Cosmic Cafe

Audible has been one of the leaders in the industry for audiobooks, with a one-stop shop for any title you can imagine. They've also branched out into original programming, such as Impact Winter from Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim) and executive producers of The Walking Dead. I sat down with actress Christina Chong (La'an Noonien-Singh in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) about her role in Impact Winter's third season. In this interview, Christina Chong discusses what drew her to this series and how her mysterious new character factors into the larger mythos of this Audible original. Chong discusses how recording an audio drama differs from acting on screen, how she gets into character, and the challenges and rewards she experienced with recording her first audio drama. Also, find out just how she would fare if she lived in the world of Impact Winter! Check out the interview below! Host/Interviewer: Brian Kitson Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com

I recently spoke with Executive Producer, Director, Writer Liz W. Garcia about her new film Space Cadet, a comedy about second chances, chasing your dreams, and what it takes to become NASA astronaut! The hilarious new comedy releases on Prime Video next month July 4, 2024 and stars Emma Roberts, Gabrielle Union, and Tom Hopper. Host/Interviewer: Lizzie Hill Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com You can find the video to this interview on The Cosmic Circus YouTube channel https://youtu.be/B_Ghz288oMI?si=lPFuw27llGq2pMN7

I've had the immense privilege of knowing Monique Asher for over a decade, having met her through some friends, one of whom was her younger sister. Throughout the years, she has worn many hats, such as mother, wife, and therapist. However, one hobby and passion that she kept coming back to was writing, which began at such a young age (as you learn in the interview!). Not one to give up on her dreams easily, she's pushed through and her debut novel, Don't Eat the Pie, comes out September 24, 2024, with more novels already on the way! I was able to sit down with Asher to discuss this novel as well as various other topics. In the interview, listen to when Asher got her start with writing and how it developed into her budding career as a published author, what her developmental process has been for Don't Eat the Pie, and what else she has in the pipeline writing-wise over the next few years. She also discusses how her time as a therapist has helped to foster her writing, and talks about her spooky podcast Stay the Night (@Staythenightpod), which she hosts with her sister. And like the true horror fanatic that she is, Asher shares some of her current favorite scary novels. Check out the interview! Monique Asher's novel, Don't Eat the Pie, is available for preorder most places books are avaiilable! Let us know on social media @mycomsiccircus if you plan on checking out this upcoming novel!   Find this book on Amazon or most places books are sold. Host/Interviewer: Brian Kitson Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay. You can find out more about the author and upcoming books at her official website, www.moniqueasher.com/ Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com

Bruce Willis is a name synonymous with Hollywood blockbusters and almost every genre of projects you can think of. Yet, for many, accessing the full spectrum of his cinematic achievements can be as challenging. Thankfully, Sean O’Connell’s new biography focused on Bruce Willis and his acting past, offers a comprehensive and engaging journey through the star’s illustrious career. From his early days and successes to more recent projects.  In his insightful biography titled Bruce Willis: Celebrating the Cinematic Legacy of an Unbreakable Hollywood Icon, Sean O’Connell delves into Willis’ rise from humble beginnings to his status as a global icon, providing fans with a rich and detailed story about his acting life. Through exclusive interviews and meticulous research, O’Connell explored Willis’ most iconic roles, his personal life, and the impact he had on the film industry. This book is a must-read for anyone eager to fully appreciate the legacy of Bruce Willis. Find this book on Amazon or most places books are sold. Host/Interviewer: Wiktor Reinfuss Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com

Sydney Freeland is an impressive director with an eye for detail. Not only did she direct an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but she also lent her talents to Marvel's Echo, helming four of the series' five episodes along with executive producing it. The series helped introduce viewers to the world of Maya Lopez, played by Alaqua Cox, who made her first on-screen appearance in Hawkeye. Echo broke barriers when it was released by featuring Marvel's first deaf and Indigenous character. Unlike the usual Marvel fare, the series was grittier and had a TV-MA rating. (And ahem, an appearance by little-known Marvel character Daredevil, too.) The show pretty much immediately shot to the top of the Disney+ charts and is a massive success for the streamer. Several weeks ago, we had the chance to sit down with Freeland over Zoom and discuss everything Maya Lopez and more. The director shared that it was the hardest and most rewarding thing she's ever done. Freeland discussed the vision for the project, including how the heart of the series was the relationship between Maya and Kingpin, along with bringing the character home to Oklahoma. She talked about how she got on board with Echo, and it started with an e-mail from fellow directors Bert and Bertie. Read ahead for the full interview. But if you haven't seen Echo yet, beware, there are some spoilers ahead. (And what are you waiting for, anyway?)     Host: Ayla Ruby Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com

The Cosmic Circus' Editor-In-Chief Lizzie Hill steps in for an interview with voice artists Megan Shipman and Natalie Van Sistine, who play Anya and Yor Forger in the hit anime series Spy x Family on Crunchyroll. The three chat about the audition process for the show, the preparation they go through when they dub the anime, and their new movie Spy x Family CODE: White which is now in theaters!   Host: Lizzie Hill Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay. You can find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com/spy-x-family-code-white-interview-anya-yor-forger/

It's never the wrong time to watch a horror film, right? While so many I know wait until October and stockpile their scary movies to marathon for Halloween (peak spooky season vibes), I'm in the wheelhouse that horror is perfect for any reason and any season. While the snow piles up outside my window and the wind roars throughout the sky, it smells like the perfect time for a new horror film. So if you're like me, there's a new horror film that's just having its premiere! Thorns begins its limited release in theaters on February 23 and opens with a wider release on March 13. I was able to sit down with director/writer Douglas Schulze and one of the stars Doug Bradley (who you may know as Pinhead from Hellraiser) about the experience with this film! In our conversation, Schulze discusses how he developed the story of Thorns, how the monster came to be, how the practical effects and 80s vibes came to be, and the positives of filming in Michigan. Bradley speaks on what drew him to the film and role and why it's important to support indie films in an industry of superhero blockbusters! Thorns arrives in theaters for a limited release at Emagine theaters on February 23 and opens with a wider release on March 13. https://www.emagine-entertainment.com/movies/thorns/ Host: Brian Kitson Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com  

Remember the 90s classic rom-com Pretty Woman? It's a Cinderella story in its own right, as Julia Robert's character is whisked away into a life of luxury. Although, the transition comes with some challenges. This film was a staple in my home, as it was one of my mother's all-time favorites. So to see that Pretty Woman The Musical was finally making its way to Detroit is very exciting! While the show doesn't arrive until next week in my city, I was able to sit down via Zoom with Adam Du Plessis, who plays the role of Happy Man in the reimagined romantic comedy musical.  In our conversation, Du Plessis talks about his journey to Pretty Woman the Musical, discussing his audition process, challenges for the role, and how Happy Man differs from other roles he's played in his career. He also discusses what a typical day on the road looks like for him, what he looks for in cities across the US when he tours, and what his dream Broadway role would be!  Host: Brian Kitson Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus

Stefan L. Smith is a talented composer who lent his talents to the animated Batman film Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham last year. He's back with another set of superhero compositions, this time for PBS. Smith scored Super Why's Comic Book Adventures, a show geared towards helping young children improve their reading skills, with a superhero twist. The music is catchy and has a great purpose, so we were excited to chat over Zoom with him about bringing this project to life.      Host: Ayla Ruby Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com  

Lunella Lafayette (Diamond White), aka Moon Girl from Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, is a super-genius who just wants to help and protect her community. Season 2 of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur hits the airwaves on February 2 on the Disney Channel and Disney XD and the next day on Disney+. Last week over Zoom, we chatted again with executive producer Steve Loter and co-executive producer Rodney Clouden, two of the creative minds who have helped bring the amazing Lunella to the screen.  It was exciting to talk to the duo about this upcoming season, and we learned a lot about what to expect for Lunella and her family. Loter and Clouden shared some of how Lunella's superhero life would clash with her family life, and what that would mean for both of them. We talked about one of the new big villains this season, Molecule Man (Edward James Olmos), and some other guest voices.   Host: Ayla Ruby Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com  

Apple TV+'s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters series roars back this Friday with "Terriyfing Miracles", the sixth episode that deepens the dive into the Monsterverse's primordial depths. There are action-packed clashes and mystery ahead as the legacy of the 2014 film unfolds, unleashing secrets and Godzilla-sized thrills. We sat down over Zoom for an exclusive interview with Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski, who play Monarch operatives Tim and Duvall in the streaming show.  In this spoiler-lite conversation, Tippett shared some insight into the Monarch "desk jockey" named Tim that he embodies and the character's interest in going more into the field. Lasowski talked about working with stunts to film the dramatic car crash scene where we meet her character. And both Tippett and Lasowski shared how they got the role on Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and their favorite Godzilla version from across history.    Host: Ayla Ruby Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay. A companion article for this interview can be found at thecosmiccircus.com (https://thecosmiccircus.com)  

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the newest entry into the MonsterVerse franchise and takes us to the heart of things: Godzilla and more terrifying creatures. Apple TV+'s new Godzilla series continues this Friday with the sixth episode, "Terrifying Miracles", which picks up after the 2014 Legendary Godzilla film. Created by Chris Black and Matt Fraction, the show delves deeper into the monster-filled world of that universe. We sat down over Zoom for an exclusive interview with Mari Yamamoto and Anders Holm, who play Keiko Miura and Bill Randa in the streaming show.  The duo shared what it was like filming the show and a story about a huge and scary four-legged visitor they encountered in the Canadian Forest. Anders Holm shared whether or not he got advice from John Goodman before taking up the mantle of his character from Skull Island. Mari Yamamoto opened up about her fear of heights and how filming a challenging scene in the first episode, which involved being quite high up, unintentionally served as exposure therapy for her. Listen to the interview to learn more, but beware, mild spoilers are ahead.    Host: Ayla Ruby Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com    

Dracula, perhaps the most well-known vampire of all time, has been around since the late 1890s when Bram Stoker put pen to paper. The story, set in Victorian England, explored topics of gender, sexuality, and race, through the lens of a time long past. Well, Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen are looking at them through a different lens this time, in their sexy and hilarious play, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors! The 90-minute play is currently running at the New World Stages for a few more weeks (final performance is January 7).  I recently sat down with one of the stars, Andrew Keenan-Bolger to chat about it. In the interview, Keenan-Bolger reveals some of the challenges, and even more of the fun, that Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors has provided him since he was cast as Jonathan Harker. The star also shares some highlights of his long career on the stage and looks forward to what 2024 will be bringing!   Host: Brian Kitson Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus  

 Los Angeles Comic Con 2023 featured many celebrity guests, including someone I wasn’t expecting! Janeshia Adams-Ginyard is a stunt performer, voiceover artist, and actress who starred as Nomble, a member of Wakanda’s Dora Milaje, in several MCU projects. I noticed her booth on the convention floor thanks to a large Black Panther: Wakanda Forever poster. I was fascinated by the different aspects of her career and love Wakanda Forever, so I jumped at the chance to speak with her for a few minutes about her MCU role.      Host: Uday Kataria Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com    

Have you ever wondered if your family is cursed? Apple TV+'s CURSES! is a family animated show that explores the idea of what if a family was cursed because of an artifact-stealing Great Great Great Grandfather. In the pilot, the kids Pandora (Gabrielle Nevaeh), Russ (Andre Robinson), and Sky (Lyric Lewis) in the family Vanderhouven learn that their dad has been keeping a secret from them about their family's past.  It's a ton of fun with age-appropriate awesome scares, adventure, a treasure trove of secrets, and oh so many ancient artifacts. One of the best parts about CURSES! is that the whole family can watch together. We recently had the chance to sit down over Zoom to talk with creators Jeff Dixon and Jim Cooper, and director Leo Riley to talk about the series.  You can tune in to CURSES! on Apple TV+. Have you checked this series out already? Let us know what you think about it or this interview on social media @mycosmiccircus or The Cosmic Circus Discord.   Host: Ayla Ruby Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay. Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com  

Cosmic Cafe host Ayla Ruby is at NYCC 2023! In this episode, she has an EXCLUSIVE interview with Helluva Boss creator Vivienne Medrano about her upcoming animated series in the same universe Hazbin Hotel. The series releases on Amazon's Prime Video in January 2024, and has a lot of fans excited.  Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - How did you go from using Patreon and YouTube to finance your work to A24 picking it up? 02:12 - Working on a pilot vs an entire season 03:20 - What is the status of Hazbin Hotel season 2? (currently writing) 04:00 - Charlie Morningstar's story in season 1 05:00 - The music in Hazbin Hotel, every episode has more than one song. 05:37 - The delay from a release last summer to next January on Prime Video 06:22 - Did you ever expect the fan reaction you've had for Hazbin Hotel? 07:22 - Which character would you be and why? 07:42 - Why does this show resonate with people? 09:07 - What's next for the Helluva Boss / Hazbin Hotel Universe? 10:12 - Would you like to see a live-action version? Medrano talks about wanting a broadway musical of Hazbin Hotel. 11:00 - Differences between the pilot and new version 12:22 - Vivienne Medrano on her writing process 13:32 - Inspirations and influences for the series 14:38 - Anything else? 15:30 - Outro   Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.     Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com    

Cosmic Cafe host Ayla Ruby talks with Sy Islam and Gordon B. Schmidt about their book Leaders Assemble! Leadership in the MCU (Exploring Effective Leadership Practices through Popular Culture). (This book is available on Amazon and most places books are sold) The book covers what we can learn in the real world about leadership based on the characters, films, and shows within the MCU from Marvel Studios.    Timestamps: 00:10 - Intros 00:45 - How did you come up with the idea for the book? 04:50 - What was your journey to your fandom? How did it start? 11:55 - What was your prep for Leaders Assemble! Leadership in the MCU ? 13:55 - What has been the response from colleagues and students? 18:00 - Was there anything surprising you found about the Marvel Cinematic Universe as you worked on this book? (Black Widow and "The Glass Cliff") 23:35 - Leadership lessons in Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk 26:00 - Talk about The Eternals 30:25 - Talk about Secret Invasion 34:50 - What is the biggest lesson in leadership people should use in their everyday lives? 38:00 - What's next for you? Next books they're working on. 39:45 - Outros   Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com Theme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.

Erik Henry has an impressive career as a VFX supervisor in creating stellar stories. Not only did he work on season 1 and 2 of Invasion but Henry has also helped bring titles like The Abyss (which we talk about in the interview!), Watchmen, Black Sails, Jack Ryan, and so much more to life. He has several Emmy awards for his work and tons of other accolades. If you’re a sci-fi fan, you’ve probably seen his work. In this interview, Henry sits down to chat with host Ayla Ruby to talk his most recent project now streaming on Apple TV, Invasion.    Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com See the official website for a full article and more informationTheme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.

Jules, written by Gavin Steckler and directed by Marc Turtletaub, is a quirky indie sci-fi comedy about aging, aliens, and friendships. It's charming and endearing; this should be no surprise given the incredible actors that helped bring it to life, including Sir Ben Kingsley, Harriet Sansom Harris, Zoë Winters, Jade Quon, and Jane Curtin. We had the great pleasure of sitting down over Zoom to chat with the movie's director, Marc Turtletaub. Jules follows Milton, played by Kingsley, a widower with a quiet life in a rural town in Pennsylvania. Everything changes after a UFO crashes in his backyard, complete with an alien passenger named Jules. Jules and Milton become friends, but when Milton's well-meaning neighbors discover the alien, things get tricky. The movie is a joy. It has science fiction, family, and a lot of endearing comedy. Jules premiered to much fanfare at the Sonoma International Film Festival in March of this year. It was quickly acquired for US distribution by Bleecker Street Films, which has had a big year with releases including Mafia Mamma and Golda. The film has been a winner with audiences as it makes its way through the film festival circuit. Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.com See the official website for a full article and more informationTheme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been serving up some chef’s kiss episodes that will surely be on “best of” lists for years to come. (And that’s not just because we see Captain Pike and Spock in the kitchen!) We recently had the chance to sit down over Zoom with director Jordan Canning, who helped bring the recent and hilarious season 2 episode “Charades” to the screen. Canning’s insights into the creative process behind “Charades” and her passion for Trek were, to quote Spock, “fascinating.”  [Warning: This podcast interview contains spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Proceed at your own risk.]   Host: Ayla Ruby of thecosmiccircus.comTheme: "Coffee and You" by Vladislav Kurnikov via Pixabay. For the full article for this interview visit: https://thecosmiccircus.com/exclusive-interview-jordan-canning-on-directing-the-funniest-star-trek-strange-new-worlds-episode/