Project Hail Mary

The 2025 Film Hold onto your butts — a new episode of The BIG Sci‑Fi Podcast has escaped the paddock!This week, the hosts take on Jurassic World: Rebirth, unpacking its biggest moments, boldest ideas, and all the dino‑powered excitement in between.Whether you're Team T‑Rex or Team Raptor, you’ll have a blast with this one.🦕🎧 Dive in and enjoy the adventure!

The Smash-hit Film This week on The BIG Sci‑Fi Podcast, we’re diving head‑first into the cosmic thrill ride that is Project Hail Mary!The crew breaks down the film’s biggest surprises, its bold adaptation choices, and why this story of survival, science, and unexpected friendship is hitting audiences so hard.If you loved the book, loved the movie, or just love great sci‑fi, this is the conversation you don’t want to miss.Strap in, fire up the engines, and join us for an interstellar deep‑dive on The BIG Sci‑Fi Podcast!

This week on The BIG Sci‑Fi Podcast, Adeena, Brian, Cris, and Steve dive back into the halls of Starfleet Academy as they boldly explore episodes 6–10 of the show’s first season.From surprising character turns to big emotional beats, from questionable command decisions to laugh‑out‑loud moments only this crew could deliver, the team breaks down what worked, what didn’t, and what has them hyped for the rest of the season. Expect spirited debate, deep‑cut sci‑fi references, and plenty of the fun, thoughtful banter listeners love.Whether you’re a seasoned cadet or just beaming in, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and sci‑fi joy. Grab your comm badge and join the conversation as we continue our journey through Starfleet Academy’s inaugural season.

The 2004 Film. In this episode, the crew of The BIG Sci‑Fi Podcast dives webs‑first into Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, the beloved 2004 sequel that many fans and critics still hail as one of the greatest superhero films ever made. We explore why this movie continues to resonate—from its heartfelt exploration of Peter Parker’s struggle between responsibility and desire, to Alfred Molina’s unforgettable turn as Doctor Octopus, to the film’s kinetic action sequences that set a new bar for the genre.We unpack the film’s themes, its impact on the superhero boom that followed, the performances that made it iconic, and the ways Raimi’s signature style shaped the emotional core of the story. Whether you’re a lifelong Spidey fan or revisiting the film with fresh eyes, this conversation celebrates what makes Spider-Man 2 a standout in sci‑fi and comic‑book cinema.Strap in, true believers—this one’s a swing through nostalgia, filmmaking craft, and superhero storytelling at its finest.

Brian invited the crew to listen to the audio book (highly abridged version) of the classic Michael Jan Friedman novel "Shadows on the Sun." Brian grew up listening to this story and has read the actual novel. It's one of his favorite Trek stories of all time. Will his co-host's love James Doohan's narration? Will they feel the same way Brian does about this story? Find out what the rest of the crew thinks in this week's episode!

The 1951 Classic Sci-Fi Film. This week on The BIG Sci‑Fi Podcast, the crew journeys back to the golden age of cinematic science fiction to explore the apocalyptic spectacle of George Pal’s 1951 classic, When Worlds Collide. Long before asteroid‑impact blockbusters and CGI‑driven disaster epics, this film dared to imagine humanity’s final days—and the desperate scramble to survive the unthinkable.Join the team as they dig into the movie’s groundbreaking visual effects, its surprisingly urgent themes of global responsibility, and the moral dilemmas that arise when only a select few can escape Earth’s destruction. From its bold, biblical overtones to its earnest optimism about humanity’s future among the stars, When Worlds Collide remains a fascinating artifact of early sci‑fi cinema.Expect lively debate, deep-cut trivia, and plenty of BIG sci‑fi energy as the hosts unpack why this film still resonates, how it shaped the disaster genre, and what it reveals about the hopes and anxieties of the post‑war era.Strap in—the rocket is launching, the clock is ticking, and the conversation is out of this world.

Adeena ReportingAdeena reports about her experience from the Star Trek cruise and shares all the fun details about what it was like being aboard a ship filled with Trekkies and Trek celebrities! Brian, Cris, and Steve hang on her every word as they only wish they could have been there, too!This podcast is a proud part of the Trek Geeks Podcast Network and works hard to bring you great content from all over the science fiction universe. We would love to hear your feedback, suggestions, and ideas. Take a moment to send us an email at [email protected] music for season 10 was created with AI from the Suno platform with prompts from Brian Donahue.Check our podcast out and learn more about the other great podcasts on the network by visiting trekgeeks.com.We've got the merch! If you want BIG Sci-Fi swag, check out this link and support us by wearing us everywhere you go! www.teepublic.com/thebigscifipodcastCheck out all of our social links in one place:https://linktr.ee/thebigscifipodcastCheck out Cris' amazing YouTube channel for Trek content galore:https://www.youtube.com/@yellingaboutstartrek1532Check out Brian's new book available at Amazon for Kindle and in paperback:https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brian-Donahue/author/B0C3BQ93VDSubscribe for free to Brian's Substack page where he writes original science fiction and fantasy: https://bdonahue.substack.com/Listen to Brian's music including his new brand new compilation album "My Story" at: https://www.reverbnation.com/765591/album/330256Find Adeena's books here: https://crazyrobot.myshopify.com/Follow her on Substack here: https://beyondthedroid.substack.com

Across the 8th DimensionThis week on The BIG Sci‑Fi Podcast, we strap in for one of the wildest, most delightfully eccentric rides in sci‑fi cinema as we dive deep into the 1984 cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.Buckaroo Banzai isn’t just a neurosurgeon. Or a rock star. Or a particle‑physicist‑slash‑comic‑book‑hero. He’s all of the above—and somehow that’s only the beginning. From Red Lectroids to jet‑car dimension‑hopping to a cast packed with unforgettable performances, this film has carved out a unique place in sci‑fi history.We explore why this movie continues to inspire such passionate fandom, how its chaotic charm became part of its legacy, and what makes Buckaroo Banzai such a singular cinematic experience.Whether you’re a longtime Blue Blaze Irregular or you’re stepping into the 8th Dimension for the first time, this episode is packed with fun insights, behind‑the‑scenes tidbits, and our signature BIG Sci‑Fi banter.So grab your oscillation overthruster and join us as we boldly go… wherever Buckaroo Banzai takes us next.This podcast is a proud part of the Trek Geeks Podcast Network and works hard to bring you great content from all over the science fiction universe. We would love to hear your feedback, suggestions, and ideas. Take a moment to send us an email at [email protected] music for season 10 was created with AI from the Suno platform with prompts from Brian Donahue.Check our podcast out and learn more about the other great podcasts on the network by visiting trekgeeks.com.We've got the merch! If you want BIG Sci-Fi swag, check out this link and support us by wearing us everywhere you go! www.teepublic.com/thebigscifipodcastCheck out all of our social links in one place:https://linktr.ee/thebigscifipodcastCheck out Cris' amazing YouTube channel for Trek content galore:https://www.youtube.com/@yellingaboutstartrek1532Check out Brian's new book available at Amazon for Kindle and in paperback:https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brian-Donahue/author/B0C3BQ93VDSubscribe for free to Brian's Substack page where he writes original science fiction and fantasy: https://bdonahue.substack.com/Listen to Brian's music including his new brand new compilation album "My Story" at: https://www.reverbnation.com/765591/album/330256Find Adeena's books here: https://crazyrobot.myshopify.com/Follow her on Substack here: https://beyondthedroid.substack.com

Trek Talks 5!The BIG Sci‑Fi Podcast welcomes the incomparable John Billingsley—beloved to Trek fans everywhere as Dr. Phlox from Star Trek: Enterprise—for a lively and meaningful conversation about Trek Talks 5, the annual charity event benefiting the Hollywood Food Coalition.John joins Adeena, Brian, Cris, and Steve to share why this event matters, how the Trek community continues to rally around causes that uplift people in need, and what fans can expect from this year’s lineup of guests, panels, and behind‑the‑scenes stories. Along the way, we dive into John’s passion for advocacy, the power of fandom to make real‑world impact, and the joy of bringing people together for a purpose bigger than ourselves.If you love Star Trek, community, and conversations that mix humor, heart, and hope, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Trek Talks 5 supports the Hollywood Food Coalition’s mission to provide consistent, nutritious meals and essential services to unhoused and food‑insecure neighbors in Los Angeles.Learn more and get involved at Trek Talks 5: https://www.trektalks.net/

To Khan or Not to KhanIn this week’s episode of The BIG Sci‑Fi Podcast, Brian, Cris, and Steve tackle Star Trek: Into Darkness with full‑throttle enthusiasm. From its bold reinterpretation of classic Trek lore to its high‑octane action sequences, this film continues to spark debate across the fandom — and our crew is more than ready to jump into the fray.We explore:• The film’s ambitious themes of vengeance, militarization, and moral compromise• Benedict Cumberbatch’s polarizing but powerful performance• The Kelvin Timeline’s unique flavor of Trek storytelling• What the movie gets spectacularly right… and what still makes us groan• How Into Darkness fits into the broader Trek legacyWhether you love this movie, struggle with it, or simply enjoy hearing passionate sci‑fi fans break it all down, this episode is a must‑listen.Available everywhere you enjoy your favorite podcasts — and proudly part of the Trek Geeks Podcast Network.