What stories emerge when superpowers enter the audio format? How can superheroes reflect real-world problems, and what would an NPR-style broadcast sound like if it existed in a world where superhumans were real? Max and John of Superhuman Public Radio join me to explore these questions and discuss Season 2 of SPR, with new episodes releasing weekly!Superhuman Public Radio (aka SPR) is an award-winning audio drama telling the best original superhero stories you've ever heard. These are the stori...
Sep 26, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 265
In honor of the passing of Sheldon Menery, we’re talking about his concept of Rule Zero – the idea that the first step for any game should be making sure all players share the same expectations – and the way it contributed to building community in Magic: The Gathering, and what we can all learn from it.Nile JoanRivers streams MtG content on Twitch ! Her content is focused on highlighting queer voices and lowering the barrier to entry for new players. If that sounds like something you’re into, co...
Sep 19, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 264
Each person brings their own experiences and perspective to how they view the stories we love. Caged Bishop Cosplay joins me to talk about his experience as a blerd (black nerd), intersectionality in fandom, and our shared love as masculine folks for Barbie. ABOUT OUR GUEST Caged Bishop Cosplay has been cosplaying for the better part of a decade and podcasting for about half as long. He does this for spreading the love of all things geeky, nerdy and blerdy (Blerd = black and nerdy). Caged Bishop...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 263
Professor Matthew Kapell joins me to discuss superheroes, mythology, and the American Monomyth. What is a myth? Are superhero stories considered myths? Does America have a central myth, and how do superheroes contribute to it? Matthew Kapell has taught a wide range of subjects, including film studies and human genetics, at colleges and universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. He recently began teaching anthropology at Montclair State University in New Jersey. He serves as the ed...
Sep 05, 2023•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 262
Why is it the X-Men that are so often brought up as metaphors for social issues? Steve Stormoen of the Hype Is My Superpower podcast joins me to talk about the X-Men in comics through the lens of activism and social movements. We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com 𝕏: EthicalPanda77 Facebook: TheEth...
Aug 29, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 260
What is it about the Hunger Games novels that captured so much attention and love? Frequent guest Danielle- Written in the Star Wars joins me to talk about these books, covering everything from the writing style, to the twist they put on the love triangle trope, to the decisions of the rebels. Danielle (she/her) spends her days talking too much about Star Wars, MCU, and The Last of Us. She’s also a PhD researcher in Text & Image Studies, which basically means she gets read lots of comics and...
Aug 22, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Sometimes heroes wear capes- sometimes they carry rifles in the Napoleonic Wars. One of Sean Bean’s first roles was playing Richard Sharpe in this British Series and Paul joins me to talk about it! Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/theethicalpanda We love feedback! To ask questions or let us know what you think, contact us at Email: Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com Tw...
Aug 15, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Sometimes heroes wear capes, sometimes they carry rifles in the Napoleonic Wars. One of Sean Bean’s first roles was playing Richard Sharpe in this British series and Paul Hoppe joins me to talk about it! We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com 𝕏: EthicalPanda77 Facebook: TheEthicalPanda Instagram: Th...
Aug 15, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 259
What happens when you combine Japanese reflections on the use of nuclear weapons, hard questions about what weapons to use in moments of crisis, stirring music, and a guy in a rubber suit? Paul joins me to talk about the 1954 classic, Gojira, aka Godzilla. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/theethicalpanda We love feedback! To ask questions or let us know what you...
Aug 08, 2023•1 hr 33 min
So many of the stories we love use Moby Dick as the example of an obsessive focus on a goal, but do you know the actual story? Moby Dick expert and all around geek Ilse joins me to talk about this book and what it has to say about disability, queerness, race, class, and so many other topics that remain relevant today. Ilse, aka AK, (she/her) is an all around nerd who loves Star Wars, Heavy Metal, and Dungeons and Dragons. She has a degree in philosophy and a background in debate and likes to get...
Aug 01, 2023•1 hr 19 min
Do you like your hilarious medieval satire mixed with some biting social commentary? Want to know what this Discworld thing everyone keeps talking about it is? Want to know the Boots Theory of Economics from Sam Vimes? Rob McKenzie joins me to talk about Discworld, focusing on The Watch series of books. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/theethicalpanda We love fe...
Jul 25, 2023•1 hr 28 min
What can an 1899 newsboy strike teach us about the WGA & SAG strikes today? What can be done when the corporations you’re fighting control your ability to get your message out? And what place do singing and dancing play on a good picket line? Becky Allen and I dive into these questions and more as we discuss 1992’s Newsies. Note - We recorded this episode the day after the strike started. Since then, a number of content creators, including myself, have decided to support the strike by no lon...
Jul 18, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Nimona is a beautiful story about the danger of fear and trusting establishments, and the power of living your truth. Beau joins me to talk about the power of this story, its meaning as a queer and trans allegory, and the value of trusting our own wisdom and experience over dogma and tradition. Beau uses any pronouns and prefers when people mix-and-match! She is a former Magic Judge and scorekeeper, now turned "kitchen sink" freelancer - primarily working as a personal assistant and game design ...
Jul 11, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Does Batman help or hurt the children he recruits to be Robins? Could one of them be more vulnerable to Joker's One Bad Day than Bruce is? Where is the line between justice and vengeance? Paul and I dive into these questions, using Batman: Under the Red Hood, and Death in the Family Part I as our jumping off point. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/theethicalpand...
Jul 05, 2023•1 hr 28 min
I'm reviewing all of the Indiana Jones movies over on the Bingers Assemble episode, and wanted to share the first of those episodes with you here! Once the new movie comes out at the end of June we'll do an episode here on Superhero Ethics about Indiana Jones and the ethics of archeology. For now, go to Bingers Assemble to find all our movie coverage.
Jun 20, 2023•49 min
Lets talk Robots! We started the conversation with the Micro SF quote and that led to a discussion of AI in our own world. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/theethicalpanda We love feedback! To ask questions or let us know what you think, contact us at Email: Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com Twitter: @EthicalPanda77 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEthicalPanda O...
Jun 13, 2023•1 hr 19 min
Let's talk Spiderverse! Among all the incoherant screaming about how good this movie is we get into ethical questions like Miguel vs Miles, the way this movie handles representation, and all the comic book connections to the movie. You can find his comic book thoughts on his podcast, Hype is My Superpower, https://hypeismysuperpower.podbean.com/ See him build Lego and talk all things geeky at - https://hypeismysuperpower.podbean.com/https://www.twitch.tv/sylverdreamer Patrons get access to bonus...
Jun 06, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Guardians 3 raised some important questions about how we treat animals, & Paul Hoppe joins me to talk about them. This episode came out of listener feedback and we also address a listener question about great power, great responsibility, and the relationship between podcasters and listeners. Bonus content for patrons about Batman & the Flash movie. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us a...
May 23, 2023•1 hr 39 min
My partner and I played through The Last of Us part 2, and Danielle and Matthew joined me to talk about all the great ethical questions this story raises. Whether or not you've played the game, we lay out the issues and story details so you can follow along- but there will be spoilers! Danielle (she/her) spends her days talking too much about Star Wars, MCU, and The Last of Us. She’s also a PhD researcher in Text & Image Studies, which basically means she gets read lots of comics and call it...
May 09, 2023•1 hr 29 min
If you could turn off your brain at work, create an entirely different version of yourself to get through the day, would you? Would that work version you create have its own rights? Can the body be severed from the body? The TV show Severance explores these questions and more, and Rob McKenzie joins me to dive into them. We walk through the show so whether you've never seen it or rewatched half a dozen times, this episode is for you. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To sho...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr 29 min
Becky Allen joined me to talk Shadow & Bone, season 2! Becky Allen is the author of Bound by Blood and Sand and its sequel, Freed by Flame and Storm. They grew up outside Ithaca, New York, graduated from Brandeis University, and now work in tech and live in New York with their sister and two little black cats, Jinx and Hex. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/t...
Apr 10, 2023•1 hr 14 min
Season 1 of The Last of Us is over, but we've still got a lot more to say! Prof. Dr. Mr. (not a Rev.) Matthew Kapell joins me to dive into some of the larger issues in this show and its connected video game. We talk about the big ethical choices at the end of the story, zombies vs vampires, why Americans in particular are so drawn to dystopian stories, and more! Matthew Wilhelm Kapell has taught everything from human genetics to film studies at universities and colleges in California, Michigan, ...
Mar 28, 2023•1 hr 22 min
Danielle and Erin join me to talk about The Last of Us: the choices made by the characters and what the show (and game) says about our conception of heroes & villains. Erin McGowan is a Twin Cities based cosplayer. she/her, who is new to cosplay and LOVING it. You can find her on Tik Tok & Instagram: ladytanocreates Danielle (she/her) spends her days talking too much about Star Wars, MCU, and The Last of Us. She’s also a PhD researcher in Text & Image Studies, which basically means s...
Mar 20, 2023•1 hr 19 min
Comics Guru Extrodinaire Jess Plummer joins us to talk about DC's upcoming slate of new TV shows and movies. Jessica Plummer lives in New York and loves Superman very very much. You can listen to just how much on her Superman podcast, Flights and Tights . She also writes about comics and books in general at BookRiot.com and contributed a short story to an anthology of modern Arthurian fiction called Stone, Sword, Table . Find her on Twitter @jess_plummer. Her article on What's next for DC Studio...
Mar 07, 2023•1 hr 38 min
Returning guests Danielle and Erin join me to talk about the first four episodes of The Last of Us, and the video game up to the same point. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/theethicalpanda Danielle (she/her) spends her days talking too much about Star Wars, MCU, and The Last of Us. She’s also a PhD researcher in Text & Image Studies, which basically means s...
Feb 14, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Paul Hoppe joins me to talk about Batman: The Long Halloween, an animated movie based on the comics run of the same name. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/theethicalpanda We love feedback! To ask questions or let us know what you think, contact us at Email: Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com Twitter: https://EthicalPanda77 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEthicalP...
Jan 31, 2023•1 hr 13 min
Ashley, Katy, & Mark join me to try and find the good parts in the first season of Willow. We had varied success, but we had a lot of fun talking about it! Ashley Coffin claims many titles, including Stranded Panda Supreme Leader, MCU Co-Host, Empress of all Things Thirst, F*ck Around & Find Out Enforcer, co-host of Bill & Ashley's Terror Theater, and frequent guest on both this and the Superhero Ethics Podcast including this one. She would also like you to tell your dog she said hi....
Jan 17, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Its been 10 years since Karl Urban kept his mask on for a full movie, but the questions that this story about police as judge, jury, & executioner raises continue to be relevant today. We talk about the movie, the issues it raises and how Karl Urban grunted so that Pedro Pascal could tilt his head.
Jan 10, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Matthew and Paul talk about stuff they watched in 2022, as well as the future and history of Superhero Ethics. Paul Hoppe AKA ZenMadman lives in a cave on a mountain in the mind in Las Vegas, where they frequently talk about deleting all social media, yet can still be found at zenmadman.com and on Twitch, Twitter and YouTube as ZenMadman. They either will or won't start writing a bunch of stuff.
Jan 03, 2023•1 hr 49 min
What happens when you mix Hebrew & Greco-Roman ideas of divinity into a single mythology? How does a story of a blessing for all become a center piece of consumerism? Prof Matthew Kappel joins me to talk about the Jesus birth narrative through the lens of mythology.
Dec 26, 2022•1 hr 20 min
