Superfeed! from The Incomparable

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.

Captain Kirk takes control of the USS… Farragut! While he’s facing his first crucial command decisions in an emergency situation with the help of a few familiar faces, Pike and company are repelling a monstrous boarding party. (The monsters are, in hindsight, exactly who you should have expected.) Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Fresh off his drug scandal, Dana’s brother is coming to visit. Casey tells her to be nice. Dan is TOO nice when reviewing Natalie’s audition tape — until he veers unnecessarily hard the other way. Casey is failing his audition for “best friend ever” with Brian and Lex, but no matter. We’re still Sorkin’ in it together. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

Candy Clark returns as an ex-hooker who is a deeply unreliable partner. We get caught in the Island Breeze, which services a lot of local men who need their carpets cleaned on a regular basis, sometimes by an unlikely pair of janitors? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

The last of the recent trilogy of Doctor Who episodes of Feuding Families is ready for your ears! Do we still love our listeners? Of course we do! Do they know a lot about Doctor Who? Of course they d…checks notes…Of course some of them do! Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Chip Sudderth, Erika Ensign, Evan Teng, Glenn Fleishman, Mikayla Micomonaco, Riley Silverman and Steven Schapansky.

J’osh is still alive…ish. K’ronng is poetry in motion. Revelle shifts the wind. Jasper tried. Tony is mean to the people he actually likes. Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ashley.

Forth time’s a charm? The Fantastic Four are back on the big screen and they’re better than ever! We’re off to the lovely universe of Earth-828. A place just brimming with Silver Age charm where you’ll find Moleman, intelligent super-apes, our family of heroes and a hungry Galactus. Pop this episode into your face-tape-player and join us for a cosmic ride full of heart. Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

We celebrate the tenth anniversary of our Summer Superhero Spectacular tournament with something slightly different: A draft of our favorite superhero movies. Jason Snell with Andy Ihnatko, Chip Sudderth, James Thomson, Annette Wierstra, Tony Sindelar, Moisés Chiullán and David J. Loehr.

Presented by Famous Big Hi-Rise Hotel on Waikiki, it’s “The Hotel Dick!” Magnum quits his job (?) to become a hotel detective (??) and foil a thief called the Cat Man of Kauai (???) with the help of a hooker with a heart of gold (???!) and no help from his boss, a mean man who might be up to no good. This is a “Magnum” like no other. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Not all red shirts wear red! (But some do!) This episode has a lot of death, an alien mystery, some questionable archaeology, a reversal of cause and effect, and multi-dimensional layering. In other words: It’s Star Trek! Also, Jason passes on a wild theory about Batel’s new Gorn-chimera lifestyle. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

J’osh is in the jaws of defeat. Jasper finds a new favourite bell. K’ronng is doing all the work. Revelle is a Triton again. Tony likes to use robot dogs to hurt his friends. Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ashley.

Summer is in full swing, so Listener Ken has asked us to differentiate between umbrellas and parasols. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

2025 Awards Book Club nears the end with award nominees “Asunder,” “The Ministry of Time,” and “The Tainted Cup.” Plus: What else are we reading? Jason Snell with Scott McNulty, Erika Ensign, Aleen Simms and Heather Berberet.

This week’s “Strange New Worlds” is an homage to 1960s Star Trek, 1970s murder mysteries, and all murderous holodeck stories throughout Trek history. Also, Paul Wesley gets to do his best Shatner. It’s called acting! Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

ere is one of the greatest ensembles of the classic era - or any era, for that matter. Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Lucile Ball, Ann Miller, Eve Arden (and cat), Gail Patrick, Andrea Leads. Constance Collier, all sharing a theatrical boarding house in New York, and struggling to become big stars. Kate says something about calla lilies, and also snipes with Ginger. It’s so much fun!, Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr, Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga.

Dana’s excited about a fresh NFL steroids scandal… until she realizes her own brother is caught up in the mix. Also, Jeremy eventually fires an intern who absolutely should be fired, even if maybe Jeremy’s motivation for the firing isn’t perfect. You know what IS perfect, though? Our analysis. Join Brian and Lex. Let’s Sorkin’ In It together. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

Sun, surf, and fake Beach Boys muzak can only mean one thing: It’s time for flashbacks! In this episode, we see Magnum, T.C., and Rick as they were before the pilot episode. Magnum’s a struggling P.I. on his first case. T.C.’s flying someone else’s helicopter. Rick is still doing that weird not-Bogart impression. Unfortunately there’s also a plot in the present day, and they’re connected, and neither of them makes a lot of sense, and it’s kind of a disaster all around. But: One of the all-time great Higgins speeches! Also, Jason almost forgets the blockbuster segment he introduced to the show last time! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

In this installment of the 1955 edition of Careers, one player is a slick politician, one player is a business tycoon, and one player…gets hit by a karma. Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Dan Moren, Deborah Stanish and Shelly Brisbin.

K’ronng opens Slonk’s eyes. Jasper doesn’t want to beat up the robot dogs. J’osh checks the potty. Revelle likes a man with smooth hands. Tony has feelings about numbers. Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ashley.

This week we’re balancing Moss Zombies with Gorn Consumption as Pike and M’Benga take a “Shuttle to Kenfori!” It’s a character episode with some zombies in the background, and also one particularly grumpy Klingon. Jason looks up the Klingon word for “redshirts.” Also: Paramount finally gets bought, and there are new pictures from “Starfleet Academy!” Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

You’ll believe a man can be good. Superman is back, Lois! And this time he’s not Space Jesus. He’s a good man trying to do the best he can in a world more complicated than this hero was created to address. Still, he perseveres and inspires others to do their best too. This version of Superman isn’t without flaws. Neither in the character nor the film. But, gosh, is it sincere. Can’t get much more punk than sincerity. Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

If you can quote from “Casablanca” or “Gone with the Wind,” you can probably quote from “Now Voyager.” Or you could, with a little reminder. “Don’t let’s ask for the moon, when we have the stars.” And the Paul Henreid/Bette Davis cigarette-lighting move is here, too. Tis a stone cold classic of the romantic, weepy canon. Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, Randy Dotinga and Nathan Alderman.

We went to the theater to see James Gunn’s “Superman” (2025) and are back to report about the pleasant experience. Gunn sets a new direction for DC superheroes, and fans of Zack Snyder may want to look elsewhere. From Krypto the Superdog to a surprising squirrel save, from The Marvelous Miss Lane to that Elemento guy, we’ll break the whole thing down. Jason Snell with Tony Sindelar, Dan Moren, Shannon Sudderth, Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren.

Norman Fell menaces in hallucinatory flashbacks, a centipede bite causes mayhem, a spider steals Herman the Shark’s valor, and there’s some guy named Michaels. Unfortunately, this episode wants to be “Home from the Sea”, and even re-uses footage from that episode, which just reminds us that we’d rather be watching that episode. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

J’osh is nursing a headache. K’ronng has thumbs. Revelle noses around. Jasper wants to go to jail. Tony doesn’t have a castle (he’s a renter). Perhaps most importantly, D&D Beyond is down! Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ashley.

Hey fellow nerds!! Welcome to Episode 18, our summer episode! We dish on what is real (or not!) in reality tv (think: The Ultimatum, The World’s Toughest Race, Naked Attraction) and talk about all the things we’re excited about for summertime! Comic Con, anyone?? Head to the Drive-In with Heather, take a dip in our TBR pool (on your seating of choice!), and chat Bechdel, Eames and Moms Who Write. Check out our Instagram at free_the_squee_podcast for more content and join The Incomparable Membership program to chat with us on Discord! Happy summer, nerds! Stacy Watnick and Heather Berberet.

A nigh-omnipotent wedding planner threatens the Enterprise crew with a good time! We’re here to talk about the second new “Strange New Worlds” episode of the premiere week, in which Spock and his romantic rival must unite to find a way to bring back reality, or become dogs trying. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Listener Marc ponders the “VR headset market” and wants to know what makes a market a market. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

We bring Stanwyck Summer (but not the LTS season) to a close with a draft-ish episode. Each panelist has brought us a Barbara Stanwyck film - one we haven’t talked about before on the show. Somehow, there are a number of cats. Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga.

If you’re suffering from Quiet Desparation, why not listen to the not-so-quiet voices of Dan Daughhetee and me discussing Henrey David Thoreau’s Walden, or Life in the Woods (1854)? John McCoy with Daniel Daughetee.

We remain submerged for a very long time to watch a very long film, 1981’s “Das Boot.” This certifiable classic is certainly long and German, encompassing almost everything you might expect in the genre. There’s action, suspense, a lot of character moments, and long periods of tedium spent listening for bad sounds, punctuated by moments of terror as the boat goes to eleven (and beyond). Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Brian Warren, Casey Liss, Dan Moren and Philip Michaels.

And now, the conclusion! “Strange New Worlds” returns with the resolution of the season 2-ending storyline involving the Gorn, including Chris Pike’s very bad day. We dive into the action after a discussion of the precarious position Paramount and Star Trek are in right now. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

This earliest non-pilot episode of Magnum features weird music, dogs, shots from the opening credits, an unfortunate Chinese food joke, fast dialogue, and a kung-fu assassin with one fatal flaw: blinking. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

In our second of two Uncanny Magazine Kickstarter Backer editions, we visit the world of places, learn about baseball, and do not learn about the U.S. Constitution. Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Fred Paffhausen, Jason Snell, Laura Majerus, Peter Jones and Seb Pollard.