Teatime on Tatooine

Weesa Back! After a two month hiatus we’re at it again - joined today by French horn player and film music freak (in the best way), Avery Jett. We get deep down sarlacc pits with all sorts of what ifs and alternate timelines from Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. What if Padme survived childbirth? What if Yoda went with Anakin to confront Palpatine? What if Dooku had outed Palpatine as the Sith in...

What is a Bokken Jedi? I invited Jesús Gonzalez (podcaster and Star Wars nerd) back to the studio to try and figure out exactly what that means, outside of the general definition we are given from Baylan Skoll: that Bokken Jedi are trained outside of the traditional temple setting. Is Bokken a derogatory term? Is Luke a Bokken Jedi? Are there other types of Jedi that can be considered Bokken? This...

What is it about family in Star Wars? About its parent/child dynamics that makes it so unique? My guest Nick Griffith (husband and friend of the podcast) and I look down the barrel of twin turbolasers primed with generations of familial trauma, loss, and healing. How come there are so many abandoned and orphaned children in the galaxy? What is it about the death of a parent that radicalizes a chil...

It's time to face the Fandom Menace (muahahaha). Who better to join me on my quest than Obi-Wan Memeobi - Star Wars influencer, Master of Memes, and fellow podcaster? We explore the history of Star Wars fandom from 1977-today - covering early newsletters and zines all the way through the rise of social media and YouTube. How has media consumption changed over the past 4+ decades? What exactly is g...

Few people in Star Wars get as much of a musical journey as Anakin Skywalker! Ashton Sharrett (musician, Star Wars creator, and co-host of the podcast S.O.M.P.) joins me to deep dive into that journey from his theme in Phantom Menace all the way through the death of Vader (and beyond). We talk musical parallels, Shmi's theme, and the overall genius that is John Williams. It's like poetry; it rhyme...

"Rebellions are built on hope." So says Cassian Andor, anyway. Join me and my guest (and host of the podcast Best Year Ever), Jesús Gonzalez, as we talk about Diego Luna, representation in Star Wars, and why it matters. Was Diego Luna a child actor (turns out, yes)? Did Carrie Fisher do her British accent in Episode IV on purpose? Is Episode VIII the best Star Wars movie (no, but Jesús thinks so!)...

Join me as I discuss with my brother, Tommy Raiguel, exactly why podracing is the best part of Phantom Menace. Did Watto want Anakin to race? Whatever happened to Ben Quadrinaros? Is art masterbatory if other people enjoy it? I also debut a never-before-heard deleted scene from Episode I - the Boonta Eve prelims. You don't want to miss this one. Pour your tea and strap in for a wild ride through M...

It's time for something different! My guest on this episode is... me. I've become mildly obsessed with the High Republic and wanted to share. Listen in to learn about the High Republic initiative and the first full novel:  The Light of the Jedi  by Charles Soule. Are the Jedi of that time really more powerful? Can hyperspace be broken? Who exactly are the Nihil? All this and more can be found in t...

It's another music episode - this time, discussing in-galaxy music and sound in all things Star Wars. I'm joined by composer and guitar player Stephen ("Stevo" if you're OG) Mann - who actually wrote experiential music for the Star Wars universe. From Cantina Band to Chicken in the Pot, we talk about it all. Who invented clarinets in space? Why does everyone sing in Huttese? What does music from M...

My interview with new Star Wars fan Krishna Shetty concludes in today's episode where we cover the sequel trilogy, Solo, and Rogue One. Is 'sassy' the main attribute passed from Anakin to Luke to Ben Solo? Why do we ship Rey and Ben so much? Join me with the artist behind all of our show artwork as she wraps up her first journey to a galaxy far, far away. Pour yourself a drink and list...

Ever wondered what it would be like to discover Star Wars for the first time as an adult? That was Krishna Shetty's experience! We talk through the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy of Star Wars films and look at it all with fresh eyes. Are droids the pets we truly deserve (they are.)? Is Star Wars really just a big long saga all about family (it is.)? Why is Darth Vader low-key kinda h...

We welcome back to the studio Brian Hastert (host of the podcast Local Selection, actor, clone-lover, and friend) to discuss The Great Plan of the Sith and how the Acolyte sets in motion the storyline that will get us to Anakin's immaculate conception. Who is Darth Plagueis the Wise and how did he meet his tragic demise? Are the Sith wholly evil or is it just that the Jedi are limited in their...

Paul Hirsch - editor of A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back - joins us in the studio today to spend some time talking about the first two installations in the Star Wars franchise. He shares some fun stories from his time on set and in the cutting room, letting me feel a bit like a fly on the wall in the room where it happened. You won't want to miss this one! This episode is brought to you by o...

Maryann Brandon - editor of The Force Awakens and Rise of Skywalker - joins us in the studio today to spend some time talking about the sequel trilogy. We talk about our shared love of Rey, she tells some stories from her time on the films (J.J. may or may not have sticky fingers for lightsabers), answers some questions from listeners, and explains why she was a champion of the kiss between Rey an...

And just like that, it's over. We loved this one - so many payoffs and so well done. We talk about Venestra's dress, the peek-a-boo Sith, TikTok trolls, and how lightsabers turn red. While we're sad that it's over, we're looking forward to reviewing more shows in the future. Listen along and enjoy! SPOILERS: Acolyte Episode 8 Edited by Anna Trumbo  Produced by Sam Kieffer Music...

Mysteries are revealed and the Jedi aren't looking too squeaky clean... We talk about Sol's obvious disregard for the no emotional attachments rule, the struggles of content in the modern age of streaming, and how incredible it was to FINALLY see a Wookiee Jedi go wild. Listen along and enjoy! SPOILERS: Acolyte Episode 7 Edited by Anna Trumbo & Nick Griffith Produced by Sam Kieffer Mus...

Join the Rebellion! Violet Griffith (Jedi-in-training AKA my step-daughter) and I go deep into the animated show Star Wars: Rebels. Kanan? Loth-wolves? The Bendu? It's all here. Check out why everyone keeps saying Rebels has some of the best storytelling in the entire franchise. I promise you, we aren't making it up. Also, listen for a very important announcement from Lothal's own Gove...

We loved The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 5: "Night." Yay! We're honestly so stoked about this episode. We talk about the incredible fighting, the return of the rollie pollie flying bugs, and get Mae and Osha confused like 10 times. Listen along and enjoy! SPOILERS: Acolyte Episode 5 Edited by Anna Trumbo & Nick Griffith Produced by Sam Kieffer Music by Mike Barnett Show Artwork by K...

It's our first in-person interview at the Darth Jar Jar studio!! Brian Hastert (actor, teacher, host of the podcast Local Selection, and clone afficionado) and I get in the weeds on one of my favorite topics in all of Star Wars: The clones. We cover the creation of the army, the Clone War, Order 66, and clone life in the Empire. Rex? The shady Kaminoans? Fives? The Clone Underground? It's...

Anna and Nick sleepily talk about The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 4: "Day." We express our desire for a Wookiee show, try to figure out why Yord is so uptight, and are baffled by the Jedis' tracker companion. We also discuss that how much we WANT to love the show doesn't exactly line up with how much we ACTUALLY love it. Listen along and enjoy! SPOILERS: Acolyte Episode 4 Edited by...

Nick and I get comfy and talk about The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 3: "Destiny." We talk witches, queer content in Star Wars, fight choreography... and come to the realization that the Jedi are a$$holes. Listen along and enjoy! SPOILERS: Acolyte Episode 3 Edited by Anna Trumbo & Nick Griffith Produced by Sam Kieffer Show Artwork by Krishna Shetty Music by Mike Barnett

It's our first music episode!! Hang out in the newly completed Darth Jar Jar studio with me and my guest, the world's biggest film music nut, Richard Kraft. The Cantina Band? The Imperial March? Duel of the Fates? It's all here! We deep dive into John Williams, his contributions to Star Wars and movies at large, our likes and dislikes in Galaxy's Edge (Olga's House of Porn, any...

My nephew Miles and his dad Gregg join me in today's episode to share some hot takes and significant disagreements about Star Wars. Anakin: love him or hate him? Cartoons: yea or nay? Porg or Purgil? Don't worry, there are some areas of overlap - namely we are all lifelong, die-hard fans hopeful for the future of the franchise writ large. We also debut a new segment: Star Crossed Star Wars...

Veteran film editor Billy Weber (Top Gun, The Thin Red Line, Pee Wee's Big Adventure) shares his experience of seeing Star Wars: A New Hope for the first time and the impact it had on him. He recalls feeling like he was flying the spaceships and being completely absorbed in the story, discussing how the editing of Star Wars was seamless and immersive, making the audience forget about the techn...

Description: In today’s episode with photographer and goth Frenchman Marc Goldstein, we talk about his experience of Star Wars as oral storytelling months before seeing the movie. We dive into Rebels, clone individuality, the evolution of the sci-fi genre as a result of Star Wars - we even get into Jar Jar’s love life (because yes, he has one). We also talk about the Force, our “meh” reaction to l...