The Cosmic Circus: Recent Episodes
The Cosmic Circus
Audio episodes for thecosmiccircus.com website. The Cosmic Circus covers Marvel and DC films and TV series as well as other comic book, sci-fi, and fantasy properties such as Star Wars.
Please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/cosmiccircus Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
Red Rooms from writer-director Pascal Plante is already streaming in its home country of Canada, and will be released theatrically in the United States September 6. The French-language film stars Juliette Gariépy as Kelly-Anne and Laurie Babin as Clementine. The basic premise is a story about justice and danger in the internet age, with elements of David Fincher (Seven, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Mr. Robot.
You can find a video to this podcast on our YouTube channel @thecosmiccircus
Red Rooms movie review timestamps 00:10 - Intros 00:45 - Initial thoughts on the movie. 05.55 - Influences of David Fincher (Seven, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and this film's unusual approach to investigations. 12:30 - Comparisons to Searching, clever use of screens in Red Rooms. 13:45 - Trigger warnings, and violence depicted in the film. 15:00 - Red Rooms is a great film that no one is talking about yet. 16:00 - The soundtrack of the film. 17:45 - The building of pressure in the story, some unresolved feelings or things to think and talk about afterwards with other viewers. 18:55 - Cinematography and it's effect on the narrative of the story 21:00 - SPOILER discussion begins for Red Rooms 27:15 - Clementine as a flawed character and what she represents. 31:55 - The very "meta" opening of the film. 33:20 - Final thoughts on Utopia's Red Rooms 34:40 - Outros
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
The Crow is a new 2024 film adaptation of the 1989 comic by James O'Barr. Directed by Rupert Sanders and written by Zach Baylin & William Schneider, the film stars Bill Skarsgård as The Crow and FKA Twigs as Shelly. This is the first film adaptation of the comic since the 1994 cult classic of the same name, directed by Alex Proyas and written by David J. Schow & John Shirley, which starred Brandon Lee as The Crow.
Despite the different creative forces, the basic story of all three versions has remained the same: After Eric Draven and his girlfriend Shelly are unexpectedly murdered, Eric comes back from the dead for revenge! Join John and Vin as they sulk through the history of The Crow and compare the two films.
Timestamps 00:10 - Intros 00:45 - Discussing the 1994 cult classic The Crow film, starring Brandon Lee, and Lee's death during filming. 011:00 - The love story in The Crow comparisons to the original 15:45 - Spoiler discussions for the new film start. 28:00 - New The Crow film makes an effort to over explain everything and yet, the story falls flat and still seems to leave important characters feel underdeveloped and difficult to connect to. The script "feels like a first draft." 35:00 - Final/overall thoughts on The Crow (2024) 36:49 - Outros
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
Tatami is an Iranian-Israeli production based loosely on the real life story of exiled #judoka Saeid Mollaei. The film stars Arienne Mandi and Zar Amir Ebrahimi, and is directed by Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv. Part sports tournament and part political drama, Tatami is one of the most harrowing and heroic experiences of the year.
Find the full video review on YouTube @TheCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS0N2Bg0-N8
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
Here's John and Vin's deep dive into the latest film in the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez and written by Álvarez & Rodo Sayagues. It stars Cailee Spaeny as Rain, David Jonsson as Andy, and Isabela Merced as Kay.
Find the full video review on YouTube @TheCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPpUhd1RUQ0
John's early reaction to Romulus https://youtu.be/fiqL6Lz55b4?si=O5wqY9lms9EdIAdv
John and Vin's retrospective review of the Alien films https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7PtoNooZTA
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
John & Vin reminisce over their first encounter with Alien and share their thoughts on the Alien film franchise ahead of the release of Alien: Romulus.
For the full video of this review go to YouTube @TheCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7PtoNooZTA
For John's early reaction to Alien: Romulus go to https://youtu.be/fiqL6Lz55b4?si=imb4_CA6z5uaQQ9R
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
Vin reviews the 2024 French film The Count of Monte Cristo from directors Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte. Let us know below in the comments if you want to check out this movie when it hits theaters near you!
Find the full video review at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC0InqJz1eE
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
John and Vin talk about the new M. Night Shyamalan film Trap starring Josh Hartnett.
For the full video review go to YouTube @TheCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgz4cRUJndA
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
John and Vin talk about the Twisters movie 4DX experience! Find out if this is a must see or if it's too much of a good thing!
Find the video review on YouTube @theCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWMx448WIbk
Vin and John's review of Twisters: https://youtu.be/bMvSpoQ8tEU?si=yrPw-NzUpzWzn_z9
Brian's ScreenX experience for Twisters: https://thecosmiccircus.com/review-twisters-screenx-experience/
John's written review of Twisters: https://thecosmiccircus.com/twisters-review-universal/
John and Vin talk about the newest Marvel Studios film, Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
For the full video of this review go to YouTube @thecosmiccircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZJUMYwucuM
Links referred to in this video...
Uday's movie review of Deadpool & Wolverine: https://thecosmiccircus.com/deadpool-wolverine-review-marvel-studios/
Vin's Deadpool Comics Guide: https://thecosmiccircus.com/deadpool-reading-guide/
Vin's Wolverine Comics Guide: https://thecosmiccircus.com/wolverine-reading-guide/
The Cosmic Circle Podcast Discussion of Deadpool & Wolverine with Brian Kitson, Anthony Flagg & Alex Perez: https://thecosmiccircus.com/deadpool-wolverine-discussion-cosmic-circle-ep-60/
San Diego Comic-Con is one of the most significant pop culture events of the year, and this year's celebration was especially hot if you are a Marvel fan! It feels like forever since the last Hall H presentation from the studio back in 2022, so it was electric to have Marvel front and center once again. Marvel's Hall H panel this year focused mainly on three of their upcoming projects: Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and Fantastic Four: First Steps and also had some big reveals for Avengers 5 and 6. In episode 61 of The Cosmic Circle, podcast host Brian Kitson with fellow writers Anthony Flagg and Alex Perez discuss reveals from the panel. Insider Alex Perez* also shares some of what he knows about the future of the MCU and how the Multiverse Saga will come to a close, so beware of spoilers in this podcast!
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers Brian Kitson * Anthony Flagg * Alex Perez*
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill*
Find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com
Deadpool and Wolverine has finally arrived, and we're beyond excited about this film. Not only does it have the responsibility of furthering the story of the MCU, but it also serves as a closing chapter of the 20th Century Fox universe of Marvel characters. So naturally, we had to have a podcast about it! (Spoiler warning!)
Join host and head writer Brian Kitson and fellow writers Anthony Flagg and Alex Perez as they discuss every exciting detail of this newest Marvel Studios offering. Did they think Deadpool and Wolverine was a good movie? What were some of their favorite parts? And just where do they think we'll see these two mutants again in the MCU? This is definitely not a podcast you want to miss, as Alex Perez shares some juicy details about what's next for our favorite merch with the mouth and his newfound family. Enjoy!
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers Brian Kitson * Anthony Flagg * Alex Perez*
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill*
Recorded on 7/28/2024
Find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com
Twisters starring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones and directed by Lee Isaac Chung! Check out Vin and John's thoughts on the sequel film, what worked and what didn't, and comparisons to the original Twister film (1996).
Find the video review on YouTube @theCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMvSpoQ8tEU
For John's review of Twisters: https://thecosmiccircus.com/twisters-review-universal/
Brian's review of Twisters and his ScreenX experience: https://thecosmiccircus.com/review-twisters-screenx-experience/
Vin's review of the Twisters 4DX experience https://youtu.be/ZWMx448WIbk?si=hE2nI4THQ1lJ6B_I
After seven weeks of mystery, The Acolyte has wrapped up its first season on Disney+. Set during the end of the High Republic era, this Star Wars series was the first live-action show to break out of the Skywalker-dominated time period viewers often find themselves in. Between secret twins, sexy Sith, and the Jedi Order’s shockingly poor decision-making, The Acolyte was never a dull time!
Join host Uday Kataria (X: @GoldenNinja3000) and his guests Vic (X: @Eridrexalkee) and Cam (X: @camandfilm) as they dive into the secrets uncovered in The Acolyte and what they mean for the past and future of Star Wars. This episode discusses everyone’s favorite parts of the show, what we could see in a potential Acolyte season 2, and what we all thought of Osha, Mae, Sol, and Qimir by the end of this breakneck series.
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers Uday Kataria * Wiktor Reinfuss * Cameron Brook*
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill*
Recorded on 7/21/2024
Find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com
Audible has been one of the leaders in the industry for audiobooks, with a one-stop shop for any title you can imagine. They've also branched out into original programming, such as Impact Winter from Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim) and executive producers of The Walking Dead. I sat down with actress Christina Chong (La'an Noonien-Singh in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) about her role in Impact Winter's third season.
In this interview, Christina Chong discusses what drew her to this series and how her mysterious new character factors into the larger mythos of this Audible original. Chong discusses how recording an audio drama differs from acting on screen, how she gets into character, and the challenges and rewards she experienced with recording her first audio drama. Also, find out just how she would fare if she lived in the world of Impact Winter! Check out the interview below!
Host/Interviewer: Brian Kitson
Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay.
Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com
New Neon thriller/horror film Longlegs staring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage and was written and directed by Osgood Perkins. Find out what John had to say about this new film here.
For Max's review of Longlegs visit https://thecosmiccircus.com/longlegs-review-neon/
Find the full video review on YouTube @thecosmiccircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFMu4Yaws6U
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
It's hard to believe that the newest season of Doctor Who is over when it feels like it's just started. Ncuti Gatwa's first season as the 15th Doctor is over, but that doesn't stop the excitement that we're feeling about it. From the moment that Gatwa appeared on our screens in the third special to him meeting his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), so many moments have taken our breath away and left us speechless. We were not speechless, though, as we needed to get together and break it all down in our latest Doctor Who discussion!
Join host Brian Kitson and writers Wiktor Reinfuss and Cameron Brook as they discuss their highs and lows from the most recent batch of episodes, such as the barriers that showrunner Russell T. Davies is breaking down in the long-running sci-fi series, their favorite episodes, and why, and where they think the next season of Doctor Who is headed. Do you think they enjoyed the re-introduction of the Pantheon of Gods? You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out!
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers Brian Kitson * Wiktor Reinfuss * Cameron Brook*
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill*
Recorded on 6/29/2024
Find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com
Happy Pride Month dear readers! It's that time of year to celebrate everything Queer! Over here at The Cosmic Circus, we're excited to share in the celebration with a very special podcast featuring some of our Queer contributors to the site, highlighting some of the LGBTQ+ media they've consumed since last Pride!
Join host Brian Kitson and fellow writers Cameron Brook and Izzy Friedman as they discuss some of their favorite Queer media. The trio discusses Challengers, Interview With the Vampire, Heartstopper, Dead Boy Detectives, Our Flag Means Death, All of Us Strangers, Saltburn, Doctor Who, Star Wars, and more!
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers Brian Kitson * Izzy Friedman * Cameron Brook*
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill*
Recorded on 6/9/24
Find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com
It’s been a wonderful yet sad couple of weeks without new episodes of X-Men ‘97, the revival of the animated TV series that introduced many of us to the merry band of mutants. It was a breakout hit, and ushered in new fans to the classic Saturday morning cartoon, that had so many elements of these iconic comic book characters. The interest and popularity dominated conversations weekly as we hurdled towards that shocking 3-part finale. Finale reveals and shockers will have to hold us for a while until we see the second season.
Join host Anthony Flagg (X: redovah_) and his guests Alex Perez (X: alexfromcc) and Uday Kataria (X: GoldenNinja3000) as they navigate the past and present of X-Men ‘97. This episode recounts each person's history with the original series, favorite episodes and characters, and hopes for the future seasons of X-Men ‘97. Insider Alex Perez also provides some hits about what we might expect in season 2 and hints at an answer to one burning question surrounding Jean Grey and Madelyne Pryor.
Podcast credits and show notes for this episode of The Cosmic CircleContributors/Writers:
- Anthony Flagg
- Alex Perez
- Uday Kataria
Executive Producer/Editor
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 5/25/2024
Find the companion article to this podcast and more at https://thecosmiccircus.com/category/cosmic-circle/ and follow on X for updates at @cosmicpodcasts or @mycosmiccircus
Doctor Who is a global phenomenon, and we have an international group today on The Cosmic Circle to talk about it. Join host Brian Kitson, along with writers Wiktor Reinfuss and Cameron Brook, as they break down all the exciting bits from Ncuti Gatwa's reign as The Doctor, beginning with his first appearance in "The Giggle" all the way to the two-episode premiere of his first season ("Space Babies" and "The Devil's Chord"). Find out how Brian, "Vic" and Cam's journey into the Whoniverse began, what they are enjoying about the newest Doctor and companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), and which Doctor is their favorite!
Warning: Spoiilers for past seasons of Doctor Who and for the new episodes which just premiered last week
Contributors/Writers Brian Kitson * Wiktor Reinfuss * Cameron Brook*
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill*
Recorded on 5/15/24
The companion article for this podcast can be found at https://thecosmiccircus.com/doctor-who-season-premiere-podcast/
The Fallout series has been an astounding hit for Prime Video, still holding spots at the top of the charts on the streaming service. The renewed interest has even made physical copies of the game, harder to find, speaking to the success and reach that the show has brought forth. We were corralled into a vast world with three intertwined stories, from Ghouls, to Vaulties, to the Brotherhood of Steel. Luckily, a second season has already been ordered, giving everyone plenty of time to play the games while we wait for the show to begin filming again.
Join host Anthony Flagg (X/Twitter: redovah_) and his guests Drew Reed (X/Twitter: drewreed1099) and Cameron Brook (X/Twitter:: camandfilm) as they discuss their favorite facets of Fallout. In this episode, we get the varied context from some of the guests who have not played the games previously! Also, there are discussions about what they want to see in Fallout season 2, and their plans to play the major game franchise in the future.
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers Anthony Flagg * Drew Reed * Cameron Brook*
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill*
Recorded on 5/5/24
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Everyone says that New York City is the city that never sleeps and with the way that the lights on Broadway shine so brightly, I know that has to be true. Having always been a musical lover, over the past couple of years Broadway has begun to feel like a second home. You're amongst your people every time you step into a theater, ready for a new experience as the lights dim and the curtains go up. While there is never a bad time to fly off to NYC and take in a few shows, we're entering a special season for Broadway, as the 77th Tony Awards are upon us!
Join host Brian Kitson (X/Twitter: Kitson301, Instagram: bkitson301) and guest RJ Miller-Zelinko (Instagram: journey_thru_the_past_) as they discuss everything Broadway and the recently announced Tony Award nominees! The two discuss how their love for Broadway got started, how working in a theater for years has provided RJ a different perspective on how these shows come to be, their recent trip to NYC and the shows they saw there, and of course, their opinions on the nominees for the 77th Tony Awards. Be sure to follow along with our coverage of this year's Tony Awards, which takes place on June 16 and is hosted by Ariana DeBose!
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers Brian Kitson * RJ Miller-Zelinko*
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill*
Recorded on 5/2/24
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com
The Titan-sized box office hit Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire popped up from the depths of Hollow Earth into theaters last week. The movie, the latest from director Adam Wingard, is the 38th Godzilla film and the newest entry into Legendary's MonsterVerse.
The film brings together Apple TV+'s Monarch in expanding the world and also gives us the impossible not-to-meme visual of Godzilla sleeping in the Coliseum like a giant Cat. With impressive acting from Rebecca Hall, Kaylee Hottle, Dan Stevens, and The Eternals' Brian Tyree Henry, the movie left us at The Cosmic Circus with many monstrous thoughts on this post-Mechagodzilla universe.
Join host Ayla Ruby, Brian Kitson, Uday Kataria, as they discuss Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Beware, spoilers for the city-smashing Titan story, as well as Monarch, are discussed within and below.
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/WritersAyla Ruby
Uday Kataria
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/EditorLizzie Hill
Recorded on 4/4/2024
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Find the full companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com
Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus
Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two is here, and we here at The Cosmic Circus are ready to accept Timothée Chalamet (and Zendaya's!) ascendancy. It's been a long road to the second half of this newest adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic novel from 1965, and there have been a few bumps along the way. From teases to whether or not "Part Two" of Dune would actually happen to dual strikes in Hollywood thanks to some greedy behavior by the AMPTP, the project has faced some delays. But now it's here in (mostly) IMAX projected glory with an impressive cast, including Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh, and more.
Join host Ayla Ruby, Uday Kataria, and John Dotson as they discuss Dune: Part Two. Warning: Spoilers for the latest spice-powered epic are discussed within.
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/WritersAyla Ruby
Uday Kataria
John Dotson
Executive Producer/EditorLizzie Hill
Recorded on 3/8/2024
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Find the full companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com
Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus
Echo, the first-ever entry into Marvel’s new Spotlight banner, starring the mega-talented Alaqua Cox, dropped last week with a full five episodes. In this very special 50th episode of the Cosmic Circle podcast, Ayla Ruby, Brian Kitson, John Dotson and Alex Perez discuss Marvel's Echo. Maya Lopez as well as Kingpin Wilson Fisk are discussed, as well as that Daredevil cameo.
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/WritersAlex Perez
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
John Dotson
Executive Producer/EditorLizzie Hill
Recorded on 1/17/24
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Find the full companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com
Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus
Welcome back, campers, to another year at Camp Half-Blood, and the latest episode of The Cosmic Circle! We're big fans of the world of Percy Jackson over here and have been following along with the exciting adventure on Disney+'s Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The series stars Walker Scobell as Percy, the Demi-god son of Poseidon, who must venture across America with friends Annabeth (Leah Jeffries) and Grover (Aryan Simhadri). Together, this trio of heroes must find Zeus' missing lightning bolt before an all-out war between the Gods breaks out.
Join host Brian Kitson, along with writers Ayla Ruby and Anthony Flagg, as they discuss all the highs and lows of the first 5 episodes of Percy Jackson & The Olympians. Find out how they got started in Rick Riordan's world, what they've enjoyed in the series, and what God they'd be born to!
What do you think of the series so far? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers Anthony Flagg * Ayla Ruby * Brian Kitson*
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill*
Recorded on 1/14/24
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
A full article of this podcast can be found on https://thecosmiccircus.com
Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus
Another year has gone by, and we've completed another revolution around the sun. 2023 was a fantastic year for movies, so The Cosmic Crew was excited to sit down and rank their top 5 of the year. From Barbie to The Color Purple to Bottoms and John Wick: Chapter 4, it was a lively chat, and an hour just isn't long enough for The Cosmic Circle.
There were surprises, including why we liked certain comic book movies, to the last-minute shuffling of our rankings as the year progressed, and more movies came out; this podcast had it all and was a delight. Host Ayla Ruby was joined by head writer Brian Kitson and all-around movie king John Dotson to discuss what worked for them this year. There was heartbreak, musicals, action, and so much more. Listen below for our full thoughts on the best movies of 2023.
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
- Ayla Ruby
- Brian Kitson
- John Dotson
Executive Producer/Editor
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 12/28/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
For a full companion article to this podcast visit thecosmiccircus.com
Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus
It's another episode of Sloth Baby Productions... just kidding. The Cosmic Circle podcast is back, and we saw The Marvels just like (hopefully) all of you and had some thoughts about the return of Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Their first big screen team-up featured Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), an interesting villain named Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), and a whole lot of flerkens. Join host Ayla Ruby, along with Uday Kataria, Emily Maack, and Drew Reed, as they chat all things The Marvels in this spoilerific podcast episode.
The Cosmic Crew shared their impressions of the film, including what worked and didn't work for them. They chatted about Dar-Benn as a villain and all the bad-ass action scenes that director Nia DaCosta brought to life. We even talked about the ending moments of The Marvels, including that homage to a classic Avengers kickoff. And, of course, we chatted about the post-credit scene and what it means going forward for the MCU. So come on in towards the shiny hex jump point, where universes collide, and listen to the podcast.
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
- Ayla Ruby
- Uday Kataria
- Emily Maack
- Drew Reed
Executive Producer/Editor
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 11/19/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
For a full companion article to this podcast visit thecosmiccircus.com
Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus
Last Thursday, the final page in the book of Loki season 2 closed to a perhaps sacred timeline-shifting ending. The God of Mischief, as portrayed by Tom Hiddleston, sprouted horns and finally fulfilled his glorious purpose. Join host Ayla Ruby, along with Alex Perex, Uday Kataria, and Drew Reed, as they chat all things Loki season 2 finale.
The Cosmic Circle crew had a ton to unpack on this episode of the podcast, but we only strayed into Ant-Man territory once or twice. We discussed their thoughts on "Glorious Purpose" and whether it met our expectations. We also chatted about the reversed Marvel intro sequence, Kang the Conqueror and his variants, that ending, and the future of Loki characters, including Ravonnah Renslayer, and more.
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers
Ayla Ruby
Uday Kataria
Alex Perez
Drew Reed
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 11/11/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Full article and more at https://thecosmiccircus.com
Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus
Two long years after Omni-Man's betrayal, the season 2 premiere of Invincible, "A Lesson for Your Next Life," is here to mess with our heads even more. Mark Grayson, aka Invincible, is still trying to pick up the pieces and come to terms with the reality of his horrific dad, and we're all here for the doozy of a dimension-hopping ride.
The Cosmic Crew, including host Ayla Ruby (hey, that's me!), John Dotson, Izzy Friedman, and Anthony Flagg delved into everything Invincible. In this spoiler-heavy discussion, we dissect that doozy of an opening sequence and our reactions after the long Invincible drought. We debate the ethics of Angstrom Levy (Sterling K. Brown) and explore Mark Grayson's (Steven Yeun) complicated relationships with his mom, Debbie (Sandra Oh), and Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs). We also go deep on grief, the show's complex themes, and its subversion of the superhero trope, specifically the traditional Superman archetype. And, of course, we share some predictions for the next three episodes. We're so excited to chat about it on this week's podcast, so tune in to hear us unpack all the twists, turns, and gore.
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
- Ayla Ruby
- Izzy Friedman
- John Dotson
- Anthony Flagg
Executive Producer/Editor
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 11/03/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
For a full article on this podcast and more visit https://thecosmiccircus.com
Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus
Join host Brian Kitson and fellow Cosmic Circus writers John Dotson and Wiktor Reinfuss (Vic) as they share some of their favorite films and television series that are perfect for the Halloween season! From Chucky to Scream, Dracula to Supernatural, these three discuss a wide array of scary films and shows that are sure to fill you with terror. Plus listen to each of their stories of their first experiences with horror films!
Visit https://thecosmiccircus.com for the companion article for this podcast
Scary Halloween Movie and Show RecommendationsBrian's recommendations
Rose Red
Skeleton Key
Chucky/Child’s Play
The Descent
Marble Hornets
The Shining Rope
Psycho/Bates Motel
One Missed Call
Shining Vale
Goosebumps
John's recommendations
Host (2020)
Scream
Lake Mungo
Audition
Trick 'r Treat
The Girl With All the Gifts
Vic's recommendations
Sleepy Hollow
Halloween
Supernatural
The Ritual
Dracula (Francis Ford Coppola)
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers
Brian Kitson
John Dotson
Wiktor Reinfuss
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 10/22/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
The God of Mischief has returned, bringing his signature chaos with him in Loki Season 2! Tom Hiddleston picked up the not-quite-horned mantle again, returning as Loki Odinson this past week in an appropriately twisty sci-fi episode called "Ouroboros" written by Eric Martin. It's been two years since we left off on that dramatic scene with Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) from season 1, and this episode promises so much more drama and heart for the season. Owen Wilson's Mobius is back, joined by Marvel newcomer Ke Huy Quan's O.B. as Loki and crew work together to prevent Kang (Jonathan Majors) from taking over everything at the TVA and beyond.
The Cosmic Crew is back, too, and has many temporal and existential questions about Loki's return to screen. Join us in this episode as we chat about Loki season 2. We do a deep dive into the episode, including what we loved about the TVA and some of the new tech, like the temporal loom. We talk about Kang and THAT recording with Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and whether or not it hints at anything more. We even chat about our dream ending for the season, and a few of us have very Deadpool-inspired hopes. So slip on your headphones (and make sure you're staying awake like Eugene Cordero's Casey) as you listen to the newest Cosmic Circle podcast episode.
You can listen to the podcast below directly or on most sites where you listen to podcasts. Follow us for updates on X at @cosmicpodcasts!
[Warning: Spoilers from Loki are within the podcast! Listen at your own risk or you may get pruned.]
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Ayla Ruby
Anthony Flagg
Uday Kataria
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 10/07/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
The first season of Ahsoka has reached its conclusion on Disney+, delivering a strong season from the Lucasfilm property. After eight episodes, the adventures of Rosario Dawson's Jedi and her compatriots have concluded with a bigger threat now looming on the sidelines. With huge ramifications and the excitement of what's to come for these characters, we had to hash it out in our Ahsoka season 1 finale discussion!
Join head writer Brian Kitson and fellow writers Drew Reed and Emily Maack as they talk about all the excitement from across all eight episodes of Disney+'s Ahsoka! What stood out to them? Where do they think the story is headed from here? You can find all those answers and more in this exciting Ahsoka finale discussion!
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Brian Kitson
Drew Reed
Emily Maack
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 10/07/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @cosmicpodcasts
Visit for the full article: https://thecosmiccircus.com
Earlier this year, Keanu Reeves returned to the big screen as the titular assassin in John Wick: Chapter 4, arguably the most stylish and high-octane action franchise of our time. Directed by the talented Chad Stahelski and written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, the film sees our dog-avenging anti-hero facing off against the High Table in another thrilling installment.
On this action-packed John Wick podcast episode, The Cosmic Crew discusses why you should never mess with a man and his dog. We share our thoughts on John Wick: Chapter 4, including the seemingly final scene, rank the movies, and debate whether The Matrix or John Wick is Keanu Reeves' more iconic franchise. (Secretly, we all know it's The Lake House.) We also explore potential John Wick universe crossovers, such as Atomic Blonde, and debate the merits of John Wick and James Bond. The crew dives deep into the beautiful cinematography of the movie, as shot by Dan Laustsen. We also chat about the upcoming series The Continental, and whether or not we'll be watching. So rev up your motorcycle...or your horse and listen in!
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers* Ayla Ruby * John Dotson * Wiktor Reinfuss
Executive Producer/Editor* Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 09/18/2023
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
For a full article on this podcast and more visit https://thecosmiccircus.com/
As anyone can attest, representation of any kind is important in the media that we consume. With the makeup of our population being so diverse, between ethnicities, skin colors, genders, and sexualities, the characters and stories we see on screen and in books should represent that as well. While there's still a ton of work to be done for proper visibility for so many minorities, one that has a bit of an awakening is proper LGBTQ+ representation in films and television. With a thought that began with Red, White & Royal Blue, host Brian Kitson wished to look back at the past representation of Queer representation and the current landscape for this long-looked-over and misrepresented group.
Join Brian Kitson, along with Izzy Friedman and Uday Kataria as they explore some important landmarks in Queer representation in television and films. Listen as they share their oldest memories with a queer character and how new media feels like a step in the right direction for proper LGBTQ+ visibility. These three deep dive into a few new projects, such as Heartstoppers, Interview With The Vampire, Killing Eve, and so much more, as they explore the impact these films and shows have on the population as a whole and individually for each one of them.
[Warning: Spoilers from some Queer content, such as Red, White & Royal Blue, Interview With The Vampire, Heartstopper, etc. are within the podcast! Listen at your own risk.]
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/WritersBrian Kitson
Izzy Friedman
Uday Kataria
Executive Producer/EditorLizzie Hill
Recorded on 09/02/2023
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Follow us on social media @cosmicpodcasts or @mycosmiccirus and you can find a full article on this podcasts at https://thecosmiccircus.com
While Ahsoka may have lived a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, you don't have to jump into your X-Wing and fly off to Tatooine to see what she's up to, because Ahsoka, the new Star Wars series has arrived on Disney+! The series stars Rosario Dawson as the ex-Jedi knight as she and Sabine (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) search the galaxy for Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) and Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi). So our writers couldn't wait to get together and break it all down in our Ahsoka Discussion!
Join head writer Brian Kitson, along with fellow writers Drew Reed and Emily Maack as they talk about all the exciting scenes from Disney+'s Ahsoka! What did they like? What would they have changed? Why is Sabine the best? All that and more you can find in this exciting discussion about all things Ahsoka and Star Wars as a whole!
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers Brian Kitson
Drew Reed
Emily Maack
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 08/26/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Xolo Maridueña stars as the scarab-tactic superhero Blue Beetle, which buzzed onto the big screen this past weekend. Blue Beetle, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto and written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, is the first live-action comic book film with a Hispanic lead. The long-anticipated picture is the third DC Studios release this year after Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash.
It's all about family in The Fast and the... er... Blue Beetle, and on this episode of The Cosmic Circle, we are joined by some fantastic family members. Writers Anthony Flagg and Wiktor Reinfuss swarmed in for our chat about the celestial scarab-powered superhero Jaime Reyes.
We talked about the movie's meaning on a cultural level, our favorite parts, including the charming and talented Xolo Maridueña, and our thoughts on the nefarious Victoria Kord, portrayed by screen legend Susan Sarandon. We even talked about that mid-credits scene and whether or not Jason Sudeikis really is Ted Kord.
And dear listeners, you won't want to miss our discussion of just how many times Wiktor has seen The Flash. So whether you're a lifelong DC Comics fan or someone who's just getting into the world of DC after James Gunn took over the studio, this podcast is for you.
You can listen to the podcast below directly or on most sites where you listen to podcasts. For email updates to The Cosmic Circle and Cosmic Cafe podcasts, subscribe here and follow us for updates on X (formerly Twitter) at
Six weeks ago, Secret Invasion began its journey on Disney+. The first Marvel Studios series of 2023 has come and gone, and it has left quite an impression on fans of the MCU. Whether you've loved it or hated it, Secret Invasion has definitely left people talking. So with so many differing thoughts and opinions on this divisive show, The Cosmic Circus writers couldn't wait to get together on a Secret Invasion wrap-up discussion!
Join host Brian Kitson and fellow writers Anthony Flagg, Ayla Ruby, and Uday Kataria as they break down every moment from Marvel's Secret Invasion! Which characters are their favorites? Which moments were they disappointed in? And where exactly do they think the MCU is headed in the aftermath of this series? All that and more can be found in this podcast!
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Uday Kataria
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 06/25/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Read the full article at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-37-secret-invasion-wrap-up-discussion/
After months of buzz, the live-action Barbie movie finally hit theaters this weekend, and we're diving deep into this episode of the Cosmic Circle. The world's most famous doll has been brought to life by writer-director Greta Gerwig and her professional partner Noah Baumbach. After seeing the massively successful box office, it's safe to say we're in a Barbie world.
On this episode of the Cosmic Circle, we're joined by writers John Dotson and Uday Kataria to discuss the live-action Barbie film. Our cosmic conversation included everything from the pink world of Barbieland and the star-studded cast (including Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling) and awards buzz. We also discuss the film's true villain, the cultural phenomenon that is Barbieheimer, and why this movie has an important message for kids everywhere. So whether you're a lifelong Barbie fan or just curious about the hype and love listening to us talk, tune in for this fascinating discussion.
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Ayla Ruby
John Dotson
Uday Kataria
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 07/24/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Ep. 36 Timestamps: Barbie movie discussion (Spoilers) 00:18 - Intros
01:00 - Spoiler alert for the Barbie movie!
01:10 - First impressions on Barbie and it's themes.
08:30 - America Ferrera's monologue, hit or miss?
13:27 - Barbenheimer
19:30 - What was your movie-going experience?
21:19 - What does Barbie's massive box office success mean for movies in general?
32:41 - Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling's performances.
39:32 - Was Ken the villain of the story or was it someone or something else?
45:00 - Favorite Easter eggs or things that made you laugh
48:00 - Thoughts on the ending of the Barbie movie.
52:00 - Outros
Read the full article at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-36-barbie-movie-discussion/
With Superman & Lois finishing its third season, My Adventures with Superman on Max now, and Superman: Legacy beginning to assemble its cast, now is the perfect time to reflect on the greatest hero of them all: SUPERMAN! Featuring in 85 years of comics, radio, TV, film, animation, and live action, no character has had a greater impact on comic book culture than the gentle giant Superman and the mild-mannered Clark Kent.
Join host Vin, Vic, and Anthony as they look back on the Man of Tomorrow, their favorite adaptations, and what they hope to see in the future. What are the best Superman storylines? What makes a good Superman adaptation? Do the red undies matter?? Tune in for all this and more!
(SPOILER WARNING for past Superman comics, shows, and movies)
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers Anthony Flagg
Vin
Wiktor Reinfuss
Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 07/16/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
The year is already half over, and it has been a cosmically wild ride. It feels like just yesterday we were all warming up a cup of eggnog for our Hawkeye rewatch and gearing up for the new year. New films and television shows have been released at a breakneck pace in 2023, and it's been hard to keep up with all the good stuff. (We've tried! Our Letterboxd accounts are proof.) But fear not, dear reader, for we here at The Cosmic Circus have done the hard work for you. We've scoured the airwaves and streaming services to bring you a list of the must-watch television shows of 2023.
On this episode of the Cosmic Circle, host Ayla Ruby is joined by writers Anthony Flagg and John Dotson to discuss their top five television shows of 2023 (so far). They'll also be sharing some honorable mentions. What do you think will make it to number one? Will your favorite be on the list? Tune in to hear what the Cosmic Crew says about the year's best television.
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers * + Ayla Ruby + Anthony Flagg + John Dotson
Executive Producer/Editor * + Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 07/09/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Full article available at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-34-the-best-2023-television-series-so-far/
Can you believe we're already halfway through 2023? Time flies when there's so so many new films and television shows rolling out. There are so many standouts and quite a few upsets as well, that it almost seems impossible to keep up with everything that comes out in a year. Now that we're six months into the year, we here at The Cosmic Circus wanted to look back at some of the highlights from 2023's movies.
Join host Ayla Ruby along with well Cosmic Circus writers Brian Kitson and John Dotson as they rank their top five 2023 movies so far. What do you think will make it to number one? Will your favorite of the year make it on their list? You'll have to listen in to see what the writers have to say about the movies of 2023. A huge thanks to John for joining us on The Cosmic Circle, we can't wait to have you on again!
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers * + Ayla Ruby + Brian Kitson + John Dotson
Executive Producer/Editor * + Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 07/02/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Secret Invasion has finally arrived on Disney+, ending our dry spell of Marvel Studios content on the streaming service. This six-episode series sees the return of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) as you've never seen him before. The world has changed so much after the Snap, so much so that Fury doesn't know what to expect anymore. Secret Invasion has only dropped one episode, but already the excitement for this series has been building, so of course we have to get together and talk about it in our Secret Invasion premiere discussion!
Join host Brian Kitson, along with fellow writers Alex Perez, Anthony Flagg, and Uday Kataria as they discuss every exciting detail and disappointment from the first episode of Secret Invasion. These four discuss which new character is their favorite, the impact that a certain death has on the series and MCU, and where they think the show will end up.
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers * + Alex Perez + Anthony Flagg + Brian Kitson + Uday Kataria
Executive Producer/Editor * + Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 06/25/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Full article available at: https://the.cosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-32-secret-invasion-premiere-discussion-spoilers
After a decade since it was first announced, The DCEU's The Flash has finally arrived in theaters. It's been a long journey to bring Barry Allen and his powers of lightning speed to the silver screen, but fans of the witty speedster are excited to finally see the final product. With the arrival of The Flash, the beginning of the end has begun for the DECU, with just two more films left to close out the chapter. So in honor of this new DC film, we couldn't wait to break it all down in our The Flash discussion.
Join host Brian Kitson, along with fellow writers Drew Reed and Wiktor Reinfuss as they break down the highs and lows from The Flash. Listen as they tell you their favorite parts, what didn't work for them, and just what cameo in the film is their favorite. They also speculate about the future of the DC films and how the DCEU can reach a proper swan song. All this and more can be heard in this newest exciting episode of The Cosmic Circle!
For email updates to The Cosmic Circle and Cosmic Cafe podcasts subscribe and follow us for updates on Twitter at @cosmicpodcasts!
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers * + Brian Kitson + Drew Reed + Wiktor Reinfuss
Executive Producer/Editor * + Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 06/17/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Full article available at: The Cosmic Circus
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse has finally arrived in theaters, continuing the adventures of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), and all our other favorite spider-people from Marvel Comics. Following the events of 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Miles steps out of his universe into a larger spider-web of the multiverse, where danger is around every corner. With this animated film smashing box-office records, we couldn't wait to get together and talk about every juicy detail from the film and what's to come next in the Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Discussion.
In the latest episode of The Cosmic Circle, host Brian Kitson and fellow Cosmic Circus writer Alex Perez break down every exciting moment and what the crazy ending of Across the Spider-Verse means for the future of Sony's Marvel films. This is definitely a podcast you don't want to miss, as our resident Spider-Expert Alex Perez shares plenty of insight and quite a few bits of information, for fans of Spider-Man as well as one juicy Scarlet Witch drop.
[Warning: Spoilers from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseare within the podcast!]Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers
-
- Alex Perez
- Brian Kitson
-
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 06/04/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Executive Producer/Editor
For a full article on this podcast visit: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-30-spider-man-across-the-spider-verse
Prehistoric Planet is a documentary series on Apple TV+ that combines state-of-the-art realistic animation with stunning cinematography to transport viewers back to the Cretaceous period, 66 million years ago. The series features never-before-seen "footage" of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures in their natural habitats. Sir David Attenborough, the legend of documentary series like Planet Earth, even narrates it. Executive Produced by John Favreau, Prehistoric Planetuses tech from hit shows like The Book of Boba Fett to bring these animals to life.
On Tuesday, The Cosmic Circus had the opportunity to sit down over Zoom with the show's executive producer Mike Gunton and showrunner Tim Walker. Both are highly accomplished filmmakers in the world of natural history. Gunton is known for his work on the Emmy and BAFTA-winning Planet Earth II, as well as Galapagos,Yellowstone, Madagascar,and Life. Walker has a similarly impressive career, with 20 years of bringing natural history to the screen.
There are five episodes in the new season, each tied to a different habitat and the animals that lived there. In our interview, we chatted about dinosaurs (of course!) but also how they built on the technology from season 1, creating empathy for these prehistoric characters and more.
Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com
Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.
Recorded 5/16/2023
After a long wait, the Guardians of the Galaxy are back. This past weekend, James Gunn delivered the third and perhaps most emotionally resonant entry in the cosmic saga, titled Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. Star-lord aka Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and the team is adjusting to their new place in the cosmos. After an attack on their celestial haven of Knowhere, where one of their own is threatened, the Guardians must face off against a wicked and new foe in the High-Evolutionary, played by Chukwudi Iwuji.
In the newest Cosmic Circle podcast episode, host Ayla Ruby and writers Anthony Flagg and Brian Kitson discuss their favorite and least favorite moments from the new movie including some epic action sequences. They cover the exciting and sad reveal of one guardian's origins, cameos, the post-credit scene, and whether this movie is the end of the ride for the Guardians of the Galaxy as we know it.
SPOILER WARNING FOR GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3!
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 05/07/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Watch out for spoilers from season 3 and the season finale of The Mandalorian!
Season 3 of The Mandalorian concluded on Wednesday with Chapter 24: The Return. Expectations were high for the finale, which continued the story of The Mandalorian, aka Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal/Brendan Wayne/Lateef Crowder), and adorable found family, the Child, aka Grogu, as they worked with Bo Katan (Katee Sackhoff) and Axe Woves (Simon Kassianides) to defeat Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) and restore Mandalore.
Host Ayla Ruby and writers Anthony Flagg and Drew Reed chat about their favorite and least favorite moments from the season finale. They take listener questions and share their thoughts on whether or not Moff Gideon is really dead, Bo Katan's growth over the season, and whether there will be a Season 4 of The Mandalorian.
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Drew Reed
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 04/21/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Full article at: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-28-the-mandalorian-season-3-finale/
Guardians of the Galaxy was one of the first entries in the MCU to take fans to the stars, bringing the cosmos into the spotlight. With humble beginnings as a rag-tag team of A-holes thrust together by fate and bad luck, the group grew into a family full of love and harassment. The Guardians have faced some tough moments together, but have always come out closer than ever though perhaps a bit battle-scarred. So with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 almost here, we couldn't wait to discuss the team's journey from Vol. 1 to their Holiday Special.
Host Brian Kitson, along with fellow writers Ayla Ruby and Anthony Flagg discuss some of their favorite memories from the previous Guardians of the Galaxy films as well as things they wish were a bit different from their journey through the MCU. Listen to see if listener's question gets answered, such as which scenes or songs are their favorites, or who their favorite Guardian is from across the many entries. And stay tuned, as a follow-up podcast reviewing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will arrive alongside the release of the film in theaters in early May. Let us know your favorite Guardians moments on Twitter or in the Cosmic Circus discord!
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers
Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 04/16/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Full article available at: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-27-journey-to-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3/
It's a great time to be a Star Wars fan! Not only has The Mandalorian returned to our screens over on Disney+, but this past weekend the biggest gathering in the galaxy happened in London, with the 2023 Star Wars Celebration. Across the four days, tons of announcements and trailers dropped for what's to come to a galaxy far, far, away. So of course some of the writers at The Cosmic Circus couldn't wait to break down every juicy detail from the long weekend of out-of-this-world fun.
Host Ayla Ruby, along with head writer Brian Kitson and fellow writer Wiktor Reinfuss come together in their Millennium Falcon and jet off to explore all the excitement. Join them as they discuss the three new films announced at the Star Wars Celebration, their joy or disappointment around the updates on some of the Disney+ series, and what they wished they saw at this year's convention.
We also have a short discussion about that The Marvels trailer that just dropped to open all the fun!
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Wiktor Reinfuss
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 04/11/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
We're big animation fans at The Cosmic Circus and always love getting the chance to sit down with the creators behind these fantastic stories. Earlier this week, Cosmic Cafe host Ayla Ruby chatted over zoom with Bill Motz and Bob Roth from Disney's fantasy show The Ghost and Molly McGee.
The Ghost and Molly McGeeis about a young girl named Molly McGee who is an optimist and always sees the brighter side of things. There's always something to have joy about. When Molly's family moves to a new home and town, she discovers their house is haunted by a grumpy ghost named Scratch. Awesome, right? When Scratch's attempts to haunt Molly go wrong, the two are bound together forever. The show follows them through this unlikely and sweet growing friendship.
The show is Emmy-nominated, and for a good reason - it's a joy to watch. The talented cast includes Ashly Burch (as Molly), Dana Snyder (as Scratch), Jordan Klepper, Sumalee Montano, Michaela Dietz, and Lara Jill Miller.
Bill Motz and Bob Roth are equally as talented as their cast. The duo has been writing partners for 30 years, working on things like Darkwing Duck, LEGO Star Wars, and The Penguins of Madagascar. They're the creators and executive producers of The Ghost and Molly Mcgee and were so much fun to speak with.
Full article available on https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
Timestamps:
-
- 00:25 - Intros
- 02:20 - Bill Motz and Bob Roth tell us more about The Ghost and Molly McGee
- 04:00 - Talk about season 2 and the introduction of autistic character June Chen, and the importance of representation.
- 08:10 - More will be revealed about Scratch's past in the second season
- 09:05 - Guest stars in season 2
- 10:10 - Discussing the detailed work of the designers and the Mega City game from season 1
- 11:40 - Roth and Motz talk about the process of going from a kernel of an idea to a script.
- 15:25 - What is the status of The Ghost and Molly McGee season 3?
- 16:15 - The show is about "humor, heart, and hope."
- 17:30 - Ayla asks what Motz and Roth are working on next.
- 18:35 - Outros
Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com
Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.
Recorded 3/23/2023
If you have kids and an Apple TV+ subscription, the chances you’ve seen the movie Luck are pretty high. It’s an Apple Original movie with a tremendous amount of heart. Last week, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, the Luck universe grew. We sat down with director Matt Youngberg from Skydance Animation to discuss his short Bad Luck Spot from the same Luck universe. Bad Luck Spot features the Hazmat Bunnies that had an adorable but short appearance in the movie.
Matt Youngberg has an impressive career. Before he joined Skydance, he spearheaded the Ducktales reboot for Disney Television Animation. (As part of Ducktales, he even brought this writer’s favorite hero, Darkwing Duck, back to the screen!) Youngberg is both Emmy and Annie nominated, and he’s worked on other beloved franchises, like Batman Beyond, Teen Titans, and Ben 10.
Cosmic Cafe credits:Host: Ayla RubyTheme: “Coffee and You” by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.
Recorded 3/14/2023
other links: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/
The Bad Luck short: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLpFAOQyAKw&feature=youtu.be
Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com interviews Jared Gerrizen and Sophia Leader of Illfonic about the Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed game.
Cosmic Cafe credits:Host: Ayla RubyTheme: “Coffee and You” by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.
Recorded 2/15
other links: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/
https://www.illfonic.com/
Join host Ayla Ruby and fellow writers Brian Kitson and Wiktor Reinfuss as they discuss Shazam: Fury of the Gods. The trio talks about what worked for them and what didn’t in this latest DC Studios adaption. They discuss cameos, post-credit scenes, and even the somewhat controversial product placement. And if that wasn’t enough, the writers also answer questions from the Cosmic Circus community and more.
Ep. 24: Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Timestamps:
00:20 - Intros
01:15 - First and pre-viewing impressions on Shazam! Fury of the Gods, going in. Did you expect to like it? What did you like?
11:02 - Do you want to see more of Shazam in future?
14:15 - Spoiler alert! Talking about what they did and didn't get right with tone and whether or not there should be a reboot for the characters
17:09 - Discussion about bringing in Peacemaker characters, and talk about the difference in tone between Shazam! and that show.
20:40 - What did you really like about the movie?
27:45 - Praising Lucy Liu's performance
29:45 - What did you not like about the movie?
36:15 - What is going on with the end credits scene anyway?
38:30 - Discussing the dragon and VFX
41:00 - Discussing product placements in the film.
44:18 - Did you like Steve?
46:00 - Final thoughts on Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Vic's theory... is Shazam's world going to be connected to The Flash film coming up?
49:45 - Outros
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Brian Kitson
Ayla Ruby
Wiktor Reinfuss
Executive Producer/EditorLizzie Hill
Recorded on 03/19/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
full article at:https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-25-shazam-fury-of-the-gods-discussion/
If there's one show that people can't seem to stop talking about recently it's The Last of Us. HBO build another hit, which audiences can't get enough of. That includes us here at The Cosmic Circus, so of course we had to jump on Zoom for The Last of Us discussion podcast, capping the end of an excellent season.
Join host Brian Kitson and fellow writers Ayla Ruby and Anthony Flagg as they break down what they liked, how The Last of Us compares to other video game adaptations, and what they hope to see in future seasons!
Timestamps (SPOILER WARNING for The Last of Us season 1 and the game)
00:20 - Intros
02:20 - General thoughts on The Last of Us season 1
05:45 - Audience reception
10:45 - What parts of season 1 did we like the most?
20:41 - What didn't we like?
28:00 - Where do we think this ranks as far as game adaptations? Do we have hope for future game adaptations to be this good?
32:00 - Commenting on Ashley Johnson's appearance on the show, and how similar she looks to Bella Ramsey.
34:20 - Theories for next season (more spoilers discussed for the game and possibly future seasons)
37: 20 - Would the cure have worked?
41:40 - Outros
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers
- Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/Editor
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 03/13/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Full article available at: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-24-the-last-of-us-season-1-discussion/
In this episode, host Ayla Ruby, along with fellow podcasters Brian Kitson, and Anthony Flagg delve into everything from Jonathan Majors' Kang to our thoughts on Cassie Lang's future. And although he couldn't be on the podcast in person, cosmic writer Alex Perez answered some of those curious inquiries in writing.
(SPOILER warning for Ant-man and the Wasp: Quantumania)
Timestamps
00:20 Intros
01.10 Will we ever see Hope and Scott married with kids?
03:25 Will Cassie and Peter Parker ever meet and become friends?
05:35 Comments on audience response to MODOK
07:50 If Janet had those discs then why didn't she escape before?
11:25 Was Kang planned for way back when Ant-Man and the Wasp came out?
12:40 What are they planning ahead now?
13: 30 Alternate ways to defeat Kang and what is Kang without his suit?
16:00 Why does Scott act sort of immaturely? Why doesn't he tell people about his worries?
19:00 What did you think of Cassie Lang in this film?
24:44 Questions for Alex Perez
25:15 When will we see Kang next in the MCU?
28:50 Should Peyton Reed return for Ant-Man 4 or Secret Wars?
32:01 What was your favorite part of Quantumania?
33:20 What is the future of the Quantum Realm in the MCU? Was this a one off?
36:10 Will Kang always be the main antagonist when he shows up?
39:14 Will Scott and Hope mentor the Young Avengers in Ant-Man 4?
41:09 How many Kangs will we see as main characters? Will there be new MCU Kang variants?
42:40 What is the plan for Janet and Hope going forward? (this was briefly talked about by Alex in our previous Quantumania episode)
44:17 Outros
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers
- Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/Editor
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 03/05/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay
Cosmic Cafe host Ayla Ruby sits down with Steve Loter and Rodney Clouden, Executive Producers of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, to talk about the new Marvel/Disney show. The series is now airing on Disney Channel and Disney+.
Timestamps:
00:30 - Intros
01:20 - What is Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur?
02:11 - What inspired you to bring these characters to TV?
03:10 - How did you get introduced to Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur?
04:50 - What was the inspiration for the art style of this series?
07:25 - What was the process for pairing the music with visuals?
10:23 - Pitching the series to Raphael Saadiq
13:10 - What can you tell me about Lunella's journey in season 1?
17:20 - Ayla's daughter asks, "Does Lunella's parents know she is a superhero, will they find out later?"
18:05 - Guest stars on the series, Mae Jemison, Cobie Smulders, and May Calamawy
21:20 - Anything else you'd like to share about the show this season?
23:30 - Outros
Are you a fan of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur? Please join the conversation and share your thoughts on Twitter @MyCosmicCircus or @CosmicPodcasts.
Cosmic Cafe credits:Host: Ayla RubyTheme: “Coffee and You” by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay. Recorded: 1/20
Full article available at : https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-cafe-interview-with-moon-girl-and-devil-dinosaur-eps-steve-loter-and-rodney-clouden/
It's been over two years since the last season of The Mandalorian, but finally, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu are back. Join host Brian Kitson, along with fellow Cosmic Circus writers Anthony Flagg and Wiktor Reinfuss, as they break down the Mandalorian season 3 premiere and share their predictions for the rest of the season.
What are your thoughts on The Mandalorian season 3 premiere? Is there anything you liked? What would you have liked to see differently? Let us know on social media. And if you enjoy this podcast, please consider sharing it with friends and supporting it via The Cosmic Circus Patreon, following us on Twitter @cosmicpodcasts, or joining our Discord.
Recorded on 03/05/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Cosmic Circus writers Ayla Ruby, Anthony Flagg and Alex Perez discuss the latest Marvel film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Warning for HEAVY SPOILERS as well as some hints and spoilers about the future of the Multiverse Saga shared by Alex Perez. Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers Alex PerezAnthony FlaggAyla RubyExecutive Producer/Editor Lizzie HillRecorded on 02/19/23Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. Full article with timestamps: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-21-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania/
Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com talks with EP and co-showrunner of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Pilar Flynn about the new Disney Marvel animated series.
Read the full article at: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-cafe-interview-with-pilar-flynn-from-moon-girl-and-devil-dinosaur/
For a comics reading guide to Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur go to: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/moon-girl-and-devil-dinosaur-reading-guide/
Time Stamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:34 - Interview with Pilar Flynn begins, introduction
01:35 - What does a producer do?
04:00 - What's the story of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur?
05:50 - Talk about the shows writing, sophisticated and fun, a show for adults and kids.
08:05 - Talk about the decision to "age up" Lunella Lafayette from 9 to 13 years old.
09:48 - They are in contact with the creators of the original comics Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder. They are "so excited" and "on board."
10:21 - Talk about animation influences for the show.
12:54 - Talk about cast and crew and the importance of diversity.
16:35 - About Diamond White casting as Lunella
18:05 - Where were you when you got the call about season 2 being greenlit?
19:30 - Anything else you'd like people to know about the show?
20:35 - Does this show fit into the larger MCU at all?
20:12 - If Moon Girl could team up with any Avenger, who would it be?
21:56 - Outro
Cosmic Cafe credits:Host: Ayla RubyTheme: “Coffee and You” by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay. Recorded: 12/07/2022
Now that the Infinity Saga has come to a close, Marvel Studios is ready to expand its cinematic universe in some big ways, by creating a multiverse. The Marvel Cinematic Multiverse is as confusing as it is epic, with rules and layers that are just becoming apparent. Don't worry though, co-host Brian and Ayla are joined by The Cosmic Circus writer Alex Perez, who is more than ready to dive deep and explain the Multiverse in detail.
Join along as The Cosmic Circle looks back through Phase 4 for the beginning of the multiverse and looks forward to Phase 5 and beyond, as the multiverse prepares to explode onto the screen. Coming just after the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantuamania will be our review episode, where Alex will join Ayla and Anthony breaking down the film and what comes next.
What are your thoughts on Marvel Cinematic Multiverse so far? Which Alex Perez tidbit was your favorite? Let us know on social media. And if you enjoy this podcast, please consider sharing it with friends and supporting it via The Cosmic Circus Patreon, following us on Twitter @cosmicpodcasts, or joining our Discord.
For full article and podcast with timestamps visit: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-20-the-marvel-cinematic-multiverse/
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Alex Perez
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 02/04/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
In the latest episode of The Cosmic Circle, Brian, Ayla, and Anthony discuss Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and the Wasp's (Evangeline Lilly) journey to Quantumania. The trio looks back at the Ant-family journey, beginning with Ant-Man through their last appearance in Avengers: Endgame, as well as speculate about what to expect from these pint-sized heroes in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania when it hits theaters.
Join along as The Cosmic Circle looks towards the past and makes predictions of the future for Ant-Man and the Wasp. And keep an eye out for a review episode of Quantumania, which will include our own Alex Perez as we talk about the latest Ant-man film and what may happen next.
[Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Avengers: Endgame.]
For email updates to The Cosmic Circle and Cosmic Cafe podcasts subscribe here!
What are your thoughts on Scott Lang's journey so far through the MCU? What do you think will happen with him and the rest of the Ant-Family during and after Quantumania? Let us know on social media. And if you enjoy this podcast, please consider sharing it with friends and supporting it via The Cosmic Circus Patreon, following us on Twitter @cosmicpodcasts, or joining our Discord.
Episode 19: Journey to Quantumania
00:20 - Intros
00:54 - Ant-Man is the best Avenger, right?
02:00 - Looking forward to Quantumania
04:35 - Memories of seeing the first Ant-Man film
08:40 - What was the first MCU film you saw in theaters?
12:50 - Ant-Man in Captain America: Civil War
20:13 - Discussing the Ant-Man and the Wasp movie
35:00 - Walton Goggins as Sonny Burch, and the Benefactor talk. When might we see Sonny Burch again?
38:30 - Intro of Kang in the Loki series
40:00 - Ant-Man in Avengers: Endgame
42:21 - Expectations for Quantumania
47:40 - Talking about MODOK and what happened to Darren Cross
51:20 - Missing Luis in this film
53:00 - Cassie in Quantumania
56:30 - Any more thoughts on the upcoming film?
58:00 - Thoughts on why Scott Lang would take up Kang's offer?
1:00 - Outros
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers
- Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/Editor
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 01/29/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
In this episode, Brian, Anthony, and Drew discuss the recent unveiling of the new DC Slate by James Gunn! These three were super excited to break down and discuss all eleven announced projects from the beginning part of the first chapter of the DCU: Gods and Monsters.
Join them as they explore these newly announced DC films and movies, as well as other tidbits from the slew of information provided by James Gunn and Peter Safran during their presentation!
You can listen to the podcast below, directly on Spotify, or via most sites that host podcasts. For email updates to The Cosmic Circle and Cosmic Cafe podcasts subscribe here! And if you enjoy this podcast, please consider sharing it with friends and supporting it via The Cosmic Circus Patreon, following us on Twitter at @cosmicpodcasts, or joining The Cosmic Circus Discord!
Episode 18: New DC Slate Discussion - Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters00:20 - Intros
01:07 - General thoughts on the new DC slate
05:10 - Creature Commandos discussion
09:40 - Waller and Peacemaker series discussion
12:50 - Superman: Legacy
16:31 - Lanterns, Green Lanterns series
20:17 - The Authority discussion
22:28 - Wonder Woman: Paradise Lost
27:00 - Batman: The Brave and the Bold
29:14 - Booster Gold
32:00 - Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
36:14 - Swamp Thing
40:27 - Shazam, The Flash, and Aquaman, what the reset means for these franchises
47:10 - Questions from listeners: What is something that wasn't on the new slate that disappointed you?
50:17 - Questions from listeners: If actors like Jason Momoa are staying, should the Supergirl movie star Sasha Calle? (IMO it would be unfair to recast her if others are staying)
51:34 - Questions from listeners: How do you feel about James Gunn doing a soft reboot here? Who should stick around?
53:00 - Outros
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers
- Anthony Flagg
Brian Kitson
Drew Reed
Executive Producer/Editor
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 01/31/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
In this episode, Brian, Ayla, and Anthony discuss Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock aka Daredevil, and his future appearances in the MCU such as in Disney+ series Echo and Daredevil: Born Again!
[Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again, Echo, Hawkeye, and She-Hulk.]
You can listen to the podcast below, or directly on Spotify, or via most sites that host podcasts. For email updates to The Cosmic Circle and Cosmic Cafe podcasts subscribe here!
What do you think about Charlie Cox's stint as Daredevil so far or the other characters in his stories? Let us know on social media. And if you enjoy this podcast, please consider sharing it with friends and supporting it via The Cosmic Circus Patreon, following us on Twitter @mycosmiccircus, or joining The Cosmic Circus Discord! Please don't forget to check out the previous Cosmic Circle podcast discussing Daredevil as he's been seen in live action and comics so far.
Episode 17: Daredevil - The Story Continues (SPOILER WARNING)
- 00:18 - Intros
- 01:05 - Daredevil: Born Again to have 18 episodes!
- 03:45 - Are Karen Page and Foggy Nelson returning? (Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Hensen)
- 10:30 - She-Hulk and Daredevil discussion
- 14:07 - What to expect from Kingpin moving forward. Comparing how he was in Hawkeye to the Daredevil Netflix series.
- 21:04 - How "mature" will Daredevil: Born Again be vs previous versions, including the comics.
- 26:00 - New cast members coming to Daredevil: Born Again discussion (Michael Gandolfini)
- 28:43 - Where is Vanessa? Will she return?
- 30:35 - More new cast members talk (Sandrine Holt and Margarita Levieva)
- 31:33 - Matt Murdock as a lawyer and his "lawyering" in the show vs comics.
- 35:00 - Will Matt leave NY in Daredevil: Born Again? What does the Out the Kitchen (working title) mean?
- 38:00 - Daredevil and the Echo series discussion
- 41:00 - Questions from listeners #1 Will we see Matt and his mom more in the new series?
- 42:56 - Q #2 What if Matt has a child in the MCU?
- 44:25 - Q #3 Are there more Defenders returning or new Defenders?
- 48:10 - Q #4 Will Bullseye return?
- 49:40 - Final thoughts, outros
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers
- Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/Editor
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 01/01/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
In this episode, Brian, Ayla, and Anthony discuss Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock aka Daredevil, from the Netflix series to his recent appearances in the MCU. A future episode will discuss what lies ahead for Daredevil in the MCU, so follow us and stay tuned!
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Netflix's Daredevil, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Hawkeye, and She-Hulk.
You can listen to the podcast below, or directly on Spotify, or via most sites that host podcasts. For email updates to The Cosmic Circle and Cosmic Cafe podcasts subscribe here!
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting it via The Cosmic Circus Patreon, following us on Twitter @mycosmiccircus, or joining our Discord.
Episode 16: Daredevil - The Story So Far00:17 – Intros
01:00 - Introduction to Daredevil and other Defenders series on Netflix
07:20 - What in the Daredevil Netflix series stuck out for you or did you enjoy the most?
14:08 - Overall impressions on the villains in Netflix's Daredevil series.
19:30 - Team Daredevil (Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, other friends and allies)
28:15 - Save Daredevil and Charlie Cox
29:45 - The return of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil in No Way Home. Is this the same universe?
34:94 - Did Matt disappear in The Snap?
39:07 - Kingpin's appearance in Hawkeye
57:00 - Matt Murdock/Daredevil in the She-Hulk series. Seeing a different side of the character.
49:38 – Outros
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 01/01/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Thank you to our guest science fiction author Jessie Mihalik for joining host Ayla Ruby for a chat about writing and creating her science fiction stories. Jessie Mihalik is the author of several book series in the space opera & romance genres - the Rogue Queen series, the Consortium Rebellion starting with Polaris Rising, and most currently the Starlight's Shadow series. The newest book in the latter series is titled Capture the Sun and is expected to release mid-2023.
For more on Jessie Mihalik's books please visit her website at https://www.jessiemihalik.com/
Timestamps
00:35 - Intros
00:53 - Jessie Mihalik tells Ayla a bit more about her background and books.
05:07 - Advice on dealing with writer's block
06:26 - Q: Pantser or plotter?
07:02 - Talking about creating characters
08:14 - About releasing serials on her blog, and how to build an audience
11:33 - Q: If you could live in any of your created universes, which would you want to live in?
13:00 - Threading the needle between sci-fi and romance
14:40 - Writing action into stories
15:56 - Q: What is your favorite action movie?
17:34 - Jessie Mihalik describes her writing process
20:56 - Research and world building
23:25 - The Rogue Queen series and The Queen's Gambit
26:25 - Jessie Mihalik's advice to aspiring writers
27:44 - Outros
Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com
Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.
Recorded 10/19
In this episode, Brian, Ayla, and Anthony discuss the past, present and future of DC films now that James Gunn has taken charge.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting it via The Cosmic Circus Patreon, following us on Twitter @mycosmiccircus, or joining our Discord.
Episode 14: James Gunn and the State of the DC Universe00:18 – Intros
00:56 - James Gunn taking over
04:00 - DC's previous plans
7:25 - The Arroverse
8:41 - What Gunn brought to DC films
10:10 - Where does DC go from here?
15:30 - Shazam: Fury of the Gods
17:20 - What upcoming films have the most promise?
26:00 - Where do these miscellaneous movies fit in the new DC?
28:55 - What creative would want to work with WB after Batgirl?
35:56 - Recasting Superman
40:21 - Do we need individual films for the Justice League again?
42:36 - Superman For All Seasons
44:23 - Superman and Lois
47:31 - New villains, but not Lex
49:40 - Recasting for a younger Superman
53:40 - James Gunn and Twitter
55:34 - General thoughts on DC
59:37 - The Batman, Matt Reeves, and James Gunn
1:11:00 – Outros
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Ayla Ruby
Anthony Flagg
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 12/18/22.
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
In this episode, Brian, Ayla, and Anthony discuss 2022's Marvel films and series such as She-Hulk, Wakanda Forever, and Moon Knight, and what they're looking forward to in the MCU's Phase 5.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting it via The Cosmic Circus Patreon, following us on Twitter @mycosmiccircus, or joining our Discord.
Timestamps
0:16 - Intros
1:50 - Moon Knight
5:28 - Dr. Strange in the multiverse of madness
12:50 - The changing structure of MCU productions
13:52 - Ms. Marvel
18:12 - Thor: Love and Thunder
25:41 - She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
34:44 - Werewolf by Night
40:58 - Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special
43:17 - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
49:16 - MCU projects we're looking forward to in Phase 5
53:00 - Outros
Podcast credits and show notes
Host/Director/Writer
Brian Kitson
Contributors/Writers
Ayla Ruby
Anthony Flagg
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 12/11/22.
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Thank you to our guest Cynthia Charette, Production Designer for season 2 of The Mysterious Benedict Society for joining us.
Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com
Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
Thank you to our guest Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko, costume designer for season 2 of The Mysterious Benedict Society for joining us. Read the full article at: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-cafe-interview-costume-designer-chrisi-karvonides-dushenko/
Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com
Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
Thank you to our guest Adam Barnhardt for joining us. You can read more about Macabre Mel and the Lunchroom Riot RiotVerse over at Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adambarnhardt/macabre-mel-wicked-salvation-graphic-novella The campaign ends on October 31st, so don't delay in backing this wicked project. Host: Ayla Ruby - thecosmiccircus.com Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay. Full Article at https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-cafe-interview-adam-barnhardt-talks-macabre-mel-wicked-salvation/--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
AppleTV recently released a new series The Essex Serpent, based on a novel by Sarah Perry, and starring Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston. Ayla Ruby (writer for The Cosmic Circus) sat down with executive producer/screenwriter Anna Symon and costume designer Jane Petrie to discuss the series' characters and costumes.
You can listen to the full audio of our chat below. After an interview with producer/screenwriter Anna Symon, aninterview with costume designer Jane Petriestarts at 16:45.
Transcripts available here:
https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/essex-serpent-interview-with-anna-symon/
https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/essex-serpent-costume-designer-jane-petrie/
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
In this podcast episode, The Cosmic Circus writers Uday, Julia, Brian, and Drew review and discuss the latest Marvel movie - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Along with discussion about the movie as a whole and its lead character Doctor Stephen Strange played by Benedict Cumberbatch, there's significant discussion about Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff. This includes the film's handling of the character's mental health in this episode by psychologist Brian and the others.
The Illuminati, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), and Wong (Benedict Wong) as the Sorceror Supreme, are also discussed.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting it via The Cosmic Circus Patreon!
Timestamps
00:45 Intros
01:33 How did you feel about Wanda's turn to the dark side?
06:13 Regarding the handling of Wanda's mental health, in Multiverse of Madness and WandaVision
11:30 Michael Waldron quote about Wanda from Julia's interview (linked below)
12:30 Do you think Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness regresses Wanda's character after so much growth in WandaVision?
16:05 Opinions on the writing in the movie
19:50 Multiverse of Madness trying to be two things at once and not enough multiverse in it
31:39 Discussion about the Illuminati appearances and more from Julia's Michael Waldron interview about those rumored cameos
46:14 America Chavez discussion
50:37 Discussion about Wong and whether or not he's depicted as a terrible Sorceror Supreme in the film
57:00 what the writers are working on right now and sign off
Podcast credits and show notes Host/Director/Writer
- Uday Kataria (Author Page, Twitter @goldenninja3000, YouTube)
Contributors/Writers
- Brian Kitson (Author Page, Twitter @kitson301)
Drew Reed (Author Page)
Julia Delbel (Author Page, Twitter @juliadelbel)
Executive Producer/Editor
- Lizzie Hill (Author Page, Twitter @mslizziehill)
Recorded on 5/14/22.
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Julia Delbel’s interview with Michael Waldron
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
In this episode, The Cosmic Circus writers Brian, Ayla, and Drew discuss Marvel's Moon Knight series overall and what they think might happen going forward with the characters.
Show notes: This episode was recorded on 5/7/2022
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
In this episode The Cosmic Circus writers Brian, Ayla, Drew, and Uday discuss the first two episodes of Marvel's Moon Knight series.
Show notes: This episode was recorded on 4/10/2022
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
In this exciting episode The Cosmic Circus writers Emily, Ayla, Drew and Uday discuss The Batman and the possible future of the franchise. SPOILERS for the movie are discussed so of course it's best you go see the Robert Pattinson starring film, now in theaters before you listen to this podcast!
Show notes: This episode was recorded on 3/13/2022
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
We are so excited to welcome Leah Jones from the She Will Rock You podcast @shewillrockupod to the Cosmic Cafe for a discussion on the Disney Channel show Phineas and Ferb and the good vibes surrounding it. Follow Leah at @leah_elizabethj on Twitter!
FMI about She Will Rock You Podcast visit shewillrockyou.com
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
In honor of The Batman's imminent release, host Julia Delbel talks with Elijah Boxhill (@OpticalCinema) all about the Caped Crusader's 80+ year history.
Show Notes:
Elijah Boxhill is with @Fandomwire and @GeekVibesNation, and also hosts the @ComicBookSaga podcast.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
Listen in on episode 8 of The Cosmic Circle podcast as host Uday, along with Ayla, Anthony, and The Cosmic Circus' Editor-In-Chief Lizzie Hill discuss the first season of James Gunn's Peacemaker series, now streaming on HBOmax! (SPOILERS!!)
As always, we hope you enjoy this content. You can find out more about supporting thecosmiccircus.com and content like this by visiting our Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/cosmiccircus or by searching for us on Patreon.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
Sara Edwards, podcast producer and co-host of This Is the Waycast over at The Boardwalk Times, stops by the Cosmic Cafe to chat with Julia Delbel about #Arthur25 and the most iconic characters and moments from the long-running PBS series.
Show Notes:
You can find Sara on Twitter at @sedwards380
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
In this week's episode of The Cosmic Cafe, Julia Delbel discusses the Twilight Saga, both the good and bad, fandom and fan fiction, with Elizabeth Pfeiffer of The Boardwalk Times and Right This Minute.
Show notes:
Elizabeth Pfeiffer can be found on Twitter at @elizabethpfeif. She is a digital producer for rightthisminute.com and senior editor/podcast host at theboardwalktimes.net. Visit her Linktree FMI.
Here is the link to the Twilight Fanfiction mentioned in this episode.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
In this episode of The Cosmic Circle, Host Ayla, along with Emily, Drew, and Uday, review the best and worst of Marvel and DC in 2021, and then talk about what they are looking forward to in 2022 as far as TV, film, and gaming.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
In the second episode of The Cosmic Cafe, host Julia Delbel chats with Richard Nebens of The Directand The Illuminerdiabout all 10 of the classic animated movies that make up the "Disney Renaissance". Richard can be found on Twitter at @RichardNebens.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
In the first episode of The Cosmic Cafe, Julia chats with actor, voice actor, and podcaster Thomas Carter Rochester about his history growing up with Star Wars and venturing into the notorious Fandom Menace.
Thomas Carter Rochester on LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/tcrochesteract
On Twitter: @TCRochesterACT / @RecklessRebels (podcast Twitter) / @LTApodcasting (podcast Twitter)
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
The Cosmic Circle is the official podcast of thecosmiccircus.com. Here the site's writers get together and talk about Marvel, DC, and other sci-fi and fantasy movies and TV series. In this episode, Cosmic Circus writers Vin, Emily, Brian, and Ayla have a lively discussion, reviewing and reacting to seeing Spider-Man: No Way Home, as well as give their personal rankings for all of the Spider-Man appearances in films so far.
Show notes:
Articles mentioned:
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https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/treatment-of-women-in-spider-man-no-way-home/
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https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/spider-man-no-way-home-spoiler-review/
This episode was recorded on 01/16/2022
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
The Cosmic Circle is the official podcast of The Cosmic Circus website. Here the site's writers get together and talk about Marvel, DC, and other sci-fi and fantasy movies and TV series. In this episode, Uday, Brian, Emily and Ayla discuss Marvel's Hawkeye on Disney+, mainly focusing on the finale, with a little bit of Spider-Man No Way Home thrown in. SPOILER WARNING!
Episode 5 was recorded on 12/27/2021
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
**The Cosmic Circle is the official podcast of The Cosmic Circus website. Here the site's writers get together and talk about Marvel, DC, and other sci-fi and fantasy movies and TV series. In this episode, leading up to Spider-Man: No Way Home being released, Cosmic Circus writers Vin, Alex, Tucker, and Ayla discuss Spider-Man films of the past including Raimi's 3 Spider-Man films, The Amazing Spider-Man films, and Spider-Man in the MCU so far.
SHOW NOTES:
Visual references - https://imgur.com/a/2dAI8xu / https://youtu.be/xAbkVL8Yu9w?t=80 / https://youtu.be/1phEAcpxXiE / https://youtu.be/0RrXWovex8I Timestamps
00:00 Intros
01:40 Our journeys to Spider-Man
06:10 Spider-Man 1 (2002)
16:40 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
24:35 Harry, Norman, and Peter
29:15 Spider-Man 3 (2007)
38:10 The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
46:00 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
55:50 Alex's thoughts on MCU Spider-Man and the future after NWH
63:00 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
69:45 Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
78:45 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) hopes and fears
87:50 Lingering thoughts
90:30 Outros
Episode was recorded on 12/10/2021
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay**
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
The Cosmic Circle is the official podcast of The Cosmic Circus website. Here the site's writers get together and talk about Marvel, DC, and other sci-fi and fantasy movies and TV series. In this episode, Uday, Brian, and Ayla discuss the premiere of Marvel's Hawkeye on Disney+. Spoilers for Hawkeye episodes 1 and 2! Episode one was recorded on 11/28/2021 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
The Cosmic Circle is the official podcast of The Cosmic Circus website. Here the site's writers get together and talk about Marvel, DC, and other sci-fi and fantasy movies and TV series. Episode one was recorded on 11/14/2021 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
The Cosmic Circle is the official podcast of The Cosmic Circus website. Here the site's writers get together and talk about Marvel, DC, and other sci-fi and fantasy movies and TV series. Episode one was recorded on 10/17/2021. Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
This is the first Q&A with Lizzie Hill for questions from the Cosmic Circus Patreon members. July 17, 2021
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support
Loki series finale and series thoughts from Lizzie Hill.
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This is an audio review of the Marvel movie Black Widow by Lizzie Hill. contains spoilers!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cosmiccircus/support