Special Topics in Media

Garret Castleberry

5.0 (5)
TV & Film
Updated Weekly

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.

2d ago

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
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
Jun 23

Film Listology: #69 - Jaws

Send us Fan Mail It's our 50th episode of the "Film Listology" longform season on Special Topics in Media. In our Super Index composite of Top Film ratings and rankings, the #69 entrant represents an all-time classic. But for whom? Host Garret Castleberry is joined by Scott McMurry to discuss THE gamechanger event movie that forever changed summer movie season...and going into the water, Steven Spielberg's Jaws. 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
Jun 9

Film Listology: #70 - Blade Runner

Send us Fan Mail The Special Topics in Media "Film Listology" season resumes with the #70 entry in the Super Index, the tech-noir cult masterpiece from director Ridley Scott in 1982, Blade Runner. Scott's film gained a notorious reputation for post-production meddling that compromised its unique vision. Blade Runner is also not without controversy, having been re-edited twice into a "director's cut" in the early 1990s and a "final cut" in 2007. This is in addition to an international theatrical release, various edited versions for TV distribution, and even a workprint cut of the film released on DVD/Blu-ray. So which cut counts and why? This question is not unlike the film's underlying thesis: What *is* human? Garret Castleberry is joined by Scott McMurry to discuss the film and explore its healthy position in the Listology Super Index. 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
Jun 2

Film Listology, Reveal Episode! #70-66

Send us Fan Mail The "Film Listology" countdown resumes with a special reveal episode for films ranking #70-66 on the Listology Super Index. What movies make the cut? What commonality do these titles share? Scott McMurry joins Garret Castleberry to unveil the next batch of historical films for topical discussion on this "Film Listology" installation of Special Topics in Media. 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
May 19

Student Spotlight Series: Brady Allen (Vice President, Communication & Media Club)

Send us Fan Mail This May, Special Topics in Media returns to a newer tradition, our "Student Spotlight Series". Last year, we examined a number of successful internship experiences shared by students in the Media Production and Communication program at MACU. This month, Garret sits down with key officers in the Communication and Media Club, continuing with graduating senior, CMC Vice President, and 2025-26 Media Production Award recipient, Brady Allen. Host: Garret Castleberry, Brady Allen (Guest) Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) 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
May 5

Student Spotlight Series: Mia Haynes (Chapter President, Communication & Media Club)

Send us Fan Mail This May, Special Topics in Media returns to a newer tradition, our "Student Spotlight Series". Last year, we examined a number of successful internship experiences shared by students in the Media Production and Communication program at MACU. This month, Garret sits down with key officers in the Communication and Media Club, starting with the current CMC President, and 2025-26 Communication Award recipient, Mia Haynes. Host: Garret Castleberry, Mia Haynes (Guest) Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music) 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
Apr 28

Film Listology: #71 - Parasite

Send us Fan Mail As our "Film Listology" season counts down the Top 100 films in the Listology Super Index, we rediscover a surprise import of international acclaim: Parasite, from Academy Award-winning writer-director Bong Joon Ho, in 2019. Parasite tells the story of families dueling for class status amidst the backdrop of modern Seoul, South Korea. Parasite presents itself as a family black dramedy, a social satire, and even a heist-horror. In essence, Joon Ho's work functions as a genre-bender, and one that rewarded the director with an armful of Oscars. But how does the film hold up less than a decade later? Unsurprisingly, better than ever. The Dialogic Duo debates the film's cultural significance as an important "can't miss" feature that is also somewhat already hard to find. 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

5

out of 5

5 Ratings

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.

Creator

Garret Castleberry
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

187
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Special Topics in Media
Show Website

Special Topics in Media