Special Topics in Media

Garret Castleberry
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Special Topics in Media Studies is a lecture-based podcast that tackles media history one artifact at a time. Each season of the series we will investigate a different mass media theme, medium, or programming genre. While our focus is educational (it is an academic podcast after all), we tailor our conversations toward a broad audience of media enthusiasts.

  1. 5d ago ·  Bonus

    Guest Lecture Special: Dracula (1931) (REISSUE)

    Send us Fan Mail Celebrating the Special Topics "Anniversary Month" alongside Guest Lecture Week, we are visiting the first lecturecast converted for wide public release.  In this RE-ISSUE of the Season 7 premiere, co-hosts Garret Castleberry and Scott McMurry wade into the entertainment genre of American Horror Film. Their dialogue begins with an "origin story" segment in which they share personal introductions to the genre (2:18) before setting the stage for a focused discussion of Universal's first Classic Movie Monster released in 1931, Dracula (7:10). Conversation includes examination of the cultural context in which the feature was produced and distributed, literary and stage play influences,  and the genre conventions that Dracula helps establish (13:57). Along the way, Scott and Garret employ segments demonstrating how this cultural artifact both imitates and innovates the horror genre film, what role(s) presence versus absence play in the visualization of this adapted narrative, before then considering the ways in which Dracula communicates fear in film. Hosts: Garret Castleberry, Scott McMurry Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) Recommended readings paired with Season Seven "Communicating Fears in Film": Kendall Phillips. Projected Fears: Horror Films and American Culture. Praeger, 2006. Additional Research available via the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection [UHD]. Ways to Connect with us online: Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel. Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/. Support the show

    Guest Lecture Special: Dracula (1931) (REISSUE)

  2. Oct 13 ·  Bonus

    Anniversary Announcements Special - "Where We Are, What Is Coming!"

    Send us Fan Mail This is it. "[We are] him!" Special Topics in Media celebrates its fourth anniversary (seventh overall) with an "Announcements Special". Host Garret Castleberry previews the production strategies underway in summer, fall, and beyond, as Special Topics in Media counts down to episode 200! Books, TV, Film, Podcasting - there is something for everyone in the world of media, and we are primed to confront these topics alongside innovations in emerging technologies as we move into a new era of programming.  Host: Garret Castleberry Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) Ways to Connect with us online: Subscribe to our Special Topics in Media YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZBp5MambT0J2B6qkjrHUKw.  Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics. "Like" to follow our Special Topics in Media Page on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel. Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/. Support the show

    Anniversary Announcements Special - "Where We Are, What Is Coming!"

  3. Sep 22

    Conference Spotlight Series (OSTCA): Podcasting as Digitized Routes of Passage in 21st Century Higher Education

    Send us Fan Mail In this finale to our 2026 "Conferences and Conferencing" miniseries, host Garret Castleberry is joined by colleagues across the State of Oklahoma to engage in a panel for the Oklahoma Speech, Theatre, Communication Association (or OSTCA).  This year, OSTCA is hosted by Southwestern Oklahoma State University (or SWOSU) in Weatherford, Oklahoma, USA. SWOSU is celebrating its 125th anniversary, while Weatherford rests comfortably along the famed Route 66. Route 66 celebrates its centennial this year, which also coincides with America's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Garret is joined by panelists, including fellow Special Topics in Media cohost Scott McMurry, J Hall of the Okie Bookcast, and Coredy Lee Fuller, cohost of the Lesser Minds podcast. The group shares their individual missions, discussing origins and influences, and concludes with their best practices for the digital roads traveled.  Hosts: Garret Castleberry Cohosts/panelists: Scott McMurry, J Hall, Corey Lee Fuller Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) Ways to Connect with us online: Subscribe to our Special Topics in Media YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZBp5MambT0J2B6qkjrHUKw.  Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics. "Like" to follow our Special Topics in Media Page on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel. Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/. Support the show

    Conference Spotlight Series (OSTCA): Podcasting as Digitized Routes of Passage in 21st Century Higher Education

  4. Sep 8

    Conference Spotlight Series (Higher Ed Pod Con): Embracing Strategic Planning to Cultivate a University Podcast Network

    Send us Fan Mail This summer, Special Topics in Media is hitting the road. Our "Summer Conference Series" returns stateside with the Higher Education Podcasting Convention. This year, Higher Ed PodCon was hosted in Cleveland, Ohio. Special Topics host Garret Castleberry traveled to Cleveland to present at the PodCon. His talk, "Embracing Strategic Planning to Cultivate a University Podcast Network," was featured in the Teaching and Learning series at Higher Ed Pod Con II.  In addition, Special Topics in Media and host Garret Castleberry received a "Finalist" award in the category of "Podcaster of the Year".    Host: Garret Castleberry Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) Featured Conference: Higher Ed PodCon Ways to Connect with us online: Subscribe to our Special Topics in Media YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZBp5MambT0J2B6qkjrHUKw.  Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics. "Like" to follow our Special Topics in Media Page on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel. Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/. Support the show

    Conference Spotlight Series (Higher Ed Pod Con): Embracing Strategic Planning to Cultivate a University Podcast Network

  5. Aug 25

    Conference Spotlight Series (ICA): Emerging Technologies and Media Research Futures with Dr. Nick Bowman

    Send us Fan Mail This summer, Special Topics in Media is hitting the road. Our "Summer Conference Series" begins with the International Communication Association (ICA) 76th Annual Convention in Cape Town, South Africa. This year, South Africa served as the first African nation to host ICA. To celebrate, host Garret Castleberry produced a trio of takeaways from the conference proceedings. In this post-conference interview, Dr. Castleberry discusses digital media literacy and the state of media research with Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications Professor and Director of Media Studies, Dr. Nicholas Bowman. Hosts: Garret Castleberry Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) Ways to Connect with us online: Subscribe to our Special Topics in Media YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZBp5MambT0J2B6qkjrHUKw.  Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics. "Like" to follow our Special Topics in Media Page on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel. Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/. Support the show

    Conference Spotlight Series (ICA): Emerging Technologies and Media Research Futures with Dr. Nick Bowman

  6. Aug 11

    Conference Spotlight Series (ICA): Conferencing Best Practices with Dr. Ryan Beaty

    Send us Fan Mail This summer, Special Topics in Media is hitting the road. As part of our "Summer Conference Series", our first stop is at the International Communication Association (ICA) 76th Annual Convention in Cape Town, South Africa. This year, South Africa served as the first African nation to host ICA. To celebrate, host Garret Castleberry produced a trio of insights from the conference proceedings, followed by an expanded conversation about conferencing best practices and research ethics. In this extended discussion, Dr. Castleberry is joined by organizational and strategic communication scholar, Dr. Ryan Beaty. Hosts: Garret Castleberry Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) Ways to Connect with us online: Subscribe to our Special Topics in Media YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZBp5MambT0J2B6qkjrHUKw.  Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics. "Like" to follow our Special Topics in Media Page on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel. Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/. Support the show

    Conference Spotlight Series (ICA): Conferencing Best Practices with Dr. Ryan Beaty

  7. Jul 28

    Conference Spotlight Series (ICA): Future Shock Sci-Fi in Disney's The Mandalorian

    Send us Fan Mail This summer, Special Topics in Media is hitting the road. As part of our "Summer Conference Series", our first stop is at the International Communication Association (ICA) 76th Annual Convention in Cape Town, South Africa. This year, South Africa served as the first African nation to host ICA. To celebrate, host Garret Castleberry produced a trio of insights into the conference proceedings, beginning with an expanded research presentation. In this long-form talk, Dr. Castleberry unpacks an argument that considers how Alvin Toffler's Future Shock functions as a veritable lens for understanding The Mandalorian's cultural success for Disney and the Star Wars brand.  Hosts: Garret Castleberry Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) Recommended readings Alvin Toffler. Future Shock. Ballantine Books, 2022. Ways to Connect with us online: Subscribe to our Special Topics in Media YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZBp5MambT0J2B6qkjrHUKw.  Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics. "Like" to follow our Special Topics in Media Page on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel. Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/. Support the show

    Conference Spotlight Series (ICA): Future Shock Sci-Fi in Disney's The Mandalorian

  8. Jul 7

    Film Listology: #68 - Ben-Hur

    Send us Fan Mail The "Film Listology" odyssey continues with an epic sword-and-sandals Award Winner from Hollywood's Golden Age: Ben-Hur (1959), directed by William Wyler. This twice-adapted film, remade again in 2016, tells the story of politics spoiling friendships, accidents leading to enslavement, heroic virtues paving the way for redemption, and a triumphant journey toward the discovery of faith, led by Best Actor Oscar-winner Charlton Heston. Scott McMurry joins Garret Castleberry for a deep dive into the material nearly as epic as the film. Does the movie's runtime and production age detract from its cultural significance, or provide a pathway to its redemption?  Hosts: Garret Castleberry, Scott McMurry Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) Recommended readings paired with our Film Listology season: Rick Altman. Film/Genre. British Film Institute, 1999. Jim Collins, Ada Preacher Collins, Hilary Radner (Eds.). Film Theory Goes to the Movies, 1st Edition. New York: Routledge, 1992. Ways to Connect with us online: Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics. "Like" to follow our Special Topics in Media Page on Facebook (search Special Topics in Media). Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode. Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel. Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/. Support the show

    Film Listology: #68 - Ben-Hur
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About

Special Topics in Media Studies is a lecture-based podcast that tackles media history one artifact at a time. Each season of the series we will investigate a different mass media theme, medium, or programming genre. While our focus is educational (it is an academic podcast after all), we tailor our conversations toward a broad audience of media enthusiasts.

Information

  • Creator
    Garret Castleberry
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    193
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Special Topics in Media
  • Show Website
    Special Topics in Media