Media Mothership

We’re joined by Dr Emerald King and PhD candidate Ashley Reminga from the University of Tasmania to explore the world of cosplay. We cover the upcoming events including the cosplay competition at the video game event, Level Up Tasmania, and then some of the bigger questions around how cosplay functions as performance, identity, play and fan expression. And we tackle the biggest question: why...

Newly discovered Doctor Who episodes reveal how fragile, accidental, and improvised early television really was. In this episode, we dig into the first 1963 Dalek story alongside its DVD commentary track, where producers and directors reflect on how the show was actually made. This episode was recorded live at Edge Radio 99.3FM studios in Hobart Tasmania, and first aired on 19 March 2026. For more...

Debates over the satire of Tropic Thunder to politicians sharing videogame footage from War Thunder as real combat, the boundaries between entertainment, politics and propaganda are increasingly blurred. We also examine claims that videogames are losing the “war for attention”, the global rise of K-pop and Asian cultural influence. This episode was recorded live at Edge Radio 99.3FM st...

A round-up of unusual pop culture stories over the last few weeks: fandom chaos, strange marketing from fictional corporations, lost gaming history, and the weird ways technology keeps surprising us. This episode was recorded live at Edge Radio 99.3FM studio in Hobart Tasmania, and first aired on 5 March 2026. For more info on Media Mothership go to https://mediamothership.au/ and https://www.edge...

Artist and HAM magazine editor Alex Poljansek joins the show to discuss independent publishing, comics and manga, and how local art scenes generate cultural influence ahead of his upcoming arts residency position in France. Links https://www.instagram.com/ham_magazine/ https://ham-magazine.bigcartel.com/ https://www.instagram.com/rockstar_mode/ https://www.instagram.com/hold.ye.horses/ This episod...

The rise of “cozy” in gaming and storytelling, and why so many players are gravitating toward low-stress, comfort-driven experiences. And an unexpected phenomenon: gamers engaging in photojournalism inside games. This episode was recorded at Hobart’s Edge Radio 99.3FM studios, and first aired on 19 Feb 2026. For more info on Media Mothership go to https://mediamothership.au/&nbsp...

Prime Video’s AI-generated anime dubbing experiment and the backlash that followed. What happens when automation enters creative spaces built on performance and emotion? A conversation about authenticity, labour, fandom, and the limits of AI in media. Episode 137 was recorded at Hobart’s Edge Radio 99.3FM studios, and first aired on 14 Feb, 2026. For more info on Media Mothership go to...

Debunking movie myths, poking corporate platform behaviour, questioning our gaming habits, and asking what AI is doing to art and work. And Tasmania in the movies. This episode was recorded at Hobart’s Edge Radio 99.3FM studios, and first aired on 5th Feb 2026. For more info on Media Mothership go to https://mediamothership.au/  Recorded live each week from Edge Radio studios in Hobart,...

The latest WWE headlines and lead up to the Royal Rumble. From current storylines and booking debates to bold predictions and potential surprises, we break down what’s working, what’s controversial, and what could shake up the road to WrestleMania. Plus, we unpack key wrestling jargon, discuss the unique location of the 2026 Royal Rumble, and debate which superstars have the most to ga...

Angus returns for a conversation with Craig and Taylor about how we could learn to ask better questions of pop culture. We explore the difference between watching and analysing, how to think critically through confusion, obsession or discomfort. Drawing on Angus’ ideas from Kierkegaard, we also discuss why debates about “separating the art from the artist” keep returning, and how...

Angus Metcalf talks about video essays, not just as online content, but as a way of thinking in public. We discuss the emotional and creative labour behind making long-form work for YouTube, the strange intimacy the form creates between maker and viewer, and why video essays provides a space for slow, reflective conversation in an otherwise fast media environment. Angus' TheOleRazzleDazzle https:/...

I’m joined by Angus Metcalf for a thoughtful conversation about Twin Peaks and the idea of media as a re-enchanted, spiritual experience. Drawing on his recently completed Honours thesis from the University of Tasmania’s Media School, we explore questions of aura, sound, dream logic, and grief, and consider how Twin Peaks resists clarity, invites contemplation, and continues to haunt a...

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://...