Advertise on podcast: Seldon Crisis: Beyond Foundation

After a long pause, Seldon Crisis is back—with a new name, a broader focus, and a new home. What began as a Foundation-focused story + dramatization + commentary show is rebooting as Seldon Crisis: Beyond Foundation, exploring the near- and long-term futures of life, intelligence, and civilization—especially as today’s headlines start to echo Asimov’s themes of collapse and recovery. In This Episode Why I started Seldon Crisis five years agoWhat changed—and why the show pausedWhy Foundation feels newly relevant in the era of:AI accelerationclimate and planetary crisisinequality and political dysfunctionsystemic and existential riskThe new show identity and directionThe move to Substack and what it enablesWhat’s New New title: Seldon Crisis: Beyond FoundationNew description: An exploration of the range of possibilities for life and intelligence in the near and distant future.New platform/home: Substack via seldoncrisis.netBetter organization: episodes categorized as:Story (narrative episodes)Conversations (guest interviews)Reflections (solo essays & commentary)Some topics may be written-only when visuals matter.Upcoming Topics A planned episode inspired by three major thinkers: Sara Imari Walker — Assembly Theory (with Lee Cronin) and new ideas about the origin of lifeDavid Grinspoon — Earth in Human Hands and intentional planetary stewardship; co-author (with Walker) on planetary intelligenceBenjamin Bratton — speculative theory on planetary computation and large-scale systems thinkingAlso coming: more guest conversations, including returning and new guests. Release Schedule Note Posts will typically appear on Substack first, then be recorded and released as podcast episodes.As of recording, this post and two more are already up at seldoncrisis.net, with audio versions coming soon.Credits Theme music: Tom Barnes (updated theme featured after the close)Thank you to everyone who listened in the past—and to everyone returning now. I’m excited to keep going in a format that can last. Next episode: Assembling Gaia

The Mule dominates the galaxy and controls the planets and technology of the Foundation. He is not a happy conqueror, for he is unable to find the rumored Second Foundation despite five years of searching by Han Pritcher, now his loyally converted servant. He calls upon the unconverted and ambitious Bail Channis to lead him to his foe. Meanwhile, the speakers of the mysterious Second Foundation plot their defense. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Script by Joel McKinnonVoices by Amanda Kreitler and Joel McKinnonTheme Orchestration by Tom BarnesSound Design by Jeremy MacKinnonArt by Mike Topping – despotica.com Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Rehydrate Podcast Please visit the Seldon Crisis YouTube channel for the video trailer, intro promos, and video versions of the podcast episodes. Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Two visionary authors of independent science fiction share their visions of possible human futures. Tobias Cabral has humans living in a thriving Mars colony with intelligent robots interacting with humans while Erasmo Acosta's  envisions a billion years of human expansion through the galaxy relying upon rotating settlements constituting Dyson swarms which fully utilize the energy from their host stars. Transcripts: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Tobias CabralMechanical Error   New EyesReview of New Eyes by Joel Neo Cyberpunk, v2 Enter DarknessReview of Enter Darkness by Joel Erasmo Acostaerasmix.com Review of K3+ by Tobias Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

The ambitious and confident Bail Channis thinks he is on the trail of the Second Foundation. General Han Pritcher is consumed by jealousy and doubt, but seems to have secret knowledge as the two men huddle in a cold room on frigid Rossem. Someone is coming to their doorway. Is it the Mule? Is it someone else? Is Channis who he seems? Is Pritcher past his prime? All the action is in one small room. Something is about to give. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Script by Joel McKinnonVoices by Joel McKinnonTheme Orchestration by Tom BarnesSound Design by Jeremy MacKinnonArt by Mike Topping – despotica.com Music by bandersn4tch from Pixabay "Dark Secrets of the Universe" Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Please visit the Seldon Crisis YouTube channel for the video trailer, intro promos, and video versions of the podcast episodes. Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Something a little different. I read a work of fan fiction from a listener named Sarita1046. It's an intriguing and poetic piece linking some of the characters from the Apple TV Foundation universe with those in earlier works by Asimov, the robot detective novels featuring Elijah Baley and Daneel Olivaw. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word When the Stars Were Real by Sarita1046Seldon Crisis Website (seldoncrisis.net) Kim Stanley Robinson at  Long Now https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Caves_of_Steel Theme Orchestration by Tom BarnesArt by Mike Topping – despotica.com Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

I get back to the mic to talk about an especially exhausting ski adventure, getting Covid afterward, and the Ukraine war before switching gears into more pleasant topics. I introduce listeners to the Long Now Foundation and what is so cool about it, and talk about a couple of great talks available for your enjoyment online. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word The Long Now Foundation The 10,000 Year ClockThe Rosetta ProjectManual for CivilizationDavid Grinspoon - Earth in Human HandsKim Stanley Robinson - Climate Futures: Beyond 02022 Science Fiction Remnant Podcast Rehydrate Podcast Theme Orchestration by Tom BarnesArt by Mike Topping – despotica.com Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Always wanted to do a full season 1 analysis of the Apple TV version of Foundation and finally found a co-analyst. Priya from the Rehydrate podcast joins me to go over each episode and provide her insightful analysis. Priya and the Rehydrate crew are fresh off of a first reading of the Foundation trilogy and she watched the show fairly recently, so has quite a bit of insight as someone new to Asimov and the Foundation universe. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Hear Priya, along with Dan and Thalia, on the Rehydrate podcast Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

A conversation with science fiction author, media scholar, and musician Paul Levinson about the history and legacy of the Star Trek franchise, including his thoughts on the latest entry to the canon, Strange New Worlds. We discuss the philosophy and technologies featured on this great series of shows, and what its ultimate legacy might be. Transcripts: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Paul Levinson online: Paul Levinson's Infinite Regress (blog and media reviews)Light on Light Through (Paul's podcast)Paul Levinson on YoutubeThe Silk Code (Amazon)Video chat with Cora Buhlert and Joel McKinnon on AppleTV Foundation, Season 1 Video chat with Paul and Joel on Apple TV's Severance Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Young Arkady Darell is crazy about the history of the Foundation and her grandmother Bayta's historic duel with the Mule. When her father and friends conspire to uncover the hidden workings of the fabled Second Foundation, she finds a way to join the conspiracy by stowing away aboard a spaceship bound for the vacation planet of Kalgan along with the Foundation's foremost scholar of Muliana, Homir Munn. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Script by Joel McKinnonVoices by Megan Skye Hale, Jon Blumenfeld, Amanda Kreitler, and Joel McKinnonTheme Orchestration by Tom BarnesSound Design by Jeremy MacKinnonArt by Mike Topping – despotica.comAdditonal music from Dream Protocol and Ashot Danielyan Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Podcasts and other links for voice talent on this episode: Amanda Kreitler Severed FateDimension Door@MargeGunderson4 on TwitterJon Blumenfeld Stars End Podcast@jblumenfeld100 on TwitterMegan Skye Hale Professional website@skyesidhe on TwitterJoel's personal Twitter handle is @joelgmckinnon and the SeldonCrisis official account is @SeldonCrisisPod. Also, please visit SeldonCrisis.net and the Seldon Crisis YouTube channel for the video trailer, intro promos, and video versions of the podcast episodes. Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Illustrator and science fiction connoisseur Danielle Pajak describes her ideas on the art of sci fi, the means of communicating truth and beauty to the readers and watchers of science fiction books, movies, and TV shows. We talk about some of her major inspirations as an artist and many of her favorite sci fi writers, directors, of course Star Trek and her newest discovery, The Orville. We'll also talk a lot about her impressions of legendary figures in Sci Fi like Asimov, Herbert, Clarke, Hal Clement and Ted Chiang, and the importance of cinematic masters like Tarkovsky, Kubrick, and Denis Villeneuve. We'll sadly say goodbye to one of the great modern icons of the medium, Nichelle Nichols – Lt. Uhura of the Enterprise in Star Trek, the Original Series. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Danielle Pajak WebsitePatreon@SayyadinaHeresyArtists Makoto FujimuraYoshitaka AmanoWassily KandinskyCinema Andrei TarkovskyDenis Villeneuve (IMDBSci Fi authors Hal ClementTed ChiangIsaac AsimovFoundation seriesRobot seriesThe End of EternityThe Gods ThemselvesNemesisFrank HerbertDuneRobert HeinleinTime Enough for LoveStranger in a Strange LandMichael FlynnIn the Country of the BlindPlanet and Sky Rock opera (Bandcamp)Podcast (Apple Podcasts)WebsiteOpen Pike Night (Twitter) Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Arkady Darell and Homir Munn arrive on Kalgan and get involved in high level intrigue in the palace of the First Citizen, Lord Stettin, who has eyes on following in the Mule's footsteps to master the galaxy. It seems he also has eyes on Arkady. Stettin's apparently dimwitted mistress Lady Callia befriends Arkady and tries to save her from a horrible fate. An unlikely pair of travelers from distant Trantor appear at a fortuitous moment. But where is the Second Foundation? Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Script by Joel McKinnonVoices by Megan Skye Hale, Jon Blumenfeld, Amanda Kreitler, Zac Kreitler, and Joel McKinnonTheme Orchestration by Tom BarnesSound Design by Jeremy MacKinnonArt by Mike Topping – despotica.comAdditional music by Musictown from Pixabay Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Podcasts and other links for voice talent on this episode: Amanda Kreitler Severed FateDimension Door@MargeGunderson4 on TwitterJon Blumenfeld Stars End Podcast@jblumenfeld100 on TwitterMegan Skye Hale Professional website@skyesidhe on TwitterJoel's personal Twitter handle is @joelgmckinnon and the SeldonCrisis official account is @SeldonCrisisPod. Also, please visit SeldonCrisis.net and the Seldon Crisis YouTube channel for the video trailer, intro promos, and video versions of the podcast episodes. Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

A little diversion to introduce a true labor of love, my rock opera entitled "Planet and Sky, a cosmic love story." Written and recorded in the first decade of this millennium and inspired by my experience as a member of the Mars Society. It's a creation myth wrapped in a sci-fi story in which scientists investigate a strange phenomena on a small arid planet and discover something truly astonishing. The album also has an accompanying podcast which you'll hear more about in Part II in a few weeks. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word The Mars Society Website Planet and Sky on Bandcamp Planet and Sky, album and podcastLiterature and History Podcast Theme Orchestration by Tom BarnesArt by Sophia Valko Such is Love written and performed by the Max Wyvern Band: Max Wyvern (aka Joel McKinnon): Bass and vocals, words, musicMelissa Olsen: Keyboards and vocalsByron Bellamy: Vocals and Sound EngineeringLance Tabor: GuitarsDarryl Dardenne: DrumsMastering: Tom BarnesWant to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

I couldn't wait to tell the rest of the story, covering the last four songs of Planet and Sky, a cosmic love story. Things take a darker turn as the relatively small planet lacks sufficient gravity to hold onto its atmosphere. First we hear from the Travelers again as they gradually become frozen below the surface, then Sky sings her mournful aria to Planet informing him of their demise. We then get an empty, barren world, until the scientists come up with a plan. I share some background on my favorite song and feature it at the end of the episode. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Planet and Sky on Bandcamp Planet and Sky, album and podcastPlanet My Love with Nomi Harper and Colyn Fischer performed at an Open MicFriedrich Edelmann and Rebecca Rust website Video recordings of Friedrich and RebeccaLiterature and History Podcast Theme Orchestration by Tom BarnesArt by Sophia Valko Planet My Love written and performed by the Max Wyvern Band: Max Wyvern (aka Joel McKinnon): Bass and vocals, words, musicMelissa Olsen: Keyboards and vocalsByron Bellamy: Vocals and Sound EngineeringLance Tabor: GuitarsDarryl Dardenne: DrumsMastering: Tom BarnesWant to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

It all comes together at last. The war begins, looking bad for the Foundation, but morale turns the tide against Kalgan. In the aftermath, Homir Munn and the others debate the true location of the Second Foundation with many false turns and a final, startling revelation. The First Speaker has the last say in the matter. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Script by Joel McKinnonVoices by Megan Skye Hale, Jon Blumenfeld, Amanda Kreitler, Zac Kreitler, and Joel McKinnonTheme Orchestration by Tom BarnesSound Design by Jeremy MacKinnonArt by Mike Topping – despotica.com Music by:Scott Buckley - Juggernaut Scott Buckley - Permafrost Scott Buckley - Celestial Additional music by Musictown on Pixabay Scott Buckley's twitter: @musoscientific Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Podcasts and other links for voice talent on this episode: Amanda Kreitler Severed FateDimension Door@MargeGunderson4 on TwitterJon Blumenfeld Stars End Podcast@jblumenfeld100 on TwitterMegan Skye Hale Professional website@skyesidhe on TwitterJoel's personal Twitter handle is @joelgmckinnon and the SeldonCrisis official account is @SeldonCrisisPod. Also, please visit SeldonCrisis.net and the Seldon Crisis YouTube channel for the video trailer, intro promos, and video versions of the podcast episodes. Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Our first returning guest to Seldon Crisis is the first ever, philosophy professor Nathaniel Goldberg. We discuss some of the prominent themes of the series introduced in the first three novels of Foundation, including the lone prophet against the advocates for the status quo, the great man of history against psychohistory, altruistic - and not so altruistic - martyrdom, and some strong comparisons with Plato's Republic. Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word Nathaniel Goldberg, Professor and Chair of Philosophy Paul Levinson: Foundation, Dune, and Laplace's Demon: The Invigoration of a Philosophic Issue in Science Fiction: How Laplace's Demon Finds a Stage in the Foundation and Dune Trilogies Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!