Welcome to the Superhero Smash Universe!
Original Audio Issue Air Date
- Aug. 13th, 2026
Listen to the Dr. Eckard & Dr. Romagnoli Return Audio Issue
Part 1: The Guest Stars (Begins @ 11:00 a.m.)
Super Origin ID: Superhero Smash (0:30)
- Good morning, listeners! You’ve waited all week, and it’s finally here: Another great audio issue of Superhero Smash on WIUP FM 90.1.
- Welcome to the Superhero Smash Universe where comics, music, and good deeds collide.
- I’m your host, Doctor Smash!
- Superhero Smash is a musical force for good!
- Let’s crack open this week’s issue.
Issue Theme
- Superheroes, & Ordinary People, Working Together
Heroic Spotlight: The Duo of Dr. Romagnoli & Dr. Eckard Return! (2:00)
Superhero Smash Guest Stars: Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli (1:00)
When last we heard from Dr. Eckard, she was fighting crime in…
- Superhero Smash Back Issue Bin (Season I): Audio Issue #12: Supervillains: Bring on the Bad Guys and Girls! — Guest Starring English Professor Dr. Sandra Eckard (07/25/23)
- Dr. Eckard is Professor of English and Director of the Writing Studio at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU)
- Sandy has explored Lois Lane across the long span of her career
- She also has edited The Comics Connections series of books about how to teach using comic books and popular culture
- I was pleased to write an article on “Who Is the Greatest Superhero?” for the first volume in the series, Comic Connections: Analyzing Hero and Identity
When last we heard from Dr. Romagnoli he was fighting crime in…
- Superhero Smash Back Issue Bin (Season I): Audio Issue #13: The Defenders — Guest Starring Assistant Dean Alex Romagnoli (08/08/23)
- Dr. Romagnoli is Interim Associate Dean of the School of Education at Monmouth University
- Dr. Romagnoli is also Co-Author with Gian of Enter the Superheroes: American Values, Culture, and the Canon of Superhero Literature
The Superhero Smash Back Issue Bin! (1:00)
- Speaking of back issue bins, Legion of Superhero Smash Listeners will recall that I’ve interviewed Professors Romagnoli & Eckard before.
- Back Issue Bin: Season III
- Audio Issue #49: Back-to-School Super Special #2 with Special Guest Stars Dr. Sandra Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli (8/20/25)
- In this action-packed audio episode, Superhero Smash explores superhero scholarship!
- Audio Issue #55: A Super Team-Up! (1/14/26)
- In this action-packed audio episode, the New Professor X teams up with Dr. Sandra Eckard and Dr. Alex Romagnoli to talk about super collaborations!
- Audio Issue #49: Back-to-School Super Special #2 with Special Guest Stars Dr. Sandra Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli (8/20/25)
Super Teamwork! (1:00)
- Today, Dr. Eckard and Dr. Romagnoli will be talking about the lessons superheroes have to teach us for real life and where the world of superheroes is headed
- Let’s dive into the interview
Superhero Smash Guest Stars: Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli Interview Part 1 (6:16)
- The Life of a Superhero
Super Community ID: Superhero Smash (0:30)
- You’re listening to Superhero Smash on WIUP FM 90.1.
- Smash the big button at pagnucci.org to enter the Superhero Smash Universe and join Doctor Smash’s Legion of Listeners!
- Superhero Smash is a musical force for good!
Superhero Smash Guest Stars: Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli Interview Part 2 (6:20)
- The Lessons of Superheroes for Real Life
Superhero Song 4 (4:05)
- “Superheroes” by The Script
Part 2: The Guest Stars (Ends @ 15 minutes)
Part 3: The Guest Stars Interview Continues (Begins @ 15 minutes)
Super Mission ID: Superhero Smash (0:30)
- You’re listening to Superhero Smash on WIUP FM 90.1.
- Featuring the best music, stories, and comic book lore from every superhero universe!
- Superhero Smash is a musical force for good!
Superhero Smash Guest Stars: Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli Interview Part 3 (8:06)
- Social Scholarship
Superhero Song 5 (2:04)
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman from Toy Story 5
Super Community ID: Superhero Smash (0:30)
- You’re listening to Superhero Smash on WIUP FM 90.1.
- Smash the big button at pagnucci.org to enter the Superhero Smash Universe and join Doctor Smash’s Legion of Listeners!
- Superhero Smash is a musical force for good!
Superhero Smash Guest Star: Eckard & Romagnoli Interview Part 4 (9:38)
- Avengers: Doomsday
Superhero Song 5 (2:10)
- “Avengers Theme” by Alan Silvestri
Part 3: The Guest Stars Interview Continues (Ends @ 36 minutes)
Part 4: The Good Deed (Begins @ 36 minutes)
Super Mission ID: Superhero Smash (0:30)
- You’re listening to Superhero Smash on WIUP FM 90.1.
- Featuring the best music, stories, and comic book lore from every superhero universe!
- Superhero Smash is a musical force for good!
Super Good Deed for the Week! (2:00)
This week on Superhero Smash, we talked about superheroes who keep getting back up after setbacks. We also talked about friendship, collaboration, and how sharing ideas with others can help us get through difficult times. Whether it was Captain America refusing to quit, Spider-Man learning from mistakes, or friends supporting one another during the pandemic, one message kept coming up:
Nobody has to face challenges alone.
This Week’s Superhero Smash Move: Share a Story That Brings People Together
- Reach out to a friend, family member, coworker, or classmate you haven’t talked to in a while.
- Send a short message letting them know you’re thinking about them.
- Thank someone who helped you through a difficult time.
- Encourage someone who is facing a challenge or working toward a goal.
Be like Captain America
In Avengers: Endgame, Captain America keeps getting back up no matter how many times he gets knocked down. Real heroes often do something much simpler: they help others find the strength to keep going.
A kind word, a quick phone call, or a thoughtful message may not seem like much, but it can make a bigger difference than you realize.
Super good deed!
Superhero Smash Guest Stars: Dr. Sandy Eckard & Dr. Alex Romagnoli Interview Part 5 (9:38)
- The Future of Superheroes
Part 4: The Good Deed (Ends @ 54 minutes)
Part 5: To Be Continued… (Begins @ 54 minutes)
Super Legacy ID: Superhero Smash (0:30)
- If you are enjoying today’s show, you can catch more Superhero Smash on Thursday mornings at 11:00 a.m. all summer long on WIUP FM 90.1.
- Superhero Smash is a musical force for good!
The Last Panel (2:00)
It’s time for the Last Panel of this week’s audio issue.
As we close this week’s episode of Superhero Smash, one thing stood out in every conversation we had with Sandy Eckert and Alex Romagnoli. Superheroes may wear masks, capes, or armor, but the lessons that matter most are surprisingly ordinary.
Tony Stark learns to think of others before himself.
Spider-Man keeps trying to do the right thing, even after making mistakes.
Batman gets back up after terrible loss.
Captain America refuses to quit, even when he knows he can’t win.
And behind all of those stories is a simple truth: heroes don’t succeed alone.
The friendships we build, the people who encourage us, the communities we create, and the ideas we share all help us become stronger versions of ourselves.
The Heroic Lesson
All of this means, none of us has to save the universe: Sometimes changing one life, encouraging one friend, or sharing one good idea is enough.
And that’s the last panel.
The Superhero Smash Code
Remember: “You don’t need superpowers to be a hero. The only thing it takes to be a hero is the courage to do what’s right when someone needs your help.”
–Gian Pagnucci (Doctor Smash)
Until next time, this is Doctor Smash reminding you that superhero stories teach us how to be heroes in our everyday lives. Keep learning, keep growing, and keep smashing!
Coming Next Issue! (2:00)
- The Superhero Smash Saving Summer Adventure
- Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel!
- To be continued next Thursday @ 11 a.m.
Heroic Ending Song (4:16)
- “Ordinary Superhero” by Keywest
