The Tightbeam

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Join hosts Erik, Lou, Andrea, and Shannon as they break down the bestselling The Expanse books, the critically-acclaimed Syfy series, and more. Suit up and strap in as we go deeper into the big empty! Not affiliated with Syfy. Part of the RandomChatter Network.

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    • Jan 31, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 19m AVG DURATION
    • 74 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Tightbeam

    TB 73: Season 6 Wrap-Up Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 111:57


    The Tightbeam crew talks Easter Eggs, Cameos, visual effects and sets, and our Top 3's of Season 6, before diving into listener responses to the final season of The Expanse in Part 2 of our Season 6 wrap-up!

    TB 72: Season 6 Wrap-Up Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 125:57


    The Tightbeam crew shares their overall thoughts on the final season of The Expanse, and discuss all our favorite characters in Part 1 of our Season 6 wrap-up!

    TB 71: Series Finale Part Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2022 84:29


    An end is just a new beginning. Join Andrea, Fred, and Shannon as they break down the second half of “Babylon's Ashes”, the series finale of The Expanse, as well as read listener reactions to the finale.

    TB 70: Series Finale Part One

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 78:34


    The time has come. Join Andrea, Fred, and Shannon as they break down the first half of "Babylon's Ashes", the series finale of The Expanse.

    TB 69: The Railguns in the Room

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2022 66:50


    The Expanse is making a crushing decel burn with its penultimate episode! Join the Tightbeam crew as they discuss the losses, reunions, and alliances of The Expanse 605 “Why We Fight”!

    TB 68: The 23rd Century Remake of 127 Hours

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 97:34


    Join the Tightbeam crew as they breakdown The Expanse 604, "Redoubt", discussing Lucky Earther, the fallout from Holden's choice, the hand we all want to give Josep, and the Pella's "lucky" survival.

    TB 67: Some Sexy Ships

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 100:18


    We're at the halfway point of Season 6, and we're truly flipping into our decel burn as we breakdown The Expanse 603, "Force Projection!" Join us as we talk about the cameos and returns, THAT space battle, and why Holden isn't Fred's type.

    TB 66: Trauma and a Bunch of Daddy Issues

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 77:05


    The Roci is on the hunt, Filip's going through it, and we may have finally found someone who intimidates Marco! Maybe. Join the Tightbeam crew as they break down The Expanse 602, "Azure Dragon!"

    TB 65: Strange Dogs With Opinions

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2021 67:53


    It's finally here! Join the Tightbeam crew (and their strange dogs) as they breakdown and discuss "Strange Dogs", the Season 6 premiere of The Expanse!

    TB 64: The Motherlode

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 79:12


    Just over a week until The Expanse Season 6 premieres, and we're back with a new episode! Join Andrea, Fred, and Shannon as they breakdown and discuss the Season 6 trailer!

    TB 63: Catching Up with Jacob Mundell

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 32:15


    Join Andrea and Fred in this Tightbeam Minisode as they chat with Jacob Mundell (aka Erich) about NYCC, his raffle for crew gifts and other treats, and what Amanda Cordner (aka Hutch) is up to now!

    TB 62: The One With the Season 6 Teaser Breakdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2021 63:08


    Join Andrea, Fred, and Shannon as they breakdown and discuss the S6 teaser released at NYCC last month!

    TB 61: “Live” from NYCC, it's The Expanse Season 6!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2021 61:38


    Join Andrea and Fred as they welcome Shannon back from NYCC 2021, and talk all the panels, Season 6 news, and the con experience!

    TB 60: Podcast Masters

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2021 119:23


    Andrea and Shannon are joined by John Bultena, Game Master for Expanse RPG Podcast Abraxas' Precipice, and talk TTRPG and The Expanse Role Playing Game, as well as running a show around a TTRPG game!

    TB 59: Captain's Log

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2021 20:30


    Shannon flies solo in this Tightbeam minisode, recapping all the recent news from the Expanse realm, and reading the entries to Jacob Mundell's "Erich's Office" contest from our last episode!

    TB 58: It's “Erich” Because He's “E-Rich”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2021 115:49


    It's a very special episode of The Tightbeam! Jacob Mundell, aka The Expanse's Erich, joins Andrea, Fred, and Shannon for a fun and insightful interview that goes more in-depth than any of us planned. Listen to the end for info on an incredibly generous giveaway from Jacob himself!

    TB 57: Season 5 Round-Up, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 85:47


    Tightbeam crew continues discussing Season 5, diving into the arcs of Bobbie, Drummer, Avasarala, Clarissa, Marco, and Filip, as well as share their favorites of the season! Stay tuned to the end for a special announcement about our next episode!

    TB 56: Season 5 Round-Up, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2021 68:06


    Tightbeam crew is back! Join Andrea, Fred, and Shannon in the first of two round-up episodes as they share their overall feelings about the season, and break down the S5 arcs of Holden, Naomi, Amos, and Alex.

    TB 55: Cookies in the Airlock: An Interview with Wilex Ly

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2021 42:48


    In this special episode of The Tightbeam, Andrea and Fred sit down to have a fun conversation with Wilex Ly, who brought Serge Kylo to life in Season 5 (until Marco ruined that, too)!

    TB 54: Meeting of the Minds: A Sit Down with James S.A. Corey

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 21:46


    Surprise! It's a special episode of The Tightbeam! Fred got the chance to sit down with Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, aka James S.A. Corey, for a quick interview last week, and he made it to the other side! Join us for this fun mini-episode to get some answers from two of our favorite authors!

    TB 53: You Reap What You Sow… and Then You Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2021 122:43


    It's finally here: The Expanse Season 5 finale! And it sure is a doozy. Join the Tightbeam crew as they breakdown every battle, every laugh, every cry, every loss, every revelation, and every party outfit in 5x10 "Nemesis Games". #randomchatter #TheTightbeam #TheExpanse #TheExpanse510

    TB 52: Hitchin’ a Ride

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2021 93:30


    With only one episode left in Season Five, the stakes are only getting higher for everyone in the system as we head into the finale. The Tightbeam crew breaks down 509, "Winnipesaukee", discussing Drummer being caught between a rock and a hard place, Avasarala's humanity showing through her grief, the most important repair job Amos and Clarissa will ever do, and more.

    TB 51: What Do We Become?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 83:30


    It's another rough week for everyone on The Expanse, and the Tightbeam crew is here to breakdown all the story beats of 508 "Hard Vacuum". Join us as we discuss the fate of Baltimore, the UN's response plans, the pressures that come from being under Marco's thumb, and Naomi Nagata, the biggest badass in space.

    TB 50: One Giant Leap

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2021 109:04


    It's our 50th episode! The Tightbeam crew looks back before diving right into The Expanse 507: Oyedeng, breaking down Holden's dubious decision making, Monica's tenacity, Filip being torn between father and mother, Marco's perspective of strength, and Naomi's difficult, heartbreaking, and entirely badass decision.

    TB 49: Baltimore Bound

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2021 85:46


    The Tightbeam crew discusses The Expanse 506, "Tribes", breaking down Amos and Clarissa's incredible journey, the consolidation of the OPA factions, Drummer's difficult choice, Marco's manipulation of Filip, and more!

    TB 48: Barely Holden On

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2020 107:02


    The aftershocks keep coming in The Expanse 505, "Down and Out". Join the Tightbeam Crew as they discuss the politics of retaliation, what makes a Belter, Marco's influence on Filip, and Naomi's actions returning to haunt her.

    TB 47: Everything Goes to Hell, and There’s a Robot

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2020 79:18


    After an episode that left quite an impact, the Tightbeam crew manages to break down Expanse 504, "Gaugamela", discussing the loss and chaos, the pain of being decked by a robot, and Marco Inaros's rise and his manipulations.

    TB 46: The Mother of All…

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 87:35


    Emotions? Traumas? Manipulations? Beatdowns? Bombs? Revelations? Join the Tightbeam crew as we wade through it all in our breakdown of 503, “Mother”.

    TB 45: Stomach Churn-ing

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2020 70:21


    Fans have been waiting years for a look into Amos' past, and the time has finally come! The Tightbeam Crew breaks down The Expanse 5.02, "Churn", tackling Drummer's Polyam Belter Fam, Amos' arc, Holden's impulsiveness, and verbal takedowns on Luna and Mars.

    TB 44: Chorus of Yays for Season Five!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2020 69:05


    Season Five is finally here! Join the Tightbeam crew as they break down the S5 premiere, "Exodus", discussing the stunning visuals, Naomi and Holden's growth together, Amos and Chrissy, and more!

    TB 43: Darth Vader Announces Season Six!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2020 64:05


    Soon Season Five will be on our screens, and The Expanse is hitting Firehawks with tons of news and promo content. The crew breaks down new S5 promo material, the S6 renewal news, and the upcoming premiere party!

    TB 42: The One With the Trailer Breakdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2020 89:50


    In this (surprise super-length) episode, the Tightbeam crew talks about Season 5's hybrid release schedule, breaks down the NYCC S5 trailer and what it all means for our favorite characters, and shares listener reactions to the panel and trailer!

    TB 41: Widebeam Comic Con

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2020 76:25


    NYCC Weekend is behind us, and we finally have info on S5! In the first of our two-part NYCC coverage, the crew discusses the panel, where characters we love have been and are going, and other news from the Expanse world.

    TB 40: Holden: The Lost Leviathan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 71:39


    We're back for our 40th episode! The Tightbeam Crew breaks down all The Expanse news from the last few months, including the reveals for Book 9, Leviathan Falls, the upcoming Expanse comic series, and Dominique Tipper & Steven Strait rewatching some of their scenes for TVGuide's Top 100 Shows!

    TB 39: Getting Moldy with the Moldy Filters!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2020 102:27


    The Moldy Filters, aka Chris, joins the Tightbeam crew for an interview and performance of his Lang Belta song "Seteshang Anderson" before diving into a fun discussion of our faves from Season 4 of The Expanse!

    TB 38: We’re Fighting Our Wei

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2020 82:05


    The Tightbeam crew finally reaches the top of the ruins! We discuss 4.10, "Cibola Burn", breaking down Holden's success (and failure), Avasarala's defeat, Ashford's blaze of glory, and the pieces all coming together in the Season 4 Finale!

    TB 37: Social Distancing or: How Holden Learned to Stop Being Nice and Use the Alien Bomb

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2020 74:45


    The Tightbeam crew is back, giving everyone on Ilus social distancing advice before breaking down 4.09 "Saeculum", including Murtry's plans and motivations, Holden on the edge, and the possible final end of a fan favorite character.

    TB #36: What Doesn’t Kill You

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2020 73:31


    Things are looking bleak as the Tightbeam crew breaks down The Expanse 4.08. "The One-Eyed Man"! Join Andrea, Fred, and Shannon as they find the "one-eyed men" of the episode, discuss the fallout of the Pizzouza and the surprise return of Fred Johnson, and ponder Miller's screams.

    TB #35: All The Ways Ilus Will Kill-Us

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2020 63:46


    It's an absolute buffet of possible ways to die as Ilus' death slugs make their grand debut and fusion just shuts down in The Expanse 4.07, "A Shot in the Dark". The Tightbeam crew also breaks down Avasarala, Amos, and Murtry's fear of losing control of their situations, Holden's trauma vs Elvi's scientific curiosity, and Naomi and Alex helping Lucia through their own experiences.

    TB #34: The Next Right Thing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2020 75:12


    Plenty of decision making is put under a microscope as the Tightbeam crew discusses The Expanse 4.06, "Displacement", breaking down the consequences of Drummer's vote, Bobbie's new lease on life, and Holden's driving force.

    TB #33: On Oppressor(s)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2020 76:04


    The Tightbeam crew tackles The Expanse 4.05, "Oppressor", breaking down Nancy Gao's debate reveal, Lucia's suicide attempt and Naomi's subsequent confession, and Holden taking charge on Ilus as tensions rise.

    TB #32: Everything’s in Retrograde

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2020 76:58


    The Tightbeam crew dabbles in astrology, wax-poetic about Holden punching a man, and discuss the motivations of antagonists Murtry and Marco in their breakdown of The Expanse 4.04, "Retrograde".

    TB #31: The One With All The Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2019 67:51


    Everyone learns something in The Expanse 4.03, “Subduction”. Naomi learns how dire her situation is, we learn the question Murtry answered with a gun, and Shannon learns from Andrea how to lead succinct episode breakdowns.

    TB #30: Why Do We Keep Letting Holden Do Things?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2019 97:23


    Join Andrea, Fred, and Shannon as they break down "Jetsam", search for a title in the absence of the official one, and debate the logic behind anyone asking Holden to do anything and touching alien stuff.

    TB #29: New Terra

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2019 100:43


    Like the Rocinante crew before them, Andrea, Fred, and Shannon land on Ilus! Sorry, uh, New Terra. Join the Tightbeam crew as they travel through the system, breaking down the first episode of The Expanse Season Four

    TB #28: Double Shot of Interviews

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2019 51:32


    In a very special episode of The Tightbeam, we get the chance to interview cast members Dominique Tipper, Cas Anvar, and Steven Strait! Andrea leads a discussion about the process, as well as catches us up with the news since our last episode!

    TB #27: The Expanse at NYCC

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2019 88:08


    Shannon is joined by Keri of Caped Chronicles and DC Talk, and Ed Akselrud, co-coordinator for Save the Expanse and Founder of The Expanse Lives, as they cover NYCC, the S4 premiere screening (no spoilers!), and discuss all the Expanse news since our last episode! (Spoilers for the books/new novella near the end!)

    TB #26: One Giant Step for Naomi

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2019 71:22


    The Tightbeam crew is back, riding high on all of The Expanse news out of SDCC! Join us as we break down all the Season 4 content, including the teaser and Naomi's first steps on Ilus! Also, Andrea announces our first contest winners!

    TB #25: Flip and Burn From FedCon to SDCC

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2019 108:04


    The Tightbeam Crew is back with a Donnager-class sized episode, packed with content from FedCon (courtesy of our friends at The Expanse Lives) and speculation of what’s to come from SDCC’s panel and events!

    The Tightbeam #24: Tiamat’s Wrath-ful Discussion

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2019 45:27


    After a quick news roundup and PHLCC talk, Andrea, Fred, and Shannon dive right into an in-depth discussion of Tiamat's Wrath, the latest book in The Expanse series! Here there be spoilers (at 15 minutes in)!

    The Tightbeam #23: The Hot Goss on The Expanse RPG

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2019 68:04


    Andrea, Shannon, and Fred dip into casting news, the release of Tiamat's Wrath (no spoilers!), and PHLCC, before diving right into an in depth discussion of the Kickstarter backer's release of the RPG, and what to expect if the hosts play a campaign.

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