
Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi
byTony Tellado
FictionScience
Take a journey to explore our humanity through science fiction, horror, fantasy and comics to learn about what makes us human. In this every changing world, it’s not as simple as it sounds.
Episodes(40 episodes)
Season 8 - Episode 1
William Fichtner: Precision, And Presence
In this special throwback episode, we sit down with the ever-compelling William Fichtner to explore the craft behind some of his most memorable roles. From covert ops to cosmic wonder, Fichtner brings a quiet intensity to every performance—and in this conversation, we unpack how he does it.
🎬 In This Episode:
All the Devil’s Men – Fichtner reflects on stepping into the world of black ops and moral ambiguity, and how he approached the role of a seasoned CIA handler navigating a world of shifting loyalties.
Contact – A deep dive into his portrayal of Kent, th...
Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 21m 47s
Season 3 - Episode 10
Afrofuturism and Octavia Butler: Elevating Parable of the Talents Through Comics
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 th...
Published: Sep 23, 2026Duration: 34m 2s
Season 11 - Episode 22
Becoming the Goblet Of Fire Trio: Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan & Nina Barker‑Francis
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 b...
Published: Sep 22, 2026Duration: 18m 45s
Season 18 - Episode 11
Outlander: Blood of My Blood Roundtable
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 c...
Published: Sep 21, 2026Duration: 14m 21s
Season 23 - Episode 21
Byte Rebbeca Ferguson Of Silo
She plays engineer Juliette Nichols of the Silo charged with keeping it running. She talks about her character and finding the right accent.
Published: Sep 20, 2026Duration: 2m 28s
Season 39 - Episode 7
Byte: Unraveling "The Prisoner" Series: A Deep Dive into Episode One, Arrival
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 de...
Published: Sep 19, 2026Duration: 9m 8s
Season 18 - Episode 10
Destination Moon vs. Rocketship X‑M — Birth of Serious Sci‑Fi
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 n...
Published: Sep 18, 2026Duration: 8m 29s
Season 18 - Episode 8
Shawn Andrews — The Dead Squad
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 Squ...
Published: Sep 17, 2026Duration: 18m 42s
Season 18 - Episode 9
Dark Matter's Dayo Okeniyi on Becoming Leighton Vance
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 Jaso...
Published: Sep 16, 2026Duration: 7m 38s
Season 18 - Episode 7
Star Trek at 60 —“Leonard Nimoy: The First Spock”
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 epi...
Published: Sep 15, 2026Duration: 17m 27s
Season 18 - Episode 6
Star Trek at 60 — “Star Trek: Insurrection — The Rebellion Within”
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 pe...
Published: Sep 14, 2026Duration: 22m 38s
Episode 127
Star Trek at 60 — “Ethan Peck: Becoming Spock”
For the fourth chapter of Star Trek at 60, Tony sits down with Ethan Peck, the actor who has carried the mantle of Spock across four modern Star Trek series — Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Strange New Worlds, and Very Short Treks. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Peck comes from a remarkable artistic lineage: he is the grandson of legendary actor Gregory Peck and Greta Kukkonen, and the son of Stephen Peck, a former actor, documentary filmmaker, Vietnam veteran, and longtime leader of U.S. Veterans Initiative. His mother, Francine Matarazzo, is an abstract artist.
Before Trek, Et...
Published: Sep 11, 2026Duration: 10m 7s
Season 18 - Episode 4
Star Trek at 60 — “Star Trek: Lower Decks — Boldly Going Below Deck”
In this episode of Star Trek at 60, Tony dives into Star Trek: Lower Decks, the ninth series in the franchise and the first animated Trek since 1974 — as well as the first full‑on comedy in Trek history. Created by Mike McMahan for CBS All Access (later Paramount+), the series debuted in 2020 as part of Alex Kurtzman’s expanded universe and quickly became a fan favorite for its mix of heartfelt storytelling, deep‑cut references, and chaotic energy.
As the foul‑mouthed, no‑nonsense Caitian chief medical officer Dr. T’Ana, Gillian Vigman brings a feral charm and comedic bite t...
Published: Sep 10, 2026Duration: 13m 54s
Season 6 - Episode 22
🖖 “Star Trek: Echoes Across the Quadrants”
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
🎙️ Roundtable Revelations: Press junket gems from the TNG movie era
📞 Personal Frequencies: Phone, Zoom, and convention interviews with legacy actors
A blend of nostalgia and discovery—part memoir, part documentary...
Published: Sep 9, 2026Duration: 58m 16s
Season 18 - Episode 3
Star Trek at 60 — Prodigy: The Next Generation of Fans
In this installment of Star Trek at 60, Tony turns to the tenth Star Trek series — Star Trek: Prodigy, created by Kevin and Dan Hageman and released from 2021 to 2024 as part of Alex Kurtzman’s expanded universe. As the franchise’s first fully 3D‑animated series and the first designed specifically for younger viewers, Prodigy carved out a unique place in Trek history.
Set in the 24th century, the story follows a group of young aliens who discover the abandoned starship Protostar and, through its holographic mentor Kathryn Janeway, begin learning what it means to be Starfleet. It’s a coming...
Published: Sep 9, 2026Duration: 11m 3s
Season 18 - Episode 2
Star Trek at 60 — “Enterprise: The First Bold Step”
To launch Star Trek at 60, Tony revisits the series that dared to go earlier than ever before: Star Trek: Enterprise. Premiering in 2001 and set a century before Kirk and Spock, Enterprise chronicles humanity’s first true leap into deep space — fragile, inexperienced, hopeful, and determined.
This episode blends franchise history with fresh reflections from two beloved cast members:
Linda Park, who played linguist Hoshi Sato, shares candid memories of the show’s earliest promos, her admiration for Scott Bakula’s leadership, and the emotional vulnerability built into her character.
John Billingsley, the ever‑delightful...
Published: Sep 8, 2026Duration: 17m 7s
Season 20 - Episode 9
The Walking Dead Season Three Norman Reedus Gale Ann Hurd
Roundtable with Norman Reedus and Gale Ann Hurd from New York Comic Con.
Published: Sep 7, 2026Duration: 14m 45s
Season 10 - Episode 7
The Ghosts Of Devils Perch
Interview with paranormal investigators Dave Schrader and Cindy Kaza about their eight part series where they investigate the paranormal in Butte, Montana. This old mining town has greed, murder, and many vices. A prime reciepe for the paranormal.
Published: Sep 4, 2026Duration: 28m 2s
Season 13 - Episode 19
Michael Shapiro’s Frankenstein
I talk to the talented composer about his score for the classic 1931 film which is performed live in a variety of ways including an operatic version.
Published: Sep 3, 2026Duration: 29m 46s
Season 5 - Episode 11
Naomi Grossman
Actor talks about her new movie, Bite Me, a kind of vampire romcom. We also talk about her role as Pepper on American Horror Story plus her one woman shows.
Published: Sep 2, 2026Duration: 29m 10s