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Hello there, welcome to the Rabbit Hole of Research the Podcast. Our goal is to have fun learning science through the lens of science fiction and fantasy.
We are Jotham (Joe) Austin, II, a research scientist and author; Nick Elizalde, roaster of the coffee bean, entrepreneur and pop culture guru; and sometimes Georgia Geis (@atomic_number14), librarian, storyteller, and print maker. Episode Cover Art by Laina Joy !
So, What is this Rabbit Hole of Research Podcast?
It’s like playing a game of Telephone, where we will start in one place and let the conversation lead us down the winding scenic road exploring the science in science fiction, separating the facts from the Handwavium. We’ll have a little fun and you’ll learn a few facts you can use to impress your friends at a party or use as a conversation starter to go down your own rabbit holes.
It will not just be us rambling, fumbling and tumbling down the rabbit hole, but we will invite creators, thinkers and innovators on to talk about their research, creative process and join the lively conversation exploring the quirky science in fiction.
We know you have many choices of entertainment, so we will keep the episodes short, about the time it takes to drink a tasty beverage. So, please join us on this journey down the rabbit hole.
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You can always email (I do answer back), or follow me online for real time tracking. And keep reading to see what I read or listened to when I had time.
Our goal is to have fun learning science through the lens of science fiction, fantasy, and pop-culture. We will start in one place and let the conversation lead us down the winding scenic road exploring the science in science fiction, separating the facts from the Handwavium. We’ll have a little fun and you’ll learn a few facts you can use to impress your friends at a party or use as a conversation starter to go down your own rabbit holes.
In this episode of Rabbit Hole of Research, hosts Joe and Nick, along with special guest Natalie, dive deep into the world of Godzilla and the Kaiju genre. Natalie, a self-proclaimed superfan, shares her knowledge and passion for Godzilla, discussing its origins, cultural significance, and evolution in cinema. The discussion covers Kaiju as a genre, allegorical themes in monster films, and Godzilla’s impact across various media. They also explore Godzilla’s biology, cinematic history, and international influence.
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. Leave a Comment. And for email alerts sign-up for the Substack newsletter and never miss an episode or exciting updates.
We want to Hear From You (Leave a Comment):
If you could genetically engineer your own Kaiju, what abilities would it have and why?
Would you rather face one Godzilla-sized rat or 100 rat-sized Godzillas?
If Godzilla had a favorite pizza topping, what would it be? (Bonus: Ask Natalie on her Pizza City tour, since she’s a pizza expert!)
How long do you think you’d survive in a Godzilla-style apocalypse?
Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next rabbit hole. Love Y’all!
Episode Cover Art by Laina Joy see more at https://lainajoyart.com
Show Notes & References
Total runtime for all Godzilla movies is 4,059 minutes (~67 hours or ~2.82 days).
Pizza City USA (Natalie’s pizza tours in Chicago)
Godzilla is the darkest monster movie
Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Welcome to Rabbit Hole of Research00:18 – Meet the Godzilla Super Fan00:58 – Defining Kaiju and Its Origins (Kaiju translates to “strange beast” and refers to giant monsters in Japanese cinema and pop culture.)04:36 – Godzilla: A Metaphor for Post-War Trauma (Godzilla as a response to Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll.)06:57 – The Controversy and Influence of Godzilla (Ray Harryhausen claimed Godzilla was a ripoff of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms.)08:28 – Bikini Atoll and Nuclear Testing (Lucky Dragon No. 5 incident and its influence on Godzilla’s creation.)17:38 – Godzilla’s Biology and Mechanics (How Godzilla might function biologically, from radiation absorption to locomotion.)26:50 – Godzilla’s Pronouns and Reproduction (Originally gender-neutral, later depicted as male, and possible asexual reproduction in some films.)29:01 – Exploring the Ecosystem of Giant Monsters (What does Godzilla eat? Could it have been a mutated whale?)29:41 – Attack on Titan and Other Japanese Influences (How Attack on Titan fits into the Kaiju genre.)30:26 – Pacific Rim and Other Giant Monster Films (The legacy of Kaiju in modern cinema.)31:51 – Historical Context of Giant Monsters (King Kong, The Lost World, and the evolution of the genre.)33:30 – Godzilla’s Evolution in Cinema (From an apocalyptic force to a protector of Earth.)34:48 – The Role of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (How post-war Japan’s military restrictions influenced Godzilla films.)38:49 – The Many Eras of Godzilla Films (Showa, Heisei, Millennium, Reiwa, and Legendary’s MonsterVerse.)43:50 – Godzilla in American Media (From Godzilla 1998 to Godzilla Minus One.)44:28 – Hanna-Barbera’s Godzilla Cartoon (The 1978 animated Godzilla series featuring Godzuki.)50:20 – Speculations on Oceanic Monsters (Could there be undiscovered apex predators in the deep ocean?)51:56 – Concluding Thoughts and Farewell
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