Cosmic Circus Podcasts

Ahsoka Series Discussion | The Cosmic Circle

While Ahsoka may have lived a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, you don't have to jump into your X-Wing and fly off to Tatooine to see what she's up to, because Ahsoka, the new Star Wars series has arrived on Disney+! The series stars Rosario Dawson as the ex-Jedi knight as she and Sabine (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) search the galaxy for Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) and Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi). So our writers couldn't wait to get together and break it all down in our Ahsoka Discussion!
Join head writer Brian Kitson, along with fellow writers Drew Reed and Emily Maack as they talk about all the exciting scenes from Disney+'s Ahsoka! What did they like? What would they have changed? Why is Sabine the best? All that and more you can find in this exciting discussion about all things Ahsoka and Star Wars as a whole!
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Brian Kitson
Drew Reed
Emily Maack
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 08/26/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.

Blue Beetle Movie Discussion | The Cosmic Circle

Xolo Maridueña stars as the scarab-tactic superhero Blue Beetle, which buzzed onto the big screen this past weekend. Blue Beetle, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto and written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, is the first live-action comic book film with a Hispanic lead. The long-anticipated picture is the third DC Studios release this year after Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash.
It's all about family in The Fast and the... er... Blue Beetle, and on this episode of The Cosmic Circle, we are joined by some fantastic family members. Writers Anthony Flagg and Wiktor Reinfuss swarmed in for our chat about the celestial scarab-powered superhero Jaime Reyes.
We talked about the movie's meaning on a cultural level, our favorite parts, including the charming and talented Xolo Maridueña, and our thoughts on the nefarious Victoria Kord, portrayed by screen legend Susan Sarandon. We even talked about that mid-credits scene and whether or not Jason Sudeikis really is Ted Kord.
And dear listeners, you won't want to miss our discussion of just how many times Wiktor has seen The Flash. So whether you're a lifelong DC Comics fan or someone who's just getting into the world of DC after James Gunn took over the studio, this podcast is for you.
You can listen to the podcast below directly or on most sites where you listen to podcasts. For email updates to The Cosmic Circle and Cosmic Cafe podcasts, subscribe here and follow us for updates on X (formerly Twitter) at @cosmicpodcasts!
[Warning: Spoilers from Blue Beetle are within the podcast! Avert your eyes and return to Gotham, Central City or Metropolis lest you be spoiled. ]

Secret Invasion Discussion | The Cosmic Circle

Six weeks ago, Secret Invasion began its journey on Disney+. The first Marvel Studios series of 2023 has come and gone, and it has left quite an impression on fans of the MCU. Whether you've loved it or hated it, Secret Invasion has definitely left people talking. So with so many differing thoughts and opinions on this divisive show, The Cosmic Circus writers couldn't wait to get together on a Secret Invasion wrap-up discussion!
Join host Brian Kitson and fellow writers Anthony Flagg, Ayla Ruby, and Uday Kataria as they break down every moment from Marvel's Secret Invasion! Which characters are their favorites? Which moments were they disappointed in? And where exactly do they think the MCU is headed in the aftermath of this series? All that and more can be found in this podcast!
 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Uday Kataria
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 06/25/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
 Read the full article at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-37-secret-invasion-wrap-up-discussion/

Interview: Jordan Canning on Directing the Funniest ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Episode

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been serving up some chef’s kiss episodes that will surely be on “best of” lists for years to come. (And that’s not just because we see Captain Pike and Spock in the kitchen!) We recently had the chance to sit down over Zoom with director Jordan Canning, who helped bring the recent and hilarious season 2 episode “Charades” to the screen. Canning’s insights into the creative process behind “Charades” and her passion for Trek were, to quote Spock, “fascinating.” 
[Warning: This podcast interview contains spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Proceed at your own risk.]
 
Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.comTheme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.
For the full article for this interview visit: https://thecosmiccircus.com/exclusive-interview-jordan-canning-on-directing-the-funniest-star-trek-strange-new-worlds-episode/

’Barbie’ Movie Discussion | The Cosmic Circle

After months of buzz, the live-action Barbie movie finally hit theaters this weekend, and we're diving deep into this episode of the Cosmic Circle. The world's most famous doll has been brought to life by writer-director Greta Gerwig and her professional partner Noah Baumbach. After seeing the massively successful box office, it's safe to say we're in a Barbie world.
On this episode of the Cosmic Circle, we're joined by writers John Dotson and Uday Kataria to discuss the live-action Barbie film. Our cosmic conversation included everything from the pink world of Barbieland and the star-studded cast (including Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling) and awards buzz. We also discuss the film's true villain, the cultural phenomenon that is Barbieheimer, and why this movie has an important message for kids everywhere. So whether you're a lifelong Barbie fan or just curious about the hype and love listening to us talk, tune in for this fascinating discussion.
 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Ayla Ruby
John Dotson
Uday Kataria
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 07/24/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
 
Ep. 36 Timestamps: Barbie movie discussion (Spoilers)
00:18 - Intros
01:00 - Spoiler alert for the Barbie movie!
01:10 - First impressions on Barbie and it's themes.
08:30 - America Ferrera's monologue, hit or miss?
13:27 - Barbenheimer
19:30 - What was your movie-going experience?
21:19 - What does Barbie's massive box office success mean for movies in general?
32:41 - Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling's performances. 
39:32 - Was Ken the villain of the story or was it someone or something else?
45:00 - Favorite Easter eggs or things that made you laugh
48:00 - Thoughts on the ending of the Barbie movie.
52:00 - Outros
 
Read the full article at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-36-barbie-movie-discussion/
 

Superman Discussion (Past and Future) | The Cosmic Circle

With Superman & Lois finishing its third season, My Adventures with Superman on Max now, and Superman: Legacy beginning to assemble its cast, now is the perfect time to reflect on the greatest hero of them all: SUPERMAN! Featuring in 85 years of comics, radio, TV, film, animation, and live action, no character has had a greater impact on comic book culture than the gentle giant Superman and the mild-mannered Clark Kent.
Join host Vin, Vic, and Anthony as they look back on the Man of Tomorrow, their favorite adaptations, and what they hope to see in the future. What are the best Superman storylines? What makes a good Superman adaptation? Do the red undies matter?? Tune in for all this and more!
(SPOILER WARNING for past Superman comics, shows, and movies)
 
 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Anthony Flagg
Vin
Wiktor Reinfuss
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 07/16/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
 
Read full article at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-35-superman-discussion-past-and-future/

The Best 2023 Television Series So Far! | The Cosmic Circle

The year is already half over, and it has been a cosmically wild ride. It feels like just yesterday we were all warming up a cup of eggnog for our Hawkeye rewatch and gearing up for the new year. New films and television shows have been released at a breakneck pace in 2023, and it's been hard to keep up with all the good stuff. (We've tried! Our Letterboxd accounts are proof.) But fear not, dear reader, for we here at The Cosmic Circus have done the hard work for you. We've scoured the airwaves and streaming services to bring you a list of the must-watch television shows of 2023. 
On this episode of the Cosmic Circle, host Ayla Ruby is joined by writers Anthony Flagg and John Dotson to discuss their top five television shows of 2023 (so far). They'll also be sharing some honorable mentions. What do you think will make it to number one? Will your favorite be on the list? Tune in to hear what the Cosmic Crew says about the year's best television.
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Ayla Ruby
Anthony Flagg
John Dotson
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 07/09/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
 
Full article available at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-34-the-best-2023-television-series-so-far/

Interview with Sarah Collier and Hugh Ross of ’Outlander’

Outlander crackles with tension in the latest episode of the hit show “Death Be Not Proud,” as Fraser’s Ridge and Jamie, Claire, and Ian are put to the test. Hugh Ross and Sarah Collier, who play Mr. and Mrs. Bug in the time-traveling historical drama, sat down with Cosmic Cafe host Ayla Ruby over Zoom for an exclusive interview to discuss the episode and what the shocking events, including that big death from the scorcher of an episode, mean moving forward. 
[Warning: This interview contains spoilers for Outlander. Proceed at your own risk.]
Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.comTheme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.
For the full article for this interview visit: https://thecosmiccircus.com/exclusive-sarah-collier-and-hugh-ross-on-the-shocking-last-episode-of-outlander/

Top Movies of 2023 So Far! | The Cosmic Circle

Can you believe we're already halfway through 2023? Time flies when there's so so many new films and television shows rolling out. There are so many standouts and quite a few upsets as well, that it almost seems impossible to keep up with everything that comes out in a year. Now that we're six months into the year, we here at The Cosmic Circus wanted to look back at some of the highlights from 2023's movies.
Join host Ayla Ruby along with well Cosmic Circus writers Brian Kitson and John Dotson as they rank their top five 2023 movies so far. What do you think will make it to number one? Will your favorite of the year make it on their list? You'll have to listen in to see what the writers have to say about the movies of 2023. A huge thanks to John for joining us on The Cosmic Circle, we can't wait to have you on again!
 
 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
John Dotson
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 07/02/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.Full article with timestamps at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-33-2023-movie-discussion/

’Secret Invasion’ Episode 1 | The Cosmic Circle

Secret Invasion has finally arrived on Disney+, ending our dry spell of Marvel Studios content on the streaming service. This six-episode series sees the return of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) as you've never seen him before. The world has changed so much after the Snap, so much so that Fury doesn't know what to expect anymore. Secret Invasion has only dropped one episode, but already the excitement for this series has been building, so of course we have to get together and talk about it in our Secret Invasion premiere discussion!
Join host Brian Kitson, along with fellow writers Alex Perez, Anthony Flagg, and Uday Kataria as they discuss every exciting detail and disappointment from the first episode of Secret Invasion. These four discuss which new character is their favorite, the impact that a certain death has on the series and MCU, and where they think the show will end up. 
 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Alex Perez
Anthony Flagg
Brian Kitson
Uday Kataria
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 06/25/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
 
Full article available at: https://the.cosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-32-secret-invasion-premiere-discussion-spoilers

’The Flash’ Movie Discussion | The Cosmic Circle

After a decade since it was first announced, The DCEU's The Flash has finally arrived in theaters. It's been a long journey to bring Barry Allen and his powers of lightning speed to the silver screen, but fans of the witty speedster are excited to finally see the final product. With the arrival of The Flash, the beginning of the end has begun for the DECU, with just two more films left to close out the chapter. So in honor of this new DC film, we couldn't wait to break it all down in our The Flash discussion.
Join host Brian Kitson, along with fellow writers Drew Reed and Wiktor Reinfuss as they break down the highs and lows from The Flash. Listen as they tell you their favorite parts, what didn't work for them, and just what cameo in the film is their favorite. They also speculate about the future of the DC films and how the DCEU can reach a proper swan song. All this and more can be heard in this newest exciting episode of The Cosmic Circle!
For email updates to The Cosmic Circle and Cosmic Cafe podcasts subscribe and follow us for updates on Twitter at @cosmicpodcasts!
 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Brian Kitson
Drew Reed
Wiktor Reinfuss
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 06/17/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Full article available at: The Cosmic Circus

’Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’ | The Cosmic Circle

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse has finally arrived in theaters, continuing the adventures of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), and all our other favorite spider-people from Marvel Comics. Following the events of 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Miles steps out of his universe into a larger spider-web of the multiverse, where danger is around every corner. With this animated film smashing box-office records, we couldn't wait to get together and talk about every juicy detail from the film and what's to come next in the Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Discussion.
In the latest episode of The Cosmic Circle, host Brian Kitson and fellow Cosmic Circus writer Alex Perez break down every exciting moment and what the crazy ending of Across the Spider-Verse means for the future of Sony's Marvel films. This is definitely a podcast you don't want to miss, as our resident Spider-Expert Alex Perez shares plenty of insight and quite a few bits of information, for fans of Spider-Man as well as one juicy Scarlet Witch drop. 
[Warning: Spoilers from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are within the podcast!]
Podcast credits and show notesContributors/Writers
Alex Perez
Brian Kitson

Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 06/04/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Executive Producer/Editor
For a full article on this podcast visit: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-30-spider-man-across-the-spider-verse

Interview with Prehistoric Planet’s Mike Gunton and Tim Walker

Prehistoric Planet is a documentary series on Apple TV+ that combines state-of-the-art realistic animation with stunning cinematography to transport viewers back to the Cretaceous period, 66 million years ago. The series features never-before-seen "footage" of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures in their natural habitats. Sir David Attenborough, the legend of documentary series like Planet Earth, even narrates it. Executive Produced by John Favreau, Prehistoric Planet uses tech from hit shows like The Book of Boba Fett to bring these animals to life. 
On Tuesday, The Cosmic Circus had the opportunity to sit down over Zoom with the show's executive producer Mike Gunton and showrunner Tim Walker. Both are highly accomplished filmmakers in the world of natural history. Gunton is known for his work on the Emmy and BAFTA-winning Planet Earth II, as well as  Galapagos, Yellowstone, Madagascar, and Life. Walker has a similarly impressive career, with 20 years of bringing natural history to the screen. 
There are five episodes in the new season, each tied to a different habitat and the animals that lived there. In our interview, we chatted about dinosaurs (of course!) but also how they built on the technology from season 1, creating empathy for these prehistoric characters and more.
Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.comTheme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.Recorded 5/16/2023

’Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Discussion | The Cosmic Circle

After a long wait, the Guardians of the Galaxy are back. This past weekend, James Gunn delivered the third and perhaps most emotionally resonant entry in the cosmic saga, titled Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. Star-lord aka Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and the team is adjusting to their new place in the cosmos. After an attack on their celestial haven of Knowhere, where one of their own is threatened, the Guardians must face off against a wicked and new foe in the High-Evolutionary, played by Chukwudi Iwuji. 
In the newest Cosmic Circle podcast episode, host Ayla Ruby and writers Anthony Flagg and Brian Kitson discuss their favorite and least favorite moments from the new movie including some epic action sequences. They cover the exciting and sad reveal of one guardian's origins, cameos, the post-credit scene, and whether this movie is the end of the ride for the Guardians of the Galaxy as we know it. 
SPOILER WARNING FOR GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3!
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Brian Kitson
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 05/07/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.

Mandalorian Season 3 Recap (Spoilers) | The Cosmic Circle

Watch out for spoilers from season 3 and the season finale of The Mandalorian!
Season 3 of The Mandalorian concluded on Wednesday with Chapter 24: The Return. Expectations were high for the finale, which continued the story of The Mandalorian, aka Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal/Brendan Wayne/Lateef Crowder), and adorable found family, the Child, aka Grogu, as they worked with Bo Katan (Katee Sackhoff) and Axe Woves (Simon Kassianides) to defeat Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) and restore Mandalore. 
Host Ayla Ruby and writers Anthony Flagg and Drew Reed chat about their favorite and least favorite moments from the season finale. They take listener questions and share their thoughts on whether or not Moff Gideon is really dead, Bo Katan's growth over the season, and whether there will be a Season 4 of The Mandalorian. 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Anthony Flagg
Ayla Ruby
Drew Reed
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 04/21/23
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Full article at: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-28-the-mandalorian-season-3-finale/