

Our Opinions Are Correct
Our Opinions Are Correct
Explore the meaning of science fiction, and how it's relevant to real-life science and society. Your hosts are Annalee Newitz, a science journalist who writes science fiction, and Charlie Jane Anders, a science fiction writer who is obsessed with science. Every two weeks, we take deep dives into science fiction books, movies, television, and comics that will expand your mind -- and maybe change your life
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 30, 2025 • 55min
The Future of Science Fiction Conventions
 We love science fiction and fantasy conventions — especially the ones that are run by fans, for fans. But they haven't changed much since the 1970s in many ways, and the world has moved on. So we asked a bunch of convention veterans to imagine how we might reimagine conventions for the 21st century, from panels to volunteering to venues.  

Oct 16, 2025 • 55min
We're Still Traumatized By This Writing Debate
 Not long ago, everybody was arguing about whether characters need to be "relatable". We get to the bottom of a debate that still makes us intensely grouchy. Plus we talk to one of our favorite writers, C.L. Polk, about how to write excellent descriptions in your fiction -- and it turns out to be all about connecting to a character's POV. 

Oct 2, 2025 • 56min
Episode 184: Spooky Season Books and Hellbenders
 It's time to light a fire and curl up with a cup of cocoa and a terrifying book full of creepy shit -- or escaping from creepy shit. We've got recommendations for what to read this season! Plus, contributing host Bethany Brookshire tells us about Hellbenders, creatures who sound terrifying but are actually just little guys. She takes us down the rabbit hole of extermination campaigns to get rid of predators and pests, and why they don't always work out. 

Sep 18, 2025 • 1h 3min
Three Ways of Looking at Bruce Lee (with Jeff Chang)
 Jeff Chang, a historian and author of *Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America*, discusses Bruce Lee's remarkable journey from a child actor in Hong Kong to a cultural icon. Chang highlights Lee's impact on the action hero archetype and how he reshaped perceptions of Asian Americans in cinema. Meanwhile, Nassim Jamnia, a former neuroscientist and author, delves into the fascinating world of fungi, explaining their biological roles and urging speculative fiction to evolve beyond outdated tropes. 

Sep 4, 2025 • 56min
Encore Episode: Silicon Valley vs. Science Fiction: ChatGPT
 For our summer vacation, we're re-upping the first in our "Silicon Valley vs. Science Fiction" series from 2023, about how Silicon Valley appropriates and misinterprets science fiction. Silicon Valley executives claim to be inspired by SF, but mostly they use it retroactively to justify their products, often missing the more complicated, nuanced ideas embedded in the original stories. In this episode, we tackled the hype cycle around A.I., which borrows liberally from the post-scarcity, post-human visions of Iain M. Banks in his Culture novels. It's time for … the Culture vs. ChatGPT! 

Aug 21, 2025 • 53min
Encore Episode: Obsessed with Battlestar Galactica
 Charlie Jane and Annalee are on book tour(s), so we're re-upping one of our favorite episodes from 2023. At that time, we were celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the rebooted version of Battlestar Galactica. This show broke new ground in depicting realistic politics — and a nuanced view of a society of artificial people. How does it hold up? To find out, Charlie Jane went back and watched the entire series — here's what she found. 

Aug 7, 2025 • 54min
Robots! Witches! Annalee and Charlie Jane talk about their new books
 It's a double book birthday! Annalee has just released Automatic Noodle, a wonderfully cozy book about robots who've survived a devastating war and now just want to run a noodle restaurant. And in 12 days, Charlie Jane is releasing Lessons in Magic and Disaster, about a trans witch who teaches her heartbroken mother how to do magic. In this episode, we're both celebrating our new books and talking about how we poured all of our feelings about the past few years into escapist tales. Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect/shownotes   

Jul 24, 2025 • 46min
Murderbot and the Stories That Heal Us
 Dive into a discussion about the healing power of stories and how they can provide comfort during tough times. Explore why dark tales can sometimes be more soothing than light-hearted comedies. Discover the fascinating character of Murderbot, a self-aware cyborg grappling with emotions while navigating perilous adventures. The hosts also delve into the significance of representation in storytelling and the evolution of narrative portrayals of robots in modern media. It's a compelling exploration of narrative therapy and identity! 

Jul 10, 2025 • 58min
The Invisible Chain that Holds Us Together (w/ Alexis Madrigal)
 In a captivating discussion, Alexis Madrigal, an environmental journalist and host of KQED's Forum, delves into how Asian trade has reshaped Oakland, California. He explores the often invisible supply chain that connects global consumers to local communities. The impact of containerization and its environmental consequences on marginalized neighborhoods is highlighted. Additionally, the conversation touches on the role of science fiction in imagining alternative supply chains and community-driven economies, sparking thoughts on sustainability and cultural narratives. 

Jun 26, 2025 • 1h 5min
Cute Body Horror
 We've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that we're talking to Cirocco Dunlap, the showrunner of The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, easily one of our favorite shows right now. Season 2 just came out, and we talk to Dunlap about cute body horror, dealing with mental illness, and interspecies romance. Then contributing host Maggie Tokuda-Hall brings us some bad news. She talks to Kelly Jensen, who runs the newsletter Well Sourced, bringing us up to date on all the latest developments in book bans and library censorship in the United States. Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes 


