The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of – Details, episodes & analysis

Life has been snatched from the jaws of death! Or is it the other way? Either way, David and Ryan are back on the hot mics, dropping knowledge about props, costumes, movies, whisky, monkey radiator caps and, unfortunately, Nazis. In the smashing Season 11 premiere, the guys share where they've been, what they've been up to, and where this podcast is going (hint: it's going because it's been sponsored by Heritage Auctions as there's a gigantic summer movie memorabilia auction imminently upon us!)

Email: dreamsaremadeofpodcast@gmail.com

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As another season comes to a close, David and Ryan address the murky future of the Stuff Dreams Are Made Of, get real about the economics of producing a podcast, and discuss the possible roads ahead. But it's not all serious--they still crack wise, make bad puns, and rant about minutiae as always. And they answer the real question on everyone's minds: what the hell did Ryan go and buy this time?

Email: dreamsaremadeofpodcast@gmail.com

SDAMO - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/propspodcast/

SDAMO - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/propspodcast.bsky.social

SDAMO - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/propspodcast/

SDAMO - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@props.podcast

David Mandel - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidhmandel/

Brace yourselves, True Believers, this is a nerdy one. The "deep-dive" format returns to the podcast after a too-long absence, and boy is it a biggie. To discuss every detail surrounding (and inside and outside) Darth Vader's helmet, David and Ryan are re-joined by the great Gino Sabatino, expert of all things Star Wars. And Gino has a lot to say. So much, in fact, that it was too much for just one episode. Tuck in for more Darth Vader spoilers than David Prowse himself could manage (RIP). Part 1 covers everything Darth Vader from concept to design to A New Hope and on through Empire Strikes Back...

Email: dreamsaremadeofpodcast@gmail.com

SDAMO - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/propspodcast/

SDAMO - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/propspodcast.bsky.social

SDAMO - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/propspodcast/

SDAMO - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@props.podcast

David Mandel - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidhmandel/

In a first for the Stuff Dreams are Made Of, David and Ryan discuss their preparations for the June Prop Store auction.  David consternates for a long time regarding the X-Wing, theoretical and practical economics, and the meaning of life itself.  Ryan then talks about having to bid on a pricey Batman Returns speargun before his consigned Indiana Jones lots sell, which is a bit of a gamble.  He also wonders whether he'll have enough auction capital left to fight for the Captain Picard costume or the Terminator endo-skeleton arm.  And, speaking of hard choices, the guys finally announce the winner of Prop Store's Dave10/Ryan10 contest.  One host is very happy, and the other host may have just quit the show.

David and Ryan hydrate and take their vitamins before another marathon catalog session, covering days 2 through 18 of Prop Store's summer auction.  They cover such topics as hand-illustrated storyboards, crew gifts, Beetlejuice maquettes, the delight of Cabin Boy, a starter Conan collection, bearer bonds, Home Alone newspapers, the Last Action Hero, Masters of the Universe, original Tim Burton art, The Offer, cosplaying in screen-used Star Trek uniforms, David again compliments the Star Wars prequels, Tropic Thunder, Stan Mikita’s Donuts tray, and lots of comic books and comic art!

In this super-sized, pants-shitting episode, David and Ryan page turn the spectacular new catalog for the June 21-24 Prop Store auction.  They discuss a massive Aliens lode, Batman spearguns, scissorhands, hoverboards, Wilson!, grail diaries and holy grails, Hatori Hanzo swords, Star Fleet uniforms, a “pretty cool” X-Wing model, and David wonders aloud if bidding against him might cause sudden death.  And that’s just Day 1!

In literally their most literate and literary episode yet, David and Ryan venture into the reference library to talk about their favorite prop books and movie books.  They cover everything from the essential JW Rinzler collection to a must-have series of 1982 “making of” articles written about Conan the Barbarian.  Magazines, remember them?  A walk through the Mandel and Condal stacks highlights tomes covering Star Wars (of course), Indiana Jones, the Alien series, The Godfather, Kubrick, The Muppets, Blade Runner, Once Upon a Time in the West, and even a making of book very close to Ryan’s heart: House of the Dragon!

In their first (almost; they tried) hour-long episode in some time, David and Ryan take a stroll down memory lane, recalling two of their favorite tales of “The Hunt.”  Ryan tells the story of questing in the Southern Californian desert to unearth Wyatt Earp’s hero pistol from Tombstone, and David, in a complete change of pace, talks about Star Wars! Specifically, the acquisition of his first Stormtrooper helmet. From a classified ad. In a toy magazine. In the 1990s.

May the 4th be with you!  In their first ever Star Wars "deep dive," David and Ryan move along into the wonders and mysteries of the imperial stormtrooper helmet.  Joining them is a man who is always at his post: Gino Sabatino of Star Wars Icons, the world's foremost expert on all things stormtrooper.  The guys honor David's favorite holiday, Star Wars Day, as they discuss hero helmets, background helmets, ABS, HDPE, bubble lenses, chin straps, frown colors, teeth numbers, missing ears, brow trims, and screen-matches.  Isn't this a little long for a talk about stormtrooper helmets?

David and Ryan go spelunking into the gaps and holes in their collections.  Whether it’s by movie (Men in Black, Citizen Kane, The Matrix), genre (70s films, comedies, and 1941), actor (Arnold Schwarzenegger), or creature of the animal kingdom (monkeys, of course) the guys search for collectors’ nirvana by identifying the objects that will bring them a sense of completion and peace in their lives.  Okay, that’s never going to happen.