Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

🎙️ Finding Truth Beneath the Prosthetics: A Conversation with Peter Macon In this episode of Exploring Humanity Through Sci‑Fi, Tony chats with the incomparable Peter Macon — an actor whose commanding presence and emotional intelligence have made him one of the most compelling performers working in genre today. Macon is widely known for his role as Lt. Commander Bortus on The Orville, where he brings humor, gravitas, and cultural nuance to one of the series’ most beloved characters. More recently, he portrayed Raka, the wise and empathetic orangutan in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, adding another layer to his legacy of playing characters who challenge audiences to rethink what it means to be “other.” This conversation was recorded during a special event at the Museum of Science Fiction, where Macon joined Tony for a candid, thoughtful discussion about race, representation, and the power of science fiction to hold a mirror to society. Save 17% A Year On Sci-Fi Talk Plus

🦇 Gotham Begins: Corruption, Courage, and the Birth of a Partnership In this episode of Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi, we examine Batman: Year One, the animated adaptation of Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s seminal comic arc. Directed by Lauren Montgomery and Sam Liu, the film reimagines Gotham not as a playground for capes and villains, but as a decaying city teetering on the edge — where two men, unaware of each other’s mission, begin reshaping its future. 🎙️ Featured Voices Bruce Timm — Producer Recorded live at New York Comic Con, Bruce Timm reflects on the challenge of adapting such a grounded, noir-infused story into animation.  Save 17% on Sci-Fi Talk Plus Today  

🗂️ Designing the Divide: How Set Decoration Shapes the Severed Mind This episode steps into the unnervingly pristine halls of Lumon Industries with Andrew Baseman, the Emmy‑nominated set decorator behind the unforgettable visual language of Severance. His work transforms sterile corporate architecture into a psychological battleground — one cubicle, corridor, and curated object at a time. Baseman breaks down how set decoration becomes a storytelling engine in a world where employees live two lives: the “innie” trapped in Lumon’s labyrinth of productivity, and the “outie” who remains blissfully unaware. Every stapler, desk toy, and piece of outdated tech becomes a clue to identity, control, and rebellion. 🏢 Why Lumon’s World Matters Severance isn’t just a workplace thriller — it’s a meditation on identity, labor, and the spaces we inhabit. Andrew Baseman’s work gives the series its emotional texture, grounding its sci‑fi premise in tactile, lived‑in detail. This episode offers a rare look at how design choices shape the story’s most haunting questions. Save 17% With Sci-Fi Talk Plus 

Inside the Occupation, the Resistance, and the Cost of Survival Season Two of Colony deepens everything that made the series one of the most compelling dystopian dramas of the last decade. Set in a fractured, authoritarian Los Angeles under alien rule, the show sharpens its focus on loyalty, rebellion, and the impossible choices ordinary people face when their world is carved up by occupiers and collaborators. Interviews include: Josh Holloway as Will Bowman A former Army Ranger and FBI agent, Will is now working inside the Transitional Authority. His job gives him access, leverage, and danger in equal measure — especially as he uncovers the truth about the Hosts’ plans. Sarah Wayne Callies as Katie Bowman Katie, owner of The Yonk — a New Orleans–style bar — remains deeply embedded in the Resistance.  🧩 Power Brokers and Survivors Season Two widens its lens to explore the political and personal forces shaping life under occupation. Adrian Pasdar — Nolan Burgess Pasdar portrays Nolan Burgess, a key figure in the Transitional Authority’s upper ranks. Burgess is a master of political maneuvering — a man who understands that proximity to the Hosts means power, privilege, and peril.  Amanda Righetti — Madeline “Maddie” Kenner Righetti plays Maddie, Katie’s younger sister, whose journey reflects the compromises ordinary people make to survive.  Tory Kittles — Eric Broussard Kittles discusses stepping into the role of Broussard, a former U.S. Marine Recon officer and CIA paramilitary operator who later worked as a private military contractor.  Peter Jacobson — Alan Snyder Jacobson breaks down the psychology of Snyder, the Proxy Governor of Los Angeles. Snyder is a master of survival — a collaborator who answers directly to the Hosts, navigating ambition, fear, and the shifting politics of occupation. Sarah Wayne Callies & Josh Holloway — Katie and Will Bowman In this episode, you’ll also hear your conversation with Sarah Wayne Callies and Josh Holloway, who reflect on portraying a couple caught between loyalty, secrecy, and the crushing weight of an occupied world.   

In this episode of Byte,  Greenland 2 raises the stakes far beyond falling debris — exploring what happens after the world ends, and how humanity rebuilds in the shadow of catastrophe. Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, and director/producer Ric Roman Waugh  break down the fsequel thanks to Lionsgate.  🎧 Why This Episode Matters Greenland 2 isn’t just a continuation — it’s a reinvention. A look at how a sequel can deepen its world, sharpen its emotional stakes, and challenge its characters in ways that feel both epic and intimate. For fans of survival thrillers, grounded sci‑fi, and human‑centered storytelling.