Father. Son. Galaxy 2022 Year-in-Review

The year of 2022 was a Star Wars-filled adventure. From thrilling concerts and national conventions to insightful interviews with fellow fans and industry insiders, we delved deep into the world of the legendary franchise.

Our coverage of the Star Wars universe began in January with a review of “The Book of Boba Fett.” The following month took us to Cincinnati for the celebration of John Williams’ 90th birthday, conducted by Damon Gupton. We jumped at the chance to meet him for the first time backstage, having interviewed the multi-hyphenate actor, conductor, and musician after having interviewed him in the preceding year.

In March, we caught up with Maria Marquez of Sistas with Sabers to hear her story of becoming a Star Wars fan and activist. She holds a special place in our hearts as one of the individuals who introduced us to the vast world of Star Wars fandom.

We also sat down with the talented Yoshi Vu, a VFX artist and 3D generalist, to discuss his creative process for producing mind-blowing special effects for the big and small screens.

April was an exciting month for us, as we made a trip to FANEXPO Philadelphia and made our first appearance on the podcast stage. Our journeys to becoming Star Wars fans were shared with a captivated audience, and we had the privilege of meeting numerous passionate fans. We got a chance to meet hosts of the podcast stage, Chuck and Shauna Lindsey of Chuck Load of Comics, podcasters Kyra Navarette of Relatable Nerds and Mike and Zoe Hinton, and new Star Wars fans.

Our trip was made even more memorable by us meeting Ashley Eckstein, the voice actor for Ahsoka Tano, as well as two of our favorite authors, Claudia Gray and Charles Soule.

We also interviewed Catherine LaSalle, an actor, artist, and content creator, about her journey as a Star Wars fan, her acting career, and her artwork. We discussed the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series and shared our predictions. We also covered the backstory of the Inquisitors and did a character study of Doctor Aphra. Keith closed our Inquisitor episode with a flute solo of the theme from “The Book of Boba Fett,” which he wrote out entirely by ear.

May was a busy month, with trips to Atlanta and Anaheim, including the opportunity for our sons to fly for the first time. The highlight of the month was seeing Damon Gupton conduct the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in a performance of “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” and a chance to catch up with the talented musician.

At the 2022 Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, we went to a slate of must-see panels, including the eagerly awaited “Summer of Lego Star Wars,” the buzzed-about “Bad Batch,” and the landmark 20th anniversary of “Attack of the Clones.”

We met with Clayton Sandell from Newsy who interviewed us in the exhibition hall.

They also took advantage of the occasion to connect with some of their favorite podcasters, such as Alex and Mollie of Star Wars Explained, Alden Diaz of Ahch-To Radio, and Nicky Kumar (aka “Naquicious”).

As well as soaking up the festivities, we also took part as presenters on the SWCA Podcast Stage, sharing our perspectives on the central role of family in the Star Wars franchise.

Keith and Tanya were given backstage access to interview the voice actors of The Bad Batch, Dee Bradley Baker and Michelle Ang.

While there, we met the executive team behind the animated series Matt Michnovetz, Brad Rau, and Jennifer Corbett. . .

. . . and Krystina Arielle Tigner, host of the High Republic Show.

Our Anaheim excursion finished with a historic trip to Disneyland to explore Galaxy’s Edge, including a unforgettable ride on the iconic Millennium Falcon and a visit to “Rise of the Resistance”.

In June, we had the chance to interview Raphael Moran of The Geeky Dad Podcast for a special father-to-father conversation.

We were thrilled to receive an invitation from Jamiel Owens, a volunteer firefighter and Star Wars fan with a son diagnosed with autism, to attend the Hatfield Volunteer Fire Department’s Autism Awareness Day. The day was full of excitement, from seeing new firetrucks, meeting new people, to getting a chance to interact with Star Wars characters from the 501st Garrison Carida.

In July, the “LEGO Star Wars: Summer Vacation” trailer made waves, and we were on hand to discuss it with the writer and director of the film, David Shayne and Ken Cunningham. Our discussion delved into the creative process behind bringing the beloved characters of the Star Wars universe to life through LEGO animation.

August brought a flurry of new developments in the world of pop culture, including the highly anticipated trailer for the “Andor” series and the new “Crimson Reign” Marvel Comics series, which we explored in depth with Chris Ryons.

Our podcast was also privileged to speak with Disney veteran Mark Daniel about his visit to Skywalker Ranch and gain insights into the legendary film studio. We also sat down with Shannon McClung, writer, actor, and co-host of “The Geek Buddies” podcast, for a lively discussion on all things geek culture.

We discussed the possible appearance of the Fantastic Four in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and began branching out to review Marvel productions through weekly spoiler reviews of “She-Hulk, Attorney At Law.”

In September, our podcast participated in a fundraising event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, hosting a virtual podathon that aimed to bring attention to the organization’s mission. Our show featured several cast members from the highly-anticipated series “Andor” and delved into the personal stories of friends impacted by Make-A-Wish, offering a unique and inspiring perspective on the transformative power of the foundation.

In October, we reviewed the animated six-part series “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi”. We also had a great time interviewing fellow podcasters Ben and Jan of Star Bros after appearing on their show the year before. We also caught up with Ben and Jan of the “Star Bros” podcast, discussing their recent trip to the New York Comic Con and all the excitement they encountered there.

Our livestream with Kyra Navarrete of “Relatable Nerds” provided insightful analysis of the latest episode of “Andor,” while our conversation with Jordan Wilson, the “Supreme Emperor” of Wookieepedia, offered a glimpse into the workings of the premier Star Wars online encyclopedia.

The Super Jersey Comic Book Expo was an eventful stop for us in November, where we reconnected with the renowned author Claudia Gray. Our visit to the J1-Con in Atlantic City was heightened by a fortuitous encounter with the creator of the innovative e-zine, “Into the Larger World,” Kara DJ. The latest issue of her e-zine, which featured our recent interview with her, added an extra layer of excitement to our trip.

We also had a blast interviewing Keith’s former assistant camp director, who happened to one day have a 2-hour covnersation with Keith during summer camp that resulted in them realizing a mutual love of Star Wars. Jared, a Misericordia University student, MBA candidate, and defensive back for the Misericordia Cougars, shared his vast knowledge with us as part of our “Star Wars in Our Community” series.

We were privileged to chat with Karama Horne, the talented writer behind “Black Panther: Protectors of Wakanda: A History and Training Manual of the Dora Milaje.” As fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we also took a closer look at the film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” delving into the intricacies of the Ironheart character.

December was a month of film and TV insider knowledge as we sat down with David Espinoza, a VFX artist at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM). The ILM veteran gave us a glimpse into the world of special effects and the work that goes into creating the awe-inspiring visuals seen in movies such as “Wakanda Forever.” We closed out the year with our in-depth analysis of the eagerly awaited first season of “Andor.”

In December, we delved deep into the world of Star Wars and its impact on popular culture with an in-depth interview with John La Valley, a master model builder who has crafted iconic models for the franchise. He offers a rare and exclusive look at the behind-the-scenes magic of special effects in film and television, including his work on blockbuster hits like Apollo 13, Starship Troopers, The Fifth Element, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Voyager.

In December, we delved into the thrilling future of the Star Wars and Marvel universes, took a nostalgic trip back to the first season of the hit animated series “The Bad Batch,” and marked the 5th anniversary of “The Last Jedi” with a special episode of “Storytime with Maceo”. “Storytime with Maceo” is a standout YouTube series that promotes literacy and creativity among neurodiverse learners through engaging storytelling and an inclusivity-focused mission.

We hosted a surprise virtual birthday party for Keith (he designed the video thumbnail as well,) and were surprised by guest appearances not only from friends and family, but Star Wars, Industrial Light and Magic, and former PR Head Lynne Hale.

The Father.Son.Galaxy channel has established itself as a hub for Star Wars fans, connecting with fellow podcasters in the community through their podcast and YouTube channel. They’ve had insightful conversations with top Star Wars podcasters, including Alden Diaz/Ahch-To Radio, Star Wars Explained, and more, showcasing the depth and diversity of the Star Wars community.

Our channel has also been a leader in promoting literacy and storytelling, especially among neurodiverse learners, through their “Storytime with Maceo” series. It highlights the passion and enthusiasm of fans and reinforces the community’s love for all things Star Wars, making it a unique and valuable resource for families and educators alike.

It’s been an incredible year for us as Star Wars fans, and we’re grateful for all of the amazing experiences and opportunities we’ve had. We’re looking forward to continuing our journey in the Star Wars community and sharing all of the exciting things that come our way with our listeners, viewers, and readers.

If you’ve enjoyed reading about our adventures, we hope you’ll join us on our social media channels and subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel. We post updates and behind-the-scenes content on a regular basis, and we always love to hear from our followers and interact with them. So don’t be shy – give us a follow and let’s stay connected as we continue to explore the Marvel and Star Wars galaxies, together.

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