Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

This episode features a conversation with Debbie Rochon, an icon of independent horror whose career spans more than 40 years and over 200 films. From her early appearance in Banned (1969) to her acclaimed work in modern indie horror, Debbie has carved out a legacy built on resilience, creativity, and a deep love for the genre. SAVE 17% ON PLUS

This episode dives into Keith Arem, a director, writer, and audio director whose career spans more than 600 commercial releases across film, television, music, and video games. We explore his 2016 feature The Phoenix Incident, a found‑footage thriller inspired by one of the most widely witnessed UFO events in modern American history: The Phoenix Lights. 🌌 The Phoenix Lights: Real‑World Event On the night of March 13, 1997, thousands of residents across Arizona and Nevada reported seeing a series of unexplained lights in the sky between 7:30 PM and 10:30 PM MST. Witnesses described: A massive, silent craft shaped like a carpenter’s square Five stationary lights arranged along its leading edge A slow, gliding movement that blocked out the stars No conventional aircraft behavior or sound The event remains one of the most documented and debated UFO sightings in U.S. history. 🎥 About The Phoenix Incident Keith Arem’s 2016 film blends found footage, mockumentary storytelling, and real eyewitness accounts to create a narrative that imagines what might have happened behind the scenes of the Phoenix Lights. The film follows the disappearance of four men whose final moments were captured on recovered video. Arem uses his background in immersive storytelling to blur the line between fact and fiction, creating a cinematic experience that feels unsettlingly plausible. SAVE 17% On Plus

Season Three of Daredevil: Born Again is finally here, and this week on Byte we dive deep into the return of two of Marvel’s most iconic performances. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio sat down to talk about stepping back into the shadows of Hell’s Kitchen—and what it means to bring Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk into a new era of storytelling. Thanks to Disney+ for providing the actor audio featured in this episode. Topics:  🦯 Charlie Cox on Matt Murdock 👔 Vincent D’Onofrio on Wilson Fisk ⚔️ When Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk Finally Share the Screen SAVE 17% ON PLUS

🌏 A Down‑Under Epic With Global Ambition In this episode of Byte, Tony talked  with Zac Gerard — actor, associate producer, and one of the driving creative forces behind the explosive Australian sci‑fi film Occupation Rainfall. The movie pushes the boundaries of indie genre filmmaking with massive set pieces, alien warfare, and a surprisingly human core. Zac brings a rare insider’s perspective, having lived the project both in front of the camera and behind it. Save 17% On Plus Today

Featuring Sophie Skelton & Richard Rankin of Outlander Plus Catherine Shiriff, George Hawkins, and a remembrance of Eric Dane Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin—Brianna and Roger from Outlander—join the Time Capsule to explore a question that feels tailor‑made for them: If you could take a single book back through time, knowing it might change the future, what would you choose—and why? Actress Catherine Shirriff revisits her role as Valkris, the Klingon operative whose brief but pivotal appearance in Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock helped set the film’s stakes in motion. George Hawkins, known for his work in the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy game, reflects on the character Darem and the crucial decision that defines his arc. The episode closes with a  remembrance of Eric Dane, back from his series, The Last Ship taped at San Diego Comic Con.  SAVE 17% ON PLUS

This episode begins a multi‑part exploration of the rich, sprawling character tapestry that defines The Walking Dead Universe. Journey of the Dead – Part One focuses on the survivors, leaders, villains, and unlikely heroes who shaped the early years of the franchise and set the emotional and thematic foundation for everything that followed. SAVE 17% ON PLUS

The concluding chapter of Journey of the Dead brings the series full circle by revisiting three of the most insightful and memorable conversations from earlier in the journey. This finale looks back at interviews with David Morrissey, Danai Gurira, and Michael Rooker—three actors whose performances helped define the emotional, moral, and psychological landscape of The Walking Dead. 🎭 David Morrissey — The Governor’s Humanity and Horror ⚔️ Danai Gurira — Crafting Michonne’s Strength and Silence 🔥 Michael Rooker — The Unpredictable Spirit of Merle Dixon SAVE 17% ON PLUS

This episode revisits the powerful, emotionally charged score of Logan through a conversation with Marco Beltrami, the prolific composer behind some of the most memorable soundtracks in modern cinema. Known for his versatility and bold musical instincts, Beltrami crafted a soundscape for Logan that is raw, intimate, and unlike anything else in the superhero genre. .🎵 About Marco Beltrami Marco Beltrami has built a remarkable career scoring films across genres, with a signature style that blends innovation, emotional depth, and sonic experimentation. Highlights of his career include: Longtime collaboration with Wes Craven, scoring seven of his films, including Scream and Red Eye. Critically acclaimed work on A Quiet Place, where silence and tension became musical tools. High‑energy action scores for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and I, Robot. Atmospheric, world‑building compositions for Snowpiercer. Beltrami’s ability to adapt his musical language to each story has made him one of the most respected composers working today. SAVE 17% ON PLUS

This episode features Ann Druyan — the creative force who helped shape how generations understand the universe. As the original writer of Cosmos alongside Carl Sagan, and later the creator of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey and Cosmos: Possible Worlds, Druyan has spent her life translating the grandeur of science into stories that move people. 🌍 About Ann Druyan Writer & Producer of the Cosmos franchise — from the 1980 original to its modern reimaginings. Creative Director of NASA’s Voyager Interstellar Message Project — responsible for shaping the Golden Record aboard Voyager 1 and 2, humanity’s message to the stars. Author & Collaborator — co-wrote several books with Carl Sagan, including Comet, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, and The Demon-Haunted World. Co-writer of Contact — and co-creator/co-producer of the acclaimed film adaptation. SAVE 17% ON PLUS TODAY

This first installment of the Rewind series revisits Merlin, the beloved fantasy drama often described as the “Smallville of the Arthurian Legend.” Airing from 2008 to 2013, the series reimagined the mythos of Camelot through a youthful, character‑driven lens—where destiny, friendship, and forbidden magic collide. 🧙‍♂️ The World of Merlin Set in a Camelot where King Uther Pendragon has outlawed magic, the story follows a young Merlin, still discovering the depth of his powers, and a young Prince Arthur, who is far from the legendary king he will become. Their relationship—equal parts banter, loyalty, and destiny—forms the emotional core of the series. The show also reintroduces iconic characters in fresh ways: Guinevere (Gwen) as a warm, grounded future queen Morgana as a compassionate ward of Uther whose path slowly darkens Gaius, Merlin’s mentor and the keeper of Camelot’s secrets The result is a coming‑of‑age fantasy that blends humor, heart, and high stakes. 🎙️ Featured Guests: Katie McGrath & Colin Morgan This episode includes conversations with: Katie McGrath (Morgana) — recorded during the period when her character was beginning her descent into darkness.  Colin Morgan (Merlin) — discussing the evolution of Merlin’s abilities. 📺 Where to Watch Merlin Today The full series is currently available on multiple platforms: Amazon Prime Video Syfy Streaming The Roku Channel — free with ads Pluto TV — free with ads Tubi — free with ads DVD and Blu‑ray — complete series sets available 🔮 What’s Coming Next in the Rewind Series Behind‑the‑scenes stories and more from cast and creative team. SAVE 17% On Plus