Media Mothership

John Cena’s last match, wrestling news, and the biggest debates, with special guest Marcus. This episode was recorded at Hobart’s Edge Radio 99.3FM studios, and first aired on 18 Dec 2025. For more info on Media Mothership go to https://mediamothership.au/  Recorded live each week from Edge Radio studios in Hobart, Tasmania. https://www.edgeradio.org.au/ Support the show: https://...

Trent Breward, recently returned from his  trip to Japan, shares his on-the-ground experiences with Japan’s vibrant wrestling scene, offering insights into live events, fan culture, and how Japanese wrestling (puroresu) differs from what Western audiences may expect. We then return to last episode’s discussion of the Americanisation of anime, and early dubbing pioneer Fred Ladd. D...

I’m joined by UTAS PhD student Ashley Remminga to unpack Fred Ladd’s commentary from the 1960s cartoon Gigantor, the US localised version of Tetsujin 28-go. We reflect on the wild rewrites of early anime dubs, and the cultural impact Gigantor had in Australia. This episode was recorded at Hobart’s Edge Radio 99.3FM studios, and first aired on 27 Nov 2025. For more info on Media M...

We break down the latest media news and then take a deep dive into the early Americanisation of anime. Drawing on Fred Ladd’s commentary for the Gigantor (1964) cartoon, we explore how Ladd and his team reshaped Japanese storytelling, aesthetics, and themes to fit the expectations of American television. For episode notes and links go to https://mediamothership.au/  Recorded live each w...

We interview Zackary Roeth, a volunteer at Print Radio and student filmmaker, to explore his work editing audiobooks for local radio and his creative work in student film. Our movie review is the 90th anniversary of Bride of Frankenstein (1935), we unpack the film’s enduring legacy, stylistic nuances, and cultural impact. Drawing on insights from film historian Scott MacQueen’s audio c...

This week we explore everything from Australia’s proposed streaming content rules to The Simpsons crossover in Fortnite. We discuss Rockstar’s abandoned spy game, why GTA never returned to London, a South Park subreddit mystery, Stellar Blade’s latest controversy, backlash over The Witcher on Netflix, and a surprising detail from Evangelion’s animation history. For more inf...

Latest pop culture oddities, including video game mishaps, virtual weddings, and retro game finds. We end the show with a discussion of what makes a good bit of “Breaking News”, “Emergency Broadcast” diegetic media in zombie fans, and play some classic examples from “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) and “Shaun of the Dead”. 'Night of the Living Dead'...

  We discuss PAX Aus 2025, Australia's biggest convention for video games and pop culture, highlighting some of the experiences Craig had there. We also chat about some of the strange and unusual news in media culture (links provided below). Title Red Dead Redemption 2 Mod Shows NPC Memories When You Kill Them (Kotaku) https://www.polygon.com/red-dead-redemption-2-mod-blurbs-npc-memories-inte...

Special guest Marcus joins us to explain key professional wrestling terms to understand the highlights, critiques and hype surrounding Wrestlepalooza 2025. WWE Basic Terminology https://jesuitroundup.org/2024/08/wwe-basic-terminology/ Media Mothership  Instagram  Facebook  Discord  Edge Radio  Support the show: https://www.mediamothership.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

We cover some recent pop culture news and then dive into today's topic, using Nick Couldry’s work on media places to talk about the cracked.com article "14 Abandoned Movie Sets That You Can Go Screw Around in If You’ve Got the Time". Media Mothership https://www.mediamothership.au Instagram https://www.instagram.com/media_mothership/ Facebook https://fb.me/MediaTackle Discord https://d...

We discuss what is considered one of the best adaptations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood. We draw on Michael Jeck’s commentary from the Criterion Blu-ray to explore the blending of Shakespearean tragedy, Japanese aesthetics (such as Noh theatre), and Kurosawa’s unique cinematic storytelling style. We also dive into some of the TV tropes to highlight th...

Recent pop culture and entertainment news: a mecha director’s concerns about relevancy for young fans, “creepy” popcorn bucket marketing in the Conjuring franchise, and anime as political protest in Indonesia. Plus, game mysteries, global music aspirants, pixel art activism, Jurassic World tours in Flight Sim, a new Tourism Australia campaign, sports gaming developments, and Supe...

Join us for a lively conversation with Leo from Hyperfixation Sensation as we dig into our most unexpected and memorable video game stories. This episode explores the unique ways immersive and ultra-realistic games shape how we connect, react, and even lose ourselves during play. Links: Listen in to Leo’s show on Edge Radio every Tuesday 11-12pm (AEST), streaming live on Edge Radio: https://...

We discuss the "East Meets West" interview from David Anthony Kraft’s Comics Interview (1995) issue 148. An interesting moment in the cultural exchange between Western and Japanese comics, focusing on a visit by American comics creators, including Will Eisner and Brian Stelfreeze, with Tezuka Productions. We delve into the early interactions between Western creators and manga during a time w...

We break down SummerSlam 2025 from the big matches and surprises,  controversies, and what succeeded (and didn't) on the night. Join host Craig, co-host Taylor and special guest Marcus as we go over all the main points. Media Mothership https://www.mediamothership.au Instagram https://www.instagram.com/media_mothership/ Facebook https://fb.me/MediaTackle Discord https://discord.gg/QvdT39EDMV...

We discuss the 1995 "What is Anime and Why Is Everybody Talking About It?" article from Comics Interview #148 magazine. What predictions were accurate, as well as the misses and misfires? We'll also explore what the West didn’t understand at that time about the localisation of manga and anime, and compare it to the present. Follow us on  Media Mothership (https://www.mediamothership.au)...

Continuing our discussion on Orientalism from last week, where we explored the golden age of the radio series "The Shadow," this episode focuses on techno-orientalism as seen in the video game "Cyberpunk 2077." Craig, Taylor, and Ronan delve into the game's use of Japanese imagery and characters, examining its artistic and narrative intentions. They also discuss how the game utilizes conventions o...

The captivating world of "The Shadow," one of the most iconic radio drama series of the Golden Age, which aired from 1937 to 1954. In this episode, we explore the rich history and cultural significance of this early pulp character that left a lasting mark on pop culture. Through exclusive documentary recordings featuring key cast members and creative minds behind the series, we unravel the nostalg...

We interview Edward Williams, who has recently published his tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) "Kingdoms of Amnesia." This game is set in a post-cataclysmic world where history has been fractured and restarted. We explore Edward's creative process and inspirations, examine the unique aspects of his Game Master (GM) philosophy, delve into his interesting mechanical choices, discuss the rich lore,...

Why the renewed interest in "Star Wars: Battlefront 2"? What are the ambitious plans from Chinese studios to AI-remake classic kung fu films featuring legends like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li. Plus, and why the urgency to recover Marty McFly's lost guitar from "Back to the Future"? We also take a deep dive into Stephen King's 'interior eye' from "Danse Macabre," tracing its roots back to St...

What is the chilling legacy of “Chicken Heart,” a seven-minute radio drama that first aired in 1937 on the iconic show Lights Out ? Join us as we explore the eerie world crafted by Arch Oboler and discuss how this seemingly simple tale continues to haunt pop culture today. What makes “Chicken Heart” resonate so strongly in the contemporary era? We’ll delve into the hi...

Leaked files expose China's efforts to erase the history of the Tiananmen Square massacre. We also take a closer look at Helldivers 2’s epic battle for Super Earth and explore some unusual manga news from Japan. Plus, we tackle some listener questions, dissecting the political layers and cultural significance of the Andor series. And don’t miss our setup for an in-depth conversation on...

Join us for a thrilling episode as we dive into the latest news and intriguing events in media and pop culture! This week, we're continuing our unpacking Film Courage's Guide to Guide to Writing Evil Characters and exploring the fascinating trope of the Karma Deflector . Discover how villains often dodge consequences while their henchmen take the fall—only to face poetic justice in the third...

We continue our discussion of Film Courage's "A Guide to Writing Evil Characters." In this segment, we explore the tropes of "Evil Characters We Root For" and "Techniques for Creating Empathy." We take a closer look at characters such as Conquest from the Invincible series, Agent Smith from The Matrix , and Davros from Doctor Who . And, of course, we cover the latest news in media and popular cult...

How to Write Villainous Characters. Drawing on Film Courage's guide to creating evil characters, we explore the concept of "The Conflict in Every Human Heart" and the idea that "every person has a breaking point." We will discuss this theme through key movies and TV characters, including Colonel Kurtz from  Apocalypse Now , Michael Corleone from The Godfather , Harvey Dent from Batman , Walte...