Best Robot Eats Dinosaur Podcasts (2025)

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A Franchise Fiends Christmas Vacation — Jack Frost (1997) w/ Silver Spotlight Films 2:45:01

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4d ago2:45:01

2:45:01

Today we're joined by Steve Rudzinski and Aleen Isley, the creative duo behind Silver Spotlight Films. They're best known for the CarousHELL trilogy, but they've also produced several Christmas films including A Meowy Christmas, Curtains for Christmas, and the award-winning Amityville Christmas Vacation. One of their favorite Christmas classics is …

1
Pierre Friedlingstein on carbon’s pivotal role in climate change 28:10

16d ago28:10

28:10

The COP30 climate summit is taking place in the Brazilian city of Belém, a gateway to the Amazon rainforest, which continues to face widespread deforestation. We all know that our climate is changing and that we are largely responsible for this, but we can’t tackle the problem unless we understand what’s going on. One scientist who’s done more than…

1
Julia Simner on tasty words and hearing colours 28:22

23d ago28:22

28:22

Imagine if you were listening to an opera or a Taylor Swift concert, and as the lights in the auditorium dimmed, the music was accompanied by a rainbow of colours only you could see. Perhaps while listening to your friends talking, you simultaneously experience a smorgasbord of tastes, with different words evoking different flavours, maybe a delici…

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A Very Thankful Franchise Fiends — ThanksKilling 3 2:32:51

28d ago2:32:51

2:32:51

How do you talk about a film that eschews traditional narrative analysis and in fact seems to exist in open defiance of both film criticism and God? If you're Todd and Brogan (and special guests Amelia and Bobby) it involves a number of lengthy tangents, including multiple meandering discussions about 9/11 that — in a Franchise Fiends first — were …

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Caroline Smith on meteorites and potential ancient life on Mars 28:24

1M ago28:24

28:24

Caroline Smith is passionate about space rocks, whether they’re samples collected from the surface of asteroids and the Moon and hopefully Mars one day soon, or meteorites, those alien rock fragments that have survived their fiery descents through our atmosphere to land here on Earth. She is Head of Collections and Principal Curator of Meteorites a…

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AP De Silva on building molecular fluorescence sensors for healthcare 28:11

1M ago28:11

28:11

From humble beginnings in his native Sri Lanka, to a more than 40 year academic career at Queen’s University Belfast, Prof. AP (Amilra Prasanna) De Silva’s research into molecular photosensors has led to a pioneering career in that’s evolved from chemistry to medical diagnostics on one hand, to information processing on the other. Prof. De Silva ch…

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Peter Knight on quantum technologies 28:09

1M ago28:09

28:09

There are problems and tasks so hard and complicated that it would take today’s most powerful supercomputers millions of years to crack them. But in the next decade, we may well have quantum computers which could solve such problems in seconds. Professor Sir Peter Knight is a British pioneer in the realms of quantum optics and quantum information s…

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Eleanor Schofield on conserving Tudor warship the Mary Rose 28:20

2M ago28:20

28:20

In July 1545, King Henry VIII watched from Southsea Castle on England's south coast as his fleet sailed out to face the French - only to witness his prized warship, the Mary Rose, sink before his eyes. Raised from the Solent in 1982, the ship is now the centrepiece of the Mary Rose Museum, along with thousands more artefacts that were recovered fro…

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Sawedcast Finale and Season 3 Announcement 48:46

2M ago48:46

48:46

Todd and Brogan rank the Saw films and traps. Brogan decides that one of his favorite traps is a Saw IV trap he initially made fun of but came to appreciate after seeing the same concept done much worse in Saw 3D, yet forgets to explain this when actually talking about the trap. A third season is announced. We'll be talking about Scream next Octobe…

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Saw X 2:41:34

2M ago2:41:34

2:41:34

What better way to celebrate wrapping up the season than discussing the most acclaimed film in the series with two people who don't like the genre? John and Rachel join Todd and Brogan to provide a wholly new perspective as discuss the final film in the series (for now). Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Lette…

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George Church on reimagining woolly mammoths and virus-proofing humans 28:21

2M ago28:21

28:21

"My ideas are often labelled as impossible, or useless, or both. Usually when people say that I'm on the right track." George Church is a geneticist, molecular engineer, and one of the pioneers of modern genomics. He's also someone who makes a habit of finding solutions to the seemingly impossible. Over the course of his career so far, George devel…

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Spiral: From the Book of Saw 2:21:52

2M ago2:21:52

2:21:52

Today we're joined by Max, the secret third member of the Franchise Fiends family. Max does all of our artwork so getting him on the pod is arguably cooler than Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson showing up in a Saw movie. Also... holy shit, Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson showed up in a Saw movie? Let's talk about that. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: l…

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Jigsaw 2:14:48

2M ago2:14:48

2:14:48

Have you ever wished the Saw franchise felt a bit more like a CSI episode? Great news! Today we're joined by Rachel to talk about how Saw took advantage of the seven year hiatus between films to inject itself with some serious direct-to-video/TV movie vibes. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Letterboxd: letter…

1
Saw 3D 2:28:41

2M ago2:28:41

2:28:41

Saw 3D didn't look very good in 3D which is why it was released as Saw: The Final Chapter on home video. It didn't end up being the final chapter, either, but Todd still thinks it was neat and Brogan appreciates Cary Elwes getting a few more seconds of screentime even if he doesn't think much of anything else worked. Also, when was the last time yo…

1
Gareth Collett on a career in bomb disposal 28:29

2M ago28:29

28:29

Movies might have us believe that bomb disposal comes down to cutting the right wire. In fact, explosive devices are complex and varied - and learning how to dispose of them safely involves intense training, as well as the ability to stay calm under pressure. This was the world of Dr Gareth Collett, a retired British Army Brigadier General and engi…

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Saw VI 2:12:33

2M ago2:12:33

2:12:33

In which Brogan admits that Todd was right (in regards to Saw VI being great and nothing else). Anchor and Brian stop by Franchise Fiends to talk about the major upgrade the franchise received after the underwhelming Saw V. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/roboteatsdino Follow Ancho…

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Saw V 2:11:26

2M ago2:11:26

2:11:26

Maybe the real Saw V was the much better movies we watched along the way? Todd and Brogan are joined by Mel and Liz to talk about the first major drop in quality for the Saw franchise, much of which involves reflecting on the better films that came before it. "Well at least there's less arguing about John Kramer's political affiliation." Thanks for…

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Saw IV 2:06:17

2M ago2:06:17

2:06:17

Does Saw IV make any sense? If you're Parker, who has only seen the original short, the answer is (accurately) no. He and Reid join Todd and Brogan to break down the most MCU-esque entry in the Saw franchise and try and figure out just how much of this film only works because it's referencing the three films that came before it. Follow Todd on Lett…

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Sonia Gandhi on building model brains to tackle Parkinson’s disease 28:23

2M ago28:23

28:23

Many people will be familiar with Parkinson’s disease: the progressive brain disorder that causes symptoms including tremors and slower movement, leading on to serious cognitive problems. You might not know that it’s the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world. Today it affects around 11.8 million people and that’s forecast to double by…

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Saw III 2:21:46

3M ago2:21:46

2:21:46

New faces reignite old tensions for our leads and also a bunch of stuff happens in Saw III. Don't let the debate fool you! Brogan liked this one more then Todd did. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/roboteatsdino Follow Karrie on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/karrie Follow Oso on Letter…

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Saw II 2:11:01

3M ago2:11:01

2:11:01

Does John Kramer really have a moral code or is he just a Republican? Todd and Brogan are joined by Sheldon and Amanda to discuss the details of what will inevitably turn into a season-long debate while also breaking down the change in direction for the Saw franchise and wondering how they managed to pull this large of an ensemble off on so small a…

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Saw 2:29:14

3M ago2:29:14

2:29:14

It's a season premiere/partner episode double event! Todd and Brogan get Michelle and Jessica join them to talk about the groundbreaking debut entry in the Saw franchise even though it's not a horror subgenre they're generally interested in. Love is showing up on your partner's podcast. New Saw episodes are dropping every Monday, Wednesday, and Fri…

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Mark O'Shea on close encounters with venomous snakes 28:28

3M ago28:28

28:28

By BBC Radio 4

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Kevin Fong on medical planning for Mars and Earth-based emergencies 28:39

5M ago28:39

28:39

There can't be many people in the world who've saved lives in hospital emergency rooms and also helped care for the wellbeing of astronauts in space – but Kevin Fong’s career has followed a singular path: from astrophysics and trauma medicine, to working with NASA, to becoming an Air Ambulance doctor. Kevin is a consultant anaesthetist and professo…

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Dame Pratibha Gai on training atoms to do what we want 28:23

6M ago28:23

28:23

Chemical reactions are the backbone of modern society: the energy we use, the medicines we take, our housing materials, even the foods we eat, are created by reacting different substances together. If we zoom in, it’s the atoms within these substances that rearrange themselves to give rise to new substances with the properties we need. However, che…

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It's a Franchise Fiends Summer Special and America Is — The Burning 2:37:30

6M ago2:37:30

2:37:30

What better way to celebrate America this Independence Day than by talking about a movie where everything is on fire? That's right! We're talking about Tony Maylam's 1981 cult classic The Burning, which started the careers of Hollywood legends Jason Alexander and Holly Hunter and also unapologetic psychopath Harvey Weinstein. Follow Todd on Letterb…

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Catherine Heymans on the lighter side of the dark universe 28:34

6M ago28:34

28:34

Have you ever considered the lighter side of dark matter?Comedy has proved an unexpectedly succesful way to engage people with science - as today's guest knows first-hand. Astrophysicist Catherine Heymans is a Professor at the University of Edinburgh and the current Astronomer Royal for Scotland. She’s spent her career studying dark matter and dark…

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Tim Coulson on how predators shape ecosystems and evolution 28:36

6M ago28:36

28:36

As a young man, traveling in Africa, Tim Coulson - now Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford - became seriously ill with malaria and was told a second bout would probably kill him. Aged only 20, this brush with his own mortality led him to promise himself he would write a complete guide to science: life, the universe and everything. His …

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Claudia de Rham on playing with gravity 28:21

6M ago28:21

28:21

Claudia de Rham has rather an unusual relationship with gravity. While she has spent her career exploring its fundamental nature, much of her free time has involved trying to defy it - from scuba diving in the Indian Ocean to piloting small aircraft over the Canadian waterfalls. Her ultimate ambition was to escape gravity’s clutches altogether and …

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Neil Lawrence on taking down the 'digital oligarchy' and why we shouldn't fear AI 28:35

7M ago28:35

28:35

When you think of Artificial Intelligence, does it inspire confidence, or concern? Although it's now generally accepted that this technology will play a major role in our future, a lot of conversations around AI and machine learning come back to the argument over us losing control and robots taking over. Happily, Neil Lawrence has a more optimistic…

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Liz Morris on Antarctic adventures and the melting polar ice sheets 28:28

7M ago28:28

28:28

A frozen, white world at the far-reaches of the globe, where you're surrounded by snow and silence, might sound rather appealing. Factor in temperatures that drop to -57°C and a few of us might be put off - but for glaciologist Liz Morris, that's very much her happy place. Liz is an Emeritus Associate at the University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Re…

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Anthony Fauci on a medical career navigating pandemics and presidents 45:05

7M ago45:05

45:05

Welcome to a world where medicine meets politics: a space that brings together scientific research, government wrangling, public push-back and healthcare conspiracies… Dr Anthony Fauci was the Director of America’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly four decades, during which time he not only helped study, treat and pr…

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Brian Schmidt on Nobel Prize-winning supernovae and the joys of making wine 28:39

8M ago28:39

28:39

Have you ever pondered the fact that the universe is expanding? And not only that, it's expanding at an increasing speed - meaning everything around us is getting further and further away? If that isolating thought makes you feel slightly panicked, don't worry: this programme also contains wine! Brian Schmidt is a Distinguished Professor of Astroph…

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Franchise Feaster: Exorcist III 2:13:02

8M ago2:13:02

2:13:02

He is risen! We're of course referring to Father Damien Karras (played by Jason Miller), who was controversially resurrected in William Peter Blatty's criminally underrated 1990 sequel The Exorcist III. Todd and Brogan are joined by Steve and Kevin (Todd's father- and brother-in-law, respectively) for a deep dive into the slasheriest entry in the E…

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Jacqueline McKinley on unearthing bones and stories at Britain's ancient burial sites 28:32

8M ago28:32

28:32

How much information can you extract from a burnt fragment of human bone? Quite a lot, it turns out - not only about the individual, but also their broader lives and communities; and these are the stories unearthed by Jacqueline McKinley, a Principal Osteoarchaeologist with Wessex Archaeology. During her career, Jackie has analysed thousands of anc…

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Jonathan Shepherd on a career as a crime-fighting surgeon 28:38

9M ago28:38

28:38

Surgeons often have to deal with the consequences of violent attacks - becoming all too familiar with patterns of public violence, and peaks around weekends, alcohol-infused events and occasions that bring together groups with conflicting ideals. Professor Jonathan Shepherd not only recognised the link between public violence and emergency hospital…

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Doyne Farmer on making sense of chaos for a better world 28:32

9M ago28:32

28:32

Doyne Farmer is something of a rebel. Back in the seventies, when he was a student, he walked into a casino in Las Vegas, sat down at a roulette table and beat the house. To anyone watching the wheel spin and the ball clatter to its final resting place, his choice of number would’ve looked like a lucky guess. But knowing the physics of the game and…

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Tori Herridge on ancient dwarf elephants and frozen mammoths 28:39

9M ago28:39

28:39

Elephants are the largest living land mammal and today our planet is home to three species: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. But a hundred thousand years ago, in the chilly depths of the Ice Age, multiple species of elephant roamed the earth: from dog-sized dwarf elephants to towering woolly mammoths. …

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Sir Magdi Yacoub on pioneering heart transplant surgery 28:35

9M ago28:35

28:35

What does it take to earn the nickname, ‘The Leonardo da Vinci of heart surgery’? That's the moniker given to today's guest - a man who pioneered high-profile and often controversial procedures, but also helped drive huge medical progress; carrying out around 2,000 heart transplants and 400 dual heart-lung transplants during his 60-year career. Sir…

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Love Is in the Scare: My Bloody Valentine (1981) w/ Christopher Bickel 2:07:28

11M ago2:07:28

2:07:28

It's Valentine's Day! So we're getting together to celebrate something we all love: fictional murder. Lindsay and director Christopher Bickel (Pater Noster and the Mission of Light) join us to talk about the 1981 Canucksploitation classic My Bloody Valentine. Season two (Saw) premieres this October, but we'll be celebrating plenty of holidays with …

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Tim Peake on his journey to becoming an astronaut and science in space 1:00:04

12M ago1:00:04

1:00:04

What's it like living underwater for two weeks? What's the trickiest part of training to be an astronaut? What are the most memorable sights you see from space?Several extreme questions, all of which can be answered by one man: Major Tim Peake. After a childhood packed with outdoor adventures, via the Cub Scouts and school Cadet Force, Tim joined t…

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A Very Merry Franchise Fiends — Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker 2:07:58

1y ago2:07:58

2:07:58

This holiday we're visiting one of the greatest Christmas gifts of all: a slasher film starring Mickey Rooney. Oso and Max join Todd and Brogan to talk about why this film is great even if most of it isn't very good. Thanks for joining us on the first year of this journey! See you soon. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow…

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The State of the Franchise Address — Child's Play Season Finale (and Season 2 Announcement) 34:50

1y ago34:50

34:50

Todd and Brogan conclude the first season with a general discussion of the Child's Play franchise including a series ranking and lists of our favorite kills. We'll be back in October 2025 with Saw but there will be plenty of seasonal specials in the meantime! We'll see you at Christmas. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow…

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Child's Play (2019) 2:18:25

1y ago2:18:25

2:18:25

The actual end of an era! Today we're discussing the 2019 reboot that is (currently) the final film in the Child's Play franchise. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/roboteatsdino Follow Rachel Malstrom on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/teamboby Follow Amanda on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com…

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Cult of Chucky 2:06:29

1y ago2:06:29

2:06:29

The end of an era! But not the end of our era because we watch reboots. Today we're joined by some very special European guest to talk about the final film entry in the mainline Child's Play series. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/roboteatsdino Follow Q on Letterboxd: https://lette…

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Curse of Chucky 2:09:26

1y ago2:09:26

2:09:26

What's Chucky's skincare routine? How many actors and actresses can Todd compare the Curse of Chucky cast to? And, most importantly, is it possible for guys who host film podcasts to end up in serious relationships? Find out on another episode of Franchise Fiends. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Letterboxd: …

1
Seed of Chucky 2:05:41

1y ago2:05:41

2:05:41

Was that really Britney Spears? What is there so much semen in this one? How is Don Mancini's name even pronounced? All these questions and more are answered in yet another excited episode of Franchise Fiends! Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/roboteatsdino Follow Kate on Letterboxd:…

1
Bride of Chucky 1:52:20

1y ago1:52:20

1:52:20

After the disappointing third entry that we still haven't forgiven, Todd and Brogan join Lindsay to discuss the significantly better fourth entry that ditched the Child's Play name and took the franchise in a campier direction Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/roboteatsdino Follow Li…

1
Child's Play 3 1:37:35

1y ago1:37:35

1:37:35

It was the CEO! The night after we recorded this Brogan woke up in a cold sweat with the realization that Chucky first revealed himself to the CEO (not Tyler) and now the movie makes even less sense than it did before. Anyway, this movie is garbage. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/…

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Child's Play 2 1:53:32

1y ago1:53:32

1:53:32

Two guys named Matt join Todd and Brogan to break down the second entry in the Child's Play franchise, which is often considered the best and almost always thought of as the one with the coolest poster. Follow Todd on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/juggernaut323 Follow Brogan on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/roboteatsdino Follow Matt Rob on Letterboxd: ht…