Interview with a Bothan: A Star Wars Podcast

Interview with a Bothan
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Join Lenny Apesos and Lou Laverty as they dive into the world of Star Wars literature (Canon and Legends). Cover art by Lenny Apesos. Music by Thomas Seibel

  1. APR 3

    14-Wraith Squadron

    While discussing Aaron Allston’s Wraith Squadron (1998) Lenny and Lou initially focus on the ethics and history of the use of bioweapons but at some point start playing smash or pass with Canadian Prime Ministers. Lenny gets serious about workplace rights and protections and reveals more about their day job than they probably should. The duo then discuss the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and how most internet trends can be linked to fascist propaganda.  Hosts: Lenny Apesos and Lou Laverty Art: Lenny Apesos  Music: Thomas Seibel Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at interviewwithabothan@gmail.com  Find us elsewhere on the internet! Substack: interviewwithabothan.substack.com Bluesky: interviewwabothan.bsky.social Further reading:  To Sir Phillip, With Love- Julia Quinn Republic Commando Series- Karen Traviss Best and Worst Canadian prime ministers 1999 October Crisis Tall Girl #blackatBLS

    1h 50m

  2. MAR 20

    13- Bacta War

    On this episode of Interview With A Bothan, we become a layman’s tech podcast before covering Bacta War. Lou laments that they want another updated special edition of Star Wars: A New Hope while updating Lenny on the dire straits that is the SSD/HDD market. Lenny, on the other hand, is actually on task and has thoughts and feelings about Tycho’s teenage-like atheism.  Hosts: Lenny Apesos and Lou Laverty Art: Lenny Apesos  Music: Thomas Seibel Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at interviewwithabothan@gmail.com  Find us elsewhere on the internet! Substack: interviewwithabothan.substack.com Bluesky: interviewwabothan.bsky.social Further Reading: Southern Enclave BFI screening of Star Wars (1977) Loveland Frog Man Weird US Star Wars Star Pilots - Chris Kempshall’s new book The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives PONIES Star Trek: Starfleet Academy A Displaced Wedding: Getting Married in a DP Camp (Yiddish Book Centre) From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty Marriage in the Danish fashion (More danico) Ronald Reagan with the Mujahideen in the Oval Office: Photo and Video  Mission Hill

    2h 4m

  3. MAR 6

    12-Krytos Trap

    Lenny and Lou make it through an entire episode without mentioning WMDs or biological warfare! We’re covering The Krytos Trap (1996) this week. Lenny thinks that Corran Horn would learn a lot from watching the hit TV show, Loiter Squad and Lou needs everyone to know that the Star Wars Holiday Special is the most influential film of all time. Hosts: Lenny Apesos and Lou Laverty Art: Lenny Apesos  Music: Thomas Seibel Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at interviewwithabothan@gmail.com  Find us elsewhere on the internet! Substack: interviewwithabothan.substack.com Bluesky: interviewwabothan.bsky.social Further Reading:  “Adding Insult to Injury: Uncovering the Ancient Origins of Epic Action Movie Quips” by Andrew McClellan in SciTech Daily  Catchphrase Jones 2600 - The Hacker Quarterly   Vikings (2013-2020) Norse Sagas Weird Medieval Guys - The Norman Conquest Part I The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol  The Rise of the Raven (2024- )  The Prosecutor and The Prey by Arkady Vaksberg (1990) The Star Wars Holiday Special

    2h 1m

  4. FEB 20

    11-Wedge's Gamble

    Lou and Lenny take front row seats to the covert-op to take Coruscant in Wedge’s Gamble (1996). Lenny is seemingly unaware that they are basically the same age as Corran Horn (25)   while complaining about his daddy issues and Lou just can't get over their dislike for him.   Hosts: Lenny Apesos and Lou Laverty Art: Lenny Apesos  Music: Thomas Seibel Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at interviewwithabothan@gmail.com  Find us elsewhere on the internet! Substack: interviewwithabothan.substack.com Bluesky: interviewwabothan.bsky.social Further Reading: “I miss when the Internet was just Altavista and that little Star Wars Kid” – Veep, S04E03 The Star Wars Kid  Shattered Glass (2003) Becoming A Star Wars Fan in 2026 by Merphy Napier  “We all want to be Obi Wan Kenobi” - Northern Exposure S03E05 ladygeekgirl.wordpress.com “Hybrid” (Wookiepedia Article) “The Shape of Water and Interspecies Love” in Big Issue The Problem with Coruscant (Planet Cities Explained) by DemiLee Doxiadis, C. A. “Ecumenopolis.” Esketics 21, no. 123 (1966): 110–14.

    1h 36m

  5. FEB 6

    10-Rogue Squadron

    Lou and Lenny tackle the first installment of the X-Wing series! Rogue Squadron (1996) follows the reformation of the iconic (in and out of universe) x-wing squadron during the early years of the New Republic. Lenny reveals that their opinions of Ahsoka have made them an enemy of the public and Lou can't stop calling Corran Horn ‘Corn,’ before they both analyze what it means to have ‘Harrison Ford rizz.’ Hosts: Lenny Apesos and Lou Laverty Art: Lenny Apesos Music: Thomas Seibel Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at interviewwithabothan@gmail.com Find us elsewhere on the internet! Substack: interviewwithabothan.substack.com Bluesky: interviewwabothan.bsky.social Further reading: Wedge and Fake Wedge Ewan McGregor seeing Star Wars for the first time Flying Aces Han Solo/Skywalker fandom beef

    1h 33m

  6. JAN 23

    09- Lesser Evil

    Discussing the leadup to Thrawn’s exile laid out in Timothy Zahn’s conclusion to The Ascendancy Trilogy, Lesser Evil (2021), as well as Thrawn and Thrass’s tragic backstory, Lou and Lenny get unusually emotional and reflect on memory and friendship. Lenny over-intellectualizes a one-off comment comparing Thrawn’s trajectory to Anakin’s. Lou explains the different forms of conspiratorial thinking, and the duo discuss their favourite conspiracy theories. Hosts: Lenny Apesos and Lou Laverty Art: Lenny Apesos  Music: Thomas Seibel Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at interviewwithabothan@gmail.com  Find us elsewhere on the internet! Substack: interviewwithabothan.substack.com Bluesky: interviewwabothan.bsky.social Further reading:  Charted Courses and Collisions - marroniere_m The Fog is Coming 2025 Guinea-Bissau coup d’état Timothy Zahn and Aaron Allston discussing the (then potential) re-setting of SW canon The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire - Chris Kempshall (2024) Anakin has a Doctorate in Darth Plagueis the Wise Studies - Seals are Good The Americans (2013-2018) The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers  - Christopher Vogler (1992) The Hero with A Thousand Faces  - Joseph Campbell (1949) “Finland doesn’t exist” conspiracy  “Marjorie Taylor Greene planted pipe bombs” conspiracy  “JD Vance Killed the Pope” conspiracy  The Question of Narrative in Contemporary Historical Theory - Hayden White (1984)  Conspiracy and Sedition as Canadian Political Crimes - Peter Mackinnon (1977)  A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America - Michael Barkun (2003) The October Crisis

    1h 41m

  7. JAN 9

    08- Greater Good

    Lou and Lenny discuss the second installment of the Ascendancy Trilogy, Greater Good (2021) by Timothy Zahn. Chiss military culture prompts a discussion of girlbosses in the military, and the chafing of military and political interests through the lens of Chiss family drama. Lenny talks about the early study of religion in relation to how (what we know as) the Force appears in this book. Lou expounds on the merits of being a guy who knows guys.  Hosts: Lenny Apesos and Lou Laverty Art: Lenny Apesos  Music: Thomas Seibel Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at interviewwithabothan@gmail.com  Find us elsewhere on the internet! Substack: interviewwithabothan.substack.com Bluesky: interviewwabothan.bsky.social Further reading: The Sacred and the Profane by Mircea Eliade (1957) Patterns in Comparative Religion by Mircea Eliade (1949) Das Heilige (The Idea of the Holy) by Rudolf Otto (1917) Star Wars Gamer 5 (2000) The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire by Chris Kempshall (2024) The Warriors (1979) Letterkenny (2016-2023) “I’m really proud to be from Ohio” - Joe Burrows Just Like the Holodramas by Marroniere_m (2025) Lenin’s Testament  The Book of Job

    1h 27m

  8. 12/26/2025

    07- Chaos Rising

    Lou and Lenny start the Ascendancy Trilogy! Chaos Rising (2020) follows Thrawn at the start of his military career where he shows his early affinity for pre-emptive strikes. Join Lou and Lenny as they meander through conversation topics as wide ranging as conditional familial bonds, the significance of flag rank, and the inherent intimacy of hand-to-hand combat.  Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at interviewwithabothan@gmail.com  Find us elsewhere on the internet! Substack: interviewwithabothan.substack.com Bluesky: interviewwabothan.bsky.social Hosts: Lenny Apesos and Lou Laverty Art: Lenny Apesos  Music: Thomas Seibel Further Reading:  Anakin Has a Doctorate in Darth Plageius the Wise Studies  “Arranged Marriages & Other Literary Tropes - LarissaFae - Star Wars - All Media Types [Archive of Our Own].” “The Artist Is Present - Marroniere_m - Star Wars - All Media Types [Archive of Our Own].” The NRSV Bible  Begiato, Joanne. “Favouritism, Patronage and the ‘Family System’ in England, c.1700–1850.” English Historical Review 139, nos. 598–599 (2024): 801–29. “Love Covered in Oil with Broken Wings - LarissaFae - Star Wars - All Media Types [Archive of Our Own].”  Leaves of Grass Nylan, Michael. “Confucian Piety and Individualism in Han China.” Journal of the American Oriental Society 116, no. 1 (1996): 1–27. https://doi.org/10.2307/606369. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Wikipedia) Tzanelli, Rodanthi. The Cinematic Tourist: Explorations in Globalization, Culture and Resistance. 1st ed. Routledge, 2007.

    1h 45m
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Join Lenny Apesos and Lou Laverty as they dive into the world of Star Wars literature (Canon and Legends). Cover art by Lenny Apesos. Music by Thomas Seibel

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