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Artwork for Superhero Ethics

Superhero Ethics

Superhero Ethics
Ethics
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cobra Kai
Superman
Superheroes
Daredevil
Andor
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Child Soldiers
Wonder Man
Star Trek
Racism
Artificial Intelligence
Anime
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Identity
Star Wars
Tuvix
Mental Illness
Social Commentary

Exploring ethical questions from Superhero movies and TV shows, sci-fi, and everything else geeks love

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes412Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Superhero Ethics

Latest Episodes

Would you cheer for a hero who tricks a Cyclops but never sleeps with a witch? Classics professor Adam Kemezis joins Matthew Fox to dig into how Christopher Nolan's Odyssey reshapes Homer's most cunning warrior for a modern audience, and what gets lo... more

Dolly Parton let the world underestimate her for fifty years, then spent that underestimation as leverage every single time. Days after her death, comedian and "Make Me a Nerd" host Mandy Kaplan joins host Matthew Fox to talk about what she meant to ... more

“Lanterns” so far is more cop drama than cosmic weirdness, and comic book historian Jessica Plummer isn’t convinced the trade was worth it. She joins Matthew Fox to dig into the first two episodes of HBO Max’s new John Stewart and Hal Jordan series, ... more

Should a beloved story get a sequel twenty years later, and does anyone actually want it? Matthew Fox and Paul Hoppe take on Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, the new Avatar Studios movie picking up with a grown-up Team Avatar, and neither host walked... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Mandy Kaplan
Host of Make Me a Nerd podcast, frequent guest on Superhero Ethics
Episode: Dolly Parton and 9 to 5
Steve Stormoen
Co-host from Hype Is My Superpower
Hype Is My Superpower
Episode: Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Will Freeland
MCU expert from Hyper-Superpower
Hyper-Superpower
Episode: Spider-Noir: A Hero for the Wrong Reasons
AK Ahab
Guest, Star Wars Generations contributor
Star Wars Generations
Episode: Maul: Truth-Teller, Manipulator, or Self-Deceiver? • Maul – Shadow Lord Discussion
Pete Wright
Guest, Star Wars Generations contributor
Star Wars Generations
Episode: Maul: Truth-Teller, Manipulator, or Self-Deceiver? • Maul – Shadow Lord Discussion
Becky Allen
Writer and returning guest
Episode: Project Hail Mary • Ethics in a Crisis
Matthew Carroll
Founder of Stranded Panda/MCU Podcast network; Star Trek enthusiast
Stranded Panda Network
Episode: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and Its Future
Paul Christopher Hoppe
Guest expert on ethics and media influence
Zen Madman (writing blog)
Episode: What Made Us Rebel Scum? with Paul Hoppe
Helen McCarthy
Author of The Manga Bible; British author and publisher advocate
The Manga Bible (Book)
Episode: The Manga Bible with Author Helen McCarthy

Hosts

Matthew Fox
Host with a central role in driving ethical discussions across episodes; often leads analysis and debates.
Paul Christopher Hoppe
Co-host and poker expert; contributes practical ethics frameworks and cross-cutting perspectives.
Jessica Plummer
Co-host and returning guest with comic knowledge; adds cultural and gender-dynamics insights.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 244 ratings
  • Thought Provoking!

    Update 5/27- I still love the content but Matthew needs a new/better mic. It’s incredibly difficult to hear them.

    I love this podcast! Always a great, thought provoking discussion about ethics in different movies. I’m a big Marvel fan but the movies deal with such huge ethical quandaries and it’s great t hear smart, nerdy people discuss them.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Jb.216
    United Statesa year ago
  • LOVE!!

    I’ve been listening to Superhero Ethics since 2020 and absolutely love this podcast. It’s unique from other superhero podcasts in that’s it doesn’t just say “I loved/hated this movie because…” and instead dives into the real world implications behind these pieces of superhero media. It’s insightful and honestly has made me a more thoughtful and overall better person in my day-to-day life. Matthew (the host) and all their guests are great and I would highly recommend!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sophia weasley
    United States3 years ago
  • VERY interesting content, but not accessible to listeners with misophonia. Host clears throat on mic.

    Podchaser
    3
    istillneedausernamequestionmark
    4 years ago
  • This is the place for deep dives on all your favorite geek media! Awesome hosts, awesome guests, awesome topics!!!

    Podchaser
    5
    Mark Garkusha
    4 years ago
  • Thought Provoking!

    I love this podcast! Always a great, thought provoking discussion about ethics in different movies. I’m a big Marvel fan but the movies deal with such huge ethical quandaries and it’s great t hear smart, nerdy people discuss them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jb.216
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Production quality and consistency are generally good, with room for mic improvements.
Guests bring strong expertise and diverse perspectives.
Thought-provoking and consistently deep ethical discussions on superheroes.
Listeners appreciate the balance of nerd culture and philosophical analysis.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dolly Parton and 9 to 5
Q: Is it ethical to do an ad to help listeners avoid ads if the goal is to improve the listener experience?
The host frames ad-supported models as a trade-off between accessibility and revenue, noting that offering an ad-free option via a paid membership can enhance user experience while supporting the show.
Lanterns and the Ethics of Adaptation
Q: What was your background with these characters and how did you feel going into this show?
Jessica explains her extensive experience with Green Lantern comics and her cautious optimism about the show, noting the challenge of balancing faithful character elements with new interpretations, and the potential for the series to expand the universe while staying true to core themes.
What Made Rob McKenzie Rebel Scum?
Q: What early influences shaped your views on ethics in fiction?
Rob cites Asimov, Pratchett, Star Trek, and Star Wars as foundational, discussing how these works provoke questions about harm, governance, and the balance between individual rights and collective welfare.
What Made Rob McKenzie Rebel Scum?
Q: This is Matthew, host of the Superhero Ethics Podcast, is it ethical to do an ad to help you not listen to ads?
Rob frames the question around consent and intent, highlighting that ads can enable access to more content and that ethical decisions depend on how promotion is presented and how it affects listener autonomy.
What Made Us Rebel Scum? with Paul Hoppe
Q: What early media or childhood experiences shaped your rebellious worldview?
Paul explains that influences came from multiple sources, including Star Wars, Robin Hood, and Star Trek, and that often it was not a single moment but a pattern of media reinforcing a worldview that values resisting oppressive systems.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Superhero Ethics

What is Superhero Ethics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful discussion-driven show that examines ethics through superhero, sci-fi, and pop culture narratives. Episodes routinely unpack moral questions about power, responsibility, risk, and justice using examples from comics, films, and TV, often pairing philosophical analysis with real-world context like politics, economics, and social issues. Distinctive strengths include rigorous ethical framing, a willingness to cross franchises and genres, and engaging debates with guest experts who bring domain-specific insights from comics, gaming, and media critique. Fans tend to appreciate a blend of nerdy analysis and practical takeaways, plus a network of recurring guests and a posture that treats popular media as a serious lens for worldview ... more

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How many listeners does Superhero Ethics get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Superhero Ethics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Superhero Ethics:

1. Source Pages: A Reading Collective
2. Multiverse News
3. Always Watching
4. Marvel Cinematic Universe Podcast
5. Commute | The Podcast

How many episodes of Superhero Ethics are there?

Superhero Ethics launched 10 years ago and published 412 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Superhero Ethics?

Recent guests on Superhero Ethics include:

1. Mandy Kaplan
2. Steve Stormoen
3. Will Freeland
4. AK Ahab
5. Pete Wright
6. Becky Allen
7. Matthew Carroll
8. Paul Christopher Hoppe

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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