Brandy pauses in her many (potentially obsessive, but we don’t judge!) pursuits to share about just one of her numerous intriguing talents. Host Sandra Wong with Brandy Schillace.

Unlike us, Listener Jerry has spent his entire career on robots. Listener Jerry helps us understand why the term “cobot” exists, and what it really means. Thank you, Listener Jerry. Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Things in Rushville come to a head as Hal tries to take down the Manhunter all by himself. Meanwhile, John and Zoe get to know each other a little better just before all hell breaks loose. Then we’re back to the present day as the plot picks up again when John’s mother brings Hal back into his life. Hosts Dan Moren, John Moltz, and Guy English.

Scott has the command codes and Jason has been banished to a spooky haunted starship, or is a puppet now, or maybe is fighting his fairy-tale doppelganger? Meanwhile, three lovely guests are joining Scott to discuss the just-concluded season of “Strange New Worlds.” Host Scott McNulty with Antony Johnston, Joe Rosensteel, and Heather Berberet.

Once a subcategory for mysteries, “cozy” feels like the latest craze in publishing with every genre getting in on the act. Is it really a new thing? Are authors able to take sci-fi or horror and turn it into something to be read while cuddled into a warm blanket with a cup of tea at one’s elbow? Our panel discusses what makes a piece of media cozy, drafts a few books (sometimes with media tie-ins), and then throws it open to anything that gives us that cozy feeling. David includes tea pairings with his choices and Antony tells us how he ended up writing a cozy mystery series. Host Shannon Sudderth with Antony Johnston, Annette Wierstra, Shelly Brisbin, David J. Loehr, and James Thomson.

From white hole to black hole, from the near future to the present (of the future), it’s time for Scott and Jason to wrap up another season of “Strange New Worlds” with a delightful time-bending episode that puts Uhura(s) at the center. (Don’t miss Scott’s triumphant return to Random Trek! And stay tuned soon for our season-wrap-up panels both here and on The Incomparable!) Hosts Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Episode 8 is chock full of injuries, intrigue, and investigations (and perhaps other “in-” words this blurb writer can’t think of at this late hour)! Higgins gets the tip to “follow the anger”, but Brian, Kathy, and Chip are certainly not angry today. Grab a high heel, break a window, and settle in for another episode of Football Is Life. - Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell.

I cannot rest from podcasting. Jill Hoffman returns to discuss three poems by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: “Charge of the Light Brigade” (1854), “Lady of Shalott” (1832, 1842), and “Ulysses” (1833). - John McCoy with Jill Hoffman.

Kellye generously allows us a peek (hands behind our backs!) at a collection that means a lot to her. - Sandra Wong with Kellye Garrett.

Lex Friedman, the force behind Lex.Games and Strategy, joins Scott to discuss “A Private Little War” (TOS S2E19). Topics include costumes (both tiny and ridiculous), when everyone gets their wigs at the same store, and finally settling the eternal question: is Spock a robot? - Scott McNulty with Lex Friedman.

We’re taking a breather from Lanterns this week to cover Spider-Man: Brand New Day. When we left Peter Parker he’d had Doctor Strange erase the memory of him from all of his friends and loved ones. Can Peter cope with his isolation and lonliness without become something he’d never want to be? With a little love from his pal Frank Castle maybe things will work out. - Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Curiosity, c’est un robot! Robot de cuisine, ce n’est pas un robot! Thanks to Listener Erik and the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie. - John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

The Summer of Sundance comes to an end with “The Natural,” a story of a legendary baseball player—no, we’re not talking about Joe Don Baker as The Whammer, or are we? It’s Bernard Malamud’s take on baseball as American mythology, filtered through the mind of Barry Levinson. Barbara Hershey shocks and confuses, Glenn Close glows, Wilford Brimley is very old and near retirement despite being younger than us, and Robert Redford is so versatile he can play a teenager and a man in his mid-thirties despite being in his late forties. - Jason Snell with Philip Michaels, Micheline Maynard, John Siracusa and David J. Loehr.

Once upon a time, there was a fantasy kingdom in a “Star Trek” episode. Twice upon a time, they revisited that story and tried to bring La’An’s seasonlong struggle with herself to a conclusion. Is double the crew double the fun? Is Spock a wizard or a Vulcan, and does he wield magic or logic? We break down the penultimate episode of the penultimate season of “Strange New Worlds!” - Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Lyla is the target of bullying at school, even from her so-called friends; and, Matt & Julie’s dating life makes things tough for Coach and Tami. Meanwhile, Lex nearly makes Brian spit out his coffee; but good news, you (and Brian’s computer) are safe and sound here on Sorkin’ In It. - Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

The team is back on the pitch, and Brian, Kathy, & Chip are reunited to discuss it. Whether it’s Beard’s eyes, Boots’ truck, Ted’s profile, or Roy’s knee (and heart!); everybody seems to be going through a little bit of something this week. So, we invite you to take a sip of some spicy cognac and say “yes” to listening to this episode of Football Is Life. - Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell.

Bree gleefully shares one of her many (MANY!) special interests. - Sandra Wong with Bree Bridges.

After a strong opening couple of episodes Lanterns takes us back in time a little to see how wee John Stewart grew up. We do not, in any way, support this method of raising a child. Even one destined to do goofy things with a fancy alient ring. With that behind us we’re back in 2016 as John & Hal close in on the Manhunter and find themselves in a sketchy situation. - Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

We're talking about TPK: Dragon Heist!

We're talking about Star Trek 60 (Less) Random Pursuit!

The Summer of Sundance continues with the paranoid thriller, “Three Days of the Condor.” A devastatingly handsome nerd goes out to buy sandwiches for the office, and the next thing he knows he’s on the run and kidnapping Faye Dunaway… - Jason Snell with David J. Loehr, Shelly Brisbin, Paul Weimer, Glenn Fleishman and Dan Moren.

In this fantastic episode, a “badmiral” takes control of the Enterprise and teaches (randomly on the ship) Jim Kirk some important what-not-to-do lessons about command. Jim and Sam Kirk have a surprising, emotionally resonant conversation about their father. A coffee fetish meets Chekov’s Cordrazine*! And in the B plot: caves! (Which, for the record, we also like very much.) Pop pop! * Ask your doctor if cordrazine is right for you. Side effects include paranoia, accidentally bringing Hitler to power, and serious cardiovascular complications. Do not take if allergic to cordrazine. - Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

It’s New Year’s Eve! Ted Lasso the Show commits possibly the best pre-titles sequence in its history. Ted Lasso the character commits to something new after a heart-to-heart. Alice Chilton commits to party clothes, eventually. Coach Beard commits a party foul. Roy Kent and a special guest star commit to an explosive bit that panelist Chip’s Roy Kent Blind Spot (TM) totally didn’t see coming. Panelist Kathy commits a shady no-shade, and returning panelist Erika commits the worst pun in Football is Life history. - Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell and Erika Ensign.

We're talking about TPK: Dragon Heist!

After weeks of superhero cartoons we’ve moved on to HBO’s Lanterns series. A couple of space-cops with a magic ring that can make anything they imagine manifest before them in physical form set out to solve the mystery behind a mass shooting at football stadium in Nebraska. That’s the pitch. Is it a good show? Yes. You should watch it. But also listen to us talk about it. - Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Don’t catch the Space Madness, because it’s time to talk about the latest episode of “Strange New Worlds,” in which Trelane puts the Enterprise (except Pike) into a soap opera! Once again, we’re genre hopping—but is “Q episode” not a tried-and-true Trek genre? And does this not emotionally serve Pike, who recently survived a “life-in-a-day” episode of his own? Get your popcorn ready and watch out for evil twins. - Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Now the curtain is going up, “The Sting” is starting the show! Snappy patter and jokes, along with the star power of Robert Redford and Paul Newman, drive this story of an elaborate con that goes right—or does it?! Also there’s a lot of Scott Joplin music. - Jason Snell with Micheline Maynard, Dr. Drang, Monty Ashley and David J. Loehr.

Are you ready for some football? Football is Life is back and your friends Chip, Brian, and Kathy are excited to see some actual football in this show. The Greyhounds are up against Chelsea in the FA Cup, which is certainly exciting; but, there’s also a fair bit of quality time spent with the many relationships on the show. Tune in for some predictions from Chip and Kathy on where things might end up by the season’s end! - Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell.

This week Q takes us to Battle World on My Adventures With Superman. Once that gets sorted out we’re up against the Big Bad. Can Clark get his powers back? Will our gang save the day? Are they going to stick the landing of this fun and unexpectedly thoughtful show? - Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Is a car wash a building with machinery in it or a robot? This question allows us to flip the “episodes since ‘Robot or Not’ was about robots” sign back to zero. - John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

An episode of Friday Night Lights called “Full Hearts” can’t lose. Smash’s secret is getting less secret. Coach Taylor isn’t happy with quarterback girlfriends — either Jason Street’s, or QB1 Matt Saracen’s… since Matt is dating Coach’s daughter Julie. Brian and Lex have clear minds, so join them as they go Sorkin’ In It. - Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

This week’s episode has everything: Broken bones and crushed torsos; a detailed look at the past, present, and future of the ship’s medical org chart, a remote control Mind Meld, and the start of the most important character pair in the history of Star Trek: Scotty and the Enterprise. - Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Eleven books later, our Awards Book Club has finally reached the end of the line. In this episode we cover our last uncovered book, “Shroud” by Adrian Tchaikovsky, recommend some Hugo-nominated short fiction, and rank all eleven books. Plus: What are we reading other than shortlisted novels?! See you next year. - Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Aleen Simms, Heather Berberet and Scott McNulty.

We're talking about King Kong (1933 and 1976)!

Episode 4 opens with some familiar and most welcome voices as we soon realize the team needs a common goal, a common enemy, or perhaps both! It’s a wild, funny, and somewhat comforting episode, and your pals Chip, Kathy, & Brian are here to discuss it. Hopefully nobody gets injured or arrested. - Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell.

What’s life without choices? How about books that are nothing but choices? Ross Cleaver discusses the choose-your-own genre with examples from both the U.S. and the U.K.: Edward Packard’s The Cave of Time (1978) and Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson’s The Warlock of Firetop Mountain (1982). - John McCoy with Ross Cleaver.

We're talking about TPK: Heart of Ashes (Golden Vault)!

We're talking about Awards Book Club 4: Shroud, Incandescent, shorts, ranking!

The Encyclopedia Galactica defines a robot as a mechanical apparatus designed to do the work of a man. The marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation defines a robot as “Your Plastic Pal Who’s Fun to Be With.” The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy defines the marketing devision of the Sirius Cybernetic Corporation as “a bunch of mindless jerks who’ll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes.” - John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

We're talking about TPK: Scrivener's Tale!

It’s the muppet show!!!!! - Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Our Summer of Sundance kicks off with Sundance himself, as we travel back to the end of the old west (and, later, to the garden spot of Bolivia) to visit a couple of robbers, their lady friend, and their not-very-important gang with “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Did they use enough dynamite? Is Woodcock a little too loyal to his employer? What does it say about the old west when a call for a posse is hijacked by a bicycle salesman? - Jason Snell with Dr. Drang, Shelly Brisbin, Philip Michaels and Dan Moren.

We're talking about The Natural!

While our coaching staff appears to be settled in and working well together, the Greyhounds need to find a striker, even if it means going to the streets. Meanwhile, Ted really has to learn to knock. If that doesn’t make sense to you, not to worry. Kathy, Chip, and Brian talk it through, but do watch the episode first. - Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell.

We're talking about TPK: Dragonheist 8pm!

We're talking about TPK: Dragonheist 8pm!

We're talking about TPK: Dragonheist 8pm!

We wrap out our coverage of X-Men ‘97 Season 2 this week. Thankfully, nothing bad happens to our favourite characters. They mostly spend their time playing super-powered basketball and lounging by the pool. - Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Is a place overseas if you don’t have to go over a sea to get there? - John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Breaking down our day at Comerica Park, surrounded by hundreds or thousands of Magnums — and a few loyal listeners! - Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.