We were lucky to catch up with Robert recently and have shared our conversation below.
Robert, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
When I (Robert Bernard) think about the moment I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally, I trace it all the way back to 2005. That’s when I discovered Buzz Out Loud, a tech podcast from CNET. The concept blew my mind—radio, but on the internet? I became obsessed. Back then, podcasts weren’t a tap away; you had to subscribe to an RSS feed and use a dedicated reader just to tune in. But I didn’t mind. I tuned in religiously, soaking up insights from Veronica Belmont, Molly Wood, Tom Merritt, Leo Laporte, Brian Tong, and Brian Cooley.
Being tech-savvy, I started experimenting—learning how RSS feeds worked, coding my own, and testing audio uploads. It all worked. But one question lingered for years: what would my podcast be about?
Funny enough, the answer had been with me since I was six years old.
In late 1976, my uncle took me to the theater to watch Logan’s Run. I was too young to understand the story, but the visuals and atmosphere stuck with me so vividly that even now, at 54, I remember that moment. Science fiction became part of my identity. And yet, it took me decades to realize that this lifelong passion was the creative direction I had been unknowingly orbiting all along.
Fast forward to early 2020. My nephew Giancarlo was living with me, and we’d watch sci-fi movies together. What should have been a 90-minute movie often became a three-hour experience, thanks to our pauses for deep dives into the film’s ideas—technology, philosophy, moral dilemmas, world-building. That’s when the idea hit me: I didn’t want to review movies. I wanted to explore what lives inside them. And I couldn’t find any shows doing that, especially not ones dedicated to science fiction.
I asked Giancarlo if he’d join me as a guest on a podcast experiment. He agreed. But before we recorded that episode, I tested the waters with a solo recording—just me, a phone, and a heavy script. On May 23, 2020, Science Fiction Remnant officially launched with Season 1, Episode 1: Artemis Fowl. It was only 7 minutes long, heavily edited, and recorded with the Anchor app on my iPhone. Honestly, it was exhausting—and I knew I couldn’t sustain a scripted format on my schedule.
That’s when everything shifted.
For Episode 2, I invited Giancarlo as my first guest to discuss John Carter, a film and book series we both loved. The natural, unscripted conversation flowed effortlessly—and that episode shaped the format of Science Fiction Remnant from that day forward: a mix of honest reaction, analysis, and heartfelt dialogue about the ideas behind sci-fi.
Fast forward five years, and we’ve now published 198 episodes on podcast platforms and 178 episodes on YouTube. Although we’re based in the United States, our audience has grown globally, with listeners from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and beyond.
Season 2 began thanks to a conversation with an Australian fan named Ray Duell. After we released an episode on Alita: Battle Angel, Ray reached out to point out a few things we got wrong—and a few we got right. We invited him on as a guest for the Alita anime episode, and the chemistry between us was instant. After the recording, Giancarlo and I looked at each other and said, “He needs to stay.” Ray said yes—and just like that, we became a trio.
Since then, the three of us—Robert (Admiral Happy Endings), Giancarlo (Captain KAOS), and Ray (The Mad Scientist)—have been honored with some truly humbling recognition. We were named #95 in Feedspot’s Top 100 Sci-Fi Influencers of 2025 and Science Fiction Remnant was ranked #1 in their Top 100 Sci-Fi Podcasts.
Looking back, it’s clear now: sometimes your purpose is hidden in plain sight, waiting for you to catch up. The stories I loved as a kid shaped the creator I became. It just took a few decades—and a couple of amazing co-hosts—for me to realize it.
Robert, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Robert Bernard, creator and co-host of Science Fiction Remnant, a podcast dedicated to diving deep into the ideas and messages behind science fiction stories. My passion has always been science fiction—not just the aesthetics or the action, but the way it makes us think. Sci-fi challenges us to question reality, confront ethical dilemmas, and imagine futures both inspiring and cautionary.
Though I have a background in technology, it’s always been the meaning behind the stories that pulled me in. I’m fascinated by how science fiction reflects our hopes, fears, and evolving relationship with the world around us. That desire to explore deeper questions is what inspired me to create the podcast.
Unlike traditional review shows, Science Fiction Remnant isn’t scripted or polished. It’s real, reactionary, and rooted in curiosity. Alongside my co-hosts—Giancarlo (Captain KAOS) and Ray (The Mad Scientist)—we explore the themes that live inside sci-fi media, from AI and consciousness to love, loss, identity, and morality.
What sets our podcast apart is that we go beyond plot summaries or ratings. We ask, “What is this story really trying to tell us?” and “Why does it still matter?” We’ve built a loyal global audience who appreciates those deeper conversations—and that’s what I’m most proud of. Hearing from fans who say an episode made them think differently or sparked a meaningful conversation in their lives is incredibly rewarding.
At the end of the day, I’m someone who believes that science fiction isn’t just entertainment—it’s a mirror and a map. Through Science Fiction Remnant, I get to help others see that too.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Absolutely. One moment that stands out happened right at the very beginning of Science Fiction Remnant. I had just launched the podcast with a solo episode—recorded on my iPhone, with no equipment, no experience, and a heavily scripted format that took hours of recording and re-recording just to get through seven minutes. It was exhausting, and honestly, not sustainable.
At that point, I questioned everything. I had a full-time job, personal responsibilities, and no roadmap. I remember thinking, If this is what it takes every week, maybe I can’t do this.
But instead of quitting, I pivoted. I realized I didn’t have to do it alone—and I didn’t have to script every word. I brought in my nephew Giancarlo as a guest for episode two, and that unscripted, heartfelt conversation changed everything. That episode shaped what the show would become—and it taught me a key lesson: resilience isn’t always about pushing harder; sometimes it’s about changing direction and staying open to better ways.
Over the years, that lesson has come up again and again. Most people don’t realize how easy it is for podcasters to burn out and quit—especially after the first year. Life gets busy. Motivation dips. Downloads stall. There are days where we’ve been tired, overworked, or overwhelmed—but we always show up. We keep recording. We keep publishing. Because we believe in what we’re creating, and we know how much it matters to our listeners.
And honestly, that’s the key: pick something you’re passionate about. When your heart is in it, the work becomes sustainable. It’s still hard, yes—but passion gives you the fuel to keep going. That’s what’s kept Science Fiction Remnant alive all these years. Not momentum. Not numbers. Just love for the genre, and the drive to share that love with others.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is connection. It’s knowing that something I helped create—a conversation, an idea, a reflection buried in a sci-fi narrative—resonated with someone across the world.
When we first started Science Fiction Remnant, it was just a fun way to share our thoughts on sci-fi. But over time, we began hearing from listeners who told us our episodes helped them see movies and shows in new ways. Some reached out to share their own interpretations or to continue the conversation. That kind of engagement—that shared curiosity—is incredibly fulfilling.
There’s also something deeply rewarding about revealing the depth within sci-fi stories. We take something that might be dismissed as “just a movie” and uncover its commentary on society, ethics, identity, or the future. Watching listeners engage with those layers and seeing that spark of realization—that’s what keeps me going.
As a creative, there’s nothing more meaningful than knowing your work sparked thought, dialogue, or inspiration in someone else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sciencefictionremnant.com/
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Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-fiction-remnant/id1515049774
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Goodpods https://www.goodpods.com/podcasts/152182
Substack https://sciencefictionremnant.substack.com/
Image Credits
2025 Courtesy of Science Fiction Remnant podcast