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 on TruStory FM.
This week, Rebecca Rose Vassey joins Matthew for a discussion on the “Chosen One” trope in superhero media. Does a hero need to be chosen? Who gets to choose, and who gets to accept or reject being chosen?
This week, special guest Robin Gee joins Matthew to discuss the balance between ethics and storytelling for writers. They explore Robin’s webcomic Pin Porter, as well as Supergirl, Calvin & Hobbes, and The Lord of the Rings.
Paul is back and joins Matthew for a discussion of the new Doctor Strange movie. They dive deep into the nature of identity, the emergence of magic in the MCU, the concept of hubris, and the power of nonviolent confrontation.
What does it take to be considered a hero? How have our perceptions of heroes evolved, and does portraying a hero on screen confer real-life heroism? This week, special guest Adam Hulse joins Matthew to delve into these topics and more.
This week, Paul and Matthew are joined by Logan Grendel, who talks with them about V for Vendetta, dystopian stories, and the ethics of violence. (It all ties together, we promise!)
“Dog man” Logan Grendel is a writer, artist, and activist born and raised in New York City. He is a lifelong fan of comics, fantasy, and dystopian tales. His own photo/graphic novel,Harlequin’s Song, was completed in 2006, and has never seemed more timely.
Paul and Matthew talk about the Luke Cage series in its entirety, diving deep into Cottonmouth vs. Diamondback, what it means for a comic book show to comment on real-world situations, and the portrayal of the police in the MCU.
This week, Matthew talks with special guest Dr. Katy Valentine about Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the concept of apocalypse in the stories we love. We discuss the show and some of the questions it raises, especially in terms of its approach to themes such as good versus evil, personal sacrifice, and redemption.
Is fighting crime the best use of a superhero’s powers? Is there a better way for Bruce Wayne to spend his money to make Gotham a safer place? And who is the superhero for the people in the suburbs?
Should Superman kill President Lex Luthor? What should superheroes do when supervillains are elected by the people? Tune in as Paul and Matthew do their best to get themselves on an FBI watchlist by exploring these questions and more, along with a surprise guest appearance halfway through!
Contains spoilers for Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and episodes of The Justice League.
Was Astra right in Supergirl Season 1, that some terrible acts can be justified in order to save the world? Is there some value to authoritarianism if it leads to solving our problems? Should we just put the scientists in charge?