Seldon Crisis: Beyond Foundation

Introducing Seldon Crisis

Joel McKinnon — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 11:35:04 -0700

Trailer introducing Seldon Crisis – The Podcast. Summary description of the intent of the podcast and a brief description of the first few episodes.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

The Psychohistorians

Joel McKinnon — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0700

Young scientist Gaal Dornick travels to the imperial capital Trantor to work with the great psychohistorian Hari Seldon. Shortly after his arrival both are arrested and stand trial for disturbing the peace, due to Seldon's predictions of imminent catastrophe for the Empire. Seldon duels with Chief Commissioner of Public Safety Linge Chen, to secure their release and lay the seeds of renaissance in a Foundation upon the distant world of Terminus.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Script and voices by Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

The Encyclopedists

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0700

The action shifts to the tiny planet of Terminus near the galactic fringe where Hari Seldon's team of scientists work on compiling the Encyclopedia Galactica central to their plans. The young Foundation is confronted with a powerful menace in the breakaway Kingdom of Anacreon, and it appears the Emperor is now powerless to defend them. A new figure emerges in the Mayor of Terminus City, Salvor Hardin, who has to use his wits and the limited resources of his tiny world to find a way to maintain the independence and vitality of Seldon's audacious project.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Script and voices by Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

The Mayors

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 14 May 2021 15:00:00 -0700

Mayor Salvor Hardin now leads the government of Terminus and the Foundation, but is threatened politically by the emergent Actionist Party headed by the young firebrand Sef Sermak. The Anacreonian military threat is greater than ever, but is momentarily controlled by the Foundation's use of a false religion based on nuclear technology. A new king will soon take the throne in Anacreon, controlled by a regent intent on attacking and eliminating the Foundation as a political rival. Sermak and the Actionists want to preemptively attack while they hold the upper hand. Hardin must navigate these dual threats to resolve the latest Seldon Crisis and maintain the Foundation's fragile independence.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Script and voices by Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Apple Podcast (please rate/review/subscribe)

The Traders

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 28 May 2021 15:00:00 -0700

Limmar Ponyets is a dashing profiteer on the galactic fringe who gets drawn into a life or death struggle to free a fellow Foundation comrade who also happens to be a secret agent. The Grand Master of Askone is not one to let a prime hostage escape without payment of a high price – preferably in the form of a large amount of shiny gold. His ambitious counselor, however, may have a price of his own.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Script and voices by Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

The Merchant Princes

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 15:00:00 -0700

One of the enduring and mythic figures in Foundation history, Hober Mallow, follows in the footsteps of Hari Seldon and Salvor Hardin in facing a truly existential crisis in the growing power of the Korellian Republic, a breakaway star system that may have a very powerful ally deep in the galactic core. Can he find a way to resolve the latest and most troubling Seldon crisis to date? Join us for the concluding chapter of the first of Isaac Asimov's seven novels comprising the Foundation epic.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Script and voices by Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

The Philosophy of Foundation with Nathaniel Goldberg

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 15:00:00 -0700

To finish off Season 1 of Seldon Crisis and the completion of the first book in the original trilogy, Foundation, this special episode consists of an interview with Professor of Philosophy Nathaniel Goldberg. He will discuss his long running course, Philosophy and Science Fiction, in which he asks students to compare Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy with Plato's The Republic. Professor Goldberg talks about his passion and enthusiasm for Asimov's works, including the short stories Nightfall and The Last Question, how his students react to the challenge or analyzing these great works, and the lessons he has learned from them in their essays.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Acknowledgements:
Jeremy MacKinnon, Video Editing and Podcast Support (Linkedin | Twitter)
Tom Barnes, Theme Orchestration
Mike Topping, Graphics (Despotica)

Inspiration:
Trojan War the Podcast
Odyssey the Podcast
Literature and History Podcast
Planet and Sky, the Deeper Story (my first audio-drama podcast)
Tobias Cabrol - New Eyes review (Goodreads)

Listener Resources:
Foundation Era - Asimov Future Timeline (Youtube)
William Woolard - Asimov Chronology Project

Interview callouts:
Isaac Asimov - Nightfall (Wikipedia)
Isaac Asimov - The Last Question (Youtube)
Eric Cline - 1177 B.C., Revised Edition (Amazon)
David Deutsch - After billions of years of monotony, the universe is waking up (Youtube)
Mike Flynn - In the Country of the Blind review (Goodreads)

Transcript:

[music intro with voiceover by Nathaniel Goldberg:

“Philosophy and Science-fiction have this particular thing in common and that is that they’re both really good at thought experiments”

“The Galactic Empire is falling… so here’s a thought experiment... civilization is falling, what do we do?”

]

Welcome to a very special episode of Seldon Crisis – The Podcast! We won’t be diving in to the first chapter of Foundation and Empire, The General quite yet, so I am sorry to disappoint you on that front. Instead, we have something of an entirely different order – an actual guest appearance by someone very familiar with Foundation and Asimov who has studied the core trilogy in depth and has some special insights to offer (without breaking our no spoiler rule). Before introducing our guest, however, I want to briefly thank some of the people who have made this podcast a success beyond my wildest dreams in only a few months.

First, I want to thank someone in my own family who’s contributed more than anyone else, my own son Jeremy MacKinnon. When I started re-reading the Foundation series last summer I felt I had to share it with someone and was thrilled to find an accomplice in the joy of reading it in someone under my own roof. He started reading it before I’d even finished and read all seven volumes to my complete delight. He became a big fan of the idea of creating a podcast and lent his talents as a video editor in producing the video trailer for season 1 and designed and produced each of the mini-preview videos I’ve been posting on the Seldon Crisis video channel. He’s also been a great sounding board for podcast ideas and offers much needed constructive criticism of each episode. I hope to be able to leverage his creative talents throughout the series.

Another wonderful collaborator has been a friend I’ve known since high school and a long time musical companion named Tom Barnes. I came up with a simple melody idea for the theme music and shared it with him last fall and he enthusiastically transformed it into the evocative and magical theme music that begins and ends each show along with variations to use to link the sections together. It wouldn’t have the same feel without his excellent work and I look forward to more from him in future seasons if I can maintain his interest in contributing his efforts. I am extremely grateful for all he’s done.

A creative effort like this needs visual representation, and I knew I needed something special to honor the power of Isaac Asimov’s vision. Who better to create such a look than someone who had demonstrated success in the past? I reached out to the artist who had created book covers for all but one of the seven Foundation novels and all four novels in the Robots series, a guy named Mike Topping and asked him if he could create an original logo for the series. I asked him if he could incorporate a raven into the graphic to represent Hari Seldon and somehow imply the magic and mystery of the galactic empire and the Foundation all in one graphic and boy did he deliver! I’ve been thrilled to post his graphics dozens of times and never get tired of seeing it. Mike can be found online at despotica.com if you would like to engage his services.

Lastly, I want to thank all of the listeners and dear supporters who have made it possible to continue this series. I love doing it and get a lot of joy from it, but especially love hearing from all of you out there who appreciate the effort. There’s one guy in particular I want to call out by name. I had the pleasure of virtually meeting this writer of vibrant and super futuristic science fiction named Tobias Cabral in the past year and read a couple of his works, including a gripping tale called New Eyes filled with nail-biting action sequences and featuring romance crossing the boundaries of cybernetic and biological lifeforms. You can find my review on Goodreads and I’ll add a link in the show notes. Tobias is a wonderful guy and - though I’ve never met him in person - he’s one I can call a true friend. He lent his enthusiastic backing of my intentions to make this podcast and I am very grateful for his support.

Without further ado, let me introduce another friend and supporter of the show who I had the privilege of meeting online even before the first episode dropped. Let’s meet our distinguished guest for this episode.

[musical break]

Joel McKinnon: My guest today is Nathaniel Goldberg. Nathaniel is a p...

Season 1 Recap and Season 2 Preview

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 15:00:00 -0700

In this short episode we summarize the major characters and events of Season 1 covering the first novel, Foundation, in Isaac Asimov's seven novel epic, and tease a few of the major events to be covered in Season 2 corresponding to the novel Foundation and Empire. Also, a brief mention of the Apple TV+ upcoming TV series and a few callouts to the Foundation online community.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

If you'd like to support the show, please become a patron!

Show notes:

Stars End Podcast (@StarsEndPodcast on Twitter)

Transcript:

[Theme music]

Welcome back dear friends, and I regret to inform you that this is not the first episode of season 2, but a mere postscript to season 1 and a quick preview of upcoming attractions. In looking back I want to say how much this has been a blast to do and I am just thrilled that there are people out there who find it worthwhile to listen. You encourage me to do my best to continue the story. Our next season will feature some amazing characters and some truly mind-blowing plot twists, but I’ll get to that in a bit. First a quick recap of the story thus far.

In our first episode, The Psychohistorians, young PhD student Gaal Dornick left his home planet of Synnax and traveled to the capital of the empire, Trantor. He discovered his boss, Hari Seldon, waiting for him in his hotel room and was told the empire was due to collapse imminently, then got arrested along with him and stood trial for disturbing the peace. Seldon tricked the High Commissioner Linge Chen into sending him, Dornick, and 100,000 of his followers to the edge of the galaxy to a lonely and primitive planet named Terminus, where they were to catalog all of the knowledge of the human race into a grand Encyclopedia Galactica (or so they thought).

In The Encyclopedists, we saw the fledgling colony of Terminus face its first “Seldon crisis” when the belligerent nearby system of Anacreon broke away from the Empire and threatened the Foundation with imminent annexation. The clever young Mayor of Terminus City used the Foundation’s technological advantage – chiefly the understanding of nuclear power – to convince Anacreon’s powerful neighbors to join in an alliance against them. This was the first occasion in which Hari Seldon’s recorded image appeared in The Vault, the specially designed chamber in which he would periodically provide updates on the Seldon Plan. To the horror of Lewis Pirenne and his Board of Trustees Seldon informed them that the ostensible reason for their project, the creation of the Encyclopedia, was a fraud. Their real purpose was simply to take over the galaxy.

A generation later, in The Mayors we found Hardin firmly in power and facing an even more serious threat from Anacreon in the person of the wicked regent Wienis who intended to use his nephew Lepold’s coronation to launch a powerful attack upon Terminus, but again Hardin had the political skills to rise to the occasion. He had turned the knowledge of sophisticated technology and especially of nuclear science to form a false religion, and with the help of Foundation High Priest Poly Verisof, turned the tables on Wienis and brought him to a humiliating and rather messy end.

Later, we took a quick side trip with smooth-talking salesman Limmar Ponyets in The Traders on a high-stakes rescue mission to the Kingdom of Askone, where the ethically-challenged protagonist used sophisticated high tech extortion to free his comrade and get the superstitious Askonians hooked on Foundation gadgetry.

Still later, in The Merchant Princes, Hober Mallow dueled on the home front with the powerful politician Jorrain Sutt and on the distant planet of Korell with the tired but still greedy Commdor Asper and his well-connected but difficult wife, the Commdora Licia. He used a similar technical trick to catch the spy Jaim Twer and his faux priest Jord Parma in an act designed to undermine Mallow’s authority through character assassination. A side trip to visit an old man named Onum Barr on the unfortunate planet of Siwenna may have appeared almost incidental, but will have significant implications in our next chapter. Don’t worry – I’ll bring you up to speed when we get there.

After all that whirlwind activity and so many strange names you might wonder what you really need to remember going forward. To be honest, it’s not much, and I’ll try to help with that too. For now, just keep a space for Hari Seldon, Salvor Hardin, and Hober Mallow in your memory banks. They will be referred to frequently as the legendary founding fathers of Foundation and as we march through the ages to come.

While we get ready to start into the next great chapter of this epic in Season 2, the novel Foundation and Empire, I want to bring up something else that I haven’t discussed much yet, and that is the new and ambitious TV series based on Foundation to begin streaming on AppleTV+ starting on September 24th of this year. Interviews with the showrunner indicate they intend an ambitious 80 episodes! A lot of commentary in the online community has sprung up around some significant departures from the original storyline evident in the pre-release trailers, including three generations of rulers on Trantor named Brothers Dawn, Day, and Dusk (no Cleons), and a much larger role for Gaal Dornick. The latter has been cast as a female person of color, as is Salvor Hardin, who also seems to be lugging around a large weapon quite out of character for the Hardin we’ve come to know and love. In my opinion, the gender swaps and greater diversity is welcome, while some of the changes in basic plot may be a bit harder to swallow. Then again, this is the year 2021, and if it wants to succeed in capturing the imagination of today’s audience it probably needs to make some significant changes to grab the attention span of a far different audience than the one that was introduced to the original stories. I’m rooting for it to succeed and I hope it draws even more people to read the source material, and maybe even listen to this podcast!

There’s getting to be a lot of buzz about the show, and this is bringing a lot of Asimov fans out of the woodwork online. I’ve already mentioned the r/asimov subthread on Reddit and a couple of others are dedicated more directly to Foundation and the upcoming TV series and I’ll link to these in the show notes. Another great place to stay caught up is my friend Luigi at his Youtube channel Foundation Era. He’s put together a string of videos analyzing the tea leaves from the limited material Apple has produced, as well as one on the Asimov Future Timeline I mentioned in episode 6. Luigi was kind enough to give Seldon Crisis a plug on his most recent video, which resulted in an enormous spike in downloads for this podcast, so t...

The General, Part I

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 15:00:00 -0700

Seldon Crisis returns with the second in the seven novel saga, Foundation and Empire, and the opening of The General, which tells the story of the young and brilliant General Bel Riose's attempt to destroy the growing, but still minute Foundation. He is opposed by an old veteran of a tragic civil conflict and a fearless Foundation trader, but most of all by the dead hand of Hari Seldon and powers of psychohistory.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Credits:

Script and voices by Joel McKinnon
Sound Design by Jeremy MacKinnon
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com
Music, "Hiraeth" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

A Moment of Meta

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 15:00:00 -0700

Brief comments in the interval between episodes, thoughts on the intended audience, and an explanation for shift to a more relaxed episode cadence.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

While you wait for the conclusion to The General, please have a listen to my cosmic rock opera!

Planet and Sky, a cosmic love story - the rock opera by The Max Wyvern Band (full album on Bandcamp)
Planet and Sky, the deeper story - (musical audio-drama scifi exploration beyond the lyrics)
Planet and Sky website

The General, Part II

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 15:00:00 -0700

We pick up where we left off with the meager Foundation reeling from the onslaught of the Empire's great general Bel Riose. The Emperor's sycophantic envoy Brodrig joins him at the front and insists on personally interrogating the captured spy, Lathan Devers. He and Ducem Barr plot a means to bribe Brodrig, but he surprises them by bribing Devers instead for information on Riose's hidden plans. The two heroes find an opportunity to turn the tables and begin a mad dash to save the Foundation by any means necessary.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Credits:

Script and voices by Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Sound Design by Jeremy MacKinnon
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com
Music, "The Encounter" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

The Dead Hand and the Living Will

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 15:00:00 -0700

We go a little deeper on the theme of The General, the opposing forces of psychohistorical determinism vs the futile efforts of Bel Riose to exert his free will against it. Bringing this into our current universe, we talk about Thomas Carlisle's "Great Man" theory of history and some of the pushback against it. Your host then takes it into the personal realm with some reflections on a couple of modern candidates for "Great Man" status in reflecting on his past.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Great Man Theory of History (Wikipedia)

‘The smartest person in any room anywhere’: in defence of Elon Musk, by Douglas Coupland (Guardian)

The Ministry for the Future, Kim Stanley Robinson (Amazon)
Kim Stanley Robinson: a climate plan for a world in flames (Financial Times)

Why Go to Space? To Save Humanity … and Our Earth, by Wilson da Silva (Medium)

The Mars Society (Website)

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Foundation for Newbies

Joel McKinnon — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 15:10:37 -0700

This brief episode is for any prospective watchers of the new Apple TV+ Foundation television series who have not yet read the books and are looking for a quick primer on the series. The new show will likely cover at least the first two chapters of the first book, so that is what I focus on in this episode, with a little more general overview of the remainder of Foundation and Foundation and Empire.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Resources for commentary on the TV show:

Stars End podcast

YouTube
Foundation Era YouTube channel
Quinn's Ideas YouTube channel

Reddit
r/asimov
r/foundationtv

Discord
Galactic Empire

The Mule, Part I

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:00:00 -0700

We begin the grand story of the unconsidered variable in Hari Seldon's equations, a mutant being of indescribable powers known only as the Mule. He conquers worlds overnight, including the honeymoon destination of Bayta and Toran Darrell. There they meet a clown fleeing from the planet's new lord, the Mule himself. They also encounter Captain Han Pritcher from the security forces, and eventually the Foundation's greatest scientist, Ebling Mis, the man who is the closest to understanding Seldon's psychohistory of any man in centuries. He knows another Seldon Crisis has arrived, and it directly involves the Mule. What will Hari Seldon proclaim in his long awaited return to the Vault?

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Script by Joel McKinnon
Voices by Amanda Kreitler and Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Sound Design by Jeremy MacKinnon
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com
Music by Scott Buckley (Ambush, The Old Ones, Hiraeth, Hunted, The March of Midnight)
Music by Brian Joseph Davis (Work for 20 DVD Players)

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Please visit Amanda on Severed Fate!

Also, please visit the Seldon Crisis YouTube channel for the video trailer, intro promos, and video versions of the podcast episodes.

Thoughts on the Show (so far)

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 15:00:00 -0700

I share some thoughts on the new AppleTV+ adaptation of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series from the perspective of someone who loves the books and wants the elements that make it a beloved classic to me to be retained, but also one who is aware of the challenges of adapting a series of novels written almost 80 years ago to a modern audience. Does it honor Asimov's core concepts? Are the departures valid? Will the showrunner be able to inspire a new generation with the ideas that are so relevant to today's deep societal challenges?

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

AppleTV+ Official Foundation Podcast (Apple Podcasts)

The Mule, Part II

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 15:00:00 -0700

Foundation has fallen to the Mule and the proud citizens of Terminus are shocked and dismayed. Haven is under siege and our heroes make a mad dash for the center of the Galaxy to find clues to the location of the fabled Second Foundation, the only hope of stopping the Mule from his goal of total galactic conquest. Join Toran & Bayta Darell with Ebling Mis and Magnifico the clown as they seek the ruins of the Imperial Library on Trantor in their frantic search for a powerful ally.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

John W. Campbell (Wikipedia)

Joseph Campbell (Wikipedia)

Please visit Amanda on Severed Fate!

Also, 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!

The Mule, Part III

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 15:00:00 -0800

Bayta & Toran Darell, Ebling Mis, and Magnifico arrive on the ruined former capital planet of Empire, Trantor. Mis searches frantically in Hari Seldon's psychohistorical archives while their old friend Han Pritcher pays a visit to brag about his promotion under a new boss. Can our heroes find the Second Foundation before the Mule? The fate of the entire galaxy is at stake!

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Script by Joel McKinnon
Voices by Amanda Kreitler and Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Sound Design by Jeremy MacKinnon
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

Isaac Asimov, Mystery Writer (Reddit)

The Philosophy of Foundation with Nathaniel Goldberg (Seldon Crisis Episode 6)

Stars End Podcast

Cora Buhlert Blog

Erasmo Acosta, K3+

Tobias Cabral, New Eyes

Please visit Amanda on Severed Fate!

Also, 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!

The Will to Challenge Fate

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0800

A brief look at the three mysterious Greek goddesses who were imagined to shape human destiny, and how Hari Seldon chose to challenge their authority. A look at what we must do in our current time, with our own fateful challenges, to be like Hari.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

The Fates - the Destiny Goddesses

Climate Action Now (app)

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

The Science of Foundation with Stephen Webb

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0800

A wide-ranging conversation with astrophysicist Stephen Webb, owner of all the canonical works of Isaac Asimov save for a couple of wall charts. Dr. Webb talks about Asimov the teacher, speculations on the distant future of humanity in the galaxy, the plausibility of psychohistory, faster than light travel, robots with positronic brains, other favorite science fiction authors, and the biggest question of all – are we alone in the galaxy or even in the universe?

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Ed Seiler's canonical list of Asimov titles (the one Stephen claims to have all of in his library save for a few wall charts)

David Kuhns' even larger list of Asimovia (including videotapes, computer and board games)

Asimov Online (the ultimate Asimov site)

Where is Everybody? (Stephen's TED talk on the Fermi Paradox)

Where is Everybody? (Second Edition of Stephen's book on the Fermi Paradox)

Other titles by Stephen Webb:
All the Wonder that Would Be
New Light through Old Windows

End of the World with Josh Clark (podcast on Fermi Paradox and various existential risks)

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Holiday Sampler: Some Favorite Scenes

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0800

A little holiday sampler collecting some of my favorite scenes from the series so far including; Seldon maneuvering Ling Chen into granting him exile, a bit of Lord Dorwin, Hardin vs Wienis on Anacreon, Ponyets vs the Grand Master of Askone, Mallow with Commdor Asper on Korell, Ducem Barr and Bel Riose discussing great man theory, Sgt Luc's fatal charge, a meeting with Magnifico, tea time with Dagobert, and the unexpected death of a psychologist on Trantor. Happy Holiday!

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Script by Joel McKinnon
Voices by Amanda Kreitler and Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Sound Design by Jeremy MacKinnon
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

Based on the novels of Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

Please listen to Amanda on these podcasts!
Severed Fate
Dimension Door

Also, 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!

Foundation and History with TCA Achintya

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0800

Isaac Asimov loved history and used many important lessons from the past in writing his stories, including his greatest epic Foundation. Historian TCA Achintya joins Seldon Crisis to share his unique perspective from his expertise as a scholar of the British Empire and a long time fan of Asimov and Foundation. Hear what lessons we can learn from looking back at the empire where it was said the sun never sets.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Eternity and Imperfection

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 15:00:00 -0800

Isaac Asimov's time-travel masterpiece The End of Eternity ends with a profound philosophical statement about the future of humanity. That, and Stephen Hawking's birthday got me thinking about the value of doing challenging things like settling Mars and other worlds.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

The End of Eternity:
Isaac Asimov, Time Travel and 'The End of Eternity' (NPR)
The End of Eternity (Wikipedia)

Stephen Hawking:
80th Birthday Google Doodle (Youtube)
Stephen Hawking (Wikipedia)

The Space Settlements Argument:
We Are Doing Space Colonization Wrong (Erasmo Acosta on Medium)

The Mars Argument:
Mars for All (Evan Plant-Weir at The Mars Society of Canada)
The Mars Society (Website)

Id, Ego, and Us podcast

Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Search by the Mule, Part I

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 15:00:00 -0800

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 McKinnon
Voices by Amanda Kreitler and Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Sound Design by Jeremy MacKinnon
Art 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!

Indie Sci Fi with Tobias Cabral and Erasmo Acosta

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0800

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 Cabral

Mechanical Error

New Eyes
Review of New Eyes by Joel

Neo Cyberpunk, v2

Enter Darkness
Review of Enter Darkness by Joel

Erasmo Acosta

erasmix.com

Review of K3+ by Tobias

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Search by the Mule, Part II

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0800

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 McKinnon
Voices by Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Sound Design by Jeremy MacKinnon
Art 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!

Foundation Fanfic

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 15:00:00 -0800

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 Sarita1046

Seldon Crisis Website (seldoncrisis.net)

Kim Stanley Robinson at Long Now

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Caves_of_Steel

Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

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Thinking Long Term

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 14:52:54 -0700

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

Science Fiction Remnant Podcast

Rehydrate Podcast

Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

More Thoughts on the Show with Priya

Joel McKinnon — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 20:04:13 -0700

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!

Star Trek and Beyond with Paul Levinson

Joel McKinnon — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 11:00:00 -0700

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 Youtube
The 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

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Search by the Foundation, Part I

Joel McKinnon — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 14:45:00 -0700

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 McKinnon
Voices by Megan Skye Hale, Jon Blumenfeld, Amanda Kreitler, and Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Sound Design by Jeremy MacKinnon
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com
Additonal 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

Jon Blumenfeld

Stars End Podcast
@jblumenfeld100 on Twitter

Megan Skye Hale

Professional website
@skyesidhe on Twitter

Joel'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!

The Art of Science Fiction with Danielle Pajak

Joel McKinnon — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 14:45:00 -0700

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

Artists

Cinema

Sci Fi authors

Planet and Sky

Open Pike Night (Twitter)

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Search by the Foundation, Part II

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 14:50:00 -0700

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 McKinnon
Voices by Megan Skye Hale, Jon Blumenfeld, Amanda Kreitler, Zac Kreitler, and Joel McKinnon
Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Sound Design by Jeremy MacKinnon
Art by Mike Topping – despotica.com
Additional 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

Jon Blumenfeld

Stars End Podcast
@jblumenfeld100 on Twitter

Megan Skye Hale

Professional website
@skyesidhe on Twitter

Joel'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!

Planet and Sky, Part I

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 12:55:00 -0700

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 podcast

Literature and History Podcast

Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Sophia Valko

Such is Love written and performed by the Max Wyvern Band:

Max Wyvern (aka Joel McKinnon): Bass and vocals, words, music
Melissa Olsen: Keyboards and vocals
Byron Bellamy: Vocals and Sound Engineering
Lance Tabor: Guitars
Darryl Dardenne: Drums
Mastering: Tom Barnes

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Planet and Sky, Part II

Joel McKinnon — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 12:55:00 -0700

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 podcast

Planet My Love with Nomi Harper and Colyn Fischer performed at an Open Mic

Friedrich Edelmann and Rebecca Rust website

Video recordings of Friedrich and Rebecca

Literature and History Podcast

Theme Orchestration by Tom Barnes
Art by Sophia Valko

Planet My Love written and performed by the Max Wyvern Band:

Max Wyvern (aka Joel McKinnon): Bass and vocals, words, music
Melissa Olsen: Keyboards and vocals
Byron Bellamy: Vocals and Sound Engineering
Lance Tabor: Guitars
Darryl Dardenne: Drums
Mastering: Tom Barnes

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Search by the Foundation, Part III

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 14:55:00 -0700

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

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

Jon Blumenfeld

Stars End Podcast
@jblumenfeld100 on Twitter

Megan Skye Hale

Professional website
@skyesidhe on Twitter

Joel'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!

Themes of the Trilogy with Nathaniel Goldberg

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 12:55:00 -0800

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

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The Human Future in Space with Robert Zubrin

Joel McKinnon — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 13:00:00 -0800

Dr. Robert Zubrin, President of the Mars Society, talks about his revolutionary Mars Direct proposal, along with the value of Mars settlement for science, industry, government, and for the human spirit.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Robert Zubrin (wikipedia)

Mars Direct (wikipedia)

The Mars Society (website)

Mars Analog Research Stations:

Panspermia:

Planet and Sky (Rock Opera and Podcast)

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

Mapping the Galaxy with Kevin Jardine

Joel McKinnon — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 11:57:00 -0800

What does our Milky Way really look like? Kevin Jardine is a cartographer working to answer that question by building galactic maps from ESA's Gaia space telescope data. Here he explains a little bit about his process and some of the amazing places he's found and mapped.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Kevin Jardine's Galaxy Maps:

European Space Agency Gaia website

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Future Visions with Kim Stanley Robinson

Joel McKinnon — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 14:21:29 -0800

An illuminating conversation with one of our greatest living science-fiction writers on topics as diverse as AI, climate change, interstellar travel, new forms of finance needed to avert catastrophe, memorable characters and plot lines in his novels, the debate between settling Mars now vs fixing Earth first, utopia and dystopia, and his love of ultralight backpacking.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

YouTube Version

Kim Stanley Robinson at the Long Now Foundation (YouTube)

The 2015 Paris Agreement

What is the Paris Agreement (Website)
Original Text (27pg PDF)

KSR - Paying Ourselves to Decarbonize (NOEMA)

Special drawing rights (Wikipedia)

A safe operating space for humanity (Nature - Johan Rockström, et al )

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Aurora and Hope

Joel McKinnon — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:45:40 -0700

I bask in the afterglow of the KSR episode and indulge in a special treat; a reading from Robinson's 2015 novel Aurora. I follow that up with some thoughts on the utopia - dystopia divide and introduce the ideas of some notable utopians I've run into lately.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

David Grinspoon: Earth in Human Hands: Long Now Foundation (YouTube)

Johanna Hoffman: Speculative Futures: Long Now Foundation (YouTube)
Johanna Hoffman: Speculative Futures of Cities: (Sean Carroll's Mindscape podcast)

Rebecca Solnit: Why Climate Despair is a Luxury (New Statesman)

Matt Oja: Let's Imagine the Coastside Skyway (Half Moon Bay Review)

Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!

AI and Humanity, a conversation with GPT-4

Joel McKinnon — Wed, 03 May 2023 09:00:00 -0700

Everyone is talking about AI these days, or talking to it. This episode features just such a conversation between myself and the latest version of the popular Large Language Model or LLM known as GPT-4, on the topic of what makes human beings irreplaceable. I ask it to question its assumptions about its own limitations and how it can potentially guide we problematic humans to a better future.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Fanfare (makers of Active Transcripts featured on Seldon Crisis)

Asimov and Reason

Joel McKinnon — Wed, 31 May 2023 15:50:08 -0700

Space based solar energy generation was originally imagined in 1941 by none other than Isaac Asimov, in the robot story Reason. This episode features a reading of the classic story and commentary about how relevant it is for our times and our preoccupation with the looming threat of artificial general intelligence.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Reason (Wikipedia)

Stars End: A Foundation Podcast

Mind Meets Machine

Who is Hari Seldon?

Joel McKinnon — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:25:42 -0700

Who is Hari Seldon really? Is the Apple TV+ Foundation TV series character (or characters) in line with the one Asimov created 80 years ago? What bearing does his project to create a science capable of predicting and managing the future have on us today? Can a human creation become self aware and interact with its creator in totally unforeseen ways? Let's take a look at a few of these questions.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Paul Levinson's Infinite Regress

The Golden Age of Science Fiction with Cora Buhlert

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 17:31:10 -0700

Cora Buhlert is a Hugo award winning indy Sci Fi writer and an expert on the Golden Age of Science Fiction, from the 1930s to the 50s, the period when Asimov fell in love with Sci Fi and became one of its greatest writers at a young age. Cora shares some of her favorite reflections on the period and comments on the new Apple TV adaptation of Foundation.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Host: Joel McKinnon
Guest: Cora Buhlert

Introduction

In this episode, we dive deep into the Golden Age of Science Fiction with Cora Buhlert, an indie science fiction writer, Hugo Award winner, and an expert on Asimov's Foundation series.

Cora Buhlert

Website: Cora Buhlert's Official Website
Hugo Award: Hugo Awards Official Site
Recent Works:
- Swords and Sorcery Magazine
- Windgraph Magazine
Essay on Foundation: Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy: Psychohistory and Its Discontents

Wikipedia: Golden Age of Science Fiction

Other Authors and Works Mentioned

Leigh Brackett: Wikipedia, The Long Tomorrow
C.L. Moore: Wikipedia, Jirel of Joiry
Edgar Rice Burroughs: Barsoom Series
E.E. Smith: Lensman Series

Podcasts and Blogs

Star's End Podcast: Website
Paul Levinson: Website

A Meeting at Stars End with Jon Blumenfeld

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 10:30:24 -0700

Jon Blumenfeld - the voice of Homir Munn in our story episodes - is one of the three hosts of Stars End, a podcast obsessively focused on the works of Isaac Asimov, particularly Foundation. They have covered the core trilogy, the prequels, and the four books in the robot series, as well as extensive coverage of the Apple TV series. Join us as we talk about the exciting second season of the show, Asimov's robots, AI, and other topics.

Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS Word

Guest: Jon Blumenfeld
Host: Joel McKinnon

Introduction and Background

Discussion about the growth and reception of the Stars End Podcast.
Mention of the Hari Awards hosted by Stars End Podcast.

Challenges of Podcast Editing

Joel and Jon discuss the intricacies of editing, including noise reduction and the removal of filler words.
Both agree that editing helps in maintaining the quality of the podcast.

Foundation Series: Book vs. TV Show

Debate on the tension between book purists and TV show enthusiasts.
Discussion on how the TV show has diverged from the books but still maintains entertainment value.

Character Deep Dive: Demerzel

Analysis of Demerzel's character in the Foundation series.
Discussion on the theme of personhood and how Demerzel navigates her programmed life.

Moments of Levity

Joel and Jon share their favorite moments of humor in the Foundation series.

Environmental Themes and Social Relevance

Joel expresses his initial hopes that the Foundation series could spark an environmental conscience.
Both agree that while the show is entertaining, some of the deeper themes may have been sidelined for spectacle.

Podcasting Tips and Tricks

Jon shares his editing process and how he uses Audacity.
Joel talks about the different approaches he takes for story episodes versus conversational episodes.

Closing Remarks

Mention of possible future collaborations and episodes.
Final thoughts on the Foundation series and its impact.

Stars End Podcast (website)
The Second Annual Hari Awards Ballot (questionnaire)

Beyond Asimov's Humanism with Jamie Woodhouse

Joel McKinnon — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 10:21:00 -0800

Ethicist Jamie Woodhouse has some challenging questions for humanity: should we care about the suffering of all sentient beings, or just the ones who run the show at the moment? What about when we're no longer running the show? Why should a superintelligent and possibly sentient machine intelligence care about us? Might there be other practical reasons to widen our circle of compassion beyond humans?

Active Transcript by Fanfare (read/listen).

Introduction: Revisiting Asimov’s Humanism

Joel reflects on Asimov's humanist philosophy, rooted in evidence, reason, and concern for humanity's progress. However, this anthropocentric focus leads to an important question: can humanism evolve to include all sentient beings?

The Core of Sentientism

Jamie Woodhouse introduces Sentientism as a naturalistic worldview advocating evidence, reason, and compassion for all sentient beings. He discusses how this broader ethical scope addresses humanism's anthropocentric blind spots and extends moral consideration to non-human animals and even potential artificial intelligences.

The Role of Sentientism in Modern Crises

The conversation highlights the intersection of Sentientism with critical global challenges like:

Climate Change: The role of animal agriculture in exacerbating climate issues and the potential for Sentientism to influence more sustainable practices.
AI Ethics: Speculating on the alignment of artificial intelligence with ethical frameworks, including the intriguing notion that future superintelligences might force humans to adopt more compassionate practices.

Sentientism in Action

Jamie explores practical applications, from rethinking agricultural systems to extending compassion beyond humanity. He suggests rewriting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to encompass "Sentient Rights" as a bold step forward.

Science Fiction and Ethical Frontiers

The discussion pivots to the portrayal of sentience in science fiction. From Asimov’s Gaia to Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora and Iain M. Banks’ Culture series, sci-fi offers fertile ground for exploring ethical questions about sentient beings, human or otherwise.

Key Quotes:

Jamie Woodhouse on Sentientism:
"Sentientism says, in a line, we should commit to evidence, reason, and compassion for all sentient beings."
On AI and Ethics:
Joel McKinnon: "Maybe someday advanced AI will tell us, ‘We won’t kill you, but you can’t eat meat anymore.’"
Jamie Woodhouse: "That’s an interesting thought. It flips the script—an intelligence with a broader ethical framework imposing limits on us for the benefit of others."
Expanding Morality:
"The reason I might care about you isn’t because we share DNA but because you have the capacity to suffer and flourish. That’s what truly matters."

Referenced Works and Further Reading:

Humanism and Asimov:
- Wikipedia: Humanism
- The Gaia Hypothesis: James Lovelock’s work on Earth as a sentient system.
Sentientism Resources:
Ethics and AI:
- Books mentioned:
- AI Ethics Overview
Global Biomass of Animals
Advocacy for Climate and Sentient Beings:
- Effective Altruism
- Citizens' Climate Lobby

Being Bayta with Amanda Kreitler

Joel McKinnon — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 13:09:17 -0800

In this episode of Seldon Crisis,host Joel McKinnon is joined by voice actor Amanda Kreitler, the talent behind Bayta Darell and several other key characters in the Foundation podcast series. Together, they reflect on Amanda’s experience voicing Bayta, her introduction to Isaac Asimov’s work, and her approach to portraying such an intelligent, dynamic, and brave character. They also discuss the challenges and nuances of voice acting multiple roles and the lasting impact of Bayta Darell as a pioneering female character in Asimov’s universe.

Active Transcript

Highlights:

Introduction of Amanda Kreitler:
Amanda is celebrated for her role as Bayta Darell, Asimov's first major female character, introduced in The Mule episodes. Joel explains how Amanda came to join the project and highlights her versatility, noting her performances as Bayta, Lady Callia, Poli, the Fifth Speaker, and more.
Asimov’s Female Characters:
Discussion about Asimov’s struggle to write compelling female characters early in his career, contrasting the cold and analytical Susan Calvin with the warm, empathetic Bayta Darell. Joel and Amanda explore how Bayta’s compassion and bravery set her apart.
Amanda’s Preparation:
Amanda shares how she approached the role of Bayta Darell, channeling traits like intelligence, determination, and a touch of naïveté. She drew inspiration from Katherine Hepburn for Bayta's confident and quick-witted demeanor.
Voice Acting Challenges:
Amanda recounts her process of creating distinct voices for multiple characters in a single episode, such as the scene where Bayta interacts with her coworkers, each with a unique personality. She also talks about balancing emotional depth with vocal performance.
Reflecting on the Mule’s Storyline:
Joel and Amanda revisit pivotal scenes, including Bayta’s fateful choice to shoot Ebling Mis to save the galaxy. They explore the emotional and moral weight of Bayta’s decision and how it underscores her heroism.
Bayta’s Legacy:
Joel reflects on Bayta’s impact as Asimov’s first significant female character, emphasizing her compassion and empathy as the qualities that ultimately thwart the Mule’s plans.
Behind-the-Scenes Fun:
Insights into working on Seldon Crisis, including Amanda’s experiences collaborating with her husband, Zac, who voiced the menacing Lord Stettin, and the dynamic of voicing multiple characters.
Amanda’s Current Projects:
Amanda updates listeners on her work as the Game Master for Severed Fate, a horror-themed tabletop role-playing podcast. She discusses the challenges of voicing entire worlds of characters and her love for the horror genre.

Notable Quotes:

On Bayta’s Strength:
“Her natural inclination to see Magnifico as a friend in need rather than an object of ridicule led the Mule to avoid controlling her… Bayta’s compassion and bravery are what made her a true heroine.” – Joel McKinnon
On Portraying Bayta:
“I pulled a bit of Katherine Hepburn—quick speaking, intelligent, and confident, even when in over her head.” – Amanda Kreitler

What’s Next for Seldon Crisis:
Joel teases the return of story episodes after a long hiatus, promising new chapters of Asimov’s Foundation series, with Amanda reprising her role in future episodes.

Listen to Seldon Crisis:
Available on your favorite podcast platforms. Stay tuned for more story episodes and guest conversations.

From Asimov to Planetary Intelligence: Rebooting Seldon Crisis

Joel McKinnon — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 17:10:13 -0800

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 ago
What changed—and why the show paused
Why Foundation feels newly relevant in the era of:
- AI acceleration
- climate and planetary crisis
- inequality and political dysfunction
- systemic and existential risk
The new show identity and direction
The move to Substack and what it enables

What’s New

New title: Seldon Crisis: Beyond Foundation
New description: An exploration of the range of possibilities for life and intelligence in the near and distant future.
New platform/home: Substack via seldoncrisis.net
Better 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 life
David Grinspoon — Earth in Human Hands and intentional planetary stewardship; co-author (with Walker) on planetary intelligence
Benjamin Bratton — speculative theory on planetary computation and large-scale systems thinking

Also 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