TRASH COMPACTOR: A (Mostly) Star Wars Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Want to feel old? The original Star Wars trilogy was released "one...last time" in the famous "Faces" THX remastered box set thirty freakin' years ago. Josh is joined by the inimitable Nathan Butler, author of A SAGA ON HOME VIDEO, to discuss how the set came to be and what its legacy is three decades later.

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Dark times call for stories of passion and resilience, and today’s episode delivers just that. We’re diving into the world of Star Wars-inspired folk music with the incredible band Folk the Empire.

I had such a great time talking to Erik, Chris, and Mike and I hope you enjoy our wide-ranging coversation about how they formed, their unique blend of punk and folk, and the deep storytelling that infuses their music. If you’ve ever wondered what fight songs the Rebellion would rally behind, this episode is for you.

Stick around to the end of the episode to hear one of their songs, and if you like what you hear, check them out on social media and support their upcoming EP "Rise Up" on Bandcamp which drops Friday March 7.

00:22 – Introduction to Folk the Empire: A band that merges Star Wars, folk music, and anti-fascist resistance.

01:07 – Meet the band: Erik (banjo), Chris (guitar), and Mike (cajon/percussion), their backgrounds, and how this project came to life.

02:22 – The origins of Folk the Empire: How a banjo, punk roots, and a rebel recruitment song started it all.

04:09 – Playing their first live show at a metal gig (!?) and the surprising support of the metal community.

07:40 – The importance of humor in Star Wars and protest music, and the role of folk music as 'news of the land.'

0:39 – Writing songs in the Star Wars universe: What would a Rebel pilot sing before a battle? What does life on Tatooine sound like?

6:13 – The power of allegory: Using Star Wars to talk about real-world politics and activism in a way that resonates.

19:56 – Introducing their in-universe personas: The Burgundy Squadron and their rebel radio past.

24:44 – Why folk music is the perfect vehicle for Star Wars storytelling.

30:42 – Playing live shows: The challenge of fitting in and their favorite gig experiences.

40:19 – Handling Star Wars fandom and avoiding toxic gatekeeping.

46:43 – The impact of Andor and what makes ‘gritty’ Star Wars so powerful.

53:11 – The DIY spirit: Why making something by hand is more meaningful in the digital age.

58:51 – Upcoming releases: New cassette EP with amazing artwork inspired by classic Star Wars toys.

01:12:19 – If they could play any venue in the galaxy, where would it be?

1:18:08 – Where to find Folk the Empire and what song to start with.

Follow Folk the Empire on Instagram: instagram.com/folk_the_empire Listen to their music on YOUTUBE: youtube.com/@FolktheEmpire Pre-Save the "RISE UP" EP: distrokid.com/hyperfollow/folktheempire/rise-up

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We're joined by editors Dr. Emily Strand and Dr. Amy H. Sturgis to discuss their new essay collection "STAR WARS: ESSAYS FROM A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY." From in-universe lore to real-world influences, this compilation of academic analysis reveals new depths even diehard fans may have missed.

Guest Info: Dr. Emily Strand Website: www.emilystrand.com & liturgyandlife.com Co-host of podcasts "Potterversity” and “Meet Father Rivers"

Dr. Amy H. Sturgis Website: www.amyhsturgis.com Professor of intellectual history and speculative fiction

Book Info: "STAR WARS: ESSAYS FROM A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY" Available via Vernon Press: https://vernonpress.com/book/1751

OR request it from your local library!

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Another installment of our alternate universe what ifs: what if the sequel trilogy was made in the 1990s? Following up on our Prequels 1986 episode (www.trashcompod.com/13), we continue the experiment and imagine who might have been cast in and chosen to direct the sequel films if they had been made in 1995, 1998, and 2001. We also ask the question: would Star Wars be able to attract A-list talent if there was a new installment every 3 years since 1977?

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Josh's sister grew up in the shadow of a huge Star Wars nerd. She also married one! Josh talks to both ALLIE and SHAWN after they embarked on a chronological rewatch of all the movies in preparation for one of the Disney+ shows to drop. What were their impressions of the Saga as a whole when watching them in story order? Along the way, we get into childhood memories of Star Wars, why we want these movies to work, and at what scene you had to flip over the laserdisc of A New Hope.

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Most of the gang here grew up with the original trilogy as the only Star Wars there was. I've been curious to get the perspectives of people who grew up with the prequels. This week I chat with OriginalTrilogy.com forum member Octorox, aka Keith, about his experience getting into Star Wars in the time of the prequels as a kid.

NEXT WEEK: My sister drops into the trash compactor!

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BRACEY and JONNY join Josh to discuss the final Star Wars prequel, Episode III: REVENGE OF THE SITH. We talk about how our perception of this movie has changed over time, whether it's the best of the prequels, and how it contains George Lucas's definitive statement on life.

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More than 20 years before Revenge of the Sith would grace our screens, there was STAR WARS 3: FALL OF THE REPUBLIC (From the Adventures of Obi-Wan Kenobi). This infamous fan script made the rounds in fandom for years, many believing it to be the actual script for the third prequel film--years before George Lucas ever wrote them. Josh, who himself acquired a copy of this script at a Star Trek convention in the early 1990s, sits down with the author of Fall of the Republic, DR. JOHN L. FLYNN, to discuss how it came to be, what it feels like to be a small part of Star Wars history, and a surprising amount about Angelique Pettyjohn.

Read Dr. Flynn's FALL OF THE REPUBLIC treatment here: https://www.starwarz.com/starkiller/fall-of-the-republic/

or here: https://archive.org/details/fall-of-the-republic

NEXT WEEK: REVENGE OF THE SITH

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Where were you in 2002? RUSS and FREY join Josh to discuss the middle part of the prequel trilogy, ATTACK OF THE CLONES. We end up talking a surprising amount about the HAL 9000 fan edit of this movie*, and how it reveals the good movie lurking within. But whether we're talking the theatrical cut or the fan edit, it's safe to say we were quite beside ourselves with this movie.

NEXT WEEK: Fall of the Republic with Dr. John L. Flynn

• HAL 9000's fan edits can be found by going to the OriginalTrilogy.com forums and DM'ing HAL: https://originaltrilogy.com/user/Hal-9000/id/446

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STAR WARS has always been at the forefront of technological innovation in filmmaking. Whether it's the prequels pioneering use of CGI, STAR WARS: Episode II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES being the very first feature film to be shot on digital video rather than traditional celluloid film, or the recent use of the Volume AR stage technology on Disney+ shows like The Mandalorian. Josh is joined by two very special guests -- AJ WEDDING and LEO JAMARILLIO of ORBITAL VIRTUAL STUDIOS -- to discuss how Star Wars has always pushed technology forward.

Btw, the secret project with the live deep fake of a Vulcan that they couldn't talk about at the time of recording? Maybe you've seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0U-O7f53kg

ORBITAL VIRUTAL STUDIOS Website: https://www.orbitalvs.com/

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