Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

Welcome to another episode of Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi. A deep dive into the world of Octavia Butler, the legendary science fiction writer whose groundbreaking work continues to shape the genre and challenge the way we look at our society. Host Tony Tellado is joined by guests Damien Duffy and John Jennings, the minds behind the graphic novel adaptations of Butler’s iconic works, including "Kindred" and, most recently, "Parable of the Talents."

In this episode, Tony shares his own personal encounter with Octavia Butler, setting the stage for a heartfelt discussion about her influence, vision, and the challenges of adapting her complex and prescient novels into the graphic format. Damien and John offer behind-the-scenes insights into their creative process, the collaborative efforts involved, and the unique storytelling opportunities presented by "Parable of the Talents." Together, they reflect on Butler’s legacy, the importance of amplifying Black women’s voices in literature, and the ongoing impact her work has on readers and creators alike.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Butler’s novels or discovering her work for the first time, this episode offers an inspiring look at how visionary science fiction continues to explore—and expand—what it means to be human.

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In this episode, Tony Tellado Zooms  with the rising stars in London as they step into three of the most beloved characters in modern fantasy: Jaxon Knopf as Harry Potter, Rhys Mulligan as Ron Weasley, and Nina Barker‑Francis as Hermione Granger. Together, they unpack the emotional core of the trio’s journey—friendship, fear, growing up, and the quiet moments that shape legends.

This conversation goes beyond wands and wizardry. It’s about the human story beneath the magic.

✨ Inside the Episode

⚡ Harry & Ron: When Friendship Fractures

Jaxon and Rhys open up about portraying the tension between Harry and Ron

📚 Hermione’s Transformation

Nina Barker‑Francis reflects on Hermione’s evolution from brilliant girl to young woman finding her voice.

🔥 The Scene Before the Showdown

The most difficult moment to film wasn’t the confrontation with the one‑who‑must‑not‑be‑named—it was the quiet, intimate scene right before it.

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As Season Two of Outlander: Blood of My Blood unfolds against the backdrop of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, the series places its characters in increasingly difficult emotional and political circumstances. In this roundtable discussion, Harriet Slater, Jamie Roy, Hermione Corfield, and Jeremy Irvine explore the bonds that define their characters, the hardships that test them, and the surprises they encountered along the way. From questions of love and sacrifice to the strength of women navigating wartime realities, the cast offers thoughtful insight into one of the season's most compelling chapters.

 

Available commercial-free on Sci-Fi Talk Plus, including a companion video edition featuring two Season Two clips that complement the discussion and bring the world of Outlander: Blood of My Blood to life.

 

She plays engineer Juliette Nichols of the Silo charged with keeping it running. She talks about her character and finding the right accent.

Welcome  to another intriguing episode of the Sci-Fi Talk's Byte  Podcast. We're embarking on a captivating journey through the cerebral maze of "The Prisoner," a classic series that fiercely champions individual identity and personal freedom. We kick off with the inaugural episode titled "Arrival," where we are introduced to the enigmatic world of The Village, a place where people are stripped of their names and given numbers instead. We follow Number Six, our resilient protagonist, as he grapples with the insidious Number Two and the peculiar, yet authoritarian society he's been thrust into.

Join us as I decode the first steps of Number Six's quest, from his thunderous resignation to the strategic encounters with the omnipresent Rover. We'll examine the symbolism, dissect production secrets, and delve into fan theories that swirl around this ground-breaking episode.

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Destination Moon is the scientifically grounded, engineering‑focused, optimistic vision of space travel; Rocketship X‑M is the darker, cautionary tale that uses space exploration to comment on nuclear war and human self‑destruction. Both shaped the genre, but in very different ways.

Today, we’re diving into a fascinating moment in sci‑fi history — two films released just weeks apart in 1950 that helped define what science fiction on screen could be. Destination Moon and Rocketship X‑M arrived at the dawn of the space age, but they took radically different paths: one rooted in engineering realism, the other in nuclear‑age anxiety. Together, they shaped the future of the genre.

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A dive into danger, unpredictability, and the newest wild energy in The Walking Dead: Dead City

In this conversation, actor and musician Shawn Andrews steps into the spotlight to discuss his role as Reverend Anthony, one of the newly introduced Dead Squad in The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3, Episode 5. Known to many for his cult‑favorite performance as Kevin “Pickford” Pickford in Dazed and Confused, Andrews brings a volatile spark to the Dead City universe — one that blends eccentricity, and a surprising philosophical edge.

Reverend Anthony arrives in Dead City as part of the Dead Squad, a group of extreme, larger‑than‑life survivors who willingly throw themselves into the most perilous missions. Andrews breaks down what makes the character tick.

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In this episode, Tony Zoomed with Dayo Okeniyi, the Atlanta‑based Nigerian‑American actor who brings one of Dark Matter’s most fascinating and volatile characters to life: Leighton Vance, the CEO of Velocity Labs and a central architect of the show’s multiverse project.

Okeniyi’s performance stands for its range — portraying multiple versions of Leighton across alternate realities, each with distinct philosophies, flaws, and ambitions. It’s a role that demands precision, imagination, and a willingness to explore the darker edges of human potential.

Leighton Vance is introduced as a visionary CEO working alongside Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) and Daniela (Jennifer Connelly). His mission begins with noble intentions: using multiversal science to solve global problems. But as the possibilities expand, so does Leighton’s ambition — and the ethical lines begin to blur.

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For the sixth chapter of Star Trek at 60, Tony revisits a remarkable 2009 conversation with Leonard Nimoy — actor, director, photographer, author, musician, and the man who originated Spock, one of the most iconic characters in science fiction history.

But Nimoy’s creative life extended far beyond the ears and the uniform. He directed films — including Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and Three Men and a Baby — released albums, wrote poetry, taught acting, served in the U.S. Army, and built a respected career in photography and stage performance.

This episode centers on Tony’s interview with Nimoy, where he reflects on his early theater company, his artistic roots, and his evolving relationship with Star Trek.

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In this chapter of Star Trek at 60, Tony revisits Star Trek: Insurrection, the ninth film in the franchise and the third cinematic adventure for the Next Generation cast. Directed by Jonathan Frakes and released on December 11, 1998, the film centers on a moral crisis: when the crew of the USS Enterprise‑E uncovers a conspiracy between Starfleet and the alien Son’a to forcibly relocate the peaceful Ba’ku in order to exploit their planet’s rejuvenating properties, Captain Picard and his crew choose to rebel — against orders, against politics, and against the erosion of Starfleet’s ideals.

Featuring performances by Patrick Stewart, F. Murray Abraham, Donna Murphy, and Anthony Zerbe, Insurrection blends ethical drama with character‑driven humor and romance. Though critics offered mixed responses — some praising Stewart’s gravitas and Frakes’s direction, others comparing the film to an extended TNG episode — the movie earned $118 million worldwide and secured nominations for both the Saturn Award and Hugo Award.

This episode draws from Tony’s 1998 roundtable interviews with Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, and Brent Spiner, capturing their reflections at the moment the film was stepping into the world.

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