Dark times call for stories of passion and resilience, and today’s episode delivers just that. We’re diving into the world of Star Wars-inspired folk music with the incredible band Folk the Empire.

I had such a great time talking to Erik, Chris, and Mike and I hope you enjoy our wide-ranging coversation about how they formed, their unique blend of punk and folk, and the deep storytelling that infuses their music. If you’ve ever wo...

Josh chats to returning guest DR. DAVID WEST REYNOLDS about his new documentary project, CHASING RAIDERS, which explores the real history and archaeology behind Raiders of the Lost Ark.

📖 CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction and Chasing Raiders project overview 01:19 - Reynolds' previous Star Wars documentary success 02:25 - Scope and goals of Chasing Raiders 06:46 - Filming locations and production plans 13:05 - Discovering ...

Josh chats with Patrick Cotnoir, producer of The George Lucas Talk Show, about the new documentary "I'm George Lucas: A Connor Ratliff Story.” Patrick discusses the origins of the show, its evolution during the pandemic, and shares behind-the-scenes insights into this unique comedy phenomenon.

📖 CHAPTERS

0:00 - Introduction  2:17 - Origins of The George Lucas Talk Show  5:38 - Patrick's involvement as producer  9:16 - Why Geo...

Is Star Wars art or just more content? As Star Wars continues to thrive as a Disney franchise, can it maintain any artistic integrity, or was it always simply another product in the marketplace? We explore these questions and more, including:

• The transition from George Lucas’s vision to Disney's corporate ownership.
• The impact of capitalism on artistic endeavors within the Star Wars universe.
• Whether the new era of Star Wars c...

Josh, Jonny, and special guest Ro from The Scarif Scuttlebutt Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/c/ScarifScuttlebuttPodcast) dive deep into George Lucas's 1971 feature film debut, THX 1138. We talk about the film's themes, its relevance today, and how it laid the groundwork for Lucas's later work, including Star Wars. We discuss:

• How THX 1138 offers a unique insight into George Lucas's artistic vision and themes that would later...

Join us for a special bonus episode celebrating the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace! We've compiled highlights from past episodes where we discussed topics related to this groundbreaking film. Hear insights from Dan Madsen, former head of the Lucasfilm fan club, and Dr. David West Reynolds, co-editor of the Episode 1 teaser trailer, as they share their experiences and perspectives on the hype and excit...

Josh is joined by the hosts of THE YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLERS Podcast: Peter Holmstrom, and Daniel Noa, and delve into the eponymous TV series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. Discover the groundbreaking production techniques, the educational value, and the passion that George Lucas poured into the often overlooked series. Learn how the series served as a testing ground for the digital technology and production techniques ...

In this episode, Josh interviews Dr. David West Reynolds about his unbelievable journey from archaeologist to editing the hugely-anticipated teaser trailer for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). Show Notes:

• Learn how Dr. Reynolds went from earning his PhD researching ancient sites to launching an expedition in Tunisia to uncover forgotten Star Wars filming locations from the first movie.
• Hear the serendipitous s...

Welcome to a special episode of Trash Compactor, part of the Star Wars Podcast Day 2024 celebration! This year, we're not only joining forces with podcasts around the galaxy to honor #StarWarsPodcastDay2024, but we're also commemorating the 25th anniversary of the pioneering Star Wars podcast, Jedi Talk, which debuted on this very day in 1999. For those tuning in for the first time, we're a group of cinephiles and pop culture enthu...

We're joined by editors Dr. Emily Strand and Dr. Amy H. Sturgis to discuss their new essay collection "STAR WARS: ESSAYS FROM A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY." From in-universe lore to real-world influences, this compilation of academic analysis reveals new depths even diehard fans may have missed.

Guest Info: Dr. Emily Strand Website: www.emilystrand.com & liturgyandlife.com Co-host of podcasts "Potterversity” and “Meet ...

Another installment of our alternate universe what ifs: what if the sequel trilogy was made in the 1990s? Following up on our Prequels 1986 episode (www.trashcompod.com/13), we continue the experiment and imagine who might have been cast in and chosen to direct the sequel films if they had been made in 1995, 1998, and 2001. We also ask the question: would Star Wars be able to attract A-list talent if there was a new installment eve...

Josh's sister grew up in the shadow of a huge Star Wars nerd. She also married one! Josh talks to both ALLIE and SHAWN after they embarked on a chronological rewatch of all the movies in preparation for one of the Disney+ shows to drop. What were their impressions of the Saga as a whole when watching them in story order? Along the way, we get into childhood memories of Star Wars, why we want these movies to work, and at what scene ...

Most of the gang here grew up with the original trilogy as the only Star Wars there was. I've been curious to get the perspectives of people who grew up with the prequels. This week I chat with OriginalTrilogy.com forum member Octorox, aka Keith, about his experience getting into Star Wars in the time of the prequels as a kid.

NEXT WEEK: My sister drops into the trash compactor!

TRANSCRIPTS AT trashcompod.com

RATE US podchaser.com/...

BRACEY and JONNY join Josh to discuss the final Star Wars prequel, Episode III: REVENGE OF THE SITH. We talk about how our perception of this movie has changed over time, whether it's the best of the prequels, and how it contains George Lucas's definitive statement on life.

TRANSCRIPTS AT trashcompod.com

RATE US podchaser.com/trashcompod

FOLLOW US instragram.com/trashcompod & twitter.com/trashcompod1

EMAIL US trashcompod@gmail....

More than 20 years before Revenge of the Sith would grace our screens, there was STAR WARS 3: FALL OF THE REPUBLIC (From the Adventures of Obi-Wan Kenobi). This infamous fan script made the rounds in fandom for years, many believing it to be the actual script for the third prequel film--years before George Lucas ever wrote them. Josh, who himself acquired a copy of this script at a Star Trek convention in the early 1990s, sits down...

Where were you in 2002? RUSS and FREY join Josh to discuss the middle part of the prequel trilogy, ATTACK OF THE CLONES. We end up talking a surprising amount about the HAL 9000 fan edit of this movie*, and how it reveals the good movie lurking within. But whether we're talking the theatrical cut or the fan edit, it's safe to say we were quite beside ourselves with this movie.

NEXT WEEK: Fall of the Republic with Dr. John L. Flynn

STAR WARS has always been at the forefront of technological innovation in filmmaking. Whether it's the prequels pioneering use of CGI, STAR WARS: Episode II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES being the very first feature film to be shot on digital video rather than traditional celluloid film, or the recent use of the Volume AR stage technology on Disney+ shows like The Mandalorian. Josh is joined by two very special guests -- AJ WEDDING and LE...

The most-anticipated movie of all time came out almost a quarter of a century ago, and we, like the all-powerful Sarlacc, are still digesting. Josh, Chris, and Jonny are joined by the famed fan editor HAL 9000 as we reminisce about Episode I - THE PHANTOM MENACE and discuss how it works as a film and its legacy in the Star Wars universe.

TRANSCRIPTS AT trashcompod.com

RATE US podchaser.com/trashcompod

FOLLOW US instragram.com/trash...

We are joined by the illustrious DAN MADSEN, the founder of the Lucasfilm Fan Club in the 80s which rebranded as the Star Wars Insider. As the professional fan inside the Lucasfilm apparatus, he was in a unique position to witness the creation of the most anticipated films of all time. Josh has a great conversation with Dan as we discuss the delicate balance between business and fandom, why it was a bad idea to have only one pair o...