Beltway Banthas

Latest Episodes:

Ep #12: The Politics of Harrison Ford Sep 07, 2016

Show notes

This week on Beltway Banthas, the politics of Harrison Ford. The actor behind Han Solo is mysterious, edgy and also a warm hearted, committed activist. We have long been fascinated by the work Ford has done outside of acting, whether is it environmental work, documentaries, speaking gigs with the Clintons or saving lost hikers in his helicopter. To better understand Ford, we welcome to the show the hosts of The Fordcast Podcast, Lauren Milberger and Rachel Leishman. They run a fantastic podcast that chronicles the career of Ford in a thoughtful and comedic package. Check out The Fordcast Podcast and follow them on Twitter @TheFordcastPC @RachelLeishman and @LaurenMilberger Have thoughts on the show? Ideas for episodes or a SW fan theory you want to share? Email us at BeltwayBanthas@gmail.com Twitter: @BeltwayBanthas @stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso Leave a review on iTunes! It means a lot and helps get the show to more people. May the Force be with you!

Ep #11: Make Star Wars Great Again ft. Riley Blanton Aug 25, 2016

Show notes

Welcome back to another installment of Beltway Banthas! This week in the world of Star Wars we all got to experience the amazing trailer for the upcoming Rogue One film. In this weeks episode we dive into the politics of Nostalgia. We discuss the polarization between original fans and prequel fans and how that relates to our politics today. With the help of special guest Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report, we pose questions regarding the greatness of America and it's connection to our galaxy far, far away. Stay connected with the show on twitter @BeltwayBanthas @Stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso @TheRileyGuy , Remember to help the show by leaving us a review and rating on iTunes, and as always...May the Fore be with you!

Interview: Tamara Keith (NPR Politics) Aug 18, 2016

Show notes

Hello banthas! This week we are happy to bring to you an interview with Tamara Keith, White House Correspondent for NPR and co-host of the NPR Politics podcast. Tamara is a HUGE Star Wars fan and we have a fun discussion about her fandom, her thoughts on new films, old films, Leia, Emperor Trumpatine and more. Review our podcast on iTunes! Every rating helps get this podcast to more people. Connect with us on Twitter @BeltwayBanthas Stephen @Stephen_Kent89 and Tamara at @TamaraKeithNPR Subscribe to NPR Politics for a great weekly podcast and news recaps. You won't regret it!

Ep #10: Wherefore Art Thou Daisy Ridley Aug 11, 2016

Show notes

Welcome back friends & banthas! This weeks episode is packed with Star Wars & politics fun. Our UK contributor Swara Salih is LIVE with us in DC. First we lead we dig into the story last week that Daisy Ridley left Instagram after backlash from a "political" statement on gun violence. The latest is that she says she got off Instagram to be away from a phone more, but the timing does suggest she needed to step away from the onslaught of negativity. Daisy is an intensely positive force online. We hope she comes back! We are also joined by Bria LaVorgna of Tosche Station to talk about the role of monarchies in Star Wars. There are kings & queens galore. Why? Find Bria on Twitter at @ChaosBRia Lastly, Crackpot or Jackpot? Rey Palpatine..... Have a theory you want to share? Email us at BeltwayBanthas@gmail.com Connect with us on Twitter @Beltway Banthas @Stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso @SwaraSalih1 Drop us a review on iTunes. It makes a huge difference to the show and hearing your feedback makes our show better everytime. May the Force be with you!

Interview: NC-97 Rep. Jason Saine Aug 03, 2016

Show notes

As a continuation of our interview series, today we bring to you a conversation on Star Wars & politics with Rep. Jason Saine of NCs 97th district. This is a really insightful conversation about the rough and tumble of being in politics, as well as how Star Wars fandom plays into the value set and daily grind of a Fan/Lawmaker. Jason makes some really good points about Star Wars and the call to civic duty, as well the nature of who is in power...are they Rebels or the Empire. Star Wars shows us two or three times. insurgent rebels becoming the government. Jason Saine has been through something similar during his time in politics. Leave us a review on iTunes, let us know how we are doing. Connect on Twitter @BeltwayBanthas and with Rep. Saine @JasonSaine97th Email us thoughts, questions and ideas for episodes/guests at BeltwayBanthas@gmail.com

Ep #9: The World According to Star Wars Jul 28, 2016

Show notes

What a crazy month. In the world of Star Wars we all just experienced in person or through the power of Internet, Star Wars Celebration. Here in the world of current events and politics, lots has changed as well. In this weeks episode the Beltway Banthas share with you some audio from AEI's book talk on "The World According to Star Wars", a love letter to Star Wars by Cass Sunstein (former head of regulatory affairs in the White House under the Obama Admin). Cass talks through the chapters of his book, offering a broad view of why Star Wars was successful, and what lessons we can take away from it as observers of politics. This is a book we highly recommend..for a larger view of the Force. We are also joined by Zuri Davis (Rare Politics) for a dissection of the shooting in Dallas, and the deep & worsening racial divide in America today. This is a part of our developing series "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." The dynamic between people of color and police can be looked at through the prism of Yoda's warning to Anakin, so we dive into this tough topic. Thanks for coming on this wild ride of Star Wars + Politics with us! Drop us a review on iTunes and connect with the show on Twitter. @BeltwayBanthas @Stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso @Zuri_Davis

Star Wars Celebration Roundup: Chats with Bryan Young & Riley Blanton Jul 21, 2016

Show notes

Surprise! We have a bonus episode this week from Star Wars Celebration London! Our senior foreign correspondent, Swara Salih, attended the convention and spoke with Bryan Young of Full of Sith, and Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report about politics & Star Wars. They are really nice people and fun chats so check this out. You can follow Swara on Twitter at @SwaraSalih1 Full of Sith podcast at @FullofSith and Bryan @Swankmotron and the Star Wars Report at @StarWarsReport and Riley @TheRileyGuy Norma episode next Thursday is on the way! Have a great week.

Ep #8: OMG #SWCE Jul 14, 2016

Show notes

OMG one more day till Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016! Also known to the cool kids of Twitter as #SWCE. On this weeks episode we have a little extra fun in the spirit of Celebration. Joined by friend of the show, Michael Nitz, the Beltway Banthas talk over some of the schedule, what may happen at Celebration, what will be revealed? Rogue One gets a new trailer this Friday. Intrigue abounds. Will you be at #SWCE over the weekend? Stephen and Tirso couldn't make it but our Senior Foreign Correspondent Swara Salih will be roaming the convention. Find him on Twitter @SwaraSalih1 Also look out for livestreams from the convention on our Facebook www.facebook.com/beltwaybanthas Please do leave us a review on your podcatcher! Send us an email of feedback or a question to beltwaybanthas@gmail.com We WANT to hear from you and get to know our listeners. As usual you can find us online at www.BeltwayBanthas.com Twitter @BeltwayBanthas. Stephen is @Stephen_Kent89 Tirso is @ItsJustTirso

Ep #7: I Love Democracy Jun 30, 2016

Show notes

"I love democracy, I love the Republic." Little did the Senate know but Chancellor Palpatine had his fingers crossed. How do democracies descend into tyranny is the primary question of our new episode. Star Wars is riddled with history from ancient Rome, France, Germany and ties to contemporary American politics. Beltway Banthas welcomes to the show David Barnes, Policy Director at Generation Opportunity , an experienced political professional and student of Plato's writings on democracy in ancient Greece. The show received exclusive audio from the lair of Emperor Trumpatine himself, its FANTASTIC and you won't wanna miss it. You can hear from from our overlord Emperor Trumpatine on Twitter @RealTrumpatine . The show is joined by the first addition to our team, Swara Salih, located in the UK and reporting to us as Senior Foreign Correspondant on "Brexit", the British exit from the EU. Swara wrote a piece on our website you must check out to know how Star Wars can make sense of this news in Europe. Star Wars Can Make Sense of Brexit: http://beltwaybanthas.com/2016/06/26/brexit-star-wars-can-make-sense-of-britain-leaving-the-eu/ Please do leave us a review on your podcatcher! Send us an email of feedback or a question to beltwaybanthas@gmail.com We WANT to hear from you and get to know our listeners. As usual you can find us online at www.BeltwayBanthas.com Twitter @BeltwayBanthas and www.Facebook.com/beltwaybanthas Stephen is @Stephen_Kent89 Tirso is @ItsJustTirso

Ep #6: Wherefore Art Thou "Newt" Gunray Jun 15, 2016

Show notes

Thank you for tuning in for another installment of Beltway Banthas, a Star Wars podcast at the intersection of Coruscant & Washington DC. On this weeks episode, Stephen breaks down his time at AwesomeCon 2016 that brought Kevin Smith and a million Kylo Rens to the nations capital. Stephen assembled a special assembly of the DC Jedi Council for a round table chat about Star Wars fandom. He was joined by Kristen Soltis Anderson (The Pollsters podcast & author of 'The Selfie Vote') and Mike Shields (President of the American Action Network, fmr Chief of Staff of the RNC and Communications Director for Newt Gingrich). We had a great time discussing the films, the politics of the prequels and digging into the role political parties play in a functioning republic. This has been an emotional week for many. Stephen dishes some thoughts on the state of our union and how we can help our friends in Orlando: https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund Be good to each other. Love really, truly, always wins. You can find Stephen on Twitter @Stephen_Kent89 Tirso @ItsJustTirso Kristen Soltis Anderson @KSoltisAnderson and Mike Shields @MShields007 Email us your thoughts on the show, a theory you have, ANYTHING at BeltwayBanthas@gmail.com and Tweet us @BeltwayBanthas Review us on iTunes PLEASE. It makes a huge difference for getting the show exposure =) May the Force be with you this week...and always

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