Hosts In The Shell

Hosts In The Shell season 3: a shambolic cyber-trailer!

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0100

The boys are BACK BAYBEHHHHH!!!!! Season 3 is incoming and promises more frequent episodes, the usual scintillating chat, some guests we're frankly staggered we managed to trick into appearing, and this rubbish trailer!!! Looking forward to wagging our cyber-chins with you in the coming weeks :-) :-) :-)

Season finale!! Ghost In The Shell (2017 live action movie)

Sun, 25 May 2025 07:00:00 +0100

Season two of Hosts In The Shell lurches, careens and, erm, clatters to the end of another rollercoaster run! It's just Matt and Jon to close it out, revisiting their main inspiration and beloved anime franchise to revisit and (sort of) reappraise the 2017 live action version... listen as they figure out what went wrong with the movie, gush about our lovely guests and audience, and fantasise about a cyber-resurgence for the UK...

Hardware (bonus episode from the Dark Natter archives - the first time Jon and Matt met!)

Sun, 11 May 2025 07:00:00 +0100

As we hurtle like a malfunctioning hovercab towards our season finale, we thought it would be fun to dust off this 2021 recording: the first time Jon and Matt ever met! It was a guest appearance by Matt on Jon's other podcast, Dark Natter (where dark fiction gets dissected), but unsurprisingly Matt picked a cyberpunk topic - it's almost like this show was their inescapable destiny...

Peruvian cyberpunk with Gustaffo Vargas

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 08:00:00 +0100

Those scoundrelly Hosts are joined by the far more wholesome, lovely, and massively talented cyber-graphic-novel-creator, Gustaffo Vargas, for a brilliant deep dive into the world of Peruvian cyberpunk! Tune in to find out how to modernise an ancient culture, Jon's favourite Studio Ghibli moment, and why Matt is changing his name to Adquot...

Nemesis

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 08:00:00 +0100

For those who haven't yet been introduced to this (ahem) masterpiece, Nemesis is the 1992 brainchild of legendary cyber-B-movie director Albert Pyun, and after you've watched it you'll be as incredulous as Jon that it spawned four sequels!! Tune in to find out what Jon and Matt made of this inexplicably endearing cyberpunk action (ahem) extravaganza...

The Matrix trilogy (with Keith Anthony Baird)

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Despite covering The Matrix Resurrections way back at the start of this podcast's existence (before the cyberpsychosis had really kicked in), the Hosts have unbelievably never covered the original Matrix trilogy! Thankfully, brilliant multi-genre writer Keith Anthony Baird was on hand to join us to remedy that shocking state of affairs, resulting in a belter of an episode that aims to once and for all answer the question: why were the Matrix sequels so much worse than the original masterpiece??

Casshern

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

After years of podcasting, chatting and general cyber-film-buffery, it's unbelievable that the lads have only just realised they both absolutely love Kazuaki Kiriya's underrated (and bonkers) gem of a movie! Get yourselves suited up for a nice relaxing dip in a pool of body parts and Neo Cells...

Altered Carbon (with T R Napper)

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It's about time we covered this modern classic novel and its TV adaptation, and we're delighted to be joined by multi-award-winning cyberpunk writer T R Napper to do it! Join us for another wide-ranging chat that veers into Aliens and Bishop's knife trick (not the Fall Out Boy song...)

Strange Days

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Despite an all-star cast, the viewing public weren't enamoured with Kathryn Bigelow's millennium-paranoia-fuelled, disturbing-tech-exploring 1995 thriller... 30 years later, tune in to find out if the lads enjoyed the original SQUID game!

The Fifth Element (with Don Hartshorn)

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The Hosts are delighted to be joined by thriller writer extraordinaire, Don Hartshorn, to talk about Luc Besson's beloved and bonkers 1997 science fiction spectacular! Expect crazy costumes and deranged hairstyles, and that's before we even get to the movie...

Alita: Battle Angel

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Sometimes things go under your radar despite being really really really cyberpunky. That was definitely the case for Jon with today's topic, a 2019 movie co-written by James Cameron... Matt had already seen it, obvs.

Terminator Zero (with James L Graetz)

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000

It's been a LONG wait for decent Terminator output, but Netflix's 2024 anime series about a Skynet rival has been a hit with many fans of the ailing franchise - including brilliant cyberpunk writer James L Graetz, who joins us to talk about the show, his work, and the imminent apocalypse!

Christmas special with ultra-exclusive guest... err, ChatGPT

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

That's right, it's a merry cyber-Christmas once again, which can only mean one thing: time for a particularly daft episode that we wouldn't normally get away with! To celebrate Yuletide the Hosts welcome ChatGPT (aka Steve) to the show where they ask it hard-hitting questions like whether it's immoral for writers to use AI... and which reindeer would win in a fight.

Westworld

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Matt and Jon discuss Westworld, both the 1973 sci-fi horror western and the more recent TV series/Ed Harris cool-em-up! Find out why the Hosts loved the movie and the early seasons of the show, and why they think the later seasons ended up shambling around in the desert with memory loss...

Larry Kuperman from Nightdive Studios talks System Shock, science fiction, and the art of video game preservation

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Jon and Matt are joined by Larry Kuperman, Director of Business Development at the brilliant Nightdive Studios, to discuss how their remakes and remasters play a crucial role in video game preservation. His account of the trials and tribulations of remaking System Shock are fascinating, his sci-fi reading recommendations are eclectic, and his anecdotes are hilarious - a must-listen!

Gareth L Powell talks William Gibson's Burning Chrome and other influences

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Those cybernetically augmented oddballs are back, and this time they're honoured to be joined by fantastic and award-winning science fiction writer Gareth L Powell! Gareth talks about his work, his new publishing imprint, and influences including William Gibson's Burning Chrome collection and uniquely weird short story The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith.

Iain M Banks

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Jon and Matt gush about one of their all-time favourite writers, including his many novels about the utopian Culture, erm, culture, as well as his other standalone books, into each of which Iain M Banks packed more ideas than most writers manage in an entire career - a legendary literary figure to whom the lads try to do justice in their usual rambling style!

Demolition Man (with Matthew A Goodwin)

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0100

What's our boggle? We'll tell you! Today, the Hosts are joined in this episode by Matthew A Goodwin, award-winning cyberpunk and science fiction writer, to discuss one of the greatest (and most underrated?) action blockbusters of the nineties: Demolition Man!! Tune in and be well... but watch out for the occasional violation of the verbal morality statute.

Red Dwarf

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0100

In their latest game of 'is it really cyberpunk though?', the Hosts are treating themselves to a fun and nostalgic chat about beloved space-slob comedy series, Red Dwarf! Tune in for random recollections of classic episodes, and some questionable impersonations...

Cowboy Bebop (with Killtopia creator Dave Cook)

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0100

One of the show's running gags is how many famed works of fiction co-Host Jon hasn't actually seen... for today's episode, featuring brilliant writer and Killtopia creator Dave Cook, co-Host Matt stapled Jon's eyeballs open and forced him to watch the entire Cowboy Bebop movie! Find out what Jon made of his first ever experience of this beloved anime, and how it influenced Dave's stellar work.

Fallout

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 08:00:00 +0100

The boys test the definition of cyberpunk once again, but who'd begrudge them a chance to enthuse about one of their all-time favourite gaming franchises, as well as the planet-obliteratingly successful Amazon Prime series?? Tune in to listen to the third instalment of the Hosts' new series, which is really starting with a bang... and hear Jon's disturbing confession about a certain Grandma Sparkle.

Audio extract from Scarred by co-Host Jon Richter

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0100

A little bonus episode for you in the form of co-Host Jon reading an excerpt from his latest novel, Scarred. As a fantasy epic, it isn't strictly cyberpunk... or is it??

If this floats your boat (or hovercar, or rickety grafted-together spacecraft), find out more about the book by searching for Scarred online (it's available from all good online retailers), or learn about Jon's other books and projects by exploring his sinister website at www.jon-richter.com.

The Peripheral (with Tim Standish)

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0100

The Hosts are back, and this time they're... hosting! Specifically Tim Standish, a returning guest from season one and a brilliant writer of (Edwardian) cyberpunk. Tim last featured in our episode discussing the works of William Gibson, so who better to lead a deep dive into his novel The Peripheral, as well as the short-lived but gripping Amazon Prime adaptation?? Set your eardrum augments to 'gorge' mode!!

Pluto

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0100

The boys are back!!! Season 2 kicks off with your favourite high-tech lowlifes discussing Netflix's brilliant anime adaptation of Naoki Urasawa and Takahashi Nagasaki's manga series, Pluto. Find out why Jon was reduced to tears (and no, it wasn't just because of Matt rinsing him out for never having seen Cowboy Bebop)...

Hosts' big night out! (Plus Fanatical's Cyberpunk Dystopia Bundle)

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0100

We're still recharging our graphene cobalt lithium mecha-batteries between seasons, but wanted to bring you a fun little episode recorded live and in person for the first time! Matt and Jon meet to drink beers and shoot the cyber-shit about ChatGPT and other (dark) matters, and also to plug the Cyberpunk Dystopia Bundle from Fanatical in which Matt's ace novel Complete Darkness is featured (as well as great books by some other Hosts In The Shell alumni!)

Link to Cyberpunk Dystopia Bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/cyberpunk-dystopia-novels-collective-bundle

Link to Jon's new book, Dark Fiction: https://www.jon-richter.com/dark-fiction

Audio trailer for DARK FICTION by Jon Richter

Sun, 14 May 2023 11:00:00 +0100

Okay, so it isn't strictly cyberpunk (although a couple of the tales definitely count!) but co-Host Jon hopes you don't mind him sharing the audio trailer for his new short horror fiction collection, DARK FICTION.

This huge anthology features a batch of fresh and harrowing tales alongside some of Jon's best ever work, brought to life by illustrations by the brilliant David T Wilby. Perfect for anyone who likes short, creepy, haunting stories with unpredictable and unsettling twist endings, DARK FICTION explores subjects as wide-ranging as time travel, abominable snowmen, and what happens when Alexa becomes sentient...

DARK FICTION is released on 9th June 2023 in paperback, hardback or ebook, and is available now for pre-order:

UK: https://amzn.to/3LUVsYM
US: https://amzn.to/42VG7xN

Cover design by the awesome RoseWolf Design.

Trailer features the track 'Anxiety' by the phenomenal Kevin MacLeod.

Bonus episode! Neo Cyberpunk: Volume 3 trailer

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Wait, what?? I thought the Hosts were on hiatus... we are, but we've been thawed out and dragged from our stasis tanks for a special bit of promo for the recently-released third volume of the Neo Cyberpunk collection!

We're both extremely proud to be featured in this ace cyberpunk anthology and hope you don't mind us hijacking the feed to promote it, and are delighted to be joined by Hosts In The Shell alumni (and featured writers) Nik Whittaker and Anna Mocikat to discuss their contributions as well as the collection more generally... including the foreword written by Bruce Bethke, the man who first coined the term 'cyberpunk' and inventor of the genre!

Get your retractable metal claws on copies here:

UK: https://amzn.to/3JXNoaj
US: https://amzn.to/3KeOcb9

Cyberpunk 2077 (season finale!)

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Well there you have it! After a fantastic year, the Hosts are off on holiday (Matt's heading to Neo Tokyo while Jon fancied a trip to Delta City), leaving you with a long-awaited episode about CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077... find out which of the Hosts loved it and which didn't, and hear about our encounters with Adam Smasher and a certain talkative gun...

Thanks once again to everyone that has listened or contributed to the show over the past 27 episodes, and wishing you the very best for 2023!!

Judge Dredd (vs Dredd!)

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

It's the penultimate episode of the Hosts' first series, so we thought we'd try something a bit different; for the first time we're welcoming TWO guests (a returning - and still ace - Jim Keen, alongside the equally brilliant cyberpunk writer Luke Hancock) to talk about Judge Dredd, each representing one of the two movie versions! Listen as the two very different cinematic incarnations are JUDGED and SENTENCED... but will Carl Urban's chin reign supreme, or will the honours go to Stallone's golden Versace codpiece??

Christmas special: best cyberpunk of 2022!!!

Sat, 24 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0000

You've all been very good children this year, so cyber-Santa has a special treat for you: the Hosts are having a crack at a shambolic award ceremony!! A crew of returning guests share their well wishes and their votes for best cyberpunk release of 2022 - tune in to find out who will win the coveted (ahem) award, and whether Jon has actually seen any of them...

Featuring ace augmented humans:

Mark Everglade (who also created the brilliant theme music!!)
Patrick Tillett
Tim Standish
Brent Millis
Nik Whittaker
Anna Mocikat
Craig Lea Gordon
Dumptruck_DS
Rachel Beck
CoinOps, Scum and ShadowLink from the L0wL1f3 podcast
Jim Keen
Frasier Armitage
(And Matt and Jon obvs)

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000

After months of pathetic excuses for not playing Cyberpunk 2077 yet, Jon has been forced at mantis-blade-point by Matt to whet his appetite with Studio Trigger's 2022 spinoff anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Spoiler alert: it's good!!

Cyberpunk body horror

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 05:00:00 +0000

It's a bit late for Halloween, but that didn't stop the boys getting dark and disturbing in this episode about CYBERPUNK BODY HORROR!! Brilliant writer, Japanophile, livewire and cyberpunk encyclopedia Brent Millis joins the show to discuss classics like Tetsuo: The Iron Man and various other media where people get unwanted bits grafted on...

Cyberpunk Day special!!!

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Break out the cyber-champagne and the, errr, nanotech party poppers, because it's time for the CYBERPUNK DAY festivities to commence!!! In honour of 2022's celebration of all things cyberpunk, the Hosts thought they'd take the opportunity to self-indulgently interview each other about their favourite works that haven't made it onto the podcast so far - comedy, controversy and creativity awaits!!

Minority Report

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

It's yet another adaptation of a Philip K Dick masterwork, this time (The) Minority Report, which was blockbusterized in 2002 and is beloved by many, including brilliant and extremely likeable cyberpunk writer Frasier Armitage! Tune in to hear us to chat to him about this Spielberg/Cruise heavy-hitter, and help us prove the system is infallible...

Quake

Sat, 22 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0100

Jon's stretching the definition of cyberpunk to breaking point, but it's all for a good reason, because in this episode the Hosts get to talk about one of the greatest and most influential first-person shooters of all time with one of the greatest and most influential YouTubers and modders in the Quake community! The brilliant Dumptruck_DS talks about how Id Software's masterpiece is still going strong over 25 years after its release, despite arguably being a shambolic tech demo... and what could be more cyberpunk than that??

Neuromancer, the Sprawl Trilogy, & William Gibson

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0100

It had to happen... the Hosts finally tackle arguably the biggest cyberpunk work of all time, Neuromancer, along with its genre-defining creator whose shadow looms terrifyingly large across a Matrix of his making!! Thankfully their prayers to the cyber-gods were answered and a brilliant writer, William Gibson expert and all-round top bloke was beamed in to join them, in the shape of Tim Standish.

Cyberpunk (and psychedelic) music with Kavus Torabi of The Utopia Strong!

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0100

After a chance encounter at a recent comic book event, the Hosts are delighted to welcome multi-talented musical genius Kavus Torabi to the show, who was kind enough to take time out of his massively busy schedule (where he fronts or performs in at least 87 different bands including Gong, Knifeworld and recent Glastonbury debutants The Utopia Strong) to discuss his influences, favourite comics, psychedelic synthwave soundtracks, making music with a snooker legend, and more!

The Terminator

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0100

This week the boys are joined by disturbingly brilliant horror writer and Schwarzenegger super-fan Zoe-Lee O'Farrell to discuss the terrifying sci-fi/horror mash-up that is the original Terminator... and to attempt to rank it alongside the rest of the franchise's movie instalments! Tune in to find out which of the more recent sequels was banished to the hydraulic crusher...

Avalon: bonus episode mashup with the L0wl1f3 podcast!!

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0100

Imagine if Doctor Frankenstein had had access to cyberpunk technology... the sinister monstrosity he created would have been about 10% as shambolic and disturbing as this very special mash-up episode!! We had a brilliant time chatting to the fantastic crew of the L0wl1f3 podcast about Avalon, Mamoru Oshii's underappreciated 2001 live-action cyberpunk movie.

Escape From New York

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0100

The Hosts are joined this time by phenomenally talented writer, oracle of cyberpunk knowledge and utterly lovely fella, Nik Whittaker, to discuss one of Kurt Russell's most memorable performances as the grizzled, eye-patch wearing anti-hero, Snake Plissken! Listen as all hell breaks loose when Jon suggests that John Carpenter's masterpiece Escape From New York might not count as cyberpunk, and relax as calm is restored when the panel unanimously agree that the sequel is rubbish.

Blade Runner

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0100

What kind of self-respecting cyberpunk podcast waits until its 14th episode to cover Blade Runner!?? Erm, this one, it would seem... the Hosts finally tackle this genre stalwart (as well as its sequel and spinoffs) with special guest and brilliant writer Craig Lea Gordon - see if you can guess which of us failed the Voight-Kampff test!

Batman Beyond and cyberpunk/superhero crossovers

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0100

Matt and Jon are joined by the razor-sharp mind of Rachel E Beck to discuss her brilliant books, the Glitch Logs, as well as the crossover of the cyberpunk and superhero genres as embodied in the animated series Batman Beyond! Encompassing systems theory, the horrors of the class divide in education, and the Joker shooting a bloke dead with a comedy gun, this is possibly our most wide-ranging episode yet!!

Luther Arkwright with creator Bryan Talbot

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode, the Hosts' excitement is at fever pitch as they welcome legendary comic book and graphic novel artist and writer, Bryan Talbot!! Creator of Luther Arkwright, Bryan is discussing the brand new volume of the hero's adventures, as well as his other award-winning works including Alice in Sunderland and Grandville, and exploring the multiverse decades before Marvel did...

Upgrade

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0100

This time round the Hosts are scrutinising Leigh Whannell's 2018 cyberpunk action blockbuster, Upgrade... tune in to find out if the movie is an enhanced extravaganza or a botched operation!

The underclass in cyberpunk

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +0100

Matt's back with a vengeance, joining Jon and awesome writer Ted Weber to discuss Ted's cyberpunk fiction, as well as the popular genre trope of the plight of the underclass... but can the trio avoid becoming technologically obsolete!?

Robocop

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0100

Matt is taking a well-earned break for this episode, so instead Jon is joined by ultra-talented writer and architectural genius Jim Keen to discuss gore-splattered science fiction classic, Robocop!! Tune in immediately... you have fifteen seconds to comply.

Snow Crash

Sat, 21 May 2022 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode the lads are joined by CT Phipps, whose works include the wildly successful Supervillainy Saga and awesome cyberpunk parody Daughter Of The Cyber Dragons... and speaking of parodies, he's here to explain why Snow Crash is both one of the best and most famous cyberpunk novels ever written, and also a top-drawer genre parody!

Find more about CT and his work here:

https://ctphipps.com/

http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/2017/01/top-signs-were-living-in-cyberpunk.html

Cyberpunk philosophy

Sat, 07 May 2022 07:00:00 +0100

Matt and Jon are delighted to welcome the awesome and incomparable Mark Everglade to the show; Mark is a writer, musician, polymath and all-round genius (as well as a lovely fella!) and much of this episode consists of the Hosts trying to cling on to Mark's coattails as his mind takes us on a tour of cyberpunk philosophy and other fascinating concepts - enjoy!

Total Recall

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0100

Your favourite augmented analysts are on their own this time, and enthusing about a debatably cyberpunk but unarguably ace movie, Total Recall!! The Arnie one is the main focus, but they'll touch also on the 2012 remake, which despite an all-star cast is bereft of the magic of the original... and also of Richter, much to Jon's chagrin!

Cyberpunk indie books

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 11:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Jon and Matt are delighted to welcome S.C. Jensen, creator of cyber noir thriller series Bubbles In Space, to talk about the thriving cyberpunk indie writing scene! An insightful chat with a fantastic writer and top-quality human - what more could the lads want??

Johnny Mnemonic

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Matt and Jon welcome ace cyberpunk writer Patrick Tillett to the show to discuss the much-maligned nineties cyberpunk cinema flop, Johnny Mnemonic... but how can a movie with Dolph Lundgren on fine form, Keanu Reeves in his prime, Takeshi Kitano as the baddie and a Vietnam war veteran dolphin (!?) be anything other than a smash hit??

Ghost In The Shell

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 20:00:00 +0000

Jon and Matt are delighted to welcome the show's ever guest, specifically the queen of cyberpunk herself and creator behind the gripping Behind Blue Eyes novels, Anna Mocikat! Anna talks to the lads about her love of Ghost In The Shell and how it inspired her own work, and their wide-ranging chat takes in everything from underrated sequels and controversial live action remakes to cybernetic Marmite attachments (there's a phrase you never thought you'd read...)

You can find more about Anna at www.annamocikat.com or on Twitter @anna_mocikat, or by searching for her books at online retailers.

A huge thanks to Anna for taking the time to talk to us, and massive thanks as always to Peter Ormerod for the theme music!

The Matrix Resurrections

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 20:00:00 +0000

Two episodes in and Jon and Matt are having their first feud!! Will their dispute about the quality of the new Matrix movie threaten to tear the podcast, and the world as we know it, apart?? Or will they politely disagree, and move on to discussing how ace the first movie was? Tune in to find out...

(Huge thanks as always to Peter Ormerod for the cool theme music!!)

Akira

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 19:00:00 +0000

In this first ever episode of the new Hosts In The Shell podcast, Jon and Matt introduce themselves and chat about one of the most iconic cyberpunk movies of all time, specifically anime masterpiece Akira!

(Huge thanks to Peter Ormerod for the cool theme music!!)

Hosts In The Shell trailer!

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Like all the best works of cyberpunk, our trailer has been cobbled together using spare parts, duct tape, and the most sophisticated hacking equipment we could scavenge... check it out so you can get as excited as we are about our new show, Hosts In The Shell!

(Big thanks to Peter Ormerod for the cool synthy music in the background)