The Mothership - podcast cover

The Mothership

USA TODAYwww.usatoday.com

Get down and nerdy with this USA TODAY podcast every Friday as hosts Brett Molina, Kelly Lawler and Brian Truitt dissect the geekiest video games, TV shows and movies.

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Episodes

The Mothership: Powering Down

Happy final Friday! The crew bid adieu this week as they reflect on their favorite "Mothership" episodes and pop culture sensations that occurred during the seven year run of this podcast. Brett Molina dotes on his forever favorite Netflix show and video game, Brian Truitt praises Marvel as the top pop culture phenomenon in the last decade, and Kelly Lawler reflects on her coverage of "Game of Thrones" since 2015.

Jul 22, 202129 min

'Black Widow', 'Loki', the future of Marvel and an interview with David Harbour

The crew talks all things Marvel this week! Film Critic Brian Truitt critiques Marvel's long-awaited film "Black Widow", TV Critic Kelly Lawler praises the season finale of "Loki" and all three hosts speculate on the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as it's TV series. Plus, a bonus interview with David Harbour who chats about his role as Red Guardian in the newly released "Black Widow".

Jul 16, 202138 min

Horror Film or Love Story: Leigh Janiak on 'Fear Street'

Brian Truitt flies solo this week and interviews Leigh Janiak, Director of the new Netflix horror trilogy, "Fear Street". Janiak chats with Brian about the golden age of the horror genre, what two films inspired her vision for "Fear Street" and how she hopes a younger audience is scarred by the R-rated horror trilogy.

Jul 09, 202118 min

Raiders of the Lost Ark turns 40

In honor of the Indiana Jones classic's 40th anniversary, we host Paul Freeman, who played arch-rival Rene Belloq.

Jun 11, 202135 min

Memorial Day at the movies

The crew talks about new releases Cruella and A Quiet Place Part II, and the likely return of the summer movie season.

May 28, 202136 min

Shrek turns 20

The classic animated film Shrek hit theaters 20 years ago this year. We talk about our favorite moments and Shrek's legacy.

May 21, 202123 min

Double feature: Anthony Mackie and Mary Holland

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier star Anthony Mackie joins the crew to talk about becoming Captain America. Plus, actress Mary Holland is here to chat about her latest film "Golden Arm."

Apr 30, 202145 min

Guest double feature: LeVar Burton and Brian Volk-Weiss

We have not one, but two guests this week: Reading Rainbow and Star Trek icon LeVar Burton, who talks about his campaign to host Jeopardy!, and Brian Volk-Weiss, executive producer of the Netflix series The Toys That Made Us.

Apr 16, 202158 min

Ready for summer movie season?

Movies including Black Widow and Cruella are coming out this summer in movie theaters? But are we ready to go back?

Apr 09, 202124 min

'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' review & a bonus Erin Kellyman interview

Happy Easter weekend, and boy do we have an "egg-cellent" episode for you! Brett Molina attempts to trudge through "Snyder League", the crew reviews Disney Plus' new Marvel show "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" and Brian Truitt interviews Erin Kellyman about her role as Karli Morgenthau, a villain we might end up loving.

Apr 02, 202144 min

Thomas Lennon, 'Shoplifters of the world' & 'Reno 911!'

Happy Friday! This week Thomas Lennon joins Brett Molina & Brian Truitt over Zoom to chat about his new movie "Shoplifters of the World", soon to be released on VOD. Lennon talks about what it was like for his character to hate his favorite band "The Smiths" and how he drew character inspiration from his father, going to college with a typewriter, and what's to come for "Reno 911!". And if that doesn't draw you in Lennon also plays in a "The Smiths" cover band, jammed with Clint Eastwood and...

Mar 26, 202128 min

'Zack Snyder's Justice League' Reviewed

Happy "Snyder Cut" sabbath! This week our Film Critic Brian Truitt reviews the infamous and long awaited "Zack Snyder's Justice League". Was it worth the wait? Did it cure the ailments of Joss Whedon's "Justice League"? Is it redundant to call it "The Snyder CUT "? All these questions and more are answered in Brian's synopsis.

Mar 19, 202135 min

Rerun - We're all in for 'Justice League'

In preparation for 'Zack Snyder's Justice League' the crew is taking this week off. But be sure to listen next as they dissect and discuss 'The Snyder Cut'. And there will be spoilers!

Mar 12, 202136 min

Our favorite Marvel villains

Happy Friday! In response to the post-credit reveal of our new obsession, "WandaVision" the crew has decided to celebrate their top Marvel Villains. Brett Molina and Brian Truitt will each name a villain that falls into the following three categories: favorite, underrated, and villains they're hoping to see in the future. And Brian has a pretty good pitch for a future Spidey flick.

Mar 05, 202124 min

Spoiler - Town: Kathryn Hahn appreciation episode

In honor of last week's villainous revelation on "WandaVision" the crew has decided to pay homage to the wonderful Katheryn Hahn, and all her scene-stealing glory! Each host will name at least one of their favorite films or TV series the dynamic character actress has been featured in. And Kelly Lawler stumbles across a pretty hilarious pattern in Hahn's career.

Feb 26, 202113 min

Joel Kinnaman talks 'For All Mankind' & 'The Suicide Squad'

Joel Kinnaman comes aboard the mothership and establishes one of the crew's all-time favorite terms, "plot donkey"! But aside from using terms that make us giggle or sing them to the tune of "Brass Monkey" he also gives us a preview into the second season of Apple TV's "For All Mankind" and describes his character evolution in "The Suicide Squad".

Feb 19, 202126 min

Spoiler-Town: 'WandaVision' Episodes 1-5

This week is for all the pessimistic lovers out there! Instead of doing a Valentine's Day episode the crew has decided to discuss something we can all get behind, "WandaVision" episodes 1-5. But warning, we head straight to spoiler-town as we discuss the most pressing questions and the future possibility of multiverse crossovers!

Feb 12, 202123 min

Our top picks for 2021

This year started off a little crazy but the crew is here to let you know what you can look forward to in this upcoming year. Each host picks one thing they are most excited about in their area of expertise and let us know when they will hopefully debut.

Jan 29, 202117 min

Rerun- Politics and pop culture collide

Happy Inauguration week! America has begun a new term of presidential leadership and the staff at USA TODAY is hard at work covering every pressing angle. So unfortunately, the crew didn't have time to record a new episode this week. But we hope you will enjoy this political, pop culture -themed rerun from 2019 featuring Emily Brandwin & Philippe Reines, hosts of the podcast "Unredacted".

Jan 22, 202139 min

Marvel's 'WandaVision' so far so good?

How is Marvel handling their television debut of "WandaVision" on Disney Plus? TV Critic Kelly Lawler and Film Critic Brian Truitt let you know in this week's episode. Kelly, loves the sitcom tropes and enjoys watching the chemistry between Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany and Brian finds the show lacking in its ties to the Marvel universe. But the biggest question yet to be answered is whether or not Vision is alive.

Jan 15, 202129 min

'Cobra Kai' season three review

Happy New Year from the crew! We're hoping this year brings better prospects both health & culture-wise, so to start off this new year we're celebrating and reviewing our Film Critic Brian Truitt's favorite show, season three of "Cobra Kai". Brian and Tech Reporter Brett Molina gush over how well the characters are developed, and joke about the fun absurdity of karate shenanigans that ensue. But warning, we do visit spoilertown.

Jan 08, 202133 min

Spoilertown & 'The Midnight Sky'

Most of the crew is away for the holiday, so Brian Truitt hosts this week's episode along with three special guests, and warning they take us deep into Spoilertown! Listen to three interviews with Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo and Kyle Chandler as they discuss their new Netflix film "The Midnight Sky", how it relates to the current state of society and what it was like to work with George Clooney who directed and produced the film as well as starred in it.

Jan 01, 202151 min

The crew's favorite things of 2020

This week we celebrate the good TV, movies and video games that came out of this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year that was 2020. Each host will pick one of their favorite things that came out of 2020 and one wild card pick which is anything they loved that is outside their area of expertise.

Dec 25, 202027 min
Hosted on Omny Studio
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