Superhero Ethics

What stories emerge when superpowers enter the audio format? How can superheroes reflect real-world problems, and what would an NPR-style broadcast sound like if it existed in a world where superhumans were real? Max and John of Superhuman Public Radio join me to explore these questions and discuss Season 2 of SPR, with new episodes releasing weekly! Superhuman Public Radio (aka SPR) is an award-w...

In honor of the passing of Sheldon Menery, we’re talking about his concept of Rule Zero – the idea that the first step for any game should be making sure all players share the same expectations – and the way it contributed to building community in Magic: The Gathering, and what we can all learn from it. Nile JoanRivers streams MtG content on Twitch ! Her content is focused on highlighting queer vo...

Each person brings their own experiences and perspective to how they view the stories we love. Caged Bishop Cosplay joins me to talk about his experience as a blerd (black nerd), intersectionality in fandom, and our shared love as masculine folks for Barbie. ABOUT OUR GUEST Caged Bishop Cosplay has been cosplaying for the better part of a decade and podcasting for about half as long. He does this...

Professor Matthew Kapell joins me to discuss superheroes, mythology, and the American Monomyth. What is a myth? Are superhero stories considered myths? Does America have a central myth, and how do superheroes contribute to it? Matthew Kapell has taught a wide range of subjects, including film studies and human genetics, at colleges and universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. He r...

Why is it the X-Men that are so often brought up as metaphors for social issues? Steve Stormoen of the Hype Is My Superpower podcast joins me to talk about the X-Men in comics through the lens of activism and social movements. We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you! Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts?...

What is it about the Hunger Games novels that captured so much attention and love? Frequent guest Danielle- Written in the Star Wars joins me to talk about these books, covering everything from the writing style, to the twist they put on the love triangle trope, to the decisions of the rebels. Danielle (she/her) spends her days talking too much about Star Wars, MCU, and The Last of Us. She’s also...

Sometimes heroes wear capes- sometimes they carry rifles in the Napoleonic Wars. One of Sean Bean’s first roles was playing Richard Sharpe in this British Series and Paul joins me to talk about it! Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/theethicalpanda We love feedback!...

Sometimes heroes wear capes, sometimes they carry rifles in the Napoleonic Wars. One of Sean Bean’s first roles was playing Richard Sharpe in this British series and Paul Hoppe joins me to talk about it! We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you! Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for...

What happens when you combine Japanese reflections on the use of nuclear weapons, hard questions about what weapons to use in moments of crisis, stirring music, and a guy in a rubber suit? Paul joins me to talk about the 1954 classic, Gojira, aka Godzilla. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at...

So many of the stories we love use Moby Dick as the example of an obsessive focus on a goal, but do you know the actual story? Moby Dick expert and all around geek Ilse joins me to talk about this book and what it has to say about disability, queerness, race, class, and so many other topics that remain relevant today. Ilse, aka AK, (she/her) is an all around nerd who loves Star Wars, Heavy Metal,...

Do you like your hilarious medieval satire mixed with some biting social commentary? Want to know what this Discworld thing everyone keeps talking about it is? Want to know the Boots Theory of Economics from Sam Vimes? Rob McKenzie joins me to talk about Discworld, focusing on The Watch series of books. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast,...

What can an 1899 newsboy strike teach us about the WGA & SAG strikes today? What can be done when the corporations you’re fighting control your ability to get your message out? And what place do singing and dancing play on a good picket line? Becky Allen and I dive into these questions and more as we discuss 1992’s Newsies. Note - We recorded this episode the day after the strike started. Sinc...

Nimona is a beautiful story about the danger of fear and trusting establishments, and the power of living your truth. Beau joins me to talk about the power of this story, its meaning as a queer and trans allegory, and the value of trusting our own wisdom and experience over dogma and tradition. Beau uses any pronouns and prefers when people mix-and-match! She is a former Magic Judge and scorekeepe...

Does Batman help or hurt the children he recruits to be Robins? Could one of them be more vulnerable to Joker's One Bad Day than Bruce is? Where is the line between justice and vengeance? Paul and I dive into these questions, using Batman: Under the Red Hood, and Death in the Family Part I as our jumping off point. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for th...

I'm reviewing all of the Indiana Jones movies over on the Bingers Assemble episode, and wanted to share the first of those episodes with you here! Once the new movie comes out at the end of June we'll do an episode here on Superhero Ethics about Indiana Jones and the ethics of archeology. For now, go to Bingers Assemble to find all our movie coverage.

Lets talk Robots! We started the conversation with the Micro SF quote and that led to a discussion of AI in our own world. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/theethicalpanda We love feedback! To ask questions or let us know what you think, contact us at Email: Matth...

Let's talk Spiderverse! Among all the incoherant screaming about how good this movie is we get into ethical questions like Miguel vs Miles, the way this movie handles representation, and all the comic book connections to the movie. You can find his comic book thoughts on his podcast, Hype is My Superpower, https://hypeismysuperpower.podbean.com/ See him build Lego and talk all things geeky at - ht...

Guardians 3 raised some important questions about how we treat animals, & Paul Hoppe joins me to talk about them. This episode came out of listener feedback and we also address a listener question about great power, great responsibility, and the relationship between podcasters and listeners. Bonus content for patrons about Batman & the Flash movie. Patrons get access to bonus content with...

My partner and I played through The Last of Us part 2, and Danielle and Matthew joined me to talk about all the great ethical questions this story raises. Whether or not you've played the game, we lay out the issues and story details so you can follow along- but there will be spoilers! Danielle (she/her) spends her days talking too much about Star Wars, MCU, and The Last of Us. She’s also a PhD re...

If you could turn off your brain at work, create an entirely different version of yourself to get through the day, would you? Would that work version you create have its own rights? Can the body be severed from the body? The TV show Severance explores these questions and more, and Rob McKenzie joins me to dive into them. We walk through the show so whether you've never seen it or rewatched half a...

Becky Allen joined me to talk Shadow & Bone, season 2! Becky Allen is the author of Bound by Blood and Sand and its sequel, Freed by Flame and Storm. They grew up outside Ithaca, New York, graduated from Brandeis University, and now work in tech and live in New York with their sister and two little black cats, Jinx and Hex. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your s...

Season 1 of The Last of Us is over, but we've still got a lot more to say! Prof. Dr. Mr. (not a Rev.) Matthew Kapell joins me to dive into some of the larger issues in this show and its connected video game. We talk about the big ethical choices at the end of the story, zombies vs vampires, why Americans in particular are so drawn to dystopian stories, and more! Matthew Wilhelm Kapell has taught e...

Danielle and Erin join me to talk about The Last of Us: the choices made by the characters and what the show (and game) says about our conception of heroes & villains. Erin McGowan is a Twin Cities based cosplayer. she/her, who is new to cosplay and LOVING it. You can find her on Tik Tok & Instagram: ladytanocreates Danielle (she/her) spends her days talking too much about Star Wars, MCU,...

Comics Guru Extrodinaire Jess Plummer joins us to talk about DC's upcoming slate of new TV shows and movies. Jessica Plummer lives in New York and loves Superman very very much. You can listen to just how much on her Superman podcast, Flights and Tights . She also writes about comics and books in general at BookRiot.com and contributed a short story to an anthology of modern Arthurian fiction call...

Returning guests Danielle and Erin join me to talk about the first four episodes of The Last of Us, and the video game up to the same point. Patrons get access to bonus content with every episode! To show your support for this podcast, and all things Ethical Panda, please join us at - https://www.patreon.com/theethicalpanda Danielle (she/her) spends her days talking too much about Star Wars, MCU,...