Special Topics in Media

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.

Podcasting since 2022 • 184 episodes

Special Topics in Media

Latest Episodes

Film Listology: #70 - Blade Runner

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 reputatio...

June 09, 2026 • Season 8 • Episode 49 • 2:09:47

Film Listology, Reveal Episode! #70-66

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 n...

June 02, 2026 • Season 8 • Episode 48 • 48:53

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

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 a...

May 19, 2026 • Season 12 • Episode 8 • 29:00

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

May 05, 2026 • Season 12 • Episode 7 • 24:47

Film Listology: #71 - Parasite

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. P...

April 28, 2026 • Season 8 • Episode 47 • 1:09:35