You could say that nobody steals Thor’s thunder. He is the god of thunder, after all. But perhaps he’s the only one who is immune to having their thunder stolen. It took me years to see this fault in myself. To be honest, I’m still not convinced I’m capable of realizing that I’ve stolen someone’s thunder until a great deal of time has passed. That …

As we stood there on the shore of San Diego Bay taking in the sights of Comic-Con, Clint looked at me and asked, “Darrell, why do you do all of this?” I took a moment and gave him an answer I wasn’t happy with then and I’m not happy with now. I told him that I enjoyed being around the celebrities and learning about all the new stuff that’s coming o…

We are joined by Erin for this episode as we discuss the episode “And Those We’ve Left Behind,” or, as Darrell calls it, “The Stephen Root Episode.” We talk about why this episode remains so memorable to Fringe fans and how the magic of Stephen Root and Rosy Rosemont being a couple in real life adds to the authenticity of their performances in this…

The Bible has a lot to say about God and his attributes, and it’s easy to understand how some of these passages can be interpreted to paint God into an image similar to that of Oz. But is that accurate? Just as Dorothy and her friends learned the truth about Oz when they pulled back the curtain and had a face to face conversation with him, I think …

What price would you pay to change your appearance, and what happens when the power to transform yourself becomes a curse? This month we look at two epsodes where identity and the consequences of changing one's appearance take center stage. They explore themes of conformity, individuality, and the dangerous allure of being able to become someone el…

Certainly the fact that we have the capacity to think signifies our existence. However, I’ve seen too many people who think they don’t exist because no one seems to notice them or acknowledge them. Honestly, I think deep down all of us need someone to affirm us in some way in order for us to feel like we exist. Thus, “I am thought of, therefore I a…

It’s just us this episode as we take on “Novation,” Peter’s first full episode this season. We reflect on some of the theories that we had back in the day about who was behind the Shapeshifters 2.0 (one of which was surprisingly quite… valid) and how we felt vs. now feel about Peter’s (sort of) return to this timeline. The post S4E5 Novation appear…

I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with people about NMX 2015. Nearly every conversation I have about it includes someone declaring, “That was the best event ever!” Why? Surround yourself with a group of friends that will encourage you, stick with you, help you see your blind spots, and give you that necessary encouragement on those h…

Marriage is not easy. Adding kids into the mix makes it even more challenging. It’s not surprising that between two-thirds and one-half of all marriages in the US end in divorce. This week Kari and I will celebrate 26 years of marriage and we are as happy and as solidly connected as we’ve ever been. Here are what I believe are five key ingredients …

Subject 9 is a pivotal episode of Fringe marking Peter’s return to the timeline… sort of. We are joined once again this week by the awesome Anna (not Torv) and our discussions touch upon some of the new developments about this timeline revealed in this episode such as different relationships between characters like Olivia and Nina and Walter and Ni…

The word gospel simply means good news. For many of us when we hear the word gospel we think of good news that Jesus came and died to pay the penalty for our sin and provide a way to reconcile us with God. That is indeed good news! That is gospel. We often hear gospel messages about Jesus, but we don’t often hear about the gospel message that Jesus…

When the lines are blurred between the animate and inanimate, suspenseful and thrilling things happen within the sandbox of the Twilight Zone. This month we explore "The After Hours" and "The New Exhibit" which present stories with characters whose reality isn't what it seems, leading to shocking revelations about their true nature. The post Come t…

Small moments can become unknown investments which make ripples decades for decades. Don’t underestimate the impact a small moment can have on someone’s life. Be engaged and authentic. Make the time count. Take time to let someone know when they’ve impacted your life in a positive way. Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the…

Although we are discussing the Fringe episode “Alone in the World” this week on the podcast, we are not actually alone because we are joined by Hannah, our resident fungus expert! We talk about what we love about this episode and its themes but also express some disappointment over never seeing Aaron again despite the powerful bond that he forms wi…

There are two women who still inspire me today. They remind me that no matter where you are in life, no matter your financial situation, no matter what difficulty you’re going through or mountain you’re on top of, you are never too good to treat someone with respect and even offer them something extra to brighten their day, and you’re never too poo…

In 2019, my daughter and I attended San Diego Comic Con together. It was a week of highs and lows as she got to drive a boat for the first time, a memory she still talks about often. Cons are a great place to take your kids and create great memories. When I talk about the benefits of going to cons, I’m not just talking about comic-cons. The con in …

We are joined by frequent feedback contributor ShelkyBean one night in April, discussing Fringe episode, "One Night in October" in which the Redverse asks for help from the Blueverse to help them stop a serial killer. We have a wonderful, deep conversation about the rich themes that are explored in this episode such as nature vs. nurture. The post …

The resurrection is everything. Paul put it this way, “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” After all, if a man who claimed to be God, received worship as if he were God, forgave sins claiming he had the authority of God, c…

Well, here we are again in a month with five Mondays, which means it’s Monday Mailbag day! For this installment of the Monday Mailbag I have one contribution I’d like to share with you. It’s from Andrew, and he's sharing lessons he's learning from running and starting a podcast. The post 639- Monday Mailbag appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- En…

The Twilight Zone can be a cruel adjudicator doling out ironic punishments to characters whose desires ultimately become their undoing. Greed, short-sightedness, and the notion that "heaven" and "prosperity" aren't what they seem are the focus this month, and the characters in these stories find themselves on the receiving end of the most poetic ki…

After a bit of a break between seasons, we are back for season 4, cortexifans! Join us for our premiere episode in which we discuss “Neither Here nor There,” the episode that finally makes Seth Gabel a series regular and, of course, the first episode set in the new orange/amber timeline. We run through what we like about this premiere and what migh…

Tiana is so inspiring. Rather than looking at the loss of her father and her fellow chef as a reason to quit, she let it propel her to be even greater to honor him and the dream that they shared. Her work ethic is uncompromised. When others try to derail her or get her to take time off, she refuses. She stays focused on her dream, works hard, puts …

I love this podcast. In so many ways, I am the most boring guy in the world. I work from home. I don’t go out of the house much. I wear the same 6 or 7 shirts in the winter and another 6 or 7 shirts in the summer. Most of them are blue and some form of plaid. I like routine, sometimes to a fault. I have a spreadsheet for everything, and my life is …

How many of us go to work every day to jobs that crush us and eat away at us. How many of us have bosses that yell or toss out insults? Maybe they are driven only by results, never pausing to think or care about the well-being of those in their employ. It can beat us down emotionally, psychologically, and even physically. Success comes in the prepa…

It’s not fun to be exposed whether it’s related to your receding hairline or your personal sin. Trust me. I know about both of these all too well. We humans do a pretty good job of convincing ourselves that we have our moral act together. We have a sin problem, every single one of us. And God is holy, morally perfect. Jesus teaches that the only wa…

In the shadowy realm of the Twilight Zone, "Night Call" and "Mr. Garrity and the Graves" present haunting narratives where the boundary between life and death blurs with terrifying results.Both stories examine profound isolation and unresolved guilt, while warning against disrupting natural boundaries. The episodes share a powerful cautionary messa…

A wise person once said that fools buy things they don’t want with money they don’t have to impress people they don’t like. This is the adult version of bungee jumping to try and be like your step-brother. Stop basing your decisions on what you hope or perceive to be the opinions of people who don’t even care about you. Base your decisions on those…

We’ve seen it depicted in countless ways for all of our lives. Families torn apart by a variety of things, most of which can be summed up by failing to be present. I will always be grateful to Sammy for teaching me this valuable lesson at such a young age: wherever you are, be there. It helped me establish boundaries that have protected my marriage…

That Greek phrase "Na einai kalytero anthropo apo ton patera toy" translates to “Be a better man than your father.” Being a better man than our fathers should be the goal of each one of us. Whether our dad set a low bar or a high bar, we owe it to our families to not only be the best we know how to be, but to learn from others so we can be even bet…

The Church IS full of hypocrites. That’s the point. The point of church is to help each other grow. To hold each other up, study together, pray together, worship together, and serve together. Warts, flaws, struggles, and everything. For you Christians, let’s be ever mindful of how our behavior affects others. We are called to a higher standard. Let…

“For all intents and purposes, that was the day we died.” We pick right up where we left off at the end of 3.21 for the season 3 finale of Fringe and are joined by the great David Wu (who also has a Fringetastic surprise to share!) to discuss this emotionally devastating episode with a cliffhanger that will fundamentally change Fringe as we know it…

Time is a fun concept to explore and the Twilight Zone did plenty of playing in that sandbox. "A Kind of Stopwatch" follows the story of a man named McNulty who comes into possession of a stopwatch that can stop time. Excited by his newfound power, he uses it for personal gain but eventually discovers there are unintended consequences. "90 Years Wi…

Of course, each of us have seen the glow of the city before, but this time it was different. This time it seemed much, much brighter. But the truth is, it had been so long since either of us had ventured outside the lights of the city or the major highways coming into the city, that we’d forgotten just how big the glow is when you remove yourself f…

I’ve seen countless photos and videos of the Lincoln Memorial, but seeing with my own eyes was magnificent. Many consider Lincoln to be the greatest president of all time, and it’s hard to argue otherwise. The details carved into every part of the memorial left me in awe. I felt like I was standing at the feet of greatness. It’s easy to see why Dr.…

We are joined by special guest Marianne this week as we discuss “The Last Sam Weiss,” the penultimate episode of both this three-episode arc and of the third season. We share what we love about this episode (especially the acting from various cast members as well as the great character development that we get with Walter) but also discuss our disap…

Rat Race. No, I’m not referring to the 2001 film starring Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, and Cuba Gooding Jr. I’m referring to that trap many of us fall into. Wikipedia says a rat race is an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. The phrase equates humans to rats attempting to earn a reward such as cheese, in vain. Don’t get me wrong, this is…

The Bible is alive, it does speak to me. As I read it and go through my day, it shapes my thoughts and actions. It challenges me to grow in every part of my life, teaches me how to be a better husband, father, and worker. It teaches me about the character of God, morality, history, how to manage money, and so much more. It reveals my shortcomings a…

Happy 2025, cortexifans! Join us this week as we discuss the first third of what is essentially a three-part finale! We share our thoughts on the episode and how we retroactively see the episode as mostly a setup. The post S3E20 6:02 AM EST appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podcasts, Technology Podcasts & More.…

This month we're heading to the old west with Mr. Denton on Doomsday and Showdown with Rance McGrew. Both episodes share themes about facing consequences and getting a second chances. One of the episodes hit close to home for us and had some poignant moments, while the other's comedic efforts landed more for one of us than the other. The post Quick…

Today is Monday Mailbag day and we have contribution from John. Here's John's submission. The post 626- Monday Mailbag appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podcasts, Technology Podcasts & More.By Golden Spiral Media

During the second quarter of a football game last season as the crowd was raucously cheering on the home team, my friend leaned over to me and said, “Can I ask you a question?” “Sure,” I said. “What’s the secret to raising girls?” Of all the questions he could have asked me in that moment, I never would have guessed that would be it. The post 625- …

Let’s make some LSD! Join us this week as guest Damon is with us to discuss this special season 3 episode of Fringe! We nerd out over the animated portions of the episode, all of the Easter eggs, the complexity of the episode’s plot and premise, how a certain Broyles scene now hits us differently, and SO much more! The post S3E19 Lysergic Acid Diet…

The fact is, AI and robotics are coming. If they haven’t already started to change or disrupt some part of your life, it’s only a matter of time before they do. For me, I’ve discovered ways to use AI to better my skills and provide improved services to my clients. But I’ve barely scratched the surface of how AI can be used in my industry. It’s chal…

As a parent, I have tried very hard to keep this principle in mind. I haven’t always been good at keeping my emotions in check so that I can assess the situation objectively, but when I have been able to check myself, my kids and myself have been better for it. We are all going to mess up and cause accidents, especially the youngest among us. The p…

We are discussing all things bloodlines (or at least baby blood samples) this week on the podcast as we finally return to the Redverse and see the birth of Henry. We are once again joined by the great Michael London of Fringe Connections to take on this episode, and we share our somewhat differing opinions regarding how this episode holds up after …

Many depictions of the Christmas story include the wise men at the manger most likely for the sake of simplicity. That doesn’t mean the Bible is incorrect, but that depictions of the story are incorrect. What some skeptics do consider to be a contradiction is the differences in where the family lived and traveled after Jesus was born. Are these ind…

This month we look at two episodes which share the common theme of time being unnaturally halted and the moral quandaries that such power presents. In "Elegy," three astronauts become stranded on an asteroid which shares characteristics similar to earth Earth. Soon they discover people frozen in time, evoking themes of time suspension and existenti…

Elephants do indeed have excellent memories. If you’re like me, you think of this fact as a good thing. That is, if someone says you have a memory like an elephant, you’d take it as a compliment. Today I’m going to flip that on its head, show how it can be a negative, and hopefully help you examine your own life to see if you have a memory like an …

We hope that you will stowaway with us on the Fringe train as we discuss this unique episode of Fringe - unique in that Anna Torv is not playing Olivia Dunham or an Olivia Dunham alternate but rather the man behind the curtain himself - William Bell (or Bellivia or Spolive as you prefer). We also finally get to meet the Blueverse version of Lincoln…

John looked at my problem and offered up his idea of the best solution. Like C-3PO I looked at that path as too rocky. Not only was it more than I had the budget for, I knew that building the app was just the beginning. I’d have to keep a developer on retainer for bug fixes, updates, and security management. I didn’t want to be in the software deve…