With Foundation Season 3 in the rearview, we attempt to take a holistic look at the entire season and put it all into perspective, not just within the show but its production. Spoilers to come as usual! We're joined by Travis Johnson, Friend of Stars End, formerly of the Black Alert Podcast and Star Trek Podigy, both Star Trek Podcasts, and much more!

Hoo boy! That was one hell of a season finale, wasn't it? You may have noticed that none of us were exactly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as we remonstrated about Foundation's Season 3, Episode 10, "The Darkness." "The Darkpodcastness." Spoiler Alert, as usual. Of course, you can listen without watching first, but this one needs to be seen to be believed.

In which we ruminate about Foundation, S3E09, "The Paths that Choose Us." Spoiler Alert, as if that wasn't obvious. If you thought that episode 8 was intense, this one was a philosophical gut punch after another. And they come, fast and powerful. We see the full extent of the Mule's power as Gaal tries to free Warden Greer. And we see Dusk, despite the "genetic drift," doing the most Cleonic Thing possible.

Join us for another barn burner of an episode as we look below the surface of Foundation, S3E08, “Skin in the Game!” Brother Dude goes on trial, Brother Dawn wakes up, and Brother Dusk is up to something so sinister that Demerzel is preconfessing. We're picking up speed as we slide into the inevitable conclusion! Also, what's up with Bayta? Don't miss this one! "Skin in the Podcast" StarsEndPodcast.com

ere we go again! My impressions, insights, and interpretations from watching the episode. If you haven't watched the episode yet, what's holding you back? Spoiler Alert. Proceed at your own risk. Simultaneously published at Stars End: a Foundation Podcast and Comics, The Universe, and Everything. Watching Foundation S3E07 Nice title. It could be the name of an Asimov book in a different universe.

Foundation, S3E07, "Foundation's End" is another episode that demands analysis! And has big revelations! Don't tell anyone, but I may have squeed. We have another special guest to help us wrap our heads around this one! "Podcast's End" Spoiler alerts, as usual. And don't let the title frighten you; we're not going anywhere! In this one, she names the robot that dare not speak its name.

Here we go again! My random thoughts and reactions as I watched, and rewatched, the episode. Spoiler Alert, obviously. Simultaneously published at Stars End: a Foundation Podcast and Comics, The Universe, and Everything. Watching Foundation S3E06 Panicky Mule, not a nightmare but “a vision.” Pritcher… “He was like me… I realize… he gave me a great gift.” Initially, I wondered if this was “the Mule” exhibiting powers without Magnifico.

Let's chat about Foundation, S3E06, "The Shape of Time!" It's a big episode and we have a big guest star to enlarge our conversation. We call this one, "The Shape of the Podcast," and people are already calling it "longer than usual!" As you proceed, be warned! Here be spoilers! If the mark of a great episode is that it becomes even more interesting on a second watch, then this one checks the box!

As always, my reactions to the episode as I watched it and rewatched it. Unfortunately, this one did not exactly get more interesting upon closer scrutiny. Simultaneously published at Stars End: a Foundation Podcast and Comics, The Universe, and Everything. Watching Foundation S3E05 This is a very cool shot with the hoverbike driving vertically down the side of a building.

On August 14, 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law.

In which we discuss Apple TV+'s Foundation, S3E05 - "Where Tyrants Spend Eternity." "Where Podcasts Spend Eternity." We didn't love this episode as much as the last one. Do you remember the Star Trek Episode "Court Martial?" It's the one where Captain Kirk is accused of murdering Lt. Commander Benjamin Finney. It's a little like that. The climax of the episode comes when Kirk's attorney, Samuel T.

Are we looking at a parable for when our large language models become actual artificial intelligence?  Or is it bigger?  This might not be the realm of “Measure of a Man.”  There’s already a religion in Mycogen that worships robots. We could be encroaching on the territory of “The Last Question.” I’m circling back to an Arthur C. Clarke quote that I probably first encountered in Report on Planet Three, “Perhaps our role on this planet is not to worship God — but to create Him.”

Join us as we talk about Foundation, S3E04, "The Stress of Her Regard." It's an episode so big, so intense, and so seismic that it'll take FOUR of us to talk about it! In 1893, Nikola Tesla invented an ⁠earthquake machine⁠! Legend has it that by 1898, the machine was so powerful that neighbors called the police, afraid that Tesla's laboratory was about to shake itself apart!

Episode 2 will be next, so I can hopefully get on track for publishing these before the next episode. You remember how these work. These are Joseph's reactions, reflections, and ruminations while watching the episode. Also some light summary. Beware. Here be spoilers. Simultaneously published at Stars End: A Foundation Podcast. Watching Foundation S3E03 Book! I assume we’re talking about…

We discuss Foundation, S3E03, "When a Book Finds You." "When a Podcast Finds You." Now, you may find yourself grooving in a Kalgan rave. Or, you may find yourself with an intuitive giraffe. Or, you may find yourself in the stacks of a large imperial library. Or, you may find yourself with a dubious prince, with a dubious beard.

We're at the start of a season, so here's a quick reminder of how these work. While watching the episode, I write down my thoughts, impressions, connections, and theories — half-baked or otherwise. Then we record the podcast. Eventually, I will publish one of these. Usually, it's pretty quick, but I still owe you one each from Seasons 1 and 2.

In which we talk about Foundation S3E02, "Shadows in the Math." "Shadows in the Podcast" Spoiler Alert! You know what to do! The pieces are starting to fall into place! S3E02 begins with a brief review of how the Second Foundation has evolved over the past 150 years! We see the Mule trying to consolidate power on Kalgan and get to meet Torin and Bayta!

In which we discuss Apple TV+'s Foundation, S3E01, "A Song For The End of Everything." "A Podcast for the End of Everything" Now we're into the meat of our new, even-numbered season as we finally have a real teevee episode to talk about! As always, this way lies spoilers. If you care about such things, get thee to the platform!

We preview season 3 of Foundation on Apple TV+ and make some announcements! "I Can Worm My Way Into People's Podcasts." It's an even-numbered season of the Stars End podcast! You know what that means! Our Second Interregnum has come to a close! The big news, of which you're already, no doubt, aware, is the return of Foundation to Apple TV+!

Effective July 4, 2025

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