The Escape Pod!

Ep. 22: Bist du da, Gott? Ich bin es, Lause (World on a Wire Part 1 , 1973)

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:52:37 +0000

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 example of the whole simulation-vs-reality trope that the Matrix ruined forever.

Ep. 21: But he's got shampoo (Space Hunter, 1983)

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 17:50:00 +0000

"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 find out and maybe laugh at us. Staring Molly Ringwald (her second film!), Peter Strauss and Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters!).

Ep. 20: The Horror, the horror (Star Wars Holiday, 1978)

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:10:00 +0000

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 and Harrison Ford phone in reprise performances and then hang-up that phone. Amazing stuff.

Ep. 19: The Horns of Dragnet (Countdown, 1967)

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:12:28 +0000

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)

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:08:49 +0000

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)

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:57:43 +0000

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)

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 22:02:00 +0000

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 your cigarettes for you and maybe tell you how good it is to see you.

Only an air crash survivor can be the air crash investigator this world needs. Or maybe doesn't need as it does kind of go to hell in the end.

It's 1989's Millennium! Starring Kris Kristofferson, Cheryl Ladd and Maury Chaykin. You can watch it on Youtube!

Season Two Teaser

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 23:52:39 +0000

Coming up this season!!!

Millennium, 1989

Dune, 1984

Countdown, 1967

Space Hunter, 1983

World on a Wire Part 1 , 1973

World on a Wire Part 2, 1973

Predator 2, 1990

Ep. 15: The Full Salvo (Buck Rogers, 1979)

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 05:00:00 +0000

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)

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 10:14:07 +0000

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's The Running Man.

Ep. 13: Full of Red Paint (Soylent Green, 1973)

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000

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)

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

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)

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 09:25:00 +0000

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)

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 05:30:00 +0000

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)

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 05:52:51 +0000

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)

Wed, 26 May 2021 05:30:00 +0000

The Littlest Libowski gets scanned through the digital looking glass

to 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)

Wed, 12 May 2021 05:00:00 +0000

A space hippie & his drones will do anything to ensure the survival

of their precious ecological cargo.... even MURDER? Join us as we review 1972's Silent Running.

Ep. 7: Benson Arizona Muffin Tins (Dark Star, 1974)

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 06:14:07 +0000

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)

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 05:20:00 +0000

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)

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 05:00:00 +0000

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 out of, theaters playing the 1959 sci-fi/horror classic, "The Blob".

Ep. 4: Mars, Muscles & Mindgames (Total Recall, 1990)

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 05:00:00 +0000

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 us as we discuss Paul Verhoeven's Total Recall.

Ep. 3: Space Sucks! (Gravity, 2013)

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 05:00:00 +0000

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)

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 05:00:00 +0000

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)

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 04:04:43 +0000

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"