167 // Papa's Got a Pulse Rifle: Aliens and Parenthood

** HEAR THE FULL STORY BEHIND THIS AWESOME PHOTO! **

As we get ever closer to the 35th anniversary of Aliens' theatrical premiere, fans around the world find ourselves feeling a little nostalgic. Many of us were introduced to Aliens (or other films in the saga) by parents, aunts, uncles, etc. And many of us now, having grown to become parents, aunts, uncles ourselves, are in the wonderful position of being able to introduce it to kids ourselves.

On this heartfelt episode, Jaime and Patrick are joined by our NEW COHOST Christian Matzke, as well as beloved PO guest Andie GeekGirl. We hope you feel the love.

// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

166 // Interviewing Marvel's Benjamin Percy, Writer of Aliens: Aftermath

Benjamin Percy wears many hats: novelist (Red Moon); superstar comic writer (Wolverine and X-Force); podcast innovator (Wastelanders: Old Man Star-Lord). But one of the first hats he wore was "Alien fan."

Percy teamed up with the artist Dave Wachter to create Aliens: Aftermath—a double-sized one-shot Marvel is releasing to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Aliens.

Join Jaime and Patrick as they chat with Benjamin about this exciting project, and about the lasting influence Aliens has on us all.

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

165 // NECA : Interviewing VP & Senior Creative Director - Randy Falk

Photo and diorama by Brandon Flores

In this episode, Jaime sits down with Randy Falk, the VP and Senior Creative Director at NECA. In this exclusive interview, Randy pulls back the curtain offering a glimpse of how NECA makes their figures, from first idea to final destination and so much more. This was an insightful discussion that all of us at Perfect Organism hope you enjoy.

164 // Not Drawing Any Straws: Parker and the Legacy of Yaphet Kotto

The character of Parker is arguably the hero of Alien. Performed deftly by the late Yaphet Kotto, Parker echoes in the heart chambers of the Alien saga. From his charm, to his wit, to his affable nature, Parker endears himself to the audience as well as the crew of the Nostromo.

In this episode, Jaime, Patrick, and special guest Christian Matzke sit down to discuss this indelible character and the legacy he's left in a series that is second to none.

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

163 // Alien Day 2021- Aftermath | A Debrief

This episode contains the audio of our live show in the final hours of Alien Day 2021. Join Patrick, Jaime, Perfect Organism team members Maj, and Perry, and special guest Conar Murdoch as we go through the Alien Day activities looking back on another year in the best fandom on earth.

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

161 // ALIEN DAY 2021 : Alien and Alchemy | Interviewing Nostromo Model Craftsman Jon Sorenson

Ridley Scott's seminal film Alien floats between worlds. Alien is full of mystery and dread, horror and magic. In this very special Alien Day 2021 interview, Jaime and Patrick sit down with Jon Sorenson, visual artist responsible for building the Nostromo and so much more. Fresh out of school, Sorenson details how he landed a job on the set of Alien, and phoning his grandmother to tell her the unbelievable news. Join us for an interview of a lifetime. Happy Alien Day 2021.

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

162 // ALIEN DAY 2021: They Mostly Come At Night, Mostly. | Interviewing Alewife Brewing On Their Aliens-Inspired Beer

In our ongoing celebration and coverage of Alien Day 2021, Patrick, and Jaime sit down and interview Keir of Alewife Brewing to discuss their Aliens-Inspired brew, They Mostly Come At Night, Mostly. This was a great window into how brews are created, from idea to delivery. Join us as we talk about what scares us, and what fills our bellies.

A very special thanks to Dave Gogel for the introduction.

ALIEN: The Tides of Night - A Full-Length Audio Drama

ALIEN: The Tides of Night

A Full-Length Audio Drama

From Perfect Organism: The Alien Saga Podcast

Produced and released by Perfect Organism: The Alien Saga Podcast

Cast

David Crook - Stevie J Douglas 

Takumi - Stephen Anthony Grey

The Captain - Bradford Eckhart

Supporting Roles

Ying - Micah Green

The Priest - Jaime Prater

Background Cast

Ryan Zeid Majid

Perry Chicos

Clara/MUTHUR9000

Stevie’s Vocal Recording

Steven Youngson

Written by Conar Murdoch

Original short story edited by Daniel Berger

Adapted by Jaime Prater

Edited by Jaime Prater

Sound Design Jaime Prater & Conar Murdoch

Original Score Patrick Greene

Special Thanks

Jason Romeo Ledger

Alexander House

Daniele Ferlito

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

160 // Alien Day Programming Announcements

Perfect Organism: The Alien Saga Podcast is pausing our standard episode release this week and in this short conversation, Jaime and Patrick discuss their Alien Day 2021 programming. From a dynamic new t-shirt design celebrating the biggest day in Alien fandom, to our interview with Jon Sorenson, a builder of the Nostromo, we have a lot in store. 

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

159 // Interviewing Author Alex White (Part 2)

Join Jaime and Patrick as they sit down once again with Alex White, author of Alien: Into Charybdis and Alien: The Cold Forge! In this free-ranging good time, Alex answers your listener questions (and a few from the PO team, while they're at it).

There are a few light spoilers in here, but it's again mostly spoiler-free. Be on the lookout for spoiler-intensive roundtable discussions to come!

Thanks so much to Alex for making the time to come on twice in a row like this—and thanks to all of you for submitting such great questions.

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

158 // Marvel's ALIEN #1 - Release Day Review

We've officially stepped into a new era: Marvels' first issue of Alien has been released around the world! Not only is this the first non-Dark Horse Alien comic since 1979's Alien: The Illustrated Story, it's the first official glimpse into what Disney is producing with its new IP.

Join Jaime and Patrick on this extensive deep dive into issue #1, and please keep in mind that this is a spoiler review. So pick up a copy (digitally, or in-print from your local comic store), get reading, and join us for this look into Gabriel Cruz, the nature of darkness, and the future of Alien.

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

156 // Perfect Organism Podcast Remembers Yaphet Kotto : 1939-2021

In this special news update, Patrick, and Jaime discuss the life of Yaphet Kotto in the wake of the announcement of his death at the age of 81. Kotto's Parker is the heart of Alien, standing alongside so many memorable and indelible characters that stay with us forever. Join us as we remember.

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

155 // Interviewing Alex White, Author of Alien: Into Charybdis

At long last, Perfect Organism is thrilled to bring you a two-part interview series with Alex White, author of 2018's Alien: The Cold Forge and the just-released Alien: Into Charybdis.

Alex's work is popular with fans—so popular, in fact, that Alex credits a fan meme campaign with getting this second Alien novel off the ground!

Join Jaime and Patrick as they sit down with Alex for this two-parter on Alien, inspiration, how to write a novel, the perks of convincing your parents to become friends with your second-grade teacher, and much more. 

We'll be back with Alex in a few weeks for a second installment, in which they'll respond to listener questions. If you haven't submitted yours yet, head over to Building Better Worlds on Facebook and add your voice to the conversation!

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

// Google Play:bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

154 // Gods of War: The Engineer Discussion | Part One

As controversial a film as Prometheus is, there has been no question that many of the ideas presented are worthy of the mythology of the Alien series. One such idea is the Engineers. Join Patrick, and Jaime as they break down the Engineers as a species. Are they gods? Are they man? We explore these questions and so much more in this exciting new episode.

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play:bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

153 // Interviewing Phillip Kennedy Johnson, the Writer of Marvel's Upcoming Alien Comics

The announcement of Alien leaving Dark Horse for Marvel sent shockwaves through fandom, and for good reason. After more than three decades with the venerable underdog publisher, Alien was going to an entertainment powerhouse.

Many of us felt like this was either very good news or very bad news. Either way, the announcement has had fandom on tenterhooks for the past year. Who would write these stories? What would they have to say? Would Marvel—and, by extension, Disney—understand Alien enough to get this right?

Well, we at Perfect Organism are delighted to bring you this wild, nearly two-hour interview with Phillip Kennedy Johnson, the man writing these comics—an interview that essentially serves as an extended "yes" to the question of whether Marvel knows what it's doing with our beloved franchise.

Phillip is a lifelong Alien nut with an abiding love for the property and a passion to get it right. In this interview, Jaime and Patrick have the opportunity to speak with Phillip about what that means. What Alien is really about. What these comics are going to attempt to express. How to tell stories that feel immediate and relevant in the world we inhabit.

This interview is many things, but perhaps most of all it's a love letter. A love letter to comic books, and a love letter to that moment we get to cherish time and again when we realize how many deeply, beautifully nerdy fans are out there around the world. 

We hope you love it. This is one of our best.

Stay tuned for Building Better World-submitted questions at the end, and stick around after the credits for a sneak peek at a new show we think you'll love!

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play:bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

152 // Interviewing Writer Alan Dean Foster

To many Alien fans across the world, the name "Alan Dean Foster" has become legend. Many of us grew up reading his novelizations—book treatments so rich with character and setting they felt like movies unto themselves. 

In addition to his four decades of work on the Alien franchise, Alan Dean Foster has written well over 100 novels spanning science fiction, fantasy, and novelizations of some of the most globally beloved franchises (Star Wars, Star Trek, Terminator, and many others).

In this relaxed, free-ranging interview, Mr. Foster takes Jaime and Patrick on a journey through his career in and out of Hollywood. We discuss his connection to the Alien series, his dreams for the future, the nature of creativity, and a heck of a lot more. We also dedicate time at the end to listener questions (thanks for submitting them at Building Better Worlds!).

Be sure to check out alandeanfoster.com for a wealth of information on his work. It's worth the visit!

This is another dream-come-true interview for us, and we are so pleased to share it with you. 

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play:bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

BONUS EPISODE: Raised By Wolves | Final Assessment

In part two of our coverage of Ridley Scott's Raised by Wolves, Jaime is joined by Ryan Zeid of Xenomorphing and The Hive Mind Podcast. Is Raised By Wolves a triumph or a tragedy? Jaime and Ryan discuss all of this and more in this bonus holiday episode. 

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play:bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

150 // Interviewing Writer/Actor Ralph Brown (In Defense of Alien 3 Part Nine)

As longtime Perfect Organism listeners know, Alien 3 is especially close to Jaime and Patrick's hearts. In this interview—something of a dream come true for this show—we had the opportunity to spend an afternoon chatting with Ralph Brown, the actor behind Francis Aaron ("85"). He gives us a deeply personal look into the history of Alien 3: the casting process, the shoot, working with David Fincher and Sigourney Weaver, and much more.

We also take a journey through other key parts of his multifaceted creative life. From filming The Crying Game to writing two rap musicals, Ralph Brown has forged a long and productive career in the arts that spans genre, media, and skillset.

Join us for this intimate look behind the scenes of Alien 3, that dark marvel that draws us back time and again.

And be sure to bookmark Ralph's blog, which offers extensive insights into his creative life (including some great pieces on his time working on Alien 3)! You can find it at https://magicmenagerie.wordpress.com/.

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play:bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

Ridley Scott: A Retrospective | Interviewing Author Ian Nathan

In this episode, Jaime sits down with author Ian Nathan, to discuss his newly released book, Ridley Scott: A Retrospective. From Scott's beginnings as a first time director, to being on the set of Alien Covenant, Ian discusses the films and career of the legendary director and his lasting legacy. We hope you enjoy.

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play:bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

149 // The Cast & Characters of Prometheus (Open Her Eyes: The Journey To Prometheus Part Eight)

In this very special roundtable episode, Patrick and Jaime are joined by their good friend and listener Peter (from the Midwest), and returning friend and guest, Dave Gogel, of Xenomorphing.com, and Hive Mind Podcast.

The topic on hand in this episode is the cast and characters of Prometheus. The crew discusses each cast member, what their announcement meant for the film, the character they play, and the reception. This was a very fun episode, and we hope you enjoy. 

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play:bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay