Imaginary Worlds

27/08/2026

Emmet Asher-Perrin is one of my favorite SFF commentators, and this is a great take on Strange New Worlds. The tone and quality of the episodes are sometimes frustratingly inconsistent, but the fashion always has something to say. It's especially interesting for a show that's supposed to be a prequel to the original series with its 1960s futuristic fashion.

And yes, this is about makeup and hair and skirted uniforms.

26/08/2026

This week, I talk with Steve Arnold, production designer of the Apple TV series Widow’s Bay. We discuss the careful worldbuilding needed to blend horror and comedy, real and fake history, and subtle references to horror icons like Jaws and Stephen King.

I talk with Steve Arnold, Emmy-nominated production designer of the hit Apple TV series Widow’s Bay. We discuss the careful worldbuilding needed to blend horror and comedy, real and fake history, and subtle references to horror icons like Jaws, The Fog, Halloween, The Shining, Carrie, and other wo...

12/08/2026

This week, we’re playing an episode of the NPR show Planet Money that looks at whether the real villain in the Alien franchise is late-stage capitalism.

Episode 309

29/07/2026

The world of fanfiction has changed a lot since our 2017 episode, Fanfiction (Don’t Judge.) I talk with Fansplaining editor Elizabeth Minkel about the controversial fanfiction-to-media pipeline and how that’s changing the relationship between fanfiction writers and readers.

The world of fanfiction has changed a lot since we covered it on the show in 2017. I talk with Fansplaining editor Elizabeth Minkel about the controversial fanfiction-to-media pipeline and how that’s changing the nature of storytelling within fandom, and the characters from pop culture that fanfic...

22/07/2026

I love this scene as much as any Star Wars fans but if you had bought this (and had no other reason to spend $3.75 million) where would you put it in your home?

It outsold a Darth Vader lightsaber that set a 'Star Wars' auction record last year.

15/07/2026

You’re on a quest for fortune and glory, facing fantastical creatures with battle mechanics, leveling up to boss fights and increasing your abilities to overcome the loss of your inventory. That's the story of The Odyssey but it could also be your D&D campaign. This week, we explore whether Homer set the template for tabletop role-playing games.

Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey is part of a long line of film adaptations, but Homer’s epic poem has quietly shaped another medium: role-playing games. The structure of The Odyssey is practically a blueprint for tabletop and video game RPGs from the ‘boss fights’ with escalating diffic...

01/07/2026

In honor of America's 250th anniversary, we're continuing our mini-series on iconic American toys and games. This week: how Silly Putty, Twister, and Monopoly crossed between the worlds of adults and kids. Plus, I travel back to middle school to relive my role in a children's theater production of an original Monopoly musical.

In honor of America's 250th anniversary, we're continuing our mini-series on iconic American toys and games that took on lives of their own. Strong National Museum of Play curators Michelle Parnett-Dwer and Mirek Stolee, along with game designer and author Tim Walsh, join me to unpack how Silly Putt

19/06/2026

It's time for my annual call out for episode ideas! What would you like to hear us cover in the Fall?

17/06/2026

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the USA, we are doing a series of mini stories across two episodes that explore American toys and games which took on a life of their own. This week, we look at how the Radio Flyer wagon, the teddy bear and Cabbage Patch dolls became vehicles for children’s imaginations.

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the USA, we are doing a series of mini stories across two episodes that explore American toys and games. This week, we look at early childhood objects that became vehicles of the imagination. I talk with Michelle Parnett-Dwyer , senior curator at the Strong Nati

03/06/2026

Ancient folklore characters populate contemporary anime and manga from Spirited Away to Dan Da Dan. We look at why these supernatural beings have captured people’s imaginations, and how they made the transition from premodern Japan to shows that kids watch on their devices today.

Anime and manga are a global phenomenon, and their popularity continues to grow. Many of these stories are populated by supernatural beings called yōkai. Even though yōkai can be portrayed as ghosts, demons, or monsters, they're rarely purely good or evil. We trace the history of yōkai from ancie...