Book Club • Why We Love Star Wars Novels
January 15, 2026
We pull back the curtain on our popular book club series, explaining what makes the written word such a powerful medium for galaxy far, far away storytelling.
Matthew Fox has been passionate about deep conversations about genre media since childhood, when watching the original Star Trek series with their mother often led to discussions about the ethical questions it raised.
Beyond podcasting, Matthew helps run a small nonprofit dedicated to breaking down barriers to computer science education for youth and also provides consulting services for nonprofits and small businesses.
Over time, their podcasting interests have expanded, launching a Star Wars-focused podcast in 2019 and frequently appearing as a guest or co-host on PandaVision and other shows. While ethical questions are not always the primary focus of their work, Matthew has a knack for finding them in nearly everything they watch.
They are the host and founder of both Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics, and co-host of Once and Future Parent on TruStory FM.
We pull back the curtain on our popular book club series, explaining what makes the written word such a powerful medium for galaxy far, far away storytelling.
In this episode, we explore the uncomfortable truth that parenting will frustrate you, and what it means to actually let go instead of just suppressing your feelings.
Jessica Plummer returns for a year-end superhero ethics check-in: Marvel’s 2025 highs and stumbles, DC’s Gunn-era reset, and what we’re watching in 2026—Supergirl, Green Lantern, and the road to Doomsday.
Halloween as a parent means navigating everything from costume choices to candy negotiations, while also managing your own memories of trick-or-treating past. But when does healthy caution cross into helicopter parenting? And how do modern safety concerns compare to the anxieties our parents faced?
Thor: Love and Thunder opens with one of philosophy’s oldest questions: if gods exist and have the power to prevent suffering, why don’t they? But does the film dig into this or abandon it for jokes?
As 2025 draws to a close, the Star Wars landscape looks radically different than it did a year ago. We reflect on a tumultuous year that saw creative risks, behind-the-scenes drama, and a franchise at a crossroads.
Mandy and Matthew complete their deep dive into Ron Howard’s Parenthood, focusing on the film’s most quietly devastating subplot: Frank Buckman’s relationship with his troubled youngest son, Larry. This conversation explores how the movie tackles parental favoritism, the limits of unconditional support, and the painful moment when a parent realizes they can’t fix their adult child—but might get another chance with an unexpected grandchild.
Rev. Rachel Kessler (“The Nerdy Priest”) joins Matthew to analyze how “Wake Up Dead Man” transforms a murder mystery into a theological exploration of faith and church corruption.
What happens to your sense of self when you become a parent? In this raw and reflective conversation, Mandy and Matthew share their experiences of identity transformation, relationship dynamics, and the profound disorientation that comes with a new baby, all through the prism of the classic 80’s movie- Parenthood.
Mandy Kaplan joins Matthew to analyze Rob Reiner’s “When Harry Met Sally…” and “The Princess Bride,” exploring how these iconic films revolutionized romantic storytelling in cinema.