logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2022
41 m

Pokémon | E5: Evolution

Higher Ground
About this episode

The battle is over, and Pokémon has won. Almost twenty-five years after it arrived on these shores, Pokémon hasn’t just survived— it’s become the kind of pop-cultural phenomenon that parents share with their kids. But what does that say about Pokémon, and what does our yearning for an ever-more-immersive pocket-monster-catching experience say about us?

TRANSCRIPT: HERE

CREDITS:

Writer and Host: Alex Pappademas

Showrunner: Colin McNulty

Producers: Taylor Jones and Sabrina Fang, with help from Tyler Hill.

Production Assistant: Stella Hartmann

Fact Checker: Savannah Wright

Composer/Sound Designer/Mix Engineer: Alex MacInnis

Theme Music by: Dan Leone 

Executive Producer for Western Sound: Ben Adair

Editor: Jamie York

Executive Producers for Higher Ground: Dan Fierman, Anna Holmes, Mukta Mohan, and Janae Marable. 

Editorial Assistant for Higher Ground: Jenna Levin

Executive Producers for Spotify: Daniel Ek, Dawn Ostroff, Julie McNamara and Corinne Gilliard.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Oct 2024
Fulfillingness’ First Finale, from The Wonder of Stevie
Hey Big Hit Show fans. We’re sharing a preview of a new podcast from Higher Ground called The Wonder of Stevie. It's hosted by Wesley Morris and this episode features Alex Pappademas. Host Wesley Morris is taking you on a deep-dive through Stevie's Classic Period. In this episode ... Show More
46m 14s
Nov 2022
Pokémon | E4: Sparkly Cardboard
Thanks to nostalgic fans and influential new collectors, the value of vintage Pokémon trading cards is through the roof. But you don’t have to find and flip a million-dollar Charizard to have your life changed by Pokémon. An episode about collecting, connecting, and a podcast pro ... Show More
48m 32s
Nov 2022
Pokémon | E3: Satanic Consumption
At the end of the ‘90s, after blowing up in Japan, Pokémon came to America. And it became so ubiquitous so fast that critics saw it as a plot to turn U.S. children into hypnotized consumers— or even devil-worshippers. But the version of Pokemon that conquered America was very muc ... Show More
51m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2021
Culture Gabfest: Flying Puppet Baby
This week is a Bizarro Fest featuring associate editor Marissa Martinelli; June Thomas, senior managing producer of Slate podcasts; and Benjamin Frisch, senior producer, Decoder Ring. First, the panel discusses the bizarre experience of watching Annette. Next, they talk about the ... Show More
1h 1m
Mar 2019
Theme Song
Ron is joined by a live band as he attempts to record a theme song for the Ron Burgundy Podcast.Credits:Ron Burgundy: Host, Writer, Executive ProducerCarolina Barlow: Co-Host, Writer, and Producer.Producers: Whitney Hodack, Jack O’Brien, Miles Gray, and Nick StumpfExecutive Produ ... Show More
29m 45s
Mar 2019
Bullying Awareness
A very special episode discussing the difficulties of bullying with a 10 year old girl.Credits:Ron Burgundy: Host, Writer, Executive ProducerCarolina Barlow: Co-Host, Writer, and Producer.Producers: Whitney Hodack, Jack O’Brien, Miles Gray, and Nick StumpfExecutive Producer: Mike ... Show More
24m 55s
Aug 2019
Brain Science
Ron and Carolina are joined by a brain scientist to find out why dance is all we need.Credits:Ron Burgundy: Host, Writer, Executive ProducerCarolina Barlow: Co-Host, Writer, and Producer.Producers: Whitney Hodack, Jack O'Brien, Miles Gray, and Nick StumpfExecutive Producer: Mike ... Show More
32m 10s
Feb 2019
True Crime
Ron takes a stab at the most popular genre of his new chosen medium—the True Crime podcast. The tales he unfolds and his interview with a criminal psychologist are positively bone chilling.Credits:Ron Burgundy: Host, Writer, Executive ProducerCarolina Barlow: Co-Host, Writer, and ... Show More
45m 41s
Feb 2023
Pokémon Hegemon
The first Pokémon videogames, ‘Red’ and ‘Green’ were launched in Japan on 27th February, 1996. The franchise went on to be the most successful ever video game to TV adaptation, and the highest selling trading card game in history of cards.  Created by Satoshi Tajiri, the gameplay ... Show More
12m 11s