Podcast
The Incomparable Mothership
Hosted by Jason Snell · EN
The Incomparable Mothership is the flagship of the Incomparable podcast network. It’s all about geeky media we love, including movies, books, TV, and more, featuring a rotating panel of guests and hosted by Jason Snell and friends.
48episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
808: Growing Up Targaryen
Mar 1401:06:36Tap to summarizeHave your squire put on your best (and only) set of armor and be sure to re-paint your shield! We’re here to discuss the surprisingly delightful “Game of Thrones” spin-off “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” which features characters to root for, humor, and other things in short supply in other installments of the franchise. "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Erika Ensign and John Moltz Referenced Works A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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807: Assassin As a Service
Mar 601:34:08Tap to summarizeCharge up your cyberspace deck and avoid all slamhounds! It’s time for us to discuss the second book in William Gibson’s famed Sprawl trilogy, “Count Zero.” Of course, Count Zero is the name of a great hacker… wait, it’s this kid? This is a book that defies audience expectations, from the title character to the way it follows up—or doesn’t, really—the events and characters in its famous predecessor. But, as our veteran Gibson readers note, it sets the template for his career to come. "Count Zero" Jason Snell with Lisa Schmeiser, Antony Johnston, Glenn Fleishman and Erika Ensign Referenced Works William Gibson Count Zero Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →806: Demon in a Photocopier
Feb 2701:12:41Tap to summarizeOur Book Club reconvenes to discuss Emily Tesh’s “The Incandescent,” which offers a teacher’s perspective on a magical school (that’s mostly not magical, but infested by demons), an interesting story structure, and some very well-drawn characters. Plus: What else are we reading? "The Incandescent" Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, Erika Ensign, Joe Rosensteel, Heather Berberet, Paul Weimer and Scott McNulty Referenced Works The Incandescent [Amazon] [Apple] Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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805: Universal Basic Rooster Income
Feb 2001:47:11Tap to summarizeFind a cat bed and some apricots, and prepare to upgrade your chicken! While Jason’s away, we play Embark’s hit game “Arc Raiders”, a multiplayer extraction shooter where people can… be nice to each other? (Most of the time, anyway.) We talk survival tips, resource management, and—to nobody’s surprise—John’s got some opinions on the user interface. Host Brian Warren with panelists Ben McCarthy, John Siracusa, and Chip Sudderth. "ARC Raiders" Brian Warren with John Siracusa, Ben Rice McCarthy and Chip Sudderth Referenced Works ARC Raiders Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →804: I Pay This Movie Rent
Feb 1301:23:07Tap to summarizeWant to see a dead body? Bring your comb, stock up on cherry flavor Pez, and stay really quiet if you see a deer. We return to the 1980s and honor Rob Reiner by discussing 1986’s “Stand By Me,” a movie Jason has somehow never seen. It’s not a movie with Things That Happen, but that’s just fine with us. "Stand By Me" Jason Snell with Kelly Guimont, Erika Ensign, John Siracusa and Shelly Brisbin Referenced Works Stand By Me Rob Reiner Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →803: Doing the Good Loon's Work
Feb 601:24:52Tap to summarizeCelebrate Valentine’s Day with The Incomparable. It’s time to discuss that Canadian hockey show everyone’s been talking about. “Heated Rivalry” just wants to know, “Will you come to the cottage this summer?” "Heated Rivalry" Annette Wierstra with Kirsten Goruk, Heather Berberet, Stacy Watnick and Kat Benesh Sponsors Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Referenced Works Heated Rivalry Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →802: Farm-to-Table Body Parts
Jan 3001:12:09Tap to summarizeGuillermo del Toro’s waited his whole life to make a “Frankenstein” movie, and now he’s done it. We carefully select the (Oscar-nominated!) film’s best bits, chop them up, and then sew them back together in the grossest way possible. (We know Del Toro would approve.) You don’t need to have a degree in Frankensteinology to take a seat at the lympahtic charcuterie board, but it helps! "Frankenstein" (2025) Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Brian Hamilton, Monty Ashley, Tony Sindelar and Moisés Chiullán Sponsors Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Referenced Works Frankenstein (2025) Guillermo del Toro Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →801: Chekhov's Chunga Palm
Jan 2301:19:36Tap to summarizeHello, Carol. This is a recording. At the tone, you can leave a message to request anything you might need. We’ll do our best to provide it. Our feelings for you haven’t changed, Carol. But after everything that’s happened, we just need a little space. "Pluribus" season 1 Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Tony Sindelar, Moisés Chiullán and Glenn Fleishman Referenced Works Pluribus Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →800: Draft Science
Jan 1601:34:22Tap to summarizeAfter 800 episodes, we are in serious danger of repeating ourselves, but that never stopped us before. Some of our most prolific panelists fulfill the prophesy and draft Incomparable drafts. Jason begs them to give him new ideas, because after 800, he’s almost run out. And we use our powers for good and evil to mark classic episodes for deletion. title_boring Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Dan Moren, David J. Loehr, Erika Ensign, Kathy Campbell, Moisés Chiullán, Monty Ashley and Shelly Brisbin Show Notes & Links Draft a draft (it culminates) Monty: 158/159 Film Festival II Annette: 695 Toy Draft Moises: 100 Who Cares What We Think? David: 535 Muppet Draft Erika: 192 Robots Kathy: 388 TV Theme Songs Dan: 329 Travesty Draft Shelly: 553 Bad Best Picture Jason: 479 Saturday Morning Draft Suggest a made-up holiday or summer theme Monty: Crossovermas Annette: Cage Fight Club / Cage Match Moises: Franktoberfest or Franksgiving David: Summer of Spies Erika: Summer of Sun / Summer of Summer Kathy: Streepstakes Dan: Every Version of Blade Runner Shelly: Decade of Disasters Jason: Valentine’s Day romcoms / F’sgiving / Summer of Kaiju Suggest a topic for a future episode Monty: Lawnmower Man/Lawnmower Man 2 Annette: Heated Rivalry Moises: Defeat the Fantasy RPG Final Battle Draft David: Network Erika: Tank Girl Kathy: Best First Role of famous actor draft, Books from your Childhood Dan: Mario Kart Tournament Shelly: Content you think somebody who is not SF/F native would enjoy/help get started Draft an episode you’d like to delete from the Incomparable archive Monty: 222 - Forcegiving Annette: 33 - Real Genius Moises: 22 - Stephen Fry (Does Not Appear) David: 139 - Wrinkle in Time Erika: 269 - Crazy Ivan Kathy: 382 - It’s a Wonderful Life / 202 2014 Hugos Dan: 58 - Greyskull Anonymous Shelly: 325 - Monster Mash Jason: 124/125 LOTR episode since we could do it properly (we could anyway) Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →799: Earth 2120 (feat. Xenomorph)
Jan 901:17:34Tap to summarizeNoah Hawley’s TV take on the Alien franchise, “Alien: Earth,” is crashing into a building near us, bringing gross aliens old and new, suspicious synths, terrified (and bloody) humans, and a new class of hybrid life forms with the minds of children and superhuman bodies. Does the show give us enough Xenomorphs? Is the eye alien a breakout fan favorite? Was replaying “Alien” on a different ship a good idea? Why is Trillionaire Island so understaffed? We break it all down. "Alien: Earth" Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Brian Warren, Annette Wierstra and Sandra Wong Referenced Works Alien: Earth Alien (franchise) Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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