The Smuggler's Dispatch - A Star Wars Fan Podcast

After a narrow escape on the swamp planet Dagobah, the crew finds a link to one of the most dangerous weapons ever created in the galaxy - The Death Star. Join Al, Mikel, and CB as they dive into every trench, thermal exhaust port, and superglued panel on the iconic battle station. Digging into the behind the scenes creation and iteration, all the way to answering age old questions like "why does the Death Star even have a trash compactor??" and "What does power its planet destroying laser??" We hope you grab your flight suit, hop in your X-Wing and come join us on board as we explore Moff Jerjerrod's pride and joy! Skit: 00:00:00 - 00:04:15Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel Howarth & Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex StewartMusic Credits "Arcadia" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

After a rough landing in the swamplands of Dagobah, the crew of the Raven find themselves uncovering the abode of a great Jedi, and Al and Mikel can't help but share the history and mystery of master Yoda himself! Join us as we cover every nook, crannie and wrinkle on the old puppet, from his inception and design, to the incredible performance by Frank Oz, and even a bit about his unique history and a couple of other similar beings in the Star Wars universe that were inspired by the old green force-weilder! Skit: 00:00:00 - 00:02:45Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel Howarth & Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex StewartMusic Credits"Mighty & Meek" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Grab a Wookie Cookie and join Al and Mikel on a special holiday voyage to explore the enduring influence Life Day has had on the Star Wars universe! From Chewbacca's family to the Mandalorian's amban rifle, to LEGO, its fingerprints are everywhere.Skit00:00:00 - 00:03:51Holonet HeroStar Wars Radio, YouTube SW PreservationistFeatured Holo MailCole!Steven!Maya!Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel Howarth & Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex Stewart

At last the crew makes it to the glassy green surface of the once luscious world of Mandalore, and this time Al and Mikel are taking a deep dive into the titular Mandalorian himself - Din Djarin. Come aboard for a journey through the history of what eventually brought the Mandalorian to the life, going all the way back to 2005. There's a lot of surprising hidden corners in the Mandalorian's past, on and off-screen! We'll see you on the Raven!Skit: 00:00:00 - 00:03:50Around the Holonet:Email: smugglersdispatch@gmail.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: smugglersdispatchProduction Credits:Written By: Mikel Howarth & Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth, Alex Stewart, and C-B7 Thank you for listening! May the force be with you, and may the stars light your way!

Al and Mikel get a second hand Holotactics table on the Raven, which starts a conversation about another of Mandalore's great leaders, Bo-Katan Kryze! Put on your tactical bucket and join us around the table for a cantina chat about the Nite Owl herself!Skit: 00:00:00 - 00:02:00Around the Holonet:Email: smugglersdispatch@gmail.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: smugglersdispatchProduction Credits:Written By: Mikel Howarth & Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth, Alex Stewart, and C-B7 Thank you for listening! May the force be with you, and may the stars light your way!

Still curious about the planet and the people, Al and Mikel have a casual conversation about Duchess Satine over a cup of caf.Join Al and Mikel as they talk about who Satine is, what she means to the galaxy at large, as well what lessons we can take into the real world from her example. See you on board the Raven!Skit: 00:00:00 - 00:01:31Around the Holonet:Email: smugglersdispatch@gmail.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: smugglersdispatchProduction Credits:Written By: Mikel Howarth & Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth, Alex Stewart, and C-B7Thank you for listening! May the force be with you, and may the stars light your way!

Orbiting the surface of the desolated planet Mandalore, the crew of the Raven V discuss the habitability and history of the legendary homeworld of the Mandalorian people.Join Al and Mikel as they take a dive into the living waters, peer into the eye of the great mythosaur, and generally wax philosophical about this lore-rich piece of Star Wars history! This is the first episode in a series where we will try to get to the bottom of what makes the Mandalorian people so intriguing, engaging, and longstanding. So put on your helmet, grab your blasters and jetpacks, and join us for this special transmission!Skit: 00:00:00 - 00:03:00Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel Howarth & Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex Stewart

Dust off your old Holoprojector, and join us in celebrating a hand-picked collection of the best (or most infamous) Star Wars fan films! There's some old classics and maybe even a few you haven't heard of! Al and Mikel dig into what makes this galaxy such a great sandbox for other storytellers, and how Star Wars itself is in a way a fan film. So pop some Batuu Mix and come celebrate the stories being told by fans across the world!Skit00:00:00 - 00:01:40Our Kyber Encrusted Roster of Fan Films George Lucas in love TROOPS Hardware Wars Trial on the Island Moon The Birth of a Monster Shadow of the Republic Tukk Tales Holonet HeroJan Ruppert, creator of Tukk Tales Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel Howarth & Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex StewartMusic Credits "Through The Woods" by Shane Ivers (https://www.silvermansound.com) "Calling Fanfares" by Konstantin Kasyanov used with permission

The crew finds themselves on the glittering shores of Canto Bight for some clandestine business, hitting some snags and making some new friends along the way. Al and Mikel finally get a transmission out that's all about the Jewel of Cantonica, and what may lie beneath its glamorous surface...From the production of the set in Croatia, to new revelations about Rian Johnson for Mikel, costumes, and creatures, creatures, CREATURES galore. No matter what kind of midichlorian count you measure TLJ against, we hope you buckle in for this adventure with us. (Just make sure to get a permit from security if you park on the beach) Skit: 00:00:00 - 00:08:30 Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel Howarth & Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex StewartMusic Credits "The Chamber" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License "Secret of Tiki Island" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License "Calling Fanfares" by Konstantin Kasyanov used with permission

We must not lose sight of one thing: It was all started by a Jinn. In this episode we find Mikel and Alex exploring the potential meaning behind Al's unexplained nightly visits from a mysterious Jedi and what it could mean for his future exploring his connection with the Force. This exploration lead to our hosts exploring the storied origins of the character of Qui-Gon Jinn, including a discussion about the potential meaning behind his name. We also discuss how the character of Jinn is responsible for the launching of the Skywalker Saga within the Star Wars Universe. So, grab your Jedi cloaks and your rebreather and get ready for a brand-new episode of The Smuggler's Dispatch!Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel Howarth & Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex Stewart

In this episode Mikel and Alex explore the rich and fascinating history behind our favorite freight vessel in all the galaxy, The Millennium Falcon. You'll hear how the original models for the Falcon looked vastly different from the final result, YET somehow the original Falcon design ended up in the film...Just not how one might think. So strap in and get ready for a jump to light speed on this all-new episode of The Smuggler's Dispatch Podcast!Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel HowarthProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex Stewart

Join us and together we'll learn all about the power that fuels the Sith, the Dark Side of The Force!Things get dark aboard the Raven V as we discuss where George Lucas drew inspiration for the Dark Side Of The Force, its impact on the in-universe lore and how its inclusion shaped the overall narrative in the Star Wars universe. There's lots of lava-covered ground to cover on this one, so flip up your hood, summon your strongest force lightning bolt, and journey with us deeper into the Star Wars Universe!Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel HowarthProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex Stewart

Join our hosts Mikel Howarth and Alex Stewart as they Jetset across the galaxy and time itself (using their newly acquired Flux Drive) to uncover the wonder and majesty that is known as The Star Wars Holiday Special! On this episode you'll learn about the bizarre origins and production woes that plagued The Holiday Special before it even had a chance to air. You'll also hear Mikel and Al's favorite moments throughout this truly horrific triumph of a television special. So grab your Life Day Orbs, Your Kryntle Scarves and join us for this extra festive episode of The Smuggler's Dispatch! Joyous Kryntle to all!!Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel Howarth and Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex Stewart

Come aboard the Halcyon one last time as we approach the end of our journey on the Galactic Starcruiser. We'll be sharing tips, details, stories, and a few spoilers (later in the episode) to help YOU get the most out of the experience.We'll be taking a chronological trip through what an adventure onboard the Starcruiser is like, from the first steps onto the shuttle, to the grand finale and saying goodbyes. If you want an unbridled look at the experience, this is the catch-all episode for you! For those who won't be setting foot on the Halcyon, this is the perfect episode to tag along with us and experience the story, the serendipitous moments, Al's VERY detailed descriptions of the food, and most importantly meet the incredible people that make up the Galactic Starcruiser experience.We would be thrilled if you would join us!Find Us Online:Website: www.smugglersdispatch.comInstagram: @smugglersdispatchYouTube: Smuggler's DispatchProduction CreditsWritten By: Mikel Howarth and Alex StewartProduced By: Mikel HowarthDirected By: Mikel Howarth and Alex Stewart

As Al and Mikel get ready for their first day on board the Halcyon, they run into some unexpected friends that join in on an impromptu broadcast over dinner to talk about all things costuming!This episode features Sara and Steven from the Princess & Scoundrel podcast! We could not be more excited to have them as our first guests on the show, and we hope you enjoy hearing their expertise and thoughts on Galactic Starcruiser costumes! We'll be covering where to find items, how to modify them, what makes a piece look "Star Wars-ey", character background stories, and tips in general for getting the most out of your experience while dressed to fit in a galaxy far, far away!You can find Sara and Steven all over the Holonet, Be sure to check them out! Princess & Scoundrel Facebook group for Starcruiser costuming Facebook group for Starcruiser info and planning  Book a trip with Sara for your very own Starcruiser Voyage!Princess & Scoundrel broadcasts as a part of the Thank the Maker podcast network alongside Armor Party, and Thank the Maker, and they also run an amazingly themed Emo night for the ages called Mosh Eisley that makes it's way around the country!See you on the Halcyon!

Join Mikel and Alex in preparation for a voyage on the glamorous CSL Starcruiser, the Halcyon! As we pack our bags onboard the Raven V, we'll dig into the history of the ship and it's unique architect, look at the creation of the attraction, and share stories that will hopefully inform and enrich the experience for anyone curious about the Galactic Starcruiser. We also share some packing tips and pointers on booking a voyage. This episode does NOT spoil anything about the experience, it's geared toward giving some history and preparation!If you aren't planning a voyage anytime soon, this episode's got a riveting game of Sabacc, droid musings, one song from Al, 9 words and phrases Mikel had never heard before, and plenty of other goodness here in this Chunky Gungy of an episode!!See you on the Raven, uhh I mean the Halcyon!!

After months of searching, the crew is closer than ever to discovering the secrets of the mysterious world between worlds. Come aboard for this full audio drama episode that follows our crew through a daring adventure... Discovery and mystery! Love and loss! Porgs and hyperspace!! We'll see you onboard The Raven V!

Al and Mikel have finally arrived on Shili to meet L4, the mysterious droid Ceebee is certain can decipher the map to the Keystone... And while the crew is here, they're digging into Ahsoka Tano, the most famous and revered character to ever be born in Shili's lush forests. Join us as we dig into the origins of Ahsoka's story, in and out of universe, and learn some of why she is such a special character to not just us, but a big portion of the fanbase as well, we hope you'll join us!

Join Al and Mikel for the final episode covering the last half of the Kenobi series! Al shares his love of tiny, helpful things, and we dig into Vader, Reva, Kenobi, and the exciting finale! These episodes have taken us all the way to Shili, so we may have to cut this one a little short...

Re-join Mikel and Al for a couple of Toydarian Tauntauns as they continue their discussion of the Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series! This time the "Cantina" is the galley of our very own Raven V, and on our way to Shili we'll be taking a closer look at Parts 1 - 3 of the Disney Plus series! (One final part yet to come...)

Join Mikel and Al for a glass of Blue (or green) milk at Avilatan's cantina on Ord Mantell as they dive into the Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series! This is the first of our Casual Cantina episodes with a more conversational approach to different topics. We hope you'll join the crew at a cantina near you, cheers!

Al and Mikel dive deep into the oil bath this time as C-B7 has inspired them to see things from a droids perspective. Join the crew as they learn about what makes droids tick, in and out of the Star Wars universe. From their creation and inclusion in the story, the actors that portray them, visual effects, and finally what their lot in life is in this great big galaxy.

There's a celebration of the galaxy far far away happening onboard the Raven V today! Come join us as we hear from folks in the best fan community ever, as they share what makes Star Wars special to them, stories of their first introduction to the saga, or seeing it opening day in 1977. We'll save a Life Day party hat just for you!

In this episode Al and Mikel dig into the tragic life and origins of one of the infamous child of the Dark Side: Darth Maul. The crew of the Raven will be covering the characters creation and origins, portrayals in live action and animation, and his long and storied journey as a doomed character. Join us, and together we can rule the ga... no wait, Join us as we set course for Dathomir, the ominous homeworld of Maul, shrouded in the Dark Side of the force!

On a journey to uncover the secrets of an ancient relic, Al and Mikel stumble across a treasure trove of artwork by the great Ralph McQuarrie. The crew dives into the impact McQuarrie made on the Star Wars universe, and talk about some of his most famous pieces, and the lasting legacy he has left on the galaxy far far away.

In this episode, C-B7, Alex, and Mikel begin to untangle the rich history of the Mandalorian Darksaber. From its origins thousands of years ago up to its most recent owner Din Djarin, the crew takes a first pass at this mythical weapon, digging into differences and similarities with traditional lightsabers, and tracing back the reason this particular blade is so important to the Mandalorian people. We'll keep an eye out for you on the loading ramp!

The dispatchers invite you on a journey to explore a rare and mysterious force ability called "Psychometry" in this episode. The crew has turned over every rock they could find to share with you the secrets of those few Jedi that can read "Force Echoes". With special focus on Cal Kestis from Jedi: Fallen Order, Quinlan Vos, and Karr Nuq Sin from the book "Force Collector". C-B7 is dying for some new company, so come join us on board the Raven V!

Al and Mikel take a deep dive into the world of the most famous gungan in the galaxy, Jar Jar Binks! We talk about his behind the scenes creation, portrayal, and reception, along with his life as we know it in-universe. We hope you join us on Naboo for this wild journey!

In this episode Al and Mikel dig into the life and history of one of the most famous Jedi of all time: Obi-Wan Kenobi. The crew will be covering the actors that portrayed him, behind the scenes on the sets of the prequels and original trilogy, and the life of the character himself, from his humble beginnings all the way to his iconic end.  Join Alex, Mikel, and CB-7 as they set course for Tatooine, and search for the long lost home of the mysterious Ben Kenobi...

In this episode Al and Mikel talk all things lightsabers. From behind the scenes inception to on-screen realization, as well as in-universe history, builds, and meaning to the Jedi and Sith. Join Alex, Mikel, and CB-7 as they set course for Ilum, home of the kyber crystal!

On this very special first episode of The Smuggler's Dispatch, Mikel Howarth and Alex Stewart discuss all of their Star Wars "favorites" using the help of an ancient Jedi relic. 

Coming soon to a holo-comm near you!Created By: Alex Stewart & Mikel HowarthWritten By: Alex StewartDirected By: Alex StewartArtwork By: Mikel Howarth