Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

By Tony TelladoFictionScience Fiction
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Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi episodes

  • Anthony Zuiker's Dark Prophecy

    Innovative Author and CSI creator who talked to me about his work at the time Dark Prophecy. This is an interactive story with links to videos in each page readers can see online. His Level 26 Trilogy concluded with Dark Revelations.

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    23 min
  • Trek Tuesday Dee Bradley Baker

    An actor and voice artists who voices characters on Star Trek and Star Wars animated series tells me about his work as Murf in Star Trek Prodigy and also voice the clone troopers in Star Wars The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch.

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    23 min
  • A Soldier Against Herself: Thora Birch on Overleaper
    In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Thora Birch to dive into her intense and gripping role as Special Forces Staff Sergeant Audrey Beach in the cinematic audio drama Overleaper. This fast-paced thriller follows Beach as she discovers an eerie truth—there’s another her from an alternate universe. How do you fight an enemy who shares your face, your skills, and your memories?

    Birch shares her experience bringing Audrey Beach to life, unpacking the emotional weight of playing a soldier caught between worlds. She takes us behind the scenes of the performance, revealing how she captured the duality of Beach’s struggle—her military precision, raw vulnerability, and unsettling realization that nothing is as it seems.
     
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    16 min
  • Byte How To Train Your Dragon

    Interviews include Mason Thames,Nico Parker,Gerard Butler, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James ,Harry Trevaldwyn, Nick Frost, and writer director Dean DeBlois. Look for bonus video on Sci-Fi Talk Plus. 

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    9 min
  • "Authority vs Rebellion: Prisoner Deluxe Action-Figure Edition"

    In this episode, we dive into the newly released deluxe action figures from the legendary TV series The Prisoner. Fans of the show will recognize the iconic tension between Number 6, played by Patrick McGoohan, and the formidable Number 2, portrayed memorably by Leo McKern. Chris Doc Wyatt of Wandering Planet Toys talk about this new line explore the legacy of these characters, the psychological drama at the heart of the series, and how that dynamic has been captured in detailed sculpt and design. Whether you're a collector or a long-time admirer of The Prisoner, this episode is a salute to rebellion, identity, and the art of bringing TV history to the toy shelf.

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    32 min
  • "Escape Velocity: Andy Weir on Commercializing Space"

    Bestselling science fiction author Andy Weir joins Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi  for an insightful, funny, and wide-ranging conversation about space exploration, writing hard science fiction, and the real-world Artemis mission. Tune in as Andy and host Tony Tellado dive into the intersection of science, capitalism, and imagination—along with plenty of behind-the-scenes peeks at Andy's research habits and what he did during the pandemic.

    • The Realities of Space Exploration:

      Andy discusses how commercialization and competition can drive the next giant leap for humanity, especially when it comes to sustainable lunar colonies and affordable space travel.

    • Artemis – From Page to Production:

      The story and science behind Andy's novel Artemis, Fox acquiring the film rights, and updates on possible screen adaptations.

    • Andy’s Writing Process:

      Andy reveals his disciplined approach to daily writing, why research is his favorite rabbit hole, and how he leverages both Google and passionate experts for world-building.

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      30 min
    • Becoming the Borg Queen and Beyond: Alice Krige Unplugged

      In this episode of Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi, host Tony Tellado talked with the renowned actress Alice Krige, best known to Star Trek fans as the iconic Borg Queen. Alice discusses her powerful role in the film She Will, where she portrays Veronica Ghent, an aging movie star recovering from surgery in a mysterious Scottish retreat—a place infamous for its history with witch burnings. She delves into how trauma, vulnerability, and the quest for redemption shape her character and enrich the film's narrative.

      Alice shares fascinating behind-the-scenes insights about working with first-time director Charlotte Colbert, executive producer Dario Argento, and her talented co-stars, including Malcolm McDowell and Kota Eberhardt. She highlights the film’s unique visual style and how nature and the cosmos are artfully interwoven with personal healing and justice.

      The conversation moves to Alice’s multifaceted journey as the Borg Queen across multiple Star Trek projects, including her pivotal roles in Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Voyager, and the animated series Lower Decks. Alice reflects on the character’s enduring allure, mysterious qualities, and cultural significance as an archetype that evokes complex reactions in viewers.

      Tony and Alice also reminisce about her acclaimed performances in projects like Carnival Row, Ghost Story, and her broad theater background. Alice provides a candid look at how immersive roles can profoundly affect actors—sometimes lingering well past filming, as she recounts from her experience on Silent Hill.

      With warmth and wisdom, Alice credits her career’s richness to a passion for storytelling, collaboration, and the enduring joy of working with devoted creative teams. Whether discussing the demands of fantasy roles, the art of transformation through makeup and costume, or her gratitude for a life spent in performance, Alice offers an inspiring perspective for fans and fellow artists alike.

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      31 min
    • "Alien Invasion Meets Political Deadlock: The Genius of Braindead"
      Rewind Episode Overview

      In this special episode, Tony Tellado dives into the 2016 summer series Braindead, a unique blend of political satire, sci-fi, comedy, and horror that is even more eerily relevant today. With members of the cast and co-creators Robert and Michelle King, we explore how space bugs eating politicians' brains becomes a clever (and hilarious) lens for examining extremism and the current political climate.

      Key Topics & Highlights

      • Braindead Premise:

        Alien insects arrive on meteors and literally eat politicians’ brains in Washington D.C., making humans act in bizarre, extreme ways.

      • Bridging Genres Beyond the Norm:

        The cast discuss how the show combines political drama with sci-fi, horror, and even romantic comedy—a shift from what you’d expect from the Good Wife creators.

      • Acting in the Absurd:

        Tony Shalhoub talks about channeling both sides of his evolving character, Red Wheatus. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Tveit discuss the fun and challenge of playing ideologically opposed leads who must unite.

      • Satire Meets Reality:

        The Kings discuss how real-life politics became stranger than fiction, often outpacing the show’s most absurd ideas. They also touch on the inspiration from actual shutdowns, and their attempts to satirize increasing polarization where “compromise is lost.”

      • Balancing Tone:

        Maintaining comedic timing while blending in horror and satire proved to be both fun and challenging for the cast and creators.

      • Behind the Scenes:

        Insight into research, from Capitol Hill strategy to entomology, and witty anecdotes about gross-out scenes and network standards.

      • Larger Themes:

        • Extremism and the lack of dialogue in U.S. politics

        • Humanizing both sides of the political divide

        • How fear, satire, and laughter can help us process social anxieties

          Memorable Quotes

          • “The terrifying thing is not the big monster. The terrifying thing to me is that something will crawl on me when I sleep…” – Robert King

          • “Our show kind of has a serious point underneath it. But the last thing I want to watch is a serious show.” – Robert King

          • “We did lean heavily into the first Red, the Red, who’s a heavy drinker and kind of a lush…” – Tony Shalhoub

            Further Discussion

            • Reflections on today’s relentless news cycles and how real events often upstage even the wildest fictional premises.

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              36 min

            About Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

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            Where Imagination Meets What It Means To Be Human