In this episode of What’s Happening in the Realm, Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone, Pastor Travis McKee and Dr. Matthew Umbarger talk about sci-fi, fantasy and religion. We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Month: What food would you take to an Apocalypse. Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately, including catching up on our Marvel shows and movies, Murderbot, The Last of Us and Paradise. And after the News from the Realms, we pull out some material From the Genzia: The City of Ember series. You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at [email protected]

In this episode of What’s Happening in the Realm, our hosts, Andrew, Travis and Matthews address a question about inner turmoil, talk about what we have been watching or reading lately, which includes Andor, The Last of Us, Thunderbolts, Murberbot, Captain America: New World Order, and Black Mirror. Then, Mattew pulls out of the Geniza The Dragon King Trilogy. You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at [email protected].

In this episode of Sacred Realms, Changes in the Realms, we meet our two new co- hosts, Pastor Travis Smith McKee and Professor Matthew Umbarger, discuss our new format, and talk about expanding the podcast to be an ongoing multi-faith conversation. Then we talk about Revenge of the Sith, which came out 20 years ago this May.

It's been over a year since we have uploaded any episodes to the podcast. This short episode is all about changes coming to the podcast, which is on track to begin productions again this summer.. New format. New hosts. New orientation. Look for new episodes this summer!

We are back after a post-Passover break with our first full episode this year! We hope you will enjoy it, and tell your friends about it!

In this episode of Sacred Realms, Canon and Creativity - The Parallels of Midrash and Fan Fiction, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about the human drive to embrace canons of myths and narratives and then to creatively develop and expand those worlds.

We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Month: If you could write fan fiction in any sci-fi or fantasy realm, which one would you choose? Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: Canon and Creativity, the parallels between fan-created fiction and rabbinic midrash (creative filling of biblical narrative or expanding those narratives).

Lastly, we pull out an old favorite From the Genzia, talking about Dreamworks’ The Prince of Egypt.

Contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at [email protected]

Episode Chapters:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:01:05)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:07:38)
• Our Main Topic: Canon and Creativity (0:18:23)
• From the Geniza 01:10:33)
• Conclusion (1:14:50)

In this special episode of Sacred Realms, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about one year since the beginning of this podcast. They look over its beginnings, the original intent, and where things have organically taken the podcast up to now and into the next year. You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions (general, suggestions for a She'elah / Question of the Month, or episode theme) at [email protected]

In this twelfth episode of Sacred Realms, “From Sarah to Sarah Connor - Heroines in Tanakh, Sci-Fi and Fantasy.” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about female characters in the Hebrew Bible, Science Fiction and Fantasy. We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Month: “Who is your favorite heroine?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic. Lastly, we pull out some material From the Genzia, talking about the sci-fi show “Fringe.” You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at [email protected]

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:49)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:07:44)
• Our Main Topic: From Sarah to Sarah Connor (0:20:26)
• From the Geniza (1:08:31)
• Conclusion (1:13:10)

In this eleventh episode of Sacred Realms, “Just My Type,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about competing and conflicting narratives in Sci-fi, Fantasy and Judaism. We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Week: “When have you felt like you were living a scene from the Tanakh?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: “Just My Type.” Lastly, we pull out some material From the Genzia, talking about the Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander and the new Wonka movie. You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at [email protected]

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:47)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:05:22)
• Our Main Topic: Just My Type (0:23:50)
• From the Geniza (1:07:05)
• Conclusion (1:15:26)

In this tenth episode of Sacred Realms, “Clash of the Narratives,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about competing and conflicting narratives in Sc-fi, Fantasy and Judaism. We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Week: “How did you negotiate among conflicting narratives?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: “Clash of the Narratives.” Lastly, we pull out some material From the Genzia, talking about the 1983 Sci-fi/Fantasy cult classic Krull. You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at [email protected]

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:53)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:07:48)
• Our Main Topic: Clash of the Narratives (0:19:13)
• From the Geniza (1:02:32)
• Conclusion (1:05:26)

In this ninth episode of Sacred Realms, “Living in the Grey: Beyond Good and Evil,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about the moral clarity of narratives that have stark contrasts between Good and Evil, and ones where the line is blurry and even non-existent. We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Month: “Who is your favorite morally ambiguous villain?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: “Living in the Grey: Beyond Good and Evil.” Lastly, we pull out some material From the Geniza, talking about Bill Pullman’s "His Dark Materials," and Piers Anthony’s "Incarnations of Immortality."

You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at [email protected]

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:49)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:04:58)
• Our Main Topic: Living in the Great: Beyond Good and Evil (0:14:42)
• From the Geniza (1:17:49)
• Conclusion (1:26:27)