The perfect podcast exists for Star Wars Rebels fans, and it already has a full season's worth of episodes. Since its debut in 2014, Rebels has gone to become one of the franchise's most beloved stories that features some of the all-time best episodes of Star Wars television.
Rebels can now be fully relived and celebrated in all its glory with the iHeart Radio rewatch podcast Pod of Rebellion, which recently finished going through all the Rebels season 1 episodes. Hosted by Jon Lee Brody, the podcast features Rebels voice actors Vanessa Marshall (Hera Syndulla), Tiya Sircar (Sabine Wren), and Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger).
They rewatch and break down each Rebels episode, with Marshall, Sircar, and Gray providing equally fascinating, hilarious, and emotional insights from their time working on the animated series. These breakdowns include behind-the-scenes stories, thought-provoking questions from Brody, and deeper discussions about the themes of each episode.
Brody begins each of the podcast episodes with a hilarious and pop culture-filled recap of the major events in the respective Rebels episode being discussed. There is a natural ease and undeniable chemistry between him and the three Rebels stars, which always makes their conversations feel authentic. While I know they are talking to each other virtually, I can't help but picture them relaxing on a couch while they discuss each episode because of the comfort, honesty, and authenticity they have with one another.
Despite their history starring in or watching the show, all of them are approaching the rewatch with a fresh perspective. For Gray, this is partly because he has not watched most of the episodes before and is seeing them for the first time, but having a fresh perspective is true for everyone on the podcast because of their unique life experiences. They frequently discuss the importance of mental health and tie it into the episodes' themes and to the character development for each member of the Ghost crew.
Each Pod of Rebellion episode ends with a fact check from JC Reifenberg based on Brody, Marshall, Sircar, and Gray's discussion. JC not only brings a wealth of Star Wars knowledge, but he also completes the fact check and looks into various questions while the episode is recording, and he always deliver an in-depth breakdown in the final minutes. While I usually know some of the information he shares, I always learn something new and exciting during the fact check.
Along with Pod of Rebellion's regular crew, the podcast sometimes brings on special guests, ranging from Rebels voice actors like Steve Blum (Zeb Orrelios), Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), and Dante Basco (Jai Kell) to a licensed therapist analyzing mental health in Star Wars.
Even though Rebels is one of my favorite Star Wars shows, and one that I have already watched numerous times, Pod of Rebellion helps me appreciate and understand the series in ways that I never considered before. This is particularly valuable for season 1, which is sometimes overshadowed by the later seasons.
Every episode of the podcast also makes me laugh, as everyone involved has a wonderful sense of humor. Any Rebels fan who has not checked out Pod of Rebellion yet should give a listen to their season 1 episodes and follow along as they begin getting into season 2.
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