The Lorehounds

David is joined by Jon and Elysia for the season preview of Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, the new animated series created by Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz.

The conversation is structured in tiers, starting spoiler-free with release details and coverage plans before moving into light story and production context, and finally diving deep into Maul's full backstory and the crime syndicates of the Star Wars underworld.

Elysia provides extensive lore context on Maul's journey from Dathomir through The Clone Wars to his post-Order 66 status, while the team discusses the show's potential as a...

David sits down with Sarah, a longtime Lorehounds listener and ICU nurse with over two decades of experience in trauma care at teaching hospitals. The conversation explores the authenticity of The Pitt's depiction of emergency medicine, why Ogilvy's first-day cockiness is more common than viewers might think, and how addiction storylines among healthcare professionals ring surprisingly true. Sarah explains the hierarchy of nursing roles, why teaching hospitals need far more than two attendings on duty, and how watching The Pitt provides an unexpected emotional outlet for feelings nurses must suppress during shifts.

Contact Us Questions or comments...

Elysia and Riley kneel at the alter of Ralph Fiennes' Iron Maiden, discuss why Jimmy Crystal is scarier than Sinners' vampire Remmick, and glean hope from this film's not-so-hidden messages of humanity, sacrifice, and teasings of radical forgiveness in the second film in the game-changing 28 Years Later zoombie trilogy.

Previous coverage: 28 Days & Weeks Later (subscribers) & 28 Years Later (2025)

Find Riley online: YouTube – Bluesky

Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Send your questions and feedback to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.

Any o...

David and John talk crime coverups and funding cuts in this episode of The Pitt.

View our Free Show Guide Online:

https://thelorehounds.notion.site/the-pitt-show-guide

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated...

John and Elysia set sail on the East Blue and recap One Piece Season 1 before the live action Season 2 premieres on March 10. They discuss the Hope-Punk of Luffy, the theme of found family, and the absurdity of the production.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: onepiece@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

...

Dune Storyverse Check-In w/Zach & John from Dune Minute Podcast

David sits down with Zach and John from the Dune Minute Podcast for a wide-ranging check-in on the state of the Dune storyverse. The conversation covers Dune Minute's current coverage of the Sci-Fi Channel miniseries, the latest on Dune: Prophecy season two production, and their spoiler-filled first reactions to the Dune: Part Three teaser trailer — including speculation on the mysterious casket, Anya Taylor-Joy's casting as Alia, the Stoneburner, and whether Denis Villeneuve is pulling from Brian Herbert's expanded novels.

Movies by Minutes: https://moviesbyminutes.com/

David is joined by community members Lisa and Bryan to launch Into the West, a new show on The Lorehounds Network dedicated to celebrating the careers of filmmakers and actors who have passed on. In this inaugural episode, the trio explores the life and legacy of Gene Hackman, from his Depression-era roots and early breakthrough in Bonnie and Clyde through his defining role in the New Hollywood movement with The French Connection and The Conversation to later triumphs like Hoosiers, Mississippi Burning, Unforgiven, and The Royal Tenenbaums. Lisa and Bryan share personal memories of growing up with Hackman's films...

David analyzes an intense episode of the Pitt. John complains about Ogilvie.

View our Free Show Guide Online:

https://thelorehounds.notion.site/the-pitt-show-guide

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally...

David joins Elysia for their now traditional Oscars' season wrap! After talking through the highs and lows of the show itself, they share their own rankings of the Best Picture nominees, and discuss where some other high-profile awards-season snubs and other nominees would fit into that list.

Links discussed:

Conan O’Brien’s Aunt Gladys opening

It’s a tie! Watch “The Singers” (Netflix) & ”Two People Exchanging Saliva” (YouTube)

Doug Orleans’s Best Pic...

David and John talk mommy issues, grief, and god-complex surgeons.

View our Free Show Guide Online:

https://thelorehounds.notion.site/the-pitt-show-guide

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do...

Elysia wraps up the CinemaHounds pre-Oscars prep series with special guest Paulo from the Oscar's Death Race Podcast and a deep dive into the acting categories: Best Actress, Best Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress. Who's nominated, who should have been nominated, and who will win?

And then they conclude with a look at this year's brand new category: Casting. What is it, why is it here, and who will take home the first statue?

Join us on the Lorehounds Discord (see link.tree below) to discuss all this and more in...

Writer and photographer Katherine Oktober Matthews joins Elysia to discuss this year's writing and directing nominees for the 2026 Academy Awards. After they each unleash some of their hottest takes breaking down the three categories, they reconvene after the credits for a separate spoiler-filled discussion of eight of the nominees (01:47:05).

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free (until the separate post-credits spoiler section)!

Links discussed:

Assistant directing and lighting industry professional, and the host of the ContraZoom podcast, Dakota Arsenault joins Elysia to get into the technical details behind this year's Oscar nominees for Cinematography, Visual Effects, Film Editing, and Sound. They look at why a movie is nominated, what makes it special, and others they would have liked to see make the cut. Stick around after their conversation for updates (02:17:37) on these races!

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Links discussed:

David is joined by Lorehounds co-host Jean and Nichole from the Nevermind the Music podcast to check in on Hulu's Paradise, starring Sterling K. Brown and James Marsden. The conversation opens spoiler-free with their pitches for why you should be watching, then dives into season one's twists and character-driven storytelling before breaking down season two's bold expansion to the surface, the introduction of new characters like Annie and Link, and the show's unique use of contemporary cultural touchpoints in its post-apocalyptic setting.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send...

David, John, and Marilyn complete their journey through the Earthsea Cycle, this time covering the final novel, The Other Wind. They discuss the inversion of power balances, the anthropology at the heart of LeGuin's work, and the reexamination of past works by their creators.

Marilyn's Website

Marilyn R. Pukkila, Research & Instruction Librarian Emerita, Colby College

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Deep lore questions, comments and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at book@thelorehounds.com

Any opinions stated are o...

Mark returns to the CinemaHounds Oscars coverage series for the second annual "Nevermind the Oscars Music" crossover special discussing not only this year's crop of Original Song and Original Score nominees but also their musical influences, lookalikes, and others they would have liked to have seen on the ballot. Expect plenty of clips from an eclectic collection of genre with deep-digging analysis of their role in this year's nominated films.

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Links discussed:

N...

David and John recap all the fax machine malfunctions, nepo baby drama, and workplace romance dynamics of this intense episode of The Pitt.

View our Free Show Guide Online:

https://thelorehounds.notion.site/the-pitt-show-guide

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https...

Elysia and guest Logan take a tour that begins with this year's five Oscar-animated features before turning to other highlights from the surprisingly short eligibility list, the most surprising exclusions from the eligibility list, and Logan's thoughts on this year's animated shorts and a few final recommendations and general Oscar picks and predictions.

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Links discussed:

This year's 35 Oscar-eligible features

Kingdom of the Planet...

John and Elysia set sail on the East Blue and recap One Piece Season 1 before the live action Season 2 premieres on March 10. They discuss the Hope-Punk of Luffy, the theme of found family, and the absurdity of the production.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: onepiece@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

...

David welcomes Ian from The Captain's Pod and John from the Dune Minute podcast for a wide-ranging mid-season conversation about The Pitt Season 2. The discussion explores Langdon's recovery journey and the spectrum of forgiveness he encounters from colleagues, the authenticity of addiction representation on screen, and why Dr. Robbie's guilt over failing his mentee creates such powerful tension. They compare the emotional intensity of Season 1 versus the more sustainable pacing of Season 2, debate whether Ogilvy will ever get the three-dimensional character treatment that Joy recently received, and wrap up with a spirited "Baby Jane Doe" accent challenge from Lorehounds...

Elysia is joined by documentary and TV editor Rebecca June Lane (IMDb) to break down highlight's from the year in documentary filmmaking, starting with this year's Oscar nominees and expanding to recommendations (or anti-recommendations) for more of the most talked about 2025 documentaries and beyond.

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Documentary Feature nominees:

David and John recap another emotional episode of The Pitt. The system is down, the whiteboards are up, and the Olgilvies are Olgilvie-ing.

View our Free Show Guide Online:

https://thelorehounds.notion.site/the-pitt-show-guide

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

https...

Elysia is joined by Mexican film critic Héctor Serrano to tour the best cinema of the year from around the world, from this year's five Oscar nominees to highlights from the shortlist and beyond:

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Find Héctor Serrano at: El Cinéfilo Latino

Nominees Discussed:

International Film nominees:

John is joined by Marilyn R. Pukkila to discuss Of Túrin Turambar, the twenty-fourth portion of The Silmarillion. They discuss the Norse origins of Túrin, the effects of curses and expectations, and the changes in Thingol.

Marilyn's Website

Marilyn R. Pukkila, Research & Instruction Librarian Emerita, Colby College

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Deep lore questions, comments and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at lotr@thelorehounds.com

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the...

The Triarchy of John, Elysia, and David are briefly joined by Anthony to recap the finale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. They discuss anachronistic music, cold but kind fathers, and subtle digs are George Martin.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: smallcouncil@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Elysia is joined by Lisa (aka RedZippy) to put her theater and costume expertise to work evaluating this year's line-up in the 2026 Oscars' three art-direction categories: Production Design, Costume Design, and Makeup & Hairstyling – the last of which especially is secretly one of the most exciting list of nominees in the race.

Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.

Nominees Discussed:

Production Design (00:04:35)

David and John recap a somber episode of The Pitt.

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: ptmc@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

The 2026 British Academy Film Awards (better known as the BAFTAs) are airing this Sunday, February 22nd at 5 pm GMT (11 am ET) – and, in this episode, Elysia will ensure that you recognize all of the nominees so you can make your own picks and predictions as to who will win, and how that will affect the Oscar voting that begins four days later.

Or just listen along to find out what's been dubbed the best British (and international) films of the year and discover which titles you need to add to your own watchlist.

...

John and Elysia recap the fifth episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. They discuss the demands of Egg, Dunk's origin story, and whether the Light of the Seven might have some meaning.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: smallcouncil@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

EDIT: This is a reposting as there was an error with the initial audio file upload. Specifically, the Pre-Season dsicussion was uploaded by accident.

David is joined by Ian and Deneé from The Captain's Pod for a mid-season check-in on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, covering episodes one through five. The conversation explores what's working halfway through the season: the show's balancing act between honoring Trek's 60-year legacy and telling genuinely new stories, the ensemble writing that refuses to let Caleb become the sole gravitational centre, and the radical optimism of Captain Kitty as a model of what S...

David is joined by Ian and Deneé from The Captain's Pod for a mid-season check-in on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, covering episodes one through five. The conversation explores what's working halfway through the season: the show's balancing act between honoring Trek's 60-year legacy and telling genuinely new stories, the ensemble writing that refuses to let Caleb become the sole gravitational centre, and the radical optimism of Captain Kitty as a model of what Starfleet leadership could mean in 2026. Ian and Deneé also share how The Captain's Pod's three-things format is deepening the viewing experience — and offer a fair warning for...

David and John check in on the most emotionally resonant episode of the season, a quieter, contemplative hour in which the ER finally takes a breath. The conversation centers on the death of Louis and the profound found-family grief it unleashes across the staff, alongside a charged debate about the ethics of keeping an incarcerated patient in an already-stretched emergency department, and what Dr. Santos's recent behavior — including two AI charting errors and a performative stand over patient placement — reveals about her character arc. They also spotlight a nurse-centric episode that gives Perla, Emma, Donnie, Kim, and Dana each a mo...

David, Jean, and Elysia wrap up their coverage of Marvel's Wonder Man with the back half of the season, going episode by episode through the finale. The hosts share their spoiler-free hot takes on the full season before diving in, with Jean making the bold case that Wonder Man is the best character-driven story Marvel has told on screen — TV or film. The conversation also touches on the show's pointed social commentary and what the season means for the MCU going forward, closing out with a Pull List of comics to check out next.

Episode Discussion Time Co...

Whether or not you plan to watch along when the 2026 Spirit Awards air this Sunday, February 15 (or later), Elysia will walk you through everything you need to know: what's nominated in what categories, what overlaps are there with the Oscars, and what hidden gems might you want to check out.

Chapters

Elysia's top 10 Spirit Awards films for Lorehounds

John, Elysia, and Anthony from Properly Howard Movie Review recap the fourth episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. They discuss the excuses of Targaryens, the layering of prophecies, and their dream draft team of 7.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: smallcouncil@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

David and John watch the doctors take each other to task in a contentious episode of The Pitt.

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Elysia is joined by Brandon from ShortStick blog and podcast for a look at the five nominees for each of the three short-film Oscar categories: Animated Shorts (00:08:29), Documentary Shorts (00:29:07), and Live-Action Shorts (00:54:48).

They lay out what each short film is, what makes it stand out, and where you can see them (when possible), as they discuss how short films works differently from feature films and the more difficult path to nomination, and also call out other top shorts from this awards season that they think Lorehounds listeners will also love.

Find Brandon...

David, Jean, and Elysia discuss the first four episodes of Marvel's Wonder Man, exploring the show's unique approach to superhero storytelling through the lens of Hollywood industry satire. The conversation examines how the series balances meta-commentary on franchise fatigue with genuine character development, questioning whether its self-aware critique of Marvel's own practices serves the narrative or undermines it. They also analyze the show's tonal shifts, standout performances, and whether Wonder Man successfully carves out its own identity within the increasingly crowded MCU landscape.

Episode Discussion Time Codes:

<...

John, Elysia, and Anthony from Properly Howard Movie Review recap the third episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. They talk about the Dunk & Egg relationship, the implications of book changes, and the tough spot Dunk has found himself in.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: smallcouncil@thelorehounds.com

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Book-reader Marilyn and show-and-movies-only Elysia and Jean gather to tell Rick Riordan's stories of the gods and their children in their deep dive into the seas of seasons 1 and 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+.

After some background and spoiler-free thoughts on the series overall, they talk through the major character arcs across both seasons, comparing the show to the books and films and questioning what role they would play in this world.

(Note: There are NO future spoilers, beyond the two seasons aired.)

Contact Us

...