We're talking about Space Casey from Christiana Ellis, Grant Baciocco of Throwing Toasters, Susan Z's college Shakespeare paper on A Midsummer Night's Dream (aka issue #19 of The Sandman), paintings of big-eyed kids, Tin Man on Sci Fi, The Rise of the Video Game on Discovery Channel, Laurell K. Hamilton's obssession with boring sex, standard porn formulas, Clive Barker, the horror of fame, Paparazzi, and pie. Promo: Space Casey Leave us feedback and/or dirty jokes on our shiny voicemail! 206-888-2229

First of all, we were both wrong about which episode this is -- it's episode 25. The podcast can rent a car! And possibly run for Congress (if only we can destroy all the photo evidence from Dragon*Con). We're talking about Thanksgiving insanity at Marketer Joseph's, Susan Z's experiments with radical honesty and super-sobriety, Nine Inch Noels, inappropriate gifts, the annoyance levels of MySpace and FaceBook, Susan Z's love of all things meta, Biscuit's inappropriate album gifts from his step-mother, and why Biscuit is so goddamn flinchy. Happy Turkey Day, kids!

The WGA strike has a big impact on the quality of this week's show, as we talk about the early show shutdowns like The Office and 30 Rock, Battlestar Galactica being pushed back to april, Jon Stewart offering to personally pay his writing staff's salary for two weeks (or did he?), the three categories of crushes for girls, and fictional crushes in general. We're also catching up on podcast novels like 7th Son, Nocturnal, and Playing for Keeps. Plus, as an added bonus, Susan Z over-shares about her relationship with her mother, while forgetting AGAIN to address Choochus's question about The Bus Stop (aka The California Hustle). Hoorays!


Promos: the second of J.C. Hutchins and Mur Lafferty's 7th Heaven promos, and the Playing for Keeps theme from Beatnik Turtle.

Leave us feedback, questions or dirty jokes on our shiny voicemail. 206-888-2229

Command Line and our number one fan Andrea are in the house. We're all over the map tonight, folks. New Media Douchebags, the Doppler Effect, the Jammie Thomas verdict, Zwack, the coolness of Matthew Wayne Selznick, the upcoming Zombie Apocalypse, and watch parts auctions on eBay.

Cross-promotional goodness from J.C. Hutchins and Mur Lafferty.

Leave us feeback on our shiny voicemail! 206-888-2229

The 21st episode was a blast, and we are well on the road to recovery.  Okay, the smoky bar gave Susan Z a sore throat that just won't quit, but other than that we are getting on nicely, thank you very much.  We're nattering on about wine, the horror of wine coolers, selling plasma for beer and cigarette money, specs appeal, d2o's and how to cheat with d10's, Susan Z's utter lack of shame when it comes to The Bus Stop, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Nixon = bad, and last but not least, Heroes and The Big Bang Theory.

Not that we condone any of this.  But if you are going to do it anyway, we want you to do it properly.

Feedback?  Suggestions?  Dirty jokes?  Call our voicemail at 206-888-2229

We're getting our drink on at O'Malley's in order to celebrate our 21st episode. We've got voicemail from Andrea, Cmaaarrr, Chris the Fixed Kitty, and Command Line. It turns out that Death Cab For Cutie is a threat to national security, J.K. Rowling confirms that Dumbledore was gay and Will Shetterly is somewhat annoyed with the whole thing. The illustrious Ben Kay has an all-new bit of research concerning little-known profanities from Andrea Dworkin's Right Wing Women.  We also have visits from Kath and Leslie, who came out to see the Kasters in their more natural habitat.  And we owe big thanks to Cindy and the Zman, for their support, not to mention their volunteering for designated driver-dom.  Thanks everybody!

On this episode, we're talking about the upcoming 21st episode of the Kulture Kast, the digitally remastered special edition of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan that was recently shown at The Carolina Theatre as part of the Escapism Film Festival, MST3K, The Radio Adventures of Doctor Floyd, Throwing Toasters, 7th Son, ScottSigler.Com, TD0013 rocks, and we're making vague threats against J.C. Hutchins and Scott Sigler.  Nothing that could be proved in court.  i swear.

Also, gay and lesbian rights might be considered normal in the future, and Biscuit and i will have a party on that day, at my house.  You're all invited!

And if all of that isn't enough, here's the podcasting kitty in her Intarwebs debut! Maxie Cat provides maximum catitude, because that's how she rolls.

It's a listener feedback episode.  We've got blog commentary and voicemails.  Plus, we have an all-new profanity poetry piece from the illustrious Ben Kay, Profanator at Large.

We're talking about some of the new tv shows in a surprisingly geek-friendly fall lineup. Chuck has a charming geek lead in Zachary Levi, and it doesn't hurt that Adam Baldwin is rounding out the cast. We talk at length about Journeyman, which is simply outstanding. Kevin McKidd (not Kevin Kidd as Biscuit calls him, or James Kidd as Susan Z calls him) is utterly compelling, Reed Diamond is top-notch as usual, and the iPhone rounds out the list of supporting characters. Bionic Woman is pretty fracking good, and Katee Sackhoff is clearly having tremendous fun. Reaper may seem like it has a cutesy premise, but it's surprisingly funny. Well, actually not that surprising, since the pilot was directed by Kevin Smith. And oh my wow, there's Pushing Daisies, which is absolutely delightful in every way. This show comes from executive producer Bryan Fuller, who was involved with Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me, and the first season of Heroes. If that doesn't impress you, there is pie. The lead character is a pie-maker who makes incredible pies at The Pie Hole in the "Pie-Lette". You have been warned. A brief mention of Forever Knight Moonlight, and last, but not least, we chat about The Big Bang Theory (actually an amusing show that really needs to get rid of the laugh track).

Promo: The Adult Space Child Free Podcast

Not only do we have listener feedback and voicemail (voicemail!?! squee!), but we also have an episode about the new generation of Young Adult SFF writers, such as J.K. Rowling, Lemony Snicket, Scott Westerfield, Holly Black, Francesca Lia Block,Justine Larbalestier, and suchlike. We're also mentioning Faerie Con, Encyclopedia Brown, and Judy Blume.

Leave us commentary or dirty jokes at 206-888-2229. Put it in your speed-dial. Seriously.

Promo: Geeklabel Tees (ding!)

It's a steampunkalicious episode. We're talking about steampunk comics (Girl Genius, Emma), steampunk elements in books (Larklight, The Diamond Age, classic authors including Jules Verne and H.G. Wells) steampunk film and tv (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Adventures of Briscoe County, Jr.), steampunk costuming and resources (Paleo-Future, Steamfashion, Anachrotech, Steam Dragon, Atome Fabrik).

The illustrious Ben Kay provides us with an interesting snippet from Paradise Lost.

It's not exactly steampunk, but Biscuit has a bevy of new toys, and they all need names, people.

Also, in case you were wondering, J.C. Hutchins is clearly trying to kill me with suspense. Evil genius, says i.

Promo: The Geologic Podcast

Leave us feedback or dirty jokes on our shiny new voicemail line: 206-888-2229

We were only mostly dead.

In this stand-alone episode, we cover a few highlights of Dragon*Con.  The good (the Dragon Moon Press booth, Dragon*Con TV, the live Geologic Podcast, live Aliens You Will Meet, Mur Lafferty's reading, Beatnik Turtle, costumes galore, and all the between spaces that make up community), the bad (Sigler and Hutch threw the baddest of the bad-ass parties, aka the Podcaster's Playa's Ball), and the ugly (the Hyatt -- 'nuff said).  We also toss out a couple of rumors about the future of BSG, the future of Dragon*Con, and our future con commitments.

No promos.

What's up daddyo?  Find out here.

It's our awesome new promo, courtesy of Podcasting's Rich Sigfrit.  Feel free to distribute far and wide.  Of course, if you use our promo, we'll return the favor.

There are significant changes from novel to screenplay, and we talk about how that worked so well in Stardust and The Princess Bride, and not so well in The Crow. Also, a nod to Eureka, catching up on Burn Notice, and ranting about how a seemingly nice guy can be such an utter bastard (hint: his initials are J.C. Hutchins, and yes i know that the last bit isn't an initial, so sue me). The DragonCon countdown marches on.

What's for dinner? Raspberry vinaigrette salad with chèvre, followed by grilled chicken with angel hair pasta in a champagne cream sauce. And it's not even anybody's birthday.  The Zman is Just.  That.  Lucky.

Promo: the cinemafreaks.

We're talking about Jasper Fforde, the author of the Thursday Next series of novels, as well as the Nursery Crime books.  If you like Terry Pratchett and/or Douglas Adams, you will probably quite enjoy Jasper Fforde's work.   We chat a bit about Spec Ops, Swindon, the Goliath Corporation ("For all you'll ever need."™)

Also, go see Stardust on friday! 

What's for dinner?  Puttanesca with hot sausage and parmigiano-reggiano.

Promo:  This Day in Alternate History

Don't you want to know?

As the podcast enters those awkward teenage episodes, we're geeking out about the tremendously fun and lighthearted show Psych.  We'll give you some interesting info about the actors involved and tell you about some of our favorite moments.  Also, there are several kultural and geeky things going on in Raleigh the weekend of 3-5 august -- Trinoc*coN, First Friday, Jasper Fforde's reading/signing at Quail Ridge Books on saturday at 7, and Weird Al Yankovic's show at the Progress Energy Center on sunday.

What's for dinner?  Beer basted brats with homemade hot German potato salad.  Mmm, bacon.

promo:  GeekLabel

We're talking about Pottermania, the birthdays of Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace, the love of pie, Emma Bull's Territory, Jasper Fforde's new Thursday Next novel First Among Sequels as well as his upcoming reading at Quail Ridge Books on 4 august, and the continuing countdown to DragonCon.  Oh, and Susan Z is making roast chicken with pink-eyed peas for dinner.  Yum.

spoilerific promo:  7th Son Book Three: Destruction

We're talking about Eureka, Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Aqua Net vs. Rave vs. Spritz Forte, cat vaccinations, 7th Son, how J.C. Hutchins has surpassed Scott Sigler by actually killing Biscuit instead of just maiming him, DragonCon, Aaron Douglas and his bid to be a return guest at DragonCon, Jasper Fforde, and the best technique for picking a whuppin' switch ...

promo:  the cinema freaks


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That's right, after a longer-than-expected hiatus, we're back and we're talking Transformers.  We also talk about the sooper seekrit J.J. Abrams project, Battlestar Galactica, and Eureka.  Plus the usual helping of geekery and snark, but you already knew that, didn't you?

Totally airwolf bumper from Jason Adams of Random Signal.

Promo:  Geek Label Tees

This one's got a little bit of everything. We're talking about the iPhone, anticipating Book 3 of Seventh Son, celebrating my unemployment, announcing our first ever contest, and lusting after Daniel Craig's Bond. Okay, that last one might be just me.

promo: A Life More Awesome

Jericho returns, BSG officially ends with Season 4, and Scott Sigler:  media whore, divine personification, and now expletive.

Scott Z drops some knowledge about kustom kar kulture and the East Coast Scene.  We talk about a ton of car shows like The Jalopy Showdown in Latimore PA, The Drive-Invasion in Atlanta GA, Heavy Rebel in Winson-Salem NC, The Lone Star Round Up in Austin TX, Billetproof Detroit, The Shifters Car Show at Viva Las Vegas, Detroit AutoRama (home of The Ridler), Good Guys, and the mother of all car shows that is Paso Robles.  The Zman also pimps local instrumental surf-soul band Killer Filler and the upcoming Rodtober car show in Raleigh NC in, you guessed it, October.

Hold on to your hats, kids, this is the link-a-licious episode! We recap some of the highlights from Balticon 41, mainly the New Media track, and manage to forget to mention Tee Morris, Phil Rossi, Command Line, 365 Tomorrows, and Grailwolf. *le sigh* However, we still drop names aplenty. 7th Son, Far Point Media, Geek Fu Action Grip, The Geologic Podcast, Jack Mangan's Deadpan (deadpan is the way), Nina Kimberly The Merciless, Random Signal, Requiem of the Outcast, Stranger Things, Tag in the Seam, Variant Frequencies.

Holy smokes, that's a lot of links. But wait, there's more! We also chat with Joe Komenda about his comic Feral Chicken, his current show at Kulture (the bar), and some of his favorite web comics. Please bear with us on the sound issues for the interview (we're working on a better set-up for the interviews at the bar). Ready? Brace yourself for another link dump, kids. Achewood, Andy Runton's Owly, The Devil's Panties, Diesel Sweeties, Dinosaur Comics, Dumbrella, Girls With Slingshots, Likely Stories, Paul Friedrich, Penny Arcade, Questionable Content, Scott Kurtz, Something Positive.

Whew! No wonder we ran long. Like, twice as long as a normal show. Next week, we should be back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Look out, here come major spoilers for the Heroes finale (fair warning, we were both a wee bit underwhelmed).  Also, Buffy Season 8, general comics geekishness, phase variances, and an exclusive interview with Mr. Benjamin Kay, profanator at large.

It's like the Year of the Woman, only not.  On this episode, we discuss the gems of the Fox fall line-up (The Sarah Connor Chronicles, New Amsterdam, The Return of Jezebel James) and the re-imagined  Bionic Woman.  We also talk about the cursed genius of Wonderfalls, women as combat soldiers and fighter pilots, and the nature of kick-ass women in regular life.  And gastrointestinal distress.  You have been warned.

Finally, Ben Kay is on sabbatical this week, so we give you the lyrical stylings of the World's 579th Greatest Rapper instead.  It's a little ditty called "I Hate Your Blog" and it's from the new album called "Secrets from the Future".  Enjoy.

First Friday round-up means art, art, and more art. Susan Z busts Biscuit's chops about a quotation, but proceeds to be completely wrong herself -- the line is from Ghostbusters, not The Breakfast Club, and it goes "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria."  i think we'll all sleep better knowing that.  Also, Ben Kay brings us a most interesting version of William Wordworth's  The Perfect Woman.

Movie madness -- Transformers, Batman, and Spidey 3. Plus, Ben Kay's expert eye falls on G.K. Chesterton.

The Rookie, Seventh Son, Heroes, and Biscuit thinks he's Mr. Clever Dick.  Plus Ben Kay finds a surprising passage in The Prophet.

Featuring the algorithmic poetry of Mike Glover, and the illustrious Ben Kay brings us the first in a series of essays on the origins of vulgarity.

Welcome to the Kulture Kast.