Ancient Geeks

Ancient Geeks episode 21: Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan

Back in 1982, both Steven and Tom worried that Star Trek: The Motion Picture was the nail in the coffin of Star Trek. Much to our delight, Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan was everything that the first movie wasn't. Exciting scenes! Snappy dialogue! Surprisingly moving moments about aging and loss! Even more surprising acting (of the good kind) from William Shatner! And, of course, one of the best Star Trek villains, if not the best, Khaaaaaaannn!!!
Journey back with us to the multiplex for the premiere of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, and learn why this film not only revived the Star Trek franchise, but also has stood the test of time as a great movie!
 
Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of culture. We were geeks before it was chic!
For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, reviews on your podcast platform of choice are always appreciated.
© 2025 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor

Ancient Geeks episode 20: Star Trek The Motion Picture

In 1979, Star Trek fans eagerly awaited the premiere of the first Star Trek movies, after Star Trek slid into reruns for several years. The movie had a big budget, a topnotch director, all the original cast, and the promise of a very Trek-ish story.
How did we feel about the movie, when it premiered? Did it seem like Star Trek had an ever brighter future after this film? Did we want to sport our own version of the pajama-like uniforms from this movie? Tune into this episode of Ancient Geeks to find out! And also hear about Phase II, the Star Trek series that Paramount almost made in the 1970s, and we didn't even know was gearing up for production at the time.
 
Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of culture. We were geeks before it was chic!
For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, reviews on your podcast platform of choice are always appreciated.
© 2025 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor

Ancient Geeks episode 19: Star Trek The Animated Series

After the original series of Star Trek concluded, it looked as though one of our favorite bits of SF had come to an end...Until surprise! Star Trek transformed into a Saturday morning cartoon! The same cast (almost), the same writers, the same everything, but now with even more alien aliens, wild new starship designs, and wacky plots!
Spock travels back in time to help his younger self! There's a giant clone of Spock! Satan lives at the center of the galaxy, and he's our friend! Larry Niven's Kzinti become part of the Star Trek continuity! The crew starts shrinking! More tribbles, more Harry Mudd!
So strap on your phaser and communicator and join us as we we travel back to when Star Trek The Animated Series – the most mature cartoon on television at the time – was sandwiched between a Partridge family knock-off and Sigmund And The Sea Monsters!
Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of culture. We were geeks before it was chic!
For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, reviews on your podcast platform of choice are always appreciated.
© 2025 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor

Ancient Geeks episode 18: The weird 70s, with Blake and Karen from the MonsterTalk podcast!

During the 1970s, a lot of people were deeply interested in all the weird things that might be out there. Bigfoot, UFOs, the Loch Ness Monster, UFOs, ghosts, ESP, ancient astronauts, the Bermuda Triangle, demonic possession...All of these bits of weirdness, and more, filled the movie and TV screens, magazines, and books. And our younger selves weren't immune to a fascination with the unknown.
To help us unpack the weird 70s, we have guests! Blake Smith and Karen Stollznow are the hosts of MonsterTalk, a podcast that takes a scientific look at monsters and other weirdness. They lead through a fun exploration of what made the 1970s a decade full of weirdness, and how the weird 1970s are still relevant today.
 
Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of culture. We were geeks before it was chic!
For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, reviews on your podcast platform of choice are always appreciated.
© 2025 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor

Ancient Geeks episode 17: The John Byrne era of the X-Men

We continue our coverage of the classic era of the X-Men with John Byrne's iconic run on the series. Some of the biggest moments in not just the X-Men, but comics in general, happened. The tragedy of the Dark Phoenix saga! The horror of Days Of Future Past! We also talk about why John Byrne is one of the best comic artists ever, why he was perfect for the X-Men, and how he captured the attention and admiration of our younger selves. We even get into Byrne's alternate version of the Dark Phoenix story, which is available online for all to read.
 
Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of culture. We were geeks before it was chic!
For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, reviews on your podcast platform of choice are always appreciated.
© 2025 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor

Ancient Geeks episode 16: The Uncanny X-Men!

In the mid-70s, the X-Men were a largely forgotten team of teenage mutants, relegated to the back issue section of the comics store. With the release of Giant-Sized X-Men #1, that all changed. The revamped X-Men were a powerful mix of old and new that became the colossus of comics, taking the world of super-heroes by storm! 
Journey back with Steven and Tom to this first wave of X-mania, during the initial collaboration between Chris Claremont (writer) and Dave Cockrum (artist). Even if you're not a comic book fan, there are great lessons for all forms of popular culture in this classic period of the X-Men, which remains popular to this day.
 
Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of culture. We were geeks before it was chic!
For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, reviews on your podcast platform of choice are always appreciated.
© 2025 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor

Ancient Geeks episode 15: The Star Wars Holiday Special and other 70s geek-based variety shows

Geek culture and schlocky variety shows collide! When you watched Star Wars or read superhero comics, you probably didn't think, "Why isn't there more singing and dancing? And how about some comics doing schtick?" But the producers of 1970s TV variety shows thought that would be a good idea. It wasn't, and in this episode, we show you why.
Of course, we talk about the infamously cringey Star Wars Holiday Special...But there's so much more. Do you think you're ready for Donnie and Marie doing Star Wars? Or how about Legends of the Superheroes, starring among others, Adam West and Burt Ward returning as Batman and Robin, in one of the most painfully unfunny, un-entertaining efforts to bring superheroes to the small screen? Star Wars on The Muppet Show! Paul Lynde's bizarre Halloween special! 
And you don't dare miss William Shatner doing acutely Shatneresque "interpretations" of classic rock hits, such as "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and "Rocket Man"! Or Leonard Nimoy's crooning through "The Ballad Of Bilbo Baggins"!
 
Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of culture. We were geeks before it was chic!
For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, reviews on your podcast platform of choice are always appreciated.
© 2025 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
 

Ancient Geeks episode 14: Monster movies of the 50s and 60s

During the 1950s and 1960s, a combination of big ideas from science fiction, Cold War paranoia, and the sheer coolness of monsters inspired a generation of monster movies. Godzilla was only the start. Thrill at the rampages of giant atomic mutations (ants, birds, spiders, you name it), ready to wipe humanity from the face of the earth! Shiver as alien invaders walk among us! Plunge into the unknown corners of the world, and the mysterious realm of the human mind, to discover – what else? – monsters!
In this episode, we discuss how our younger selves, Tom especially, became monster movie fans. We break down a few examples, both good and bad, and also talk plenty of other movies as well. The verdict: even when they were bad, they were still lots of fun!
We also discuss monster movie fandom, centering around late-night TV hosts and magazines like Famous Monsters Of Filmland. 
 
Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of culture. We were geeks before it was chic!
For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, reviews on your podcast platform of choice are always appreciated.
© 2025 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor