Alienating Ourselves Podcast

This week's episode is finally a Cathy Frankel centered story. It's not about her background as a scientist or her attraction to Matt but about her connection to a traumatized boy, named Andron, from the slave ship. When Cathy crosses paths with him again and suspects he's being abused, she risks everything to protect him. - What do we learn from this episode about Kleezantsun, the Ove...

Gimme, gimme some more "Alien Nation" reviews, you ask? Okay, we'll do that. This week, we review episode 1.20 "Gimme, Gimme" which is all about inventions, investments, good luck, bad luck, the lottery, cars, 2nd jobs, joy, and toxicity -- not the social media kind of toxicity...but actual hazardous chemicals & noxious fumes. - What did Nick do to help advertise the po...

What happened to Matt? Who or what brought him back? Was it a Tenctonese spiritual healer, a Tenctonese special power, a Human medical anomaly, or just an unexplainable miracle? Were crystals involved, and where did Matt get a crystal? We watched & reviewed this episode of "Alien Nation," and we're still not sure. Listen now and help us figure out, "Rebirth." - Where would one or both co-hosts...

This week is the first of two Sikes-centric episodes, first with Sikes obsessing over a particular murder case right when he's supposed to start a vacation to Hawaii, in "Crossing the Line." Meanwhile, the Franciscos are preparing a special ceremony for newborn Vessna, and one family member isn't quite sure how to honor the baby. - Does the new support character, Beatrice Zepeda,...

She's finally here! Little Vessna Francisco has arrived. The conception, gestation, and...pod transferral...of this alien baby has provided the show "Alien Nation" with some of its best storylines, quirkiest moments, and some of the wildest sci-fi imagery. And, her birth is no different. In this episode, "Real Men," George's self-confidence is challenged by the last day...

In this week's episode of "Alien Nation," Matt and guest character Theo Miles were former partners on the force, Matt & George are current partners on the force, and Susan & George are partners in the gestation of their baby...well, pod, for now (baby later). That's right, if you want to learn what it's like for a male Tenctonese to become pregnant, listen to our revi...

This week's episode of "Alien Nation" is guest starring Oscar-nominated, SAG award winner, BAFTA-nominated, DGA-nominated, Emmy-nominated, Golden Globe winner, Angela Bassett, Queen Mother of Wakanda herself, as a local TV news reporter in an episode appropriately called, "Eyewitness News." - What line, delivered by Angela Bassett, made Todd laugh out loud? - What sexually-...

Uncle Moodri is back, Matt becomes a big brother, and we explore the "Heart of Tencton" in this week's review of "Alien Nation" episode "Generation to Generation." - How good is it to have Uncle Moodri back? - What do the co-hosts think of the name Vessna for the upcoming Francisco baby? - How strange is it to see the depiction of an auction where the main items f...

It's election week...maybe not in real life, but it is in this week's episode of "Alien Nation." We review "The Spirit of '95" when there's a referendum for giving Tenctonese the right to vote. - How tough is George for going into enemy territory to defend his family? - What was going on with the bag that Matt was carrying down the hall and that he dropped? Was...

After a brief "Star Trek" detour, we're back to our "Alien Nation" rewatch with 1.12 "The Red Room," an episode that explores another dark secret in George Francisco's past. - What did Nick like so much about the Monopoly scene? - What did Todd notice & appreciate so much about the episode? - What is special about this week's medical examiner character...

This week, we take a quick detour from "Alien Nation" to review the recently completed 1st season of "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy." - Which co-host leaned toward not liking this show? And, which co-host accepted that he may not be the target audience and liked it a little better than other recent "Star Trek" incarnations? - Which opinion about female leadership in th...

This week Nick & Todd reach the halfway point through "Alien Nation" with the episode "Chains of Love." Someone is drugging unsuspecting victims with the Tenctonese love potion Sardonac, a potential victim is accidentally bonded to Matt via Sardonac, and George & Susan consider using Sardonac themselves to strengthen their marriage. - Nick & Todd read listener e-mai...

This week, we review one of the best episodes of "Alien Nation." It's called "The Game," and it's an episode that keeps on giving, with multiple big reveals and an emotional ending. - With both co-hosts agreeing that this is a great episode, Todd focuses on performances, and Nick focuses on the world-building. - How does this episode have not just one "Babylon 5&qu...

This week we review "Three to Tango," one of the best episodes of "Alien Nation" and a great episode of sci-fi TV in general. This installment explores gender, sex, procreation, faith, and religion -- topics that you wouldn't think go together, but that's the beauty of science fiction. We learn that the Tenctonese species has a 3rd gender that is required for Newcomers...

We are back and with another slight detour from "Alien Nation." We cover a review of 2025 with a focus on the following... Movies "Captain America: Brave New World" "Thunderbolts*" "Fantastic Four: First Steps" "Superman" Mentions of "Wicked For Good," "Tron: Ares," "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle," and "Mission Im...

Happy New Year! We welcome 2026 with a review of the "Alien Nation" episode "Contact," a story about a Kleezantsun intimidating scientists into sending a nefarious signal into outer space. Meanwhile, Matt deals with memories of his uncle, Cathy shares with him aspects of her own childhood, and the Franciscos consider having another child of their own. - What is Nick's favor...

Just in time for Christmas is our review of the "Alien Nation"...Halloween episode. Sorry, I guess we should have started the podcast a couple months earlier. Anyway, you will shriek with delight, uh, I mean, terror, at this week's episode, "Night of the Screams." - Which co-host has a lot to say about the germy ickiness of bobbing for apples? - What did the co-hosts feel a...

Because of the December timing, Nick & Todd make one more slight detour from "Alien Nation" to talk about the 2014 "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Last Christmas." - What are each co-host's respective journeys with "Doctor Who"? Do they both love it, or do one or both co-hosts have mixed feelings? How much has each one seen of the show? Who are thei...

After a two-week "Star Trek" detour, we're back to "Alien Nation" with an episode about taxes, bribes, scams, and gangs. This week's episode, called "The First Cigar" involves a Tenctonese business owner who may have a surprise hidden up her sleeve...literally. Meanwhile, Buck sells real estate, George deals with the IRS, and Matt & George give each other...

Nick & Todd continue their discussion of the "Star Trek" franchise. - What was Nick's hot take about "TNG" season 2, teased at the end of Part 1? - What "TNG" season 2 improvements did Nick point out? - Which "TNG" episodes from each season did Nick highlight? - Nick & Todd agree that "TNG" season 7 is a bit of a decline, but which rede...

The "Alien Nation" rewatch will definitely continue, but this week (and next), Nick & Todd take a detour to talk about one of the biggest sci-fi franchises of all..."Star Trek." We're calling it a primer because we discuss the whole franchise in broad strokes, comparing notes on what we've seen, haven't seen, loved, liked, disliked, hated, and still want to see....

This week, Nick & Todd review the 5th "Alien Nation" episode, "The Takeover," a story about a police station siege during a city riot, with the themes of control and...smells(???). Along the way, we get to see a remnant of the controlling ship gas, from the Tenctonese slave ship, in action. - Why does one co-host think command and...smells...are the two main themes of the e...

Nick & Todd are really enjoying rewatching & podcasting about "Alien Nation." But, even the best things in life aren't always perfect. Join Nick & Todd as they critique the first disappointing episode of the show, "Fifteen With Wanda," while still talking about redeeming qualities and the usual guest cast connections to other shows. - What was Nick's first r...

Nick & Todd return to talk about the 3rd episode of "Alien Nation" in which Detective Matt Sikes tries to protect a teenage Tenctonese girl who's life has taken a bad direction. When the situation takes an unexpected turn, Matt & George go undercover to take down a dangerous Tenctonese prostitution ring. - How did discussion of this episode start off about goats? - How much d...

Nick & Todd are back for the first "Alien Nation" 1-hour episode entitled "Fountain of Youth." This is an episode that explores the topic of aging from two different angles. Something about Tenctonese physiology may help slow or even reverse aging in humans, and Susan struggles to find work in her field due to her age. - This is the first installment of "Alien Nation" to have a standard weekly...