Exolore: facts-based fictional worldbuilding

Help
Help

Suggested Topics
- What is Podknife?
  
  Podknife is a curated podcast information and review site designed to be accessible in your browser from any device. We’re working to build the most useful podcast information source available by providing you with as much publicly available information about each podcast in our database as we can find and keeping it as up to date as possible.
- Can I listen to podcasts on Podknife?
  
  Yeah! There's a player at the bottom of the page.
- How can I get my podcast on Podknife?
  
  We’d love to hear about your podcast and consider it for addition. You can suggest your own by logging in and selecting the “Suggest a Podcast” link from the menu. Fill out the form and we’ll take it from there.
- How can I submit a review of a podcast?
  
  To submit a review of a podcast, go to the page of the podcast you want to review and click the "Submit Review" button below the image associated with the podcast. Clicking that button brings you to a new page where you can select a rating between 1 and 5 stars and write a brief review.
- How can I submit a review of a podcast episode?
  
  To submit a review of a podcast episode, go to the page of the podcast whose episode you want to review and find the specific episode you're looking for. Clicking on any episode reveals a "View Episode" button and clicking on that brings you to an episode-specific page where you can find more information displayed about the episode along with a "Submit Review" button. Clicking that brings you to a new page where you can select a rating between 1 and 5 stars and write a brief review of the episode.
- Is there a Podknife app?
  
  Not yet - we're keeping it in the browser at least for now. No app download required to access anything on the site.
- How can I change my display name?
  
  To change your display name, log in to Podknife and select "Account Settings" in the dropdown menu. From the Account Settings page, enter your desired new display name and press the "Save" button to confirm the change.
- How can I change my password?
  
  To change your password, log in to Podknife and select "Account Settings" in the dropdown menu. From the Account Settings page, enter your desired new password in the two fields below "Update Password" and press the "Save" button to confirm the change.
- How can I keep track of all my reviews?
  
  Within the menu, click on "My Profile", you will then be able to check all your reviews for both podcast & episode. You can also check all your favorite podcasts.
- How can I keep track of all my favorited podcasts?
  
  You can find podcasts you’ve favorited displayed on the My Profile page associated with your account (https://podknife.com/profile).
  You can share your My Profile page displaying your favorite podcasts as well as any reviews you’ve written publicly with a link in the form https://podknife.com/users/[displayname] where [displayname] is replaced by your Display Name.
- How can I favorite a podcast?
  
  On each podcast page you’ll find the outline of a star above the podcast title. Clicking this star fills it in and designates the podcast as a favorite (for logged in users) or invites the user to log in or register for an account (for users who are not logged in). You can find favorited podcasts displayed on the My Profile page associated with your account (https://podknife.com/profile).
- How can I register for a Podknife account?
  
  To register, click on the “Register” button in the top right of your browser window (or visit https://podknife.com/users/sign_up). Enter a Display Name to be associated with your account on the site (alongside any reviews you contribute, for example), an Email address to associate with the account and your password (twice for confirmation). Press the “Confirm” button and you should be all set, logged in and ready to review and favorite podcasts as you wish.
- How can I get in touch?
  
  We’d love to hear from you. You can reach us using the Feedback form (https://podknife.com/feedbacks/new) which can be found either in the footer on each page (for users who are not logged in) or in the dropdown menu (for logged in users).
  
  You can also reach us on Twitter by tweeting us @podknife (https://twitter.com/podknife) or on Facebook by messaging us from our page (https://www.facebook.com/podknife/).
- Log In
- Register
- Feedback
- Help
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
© Podknife 2024

This podcast currently has no reviews.

Submit Review

Favorite Report Add all episodes to Queue

Exolore: facts-based fictional worldbuildinginactive

Publisher |: Multitude

Media Type |: audio

Podknife tags |: Fiction,; Interview,; Science & Medicine,; Storytelling,; Writing

Categories Via RSS |: Arts,; Fiction,; Science

Have you ever wondered what life would be like on a planet different from our own, or how writers create your favorite fictional worlds? Well, wonder no more because we have the facts for you! Every other week, astrophysicist/folklorist Moiya McTier explores fictional worlds by building them with a panel of expert guests, interviewing professional worldbuilders, or reviewing the merits of worlds that have already been built. You'll learn, you'll laugh, and you'll gain an appreciation for how special our planet really is.

People |: Moiya McTier (@goastromo)
Country Of Origin |: USA
Produced In |: New York, NY
Premiere Date |: 2020-04-27
Related Hashtags |: #AMA,; #ExoloreAlien,; #HisDarkMaterials,; #StargateWorld
Frequency |: Biweekly
Explicit |: No

This podcast currently has no reviews.

Submit Review

85 Available Episodes (85 Total) / Average duration: 00:57:49

Date Duration Most Reviewed Highest Rated

85 Available Episodes (85 Total)Average duration: 00:57:49

Sep 21, 2023

00:55:42

Moiya is joined by author Alyssa Cole to imagine a peaceful world full of gentle capybaras working with their environment instead of against it. The result is as adorable as you'd imagine

HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist

GUEST

Alyssa Cole is a bestselling author of When No One is Watching and An Extraordinary Union! Follow her on IG at @alyssacolelit and stay updated on her website alyssacole.com.

MIDBREAK

Design your own custom mini statues at heroforge.com
Get high-quality jigsaw puzzles at Ravensburger puzzles!
Join the Multicrew at multicrew.club to support independent podcasts!

HOUSEKEEPING

Order my book, THE MILKY WAY: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/moiya-mctier/the-milky-way/9781538754153/
BUY EXOLORE SWAG: store.dftba.com/collections/exolore

FIND US ONLINE

CREDITS

Music: planet.com/">https://www.purple-planet.com
Cover art: Stephen J. Reisig, http://stephenjreisig.com/
Editing: Mischa Stanton, https://www.mischastanton.com/

ABOUT US

How would you like to swim in an ocean ruled by matriarchal squid, or fly over a planet as it rotates with a swarm of migrating wasps? No, it's not the latest VR craze (... yet); it's Exolore! Exolore helps you imagine other worlds with the help of facts and science. Every other week, host Dr. Moiya McTier invites experts to build a world from scratch or sits down with a fiction fan to dive deep into their favorite worlds. Every episode will make you laugh, go "huh?" and appreciate how special our world really is.

Exolore is a member of Multitude Productions, an independent podcast collective and production studio.

Sep 07, 2023

00:59:19

Moiya is joined by geneticist Dr. Alex Dainis to imagine a friendly world where life evolved two separate times. They talk DNA, folklore around food, crystals storing information, and wide-orbiting moons.

HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist

GUEST

Dr. Alex is a geneticist and science communicator on all the platforms. Find her on social at @alex.dainis and watch her new PBSDS show Hungry Planet on PBS Terra!

MIDBREAK

Listen to Tell Me About It every other Thursday

HOUSEKEEPING

Order my book, THE MILKY WAY: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/moiya-mctier/the-milky-way/9781538754153/
BUY EXOLORE SWAG: store.dftba.com/collections/exolore

FIND US ONLINE

CREDITS

Music: planet.com/">https://www.purple-planet.com
Cover art: Stephen J. Reisig, http://stephenjreisig.com/
Editing: Mischa Stanton, https://www.mischastanton.com/

ABOUT US

Exolore is a member of Multitude Productions, an independent podcast collective and production studio.

Aug 24, 2023

00:54:15

Moiya is joined by biochemist Dr. Anicca Harriot to discuss Janelle Monae's multi-media afrofuturistic worldbuilding. They talk about Monae's inspiration and New Dawn nuances, while mostly gushing about how talented Monae is.

HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist

GUEST

Dr. Anicca Harriot is a biochemist, molecular biologist, and chief of community development at Vanguard STEM. Follow her at @13adh13.

MIDBREAK

Join the Multicrew at multicrew.club

HOUSEKEEPING

Order my book, THE MILKY WAY: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/moiya-mctier/the-milky-way/9781538754153/
BUY EXOLORE SWAG: store.dftba.com/collections/exolore

FIND US ONLINE

CREDITS

Music: planet.com/">https://www.purple-planet.com
Cover art: Stephen J. Reisig, http://stephenjreisig.com/
Editing: Mischa Stanton, https://www.mischastanton.com/

ABOUT US

Exolore is a member of Multitude Productions, an independent podcast collective and production studio.

Aug 10, 2023

00:58:36

Moiya is joined by neuroscientist Dr. Paula Croxson for a trippy exercise where they imagine the "world" of an animal brain. It doesn't get as weird as you might expect.

HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist

GUEST

Dr. Paula Croxson is a neuroscientist, storyteller, and science engagement expert. Learn about her work at paulacroxson.com or @paulacroxson

MIDBREAK

Listen to matters.html">Tiny Matters from the American Chemical Society every other Wednesday
Listen to Queer Movie Podcast every other Thursday

HOUSEKEEPING

Order my book, THE MILKY WAY: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/moiya-mctier/the-milky-way/9781538754153/
BUY EXOLORE SWAG: store.dftba.com/collections/exolore

FIND US ONLINE

CREDITS

Music: planet.com/">https://www.purple-planet.com
Cover art: Stephen J. Reisig, http://stephenjreisig.com/
Editing: Mischa Stanton, https://www.mischastanton.com/

ABOUT US

Exolore is a member of Multitude Productions, an independent podcast collective and production studio.

Jul 27, 2023

00:58:20

Moiya is joined by fantasy literature scholar Bezi Yohannes to imagine a brand new world where the meanings of light and dark are switched. Together they create magical slippery creatures who do all of their private acts in public.

HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist

GUEST

Bezi Yohannes is a book reviewer, half of the Dreaming in the Dark team, and literal Black fantasy scholar. Find her online at @beingabookwyrm

MIDBREAK

Listen to SPIRITS, new episodes every Wednesday

HOUSEKEEPING

Order my book, THE MILKY WAY: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/moiya-mctier/the-milky-way/9781538754153/
BUY EXOLORE SWAG: store.dftba.com/collections/exolore

FIND US ONLINE

CREDITS

Music: planet.com/">https://www.purple-planet.com
Cover art: Stephen J. Reisig, http://stephenjreisig.com/
Editing: Mischa Stanton, https://www.mischastanton.com/

ABOUT US

Exolore is a member of Multitude Productions, an independent podcast collective and production studio.

Jul 13, 2023

00:59:44

We're revisiting a fan favorite episode this week! Throwback Thursday to that time Moiya learned a process for building coherent and balanced magic systems.

This turned out to be the first in a trio of episodes. After this, listen to The World of Touchy Arachnids and then Building Magic Systems part II where Clark comes back to put his process into practice on our homegrown world.

HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist

GUEST

C.R. Rowenson is a trained chemical engineer who's passionate about writing and building magic systems. You can follow him on twitter @ClarkRRowenson, find fantastic resources on his website crrowenson.com, and check out his Youtube channel.

MIDBREAK

Listen to JOIN THE PARTY, new episodes every Tuesday

HOUSEKEEPING

Order my book, THE MILKY WAY: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/moiya-mctier/the-milky-way/9781538754153/
BUY EXOLORE SWAG: store.dftba.com/collections/exolore

FIND US ONLINE

CREDITS

Music: planet.com/">https://www.purple-planet.com
Cover art: Stephen J. Reisig, http://stephenjreisig.com/
Editing: Mischa Stanton, https://www.mischastanton.com/

ABOUT US

Exolore is a member of Multitude Productions, an independent podcast collective and production studio.

Jun 29, 2023

00:53:43

Moiya is joined by author Brittney Morris to break down the world of Avatar the Last Airbender! They talk about the in-world origin of bending, the real world martial arts that inspired bending moves, and why the live action movie was so terrible.

HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist

GUEST

Brittney Morris is an award winning author of books including Slay and The Jump. Find her on twitter @BrittneyMMorris or on her website authorbrittneymorris.com

MIDBREAK

Listen to my other podcast PALE BLUE POD every Monday
Listen to matters.html">Tiny Matters wherever you get your podcasts every other Wednesday
This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. Visit betterhelp.com/worldbuilder for 10% off your first month

HOUSEKEEPING

Order my book, THE MILKY WAY: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/moiya-mctier/the-milky-way/9781538754153/
BUY EXOLORE SWAG: store.dftba.com/collections/exolore

FIND US ONLINE

CREDITS

Music: planet.com/">https://www.purple-planet.com
Cover art: Stephen J. Reisig, http://stephenjreisig.com/
Editing: Mischa Stanton, https://www.mischastanton.com/

ABOUT US

Exolore is a member of Multitude Productions, an independent podcast collective and production studio.

Jun 15, 2023

00:53:12

Moiya is joined by biochemist Isaac Paddy to build a world inspired by his love of musicals and romcoms. They imagine a world full of singing amphibious creatures who live their lives according to the movement of their planet's six different moons.

HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist

GUEST

Isaac Paddy is a biochemist in a PhD program at Stanford studying enzymes. Follow him on twitter at @isaacapaddy

MIDBREAK

Join the Multicrew to access fun, exclusive perks like Head Heart Gut!

HOUSEKEEPING

Order my book, THE MILKY WAY: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/moiya-mctier/the-milky-way/9781538754153/
BUY EXOLORE SWAG: store.dftba.com/collections/exolore

FIND US ONLINE

CREDITS

Music: planet.com/">https://www.purple-planet.com
Cover art: Stephen J. Reisig, http://stephenjreisig.com/
Editing: Mischa Stanton, https://www.mischastanton.com/

ABOUT US

Exolore is a member of Multitude Productions, an independent podcast collective and production studio.

Jun 01, 2023

01:05:53

Moiya is joined by Em Meurer to imagine a world with elaborate funeral rituals. Together they create adorable creatures that roll around on bioluminescent moss and communicate emotions through smells.

HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist

GUEST

Em Meurer is a graphic designer, book reviewer, and death communicator. Find her socials, book reviews, and Good Grief on her website emmeurer.com

MIDBREAK

Discover new podcasts with specific episodes at kradl.io
Listen to matters.html">Tiny Matters wherever you get your podcasts every other Wednesday
Help us out by filling out the Multitude Listener Survey!

HOUSEKEEPING

Sign up for my worldbuilding class with Atlas Obscura! Class starts June 5th
Order my book, THE MILKY WAY: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/moiya-mctier/the-milky-way/9781538754153/
BUY EXOLORE SWAG: store.dftba.com/collections/exolore

FIND US ONLINE

CREDITS

Music: planet.com/">https://www.purple-planet.com
Cover art: Stephen J. Reisig, http://stephenjreisig.com/
Editing: Mischa Stanton, https://www.mischastanton.com/

ABOUT US

Exolore is a member of Multitude Productions, an independent podcast collective and production studio.

May 18, 2023

01:00:27

Moiya is joined by fellow nerds Connie Gibbs and Delia Gallegos to discuss the worldbuilding in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings! There is so much to unpack, from the creation of the world, origin of its magic, Tolkien's inspirations, and the little matter of having a FLAT WORLD!

HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist

GUESTS

Connie Gibbs is a nerd, writer, and social media manager for Scholastic. Find her on twitter at @Constar24.
Delia Gallegos is a writer, speaker, and podcaster. Follow her work at deliaistyping.com and listen to her new podcast CULTURE BY CULTURE.

MIDBREAK

Listen to JOIN THE PARTY! New episodes every Tuesday
This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. Visit betterhelp.com/worldbuilder for 10% off your first month
Sign up for my worldbuilding class with Atlas Obscura! Class starts June 5th

HOUSEKEEPING

Order my book, THE MILKY WAY: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/moiya-mctier/the-milky-way/9781538754153/
BUY EXOLORE SWAG: store.dftba.com/collections/exolore

FIND US ONLINE

CREDITS

Music: planet.com/">https://www.purple-planet.com
Cover art: Stephen J. Reisig, http://stephenjreisig.com/
Editing: Mischa Stanton, https://www.mischastanton.com/

ABOUT US

Exolore is a member of Multitude Productions, an independent podcast collective and production studio.

Sep 21 | 00:55:42

World of gentle capybaras

Sep 07 | 00:59:19

World of water and magma whales

Aug 24 | 00:54:15

Analyzing Janelle Monae's New Dawn

Aug 10 | 00:58:36

World inside a brain

Jul 27 | 00:58:20

World of Flipped Morality

Jul 13 | 00:59:44

Rerun: Building magic systems with C.R. Rowenson

Jun 29 | 00:53:43

Avatar the Last Airbender with Brittney Morris

Jun 15 | 00:53:12

World of Musical Moons

Jun 01 | 01:05:53

World of Fuzzy Rolling Frogs

May 18 | 01:00:27

Middle Earth with Connie Gibbs and Delia Gallegos

This podcast could use a review!

This podcast could use a review! Have anything to say about it? Share your thoughts using the button below.

Submit Review