Have you ever wondered what life would be like on a planet different from our own, or how writers create your favorite fictional worlds? Well, wonder no more because we have the facts for you! Every other week, astrophysicist/folklorist Moiya McTier explores fictional worlds by building them with a panel of expert guests, interviewing professional worldbuilders, or reviewing the merits of worlds that have already been built. You'll learn, you'll laugh, and you'll gain an appreciation for how special our planet really is.
Latest episodes
-
16 min
Exolore stats
One final episode because I hate to say goodbye, and because I'm a data nerd who can't help but share the numbers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pr…
-
1 h 09
Final World Bracket
Moiya invites fellow podcaster Julia Schifini to help her choose, once and for all, the best Exolore world. Her winner might shock you! HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), ast…
-
59 min
M Dwarf Planet: Culture
Moiya finally finished the M dwarf planet! She's joined by Isabel J. Kim and together they made the cube crabs a bunch of anxious avoidant chemistry nerds who all went to survival…
-
56 min
Fictional histories with Fayge Horesh
Moiya is joined by historian Fayge Horesh to talk about the dos and don'ts of imagining fictional histories, from ethical practices to research advice. And Moiya is happy to report…
-
1 h 04
World of Leisurely Chameleons
It's an Exolore x Pale Blue Pod crossover! Moiya and comedian Corinne Caputo talk about JWST's iconic first images, then pick one as the setting for their world. They imagine a pla…
-
53 min
Splatoon Review with Amanda Silberling
Moiya asks pop culture writer Amanda Silberling about her favorite video game, Splatoon! It involves squid kids, apocalypse stories, judgemental cats, and just the right level of v…
-
48 min
World of corrupt "magicians"
Moiya is joined by writer Rachel Feltman to imagine a beautiful but foreboding world. They end up with a genre-bending world full of people convinced they have magical powers. HOST…
-
52 min
rerun: Building fantasy maps
Moiya returns to this episode about fictional mapmaking. She talks with mapmaker Jessica Khoury about how mountains don't bend and rivers don't split, the logic behind human settle…
-
57 min
World of clairvoyant cats
Moiya is joined by geologist Kristina Gustovich to imagine a world built on justice and social cohesion. They end up creating sparkly cats who can see into the future and totally b…
-
1 h 03
rerun: Building Monsters with Dr. Emily Zarka
Monster Expert Dr. Emily Zarka joins Moiya to talk about the origins of monster myths! Together, they conjure up some spooky monsters to inhabit three previously built Exolore worl…
-
59 min
The One True Underworld
Moiya and mythologist John Bucher put their minds together to imagine an ancient mythic underworld. It has triels, elemental symbolism, and lots of silly little guys! What's not to…
-
1 h 02
Superhero Worlds with Eric Silver
Moiya and fellow Multitudian Eric Silver discuss their favorite and least favorite Superhero worlds, plus best practices for building your own. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstro…
-
57 min
Adapting stories with Victoria Male
Moiya and writer Victoria Male talk about best pracices for adapting old stories into new versions and discuss their favorite/least favorite reboots. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@G…
-
57 min
World of curious leggy seahorses
Moiya and astrobiologist Dr. Seven Rasmussen imagine life on some distant gas giant's moon. What they come up with is cute and curious and exceptionally weird. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya…
-
28 min
Book update bonus
Moiya's here with a little update on her second book, a history of invention written by the Greek Muses. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist MESS…
-
56 min
World of the Original Humanoids
Moiya and neuroscientist Devon Collins build a homeworld for that species in sci-fi that spread its humanoid DNA around the galaxy. They end up being curious amphibious with grande…
-
53 min
UNBOUND with Christy Healy
Moiya talks with debut author Christy Healy about UNBOUND, an exciting new twist on Beauty and the Beast. They chat character creation, irish folklore, and whether Happily Ever Aft…
-
1 h 08
Bioshock with Roux Bedrosian
Moiya invites musician and writer Roux Bedrosian to gush about a world they love: the video game Bioshock! Long live Sander Cohen, the little sisters, and the big daddies! HOSTED b…
-
54 min
World of crafty beetles
Moiya invites game streamer Jenna Stoeber to imagine a world and it gets crafty fast! The Great Crafter invited some beetles to their word of yarn and glitter, and the rest is hist…
-
51 min
World of colorful plenty
Moiya invites food sustainability expert Alice Guillaume to imagine a world without food inequities. What they come up with is bright, colorful, and spectacularly diverse for somet…