Hello from Elsewhere: Exploring Pop Culture

As humans, we have a tendency to avoid failure, but failure is the greatest teacher. The beauty of failure is a major focus of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and Unicorn Store (2017), two important films that are seemingly at odds but may be thematically connected. In addition to discussing failure as theme and metaphor in both of these stories, Casey and Valerie also argue about Chewbacca's diet and wax poetic about Virgil.

P. S. If you're avoiding Episode IX speculation, skip to the 7:20 mark.

Twitter & Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

Literary maps have a long and storied history: before Tolkien created fantasy's most recognizable map, Robert Louis Stevenson drew Treasure Island and the pirate iconography we know today, and both were preceded by an artistic survey of Dante's infernal Hell. Valerie and Casey detail this fascinating history and dive deep into the maps of their favorite fictional worlds.

Twitter and Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

The Mirror of Erised reflects a character's greatest desire, but why let Harry Potter have all the fun? In this episode, Valerie and Casey discuss 15 fictional characters from movies, books, and TV and consider what they would see in the mirror--from Frankenstein's monster to Ron Swanson to Mary Poppins.

Twitter and Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

In this episode, Valerie and Casey analyze character rebirth, from literal resurrections in fantasy books (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings) to symbolic/visual rebirth in science fiction films (10 Cloverfield Lane, Gravity). Plus, Valerie dreams of interstellar beasts and Casey sneaks General Antoc Merrick into the conversation (again).

Twitter and Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

Casey and Valerie discuss masks in the Dark Knight trilogy, Star Wars, and more; characters like Bruce Wayne and Ben Solo don masks to hide their identity, yet these masks become their identity in the process. Also in this episode, Valerie mentions Friends again and Casey shares the greatest Lord of the Rings trivia of all time.

Instagram and Twitter: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

Celebrate a unique take on Valentine's Day: Villaintine's Day! In this episode, Casey and Valerie discuss what gifts the greatest fictional villains would get for each other on February 14th. Does Gollum need a hairless cat? Who would most appreciate a live dinosaur from Dennis Nedry? And is General Hux a re-gifter?

Instagram and Twitter: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

Linguist Beth Jackson joins us to discuss language and communication within the sci-fi mindbender Arrival (2016). How does language shape the way we think? Why do humans communicate so poorly? And has Beth ever been approached by a government agency to translate an alien language?

Twitter and Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

Hello from Elsewhere: a real podcast about fiction! In this episode, we discuss our favorite fiction from 2018 and look forward to all the exciting movies coming in 2019. Also, Valerie retells her Star Wars dream, and Casey shares what happened to Captain America's beard.

Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Twitter: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

Hello from Elsewhere: a real podcast about fiction! In this episode, we discuss the volatile relationship between fictional characters and their places of origin. Perhaps their homes are destroyed (Luke and Leia), perhaps their homes are transformed (Bilbo Baggins), or perhaps their homes are refused altogether (Harry Potter). Also, Casey and Valerie recount the return of the haunted balloon, and the wonderful Kylo Ren comes up in conversation. Again.

Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Twitter: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media

Hello from Elsewhere: a real podcast about fiction! At the heart of the greatest Christmas stories are tales of powerful redemption. In this episode, we discuss 3 types of redemptive holiday characters, from the Grinch to Kris Kringle to George Bailey. Also, what non-holiday movies would be improved by adding Santa Claus as a character? And why would Casey and Valerie's children rather watch Buster Keaton than Elf?

Instagram: @elsewhere_pod

Twitter: @elsewhere_pod

Website: www.hellofromelsewhere.media