Dystopedia - A Dystopian Podcast

This week, we dive back into the world of Harlan Ellison to explore the sharp, strange, and often overlooked short story Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman.

It’s a punch in the face, but that’s the point.

In this episode, we ask: When did time become money? Can structure and critical thinking coexist? And what happens when being late becomes a crime?

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This week on Dystopedia, we’re going back to 1948 to look at Shirley Jackson’s chilling short story, The Lottery. It’s deceptively simple, and that might be the scariest thing about it. A tale about tradition, obedience, and the quiet horror of just following the rules. It’s uncomfortable, unsettling, and leaves you wondering what we’re all capable of under the right circumstances. We’ll dive into Cold War paranoia, women’s inequal...

In this episode, we journey through the haunting wasteland of The Road—Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel and its stark film adaptation. We explore the bleak and brutal world McCarthy creates, where civilization has collapsed, hope is scarce, and survival comes at a heavy moral cost. From the ash-covered landscapes to the unflinching depictions of violence, isolation, and love in the face of extinction, we unpack the no...

In this episode, we slip on the sunglasses and see the world as it really is in John Carpenter’s They Live — a cult classic that mashes up anti-capitalist dystopia with cheesy one-liners and 80s action flair. We break down the film’s sharp social commentary on consumerism, class control, and media manipulation, all wrapped in the glorious absurdity of a B-grade sci-fi beatdown. From six-minute alley fights to secret alien cabals, T...

What happens when a nation convinces itself that the end of the world is survivable? In this episode we unpack The War Game, the BBC film banned for showing too much truth. As Britain adjusted to its fading role on the world stage, Cold War officials reassured the public that nuclear war could be managed, that civil defence, shelters and stiff upper lips would somehow be enough. But beneath the propaganda was a terrifying reality f...

**28 YEARS LATER SPOILER ALERT TIMESTAMP 12:12-13:00** Picking up from last episode, we dive deep into the bleak and brutal world of 28 Weeks Later, exploring the dystopian themes that lie beneath the blood and chaos. We examine the collapse of societal trust, the illusion of safety under military occupation, and the dangers of attempting to rebuild a nation too soon after catastrophe. From bio-contagion and state control to the mo...

It’s not a zombie film, but it redefined the genre. With 28 Years Later on the horizon, we’re looking back at the one that started it all: 28 Days Later. Why does it still feel so hauntingly relevant? And what real-world fears, from post-9/11 panic to foot-and-mouth disease, helped shape this modern horror classic?

Next week, we continue the story with 28 Weeks Later.

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I’d buy that for a dollar! In this episode, we dive deep into the gritty, cybernetic world of RoboCop — Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 cult classic that fuses explosive action with razor-sharp social commentary. Beneath the violence and sci-fi spectacle lies a chilling dystopian vision of a society spiraling under corporate control, technological overreach, and moral decay. We explore how RoboCop critiques unchecked capitalism, the privatiz...

Well, that took us by surprise. This week, we dive into The Machine Stops, E.M. Forster’s 1909 short story that predicted the internet, Zoom, digital burnout, remote living - and maybe even the end of the world as we know it. How did he see it coming? And why isn’t this story more well-known?

Link to the futuristic building discussed here. 

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This episode takes a deep dive into Battle Royale (2000), the controversial cult classic that shocked Japan and the world. We explore how the film’s dystopian violence serves as a metaphor for Japan’s youth crisis of the 1990s—a time marked by economic stagnation, rising truancy, youth alienation, and public anxiety over juvenile crime. Through the lens of “The Program,” we examine how the state’s control over teenagers reflects a ...

After disrupting Nazi rule in Europe, BJ Blazkowicz makes a long-awaited return home to an occupied America to ignite a revolution. Like Part 1, it’s over the top, but layered with sharp social commentary, emotional depth, and unforgettable characters. We dive into the chaos, resistance, and raw storytelling that make this chapter in the Wolfenstein series so memorable.

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In this week's episode, we dive into one of Ray Bradbury's iconic dystopian stories. Set in 2026, after a nuclear catastrophe, all that remains is a self-operating house. The house continues its programmed routine, unaware of the world around it. Written in 1950, Bradbury delivers a powerful warning about the dangers of over-reliance on technology and our potential to destroy ourselves through its misuse.

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We're doing our part! This week we're looking at the 1997 film, Starship Troopers. Going by the accompanying release poster, you'd be forgiven for thinking this is just another 90s action blockbuster (not that there's anything wrong with that). Join us as we explore the many layers of this originally panned movie that has now turned into a cult classic. Would you like to know more?

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