Where are the aliens? While NASA and military officials provide testimonials on the world stage, author Grace Richard joins Vickie Lan to discuss the ways science fiction writers have answered this question.

The video version of this episode can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Alisa Alering, author of the book "Smothermoss", joins Vickie Lan in a discussion about the ways authors use pieces of themselves to make authentic characters, including characters with opposing viewpoints.

The video version of this episode can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Author Becca Mionis joins Vickie Lan in a discussion on uncanny fiction, which, similar to the uncanny valley, leaves readers in a state of unease or confusion.

The video version of this episode can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Author Brent Miller joins the podcast to talk about the perceptions of tropes, the slippery slope into cliches, and whether or not it's actually possible to write a trope-less story.

The video version of this episode can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

It's the blurring of fact and fiction as author Garrett K. Jones joins the podcast to talk about Gonzo Fiction, known for its unique narrative style as seen in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and American Psycho.

The video version of this episode can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Author Lauren Teffeau joins Vickie Lan to discuss non-theistic mythical archetypes in fiction, including Carl Jung's 12 brand archetypes and the way archetypes can be used to form the foundation of societal values and laws.

The video version of this episode can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Author J.D. Estrada joins the podcast to talk about authenticity in writing and the ways authors can tap into personal experiences to inform an otherwise unfamiliar scenario.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Main cover photo by J.D. Fitzgerald.

Individual episode covers feature royalty-free photography from Pexels.com or Canva. 

Horror Author John James Minster returns to the podcast to talk about paranormal places located around the northeast region of the United States, as well as the Christian belief system of demons, ghosts, and spirits that fuels the local lore.

The video version of this episode can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Neal Holtschulte cycles back to the podcast to talk with Vickie Lan about time loops! From "Groundhogs Day" to "The Flash", how can time loops be used to propel character growth, and what can writers do to avoid falling in a plot spiral?

The video version of this episode can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Are antiheroes just villains with too much credit? Damien Alameda, host of The_First Pages on YouTube, joins Vickie Lan to debate the characteristics and motives of the antihero and where they fall on the spectrum of good and evil.

The video version of this episode can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.