For today’s episode, let’s think about the disciples. If you were to gather up 12 of your friends for a meal, you can imagine the different characteristics and personality types that would be represented around that table. Jesus’ disciples were no different. Today we’re going to focus on one of the disciples named Peter. Before Peter encountered Je…

Shapeshifters are back this week, but they have definitely met their match in a nocturnal vigilante none other than Peter Bishop! Join us this week as we take on “Reciprocity,” an episode that we don’t look back on as fondly as we remember because of the pieces of the mythology that are established but then never followed up on. We also, as always,…

"A Thing About Machines" and "The Brain Center at Whipple's" each explore the tension between humans and technology. From the second season,"A Thing About Machines," tells the story of Bartlett Finchley, a technophobic man, who is tormented by his household appliances which eventually drive him to his demise. "The Brain Center at Whipple's" from se…

I wanted to die. What was I supposed to do? Stand up and wave? Tell her thank you? Smile? I shrunk down in my chair, gave her a fake smile, and stared at my notebook the remainder of class. I still liked her as a teacher and found her class easy, but dreaded my seat and the attention she’d drawn to me. I appreciated the compliment on my work, but t…

On business trips, business comes first. Whether I’m traveling on my dime or someone else’s, a business trip is for business purposes. Take care of business. But I also learned that it’s okay to get out of the hotel and enjoy the sights of a city while you’re there. I should have realized this by the behavior and encounters I’d had with my boss, bu…

We are once again joined by frequent feedbacker Geoff (xforce11) for this episode as we discuss this absolutely incredible episode of Fringe, "The Firefly!" Listen in as we discuss how much we love Christopher Lloyd’s performance as Roscoe Joyce (keyboardist from Walter’s favorite band Violet Sedan Chair). We also reflect on the ties that this epis…

In episode 44 I gave you a glimpse at the woman who would become my mother-in-law. She was wonderful on that day and she was a wonderful mother-in-law for the next 23 years. Last week was the two year anniversary of when we lost her. Today, I wanted to set aside this episode as a tribute to her. I’ve asked Dave, my father-in-law, my two brothers-in…

I firmly believe we live in an age where it has never been easier to know the truth about God and his teaching, while also having never been easier to be deceived and led astray about God and his teaching. We hear something new, something that’s easier to swallow, less offensive, seems loving, or seems to bring a shiny new meaning to a passage that…

Joined by special guest co-host Pavla, we are so excited to be talking about this beautiful, Gothic, Frankenstein-esque horror story of a Fringe episode this week! We discuss some of the episode’s best scenes such as Olivia’s talk with Broyles when she returns to work, her breakdown in her apartment, and her incredible monologue at the end that sho…

"Mr. Bevis" and "The Man in the Bottle" from "The Twilight Zone" each explore the pitfalls of wish fulfillment. "Mr. Bevis" features James B.W. Bevis, whose guardian angel temporarily improves his unlucky life. Bevis soon realizes these changes erase his unique personality, and he chooses to return to his former way of life and his authentic self. …

One of my leading desires for SILY is that these stories would bring in sincere questions from listeners that would in turn bring about a deeper understanding of Christianity, the Bible, and what it means to live in this culture as a Christian both for myself and all of those listening. Put another way, I hoped questions would come in that would le…

When I started podcasting in 2008, I never once thought that I might one day inspire someone else to become a podcaster. In times like these, I like to play the what if game. The quick version of it goes something like this: What if I’d never started my podcast about Fringe? What if JJ Abrams had never created Fringe? What if Cliff had never starte…

The riveting season 2 finale’s cliffhanger finally comes to a dramatic climax in “Entrada” when Peter learns the truth about who “Olivia” really is and his actual Olivia finally finds a way home. Joined by guest Michael Hoover (whose interpretation of the show’s theme you will hear!), we discuss all of our favorite moments from this incredible epis…

Trusting those you work with and those who work under you is incredibly important. But when they are entrusted to do their job with freedom and exercise their natural gifts, clients benefit, work culture benefits, you benefit, the company benefits, and your industry benefits. Remember, there’s no “I” in team, and even The Lone Ranger wasn’t alone. …

You’ve heard me say it recently because it’s been on my mind a lot, but it’s so painfully true when they say the days are long but the years are short. In future episodes I’ll talk more about Colby moving out of our house and I even have a story about college marching band that I have scheduled for the beginning of football season. But for today, I…

The Candyman can ‘cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good! Okay, well, maybe not this Candyman. Join us this week (along with returning guest Rachel) as we tackle “The Abducted” (episode 3.07)! We discuss our favorite moments and scenes from this episode and our excitement at seeing Henry again, and Rachel even manages to get a c…

In my early 20’s I lived in Texas for 3 years. There was also a guy I was associated with that had also moved to Texas from out of state. We’ll call the guy Mike. One day Mike had to go out of town for a few days for business. Apparently there was a meeting at the home office of the company he worked for. He and his wife had family there, so she tr…

Step into the ring with us this month as week take a look at two sports-themed episodes from The Twilight Zone. "The Mighty Casey" and "Steel" both explore themes of man vs. machine and the struggle to stay relevant in a changing world. In "The Mighty Casey," a struggling baseball team's fortunes change when they recruit a mysterious but talented p…

As a fully grown adult who loves marching bands and symphonies, I love the sound, size, and shape of the baritone. But as a scrawny middle school boy, I hated it. To me, it was only slightly better than the tuba. The tuba was the worst instrument. Only the fat nerdy kids played tuba and the baritone was its slightly less horrific cousin. I got to p…

Regular listener Jerame (Sparkeyinva) joins us this week to discuss this incredible episode of Fringe which properly introduces the First People part of the mythology and also explains the purpose of Walternate’s machine. We discuss Foelivia’s cover really starting to fall apart and our appreciation for the cliffhanger ending, and we share some ama…

All of us make instant judgments and develop opinions of people the instant we see them before we’ve even met them or heard them utter a word. Respect and authority are a two way street. I firmly believe we should respect those in authority over us. However, only fools think that just because they have authority they must be respected. As a recover…

In my family, we have a generational heritage of working on cars. Well, except for my brother. He has no interest in working on cars and has asked me why I do it. He’s been known to buy a car without ever popping the hood to see what the engine bay looks like. It’s okay. He has skills in other areas, so I’ll give him some grace on that. For me, it …

We are joined by special guest Conor this week as we discuss “Amber 31422,” the episode in which Olivia’s true self finally comes more fully to light. We talk about our favorite moments and the many shoutouts to season 1, and we share some incredible feedback from listeners like Geoff (xforce11), Anna (Not Torv), Eric (or Eric from Pennsylvania as …

So I set aside time every day to pray. While I had no idea where I would end up, God did. While I had no idea what the makeup of my team would be, God did. While I had no idea whether or not I’d take over a new store or an existing store, God did. As I prayed, I asked God to shape me into the leader that my future team would need. I asked him to he…

Themed around groups of people making an escape, this month we look at two iconic Twilight Zone episodes: "Third from the Sun" and "On Thursday We Leave for Home." Season One's "Third from the Sun" presents a story steeped in the dread and anticipation of a nuclear apocalypse, following a desperate plan by a group of individuals to escape their doo…

I thought the New Kids were amazing. Girls liked the New Kids because they were cute, I liked the New Kids because they were cool. I heard someone once say that girls want to be with the New Kids, and guys want to be the New Kids. That was certainly true for me. I bought magazines of them and hung their pictures on my wall. I studied their wardrobe…

Things are definitely heating up in the Blueverse as Foelivia/Fauxlivia takes things to the next level to secure Peter’s trust and we learn that Senator Van Horn has been a Shapeshifter this whole time! Join us and special guest Sarah Clarke Stuart (author of Into the Looking Glass: Exploring the Worlds of Fringe) as we discuss “Do Shapeshifters Dr…

Making the world a better place doesn’t just happen from stages in front of crowds of strangers. Whether it’s your family, co-workers, colleagues, or a room full of total strangers, you have an opportunity before you. That opportunity is one that allows you to communicate love and encouragement, truth and compassion, kindness and generosity. Look a…

I've realized that I get most frustrated with my kids when they are making mistakes that I made when I was their age. Sometimes it’s something involving their friends, other times it’s the way they spend their money, and sometimes it’s mistakes I see them making with their boyfriend or girlfriend. It could be any number of mistakes really. When I t…

We return to the Redverse for this episode to witness quite the plateau, but fear not - this season isn’t about to plateau anytime soon! We are joined this week by our friend Erin to discuss Milo Stanfield and how his ability seems to be the precursor to what the Observers do. We also talk about Olivia and how her true self is beginning to breach t…

I think it’s important to make a distinction in believing the Bible is true, and that the Bible should be taken literally. What I mean is, it’s possible to believe that the Bible is inspired by God, written down under inspiration by humans, and therefore, true (or inerrant). It’s also possible to simultaneously believe that the Bible should not be …

Today is the Monday Mailbag! In today’s episode I share contributions from Geoff, Barb, Colby, Bradley, and Andrew. Did you know that mail delivery has been around since the 1500s? In 1505, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I established a postal system in the Empire, appointing Franz von Taxis to run it. This system, originally the Kaiserliche Reichsp…

Nothing is civil about war, and nothing is ever as it seems in The Twilight Zone. This month we take a look at two Civil War themed episodes, "The Passerby" from season 3 and "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" from season 5. Each episode not only plays in the sandbox of Civil War themes, but also takes a look at the supernatural realm, passing thr…

We are back to the Blueverse and are discussing “The Box” in this episode of the show, sharing our thoughts on the infuriating but fun dynamic between Peter and Foelivia/Fauxlivia/Bolivia/Altlivia, the great character development from Walter and the stark difference between him and Walternate, and so much more! We also share some wonderful feedback…

I love escape rooms. It’s no surprise really. I love all sorts of puzzles. Solving various puzzle-types is one reason I love The Legend of Zelda franchise so much. Once I learned about escape rooms, I had to try one out. To me, they seemed like a real life example of a Zelda dungeon puzzle. I remember asking my family about doing an escape room and…

When I left in 2013, I had my next job already lined up. I started my own company specializing in editing and launching podcasts. Over the last decade that company, Pro Podcast Solutions, has helped launch several hundred podcasts and we’ve edited tens of thousands of podcast episodes. When I quit my job I had two clients, and now I serve over 150 …

After a bit of a break between seasons, we are back to tackle season 3, cortexifans! We are starting, of course, with the season 3 premiere, simply titled “Olivia,” which shows us the immediate aftermath of the shocking cliffhanger at the end of season 2. With Olivia trapped in the Redverse and her team not realizing it because Fauxlivia/Altlivia/B…

As parents, we want to make lasting memories with our kids. We want to have shared experiences that make the bonds between us stronger. We want to give our kids the Disney experience. In preparing to write this episode I messaged my kids separately and asked them to share with me their three favorite memories that involve us as a family. I told the…

To share one’s faith story, or testimony as you prefer, is to share how you came to faith in Jesus, and share how God has been active in your life. In today’s episode I’ll be sharing my story of coming to faith and some of what I’ve seen God do in my life. You may have noticed that I used two different qualifiers in that last sentence. I’ll only be…

Music has the power to enchant, stir emotions, calm the spirit, and heal. This month we take a look at two episodes that use the power of music to explore the impact of music. In season 3, "A Piano in the House" takes a look at the sides of our humanity that we all try to hide, by using music to expose those hidden faces. In season 5, "Come Wander …

Hey there, Strangers! Many of you have sent us written or audio feedback during this very long off season, and we're back to share your thoughts with the community. We tried to keep things a little extra casual in this episode as we go through all of the feedback submissions, and we also give a few podcast updates along the way. We kick things off …

Hitting the wall is an expression typically applied to athletes, or more specifically, runners. When a runner "hits the wall," they experience an intense and abrupt state of exhaustion, where the body essentially runs out of fuel. This typically occurs during long-distance events, like marathons, around the 18 to 20-mile mark. Runners describe it a…

When we feel a calling yearning within us, we should listen to what it is saying and ponder how we should respond. In my case, when I listened to the voices of all those around me, those voices all confirmed what my inner voice was telling me to do. We should also take immediate action before that excitement and vigor have a chance to subside. Maki…

Alternate dimensions and parallel worlds is not something The Twilight Zone was afraid to explore, and this month we take a look at two excellent examples of this type of storytelling. Season 3 "Little Girl Lost" explores a scenario where a young girl named Tina slips into the fourth dimension via a portal that opens up in her bedroom wall. The fol…

Joining us for this incredible season 2 finale from the fringe of America is Patty from Canadia, and we are so excited to be talking about this episode with her! We, of course (and by we, we mean Patty), tackle some of the science in this episode and whether or not it all makes sense. We also talk about our favorite moments from this finale and how…

We are finally nearing the end of season 2! Join us as we, along with David Wu (the mastermind behind The Fringemunks), discuss the first half of “Over There,” the incredible season 2 finale! We discuss what we love so much about this epic finale and how it is truly a huge climax for the series overall, pivoting the series in a very new direction f…

Returning to the main Fringe canon, we find out where Peter went after disappearing at the end of “The Man from the Other Side” - none other than the literal northwest, Washington State! Here he meets Sheriff Ann Mathis (one of the show’s best episodic characters played wonderfully by The Goonies’ Martha Plimpton) as he helps her investigate a stri…

Geoff (xforce11) joins us for this episode to discuss the first of four especially whacky Fringe episodes, Brown Betty, (of which we would get one each season from here on out). In this one, Walter, deeply troubled after the disappearance of Peter, tells Ella a story in which Olivia is a noir detective investigating the disappearance of Peter after…

“The Church on Ruby Road”. What a place to end an era and begin an adventure anew. “The Church on Ruby Road” is the first full story showcasing Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor and Millie Gibson as his companion Ruby Sunday. This is also the final episode of Don’t Blink. Wow, what a mixed […] The post DB – 2023 Christmas Special – The Church on Ruby …

Rod Serling was no stranger to the atrocities of what Hitler's Nazi party did to Jews during the Holocaust. He fought in WWII, battled anti-semitism in his own home state, and through the power of his pen fought to bring light to this hate in an effort to end racism of every kind. As brilliant as he was, we unfortunately still find racism all aroun…