May the 4th be with you, friends! Sarah and Brad are celebrating Star Wars Day with the fifth annual "Friends of the 4th" special where we share our favorite memories from the past 365 days in Star Wars. Join us in our trip down memory lane as we reflect on the past and the future of our fandom experience. Website: http://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriendsOfForce Linktree: https://linktr.ee/friendsoftheforce Thank you to all of our Patrons, including our Luminous Beings: Brian, Emma, Jenn, Lee-Ann, Lucy, Ruth, Travis, and Tom. #StarWars #StarWarsDay #MayThe4th ..read more

The Force itself sickens in the latest High Republic young-adult novel “Defy the Storm” by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland. We discuss Vernestra Rwoh emerging from solitude, Avon Starros on her quest for revenge, Mari San Tekka's path beyond the edge of the galaxy, and more. Plus, what's next for solving the Nameless problem? Independent Bookstore of the Week: Scrawl Books (Reston, VA) Website: http://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriendsOfForce Linktree: https://linktr.ee/friendsoftheforce Thank you to all of our Patrons, including our Luminous Beings: Brian, Emm ..read more

Calling all Jedi: this is the Scarlet Skull! Join us for our discussion on the latest High Republic middle-grade novel "Escape from Valo" by Daniel José Older and Alyssa Wong. We dive into this journey full of grief, fear, attachment, and compassion by looking through the eyes of Ram Jomaram and the three Jedi Padawans that he takes under his wing. Independent Bookstore of the Week: Violet Valley Bookstore (Water Valley, MS) Website: http://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriendsOfForce Linktree: https://linktr.ee/friendsoftheforce Thank you to all of our Patrons ..read more

In this week's coverage of The Bad Batch, we're discussing the long-awaited return of Asajj Ventress, local Florida Men (aka Wrecker and Hunter), and a stressful two-parter on both Mount Tantiss and Pabu! Spoilers ahead for episodes 308-311. Website: http://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriendsOfForce Linktree: https://linktr.ee/friendsoftheforce Thank you to all of our Patrons, including our Luminous Beings: Brian, Emma, Jenn, Lee-Ann, Lucy, Ruth, Travis, Topher, and Tom. #StarWars #TheBadBatch ..read more

The Bad Batch returns for their final ride in the third and final season! We're discussing the three-part premiere with friend of the show Mollie (@DarthMaullie) as we unpack the secrets of Project Necromancer, speculate about the Batch's endgame, yell over this arc's thrilling conclusion, and more. Check out Mollie's Etsy store here, which includes the coveted Cute Gunray pin. Website: http://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriendsOfForce Linktree: https://linktr.ee/friendsoftheforce Thank you to all of our Patrons, including our Luminous Beings: Brian, Emma, Jenn, L ..read more

It's the beginning of the end as we take our first steps into The High Republic Phase 3 with "The Eye of Darkness" by George Mann. We discuss the identity crises weighing down on Elzar Mann and Avar Kriss, the game of chess between the Republic and the Nihil, hope surviving in the darkest of times, why turning fear into strength is the key to the Nameless problem, and more. Independent Bookstore of the Week: The Bookshop (Nashville, TN) Website: http://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/friendsoftheforce Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriendsOfForce Bluesky: h ..read more

Adam Lance Garcia joins the podcast to reunite us with the beloved Dexter Jettster in his short story "The Veteran" — featured in 'From A Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi.' We discuss Dex's appearances across multiple eras, the guilt he carries from one Kamino saberdart, and the Empire's end reigniting hope for a brighter future. Website: http://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/friendsoftheforce Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriendsOfForce Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/friendsoftheforce.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@friendsofthe ..read more

We're diving into "Tales of Light and Life," the newest short-story anthology spanning all three phases of the High Republic, to discuss where our characters have been, where they may be going, and the aftermath of Starlight Beacon's fall. Independent Bookstore of the Week: Joseph-Beth Booksellers (Cincinnati, OH) Note: this episode was recorded during the 2023 ⁠⁠⁠⁠SAG-AFTRA strike⁠⁠⁠⁠. Without the actors currently on strike, Star Wars wouldn't have been made possible. Consider helping out through the Entertainment Community Fund ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. Website: http://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com Join ..read more

This week's episode is a gift freely given! We're joined by author Tessa Gratton whose short story "A Closed Fist Has No Claws" appears in the newest young-adult anthology 'Tales of Light and Life.' We dive into the continuation of Marda Ro's path, planting the seeds of Nihil ideology, writing in second-person POV, the definition of "home" in the High Republic era, and much more! Note: this episode was recorded during the 2023 ⁠⁠WGA⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠SAG-AFTRA strike⁠⁠⁠. Without the writers and actors currently on strike, Star Wars wouldn't have been made possible. Consider helping out through the Ente ..read more

The High Republic Phase 2 comes to a shocking conclusion in "Path of Vengeance" by Cavan Scott, and we're excited to finally chat about it! We dive into the Path of the Open Hand's transformation into the Nihil, Marda and Yana's conflicting motives, Matty's greatest test yet in the face of fear, and much more. Plus, we turn #EggTalk all the way up by defining the sin done to the Nameless, Planet X's paracausal properties, and, most importantly, why Azlin Rell is the key to all of this (!!!). Independent Bookstore of the Week: ⁠Left Bank Books⁠ (St Louis, MO) Thank you to Disney Books for the r ..read more