Episodes

  • Tim Blackmore on the Film "Alien"

    Tim Blackmore on the Film "Alien"
    Mar 13 2026
    Re-Creative Spotlight: Tim BlackmoreIn this episode of Re-Creative, Mark A. Rayner and I are joined by Tim Blackmore, an author and professor at Western University’s Faculty of Information and Media Studies, to talk about the 1979 classic movie Alien.Tim knows a lot about the concept of “design” and a lot about this movie, which allows to take a deep dive into the design elements of Alien, which has inspired Tim in his own work and research on propaganda and war.“It’s the stuff that you don’t see coming that you have to watch out for,” Tim tells us, referring to the propaganda that you don’t necessarily realize is propaganda. “Any time you see Grogu, watch your wallet!”After discussing the context of what was happening in the field of science fiction at the time the movie came out, along with SF cinema and culture in general, Tim gets into just exactly how the visual presentation of Alien came about. Turns out it was the combined genius of a whole team of designers, including Roy Cobb, Chris Foss, H.R. Giger, and the screenwriter, Dan O’Bannon.Tim also tells us how the movie was conceived and brought to life, how Ridley Scott became its director, and its influence on so much cinema that came afterwards.Support Our GuestTim Blackmore is a professor in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western University in London, Ontario (Canada). In addition to extensive articles and book chapters, Blackmore has published two major academic works: War X: Human Extension in Battlespace, and, Gorgeous War: The Branding War Between the Third Reich and the United States.In Tim’s own words: “I work on all kinds of projects, and I love that. I read, see and write about popular culture, particularly science fiction (in prose, film, animation, jello…it doesn’t matter to me what the medium is), but also comics and comic strips, science fiction film design (I know that sounds specific, but it’s a huge field). I also focus a great deal on what Leo Marx called The Machine in the Garden, and the persistence of the pastoral in this weird age of post-everything and all-transparency. We need to stay grounded.”You can subscribe to six month’s worth of this podcast completely for free. Paid subscriptions support Donovan Street Press Inc. and the creation of new books and podcasts.Re-Creative is a co-production of Donovan Street Press Inc. in association with MonkeyJoy Press.Contact us at: contact@donovanstreetpress.com If you don’t wish to receive the podcast (or you’re receiving too many emails from this newsletter), it is possible to manage your Substack subscription to receive only the sections you want (e.g., the Donovan Street Press newsletter, the Captain’s Away serial, the Re-Creative podcast) via your account settings. You can do so by clicking on your avatar and selecting “Manage subscription” or by directly navigating to your account page.Follow Joe Mahoney and Donovan Street Press Inc. on: Goodreads, Bluesky, Threads, Mastadon, Facebook, and Instagram Get full access to Donovan Street Press Inc. at mahoneyj.substack.com/subscribe
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Joe Versus the World (Again): The Value of Empathy

    Joe Versus the World (Again): The Value of Empathy
    Mar 11 2026

    My dialogue with my old pal the World continues. (You can check out my previous conversation here.) This chat took place in July of 2020. Back then, at the advent of Covid, the world around us seemed pretty grim; today, it’s arguably even worse.

    But all is not lost. I am a firm believer in hope. Collectively, we can make this planet a better place. It may require much thought and effort, but it can be done. How, though?

    Well, turning to the World for advice, I found (not surprisingly) that it has some strong opinions. From a critique of my facial hair to a lesson we should have learned from the dinosaurs. Good advice, I think — along with a dire prediction.

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    2 mins
  • Animator/Filmmaker Tess Martin and Yuri Norstein's Tale of Tales

    Animator/Filmmaker Tess Martin and Yuri Norstein's Tale of Tales
    Mar 2 2026
    Re-Creative Spotlight: Tess MartinIn this episode of Re-Creative, Mark A. Rayner and I got up early to drink our coffee and talk to an animator/filmmaker an ocean away: Tess Martin, based in Rotterdam, the second largest city in the Netherlands. Mark usually starts the podcast by asking me a question but this morning I beat him to it, asking: “What’s your favourite piece of animation?” His initial response was a classic of Canadian animation, from the NFB. (I’ll make you listen to the episode to find out exactly what he said!)The Creative Inspiration: Yuri Norstein’s Tale of TalesWe almost always challenge our guests to choose a piece of art to talk about. One that they love and that informs their own work. Tess chose to discuss a film that had a huge impact on her and that continues to inspire her: Yuri Norstein’s Tale of Tales (1979), a complex, surreal masterpiece a little different than the Saturday morning cartoons you might remember from your youth. It’s not exactly Bugs Bunny, but no less rewarding if you’re up for it. Some consider it the greatest animated film of all time.As Tess explained to us, Tale of Tales is less a classical narrative than a tapestry of memories, providing just enough clues to allow viewers to unlock its meaning and hidden depths, though a familiarity with the culture from which it emerged helps. Featuring a little grey wolf from a traditional Russian lullaby, Norstein employs deeply personal and culturally specific imagery—such as a glass of vodka and bread as an offering for the dead—making the film feel intensely real and true, even if one doesn’t fully grasp every reference the first time around.We talked about how Tale of Tales and similar art invites audiences to be active participants, interpreting clues and symbols to find their own meaning.When you’re done listening to our conversation (or maybe before!) check out the film for yourself to see what we’re talking about: Tale of Tales, a 1979 Soviet/Russian animated film directed by Yuri Norstein[1][2] and produced by the Soyuzmultfilm studio in Moscow:Support Our GuestOriginally from the States, Tess Martin relocated to the Netherlands to pursue her craft. Her own work follows in Norstein’s tradition of thoughtful, material-based art. Her projects tend to develop through a mix of personal interest and the practicalities of the Dutch public arts funding system. And they can take a long time: she’s currently working on an SF project that has already taken a number of years, and is likely to take at least another couple. I can’t wait to see it!Mark, Tessa and I discussed two of her recent films:* How Now House: Using archives, personal memories and the philosophy of time, the film questions whether a space can ever really belong to one person, or time period, at all.* 1976 Search for Life: A new father visits the hometown of his mother in 1976, accompanied by his wife and baby. At the same time, the NASA Viking lander is sending the first images back to Earth from the surface of another planet.You can check out Tess’s work on her website. And I highly recommend that you do! You can subscribe to six month’s worth of this podcast completely for free. Paid subscriptions support Donovan Street Press Inc. and the creation of new books and podcasts.Re-Creative is a co-production of Donovan Street Press Inc. in association with MonkeyJoy Press.Contact us at: contact@donovanstreetpress.com If you don’t wish to receive the podcast (or you’re receiving too many emails from this newsletter), it is possible to manage your Substack subscription to receive only the sections you want (e.g., the Donovan Street Press newsletter, the Captain’s Away serial, the Re-Creative podcast) via your account settings. You can do so by clicking on your avatar and selecting “Manage subscription” or by directly navigating to your account page.Follow Joe Mahoney and Donovan Street Press Inc. on: Goodreads, Bluesky, Threads, Mastadon, Facebook, and Instagram Get full access to Donovan Street Press Inc. at mahoneyj.substack.com/subscribe
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    51 mins
  • Joe Versus the World

    Joe Versus the World
    Mar 1 2026

    I’m fortunate in that I have direct access to the World.

    I’m not entirely sure how this came about, but I’m not one to look a gift planet in the mouth. The World and I chat for time to time and occasionally we record that conversation for posterity.

    I recorded this particular conversation back in 2018. A lot has happened since then, but the gist of the conversation remains relevant. Maybe more so than ever.

    I quite like the World. I mean, not just to live on, but to talk to. I find it refreshingly honest. It says what it means. It doesn’t beat around the bush. I may not always like what it has to tell me but I have to respect it.

    And I would be a fool not to listen.

    To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Paid subscriptions support the creation of new books and podcasts.

    Follow Joe Mahoney and Donovan Street Press Inc. on: Goodreads, Bluesky, Threads, Mastadon, Facebook, and Instagram

    If you like what you’re reading, please spread the word!



    Get full access to Donovan Street Press Inc. at mahoneyj.substack.com/subscribe
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    2 mins
  • Nina Munteanu

    Nina Munteanu
    Feb 17 2026
    Re-Creative Spotlight: Nina Munteanu on The OverstoryOn this episode of Re-Creative, Mark and I talk to writer, naturalist and limnologist Nina Munteanu about a Pulitzer Prize winning novel that had quite an impact on her: Richard Power’s The Overstory. Nina considers herself an environmental activist and ecologist. Much of her fiction is written in a sub-genre of SF: eco-fiction. She’s also a lover of irony, which is one of the reasons she loves the novel so much.Each character in The Overstory is either an avatar of a tree, or, perhaps, the trees are the main characters and the people simply represent them. “What Powers does is very powerful, in that he keeps it real,” Nina tells us.The novel deals with issues of deforestation, ecological collapse, and the extinction of some large trees.In this engrossing conversation, Nina teaches us some new ecological terms, such as the “duff” — the litter, or the decaying vegetation on the forest floor, underneath the overstory. (Also, limnology, the study of waters found within continents.)By the end of this conversation you will want to read not only The Overstory, but Nina’s own work!Support our Guest!Nina Munteanu is a Canadian ecologist and internationally published novelist of science fiction and fantasy. In addition to eight published novels, Nina has written award-nominated short stories, articles and non-fiction books, which have been translated into several languages. Recognition for her work includes the Midwest Book Review Reader’s Choice Award, finalist for Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award, the SLF Fountain Award, and The Delta Optimist Reviewers Choice.Nina’s latest work (as of this recording) is A Diary in the Age of Water, which is an eco-fiction that follows the climate-induced journey of humanity through four generations of women with a unique relationship with water.Find all her books at her website, here! Paid subscriptions of this podcast support Donovan Street Press Inc. and the creation of new books and podcasts.Re-Creative is a co-production of Donovan Street Press Inc. in association with MonkeyJoy Press.Contact us at: contact@donovanstreetpress.com If you don’t wish to receive the podcast (or you’re receiving too many emails from this newsletter), it is possible to manage your Substack subscription to receive only the sections you want (e.g., the Donovan Street Press newsletter, the Captain’s Away serial, the Re-Creative podcast) via your account settings. You can do so by clicking on your avatar and selecting “Manage subscription” or by directly navigating to your account page.Follow Joe Mahoney and Donovan Street Press Inc. on: Goodreads, Bluesky, Threads, Mastadon, Facebook, and Instagram Get full access to Donovan Street Press Inc. at mahoneyj.substack.com/subscribe
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    43 mins
  • Singer-Songwriter Jenn Grant and The Daily Drum

    Singer-Songwriter Jenn Grant and The Daily Drum
    Feb 10 2026
    Re-Creative Spotlight: Jenn GrantIn this episode of Re-Creative, Mark and I talk to singer-songwriter Jenn Grant about coffee, smoothies, and a whole lot more, including Jenn’s upcoming tour Cradled by the Waves, described as “a groundbreaking live tour that transforms her forthcoming album, Queen of the Strait, into a stunning multimedia performance blending music, film, theatre, and dance.”My wife and I have tickets to see Jenn on this tour at the Capital Theatre in Moncton. I was already keen to see Jenn perform, but after hearing her describe her plans for this personal, ambitious show, I can hardly wait! Drawing inspiration from Sarah Harmer, Jenn sees her work as an act of service, viewing music and art as forms of resistance, especially in these troubled times. We talk about how her current album Queen of the Strait was recorded “live off the floor” in four magical days, in their own home studio, and how the “Queen” in the title is an homage to her mother, who displayed remarkable resilience during a tumultuous time in their lives. Jenn also shares the true story behind her wonderful song “Jim Cuddy Dress” (the title of which I mess up in the introduction!) There is also a very cool video for Jim Cuddy Dress that I recommend you check out, especially if you want some glimpses of Prince Edward Island back in the day. Because it’s what we do on Re-Creative, we also talked to Jenn about some of her favourite art. She spoke passionately about her own journey with visual art and her admiration for the work of Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy, and about the importance of reconciliation and supporting the long-standing work of indigenous creators.Long ago, back in 2007, I had the great pleasure of recording Jenn on the CBC Radio show Q. It was so great to have the chance to speak with her again in the company of my good pal and co-host Mark Rayner. As a special treat, we close the episode with another “live off the floor” recording: this time that very recording I made of Jenn on Q so long ago, in Studio 203 of the Toronto Broadcast Centre. It’s one my favourite songs of Jenn’s: Dreamer. Support Our GuestJenn Grant is a three-time Juno-nominated singer, songwriter, and internationally acclaimed recording artist whose music has been described as “the aural equivalent of a warm embrace” (Pop Matters), “majestic vocals” (Consequence of Sound), and “dreamy, harp-and-woodwinds folk, the work of a painter born in paradise” (The Age, AU). With eight studio albums to date, she has become one of Canada’s most distinctive voices, earning East Coast Music Awards, a Polaris Prize long-listing, and widespread recognition for her ethereal sound and evocative storytelling.Her forthcoming album, Queen of the Strait (2026), is her most personal work yet. Co-produced with Joshua Van Tassel (Bahamas, Christine Bougie, Doug Paisley) and longtime collaborator Daniel Ledwell, it is a modern-day classic of country and Americana, elevated by Jenn’s unmistakable pop-infused charm.You can pre-order Queen of the Strait now on Bandcamp.There is also a very cool video for Jim Cuddy Dress that we recommend you check out, especially if you want some glimpses of Prince Edward Island back in the day.Support Alan Too!And you can support Alan Syliboy here at his online store, where you can get one of your own daily drums!You can subscribe to six month’s worth of this podcast completely for free. Paid subscriptions support Donovan Street Press Inc. and the creation of new books and podcasts.Re-Creative is a co-production of Donovan Street Press Inc. in association with MonkeyJoy Press.Contact us at: contact@donovanstreetpress.com If you don’t wish to receive the podcast (or you’re receiving too many emails from this newsletter), it is possible to manage your Substack subscription to receive only the sections you want (e.g., the Donovan Street Press newsletter, the Captain’s Away serial, the Re-Creative podcast) via your account settings. You can do so by clicking on your avatar and selecting “Manage subscription” or by directly navigating to your account page.Follow Joe Mahoney and Donovan Street Press Inc. on: Goodreads, Bluesky, Threads, Mastadon, Facebook, and Instagram Get full access to Donovan Street Press Inc. at mahoneyj.substack.com/subscribe
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    50 mins
  • John Corcelli on George Carlin and Occupation: Foole

    John Corcelli on George Carlin and Occupation: Foole
    Feb 4 2026
    Re-Creative Spotlight: John Corcelli on George CarlinOn this episode of Re-Creative from our first season, Mark and I talk to John Corcelli, author of Frank Zappa FAQ, about his latest book on George Carlin. We take a fascinating deep-dive into the work, life and genius of the comedian, actor, philosopher, social commentator, and just plain funny guy George Carlin. Myself, I have loved the work of George Carlin ever since my childhood friend Philip Fehr first introduced me to him. When we were both about 12, Philip played Carlin’s “Seven Dirty Words You Can’t Hear on Television” for me and that was it, I was a fan for life.As is often the case on Re-Creative, the conversation strays, allowing John, Mark and I to get into the vagaries of (ancient) analog media, the history of the CBC (where John and I both worked, once upon a time), until finally we segue into Carlin’s fifth album, Occupation: Foole.When John first heard the 1974 album, he felt like Carlin was speaking directly to him as opposed to a large audience. This is not surprising considering Carlin had been a disc jockey before becoming famous for his stand up; as John points out, DJs often have the ability to connect directly with individual listeners. Occupation: Foole was a critical moment in Carlin’s career, John says, representing the evolution of Carlin from class clown to jester, poet, and philosopher.Support Our Guest!John Corcelli was born and raised in Toronto. He’s a musician, actor, radio producer and writer.He considers music his “religion”, with a love for all of its forms especially jazz. Corcelli graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson) in 1984 with a Radio & Television Arts degree, one that laid the foundation for a career in broadcasting with radio as his preferred format to educate and entertain.In 2021, after 18 years, Corcelli retired from the CBC Music Library. During those years he produced some radio docs. One of his favourites was the eight-part series, RPM: Indispensable Canadian Pop Albums. To mark the 100th anniversary of its sinking, Corcelli produced a documentary about the musicians who played on the Titanic, called Hartley’s Violin.He’s published two books, Frank Zappa FAQ and Outside Looking In, The Seriously Funny Life and Work of George Carlin. He’s currently working on a book about film composer Howard Shore.Learn more about John and get his books at his website.You can subscribe to this podcast completely for free. Paid subscriptions support Donovan Street Press Inc. and the creation of new books and podcasts.Re-Creative is a co-production of Donovan Street Press Inc. in association with MonkeyJoy Press.Contact us at: contact@donovanstreetpress.com If you don’t wish to receive the podcast (or you’re receiving too many emails from this newsletter), it is possible to manage your Substack subscription to receive only the sections you want (e.g., the Donovan Street Press newsletter, the Captain’s Away serial, the Re-Creative podcast) via your account settings. You can do so by clicking on your avatar and selecting “Manage subscription” or by directly navigating to your account page.Follow Joe Mahoney and Donovan Street Press Inc. on: Goodreads, Bluesky, Threads, Mastadon, Facebook, and Instagram Get full access to Donovan Street Press Inc. at mahoneyj.substack.com/subscribe
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    52 mins
  • Diane Walton and On Spec: The Canadian Magazine of the Fantastic

    Diane Walton and On Spec: The Canadian Magazine of the Fantastic
    Jan 27 2026

    Re-Creative Spotlight: Diane Walton

    In this episode of Re-Creative, Mark and I talk to Diane Walton, a founding member and long-time managing editor of On Spec: The Canadian magazine of the Fantastic. On Spec is well known in Canadian speculative fiction circles (and beyond!) for publishing quality fiction and art from (largely but not exclusively) Canadian writers and artists.

    Prompted by one of Mark’s famous opening questions, we begin with a lighthearted discussion about our favorite writing implements before diving into Diane’s amazing 35-year legacy with On Spec.

    Diane tells us how the highly regarded Canadian spec fic magazine began in Edmonton around 1989 after a creative writing group at the University of Alberta grew frustrated with American magazines rejecting their work for being “too Canadian”. She recounts the early days of assembling an editorial team, securing startup funds, and commissioning stories from notable authors like Dave Duncan and Eileen Kernaghan for their first saddle-stitched issue.

    Despite the magazine recently coming to an end in its original form, Diane reflects on its success in providing a credible, well-edited platform for Canadian speculative fiction. I submitted to it twice, always intending to submit more. Although I was never published in On Spec personally, I am proud to have received two rejection letters. Both from Diane personally!

    You can subscribe to this podcast completely for free. Paid subscriptions support Donovan Street Press Inc. and the creation of new books and podcasts.

    Re-Creative is a co-production of Donovan Street Press Inc. in association with MonkeyJoy Press.

    Contact us at: contact@donovanstreetpress.com

    If you don’t wish to receive the podcast (or you’re receiving too many emails from this newsletter), it is possible to manage your Substack subscription to receive only the sections you want (e.g., the Donovan Street Press newsletter, the Captain’s Away serial, the Re-Creative podcast) via your account settings. You can do so by clicking on your avatar and selecting “Manage subscription” or by directly navigating to your account page.

    Follow Joe Mahoney and Donovan Street Press Inc. on: Goodreads, Bluesky, Threads, Mastadon, Facebook, and Instagram



    Get full access to Donovan Street Press Inc. at mahoneyj.substack.com/subscribe
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    58 mins