Fact and Science Fiction

Fact and Science Fiction

By Fact & Science FictionTV & FilmScienceNatural Sciences
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Fact and Science Fiction episodes

  • Planets and Space with Harriet Brettle

    This week I have planetary scientist Harriet Brettle on the show. We talk about those beautiful pictures of Jupiter, how Harriet got her start in a STEM field, what she thinks about Elon Musk and, of course, science fiction!


    Follow Harriet on Twitter @harriet_brettle

    Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @factandscifi


    Support the podcast by telling a friend, submitting a review on Apple Podcasts, or download a free audiobook or two at http://audibletrial.com/factandscifi


    Music by the 126ers and 129ers under Creative Common license


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  • Are We Alone? Finding Extraterrestrial Life

    This episode I discuss extraterrestrial life: how will we find them? What will they look like? What will we say to them? I discuss technology from NASA, spectroscopy, the study of insects, the messages we've sent so far, and a certain video released from the Pentagon. The truth is out there.


    Research from today's episode:

    NASA's Exoplanet Exploration

    Gizmodo's scientist roundtable What Will Aliens Look Like?

    New York Times Glowing Auras and 'Black Money'

    David Siegel Bernstein's Blockbuster Science


    Read the script from this episode on the blog factandscifi.blogspot.com

    Support Fact and Science Fiction and get a free audiobook today by going to this link: http://audibletrial.com/factandscifi


    Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @factandscifi, tell me what you think about aliens [email protected]




    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  • Interview with Altered Carbon's Marlene Forte

    Over the weekend at ClexaCon, I got to talk to Marlene Forte. You may know her as Alazne in Altered Carbon, Celia in Fear the Walking Dead, or Graciela in The Runaways. We talk about her science fiction roles, what it's like to be Latina in Hollywood, and how women should get together to create their own stories.


    This episode was brought to you by Audible.com, download your free audiobook today at audibletrial.com/factandscifi (may I suggest Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan?)


    Follow the podcast @factandscifi on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

    Read the transcript for this episode on the Blog factandscifi.blogspot.com

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review on Apple Podcasts and/or Stitcher, that helps people find the show!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    15 min
  • Gender and Sexuality: Live at ClexaCon

    This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at ClexaCon, the largest multifandom convention for LGBTQ women and allies. My guest host Michelle and I discuss the importance of women and LGBTQ representation in media; I break down an academic paper about the effects of media representation in the TV show The Fosters on queer and straight youth, and media theories that may explain it all! Then we top it off with an audience Q&A and tangents about Carmilla and The 100.


    Follow the podcast on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @factandscifi

    Check out more content on the Blog at factandscifi.blogspot.com

    This episode was brought you by Audible. Download your free audiobook here at audibletrial.com/factandscifi (may I recommend Becky Chambers' A Closed and Common Orbit?)


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  • Bonus Episode: Interview with NASA Engineer Holly Griffith
    Holly Griffith is a sci-fi geek and engineer who worked in mission control for space shuttle missions and the International Space Station. She talks about the real hard work and challenges of getting astronauts into space. We then discuss the importance of Princess Leia, the realism in The Martian, women in STEM, and more. This episode was brought to you by Audible. Get your free audiobook today (may I suggest The Martian by Andy Weir or Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer) here. Follow the podcast on Twitter and Instagram and check out other content at the pod blog.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  • Military Science Fiction and The Cold War
    This episode I discuss military science fiction as subgenre of sci-fi and how it may have influenced the discourse around the military from the Cold War to today. I talk about Cold War themes in Starship Troopers and Ender's Game, and discuss the Citizens Advisory Council, a group of science fiction authors who undermined the U.S.'s policy of mutually assured destruction. This episode was brought to you by Audible, with over 180,000 audiobooks and you can try two with a free monthly trial. Download your free audiobook today here. The podcast will have a live show at ClexaCon, a fandom convention for LGBTQ women and allies inspired by Lexa from The 100. Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @factandscifi. Review F&SF on Apple Podcasts and check out the transcript for this episode on the blog. Research for this episode came from Rachel Maddow’s Drift, Chad Andrew’s article “Technomilitary fantasy in the 1980s: military sf, David Drake, and the discourse of instrumentality”, Sean Kalic's 'U.S. Presidents and the Militarization of Space, between the years 1946-1967,' and Wondery’s American History Tellers, Comfortable Mystery 2 - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
  • Bonus Episode: Philip K. Dick 2049
    For a special bonus episode, I discuss the themes of Philip K. Dick and how they were inspired by his real life. I use examples from adaptations I've watched recently, including Blade Runner 2049, Total Recall, and Amazon's new series Electric Dreams. Lost Frontier by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Source. Theme music: Malmo Sunrise by the 126ers. Follow the pod on Twitter and Instagram. Check out the transcript for this episode.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    15 min
  • Health and Medicine in Science Fiction
    This week Jes, registered nurse and pre-med student, returns to discuss how healthcare stacks up to the speculation of science fiction. We talk about prosthetic limbs, mobile diagnostic tools, organ transplants, and diseases using examples from Star Trek, The Last of Us, Handmaid's Tale and more. Theme music: Malmo Sunrise by the 126ers End music: Sunburned Salvation by the 129ers Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @factandscifi and check out more content at http://factandscifi.blogspot.com Jes says get your flu shot!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  • Virtual Reality and Dreams
    This episode I discuss what virtual reality really is, what it's not, how VR may fool humans, and which science fiction encapsulates it best. I use examples from Jaron Lanier's book 'Dawn of New Everything', The Matrix, Black Mirror's San Junipero and more! Music by The 126ers and The 129ersFollow the pod @factandscifi on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and check out new content on factandscifi.blogspot.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  • What is Artificial Intelligence?
    This episode I discuss the history, theory, and philosophy behind artificial intelligence. How does our human consciousness differ? And what artificial intelligence looks like in science fiction, such as The Matrix, Person of Interest, Westworld, and more.Research from 'Blockbuster Science' by David Siegel Bernstein and 'Love + Sex with Robots' by David LevyTheme music by The 126ers, additional music by The 129ers. I didn't mean to do that.Audio clips from 'Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy' radio play and an Interview with Sophia the robot, WGN-TV.Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @factandscifi, follow the pod blog at factandscifi.blogspot.com.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min

About Fact and Science Fiction

From the publisher's feed

A podcast about the real science behind your favorite science fiction themes and tropes. Each episode, I choose a recurring topic or two in science fiction, and then dive into how it works in reality.…