Rephonic
Artwork for Return of the Pod: A Podcast About Star Wars

Return of the Pod: A Podcast About Star Wars

The Starbinger Network
Star Wars
Andor
The Mandalorian
Cassian Andor
Superman
The Acolyte
Disney
The Bad Batch
Grogu
Peacemaker
Mon Mothma
Fantastic Four
Star Wars the Bad Batch
Star Wars: the Bad Batch
Spaceballs
Marvel Cinematic Universe
K2SO
Ahsoka
Kathleen Kennedy
Dune

There is another! JABBA THE POD is dead… but RETURN OF THE POD has just begun. Join our Starbinger heroes (Brian Silliman, Caitlin Busch, and Matt Romano) for a celebratory visit to the world of Star Wars each and every week, where they’ll continue to cover everything going on in the galaxy far, far away. Our midi-chlorian counts are still unmatched! If you’re looking for the positive twin suns of... more

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes95Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsTV & FilmAfter ShowsEntertainment News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Return of the Pod: A Podcast About Star Wars

Latest Episodes

May the fourth be with you, or whenever you’re actually listening to this episode. Matt, Caitlin, and Brian spend their May the Fourth 2026 discussing the S1 finale of Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, prepping for The Mandalorian & Grogu, going over so... more

Maul is back (again) but Return of the Pod is back (again) as well! Join Brian, Caitlin, and Matt as they discuss the premiere of Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, as well as Season 1 of Starfleet Academy, Project Hail Mary, trailers, Maul smut, Pitt do... more

It’s that time of year, again! Welcome back to the Captain’s Corner Life Day Spectacular Vol. 4 (aka Hangtime 3?)

We’re catching up on all the news we missed, revisiting our favorite movies, TV, and everything else from 2025, and of course, taking a... more

Flame on! Caitlin leads a trip on the Great Movie Ride to discuss Fantastic Four: First Steps. Caitlin, Matt, and Brian break it all down, build it back up, and then break it all down again.

Support the show

Follow us at Return of the Pod!

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Children of the Watch: A Star Wars After Show
Children of the Watch: A Star Wars After ShowChildren of the Watch: A Star Wars After Show
Star Wars Explained
Star Wars ExplainedBig IP | Realm
Daredevil: Born Again Official Podcast
Daredevil: Born Again Official PodcastMarvel Television, Disney+
Sneak Peek: A New Rockstars Podcast
Sneak Peek: A New Rockstars PodcastNew Rockstars & Studio71

Hosts

Matt Romano
Co-host of Return of the Pod, involved in Star Wars discussions and pop culture topics.
Caitlin Busch
Co-host delivering Star Wars insights and lighthearted commentary.
Brian Silliman
Host contributing thoughtful Star Wars analysis and discussion.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 758 ratings
  • Your show is the best

    I listen to several podcasts, I drop everything to listen to yours every time. I loving the direction with reviewing all types of media

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Krumy
    United States25 days ago
  • Hope is like the sun

    I love the show! I look forward to every episode! There can never be enough of Brian’s puns, Matt’s hot takes, and Caitlyn’s Star Wars hugs!

    I greatly look forward to hearing from the starbinger again soon!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Noah K 21
    United Statesa month ago
  • So much potential…but…

    At times pretty entertaining. Was a better podcast a few years ago. It’s rated as “clean” but uses profanity pretty frequently.

    When I started listening the aversion to fan negativity was something I appreciated. But “positivity” has since become a dog whistle for “don't criticize anything” - especially after The Acolyte aired.

    Lastly, the TDS is kinda obnoxious and doesn’t add to the show. Not really a big deal, but it sours the show because it just comes off as dramatic and intellectually di... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    NerfHerder70
    United Statesa year ago
  • A warm hug

    I love this podcast! Return of the Pod is a safe space filled with positivity, a refuge from the toxic fandom, a good hang with old friends… I found them at the end of the old pod and hope they keep podding forever!😆

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JP Voorhees
    United Statesa year ago
  • Thank you for standing up for civility!

    Long time listener since the Jabba days. This is such a great show! In the latest episode you took the gloves off and let the toxic hateful minority of the fandom have it. I loved every second. Please keep the episodes coming.

    Side note, you played an excerpt of the Lost Episode, but I couldn’t figure out what was missing. Seemed like a completely normal RotP discussion.

    Many boats!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    book of me
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Readers appreciate the show's accessibility and fun, often long-time listeners who feel like hanging out with friends.
Listeners consistently praise the positive, friendly energy and chemistry among the hosts.
Fans value thoughtful discussion without hostility and enjoy feel-good fandom vibes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bringing Up Baby (Star Wars News & More)
Q: What are your thoughts on the new movie with Grogu?
It's an exciting prospect, but I have concerns about whether the lore is accessible to casual viewers.
Bringing Up Baby (Star Wars News & More)
Q: Matt, do you have Star Wars news fever?
Yes, I got the fever for the movie featuring Grogu and The Mandalorian.
Cracks in the Jedi (The Acolyte 1-4)
Q: What are your thoughts on the first four episodes of The Acolyte?
I want them here and I want them now. I'm having the time of my fricking life watching this show.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers Star Wars discourse with a consistently upbeat, welcoming vibe. Hosts explore new releases, retro favorites, and broader pop culture through a Star Wars lens, weaving in humor, nostalgia, and supportive fan discussion. Episodes mix thoughtful analysis of recent content with light, recurring segments and playful banter, making it approachable for fans who want thoughtful takes without negativity. Noteworthy is the strong trio dynamic and a clear emphasis on positivity, accessibility, and community, which can be appealing for sponsors targeting engaged, franchise-focused audiences.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Children of the Watch: A Star Wars After Show
2. Rebel Force Radio: Star Wars Podcast
3. Star Wars Explained
4. Daredevil: Born Again Official Podcast
5. Sneak Peek: A New Rockstars Podcast

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 95 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days