In this Season 2 recap, the Rabbit Hole of Research crew rings in the New Year from the Basement Studio while looking back on the ideas, guests, and moments that defined Episodes 26–50. The conversation ranges from a deep dive into the Die Hard Christmas movie debate—tracing it back to Roderick Thorp’s 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever—to favorite episodes like The Heart of a Superhero, Perception vs. Perspective, Godzilla and the Kaiju Genre, and The Thing. Along the way, they reflect on behind-the-scenes moments, Nick’s name flub, and corrects Joe!
The crew also shares Season 2 stats and milestones, including more than 13,000 downloads, and listeners spanning six continents (come on Antartica friends). They give thanks to supporters and subscribers, highlight standout listener feedback, and tease thank-you gifts, possible live events in the Chicagoland area, and appearances at conventions. The episode wraps with favorite moments, gratitude for collaborators and artists, and a look ahead to Season 3—featuring new thematic series on Spider-Man villains, lab safety in fiction, and a multi-episode Doomsday run—before closing out with a New Year’s countdown and a toast to what’s next.
Season 2 listener shout-outs: Alex, Terry G, Lily and Generoso
Paid subscriber Season 2 thank-you gifts (letterpress posters, zines, stickers)—Go subscribe on Substack!
And a Big Thank You to all the listeners and Guests that have gone down some holes with us!
Joe’s LetterPress Posters (hand carved images by Georgia)
These limited numbered posters (8.5” x 11”) and some zines will be going out to the pay-subscribers that supported us and hopefully will be on the online-shop soon.
Check out what the RHR crew is creating:
Joe:
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
Joe explores how many calories it would take to transform into monsters across sci-fi and horror—think 222 Big Macs and tubs of Cherry Garcia.
It’s science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. And to see all the content (studio images and artwork) subscribe to the Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter!
Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next rabbit hole. Love Y'all!
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:
Joe will be at MarsCon (Virginia Beach) January 16th-18th
Potential live event January 2026: Chicagoland / Northwest Indiana
Upcoming Episodes
Season 3
Episode 52 – The Physics and Biology of Extreme Performance
Guest: Hayley Chow
How far can the human body really go? Hayley Chow joins the crew to explore endurance, adaptation, and the edge of physical performance.
Episode 53 – Space Arks and Colonizing New Worlds
Guest: Roland Pitts
If Earth is no longer an option, what comes next? Roland Pitts helps us imagine space arks, generation ships, and building new civilizations in the stars.
What the Crew is Digging, Links, Resources, and Topics Mentioned in mini and/or full episode:
Books, Films, & Media Referenced
Nothing Lasts Forever — The 1979 action-thriller novel that inspired Die Hard, explicitly set at Christmas
Die Hard — Christmas movie!
Die Hard 2 — Also set on Christmas Eve
Gremlins — Holiday science tie-in (Episode 50)
The Thing — What if The Thing was Santa Claus?
Brazil — Satire, bureaucracy, and surreal tech
Fifth Element — Make-up machine, potential episode idea
Homer’s Make-up Gun —
Season 2: Episodes 26–51
26: Are we living in a Computer Game? Exploring the Simulation Hypothesis
27. Exploring Utopia and Dystopia: Fiction or Foresight?
28. Nanomachines: Handwavium or Future Reality?
29. Digging into the Dark: The Science of Noir Films
31. The Fast and the Curious: How Fast Is Too Fast?
32. Unveiling the Mysteries of Godzilla and the Kaiju Genre
33. Doctor Who? Time Travel, Science, and Fandom
35. Weird Plants
37. Sue Storm and Invisibility
38. Ben Grimm and the Thing About Skin
39. Johnny Storm and Spontaneous Combustion
40. Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards): Stretching
41. Crimes in Time
42. Broken Futures
43. Animal Swarms
44. Lake Michigan, Life, Mermaids, and Everything in Between
45. Ghost, Graveyards, and Cats
46. Slashers
47. Who Goes There? The Thing and the Shape of Paranoia
50. Gremlins and Holiday Science
51. RHR Season 2 Finale: What Makes a Christmas Movie? (And Is Die Hard One?)
What We’re Watching, Reading & Playing
Joe:
Lose Your Mind by Josh Pais (book – creativity and mental flexibility)
The End of the World As We Know It (short story collection set in Stephen Kings The Stand Universe)
CROWDED (Graphic novel about a crowdfunding platform to fund assassinations)
Georgia:
Stranger Things – Netflix Season 5
PLUR1BUS - Apple TV+
Nick:
Gilmore Girls- on Netflix
Abbott Elementary – Season 5 continuation
Skate Story (video game) – surreal narrative skating game
Love Y'all! Don’t forget to Rate the show!
