Systematic Geekology

The second episode of the series "Finding the Good" embarks on a profound examination of the often-contentious relationship between the realms of magic and science in our fandoms! The salient theme of this episode revolves around the juxtaposition of magic and science, where we endeavor to explore the potential coexistence and mutual enrichment of these two realms in the media we consume. We engag...

The discourse presented during this session at Theology Beer Camp 2024 in Denver, Colorado, delves into the intricate relationship between video games and theological and ethical considerations. Central to the conversation is Ben Chicka's latest publication, "Playing as Others: Theological and Ethical Responsibility in Video Games," which posits that engaging with video games can facilitate profou...

This podcast episode offers a comprehensive examination of the seminal film "Toy Story," which marks the inception of the Pixar legacy within the broader Disney animation narrative. As we delve into the intricacies of the film, we explore its profound themes of friendship, jealousy, and the existential crises faced by its beloved characters, Woody and Buzz Lightyear. The conversation illuminates t...

Evan Garcia embarks on his inaugural journey as a lead host on our podcast, Systematic Geekology, in a captivating exploration of an intriguing "what if" scenario: the prospect of holding employment within the esteemed realm of Gondor, a significant locale from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary works. Accompanying him are co-host Elizabeth Pangalangan Clyde, affectionately known as "Pang," and former hos...

The return of Joe, a former host of Systematic Geekology, marks a significant occasion as he reunites with current host Evan Garcia to delve into the classic film Groundhog Day. In a thoughtful discussion, we explore the film's profound thematic elements, particularly its commentary on personal growth and the human experience, as reflected in the character arc of Phil Connors, portrayed by Bill Mu...

Who is the greatest video game character of all time? This question sets the stage for a lively discussion among our hosts as they explore the iconic figures that have shaped their gaming experiences and aspirations. From Sora of Kingdom Hearts to the courageous Link from The Legend of Zelda, each character embodies qualities that resonate deeply with the hosts. Throughout the episode, the team di...

Should we consider environmental effects when buying comics? This episode dives into the complex conversation around the environmental impact of consuming comics, comparing digital formats to traditional print. The hosts explore various aspects such as the number of trees cut down for paper production, the carbon footprint of digital devices, and the challenges of supporting local comic shops in a...

Join us for an exciting "What's News" episode of Systematic Geekology, where we dive into the latest happenings in the world of pop culture and geek news. We kick things off by discussing the highly anticipated upcoming projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the new animated series "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" and the much-awaited "Captain America: Brave New World." Kevin...

This episode dives into the iconic characters of Xbox gaming franchises, exploring who is considered the most inspiring and memorable. Hosts TJ Blackwell and Joshua Noel discuss their personal favorites while also reflecting on the mainstream perception of these characters. With a focus on how these gaming icons influence their lives, the discussion highlights the characteristics they wish to emul...

This episode marks the beginning of a new series on Systematic Geekology, titled "Finding the Good in the Other," as we dive into the theme of polarization. Our hosts, Joshua Noel, Elizabeth Pangalangan Clyde, and Reverend Laura Wittman, engage in a lively discussion about the Pokémon universe, specifically focusing on the deities Arceus, Dialga, and Palkia, to explore deeper philosophical questio...

Dr Leah Robinson and Host, Will Rose, dive deep into the latest Star Wars series, "Skeleton Crew," exploring its significance within the expansive Star Wars universe. They discuss how the show captures the spirit of classic 1980s adventure films, reminiscent of "The Goonies" and "Stranger Things," while simultaneously appealing to a younger audience. The conversation highlights the contrast betwee...

Continuing our bonus miniseries on Gaming Icons, Joshua Noel and Christian Ashley discuss their top icons from the PlayStation universes and which characteristics from these characters they want to emulate and which characteristics they want to immolate! . Who is the most iconic PlayStation character? Who are the PlayStation mascots? Who is the strongest PlayStation character? Who is the coolest g...

Join Joshua Noel and TJ Blackwell as they dive into the enchanting universe of Lilo & Stitch, focusing on "Stitch! The Movie," the animated series, and "Leroy & Stitch." This episode highlights how these works stand apart from typical direct-to-video Disney sequels, showcasing their unique charm and storytelling quality. The hosts explore the significance of these films within the broader...

This special episode was chosen by our Discord followers! We had a vote on our Discord channel for this very topic and now, Joshua Noel leads a thought-provoking discussion on the implications of artificial intelligence in video games from a Christian perspective, exploring how our interactions with AI reflect our values and beliefs. Joined by philosophy scholars Dr. Benjamin J. Chicka and Dr. Tay...

Continuing our series of top Videogame icons, Christian Ashley and Herbie Ramsey discuss their top picks for Nintendo icons! They discuss their favorite games, which characters they want to model themselves off of and emulate this year, and which traits these characters have they might want to immolate or excise from themselves in 2025! . Who is the main Nintendo character? Who is the most iconic...

Back with another All Reading Counts episode, Joshua Noel and TJ Blackwell discuss the Epic Poem, Beowulf! They talk about their history with this book, why it's still relevant today, and how we can learn to be a true hero from stories like this! . What is the story of Beowulf about? What is the true story of Beowulf? Is Beowulf A Saxon or Viking? What does Beowulf teach us? What happens at the en...

Back with another Primarily Political episode, TJ Blackwell and Joshua Noel discuss the governing forces and history of politics in the Dead Space videogame franchise! . Could the political history of Dead Space be real? What is EarthGov Dead Space? Is Earth doomed in Dead Space 3? What happened to Earth in Dead Space? Are there two different Earth Govs in Dead Space? What is the secession war in...

Kicking off a special bonus miniseries, TJ Blackwell, James Demmell, and Laura Wittman discuss the characters from the arcade and Sega Gaming who have been most iconic to them personally! They discuss which Sega and Arcade characters they want to most emulate in 2025, which characters most people recognize, and how these games pass the test of time! . What games are played at an arcade? What is th...

Ending the year with what means most to him, Joshua Noel discusses the songs of Kingdom Hearts and how the community of the Kingdom Hearts fandom has morphed the meaning of these songs into something as beautiful as the songs themselves! . Who sings the Kingdom Hearts song? What is the song in Kingdom Hearts 3 dubstep? Who makes the music for Kingdom Hearts? Is Simple and Clean about Sora and Kair...

Back with another What's News episode, Justin Coleman, Kevin Schaeffer, and Evan Garcia discuss the new Superman trailer, the first season of Skeleton Crew, the first season of Creature Commandos, the new film "Mufasa", and the Doctor Who Christmas Special: "Joy to the World"! . What is Skeleton Crew going to be about? Where does Skeleton Crew fit into the Star Wars timeline? What is the plot of T...

In the finale' to our annual theme of 2024, Elizabeth (Pang) Clyde and TJ Blackwell discuss the religions present in the manga / anime series, "Blue Exorcist"! They discuss both the show and the Manga, as well as the religious implications in both. This series asks us to think about the child of Lucifer working with the Catholic Church to fight demons - what better way to wrap up a conversation ab...

As one of Joshua Noel and Christian Ashley's favorite recent television shows, "Star Trek: Lower Decks", comes to an end, these two hosts of ours gush over the 5 seasons of excellent content this series has brought to us! . Is Star Trek: Lower Decks for adults? What do Star Trek fans think of Lower Decks? Is Star Trek: Lower Decks considered canon? Is there swearing in Star Trek: Lower Decks? Is S...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Whole Church and Systematic Geekology fans! Joshua Noel is joined by Nick Polk to discuss how Substack might take the place of Twitter and can help us get out of our echo chambers. They also discuss both of their substacks - Tolkien Pop and The Kingdom Key - and they geek out about Christmas some and talk about where to get Nick's new book, "Tolkien and Pop Culture: Vol 1"! . What...

For a Christmas Eve special, Rev Justin Coleman and Andy Walsh PhD discuss what variable about Jesus could change in different universes and which aspects of Jesus would have to be the same in every universe! Is our Christmas story the only one and is it good enough for all creation across all universes? Or, is there a different Christmas story in every universe?! . Does a multiverse exist? Can we...

Joe Dea returns as a guest-host for this special edition of our Christmas Classics Drive-In! Joe and Herbie Ramsey discuss the Christmas special, A Charlie Brown's Christmas! . Where can I stream Charlie Brown Christmas? Why was Charlie Brown Christmas taken off TV? Why is peppermint patty not in Charlie Brown Christmas? Is Lucy older than Charlie Brown? What does Linus say to Charlie Brown about...