How Three Sci-Fi Fans Turned Passion Into a Global Podcast
Written by: Robert Bernard
Edited by: Ray Duell
Some stories begin with a bold leap into the unknown. Ours started with a pause button.
In early 2020, Robert Bernard — known on the show as Admiral Happy Endings — found himself deep in thought after another long sci-fi movie night with his nephew, Giancarlo Correa (Captain KAOS). What began as a ninety-minute film often turned into a two- or three-hour experience, not because of the movie’s runtime, but because of the discussions surrounding its themes and content. They paused to ask questions. They analyzed scenes. They unpacked ideas. It wasn’t about reviewing the film. It was about understanding it.
And that’s when it hit Robert: Why wasn’t anyone doing this in podcast form?
The Sci-Fi Spark: Logan’s Run and a Lifelong Fascination
Robert’s love of science fiction started long before the podcast—though at the time, he didn’t recognize it as something that would shape his creative future.
In 1976, when he was just six years old, his uncle took him to the theater to watch Logan’s Run. He was too young to understand the deeper implications of the story, but the visuals and futuristic atmosphere left a lasting impression that never faded. It was his first taste of a world beyond the everyday — of people living in cities under domes, governed by strange technologies, facing existential truths. Something from that experience stuck with him for the rest of his life.
As he grew, science fiction continued to leave its fingerprints on his imagination. In the early 1980s, he was captivated by reruns of Star Trek: The Original Series. The show’s idealistic future and exploration of moral dilemmas drew him in, not just for its adventure, but for its depth. Around the same time, he saw Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, which ignited a love for epic sci-fi storytelling and galactic-scale wonder.
That spark kept growing. Through the years, Robert was exposed to shows like the original Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and later Farscape — each one expanding the boundaries of what science fiction could be. These weren’t just stories to him. They were invitations to ask “what if?” and to imagine a world far beyond our own.
The Podcasting Spark: Buzz Out Loud, Diggnation, and the Birth of an Idea
In 2005, Robert discovered a new format that would eventually become just as formative: podcasting. Two shows in particular grabbed his attention—Buzz Out Loud and Diggnation. They weren’t just entertaining—they were alive, fueled by curiosity and conversation.
Buzz Out Loud, hosted by Tom Merritt, Molly Wood, Veronica Belmont, Brian Tong, and Brian Cooley, presented tech news in a smart and engaging way that felt almost like sitting in on a panel of experts. But it was Diggnation, launched on July 1, 2005, by Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht, that truly changed his perspective. The improv, unscripted, reactionary style of their show felt natural, accessible, and real.
That experience planted a seed. Robert realized that podcasting didn’t have to be overly structured or scripted. It could be spontaneous. It could be personal.
Being tech-savvy, he delved into learning how RSS feeds worked, experimented with audio hosting platforms, and conducted several test runs to explore what was possible. The technology was no longer a barrier. The only question that remained was: What would the show be about?
What he didn’t realize yet was that he’d been carrying the answer with him since childhood.
A Pandemic, a Phone, and a First Episode
In May 2020, with the world in lockdown, Robert finally pressed the record button. He used nothing more than his iPhone and the Anchor app to produce the first episode of what would become Science Fiction Remnant. It was a scripted solo piece about Artemis Fowl—a short 7-minute reflection that took a full week to write and hours to record.
There wasn’t much time to sit with nerves or self-doubt—he was too focused on making it work. Outside of his nephew Giancarlo and his wife, no one knew what he was doing. It was a personal experiment—a test to see if the idea could live in the real world.
After that first episode, it became clear that the scripted approach wouldn’t be sustainable. The effort was enormous, and the results felt stiff. But the concept still had potential. So Robert asked Giancarlo to join him as a guest for Episode 2, where they discussed John Carter—both the Disney film and the original book series they had read growing up.
The chemistry was undeniable. The conversation was natural, unscripted, and engaging. That episode became the blueprint for what Science Fiction Remnant would become: a show that wasn’t about polished reviews, but about what lives inside the story.
From Fan to Co-Host: The Ray Duell Story
The show grew organically, with each new episode attracting a growing number of curious listeners. But the turning point came when an Australian fan named Ray Duell messaged the team after their episode on Alita: Battle Angel. He had thoughts — strong ones, stemming from his deep involvement in the #AlitaArmy fandom. He pointed out what they got right, what they missed, and what deserved a second look.
Instead of brushing it off, Robert and Giancarlo invited him onto the show for an episode on the Alita anime. The chemistry between the three of them was instant. Ray, now known on the podcast as The Mad Scientist, brought a unique perspective, a passion for science, and a contagious energy that couldn’t be ignored.
He officially joined as a co-host not long after, in 2022 completing the trio and helping usher the show into a new era.
The Science in Sci-Fi: Exploring Reality Through Fiction
With Ray on board, the show gained a sharper edge, especially with the introduction of one of its most beloved features: The Science in Sci-Fi. Ray pitched the idea during Season 2, and it quickly became a fan-favorite segment.
The concept was simple but powerful: explore the real science behind the fiction. Whether the episode involved AI, space travel, biotech, or alien life, the team would dive into current scientific research and articles that reflected the themes in the story.
One recent example was a discussion about the discovery of a potential biosignature in the atmosphere of the exoplanet K2-18b—a real-world scientific finding covered by CNN. This kind of content helped bridge the gap between imagination and possibility, proving that sci-fi isn’t just predictive — it’s often prophetic.
Growing a Community: The #ThisIsSciFi Movement
During Season 1, the team noticed something strange. Despite sci-fi’s global reach, the community felt fragmented. Fans of one franchise rarely engaged with fans of another. There was no central space where the genre could thrive as a whole.
So Science Fiction Remnant started something simple but powerful: the hashtag #ThisIsSciFi.
The idea was to create a unifying banner. If creators, fans, and communities all used the hashtag to share their favorite content — whether it was a book, a movie, a fan theory, or another podcast — it could form a collective, searchable thread. Not just for visibility, but for connection.
The response has been steadily growing. What began as a small effort has become a recognizable tag for anyone who wants to celebrate the genre in its many forms.
Why We’re Still Here
Podcasting is easy to start — and just as easy to abandon. Most shows fade within their first year. But Science Fiction Remnant has endured because it was never about chasing trends or algorithms. It is about passion.
“There are days we’re tired or overwhelmed, but we always show up,” Robert says. “Because we love this. Because it matters.”
Now with nearly 200 podcast episodes and 178 video episodes on YouTube, the show has expanded far beyond its modest beginnings. It’s gained listeners from around the globe — including the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. In 2025, Science Fiction Remnant was named the #1 Sci-Fi Podcast and ranked #93 among the Top 100 Sci-Fi Influencers by Feedspot.
But those numbers aren’t what drives the team. What matters most is the conversation.
What Sets Science Fiction Remnant Apart
What makes this show different isn’t production or polish. It is a purpose.
Robert never found the kind of podcast he wanted to listen to — one that explored the ideas behind sci-fi, rather than just the surface-level details. So he set out to create it.
From the very beginning, the show set itself apart by delving into what the sci-fi stories were truly trying to convey. Why do certain films make us uncomfortable? What can we learn from androids about humanity? What happens when technology goes too far — or not far enough?
One of the earliest moments that confirmed this approach was viable came with during John Carter episode in Season 1. The listener feedback was immediate and engaging. People weren’t just listening — they were responding. They wanted to talk. That engagement continues today, amplified by the show’s Discord server and growing online community.
Final Transmission
Some people start podcasts to follow a trend. Science Fiction Remnant was born from a lifetime of questions — and a belief that science fiction isn’t just entertainment. It’s a mirror. A warning. A love letter to possibility.
We didn’t build this show because it was easy. We built it because no one else was asking the questions we needed answered. Questions about identity, ethics, technology, love, grief, the future, and what it means to be human in worlds far beyond our own.
If you’ve ever paused a movie and asked, “What does this really mean?” — you’re not alone. That’s how we started. That’s why we’re still here.
This isn’t a podcast that explains sci-fi. It’s a podcast that lives in it.
Three voices. One mission. Countless worlds.
So, whether you’re a lifelong fan or a curious wanderer, we invite you to take the leap with us.
Because the next episode could change the way you see everything.
And the story? It’s just getting started.
Note
Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions that will challenge your perspective on the world around you. For conversation about this article, join our Discord Channel for comments and discussions. [Science Fiction Remnant Discord]