Star Warsologies: A Podcast About Science and Star Wars
63 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsFrom archeology to zoology, real-world science is everywhere in Star Wars! Every episode includes an interview with an expert discussing how Star Wars relates to their field of study. Explore the many ways science is represented in a galaxy far, far away with hosts Melissa Miller and James Floyd, both freelance writers for Star Wars Insider magazine. Part of the Skywalking Network
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Episodes
50: Environmental Apocalypse
April 22, 2024 09:23 - 41 minutes - 23.6 MBIn this episode of Star Warsologies, we hear from an ornithologist about birds in Star Wars, along with invasive species and extinction events! Justin Hite joins us for this episode to chat about his career studying birds and the environmental chaos they put up with. We get into whether Rey was exposed to harmful chemicals during her years salvaging parts from downed Star Destroyers and of course all the devastation the Death Star wreaks. We also cover more cheerful topics like birds being...
49: Empathy and Compassion
March 25, 2024 11:35 - 38 minutes - 22.2 MBIn this episode of Star Warsologies, we learn the difference between empathy, compassion, and sympathy and how each is represented in Star Wars! Professor Maureen Day shares her insights with James and Melissa about virtue ethics and vices, and their roles in our galaxy and in Star Wars. Can we forgive the atrocities of Vader and Kylo Ren knowing their backstory of complicated young me? What makes the Sith a good example of empathy? What's the best redemption arc in Star Wars? There's more...
48: Conflict Resolution in Star Wars
February 20, 2024 09:21 - 50 minutes - 28.8 MBIn this episode of Star Warsologies, conflict resolution experts weigh in on the wars, negotiations, and other conflicts in Star Wars! Jen Reynolds and Noam Ebner authored the book "Star Wars and Conflict Resolution: There Are Alternatives To Fighting" and speak with us about the lessons we can learn from Padme, Obi-Wan, and other characters who fight the good fight. From everything from hiring the Millennium Falcon to galactic wars, negotiations occur throughout the saga and mirror the re...
47: Anthropology in Alien Design
January 23, 2024 11:45 - 46 minutes - 26.8 MBIn this episode of Star Warsologies, an anatomy professor weighs in on the importance of designing aliens that make sense! Dr. Elizabeth Rega is an anatomy professor who consults on movies and video games to help creators add an element of realism to their projects. She worked on Mulan, The Emperor's New Groove, and even the Madden series. Melissa and James ask Elizabeth to speculate wildly about what we can tell about some of our favorite aliens based on the traits they share with humans....
11: FasTEN Your Seat Belts, with science advisor Erin Macdonald
January 08, 2024 00:19 - 1 hour - 46.6 MBIt's the finale! Lisa and Melissa chat about the physics of the final franchise installment (for now). They're joined by Dr. Erin Macdonald, the science advisor for all the current Star Trek shows. Together, they answer important questions like, is a dam just a vertical road? Do bad guys make good shock absorbers in plummeting elevators? Just how much therapy has Jakob had since the last movie? Is Little B destined for a Nobel Prize in Physics? Will anything come of Little Nobody swiping rig...
10: F9: The Facts Saga, with Bobak Ferdowsi from NASA
December 28, 2023 23:50 - 59 minutes - 34 MBFaaaaaaaacts in Spaaaaaace! Melissa and Lisa welcome NASA JPL systems engineer Bobak Ferdowsi (aka the Mohawk Guy!) to chat about the pros and cons of launching a Pontiac Fiero into space. But that's not the only physics nonsense in this movie - there's also magnets, mines, and more! As Bobak eloquently states, the science of Fast & Furious movies are like La Croix - there may not be any real science in the movie but it seems like the creators saw some science at one point or another. Lea...
9: Hobbs & Shaw-ence, with experts in immunology and medical devices
December 25, 2023 05:28 - 1 hour - 42 MBDoes Brixton's heads-up display actually give him helpful information? Can you really hold a helicopter down with a tow truck? Our resident physicist Lisa weighs in on those questions and more. There's plenty of medical jargon in the spin-off movie Hobbs & Shaw, but it turns out the physics holds up for the most part! Melissa and Lisa also interview Joy Phillips and Parag Katira from San Diego State University about the virus, immunology, and biomedical devices that make up a huge part of th...
46: Science Advisors in Science Fiction LA Comic Con panel
December 19, 2023 10:43 - 52 minutes - 29.8 MBMelissa moderates this panel of scientists who consult on everything from books and video games to the MCU and Disney animation! Panelists include paleontologist Stuart Sumida (How To Train Your Dragon, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), registered nurse Toby Wareham (9-1-1: Lone Star, How To Get Away With Murder), physicist Clifford Johnson (Avengers: Infinity War, Paper Girls), biologist Elizabeth Rega (Strange World, The Lion King), and stem cell scientist Ron Coleman (Joe Ledger book seri...
45: The Science of Ahsoka panel at LA Comic Con
December 12, 2023 10:47 - 1 hour - 37.6 MBMelissa moderates this panel of Star Warsologies favorites! Sam Wynns and Gabe Santos share their critter knowledge when it comes to Loth cats and purgill! Lisa Will and Paul Wynns talk navigation from one galaxy to the next! And James brings us up to date with all the Star Wars lore sprinkled throughout the show. We had a great audience with tons of questions for us. Thanks to all those who came out! Follow Dr. Lisa Will and the Fleet Science Center on Instagram Follow Paul Wynns and Fl...
8: Shift+F8 of the Furious, with a computer scientist
November 30, 2023 04:05 - 54 minutes - 31.1 MBMelissa and Lisa talk about the (relatively) toned down physics nonsense in the 8th installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, Fate of the Furious. Lisa and Melissa are also joined by Bea Gandica, a computer scientist, to talk about all the hacking, ghost flights, and of course Cipher and the Gods Eye. Listen in to answers to important questions like: What does hacking look like in real life? Did Tej go to a coding boot camp at some point? Was the wrecking ball a good idea? Learn more a...
7: Serious 7, with a psychologist
November 19, 2023 06:15 - 1 hour - 38.3 MBMelissa and Lisa break down the physics nonsense in Furious 7. Can you jump between skyscrapers in a car? What happens when you drop cars out of an airplane with only a parachute? Clinical psychologist Dr. Drea Letamendi joins for a discussion about grief and forgiveness. How important is found family? Should Dom be in therapy? How does Brian's ending help us process Paul Walker's death? Check out Dr. Drea's website! Follow her on Instagram! And listen to her podcast The Arkham Sessions....
44: Paleontology
November 17, 2023 14:02 - 51 minutes - 29.6 MBJames and Melissa chat about the megafauna of The Mandalorian with Dr. Stuart Sumida. Stuart is a paleontologist, a teacher, and a science consultant for movies, TV shows, and video games. He answers questions for us, including: Do mythosaurs use echolocation? How many Mandalorians would those raptor babies be able to eat in one sitting? Would riding on a horse-wolf actually be comfortable? Follow Stuart on Twitter! Hear Stuart's interview on NPR's Short Wave podcast Listen back to ...
6: Fast & Curious 6, with a movie locations expert
October 20, 2023 06:35 - 1 hour - 37.5 MBFast & Furious 6 gives us perhaps the most physics-defying hijinks of the franchise. Dom's leap of faith, him taking a bullet, and that epically long runway - there's a lot to discuss. Melissa and Lisa also chat with locations scout Kerry Patten, who worked on the movie. Hear from her about the logistics of filming a car chase in the streets of (not actually) London. Here's an article calculating just how long the runway would have to be. And writer Chris Morgan's response is fun too. Ke...
43: Music and Melodies
October 17, 2023 08:13 - 53 minutes - 30.4 MBLet's look at the music of Star Wars! So much of what we associate with the galaxy far, far away is connected to the soundtracks composed by John Williams. We take a look at the diagetic music of the films, from the cantina band tracks to the celebratory songs by Ewoks and Gungans. We also examine the common musical themes that John Williams built into the audio DNA of the saga, as well as musical pieces that may have influenced Williams in his composition. Our guest expert is Dr. Jason Giac...
5: Facts Five, with city planning and visual effects experts
October 08, 2023 18:31 - 1 hour - 44 MBMelissa and Lisa welcome two guest experts to cover Fast Five, the movie that really accelerates the franchise into greatness. Prison escapes, train heists, and a bank vault crashing through the streets of Rio make up the action, but the movie is also about family (of course) and reunites some of our favorite characters. A city planner and a visual effects artist who worked on Tokyo Drift join our podcast family in this high speed episode! Here's a great behind the scenes video about the ...
4: Fast & Physics, with a medical doctor
September 26, 2023 05:01 - 58 minutes - 33.4 MBMelissa and Lisa discuss Fast & Furious, the fourth movie in the Fast saga. The car chases and stakes are finally high! Letty's (maybe) dead! Dom is bulletproof! Lots to discuss. Melissa and Lisa also welcome Dr. Jackson Vane to the show to discuss medical issues throughout the franchise, including the most important question - how are these characters even still alive??! Check out Jackson's Hi Everybody! A Bad Medicine podcast including the episode about Hobbs & Shaw! And follow Jackso...
42: Blue Food Science
September 20, 2023 16:47 - 44 minutes - 25.2 MBWe chat blue food in Star Wars and here on Earth, where's it's not nearly as prevelant. Dr. Changqi Liu from San Diego State University shares his expertise about flowers, berries, and other foods. But does he know why blue raspberry flavoring exists? Cook up some blue noodles, pour yourself a glass of blue milk, and enjoy! More about butterfly pea flower lemonade! More about color-changing gin! Find out more about Changqi's research! Subscribe and never miss an episode of Star Warsol...
3: The Facts & The Furious: Toying with Drift, with a stunt driver
September 17, 2023 01:38 - 1 hour - 35.1 MBIn this episode, Melissa and Lisa chat about Tokyo Drift and interview a stunt driver. Lisa explains the physics of drifting and Melissa posits whether the saga takes place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie may feel out of place, but all is forgiven because it introduces Han to the franchise. Check out the Motion Picture Driving Clinic's website and on Instagram Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa @dustchick The Facts & The Furious is a podcast rewatch of the entir...
41: Voice acting and storytelling with Vanessa Marshall
August 22, 2023 10:00 - 40 minutes - 23.1 MBVoice actor extraordinaire Vanessa Marshall joins us on this episode of Star Warsologies! She is the voice (and soul) of "space mom" Hera Syndulla from Star Wars: Rebels, among many other credits. We talk about the importance of found family, fandom, and Joseph Campbell's hero's journey template. Vanessa is such a force for good and we are so excited to geek out with her about Star Wars and tons of other topics. Enjoy! Find Vanessa on Twitch, Instagram, and Twitter! You can visit her at on...
2: 2 Facts 2 Physics, with a legal expert
August 14, 2023 08:19 - 51 minutes - 29.3 MBNo Dom, no problem! Lisa and Melissa dive into the physics of 2003's 2 Fast 2 Furious. Welcome Roman, welcome Tej. Don't let those pesky laws of gravity keep you down. Also weighing in is legal expert Stephen Lee, a former federal prosecutor. Hear what he has to say about Brian's terrible record as an undercover cop, can you earn a "clean record," and other ongoing leagal themes of the saga. Check out Stephen's Substack for more of his legal analysis of pop culture, including Andor, The Fl...
40 Andor: Making a Rebel, Making a Rebellion (San Diego Comic-Con 2023 panel)
August 07, 2023 13:00 - 57 minutes - 33 MBStar Warsologies hosted "Andor: Making a Rebel, Making a Rebellion", a panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2023. The Star Wars series Andor speaks powerfully to today’s audience about fighting oppression. Examining the first season of the Disney+ series, we will explore the motivations and actions of Cassian Andor, Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael and other characters as they put it all on the line to resist and rebel against the Empire. What type of people are drawn to stand up to tyranny? How do ...
1: The Facts and the Furious, with a car modifications expert
August 01, 2023 08:38 - 1 hour - 39.5 MBIt all begins with this episode of The Facts & The Furious covering the low stakes of the first movie, 2001's The Fast and the Furious. As Melissa and Lisa realize, very few laws of physics are broken but there's still find plenty to talk about. Our guest expert is Maria Romano de Leon, curator of the San Diego Automative Museum. Learn about NOS, car culture, and why a lack of traffic may be the most unrealistic thing that happens in this movie. Follow Melissa @melissatruth Follow Lisa ...
39: The Science of Superpowers
July 31, 2023 11:32 - 1 hour - 42.8 MBHere's another of our San Diego Comic-Con 2023 panels! The Science of Superpowers brought together amazing scientists to talk about how realistic superheroes and supervillains are and whether there's any version of their powers in real life. Here's video from our panel, plus slides we presented in the room. Thanks to everyone who came out and asked questions. We're so glad you found us online too, we love bringing our convention content to everyone for free! Panel Description: Humans...
38: Indiana Jones and the Nexus of Archaeology, History, and Punching Fascists (SDCC 2023)
July 29, 2023 16:00 - 55 minutes - 31.6 MBStar Warsologies hosted the "Indiana Jones and the Nexus of Archaelogy, History, and Punching Fascists" panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2023. This podcast episode contains the audio of the panel, with the slideshow images from the PowerPoint presentation. Our panelists are Bailey Jorgensen (archaeologist, Alf Museum of Paleontology), Kara Vetter (senior director of cultural resources, Museum of Us), and Dr. Becca Peixotto (archaeologist and IF/THEN ambassador). Panel description: In...
37: Artificial Intelligence
July 14, 2023 07:01 - 44 minutes - 25.3 MBThis episode, we're chatting with Gracie Ermi, and expert in machine learning. Are droids sentient? Is it ethical to wipe their memories and reprogram them? Other than the well-publicized art and writing controversies, what are some ways AI is already part of our lives? Are we close to a Star Wars level of robotic intelligence or an uprising? These are just some of the subject we cover in this episode. In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star War...
The Facts & The Furious: Coming Soon!
July 05, 2023 06:02 - 59 seconds - 568 KBTrailer for the new podcast The Facts & The Furious with Dr. Lisa Will and Melissa Miller. Two scientists break down each movie of the saga with help from special guest experts. Hear from a stunt driver, a medical doctor, a psychologist, a lawyer, and others fans who have something to say about how things would go down in real life. This deep dive is also a fun rewatch of all 11 Fast & Furious movies.
36: Linguistics
June 21, 2023 17:08 - 42 minutes - 24.3 MBThis episode, we're chatting with linguist David Peterson, who constructs languages for properties like Game of Thrones, Elemental, House of the Dragon, the MCU, and many more! He weighs in on Aurebesh as a written language, as well as Binary, Shyriiwook, Gungan, and other spoken languages. It's a fascinating conversation with someone who clearly loves talking about language. Enjoy! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen in...
35: Celebration Panel "Andor, the Empire, and a History of Resistance"
May 19, 2023 19:41 - 1 hour - 42.7 MBStar Warsologies hosted "Andor, the Empire, and a History of Resistance" panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe in April 2023 in London. Because the panel audio ended up not recorded by accident, we invited the original panelists back to re-create the panel and add some new content, just for our listeners. Coming back we have Chris Kempshall, Rebecca Harrison, Oli Mould, and Jake Rowlett. Unfortunately panelist Prof. Manuel Barcia was unable to rejoin us. Moderated by James Floyd, one of the ...
34: Celebration Panel "Making Star Wars Magic"
April 26, 2023 22:33 - 1 hour - 35.4 MBHere's another one of our panels from Star Wars Celebration! Melissa welcomes creatives who have worked on the movies and TV shows to share their insights and wonderful stories. Hear from Fon Davis (ILM model maker for the special editions, prequels, and The Mandalorian), Jake Lunt Davies (concept and creature designer from everything from The Force Awakens to Andor), Brian Herring (puppeteer for BB-8 and many other favorite characters), and Lee Towersey (droid wrangler at Pinewood Studios)....
33: Celebration Panel "The Science of Return of the Jedi"
April 23, 2023 04:26 - 1 hour - 36.6 MBThis episode is a recording of a panel at Star Wars Celebration, hosted by James Floyd. From sarlacc biology to the physics of lightsabers and the ecosystem of Endor, Return of the Jedi is full of connections to real world science. How might a Hutt evolve? What goes into making a Death Star superlaser? Why do the Ewoks worship C-3PO? Our all-star lineup brings together experts in all sorts of fields, from paleontology and physics to meteorology and history. Join host James Floyd (Star Wars I...
32: Zoology and Creature Design
March 28, 2023 08:01 - 44 minutes - 25.6 MBThis episode we talk to concept and creature artist Terryl Whitlatch about her amazing designs for creatures in the Star Wars Special Editions and Episode I. Are there reptomammals on Earth or did Terryl just invent that term? Why was the sando aqua monster her favorite creature to design? What's your favorite Star Wars critter? In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about h...
31: Dance and Choreography
March 04, 2023 08:01 - 45 minutes - 26.1 MBThis episode we talk about dancing and choreography in Star Wars with Nicholas Foote, a professional dancer. We chat Ewoks, Gungans, and Wookiees. Do Hutts have a mating dance? Do Bothans get the zoomies? And is the ballet in Revenge of the Sith really called Squid Lake?! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. I...
30: Herpetology
February 07, 2023 08:01 - 38 minutes - 22.1 MBThis episode we talk about reptiles and amphibians in Star Wars with Dr. Earyn McGee. There's plenty of examples on Tatooine and Dagobah to discuss and we learn more about Earyn's research here on Earth. As always, the best advice is...don't touch it and definitely don't lick it! In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far ...
29: Indigenous Peoples
January 21, 2023 05:50 - 36 minutes - 21 MBThis episode we look at the representation of Indigenous people in Star Wars. From the Tuskens to the Ewoks, there's examples in the original trilogy and that lore is still being expanded 45 years later in shows like The Book of Boba Fett. Cultural educator Jared Ten Brink joins us to share his connection to Star Wars and the positive and negative ways culture and colonization are depicted. In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars...
28: Climate Science
December 21, 2022 21:36 - 41 minutes - 23.8 MBNASA climate scientist Dr. Kimberley Miner and her Star Wars-loving husband Walter Beckwith, a science writer at Science Magazine, chat with us about how the Empire affects the planets and environments in a galaxy far, far away. We tackle Bespin, Hoth, Dagobah, and other favorite locales. In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a ...
27: LA Comic-Con - "The Living Force: Evolution in Star Wars"
December 13, 2022 07:59 - 51 minutes - 29.3 MBIn the latest episode of Star Warsologies, Melissa joins the LA Comic Con panel "The Living Force: Evolution in the Star Wars Galaxy"! Gabe Santos of Cosplay for Science moderates this great panel about Star Wars. Panelists include Melissa Miller (Nerdist, Star Warsologies), Michaela , Phil , Rick O'Connor In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their ...
26: Molecular & Cellular Biology
November 22, 2022 05:59 - 46 minutes - 26.3 MBIn this latest episode of Star Warsologies, we talk about all molecular and cellular biology in Star Wars! Let's look at the DNA of Star Wars! You might not expect Star Wars to connect to the world of molecular and cellular biology (the field of biology looking at things at the cellular level and smaller), but it does in a few key ways: the genetic manipulation and cellular development that goes into making clones like Boba Fett as well as midichlorians and their real-life inspirati...
25: Adoption in Star Wars
October 28, 2022 07:01 - 43 minutes - 24.6 MBIn this latest episode of Star Warsologies, we talk about all adoption in Star Wars! From the Skywalker twins going to separate homes as children, to Mandalorian Din Djarin taking on baby Grogu as a foundling, Star Wars is full of adoption tales and styles. In honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, we examine the world of adoption and family in the galaxy far, far away. Our guest expert Carrie Goldman, author of the award-winning blog "Portrait of an Adoption"...
24: Holograms in Star Wars!
October 05, 2022 07:00 - 46 minutes - 26.7 MBIn the latest episode of Star Warsologies we talk about the holograms in Star Wars! From Leia's iconic plea to Darth Vader Force-choking someone over Zoom, our guest expert Thomas Conner breaks down what's a hologram and what we just call holograms. And how Star Wars really changed the game in 1977. In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field ...
23: Medicine and Star Wars
September 09, 2022 04:00 - 38 minutes - 21.9 MBIn the latest episode of Star Warsologies we team up with the hosts of "Hi Everbody! A Bad Medicine Podcast" Guests Dr. Jackson Vane and Johnny Kolasinksi join us to talk bacta tanks, lightsaber wounds, and why Darth Vader is taller than Anakin Skywalker. In Star Warsologies, hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of Star Wars with their keen interest in all things academic by asking experts about how their field is represented in a galaxy far, far away. It'...
22: SDCC Panel - The Science of Jurassic World
August 02, 2022 04:57 - 54 minutes - 31 MBPresenting "The Science of Jurassic World" This episode of Star Warsologies is one of our panels from San Diego Comic-Con 2022! Star Warsologies usually focuses on the galaxy far, far away, but for San Diego Comic-Con, we decided to branch out from a long time ago to 65 million years ago with this panel on the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchise, given that the final chapter, Jurassic World Dominion was released earlier this summer. Moderated by podcast host James Floyd, we brou...
21: SDCC Panel: The Mandalorian: Under the Helmet
August 01, 2022 04:56 - 51 minutes - 29.5 MBThe latest episode of Star Warsologies is one of our panels from San Diego Comic-Con 2022! Presenting "The Mandalorian: Under the Helmet" We recorded this panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 23, 2022. Moderated by host Melissa Miller, we brought out a group of experts to talk about where real-life jobs collide with our favorite Mandalorian's story. Panel description: The Mandalorian is a complicated character—a loner who becomes a loving caretaker, a bounty hunter w...
20: Don Bies Part 2
July 14, 2022 04:45 - 43 minutes - 24.9 MBThe latest episode of Star Warsologies wraps up our interview with Don Bies, an actual Star Warsologist! Don Bies joined James and Melissa just after Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022 for an extensive chat about his time as an ILM model maker, Lucasfilm archivist, and all around Star Wars creative. In part 2, we get some great on-set stories covering Don's on-screen appearances, including the infamous Boba Fett scene from Return of the Jedi's Special Edition! Listen to par...
19: Don Bies, Part 1
June 28, 2022 04:02 - 39 minutes - 22.4 MBThe latest episode of Star Warsologies is part one of our interview with Don Bies, an actual Star Warsologist! Don Bies joined James and Melissa just after Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022 for an extensive chat about his time as an ILM model maker, Lucasfilm archivist, and all around Star Wars creative. Part one covers everything R2-D2 related. From operating the droid to character appearances, hear it straight from Don! R2 is his favorite character, and Melissa's too. Par...
18: Celebration Panel - The Science of Attack of the Clones
June 06, 2022 23:06 - 1 hour - 32.3 MBThe latest episode of Star Warsologies is one of our panels from Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022! Panel description: From clonetroopers to planetary rings to Anakin’s moral struggles, Attack of the Clones is full of connections to real world science. How might seismic charges work? Can you really accelerate clone growth? What would an ocean planet like Kamino be like? How healthy is Anakin and Padmé’s relationship? Our all-star lineup of experts include Fon Davis (prequ...
17: Celebration Panel - Galactic Critters Big & Small
June 03, 2022 05:08 - 1 hour - 29.6 MBThe latest episode of Star Warsologies is one of our panels from Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022! Videos of the wildlife documentaries are available on our YouTube channel! From the desert of Tatooine to the abyss of Naboo, wildlife is everywhere in Star Wars. Creatures big and small capture our attention and leave us curious to know more. Science writer Melissa Miller (Nerdist, Star Wars Insider) brings together a panel of experts to speculate about everything from dianogas to po...
16: Economics
May 04, 2022 07:00 - 43 minutes - 34.6 MBIt's the long-awaited economics episode of Star Warsologies on exploring the taxation of trade routes in outlying systems! This time we examine various aspects of economics in the galaxy far, far away with not one, but two economists, Alex Parret, PhD (econometrics), and Elizabeth Molly Maloney, PhD candidate (microeconomics and labor market discrimination). How does the galactic economy work? Can you hide the money trail on a project as big as the Death Star? Will Republic credits ...
15: Religion and Star Wars
April 08, 2022 07:00 - 44 minutes - 20.5 MBThis episode of Star Warsologies explores faith, religion, and the Force This time we examine religious beliefs and practices in the galaxy far, far away with Fr. Andrew Kinstetter, a Roman Catholic priest in the diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming. What is monasticism and how do the Jedi practice it? Why would the Ewoks worship C-3PO as a golden god? How does spirit of the law vs. letter of the law play out with Din Djarin's Children of the Watch sect? What's wrong with the Jedi Code? We als...
14: Wildlife Conservation
March 02, 2022 00:00 - 45 minutes - 26 MBThis episode of Star Warsologies explores the world of conservation biology. Joining us in our discussion of wildlife conservation in the galaxy far, far away is Sam Wynns, a conservation biologist and science educator for Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego. In a huge galaxy, how would you select which places and species to protect? With all the interplanetary travel, are there any native species left? How do sarlaccs reproduce? Is there a real world explanation for why wampas ...
13: Military History
February 07, 2022 23:50 - 29 minutes - 17.3 MBThe latest episode of Star Warsologies examines the "Wars" of "Star Wars" Andrew Liptak, historian, writer, and sci-fi geek chats with us about how real world military history connects with the galaxy far, far away. How did 20th century conflicts shape what we see in Star Wars (and how does Star Wars in turn affect 21st century military thought? Why is it important to humanize the clonetroopers (and to a lesser extent, battle droids?) We also examine the importance of lea...