Episode #0 - Trailer
[Scoop, narrating] Okay, so we may have deviated a little bit from our original purpose, but if you're here now that means you've probably heard most of my story by now in the news, and so I'm sure you can understand why. But we still wanted to deliver on what was promised, and what first set out to make you listen! And sooo... Ricky Langtry–
[Ricky] Hey guys
[Scoop, narrating] –and our intern-turned-superstar journalist Cynthia Adams–
[Cynthia] Hi everyone!
[Scoop, narrating] –have gone back and finished those episodes for you to listen to... now.
Episode #1 - Part I: Bureaucrats...
[Cynthia, narrating] Well... we finally did it. We finally made our first episode. Follow along as we take an in-depth examination at the kingpins, the top-bananas, the big enchiladas, that have learned to capitalized on the Age of Heroes.
In Part I we'll look at those who choose to (seemingly) make their gain by above-board means - the movers, the shakers, the innovators. Today's subjects include: Tony Stark confidante and Head of Stark Medical, Dr. Erica Sondheim, to pharmaceutical industrialist Yi Yang, to Roderick Kingsley fashinon guru, to totally-a-normal-guy-and-not-a-superhero Danny Rand of Rand Enterprises.
If we're gonna talk head honchos who have seized the world's opportunities and become unpowered matriarchs and patriarchs of the superpowered world, it's hard not to immediately look at the OG Avenger, who paid the ultimate price to save the world, Iron Man, Tony Stark. But there's little that hasn't rightfully been said about Mr. Stark already, and he went out of his way to bridge that gap between powered and unpowered.
In this podcast, we want to focus on the latter. But we don't have to stary too far from Stark to find our first subject - Charles Healey.
Healey is a self-made business man. Born in Reno to travelling performers, Charles broke from his parents mold and made his way west to the University of South California where he studied business. He was recruited out of college by Stark Industries and quickly worked his way up the ranks, appearing frequently on Forbes' 30 Under 30. When Stark bought the research and development company AccuTech, Healey was Stark's personal choice to takeover for outgoing CEO, Gilbert O'Connor. There he worked directly on major projects such as the Stark Sonic Cannon and the HazTech Exoskeleton. As head of AccuTech, Healey's vision was grounded on non-lethal resolutions and better living through technology.
[Archived voice clip of Charles Healey] At AccuTech, we have a vision of a world without war, where technology can help us unite and overcome the real challenges facing all humanity.
[Cynthia, narrating] His vision did not stop there though. Healey increased his empire by founding his own further subsidiaries of Stark Industries: Barstow Electronics, with business partner Carl Walker, and Funtime, Inc. Facility, with his performing brothers, Alvin and Elton Healey.
Our next feature followed a somewhat similar path. Dr. Erica Sondheim is one of the world's leading medical doctors and surgeons. She has won several awards and commendations for her advancements in the medical world, and was first introduced to Stark, while working for Metro-General Hospital, through her husband, Abe Zimmer, a lauded Stark Industries scientist himself. Dr. Sondheim eventually became Tony's own personal physician, a board member of the Maria Stark Foundation, chief surgeon at the Stark Meditech Center, the head of Stark Medical. To speak only of her connections to Stark however is to do her disservice. One of Sondheim's greatest accomplishments is her integration of mag-field generators in the medical field. She has used her position of power and influence to campaign and lobby for universal healthcare all across the globe, and donates over $100,000,000 to charitable organizations, a year!
Of course, her ever-giving attitude has rubbed some people the wrong way, and has led to some pushback by some other lobbyists.
[Audio clip of Yi Yang] I have never once raised my prices beyond the rates of market inflation, Ms. Sondheim, but I have people who work in my factories, delivery drivers, dispensary workers, who need to get paid too; I can't just give my products away for free. Insurance is there to cover the prices of my products and pay my employees, and for those who don't have insurance we have assistance programs to ensure that they will still receive drugs they need.
[Cynthia, narrating] That heated voice you heard there was none other than Yi Yang, speaking before Congress over some concerns about some of her healthcare hedge funds as well as some purchasing of certain medical manufacturing licenses. Dr. Erica Sondheim was called in as an expert in the medical field that used some of those drugs, but the two of them have a long history even before that.
Yi Yang has a different approach to leading and a different measure of success.
Now, our lawyers strongly recommended we leave out Ms. Yang's more recent headlines, especially since Scoop is a principle character in that story, at least while legal cases are pending, but like I said, we do want to give you our original vision, and there's no denying Ms. Yang's role as a modern leader in New York City, so we'll just speak to her history and how she got there. The rest you can read online yourself..!
Yi Yang is big pharma, and I mean like, BIG pharma, like Ant-Man-turned-Giant-Man big. Yi Yang runs an empire in New York City.
Yi Yang's family moved to New York back in the early 1930's. There her grandfather, Chen Hei-Kwun, began the family legacy as a prohibition smuggler and runner, and opium den owner. Of course both those things were on their way out in the 1930s which led him to the growing world of pharmaceuticals and miracle cure-alls. He even rose to public prominence as one of the biggest supporters of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 - but that was of course because his medicines were approved and his major competitor's were not... Hei-Kwun's reign did not end well, historically. He was brought down on several federal charges, not limited to fraud, laundering, drug trafficking, and racketeering. and was ultimted mauled to death by a tiger... Oof. But his family managed to separate the art from the artist and maintain the legitimate side of the business. Under the guidance of Yi Yang, their family has reached new heights and new fronts, with businesses from San Francisco to Russia to China. While Ms. Yang does keep a little less of a public profile, however she has made headlines for not just one, but two near-death accidents, over the years.
[COMING SOON...]
[Scoop, narrating] This episode's proud partner is Bendeery English Ale! "Full-bodied, warm fermented, spicy, sweet, nutty, off-dry... call it whatever you want. We call it Bendeery. Try our Bendeery Cider and Perry too!"
Episode #1 - Part II: ...and Brutes
[Scoop, narrating] Last week we looked at how a supertown needs some super-leaders, and while some can use their influence for good, others can't avoid controversy. In Part II of our opening episode, we're moving into the shadows and look at the flipside - those who who prefer to do things not exactly by the law - the vigilantes, the streetrats, the thugs, the puppet masters, the kingpins. By now you probably have heard about the trouble this episode got me into, so you better like it!
[Scoop, narrating] This episode's proud partner is Skaddens! "Emancipate yourself from the thirst."
Episode #2 - The Marvels of Modern Medicine
[Episode Preview]
[Scoop, narrating] Cynthia investigates medical cybernetics and how implants, upgrades, and medical treatment have played a role in our biggest heroes, as well as how they are being used by companies such as U-GIN and Krasner's Bio-Systems to further along public healthcare.
[This week's sponsor]
[Scoop, narrating] This episode's proud partner is Tricephalous! "Three of your favourite distilleries have come together to form a new fiery beast. From El Alfanje Rum, O'Harren's Scotch Whisky, and Ironschlager comes Tricephalous, the three-headed monster that will leave you on an island of your own. (Best served with cool ice and a wedge of lime.)"
Episode #3 - A Shaw is Born!
[Episode Preview]
[Scoop, narrating] The future is now. Cynthia goes one-on-one with Sequoia, the former business- and life-partner of entrepreneur, inventor, and social media star Deke Shaw who mysteriously went missing right as his business was taking off. She discusses his inspirations, his interests, and his... love of Zima? As well as how she managed to overcome her grief to take the company to new heights, as one of the largest entertainment and tech companies in America, alongside new business partner Goose Brunton.
[This week's sponsor]
[Scoop, narrating] This episode's proud partner is Yummy O's! "Nobody can say 'No!' to Yummy O's!"
Episode #4 - Dungeons and Dragons... and Wendigos!?
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[Scoop, narrating] We got a lot of fan questions asking, "If gods and heroes and monsters are real, what about ___?". Cynthia – with special guests Alistaire and Alysande Stuart, brother and sister wonder-duo and founders of W.H.O., Weird Happenings Organization – dig into the supernatural, cryptozoological, and mythological to answer once and for all, "where does it end?" (Spoiler: whatever we say, we'll probably be proved wrong by the next hero-event...)
[This week's sponsor]
[Scoop, narrating] This episode's proud partner is Za! Cola! "I love Za! Cola 'cause it tastes great!"
Episode #5 - The Cosmic Wonder
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[Scoop, narrating] Cynthia goes where no man has gone before... space. Okay, scratch that, turns out many people have gone there before, and trillions more live there! Who knew we weren't alone??? Cynthia takes a look at all things cosmic and otherwordly.
[This week's sponsor]
[Scoop, narrating] This episode's proud partner is WizTalk! "WizTalk, the premier video calling app, by Wizard. Try WizTalk on your WizPhone or WizGlass devices today!"
Episode #6 - The Golden Age
[Episode Preview]
[Scoop, narrating] Cynthia (and I - I couldn't help myself) finally take a look back at the Golden Age of Heroes. Everybody knows about Captain America, but the War Years saw a number of other heroes play their parts - heroes who, frankly, have flown under the radar and been pushed to the margins of history. In this mega-episode, we'll take a look at Detective Doyle Denton, the sleuth so successful and stealthy he was known as the 'Phantom of the Underworld'; the globe-trotting William Waring, aka Challenger; the German who risked it all to take on Red Skull and Hitler, Markus Ettlinger; Thomas Holloway, aka Angel, and his V-Battalion, dedicated to fighting the rise of fascism; the Crazy S.U.E.S., a specialized Ranger unit of proto-Super Soldiers, before Cap was perfected; and, my absolute favourite, the Banshee Squadron, the unofficial female group of civil service ferry pilots who banded together during World War II. From there we track the trail they blazed that led us to the amazing force of womxn heroes we have today.
[This week's sponsor]
[Scoop, narrating] This episode's proud partner is Age of Heroes! "The Guardians of the Galaxy and the Avengers team up to help Doctor Strange retrieve the Wand of Watoomb from Yondu and the dastardly Ravagers. Meanwhile, Loki has hired Nebula to get the Wand for him. Watchout as all the parties meet in Asgard before uniting to stop Loki and Nebula from ending the world with the Wand. Come and watch your most beloved heroes, live on Broadway!"