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!