On this episode of The Damaged Ones Podcast, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland reflect on the Stranger Thingsdocumentary now streaming on Netflix — and walk away with more empathy than expected.

After seeing the pressure, scale, and responsibility placed on the Duffer Brothers, we couldn’t help but feel for them. We praise the incredible work from the production team, set designers, and everyone behind the scenes who helped build one of the biggest pop culture worlds of our time.

But even with all that respect, we still land on the same conclusion: the ending was… mediocre.

Was it burnout? Studio pressure? Fan expectations? Or all of the above? We break down the theories, the warning signs, and why massive success can sometimes be the very thing that breaks a story.

🎙️ Listen now and join the conversation. If you agree, disagree, or have your own theory — leave a review, share the episode, and let us know what you think really happened.

This week on The Damaged Ones Podcast, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland go all in on Stranger Things Season 5 — and nothing is off-limits. From a finale that left us cold to gaping plot holes, a laughably incompetent military, zero real character deaths, and a once-terrifying villain who feels completely neutered, we break down exactly where the show went wrong and why it hurt so much as longtime fans.

⚠️ Warning: This episode contains heavy swearing and full spoilers for all of Season 5. If you haven’t watched it yet, come back later — because we don’t hold back.

We loved this world, these characters, and this story… which is why we’re so brutally honest about what worked, what didn’t, and what should have happened instead.

👉 Now it’s your turn: Did Season 5 stick the landing for you, or did it completely drop the ball? Let us know your thoughts, theories, and hot takes — we want to hear them. Leave a comment, send a message, or tag us on social with your reaction.

If you enjoy raw, unfiltered takes on the stories we all care about, make sure to follow, download, and share The Damaged Ones Podcast so you don’t miss what we tear into next.

As 2025 comes to a close, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland take a moment to slow down and reflect.

In this episode of The Damaged Ones Podcast, we answer three simple—but heavy—questions: What scared us this year? What humbled us? And what ultimately rewarded us for pushing through?

We also talk about Sarah’s very real brush with disaster after a brutal Christmas-time cold that nearly took her out and had to go to the ER.

Most importantly, we want to say thank you. Every listen, every download, every message—none of this exists without you. Your support this year meant more than we can properly put into words.

We’ll be taking a short break for the New Year and will return the following week on January 10th.

Merry belated Christmas, happy holidays, and we wish you an incredible, healthy, and powerful New Year!!!

If this episode resonated with you, make sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s been through their own battles this year. We’ll see you in 2026—stronger, clearer, and ready to go.

For anyone that wants to get into the business of Voiceover or acting as a whole, feel free to visit https://www.actingbusinessbootcamp.com, and email both Peter Pamala Rose & Astoria Redhead!

On this episode of The Damaged Ones, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altand tear into the spectacle-first era of entertainment and combat sports—starting with the pre-fight hype around Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua. We make one thing clear: the only acceptable outcome is a quick finish. Anything else feels dishonest, dragged out, and designed purely for clicks, buys, and headlines. Because let’s be real—we all know this is spectacle, not sport.

That same sense of unrealism is why certain shows lose us completely. We break down why Netflix’s “Boots” failed to connect, especially in how it portrays a Marine operating in ways that feel flat-out unbelievable. When what we’re watching breaks logic, immersion dies—and audiences walk.

From there, we zoom out into a bigger conversation: why more people are choosing streaming over the movie theater experience. Overpriced tickets, disruptive crowds, endless previews—at what point does staying home just make more sense?

And yes… we also debate one of the wildest choices a person can make: getting someone else’s face tattooed onto your own face—and why that decision is almost never a good idea.

🔥 If you’re tired of fake hype, watered-down realism, and bad decisions being normalized—this episode is for you. 👉 Listen now, subscribe, and join The Damaged Ones community. Share this episode with someone who isn’t afraid of real conversations.

In this episode of The Damaged Ones, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland dive into the recent Sherrone Moore scandal—not just the headlines, but what it reveals about power, temptation, and human behavior. The conversation quickly expands into a bigger question: why do people in positions of power so often cheat? Is it entitlement, narcissism, access, or something deeper?

We also explore the uncomfortable gray area around the “other person” in these situations. Is the mistress always wrong? Are they complicit, manipulated, or just another damaged participant in the story? As the discussion unfolds, it becomes clear that no matter how you frame it, these situations spiral downward—yet every narrative exists for a reason.

This episode isn’t about excuses or condemnation—it’s about understanding patterns, accountability, and the stories people tell themselves to justify their choices.

🎧 Follow the podcast, subscribe for weekly episodes, and leave a review if this conversation hit home. Join us as we unpack the messy, complicated truths behind human behavior—because nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

On this episode of The Damaged Ones, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland unpack the rarely discussed — but widely experienced — reality of financial abuse. Whether it comes from a spouse, a partner battling addiction, or a family member who controls every dollar, financial abuse leaves emotional damage long after the money is gone.

We dive into the most common struggles people face: restricted access to funds, destroyed credit, forced dependence, manipulation disguised as “help,” and the fear of starting over with nothing.

This is an honest, empathetic conversation about the invisible chains money can create — and how people slowly rebuild their power, identity, and independence.

Reminder:

If today’s episode hit close to home, remember — you don’t have to navigate this alone. Talk to someone you trust, reach out to a financial advisor, or connect with a professional who can help you rebuild your independence.

Financial abuse thrives in silence, but healing starts the moment you speak up. And if you found value in this conversation, share this episode with someone who might need to hear it too.

You’re not alone — and you deserve support.

This week on The Damaged Ones Podcast, Mike Garcia and Sarah Altland pull up a seat at the post-Thanksgiving leftovers table and dive into a belated holiday catch-up full of laughs, and random energy.

Mike and Sarah talk about the real stuff worth looking forward to as we close out the year — why you shouldn’t wait for January to start moving toward your 2026 goals, how to set realistic expectations without killing your momentum, and why sometimes “good enough” is actually great.

Of course, things get… very us.

We confess our undying love for pizza, debate which exotic pets we want, and give our spoiler-free first reactions to Stranger Things Season 5.

If you’re into honest conversations, questionable decisions, and two friends figuring life out in real time… welcome home.

👉 New episodes drop every week. Make sure to follow, rate, and share The Damaged Ones Podcast — it helps more than you know!

Something is seriously off with the Wicked cast right now — from their shockingly unhealthy appearances to the awkward, forced, borderline interviews that feel anything but genuine.

In this episode, Mike Garcia & Sarah Altland dig into the growing concerns surrounding the production of the Wicked movies and whether something behind the scenes went very, very wrong.

Plus, we break down the ridiculous recent news of the DoorDash driver, Olivia Henderson, who committed multiple felonies just for clout and attention — because apparently going viral now comes with a criminal record.

Special announcement: We’re officially going LIVE on TikTok starting November 28!

Follow us on TikTok: @voiceofgarcia @SarahAltland1991

If you want more raw commentary, unfiltered takes, and real discussions about Hollywood, hit that follow, rate the show, and share this episode with a friend who loves (or hates) Wicked as much as we do.