RHR Season 2 Finale: What Makes a Christmas Movie? (And Is Die Hard One?) cover art

RHR Season 2 Finale: What Makes a Christmas Movie? (And Is Die Hard One?)

RHR Season 2 Finale: What Makes a Christmas Movie? (And Is Die Hard One?)

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 In this lively Season 2 finale of Rabbit Hole of Research, hosts Joe, Nick, and Georgia are joined by returning guest Mary Schons and first-time guest Kathryn “Kat” Sterbenc to do two things at once: look back at a season spent separating science from handwavium—and finally tackle the perennial holiday argument, Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?Over the course of Season 2, the show explored science through the lens of fiction, asking how fast is too fast, what happens when time misbehaves, and what it looks like when ecosystems, societies, and technologies buckle under pressure. From noir to kaiju, superheroes to slashers, stretched bodies to stressed systems, every episode dug into the real science beneath the stories we love.As the season closes, that same lens turns toward Christmas movies, stories that look comforting on the surface, but are almost always about pressure: people forced together, deadlines that can’t move, and systems pushed to their limits right when everything is supposed to feel magical.The conversation starts with the crew sampling the worlds second strongest beer (Snake Venom) and swings widely, from It’s a Wonderful Life and Home Alone to Trading Places, The Thing, and of course Die Hard, as Kat lays out her criteria for what makes a “true” Christmas movie and Mary pushes back with thoughtful counterarguments. Along the way, the group explores holiday mythology, redemption arcs, cultural tradition, and even the science behind Frosty the Snowman, the Grinch’s heart, and the biology of immortal holiday figures.Part season recap, part holiday debate, and part festive rabbit hole, this episode unwraps what makes stories endure—whether they’re built to loop every December or just held together by a little Christmas magic.Stay Safe, Stay Curious, and Merry Christmas you Filthy Animals!Check out what the RHR crew is creatingJoe: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 FictionIt’s Science for WeirdosWant 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. Leave a Comment. And for email alerts sign-up for the Substack newsletter and never miss an episode, exciting updates or the bonus images we talk about on the episodes.We want to Hear From You (leave a comment):What’s your personal definition of a Christmas movie?What’s your favorite Christmas movie?Is Die Hard a Christmas movie… or just an action movie wearing holiday bling?Are there movies you only watch in December that technically “shouldn’t” count?What holiday science, myths, or pop-culture traditions should we dig into next season?Future Episodes & EventsEpisodes:Season 3Episode 52 – The Physics and Biology of Extreme PerformanceGuest: Hayley ChowHow 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 WorldsGuest: Roland PittsIf 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.For more stuff (Images, Episode Highlights, Notes and Fun Facts, events, etc), subscribe to our Substack newsletter!Join Rabbit Hole of Research on Discord: https://discord.gg/2nnmKgguFVDon’t forget to give us 5 stars or a like! Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
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