Best Her Royal Science Podcasts (2025)

1
The Films of Alfred Hitchcock 1:32:59

Play Pause

19d ago1:32:59

1:32:59

The time out we’re discussing the films of Alfred Hitchcock! For over half a century, Hitchcock reshaped how we experience fear, tension, and surprise in movies. He was able to turn ordinary setting (a shower, a staircase, a crop-dusted field) into unforgettable cinematic nightmares. At his best, he made us complicit in our own voyeurism, could mak…

1
Episode 18: Dr. Fabio Duarte and Dr. Simone Mora, from MIT Senseable City Lab, talks about his research projects on data gathering in informal settlements 22:52

23d ago22:52

22:52

In this episode of the Humanitarian Engineering Podcast, we explore the groundbreaking work of the MIT Senseable City Lab in gathering and analysing data within informal settlements. The Lab’s research pushes the boundaries of urban science by using innovative sensing technologies and participatory methods to better understand the dynamics of urban…

1
Her Rites and Witch Hunt Theatre (with Taylor Stark) 29:38

1M ago29:38

29:38

The Best Stuff in the World is back from summer break! I’m talking to Taylor Stark, the founder and artistic director of Witch Hunt Theatre, a Boston-area company that specializes in immersive site-specific horror theater. Taylor and Witch Hunt have a new show called HER RITES opening in Brookline Massachusetts this month and it was great talking t…

1
Episode 17: Michele Di Marco, from WHO Téchne, talks about his experiences in designing infectious disease treatment centres 30:51

2M ago30:51

30:51

In this episode, Michele Di Marco from Téchne WHO shares his insights on developing Infectious Disease Treatment Modules (IDTMs) and the Health Emergency Facility (HEF) providing rapid deployable, easily transportable, extendable, self-contained and self-sufficient treatment centre for infectious diseases. He also highlights the importance of colla…

1
Public Access TV (Science Fiction Edition) 48:45

3M ago48:45

48:45

It's our season finale episode and I'm excited to be chatting about the glory days of public access television with two folks who have first-hand experience in that world. Writer Keith DeCandido is best known these days for his novels and comics but back in the early 90s he was one of the hosts of the New York City science fiction public access sho…

1
Prime Force Directive (with Luke MacPherson) 43:04

4M ago43:04

43:04

I’m excited to talk to writer and musician Luke MacPherson! Luke’s work explores the connections between music, film and philosophy and one of his most recent books, PRIME FORCE DIRECTIVE, draws connections between four cultural forces that shaped his life - the science fiction franchise Star Wars and Star Trek and the heavy metal bands Metallica a…

1
Portishead - Dummy (This Record Changed My Life) 33:21

4M ago33:21

33:21

The second installment of our series of episodes focusing on a single album - I put out the call on social media for folks to get in touch with albums that changed their lives to possibly discuss on the show (with the caveat that I have to like the record as well) and the redoubtable Gary Mitchel (of A Podcask of Amontillado) suggested we discuss P…

1
John Waters and the Filthy Formal / Trash Talent Show (with Identical Cousins) 30:18

4M ago30:18

30:18

We are talking to Emily Arkin and Bridget Duggan from Identical Cousins about their upcoming event THE FILTY FORMAL AND TRASH TALENT SHOW, an immersive tribute to the work of the film director John Waters! The Filthy Formal is a dance party / variety show / excuse to wear your most vile, stupid, and repulsive formal fashions and it’s Saturday night…

1
Raiders of the Lost Ark 52:06

5M ago52:06

52:06

We are discussing one of the most famous and successful movies of all time - Raiders of the Lost Ark! Do I even need to go into a little intro spiel about Raiders? Producer George Lucas, director Steven Spielberg, and star Harrison Ford team up to create one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema - a swashbuckling archeologist named…

1
The Musicals of Stephen Sondheim 54:46

5M ago54:46

54:46

We're discussing the musicals of lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim and also talking about the current state of musicals on Broadway - has the supermusical killed the chance for smart shows like Sondheim's to find an audience? Where can his influence be found today? Where should you start with such a vast and acclaimed body of work? I'm joined …

1
7 Seconds - The Crew (This Record Changed My Life) 45:42

6M ago45:42

45:42

Our first in a possible series of sporadic episodes focusing on a single album - I put out the call on social media for folks to get in touch with albums that changed their lives to possibly discuss on the show (with the caveat that I have to like the record as well) and the first response I got was from Christian Campagna of the Talk About the Pas…

1
The Amazing Royal Crowns (with Jason "King" Kendall) 1:07:44

6M ago1:07:44

1:07:44

I’m excited to be talking to the frontman of one of Providence, RI’s greatest bands, Jason “King” Kendall from the Amazing Royal Crowns! The Royal Crowns managed to combine rockabilly, garage, and punk rock energy into something that sounded both familiar and new and they recorded *great* songs - DO THE DEVIL is probably the most well-known one sin…

1
Cthulhu Luau (with Kellian Adams Pletcher) 56:01

6M ago56:01

56:01

Our guest Kellian Adams Pletcher joins to discuss the new interactive, immersive tiki show she has written, Cthulhu Luau, in advance of its sold-out run! We also discuss Kellian's origin in the swing music scene, her long-running seasonal show Club Drosselmeyer, the immersive theater scene in the Boston area, and why she doesn't like Sleep No More …

1
Mystery Science Theater 3000 1:04:18

7M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (or MST3K) can be a difficult show to explain to people who haven’t seen it. Wisecracking robot puppets making fun of cheesy movies, mad scientists, invention exchanges, and more. I could not believe something as smart and funny and silly as this show existed when I discovered it. I’m joined to discuss MST3k by two peop…

1
The Death of Rasputin (with Ashley Brett Chipman and Hope Youngblood) 36:35

7M ago36:35

36:35

We're talking to a couple of the talented folks behind the new immersive theatrical company Artemis is Burning about their upcoming show The Death of Rasputin, which will begin performances at LMCC’s Arts Center at Governors Island on April 17, 2025, for a limited run. Ashley Brett Chipman, who conceived of the show, and her co-director Hope Youngb…

1
Episode 16: Programme Directors Talk About Humanitarian and Spatial Engineering: Differences, Synergies, and Real-World Collaboration 33:00

7M ago33:00

33:00

In this episode, Thomas Groen, Programme Director of the MSc in Spatial Engineering, and Peter Chemweno, Programme Director of the MSc in Humanitarian Engineering, discuss the vision behind each programme, their unique approaches, and where their paths cross. Visit the official websites of the MSc in Humanitarian Engineering and the MSc in Spatial …

1
Red Sox Organist Josh Kantor Talks Music and Baseball 56:52

7M ago56:52

56:52

Fenway Park organist Josh Kantor joins Kevin to discuss his experience as a baseball organist for a team as beloved for the Boston Red Sox, the origins of his interest in both music and baseball, taking social media requests from fans, Stevie Wonder's "Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants" album, his pandemic-era streaming show "The Seventh In…

1
Locas (The Maggie and Hopey stories in Love & Rockets) 52:32

7M ago52:32

52:32

We're discussing the work of someone who may be America’s greatest living cartoonist - YEAH I SAID IT - Jaime Hernandez! Jaime is best known for his groundbreaking work in the Love and Rockets comic book series and the LOCAS stories which are contained therein. LOCAS follows the tangled lives of a group of primarily chicano characters, from their t…

1
Thotbot Implantation Center (with Rebecca Kopycinski) 50:11

7M ago50:11

50:11

Musician/filmmaker/artist Rebecca Kopycinski joins Kevin to talk about her recent installation/performance The Thotbot Implantation Center, which is one piece of a larger multimedia narrative. Rebecca has created an entire dystopian storyworld through podcasts, installation art, immersive theater and performance. As she explains on her website, the…

1
David Lynch 1:10:02

8M ago1:10:02

1:10:02

We are discussing the work of the great David Lynch. A filmmaker, writer, visual artist, and musician, Lynch spent decades crafting a unique cinematic language that blends the unsettling with the poetic, the surreal juxtaposed with images that could be either nightmarish or heartbreakingly beautiful. There was no one like him and like a lot of peop…

1
Looney Tunes 48:00

8M ago48:00

48:00

Overture! Curtain! Lights! In this episode of The Best Stuff in the World we’re taking a look back at the classic Looney Tunes shorts. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies were the umbrella titles for the short cartoons produced by the Warner Brothers studio from the early 1930s through the 1960s, although we’re mostly discussing the shorts released du…

1
Charlie Chaplin 1:08:44

9M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

We're diving into the career of the great Charles Entertaiment Chaplin on THE BEST STUFF IN THE WORLD! Chaplin is one of the masters of silent film comedy, blending humor, sentimentality and social commentary - usually channeled through his iconic Little Tramp character. I’m joined this time by writer and podcaster Mike Gordon and artist Denise Lha…

1
S1 E 13: The Super Mech 9:14

10M ago9:14

9:14

Join Captain Maxx and her brave crew aboard the Starcutter in this action-packed space adventure! When the peaceful Nebula Nine comes under attack from the menacing Shadow Syndicate's Beta Ship, our heroes must combine their mechs into one super-powered robot to save the day. Working alongside Princess Lumina's forces, the team faces impossible odd…

1
The Simpsons 58:10

10M ago58:10

58:10

We are discussing THE SIMPSONS, the long-running animated sitcom on the FOX network. I’m joined for the episode by my friend Frank Burnham and by Derek B Gayle of the Glitterjaw Podcast Collective. The cover version of our theme song that starts the show this week is by Iron Reverb, the music project from my friend Luke MacPherson. If you ever want…

1
Talking Hecate and Sleep No More with Careena Melia 1:36:00

10M ago1:36:00

1:36:00

As the celebrated immersive theater show Sleep No More winds up its epic run in New York we're joined by original cast member Careena Melia (who originated the role of Hecate) to discuss her experience with the show, creating one on one scenes, the show's magical Boston run and what actually happens when you find Hecate's damn ring. Spoilers for th…

1
S1 E12: The Battle for Nebula Nine 21:45

10M ago21:45

21:45

In "Battle for Nebula Nine," the crew of the Starcutter faces their greatest challenge yet: a massive space battle against the Shadow Syndicate fleet! Piloting powerful Battle Frames - mechanical suits enhanced with mysterious Stellarium energy - Captain Maxx and her team must defend Nebula Nine from enemy forces. But with the station's shields fai…

1
S1 E11: Speed of Light 11:17

11M ago11:17

11:17

With Princess Lumina's incredible energy powering their ship, Captain Maxx and her crew must navigate through a treacherous asteroid field at unprecedented speeds to reach the mysterious Nebula Nine station. Upon arrival, they discover an arsenal of powerful mech suits and face a critical choice: take their payment and flee before the Shadow Syndic…

1
Kool Keith (with Sage Francis and Mikey B!) 47:42

11M ago47:42

47:42

We're diving deep into the eccentric and pioneering world of Kool Keith, one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in hip-hop. Keith has been around since his time in the 80s with the group ULTRAMAGNETIC MC’s and he first came to my attention for the album he released under the Doctor Octogon name in 1996, which was unlike anything I’d ever…

1
Difficult Airways w Akira Nishisaki & Doug Atkinson 1:09:26

11M ago1:09:26

1:09:26

Airway management remains the single highest risk time for our patients in pediatric ICU. Different studies of pediatric airway management report first pass success as low as 50%. Rates of severe desaturation as high as 20%, and significant rates of cardiac arrest ranging from two to 15% in the 30 minute peri intubation window alone. A difficult ai…

1
Dungeons & Dragons 40:53

11M ago40:53

40:53

For this episode we’re exploring one of the most iconic and enduring games of all time: Dungeons & Dragons! For 50 years, D&D has captivated players with its mix of imagination, strategy, and storytelling. When the game’s at its best it can function as this really fun way to do collaborative storytelling - it can seem life and death while also prov…

1
S1 E10: A Royal Problem 12:45

12M ago12:45

12:45

Join Captain Maxx and her crew as they discover their mysterious cargo is actually Princess Lumina, a glowing royal refugee with incredible powers! But opening her crate has revealed their location to the dangerous Shadow Syndicate, who want to steal the princess's energy crystals. Now surrounded by enemy ships, Captain Maxx must make a crucial cho…

1
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari 49:04

12M ago49:04

49:04

We're discussing one of the most influential films ever made—the 1920 silent horror film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer, Caligari is a film that not only redefined the horror genre but also helped lay the groundwork for German Expressionism in cinema. It’s got twisted abstract sets…

1
S1 E9: Mysterious Cargo 12:16

1y ago12:16

12:16

Remember to vote on what Captain Maxx and her crew should do next. Visit the Kid Stories Podcast website and cast your vote. The choice with the most votes will get written into the next episode!By Phil Bechtel

1
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 54:49

1y ago54:49

54:49

I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey. We are talking THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with special guest Greg Bell! Rocky Horror was originally a U.K. stage show that fused what was going on in the glam rock scene with old science fiction b-movies. The show was written by Richard O’Brien and was enough of a stage success that it wa…

1
FANTASMAGORIANA (with Cash the Composer) 44:47

1y ago44:47

44:47

We're joined by Cash the Composer to talk about their new immersive/interactive musical Fantasmagoriana! What’s Fantasmagoriana about? In the summer of 1816, at the Villa Diodati, Lord Byron, his personal physician John Polidori, his friend Percy Shelley, Shelley's fiancée Mary Godwin, their infant son William, and Godwin's stepsister Claire Clairm…

1
Doctor Who 1:05:53

1y ago1:05:53

1:05:53

Doctor Who first aired on November 23, 1963, making its debut on BBC One. Initially conceived as a children’s show with educational elements, it quickly evolved into a groundbreaking science fiction series that captivated audiences of all ages. The story revolves around the Doctor, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, who travels through time and…

1
S1 E8: Shadows Escape 13:05

1y ago13:05

13:05

Shadows wakes up in a strange place and finds help in an unexpected place. Be sure the visit the Kid Stories Podcast website to cast your vote for Captain Maxx's next mission. The option that receives the most votes will be the path our story will take next.By Phil Bechtel

1
Daemonologie: Signals & Sirens (with Carly Dwyer and Tristan Reynolds) 1:05:51

1y ago1:05:51

1:05:51

We're talking with Carly Dwyer and Tristan Reynolds from Intramersive Productions about their upcoming show DAEMONOLOGIE, SIGNALS AND SIRENGS! Daemonologie is an interactive, open-world theater anthology that explores the intersections of gender, social change, and the supernatural. The series encourages audiences to engage with the events around t…

1
S1 E7: Missing Shadow 13:35

1y ago13:35

13:35

Shadow participates in the Cat Show, but things don't end well for the crew of the Starcutter. You can find free Captain Maxx coloring pages and worksheets on the Kid Stories Podcast website.By Phil Bechtel

1
Episode 15: Norden Wangchuk and Ngawang Chojey from Jigme Namgyel Engineering College, Royal University Of Bhutan 22:28

1y ago22:28

22:28

On this episode of the Humanitarian Engineering Podcast, we welcome Norden Wangchuk and Ngawang Chojey from Jigme Namgyel Engineering College, Royal University of Bhutan. They discuss their collaboration with CSOs on sustainable community projects focused on waste management and the vital role of cultural appropriateness in combining traditional an…

1
MTV's 120 Minutes 50:06

1y ago50:06

50:06

120 Minutes was an alternative music show that aired on MTV on Sunday nights from Midnight to 2am, playing some of the formative acts of the day (The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths), introducing us to exciting new bands, and - particularly in the years before Nirvana hit big with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - acting as an oasis for those of us intere…

1
Chris Claremont's X-Men Run (1975-1991) - PART TWO OF TWO 39:30

1+ y ago39:30

39:30

Kevin is joined by Shaun Rosado (of Popcycled Baubles) to continue their discussion of Chris Claremont's epic run as writer of The Uncanny X-Men! Picking up where we left off in the previous installment, the two discuss The Asgardian Wars, the Wolverine mini-series with Frank Miller, the arrival of artist Jim Lee, the Brood, Magneto, Kitty's Fairy …

1
Chris Claremont's X-Men Run (1975-1991) - PART ONE OF TWO 44:29

1+ y ago44:29

44:29

I'm joined by Shaun Rosado (Popcycled Baubles) to discuss Chris Claremont's seminal run as writer of the Uncanny X-Men comic book from 1975-1991. Claremont did come back a few times after that but we limit our discussion to that initial run and its ancillary titles, which is a good thing because we talked so long that I felt I had to split this epi…

1
Airways That Scare Me - Respiratory Instability w Robi Khemani 55:14

1+ y ago55:14

55:14

This season is about airway management or airways that scare me and this episode, we discuss the respiratory unstable patient or the patient who's a "physiologically difficult airway" because they have bad lungs. We were incredibly lucky to have the amazing Robi Khemani from CHLA, a world expert on respiratory disorders in #pedsICU, join us and be …

1
Bloom County 47:32

1+ y ago47:32

47:32

Bloom County is a newspaper comic strip by Berke Breathed that originally ran from 1980 to 1989. (It returned with new strips in 2015.) The comic and its characters Bill the Cat, Steve Dallas, Opus the Penguin and many others would satirize politics, culture and the comics page itself. Like Peanuts the strip had children with adult vocabularies and…

1
Episode 14: Dr. Eefje Hendriks, Assistant Professor in Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Assistance at the ITC faculty (University of Twente), over her projects with underserved communities in the humanitarian ... 15:50

1+ y ago15:50

15:50

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering group interviews Dr. Eefje Hendriks, an Assistant Professor in Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Assistance at the University of Twente's ITC faculty. Eefje shares her insights on Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Resilience, emphasising how underserved communities can more effectively recover from disas…

1
Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn 43:21

1+ y ago43:21

43:21

Kevin is joined by filmmaker David Bettencourt and film superfan Bryan Murray to discuss Sam Raimi's 1987 horror/comedy classic Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn! Evil Dead 2, which stars the great Bruce Campbell, is credited with inventing a new film genre - splatstick, which combines physical humor reminiscent of The Three Stooges with the extreme gore t…

1
GI JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO 55:11

1+ y ago55:11

55:11

G.I. Joe is the code name for America's daring, highly-trained special mission force. Its purpose: to defend human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world! It's also a toy line, a cartoon, a series of comic books, and a nostalgic touch point for dudes of a certain age. Kevin is joined by two such dudes:…