Superfeed! from The Incomparable

Grab your cyberspace deck and prepare to jack in—it’s time to discuss William Gibson’s groundbreaking classic novel, “Neuromancer.” We’ve got a panel of experts—and a first-timer!—ready to discuss how 1984’s future looks from the perspective of 2025’s present. Jason Snell with Antony Johnston, Lisa Schmeiser, Glenn Fleishman and Erika Ensign.

Dan and Casey cover a boxing match. Or at least, they try to. There are a couple challenges, including The Cut Man, a fast TKO, and Dan’s dad being a jerk. Luckily, neither Brian nor Lex is a jerk, nor do they insist you call them Cut Man. They just want you to join them for another edition of Sorkin’ In It. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

This episode’s highlights are wet stairs and a bad plan. Tony Sindelar with James Thomson, Kathy Campbell, Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz and Tiff Arment.

When a gang of misfits find themselves at the bottom of a deep hole they learn to support each other so they can all climb out. Also, they’re all dealing mental health issues but I’m pretty sure that’s metaphorically unrelated. We’re back with Bucky, Yolena, Mad Cap, and super-friends for Thunderbolts*! A Marvel movie with a message of mutual love and care in the face of an all consuming dark void. Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Who scapes the lands? Who gardens the gardens? Who mows and who blows? Not us! John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Hello fellow nerds! Welcome to our 19th Episode. Join Heather and Stacy as we debrief two big conventions: San Diego Comic Con and World Con. We chat panels, artists, authors and all the things about fandom conventions that bring the squee. Want to hear about the upcoming Vampire Lestat season from AMC’s Immortal Universe, a BBC Doctor Who activation, or the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art? It’s all here. Then, it’s time to talk Demon Hunters…the K-Pop kind. Hang out with us for an episode where fans interact with creators, media brings joy, and fandom really can seal the Honmoon! Stacy Watnick and Heather Berberet.

You thought they could release a trailer for a new Star Wars movie and there wouldn’t be a podcast about it? Think again! Your Star Wars pals Dan, Tony, and Kat are back to talk about the teaser for the upcoming feature The Mandalorian and Grogu, including swole Hutts, Babu Friks (Babus Frik?), and whether this can be any good. Dan Moren, Tony Sindelar and Kat Benesh.

We always knew Daniel Dae Kim would accomplish something after “Crusade!” (Kids, ask your “Babylon 5”-loving parents.) Our panel looks back over the three-month phenomenon that has been Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” and gives you reasons to watch it if you’re dispositionally averse to KPop, youth-friendly animation, or popular things. Behind the Spoiler Horn, we dive into how well the story and songs work together, whether it’s an animation breakthrough, the future of the wait-is-this-a-franchise, and what could have been better. (John Siracusa: “NOW you’re singing MY song!”) Chip Sudderth with James Thomson, Shannon Sudderth, John Siracusa and Lisa Schmeiser.

BEEP boop what is… love? Well, we don’t figure this out, but John Siracusa does return to Sophomore Lit to discuss Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R. (1920), the origin of the word “robot.” John McCoy with John Siracusa.

How many sport editions of Trivial Pursuit are too many? This many. Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Brian Hamilton, Heather Berberet, Helen Zaltzman, Sandra Wong and Scott Ensign.

Classic TTRPG tropes covered in this episode: a player trying to seduce an NPC, players fixating on one random room, and players wanting to use their skills for intra-party nonsense instead of getting things done. Tony Sindelar with James Thomson, Kathy Campbell, Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz and Tiff Arment.

The Summer of Submarines reaches crush depth with Disney’s 1954 epic “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” Captain Nemo of the Nautilus has met his match in an uncharismatic French professor, his strangely familiar associate, and their sidekick, a violent harpoonist and occasional cabaret performer. Also there’s a giant squid. Everyone remembers the giant squid—and for good reason! Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Erika Ensign, Shelly Brisbin, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Shuffle, and cluck, and tour jeté, and cluck cluck cluck. It’s a Magnum season finale, and ours too. See you in a little while, turkeys! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

It’s so annoying when someone knocks on your door in the middle of the night. Tony Sindelar with James Thomson, Kathy Campbell, Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz and Tiff Arment.

John fields some important questions about pasta from listeners Connor, Joshua, and Lee, including the definition of Al Dente and noodles versus pasta. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Our Summer of Submarines floats on with “U-571”, a 21st centry-style action movie that manages to hit most of the squares on the submarine bingo card. McConaughey is a disgruntled XO! Depth charges terrify! A surprising twist if you didn’t think about the title! Turns out, submarine movies aren’t a genre—they’re a format that lets filmmakers explore genres. Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Casey Liss and Moisés Chiullán.

Cracks are forming in Dana’s dating plan while Dan is recruiting a reluctant Isaac for a special feature on, you guessed it, the Giants winning the pennant back in 1951. Sure, Lex and Brian are wondering how Sorkin continues to pick the strangest titles for his shows, but you, dear listener, need not worry. Just keep Sorkin’ In It. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

A season of “Strange New Worlds” comes to an end, and so does this season of our podcast! But before we go, we have thoughts about Pike and Batel, “Doctor Who” plots, ley lines, parallel timelines, and even “Star Trek: Scouts” and “Star Trek: Khan”! Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

It’s Higgins versus Magnum in a tit-for-tat, Roland for Oliver battle of pranks, hijinks, and accused felonies. There’s a long scene in an elevator. Our characters become as impervious to damage as cartoon characters. And put away your red string and conspiracy board, because there’s a terrible idea in this episode that receives the blanket condemnation and denouncement of the entirety of Magnum, podcast. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

This episode of Random Pursuit features a quest for CanCon, fours for everyone, and two new editions of Trivial Pursuit! Numbers! Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Cicero Holmes, Glenn Fleishman, Monty Ashley, Sarah Murphy and Tom Dickinson.

Erika and Steven reach the mid-point of the last 6-parter structured like this one. Turns out there’s a lot to talk about here in the middle! Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

This episode has less chaos, but more dragon. Tony Sindelar with James Thomson, Kathy Campbell, Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz and Tiff Arment.

We dive beneath the sea again with “K-19: The Widowmaker,” in which Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson star as… wait a second… Soviet naval officers? It’s a film about a horrible nuclear accident assembled from pieces of other submarine movies, as well as possibly several “Star Trek” movies, and we can’t decide if the screenplay or the casting is more of a problem. But finally we’ll get to the bottom of the real question: if most of the crewmen aren’t married, can K-19 really be a widowmaker? Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Philip Michaels, Steven Schapansky, Brian Warren and Tony Sindelar.

Who knew that the opposite of an Arena was an Enemy Mine? Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Old cars versus helicopters, karate and seppuku, a helpful anecdote from Higgins, and a kidnapped guy who’s such a jerk that nobody (except maybe his wife?) wants to see him again. We watch a broken-down old episode from a writer who would go on to do better things, because what else can we do? We’re on the executive board of the Anglo-Hawaiian Friendship Society, after all. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

The chaos continues with a greedy rogue, a breath-holding Tortle carrying a Gnome, a swimming Centaur carrying no one, a generous Tiefling, and a totally ineffective dolphin. Tony Sindelar with James Thomson, Kathy Campbell, Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz and Tiff Arment.

Steven and Erika brave the smoke and heat of Edmonton to bring you discussion of the bunkers and domes of Skaro! Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

Listener Eric asks if vehicles are only motorized, and we ponder how small a thing can be before it’s not a vehicle anymore. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Live on stage at the Ohio Theatre in Madison, Indiana, it’s the Incomparable Radio Theater Live, with part two of the Adventures of Slim Skinner and the Cowhands of the Range! This episode has everything: double entendres (or not), dinosaurs (or not), a little zeppelin (Led…or not), and more singing cowboys than you can shake a temptress at. Yes, she’s Frenchish. David J. Loehr.

You know how Brian and Lex hate Dana’s dating plan for Casey? Boy oh boy, does it come to a head this week, in A Girl Named Pixley. On a podcast named Sorkin’ In It, two hosts named Lex and Brian are an emotion called annoyed. Also, Jeremy might win an award. (Spoiler: He doesn’t. Just ask Natalie.) Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

The Summer of Submarines resurfaces with James Garner going on a secret mission to an enemy island in 1959’s “Up Periscope.” The Skipper is not a skipper, but he’s got some interesting romantic ideas. Some scenes are impressively bad from multiple angles. And we realize that we’re starting to get good at this submarine-movie business, maybe? Jason Snell with Philip Michaels, Shelly Brisbin, David J. Loehr and Erika Ensign.

Never before has Vulcan Hello said hello to so many Vulcans. (And a Romulan, but shh, don’t say Romulan for canonical reasons!) We discuss Trek comedy, the delightful true fan of Humanity known as Doug, the depth of Number One as played by Rebecca Romijn, the action buddy comedy starring Kirk and Scotty, Batel’s jerk Vulcan boss, and Chapel’s inability to make good Plomeek soup. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

This final episode of season two is strangely a leftover from season one, so far as we can tell. So many scenes from the opening credits! Julia Nickson is back! We meet Chekhov’s Security Guard, whose name is Ox! The Law of the Economy of Characters and the Fallacy of the Talking Killer are both on display! And, most importantly, we introduce perhaps our biggest bit of Official Magnum Podcast Head Canon yet: Miłosz. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Brush up on the Large Object Theory of History. Shaenon K. Garrity returns to discuss Jean Merrill’s The Pushcart War (1964). John McCoy with Shaenon K. Garrity.

Join us for a new experimental game show: Bracket Case. In our inaugural episode, five players try to decide who’s our Zaddy. Annette Wierstra and Kathy Campbell with James Thomson, Brian Hamilton, Kelly Guimont, Erika Ensign and Glenn Fleishman.

A chaotic crew assembles to free a head from a book. Tony Sindelar with James Thomson, Kathy Campbell, Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz and Tiff Arment.

“Strange New Worlds” gets the documentary treatment this week, as the Enterprise is confronted with some difficult choices that call into question some of Starfleet’s most deeply held beliiefs. The documentary has a real character arc, going from deep skepticism to a final understanding in just 40 minutes. Unfortunately, that’s not how documentaries work! Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

We return to 1995 not to hack into the Net but to wander, Netless, around Vienna with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Palm readers! Street poets! Plays featuring cows! It’s “Before Sunrise,” a movie in which nothing happens… except maybe the most extraordinary thing in two people’s lives. Jason Snell with Brian Hamilton, Erika Ensign, Annette Wierstra and Steven Schapansky.

The most important supporting character in the show (the Ferrari) is sidelined and, oh yeah, Magnum is hospitalized! But is his amnesia a result of his head injuries, or is it more sinister? What does Thomas have in common with Superman and Batman? Jason focuses on island vibes, Phil gets to talk an awful lot about baseball, and we may or may not have subjected David to ’80s hypnosis. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Jasper aggressively chugs a healing potion while making eye contact. K’ronng starts pressing buttons and pulling levers. J’osh pulls a Teddy bear. Revelle has a hot wet lion summer. Tony thinks monks’ robes are like drab toga parties. Tixie Tockworth is air-gapped and did not plan for lions. Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ashley.

Can a drinking glass be made out of plastic? Or is it just a cup? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Our Awards Book Club closes up shop for 2025 with a final set of rankings, the presentation of an award we made up, and an overview of all the Hugo-nominated short fiction. Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Scott McNulty, Aleen Simms and Heather Berberet.