Cover image of Alienating the Audience

Alienating the Audience

Andrew Heaton and an army of nerds plunge deep, deep into films, books, and TV shows to ask: what's science fiction really about? What is The Twilight Zone really exploring? What are the underlying th... Read more

Ranked #1

Podcast cover

Understand Every Scifi Hero through Dungeons & Dragons

Understand Every Scifi Hero through Dungeons & Dragons

Why is Darth Vader "Lawful Evil" or Ramsay Bolton "Chaotic Evil"? Captains Kirk and Picard are both good, but only one o... Read more

27 Feb 2020

1hr 22mins

Ranked #2

Podcast cover

How to Build a Colony Ship

How to Build a Colony Ship

If we had to send a spaceship to start a colony on another planet, how many humans would we need to get the party starte... Read more

22 Jan 2020

1hr 26mins

Similar Podcasts

Ranked #3

Podcast cover

If We Met Aliens Could We Even Communicate?

If We Met Aliens Could We Even Communicate?

What would first contact with an alien civilization look like? Could we handle it? If we could, would it even be possibl... Read more

20 Feb 2020

1hr 18mins

Ranked #4

Podcast cover

When Darwin Meets Star Trek

When Darwin Meets Star Trek

Dr. Mohamed Noor is the author of "Live Long and Evolve: What Star Trek Can Teach Us about Evolution, Genetics, and Life... Read more

8 Jan 2020

1hr 7mins

Most Popular Podcasts

Ranked #5

Podcast cover

Who To Kill or Not Kill if You've Got a Time Machine

Who To Kill or Not Kill if You've Got a Time Machine

Brian Dunning, host of the Skeptoid Podcast, joins Heaton to talk about all things time travel--the best films, TV shows... Read more

11 Feb 2020

1hr 19mins

Ranked #6

Podcast cover

The Meaning of Spock

The Meaning of Spock

Mr. Spock is the most captivating character in Star Trek lore, and the embodiment of logic in popular culture. John Cham... Read more

15 Jan 2020

48mins

Ranked #7

Podcast cover

Hugh Howey on Making an Entertaining Apocalypse

Hugh Howey on Making an Entertaining Apocalypse

Hugh Howey is the author of "Wool," the New York Times bestselling thriller set in a massive post-apocalyptic bunker. He... Read more

12 Mar 2020

1hr

Ranked #8

Podcast cover

How Midichlorians and Harry Potter’s Wizard Genes Work

How Midichlorians and Harry Potter’s Wizard Genes Work

Dr. Eric Spana (Duke University biology professor and delightful nerd) joins Heaton to discuss how genetics works in var... Read more

5 Feb 2020

1hr 14mins

Ranked #9

Podcast cover

Nano Robots Aren't Trying to Kill You

Nano Robots Aren't Trying to Kill You

Andrew Maynard is a scientist, professor, and expert in nanotechnology. He joins the show to answer: how likely is it th... Read more

26 Mar 2020

1hr 14mins

Ranked #10

Podcast cover

The First Modern Zombie Novel

The First Modern Zombie Novel

"The Day of the Triffids," by John Wyndham, arguably kicked off the modern zombie genre, in which protagonists flee sham... Read more

19 Mar 2020

1hr 20mins

Ranked #11

Podcast cover

Stop What You're Doing and Watch "Picard"

Stop What You're Doing and Watch "Picard"

The long-awaited "Picard" series is out now, starring Patrick Stewart and following the exploits of Jean-Luc Picard two ... Read more

30 Jan 2020

52mins

Ranked #12

Podcast cover

Starfleet Draft Picks (Live Show)

Starfleet Draft Picks (Live Show)

In a special just-for-kicks live episode, Star Trek consultants Dr. Erin Macdonald and Dr. Mohamed Noor return to the sh... Read more

27 Mar 2020

58mins

Ranked #13

Podcast cover

Twenty Years After the Zombie Apocalypse

Twenty Years After the Zombie Apocalypse

"The Girl With All the Gifts" is a brilliant spin on otherwise stale zombie tropes. Nick Sperdute and Ashland Viscosi jo... Read more

30 Apr 2020

1hr 1min

Ranked #14

Podcast cover

Deep Space Nine is About Outsiders

Deep Space Nine is About Outsiders

Deep Space Nine masterfully tackled complex plot lines, moral ambiguity, and deep themes over its arc. Tom Merritt, host... Read more

23 Apr 2020

1hr 4mins

Ranked #15

Podcast cover

Buddhism, Optimism, and Black Mirror

Buddhism, Optimism, and Black Mirror

"Black Mirror," a dark television series about the grim potential of technology, explores issues from social media to im... Read more

16 Apr 2020

1hr 8mins

Ranked #16

Podcast cover

Marry Bop Kill: Star Trek (Live Show)

Marry Bop Kill: Star Trek (Live Show)

Nick Sperdute and Josh Jennings join Heaton for a rousing game of "First Officer, Holodeck Buddy, Red Shirt" using Star ... Read more

12 Apr 2020

1hr 24mins

Ranked #17

Podcast cover

How to Make Money on Mars

How to Make Money on Mars

We'll probably get to Mars a lot sooner if people think they can make a buck off of it. Andrew Mayne, author of the book... Read more

9 Apr 2020

55mins

Ranked #18

Podcast cover

Pitch Us On Stargate!

Pitch Us On Stargate!

AJ West and science consultant Mika McKinnon ("Stargate Atlantis" and "Stargate Universe") join the program to pitch Sta... Read more

2 Apr 2020

1hr 10mins

Ranked #19

Podcast cover

Let's Argue About "The Rise of Skywalker"

Let's Argue About "The Rise of Skywalker"

Alright, it's been a month--let's discuss "The Rise of Skywalker"! Is it the franchise-busting wompa scat critics panned... Read more

2 Jan 2020

1hr 26mins

Ranked #20

Podcast cover

Are We Living in a Computer Simulation?

Are We Living in a Computer Simulation?

The central premise to The Matrix is that we're actually living in a computer simulation, as well as think piece episode... Read more

18 Dec 2019

1hr 58mins

“Podium: AI tools for podcasters. Generate show notes, transcripts, highlight clips, and more with AI. Try it today at https://podium.page”