This week's episode provides context for the hysteria and misinformation passed around amid the Black Lives Matter protests continuing across the nation. As the riots have rescinded, community artwork reminiscent of the art following the Watts Rebellion or the AIDS quilt, respectively, has appeared from coast to coast, but is it enough for rooting out systemic racism in government? To read the Smithsonian magazine piece we discussed: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/heres-how-artists-ar...
Jun 13, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 19
In this "Mars on Life" outtake, Sebastian shares some news one of his professors gave him ahead of graduation about one of his finals. Ryan and special guest Mauricio Romo also get a taste of proper White House-official grammar in a thank you letter to Sebastian from the President of the United States. Social media: Mars on Life: @marsonlifeshow on Twitter and Instagram Sebastian Schug: @dr_sebby (Twitter) and @drsebby (Instagram) Ryan Mancini: @mancinira (Twitter) and @manciniryan (Instagram) M...
Jun 10, 2020•10 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Undeterred by coronavirus, millions of Americans took their anger to the streets all across the country. With riot gear and tear gas in their path, they marched to challenge systemic racism and those in support of it (the president included). The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many of our black brothers and sisters have not gone unnoticed and we stand with all those who have taken to the streets. Los Angeles began to see rioting not seen since the 1992 riots, and pr...
Jun 06, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 18
As Elton John once said, it's lonely out in space. Mars is looking a lot better than Earth right about now. Ryan and Sebastian do some housecleaning to talk about some recent news regarding recent passings, including those personally affecting friends of the show, and they soberly acknowledge the coronavirus death toll (which while it hit 100,000 as of recording, it has now jumped to 101,000 as of publishing) and how legacy media addressed it. This episode recaps some of the LA Times' recent sto...
May 29, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 17
It was 40 years ago today, Irvin Kershner got the band to play; they were never out of style and at least three of them will raise a smile. While the guys put "Star Wars" behind them, it required an assisted revisit to one of the greatest sequels and one of the greatest films of all time, which celebrates 40 years of entertaining, frightening and enlightening viewers the world over. In their quest at what makes "The Empire Strikes Back" a film for the ages, the guys called in the cavalry. "Star ...
May 22, 2020•1 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 16
We have a new guest on her way to Mars! Actress, filmmaker, host and teacher Genise Sherrill joins Ryan and Sebastian to talk about moving to Los Angeles from St. Louis to become an actor while also co-founding Broke Energy Entertainment and her online talk show "The Jumpoff." Genise also shares her personal experience with coronavirus and her subsequent recovery, along with her observations while in quarantine. We thank Genise again for being on the show, you're always welcome to return. Check ...
May 15, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Imagine, if you will, a parallel Earth. On this planet, humanity is subjected to the safety standards of their local leaders issued in retaliation to a plague that has circumnavigated the globe. In this discussion, Tommy Vercetti (Ryan Mancini) and Nicolas M. Parker (Sebastian Schug) share their thoughts on the hypothesis that their society has divided into two individuals from the filmography of Steven Spielberg. One of which is the stuttering, suave and svelte chaotician Dr. Ian Malcolm (creat...
May 09, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Ryan saved Sebastian from his finals-related woes and the two talk about their experience (or lack thereof) going to Amoeba Hollywood, which recently announced shutting down its current location. Though it is expected to have a new location in the fall, it's still the tragic passing of an LA landmark. The guys also shared their views on people in isolation engaging in "plague entertainment" – watching films like "Outbreak" and "Contagion" or reading Camus' "The Plague" and Roth's "Nemesis" – whi...
May 01, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Stay away from the bleach and aim for the spice! Ryan and Sebastian talk about the ramblings of a madman (also known as the President of the United States announcing his administration will "look into" injecting bleach and inserting ultraviolet light under the skin, respectively, to rid the human body of coronavirus), as well as the (un)employment fiasco connected to the pandemic and forced quarantine. Ryan follows up with an explanation on the saga of "Dune" by Frank Herbert, one of the greates...
Apr 29, 2020•59 min•Season 1Ep. 12
For now, this about wraps up the "what IS art" discussion for Mars on Life. While we hope you subscribed and left us a review, we also hope you have the chance to help out artists at this time. Visit laartworkersrelieffund.org, an emergency response to raise $250,000 to distribute $1K grants to LA County artists and art workers. There are those in which help needs to come sooner than a tracker or benefits page can offer. Social media: Mars on Life: @marsonlifeshow on Twitter and Instagram Sebast...
Apr 22, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Ten! Finally, Ryan and Sebastian begin the discussion at the heart of the show: what is art, exactly? They have their views, but the cavalry has joined the discourse. Actress and Cal State Northridge Theatre student (and Seb's gf) Heather Friedman joins the guys on a voyage from experience to propaganda to education to the fabric of the arts. Stay seated and enjoy the discussion. Social media: Mars on Life: @marsonlifeshow on Twitter and Instagram Sebastian Schug: @dr_sebby (Twitter) and @drsebb...
Apr 18, 2020•47 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Much like film production companies, book publishers are expected to lose a great deal of money due to the pandemic. But was this something that could have been resolved beforehand or was this a monstrosity in the making? Just when you thought "American Dirt" was the end of it – Ryan and Sebastian take opposing sides as the creator and consumer of books. As a show about the arts, we want to voice our support for artists by referring them to artistrelief.org, where artists in severe need of finan...
Apr 11, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 9
The Mars on Life podcast welcomes its first guest: actor, activist and community leader Shawnee Badger. The guys ask Shawnee about her career in performing, both in theatre and at Disneyland (pre-COVID-19), her involvement with political organizations in LA and Santa Clarita, and what young people need to do in the face of isolation and extreme socioeconomic inequality in the fallout of this pandemic. Before show's end, expect a return appearance of Al Pacino...you don't want to miss this new in...
Apr 04, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 8
If you're a visual artist, we hope you filled out your survey for the Los Angeles Artist Census. On today's show, Ryan and Sebastian talk about the census' purpose and how the pandemic will impact the artists for whom the survey was intended for. Along with closures in public spaces like museums and art galleries, the fate of the film and movie theater industries hangs thin in an uncertain future; just think, no certainty about new movies premiering and no more theaters to go to. It reads like f...
Apr 01, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Still isolated? Still under quarantine?? No problem! Put the cookie down and check out the guys' take on Ryan's top five favorite movies of 2019. In this segment, there's a great deal to dissect. Number one holds severe societal importance and (without giving it away) wants you to smile and put on a happy face. Did that give it away? Nonetheless, you're in for a topical take. Social media: Mars on Life: @marsonlifeshow on Twitter and Instagram Sebastian Schug: @dr_sebby (Twitter) and @drsebby (I...
Mar 27, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 6
A first – Skype on Mars! Under self-isolation, Ryan and Sebastian talk about life under coronavirus and the economic fallout it's bound to cause. To keep spirits up as countless art mediums are closed down, shut off or cut off from human contact, the guys rundown Ryan's top 10 films of 2019. Not only are they intended to be recommended viewing in general but these films are accessible viewing while under quarantine. Please enjoy them and be safe! Films 5-1 will be featured in Part 2. Social medi...
Mar 25, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Prior to the apocalypse, Sebastian and Ryan delivered an endnote to their "Star Wars" discussion before transitioning on the murals by the Tlacolulokos Collective at the Museum of Latin American Art and how essential they are for Angelenos. The other major topic they dissect is on the claim that California residents are leaving en masse and Seb asks Ryan if he thinks that might affect the arts in some capacity. The hope is everything is back to normal by episode 10, but as Yoda once said, "Alway...
Mar 19, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Prepare for a dive. The boys talk about the musical acts at Bernie Sanders' campaign rally in DTLA, then onto "Project Luminous." After that, Ryan takes Sebastian on a journey of the "Star Wars" universe, including divulging spoilers from "Rise of Skywalker." There's plenty of talk on the prequels, sequels, Expanded Universe, Legends and current canon, along with the over-saturation of content. The "Star Wars" episode was always intended to be a long one. Buckle up and enjoy. Social media: Mars ...
Mar 11, 2020•1 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Sebastian and Ryan continue their discussion about "American Dirt" and the continued fallout, and they stand in solidarity with author Myriam Gurba. They also talk about the new Amazon Prime show "Hunters" with Al Pacino and Logan Lerman – HOOAH! Finally, they want to thank Pete D. Camarillo and Kenneth Frank James Berry for appearing on their show "Touchdowns and Tangents"; to check out that episode, click the link below and make sure to give them a follow and a review. https://podcasts.apple.c...
Mar 04, 2020•55 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In our debut episode, we talk about a potpourri of topics that help map out what you can expect from the show. We also talk a little bit about the "American Dirt" controversy and the publishing industry as a whole. PSA: Go vote! Social media: Mars on Life: @marsonlifeshow on Twitter and Instagram Sebastian Schug: @dr_sebby (Twitter) and @drsebby (Instagram) Ryan Mancini: @mancinira (Twitter) and @manciniryan (Instagram) Artwork by Zachary Erberich (@zacharyerberichart) "Space X-plorers" Kevin Ma...
Feb 26, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 1
