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The Pod Universe with Dylan & Dalton

Dalton Deschain & Dylan Roth

Writers Dalton Deschain and Dylan Roth first joined together to create Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe? a podcast in which they pitched new installments of the canceled Dark Universe of monster movies. After completing their 30-part saga, they’ve set out to do something new - an all-original cinematic universe of imaginary movies, written, workshopped, and performed on all podcatchers and YouTube.

Looking for Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe? Don't panic! Our archive of episodes from 2022 through summer 2025 are now on their own podcast feed. Just search for the old title and it should all be there.

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S2 · E7
Sunday · 1 hr 42 min
Tales of the Lost Shepherd, Part Two
It's TV time! Speed through an entire season of the imaginary television sequel to the imaginary blockbuster movie Last Flight of the Stone Hammer! Who killed Mother Beal? How can the Ley-to and Eridai avoid more bloodshed? What's Beepo up to? Enjoy this latest weird experiment from The Pod Universe! This episode is brought to you by Genre Space, a sci-fi actual play podcast streaming now wherever you find us, or at https://feeds.transistor.fm/genre-space Also be sure to support the Ritual Deck backerkit and enjoy J. Evan Parks' fantastic game and Dylan's first foray into the world of TTRPGs! https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/plus-one-exp/kingdoms-carved-the-7th-order-ritual-deck CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Opening 00:07:58 - Episode One - "Drop" (Recap) 00:13:48 - Dalton's predictions 00:16:19 - Sponsor: Genre Space 00:18:12 - Episode Two - "Forget It, Kitt" 00:33:43 - Episode Three - "Motherhood" 00:47:25 - Ritual Deck 00:50:19 - Episode Four - "The Inky Black of Space" 00:57:47 - Possible middle episodes 01:05:10 - Episode Five - "Hell is a Small Town" 01:13:00 - Episode Six - "Consensus!" 01:25:15 - Dalton's feedback 01:38:10 - Acknowledgements
S2 · E6
October 4 · 1 hr 36 min
Tales of the Lost Shepherd, Part One
PLOT TWIST! Dylan promised that Phase Two would include a sequel to his space sci-fi satire, Last Flight of the Stone Hammer. He's decided to fulfill the promise by giving you both more and less than you asked for. Instead of another feature film script, Dylan has plotted out an entire season of television called Tales of the Lost Shepherd, and written a complete script for the first episode. This week, Dylan, Dalton, and Sarah read through the script in our usual fashion. Next week, D&D will talk through Dylan's detailed plans for the rest of the season! This episode features original art by Andie Newman, who designed and rendered a character model for the famous, insidious AI assistant Beepo! We've also put some merch on sale over at shop.thepoduniverse.com so check that out! We're sponsored this week by Real Hero Shit: Harder Than It Looks, the new original graphic novel from Kendra Wells and Iron Circus Comics. Go check it out, it is so much fun! CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Cold Open 00:09:49 - Discussion, and How Plans Changed 00:19:46 - Fan Predictions and Expectations 00:36:06 - Back to Tales of the Lost Shepherd 00:53:52 - Discussion 00:56:57 - More Tales of the Lost Shepherd 01:07:09 - Let's talk about Real Hero Shit! 01:11:40 - The rest of Episode 1 01:21:24 - Discussion and Acknowledgements
S2 · E5
September 20 · 1 hr 26 min
The Eraserhead Cinematic Universe w/A Very Special Episode
Kasey Heisler and Patrick Porter of Brooklyn's punk sensation A Very Special Episode commit cinematic heresy when they pitch us an expanded shared universe of film and television spinning out of David Lynch's experimental masterpiece Eraserhead! Our first question? Why?! But, if we must, then how? The answers may shock, amaze, or gross you out! By the way the Disney Channel movie we refer to is called The Stepsister from Planet Weird. Check out their music at https://averyspecialepisode.bandcamp.com/ As always you can support our show and enjoy bonus materials when you join Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton, and buy cool show merch at shop.thepoduniverse.com CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Opening 00:02:48 - Introducing our guests 00:05:51 - Why Eraserhead? Dear God, why? 00:09:35 - Try summarizing Eraserhead 00:34:56 - Breaking down the original 00:44:02 - Expanding the EhCU 00:46:41 - Radiator Lady Monster's Inc 00:50:33 - Eraserhead High 00:56:40 - X Family Sitcom 01:01:43 - The Pencil Factory 01:03:56 - Eraserhead 2 01:08:58 - Fire Walk with Us 01:20:12 - Plugs and acknowledgements
S2 · E4
September 6 · 1 hr 37 min
Vestigial, Part Two
Dalton's kickass space horror "Metroidvania" concludes! Will Linija regain her lost armor? Will we learn the fate of her surrogate father? And what's about [REDACTED]? What's her deal? These answers and a few new questions on this spectacular episode of The Pod Universe! Don't forget to check out our cameos on Public Domain Cinematic Universe! CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Discussion 00:09:31 - Act Two, Part Two 00:38:57 - Discussion 00:47:08 - Act Three 01:12:57 - Mid-Credits Scene 01:15:17 - Discussion
S2 · E2
August 30 · 1 hr 45 min
Vestigial, Part One
In the deep reaches of outer space, Private Linija Tov of the planet Enoxua lands on an abandoned world with whose power plant is in a perpetual state of meltdown. Her mission: to shut down the generator before it erupts and turns her into a pool of blood and pus. Standing in her way is a hoard of violently insane scientists, and the vicious alien creature who drove them to madness. Welcome to PHASE TWO of the Pod Universe, which begins with this standalone sci-fi horror tale inspired by the grim tone and unsettling body horror of Alien and the structure of one of its most treasured spiritual offspring — Metroid. How exactly can a movie be a "Metroidvania?" We'll show you. This episode is brought to you by REAL HERO SHIT: HARDER THAN IT LOOKS, the new original graphic novel from Kendra Wells and Iron Circus Comics. Find it wherever books or ebooks are sold, and find Kendra's work via KendraWCanDraw.com. Kendra is also the artist behind this episode's character designs! Check out our instagram @the_pod_universe or the YouTube version of this episode to check them out! CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Cold Open 00:06:37 - Discussion 00:27:10 - Act One 00:41:32 - Discussion 00:50:32 - Act Two, Part One 01:30:29 - Discussion
S2 · E2
August 16 · 1 hr 50 min
The Insidious Cinematic Universe w/Kendra Wells
Writer, artist, and voice of Hunter Marin themselves Kendra Wells joins the Pod Universe to try and salvage a movie that Dylan hates with a fury we've never seen before! Can the author of Real Hero Shit: Harder Than It Looks make writing Insidious look easy? Let's find out! PLUS: The trailer for the first script of Phase 2: Vestigial! As a special note, thank you everyone for supporting us through 100 episodes! Here's to many more. You can find Kendra's new book and all their other work at your local bookseller, or support them directly at Patreon.com/KendraWCanDraw. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Opening 00:04:34 - Let's talk about Insidious 00:34:40 - The Insidious Franchise as it exists today 00:44:36 - Real Hero Shit: Harder Than It Looks 00:57:24 - Kendra's pitch 01:13:58 - Expanding the universe 01:42:24 - Vestigial trailer
S2 · E1
August 2 · 1 hr 24 min
Phase 2 Slate Reveal
Did Marvel's Hall H panel leave you disappointed? Are you still itching to learn about installments in an ongoing high concept sci-fi universe? Well buddy we've got some great news for you, because it's time for the POD UNIVERSE IMAGINARY COMIC-CON PANEL! Just like our movies, it's not real. But it's pretty close! Join us as we answer fan-submitted questions about Phase 1 of the Pod Universe and reveal our full slate of NINE scripts for the coming season! This episode is brought to you by author Andrew Kass and his novel A Woman of Agency, available in print and ebook. You can watch a 20-minute conversation between Dylan and the author on our YouTube channel! CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Opening 00:04:14 - Reflecting back on War of the Worlds 00:13:08 - What we're NOT doing in Phase Two 00:18:08 - Fan questions! 00:42:13 - Sponsor: A Woman of Agency by Andrew Kass 00:45:23 - More fan questions! 01:00:35 - Slate reveal 01:22:26 - Patreon, the shop, etcetera
S1 · E26
July 19 · 1 hr 59 min
Planning War of the Worlds
Get a closer look at Dylan & Dalton's writing process and listen to them work out the story of the first Pod Universe crossover. Be a fly on the wall as they break down characters, hash out a plot, and then throw all of that away and start over! Learn about the imaginary movie that we almost pretended to make! As always, you can find more episodes as well as our lovely Discord community via our Patreon at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton. Thanks for your support, and see you soon for the kickoff to Phase 2! CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:53 - Who are our leads? 00:12:58 - Character relationship charts 00:17:53 - Differentiating our geniuses 00:30:18 - Getting the characters together 00:34:07 - The Beepo of it all 00:41:53 - Lost and found families 00:45:29 - Alano Bright and the Two Liams 00:54:55 - Let's write a plot! 01:02:29 - The threat and our villains 01:08:48 - Lasting impact on our world 01:14:36 - Plot beat ideas 01:31:27 - TAKE TWO, weeks later 01:35:43 - Rebuilding the story around Xaria 01:48:16 - The ensemble's new role
S1 · E25
July 5 · 2 hr 13 min
War of the Worlds, Part Two
Phase One of the Pod Universe comes to its thrilling conclusion as misfit hacker Xaria (Vera Drew) joins a crew of geeks-turned-guerillas to prevent their Earth from being enslaved by another dimension! We want to extend our warmest thanks to our cast! Vera Drew as Xaria Chris Myers as Vincent Lianah Sta. Ana as Stephanie Anique Evans as Cora Julian Fadullon as Liam & Willy Sarah Norcross as Caitlyn Roberto Williams as Alano Bright with Dalton Deschain as Arthur & Dolly Abe Goldfarb as Bill & Kinny Dylan Roth as Mr. D Joe Stando as Ervin Pope and Frankie Starker as Hela CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Discussion 00:11:31 - Act Two Part Two 00:52:10 - Discussion 01:03:07 - Act Three 01:46:36 - Mid-Credits Scene 01:49:26 - Credits 01:50:25 - Post-Credits Scene 01:51:41 - Discussion
S1 · E24
June 28 · 1 hr 59 min
War of the Worlds, Part One
Worlds collide in The Pod Universe: War of the Worlds, the culmination of Phase One of a cinematic universe of imaginary sci-fi films! We've got a full-length script, a professional cast, an original score -- everything but an actual movie. Listen and read along to the table reading of the Pod Universe's first crossover, a perfect jumping-on point for new listeners! Xaria (Vera Drew, The People's Joker) is a college dropout whose dream of building a true artificial intelligence has never come to fruition. But in a parallel universe, she's a folk hero fighting a desperate war against the corporate oligarchy whose greed burned their Earth to ash. Now, she's being drawn into the fight alongside a team of multiversal misfits to determine the fate of both universes! You've never seen a War of the Worlds like this... and you still won't. It's a podcast. PLUS: Enjoy the writers' discussion of the laborious process behind writing this script, and ponder along with our passionate audience about what's ahead in our story. Then come back next week for the thrilling conclusion! STARRING Vera Drew as Xaria Chris Myers as Vincent Estrella Lianah Sta. Ana as Stephanie Lee Julian Fadullon as Liam / Willy Flores Anique Evans as Cora Winters Frankie Starker as Hela with Dalton Deschain as Arthur Toucet & Dolly Abrams Abe Goldfarb as Bill Malton & Kinny Clausen Dylan Roth as Mr. D Roberto Williams as Alano Bright and Sarah Norcross as Caitlyn Wheeler CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Cold Open 00:08:14 - Discussion 00:21:09 - Fan Predictions 00:25:32 - Act One 00:58:13 - Discussion 01:10:08 - Act Two, Part One 01:49:50 - Discussion
May 31 · 1 hr 40 min
BONUS: Carol & Jenny return / Stone Hammer sequel
As War of the Worlds production continues through some unfortunate delays, we're pulling a recent bonus episode out from behind the paywall to help tide you over. Enjoy Studio Mandate pitches based on Phantom of the Paradise (featuring Carol and Jenny from the Dark Universe!) and Killer Klowns from Outer Space (featuring the star-crossed warriors from Last Flight of the Stone Hammer). Plus, reviews of a few spring movie releases and a look back at Billy Wilder's 1960 classic, The Apartment. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - War of the Worlds progress update 00:01:11 - Intro and Bev Check 00:05:13 - Dalton's bachelor trip 00:12:57 - At Da Movies: They Will Kill You 00:13:54 - At Da Movies: Faces of Death 00:23:08 - At Da Movies: The Drama 00:27:20 - At Da Movies: Project Hail Mary 00:37:49 - Studio Mandate: Phantom of the Paradise 00:48:20 - The Pitch 01:07:07 - The Dylterion Collection: The Apartment 01:18:19 - Studio Mandate: Killer Klowns from Outer Space 01:37:07 - Nominations are open!
S1 · E27
May 24 · 1 hr 31 min
The Flash Gordon Cinematic Universe w/Jadzia Axelrod
Blockbuster comics writer Jadzia Axelrod (with a slew of books out for DC this June) joins our show to reflect on the 1980 cult classic Flash Gordon film adaptation and pitch us her own vision for an expansive modern cinematic universe based on the classic newspaper comics! Find more from us at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton starting at $5/mo, with a 7-day free trial! CHAPTERS (Spoilers within!) 00:00:00 - Opening 00:03:55 - Introducing Jadzia Axelrod 00:08:06 - Discussing Flash Gordon (1980) 00:11:48 - What is Flash Gordon anyway? 00:18:37 - Jadzia's Flash Gordon origins 00:23:36 - Is Ming the Merciless problematic? 00:39:59 - Setting up Jadzia's Flash pitch 00:53:32 - Direct spin-offs 01:04:23 - Expanding the cast 01:08:53 - Defenders of the Earth 01:19:41 - Jadzia's new comics!
S1 · E22
May 10 · 1 hr 29 min
The Species Cinematic Universe with Joshua Rivera
That Studio Softcore you saw on the shelf at the video store might be less sexy — but more interesting — than you remember! Journalist Joshua Rivera joins us to revisit the 1995 sci-fi thriller Species, dissect its possibly accidental themes about gender, and pitch us a broad range of spin-off films for a modern relaunch! CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Opening bits, and Meet Josh 00:04:05 - Introducing Species 00:08:30 - Everything you forgot the movie was about 00:26:33 - It's Act Three - Do you know where your themes are? 00:37:25 - The crappy sequels 00:45:46 - Josh's Species pitch 01:00:51 - Domain 01:09:34 - The Origin of the Species 01:14:02 - Further expansion ideas
S1 · E21
April 26 · 1 hr 9 min
Lee Cronin's The Mummy
Dylan, Dalton, and Sarah review the new non-Universal monster movie, "Lee Cronin's The Mummy," which takes the basic conceit of "What if there was a mummy?" and goes in a very different direction. We don't mind different! But does this new feature hold up as either a Mummy movie or the Exorcist movie it plainly wants to be? PLUS: A sneak preview at the forthcoming Pod Universe crossover spectacular, WAR OF THE WORLDS! CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:12 - Why we're here 00:04:16 - What makes a Mummy movie? 00:12:46 - Lee Cronin's approach 00:16:31 - Unpacking the story 00:22:48 - Where does it go wrong? 00:28:09 - Quirky filmmaking, bland characters 00:37:48 - CGI sand and CGI bugs 00:47:51 - Let's talk about that ending 00:55:02 - Our final verdict 00:57:28 - Sneak peak at War of the Worlds 01:05:00 - What's next for The Pod Universe?
S1 · E20
April 12 · 1 hr 31 min
The Unfriended Cinematic Universe with Pete Volk
CONTENT WARNING: This episode centers around a movie whose inciting incident is a teen suicide. We're shaking up our guest episode format beginning with this pitch from PV Guide's Pete Volk — instead of outlining one remake or reimagining, guest storytellers will have to figure out how to expand a dead or dying intellectual property into a fully-fledged cinematic universe! Critic and journalist Pete Volk kicks us off with his plans to revitalize Unfriended, the horror film series set entirely in the digital world. PLUS: An announcement about our upcoming full-script, full-cast crossover extravaganza, War of the Worlds! Join us at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton for bonus episodes and access to our wonderful and welcoming creative community. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Introducing our new show format 00:05:18 - Introducing Pete Volk and Unfriended 00:08:54 - What is Screenlife? 00:13:24 - Recapping Unfriended 00:17:26 - Why Unfriended works 00:23:18 - Why Unfriended: Dark Web is better 00:33:38 - Dalton's big problem with Unfriended 00:34:53 - Unpacking the overarching themes 00:41:11 - Unfriended: Like & Subscribe 00:52:03 - What other screens can we do this on? 00:54:07 - Establishing our mytharc / MUTUALS 01:02:32 - Unfriended: Dead Web 01:06:55 - Unfriended: Headspace 01:19:55 - Where can you find Pete Volk? 01:22:09 - Updates and acknowledgements
S1 · E19
March 29 · 1 hr 41 min
The Faculty w/Taylor Ortega
SPOILER ALERT! We will be spoiling all of 1998's THE FACULTY, right off the bat! Taylor Ortega, comedian and star of the new Netflix series "Big Mistakes," visits The Pod Universe to revisit the 1998 sci-fi Scream-alike, THE FACULTY, and pitch her own contemporary remake! Let's take a look back at the surprisingly rad Robert Rodriguez flick that's essentially Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets The Breakfast Club, featuring not nearly enough Usher! This episode is sponsored by "Light Pursuit," the new album from Syracuse rock band Mosaic Mind. Find out more about mosaicmindband.com And as always you can join our Patreon at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton to get bonus episodes and help decide what classic film we'll reimagine next. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Opening, and a little bit of dram 00:02:58 - Introducing our guest, Taylor Ortega! 00:06:12 - Looking back at The Faculty (1998) 00:17:06 - Mapping The Breakfast Club parallels 00:20:18 - Getting Taylor onto The Pitt 00:22:29 - The Faculty says "Do Drugs" 00:28:22 - A digression about White Nights (1985) 00:30:27 - Themes and meta-text in The Faculty 00:36:34 - The soundtrack, and some fun vices 00:42:26 - How The Faculty altered film history 00:45:50 - Sponsor: "Light Pursuit" by Mosaic Mind 00:48:40 - Taylor's pitch for The Faculty 00:59:27 - Workshopping the pitch 01:30:35 - Picking a director 01:36:23 - Taylor plugs her new show Big Mistakes! 01:37:46 - What's next for the Pod Universe?
March 22 · 20 min
BONUS PREVIEW: Boss Baby
A new era begins on our bonus pod, Are You Afraid of Dylan & Dalton? in which Patrons get more control over what movies we watch and what stories we tell! This month, we are pitching a Dark Universe horror movie version of THE BOSS BABY. That's right, the Patrons have spoken and the very first movie elected to the Studio Mandate queue is the Dreamworks animated feature in which Alec Baldwin plays a newborn baby who means business. You can help select our next Studio Mandate by joining the Patreon! $25/mo subscribers get to nominate a movie every month, and those nominees get voted on by all subscribers at the $8/mo level or higher. And of course, all paid subscribers get to listen to the results. Nominations for next month's Mandate open RIGHT NOW, so if you're a Studio Executive subscriber, hit us up via DM on Patreon or Discord and we'll put your choice on the ballot.
S1 · E18
March 15 · 1 hr 35 min
Late Adopters, Part Two
Dalton's madcap social satire of a post-computer world comes to a conclusion! Can Cora Winters' quantum-proof gadget save the future? Who exactly are the True Widows mourning? And who the hell is CHUNGUS? Find out on this exciting episode. As always, you can join us at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton to chat about this episode with fellow fans, and enjoy our bonus materials and companion podcast. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:10:19 - Act Two Part Two 00:32:30 - Discussion 00:46:15 - Act Three 01:11:50 - Mid-Credits Scene 01:13:19 - Discussion
S1 · E17
March 8 · 1 hr 39 min
Late Adopters, Part One
Five years ago, in the Prime Universe, the advent of quantum computing led to complete socioeconomic calamity. The Internet is now a thing of the past, and the online-addicted masses have taken it... poorly. Now, the future of humanity rests in the hands of one young programmer and an old gay couple who thought they'd left the world behind for good. It's a madcap adventure that writer Dalton Deschain describes as "Children of Men meets Smokin' Aces meets Rat Race!" Check out the Wired article by Amit Katwala that inspired parts of our saga: https://www.wired.com/story/q-day-apocalypse-quantum-computers-encryption/ This episode is sponsored by: Meet Your Double Feature, a movie podcast by two brothers - visit MeetYourDoubleFeature.com or search your podcatcher Public Domain Cinematic Universe, a new creative podcast from AYADU fan Dick Genital - search your podcatcher and follow on Bluesky @pdcu.bsky.social The Vampire with No Name, an actual play podcast from Dubious Creatures - visit dubiouscreatures.com or search your podcatcher And as always you can join our Patreon at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Cold Open 00:05:20 - Discussion 00:08:58 - Fan Expectations 00:14:48 - Director Choice 00:18:24 - Ad Read: Meet Your Double Feature 00:19:34 - Act One 00:32:42 - Discussion 00:42:55 - Ad Read: Public Domain Cinematic Universe 00:44:50 - Act Two Part One 01:04:30 - Discussion 01:05:00 - Act Two Part One Continued 01:07:00 - Discussion 01:11:42 - Act Two Part One Continued 01:24:26 - Ad Read: The Vampire With No Name 01:25:30 - Discussion
S1 · E16
February 22 · 1 hr 41 min
R-Point with Cass Marshall
Games journalist and co-founder of Rogue.site joins the Pod Universe to pitch an ill-advised American requel to the cult Korean horror film R-Point! Let's take a trip back in time to the Vietnam War, where being haunted by the ghosts of generations of military occupations is probably not even the worst thing that can happen to you. What brought this film to Cass's attention, and what do they have in store for their remake? SPONSORS The Devil Jonah's Leviathan: silly-little-guy.com/Jonah Obscure Sports America: obscuresportsamerica.beehiiv.com/subscribe D'ohmance Dawn: dohmancedawn.com CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Cold Open 00:01:09 - Introducing Our Guest, Cass Marshall 00:04:43 - What is R-Point? 00:20:03 - SPONSOR: The Devil Jonah's Leviathan 00:21:47 - More R-Point Discussion 00:45:04 - SPONSOR: Obscure Sports America 00:46:11 - Cass's Pitch 01:30:20 - SPONSOR: D'ohmance Dawn 01:31:42 - Trailer: Late Adopters 01:36:59 - Wrap-Up

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