Dispatch Ajax! Podcast

Our exploration of artificial intelligence continues as we bridge the boundary between current AI technology and fictional representations of artificial minds. While last episode focused on the technological trajectory toward superintelligence, this time we tackle the philosophical dimensions of machine consciousness.

Who carries Charles Bronson's torch in today's action landscape?  Bronson carved out a unique space in cinema history with his stoic presence, minimalist acting style, and everyman quality that somehow made his extraordinary feats believable. We dive deep into what made him special – that gritted-teeth delivery, the intimidating presence despite his average stature, and his ability to pl...

The extraordinary powers of the Q Continuum defy comprehension: instant teleportation across infinite distances, manipulation of time and space, creation and destruction at will. Yet beneath Q's flamboyant persona and apparent disdain for "lesser beings" lies a complex relationship with humanity. While introducing himself as judge, jury, and potential executioner of our species, his...

What does it mean to truly think? This question has haunted humanity since we first gained the ability to contemplate our own existence. Our fascination with creating thinking machines didn't begin with computers—it stretches back millennia, to ancient tales of bronze giants and mechanical beings that could sing, dance, and even flirt. But the crucial question remains: are today's AI sys...

When the Borg assimilated El-Auria, Dr. Tolian Soran lost everything—his wife Leandra, their children, and his entire civilization. The once-gentle man who "wouldn't hurt a fly" became a hollow shell, adrift among the few survivors of his species. His life changed forever during a rescue mission in 2293 when the Enterprise-B, assisted by the legendary James T. Kirk, saved him from a...

This deep dive explores the surprising origin and evolution of Superman's crystal aesthetic. But why crystals? We unpack the ancient human fascination with these mythic natural formations.  What began as a bold artistic choice in Richard Donner's 1978 film transformed Superman's visual identity forever, replacing the Buck Rogers-inspired aesthetics of early comics with something alt...

Let's turn back the clock and dive into CBS's forgotten fantasy romance Beauty and the Beast, where a lion-man from beneath NYC forms an empathic bond with an assistant district attorney. It's a tale as old as time.

Q stands among the most captivating figures in the Star Trek universe - a being of seemingly limitless power who appears as both antagonist and catalyst throughout pivotal moments in Federation history. But what if everything we thought we knew about Q's motivations was incomplete? In this special bonus episode of my old show, Memory Gamma, I talk about the enigmatic Q and his place in the St...

What happens when Disney takes characters from The Jungle Book and drops them into a quasi-1930s world with air pirates, corporate tycoons, and surprisingly adult themes? Welcome to part 2 of the strange, fascinating universe of TaleSpin, a show that broke the mold for children's animation.

Step into the cockpit with us as we navigate the strange skies of TaleSpin, one of Disney's most fascinating animated experiments from the early 1990s. What happens when you take characters from The Jungle Book, put them in cargo planes, and set them in a 1930s-inspired world with sky pirates? 

Remember when conspiracy theories were just harmless fun? A time when speculating about JFK, aliens, or secret societies was a quirky hobby rather than dangerous political ideology? Those days are sadly behind us, as we now live in a world where fringe beliefs drive policy and shape our institutions. In this episode, we explore one of the strangest conspiracy theories that bridges Victorian litera...

We dive deep into the fascinating history of Marvel-DC crossovers, from the 1976 Superman/Spider-Man meeting to the ambitious Amalgam Universe of the mid-90s. Looking back at these collaborations reveals how they've historically revitalized the industry during challenging periods—much like what we're witnessing today. Our spotlight on the overlooked 1999 Superman/Fantastic Four crossover...

As we approach the 5th anniversary of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we look back at how culture viewed such events and their impact. Our fascination with pandemic narratives in cinema didn't begin with COVID—it spans decades of filmmaking that eerily predicted our current reality. From star-studded 70s disaster films to modern psychological thrillers, we track how Hollywood's vision of global d...

Fictional disease outbreaks have haunted our screens for nearly a century, revealing far more about our society than any microscopic villain. From class warfare aboard a cholera-stricken ship in 1939's "Pacific Liner" to the eerily prescient "Contagion" that rocketed to popularity during COVID-19, pandemic narratives capture our deepest fears and societal fault lines. What...

I have things to say about NüTrek and Star Trek in general, obviously. So, in this special supplemental episode I address some of the things we didn't get to in our previous installments. 

As we navigate Star Trek through the cosmos, there's no shying away from the franchise's struggles with maintaining its canon and meeting fan expectations. From the portrayal of Starfleet officers to the ongoing saga of Section 31, we candidly express mixed feelings about the new era of Star Trek. 

Is Star Trek Discovery in canon? What exactly is NüTrek? Just how bad was Section 31: The Movie?  In this episode we lay down the ground work and history that lead to today's Star Trek, for better or worse. Join us for part one where we show you just how we got here.

 Join us as we embark on a wild ride through the cult classic "Freejack," featuring dual rockstars Mick Jagger and David Johansen. We unravel the film's weak plot of time travel and body snatching, buoyed only slightly by Jagger's acting choices. 

Join us as we recount the strange and captivating story of Antônio Vias Boas. His strange case predated many of the iconic abduction narratives we know today, including the well-known experiences of Betty and Barney Hill and Travis Walton. But it's Boas's bewildering rendezvous with an egg-shaped craft and enigmatic beings that truly sets his tale apart, yet also sets the stage for UFO e...

Could time travelers be among us, influencing the course of history with cryptic binary codes? Join us as we embark on part two of our journey through the mysterious Rendlesham Forest incident and beyond. This time we explore the bizarre tales of strange lights, radiation, and the ever-evolving accounts of key witnesses like Jim Penniston and John Burroughs.

A lost holiday episode from a year ago has been found! What if Jesus Christ was more than just a historical figure, and instead, a modern-day superhero navigating the colorful pages of Marvel and DC Comics? We unravel this intriguing concept by examining how the iconic figure has been portrayed across major comic book universes. From the classic biblical narratives in DC's "Picture Stori...

What if Jesus moonlighted as a globetrotting rock star during his "lost years?" Buckle up for a hilarious odyssey through history and imagination as we stitch together tales of Jesus' rumored adventures in places like Japan and India, with a touch of musical flair.  Imagine Jesus, or Issa as he's sometimes called, strumming a guitar on the Silk Road, earning the moniker "s...

Our journey takes an intriguing turn as we explore the legend of Jesus Christ's secret life in Japan. Did Jesus really escape crucifixion by swapping places with his brother? We dive into this obscure tale, revealing how he might have lived under the alias Daitenku Taru Jurai in the village of Shingo. With references to Mel Gibson's epic films, samurai sagas, and even a cheeky nod to Kai...

The Rendlesham Forest incident is a cornerstone of UFO lore, marked by a series of mysterious lights and encounters experienced by U.S. Air Force personnel in December 1980. As investigators described the craft's details and effects on their health, profound questions were raised about the nature of the phenomena and the implications of what was witnessed that fateful night.  Join us as we re...

What if the boundaries of reality and fiction aren’t as clear-cut as we think? Join us as we navigate the murky waters of UFO phenomena, inspired by the legacy of Budd Hopkins, a man who brought alien abduction tales out of the shadows and into the spotlight. From his artistic roots to a fateful UFO sighting in 1964, Hopkins' journey is a testament to the power of curiosity. We kick off our e...