The Forces Behind Star Wars Podcast

We had some super fun ideas in mind when we were putting together plans for this podcast. We wanted to explore the deeper meanings of the things shown on the screen, talk about how those movies were made and maybe get lucky enough to talk with some of the Makers themselves. Well, this episode was a dream come true for me. We got to talk with three of the legendary toy designers from Kenner. Jump into the wayback machine and head back to October of 2021. You are going to get to listen to some of the origin stories of some of our favorite Star Wars toys straight from the mouths of Jim, Tim, and Tom.

The fourth episode of the Thank the Makers podcast was an exploration of the Tantive IV by Demetrius, Anthony, and Ken. Yup, we spent almost an entire hour talking about a single ship that roared across screens in 1977 and changed the world forever. Take a trip back to June 8, 2020 and listen to us in the early stages of our podcasting adventure.

The Inflatable Falcon hosts Ken and John delve into the Star Wars universe's lesser-explored corners, offering speculative takes on what might have happened to Anakin's childhood friends and Padme's Captain Panaka after ‘The Phantom Menace.'  The duo also discusses the intriguing lore behind elements like Jawa Juice and Dexter's Diner, while sharing their recent experiences with Star Wars audiobooks and "trooping" activities.

Class is in session at the Jedi Academy! Welcome Padawans, to this special "back-to-school" edition of our podcast. As students around the world prepare to hit the books once again, we journey through the halls of the Star Wars cinematic universe to highlight the teachable moments in each film. From Master Yoda's teachings on Dagobah to Princess Leia's diplomatic strategies on Alderaan, every tale offers a lesson. By the end of this episode, not only will you have a fresh perspective on these beloved films, but you might also find some intergalactic study tips and life lessons worth jotting down in your notebook! Sharpen those pencils, get your holocron homework completed, and may the Force of knowledge be with you!

35. Yes, we have recorded and shared 35 episodes of this show and it has been quite an adventure. Our name has changed since we first started back in 2020 and our crew has grown to six hosts and a pair of fellow podcasters from The Inflatable Falcon and The Beskar Bucket (MIke and John respectively) who have golden invitations to join in on any of our recordings. On this Flashback Friday, we encourage you to listen as Anthony and Ken introduce this show to the world and talk about about some of the inspirations behind it and plans for it.

Summer break has ended!  This episode features the Bad Batch discussing their elevator pitches for movies and television shows they would like to see produced by Lucasfilm. Anthony takes on The Last Jedi once again! Dex displays his affection for an obscure character from Rogue One. The new Rad Batcher Andrew Czekalski desires more Hong Kong action in his Star Wars films. As Steve wants something totally new. As always, Ken attempts to keep everyone and everything together. 

In this 34th episode of the Forces Behind Star Wars podcast, we're thrilled to welcome Britain's Nigel Ross-Yong-Ching, a music virtuoso and lifelong Star Wars fan. Not only has he composed our fantastic new opening theme song, but he's now considered an extended member of the Rad Batch family! Join host Ken Bishop as he delves into Nigel's creative journey, his passion for Star Wars, and the inspiration behind our catchy new intro tune. Visit Nigel's YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@NYCNewMusic

Join us for another exciting episode of the Forces Behind Star Wars podcast, where Ken chats with a truly versatile and remarkable member of the Rad Batch, Dexter Weeks Jr., an accomplished sci-fi and fantasy illustrator, colorist, and letterer who has worked with industry giants like Disney, Image Comics, Action Lab Comics, RavenDesk Games, Arcana Studio, and Haunted Pizza. In this episode, we dive deep into the creative process and the incredible journey our guest has experienced in the world of illustration and comic book art. We discuss their inspirations, challenges, and triumphs in the industry, as well as their contributions to the Star Wars universe. Check out his portfolio at https://dexterweeksart2.myportfolio.com/

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Forces Behind Star Wars, the ultimate made-by-real-fans podcast! This week, The Rad Batch dives into the latest season of The Bad Batch, discussing the outstanding art, animation, acting, and surprisingly moving storylines. Join us as we explore the new heights the Filoni-led series has reached in terms of character development and world-building. We'll also put on our creative hats and speculate on where the Bad Batch's journey might take them in future seasons. What missions will they embark on? What new characters might we see? And what role will our favorite clones play in the larger Star Wars universe? Tune in to join the discussion, and don't forget to share your thoughts with us on social media! ———— Make sure not to miss the fantastic new intro music, "Star Wars 77" by NigeYC. Watch his original music video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeJGxphdQOk

On this week's Star Wars Forces Behind Star Wars podcast, our host Ken Bishop interviews our other host, Demetrius Romanos, a seasoned design leader with over 25 years of experience in building and leading world-class Design organizations. Demetrius firmly believes in the power of story-telling to evangelize ideas and connect the dots between people, problems, and business needs, creating an environment that brings out the best in groups to shape brand experiences - a skillset that fits perfectly within the Star Wars universe. Join us as we explore Demetrius' insights on how to create a culture of design that becomes part of a company's DNA and how that applies to Star Wars. Also, don't miss the fantastic new intro music, "Star Wars 77" by NigeYC. Watch the music video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeJGxphdQOk

In this episode, host Ken Bishop interviews Anthony Gaud and his professional experience as an art director in TV and video games. He also discusses Anthony being a creative force behind popular franchises Star Wars, The Transformers, Kingdom Hearts, and Marvel.

Join us as we celebrate the best of Star Wars in 2022 and the first ever "Georgie Awards!" We'll be handing out awards to the standout moments and characters of the year. So sit back with the Rad Batch, grab your favorite blue milk, and get ready for an intergalactic celebration of all things Star Wars! #starwarspodcastday2023

Star Wars had an amazing year in 2022. There were three live-action series, The Book of Boba Fett, Kenobi, and Andor, as well as an animated limited series from Dave Filoni, Tales of the Jedi. Fans rejoiced at the return of Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim. Lego introduced a long-anticipated game and an animated summer special. Lucasfilm published several novels and art books. A Star Wars bar somehow made its way on board a cruise ship, and Disney Parks opened up a Star Wars themed hotel of all things! Mike Hinton, from the Inflatable Falcon podcast, joined Anthony, Steven, Dexter and Ken to talk about all of these things and a whole lot more. 2022 may be one of the most significant years in Star Wars history! Thank the makers!!

Perhaps not since the Empire Strikes Back has a live-action Star Wars series been as engaging and high-quality as Andor. The Rad Batch talked about the first season of this series and how it changes the Star Wars universe. Special guests included two members of the Unifying Fandom Network of Star Wars Podcasts; John Scalise from The Beskar Bucket and Mike Hinton from the Inflatable Falcon stopped by to talk about the latest show on Disney+.

Anthony, Steven, Dexter and Ken got together to talk about Andor, the newest Star Wars series on Disney+. While it is true that only 4 members of the Rad Batch were able to be part of this episode (Demetrius was off on a secret mission in another part of the galaxy), we are confident in saying that all 5 of us have enjoyed the show so far. In this episode you will hear some of the reasons why we are impressed with what have seen so far and are excited to see what will come next.

Did the Kenobi series deliver on the Obi Wan and Anakin confrontation fans have waited 17 years to see? The Rad Batch (Anthony, Demetrius, Ken, Steven and Dexter) discussed the pros and cons of the Disney+ limited series. Be sure to listen the VERY end. You will not be disappointed.

The Rad Batch returns to discuss what many Star Wars fans regard as a near-perfect film. Ken, Anthony, Dex and Steve discuss why the film may be the best of the Disney era!

The Rad Batch returns to discuss the deeply controversial Star Wars film written and directed by Rian Johnson. Ken, Demetrius, Anthony, Dex and Steve analyze and discuss the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly aspects of the movie with a new hope for the future of the film franchise. In a first for our podcast, listener questions are answered at the end!

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Attack of the Clones Ken, Dexter, Steven, and Anthony discuss what they still enjoy about the movie after two decades.

Ken, Demetrius and Anthony are joined by sci-fi illustrator sensation Dexter Weeks and actor Stephen J. Pershing to discuss their thoughts on the season finale of The Book of Boba Fett and what Star Wars has in store for the future.

Anthony, Demetrius, and Ken were lucky enough to speak with the legendary designers Jim Swearingen, Tim Effler, and Tom Osbourne about their experiences designing the most popular toys in the history of the Galaxy!

A team of Bothan spies gathered two episodes worth of deleted scenes from the Star Wars movies for Ken, Anthony and Demetrius to watch and talk about.

Demetrius, Anthony and Ken got together again to chat about some of the deleted scenes from Revenge of the Sith, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and Solo.

Thousands of people have watched her 'Our Star Wars Stories' video on YouTube and many more have read about them in issue #200 of Star Wars Insider. Anthony, Demetrius and Ken were lucky enough to get the chance to talk with Zoe and Mike Hinton about how Star Wars has impacted their family and how their family has touched the lives of others including the hosts of this show.

Lightsabers, droids, and Millennium Falcons... OH MY! The three of decided to spend some time talking about parts of our trips to Batuu West and Batuu East. We barely even scratched the surface of all the goodness found in Black Spire Outpost and I bet at some point we will do at least one more episode on Walt Disney's largest expansion to date.

Demetrius, Anthony and Ken got together again to talk about some of the deeper / more philosophical inspirations for Star Wars. In this episode, they talked about how Joseph Campbell and religion influenced George Lucas and how those influences made their way across the Star Wars universe. Whenever there's a conversation about religion, you can't always tell which way things will go. You will definitely want to be aboard the ship for this chat and to hear from George himself about some of his thoughts.

Demetrius, Anthony and Ken join with two special guests, Dax Coste and Harry Jackson, about their lifelong connections to the incredible worlds of Star Wars that George Lucas created over 43 years ago.

The trio from Thank the Makers sat down to talk about our new name. We also discussed the upcoming season of podcasts in which we will showcase, celebrate and thank the Makers who have brought Star Wars to life; directors, writers, actors, production designers, artists, musicians, writers and even toy and product designers! Buckle up, it's time to make the jump to hyperspace as we explore The Forces Behind Star Wars!

There was a lot of stuff to talk about related to Revenge of the Sith. We talk about the blindness of the Jedi, a potentially misinterpreted prophecy and the kitchen sink.

This is the third episode in which we talk about an entire Star Wars movie. The animated Clone Wars movie came out in 2008 and it was not everybody's favorite film. With that said, we talk about some of the great things that came from this movie including Dave Filoni's entrance into the Star Wars galaxy.

This is our second episode to use an entire Star Wars as the jumping off point for one conversation. We talk about the lessons we learned from this movie and we also talked about whether or not we think the Jedi are the 'good' guys or the 'bad' guys.

This is our first episode to explore an entire Star Wars movie during one conversation. Buckle up because it is our longest episode so far. Be warned, we plan on doing this for all 14 Star Wars movies.

During this episode, we talk about a muy, muy interesting Star Wars character and his name is Jar Jar Binks. We hope you have as much fun listening to it as we had when we recorded it. Be prepared, there will be more conversations about Jar Jar in the future.

It is not easy to predict where a conversation about Star Wars will go. In this episode we started talking about the topic of rebellion, dipped into creatures in space and bounced to the new Baby Yoda toy.

We are excited to announce that our cast has officially grown by one. This show is now hosted by Anthony, Ken and Demetrius. In this episode, the three of us talk about current national events and some of their parallels in the Star Wars universe. We also give you the chance to hear about how the world almost got a green Chewbacca.

Anthony, Ken and a special guest spend time talking about the history of one of the space ships from Star Wars. Two new sections to the Thank the Makers podcast are also introduced.

003 - A Mythology Based on Hope by Ken Bishop and Anthony Gaud

Welcome to the pilot episode of the Thank the Makers podcast featuring hosts Ken Bishop and Anthony Gaud. In this episode we will talk about what inspired us to create this podcast and some of what Star Wars means to us as fans. We will also begin to give our appreciation to George Lucas and his team for the galaxy that they chose to share with the world.

Welcome to the second episode of the Thank the Makers podcast. In this episode we will continue to talk about what we like about Star Wars and how playing with the Star Wars toys helped connect us to the Star Wars universe. We will also begin to talk about the theme of HOPE that shows up throughout the Star Wars universe. We are still new to the process of creating these recording so please kindly keep that in mind when you listen to this one.