Podcast
Does It Fly?
Hosted by Roddenberry Entertainment · EN
Putting your favorite sci-fi and pop culture to the test! Join hosts Hakeem Oluseyi (How The Universe Works, NASA's Unexplained Files, Baking Impossible) and Tamara Krinsky (Scirens, Marvel's Red Carpet, Girls Gone Greek) as they put your favorite pop culture concepts to the test and determine once and for all if they're possible in the real world.
From Roddenberry Entertainment, the heart of fandom! Roddenberry Entertainment provides thought-provoking, quality genre entertainment that sustains the legacy of founder and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. We are devoted to producing viewer-centric properties that actively recognize the integral role that audiences and storytelling play in the betterment of society. Roddenberry's productions promote experience over observation; encouraging audiences to think, question, and challenge the status quo of the world in which we live.
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Stranger Things: The REAL Upside Down is Weirder Than You Think
Nov 2600:52:53Tap to summarizeSubscribe to Does It Fly? Pod: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1On DOES IT FLY?, we explore the science and story logic behind your favorite pop culture topics. Today, we’re looking at whether the science and story logic behind the Upside Down from Netflix’s Stranger Things could work!The final season of Stranger Things has finally arrived on Netflix, and we know it was worth the wait. Stranger Things season 5 might be the most anticipated new season of a Netflix series in history. And with good reason. An instant sensation from when it first premiered in 2016, the kids from Hawkins have captivated new audiences and nostalgia enthusiasts alike with their unique blend of prestige TV storytelling and nods to classic directors like Steven Spielberg, David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, Joe Dante, and more.And central to Stranger Things lore is the Upside Down, the weird parallel dimension that lurks alongside the fictional Hawkins, Indiana. So how does this relate to hard science concepts like string theory, dark matter, or the fundamental forces of the universe? And since one of the reasons Stranger Things has endured for nearly a decade is just how well the lore works, we’ll take a deep dive into the concepts and behind-the-scenes facts that make it all hang together. Check out the latest episode of Does it Fly? to learn more! https://youtu.be/dXNJsDMCICoFOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.comProduced by: Kelsey GoldbergTechnical Director: Andrew HalleyRODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT | 2025
Transcribe →WICKED: FOR GOOD - WHAT IF ANIMALS COULD TALK?!?
Nov 2100:55:04Tap to summarizeOne of the best things about the version of Oz portrayed in the Wicked movies is the wonderful talking animals. But how real could they actually be?Wicked: For Good is finally here, so it’s time to return to that magical land of Oz to celebrate one of the most beloved (and commercially successful) musicals of our era. And we don’t JUST mean Wicked, but also MGM’s original, beloved Wizard of Oz. OK, who are we kidding, we’re mostly here to talk about Wicked and Elphaba again.Last time we went to Oz, it was to discuss why everyone’s favorite (don’t call her) wicked witch, Elphaba, had green skin, and what kind of scientific possibilities and reasoning there might be for that unique color in the real world. But this time, we’re discussing the talking animals of Oz! Ever wonder how close we might be to a dryly-witted talking goat like Dr. Dillamond? Or whether animals might be capable of speech in general?The answers might surprise you, as they did us. But also, we hadn’t quite considered how our lives would change if animals could express themselves the same way humans can. Wouldn’t your lifestyle be a little different if animals could speak to you? How have these talking animals been portrayed elsewhere in pop culture, anyway? And while we’re at it, we’ll share behind the scenes details about how a moment in Wicked brought out the best in some real animals out there.Check out the latest episode of Does it Fly? to learn more!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK_ppck3cDQSUGGESTED VIEWINGBy now, we assume that you have seen the first Wicked movie, because it made all the money and thus we assume everyone on the planet has. However, it would be helpful to understand this episode if you did. We had not yet seen Wicked: For Good at the time we recorded this episode.But just as we did in our previous Wicked episode, we’d like to suggest MGM’s original The Wizard of Oz (1939), Sidney Lumet’s The Wiz (1978), and the surprisingly disturbing Return to Oz (1985). Get on your brooms and go!FURTHER READINGDo you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! Speech vs. CommunicationAs anyone who has a pet knows, animals DO communicate, both with each other and with humans. So it helps to delineate the differences between speech and communication.You say larynx, I say syrinx…Birds do sing, but they have an entirely different vocal mechanism than humans do. It’s a remarkable organ, and you can learn about it here.Vocal learningEssentially, how many sounds can an animal (including humans) learn and retain? Once again, birds have a remarkable “vocabulary” in this regard, but there are other advantages to vocal learners.Movie Science AdvisorsFor more on Tamara’s explanation about the role of science advisors in film, from someone who was there!Singing Before SpeechDr. Erich Jarvis has come to some fascinating conclusions about the origins of human speech and its roots in…song?Hollywood, Health & SocietyWe wouldn’t have even known this amazing organization exists if it weren’t for Tamara!The “Animal Unit”The article that Tamara cites regarding behind-the-scenes details about creating such realistic talking animals in Wicked and Wicked: For Good can be found here.WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?The companion piece to this episode of Does it Fly? was about why Elphaba has green skin. Watch it here!Want some more fantasy-flavored family friendly viewing? Check out our episode on How to Train Your Dragon right here!FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.comProduced by: Kelsey GoldbergTechnical Director: Andrew HalleyRODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT | 2025
Transcribe →The Terrifying REALITY of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET!
Oct 300:50:44Tap to summarizeSubscribe to Does It Fly? Pod: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1On DOES IT FLY?, we explore the science and story logic behind your favorite pop culture topics. Today, we’re asking: if you die in your dreams, will you die in real life, like we see in the Nightmare on Elm Street movies?“Welcome to prime time…”Freddy Krueger“One, two, Freddy’s coming for you…three, four, better lock the door…five, six, grab your crucifix…seven, eight, better stay up late.” For some of us, horribly scarred by R-rated horror movies in heavy rotation on HBO as kids, this little nursery rhyme first heard in A Nightmare on Elm Street was about as well known as the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s a simple, memorable admonition to not fall asleep lest serial killer Freddy Krueger visit you in your dreams to make sure you won’t wake up that held considerable power over our imaginations. But it’s also so much more.A Nightmare on Elm Street, as well as its parade of sequels (of…varying quality, but we’ll get to that) taps into a certain primal fear of the unknown. Sleep is one of the little deaths in our life. We surrender ourselves to forces we don’t truly understand, where we then are bombarded with symbolic narratives as our brains keep firing while our bodies rest. The simple question of “if I go to sleep, what if I don’t wake up?” is one that every child has asked their parents. And there’s that long standing urban legend that if you die in your dream, well, your real life body will follow.Is there any truth to that? If you die in your dreams, will you ACTUALLY die in real life? And what about the actual science of dreams and sleep? And how the heck did Wes Craven and friends weave it all together to create one of the most compelling horror stories of all time?Check out the latest episode of Does it Fly? to find out! And…let’s hope we don’t put you to sleep. Put some coffee on or something, geez!https://youtu.be/h0A0QX0nH0cFURTHER VIEWINGVirtually everything we cover in terms of the dream logic of Freddy Krueger and this franchise can be found in Wes Craven’s original A Nightmare on Elm Street, a true classic of ‘80s horror and one of the most influential films of its kind of all time!And yes, the rest of the franchise is kind of hit and miss, but they’re all entertaining as hell. If you ONLY watch one of the sequels, check out A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors, which is generally beloved and the best of the bunch. But for you Scream fans (another Wes Craven masterpiece), you might also want to give Wes Craven’s New Nightmare a look, as it’s almost the prototype for Scream!And if all that is old (and ratty) hat to you, maybe it’s time to check out the brilliant Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy documentary.FURTHER READINGDo you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! A Quick Overview of SleepNot just the different stages of sleep, but a breakdown of what can go wrong during them, can be found here!Night TerrorsWhile that sounds like it could be a movie title, it’s an actual scientific term, and these ain’t your average nightmare! But those can lead to…Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death SyndromeAnd while this one sounds like a really awful band name, it is one of the cruxes of the fear of dying in your dreams.Lucid DreamingIf you want to actual kick Freddy’s ass while you sleep, then you’d better master the art of lucid dreaming! Here’s how.Men, Women, and ChainsawsTamara cites this important work on the role of gender in the horror genre and you should check it out, too!Freddy Lives!Want more behind the scenes details on the franchise? Well, here you go.WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?Who says we don’t cover horror on this show? Just check out this howlingly good episode we did on werewolves if you don’t believe us!It’s spooky season and The Crow absolutely fits the vibe, if you want some heroics with your horror. Check it out here.FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.comProduced by: Kelsey GoldbergTechnical Director: Andrew HalleyRODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT | 2025
Transcribe →Romancing Superman: How Lois and Clark Get Intimate
Sep 1900:31:05Tap to summarizeSuperman (2025) brings audiences a version of Lois Lane and Clark Kent who are clearly very hot for each other. But could they ever actually consummate their relationship?“Putting it delicately…do you…eat?”Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Lois LaneWelcome to Does it Fly? After Dark, the podcast that puts your favorite pop culture concepts to the test…but this time in a slightly more adult setting. That’s right, for this episode, we were live in front of an audience (at Mission Brewery in San Diego, California) with our brilliant friends Rosie Knight and Jason Concepcion of I Heart Media’s X-Ray Vision podcast. Honestly, we needed all the help we could get to discuss the hot button issue of the moment: how is it possible for Superman and Lois Lane to have sex?Look, anyone who watched Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet as Lois and Clark on screen in James Gunn’s brilliant Superman movie this year absolutely could feel the heat coming off those characters from the screen. So it’s not “how COULD they” so much as it is “seriously, HOW could they?” As we all know, Kryptonians are made of, um, harder stuff than humans, and folks have spent the better part of 80 years quietly asking how Superman and Lois can be intimate without serious injury to the human part of the equation.Sure, there aren’t many actual scientific studies involving human to alien sex, so we examined this heat-vision hot topic from all positions…sorry…angles in a raucous, slightly more R-rated format than usual. Check it out, but beware…this episode contains adult themes and strong language!Watch the video version here! https://youtu.be/4E3Zc3uT97MThis episode of Does it Fly is brought to you by Upper Deck. Fleer Brilliants Superman shines the light on Superman and Metropolis in a bright and brilliant new way!Whether it’s the 90-card base set on rainbow foil board featuring art by some of the greatest artists in Superman history or highly collectible inserts like “Classic Covers,” “Last Son of Krypton,” “World of Metropolis,” Truth, Justice, and a Batter Tomorrow” or the super rare “Powered by the Sun” cards, Fleer Brilliants Superman is the ultimate tribute to the Man of Steel and his friends, family, and foes.Head to upperdeckstore.com to start your collection, today!FURTHER VIEWINGMuch of what prompted our discussion about Clark Kent and Lois Lane actually getting down to business came from the radiation burns level hot chemistry that co-stars David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan have on screen in James Gunn’s Superman (2025). You can now watch this on HBO Max if you need further proof. But also!Let’s also refer you back to Richard Lester and Richard Donner’s Superman II (1980) in which Clark (Christopher Reeve) temporarily gives up his powers to be with Lois (Margot Kidder) and there’s a pretty sensual moment of the two of them in bed together in the Fortress of Solitude. That being said, Clark was a “normal man” there, but the fact that he had to give up his powers in order to get there might be an indication.Mid-1990s TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman often featured their Lois (Teri Hatcher) and Clark (Dean Cain) in an ongoing will they/won’t they fury of sexual tension (they eventually did). But the specific episode where they learn they can’t have children together because of Clark’s alien biology was the series finale, season 4, episode 22.And, of course, Smallville was a remarkably horny show and there’s uh…several episodes dealing with the matter of Clark (Tom Welling) having sex with human women. But one in particular is season 7, episode 7, “Wrath” in which Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) gains powers so Clark doesn’t have to worry about holding back. But the real fun with Smallville is the long and winding and horny journey, so feel free to just wallow in Clark’s awkwardness throughout.We also have fun with the question of the “kryptonite condom” raised by Kevin Smith’s slacker comedy classic Mallrats.FURTHER READINGDo you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! Man of Steel, Woman of KleenexYou think we’re the first people to consider this topic? Famed sci-fi and fantasy author Larry Niven first tackled this topic way back in 1969 (nice!). It’s available online to read here.And in the Comics…For more than half of Superman’s published history, it was more or less implied that he was pretty chaste. Aside from the major romantic players in his life like Lana Lang and Lois Lane, Superman has at various times been intimate with Maxima (a powerful alien who sees Supes as perfect to have kids with), Wonder Woman (during DC’s “New 52” era and a fling which is almost certainly no longer canon), and others. But the real progression of his romance with Lois Lane, which eventually leads to the birth of their son, Jon, began in the mid-90s and Jon’s birth and its aftermath are depicted in the Convergence: Superman and Lois and Clark limited series by Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks which are pretty much the starting point for their modern/current relationship.WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?The companion piece to this episode is our much more family-friendly examination of the concept of Superman getting his powers from the yellow sun of Earth.And for something not remotely sexy, we looked at the horrifying reality of the Joker toxin from Batman (1989) here.FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? On:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.comProduced by: Kelsey GoldbergTechnical Director: Andrew HalleyRODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT | 2025
Transcribe →How the Vulcan Mind Meld from Star Trek Works
Aug 2200:48:20Tap to summarize“My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts…”Vulcans right before they guess your phone password.We’ve all seen them do it. A Vulcan gets cozy with an individual, gently places a perfectly-manicured and long-fingered hand along their face, gets that distant look in their eye, and suddenly their minds are one. No, it’s not a clever party trick, it’s an incredibly useful information gathering tool, as well as an intimate (even emotional) act that Vulcans don’t take lightly and thus only deploy in circumstances that absolutely demand it. Yes, we’re talking about the Vulcan Mind Meld this week! And despite being one of the most famous pieces of Star Trek lore there is surprisingly (or perhaps thankfully) little on screen explanation of it. But explaining how a mind meld may or may not work requires us to dig into how brains actually conjure up and store things like memories, the electrical impulses that make up thoughts, and actual real world non-verbal communication. There are also some fascinating pieces of Star Trek history to be uncovered in our quest to determine not just the “how” of this famed plot and story device, but the “why” of how it came to be. Our hosts, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi and Tamara Krinsky have once again performed a mind meld of their own to bring you the very best breakdown of sci-fi and pop culture you’re going to find in this quadrant.Check out the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here if you don’t believe us!https://youtu.be/YllWLbrhKP0?si=xJxH6Gbb2mUVnbUdFURTHER VIEWINGDespite being one of the most famous bits of Star Trek lore, the Vulcan Mind Meld is something that’s only been used relatively sparingly on screen. You probably know the broad strokes of what it is and what it’s supposed to do, but here are the specific episodes and moments we used for reference in this episode:Star Trek season 1 episode 9 - “Dagger of the Mind”Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3 episode 23 - “Sarek”Star Trek: Voyager season 1 episode 8 - “Ex Post Facto”Star Trek: Voyager season 2 episode 16 - “Meld”Star Trek: Enterprise season 1 episode 17 - “Fusion”FURTHER READINGDo you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! What is a Mind?Oh no, are we getting all philosophical again like we did in our recent Freaky Friday episode? Well…maybe not as much this time. In fact, to prove it, here is an exceedingly scientific breakdown of what makes up the brain itself: neurons and how they work! See also: the concept of “theory of mind” which we have also discussed recently!Brain Energy SignalsIn order to detect what a brain is thinking, you need to read the signals…which may be electrical in nature but come in units of measure we aren’t used to dealing with!Mirror NeuronsNo, not neurons that make you behave like your evil double from a parallel universe (sorry, this is a Star Trek episode, so couldn’t resist), these are far more practical. And in a way, it’s a form of mind meld!Technological Mind MeldsThe scientific study that Hakeem references where scientists used technology to essentially create a mind meld was captured on video here.Where are Memories Stored in the Brain?In order to access the thoughts of another, they have to theoretically be stored somewhere, right? All this and more answered here.Behind the Scenes! If you want to go deeper into Tamara’s explanations about how the Mind Meld came to be, we always recommend These are the Voyages, TOS Season One by Marc Cushman and Susan Osborne and The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek - The First 25 Years by Ed Gross and Mark A. Altman.WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?This ain’t our first rodeo (in this case, “rodeo” means “exploration of concepts from Star Trek)! Our first episode ever took on the transporter and you can watch that right here.We also took a closer look at the Genesis Device from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Watch it here!WE ARE RUNNING A CONTEST! WIN SOME COOL PRIZES!Does It Fly? Presents: The Ultimate Nerd GiveawayRoddenberry Entertainment's Does It Fly? is proud to present a giveaway that will make all of your nerd, geek, and sci-fi fan hearts flutter. Want to know how to enter and win? The main thing you’ll want to do is watch and listen for the secret word which will be mentioned in this and upcoming episodes. You’ll see the word appear on screen at a random point in the broadcast as our hosts say it, and it will be accompanied by a tone for our audio listeners. The secret word will appear in Does it Fly? episodes released between July 2 and August 22 so don’t miss ‘em!But there are SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO ENTER! So log in at this link and learn all the different ways you can enter to win! https://gleam.io/IhJtq/dif-ultimate-nerd-giveawayNow, as for those prizes…SECOND RUNNER UP:Prey Soundtrack VinylCaptain Pike FlexfigJudge Q FunkoFIRST RUNNER UP:Prey Soundtrack VinylPredator Elder Greyback FunkoPredator City Hunter FunkoCaptain Sisko FlexfigClassic PhaserGRAND PRIZE:Prey Soundtrack VinylJurassic Park Dilophosaurus Hatchling FunkoJurassic Park T. Rex Hatchling FunkoJurassic Park Velociraptor HatchlingJurassic Park Stygimoloch Hatchling FunkoGentle Giant Saru BustFOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.comProduced by: Kelsey GoldbergTechnical Director: Andrew HalleyRODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT | 2025
Transcribe →FREAKY FRIDAY and the SCIENCE of Body Swap Movies
Aug 800:47:44Tap to summarizeIt’s a time honored trope in movies: one brain, soul, consciousness…whatever you want to call it, either gets placed in a brand new body or gets swapped with someone else’s. Sure, it’s been done a bunch, but some would argue that it has never been done better than in the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. It’s such a simple premise, where a daughter and mother suddenly wake up in each other’s bodies, but it’s done to particularly hilarious and iconic effect in this version.Now, the inherently “magical” element of two consciousnesses switching places is one thing, and one that’s difficult to quantify from a scientific standpoint. But before we can even think about the “swapping” issue, we have to answer the question of what is the nature of consciousness at all. In other words, this is a much heavier episode than we expected it to be when we first set out to make it. Thankfully, we have Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi and Tamara Krinsky to guide you through it all.Check out the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here for more!https://youtu.be/ozzzTDqFIfAFURTHER VIEWINGOK, so obviously, you probably want to have seen the 2003 version of Freaky Friday with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan before watching this episode. Although don’t dismiss Disney’s 1976 original version of the film that starred no less than future big screen legend Jodie Foster and all-time small screen legend John Astin! Just note that we hadn’t seen the newest movie, Freakier Friday, at the time we recorded this episode. But there are a couple of other key body swap movies that Tamara mentions in the episode. One is Penny Marshall’s 1988 classic Big, starring Tom Hanks. That’s a classic of its decade, and you’ve probably already seen that one. If you haven’t seen Big, well, the only possible explanation we can think of is that you probably weren’t a kid in the ‘80s or ‘90s. Just note that this isn’t two consciousnesses switching place but rather a kid waking up in his own suddenly adult body.But 1984’s All of Me, starring Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin, and directed by Carl Reiner is something of an underrated comedy gem in general…not just for the body-swap genre! And if we can make one more kind of offbeat recommendation: Justice League Unlimited season 3, episode 8 “The Great Brain Robbery” has Flash and Lex Luthor switching consciousnesses, to hilarious results!Don’t worry, you still only really need to have seen Freaky Friday to get what we’re talking about today, but our questions about the nature of consciousness apply just as much to these other classics! FURTHER READINGDo you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! What Is Consciousness?Hakeem starts off the episode by asking a question that made our heads spin ever so slightly: what is consciousness? Well, to explain that, you can look at it from a scientific and biological/neurological perspective or you can take a more philosophical approach. Somewhere between the two you will find true consciousness. Oh no, now we’re talking like the kinds of people who ask deep philosophical questions, too! Sorry for the long readings in those links but there are no easy answers to…oh no, we’re doing it again!Theory of Mind“Theory of Mind” sounds more intimidating than it is, and to make up for the extra long readings above, we found one with helpful illustrations for you this time! Hey, it’s still from Stanford.Foreplanning and Animal ConsciousnessSure, humans can think of scenarios that haven’t happened yet (or, if you’re anxious, that may never happen) but if we may quote Hakeem: “We are not the only conscious entities on this planet.” To that end, here’s some animal kingdom proof for you! If you want to read that paper he cites about the chimpanzee tricking its food rivals, it’s here. Or this creepy bird doing creepy human baby imitations to trick us into giving it food.The Biology of Consciousness?It’s as simple as this: when you are anesthetized, certain portions of the brain are inactive, but when you wake up, they activate. Here is a more complicated explanation. BUT remember, correlation does not necessarily equal causation!The Big PictureDon’t you love it when Tamara surprises Hakeem during the science section? She recommends The Big Picture by Sean Carroll as a wonderful way to look at some of the questions of consciousness.The History of Freaky FridayFor some more context on how this movie came together, we’ve got just the thing.“You Are Not the Voice in Your Head”Check out The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer for a deeper exploration of this concept.WE ARE RUNNING A CONTEST! WIN SOME COOL PRIZES!Does It Fly? Presents: The Ultimate Nerd GiveawayRoddenberry Entertainment's Does It Fly? is proud to present a giveaway that will make all of your nerd, geek, and sci-fi fan hearts flutter. Want to know how to enter and win? The main thing you’ll want to do is watch and listen for the secret word which will be mentioned in this and upcoming episodes. You’ll see the word appear on screen at a random point in the broadcast as our hosts say it, and it will be accompanied by a tone for our audio listeners. The secret word will appear in Does it Fly? episodes released between July 2 and August 22 so don’t miss ‘em!But there are SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO ENTER! So log in at this link and learn all the different ways you can enter to win! https://gleam.io/IhJtq/dif-ultimate-nerd-giveawayNow, as for those prizes…SECOND RUNNER UP:Prey Soundtrack VinylCaptain Pike FlexfigJudge Q FunkoFIRST RUNNER UP:Prey Soundtrack VinylPredator Elder Greyback FunkoPredator City Hunter FunkoCaptain Sisko FlexfigClassic PhaserGRAND PRIZE:Prey Soundtrack VinylJurassic Park Dilophosaurus Hatchling FunkoJurassic Park T. Rex Hatchling FunkoJurassic Park Velociraptor HatchlingJurassic Park Stygimoloch Hatchling FunkoGentle Giant Saru BustWANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?Remember when we asked “why is she like this” about Elphaba from Wicked? If you missed that episode, now’s your chance!For you Disney fans, we took a look at the surprising science hidden in animated classic Snow White!FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.comProduced by: Kelsey GoldbergTechnical Director: Andrew HalleyRODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT | 2025
Transcribe →The SCIENCE of SUPERMAN!
Jul 1200:50:03Tap to summarize“You’ve got ME? Who’s got YOU?!?Lois LaneWith a new Superman movie now in theaters (James Gunn’s aptly titled Superman) it’s time to take a look at one of the biggest conundrums in all of popular culture. Just where do Superman’s powers come from? While there have been conflicting explanations for this given by comics, TV shows, animated series, and movies through the decades, one point has taken hold pretty solidly for most of the character’s eight-plus decades: many of Superman’s powers come from the fact that he comes from a race of aliens who developed under a red sun, which means our more intensely radiant yellow sun charges up his cells and gives him his amazing abilities.The nature of Superman’s powers had been addressed in different ways in the comics over the years (at one point, ALL Kryptonians were simply born with super powers, before explanations like Earth’s lighter gravity, our yellow sun, and others were added to the mythos). But the first media adaptation that really tried to address the source of his powers came with Richard Donner’s masterful Superman: The Movie (1978). In that film, no less than Marlon Brando as Jor-El patiently explains to the audience the ways a Kryptonian would adapt to Earth’s environment and the powers one might get.Look, there’s only so much realism we can expect with a character like Superman, who is more of an ideal to strive for than a hard science fiction character. But we dive into the science and the story, and also discuss the timeless vibes that make that first proper Superman movie such an enduring classic in this episode.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9jeGwHn57EFURTHER VIEWINGMuch of this episode’s discussion was based around two of the best superhero movies ever made, Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980). While Christopher Reeve might be the most perfect piece of superhero casting ever, the other two movies in that franchise are uneven at best. But there’s other Superman media that address the source of the Man of Steel’s powers!While divisive, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel made a valiant effort to explain why Superman can do the things he does (including the yellow sun). And James Gunn’s currently in theaters Superman (2025) leans heavily on the solar power angle. It’s also just an absolute blast and the best superhero movie in years.FURTHER READINGKrypton and Its SunThere are two main ingredients in Superman’s home planet that are said to contribute to his powers on Earth. One is that Krypton itself is habitable (and potentially with heavier gravity), and in order for that to be the case, it has to exist in the habitable zone of the star it orbits. Proxima Centauri B is one such world that has captured scientists’ attention.The one more relevant to today’s discussion is that Superman was born under a red sun, which makes Earth’s yellow sun supercharge his cells. In Krypton’s case, that’s a dying star known as a red giant. Which brings us to…A quick guide to the different colors of stars. Although, as Hakeem points out, Earth’s sun isn’t yellow, but green! Eventually, it will turn red, but that’s a problem none of us will be around to see.KryptochondriaWe all remember photosynthesis from elementary school, right? But in order for human (or animal in the case of Krypto the Superdog) cells to be charged up with solar radiation to the degree necessary for superheroics, cellular organelles and ribosomes would have to function differently. Also the amount of the neurotransmitter known as adenosine triphosphate (creatine devotees know all about ATP) it would take to generate the energy for super-feats is prohibitive.We confess that following Hakeem on the matter of the absorption spectrum is a little challenging, but don’t just take our word for it! Failed Flying Techniques and More!Tamara gives us a red giant batch of story analysis and background info in this one, but because seeing is believing, some stuff is better watched than read. For more context on Superman: The Movie and the incredible effort it took to make you believe a man could fly, check out The Magic Behind the Cape (where we get the “best special effect of all” that Tamara quotes) and Front Projection 101. Also, somewhere on a Superman: The Movie Blu-ray extra that doesn’t appear to be online, there is video evidence of the “dummy shot out of an air cannon” failed flying technique Tamara brings up, but we can’t link it here! WE ARE RUNNING A CONTEST! WIN SOME COOL PRIZES!Does It Fly? Presents: The Ultimate Nerd GiveawayRoddenberry Entertainment's Does It Fly? is proud to present a giveaway that will make all of your nerd, geek, and sci-fi fan hearts flutter. Want to know how to enter and win? The main thing you’ll want to do is watch and listen for the secret word which will be mentioned in this and upcoming episodes. You’ll see the word appear on screen at a random point in the broadcast as our hosts say it, and it will be accompanied by a tone for our audio listeners. The secret word will appear in Does it Fly? episodes released between July 2 and August 22 so don’t miss ‘em!But there are SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO ENTER! So log in at this link and learn all the different ways you can enter to win! https://gleam.io/IhJtq/dif-ultimate-nerd-giveawayNow, as for those prizes…SECOND RUNNER UP:Prey Soundtrack VinylCaptain Pike FlexfigJudge Q FunkoFIRST RUNNER UP:Prey Soundtrack VinylPredator Elder Greyback FunkoPredator City Hunter FunkoCaptain Sisko FlexfigClassic PhaserGRAND PRIZE:Prey Soundtrack VinylJurassic Park Dilophosaurus Hatchling FunkoJurassic Park T. Rex Hatchling FunkoJurassic Park Velociraptor HatchlingJurassic Park Stygimoloch Hatchling FunkoGentle Giant Saru BustFOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.comProduced by: Kelsey GoldbergTechnical Director: Andrew HalleyRODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT | 2025
Transcribe →The Most CONTROVERSIAL Part of JURASSIC Park EXPLAINED!
Jul 200:48:46Tap to summarize“I’m simply saying that life, uh, finds a way.”Dr. Ian Malcolm, master of understatementOh those silly humans in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies. When will they ever learn? You’d think that maybe after the events of the first film they might take a breather on trying to mess with nature, or at least with dinosaurs specifically, but nope! But if they did, we wouldn’t have all these fun movies where said humans get their just desserts as, um, dessert for all manner of resurrected dinosaurs.The quality of the assorted sequels in the Jurassic Park franchise are a mixed bag, but the original 1993 film? That one is a pretty unassailable summer movie classic, and it’s the one that we’re focusing on for this week’s episode. Specifically, we’re diving in to the question of how the dinosaurs, engineered to only be female, changed their sex to male in order to breed and thus create an entire host of new problems for the unwitting scientists. We also, as you might expect, take a look at the “your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should” of it all. Get your running shoes on (how does that old saying go? “I don’t have to outrun the velociraptor, I only have to outrun you?”) for the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here…https://youtu.be/-oE2KLOj5-sWE ARE RUNNING A CONTEST! WIN SOME COOL PRIZES!Does It Fly? Presents: The Ultimate Nerd GiveawayRoddenberry Entertainment's Does It Fly? is proud to present a giveaway that will make all of your nerd, geek, and sci-fi fan hearts flutter. Want to know how to enter and win? The main thing you’ll want to do is watch and listen for the secret word which will be mentioned in this and upcoming episodes. You’ll see the word appear on screen at a random point in the broadcast as our hosts say it, and it will be accompanied by a tone for our audio listeners. The secret word will appear in Does it Fly? episodes released between July 2 and August 22 so don’t miss ‘em!But there are SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO ENTER! So log in at this link and learn all the different ways you can enter to win! https://gleam.io/IhJtq/dif-ultimate-nerd-giveawayNow, as for those prizes…SECOND RUNNER UP:Prey Soundtrack VinylCaptain Pike FlexfigJudge Q FunkoFIRST RUNNER UP:Prey Soundtrack VinylPredator Elder Greyback FunkoPredator City Hunter FunkoCaptain Sisko FlexfigClassic PhaserGRAND PRIZE:Prey Soundtrack VinylJurassic Park Dilophosaurus Hatchling FunkoJurassic Park T. Rex Hatchling FunkoJurassic Park Velociraptor HatchlingJurassic Park Stygimoloch Hatchling FunkoGentle Giant Saru BustSUGGESTED VIEWING We’re only really discussing the first Jurassic Park movie in this episode, so that makes it easy on you. But the franchise now encompasses both movies and TV shows, and they aren’t all handily numbered like some sequels are, so here’s a quick guide to the order they all take place in, for those viewing order chronology obsessives out there!Jurassic Park (movie)The Lost World: Jurassic Park (movie)Jurassic Park III (movie)Jurassic World (movie)Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (Netflix animated TV series…and a really good one, too!)Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (movie)Battle at Big Rock (short film)Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (Netflix animated TV series…also quite good!)Jurassic World Dominion (movie)Jurassic World Rebirth (movie)FURTHER READING Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! Read the books!The first movie in the franchise is based on Michael Crichton’s bestselling 1983 novel of the same name. He wrote its sequel, The Lost World, at the behest of Steven Spielberg, who wanted to make another Jurassic Park movie, and Crichton decided he would like the equivalent weight of a brontosaurus in cash.Dinosaur birds?The ancient bird-like dinosaur that Hakeem is referring to is the archaeopteryx, which is kind of the link between modern birds and dinosaurs, but read more here to get a better sense of this distinction.They can do WHAT?!?For a brief list of animals (no mammals can do this on their own!) that can change their sex when needed, we direct you here. Frogs, of course, are the most relevant specifically to Jurassic Park and our discussion today, but according to Hakeem, if you wanted to be more scientifically accurate, pay more attention to the birds and reptiles on this list!Mutation as Stress ResponseSadly, humans can’t do this RIGHT NOW but there’s plenty of scientific precedent for it.A Brief History of the End Times (for certain creatures)Some light and fluffy reading for you, an overview of extinction level events in history!WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?The new How to Train Your Dragon is currently in theaters and we took a look at the evolutionary possibilities of dragons right here. Dragons are kind of like dinosaurs, right?Speaking of new releases in theaters, M3GAN 2.0 is now playing, and we looked at the scientific and philosophical implications of the first film right here.FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.com
Transcribe →Putting M3GAN on Trial!
Jun 2700:48:40Tap to summarize“I have a new primary user now…me.”The title character from M3GAN being bratty.When the first trailers for the original M3GAN arrived, nobody quite expected it to be one of the horror movie sensations of recent years. But it sure did! Or, we should say, she sure did. Because like all the best horror movie protagonists who go by their first names alone (Freddy, Jason, you get the picture), M3GAN became a pop culture force all her own.And for all the fun ridiculousness contained in that film (and, presumably, in the sequel, M3GAN 2.0 which is now in theaters), it actually raised some interesting philosophical questions. Of course, here at Does it Fly? we’re interested in the actual mechanics of building and designing M3GAN herself, but we also are fascinated by the implications of using a realistic A.I. as a therapeutic device. Maybe M3GAN isn’t the most nuanced subject for those conversations, but we dive into them, nonetheless.We also had some of the most fun we’ve had this year in our final section, putting M3GAN “on trial” for her actions, with our hosts, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi (prosecution) and Tamara Krinsky, Esq. (ok, not really, but she’s a hell of a defense attorney in this case) throw vibes out the window this week, so we’ll see you in court!All this and more in the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here…https://youtu.be/nteIYlCFAUISUGGESTED VIEWING If you’re reading this, you already saw M3GAN, right? Good. If not, despite its somewhat campy reputation, it really is a fun piece of sci-fi with a horror edge and it absolutely deserved to be the box office hit it was. Just note that we hadn’t seen M3GAN 2.0 at the time of recording.While 2004’s I, Robot isn’t beloved by Asimov purists (see our “further reading” section below), it’s better than its reputation suggests and comes from frequently underrated director Alex Proyas, so that’s good enough for us if you want a little context for the “three laws of robotics” discussed here.Tamara also brings up Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report as a film about a technology that has theoretically good intentions…until it’s put into practice and immediately abused. FURTHER READING Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! Building Your M3GAN (please do not do this)There are three elements of M3GAN that are rooted in science fact but ultimately keep her as science fiction.Fine Motor ControlWe’ve mentioned the incredible work in humanoid (and canine) robotics being done by Boston Dynamics before, but they don’t quite have the dexterity of M3GAN…yet.“Apparent Reasoning”Getting into all of the ins and outs of artificial intelligence and the debates surrounding it is beyond the scope of this show, but even ardent A.I. supporters admit that “true general intelligence” or the ability for machines to actually reason, isn’t a thing…yet. Read more here.Power DensityEven assuming these other things were possible, the battery life of M3GAN is beyond the current “power density” of anything out there…for now.Asimov’s LawsAs Tamara references, courtesy of Asimov’s short story collection, I, Robot…see if you can spot how many of these M3GAN breaks!A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.Kids, Technology, Attention Spans…As Hakeem and Tamara discuss, while technology can be used therapeutically for kids, like anything else, there are potential drawbacks, particularly with attention spans. The Fisher-Price bear hackEven though this happened over a decade ago, it’s still a warning light to heed!Hakeem’s Favorite AstronautOK, yes, Cady Coleman does seem pretty awesome.WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?For other humanoid robot fun with deep and potentially terrifying implications, have you seen our Blade Runner episode? Or might we suggest RoboCop?The new How to Train Your Dragon is currently in theaters and we took a look at the evolutionary possibilities of dragons right here.FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.com
Transcribe →The Evolutionary Case for REAL DRAGONS!
Jun 1300:51:04Tap to summarizeHow to Train Your Dragon is only the latest piece in a cultural puzzle that dates back thousands of years. How realistic are dragons, anyway?“While other places have ponies or parrots, we have…dragons.”When you think of modern day animated classics, the first projects that people tend to think of are the titans of Disney/Pixar. But under no circumstances should you sleep on the brilliant people at Dreamworks Animation who have their own share of legitimate masterpieces in the form of the Shrek franchise, last year’s brilliant The Wild Robot, and the endlessly impressive How to Train Your Dragon franchise. And when it comes to the central concept of that franchise, dragons, well…the folks at Dreamworks have done it about as well as anybody ever has!Think about it. The use of dragons in storytelling far transcends the “pop culture” label. Forget movies, TV, and animation, there’s literature, mythology, and something in our collective unconscious that compels us to keep returning to the familiar imagery associated with them. While we usually associate dragons with a particularly European flavor of fantasy, if you pick any culture or society, you’ll probably find a dragon myth or story. That’s how pervasive they are.Not only that, but they’re timeless! Some of the biggest franchises of not just the last century, but this century, prominently feature dragons. Lord of the Rings, Dungeons & Dragons, Game of Thrones, and yes, How to Train Your Dragon are proof that some old-fashioned concepts never really go out of style. Is it possible that with a slight evolutionary shift we could have ended up with dragons crowding our skies? And why IS the dragon concept so universal, anyway?All this and more in the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here…https://youtu.be/Ww84E8udLrASUGGESTED VIEWING We based much of our discussion in this episode on the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, specifically How to Train Your Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon 2, and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. We hadn’t seen the live action remake that’s currently in theaters at the time of recording.But while we have your attention, we’d like to direct you to a nearly forgotten piece of dragon-related media. 1981’s Dragonslayer is a remarkably dark piece of fantasy from a forgotten period where Disney was experimenting with more adult themes in its work. It’s not quite Game of Thrones but there’s plenty of gore and some sexy themes that you wouldn’t expect. It’s also the rare dragon flick that’s genuinely scary at times!FURTHER READING Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! Flying Reptiles?!?While it’s natural to think in terms of the pterodactyl when thinking of real world parallels to dragons, those weren’t the only flying reptiles of that long ago age. But you might also want to consider a reptile that is still flying around today, the Draco lizard, when you wonder how dragons might eventually evolve. As long as they have hollow bones….Convergent Evolution and Evolutionary BottlenecksHakeem takes us on quite a journey as he tries to explain the processes by which dragons could have evolved. But two fo the key concepts involve evolutionary bottlenecks (which likely influenced human development) and the concept of convergent evolution, which would help explain why dragons were to develop very specific and distinctive traits (check out a bunch of real world examples right here).But What About Fire-Breathing?You might think that a fire-breathing dragon is far-fetched, but we’d like to remind you of the existence of the electric eel, the bombardier beetle, and the spitting cobra, all of which have distinctive self defense mechanisms that are pretty alien to humans. So the idea that a dragon could contain methanogens in its gut that provide the fuel for a fire might not be that far-fetched after all!Read the Books!A quick reminder that the How to Train Your Dragon movies were based on a book series by Cressida Cowell. Check ‘em out!“We have wonder…”That lovely quote from Dean Deblois that Tamara found comes from the documentary special feature, Where No One Goes: The Making of How to Train Your Dragon 2, which covers a lot more ground than just that second movie!The Hero’s JourneyAs Tamara points out, if you haven’t read Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey, that will unlock so many touchpoints in the stories you love that you won’t look at your favorite franchise the same way again!WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?For some of our other takes on excellent modern animation, check out our episodes on The Incredibles and Big Hero 6!Need more Does it Fly? fantasy deep dives in your life? We’ve examined The Witcher and Lord of the Rings in previous episodes!FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.com
Transcribe →