Hello from Elsewhere: Exploring Pop Culture

In this episode, Valerie and Casey discuss the best books and movies for each season, while also presenting the themes of seasonal stories: spring and rebirth, summer and travel, fall and coziness, and winter and dystopia. Plus, they tell the famed "bucket of tortoises" story, Casey argues why The Dark Knight Rises is a spring film, and Valerie connects every story to R.V. with Robin Williams. Engage with us on Twitter and Instagram @elsewhere_pod. Happy beeps!

Actors act--but sometimes, they don't act. In this episode, Valerie and Casey bring you oodles of trivia about the alternate lives of film and TV stars, from Harrison Ford's and Nick Offerman's propensity for carpentry to the fascinating and underappreciated talents of Hedy Lamarr and Esther Williams. Plus, Steve Zahn is ubiquitous and Valerie reveals why she is basically Aragorn. Discuss this topic with us on Instagram and Twitter @elsewhere_pod.

The themes of Christopher Nolan often resonate across multiple films. In this episode, Valerie and Casey explore the theme of time in 3 Nolan movies: Inception, Interstellar, and Dunkirk. Plus, Casey argues that Coca-Cola is the 4th dimension and Valerie retells a dream about cruise-ship Chris Pratt.

Engage with us on Twitter and Instagram @elsewhere_pod.

The current state of Hollywood is on everyone's mind, but is the constant slew of remakes, reboots, and sequels all bad? Or is there good to be found amid pop cultural nostalgia (e.g. Stranger Things)? In this episode, Casey and Valerie explore how Hollywood has always been pining for its own past. Plus, they reminisce about Lizzie McGuire, movies on VHS, and hot animated foxes.

Twitter and Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

What's the best order to watch Star Wars: is it chronological order, release order, or the famed "machete" order? And does the answer change if someone has never seen a Star War? In this episode, Valerie and Casey give their personal answers to these questions, plus they discuss the greatest droids in the galaxy and rant about fandom gatekeeping. Warning: SPOILERS about the 2 big twists in Star Wars (i.e. avoid this episode if you don't know that ______ is ______'s father or that ______ and ______ are twins).

Engage with us on Instagram and Twitter @elsewhere_pod, or head to our website at www.hellofromelsewhere.media

Super-powered protagonists often reach a point in the story where they shed their self doubt and achieve their full potential. In this episode, Casey and Valerie discuss 4 such cases of "full power mode": Captain Marvel, Miles Morales, Thor, and Luke Skywalker. Plus, we discuss what weird or ridiculous superpowers our listeners wish they had.

Twitter and Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

We searched our archives to bring you audio from Docking Bay 9¾, our first podcast! In this episode, Casey and Valerie dive headfirst into ring structure in Harry Potter, a literary theory positing that Rowling's novels mirror one another on opposite ends--Books 1 and 7, 2 and 6, and 3 and 5, with book 4 acting as the all-important center point.

(This episode was recorded on 9/14/18.)

Moviegoers have often said the films of Steven Spielberg symbolize the director's "daddy issues," a phrase which may call to mind only the worst of fatherhood. However, in this episode Valerie and Casey discuss 5 Spielberg films--one from every decade--which include a wide range of fathers and father figures, from good to bad to everything in between. Plus, Valerie invents a jingle for Chief Brody and Casey confuses Thunderbirds with Gremlins.

Instagram and Twitter: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

A movie theater experience can influence how you feel about that particular movie. In this episode, Valerie and Casey share their most memorable theater experiences, from Valerie's hot-Cheetos-and-gummy-bears fiasco to that time Casey sprinted out of the theater before a Star Wars film. Plus, Valerie rudely besmirches the name of Willow.

Twitter and Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

In pop culture discourse, we often discuss "father figures." However, mother figures can also have a major impact on our favorite fictional characters. Valerie and Casey discuss the influence of many mother figures, from Professor McGonagall to Mary Poppins, and more! Also, Valerie argues for Mother's Day cards written by apes, and Casey sings the Genovian National Anthem.

Twitter and Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media