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
The Acolyte
Disney
The Mandalorian
Grogu
Andor
The Bad Batch
Star Wars the Bad Batch
Star Wars: the Bad Batch
Superman
Ahsoka
Dune
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
The Rings Of Power
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Indiana Jones
Clone Troopers
Ahsoka Tano
Jon Favreau
Mandalorian Season Four

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes92Founded5 years ago
Categories
TV & FilmAfter ShowsEntertainment NewsNews

Listen to this Podcast

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

Latest Episodes

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!

The segment is now an episode! Matt leads a discussion with Caitlin and Brian on James Gunn’s 2025 Superman movie, and a whole lot of DC history is covered along the way. Up up and away, eyes up here, the Great Movie Ride is still the safest way to t... more

It’s time for the only sequel that really matters this summer! Matt, Caitlin, and Brian initiate Hang Time protocol to discuss Spaceballs 2 news, Thunderbolts, Sinners, The Last of Us, Materialists, Oreos, McNuggets, Sheev in Challengers, and so much... more

Is it the best Star Wars ever made? Brian, Caitlin, and Matt discuss the final arc of Andor and say farewell to the series, with some room for character rankings, news, and more.

Support the show

Follow us at Return of the Pod!

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Hosts

Brian Silliman
Host and co-host involved in the lively discussions about Star Wars and pop culture, contributing a mix of humor and analysis.
Caitlin Busch
Co-host with a focus on engaging storytelling and pop culture insights, providing a female perspective in discussions.
Matt Romano
Co-host known for his humor and enthusiasm, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of discussions around Star Wars and more.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 755 ratings
  • 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 States6 months 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 States7 months 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 Statesa year ago
  • ROTP is simply The. Best. Podcast about that beloved galaxy far, far away (and so much more). Caitlin, Matt and Brian bring real insights with good humor and a positive vibe - even when a thing isn't their thing. For context, I stood in line several times to see SW Episode IV as a seven-year-old in 1977, and those stories have shaped fundamentally who I am. I appreciate their takes and their spirit so much. My life is better every time they release a new episode. Many boats!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    East Bay Ray
    a year ago
  • Good bye

    Long time listener since jabba the pod. And while I respect your commitment to positivity, the strong support for acoyte is too much for me. 5 stars for the good times. Best of luck to the 3 of you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    darce_holliday
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners express gratitude for the podcast as a source of joy, especially during tough times.
Some fans criticize the podcast for a perceived avoidance of critical discussions on controversial topics in Star Wars.
Most reviews highlight the welcoming nature of the discussions, often considering it a refuge from negativity found in other fandom circles.
Listeners appreciate the positive and humorous take on Star Wars, enjoying the camaraderie between the hosts.
The chemistry between the hosts is frequently lauded, with mentions of them feeling like friends to the audience.

Top After Shows Podcasts

Rob Has a Podcast | Survivor, Traitors, Big Brother & Reality TV - RHAP
Rob Has a Podcast | Survivor, Traitors, Big Brother & Reality TV - RHAPSurvivor Know-It-All, Rob Cesternino | RHAP Productions
RHAP: We Know Survivor
RHAP: We Know SurvivorSurvivor Know-It-All, Rob Cesternino
How We Made Your Mother
How We Made Your MotherAudacy & Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas
Reality Gays with Mattie and Poodle
Reality Gays with Mattie and PoodleAudacy, Matt Marr and Jake Anthony
MTV's Official Challenge Podcast
MTV's Official Challenge PodcastMTV Entertainment Studios
Bachelor Happy Hour
Bachelor Happy HouriHeartPodcasts and Warner Bros

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.

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 content centers around discussions related to the Star Wars universe, where the hosts engage with the latest films, series, and pop culture elements. They provide a positive perspective on the fandom, aiming to create a welcoming and enthusiastic atmosphere for listeners. Themes of camaraderie, nostalgia, and humor permeate the conversations, as they reflect on character developments and cinematic trends while maintaining a lighthearted approach to serious topics such as fandom toxicity and representation in media. Unique segments, banter, and listener interactions enhance the communal experience, making it a family-friendly podcast for both devoted fans and newcomers to the franchise.

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. WTF with Marc Maron Podcast
5. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 92 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