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537: Wicked For Good Review - the Coven Goes to Oz

It’s time to embrace our witchy obsession as we review Wicked: For Good , the long-awaited second chapter of Elphaba and Glinda’s story! Sarah is joined by Julie Gildersleeve , Courtney Turckel , and Kelly Turckel ; we head to Oz together for a spoiler-filled discussion of how this film expands on the stage musical while weaving more tightly into the events of The Wizard of Oz . With Elphaba in exile and Glinda rising as the “Good” face of the Wizard’s regime, the story explores friendship, perception, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be seen as “wicked” or “good.” We break down the emotional weight of the film — from Glinda’s heartbreaking loneliness beneath her bubbly public persona, to Elphaba’s fierce determination to protect the animals and expose the truth. We also dive into standout musical moments, including the heart-breaking “For Good,” the haunting “No Good Deed,” the introspective “The Girl in the Bubble,” and the love song “As Long As You’re Mine.” The vocals, cinem...
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536: Star Wars Holiday Special Connections with Tom Spina

Happy Life Day! A Celebration of the Star Wars Holiday Special It’s that time of year again — Life Day is here! We’re giving thanks to Lucasfilm and CBS for blessing us with the wonderful Star Wars Holiday Special . This episode, we’re celebrating in true Life Day fashion — by diving into the Holiday Special and exploring how it connects to the larger Star Wars universe in our own creative and humorous way. How did Mermeia influence the Clone Wars? How did Ackmena go from Naboo handmaiden to Halcyon bartender and end up working at the Cantina? Joining us is fellow Holiday Special enthusiast Tom Spina from Regal Robot , who brings behind-the-scenes insight and expertise to the iconic Cantina sequence . If you think you know these creatures, hang onto your gloved hooves and repainted masks!  And for a Holiday Special update : starting November 17th , Chewbacca at Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland will be donning his Life Day red robe ! If you want that perfect photo with the ...
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535: Creature from the Black Lagoon: Classic Horror Revisited with Gary Gerani

The Creature From the Black Lagoon trilogy just celebrated its 70th Anniversary, so what better time to dive into this influential classic horror series than Halloween? Our guest, Gary Gerani —Topps trading cards editor and co-writer of Pumpkinhead —joins us to share his memories of seeing The Creature from the Black Lagoon for the first time, his insights into the enduring appeal of the Gill Man, and why this Universal monster continues to captivate audiences seven decades later. We kick things off with an overview of the Universal Horror legacy , then explore each film in the Creature from the Black Lagoon trilogy, complete with fun facts and behind-the-scenes stories. And here’s a teaser: do you know which future A-list actor and director got his start in the sequel Revenge of the Creature ? Go ahead—make his day and tune in to find out! To pick up Gary Gerani’s Card King Chronicle books, visit: 👉 Fantastic Press Store For more classic horror, check out our Frankenstein...
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534: Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics #56 "COFFIN IN THE CLOUDS" with Jason W. Christman

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In this episode, we’re diving into Classic Marvel Star Wars Comic Issue #56: “Coffin in the Clouds” — and we’ve been saving this one for the Halloween season for more than one reason. Originally released on November 24, 1981 , Coffin in the Clouds follows Lando Calrissian as he returns to a mysteriously deserted Cloud City after the events of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Joining us for this eerie adventure is Star Wars artist and our good friend Jason W. Christman , who helps us unpack the story, art, and legacy of this issue. Issue 56: Coffin in the Clouds Release date: November 24th, 1981 Written by David Michelinie, Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson Artwork: Walt Simonson, Tom Palmer Coloring by Glynis Wein Cover Art Walt Simonson Synopsis: Lando Calrissian returns to Cloud City only to find that it has been completely abandoned. He soon discovers Imperial bombtroopers arriving to disarm a series of bombs left behind by disgruntled Ugnaught workers.  Lobot who wa...
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533: Epic Universe’s Dark Universe + Halloween Horror Nights Orlando 2025

We’ve been looking forward to experiencing Universal Orlando’s brand-new Epic Universe: Dark Universe for well over a year, and finally we made it! Walking through the fog into Darkmoor Village felt like stepping inside a classic monster movie. We rode Curse of the Werewolf and were blown away by Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment . There’s a reason all the vloggers keep praising this attraction. We also share our thoughts on food, merchandise, characters, and atmosphere. Meeting the NEW Bride and Frankenstein in person was the perfect ending to an unforgettable visit. Next, we joined our friend Tati Perez for a wet and wild time at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando , where ten haunted mazes awaited us—and nonstop Florida rain. But hey - it’s a story! We each share our Top 3 horror mazes. Five Nights at Freddy’s topped our list with its creepy animatronics, while others impressed with their artistic environments. Between mazes, we wandered through eerie “Scare Zones” li...
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532: Star Wars Legends & Lore with Author Barbara Hambly

We’re joined by legendary author Barbara Hambly , whom we met at Legacy Expo: A Star Wars Expanded Universe convention in Burbank (Sept 13–14). After seeing her on a panel hosted by Star Warsologies’ Melissa Miller, we couldn’t resist inviting her on—what was meant to be a quick chat turned into a full conversation. Barbara shares stories from writing Children of the Jedi , Planet of Twilight , and her beloved short stories in Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina and Tales from Jabba’s Palace —and even answers fan-favorite questions about Luke Skywalker’s love life . 👉 Sponsor: SpiritJersey now has their own Star Wars & Disney license! Shop at spiritjersey.com and get FREE shipping with code SKYWLKNVD . TODAY in Star Wars History 9/28/2023 9/28/2023 - 2 years ago The Galactic Starcruiser takes its last voyage. The Star Wars-themed hotel experience closes after opening March 1, 2022 and we were very sad. SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Sky...
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531: Imagineering Education with Thomas Riddle - How to Create the Most Magical Schools on Earth

We’re thrilled to welcome author (and good friend) Thomas Riddle to the podcast as he shares insights from his inspiring new book, Imagineering Education: A Guide to Creating the Most Magical Schools on Earth . What happens when teachers borrow imagineering principles—immersive storytelling, worldbuilding, and design—and bring them into the classroom? Could this be the key to unlocking deeper engagement and curiosity in students? Thomas makes a compelling case that this approach is tantalizingly possible. Blending lessons from both classroom practice and immersive design, Imagineering Education offers educators a practical framework for transforming schools into places of wonder, creativity, and authentic connection. In our conversation, we explore not only the powerful ideas in his book, but also our own public school experiences and the state of education in the U.S. today. It’s a fascinating discussion you won’t want to miss. Check out Imagineering Education: A Guide to Crea...
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