Star Warsologies: A Podcast About Science and Star Wars

Bonus: Celebrating the Puppetry Arts panel at San Diego Comic-Con

As a holiday bonus, please enjoy this recording of a panel from San Diego Comic-Con 2025 - Celebrating the Puppetry Arts! Panel Description: Puppets have entertained and educated the masses for centuries but the artistry also changes and advances with new technology. Professional puppet builders and performers share insights from their careers working on franchises like Star Wars and the Muppet movies, as well as their experiences with non-traditional puppetry like animatronics, motion capture, and claymation. Panelists include Cheralyn Lambeth (puppet builder, Dinosaurs!, Avenue Q), Kirk Thatcher (writer and director, The Muppets Haunted Mansion), and Fon Davis (model maker, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline). Moderated by Melissa T. Miller (Star Warsologies podcast). Links from the panel discussion: Check out Adam Kreutinger's @PuppetNerd YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@PuppetNerd] and the Stan Winston School [https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/] for puppetry building tips. Watch the Tested video [https://youtu.be/y4V7OGILaJM?si=gK3VlDcYuKWpRb9q] Fon mentioned where he shows Adam Savage around Fonco Studio [https://foncostudios.com/]'s effects lab. Here's the TikTok video Kirk [https://www.tiktok.com/@didyoucatchthis/video/7582753735957433613] mentioned where the baby in Dinosaurs talks back to the director. If you want to hear more about Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas, check out the LA Comic Con panel [https://youtu.be/GM6fBDjGGFs] about those movies that Melissa and Fon did together in 2024.

73: Cartography in Star Wars

This episode of Star Warsologies is all about maps! We talk with Jason Fry, who helped map the galaxy far, far away in The Essential Atlas. How do you map a galaxy? Storytellers get to add their own details in movies, books, comics, TV shows, and even board games, so it's a huge job and nearly impossible to keep it all straight. Jason shares what went into creating the lore for Star Wars: The Essential Atlas and how the book is literally a childhood dream come true. It turns out a lot of the mapping framework came from a video game mechanic! Show Notes: Follow Jason on BlueSky @jasoncfry [https://bsky.app/profile/jasoncfry.bsky.social] and send any cartographic errors you find to essential.atlas@gmail.com Check out the official Galaxy Map on starwars.com [https://www.starwars.com/star-wars-galaxy-map]! Buy your copy of Jason's Star Wars: The Essential Atlas, or peruse some of the maps on Wookieepedia [https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/The_Essential_Atlas]. Check out all of Jason Fry's other Star Wars books [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42134.Jason_Fry], including The Last Jedi (adult novelization) and Rebels: Servants of the Empire series. Other books mentioned in this episode include Atlas of Middle Earth [https://bookshop.org/p/books/atlas-of-middle-earth-karen-wynn-fonstad/aac48a4346b7c260], Atlas of Medieval History [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-new-penguin-atlas-of-medieval-history-revised-edition-colin-mcevedy/a1e6a3babcd4053d], The Mask of Fear [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735101/star-wars-the-mask-of-fear-reign-of-the-empire-by-alexander-freed/] from the Reign of the Empire series. You can order James's crossword puzzle book [https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/star-wars-crossword-puzzles] now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads [https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-reads]! Subscribe to Star Warsologies on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-warsologies-a-podcast-about-science-and-star-wars/id1567158758], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/66fIiGZU3poOlTETQZf7qO], or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here [https://skywalkingthroughneverland.com/category/podcasts/starwarsologies/]! Follow us on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/starwarsologies.bsky.social] and Ins [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/]t [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/]agram [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/] or join our Facebook fan group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/525984202561077]! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science and other fields in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

72: Feminism in Star Wars

This episode of Star Warsologies covers feminism and gender representation in Star Wars with author and historian Becca Harrison. Becca Harrison tallied up all the screen time for female characters in Star Wars movies over the decades and even made cuts of the film with only dialogue from female characters. They get a lot more screen time these days and we talk about why that's important. We discuss feminism, gender identity, and the importance of representation when it comes to Star Wars, including within the fandom itself. Becca is a freelance academic who has studied Star Wars from multiple academic angles including historical, data technology, gender identity, and even environmental. Show Notes: Check out Becca's website [https://www.beccaeharrison.com/] for more of her work on Star Wars as well as resources for for film analysis and research. Get your copy of Becca's book "The Empire Strikes Back (BFI Film Classics)" [https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Strikes-Back-Film-Classics/dp/191123997X] Listen to our episode [https://skywalkingthroughneverland.com/new-podcast-star-warsologies-35-celebration-andor-the-empire-and-a-history-of-resistance/] recreating the panel from 2023's Celebration in London about Andor that included Becca and other experts. Find out more about the Galaxy Tour science field trip [https://galaxytours.com/product/star-wars-tour-tunisia-science-of-the-galaxy-far-away-group-tour-2025-davin-anderson-lee-bullock/]. And if you do sign up to go, make sure to put "Star Warsologies" in the Order Notes when you check out! You can order James's crossword puzzle book [https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/star-wars-crossword-puzzles] now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads [https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-reads]! Subscribe to Star Warsologies on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-warsologies-a-podcast-about-science-and-star-wars/id1567158758], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/66fIiGZU3poOlTETQZf7qO], or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here [https://skywalkingthroughneverland.com/category/podcasts/starwarsologies/]! Follow us on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/starwarsologies.bsky.social] and Ins [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/]t [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/]agram [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/] or join our Facebook fan group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/525984202561077]! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science and other fields in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

71: Star Wars Critters at LA Comic Con

This episode of Star Warsologies is our LA Comic Con panel about critters in a galaxy far, far away! Hear our panel of experts talk about their favorite animals in Star Wars! Melissa and James are joined by herpetologist Earyn McGee, conservation biologist Sam Wynns, and geochemist Randy Flores. Also check this episide out on YouTube [https://youtu.be/AyXw_sCJD4A] as it includes our slides and other visuals! From womp rats to wampas, Star Wars creatures great and small are a beloved part of the galaxy far, far away. Moderator S.T. Bende (author of Star Wars Bestiary, Vol. 1: Creatures of the Galaxy) will quiz this panel of animal experts and fans on how everything from porgs to purrgil are adapted to their environments and show similarities to life here on Earth. New members to the Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts are welcome, bring questions about your favorite sci-fi and fantasy animals! Show Notes: Buy the Star Wars Bestiary [https://bookshop.org/p/books/star-wars-bestiary-vol-1-creatures-of-the-galaxy-s-t-bende/46bf0ce4697028a7]! Check out our episode with panelists Earyn McGee, all about lizards [https://skywalkingthroughneverland.com/new-podcast-star-warsologies-30-herpetology/], and with Sam Wynns about wildlife conservation [https://skywalkingthroughneverland.com/star-warsologies-14-wildlife-conservation/]! We love to talk about critters, as you may have noticed. Here's our panels from Star Wars Celebration 2022 [https://skywalkingthroughneverland.com/new-podcast-star-warsologies-17-galactic-critters/] and Legacy Expo 2025 [https://youtu.be/pY5yFXrJuYU]! Find out more about the Galaxy Tour science field trip [https://galaxytours.com/product/star-wars-tour-tunisia-science-of-the-galaxy-far-away-group-tour-2025-davin-anderson-lee-bullock/]. And if you do sign up to go, make sure to put "Star Warsologies" in the Order Notes when you check out! You can order James's crossword puzzle book [https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/star-wars-crossword-puzzles] now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads [https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-reads]! Subscribe to Star Warsologies on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-warsologies-a-podcast-about-science-and-star-wars/id1567158758], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/66fIiGZU3poOlTETQZf7qO], or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here [https://skywalkingthroughneverland.com/category/podcasts/starwarsologies/]! Follow us on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/starwarsologies.bsky.social] and Ins [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/]t [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/]agram [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/] or join our Facebook fan group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/525984202561077]! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science and other fields in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

70: Mass Media in Star Wars

This episode of Star Warsologies covers mass media, propaganda, and media literacy in a galaxy far, far away! Author Samuel Spitale joins us to talk about the difference between journalism, news, propaganda, advertising, and other media terms. He posits that the lack of media in the original series was a deliberate (and wise) choice for storytelling. While it plays a role in the recent series Andor, there are also some hints in the holiday special, so of course we talk about that! Join us to help fight misinformation with the truth! An illustration from "How to Win the War on Truth: An Illustrated Guide to How Mistruths Are Sold, Why They Stick, and How to Reclaim Reality" provided by Samuel Spitale. Show Notes: Check out Samuel's website [https://www.samuelcspitale.com/] and YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@HowToWinTheWarOnTruth]. He's also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howtowinthewarontruth/]. Get a copy of Samuel's book "How to Win the War on Truth: An Illustrated Guide to How Mistruths Are Sold, Why They Stick, and How to Reclaim Reality" [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710856/how-to-win-the-war-on-truth-by-samuel-c-spitale/] Get a copy of Samuel's coffee table book "Collecting a Galaxy - The Art of Sideshow" [https://www.sideshow.com/collectibles/star-wars-collecting-a-galaxy-the-art-of-sideshow-sideshow-collectibles-5009091] Find out more about the Galaxy Tour science field trip [https://galaxytours.com/product/star-wars-tour-tunisia-science-of-the-galaxy-far-away-group-tour-2025-davin-anderson-lee-bullock/]. And if you do sign up to go, make sure to put "Star Warsologies" in the Order Notes when you check out! You can order James's crossword puzzle book [https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/star-wars-crossword-puzzles] now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads [https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-reads]! Subscribe to Star Warsologies on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-warsologies-a-podcast-about-science-and-star-wars/id1567158758], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/66fIiGZU3poOlTETQZf7qO], or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here [https://skywalkingthroughneverland.com/category/podcasts/starwarsologies/]! Follow us on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/starwarsologies.bsky.social] and Ins [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/]t [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/]agram [https://www.instagram.com/starwarsologies/] or join our Facebook fan group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/525984202561077]! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science and other fields in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.