Star Wars Escape Pod

This week we dive into the final issue of Star Wars Insider, an interview inside this issue from Kathleen Kennedy herself with a message to Star Wars Fans and readers of Insider. Along with that, we offer some casual banter right here as usual in the Cantina, lets get into it! Check out the Star Wars Archives link in our description for a database of all 400+ episodes! Orbitkey Disney Collection A...

Prepare for Another Happy Landing! This jam-packed episode serves as the ultimate love letter to a galaxy far, far away. This week, we are thrilled to welcome back special guest Molly for an energetic discussion that proves Star Wars magic is well and truly here to stay! Join us celebrating five years of The Bad Batch, the theatrical release of The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, and plenty of deli...

After more than 200 issues, Star Wars Insider will end its current run in 2026. The official Star Wars magazine first launched under the Insider moniker in 1994, part of an evolution that began with the Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine. This week we take a quiet dive into some of the highlights of the final two Star Wars Insider magazines. In issue 236 we explore 10 years of Rogue One.  In issue 237 we...

Join Josh, Blake, Dr. Steve, and Matt this week for a deep dive into Master of Evil! Written by Adam Christopher, this Star Wars novel explores a young Darth Vader in his dark prime, told through the eyes of Imperial Royal Guard Halland Goth.  Check out our other book reviews here! Dr Steve Ellerhoffs Podcast! May The Force Be With Jung Buy the book! https://www.amazon.ca/Jung-Star-Wars-Contempora...

Six years, five months, and a whole lot of anticipation have finally led to this moment. The Mandalorian and Grogu has officially arrived in theaters, and the Star Wars Escape Pod team is analyzing our first watch. In this episode, we go deep into spoiler territory to explore the critical narrative shift from the small screen to the silver screen, breaking down executive producer Jon Favreau's cho...

In this final after-show episode of the Star Wars Escape Pod podcast, we dive into the dramatic conclusion of Maul: Shadow Lord. We celebrate becoming founding members of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and successfully score tickets for next year's Star Wars Celebration—despite the chaotic online queue. As we dive deep into Shadow Lord, we analyze the "scary again" version of Darth Vader, compa...

STAR WARS DAY 2026 is here! We always celebrate May the 4th here on Star Wars Escape Pod—boy, that is a lot of "Star Wars" for one sentence. As usual, we’re diving into the latest news and headlines hitting the galaxy this week. Watto and Yogurt shouted "MERCHANDISING," and we came running with our annual Star Wars deals infomercial—you betcha it’s always a good time (and Phil absolutely loves thi...

This week on the Star Wars Escape Pod, Josh and the crew are diving into a double-feature "Aftershow" for the latest action-packed chapters of Maul Shadow Lord! From Chapter 7: Call to Oblivion, where Maul faces off against the 11th Brother while dealing with a glitchy mechanical leg, to Chapter 8: The Creeping Fear, featuring high-octane speeder chases and dark visions of Darth Sidious, this epis...

Strap in for a lively after-show, but before diving into the deep end, the guys swap some major Star Wars news, specifically dishing on the 50th-anniversary Celebration coming to LA in 2027—including some pretty funny sticker-shock over those VIP tickets and some more star wars news! We have Maul episode 6&7 on the menu tonight, with the Empire locking down a city to the "power partner" potent...

In this episode of the Star Wars Escape Pod, the crew dives into the shadow-filled world of Maul: Shadow Lord as we recap the latest two chapters, "Whispers in the Unknown" and "Pride and Vengeance". Join us break down the psychological mind games between a seasoned, wiser Maul and the runaway Padawan, Devon, including a tense tea ceremony that proves the former Sith apprentice has traded some of...

This week, we launch a brand-new Aftershow dedicated to the thrilling animated successor to The Clone Wars and the ongoing saga of Maul: Shadow Lord! We’re breaking down the first two episodes of Season 1, diving deep into the dark world of Janix and the standout characters that caught our eye. Plus, we’re serving up a hot cup of Star Wars news: is Lucasfilm really sidelining Mara Jade? We discuss...

Join the crew of the Star Wars Escape Pod as they reach an epic conclusion of the "Bogan’s Advocate" series. In this final installment covering the Skywalker Saga, the hosts and special guest Dr. Steve Ellerhoff take on the challenge of debating the franchise's most divisive entry: The Rise of Skywalker. Following the unique "Bogan's Advocate" format, the participants must argue against their own...

Prepare for a chat about the most polarizing chapter of the sequel trilogy with the Star Wars Escape Pod’s "Bogan’s Advocate" session for The Last Jedi. In this episode, the crew tackles the subversion of expectations head-on, from the startling introduction of a disillusioned Luke Skywalker to the "no-twist" revelation of Rey’s parentage. While the crew marvels at the film's top-tier cinematograp...

Step into the Star Wars Escape Pod for a spirited, "Bogan’s Advocate" debate where fans take on the ultimate challenge: defending the parts of the Skywalker Saga they actually dislike. In this episode, the crew dives into The Force Awakens, grappling with whether it’s a brilliant, beautiful continuation of the franchise or a nostalgic "reboot" that plays it too safe. From praising Adam Driver’s in...

In this episode of the Star Wars Escape Pod, Josh is joined by co-host Blake and friends Dan and Matt to revisit and re-evaluate the Disney+ series, The Acolyte. A year after the show's initial release, the crew provides fresh perspectives by reviewing the season through both release and chronological viewing orders. Dive deep into the series' technical execution, critiquing the "clunky" editing a...

In this episode of the Star Wars Escape Pod podcast, Josh and the crew dive into the "Bogan's Advocate" segment to take an honest, critical look at Return of the Jedi. A massive 85-foot Lego Venator project intrugues us this week, and a breakdown of the Mandalorian and Grogu Super Bowl teaser!  The heart of our episode this week features a deep dive into fan-favorite controversies, including the "...

Welcome back! The "Mandalorian and Grogu" trailer has finally hit YouTube, and the crew is here to analyze every frame like a pack of hungry Jawas. After a year of waiting, the Razorcrest is back (with some snazzy new yellow accents!), and the hype is reaching lightspeed. A Cinematic Cameo?: Is that legendary director Martin Scorsese we hear as an alien? We debate the surprising (and hilarious) po...

Time to abandon ship! Welcome to the Star Wars Escape Pod, the podcast that crashes head-first into the galaxy’s biggest news and takes. Today we’re checking out the latest Galactic Racer gameplay trailer and more! Join hosts Josh, Blake, Kirk, Dan, and Darian for our signature 'Bogan’s Advocate' segment. It’s the show where we dare to criticize the masterpieces we love, even if it makes us feel l...

Welcome back to the Star Wars Escape Pod! In this installment of our "Bogan’s Advocate" series, we dive deep into the final chapter of the prequel trilogy: Revenge of the Sith. The rules of the game remain the same—we challenge our own perspectives by finding things to love in movies we might dislike, or offering "friendly criticism" of the films we absolutely adore. Before we get into the main ev...

Get ready to jump into the escape pod for a stellar celebration! In this high-energy episode of the Star Wars Escape Pod, hosts Josh, Blake, and Bryce ring in Star Wars Podcast Day 2026. Joining the crew is the brilliant Dr. Steve Ellerhoff, author of Jung and Star Wars: A Contemporary Mythology, who brings a wonderful perspective as we look at the mythology from a Jung lens. From the nostalgic "a...

Hold onto your lekku, because this week we’re abandoning ship and diving straight into the Dark Side. First up, we’re dissecting the brand-new trailer for Maul: Shadow Lord. Is Disney finally growing a pair and giving us a true villain protagonist, or are they just going to "Cruella-fy" our favorite horn-headed Sith? We’re breaking down Maul’s mysterious new "Acolyte" (could it be a canonized Dart...

It’s time to play the ultimate Star Wars devil’s advocate. In this episode of Star Wars Escape Pod, we are debuting "Bogan's Advocate"—a challenge to depreciate the movies we love and find good in the things we didn't. Problem is we all love Episode I, but is it perfect? In our first episode of "Bogan's Advocate"—the crew breaks down the Binks slapstick, the missed opportunities with Count Dooku,...

In this edition of Cantina Banter, the crew gathers to break down the massive news shaking up the galaxy: Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down from her role at Lucasfilm. We dive deep into what this transition means for the franchise, speculating on how the studio might pivot under new creative leadership and the watchful eye of Dave Filoni. While we have already released a quick Lightspeed episode a...

As Kathleen Kennedy steps down from Lucasfilm leadership to return to producing, Dave Filoni will lead the studio as President and Chief Creative Officer alongside Lynwen Brennan as Co-President. Lucasfilm announced today that after 14 years of leading the studio, President Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down from her role. Kennedy will return to full-time producing, including the studio’s upcoming...

Kick off the new year with a casual night in the galaxy's favorite hangout! In this episode of our Cantina Banter sub-series, host Josh is joined by Blake and Darian for a chill, wide-ranging discussion on all things Star Wars as we head into 2026. In this episode, we dive into: - A New Era of Cinema: Looking ahead to 2026, the year that finally brings Star Wars back to the big screen after a long...