Galaxy One Radio

Shawn Dennis joins us for a fast-moving conversation that jumps from Janet-Jackson “boob-bowl,” to Trolls in space, the meaning of Shrek, and even the NFL and Tiananmen Square!

Across her career—from Kenner Toys to Universal Studios Orlando, from the NFL to American Girl, and DreamWorks—Shawn has helped shape some of the most influential brands in modern entertainment. 

What happens when a theme park opens and nothing works? Why do certain characters refuse to fade away? Why did the Trolls franchise had to be rebuilt from the ground up? and what DreamWorks learned about the emotional blueprint behind hits like Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon.

It’s a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, spectacle, cultural moments, and the strange ways pop culture travels through the world. 

Shawn Dennis joins us for a fast-moving conversation that ricochets from the Janet-Jackson “boob-bowl” to Trolls in space, the emotional architecture of Shrek, the NFL’s global reach, and even Tiananmen Square.

Across her career—from Kenner Toys to Universal Studios Orlando, from the NFL to American Girl, and finally to DreamWorks—Shawn has helped shape some of the most influential brands in modern entertainment.

We dig into what happens when a theme park opens and nothing works, why some characters refuse to fade, why the Trolls franchise needed a complete rebuild, and what DreamWorks uncovered about the emotional blueprint behind films like Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon.

The result is a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, spectacle, cultural flashpoints, and the often VERY strange ways pop culture moves through the world.

This week’s show features Dan DiDio, the legendary former President and Co-Publisher of DC Comics. A creative force behind some of DC’s most defining eras, DiDio shares his love of Metal Men, the bold vision behind The New 52, and his partnership with Frank Miller. He also explores the challenges of managing creative talent, balancing vision, deadlines, and fan expectations. With sharp insight into Batman’s 1980s evolution and what people often miss about the character’s enduring appeal, DiDio offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the art, risks, and reinventions that shaped the modern DC Universe.

This week on Galaxy One Radio, we sit down with Dan Gilroy — one of the creative forces behind Star Wars: Andor and the Emmy-winning writer of the episode “Welcome to the Rebellion.” 

Gilroy, also the Oscar-nominated writer and director of Nightcrawler, joins us to talk about building the moral and political depth of Andor, the meaning behind Mon Mothma’s powerful speech, and the show’s alternative introduction for the fan-favorite droid K-2SO.

From his early work on The Bourne Legacy and Kong: Skull Island to his collaborations with his brother Tony Gilroy, Dan shares how his storytelling has evolved — and why Andor may be the most politically relevant work of his career.

Tune in for an in-depth look at rebellion, truth, and the human side of the Empire.