Media Mothership

Category: Episodes

Ep. 157 Who controls culture when media becomes algorithmic, digital, and artificial?
Episode 157. AI is changing how we create, discover and preserve culture. We explore AI companions, synthetic media, digital ownership, game preservation, and why physical media is making a comeback.

This episode was recorded live at Edge Radio 99.3FM studios in Hobart Tasmania, and first aired on 23 July 2026.

Watch Here:

Listen Here:

Segment 1. AI Is Changing Human Behaviour

AI isn’t just replacing work. It’s replacing relationships, identity and trust.

China moving to restrict emotional attachment to AI companions
- Are governments acknowledging AI companionship as psychologically significant?
- Are AI companies designing for attachment?
Researchers accidentally discover an extremely unusual ChatGPT user

70% of Japanese companies don’t disclose AI-generated creative work
- Should disclosure be mandatory?
- Does it matter if audiences can’t tell?
- Is hidden AI fundamentally deceptive?
LinkedIn filled with AI-generated posts

Segment 2 – Can We Still Tell What’s Real?

Scientists developing AI image detection

People can learn to detect AI faces
- Are we entering an endless arms race?
- Should people be trained?
- Or should AI content simply be labelled?
Segment 3 – Why Physical Media Suddenly Matters Again

People buying CDs again

Hidden content on original game discs

Video Game History Foundation warning about preservation

Kojima on digital ownership

Former PlayStation boss discussing why PS2 success can’t be repeated

Segment 4 – Stories Still Matter (10 min)

Absolute Batman succeeding on TikTok
- How does Gen Z discover stories?
Josh Sawyer on morally grey RPGs
22 July 2026
Episode 156. Who creates meaning? Humans, AI, audiences, or accidents?
This week we’re looking at who actually creates culture. Is it authors? Fans? AI? Governments? Or sometimes complete accidents? Whether it’s Star Wars fan fiction becoming a Hollywood film, governments subsidising AI translation, or gamers discovering their favourite Batman moment was actually a bug, today’s stories all circle around one question: where does meaning actually come from?

Watch/Lister here
Segment 1: Fans become creators

Star Wars’ controversial Reylo ship will soon be a Prime Video rom-com

From <https://www.polygon.com/the-love-hypothesis-reylo-prime-video-september/>
- Reylo fanfiction
- The Love Hypothesis origins
- Fanfiction entering mainstream publishing
- Studios now mining fandom for ideas
Brandon Sanderson says fantasy’s future depends on not copying Lord of the Rings

From https://www.polygon.com/brandon-sanderson-says-fantasy-future-not-copying-lord-of-the-rings/
- Tolkien became a template
- Then everyone copied Tolkien
- Now fantasy succeeds by finding new voice
Segment 2 — AI doesn’t understand media

Study Uses Age Of Empires Scenario Editor To Illustrate Why It’s Farcical To Treat AI As Cognizant

From https://kotaku.com/study-uses-age-of-empires-scenario-editor-to-illustrate-why-its-farcical-to-treat-ai-as-cognizant-2000711251

IF LLMS HAVE HUMAN-LIKE ATTRIBUTES, THEN SO
DOES Age of Empires II

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2605.31514

ELIZA effect

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELIZA_effect
- anthropomorphism
- projection
- conversational interfaces
AI Crashing Out While Dubbing A Fake WWE News Channel May Genuinely Be The Funniest Thing I’ve Seen In 2026

From https://kotaku.com/ai-crashing-out-while-dubbing-a-fake-wwe-news-channel-may-genuinely-be-the-funniest-thing-ive-seen-in-2026-2000699013

Japanese Govt. to Consider Providing Subsidies for AI Translation, Overseas Sales Generation to Companies Like Shueisha, Crunchyroll

From https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-06-29/japanese-govt-to-consider-providing-subsidies-for-ai-translation-overseas-sales-generation-to-/.239030
- speed vs localisation
- translation as cultural adaptation
- anime localisation debates
- preserving nuance
- economic pressure on translators
Segment 3: Audiences create meaning

“Half the game is in the player’s imagination”: Batman Arkham Knight fan-favorite detail is actually a 12-year-old bug, Rocksteady veteran reveals

From https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/half-the-game-is-in-the-players-imagination-batman-arkham-knight-fan-favorite-detail-is-actually-a-12-year-old-bug-rocksteady-veteran-reveals/

Segment 4: Weird internet

The Global Internet Is Being Attacked by Sharks, Google Confirms

From https://slate.com/technology/2014/08/shark-attacks-threaten-google-s-undersea-internet-cables-video.html

Scientists find antidepressant in the brains of sharks off the coast of Rio de Janeiro

From https://theconversation.com/scientists-find-antidepressant-in-the-brains-of-sharks-off-the-coast-of-rio-de-janeiro-285928

Quick final story

The Walking Dead’s Robert Kirkman admits Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin is “way better at killing characters than me”

From https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-shows/the-walking-deads-robert-kirkman-admits-game-of-thrones-creator-george-r-r-martin-is-way-better-at-killing-characters-than-me/
1 July 2026
Ep 155. How digital culture is reshaping reality, authority, and meaning.

Listen/watch live Thurs 4pm AEST

Edge Radio: https://www.edgeradio.org.au/shows/media-mothership/
Live YouTube stream: https://www.youtube.com/@mediamothership993/streams

Digital spaces are no longer separate from society. Games, fandoms, memes, wikis, and AI systems have become places where governments govern, citizens socialise, stories are told, and institutions make decisions.

Watch/Listen here

Minecraft as a Storytelling Tool

How did a sandbox become a storytelling medium? Are games becoming the new film, television, and literature?

UK Government Employees Playing GTA Online

If millions spend time there, does it become a public square? Are online worlds now part of “real life”?

White House Anime Propaganda

What happens when fandom aesthetics become political tools? Does borrowing anime imagery increase soft power or damage it?

Wikipedia Philosophy Game

Does the internet naturally create connections? Is this an accidental metaphor for culture itself?

Lawyers Using Hallucinating AI

What happens when expertise is outsourced? Why are professionals trusting systems they don’t understand?

24 June 2026
Living Inside the Media Machine
Media Mothership. Episode 152.

Exploring some of the internet’s most interesting recent stories: the pope quoting Gandalf while warning about AI, Red Dead Redemption 2’s rise through the all-time sales charts, prediction markets turning into spoiler machines, and whether modern media increasingly requires homework to fully participate. Episode 152 was recorded live at Edge Radio 99.3FM studios in Hobart Tasmania, and first aired on 28 May 2026.

Watch/Listen

Segment 1. Pope Leo, Gandalf, and AI

“Pope Leo Quotes Gandalf From The Lord of the Rings as He Issues Stark AI Warning.” IGN. Accessed May 27, 2026.
https://www.ign.com/articles/pope-leo-quotes-gandalf-from-the-lord-of-the-rings-as-he-issues-stark-ai-warning
- Why Tolkien still functions as moral shorthand
- AI fears framed through fantasy metaphors
- Pop culture is replacing traditional civic language
- Mythology as communication infrastructure
Segment 2. RDR2 Becomes One of the Best-Selling Games Ever

“Red Dead Redemption 2 Overtakes Wii Sports in Best-Selling Games of All Time List.” IGN. Accessed May 27, 2026.
https://www.ign.com/articles/red-dead-redemption-2-overtakes-wii-sports-in-best-selling-games-of-all-time-list
- Prestige gaming
- Slow media vs dopamine media
- Why RDR2 succeeded despite deliberate pacing
- Gaming audiences aging
Segment 3. Prediction Markets Becoming Spoiler Markets

“Prediction Markets Are Becoming TV Spoiler Generators.” Gizmodo. Published May 2026. Accessed May 27, 2026.
https://gizmodo.com/it-doesnt-sit-well-with-me-as-a-human-prediction-markets-are-becoming-tv-spoiler-markets-2000762932
- Financialisation of fandom
- Spoiler culture
- Being first vs experiencing narrative
- Internet prediction economies
Segment 4. Media Homework and Lore Culture

15 Movies, Shows, and Games With Excessive Extra Lore Study Required.” Den of Geek. Accessed May 27, 2026. https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/15-movies-shows-games-with-excessive-extra-lore-study-required/
- Marvel fatigue
- “Previously on…” culture
- Lore YouTube ecosystems
- Accessibility vs depth
Last Segments. Cozy Witch Productivity Game

Cozy Story-Driven Companion Game Lets You Study or Work Alongside an Apprentice Witch.” Automaton Media. Accessed May 27, 2026. https://automaton-media.com/en/news/cozy-story-driven-companion-game-lets-you-study-or-work-alongside-an-apprentice-witch/
- Study-with-me culture
- Parasocial productivity
- Ambient companionship
- Gamified emotional regulation
“Possess Me Satan Board Game Geek Fired Advert Demon Possession.” Kotaku. Accessed May 27, 2026 http://kotaku.com/possess-me-satan-board-game-geek-fired-advert-demon-possession-2000698197
- edge-marketing economics
- taboo as discoverability strategy
- games/media competing for attention through controversy
27 May 2026
Roundtable Discussion with LitRPG Authors
LitRPG has evolved from a niche online genre to a dynamic area of innovative storytelling today. Drawing on video games, role-playing systems, web serials, and long-form fantasy storytelling, this genre has developed a massive global readership through online platforms such as Royal Road, Patreon, Kindle, and audiobook platforms.

For this special Media Mothership roundtable recorded live at Edge Radio 99.3FM in Hobart, Tasmania, a group of Australian LitRPG authors came together to discuss the genre’s rapid growth, changing publishing models, audience-building, serialisation, AI, adaptations, burnout and the future of internet-era storytelling.

The discussion features Shirtaloon (He Who Fights With Monsters), RinoZ (Chrysalis), Haylock (Heretical Fishing), Hannibal Forge (Cataclysm Rising), and Tevagah (Prophecy Approved Companion).

Watch/Listen:

Key Topics Covered
- Royal Road and serialised publishing
- Patreon and audience-building
- progression systems and character agency
- burnout and writing schedules
- AI and “AI slop”
- adaptations and Hollywood
- the future of LitRPG
LitRPG is still evolving, but one of the clearest themes to emerge from this discussion was how deeply internet-native storytelling, serialisation, direct audience engagement, and independent publishing models are impacting on contemporary genre fiction.

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the discussion and to Edge Radio 99.3FM for hosting the recording.
11 May 2026
Media Culture News + Anime’s Americanisation

We break down the latest media news and then take a deep dive into the early Americanisation of anime. Drawing on Fred Ladd’s commentary for the Gigantor (1964) cartoon, we explore how Ladd and his team reshaped Japanese storytelling, aesthetics, and themes to fit the expectations of American television.

First Aired Date: 21 Nov 2025

References

News
Yes, You Should Yell at Seagulls
https://gizmodo.com/yes-you-should-yell-at-seagulls-2000684978
What If the Aliens Come and We Just Can’t Communicate?
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/11/what-if-the-aliens-come-and-we-just-cant-communicate/

Video Games
Everyone Likes The Outer Worlds 2’s Radio Stations but Me
https://www.polygon.com/the-outer-worlds-2-radio-stations/
An Invasion of Homer Simpson Clones in Fortnite Bled Into Real Life
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/an-invasion-of-homer-simpson-clones-in-fortnite-bled-into-real-life/1100-6536308/
Nintendo Wii Release Anniversary
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-19/nintendo-wii-release-anniversary/105971384
Analysts: More Than Half of Gamers Prefer Single-Player Games
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/analysts-more-than-half-of-gamers-prefer-single-player-games/1100-6536314/
New Survey: Most Players Around World Prefer Single-Player Games
https://kotaku.com/new-survey-most-players-around-world-prefer-singleplayer-games-solo-2000644895
Red Dead Redemption 2 Sales Record
https://www.eurogamer.net/red-dead-redemption-2-has-sold-more-copies-than-any-other-game-in-the-last-7-years-and-is-the-fourth-biggest-selling-of-all-time

Anime
Guillermo del Toro & James Cameron on Alita / Gunnm
https://www.polygon.com/guillermo-del-toro-james-cameron-alita-battle-angel-gunnm/
Best ’90s Anime — Problematic Today?
https://www.cbr.com/best-90s-anime-problematic-today/
Kamen Rider Amazon Blu‑Ray North America Release
https://www.cbr.com/kamen-rider-amazon-blu-ray-north-america-release/

Comics
George R.R. Martin’s Controversial Spider‑Man Take
https://www.cbr.com/george-rr-martins-controversial-spider-man-take-calls-marvel-comics-out/

Movies
Amazon & James Bond – No Time to Die Death Discussion
https://gizmodo.com/amazon-james-bond-movie-no-time-to-die-death-2000684175

21 November 2025
Editing Stories, Framing Films
Episode #127
First Aired Date: 13 Nov 2025

We interview Zackary Roeth, volunteer at Print Radio and student filmmaker, to explore his work editing audiobooks for local radio and his creative work in student film.
Our movie review is the 90th anniversary of Bride of Frankenstein (1935), we unpack the film’s enduring legacy, stylistic nuances, and cultural impact. Drawing on insights from film historian Scott MacQueen’s audio commentary on the Blu-ray release, we delve into what makes this classic continue to resonate nearly a century later.

Listen and watch here:

Links:
- Aspiring filmmakers make short film with industry experts | ABC NEWS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZIhL3oQLFM
- Hobart Showcase 2025 https://events.humanitix.com/hobartshowcase
- Print Radio Tasmania https://www.printradiotas.org.au/
- Recorded live each week from Edge Radio studios in Hobart, Tasmania. https://www.edgeradio.org.au/
14 November 2025
When Pop Culture Gets Strange
Episode 126. Recorded live 6th Nov 2025.

This week we explore everything from Australia’s proposed streaming content rules to The Simpsons crossover in Fortnite. We discuss Rockstar’s abandoned spy game, why GTA never returned to London, a South Park subreddit mystery, Stellar Blade’s latest controversy, backlash over The Witcher on Netflix, and a surprising detail from Evangelion’s animation history.

Watch on YouTube:

Listen to Podcast:

References
Follow us on

Media Mothership https://www.mediamothership.au
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Discord https://discord.gg/QvdT39EDMV
Edge Radio https://www.edgeradio.org.au/shows/media-mothership/
7 November 2025
PAX Aus 2025
We discuss PAX Aus 2025, Australia’s biggest convention for video games and pop culture, highlighting some of the experiences Craig had there. We also chat about some of the strange and unusual news in media culture (links provided below).
- Title Red Dead Redemption 2 Mod Shows NPC Memories When You Kill Them (Kotaku) https://www.polygon.com/red-dead-redemption-2-mod-blurbs-npc-memories-interview/
- I modded RDR2 to give NPCs “real memories you are forced to watch when they die” (Reddit) https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/1nve032/i_modded_rdr2_to_give_npcs_real_memories_you_are/
- Japanese Government Makes Formal Request For OpenAI To Stop Copyright Infringement (GameSpot) https://www.gamespot.com/articles/japanese-government-makes-formal-request-for-openai-to-stop-copyright-infringement/1100-6535425/
- Ubisoft Canceled Civil War-Based Assassin’s Creed Over Controversy Concerns – Report (GameSpot) https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-canceled-civil-war-based-assassins-creed-over-controversy-concerns-report/1100-6535320/
- [removed by moderator] https://www.reddit.com/r/CrusaderKings/comments/1o14t7q/removed_by_moderator/
- The CK3 production team may not know that they have the largest female fan-base of strategy games in China: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/the-ck3-production-team-may-not-know-that-they-have-the-largest-female-fan-base-of-strategy-games-in-china.1730881/
- Sora 2 Updated With New Guardrails After Sam Altman Eats A Pokémon (Kotaku) https://kotaku.com/sora-2-update-pokemon-nintendo-openai-sam-altman-ai-2000632089
- Forgotten Ghost Rider Movie Now Coming to Netflix (Superhero Hype) https://www.cbr.com/ghost-rider-spirit-of-vengeance-streaming-on-netflix/
- No Time to Die https://www.cbr.com/james-bond-no-time-to-die-daniel-craig-streaming-hit-october-2025/
- Dave Franco horror film pulled from China over AI censorship https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-04/dave-franco-horror-film-pulled-from-china-over-ai-censorship/105844328
- TRON Ares cast & video games) https://www.polygon.com/tron-ares-cast-video-games-picks-survival/
- 10 Anime Everyone Loves in Japan, But American Fans Hate (cbr.com) https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-only-popular-european-fans/
For more info on Media Mothership go to https://mediamothership.au/

Recorded live each week from Edge Radio studios in Hobart, Tasmania. https://www.edgeradio.org.au/
31 October 2025
Wrestlepalooza

Special guest Marcus joins us to explain key professional wrestling terms to understand the highlights, critiques and hype surrounding Wrestlepalooza 2025.

WWE Basic Terminology https://jesuitroundup.org/2024/08/wwe-basic-terminology/

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27 September 2025