Episodes

  • 35. Naughty Goats and Joy: Tantie Merle and the Farmhand 4200
    Mar 12 2026

    When a farmhand robot appears at Tantie Merle's house as a gift, she doesn't realize she is on the precipice of change, for not only her life, but the world.

    This week's story: Tantie Merle and the Farmhand 4200, by R.S.A. Garcia Published in Uncanny Magazine


    • Nebula Awards 2024 — short story — winner

    • Eugie Awards 2024 — finalist

    • Ignyte Awards 2024 — short story — nomination

    • Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award 2024 — winner


    This week's snack: Carrot Cake

    To be notified when new episodes of Sci-Fi Snacks are live, follow the podcast, and sign up for the newsletter here. Thanks for listening!

    Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    Intro and Outro Music by HolznaCC0 - Strange Signal, Straight to VHS used under CC0 1.0 Universal



    Show more Show less
    32 mins
  • 34. Bodybuilders and Superheros: If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You
    Mar 5 2026

    In which gym bros save their community and fall in love.

    This week's story: If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You, by John Chu. Published in Uncanny Magazine

    • Hugo Awards 2023 — novelette — nomination
    • Nebula Awards 2023 — novelette — winner
    • Ignyte Awards 2023 — novelette — winner
    • Locus Awards 2023 — novelette — winner


    This week's snack: Snacky Clusters from Trader Joes

    To be notified when new episodes of Sci-Fi Snacks are live, follow the podcast, and sign up for the newsletter here. Thanks for listening!

    Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    Next Week's Story: Tantie Merle and the Farmhand 4200

    Intro and Outro Music by HolznaCC0 - Strange Signal, Straight to VHS used under CC0 1.0 Universal

    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • 33. The Art and Beauty of Being Known: Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being
    Feb 26 2026

    When medical information is controlled by a conglomerate, and knowledge behind a paywall can be the difference between life and death, one 'doctor' goes to great lengths to learn and know her alien patient.

    This week's story: Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being, by A. W. Prihandita. Published in Clarksworld

    • Winner: 2024 Nebula Award for Best Novelette
    • Finalist: 2025 Ignyte Award for Outstanding Novelette
    • Finalist: 2025 Eugie Award


    This week's snack: Five Flavor Pound Cake

    To be notified when new episodes of Sci-Fi Snacks are live, follow the podcast, and sign up for the newsletter here. Thanks for listening!

    Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    Next Week's Story: If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You

    Intro and Outro Music by HolznaCC0 - Strange Signal, Straight to VHS used under CC0 1.0 Universal


    Show more Show less
    32 mins
  • 32. Anthropomorphizing and Archives: The Portmeirion Road
    Feb 19 2026

    What if the knowledge to your survival would cost you your friend? And what if that friend was a robot?

    This week's story: The Portmeirion Road, by Fiona Moore. Published in Clarksworld

    2024 BSFA Award Finalist for Best Short Fiction

    This week's snack: Airheads Xtremes Candy

    To be notified when new episodes of Sci-Fi Snacks are live, follow the podcast, and sign up for the newsletter here. Thanks for listening!

    Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    Next Week's Story: Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being

    Intro and Outro Music by HolznaCC0 - Strange Signal, Straight to VHS used under CC0 1.0 Universal

    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • 31. Exorcisms and Climate Fiction: What Any Dead Thing Wants
    Feb 19 2026

    In the gray space in between terraforming and colonization, an exorcism crew captain confronted by a human ghost has to grapple with his purpose.

    This week's story: What Any Dead Thing Wants, by Aimee Ogden. Published in Psychopomp

    Nebula Novelette Finalist

    This week's snack: Animal Crackers and Frosting

    To be notified when new episodes of Sci-Fi Snacks are live, follow the podcast, and sign up for the newsletter here. Thanks for listening!

    Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    Next Week's Story: The Portmeirion Road

    Intro and Outro Music by HolznaCC0 - Strange Signal, Straight to VHS used under CC0 1.0 Universal

    Show more Show less
    28 mins
  • 30. First Contact and the Power of Nostalgia: Patsy Cline Sings Sweet Dreams to the Universe
    Feb 5 2026

    If humanity could send only a few select memories out into space, with the hopes of reaching intelligent life, what would you choose to send?

    This week's story: Patsy Cline Sings Sweet Dreams to the Universe by Beston Barnett. Published in Strange Horizons

    Second Place: Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award 2024

    This week's snack: Grilled Cheese Two Ways

    To be notified when new episodes of Sci-Fi Snacks are live, follow the podcast, and sign up for the newsletter here. Thanks for listening!

    Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    Next Week's Story: What Any Dead Thing Wants (16,300 words)

    Intro and Outro Music by HolznaCC0 - Strange Signal, Straight to VHS used under CC0 1.0 Universal



    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • 29. Repetition and the Legacy of Memory: We Will Teach You How to Read | We Will Teach You How to Read
    Jan 29 2026

    An interesting and complex form intimidated me initially with this story, but after trusting the process I walk away from this with a deeply resonant experience contemplating life, loss, transformation, love, death and iteration.

    This week's story: We Will Teach You How to Read | We Will Teach You How to Read, by Caroline M. Yoachim Published in Lightspeed Magazine

    Nominated, Short Story Hugos 2025 and Nebulas 2025

    Finalist for Eugie Awards

    Finalist for Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award

    2nd place in Locus Awards

    WON: Ignyte Awards


    This week's snack: Good and Plenty's

    To be notified when new episodes of Sci-Fi Snacks are live, follow the podcast, and sign up for the newsletter here. Thanks for listening!

    Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    Intro and Outro Music by HolznaCC0 - Strange Signal, Straight to VHS used under CC0 1.0 Universal

    Show more Show less
    32 mins
  • 28. Writing Prompts and Processing Trauma: The Mausoleum’s Children
    Jan 22 2026

    What if you went back to save your friends from a cult, but they didn't want to leave? This week's protagonist must face a mirror of her past life to learn how to move on.

    This week's story: The Mausoleum’s Children, by Aliette de Bodard. Published in Uncanny Magazine

    Nominated: Locus Awards 2024 Short Story

    This week's snack: Hot Tea and Crispy Dark Chocolate Crepe Cookies

    To be notified when new episodes of Sci-Fi Snacks are live, follow the podcast, and sign up for the newsletter here. Thanks for listening!

    Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    Next Week's Story: Patsy Cline Sings Sweet Dreams to the Universe

    Intro and Outro Music by HolznaCC0 - Strange Signal, Straight to VHS used under CC0 1.0 Universal

    Show more Show less
    28 mins