Science Faction Podcast

Real Life: This week’s episode kicks off with Devon missing in action, attending a wedding and recovering from, well… life. Also, he’s apparently deep into building off-brand LEGO, which raises some very important questions: How many pieces? How many regrets? Meanwhile, Ben survived a 5.2 earthquake and checks in to let us know that everyone’s safe. He also shares a couple links to Desert Child, an indie hover-bike racer/RPG that mixes hip-hop, ramen, and pixel art vibes—and may or may not be rolling onto Xbox soon thanks to some juicy UI integration rumors. https://store.steampowered.com/app/844050/Desert_Child/ https://isthereanydeal.com/game/desert-child/info/ https://www.theverge.com/news/633478/microsoft-xbox-steam-games-support-ui   Steven’s life update is more... fluffy. Literally. He’s in line to pick up baby chicks for the backyard flock (Black Sexlinked and Smokey Pearl, if you're curious), and discovers that mailing baby birds is a surprisingly common thing. Also, he’s deploying next-level pa

Real Life: This week’s episode has movie madness, creepers, princesses, and ducks with vendettas. Devon took a deep dive into the Minecraft Movie—yes, it’s real, and yes, it might haunt him forever. Steven watched Disney’s live-action Snow White and has thoughts... strong ones. Meanwhile, Ben got cartoon-punched in the face (in the best way) by The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (IMDb). Think: Bugs Bunny meets alien invasion. Future or Now: Solar Panels on Canals? Yes, Please: Ben brings us Project Nexus—the U.S.’s first solar panel canopy system over irrigation canals. The $20 million pilot is up and running in California’s Turlock Irrigation District and could be a game-changer. Benefits include reducing water evaporation, improving quality, and cutting down on canal maintenance. Also? Clean energy. Read more TV Necromancy: Devon reports on shows coming back—some you missed, some you didn’t know you missed, and a few you assumed were never coming back. Television's not dead. It’s just rebooting

Real Life: This week’s episode is packed with real-life chaos, sci-fi intrigue, and some good ol’ tabletop talk. Devon's 4-year-old had to audition for attending a school, and guess what? It's a little stressful! Audible is now offering free content to subscribers, kinda like The Great Courses. Steven brings us part two of our City of Mist saga and shares his latest D&D session with the kids using *Peril in Pinebrook*, a free starter adventure. Also, D&D vs. City of Mist—how do they compare? Oh, and the neighbor’s dog ATE one of his chickens. Not cool. Ben recommends the first episode of Storytime with Wil Wheaton (https://wilwheaton.net/podcast/), where he narrated the incredible time travel love story "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Love, Death" by Caroline M. Yoachim (https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/rock-paper-scissors-love-death/). You know how people will move heaven and earth for their loved ones? What if they moved time itself? We may cover this in an upcoming Book Club, watch out for tha

Real Life This week, Steven got his hands dirty—literally. Between digging, yard work, and wrestling with a modem that decided to give up on life mid-game, it’s been an eventful time. Speaking of games, we dove into City of Mist, where Greg has to decide: is he the "Crusty DM" or simply sporting a "healthy patina of experience"? Devon, meanwhile, is a street shark (but NOT the cartoon kind), Steven’s embodying Job (maybe the biblical one?), and Ben’s teenage runaway Lily Chow has freed a djinn her parents were up to no good with. Good times, until technology betrayed us. Outside of RPGs, we had a Margaritaville party (because sometimes you just need to lean into the chaos), and we gave Let’s Summon Demons a solid 4/5. Meanwhile, Devon tried out Harmonies—a game in the vein of Cascadia—and highly recommends it. If you want to check it out, here’s the link: Harmonies on BGG. Oh, and Devon’s also been watching Daredevil: Born Again, so we’ll probably hear more about that soon. Ben, on the other hand, watched Flo

Real Life Devon has been diving into The Electric State, and the discussion turns to the unique blend of kid-friendly aesthetics and eerie, unsettling imagery. The upcoming movie adaptation ( IMDB link ) raises the question: who is this really for? Meanwhile, Steven is excited about the group finally playing City of Mist with Greg—expect some noir-drenched, super-powered storytelling soon. Also, Windows 11 users, rejoice (or at least breathe a little easier): Microsoft is making moves to remove ads from its interface. Progress? We hope so. Ben bids farewell to Clawed, a beloved companion. Losing a pet is never easy. As a result, he's rethinking his relationship with social media. When you're grieving, the internet can be both a comfort and a drain. Is it time to step back and reevaluate our online spaces? Future or Now Ben introduces us to SEN, a project aiming to revolutionize desktop environments with a data-centric approach. Unlike existing knowledge management systems, SEN prioritizes local storage and

This episode contains: Daylight savings hit, and we’re all just trying to cope.   Real Life (or Whatever That Is)   Devon Saw Apocalyptica in Dallas—three cellists and a drummer, blasting Metallica covers. It was energetic, intense, and apparently, the drums were a standout. Nita Strauss opened, because Devon only goes to shows with legendary guitarists involved. Also, he went to a production of Cheaper by the Dozen, which was… a different vibe entirely. Steven got into Marvel Crisis Protocol, which he describes as similar to Shatterpoint. More importantly, he won his first game against his friend Greg, which obviously means he’s an expert now. Devon saw Wicked and was deeply underwhelmed. (Expect fan outrage.) Ben went to a production of Million Dollar Quartet, which tells the story of a legendary jam session between Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. If you don’t know what that is, here’s a Wikipedia link: Million Dollar Quartet.   Future or Now (Depends on Your Perspectiv

Real Life Devon had a little adventure at Meow Wolf, which, as expected, was a wild, surreal ride. Also, finally got around to fixing the fence—fingers crossed it actually stays fixed this time. Over in office world, the TV is officially on the wall, the SNES emulator is up and running, and Devon has entered the inevitable "but how does it work?" phase. This led to Ben patiently explaining BIOS, which, if you're curious, has a whole Wikipedia page that is both informative and an excellent cure for insomnia. Meanwhile, Devon has also started reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance because, apparently, philosophy is the next rabbit hole. Steven, on the other hand, has nothing new to report. Just wrangling the circus as usual. Ben is saying a fond farewell to Windows 10 and Skype—pour one out for the relics of the past. In more exciting news, he checked out the demo for Wheel World, and it’s super cool. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s worth a look on Steam. Also, he’s officially made the jump to Linux

Real Life Updates Devon’s Redecoration Adventure Devon has been painting and redecorating—at Jen’s request—to make things look more "adult." This involved taking down metal posters to put up a TV for gaming, which led to a frustrating experience with Displate (spoiler: they suck). While redecorating, Devon also came across a fascinating philosophy YouTuber, Alex O’Connor. ▶️ Watch Alex O’Connor: YouTube Link Also, ChatGPT can apparently generate a perfect glass of wine… all the way to the top. Steven’s Gaming Corner Steven has been playing Avowed (part of Xbox Game Pass—so "free"). His verdict? "Pretty fun." Thanks to his beefy new graphics card, he’s playing on PC. ▶️ Check out Avowed: Steam Link He also tried Keep Driving, a game about driving to the right, avoiding potholes, picking up hitchhikers, and helping a little girl find her parents—all while managing fuel, energy, and car repairs. ▶️ Try Keep Driving: Steam Link Ben’s Solitaire Obsession Ben has discovered Scoundrel Solitaire by Zach Gage and Kur

Real Life:   Steven’s been back at the forge for Blacksmithing Class #2, where Ben learned the existence of trivets (yes, those little metal stands your grandma probably had). Meanwhile, babysitting round two for Steven’s nephew went... well, let’s just say he survived. Rainy days are not great for four-year-olds. On the tabletop front, we got into Dungeon Crawl Classics (aka the ‘70s cranked up to 11) with its insane artwork and a spell system that just loves making you regret your choices. Then there’s Mutant Crawl Classics, which, well... we didn’t get as far, but you know it’s gotta be weird and radioactive. Ben, on the other hand, had feedback about last week’s discussion of Mothership. Devon’s character was from Planet America, and Ben played Rodney McKay, based on our favorite Grumpy Scientist from Stargate: Atlantis. Also, Ben’s dog has bladder problems (is it Cushing’s disease?), and he’s making custom Mac Mini decals that look like that Joy Division album cover that you probably know from Hot

Real Life:  How silly is Devon? According to him, not at all. But his big toe pain might argue otherwise. The jury is still out. Steven took a blacksmithing class, and it turns out, there’s a whole process to it. Safety docs? Check. Appropriate clothing? Check. Payment going to the blacksmithing museum? Very cool. His first project? A letter opener—definitely not a shiv. (Side note: Can you just carry knives around? What if you’re being particularly menacing?) Good news: Steven is now a Level One Blacksmith and qualifies for the Level Two class! There’s even talk of a blacksmithing tournament and chili cookoff. Speaking of knives… does everyone remember sock knives? On a more serious note, Ben reflects on the passing of his neighbor, Ronna, and the challenge of timing at the end of life. A moment to acknowledge those we lose and the impact they have.   Future or Now:  Ben’s Dive into the Desktop Metaphor Ben took us down a philosophical rabbit hole about the desktop metaphor in computing. How does it relate

Real Life Devon’s journey to California was an absolute disaster—airline delays, misfortune, and plenty of travel woes. We also dive into how our phones are both doom-scroll machines and powerful learning tools. Devon shares his love for the music app Simply Piano, which teaches more than just piano. Meanwhile, Steven and Devon jammed out on piano and acoustic guitar, and Ben reflected on fatherhood—specifically how video games can help break generational trauma. We also tackle a big question: Who can we trust for accurate news anymore? And why does it seem like we only feel tragedy when Americans are attacked? What does that say about us as humans, and is there any way to break the cycle? Fantasy Media & Devon’s Deep Dives Devon has been lost in The Stormlight Archive, an epic fantasy series spanning thousands of pages. (Check it out: Stormlight Archive). We talk about what got Devon into fantasy in the first place—The Name of the Wind and Red Rising—and how playing D&D shaped his storytelling. Speak

Real Life Devon is gearing up for a trip to Barcelona in April, planning a Friday-to-Wednesday itinerary. The big question: is it worth it? We’ll see how he weighs the travel time, costs, and must-see sights against the trip’s duration. Meanwhile, Steven has been deep in Sonic nostalgia. He picked up a remake of Sonic the Hedgehog from the original Sega on the Switch, only to find his oldest daughter struggling with its difficulty. Ben suggests they try Sonic Adventure from the Sega Dreamcast era, but Steven is skeptical. On top of that, they’ve watched the first two Sonic movies—but Steven refuses to pay to see Sonic 3. Also, a side note from parenting life: manage expectations when handing kids new electronics. In other news, Steven has started learning Latin on Duolingo and already has thoughts—mostly about the overwhelming number of ads. Ben has been learning some unexpected rat facts since his son got new pet rats. Steven, from prior experience, warns that they don’t have the longest lifespans. Speaking

This episode contains: Steven is under the weather and Devon had to run fast for Sonic 3. Ben’s making his way through the Knuckles TV show (lots of bowling in this one) before seeing the absolute zaniness turned up to 11 of Sonic 3. Do y’all remember “Dumb Running Sonic” on Tumblr? Devon recommends Jury Duty (Amazon Prime): Imagine a prank show where everyone’s an actor… except one guy. Chaos ensues. Devon says it’s a must-watch, as is The Wild Robot. It’s all about nature, death, and a reminder that “nature is real.” Production babies galore! Ben explains how he got a Virtual Boy emulator on his 3DS, while Steven has been reading the book Filter World. Ben’s also been playing GRIP Combat Racing, which is kinda like Mario Kart if you prefer ecstasy to mushrooms. You can get it for free right now from Amazon Gaming. Devon’s contemplating getting Mario Maker, but then he’d have to get a Switch and that’s, like, a lot of work, man…   Dumb Running Sonic: https://dumbrunningsonic.tumblr.com/ 3DS Vi

REAL LIFE Devon: We celebrated Nolan's Mario-themed birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's, and it was pure Mario madness—even down to LEGO sets! At home, we dove into the SNES Classic, revisiting classics like Super Mario World and Mario Kart. Speaking of Mario Kart, Ben has a lot of thoughts about kart racing games. Oh, and let's not forget Super Metroid made a cameo in our gaming nostalgia. Steven: Exciting news! We're now on YouTube! Check out The Science Faction Podcast for all our latest episodes and content. Also, Steven got his hands on the 5-disc Complete Collector's Edition of Blade Runner. Talk about sci-fi collector goals! Ben: Ben's been under the weather—boo! But that meant more movie time—yay! He's here to defend rewatching so-called "terrible" films like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. But hey, the Indiana Jones videogame nails the adventure vibe. Steven couldn't agree more—there's nothing better than punching Nazis! Also, fun fact: The Matrix reused sets from Dark City, which

Real Life Devon shared his thoughts on Red One, a Christmas action movie involving a military operation to save Santa, describing it as “a slog and not clever,” though his kid loved Home Alone. Steven wrapped up holiday cleanup and started reading Future Noir, a deep dive into the making of Blade Runner. He also reflected on the differences between narration in Blade Runner and Dark City. Ben has been dealing with his son’s walking pneumonia and spent time playing Inertial Drift (check out the free prologue). On the music side, he enjoyed 311’s cover of The Offspring and The Offspring’s cover of 311.   Future or Now Note this: Exploring the Obsidian Digital Garden Plugin, a tool to publish notes from Obsidian directly online. Supports static site generation and free hosting on Vercel or Netlify. Obsidian Digital Garden Docs | Ben's Demo All Around the Globe: Discussed Flat-Earthers’ humbling experience in Antarctica while attempting to prove their theories. Article: Flat-Earthers Travel to Antarctica Nevermi

Real Life  Devon shared highlights from their recent trip to Oregon, where they visited the coast, skipped skiing, and explored a lighthouse. The visit to Tillamook stood out, especially encountering a hilariously judgy giant cow head. Check out Tillamook here. Steven went on a major upgrade spree, adding a new desk chair, soundboard, and computer to their setup. They also delved into tabletop RPGs, including Perils & Princesses (official site), The Princess in Black (learn more), and Slugblaster, with its iconic quantum centipede kickflips. Ben talked about navigating a family challenge with their kid’s walking pneumonia, which led to a movie marathon featuring The Martian and Sandlot. They’re also looking forward to the upcoming adaptation of Project Hail Mary (movie details). On the gaming side, they played Void Crew. The team also reflected on the Lower Decks season finale, discussing intentionality in media consumption, and debated the myth of multitasking. More about Lower Decks here.   Future or No

Real Life Steven shares his recent battle with the flu, updates to his computer and recording setup, and his deep dive into World’s Finest from the Superman: The Animated Series. He’s also been watching That Christmas on Netflix, a cozy seasonal pick. Meanwhile, Ben recounts his creative ventures, like shadow boxing the Moon Lord, experimenting with black paper and sharpies, and recommends Perfect Days. This Tokyo-based film follows the quiet, reflective life of Hirayama, a janitor whose mundane routines uncover profound beauty. With its oldies-filled cassette soundtrack, the film is perfect for anyone craving a refreshed outlook on life’s simple joys. Perfect Days on IMDb. Future or Now? This Week in Space: In space exploration news, NASA's Parker Solar Probe is making history this week by flying closer to the Sun than ever before—just 3.8 million miles from its surface. It’s the fastest human-made object, designed to brave temperatures over 2,500°F as it ventures into the Sun’s corona to unlock mysteries ab

Real Life: Steven is sick or dead, we don’t remember, so Ben and Devon take over the show. Devon is traveling for the holidays so needs to bill as much as possible at work. Devon explains what it’s like to be an independent contractor. Ben’s work is a little less reliable. Snoop Dogg records a holiday message for Ben’s parent, parent, parent company. Snoop Dogg is somehow still as famous as ever.   Future or Now: This Week in Space Astrophysicists capture astonishing images of gamma-ray flare from supermassive black hole M87. The jet is tens of millions of times larger than the black hole's event horizon. The galaxy M87, located in the Virgo constellation, provided the first-ever photo of a black hole in 2019, when the Event Horizon Telescope captured an image of the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center. An international research team has now observed a teraelectronvolt gamma-ray flare seven orders of magnitude -- tens of millions of times -- larger than the event horizon, or surface of the black ho

This episode contains: Ben welcomes a special guest host: Flint Lawless. Steven and Devon are off dealing with family illness and work commitments, so you know what that means! Well, we don’t actually talk about video games at all this one (I know, right?).   Future or Now:   The Magic Eye: Remember autostereograms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autostereogram)? Stereograms are 2D images that create the illusion of a 3D scene by exploiting the way our eyes perceive depth. "Magic Eye" images are a popular form of autostereogram. Learn how to see Magic Eye images here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdWNYdk-vWY.   As a kid, Ben would spend hours looking at Magic Eye books, and it felt like magic because most everybody else didn’t see them. He was like a wizard. Recently, he came across an article about using Excel of all things to create Magic Eye images (https://divisbyzero.com/2024/11/30/make-a-magic-eye-image-using-excel/) but guess who has two thumbs and doesn’t have Excel? This guy! Turns ou

This episode contains: We three hosts gobbled up Thanksgiving, celebrating with families, parents and in-laws. Why did Ford call their electric car a Mach-E? Or is it Maquis? A Mockery? Ben gives a slightly different (and more positive) take on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice than Devon’s review from a couple months ago (https://sciencefactionpodcast.com/2024/09/11/episode-522-incomprehensibly-gravelly/). The first half hour is definitely rough but it comes together, in the back half especially. Big shout-out to the production design of the afterlife and the cameos. Devon’s a pickleball-player now, and we contrast it with racquetball. Steven and his family saw Moana 2 and opinions varied wildly among the family. Don’t expect a Lin Manuel Miranda soundtrack, but do expect them to set up a bunch of sequels.   Future or Now:   Right now, in the 1960s: Ben’s ready to spoil The Twilight Zone episode “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.” On a peaceful suburban street, strange occurrences and mysterious pe