Explore the meaning of science fiction, and how it's relevant to real-life science and society. Your hosts are Annalee Newitz, a science journalist who writes science fiction, and Charlie Jane Anders, a science fiction writer who is obsessed with science. Every two weeks, we take deep dives into science fiction books, movies, television, and comics that will expand your mind -- and maybe change your life
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Annalee Newitz Podcasts
A cosy book club podcast, hosted by two queer booksellers who really love talking about books! New episodes out monthly! And check us out on social media for some extra bonus content! So, traveller, come on in to our nice cosy tavern and join us by the fire...
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What gets you curious? Virtual experiences, celestial bodies, water worlds or maybe just the tiniest mysteries inside your brain? The endlessly curious and curiously funny, Gillian Jacobs (Community, Netflix's LOVE) and Diona Reasonover (NCIS), step off set to go on tangents with real-life astronauts, astrophysicists, science artists, mathematician-types and other really smart people that investigate what seems impossible.
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Bookclub November 2025 - Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
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THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR: Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz Our last bookclub episode of the year is here! And we could not have went out on a better note that Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz. So what are you waiting for? The episode is now live wherever you get your podcasts, and we shall see you in the near future! Make sure that yo…
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This is our last episode of Our Opinions Are Correct... but please stay subscribed to our feed, because you'll hear from us again. We're sad to be stepping away, but we're proud of seven years of correct opinions. And we're using this moment to think about the state of science fiction and fantasy in the twenty-first century, and what might be comin…
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Frankenstein's Monster and the Bad Science Daddy
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Frankenstein is back, baby. There are two new Frankenstein movies, plus tons of new fiction that plays with Frankenstein tropes. So it's time to talk about why this tale of a creature reanimated from dead body parts continues to haunt and inspire us. We get into Mary Shelley's life, the meaning of the bride, and what the monster has represented to …
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We are back with another talkin' in the tavern, discussing everything we read last month as well as our plans for the last few months of 2025! Make sure that you follow us on Instagram (@HearthAndTomePod) and Bluesky (@HearthAndTome) and Tiktok @Hearth.And.Tome - to get updates about episodes and behind the scenes clips and shenanigans! As well as …
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The Future of Science Fiction Conventions
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We love science fiction and fantasy conventions — especially the ones that are run by fans, for fans. But they haven't changed much since the 1970s in many ways, and the world has moved on. So we asked a bunch of convention veterans to imagine how we might reimagine conventions for the 21st century, from panels to volunteering to venues.…
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Bookclub October 2025 - The Tainted Cup (Robert Jackson Bennett)
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THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett What happens when a tree grows out of a man? What happens when giant ancient creatures are constantly trying to destroy a city? What happens when a gay guy tries to hide his secrets from his genius investigator boss? Only one way to find out - join Eve and Phoenix as they…
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Talkin’ in the Tavern - Haunted Boo-k Covers
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Boo! Did I get you? Well anyway, Welcome back to Talkin in the Tavern', this episode join our hosts talkin' everything they have been reading with a spooky boo-k cover game! If you want to see the covers mentioned within this episode please check out our social media post for this episode, cause some of them are truly... haunting!. Make sure that y…
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We're Still Traumatized By This Writing Debate
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Not long ago, everybody was arguing about whether characters need to be "relatable". We get to the bottom of a debate that still makes us intensely grouchy. Plus we talk to one of our favorite writers, C.L. Polk, about how to write excellent descriptions in your fiction -- and it turns out to be all about connecting to a character's POV.…
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It's time to light a fire and curl up with a cup of cocoa and a terrifying book full of creepy shit -- or escaping from creepy shit. We've got recommendations for what to read this season! Plus, contributing host Bethany Brookshire tells us about Hellbenders, creatures who sound terrifying but are actually just little guys. She takes us down the ra…
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Bookclub September 2025 - Hammajang Luck (Makana Yamamoto)
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THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR: Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto Lesbians doing a heist against a tech trillionaire in space! Sounds like a great time, right? Right? Eve and Phoenix are here to find out... Make sure that you follow us on Instagram (@HearthAndTomePod) and Bluesky (@HearthAndTome) and Tiktok (@Hearth.And.Tome) - to get updates a…
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Three Ways of Looking at Bruce Lee (with Jeff Chang)
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Bruce Lee changed American pop culture forever, and his incredible legacy is more relevant than ever. But how did he go from child actor in Hong Kong to one of the most important action-movie stars of all time? To find out more, we talk to Jeff Chang, author of a new book called Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America. Plus con…
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Talkin' In The Tavern Swipe Right on Future & Fantasy
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Welcome back to Talkin’ in the Tavern! Here we are, back again to talk about what we have been reading in August but also featuring another fun game. So now comes the time, will you swipe right on future and fantasy? Make sure that you follow us on Instagram (@HearthAndTomePod) and Bluesky (@HearthAndTome) and Tiktok @Hearth.And.Tome - to get updat…
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Encore Episode: Silicon Valley vs. Science Fiction: ChatGPT
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For our summer vacation, we're re-upping the first in our "Silicon Valley vs. Science Fiction" series from 2023, about how Silicon Valley appropriates and misinterprets science fiction. Silicon Valley executives claim to be inspired by SF, but mostly they use it retroactively to justify their products, often missing the more complicated, nuanced id…
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Bookclub August 2025 - Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (Heather Fawcett)
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THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands and Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett Emily and Wendell are back! They're back in a cold mountainous region chasing faeries! Feel familiar yet? We sure thought so... Make sure that you follow us on Instagram (@HearthAndTomePod) and Bluesky (@HearthAndTome…
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Encore Episode: Obsessed with Battlestar Galactica
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Charlie Jane and Annalee are on book tour(s), so we're re-upping one of our favorite episodes from 2023. At that time, we were celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the rebooted version of Battlestar Galactica. This show broke new ground in depicting realistic politics — and a nuanced view of a society of artificial people. How does it hold up? …
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Talkin' In The Tavern - Game of Slumps
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Welcome back to Talkin’ in the Tavern! After our monthly roundup this episode, we are shaking things up with a fun game of f*ck marry kill, confessing some of our most shocking reading habits! Make sure that you follow us on Instagram (@HearthAndTomePod) and Bluesky (@HearthAndTome) and Tiktok @Hearth.And.Tome - to get updates about episodes and be…
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Robots! Witches! Annalee and Charlie Jane talk about their new books
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It's a double book birthday! Annalee has just released Automatic Noodle, a wonderfully cozy book about robots who've survived a devastating war and now just want to run a noodle restaurant. And in 12 days, Charlie Jane is releasing Lessons in Magic and Disaster, about a trans witch who teaches her heartbroken mother how to do magic. In this episode…
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Bookclub Picks: August, September, October, November
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A new notice has appeared on the tavern noticeboard! It's a list of the Book Club's picks for the next four months: - August - Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett -September -Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto -October - The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennet -November - Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz Make sure that you foll…
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Bookclub July 2025 - Murderbot Volume 1 (Martha Wells)
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THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR: All Systems Red and Artificial Condition by Martha Wells It calls itself Murderbot... We read the first two novellas in the Murderbot series, and we're here to talk about them! We also talk about the show... we have thoughts... Make sure that you follow us on Instagram (@HearthAndTomePod) and Bluesky (@HearthAndT…
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It's scary out there — so thank goodness we're taking comfort in some wondrous books, TV shows, comics and movies. What makes a story comforting? And why is a dark horror story sometimes better comfort than a sweet gentle comedy? Plus we talk about the first season of Murderbot, which is about using stories to feel better and also made us feel bett…
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Talkin' In The Tavern - Mid Year Freak Out
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It is time for the Heart and Tome Mid Year Freak Out, where our hosts tell you all about what they have been reading for the first half of 2025. From high flying 5 stars to terrible dnf's! Make sure that you follow us on Instagram (@HearthAndTomePod) and Bluesky (@HearthAndTome) and Tiktok @Hearth.And.Tome - to get updates about episodes and behind…
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The Invisible Chain that Holds Us Together (w/ Alexis Madrigal)
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We keep hearing about the supply chain lately... but what is it? And how do all these shipping containers moving around the world shape our lives? We talk to Alexis Madrigal, author of the brand new book The Pacific Circuit, about how trade with Asia has changed Oakland. Plus we talk about how science fiction deals with the idea of the supply chain…
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We've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that we're talking to Cirocco Dunlap, the showrunner of The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, easily one of our favorite shows right now. Season 2 just came out, and we talk to Dunlap about cute body horror, dealing with mental illness, and interspecies romance. Then contributing host M…
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Bookclub June 2025 - Idolfire (Grace Curtis)
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THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR: Idolfire by Grace Curtis Happy Pride Month from Hearth and Tome! This Pride Month we are back with another Grace Curtis, last year we read floating hotel, this year Idolfire. A roadtrip fantasy reimagining of the roman empire! Make sure that you follow us on Instagram (@HearthAndTomePod) and Bluesky (@HearthAndTo…
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Public Health Is a Utopian Vision (with Naseem Jamnia and Natasha O'Brown)
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Public health is a vital part of keeping all of us safe — but what does it mean, and where did the concept come from? Special guest host Naseem Jamnia breaks it down for us, and tells us about some fantasy stories that show why public health is a collective concern. Plus we talk to scientist Natsaha O'Brown at Rutgers University about all the disco…
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