Childhood
John's favorite stuffed animal was a black-and-white cat. You can probably imagine why this would be its very creative name.
What is Oreo?
John once won his school's spelling bee and proceeded to the state level. He struck out on this five-letter word, defined as "a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity."
What is angst?
The final fighter revealed for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was this crossover RPG icon. John's most wanted character, Doom Slayer, made it in as a Mii Costume.
Who is Sora?
John's first-ever favorite album was far from niche - in fact, this band's debut album "Hybrid Theory" is the best-selling debut album of the 21st century.
Who is Linkin Park?
John nearly appeared in the live-action adaptation of this Nickelodeon classic. M. Night must not have seen the vision - probably for the best, though.
What is The Last Airbender?
One of John's favorite Halloween costumes growing up was a member of this group of colorful TV action heroes. Telling you the character's name would give it away, though!
Who are the Power Rangers?
John's first role in musical theater was in a high school production of this, a darker take on Grimm fairy tales.
What is Into the Woods?
When the Nintendo Switch hit shelves, John and his friends skipped class to pick it up. They almost couldn't get it, but thankfully, this formerly defunct chain store pulled through. Thanks, Geoff!
What is Toys"R"Us?
A sister goddess in Greek mythology, or just a source of inspiration? At least one is true about this band, one of John's biggest stylistic influences.
Who is Muse?
John would release his first album with the band Matchstick Men. Maybe it should've just been the other three, though - after all, they share the first names of these sibling Disney rock stars.
Who are the Jonas Brothers?
For over a decade, John studied American Kenpo Karate, created by Ed Parker. Ed Parker was well known in Hollywood and helped popularize this all-time martial arts legend in the United States.
Who was Bruce Lee?
John's school mascots were mainly just dudes - in high school, the Explorer; and in Millersville, this alliterative synonym for pirate.
What is Marauder?
John got the Xbox 360 for Christmas 2008. It originally released in 2005, and was already infamous for this hardware malfunction.
What is the Red Ring of Death?
In college, John workshopped a song with Eric Bazilian. Among his other work, Eric played guitar with Cyndi Lauper on songs such as this, her biggest hit.
What is "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"?
In 2010, John saw this Bryan Lee O'Malley adaptation in theaters, which quickly became one of this favorites. On the way home, he got yelled at by an old man on the bus. See, John's friend Joe told John that he should offer the guy his seat because he was clearly very old and the bus was packed. John kindly offered, and was subsequently berated for five minutes by the old man who thought it was a personal slight and wouldn't stand for the disrespect. He eventually calmed down and told John he appreciated the offer, but John will exclusively always remember this event as Joe randomly suggesting he do this kind thing (and not doing it himself instead) and getting yelled at for trying to be nice... anyway, the movie was good.
What is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World?
Over the years of doing karate at AmeriKick, John participated in regular fundraisers for this medical organization. Hint - its abbreviation is exactly the kind of thing you do in karate.
What is CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)?
Before learning the guitar, John considered joining the grade school band on this double-reed woodwind.
What is the oboe?
Halo 3, John's favorite game, stars the Spartan super-soldier Master Chief. The Spartan armor gets its name from this mythological godly weapon.
What is Mjolnir?
My Chemical Romance's "Helena" is one of their most popular songs - far more than a song of the same name by this band, one of their biggest influences.
Who are The Misfits?
John's first pet, a goldfish, shared its name with Green Arrow's sidekick and the Looney Tune Gonzales.
What is Speedy?
John's favorite toy line growing up, Lego Bionicle, got itself in hot water early on due to using terminology from this indigenous island culture. They replaced words like "Tohunga" out of respect, but could keep more common words like "Mata Nui".
What is Maori?
John had to learn about it, so now you do to! Condenser, dynamic, ribbon, cardioid - all these terms apply to this tool.
What is a microphone?
Metroid - one of John's favorite series - follows two main formats: 2D, such as Super Metroid and Metroid Dread; and 3D, mostly in the subseries Metroid (blank).
What is Prime?
John started his musical journey with electric guitar. Keeping line with his rock and metal favorites, John prefers guitars with this style of pickups - the big silver rectangles under the strings.
What are humbuckers?
The last name "Schoenewald" is a combination of two German words - "schoen" meaning beautiful or nice, and "wald" meaning this.
What is forest?