Best Superhero Ethics Podcasts (2025)

1
Rebel Ridge 55:38

2d ago55:38

55:38

In this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew and Riki analyze the Netflix film Rebel Ridge, exploring its depiction of police corruption, less-lethal violence, civil asset forfeiture, and systemic racism through the lens of an action thriller. The discussion centers on protagonist Terry Richmond, a former Marine skilled in de-escalation techn…

1
Ep.157: Usagi Yojimbo (Fantagraphics/Dark Horse) 1:14:30

7h ago1:14:30

1:14:30

Zach is joined by the host of the I Read Comic Books podcast, Mike Rapin to discuss the much heralded, deeply beloved stories of a ronin Samurai rabbit: Usagi Yojimbo! Delving into several of the original stories from the 1980s, Zach and Mike talk the history of the comics beginnings, gush over Sakai's brilliant work and talk about why the series h…

1
Ep 6 | Her SUPERPOWER is Gentle Persuasion 55:23

1d ago55:23

55:23

The rugged demands of ranch life coupled with the compassionate work of social service––this is Liza Jane McAlister’s calling. Kristine Milkovich sits down with Liza Jane in this inspiring episode of SUPERPOWER to hear about how this amazing woman seamlessly blends her passions for agriculture, community support, and advocacy. Liza Jane is the owne…

1
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood 1:14:58

4d ago1:14:58

1:14:58

How Does War Change a Nation? Exploring Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood's Complex ThemesIn this episode of Superhero Ethics, Matthew and Riki dive deep into Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, examining how this influential anime tackles challenging questions about war, revenge, and national guilt. The hosts explore how the series portrays a nation …

1
Core Questions: Superhero Accountability • Member Bonus 18:03

6d ago18:03

18:03

Who Watches the Heroes?When superheroes cause civilian casualties while trying to save the world, who holds them responsible? This episode dives deep into the complex ethics of superhero accountability, using Marvel's Civil War (the comics) and the MCU’s Captain America: Civil War (the movie) as starting points to explore broader questions about po…

1
Ep.156: Silvertalks Ep.1: Silverhawks #1 (Dynamite) 40:45

9d ago40:45

40:45

Silvertalks is a monthly read-along, Patreon Exclusive podcast that will be hosted by Zach and the other man who was part of Episode 120: Armchair Publisher: Silverhawks, Dane Wilt, as they discuss the brand new series from Dynamite Entertainment, Silverhawks! But since this journey with Silverhawks started on the main feed, and we're so excited ab…

1
Star Trek: Section 31 44:48

16d ago44:48

44:48

Matthew and Riki, along with returning guest Abby, dive deep into Section 31, Star Trek's controversial covert intelligence organization. The discussion explores the ethical implications of having a secretive, unaccountable agency within Starfleet and examines the recent Section 31 movie starring Michelle Yeoh.How does Section 31 challenge Star Tre…

1
Ep 5 | His SUPERPOWER is Resilience 44:26

15d ago44:26

44:26

For Jonathan Wells, resilience turned life's toughest challenges into a foundation for growth. In this episode of SUPERPOWER, host Kristine Milkovich uncovers an extraordinary story of perseverance and transformation. She sits down with Jonathan Wells, whose journey from adversity to success is a testament to the power of hope and determination. Jo…

1
Announcement 2:02

16d ago2:02

2:02

There's some podcast housekeeping to do, as well as some real life housekeeping.By Zach McCrary

1
I Saw the TV Glow 59:53

24d ago59:53

59:53

Unpacking the Powerful Trans Allegory in I Saw the TV GlowMatthew and Riki dive deep into the indie horror film I Saw the TV Glow and explore how it serves as a poignant and powerful allegory for the trans experience. The hosts discuss the film's unique approach to horror, its nostalgic 90s setting, and the way it allows a trans person to potential…

1
Ep.155: I Guess I'm A DSTLRY Guy Now! 24:46

23d ago24:46

24:46

The New Year's Comics Spree comes to a close as Zach reads through one more chunk of the pile, heading into February! On the docket today: Ultimate Wolverine #1 (Marvel) Written by Chris Condon Art by Alessandro Cappuccio Colors by Bryan Valenza Letters by VC’s Cory Petit You Won’t Feel A Thing #1 (DSTLRY) Written by Scott Snyder Art by Jock with a…

1
Core Questions: Vengeance • Member Bonus 1:35:02

1M ago1:35:02

1:35:02

Matthew and Riki dive deep into one of the most compelling ethical questions in superhero media: the role of vengeance as a motivator for heroes, villains, and anti-heroes. Joined by comic book expert Jessica Plummer, they explore how vengeance shapes character arcs and storytelling across various franchises.With this episode, we’re launching our m…

1
72. The "Kids These Days" Fallacy: Why Blaming Technology is Tired and Unproductive 18:41

1M ago18:41

18:41

"Back in the day, (before COVID) students could actually focus..." Every teacher has heard it. Many of us have said it. But what if our fears about "kids these days" are hiding something deeper - something the we as teachers haven't been ready to talk about that speaks to something real and urgent in education? Let's talk about what's really at sta…

1
Ep.154: Vampires, Mechs and Mutant Cults...oh my! 25:54

29d ago25:54

25:54

We head into week four of The New Year's Comic Spree, as Zach continues to chip away at the giant stack of comics he's collected over the course of 2024. On the docket today: Akogun: Brutalizer of Gods #1-3 (Oni Press) Written by Murewa Ayodele Art by Dotun Akande Colors by Dee Cuniffe Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou Violent Flowers #1-4 (Image Co…

1
Superman, Hope, and the New Trailer 1:00:50

1M ago1:00:50

1:00:50

Matthew & Riki join returning guest Jessica Plummer to dive deep into the new Superman trailer and what it reveals about James Gunn's vision for the iconic superhero. The discussion explores how this interpretation appears to be returning to Superman's core essence as a beacon of hope and protection, rather than just another powerful being who solv…

1
Ep 4 | Her SUPERPOWER is Inspiration 50:21

1M ago50:21

50:21

What fuels a successful and fulfilling career? How can creativity and business seamlessly blend? What lessons can we take away from navigating life’s challenges with resilience and joy? In this episode of SUPERPOWER, Kristine Milkovich sits down with Leigh Canlis, a seasoned real estate professional and former art consultant, to explore these compe…

1
Ep.153: Superhero Ethics Class, Slasher Villain Laughs, some Sci-Fi Detective Noir...oh, and Batman 25:50

1M ago25:50

25:50

Week Three of the New Year's Comic Spree! We're half way through, and Zach has SIX new bangers to tell you about that you should definitely be reading! On the docket: Absolute Batman #1-4 (DC Comics) Written by Scott Snyder (Issue 4 scripted by Snyder and Nick Dragotta) Art by Nick Dragotta (Issue 4 by Gabriel Hernandez Walta) Colors by Frank Marti…

1
Tuvix 56:04

1M ago56:04

56:04

The iconic Star Trek: Voyager episode "Tuvix" continues to spark ethical debates nearly 30 years after its original airing. In this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew and Riki dive deep into one of Star Trek's most morally complex stories, examining Captain Janeway's controversial decision to effectively end one life to restore two others.T…

1
Ep.152: Accidentally Murder Mysteries 21:53

2M ago21:53

21:53

The annual New Year's Comic Spree continues, as Zach attempts to lower his large stack of comics that he didn't get to this past year! Come along on the ride and hit us up on social media with your thoughts on the books he's reading, and maybe give him some comics to check out for the Spree as well! On the Docket this week: FML #1 and #2 (Dark Hors…

1
71. Teaching Sustainability: A Training Plan for the New Year 28:17

2M ago28:17

28:17

In 1996, Michael Johnson won two Olympic golds by training less intensely than his competitors. Weird, right? Explore how the counterintuitive concept of 'sub-maximal' training—focusing on sustainability over constant maximum effort—might be the key to teaching excellence without burnout. This episode challenges everything you think you know about …

1
Echo, Amputees, & Intersectionality • Rebroadcast 1:35:42

2M ago1:35:42

1:35:42

The Superhero Ethics gang was with their families over the New Year, but enjoy this rebroadcast of a favorite episode!As an amputee, Echo holds a special place in my (Matthew’s) heart, so I’m excited to have comics expert Will Freeland join me to discuss this meaningful new MCU show. Seeing a superhero who shares some of my experiences is incredibl…

1
Ep 3 | His SUPERPOWER is Mindreading 50:18

2M ago50:18

50:18

In this powerful episode of SUPERPOWER, host Kristine Milkovich sits down with former Air Force Lieutenant Steven Marose to explore his extraordinary journey of resilience and advocacy after being court-martialed and imprisoned in 1990 due to his sexual orientation. Steve grew up in the Tacoma area and joined the Air Force as an officer in 1988. Wh…

1
Ep.151: Some ABSOLUTE(ly) ULTIMATE Comics! 21:13

2M ago21:13

21:13

The annual New Year's Comic Spree begins, as Zach attempts to lower his large stack of comics that he didn't get to this past year! Come along on the ride and hit us up on social media with your thoughts on the books he's reading, and maybe give him some comics to check out for the Spree as well! On the Docket this week: Ultimates #1-7 (Marvel Comi…

1
What is a Christmas Movie? • Rebroadcast 1:10:53

2M ago1:10:53

1:10:53

The Superhero Ethics crew is on break for the holidays, but we wanted to bring you one of our favorite holiday episodes, in which we discuss Christmas Movies!What is a Christmas movie? Does it have to have a specific message or aesthetic feel? What is the Christmas romance, and why has it become so popular? Andy and Abby join me to dive into these …

1
Ep.150: Batman - KnightsEnd (DC Comics) 1:07:04

2M ago1:07:04

1:07:04

Part 4 of the Knightfall Before Christmas event is here! Join Zach and special guest, Paul Jaislee from the I Read Comic Books podcast, as they revisits one of the biggest and most important events in the history of Batman: Knightfall! The story of Bane's utter defeat of Batman, and the rise of Jean-Paul Valley to take Bruce Wayne's place, signalli…

1
Red One 52:41

2M ago52:41

52:41

Red One: When Santa Goes Marvel (feat. Pete Wright)Is Amazon's $250 million Christmas blockbuster Red One a fresh take on holiday magic, or a cynical cash grab? Join Matthew and special guest Pete Wright as they unwrap this action-packed holiday film starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Chris Evans. From buff Santas to beach-fighting snowmen, thi…

1
Ep.149: Batman - Knightquest (DC Comics) 1:03:03

2M ago1:03:03

1:03:03

Part 3 of the Knightfall Before Christmas event is here! Join Zach as he revisits one of the biggest and most important events in the history of Batman: Knightfall! The story of Bane's utter defeat of Batman, and the rise of Jean-Paul Valley to take Bruce Wayne's place, signalling a new era for the Bat...a more brutal and unforgiving era! This week…

1
Prey and Indigenous Representation 1:18:39

2M ago1:18:39

1:18:39

Matthew and Riki dive deep into Indigenous representation in media, using the 2022 film Prey as a launching point for a broader discussion about the evolution of Native American portrayals in Hollywood. The conversation explores how this Predator franchise entry breaks new ground while honoring both the source material and Indigenous culture.How do…

1
70. The Strategic Sub Plan: Building Coverage Into Your Units 15:49

3M ago15:49

15:49

Why do we design our teaching as if we'll never need coverage when (almost) every teacher needs it multiple times a year? Stop coming to school sick. Stop creating emergency plans at 5AM. Stop pretending the need for coverage won't happen.Let's rethink how we plan for reality and build something sustainable. Get 10 FREE Emergency Sub Plans: https:/…

1
Ep.148: Batman - Knightfall (DC Comics) 41:19

2M ago41:19

41:19

Part 2 of the Knightfall Before Christmas event is here! Join Zach as he revisits one of the biggest and most important events in the history of Batman: Knightfall! The story of Bane's utter defeat of Batman, and the rise of Jean-Paul Valley to take Bruce Wayne's place, signalling a new era for the Bat...a more brutal and unforgiving era! This week…

1
A Man on the Inside 1:03:49

3M ago1:03:49

1:03:49

Paul and Matthew jump into the ethics of aging, mysteries, ‘cozy’ storytelling and the ways that elder care is treated in media as we discuss the new Netflix show A Man on the Inside.Bonus member content about some of our other favorite mystery shows and movies.Here is a link to the book Paul mentioned! We’ve started the conversation. Now we want t…

1
Ep.147: Batman - Prelude to Knightfall (DC Comics) 29:05

3M ago29:05

29:05

Part 1 of the Knightfall Before Christmas event is here! Join Zach as he revisits one of the biggest and most important events in the history of Batman: Knightfall! The story of Bane's utter defeat of Batman, and the rise of Jean-Paul Valley to take Bruce Wayne's place, signalling a new era for the Bat...a more brutal and unforgiving era! This week…

1
Gundam and Fascism in Anime 1:33:10

3M ago1:33:10

1:33:10

Join hosts Matthew and Riki as they analyze Netflix's Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance through the lens of ethics, narrative responsibility, the wider context of the Gundam story as a whole, and the implications of telling stories from the villains' perspective.This episode tackles a crucial question in modern media: When telling a story from an antag…

1
69. Making Growth Visible: What Teachers Can Steal from Spotify Wrapped 14:46

3M ago14:46

14:46

How did Spotify turn "you listened to Taylor Swift for 10,483 minutes" into a story you couldn't wait to share? Meanwhile, we're still sharing student growth through numbers and charts. Something's not adding up. There's something here that could enhance how we celebrate student growth - and no, I'm not suggestion you try to turn your students' ana…

1
Ep.146: The Prox Transmissions (Marvel Comics) 1:03:06

3M ago1:03:06

1:03:06

Zach is joined by Ken Gordon and co-host of the Git Rec'd podcast, Micah Henderson, to talk the graphic novel, "The Prox Transmissions." Written by Starset lead singer, Dustin Bates, "The Prox Transmissions" begins the science fiction tales told within the music of the band Starset. --------------------------------------------------- Want to hear m…

1
Cobra Kai, Season 6, Part 2 of 3 1:24:32

3M ago1:24:32

1:24:32

Join hosts Matthew Fox and special guest Paul Hoppe as they dive deep into Cobra Kai Season 6, Part 2, discussing how the hit series continues to raise the stakes - sometimes to absurd levels. From international tournaments to shocking character developments, this episode explores how the show both succeeds and stumbles in its attempt to go global.…

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Superhero Ethics Podcasts

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