Does It Fly? Podcast By Roddenberry Entertainment cover art

Does It Fly?

Does It Fly?

By: Roddenberry Entertainment
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Putting your favorite sci-fi and pop culture to the test! Join hosts Hakeem Oluseyi (How The Universe Works, NASA's Unexplained Files, Baking Impossible) and Tamara Krinsky (Scirens, Marvel's Red Carpet, Girls Gone Greek) as they put your favorite pop culture concepts to the test and determine once and for all if they're possible in the real world.

From Roddenberry Entertainment, the heart of fandom! Roddenberry Entertainment provides thought-provoking, quality genre entertainment that sustains the legacy of founder and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. We are devoted to producing viewer-centric properties that actively recognize the integral role that audiences and storytelling play in the betterment of society. Roddenberry's productions promote experience over observation; encouraging audiences to think, question, and challenge the status quo of the world in which we live.

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Episodes
  • The Most CONTROVERSIAL Part of JURASSIC Park EXPLAINED!

    The Most CONTROVERSIAL Part of JURASSIC Park EXPLAINED!
    Jul 2 2025
    “I’m simply saying that life, uh, finds a way.”Dr. Ian Malcolm, master of understatementOh those silly humans in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies. When will they ever learn? You’d think that maybe after the events of the first film they might take a breather on trying to mess with nature, or at least with dinosaurs specifically, but nope! But if they did, we wouldn’t have all these fun movies where said humans get their just desserts as, um, dessert for all manner of resurrected dinosaurs.The quality of the assorted sequels in the Jurassic Park franchise are a mixed bag, but the original 1993 film? That one is a pretty unassailable summer movie classic, and it’s the one that we’re focusing on for this week’s episode. Specifically, we’re diving in to the question of how the dinosaurs, engineered to only be female, changed their sex to male in order to breed and thus create an entire host of new problems for the unwitting scientists. We also, as you might expect, take a look at the “your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should” of it all. Get your running shoes on (how does that old saying go? “I don’t have to outrun the velociraptor, I only have to outrun you?”) for the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here…https://youtu.be/-oE2KLOj5-sWE ARE RUNNING A CONTEST! WIN SOME COOL PRIZES!Does It Fly? Presents: The Ultimate Nerd GiveawayRoddenberry Entertainment's Does It Fly? is proud to present a giveaway that will make all of your nerd, geek, and sci-fi fan hearts flutter. Want to know how to enter and win? The main thing you’ll want to do is watch and listen for the secret word which will be mentioned in this and upcoming episodes. You’ll see the word appear on screen at a random point in the broadcast as our hosts say it, and it will be accompanied by a tone for our audio listeners. The secret word will appear in Does it Fly? episodes released between July 2 and August 22 so don’t miss ‘em!But there are SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO ENTER! So log in at this link and learn all the different ways you can enter to win! https://gleam.io/IhJtq/dif-ultimate-nerd-giveawayNow, as for those prizes…SECOND RUNNER UP:Prey Soundtrack VinylCaptain Pike FlexfigJudge Q FunkoFIRST RUNNER UP:Prey Soundtrack VinylPredator Elder Greyback FunkoPredator City Hunter FunkoCaptain Sisko FlexfigClassic PhaserGRAND PRIZE:Prey Soundtrack VinylJurassic Park Dilophosaurus Hatchling FunkoJurassic Park T. Rex Hatchling FunkoJurassic Park Velociraptor HatchlingJurassic Park Stygimoloch Hatchling FunkoGentle Giant Saru BustSUGGESTED VIEWING We’re only really discussing the first Jurassic Park movie in this episode, so that makes it easy on you. But the franchise now encompasses both movies and TV shows, and they aren’t all handily numbered like some sequels are, so here’s a quick guide to the order they all take place in, for those viewing order chronology obsessives out there!Jurassic Park (movie)The Lost World: Jurassic Park (movie)Jurassic Park III (movie)Jurassic World (movie)Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (Netflix animated TV series…and a really good one, too!)Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (movie)Battle at Big Rock (short film)Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (Netflix animated TV series…also quite good!)Jurassic World Dominion (movie)Jurassic World Rebirth (movie)FURTHER READING Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! Read the books!The first movie in the franchise is based on Michael Crichton’s bestselling 1983 novel of the same name. He wrote its sequel, The Lost World, at the behest of Steven Spielberg, who wanted to make another Jurassic Park movie, and Crichton decided he would like the equivalent weight of a brontosaurus in cash.Dinosaur birds?The ancient bird-like dinosaur that Hakeem is referring to is the archaeopteryx, which is kind of the link between modern birds and dinosaurs, but read more here to get a better sense of this distinction.They can do WHAT?!?For a brief list of animals (no mammals can do this on their own!) that can change their sex when needed, we direct you here. Frogs, of course, are the most relevant specifically to Jurassic Park and our discussion today, but according to Hakeem, if you wanted to be more scientifically accurate, pay more attention to the birds and reptiles on this list!Mutation as Stress ResponseSadly, humans can’t do this RIGHT NOW but there’s plenty of scientific precedent for it.A Brief History of the End Times (for certain creatures)Some light and fluffy reading for you, an overview of extinction level events in history!WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?The new How to Train Your Dragon is currently in theaters and we took a look at the evolutionary possibilities of dragons right here. Dragons are kind of like dinosaurs, right?Speaking of new releases in theaters, ...
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    49 mins
  • Putting M3GAN on Trial!

    Putting M3GAN on Trial!
    Jun 27 2025
    “I have a new primary user now…me.”The title character from M3GAN being bratty.When the first trailers for the original M3GAN arrived, nobody quite expected it to be one of the horror movie sensations of recent years. But it sure did! Or, we should say, she sure did. Because like all the best horror movie protagonists who go by their first names alone (Freddy, Jason, you get the picture), M3GAN became a pop culture force all her own.And for all the fun ridiculousness contained in that film (and, presumably, in the sequel, M3GAN 2.0 which is now in theaters), it actually raised some interesting philosophical questions. Of course, here at Does it Fly? we’re interested in the actual mechanics of building and designing M3GAN herself, but we also are fascinated by the implications of using a realistic A.I. as a therapeutic device. Maybe M3GAN isn’t the most nuanced subject for those conversations, but we dive into them, nonetheless.We also had some of the most fun we’ve had this year in our final section, putting M3GAN “on trial” for her actions, with our hosts, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi (prosecution) and Tamara Krinsky, Esq. (ok, not really, but she’s a hell of a defense attorney in this case) throw vibes out the window this week, so we’ll see you in court!All this and more in the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here…https://youtu.be/nteIYlCFAUISUGGESTED VIEWING If you’re reading this, you already saw M3GAN, right? Good. If not, despite its somewhat campy reputation, it really is a fun piece of sci-fi with a horror edge and it absolutely deserved to be the box office hit it was. Just note that we hadn’t seen M3GAN 2.0 at the time of recording.While 2004’s I, Robot isn’t beloved by Asimov purists (see our “further reading” section below), it’s better than its reputation suggests and comes from frequently underrated director Alex Proyas, so that’s good enough for us if you want a little context for the “three laws of robotics” discussed here.Tamara also brings up Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report as a film about a technology that has theoretically good intentions…until it’s put into practice and immediately abused. FURTHER READING Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! Building Your M3GAN (please do not do this)There are three elements of M3GAN that are rooted in science fact but ultimately keep her as science fiction.Fine Motor ControlWe’ve mentioned the incredible work in humanoid (and canine) robotics being done by Boston Dynamics before, but they don’t quite have the dexterity of M3GAN…yet.“Apparent Reasoning”Getting into all of the ins and outs of artificial intelligence and the debates surrounding it is beyond the scope of this show, but even ardent A.I. supporters admit that “true general intelligence” or the ability for machines to actually reason, isn’t a thing…yet. Read more here.Power DensityEven assuming these other things were possible, the battery life of M3GAN is beyond the current “power density” of anything out there…for now.Asimov’s LawsAs Tamara references, courtesy of Asimov’s short story collection, I, Robot…see if you can spot how many of these M3GAN breaks!A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.Kids, Technology, Attention Spans…As Hakeem and Tamara discuss, while technology can be used therapeutically for kids, like anything else, there are potential drawbacks, particularly with attention spans. The Fisher-Price bear hackEven though this happened over a decade ago, it’s still a warning light to heed!Hakeem’s Favorite AstronautOK, yes, Cady Coleman does seem pretty awesome.WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?For other humanoid robot fun with deep and potentially terrifying implications, have you seen our Blade Runner episode? Or might we suggest RoboCop?The new How to Train Your Dragon is currently in theaters and we took a look at the evolutionary possibilities of dragons right here.FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypodAnd don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.com
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    49 mins
  • The Evolutionary Case for REAL DRAGONS!

    The Evolutionary Case for REAL DRAGONS!
    Jun 13 2025
    How to Train Your Dragon is only the latest piece in a cultural puzzle that dates back thousands of years. How realistic are dragons, anyway?“While other places have ponies or parrots, we have…dragons.”When you think of modern day animated classics, the first projects that people tend to think of are the titans of Disney/Pixar. But under no circumstances should you sleep on the brilliant people at Dreamworks Animation who have their own share of legitimate masterpieces in the form of the Shrek franchise, last year’s brilliant The Wild Robot, and the endlessly impressive How to Train Your Dragon franchise. And when it comes to the central concept of that franchise, dragons, well…the folks at Dreamworks have done it about as well as anybody ever has!Think about it. The use of dragons in storytelling far transcends the “pop culture” label. Forget movies, TV, and animation, there’s literature, mythology, and something in our collective unconscious that compels us to keep returning to the familiar imagery associated with them. While we usually associate dragons with a particularly European flavor of fantasy, if you pick any culture or society, you’ll probably find a dragon myth or story. That’s how pervasive they are.Not only that, but they’re timeless! Some of the biggest franchises of not just the last century, but this century, prominently feature dragons. Lord of the Rings, Dungeons & Dragons, Game of Thrones, and yes, How to Train Your Dragon are proof that some old-fashioned concepts never really go out of style. Is it possible that with a slight evolutionary shift we could have ended up with dragons crowding our skies? And why IS the dragon concept so universal, anyway?All this and more in the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here…https://youtu.be/Ww84E8udLrASUGGESTED VIEWING We based much of our discussion in this episode on the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, specifically How to Train Your Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon 2, and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. We hadn’t seen the live action remake that’s currently in theaters at the time of recording.But while we have your attention, we’d like to direct you to a nearly forgotten piece of dragon-related media. 1981’s Dragonslayer is a remarkably dark piece of fantasy from a forgotten period where Disney was experimenting with more adult themes in its work. It’s not quite Game of Thrones but there’s plenty of gore and some sexy themes that you wouldn’t expect. It’s also the rare dragon flick that’s genuinely scary at times!FURTHER READING Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! Flying Reptiles?!?While it’s natural to think in terms of the pterodactyl when thinking of real world parallels to dragons, those weren’t the only flying reptiles of that long ago age. But you might also want to consider a reptile that is still flying around today, the Draco lizard, when you wonder how dragons might eventually evolve. As long as they have hollow bones….Convergent Evolution and Evolutionary BottlenecksHakeem takes us on quite a journey as he tries to explain the processes by which dragons could have evolved. But two fo the key concepts involve evolutionary bottlenecks (which likely influenced human development) and the concept of convergent evolution, which would help explain why dragons were to develop very specific and distinctive traits (check out a bunch of real world examples right here).But What About Fire-Breathing?You might think that a fire-breathing dragon is far-fetched, but we’d like to remind you of the existence of the electric eel, the bombardier beetle, and the spitting cobra, all of which have distinctive self defense mechanisms that are pretty alien to humans. So the idea that a dragon could contain methanogens in its gut that provide the fuel for a fire might not be that far-fetched after all!Read the Books!A quick reminder that the How to Train Your Dragon movies were based on a book series by Cressida Cowell. Check ‘em out!“We have wonder…”That lovely quote from Dean Deblois that Tamara found comes from the documentary special feature, Where No One Goes: The Making of How to Train Your Dragon 2, which covers a lot more ground than just that second movie!The Hero’s JourneyAs Tamara points out, if you haven’t read Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey, that will unlock so many touchpoints in the stories you love that you won’t look at your favorite franchise the same way again!WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?For some of our other takes on excellent modern animation, check out our episodes on The Incredibles and Big Hero 6!Need more Does it Fly? fantasy deep dives in your life? We’ve examined The Witcher and Lord of the Rings in previous episodes!FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?...
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    51 mins
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