On Rewind, Tony Zooms with Emmy‑nominated composer Michael A. Levine, a creator whose musical fingerprints are everywhere—from the instantly recognizable Kit Kat Bar jingle to the haunting, otherworldly soundscape of Freeform’s hit series Siren.
In this conversation, Levine pulls back the curtain on his creative process, revealing how he blends experimentation, emotional intuition, and a deep respect for sonic storytelling. One of the most fascinating insights: how he wove real whale vocalizations into the DNA of the Siren main theme, transforming natural marine communication into a musical language that feels both ancient and eerily new.
This episode also features musical cues throughout, giving listeners a rare chance to hear Levine’s ideas in context as he discusses them.
<a href='https://scifitalkplus.supercast.com/'>Subscribe To Sci-Fi Talk Plus Today</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;On Rewind, Tony Zooms with Emmy‑nominated composer Michael A. Levine, a creator whose musical fingerprints are everywhere—from the instantly recognizable Kit Kat Bar jingle to the haunting, otherworldly soundscape of Freeform’s hit series Siren.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In this conversation, Levine pulls back the curtain on his creative process, revealing how he blends experimentation, emotional intuition, and a deep respect for sonic storytelling. One of the most fascinating insights: how he wove real whale vocalizations into the DNA of the Siren main theme, transforming natural marine communication into a musical language that feels both ancient and eerily new.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This episode also features musical cues throughout, giving listeners a rare chance to hear Levine’s ideas in context as he discusses them.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://scifitalkplus.supercast.com/'&gt;Subscribe To Sci-Fi Talk Plus Today&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

On Rewind, Tony Zooms with Emmy‑nominated composer Michael A. Levine, a creator whose musical fingerprints are everywhere—from the instantly recognizable Kit Kat Bar jingle to the haunting, otherworldly soundscape of Freeform’s hit series Siren.

Rewind — Michael A. Levine on Crafting Iconic Sounds

Episode 1: A New Year of Stories, Surprises, and Sci‑Fi Sparks 

Welcome to the first Explore Monthly of the new year, where we kick off 2026 with a packed slate of genre news, casting shake‑ups, behind‑the‑scenes revelations, and a few unexpected delights from across film, TV, audio, and fandom. January wastes no time delivering big stories, and neither do we. 
 

🎥 Spotlight Stories 

Variety Rings in the New Year With Horror 

Variety opens 2026 by highlighting a wave of New Year’s horror projects 
 
Assassin’s Creed &amp; Tomb Raider: Casting Heats Up 

Two iconic game franchises are back in the spotlight as new casting news emerges for both Assassin’s Creed and Tomb Raider. 
 
Avatar Dominates Ireland’s Box Office… Again 

James Cameron’s blue‑skinned juggernaut continues its reign overseas, reclaiming the top spot in Ireland. 
 

 
Walton Goggins Reunites With a White Lotus Alum for Fallout 

The Fallout series continues to build buzz, and now Walton Goggins is teaming up with a familiar face from The White Lotus. 
 

 
Daisy Ridley Digs Into We Bury the Dead 

Ridley returns to genre storytelling with a new thriller that blends survival, mystery, and emotional grit. 
 
Warwick Davis Praises the New Harry Potter TV Series 

The beloved actor shares his early impressions of the upcoming series, offering a hopeful note for fans eager to see how the Wizarding World is reimagined for television. 
 
 
James Gunn Talks DC Studios 

Gunn sits down talking Superman and the projects that he likes to do. 
 

 
Ryan Coogler’s Original Black Panther Vision 

New insights emerge about Coogler’s earliest plans for the first Black Panther film. 
 
Kristen Stewart Would Love to Direct a Twilight Movie 

Stewart shares her surprising enthusiasm for returning to the franchise—this time behind the camera. 
 
New Documentary: Disneyland Handcrafted 

A new doc celebrates the artistry, engineering, and imagination behind the park’s most iconic handmade elements. 
 
2001: A Space Odyssey SFX Supervisor Passes at 91 

We honor the life and legacy of one of the visionary artists behind 2001’s groundbreaking effects 
 
 
Jessica Chastain Returns for The Space Within Season Two 

Audible’s hit audio thriller brings back Jessica Chastain for another season of cosmic mystery and psychological tension. 
 

 
🛸 On Sci‑Fi Talk 

Over on <a href='http://www.scifitalk.com'>scifitalk.com</a>, a look at the Stranger Things finale (spoilers included) 
 

 
📚 First List of the Year: Most Overrated Stephen King Stories 

We kick off our annual list tradition with a provocative one: the most overrated Stephen King stories. Whether you agree or disagree,

<description>Episode 1: A New Year of Stories, Surprises, and Sci‑Fi Sparks

Welcome to the first Explore Monthly of the new year, where we kick off 2026 with a packed slate of genre news, casting shake‑ups, behind‑the‑scenes revelations, and a few unexpected delights from across film, TV, audio, and fandom. January wastes no time delivering big stories, and neither do we.


🎥 Spotlight Stories

Variety Rings in the New Year With Horror

Variety opens 2026 by highlighting a wave of New Year’s horror projects

Assassin’s Creed &amp;amp; Tomb Raider: Casting Heats Up

Two iconic game franchises are back in the spotlight as new casting news emerges for both Assassin’s Creed and Tomb Raider.

Avatar Dominates Ireland’s Box Office… Again

James Cameron’s blue‑skinned juggernaut continues its reign overseas, reclaiming the top spot in Ireland.



Walton Goggins Reunites With a White Lotus Alum for Fallout

The Fallout series continues to build buzz, and now Walton Goggins is teaming up with a familiar face from The White Lotus.



Daisy Ridley Digs Into We Bury the Dead

Ridley returns to genre storytelling with a new thriller that blends survival, mystery, and emotional grit. 

Warwick Davis Praises the New Harry Potter TV Series

The beloved actor shares his early impressions of the upcoming series, offering a hopeful note for fans eager to see how the Wizarding World is reimagined for television.


James Gunn Talks DC Studios

Gunn sits down talking Superman and the projects that he likes to do.



Ryan Coogler’s Original Black Panther Vision

New insights emerge about Coogler’s earliest plans for the first Black Panther film. 

Kristen Stewart Would Love to Direct a Twilight Movie

Stewart shares her surprising enthusiasm for returning to the franchise—this time behind the camera. 

New Documentary: Disneyland Handcrafted

A new doc celebrates the artistry, engineering, and imagination behind the park’s most iconic handmade elements. 

2001: A Space Odyssey SFX Supervisor Passes at 91

We honor the life and legacy of one of the visionary artists behind 2001’s groundbreaking effects


Jessica Chastain Returns for The Space Within Season Two

Audible’s hit audio thriller brings back Jessica Chastain for another season of cosmic mystery and psychological tension.



🛸 On Sci‑Fi Talk

Over on &lt;a href='http://www.scifitalk.com'&gt;scifitalk.com&lt;/a&gt;, a look at the Stranger Things finale (spoilers included)



📚 First List of the Year: Most Overrated Stephen King Stories

We kick off our annual list tradition with a provocative one: the most overrated Stephen King stories. Whether you agree or disagree,
 </description>

Welcome to the first Explore Monthly of the new year, where we kick off 2026 with a packed slate of genre news, casting shake‑ups, behind‑the‑scenes revelations, and a few unexpected delights from across film, TV, audio, and fandom.

Explore Monthly — January Edition

From SDCC, a look back at season one with Robert Carlyle, David Blue, Brian J Smith, Alaina Huffman and more.

<description>&lt;p&gt;From SDCC, a look back at season one with Robert Carlyle, David Blue, Brian J Smith, Alaina Huffman and more.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

From SDCC, a look back at season one with Robert Carlyle, David Blue, Brian J Smith, Alaina Huffman and more.

Rewind Stargate Universe

I disccused this film with director Paul Nicoletos and his star Tedi Nicoletos as they tried to get financing. The film met it's goal and a short was produced.

<description>&lt;p&gt;I disccused this film with director Paul Nicoletos and his star Tedi Nicoletos as they tried to get financing. The film met it's goal and a short was produced.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

I disccused this film with director Paul Nicoletos and his star Tedi Nicoletos as they tried to get financing. The film met it’s goal and a short was produced.

Icarus Down Revisited

In this episode, Tony sits down with award‑winning author, activist, and digital rights advocate Cory Doctorow to explore his acclaimed story collection Radicalized — four near‑future novellas that channel our deepest cultural anxieties into sharp, human‑centered speculative fiction.
Doctorow’s work has always lived at the crossroads of technology, power, and personal agency, and Radicalized distills those themes into four unforgettable narratives:
<ul>
<li>
“Unauthorized Bread” — a tale of immigrant resilience in a world where even your toaster is locked behind DRM.
</li>
<li>
“Model Minority” — a superhero story that interrogates complicity, policing, and the myth of the “good immigrant.”
</li>
<li>
“Radicalized” — a darkly empathetic look at healthcare injustice and the online communities that form around desperation.
</li>
<li>
“The Masque of the Red Death” — a survivalist fantasy turned moral reckoning.
</li>
</ul>
#corydoctorow

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode, Tony sits down with award‑winning author, activist, and digital rights advocate Cory Doctorow to explore his acclaimed story collection Radicalized — four near‑future novellas that channel our deepest cultural anxieties into sharp, human‑centered speculative fiction.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Doctorow’s work has always lived at the crossroads of technology, power, and personal agency, and Radicalized distills those themes into four unforgettable narratives:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Unauthorized Bread” — a tale of immigrant resilience in a world where even your toaster is locked behind DRM.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Model Minority” — a superhero story that interrogates complicity, policing, and the myth of the “good immigrant.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Radicalized” — a darkly empathetic look at healthcare injustice and the online communities that form around desperation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The Masque of the Red Death” — a survivalist fantasy turned moral reckoning.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;#corydoctorow&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

In this episode, Tony sits down with award‑winning author, activist, and digital rights advocate Cory Doctorow to explore his acclaimed story collection Radicalized — four near‑future novellas that channel our deepest cultural anxieties into sharp, human‑centered speculative fiction.

Cory Doctorow on Radicalized

Where Imagination Meets What It Means To Be Human

Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

Details

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