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PODCAST

Rabbit Hole of Research

Jotham Austin, II PhD, Nick Elizalde, and Georgia Geis

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. jothamaustin.substack.com

science science fiction

All Episodes

17:00

37.1: The mini recap: Exploring Invisibility

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/06/18

In Episode 37.1 of Rabbit Hole of Research, hosts Joe, Nick, and Georgia revisit the big ideas from Episode 37, where they dove into the biology, physics, and storytelling around Sue Storm, Marvel’s Invisible Woman. They discuss how her power evolved alongside her character—from passive background figure to powerhouse protector—and unpack the deeper implications of invisibility as both a superpower and a metaphor.They also take a detour into comic history with a look at Invisible Scarlet O’Neil

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57:00

EP 37: Fantastic 4 series: Invisibility

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/06/11

In Episode 37 of Rabbit Hole of Research, hosts Joe, Nick, and Georgia are joined by writer and cultural critic Nick Ulanowski to kick off their Fantastic Four series with a deep dive into one of the most mysterious superpowers in comics: invisibility. Centering on Sue Storm—the Invisible Woman—they explore the speculative biology, comic book origins, and strange science behind what it would take for a human to vanish from sight.From chameleon chromatophores to light-bending metamaterials, they

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15:01

36.1: The mini recap: Exploring Loki

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/06/04

In this mini companion to Episode 36: Loki, Satire and Chaos, the Rabbit Hole of Research team offers a fast-paced recap of their conversation with author Kurt Baumeister, whose novel Twilight of the Gods reimagines Loki as a postmodern, ethically ambiguous figure. They revisit themes of mythology, chaos, and satire, explore AI as a digital trickster, and add new pop culture figures to their growing pantheon of modern Lokis—including Gwenpool, Jinx from Arcane, and Harley Quinn. The crew also field

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49:31

EP 36: Loki, Satire, and Chaos

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/05/28

In Episode 36 of Rabbit Hole of Research, hosts Joe, Nick, and Georgia welcome novelist Kurt Baumeister to discuss his book Twilight of the Gods—a postmodern, satirical take on Norse mythology that reimagines Loki as a neutral, even heroic, figure navigating a fractured modern world. Together, they dive deep into Loki as a mythic archetype and chaos agent across mythology, pop culture, and political allegory. The conversation expands into AI as a digital trickster, the psychology of narrative

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20:31

35.1: The mini recap: Exploring Plants

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/05/21

In this mini companion to Episode 35: Weird Plants, hosts Joe, Nick, and Georgia dive deeper into the plant kingdom with follow-ups, listener feedback, and live reactions from Blue Island’s Maifest festival. Joined previously by Molly from The Piper and the Plant, the hosts unpack strange and useful plants—from zombie apocalypse survival picks to unexpected plant biology quirks (yes, a man really had a pea plant grow in his lung). Plus: brussels sprouts bitterness gets a science correction, saguaro

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73:01

EP 35: Weird Plants

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/05/14

In this Episode, Joe, Nick, Georgia, and special guest Molly discuss the diverse and captivating world of plants. The conversation covers a wide array of topics including strange and weird plants, plant care tips, the complexities of plant biology, and even plants useful during a zombie apocalypse. Molly shares her journey from forestry enthusiast to plant store owner and competitive bagpipe player, along with tips on plant care. The episode also includes a taste test of sour pickle beer and delves

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13:00

34.1: The mini recap: Exploring Rain

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/05/07

The hosts of the Rabbit Hole of Research, Joe, Georgia, and Nick, recap Episode 34: What’s in That Rain? featuring guest author Christopher Hawkins who discussed his novel ‘Downpour’ about destructive rain. They delve into various types of dangerous rain, both real and fictional, including acid rain, radioactive rain, and flesh-eating rain. The team also explores unique weather terminology like 'mizzle', 'mist', and 'fog', and references to rain in popular culture such as the movie 'Bow Finger'

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50:00

EP 34: What's in That Rain?

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/04/30

In this episode of Rabbit Hole of Research, hosts Joe, Nick, and Georgia are joined by novelist Christopher Hawkins to discuss the concept of dangerous rain. They delve into various types, both real and fictional, such as acid rain, radioactive rain, microplastic rain, and flesh-eating rain. Christopher talks about his novel 'Downpour,' which features a strange and destructive rain, as well as his upcoming book 'I Contain Multitudes.' The group also explores historical accounts of dangerous rains

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12:01

33.1: The mini recap: Exploring Doctor Who

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/04/23

In this mini-episode, Joe, Nick, and Georgia recap Episode 33’s deep dive into Doctor Who, touching on fan-favorite Doctors, time travel biology, and the show’s philosophical themes. The discussion expands into The Twilight Zone, highlighting the infamous 1961 episode “It’s a Good Life” and its thematic connections to Doctor Who and modern anthology sci-fi. The team also teases the next episode featuring author Christopher Hawkins to discuss his book Downpour and killer rains.And don’t forget to

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59:01

EP 33: Doctor Who? Time Travel, Science, and Fandom

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/04/16

In this episode of the Rabbit Hole of Research, hosts Joe and Nick are joined by special guest Tera to explore the vast, complex world of Doctor Who. From discussing the iconic TARDIS and the Doctor's unique two-heart physiology to the intricate sci-fi concepts woven into the show's storyline, the trio delve into both classic and modern episodes. They touch on themes like circadian rhythms during time travel, the biological effects of temporal shifts, and the moral dilemmas of rewriting history. The

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11:31

32.1: The mini: Exploring Godzilla recap

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/04/09

In Episode 32: Unveiling the Mysteries of Godzilla, Joe, Nick, and guest Natalie dive deep into the origins, evolution, and cultural legacy of Godzilla and the Kaiju genre. From post-war allegories and scientific absurdities to Hanna-Barbera cartoons and biomechanical speculation, the episode unpacks why Godzilla remains cinema’s most enduring monster. In this mini recap, the crew revisits the weirdest and wildest bits—from calorie counts to would you rather go up against one Godzilla sized rat or

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55:01

EP 32: Unveiling the Mysteries of Godzilla and the...

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/04/02

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

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10:15

31.1: The mini: Exploring Speedsters

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/03/26

In this mini recap episode, Joe and Georgia (without Nick this time!) revisit the “How Fast is Too Fast?” episode, responding to listener comments and diving deeper into some fascinating speed-related physics concepts. They discuss realistic and fictional speed effects, the physics of relativistic mass, and the challenges of running at near-light speeds. They also preview upcoming episodes, including an exciting deep dive into Godzillaand a Fantastic Four series!Want to support the show? Tell your

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60:01

EP 31: The Fast and the Curious: How Fast is too Fast?

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/03/19

Joe, Nick, and Georgia dig into a discussion about the nature of speed, starting with the basics of how speed is measured and moving into the fantastical with speedsters from comics and movies like The Flash, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Quicksilver. They explore the scientific concepts behind the speed of sound and light, touching on historical attempts to measure these velocities. The conversation also includes playful banter about fictional portrayals of speed, such as those in the Sonic movies and

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12:01

30.1: The mini: Exploring Money

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/03/12

Join us in this mini teaser episode as we dive into money systems in fictional worlds and their surprising real-world parallels (Go listen to the full Episode 30). We revisit our conversation with guest Amran, who shared insights from his upcoming book Leverage, and explore how wealth, scarcity, and economics shape both imaginary universes and our own.From Arcane’s class divisions to Die Hard’s gold heist, we discuss the ways in which money, resources, and power play out in stories—and what they

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64:00

30: Money of the Future

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/03/05

In this episode, hosts Joe and Nick, along with special guest Amran Gowani, a former chemist turned Wall Street professional turned novelist, delve into the intricacies of finances and economic systems in fiction. The discussion covers definitions of financial systems, the portrayal of wealth and currency in science fiction and fantasy, and the challenges of world-building accurate economic models in storytelling. The conversation also explores the value of skills, commodities, and digital

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15:01

29.1: The mini: Exploring Noir

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/02/26

In this mini-episode: a companion to Episode 29: Science of Noir,' Joe, Georgia, and Nick delve into the rich history and nuances of noir. The team previews Georgia and Jim’s upcoming art show event on February 28th at the Promise You Art House in Highland, Indiana. Topics covered include the evolution of paternity testing, with a nod to the famous Charlie Chaplin paternity case. They also explore the relevance of noir in contemporary media, including video games, and debate whether characters like

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54:01

29:Digging into the Dark: The Science of Noir Films

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/02/19

In this episode, Joe, Georgia, and Nick welcome special guest Jim Siergey, a cartoonist and animator known for being one of the creators of the underground comix strip 'Cultural Jetlag' in the 1990s. The group dives into an engaging discussion on the science and style of noir films. They cover key aspects such as the definitive elements of the genre, famous examples, and the evolution of forensics in relation to noir storytelling. Throughout the episode, the hosts share their thoughts on whether

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14:01

Exploring Nanomachines 28.1

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/02/12

In this mini episode of Episode 28, the Rabbit Hole Research crew continues their discussion about nanomachines. Including recent applications in medical devices that highlight the intersection of science fiction and real scientific advancements, referencing nanites in pop culture, such as the DC universe and Twilight Zone radio dramas. The episode marks the one-year anniversary and teases upcoming discussions on nanotechnology and speedsters. Finally, 'Captain America: Brave New World' is releasing

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37:31

28:Nanomachines: Handwavium or Future Reality?

Rabbit Hole of Research ·

2025/02/05

In this episode of the Rabbit Hole of Research, Joe and Nick delve into the fascinating subject of nanites. Without Georgia, they discuss the definition and scale of nanites or nanomachines, highlighting their microscopic size, typically less than a nanometer, and their potential uses in science fiction and real-world applications. They explore nanites' characteristics, such as autonomy, materials, and functionalities, from repairing tissues and delivering drugs to potential surveillance and

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