Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

Emily Hampshire interview is always electric — she’s one of those performers whose mind moves as fast as her characters. As Jennifer Goines on 12 Monkeys, she delivered one of the most unpredictable, heartbreaking, and darkly hilarious performances in modern sci‑fi. And now, with a slate of recent projects ranging from horror‑thrillers to sharp indie dramas, she’s in one of the most creatively exciting phases of her career.

This conversation explores how she built Jennifer’s fractured psyche, why she loves characters who “don’t care about being liked,” and how her career has expanded into bold new terr...

From the red‑carpet special, Tony spoke with the U.S. cast of Syfy’s Being Human at the Paley Center in New York. during the run of the series — starring Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington, and Sarah Allen — reimagined the supernatural roommate concept with surprising emotional depth. Running from 2011 to 2014, the show became a breakout hit, marking Syfy’s strongest winter scripted launch in nearly a decade.

Alongside the cast, Tony also interviews Mark Stern, then President of Original Programming at Syfy, who reflects on why Being Human resonated so powerfully with audiences.

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Three centuries after the fall of the Systems Commonwealth, the Andromeda Ascendant awakens into chaos — and standing at the captain’s right hand is Beka Valentine, the fiercely loyal, sharp‑witted first officer who helped chart a path toward rebuilding civilization. In this rare vintage interview with Lisa Ryder talking about the role that when the series was young. 

The role earned her a Gemini Award nomination for Best Performance in a Featured Supporting Role.

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For the 30th anniversary of Star Trek: First Contact, Trek Tuesday presents a rare and lovingly reconstructed special drawn from Tony’s original Beverly Hills roundtable, long‑lost New York radio segments, and a recent conversation with Jonathan Frakes.

This anniversary episode brings together the voices who defined one of the most celebrated films in the franchise: Patrick Stewart, Rick Berman, Alice Krige, Brent Spiner, James Cromwell, Alfre Woodard, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, and Jonathan Frakes.

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In the final installment of your Cosmos series, Tony sits down with Mitchell Cannold and Brannon Braga, the executive producers who helped shape Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey and Cosmos: Possible Worlds. This episode explores how they preserved the spirit of Carl Sagan while reinventing Cosmos for a new generation — visually, narratively, and philosophically.

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Legacy, Ocean, and the Voices Who Carry the Story Forward

On the red carpet for the World Premiere of Moana, with the filmmakers, performers, cultural leaders, and craftspeople who brought this new chapter of Moana’s journey to life. From the screenplay to the choreography, from costume design to visual effects, this episode reveals how a global phenomenon stays rooted in Pacific identity and storytelling. Thanks to Disney Pictures for the audio. 

Featuring Dana Ledoux Miller, Auli’i Cravalho, Catherine Laga’aia, Emma Puahi‑Shapazian, Amaya Masoli, Frankie Adams, John Tui, Lin‑Manuel Miranda, Maia Kayser, Rena Owen, Thoma...

A dive into the ambitious new adaptation of The Odyssey, featuring an ensemble cast that reimagines Homer’s timeless tale through character, consequence, and cosmic law. From the burden of heroism to the fragile threads of family, this conversation explores how ancient myth becomes urgent, human storytelling.

Sit down with Matt Damon (Odysseus), Anne Hathaway (Penelope), Tom Holland (Telemachus), John Leguizamo (Eumaeus), Himesh Patel (Eurylochus), and writer‑director Christopher Nolan, along with Lupita Nyong’o (Helen of Troy) and Jon Bernthal (Menelaus). Additional reflections come from Benny Safdie (Agamemnon), Zendaya (Athena), Samantha Morton (Circe), and Damon again on the...

In this episode of Rewind, Tony revisits the ambitious sci‑fi series Raised by Wolves, a haunting tale of two androids — Mother and Father — tasked with raising human children on the distant world of Kepler‑22b after Earth collapses under religious war. Though short‑lived, the series carved out a unique space in modern science fiction, blending existential dread with intimate questions about parenting, belief, and what it means to be human.

Tony chats with two of the voices who shaped the show’s soul:

Aaron Guzikowski — series creator

Abubakar Salim — Father, the steadfast careta...

Tony revisits the haunting 2013 Sundance breakout We Are What We Are, a slow‑burn horror drama that redefined the cannibal‑family subgenre with emotional depth and atmospheric dread. The film — now streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, Roku Channel (as of July), Tubi, Fawesome, and Pluto TV — remains a landmark in modern American horror.

Tony speaks with the filmmakers and cast who shaped its unsettling world:

Nick Damici — co‑writer and cast member

Jim Mickle — director

Bill Sage — Frank Parker, the patriarch

Julia Garner — a rising talent whose performance signaled a major career ahe...

Brian Herbert reflects on the extraordinary process of interpreting and expanding the notes his father left behind. He discusses:

The discovery of Frank Herbert’s outline for the final Dune novel

The emotional weight of continuing a story his father began

Collaborating with Kevin J. Anderson to honor the original intent while expanding the universe

Courtesy of Macmillan Audio, listeners hear a vivid excerpt from the Dune Audio series — a moment that captures the tension, mysticism, and grandeur of the later Dune nove...

Tony revisits the red carpet for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, the two‑part animated epic directed by Jay Oliva and adapted from Frank Miller’s seminal 1986 comic. Released in 2012 and 2013, the films depict a dystopian Gotham where an aging, battle‑scarred Bruce Wayne, now 55, is forced out of retirement as the city collapses under violence, corruption, and moral decay.

Conversations with David Selby (Commissioner Gordon), Jay Oliva, and legendary voice director Andrea Romano capture the creative energy behind a story that reshaped how audiences understand Batman — not as a symbol of youth and invincibility, but as a man co...

Indie Sci‑Fi, Horror & Fantasy Spotlight

Two indie films that approach fear, identity, and the unknown from completely different angles. One is cosmic terror in the woods; the other is a psychological fantasy that turns romance into revelation. Together, they showcase why indie genre filmmaking remains one of the most daring corners of cinema.

Extraterrestrial — Colin Minihan’s Alien Terror in the Trees

A cabin getaway becomes a nightmare when a group of friends witness a mysterious crash in the woods. What they find isn’t debris — it’s an alien spacecraft, complete with footpri...

Enjoy these popular shorts. Maybe they work because they hit the sweet spot — iconic genre performers reflecting on character evolution, emotional truth, and the moments that shaped fan‑favorite stories. This set feels like a curated anthology of sci‑fi, fantasy, and horror insight, each clip delivering a sharp, memorable beat. 

Included Are: 

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This episode digs into the newest, blood‑splattered chapter of the Evil Dead legacy — a story that twists grief, family, and demonic possession into a brutal, character‑driven nightmare. With exclusive audio from Warner Bros. and interviews that illuminate the film’s creative choices, Evil Dead Burn becomes a showcase of how the franchise keeps evolving while staying ferociously true to its roots.

The film centers on a woman reeling from the loss of her husband. Seeking refuge, she retreats to stay with her in‑laws — hoping for comfort, stability, and a chance to breathe again. Instead, she finds he...

This episode dives deep into the creation of Planet of the Apes (1968), tracing how a bold, philosophical sci‑fi concept became one of cinema’s most iconic films. You walk listeners through the production journey, the evolution of the script, the artistry behind the apes, and spotlight three characters whose performances shaped the franchise’s legacy.

Topics include:

July’s episode is stacked — major franchise updates, bold creative swings, industry losses, and one of the biggest “power rankings” lists in fandom history. This edition gives your listeners a clean, high‑impact overview of what’s shaping genre storytelling right now.

The Stories This Month

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Season Three of Falling Skies opens with a bold time jump, dropping the 2nd Mass into a radically changed world. Charleston has become a fledgling capital, Tom Mason is now President, and humanity is attempting to rebuild while still under the shadow of alien occupation.

But the biggest shift is the uneasy alliance with the Volm, a mysterious extraterrestrial race promising salvation from the Espheni. Their arrival brings hope, suspicion, and a new layer of political tension — especially as the 2nd Mass discovers that peace is far from guaranteed.

This Comic‑Con roundtable captures the cast...

A roundtable with Bear McCreary at San Diego Comic‑Con is a gift — he’s one of the few composers whose work doesn’t just accompany genre storytelling, it defines it. 

Bear McCreary, the Emmy‑nominated composer whose music has shaped some of the most influential genre stories of the last two decades. With six Emmy nominations and a résumé that spans space opera, pirate adventure, apocalyptic horror, dystopian sci‑fi, and high fantasy, McCreary’s work has become synonymous with emotional depth and world‑building through sound.

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In this episode, Tony chattged with Medina Senghore, who brought quiet strength and emotional clarity to Annie Smith in The Walking Dead’s final season. Introduced in Season 11, Episode 13 (“Warlords”), Annie emerges as a respected figure within the Riverbend/Riverside community, offering counsel, stability, and moral grounding during one of the show’s most politically volatile arcs.

Though her time on the series is brief, Annie’s presence reshapes the emotional landscape around Negan, revealing a side of him defined not by brutality, but by responsibility, partnership, and the terrifying hope of a future.

Her performanc...

With Colin Farrell, Laura Donnelly, Jin Ha, Raymond Lee, Sasha Calle, Tony Dalton, Shea Whigham, Gary Tieche & Sam Catlin

In this Sugar red‑carpet edition of Byte, Thanks to Apple TV Plus, Tony takes listeners inside the Los Angeles premiere of Apple TV+’s genre‑bending detective series. With interviews from the cast and creative team, this episode explores how Sugar reinvents the private‑investigator story — blending noir, emotional vulnerability, and a quietly radical take on what it means to search for the truth.

With Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, Eve Ridley, Ana Nogueira, James Gunn & Craig Gillespie**

In this special sit‑down edition of Byte, Tony dives deep into Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the bold new chapter of the DC Universe. Courtesy of Warner Bros., this episode features conversations with the film’s stars and creative team — exploring the emotional core, cosmic scale, and character‑driven storytelling behind one of DC’s most anticipated films.

Zazie Beetz, Gillian Jacobs & Simon Racioppa 

In the conclusion of this two‑part Rewind on Invincible, Tony turns the spotlight toward the women who help define the show’s emotional and moral landscape — Zazie Beetz (Amber Bennett) and Gillian Jacobs (Atom Eve) — along with a bonus conversation with Executive Producer Simon Racioppa on shaping Season Two.

Where Part One explored fathers, sons, and the burden of legacy, this episode dives into identity, agency, and the cost of choosing your own path in a world where power can both save and destroy.

In this first half of a two‑part deep dive, Tony revisits the explosive beginnings of Invincible, the groundbreaking adult animated superhero series created by Robert Kirkman for Amazon Prime Video. Based on the Image Comics series he co‑created with Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, Invincible redefined what superhero storytelling could be—violent, vulnerable, and unafraid to interrogate legacy, identity, and the cost of power.

This episode brings together three of the creative forces who shaped the show’s emotional core: Steven Yeun (Mark Grayson / Invincible), J.K. Simmons (Nolan Grayson / Omni‑Man), and Robert Kirkman (Creator...

In this , we head to San Diego Comic‑Con for conversations with the artists breathing new life into the iconic horror anthology. From resurrecting the tone of the original film to crafting new stories that drip with pulp, humor, and dread, this is Creepshow as only these creators could tell it.

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In this episode, Tony zoomed with legendary filmmaker Brian Yuzna—the mind behind Re‑Animator, Society, and some of the wildest practical‑effects nightmares ever put on screen. Now he’s turning his attention to a new project: Tales of Blood Island, a tropical fever dream blending zombies, voodoo, and the vibrant, uncanny world of Tiki Horror.

From pulp comics to Polynesian mythology to mid‑century Tiki culture, Yuzna breaks down how this new anthology taps into a corner of horror that’s rarely explored but instantly evocative.

Yuz...

In this NYCC virtual roundtable edition , Tony zoomed  with the cast and creative mind behind Batman: Death in the Family Part 1, the bold interactive film that revisits — and radically reshapes — the infamous 1988 storyline A Death in the Family.

Writer‑director Brandon Vietti, alongside actors Bruce Greenwood, Vincent Martella, and Zehra Fazal, explore how this project reopens one of the darkest chapters in Batman history and invites fans to consider the alternate paths Jason Todd’s life could have taken.

A Death in the Family was a watershed moment in comic history — a storyline that asked fans to dec...

Courtesy of Disney Pictures

In this star‑packed Hollywood red carpet edition of Byte, Tony brings listeners into the heart of the Toy Story 5 world premiere — a celebration of legacy, reinvention, and the enduring emotional power of Pixar’s most beloved franchise.

From legendary voices returning to the booth to new cast members stepping into the Toy Story universe for the first time, this episode captures the full spectrum of excitement, nostalgia, and creative insight. Featuring conversations with actors, filmmakers, Pixar leadership, and surprise guests, this is the definitive audio time capsule of the night.

...

Conversations with Kenna Harris, Lindsey Collins, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee & Tony Hale

In this special Pixar‑focused episode of Byte, sits down interviews with the creative minds and beloved cast behind Toy Story 5 — a film that arrives at a moment when audiences need its message more than ever courtesy of Disney Pictures. Co‑Director Kenna Harris, Producer Lindsey Collins, and actors Joan Cusack, Greta Lee, and Tony Hale open up about crafting a story that honors the franchise’s legacy while pushing its characters into bold new emotional territory.

The conversations explore the film’s timely the...

Tony revisits Ji, a visually striking sci‑fi romance short that imagines a future where humanity has fractured across worlds. After centuries of pollution, war, and collapse, Earth is left in ruins. The East escapes to build a pristine off‑world colony called Nilo, while the West seals itself behind fortified walls.

From this divide emerges Ji, a disciplined Nilo general played by Lewis Tan. Rumors swirl on Nilo that life still exists on Earth — a claim their government denies. Ji risks everything to descend to the planet of his ancestors, only to discover Tiffany, a resilient Earth...

A Conversation with Aleks Paunovic, Bobby Bala, and the Creative Team

In this Tribeca Memories installment, we revisit a standout sci‑fi short that left a lasting impression on festival audiences: The Shipment. Set in a gritty future where survival often comes at the cost of morality, the film follows a former slave trader who has abandoned that life to become a cargo hauler, ferrying goods between distant planets. But when one job becomes his only chance to secure a future for himself and his daughter, he’s forced to confront a devastating price — one that threatens to pul...

Recorded Live at the Tribeca Film Festival

In this special retrospective episode, we revisit two standout conversations recorded live at the Tribeca Film Festival — moments that capture the raw creative pulse of independent filmmaking. First, actor and producer Elijah Wood joins us to discuss his darkly comedic thriller Come To Daddy, reflecting on the film’s twisted emotional core, its genre‑bending tone, and the joy of championing bold, off‑kilter storytelling.

Then, acclaimed director Mary Harron sits down to explore Charley Says, her haunting and humanistic portrait of the women once under Charles Manson’s influenc...

Shirley, Knox, Martha, Carla, and the evolving machinery of rebellion

In this episode of Rewind, Tony returns to the claustrophobic, pressure‑cooker world of Silo as Season Two pushes deeper into the political fractures, emotional loyalties, and mechanical realities of life 244 levels underground. With Juliette’s actions reverberating through every floor, the people who keep the Silo running — literally and spiritually — step into the spotlight.

Tony speaks with Remmie Milner, Shane McRae, Harriet Walter, Claire Perkins, and Overall VFX Supervisor Daniel Rauchberger to explore how Season Two expands the world, sharpens the stakes, and reveals the huma...

Rebecca Ferguson, Common & Graham Yost on identity, control, and Juliet’s rise

In this episode of Rewind, Tony revisits the world of Silo, the Apple TV+ adaptation of Hugh Howey’s bestselling trilogy about a future where humanity survives in a massive underground structure — 244 levels deep — built on rules, fear, and a carefully curated version of the truth.

After years of development attempts and false starts, Silo finally found its home on Apple TV+, becoming one of the platform’s most acclaimed sci‑fi dramas. Tony sits down with Rebecca Ferguson, Common, and creator Graham Yost to expl...

Colman Domingo, Steven Spielberg, Wyatt Russell, Emily Blunt & David Koepp on character, craft, and the film’s core themes

For the New York City premiere of Disclosure Day, a buzzing red carpet to talk with the cast and creative team behind one of the year’s most anticipated films. From character dynamics to thematic undercurrents to the collaborative spark between actors and filmmakers, this episode captures the premiere’s energy and the artistry behind the movie.

Featuring interviews with:

Steven Spielberg — Director

Colman Domingo — “Hugo Wakefield”

Colin Firth (discussed in context) —...

Steven Spielberg, Eve Hewson, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo & Josh O’Connor on music, dual roles, confrontations, and the train sequence

In this special UK‑premiere edition of Byte, Tony takes listeners straight onto the red carpet for Disclosure Day, gathering exclusive conversations with the film’s powerhouse creative team and cast. From the emotional architecture of John Williams’ score to the film’s most explosive character moments, this episode captures the artistry and ambition behind one of the year’s most talked‑about releases.

Featuring interviews with:

Steven Spielberg — Director

Eve Hewson — in a st...

Inside the writing, world‑building, and production design of Apple TV+’s alternate‑history epic

In this behind‑the‑scenes deep dive, Tony sits down with the creative minds who shape the emotional, political, and scientific backbone of For All Mankind. From the writer’s room to the surface of Mars, this episode explores how the series continues to reinvent itself each decade — narratively, visually, and thematically.

Executive Producers Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert break down the evolving creative process behind the show’s long‑arc storytelling, while Ronald D. Moore returns to discuss the sociopolitical architecture of the Mars colony...

A modern reinvention of fear, faith, and the price of peace

In this episode of Rewind, Tony revisits ABC’s reboot of V — the ambitious, effects‑driven reimagining of Kenneth Johnson’s iconic 1983 miniseries. The modern series once again chronicles the arrival of an alien species who promise peace, healing, and technological miracles… while secretly plotting humanity’s downfall.

Through conversations with stars Elizabeth Mitchell and Morena Baccarin, along with executive producers Scott Rosenbaum and Steve Pearlman, this episode explores how the creative team rebuilt V for a new era of political anxiety, media manipulation, and global distrust.

In this episode, Tony sits down with the cast and creative team behind the first season of Apple TV+’s Mythic Quest — the acclaimed workplace comedy set inside a fictional video‑game studio building one of the world’s biggest MMORPGs. Through conversations with F. Murray Abraham, Ashly Burch, David Hornsby, Charlotte Nicdao, Rob McElhenney, and Megan Ganz, the episode explores how the series blends absurdity, ego, artistry, and the real‑world pressures of game development.

The team reflects on crafting the world of Mythic Quest, the dynamics inside the studio, and the creative tensions that fuel both the c...

The scale, the controversy, the characters, and the heart behind the chaos

In this special retrospective, Tony revisits the groundbreaking, controversial, and culturally seismic series The Boys. Through archival conversations with creator Eric Kripke, cast members Giancarlo Esposito, Antony Starr, Aya Cash, Karl Urban, Laz Alonso, Jack Quaid, and Erin Moriarty, this episode explores how the show pushed boundaries, redefined the superhero genre, and carved out a legacy that still sparks debate.

In this vintage conversation from the 1990s, Lois McMaster Bujold joins Tony Tellado and Ernest Lilley at a moment when her acclaimed Vorkosigan Saga is evolving in bold, emotionally resonant ways. Speaking from the era of her then‑latest novel, Memory (1996), Bujold offers a candid, thoughtful look at the craft behind one of science fiction’s most beloved universes.

Now 76 and living in Minneapolis, Bujold remains a towering figure in speculative fiction — but here, listeners get to hear her voice from the period when Miles Vorkosigan’s journey was taking its most introspective and transformative turn.

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