chicago and transforms lives. Very warm watch.

15. Original Cast Album: Company

A tense, fascinating look behind the scenes of Stephen Sondheim’s legendary cast album recording session. This is iconic. Do a double feature with the documentary now parody. 

16. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

The quiet, radical kindness of Fred Rogers is celebrated in this moving portrait of a cultural icon.Cry cry cry. 

17. Behind the Curve

Flat Earthers meet science—and self-reflection—in this funny, alarming look at conspiracy culture. This has some very funny moments in it and becomes more culturally significant as time goes on.

18. The Speed Cubers

Two Rubik’s Cube champions form a beautiful bond through mutual respect and lightning-fast problem solving. Another great niche competition doc.

19. Every Little Step

A chorus line of real-life dancers audition for A Chorus Line in this documentary that’s all heart and heartbreak. The at the ballet sequence in this will feel like getting surgery.

Honorable Mention: (Mostly) Like-Hearted TV Docuseries

• This Is a Robbery
  
  The unsolved heist of priceless art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum remains a mystery decades later. 10/10 Boston accents.
  
  

• Frontier House
  
  Modern families time-travel to 1883 and struggle to live like homesteaders in this historical reality experiment. You’ve heard me mention this 1000 times.
  
  

• The Last Dance
  
  Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty is chronicled in a high-stakes, behind-the-scenes sports epic. I don’t give a fuck about sports but I loved this!
  
  

The Beatles: Get Back

Unseen footage reveals the surprisingly sweet, chaotic, and creative final days of The Beatles. Sometimes I’ll just put this on so it feels like the Beatles are writing an album in my house

Let me know your favorites in the comments! Thanks for reading!

Erin

From JPC: 

Hello my darlings,

You can still get tickets to see the recording of our LA live show with Janet Varney. Go to heyriddleriddle.com/live and click the LA show and livestream link. Those are available for about another week. 

Our first ep of Gumshoes & Dragons just dropped! It's our new bi-weekly show with Anthony Burch. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts. We'd also really appreciate a rating and a review if you feel so inclined. 

Hope everyone has a good last month of summer!

JPC