The Escape Pod!
The Escape Pod! is a bi-weekly sci-fi review and recap podcast hosted by Ryen Eggleston and Nathan Hendler. Each episode focuses on one work of art, and they try to make as few bad jokes as possible.
Episodes
Ep. 22: Bist du da, Gott? Ich bin es, Lause (World on a Wire Part 1 , 1973)
We take a break this month and let our identity units discuss Part one of "Welt am Draht" (English: "World on a Wire"), a made for TV miniseries aired in 1973 West Germany. Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder and shot in 16mm film. Lots of great German names (Gunther! Franz! Mann im Auto!) and lots and lots of mirrors abound in this sci-fi story that might be the best early exampl
Ep. 21: But he's got shampoo (Space Hunter, 1983)
"The movie is not a masterpiece" says Roger Ebert. "I think this is an awful picture [even if] it were in 1D" says Gene Siskel. But this isn't Siskel and Ebert, it's Ryen and Nathan of the Escape Pod! reviewing 1983's "Spacehunter: Adventures in the forbidden zone". Do we agree? Will we use all of our escape pods? You might be surprised! So, come along and
Ep. 20: The Horror, the horror (Star Wars Holiday, 1978)
What can you say about the pinnacle of the Star Wars franchise? Come find out as Ryen and Nathan discuss Star Wars!!! The holiday special. The greatest stars of the late 70s shine bright in this universe... Bea Arthur! Art Carney! Harvey Horman! Diahann Carroll! Rediscover why we love sci-fi as we lavish praise on one of the art form's finest examples. Watch Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher
Ep. 19: The Horns of Dragnet (Countdown, 1967)
PSA: Listen to this episode but maybe don't bother watching the movie Countdown?Ryen and Nathan discuss 1967's Space Race yawnfest "Countdown" directed by seven-time Oscar nominated director Robert Altman's. This film stars James Caan and Robert Duvall and contains as much entertainment as it does cross-talk.
Ep. 18: Candy Corn Cleavage! (The Thing, 1982)
Happy Halloween! Join Ryen and Nathan as they watch John Carpenter's 1982 horror/sci-fi film: "The Thing!". Staring Kurt Russell. Music by Ennio Morricone. Antarctica!
Ep. 17: Pug Continuity (Dune, 1984)
t h e s p i c e. Join us as we review Dune, David Attenborough's policy changing documentary about the worms of Arrakis. Sounds boring? It's not! Better understand the science of lactation, genetic engineering and biogerontology now on The Escape Pod!
Ep. 16: Smoked by the Wilburys (Millennium, 1989)
Can you guess how many escape pods are used in the latest episode of The Escape Pod!?Get ready to crash your plane with us and watch the time travelers come running to take you into a future where you can repopulate the earth by breeding with ordinary folks from the 1960, 70s and 80s; people who expect fine dining aboard their jetliners staffed with well groomed smiling attendants that will light
Season Two Teaser
Coming up this season!!!Millennium, 1989Dune, 1984Countdown, 1967Space Hunter, 1983World on a Wire Part 1 , 1973World on a Wire Part 2, 1973Predator 2, 1990
Ep. 15: The Full Salvo (Buck Rogers, 1979)
The grooviest time traveler from .... the 80's, finds himself unfrozen 500 years later in the midst of a shady trade alliance between super square future Earth & a Draconian alien Empire. But does he still have the moves? This week in the Escape Pod! Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Ep. 14: Quip Show (Running Man, 1987)
Content warning: Brief mentions of sexual assault portrayed in the film.WE'RE BACK!!!Arnold is in all his 1987 glory along side Richard Dawson as his evilest gnaeshow host version of himself & Venesualan Diva Maria Conchita Alonso.Arnold & Maria are running for their lives in a dystopian gameshow nightmare, when the could have just gone to Hawaii.This week in the Escape Pod! is 1987
Ep. 13: Full of Red Paint (Soylent Green, 1973)
Chuck Heston's acting gets a lift from Edward G Robinson as they attempt to uncover the most diabolical secret ever kept from a society that really couldn't care less. 1973's Soylent Green.
Ep. 0: A Barn Full of Unicorns (BSG S1E11, The Young Lords)
Pilot podcast episode... To stretch our legs we review the classic Battlestar Galactica episode containing way too many children and not enough unicorns: "The Young Lords". We poke fun, and reminisce.
Ep. 12: Extrapolating bell bottoms to the future (Space 1999 S1E8)
You should listen to this episode. Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Space 1999, Dragon's Domain.
Ep. 11: DAVID DAVID DAVID (Invaders from Mars, 1986/1953)
Dan O'bannon finds his way back into the Escape Pod! with this tale of a hapless kid & a bunch of even more hapless adults battling Martians in a sand pit. They've come for our...copper???
Ep. 10: And That's The End of Beta (The Last Starfighter, 1984)
In 1984 the fastest computer in the world was used to render polygons for 12 minutes of computer animation. More ambitious than TRON, and less appreciated, this film will someday be used down at the local outlet malls as a recruitment tool for the U.S. Space Force. It's 1984's science fiction film, "The Last Star Fighter"!
Ep. 9: Like Narnia for Computer Nerds (TRON, 1982)
The Littlest Libowski gets scanned through the digital looking glassto fight fascism, corporate control, restore net-neutrality & play some video games while he's at it. Join us as we review the 1982 Disney classic TRON! Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man!
Ep 8. Space Xmas Tree Lot (Silent Running, 1972)
A space hippie & his drones will do anything to ensure the survivalof their precious ecological cargo.... even MURDER? Join us as we review 1972's Silent Running.
Ep. 7: Benson Arizona Muffin Tins (Dark Star, 1974)
Three 1970s longhaired lumberjack truck drivers blow up planets between getting on each other's nerves while a dead captain can't remember that thing he was thinking about. It's a John Carpenter film! Join us as we review 1974's Dark Star; the first film to use stretched out lines from stars around a spacecraft to indicate a hyperspace jump. Surf's up!
Ep. 6: A Rat Turd or a Caper? (Invation of the Body Snatchers, 1978)
A hard boiled Dept. of Health Inspector in groovy late-70's San Francisco gets caught up in an invasion of space plants, paranoia, conspiracy, creepy Nimoy, full force Goldbloom, is there any hope for humanity??? Join us in the Escape Pod! as we discuss the 1978 remake: "Invation of the Body Snatchers", staring Brooke Adams, Donald Sutherland and Leonard Nimoy.
Ep. 5: Stevie McQueenie and Janey Girl (The Blob, 1958)
The life of 1950s small town teens: make outs, sneak outs and drag racing, as examined through the lens of an alien monster rampage. Let Steve McQueen and Aneta Corsaut steal your heart like they steal dad's car; deftly and like they've done it before. In this episode, we uncover Nathan and Ryen's past history with Sunday morning clowns while determining if people should run into, or o
Ep. 4: Mars, Muscles & Mindgames (Total Recall, 1990)
Buying an implanted trip to Mars from a used car salesman to cos-play as a secret agent sounds like fun, but what if it turns out to be real.... or is it? Non-stop action, fun practical effects, mutants, ancient aliens, plus peak Arnold Schwarzemegger!The perfect episode to listen to while you return that Easy-Bake Oven to the store in your Ford Pinto while snacking on some unwashed greens... join
Ep. 3: Space Sucks! (Gravity, 2013)
Not even George Clooney’s beautiful face can stave off catastrophic disaster and save Sandra Bullock from the terrors of vacuous space & her own inner demons. To make it back to earth alive she’s gotta find the will to survive… and remember how to fly a Soyuz. Grab some spare oxygen and join us as we discuss Alfonso Cuarón's 2013 film "Gravity".
Ep. 2: So Subtle I Didn't Even Notice It (Marooned, 1969)
The Chief of Manned Space must race against time & the elements to rescue three stranded astronauts before they run out of oxygen or the film suddenly ends....so why is it taking so long? We review the granpappy of the films Apollo 13 and Gravity. Staring Gregory Peck, Gene Hackman and Mariette Hartley, it's the John Sturges directed Marooned (1969).
Ep. 1: Madman, a Plan, & a Maniacal Margarita Bot (Black Hole, 1979)
When the USS WaterTower discovers a ghost ship on the edge of oblivion, the crew must stop a sinister Madman and his dangerous plan... or do they? In this episode, we review the 1979 Disney film "The Black Hole"
