The Smuggler's Dispatch - A Star Wars Fan Podcast

After a narrow escape on the swamp planet Dagobah, the crew finds a link to one of the most dangerous weapons ever created in the galaxy - The Death Star . Join Al, Mikel, and CB as they dive into every trench, thermal exhaust port, and superglued panel on the iconic battle station. Digging into the behind the scenes creation and iteration, all the way to answering age old questions like "why does...

After a rough landing in the swamplands of Dagobah, the crew of the Raven find themselves uncovering the abode of a great Jedi, and Al and Mikel can't help but share the history and mystery of master Yoda himself! Join us as we cover every nook, crannie and wrinkle on the old puppet, from his inception and design, to the incredible performance by Frank Oz, and even a bit about his unique history a...

Grab a Wookie Cookie and join Al and Mikel on a special holiday voyage to explore the enduring influence Life Day has had on the Star Wars universe! From Chewbacca's family to the Mandalorian's amban rifle, to LEGO, its fingerprints are everywhere. Skit 00:00:00 - 00:03:51 Holonet Hero Star Wars Radio, YouTube SW Preservationist Featured Holo Mail Cole! Steven! Maya! Find Us Online: Website: www.s...

At last the crew makes it to the glassy green surface of the once luscious world of Mandalore, and this time Al and Mikel are taking a deep dive into the titular Mandalorian himself - Din Djarin. Come aboard for a journey through the history of what eventually brought the Mandalorian to the life, going all the way back to 2005. There's a lot of surprising hidden corners in the Mandalorian's past,...

Al and Mikel get a second hand Holotactics table on the Raven, which starts a conversation about another of Mandalore's great leaders, Bo-Katan Kryze! Put on your tactical bucket and join us around the table for a cantina chat about the Nite Owl herself! Skit: 00:00:00 - 00:02:00 Around the Holonet: Email: smugglersdispatch@gmail.com Instagram: @smugglersdispatch YouTube: smugglersdispatch Product...

Still curious about the planet and the people, Al and Mikel have a casual conversation about Duchess Satine over a cup of caf. Join Al and Mikel as they talk about who Satine is, what she means to the galaxy at large, as well what lessons we can take into the real world from her example. See you on board the Raven! Skit: 00:00:00 - 00:01:31 Around the Holonet: Email: smugglersdispatch@gmail.com In...

Orbiting the surface of the desolated planet Mandalore, the crew of the Raven V discuss the habitability and history of the legendary homeworld of the Mandalorian people. Join Al and Mikel as they take a dive into the living waters, peer into the eye of the great mythosaur, and generally wax philosophical about this lore-rich piece of Star Wars history! This is the first episode in a series where...

Dust off your old Holoprojector, and join us in celebrating a hand-picked collection of the best (or most infamous) Star Wars fan films! There's some old classics and maybe even a few you haven't heard of! Al and Mikel dig into what makes this galaxy such a great sandbox for other storytellers, and how Star Wars itself is in a way a fan film. So pop some Batuu Mix and come celebrate the stories be...

The crew finds themselves on the glittering shores of Canto Bight for some clandestine business, hitting some snags and making some new friends along the way. Al and Mikel finally get a transmission out that's all about the Jewel of Cantonica, and what may lie beneath its glamorous surface... From the production of the set in Croatia, to new revelations about Rian Johnson for Mikel, costumes, and...

We must not lose sight of one thing: It was all started by a Jinn. In this episode we find Mikel and Alex exploring the potential meaning behind Al's unexplained nightly visits from a mysterious Jedi and what it could mean for his future exploring his connection with the Force. This exploration lead to our hosts exploring the storied origins of the character of Qui-Gon Jinn, including a discussion...

In this episode Mikel and Alex explore the rich and fascinating history behind our favorite freight vessel in all the galaxy, The Millennium Falcon. You'll hear how the original models for the Falcon looked vastly different from the final result, YET somehow the original Falcon design ended up in the film...Just not how one might think. So strap in and get ready for a jump to light speed on this a...

Join us and together we'll learn all about the power that fuels the Sith, the Dark Side of The Force! Things get dark aboard the Raven V as we discuss where George Lucas drew inspiration for the Dark Side Of The Force, its impact on the in-universe lore and how its inclusion shaped the overall narrative in the Star Wars universe. There's lots of lava-covered ground to cover on this one, so flip up...

Join our hosts Mikel Howarth and Alex Stewart as they Jetset across the galaxy and time itself (using their newly acquired Flux Drive) to uncover the wonder and majesty that is known as The Star Wars Holiday Special! On this episode you'll learn about the bizarre origins and production woes that plagued The Holiday Special before it even had a chance to air. You'll also hear Mikel and Al's favorit...

Come aboard the Halcyon one last time as we approach the end of our journey on the Galactic Starcruiser. We'll be sharing tips, details, stories, and a few spoilers (later in the episode) to help YOU get the most out of the experience. We'll be taking a chronological trip through what an adventure onboard the Starcruiser is like, from the first steps onto the shuttle, to the grand finale and sayin...

As Al and Mikel get ready for their first day on board the Halcyon, they run into some unexpected friends that join in on an impromptu broadcast over dinner to talk about all things costuming! This episode features Sara and Steven from the Princess & Scoundrel podcast! We could not be more excited to have them as our first guests on the show, and we hope you enjoy hearing their expertise and t...

Join Mikel and Alex in preparation for a voyage on the glamorous CSL Starcruiser, the Halcyon! As we pack our bags onboard the Raven V, we'll dig into the history of the ship and it's unique architect, look at the creation of the attraction, and share stories that will hopefully inform and enrich the experience for anyone curious about the Galactic Starcruiser. We also share some packing tips and...

After months of searching, the crew is closer than ever to discovering the secrets of the mysterious World Between Worlds . Come aboard for this full audio drama episode that follows our crew through a daring adventure of mystery and discovery; love and loss; Porgs and hyperspace!! We'll see you onboard The Raven V! Find Us Online: Website: www.smugglersdispatch.com Instagram: @smugglersdispatch Y...

Al and Mikel have finally arrived on Shili to meet L4, the mysterious droid Ceebee is certain can decipher the map to the Keystone... And while the crew is here, they're digging into Ahsoka Tano, the most famous and revered character to ever be born in Shili's lush forests. Join us as we dig into the origins of Ahsoka's story, in and out of universe, and learn some of why she is such a special cha...

Join Al and Mikel for the final episode of this Casual Cantina series covering the last half of the Kenobi series! Al shares his love of tiny, helpful things, and we dig into Vader, Reva, Kenobi, and the exciting finale! These episodes have taken us all the way to Shili, so we may have to cut this one a little short... Find Us Online: Website: www.smugglersdispatch.com Instagram: @smugglersdispatc...

Re-join Mikel and Al for a couple of Toydarian Tauntauns as they continue their discussion of the Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series! This time the "Cantina" is the galley of our very own Raven V, and on our way to Shili we'll be taking a closer look at Parts 1 - 3 of the Disney Plus series! (One final part yet to come...) Find Us Online: Website: www.smugglersdispatch.com Instagram: @smugglersdispatch Yo...

Join Mikel and Al for a glass of Blue (or green) milk at Avilatan's cantina on Ord Mantell as they dive into the Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series on Disney+! This is the first of our Casual Cantina episodes where we the hosts take a more conversational approach to various topics surrounding books, movies, television, or culture within the Star Wars universe. We hope you'll join the crew at a cantina nea...

Al and Mikel dive deep into the oil bath this time as C-B7 has inspired them to see things from a droids perspective. Join the crew as they learn about what makes droids tick, in and out of the Star Wars universe. From their creation and inclusion in the story, the actors that portray them, visual effects, and finally what their lot in life is in this great big galaxy. Find Us Online: Website: www...

There's a celebration of the galaxy far far away happening onboard the Raven V today! Come join us as we hear from folks in the best fan community ever, as they share what makes Star Wars special to them, stories of their first introduction to the saga, or seeing it opening day in 1977. We'll save a Life Day party hat just for you! Find Us Online: Website: www.smugglersdispatch.com Instagram: @smu...

In this episode Al and Mikel dig into the tragic life and origins of one of the infamous child of the Dark Side: Darth Maul. The crew of the Raven will be covering the characters creation and origins, portrayals in live action and animation, and his long and storied journey as a doomed character. Join us, and together we can rule the ga... no wait, Join us as we set course for Dathomir, the ominou...

On a journey to uncover the secrets of an ancient relic, Al and Mikel stumble across a treasure trove of artwork by the great Ralph McQuarrie. The crew dives into the impact McQuarrie made on the Star Wars universe, and talk about some of his most famous pieces, and the lasting legacy he has left on the galaxy far far away. Find Us Online: Website: www.smugglersdispatch.com Instagram: @smugglersdi...