Sci-fi Talk

Host Tony Tellado chatted with the legendary science fiction author Ben Bova to discuss his novel Mars Life, part of his sweeping Grand Tour series. The conversation explores the ethical and scientific dilemmas of Martian exploration, the tension between religious fundamentalism and scientific inquiry, and Bova’s vision for humanity’s future among the stars. Bova shares his thoughts on terraforming, the search for extraterrestrial life, and why Mars should remain pristine while we study its secrets. His insights are sharp, provocative, and deeply rooted in decades of science-informed storytelling.

I go behind the icy curtain of The Wandering Earth, China’s landmark sci-fi blockbuster, with special visual effects supervisor Samir Ansari of Pixomondo. From making digitalsnow look real  to planetary propulsion systems, Samir walks us through the creative and technical feats that brought this frozen apocalypse to life. We explore the cross-cultural collaboration between Pixomondo and the Chinese production team, diving into the challenges and rewards of working across languages, workflows, and cinematic traditions. Samir shares how trust and visual storytelling became the universal language on set.

My dive into the sonic world of Spark Hunter, the high-concept audio drama starring Rebecca Ferguson and Mark Rylance. Set against a backdrop of surveillance, suspicion, and existential stakes, the story follows Spark Hunter—an AI so advanced she’s deemed rogue by the U.S. government. Over one final dinner with her creator, the question looms: is she a threat to humanity, or its last hope? A conversation with writer KB Miller and Teresa Tunney  Start You Free One Year Trial On Sci-Fi Talk Plus Today  

In this episode of Byte, we sit down with Jeremiah Fraites—co-founder of The Lumineers—as he reflects on his cinematic debut composing the score for The Long Walk, the chilling adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. Thanks to Lionsgate for the audio provided.

In this episode of Byte, director Francis Lawrence takes us behind the sonic curtain of The Long Walk, the haunting adaptation of Stephen King’s dystopian classic. Known for his cinematic collaborations with artists like the Lumineers, Lawrence shares how his long-standing creative rapport with Jeremiah Fraites—co-founder of the band—led to Fraites’ selection as composer for the film. Special thanks to Lionsgate for the audio.

In one of the most emotionally resonant roundtable sessions I’ve ever attended, the cast of Fringe gathered at San Diego Comic-Con to reflect on their groundbreaking series and share insights into the journey ahead for their final season. This intimate conversation is a heartfelt tribute to the show's legacy and a gift to fans who’ve followed its twists, timelines, and transformations.

In this episode of Rewind, we crack open the creaky doors of Shining Vale, the satirical horror-comedy that dares to ask: what if your midlife crisis was actually a possession? Featuring  interviews with cast members Mira Sorvino, Judith Light, Merrin Dungey, Dylan Gage, Gus Birney, and co-creator Jeff Astrof, we explore the haunted house at the center of the series—and the haunted minds of the characters who live there. From the ghostly glamour of Rosemary (Sorvino) to the lithium-laced sharpness of Joan (Light), each character offers a layered look at identity, trauma, and transformation. Astrof shares how the show balances horror tropes with biting humor, while the cast reflects on the emotional shifts their characters undergo across two seasons.

In this episode, I chatted with Prospect’s breakout star Sophie Thatcher—known for her haunting turn in The Exorcist Season One—and co-director Zeek Earl to explore the making of one of indie sci-fi’s most atmospheric gems.

"The Apocalypse: First Wave” In this special Rewind episode, we travel back to the electrifying atmosphere of New York Comic Con 2010, where The Walking Dead was just days away from its world premiere. Recorded live at the Jacob Javits Center, this roundtable features candid, early reflections from the cast and creators who would go on to redefine modern horror television. Join host Tony as he sits down with:

Guests: Enrico Colantoni – Mathesar, the earnest Thermian leader Missi Pyle – Laliari, the wide-eyed Thermian engineer In this delightfully weird and wonderful episode of Byte, Tony chatted with Enrico Colantoni and Missi Pyle for a mini-reunion that celebrates the cult classic Galaxy Quest. With warmth, wit, and a few tentacle jokes, the two actors reflect on their time as Thermians—those lovable, tentacled aliens who misunderstood Earth’s sci-fi as historical fact. Thermian Talk & Tentacle Technique → Enrico and Missi share how they developed the alien speech patterns and body language that became iconic. Start Your Free One Year Trial At Sci-Fi Talk Plus Today

Tony chats with One of the creative minds behind Doctor Who: The Runaway, the animated VR short that lets fans step inside the TARDIS and join the Doctor on a high-stakes mission across space and time. With Jodie Whittaker reprising her role as the Thirteenth Doctor, this Oculus Rift experience blends storytelling, interactivity, and sci-fi spectacle in a way that feels like you're really there—sonic screwdriver in hand. Tony shares his own gameplay impressions, describing the thrill of scanning alien lifeforms, dodging galactic threats, and navigating the TARDIS interior with full 360° immersion.  Start Your Free Trial On Sci-Fi Talk Plus, Today 

Guest: Brennan Lee Mulligan – Game Master, Writer, Performer, and Co-Creator of Dimension 20. Legendary Game Master Brennan Lee Mulligan joined me us to discuss the creation of his original online board game—a genre-bending experiment that blends classic tabletop mechanics with digital storytelling flair. Known for his work on Dimension 20, Brennan dives deep into the philosophy of game design, the emotional architecture of roleplay, and the collaborative magic that fuels his crew’s RPG adventures. Start Your Free Trial On Sci-Fi Talk Plus Today

This limited podcast series starts off with one of the driving forces of this classic series in Bruce W. Timm from the roundtables at NYCC. Some great insights into the creation of an animated classic. Start Your Free One Year Trial At Sci-Fi Talk Plus

Former Journalist and now producer of documentaries talks about two episodes of Shock Docs on UFO abductions on the Betty And Barney Hill and The Travis Walton cases Start Your Free Trial On Sci-Fi Talk Plus Today

Interview with the author of Star Trek Nerd Search Quibbles With Tribbles. We chat some Dr Who too. Start Your Free One Year Trial With Sci-Fi Talk Plus

A 59-Year Celebration Through Voices, Memories, and Missions My combined three-volume oral history and tribute, weaving together rare interviews, behind-the-scenes reflections, and heartfelt anecdotes from cast and crew across Star Trek: First Contact, Insurrection, and Nemesis. Supplemented by intimate conversations with actors from The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, and even a special Star Trek literary event.   Featuring 

A hundred years from now, humanity reaches for the stars—and pays the price for hope. In this episode of Rewind, showrunners Jonathan Glassner (Stargate SG-1) and Dean Devlin (The Ark, Independence Day) take us behind the scenes of their latest sci-fi survival saga. The story follows a ship of colonists en route to Proxima Centauri B, Earth’s nearest habitable neighbor. But when a catastrophic systems failure kills the command crew and most of the technical staff, the mission becomes a desperate fight for survival.

Choreographer for the Subspace Rhapsody episode Roberto Campenella talks putting the dance sequences together and gives us a lesson in the simplest being the hardest.   Start Your Free One Year Trial On Sci-Fi Talk Plus

In this special edition of Trends, we dive deep into the evolving world of artificial intelligence—its promises, its pitfalls, and its place in our collective imagination. From speculative fiction to real-world innovation, this episode brings together a dynamic mix of voices shaping how we think about AI.