The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 51: Solo (A Star Wars Story)

Welcome to The SciFi Podcast, a wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

The second spin-off of the Star Wars saga has a young Han Solo flying across the galaxy to reunite with the one he loves. On the way his character and loyalties are tested as he makes new friends, new enemies, and begins his life as a smuggler.

With so much on the line, how does Solo hold up against it’s predecessors? Does new Han compare to the old? Lando? Chewy? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments section.

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production by Solo and Mattroid; artwork by Mattroid.

 

The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 46: Star Wars – The Last Jedi

Welcome to The SciFi Podcast, a wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

Finally, December of 2017 arrived, and with it the most anticipated movie in the last two years; Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The dramatic continuation of The Force Awakens finds out heroes–both new and old–banding together to escape, and if possible, defeat the First Order once and for all.

How did this movie compare to it’s predecessors? Does Finn matter? WHO IS REY?! All these things and more are discussed in a lengthy and fantastic review and dissection of the film, by Mattroid, Solo, and friend of the podcast Nick Ricci. Station! was forced to sit this one out, once again caring for a baby, but her thoughts on TLJ will be heard in future episodes.

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production by Mattroid; artwork by Mattroid.

 

SHOW NOTES:

THE SCI-FI PODCAST EP 35: The Gang Goes to SLC Comic-Con FanX 17

Welcome to The SciFi Podcasta wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things Science Fiction. The SciFi Podcast features four hosts—Mattroid, Brain, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

In lieu of a standard TSFP episode, Mattroid, Solo, Brain, and Spacewolf attend Salt Lake City’s Comic-Con FanX 2017. Station, having recently given birth, was unable to join in the fun and was sorely missed. Various discussions, interviews, and insights into the bizarre world of pop-culture conventions are discussed by the hosts during this episode, and Solo shows off his goofy side more than once, which alone is worth the price of admission. Have you ever been to a Comic-Con or similar kind of event? Let us know all about it! 

The Sci-Fi Podcast will return to form soon with episode 35.

Theme music courtesy of I Hear Sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of I Hear Sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production by Solo and Mattroid.
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THE SCI-FI PODCAST EP 31: Rogue One (2016) – LIVE!

Welcome to The SciFi Podcasta wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things Science Fiction. The SciFi Podcast features four hosts—Mattroid, Brain, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

This episode is another LIVE! recording (sorry about the sound flubs!), where your lovable band of podcasting misfits gleefully discuss the highly anticipated, eagerly awaited, very first Star Wars anthology movie, Rogue One. The second half of the episode is a spoiler-heavy discussion, but if you’ve not yet seen the movie, you can still get a full, spoiler-free review in the first part of the show.

Did you love it? Hate it? Somewhere in the middle? Let us know!

Theme music courtesy of TMMC, which features Matt on guitar, and I Hear Sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of I Hear Sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production and artwork by Mattroid and SpaceWolf.

THE SCI-FI PODCAST EP 20: The 25 Coolest Sci-Fi Movie Weapons

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Welcome to
The SciFi Podcasta wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things Science Fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

For this episode, we invited Sci-Fi fanatic and professional photographer Ryan Welling to join us in discussing the 25 coolest weapons found in Sci-Fi movies. What do you think about the list? Let us know in the comments section.

Theme music courtesy of I Hear Sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of I Hear Sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Audio clip of “Set it to Stun” courtesy of Rotten Musicians, who can be found here. Podcast production and artwork by Mattroid.

THE SCI-FI PODCAST EP 16: The Legacy of Star Wars

Star Wars Saga LegacyYUB NUB! And welcome to The SciFi Podcasta wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things Science Fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

This episode we’re joined again by Brain and two very special guests–fine artist and friend Nicholas Coleman and the Wildman Willis Wheeler–for a roundtable discussion about the colossal imprint that Star Wars has left on the world.

Theme music courtesy of I Hear Sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of I Hear Sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production by Mattroid. Artwork by SpaceWolf.
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THE SCI-FI PODCAST BONUS: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

TSFP Star Wars Force Awakens Banner 2Hey, space cadets! We’re bringing you some off-schedule bonus content. Hang on because it’s gonna be a wild ride!

Our podcast normally features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo and Station!—looking at a specific science fiction theme or franchise. But in this special bonus episode we’re doing things a little differently. Here, Mattroid, Solo and Station! are joined by Brain and SpaceWolf to discuss their reactions to the seventh installment in the Star Wars saga, Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the kind of sweeping free-form discussion worthy of an epic space opera.

You’ll also hear Episode VII reaction clips from Forgotten Flix / Retro Movie Geek host, Joel Robertson, Movie Podcast WeeklyHorror Movie Podcast host, Jason Pyles, Movie Stream Cast co-hosts Cody Clark and Aaron Thomson, as well as returning guest Jonasty and two contributors that are knee-high to an Ewok.

Have a bad feeling about this? You will listen to this podcast now.

Podcast production by Mattroid. Artwork SpaceWolf.

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THE SCI-FI PODCAST EP 14: The Science of Star Wars

TSFP Science of Star Wars Hologram

Welcome to The SciFi Podcasta wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things Science Fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

This episode we bring back our real life friend and a real life physicist, Brian “The Brain” Patchett, to get his insights on the use of science (and pseudo-science) in the Star Wars saga. Brian teases lightsabers and gives us a full rundown on speeders, blasters, warp drives, deflector shields, The Death Star and more.

We also officially welcome Brain into the fold, updating his status from “special guest” to “contributor” … but contributing what, exactly? Well, besides guesting on great podcasts like this that will melt YOUR brain, OUR Brain writes incredibly-interesting essays for the site about the real science behind filmic fiction. If you haven’t read his “Brain Blogs” you are truly doing yourself a disservice. The most applicable to this week’s episode is his most recent essay, “Laser vs. Plasma, Sword Battle of Doom!,” or as Matt says “All About Lightsabers,” but they are all great.

Theme music courtesy of I Hear Sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of I Hear Sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production and artwork SpaceWolf.
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BRAIN BLOG: Laser vs. Plasma, Sword Battle of Doom!

Star Wars Laser Swords
Original Star Wars concept art by Ralph McQuarrie

1 STARKILLER AND HIS TRUSTY LAZERSWORD

Stories abound on the internet these days about early drafts of the original Star Wars trilogy. Lucas made the move from Starkiller to Skywalker, from Bogan to The Dark Side, and since when is Biggs Luke’s brother? But most importantly for this essay, he went from Lazersword to Lightsaber, (check out starwarz.com for more). Both of which are terrible misnomers, even though the latter is far cooler sounding. Unfortunately both regular light and light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation are completely useless as a weapon, or a tool, or anything beyond a fancy colored flashlight for finding your way through a dense jungle cavern. So let’s do this . . .
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THE SCI-FI PODCAST BONUS: The final trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars the Force Awakens TrailerHey, space cadets! It may be mid-week, but we’re bringing you some fun bonus sci-fi content. Our podcast normally features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and we look at a specific science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

But in this special bonus episode we’re doing things a little differently. Here, Matroid and Solo discuss the latest (and final) trailer for upcoming fantasy film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Always a dynamic duo, these two spend some time theorizing on the unknowns of the coming film, discuss a scenario in which both may end up crying in the theater, and they even struggle through an embarrassing situation as both fumble for several awkward minutes to find a popular, easily discoverable image on the internet. Unedited, in all it’s glory.

What you’ll hear:

-A bad recording due to Mattroid’s stupid phone!
-Discussion of the 3rd and final Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer and more!
-Details on how to be a part of another spectacular giveaway! Collectable Star Wars figurines, courtesy of show sponsor Yo Joe Depot, will be given away to a listener in the -first week of November – listen to the episode for details!