Our Panelists

HOSTS

 

Mike_RockfordMike Gillis is a podcaster, an aspiring professional geek, former political roustabout, and comic book fanatic. He also used to co-host the Mike and Pól Save the Universe! comic book podcast, and is a co-creator of the Ask an Atheist radio show.

He geeks out for comic books, superheroes, the Planet of the Apes, so-bad-they’re-good action and sci-fi movies, the band Queen, the Venture Bros., the Rockford Files, and Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Don’t get him started about the problems with the movie Prometheus, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, Garfield’s inexplicable change into a biped, or his giant man-crush on James Garner.


CaseyRikerCasey Doran is an aspiring Harry Selden, a psycho-historian planning for the future of the Empire. When not cramming for a discussion panel, he works as an IT pistolero for his day job, chips away at a speculative fiction novel and is teaching his infant son percussion with rhythmic spankings.

Aside from All-Things-Trek, he geeks out for retro and indie gaming, 19th century Japanese history, American cinema (who doesn’t?), sci-fi literature, and the philosophy of Epistemology.

Don’t get him started on supernatural horror movies that are “based on true story,” or those asshats who say “It’s only a movie!”


 

 PANELISTS

PolSantoPól Rua is a comics retailer, podcaster and full-time multi-purpose nerd. He is a former co-host of the Mike and Pól Save the Universe! comic book podcast with Mike Gillis, and spends his days slinging funnybooks at Ace Comics & Games in Brisbane, Australia.

He geeks out for pulp adventure fiction, superheroes, Twin Peaks, Magical Kung Fu movies and anything which involves Mexican Wrestlers battling the forces of evil.

Don’t get him started about modern DC comics, David Tennant’s tenure as The Doctor, or Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Episodes featuring Pól Rua


SamTorgoSam Mulvey is the host and producer for the Ask an Atheist radio show, and the President of Humanists of Washington. In addition to atheism and humanism, Sam has spoken about open source software and community media.

He geeks out for brewing beer and ham radio. In the Star Trek or Star Wars dichotomy, Sam chose Babylon 5. He is a collector of vinegar varieties, vintage computers, antique radios, and propaganda.

Don’t get him started about Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Episodes featuring Sam Mulvey


RoslynRimmerRoslyn Townsend is an aspiring screenwriter, actor, comedian, human, sanitation engineer and small dog. She doesn’t know how to read, but makes fairly accurate guesses at what words are. She can be found at home, looking for excuses to sputter and fume at the internet.

She geeks out over cartoons, history, linguistics and ridiculously epic music.

Don’t get her started about people who say “un-plug your TV/computer/other form of technology.”

Episodes featuring Roslyn Townsend


GregBatmanGreg Hatcher is a writer, teacher, and occasional commercial artist. Currently, he writes a weekly pop culture and comics column for Comic Book Resources as part of the “Comics Should Be Good!” group blog. He also writes “new pulp” adventure stories for Airship 27. He also teaches a comics and writing program in Seattle middle schools for the last couple of decades.

He geeks out for Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes, pre-Star Wars science fiction films, Richard Matheson, both the literary and cinematic James Bond, “Bronze Age” superhero comics, pulp fiction from Doc Savage to Mack Bolan, small-press D.I.Y. ‘zine scene, Hammer films, and the “bionic” wave of superhero television that hit in the mid-70s.

Don’t get him started about entitled fan-rage, or how modern superhero comics publishers have abandoned their legacy as mass entertainment for all ages in order to cater exclusively to a tiny hobbyist population of whiny man-children.

Episodes featuring Greg Hatcher


RyanFettRyan Chaddock is a programmer, wine steward, and role-playing game writer/designer with a degree in applied economics and public policy. His company, Ryan Chaddock Games, publishes licensed material for Monte Cook’s new science fantasy role-playing game: Numenera. He’s helped run a Vampire: the Masquerade LARP for the last decade or so and enjoys all kinds of politics (both real and imagined).

He geeks out on role-playing, Star Wars, MMO’s, miniatures painting, board games, and macroeconomics.

Don’t get him started on fantasy racism or leaving your trash behind at the movie theater.

      Episodes featuring Ryan Chaddock


ToddGreedoTodd Maxfield-Matsumoto is a member of the 501st Legion, an expert on Sea-Monkeys, and a proud father of three Jawas. He used to tour with the band Joker’s Poem but now enjoys covering music from Disneyland rides exclusively. He once wrestled a reindeer. It was a draw.

He geeks out about guitar effect pedals and film-accurate Star Wars costumes.

Don’t get him started about podcasts.

Episodes featuring Todd Maxfield-Matsumoto


 

SpiderJoeJoe “Kuma” Preti was born with the brain of an evil genius and the heart of Fozzie the Bear. Legend has it that he is a co-founder and host of the podcast View from the Gutters. He is a sucker for comic books, good beer, and food of almost any sort. There is also a persistant, but unverified, rumor that he is a bear that has learned the ways of man.

He geeks out for superhero fights, old movies, and is generally a pop culture junkie of the lowest sort. He also knows a thing or two about jazz, and enjoys conversations about films, old and new.

Don’t get him started on sexism in modern comic books, how Christopher Nolan dropped the ball on the Batman movies, or how Harry Potter is an awful protagonist.

Episodes featuring Joe Preti


BeckyPoppinsRebecca Friedman is the assistant producer for the Ask An Atheist radio show and coordinates kids’ science and philosophy programming for Camp Quest Northwest.  She lives with Sam Mulvey and their two enormous cats. También es maestra de español.

She geeks out for Doctor Who, sociolinguistics, Adventure Time, tea, the regularity of Spanish orthography, and education.

Don’t get her started about teachers who dislike children.

Episodes featuring Rebecca Friedman


RobWelles

Rob Kelly is a writer, artist, and comics historian. He co-hosts the Fire and Water Podcast, is the creator and editor of the world famous (no, really), Aquaman Shrine website, and the creator and editor of the book, Hey Kids, Comics!: True-Life Tales From the Spinner Rack.
He geeks out for anything by Bob Dylan, Orson Welles, or Albert Brooks. (He is still holding out hope for that missing Magnificent Ambersons ending).
Don’t get him started on Van Helsing, 90s era Aquaman, or the Affordable Care Act.

Episodes featuring Rob Kelly


 

CarlosParrCarlos Rodela is  a producer/host/editor/podcaster who never seems to sleep. He enjoys cooking his own tacos (flash fried corn tortillas!), and video games.
He’s worked for places like Gamespot and PC World, once interviewed Snoop Dogg, and created his own Cable TV show (about ..what else? video games).
He geeks out for RPGs (namely the Witcher – which has cost him roughly 300 hours of his life), UFC, indie games, chocolate anything, and the Walking Dead.Don’t evennnn get him started about TurboGrafx16… He’ll be talking for awhile.

Episodes featuring Carlos Rodela


MattRollerBallMatt Goodman is a lifelong creative, produced screenwriter and film production maven (Titanic, Shrek, Star Wars: Episode One, Gladiator, Master & Commander) whose latest endeavor is co-producing the world’s first science-fiction one-act drama festival, Sci-Fest 2015, as well as developing film and television properties in the shadow of the Chateau Marmont.

He geeks out for all things comedy, occult symbolism, German & Swedish cars, flicks of the 1930’s-1970’s, especially the Fighting Sullivans (1944) and Rollerball (1974).

Don’t get him started about George Lucas’ neck, Cameron or Brest rumors, reboots & inaccurate firearm-centric film & TV dialogue.


NathanHippoNathan Martin is co-founder and co-showrunner for the Seattle Retro Gaming Expo, and creator/host of The Question Block Video Game Pub Quiz. He currently works at Microsoft as part of the Xbox team.

He geeks out over all things retro and classic gaming, Neal Stephenson, ska, house, and Japanese bubble gum.

Don’t get him started on DRM, explosions and other sounds in space, pedestrians who think they own the road, or people who use more than one paper towel to dry their hands, you won’t like it.

 Episodes featuring Nathan Martin


 PatrickPaulPatrick Johnson is a vagrant we found wandering along the side of the road.

He geeks out for Charlie Kaufman, George Lakoff, research on priming effects, artful indie games, NES nostalgia, and Campbellian examination of the psycho-mythic function of science fiction/fantasy.

Don’t get him started on US copyright law, the war crimes of George Lucas, or the word “decimate.”

 

Episodes featuring Patrick Johnson


MicahDoctorMicah Krabill is a bag of mostly water, a confidant of Rassilon, a seer of the pink laser, a fledgling father, and often a Senior Product Manager for Kindle. His favorite authors include Philip K. Dick, James Joyce, Williams Shakespeare, Neal Stephenson, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and John Steinbeck. He’s never been published (self-published or otherwise), but he has written and aspires to do so again once he completes his current creative omphaloskepsis cycle.

He geeks out for colorful Adidas shoes, quality sci-fi in any form, the Beastie Boys, non-boring Euro-style worker placement board games, the Seattle Seahawks, Doctor Who, and great food.

Don’t get him started about bicyclists who don’t follow the rules of the road, drivers who don’t understand unmarked intersections, restaurants with crappy service, dogs in the workplace, or those ridiculous footglove “shoes.”

 Episodes featuring Micah Krabill


ScottMulder

Scott Kramer is a professional sound designer for films and television (the Expendables, Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Transparent), who resides in Venice, California. When not making sounds, he enjoys mountain biking, hiking, road trips, long walks on the beach, and hand-holding.

He geeks out primarily for the X-Files, and Star Trek the Next Generation, Terence Malick and any really slow films and television about feelings.

Don’t get him started on the American Telecom Industry, or the current state of the film business.

 Episodes featuring Scott Kramer


ChrisSpock Christopher Walker is a podcaster, a self-confessed Trekkie, board game junkie, and nerd-of-all-trades. He’s a regular contributor to BJ Shea’s Geek Nation, and spends his free time trying to write comic books, playing in a semi-regular Pathfinder group, and posting YouTube videos of his nerdier endeavors.

He geeks out for comic books, all things Trek, Game of Thrones, Futurama, and the musical stylings of They Might Be Giants.

Don’t get him started about the uselessness of the dime, the coarse inelegance of playing a lot of green and red in Magic: the Gathering, or the difference between Trekkies and Trekkers (spoiler alert: there is none).

 Episodes featuring Christopher Walker


IanFlyboyIan Gould is the General Manager of Ace Comics & Games in Brisbane, Australia. He finds himself an exceptionally dull topic.

Ian geeks out for comics of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s; classic science fiction and the works of Alan Moore.

Don’t even get him started on the New 52 or Before Watchmen.

Episodes featuring Ian Gould

 


LaurenKorraLauren Montgomery is a story artist working primarily in TV action adventure animation, an avid toy collector, and a big fan of cheese…. The food. She directed an animated Wonder Woman film for DC/Warner Bros., as well as Green Lantern: First Flight, and Justice League: Doom. She also co-directed Batman: Year One, and is the supervising producer on Nickelodeon’s Legend of Korra.

Beyond her animation interests, she geeks out for toys, video games, Disneyland, and most other things related to childhood and immaturity.

Don’t get her started on the gross lack of realistically depicted female characters in film, specifically animation. Unless you want a whole lot of harpy screeching coming your way.


BobMario

Bob Mackey is a game critic, podcast producer, and general enthusiast of all things obscure and/or nerdy. He’s written for just about every website that focuses on video games (more or less), but you can check out most of his current work at US Gamer or Something Awful. Bob also co-hosts the weekly classic gaming podcast Retronauts, a fan-backed venture that’s been produced semi-regularly since 2006.

He geeks out for video games (mostly Japanese and retro), Mystery Science Theater 3000 and its many related riff-based projects, really good beer, and numerous other interests that are the direct result of a latchkey childhood.

Don’t get him started about that David Cage guy!

Episodes featuring Bob Mackey


LibbieWatershipLibbie Grant is an author of historical and literary fiction from Seattle, Washington. Her novels include Baptism for the Dead, the Sekhmet Bed and Sovereign of Stars.

She geeks out on ancient Egypt, the writings of George R. R. Martin and sci-fi in print (not film) form, the nerdliest of the sci-fi nerderies.

Don’t even get her started on zombies. Seriously.

 Episodes featuring Libbie Grant

 


RichFlairRich Lyons is a former United Pentecostal Church pastor with 20 years in the ministry. In 2004 he left that ministry and began a tumultuous deconversion journey. He shared these experiences on his Living After Faith podcast. Once the 20-year self-imposed quarantine on popular culture was lifted, Rich discovered fulfillment in the world of frivolity.

He geeks out on trippy photography, pro wrestling, getting caught up on two decades worth of film, and Lady Gaga.

Don’t get him started on puritanical prohibition.

Episodes featuring Rich Lyons

3 thoughts on “Our Panelists

  1. Love the show guys! I found out about this show from Mike and Pol save the universe which I found through Ask an atheist. My only complaint is that I have to wait so long between episodes! I understand though, It probably takes forever to get everybody in one place for a couple of hours with no schedule conflicts.
    If you guys need suggestions of topics I’ll try to think of some. One that I would personally love to hear would be the Alien films originated by Ridley Scott. The first two are some of my all time favorite films, and the comic and novel mediums have had some great points but there is plenty of garbage associated with the franchise as well. After Prometheus. I feel like I’m at the point with it that it’ll never get a proper treatment again but man would I love too see it brought back to its roots.
    I feel like you could replace Aliens with Star Wars in that last paragraph and have the sentiment remain.
    I just moved back to Seattle from Alaska, or as I call it, North Texas so I’ll have to try to make it down to a post show sometime.
    Keep up the great work!

  2. Heard the show mentioned on Ask an Atheist yesterday, and am addicted! Can’t wait for the July episode. Submitted the link to Nobex (what I use on my Blackberry) so it should be on their list now!

  3. Pingback: Mike is Back on the Fire and Water Podcast! | Radio vs. the Martians!

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