Kaiju Coffee Break

Kong goes psychedelic as we cover 2017’s Kong: Skull Island, a star-studded homage to Apocalypse Now that reframes King Kong as an anti-war story in the shadow of the Vietnam war. Lee liked the comparatively unproblematic depiction of Skull Island’s natives while Sarah can’t remember what the villain monsters remind her of. Plus; bisexual lighting, Lee has man flu, Kong’s juicy rear end, and the much-anticipated return of Sarah’s science hour as we talk about why equatorial auroras would signal the apocalypse. With a special guest appearance by our new intern, Sen.

Featured Roaster: Lone Pine Coffee Roasters, Bend, OR (https://www.lonepinecoffeeroasters.com/coffee)

Sarah’s Science Hour sources:

What if the Biggest Solar Storm on Record Happened Today? National Geographic. (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/110302-solar-flares-sun-storms-earth-danger-carrington-event-science)

What Causes the Aurora Borealis? Earthsky. (https://earthsky.org/earth/what-causes-the-aurora-borealis-or-northern-lights)

Aurora Forecast. UAF Geophysical Institute. (https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast)

We’re taking a break from old Japanese monster movies for a quick trip into more modern fare. This episode, we watched Legendary Studios’ 2014 popcorn-flick Godzilla, the first in their MonsterVerse series. Lee delves into the strange world of the IMDB trivia section while Sarah wishes the movie stayed truer to the source material. Plus; non-rapid rapid transit, gutsy bus drivers, Sarah thought Angels in the Outfield and Field of Dreams was the same movie, and the film’s tenuous grip on Nevada geography. With extra-special bonus content from our first listener voicemail!

Featured roaster: Skyáana Coffee Co, Klawock, AK (https://skyannacoffee.weebly.com/shop.html#/)

Programming note: while we make every attempt to publish new episodes every other Sunday, we are in the process of relocating to the North Slope of Alaska for work and thus there may be some disruptions in our episodes. Please be patient with us as we navigate this move and we look forward to becoming possibly the Northern-most American podcast!

Also; please consider donating to one of the many mutual aid funds serving Texans during this crisis. If you are a listener affected by the blackouts, please send us a message!

(https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/texas-blackout-mutual-aid-donation-1129703/)

It’s a monster mash! For this very special Valentine’s day episode, eleven Kaiju show up to help defend Earth from invading rock aliens in 1968’s Destroy All Monsters. Lee appreciates the model work while Sarah bemoans ‘dragon on dragon violence’. Plus, literally too many monsters, Post Office mayhem, Lee’s new favorite Kaiju-adjacent video game, the return of sasstronauts, and Sarah’s fallback plan of making ASMR videos on OnlyFans.

Featured Roaster: Skyáana Coffee Co, Klawock, AK (https://skyannacoffee.weebly.com/shop.html#/)

Before there was Baby Yoda, there was Baby Godzilla! Episode 12 features 1967’s Son of Godzilla, which shows us a more paternal side of the rampaging terror of Japan. Lee contemplates the many Goro Makis while Sarah can’t abide bullying of Baby Godzilla. Plus: actual giant Japanese spiders are invading Georgia, when journalists are perhaps TOO intrepid, the sordid tale of our new surround sound system, and the return of Sarah’s Science Hour to talk about Kurt Vonnegut’s strange connection to weather modification history.

Where to Watch:

Son of Godzilla is available for streaming from Criterion Collection and HBO Max, for rent from Apple TV, or buy from Apple TV or Vudu.

Featured Roaster:

Lodge Blend (light roast) from Heritage Coffee Roasting Co in Juneau, AK (https://www.heritagecoffee.com/)

Learn more about Joro spiders:

Like it or Not, Joro Spiders are Here to Stay, University of Georgia (https://news.uga.edu/joro-spiders-are-here-to-stay/)

Sarah’s Science Hour references:

Cloud Seeding, NOAA Hurricane Research Division (https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hrd_sub/cseed.html)

Does Cloud Seeding Work? Scientific American (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cloud-seeding-china-snow/)

China Plans Rapid Expansion of Weather Modification Efforts, The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/03/china-vows-to-boost-weather-modification-capabilities)

A new kaiju appears! Ebirah, the shrimp or lobster monster, is here and we’re ready to talk about him in Episode 11: Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966). Lee is obsessed with Chekov’s pigeon while Sarah talks about heavy water and how 9 brave Norwegian resistance fighters helped end WWII. Plus, cannibal swords, sleeveless lab coats, ominous surfer music, and a recounting of all our favorite Japanese bathrooms.

Sarah’s Science Hour sources:

Nova: Hitler’s Sunken Secret (https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hydro/water.html)

Atomic Heritage Foundation: Operation Gunnerside (https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/operation-gunnerside)

Coffee: Holiday Blend, Skyaana Coffee Co, Klawock, AK (https://skyannacoffee.weebly.com/)

Godzilla and Rodan go to space! We watched Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), Toho’s first foray into the extraterrestrial kaiju invasion genre. Lee pokes holes in the aliens’ convoluted invasion plan while Sarah just wants to pet King Ghidorah. Plus; sasstronauts, the world’s worst noise that only young people can hear, Signs spoilers, Godzilla’s first kiss, and highly advanced alien trapdoors.

New: coffee ain’t cheap, so buy us a cup! (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pantspending)

Sarah’s Science Hour: A Ring Tone Meant to Fall on Deaf Ears (https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/12/technology/12ring.html)

Content Warning Timestamps

45:50 - 59:00

It’s a kaiju battle royale! This episode we watched Ghidorah The Three Headed Monster (1964), an epic monster crossover featuring Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and the debut of Ghidorah. Lee shops around for a Tiny Lady Box while Sarah drops Bummers™ in her science hour segment. Plus, improbable dimensional gaps, recycled Toho actors, magic flying pickaxes, and Godzilla’s filthy, filthy mouth.

NOTE: content warning for discussion of medical/psychiatric abuse and use of lethal injections between (timestamps).

Sarah’s Science Hour: “What is Truth Serum?” (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-truth-serum/)

Featured Roaster: Northwest Espresso, Heritage Coffee Roasting Co, Juneau AK (https://www.heritagecoffee.com/)

Mothra is back! That’s right, this is the second Mothra movie but the first one we have watched for this show due to ‘technical difficulties’. Released in 1964, it is widely hailed as one of Toho’s best for its pointed criticisms of exploitative capitalism and the ravages of nuclear testing. Lee still appreciates the slapstick comedy while Sarah gives Ichiro Honda a phone call to ask about a plot hole. Plus: buying a Tiny Lady Box from Etsy, Mothra’s power of attorney, the official debut of Sarah’s Science Hour, and a passioned defense of the man who simply loves eggs.

Featured Roaster: Portland Coffee Roasters, Holiday Roast (https://www.portlandcoffeeroasters.com/)

Sarah’s Science Hour: Copitosoma floridanum, the parasitic wasp that can produce >3000 larvae from a single egg. (https://entomologytoday.org/2017/08/14/this-wasps-larvae-sometimes-grow-hundreds-of-soldier-clones-but-why/)

In this episode we watched Rodan (1956) in all its bizarre, genre-bending glory; from dragonfly larvae with jangly booties to UFO dinosaurs. Lee has some unfortunate ideas about how Rodan stays in the air while Sarah discusses her favorite types of microscopes and contemplates a $160 coffee maker. Plus: our cats go completely insane, Christmas drinks at Japanese Starbucks, and the incredible true story of how we ended up the only sober passengers of a Karaoke Party Boat in Fukuoka.

Featured Roaster: Topeca Coffee Roasters, Tulsa OK (topecacoffee.com)

A wild Live Episode appears!

In this very special episode of Kaiju Coffee Break: Live, we’re joined by Bronwyn “Beans” Toth, host of the wildly popular book podcast ‘Trading Pages,’ to watch Godzilla (1998), the first wholly American-made Godzilla movie. Beans teaches us a racial slur, Lee talks a lot about fish, and Sarah explains parthogenesis and pregnancy tests. Plus: radiation makes earthworms ‘do it’, French-style vs American-style coffee, and the shockingly great lineup of other movies made in 1998.

Featured Roaster: Death Wish Coffee Co, Cauldron Aged Pumpkin Coffee