170 // Interviewing Scott Rogers, Designer of Alien: Fate of the Nostromo

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As Alien fans, we've got a lot of ways to engage with the stories we love. We can watch the films, read the comics, play with the action figures, sew our cosplay outfits, explore the decks of the Sevastopol ... and sometimes, when we're lucky, we get something that allows us to engage with these stories in collaboration with others.

That's just what Scott Rogers, the legendary game designer behind Ravensburger's new Alien: Fate of the Nostromo, had in mind as he and his team brought this new tabletop experience to life.

Join Jaime and Patrick as they talk with Scott about all sorts of things: his life-long love for Alien, the inner mechanics of game design, and so much more.

And be sure to pick up a copy of Alien: Fate of the Nostromo, on sale now wherever games are sold!

// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

169 // The Risk Always Lives: Interviewing Jenette Goldstein

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Aliens remains one of the greatest sequels ever made. The 1986 followup to the Ridley Scott original turned a one-off phenomenal film into a franchise-maker.

Even moreso than its predecessor, James Cameron’s Aliens is a film about character. In this special interview, Jenette Goldstein—who, in portraying PFC Vasquez, gave us one of the most unforgettable characters of all—takes us on a tour of her life, her time on set, and her most cherished memories.

Joining Jaime and Patrick in this exciting interview are our new Contributing Hosts, Andie and Christian!

After the interview wraps, stick around for an extended roundtable conversation on the legacy of Vasquez (and much more), as the interview quartet is joined by IG all-stars Perry and Maj.

Keep up with all of Jenette's exploits on IG! @realjenettegoldstein @jenettebras_la @jenettebras_atl And be sure to stop by jenettebras.com.

Also!! Make sure you check out Jenette appearing in the music video for "Reach," a song by Bill Paxton's band Martini Ranch. Directed by James Cameron, no less! You might recognize some other faces as well ...

// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes

168 // Celebrating the 35 Year Legacy of Aliens: A Roundtable

Thirty-five years ago—July 14, 1985—James Cameron’s Aliens lit up movie screens across the globe for the first time. In the decades since, Aliens has become a deeply beloved, immeasurably influential, genre-defining example of what great filmmaking looks like.

In this roundtable celebration of Aliens’ 35th anniversary, Jaime, Patrick, Christian, Maj, and Perry are joined once again by Marvel’s Phillip Kennedy Johnson for a rousing look at Aliens and its deep impact on our lives, our work, and our world.

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

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

159 // Interviewing Author Alex White (Part 2)

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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 WarsStar TrekTerminator, 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