51a: Beowulf’s Delay
Our next episode about Santiago Garcia and David Rubin’s graphic novel, Beowulf, will be delayed for just a couple of days, while the DSRA team gets back on their feet.
Podcasts
50: The Witchwood Crown – Generations of High Fantasy
The Witchwood Crown is the latest entry in Tad William’s new high fantasy book series, The Last King of Osten Ard. It marks his return to the world he created for his first series, Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, after 30 years away. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White have been reading everything thing they can from the continent […]
49: Beren and Lúthien – with Special Guests from “The Prancing Pony Podcast”
Best known as a centerpiece of the Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien’s most personal tale has been unwrapped in a new book by Christopher Tolkien, his son. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White have been looking forward to its release for months. Here to share in this latest gift to fans of high fantasy are Alan Sisto and Shawn Marchese of […]
48: Spiderman: Homecoming – Embrace the Marvel Way
Spiderman: Homecoming is the 2nd reboot of Sony’s Spiderman film franchise, and this time they’re doing it the Marvel way. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White are happy residents of Queens and it’s time to talk about their borough’s greatest superhero. Kyle begins with a look at what makes the character so beloved and so different […]
47: The Handmaid’s Tale – It’s Happened Before
Margaret Atwood’s dystopian tale, portraying a puritanical theocracy in America, is now a television series on Hulu. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White discuss this latest adaptation of the popular book. Claire begins with a focus on the modern tyranny of totalitarian governments, particularly in 20th century eastern Europe. She explains why the creation of an […]
46: Wonder Woman – with Guest, Abraham Riesman **Spoilers**
Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman is the latest film in the DC Universe, and a success with both fans and critics. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White are excited to talk about the Amazonian superhero, and welcome New York Magazine culture writer, Abraham Riesman to the show! Kyle starts off with a little background on Wonder Woman’s […]
45: Aliens – Kyle’s Birthday Spectacular!
The conclusion of our birthday specials! We’re stepping away from current nerdy topics and indulging in our all-time favorites. Kyle’s pick is the James Cameron film, Aliens, the 1986 sequel to Ridley Scott’s, Alien. Kyle gives us a little background on the original film before launching into the genre of military science-fiction, the influence of Robert […]
44: Treasure Island – Claire’s Birthday Spectacular!
A fun bit of DSRA trivia: The birthdays of Claire White and Kyle Willoughby are only 5 days apart! We’ve decided to celebrate this special time by taking a break from current nerdy topics and enjoying some all-time favorites. Claire’s pick is Treasure Island, the pirate adventure tale by Robert Louis Stevens. She begins the episode by […]
43: American Gods – Myths and Dreams of a Nation
Kyle Willoughby is back! He joins Claire White to discuss the Starz television series, American Gods, based on the acclaimed bestselling novel by Neil Gaiman. Claire considers Gaiman’s idea that America “eats other cultures”, and uses this thought to begin a discussion of the American Dream and what makes America distinct as a country. In the production […]
42: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – From Niche to Blockbuster
It’s that time of the year when Marvel begins its rampage through the box office. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, opened in movie theaters on May 5th and is poised to build on the massive success of the first film. Claire White and producer/guest host James Fouhey are ready to talk about this new sci-fi […]
41: Ghost in the Shell – The Evolution of the Mind
The 1995 anime Ghost in the Shell, directed by Mamoru Oshii, grappled with the moral questions of technology in a visually striking future. It spawned countless imitations and sequels, including this year’s live action remake directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Scarlett Johansson. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White are more interested in the original film […]
40: Legion – Into the Mind of a Mutant. Special Guest, Karen Rought
Legion is the critically acclaimed new FX series about Marvel’s, David Haller, a powerful mutant suffering from mental illness. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White are happy to welcome Hypable.com’s, Karen Rought to discuss a superhero show unlike any before it. Kyle begins with Haller’s traumatic backstory, and then takes a closer look at the different portrayals of his “schizophrenia” as compared […]
39: Logan – The Long Road to a Taller, Handsomer, and Older Wolverine
Logan is the tenth film in Fox’s X-Men franchise and the culmination of Hugh Jackman playing Wolverine for 17 years. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White are ready to talk about every child’s favorite mutant getting the rated R treatment. Claire considers what audiences of comics and movies alike find so compelling about the character and how […]
38: The Expanse – The Return of the Space Opera
The Expanse is halfway through its second season on the SyFy channel, but Kyle Willoughby and Claire White can’t wait any longer to talk about it. Kyle takes a trip down the gravity well and gives some perspective on just how well the show handles the nitty gritty of space travel. Claire explains how this […]
We’re Going Biweekly!
Here’s a teaser for next week’s episode, and a reminder that DSRA will now be releasing every other week.
37: The OA – Near Death Experiences and The Power of Dance
Netflix’s The OA is a special kind of science fiction. Creators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij explore the boundary between life and death within a world of damaged people. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White delve into the show’s provocative source material and the longstanding collaboration of the creators. Claire discusses humanity’s ongoing fascination with Near Death Experiences […]
36: Carve the Mark – Duckets and Delphi
Veronica Roth is the best selling author of the Divergent series. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White discuss her latest entry in YA science fiction, Carve the Mark. In the novel, there are many inhabited planets, and each have their own “oracles” who divine visions of the future. Kyle draws a connection between these seers and the most famous oracle of the ancient world. […]
35: Looking Back at Uncharted (Or DSRA vs The Flu)
The winter flu has ravaged the DSRA podcast making it impossible to record a new one this week. Instead we thought it would be fun to rerelease one of the first episodes where we discuss the video game series Uncharted. With the release of its likely final installment, Claire and Kyle take a look at […]
34: Binti – Nerds at Their Best and Worst
Fresh off the release of Home (Binti #2), Claire and Kyle are eager to talk about Nnedi Okorafor’s award-winning science fiction series. Binti, the eponymous heroine, is heavily influenced by her Himba heritage. Claire gives a brief overview of this African tribe’s history, as well as some of their rituals which are woven into the story. Kyle continues with a look at […]
33: Ash Vs. Evil Dead – The Legacy of Starz and H.P. Lovecraft
Ash Vs. Evil Dead has completed its second season on Starz to rave reviews. Kyle Willoughby and Claire White are ready to talk about the show’s special mix of gore, comedy, and touch of cosmic horror. Kyle begins with the history of the world’s most infamous book, The Necronomicon. He then works his way to H.P. Lovecraft and […]