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Category: Film Discussion

Episode 46: Daniel DiManna vs. ‘Gamera: Super Monster’

Hello…kaiju…lovers…. The only reason this episode is long as it is because Nate’s guest, Daniel DiManna (creator/author of the Godzilla Novelization Project) is the most talkative introvert ever of all time. But even if “Danny Boy” was Superman with a Beta Capsule, he couldn’t save this week’s Year of Gamera movie, the infamous Gamera: Super Monster. This 1980 cash-grab from a barely-alive Daiei Film is easily the Guardian of the Universe’s lowest point. On paper, Nate should love this movie because it has three of his favorite things—spaceships, superheroes, and kaiju—but he doesn’t. From public access channel special effects to a nonsensical plot with everything but the kitchen sink to the truckloads of stock footage—this must’ve been a plot by the Board of Directors to break Nate. Meanwhile, Danny keeps MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, quiet by getting him to bet his Pteranodon-bot that he can’t interrupt them during the broadcast. The Toku Topic, fittingly, is the rise and fall of Daiei Film, the studio that introduced the world to Akira Kurosawa and Gamera but dug itself into a financial hole it couldn’t escape. It’s a crazy story, to say the least.

Before the broadcast, Nate and Jimmy are visited by the Board’s executive assistant, Ms. Perkins. She tells Nate that she made arrangements for him to interview Spacewoman Kilara from Gamera: Super Monster on MIFV, much to his chagrin, and then fangirls over her. But the more Nate asks Ms. Perkins questions about her past, the stranger she acts.

Listen to Nate and Travis’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men Podcast, on Redcircle.

This episode’s epilogue, “Interviewing a Superheroine,” was written by Nathan Marchand. 

Guest stars:

Additional music:

Sound effects, including some by InspectorJ and klankbeeld, sourced from Freesound.org.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, and TofuFury! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Prologue: 0:00-7:47
  • Intro: 7:47-19:26
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 19:26-26:43
  • Toku Talk: 26:43-1:37:52
  • Henshin Men Promo: 1:37:52-1:41:08
  • Toku Topic: 1:41:08-2:13:12
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping & Outro: 2:13:12-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #GameravsZigra          #YearofGamera

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 45, ‘Godzilla: The Series’ – ‘New Family’ & ‘DeadLoch’ (feat. Eli Harris)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Welcome to MIFV’s first Patreon-sponsored episode and TV talk! MIFV MAX member Eli Harris visits Monster Island to discuss three episodes of the criminally underappreciated Godzilla: The Series, the vastly superior Saturday morning cartoon sequel to Godzilla (1998). Their discussion includes the show’s the two-part premiere, “New Family,” which picks up where the movie left off, and Eli’s favorite episode, “DeadLoch” (ba-dum-tssh), where Zilla Jr. meets the Loch Ness Monster. You’ll hear some great facts about Nessie, too. All the while, Eli stings MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, with the best zingers this side of “the Pond.” Afterward, Nate visits the office of the Monster Island Legal Action Team to meet with Gary and see what the paralegal has uncovered about the Board of Directors—after Gary goes dumpster diving.

Check out Eli’s podcast, Tokusatsu Beyond.

Guest Stars

  • Damon Noyes as both Raymund Martin and Gary

This episode’s epilogue, “Truth in the Trash,” was written by Nathan Marchand (with Damon Noyes).

Additional Music:

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, and our newest Patron, TofuFury! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Intro: 0:00-6:55
  • Background: 6:55-18:52
  • “New Family, Part 1” Discussion: 18:52-38:05
  • “New Family, Part 2” Discussion: 38:05-52:47
  • “DeadLoch” Discussion: 52:47-1:12-53
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 1:12:53-1:26:13
  • Epilogue: 1:26:13-end

Podcast Links:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #GodzillaTheSeries

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 44: The MSTies vs. ‘Gamera vs. Zigra’ (feat. Travis Alexander and Neil Riebe)

Hello, kaiju lovers! After calling in a favor at the last second to get a replacement guest, Nate sits down with Kaiju Weekly’s Travis Alexander and kaiju author Neil Riebe to discuss one of Gamera’s lowest points: Gamera vs. Zigra. Yes, before Jaws, the Friend to All Children battled a giant alien shark who couldn’t decide if he wanted to enslave humanity or eat them. Ziggy also has a bad habit of recruiting beautiful ladies as hench-people (your new PC term of the day), but they forget everything they knew before being mind-controlled—like that parading around in nothing but a bikini might not be the most inconspicuous disguise unless you’re in an exploitation film for kids. Let’s just say, Nate almost loses his mind in this episode. The Toku Topic is Kamogawa Sea World, because this movie is a terrible, overgrown commercial for the resort.

Afterward, Nate has to pull some Board-mandated overtime and is contacted in secret by Gary, Raymund Martin’s paralegal. Nate thinks he’s found a new friend in Gary in his quest to out the Board.

Listen to Nate and Travis’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men Podcast, on Redcircle.

Check out Neil’s books, I Shall Not Mate and Vistakill.

This episode’s epilogue, “A Secret Ally,” was written by Nathan Marchand with Michael Hamilton. 

Guest stars:

  • Damon Noyes as Gary

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, and The Cel Cast! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Intro: 0:00-12:40
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 12:40-19:22
  • Toku Talk: 19:22-57:45
  • Advertisement: 57:45-58:24
  • Toku Topic: 58:24-1:15:05
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping & Outro: 1:15:05-1:32:26
  • Epilogue: 1:32:26-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #GameravsZigra          #YearofGamera

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 43: ‘Godzilla’ (1954) (feat. The Tourists) | Godzilla Redux

Hello, kaiju lovers!

By popular (and Godzilla’s) demand, MIFV is starting a new series on episodes on the Godzilla franchise called “Godzilla Redux”! It starts with the one that started it all, the 1954 classic Godzilla (aka Gojira) starring Akira Takarada, Akihiko Hirata, and Takeshi Shimura, among others, and directed by Ishiro Honda. Of course, such a momentous film and occasion required all four of the original Tourists, Nick Hayden, Timothy Deal, and Joe & Joy Metter. Unfortunately for Nate, there is way, way, WAY too much scholarship on this film, so it was overwhelming to research and difficult to condense it all down. Regardless, the roundtable discusses the U.S. Occupation of Japan, the Lucky Dragon No. 5 incident, and how Dr. Serizawa should’ve been a cool anime character, among other subjects related to this film. 

Check out Nick and Tim’s podcast, Derailed Trains of Thought!

Additional music:

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, and The Cel Cast! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:
Prologue: 0:00-1:11
Intro: 1:11-3:55
Main Discussion: 3:55-1:17:36
Housekeeping & Outro: 1:17:36-end

Podcast Links:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD
Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #Godzilla

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 42: Ben Avery vs. ‘Gamera vs. Jiger’

Hello, kaiju lovers!

The “Year of Gamera” reaches its midpoint in an episode that’s the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Well, not really. But you will hear Nate and returning guest/multi-podcaster Ben Avery discuss 1970’s Gamera vs. Jiger. This movie, which shockingly opened the year the Japanese film industry crashed, serves as a (sorta) big budget travelogue/commercial for Expo ’70, the first world’s fair held in Asia. Both “Cornjob” and a yellow submarine return, but outer space is replaced with “innerspace” as the Kennys travel inside Gamera to cure him of his “impregnation” by Jiger, an ancient female demon beast. I’m not making this up. It’s a movie that may have anticipated The Exorcist and Alien. The Toku Topic, naturally, is Expo ’70. I mean, what else would it be?

Afterward, Nate and Jimmy get a surprise visit from Monster Island’s resident mad scientist and mushroom enthusiast, Dr. Dante Dourif, who’s been sent on a mission to “stabby-stabby” Nate with a syringe filled with his mushroom-enhanced COVID-19 vaccine. Oh my….

Check out all of Ben’s podcasts:
Strangers and Aliens
Welcome to Level 7
The Comic Book Time Machine
Supersonic Pod Comics

Guest stars:

  • Daniel DiManna as Dr. Dourif

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, and The Cel Cast! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00-6:02
Entertaining Info Dump: 6:02-13:07
Toku Talk: 13:07-55:48
Advertisement: 55:48-56:25
Toku Topic: 56:25-1:30:29
Housekeeping & Outro: 1:30:29-1:40:35
Epilogue: 1:40:35-end

Podcast Social Media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD
Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Kaiju Weekly 074 – Pacific Rim: The Black (with Nathan Marchand) (Re-Upload)

Hey there, kaiju lovers! Like I did with the Monster Hunter review I did on the Forever Classic Podcast, I’m re-uploading this episode of Kaiju Weekly for any of you who missed it. While I experimented with a “Special Report” episode on season one of Netflix’s Pacific Rim: The Black, I couldn’t find time in MIFV’s schedule to make to make a proper episode on it. Then I had the chance to sub for Travis Alexander, one of the co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly, on their review of it. So, with their permission, I’m re-sharing it here. I highly recommend listening to Kaiju Weekly because it’s a fun and entertaining podcast, and the one in the kaiju community with whom I have the closest ties.

The original show notes:

We continue “Mecha May” with a look at the 2021Netflix anime series, Pacific Rim: The Black featuring returning guest and friend of the podcast, Nathan Marchand of The Monster Island Film Vault.

——————————————–

Set after Pacific Rim: Uprising, Kaiju have ravaged Australia, two siblings pilot a Jaeger to search for their parents, encountering new creatures, characters, and allies.

——————————————–

CHECK OUT MIFV!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-monster-island-film-vault/id1472692780

———————————————–

KAIJU RAMEN MAGAZINE:

https://www.kaijuramenmagazine.com/

———————————————–

CONTACT KAIJU WEEKLY:

kaijuweekly@gmail.com

———————————————–

FOLLOW ALL THINGS KAIJU WEEKLY:

Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on Instagram

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Become a Patreon

Kaiju Weekly Merch

FOLLOW MICHAEL, THE KAIJU GROUPIE:

https://linktr.ee/admin

Music for the Podcast provided by Kweer Kaiju

**All film, audio clips, and graphics belong to their respective copyright holders with no infringement being intended or implied.**

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Episode 40: The MSTies vs. ‘Gamera vs. Guiron’

Hello, kaiju lovers!

We’ve reached the point where the “Year of Gamera” gets even goofier—and where Nate begins to miss seeing the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes even more. He’s joined by returning guest, Earth Destruction Directive host Luke Jaconetti, and newcomer/MSTie Greg Meyer to discuss Gamera vs. Guiron. The “Kennys” get more precocious and useless (Tom is dead inside). The monsters get more outlandish (Guiron is Knifehead, anyone?). And the villains get … shapely jumpsuits? Listen as Nate, Luke, and Greg connect this movie to Chronicles of Narnia and Barbarella, among other things, and muse about their favorite riffs from the MST3K episode. Nate’s descent into madness continues.

The Toku Topic is the First Traffic War in Japan. It may sound like a forgotten Transformers storyline, but it’s actually a time period when car accidents increased dramatically in the Land of the Rising Sun. Hence why Akio is obsessed with making a world “without wars or traffic accidents” in this movie.

Beforehand, Nate is visited by Jessica Shaw, his pseudo-sister clone, and she tells him she’s bringing Luke and Greg with her first tour group, who will then watch their live broadcast. Then afterward, the infamous Terran spacewomen, Flobella and Barbella, come to Earth to kidnap Gamera—but not if Monster Island’s own magical girl superheroine, Crystal Lady (aka Jessica), has anything to say about it!

Luke’s links:
Earth Destruction Directive on Two True Freaks
Twitter

Greg’s links:
Into the Speed Force
Children of the Wells (book series)

Guest Stars:
-Sarah Marchand as Jessica Shaw/Crystal Lady
-Sparkles Schreck as Flobella
-Hoshiko as Barbella

Prologue and epilogue, “Shine! Crystal Lady! Parts 1-2,” written by Nathan Marchand.

Music:
“A weird thing” by Chiro
“Transformation (Sailor Moon Remix)” by Vincent Lee
-“The Aliens’ Plan” by Shunsuke Kikuchi

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org, including some by InspectorJ, and the Toho Foley library.

Special Crystal Lady sound effects created by J.P. Gant. Contact him for commissions on Twitter: @JPGant_UWSD.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; and Damon Noyes! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:
Prologue: 0:00-2:32
Intro: 2:32-12:13
Entertaining Info Dump: 12:13-20:04
Toku Talk: 20:04-1:13:13
Advertisement: 1:13:01-1:14:51
Toku Topic: 1:14:51-1:35:14
Listener Feedback, Housekeeping, & Outro: 1:35:42-1:53:32
Epilogue: 1:53:32-end

Podcast Social Media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD
Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 39: The Drifters vs. ‘Gamera vs. Viras’ (feat. Jack ‘GMan’ Hudgens and J.R. Villers)

Hello, kaiju lovers!

In the first of a double-whammy of “Year of Gamera” episodes that continue to chip away at Nate’s sanity, today’s movie is 1968’s Gamera vs. Viras. Nate is joined by returning guest (and Jimmy From NASA nemesis) Jack “GMan” Hudgens and Jack’s friend J.R. Villers from The Drift Space podcast to discuss this outlandish but imaginative kaiju flick. It’s near and dear (haha!) to Jimmy’s heart because, believe it or not, it dramatizes an exciting chapter of his childhood. Yes, MIFV’s intrepid producer is one of the precocious “Kennys”! In order to survive, Nate makes many Star Trek references/comparisons and several puns. The discussion also includes talk about hentai (don’t ask) and how the Rocky films stole the Gamera series’ formula—and it includes Sly Stallone impersonations. The Toku Topic is the Scout Association of Japan since the Gamera kids in this—again, including Jimmy—are both Boy Scouts.

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

The Drift Space on Podchaser.
The “Deferential Wrath of a Rusting Markalite Cannon” Substack.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; and Damon Noyes! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00-7:54
Entertaining Info Dump: 7:54-16:06
Toku Talk: 16:06-59:21
Ad: 59:21-59:59
Toku Topic: 59:59-1:22:52
Listener Feedback, Housekeeping, & Outro: 1:22:52-end

Podcast Social Media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD
Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 38: Eric Anderson vs. ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’

Hello, kaiju lovers!

Finally, the “Kong Quest” comes to an end! After months of delays due to avoiding competition and COVID-19, Godzilla vs. Kong has been released. It’s not a fever dream—it’s real! Nate is joined by his friend, Nerd Chapel founder Eric Anderson, to discuss the epic rematch nearly 60 years in the making. They host a special premiere for the Legendary film at the newly opened Denham Theater, an event that’s been delayed and rescheduled as often as the film’s release. A cavalcade of special guests attends, including the little Iwi deaf girl Jia. She is the youngest of “Kong’s Queens,” all the surviving ladies who have captivated the Eighth Wonder over the years. Nate and Eric dive deep into the deceptively simple movie, discussing Kong’s “hero’s journey,” the Jules Verne-ian/Edgar Rice Burroughs-ian world-building, and its theme of mankind trying to control forces greater than themselves. You’ll also hear them compare the movie to Conan the Barbarian, Die Hard, and The Lord of the Rings.

The Toku Topic isn’t about the content of the movie itself but a debate raging around it: movie theaters vs. streaming services. Which do you prefer to see a movie for the first time?

Afterward, Nate and company hear that Kong had too much to drink at the after-party and has gone on a drunken rampage. MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, volunteers to handle the situation the best way he knows how: Mechani-Kong Mk. 2. That goes about as well as you’d expect, so Nate and Eric recruit one of “Kong’s Queens” for help so beauty can save the beast for once.

Prologue and Epilogue written by Nathan Marchand with Eric Anderson.

Music:
-“Here We Go” by Chris Classic
-“Pensacola, Florida (Godzilla Theme” by Junkie XL
-“Skull Island (Kong Theme)” by Junkie XL
-“A New Language” by Junkie XL
-“Main Title” by Moscow Symphony Orchestra, composed by Max Steiner

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org (including some by InspectorJ).

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; and Damon Noyes! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Check out Nerd Chapel and the 42 devotional books!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:
Intro/Prologue: 0:00-11:40
Entertaining Info Dump: 11:40-22:24
Toku Talk: 22:24-1:46:55
Ad: 1:46:55-1:47:47
Toku Topic: 1:47:47-2:14:12
Housekeeping & Outro: 2:14:12-2:23:16
Epilogue: 2:23:16-end

Podcast Social Media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD
Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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