ThemeAntics Podcast

ThemeAntics Podcast

By Bradston Henry and Devonte’ GodfreyTV & FilmFictionScience Fiction
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ThemeAntics Podcast episodes

  • When "Faking it 'til You make it" Goes Wrong | The King of Comedy (1982) | FilmAntics

    In this episode, Devonte’ and Bradston take on a lesser known Robert De Niro/Martin Scorsese movie: The King of Comedy. 

    This classic invokes interesting questions about reality, fantasy, ambition, and delusion. The guys examine how the movie incorporates these themes and how they would do it differently!

     

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Welcome to ThemeAntics

    (00:00:48) - Discussing the Story and Theme of ‘The King of Comedy’

    (00:59:35) - Storying Differently with ‘The King of Comedy’

     

    Website: https://themeanticspodcast.podbean.com/

    Blog: https://medium.com/@themeanticspodcast

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ThemeAnticsPodcast

     

    1 hr 25 min
  • Does Altering the Past Change the Nature of Freewill? | Predestination (2014) | FilmAntics

    Throw on your thinking caps and jump into a wild (and slightly confusing) ride with Devonte’ and Bradston as they recap the time travel adventure Predestination (2014)! 

    Watching this movie is highly recommended to fully appreciate the discussion. Devonte’ and Bradston also share ideas on how the movie could have told its mind-bending story differently.

     

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Welcome to ThemeAntics

    (00:00:48) - Discussing the story of Predestination

    (00:48:00) - Storying Differently with Predestination

     

    Website: https://themeanticspodcast.podbean.com/

    Blog: https://medium.com/@themeanticspodcast

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ThemeAnticsPodcast

    1 hr 13 min
  • Run It Back: What Type of Stories Are Worth Returning To?

    We all have movies we keep rewatching, books we enjoy picking back up, reliable TV shows we rewind, and other stories we can't get enough of! 

    Bradston and Devonte’ share some of their favorite fiction works they often return to. They also discuss why their interest in familiar stories persists over time.

     

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Welcome to ThemeAntics

    (00:00:48) - Introducing the Theme

    (00:05:40) - Burn Notice

    (00:16:00) - The Office (US version)

    (00:26:45) - Toy Story (1995) 

    (00:36:00) - Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood

    (00:45:25) - Antics/ Diving Deeper into why we return to stories

     

    Website: https://themeanticspodcast.podbean.com/

    Blog: https://medium.com/@themeanticspodcast

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ThemeAnticsPodcast

    1 hr 25 min
  • The New Jersey Drone Incident: Don't Look Up!

    After planning a standard episode, Bradston and Devonte’ called an audible to tackle an interesting, recent topic: mysterious drones being spotted in New Jersey and across the US. 

    The odd occurrences, many of them captured on video, are ripe for storytelling. Bradston and Devonte’ explore possible explanations and craft their own stories for these tantalizing UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon) events.

     

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Welcome to ThemeAntics

    (00:00:48) - Introducing the New Jersey Drone Incident

    (00:36:25) - Antics with the NJ Drone Incident

     

    Website: https://themeanticspodcast.podbean.com/

    Blog: https://medium.com/@themeanticspodcast

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ThemeAnticsPodcast

     

    1 hr 15 min
  • How Stories Go Wrong and 20th Episode Retrospective

    For this special episode, Devonte’ and Bradston take the gloves off and call out specific flaws in storytelling each of them have observed in fiction. Movies, video games, books, TV shows, everything is on the table!

    To commemorate their first 20 (!) episodes of podcasting, they reflect on how they’ve made it to this point and their vision for the next 20 episodes and beyond. Onward and upward! 

    To everyone who has listened and supported, a big THANK YOU! As always, we are eager to hear your feedback and ideas.

     

    Timestamps:

    (00:00:00) - Welcome to ThemeAntics

    (00:00:48) - Introducing the Theme
    (00:04:15) - Books written to be movie scripts
    (00:15:20) - Why does every reveal have to be Aliens or Ancient Civilizations
    (00:22:00) - Not everything has to be an expansive universe 
    (00:31:15) - Not everything has to be a trilogy 
    (00:38:50 -  Stop taking advantage of our Nostalgia
    (00:46:30) - Not every main character has to be an Orphan
    (00:52:45) - The goofy pure-hearted Sidekick always gets killed
    (01:01:50) - Reflecting on 20 Episodes

     

    Website: https://themeanticspodcast.podbean.com/

    Blog: https://medium.com/@themeanticspodcast

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ThemeAnticsPodcast

    1 hr 23 min
  • Political Fiction: Policy, Power, and Plot Twists

    After a long and eventful election season, Bradston and Devonte’ kick back and remember some good political stories that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. 

    Considering how unhinged real-world politics can be, the ideas the guys piece together in the Antics section may not be as far-fetched as they seem! 

    Editorial Note: The First Lady that Devonte’ mentioned secretly assumed presidential duties for a brief period of time is actually Edith Wilson, wife of President Woodrow Wilson (who fell ill after World War I). Check out this interesting historical anecdote here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/woodrow-wilson-stroke

     

    Timestamps

    (00:00:00) - Welcome to ThemeAntics

    (00:00:48) - Introducing the Theme

    (00:04:50) - Designated Survivor

    (00:11:20) - Head of State (Chris Rock - 2003)

    (00:21:30) - House of Cards

    (00:31:40) - Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Anime -2003

    (00:42:00) - Antics Segment

     

    Website: https://themeanticspodcast.podbean.com/

    Blog: https://medium.com/@themeanticspodcast

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ThemeAnticsPodcast

     

     

    1 hr 22 min
  • Parenthood | The Stories That Shape Who We Become

    Devonte’ is back as a new dad! He shares his personal experiences with fatherhood and a time capsule message to his son for the future. Afterwards, Devonte’ and Bradston discuss a variety of stories that have parent-child relationships as a major theme.

    The two then examine unique ways of telling these stories that allow the audience to think outside the box for how the parent-child dynamic can be defined and expressed.

     

    Timestamps

    (00:00:00) - Welcome to ThemeAntics

    (00:00:48) - Introducing the Theme

    (00:03:40) - Check-in with Devonte’ (Life as a New Parent)

    (00:15:00) - The Pursuit of Happyness (Will Smith)

    (00:25:35) - The Passage (Justin Cronin)

    (00:40:30) - Finding Nemo (Disney)

    (00:51:20) - The Final Empire (Brandon Sanderson)

    (01:03:32) - Antics Segment

     

    Website: https://themeanticspodcast.podbean.com/

    Blog: https://medium.com/@themeanticspodcast

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ThemeAnticsPodcast

    1 hr 41 min
  • Ode to Asimov | A Look into Isaac Asimov and His Groundbreaking Storytelling

    In this episode, Bradston dives into the world of Isaac Asimov, one of the most prolific and influential Science Fiction writers of the 20th century. He discusses the life of Asimov and what solidified him as one of the "Big Three" Sci-fi writers of his era, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur Clarke.

    Join this journey of robotics, positronics and psyhcohistory as this episode dives into who Isaac Asimov was and takes a look at the genre defining narratives he created.

     

    Timestamps

    (00:00:00) - Welcome to ThemeAntics

    (00:00:48) - Introducing to Episode

    (00:02:40) - Who is Isaac Asimov?

    (00:04:45) - Personal History of Asimov

    (00:11:00) - The Writings of Asimov

    (00:15:00) - Bradston’s Thoughts on Asimov

    (00:15:25) - The Three Robotic Laws

    (00:16:10) - Bradston’s Thoughts on Asimov  (Continued)

    (00:18:15) - I,Robot(1950)

    (00:27:00) - The Gods Themselves (1972)

    (00:34:00 - The Foundation Series (1951-1993)

    (00:37:50) - The Caves of Steel & The Naked Sun (1953 & 1956)

    (00:45:42) - Antics with Asimov

     

    Website: https://themeanticspodcast.podbean.com/

    Blog: https://medium.com/@themeanticspodcast

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ThemeAnticsPodcast

     

    1 hr 8 min
  • Story Deep Dive - Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber (Safehold Series)

    What happens when you mix ancient alien civilizations, a worldwide mega-religion, and a body morphing android into one cohesive story? You get the Safehold Series and Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber.

     

    In this episode, we explore the complex tale of human survival and the arrogance of man in Off Armageddon Reef. We do a full story synopsis of this epic book 1 in the Safehold series and then discuss the story implications and unanswered questions. Join us as we take a deep dive into storytelling and story analysis.

     

    Timestamps

    (00:00:00) - Welcome to ThemeAntics

    (00:00:48) - Introducing the Story Deep Dive

    (00:05:20) - The Story Synopsis of Off Armageddon Reef

    (00:49:48) - Exploring the Story and Lingering Questions of Off Armageddon Reef

     

    Website: https://themeanticspodcast.podbean.com/

    Blog: https://medium.com/@themeanticspodcast

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ThemeAnticsPodcast

    1 hr 19 min

About ThemeAntics Podcast

From the publisher's feed

We’re fiction enthusiasts and aspiring writers. We’re doing a podcast about themes in fiction and how we can story differently with them.

Each podcast, we dive into a popular theme in fiction and take a look at interesting examples of how these themes are used in media.

To wrap up each episode, we work to improvise creative and alternative ways to story differently with these themes.

Hosted by Devonte’ Godfrey and Bradston Henry.