Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

Courtesy of Disney Pictures

In this star‑packed Hollywood red carpet edition of Byte, Tony brings listeners into the heart of the Toy Story 5 world premiere — a celebration of legacy, reinvention, and the enduring emotional power of Pixar’s most beloved franchise.

From legendary voices returning to the booth to new cast members stepping into the Toy Story universe for the first time, this episode captures the full spectrum of excitement, nostalgia, and creative insight. Featuring conversations with actors, filmmakers, Pixar leadership, and surprise guests, this is the definitive audio time capsule of the night.

Featured Are: 

Anna Vocino

Bonnie Hunt 

Conan O’Brien 

Craig Robinson 

Greta Lee 

Jay Hernandez 

Jeff Bergman 

Jim Morris — President of Pixar on the studio’s evolving creative mission.

Pete Docter — Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer on crafting stories that endure.

Joan Cusack 

John Ratzenberger 

Kenna Harris 

Lindsey Collins 

Andrew Stanton 

Kristen Schaal 

Krys Marshall 

Lori Alan 

Melissa Villaseñor 

Mykal‑Michelle Harris

Shelby Rabara

Taylor Swift 

Tim Allen 

Tom Hanks 

Tony Hale 

Conversations with Kenna Harris, Lindsey Collins, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee & Tony Hale

In this special Pixar‑focused episode of Byte, sits down interviews with the creative minds and beloved cast behind Toy Story 5 — a film that arrives at a moment when audiences need its message more than ever courtesy of Disney Pictures. Co‑Director Kenna Harris, Producer Lindsey Collins, and actors Joan Cusack, Greta Lee, and Tony Hale open up about crafting a story that honors the franchise’s legacy while pushing its characters into bold new emotional territory.

The conversations explore the film’s timely themes, Jessie’s powerful new arc, and the enduring magic that makes Toy Story one of the most cherished series in animation history.

SAVE 17% ON PLUS

Tony revisits Ji, a visually striking sci‑fi romance short that imagines a future where humanity has fractured across worlds. After centuries of pollution, war, and collapse, Earth is left in ruins. The East escapes to build a pristine off‑world colony called Nilo, while the West seals itself behind fortified walls.

From this divide emerges Ji, a disciplined Nilo general played by Lewis Tan. Rumors swirl on Nilo that life still exists on Earth — a claim their government denies. Ji risks everything to descend to the planet of his ancestors, only to discover Tiffany, a resilient Earth survivor portrayed by Eva De Dominici. Their connection forces Ji into a choice that could reshape both worlds.

Tony chatted with Ben Griffin to explore the film’s emotional core, its world‑building, and the timeless tension between duty and love.

SAVE 17% ON PLUS

A Conversation with Aleks Paunovic, Bobby Bala, and the Creative Team

In this Tribeca Memories installment, we revisit a standout sci‑fi short that left a lasting impression on festival audiences: The Shipment. Set in a gritty future where survival often comes at the cost of morality, the film follows a former slave trader who has abandoned that life to become a cargo hauler, ferrying goods between distant planets. But when one job becomes his only chance to secure a future for himself and his daughter, he’s forced to confront a devastating price — one that threatens to pull him back into the darkness he thought he’d escaped.

Recorded live at the iconic Roxy Hotel in New York City, Tony sat down with fan‑favorite actor Aleks Paunovic, director Bobby Bala, and members of the creative team to explore the film’s emotional core, its world‑building, and the personal stories behind its creation.

The Shipment is a reminder that sci‑fi isn’t just about ships and planets — it’s about the choices that define us. This episode captures the creative heartbeat behind a film that blends genre spectacle with intimate storytelling, all through the lens of a team committed to pushing boundaries. 

See it on Dusk

SAVE 17% ON PLUS

Recorded Live at the Tribeca Film Festival

In this special retrospective episode, we revisit two standout conversations recorded live at the Tribeca Film Festival — moments that capture the raw creative pulse of independent filmmaking. First, actor and producer Elijah Wood joins us to discuss his darkly comedic thriller Come To Daddy, reflecting on the film’s twisted emotional core, its genre‑bending tone, and the joy of championing bold, off‑kilter storytelling.

Then, acclaimed director Mary Harron sits down to explore Charley Says, her haunting and humanistic portrait of the women once under Charles Manson’s influence. 

Together, these conversations form a living archive of Tribeca’s spirit — fearless, curious, and deeply committed to the power of character‑driven stories.

SAVE 17% ON PLUS

Shirley, Knox, Martha, Carla, and the evolving machinery of rebellion

In this episode of Rewind, Tony returns to the claustrophobic, pressure‑cooker world of Silo as Season Two pushes deeper into the political fractures, emotional loyalties, and mechanical realities of life 244 levels underground. With Juliette’s actions reverberating through every floor, the people who keep the Silo running — literally and spiritually — step into the spotlight.

Tony speaks with Remmie Milner, Shane McRae, Harriet Walter, Claire Perkins, and Overall VFX Supervisor Daniel Rauchberger to explore how Season Two expands the world, sharpens the stakes, and reveals the human cost of truth in a society built on lies. Production Designer Nicole Northridge’s work also takes center stage as the Silo’s environments evolve in scale, texture, and tension.

Rebecca Ferguson, Common & Graham Yost on identity, control, and Juliet’s rise

In this episode of Rewind, Tony revisits the world of Silo, the Apple TV+ adaptation of Hugh Howey’s bestselling trilogy about a future where humanity survives in a massive underground structure — 244 levels deep — built on rules, fear, and a carefully curated version of the truth.

After years of development attempts and false starts, Silo finally found its home on Apple TV+, becoming one of the platform’s most acclaimed sci‑fi dramas. Tony sits down with Rebecca Ferguson, Common, and creator Graham Yost to explore the show’s central themes and the emotional and moral weight carried by its characters.

The question that haunts every level of the Silo.

Rebecca Ferguson reflects on Juliet’s relentless pursuit of truth — not as an abstract ideal, but as a survival instinct.

Common on Robert Sims: A Rough First Season

SAVE 17% ON PLUS 

Colman Domingo, Steven Spielberg, Wyatt Russell, Emily Blunt & David Koepp on character, craft, and the film’s core themes

For the New York City premiere of Disclosure Day, a buzzing red carpet to talk with the cast and creative team behind one of the year’s most anticipated films. From character dynamics to thematic undercurrents to the collaborative spark between actors and filmmakers, this episode captures the premiere’s energy and the artistry behind the movie.

Featuring interviews with:

Steven Spielberg — Director

Colman Domingo — “Hugo Wakefield”

Colin Firth (discussed in context) — “Noah Scanlan”

Wyatt Russell — “Jackson”

Emily Blunt — “Margaret Fairchild”

David Koepp — Writer

Colman Domingo — on the emotional and psychological layers of playing Hugo, and how his dynamic with Colin Firth’s Noah becomes one of the film’s most charged relationships.

Steven Spielberg — reflecting on shaping the film’s tone, balancing suspense with humanity, and why New York premieres always feel like a homecoming.

Wyatt Russell — offering heartfelt praise for Emily Blunt, calling her presence “a masterclass in precision and instinct.”

Emily Blunt — on grounding the film’s emotional stakes and building a character who carries both resilience and vulnerability.

David Koepp — breaking down one of the film’s central themes: the cost of truth when everyone believes they already know it.

Steven Spielberg, Eve Hewson, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo & Josh O’Connor on music, dual roles, confrontations, and the train sequence

In this special UK‑premiere edition of Byte, Tony takes listeners straight onto the red carpet for Disclosure Day, gathering exclusive conversations with the film’s powerhouse creative team and cast. From the emotional architecture of John Williams’ score to the film’s most explosive character moments, this episode captures the artistry and ambition behind one of the year’s most talked‑about releases.

Featuring interviews with:

Steven Spielberg — Director

Eve Hewson — in a striking dual role as Jane Blankenship

Colin Firth — “Noah Scanlon”

Colman Domingo — “Hugo Wakefield”

Josh O’Connor — “Dr. Daniel Kellner

Steven Spielberg — on shaping the film’s emotional spine, collaborating once again with John Williams, and why the score had to feel both intimate and operatic.

Eve Hewson — breaking down the challenge and thrill of playing two characters whose identities collide at the heart of the story.

Colman Domingo & Colin Firth — reflecting on the film’s pivotal confrontation between Hugo and Noah, a scene that became a defining moment for both actors.

Josh O’Connor — on grounding the film’s moral tension through Elias’ perspective.

The Train Sequence — Spielberg and the cast unpack the technical choreography, emotional stakes, and practical effects behind the film’s most ambitious set piece.

SAVE 17% ON PLUS

In this behind‑the‑scenes deep dive, Tony sits down with the creative minds who shape the emotional, political, and scientific backbone of For All Mankind. From the writer’s room to the surface of Mars, this episode explores how the series continues to reinvent itself each decade — narratively, visually, and thematically.

Executive Producers Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert break down the evolving creative process behind the show’s long‑arc storytelling, while Ronald D. Moore returns to discuss the sociopolitical architecture of the Mars colony. Production Designer Seth Reed, Esther Marquis Costume Designer for Season Four’s Margo arc, and NASA Tech Advisor Garrett Wiesman round out a conversation that reveals how every detail — from a jumpsuit seam to a habitat layout — supports the show’s realism and emotional truth.

SAVE 17% ON PLUS