Episode 39 - Behind The Concierge Desk

"2010" was MGM's major motion picture of the year, with major hype, media train, and even merch (!?) Leap back to December 1984 with Virginia Smith, and experience what it was like to be a young fan of the most influential science fiction of the 20th century, right at the peak of the party! Hear Virginia's inspiring example of following your passion and staying true to your art, living the 90's life at Nickelodeon and Sega, and her entry into the world of robot building. How her passion for "2010" and "Short Circuit" led her to once-in-a-lifetime encounters with cast, crew and props. And why the Venn diagram connecting these two films may be bigger than you think. Plus: Johnny Five, Buddy Hackett, and Bug! Check out Virginia Smith's artwork at thegirlinthepicture.com Follow along with the pictures on the episode page. Help children now with UNICEF Find more at spacepodyssey.com BlueSky @spacepodyssey Instagram @spacepodyssey2001 Facebook at @spacepodyssey Twitter @spacepodyssey email us at spacepodyssey2001@gmail.com 100% PRODUCED, RECORDED, EDITED & RELEASED without artificial intelligence.

10 Juni 202443min

Science fiction artist, video game animator, and media science communicator Virginia Smith joins us to discuss the world's most famous computer twins. While HAL was off flying a spaceship to Jupiter, incapable of error, his sister SAL-9000 was back in Urbana, Illinois identifying each of his mistakes, confusing mission control, and freaking out Drs. Bowman and Poole. The similarities and differences between these silicon siblings, their own characteristics and motivations, and examining their relationship with "dad" Dr. Chandra and each other. What it was like seeing "2010" for the first time as a teenager, and becoming a lifelong fan in 1984! Plus: T. R. Baskin, Murphy Brown, and Mortimer Snerd. (Warning - here be SPOILERS!) Check out Virginia Smith's artwork at thegirlinthepicture.com Help children now with UNICEF Find more at spacepodyssey.com BlueSky @spacepodyssey Instagram @spacepodyssey2001 Facebook at @spacepodyssey Twitter @spacepodyssey email us at spacepodyssey2001@gmail.com 100% PRODUCED, RECORDED, EDITED & RELEASED without artificial intelligence.

3 Juni 20241h 1min

We've examined the ship, now let's get to know our cosmonaut crew mates aboard LEONOV. Here are the stories of our super-scientist, coffee-chugging Russian roomies and the fascinating lives of the great actors who played them. (Aside from Captain Kirbuk, who is, of course, "The Queen.") Hope "Moscow on the Hudson" is on your bingo card... They made incredible sacrifices for their families, faiths, and artistic freedom. Maybe we can see ourselves in the faces of all those looking for a better life. Plus: Herve Villechaize, Robin Williams, and Soundgarden. STARRING: Elya Baskin as Maxim Brailovsky Savely Kramarov as Vladimir Rudenko Oleg Rudnik as Vasili Orlov Natasha Shneider as Irina Yakunina Vladimir Skomarovsky as Yuri Svetlanov Victor Steinbach as Mikolai Ternovsky Jan Triska as Alexander Kovalev Help children now with UNICEF Find more at spacepodyssey.com BlueSky @spacepodyssey Instagram @spacepodyssey2001 Facebook at @spacepodyssey Twitter @spacepodyssey email us at spacepodyssey2001@gmail.com 100% PRODUCED, RECORDED, EDITED & RELEASED without artificial intelligence.

16 Maj 202443min

The collapse of the Arecibo Observatory in 2020 marked the end of an era for generations of astronomers, climatologists, SETI researchers, and space enthusiasts. From 1963 until its closure in 2023, Arecibo, Puerto Rico housed the world’s largest radio telescope, and “2010” was originally going to start there! Thanks to The Odyssey File, we have Arthur C. Clarke and Peter Hyams’ insightful and hilarious conversations about the concepts, logistics, and challenges that ultimately lead from Puerto Rico to New Mexico and the VLA. Plus: the arguments around transmitting messages to outer space, Carl Sagan, pulsars, and Goldeneye! Help children now with UNICEF Find more at spacepodyssey.com BlueSky @spacepodyssey Instagram @spacepodyssey2001 Facebook at @spacepodyssey Twitter @spacepodyssey email us at spacepodyssey2001@gmail.com 100% PRODUCED, RECORDED, EDITED & RELEASED without artificial intelligence.

15 Apr 202436min

Monday, April 8, marks the biggest, longest, most widely visible solar eclipse to cross the United States in a long time, and the last one for 20 years! Celebrate the eclipse experience, the history, myth and lore, and amazing science that only comes in that breathtaking few minutes. Tips on how to look, what to look for, and what to expect from Wes, and from NASA (Tahira Allen and Dr. Gina DiBraccio.) Check out Arthur C. Clarke's observations, and the instances of eclipses and celestial alignments in the Odyssey series. Plus: helium, reptile housemates, and Lance Bass! NASA Solar Eclipse NASA Eclipse Explorer - Where and When NASA Live Eclipse Broadcast Help children now with UNICEF Find more at spacepodyssey.com BlueSky @spacepodyssey Instagram @spacepodyssey2001 Facebook at @spacepodyssey Twitter @spacepodyssey email us at spacepodyssey2001@gmail.com 100% PRODUCED, RECORDED, EDITED & RELEASED without artificial intelligence.

5 Apr 202449min

For our first look at the book "The Official Art of 2010," we pay tribute to the genius of concept artist Syd Mead, his career in industry and in entertainment, and his unique vision. He imagined not only cars, spinners, ships of sea, air and space, but immersive now worlds around them. Celebrating the beauty of both form and function, his designs are always the perfect synthesis of art and engineering. His contributions to "Star Trek," "Blade Runner," "Aliens," "Tron," and of course, "2010: The Year We Make Contact"! This week it's the LEONOV, from concept to craft. Plus: CD-rom games, Gundam, and goulash. Follow along with the pictures on the episode page! Help children now with UNICEF Find more at spacepodyssey.com BlueSky @spacepodyssey Instagram @spacepodyssey2001 Facebook at @spacepodyssey Twitter @spacepodyssey email us at spacepodyssey2001@gmail.com 100% PRODUCED, RECORDED, EDITED & RELEASED without artificial intelligence.

2 Apr 202458min

Haunted by his past, Dr. Floyd moves to Hawaii and makes a new life with marine biologist wife, Caroline, and young son, Christopher. Still healing from years of tragedy, he finds himself at a crossroads to reinvent his purpose. Taking the last opportunity to atone for all that had gone horribly wrong, and the sacrifices he - and his family - have to make.  "The Odyssey File" is a fascinating peek into the film's development and production, with candid conversations between Arthur C. Clarke and Peter Hyams. They reveal the elaborate details of Heywood's Honolulu home, and the real and surreal journey of getting dolphins in the house.  Plus: Esther Williams, orangutans dressed as highland gorillas, and penguins dressed as Pooh.  Help children now with UNICEF Find more at spacepodyssey.com BlueSky @spacepodyssey Instagram @spacepodyssey2001 Facebook at @spacepodyssey Twitter @spacepodyssey email us at spacepodyssey2001@gmail.com 100% PRODUCED, RECORDED, EDITED & RELEASED without artificial intelligence.

22 Mars 202452min

We're back on the Moon! Thanks to the success of our aptly named "Odysseus" lander, NASA and Intuitive Machines are kicking off a year full of amazing lunar landings and experiments. As the crew of Artemis II prepare to launch next September, what could be our future on the Moon? What are the benefits and downsides of nations or corporations leading the charge? The importance of NASA and its core mission to benefit humanity, and the increasing gains in diversity, exciting new accelerated research, and cancer eradication experiments. Plus: pogo sticks, surviving on the air from hot fries bags, and the continued purpose and strategy of the International Space Station (In its future, we see a wheel...) Help children now with UNICEF Find more at spacepodyssey.com BlueSky @spacepodyssey Instagram @spacepodyssey2001 Facebook at @spacepodyssey Twitter @spacepodyssey email us at spacepodyssey2001@gmail.com 100% PRODUCED, RECORDED, EDITED & RELEASED without artificial intelligence.

8 Mars 20241h 1min