Aggressive Negotiations: A Star Wars Podcast

Successful Star Wars Books.A topic around which many passions swirl for Star Wars fans, the Expanded Universe has always been a conglomeration of moving parts. Sometimes they mesh well, sometimes the machine breaks down and catches fire.So what makes it work, and what makes it break down?Join Jedi Masters Matthew Rushing and John Mills as they explore what it takes to make a galaxy of connected works...work well. And hear the advice they have for Disney/Lucasfilm on how to ensure more success in the future.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes

Mandalorian Excalibur.Star Wars has in some ways always been a myth built around family, destiny, and the inheritance of important relics. The Star Wars Rebels series has come to embrace this aspect of the story as it relates to Sabine Wren, Mandalorian and current keeper of the Darksaber, a sword first introduced in The Clone Wars animated series.Join Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing as they explore what it means to possess a sacred relic in that galaxy far, far away, and what these stories tell us about the importance of both honoring and breaking tradition.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes

The Umbara Arc.As The Clone Wars series progressed, the gathering darkness of the Star Wars galaxy was explored in more depth. With this essential world building we saw many incremental movements toward the chaos that would mark the opening shot of Revenge of the Sith.Join Jedi Masters Matthew Rushing and John Mills as they focus on the “Umbara” arc in particular from the fourth season of The Clone Wars, and explore what it told us about what was happening, what was to come, and how the galaxy was never going to be the same again.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes

Rey/Jyn.2015 started a new era for Star Wars, focused on female main characters. Rey and Jyn Erso are the new faces of heroism for the franchise, and who they are tell us a lot about what's new and what's constant in the stories we've come to love over the last 40 years.Join Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing as they explore Rey and Jyn's similarities, differences and symbolism. What do you see when you look at these heroines?HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes

Uncle Owen: The Best Jedi.Uncle Owen spent decades as the model of draconian parenthood for Luke Skywalker, an impediment to dreams and a dreary minder of a darker past for Luke's father. But how does Owen Lars play now? Is he instead a faithful keeper of the flame, the father that Luke needed to be the Jedi who saved the galaxy?Join Jedi Masters Matthew Rushing and John Mills as they explore the evolved reality of Uncle Owen and his role in the Star Wars saga. As you view this character with older eyes, do you see redemption?HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes

Star Wars Commentary.20 years ago, George Lucas brought *Star Wars* back to theatres. This was no simple anniversary release, though, as it had “a few new surprises.”Celebrate this special (edition) anniversary with Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing for an exclusive audio commentary track to accompany you on your journey back to that galaxy far, far away.Then complete your trip after the movie with Mike Schindler and John on “Great Shot, Kid!,” (http://www.thenerdparty.com/greatshotkid)  in a special episode recounting their experiences with the special editions for the first time....HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes

Rogue One.Rogue One's another certified blockbuster for Lucasfilm under the Disney banner. They've discussed it privately and in other forums, but now that they've had time to absorb its impact, it's time to have an aggressive negotiation about it.Join Matthew Rushing and John Mills as they share their deeper musings and more refined ramblings on everything from most successful characters to least successful moments in Rogue One.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes

Hearts of Kyber.In one way or another, Kyber Crystals have always been near the heart of the Star Wars galaxy. From the very early drafts of the original film, George Lucas had conceived of a crystal that could focus the energies of the Force and serve as a link to the ethereal energies that were core to the Jedi Way...or the Sith.In this episode, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing explore the history of the Kyber Crystals, how they've reconciled their revised mythology, and how they've worked within the context of the latest blockbuster, Rogue One.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes

Rogue One with Nic Anastassiou.Rogue One has been a massive box office success and a resonant hit with the majority of Star Wars fans. In this very special episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Matt and John welcome friend of the show Nic Anastassiou, a Lucasfilm veteran who worked directly with George Lucas, to discuss his own reaction to the film. They talk with Nic about his special history with the Star Wars galaxy, and explore his reactions to Rogue One both as a professional and as a fan. Join the Jedi Masters as they welcome their very special guest and explore insights to that galaxy far, far away as only they can.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingGuestNic AnastassiouSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes

A Star Wars Wish List.?It's the Holiday Season, a time for thankfulness and...wish lists! In this issue of Aggressive Negotiations, John Mills and Matthew Rushing review their wish lists for Star Wars as they prepare for 2017.What do the fans want from their movies (or at least these fans)? Is there a place in the galaxy for Star Wars: The Broadway Years? What esoteric treats from the Lucasfilm vaults would make their hearts sing?Let them know what you want, and what you think of their wish lists!Send us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMastersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenerdpartyEmail: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdpartySubscribe in iTunes

There are few characters in Star Wars like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. They have been explore in movies and a television show but one thing that has not been done in canon is to dig into the years between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing talk about Marvel's Obi-Wan and Anakin comic mini series. We look at the relationship between these two iconic characters, the influence of Palpatine in this time period and just how far Obi-Wan is willing to take his promise to Qui-Gon.?Send us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMastersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/aggressivenegotiations/Email: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdpartySubscribe in iTunes

Star Wars Rebels: S3, Part 1. The third season of Star Wars Rebels started off strong, with a very enigmatic new force user, some old friends and enemies. But how did the rest of the season fare?In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing look at the first half of season 3. We talk about the wins, the losses and the implications of the winter finale.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdparty Subscribe in iTunes!

The Jedi Win.What if Obi-Wan and Yoda had faced Sidious together at the end of Revenge of the Sith? To borrow a line from a different franchise, history is replete with turning points. Join your hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing as they explore what might have happened if a pivotal Star Wars moment - the dual confrontations of at the end of Revenge of the Sith - had gone a bit differently.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdparty Subscribe in iTunes!

Qui-Gon Jinn.Like a comet, he flashed briefly across the skies of the Star Wars galaxy, spurring questions of prophecy. Would Anakin Skywalker's fate have been different if he lived? Would the Jedi Order have spared itself a painful purge if he hadn't fallen to Darth Maul on Naboo?Join your hosts Matthew Rushing and John Mills as they field a listener question about Qui-Gon's potential impact on the Star Wars timeline had he lived to train the Supposedly Chosen One.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdparty Subscribe in iTunes!

Favorite Locales.From the sunset hues of Cloud City to the sculpted streets of Theed, Star Wars has always been known as a galaxy far, far above the location design of your average film series. A short hyperspace jump can take you from one amazing aesthetic to another.Join your hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing as they discuss their favorite locales, finding similarities and differences in their tastes that speak to what locations in the Star Wars saga left the deepest impressions on them.What are your favorite Star Wars locations?HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMastersFacebook: facebook.com/thenerdpartyEmail: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdparty 

Thanksgungan.Sometimes fans take for granted the many ways Star Wars has made our free time so much more enjoyable. We focus on what we want instead of what a great gift it is to have such a rich escape from the many stresses of our days. In short, we can lose sight of what it is that makes being a fan so much fun.So gather together this year with Matt and John as they recount recount the things for which they are most thankful as Star Wars fans in 2016...and overall. Celebrate with them at the first ever...Thanksgungan.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdparty Subscribe in iTunes!

Mandalorians.When his armor was first glimpsed, Boba Fett captured the heart of Star Wars fandom. As his mythos grew, fans came to know he was “Mandalorian.” But the definition of a Mandalorian has shifted over time. Fenn Shysa told one history in the Marvel comics of the 1980s. They acquired a new origin as the Expanded Universe was rebuilt in the 1990s. Then came The Clone Wars TV series, with a Mandalorian mythos blessed by Lucas himself.So what does it mean to be a Mandalorian, and what will it continue to mean as characters like Sabine Wren give additional opportunities to revise and expand it? Your hosts Matthew Rushing and John Mills discuss these ancient foes of the Jedi and their continuing role in this week's Aggressive Negotiations.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdparty

The “Witches of Dathomir” have lurked in the back edge of fandom since the days of the old Expanded Universe in the 1990s, when they appeared in The Courtship of Princess Leia. They captured the imagination years later, when they were reworked and included in The Clone Wars TV series, woven into the story of Dooku's acolyte, Asajj Ventress, and then revealed to be a part of the backstory of fan-favorite Darth Maul. They took on a life of their own as *Star Wars*' resident spooky storyline, so what better way to celebrate their chilling tales than with a Halloween episode?Chant some Dark Side mantras and join us as we explore...the Nightsisters.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdparty Subscribe in iTunes!

Star Wars Halloween Special. Imagine a world where the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special was good and entertaining, and seeking opportunities to capitalize on that success, Lucasfilm was open to making more holiday specials. We could have received a Star Wars Halloween Special.In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations John Mills and Matthew Rushing explore the idea of what a Star Wars Halloween Special would contain, what framing devices would be used for the stories, and what story possibilities there would be for a costumed holiday in a galaxy far, far away....HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdparty Subscribe in iTunes!

The Phantom Menace unleashed Darth Maul into a world ready for an on-screen inheritor to the terror that Darth Vader tapped into in 1977. Then it promptly killed him.That was, of course, not the end of the story. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations Matthew Rushing and John Mills explore the extended life of Darth Maul, the Energizer Bunny of Star Wars villains. They discuss their reactions to his figurative resurrection, reception of his impact on story, limitations on his character and what they expect to see from him in times to come.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSupport Aggressive Negotiations, and the Nerd Party network, by trying Lootcrate at: www.lootcrate.com/nerdparty Subscribe in iTunes!