Episodes

  • Ep.17 – Show Us The (Alien) Bodies
    Jul 17 2021
    Episode 17: Show Us The (Alien) Bodies The closest we get to reality on this podcast

    Tangent Space faces reality in this one folks. Or as close of an encounter as we can get. Which of us has seen a UFO in real life? Why would Brandon only be convinced aliens exist if they demonstrated their power? Does John want to join a UFO cult? Find out answers to these questions as we shill for alien sponsorship! We discuss the big questions, wondering if we are alone, if anyone would even believe if aliens showed up, and how to pronounce "fata morgana." We also watch some UFO videos (links below!) and start down the path of alien conspiracies. Join us, little green friends!

    Find us at tangentspacepodcast.com, on Twitter as @thetangentspace, or email us at tangentspace@protonmail.com. Tell your friends!

    Links:

    Lots in the news recently about the US UFO report, for instance: the NY Times

    The Roswell Incident

    Read about the doctor that discovered hand washing and their tragic story: at NPR and Grunge

    Estimates for how many people can keep a secret

    Want to join a UFO religion ("religion")? Not recommended, but here's a list on Wikipedia

    Speaking of, HBO had a docu-series on Heaven's Gate

    The Great Filter

    How many might be listening to us out there?

    There are lots of videos on YouTube of the declassified Navy videos, we watched this one (careful of that rabbit hole!)

    Fata Morgana

    Optical phenomena

    Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-400845 for 40% off for 4 months, and support The Tangent Space Podcast.

    Show more Show less
    Less than 1 minute
  • Ep.16 – Raised by Ridley
    Apr 26 2021
    Episode 16: Raised by Ridley On Soviet Kepler, Dice Rolls You

    It's like they made a TV show for Tangent Space: sci-fi with androids, some post-apocalyptic faraway planet, monsters, gibberish science...that's right, we discuss HBO's Raised by Wolves! Oh, and longtime Tangent Space personality Ridley Scott is involved (in the show, not with us), of course, so you know we couldn't pass this one up after we've discussed Prometheus and Alien: Covenant extensively. It's a throwback to the very first episodes! There's a lot to talk about here with ancient religion, a cross over with Star Wars (hi, Darth Vader), giant snake worm things, and that bonkers season finale. Come have a listen...

    Find us at tangentspacepodcast.com, on Twitter as @thetangentspace, or email us at tangentspace@protonmail.com. Tell your friends!

    Links:

    Catch up on previous Ridley Scott discussions with Episode 1: Prometheus and Episode 2: Covenant (wow, that was a long time ago now)

    Raised by Wolves on HBO

    There's an official podcast (if you must listen to another podcast) that you can find everywhere, including on YouTube (here's a link to the first episode)

    We mention Futurama's Godfellas episode, which won the first Writers Guild of America Award for animation; here's a clip

    Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-400845 for 40% off for 4 months, and support The Tangent Space Podcast.

    Show more Show less
    50 mins
  • Ep.15 – Boyz 2 (Watch)men
    Jan 18 2021
    Episode 15: Boyz 2 (Watch)men Lube Man will save the day

    Just two men watching boys (and grownups) wearing masks and punching people. We discuss two very entertaining and pertinent shows, The Boys on Amazon and Watchmen on HBO, which we highly recommend. We cover a lot of stuff in this one, from masks and being anonymous, to policing, race, privilege and encryption. It's not all serious of course, as Brandon reveals his love for Wonder Woman and his distrust of tall people. Meanwhile John continues throwing shade at J.J. (Abrams) and wonders about Lube Man (answer in the Links!).

    Find us at tangentspacepodcast.com, on Twitter as @thetangentspace, or email us at tangentspace@protonmail.com. Tell your friends!

    Links:

    Superman vs. Aliens - SMBC Theater (and Superman is a Dick)

    Empirical evidence that nice people don’t always finish last | Ars Technica

    Martin Scorsese: I Said Marvel Movies Aren’t Cinema. Let Me Explain... and the many responses online

    Watchmen: the TV show official podcast, Wikipedia links for the comic series and HBO TV series

    The Boys: Wikipedia links for the comic series and Amazon TV series

    The Tulsa Massacre has been coming more to the mainstream (after 100 years), here is a recent article in The New York Times

    There were hints to Lube Man in the extra materials, called the Peteypedia, on the last entry.

    ‘Watchmen’ Actually Answered Its Most Pressing Question: Who Was Lube Man?

    Check out our podcasting host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free, no credit card required, forever. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-400845 for 40% off for 4 months, and support The Tangent Space Podcast.

    Show more Show less
    42 mins
  • Special Message and Preview of Episode 15
    Nov 2 2020
    Special Message and Preview of Episode 15 Vote, or we will read our diaries to you

    We're hard at work on the next episode, but wanted to remind everyone in the US to vote! Rather than just record ourselves saying "Vote!" and loop it, we present to you a special preview from our upcoming episode on the anti-superhero shows Watchmen and The Boys. Or more like a random tangent that may get buried in editing. Consider this fair warning to catch up on watching before the episode comes out.

    Get it while it's hot! And vote! (And if you can't vote, pray and/or sacrifice to your favorite god.)

    Find us at tangentspacepodcast.com, on Twitter as @thetangentspace, or email us at tangentspace@protonmail.com. Tell your friends!

    Check out our podcasting host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free, no credit card required, forever. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-400845 for 40% off for 4 months, and support The Tangent Space Podcast.

    Show more Show less
    9 mins
  • Ep.14 – Star Wars, Good God Y'All!
    Aug 17 2020
    Episode 14: Star Wars, Good God Y'All! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!

    Many stars, many wars, but only one podcast episode. We take a meandering look at the religion/fandom/industry/empire that is Star Wars. Somehow we remain mostly spoiler free, though we jump between all the movies (even the unmentionable ones) and even a little of the games. John throws some shade on J. J. (Abrams) while Brandon falls for the wookies and their trees and champions robot rights. We coin (discover?) the term "robophobe."

    Ducrossy folks, most ducrossy.

    Links:

    The character Brandon mentions from the game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is Kreia (or read on the Wookieepedia)

    SMBC vegan comic

    Asimov's Laws

    The op-ed John mentions, Why do people believe in hell? in the NY Times

    There is a mod for Knights of the Old Republic II to restore the droid planet, or read about it here

    Check out our podcasting host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free, no credit card required, forever. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-400845 for 40% off for 4 months, and support The Tangent Space Podcast.

    Show more Show less
    52 mins
  • Ep.13 – Papa Went Out For Aliens, Never Came Back
    May 19 2020
    Episode 13: Papa Went Out For Aliens, Never Came Back Brad Pitt is James "Space Monkey" Bond

    Nothing like a timely movie discussion, but at least we made it in under a year since the movie was out! We discuss Ad Astra, the recent movie with Brad Pitt and his space dad, Tommy Lee Jones. Lots of space in this movie dear listeners: space action, space psychology, space family drama, space monkeys! Also, moon pirates. It is most certainly not all fun and games, as the movie explores what it means to dedicate yourself to science, the exploration of other life, and the role of family. While the movie is quiet and contemplative, we'll make up for it with our yapping. Skip to about 7 or 8 minutes in to avoid overall plot spoilers, though we still discuss parts of the plot throughout.

    Correction: we were a bit optimistic of the ethics in science, but alas primates are still used in research. Some laws to reduce experimental usage are progressing and great apes are banned in many countries, but not the US.

    Links:

    Ad Astra on Wikipedia and on IMDb

    To find out about the largest effort to find extraterrestrial life, see the SETI Institute

    We referenced an SMBC comic about maximizing happiness (and if you want to go down the Wikipedia hole)

    Check out our podcasting host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free, no credit card required, forever. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-400845 for 40% off for 4 months, and support The Tangent Space Podcast.

    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • Ep.12 – Shut Your Wormhole
    Apr 15 2020
    Episode 12: Shut Your Wormhole We rock out with our clocks out

    Roads? Where we're going we don't need no stinking roads. That's right, Tangent Space travels in time, and we're bringing you with us! We discuss some theories of time travel, our favorite time travel movies, and whether or not it is really possible. We may even invent the first podcast time travel machine, you'll just have to listen to find out.

    Links:

    IMDb links to some time travel movies:

    • Timecrimes (2007)
    • Looper (2012)
    • Primer (2004)
    • Interstellar (2014)
    • Back to the Future (1985)
    • Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
    • The 50 All-Time Best Time-Travel Films
    • and a giant list on Wikipedia

    Check out our podcasting host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free, no credit card required, forever. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-400845 for 40% off for 4 months, and support The Tangent Space Podcast.

    Show more Show less
    31 mins
  • Ep.11 – Annihilation, No Breathing
    Jan 8 2020
    Episode 11: Annihilation, No Breathing This is my Area X resort

    Tangent Space gets annihilated! We discuss the recent-ish movie Annihilation from Alex Garland based on the book by Jeff VanderMeer. Mysteries abound: aliens? doppelgangers? what does it all mean? And WTF is "refracted DNA"??? John has read all the books and Brandon has theories, so come join us in a romp through the Shimmer to Area X.

    Links:

    A different ending for Annihilation

    VanderMeer's reaction to the film

    If you are looking for similar books, see this list of influences for the novel

    Wikipedia on the Southern Reach trilogy provides a link to the official website(???)

    Bonus link: How many hobbits does it take to kill a mammoth?

    Check out our podcasting host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free, no credit card required, forever. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-400845 for 40% off for 4 months, and support The Tangent Space Podcast.

    Show more Show less
    37 mins