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June 27, 2025 Remembering director David Lynch (1/20/46-1/16/25) with a digitally re-edited encore of a 1984 interview with Lynch and author Frank Herbert, about the making of the movie Dune. Patrick Thomas' "Dear Cthulhu" returns to answer a letter from a boy who wants to know how to maintain a long-distance relationship without the internet or a cell phone. The Destinies Soundtrack Spotlight shines on John Williams' score for The Lost World: Jurassic Park. And, learn about the final set of nominees for this year's Hugo Awards.

  

Take the TARDIS to hear all the Destinies episodes including the November 5, 1993 episode featuring "Weird Al" Yankovic singing "Jurassic Park."


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June 20, 2025 Travel back to Stony Brook's Staller Center on the evening of November 23rd, 2024, for the conclusion of Jackie Evancho's set of fantasy-related music from Broadway and film. You'll find out which song from "The Phantom of the Opera" inspired Jackie to become a singer, and experience Jackie's interpretation of music from "Pinocchio," "The Wizard of Oz," and "Man of La Mancha." Plus, you'll hear an original piano composition from Jackie's musical director Jorn Swart. And, you'll learn about the next set of nominees for the 2025 Hugo Awards, including the Best Fancast, which, sadly, does not include any radio shows.



Take the TARDIS to hear all the Destinies episodes including the June 18, 1985 episode featuring part 2 of an interview with Mark Gruenwald.


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June 13, 2025 Travel back to the evening of November 23rd, 2024, as Jackie Evancho took the stage at Stony Brook's Staller Center with her musical director and accompanist on the piano to perform a set of fantasy-related songs, from stage, screen, TV, and radio. You'll hear music from Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Game of Thrones, and even "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," as well as an original piano solo. Plus, Jackie talks about her early influences, working with producer David Foster, and singing for the Pope and George R. R. Martin. You'll also learn the next set of nominees for this year's Hugo Awards, including the contenders for Best Game.

June 6, 2025 Continuing the memorial for Tony Roberts with his narration of the adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO as they escape from the crippled Rebel ship and find themselves in the desert wastes of Tatooine, in part 2 of Alan Dean Foster's novelization of George Lucas' Star Wars: A New Hope, on the Destinies Audiobook Sampler. Then, Tony Roberts and Kerry Butler perform "Whenever You're Away from Me," from the original Broadway Cast Recording of Xanadu. Also from Broadway, Idina Menzel sings "The Stars," from the recently closed musical Redwood. Christina M. Rau reads her poem "One More Sunny Day." Return to L.I. Geek 2018, as Peter David relates an anecdote about his fellow author and friend Harlan Ellison. And, learn about the next set of nominees for this year's Hugo Awards, including the Best Dramatic Presentations.

  

May 30, 2025 Destinies' May Memorial series with a trio of tributes. Remember 28-time guest Peter David, who died on May 24th at the age of 68, with an encore of his reading from his 2008 Peter Pan-inspired novel Tigerheart. Return to the I-Con 10 Cabaret, on April 20th, 1991, to honor the memory of actor Wings Hauser, who died on March 15th at the age of 77, with his performance of an original song, introduced by Doctor Who actor Jon Levene. And, from a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, actor Tony Roberts, who died on February 7th at age 85, reads part one of Alan Dean Foster's novelization of George Lucas' Star Wars: A New Hope, on the Destinies Audiobook Sampler. Plus, learn about the first set of literary nominees for this year's Hugo Awards.

  

May 23, 2025 Concluding the memorials for writer Barry N. Malzberg and artist Greg Hildebrandt, who both died at the age of 85 in 2024. On the Destinies Audiobook Sampler, learn about the horseplayers Mary and Simmons, two of the people that the Galactic Bureau plan to use to accelerate the destruction of the human race as Stefan Rudnicki reads chapters 2 and 3 of Barry Malzberg's 1972 novel Overlay. Then, travel back to the 2015 Garden State Comic Fest, to learn how Greg Hildebrandt and his brother, Tim got the assignments to create their Marvel Masterworks trading card series, and produce the art on the comic strip "Terry and the Pirates" in part 2 of Phil Merkel's interview with Greg in the 245th edition of "Graphic Detail."

  

May 16, 2025 Part 1 of a 2-part memorial series, honoring the memories of author Barry N. Malzberg (7/24/39-12/19/24) and artist Greg Hildebrandt (1/23/39-10/31/24). On the Destinies Audiobook Sampler, hear the beginning of Barry Malzberg's Overlay, book 1 of his "Horseplayer Trilogy." When the Galactic Bureau decides that Earth poses a clear and present danger to the cause of Galactic Unity, a galactic agent recruits the perpetual loser Simmons from the world of Aqueduct horse-racing to fight the Good Fight against entropy and chaos. Then, travel back to the Garden State Comic Fest in July of 2015 to relive Capt. Phil Merkel's interview with fantasy illustrator Greg Hildebrandt, in the 244th edition of "Graphic Detail." Find out how Greg and his brother Tim started their careers, how they discovered the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and how their illustrations of "The Lord of the Rings" evolved into a classic trilogy of calendars. And learn how they got the assignment to create the now-famous poster for the original Star Wars.

  

May 9, 2025 The Destinies Film Review Avengers (Howard Margolin, Audrey Dettmering, Dave Campfield, Justin Paul, Alex Blaut) assemble live to discuss "Thunderbolts*." Does a team of skilled fighters with limited powers have a place in the MCU? Have the characters developed at all from their previous appearances? Who are the standouts in the cast? Will the story make sense if you haven't seen the Captain America movies, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Black Widow? And what is this film worth on the Famous Destinies zero to $9.50 rating scale?



May 2, 2025 Destinies celebrates its 42nd anniversary with a one-hour special, featuring encores of dramatic readings from authors Patrick Thomas, Paul Levinson, Athena M. Kaiman, and Marc Vun Kannon. Comedy musician Devo Spice introduces Tony Goldmark and Jacob Martin's update of Tom Lehrer's "We Will All Go Together When We Go." Author John Peel returns for his 13th appearance with an outtake from his November 22nd, 2024 interview about his audio book "Doctor Who: River of Death." Patrick Thomas' "Dear Cthulhu" answers a letter from a man who is a terrible singer. And Christina M. Rau reads her poem "But Where Does the Energy Come From." Plus, learn how you can help WUSB with a pledge during this Spring Radiothon special.



April 25, 2025 Destinies joins in WUSB's World Music Marathon with an exclusive recording of Grammy Award-winning Japanese composer and instrumentalist Kitaro, in concert at Brookville's Tilles Center on September 28th, 1994. Appearing on Long Island as part of his 1994 Mandala World Tour, in the wake of his Golden Globe Award for his score for Heaven and Earth, Kitaro and his nine-piece band perform a set of music making full use of synthesizers, guitars, Japanese flutes, taiko drums, and more, combining Asian, Indian, and progressive rock influences. And, learn how you can receive your choice of 321 different Destinies exclusive premiums, in addition to many WUSB items, for your pledge of support during this Spring Radiothon special.



April 18, 2025 "Graphic Detail" # 243: Celebrating Superman Day and the 87th anniversary of Superman's first appearance with part 2 of "Is Superman Circumcised? The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero," a talk by author Roy Schwartz, recorded at Eternal Con #9. Roy continues his story about Superman's creators drawing the anger of the Nazis in 1940, then moves on to following decades, when Superman’s mostly Jewish writers, artists, and editors continued to borrow Jewish motifs for their stories, basing Krypton’s past on Genesis and Exodus, its civilization on Jewish culture, the trial of Lex Luthor on Adolf Eichmann’s and a holiday celebrating Superman based on Passover. In addition, Christina M. Rau reads her poem "Brighter Materials." And learn how you can receive your choice of Superman-related premiums for your pledge of support to WUSB during this Spring Radiothon special.



April 11, 2025 The late actor Gene Hackman is remembered with excerpts from the 1981 radio special "The History of Superman." "Graphic Detail" # 242: Part 1 of "Is Superman Circumcised?" a talk by author Roy Schwartz, recorded at Eternal Con #9. Based on Roy's book of the same name, this talk covers the early part of "The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero." Introduced in April, 1938, the Man of Steel was created by two Jewish teens, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. They based Superman's origin story on Moses, his strength on Samson, his mission on the golem and his nebbish secret identity on themselves. They made him a refugee fleeing catastrophe on the eve of World War II and sent him to capture Hitler nearly two years before the US joined the war. Plus, learn how you can receive your choice of Superman-related premiums for your pledge of support during this Spring Radiothon special.

April 4, 2025 The Voice of Science Fiction honors the memory of Ralph Schiano (12/25/1953-3/13/2021), who, in addition to being part of the Destinies crew from 1984-1995, was also the Chairman of I-Cons 1 through 10 at Stony Brook University. During his time with the show, Ralph was a fully involved member of the team, bringing his knowledge of engineering and his vast experience in fandom and as a merchandise dealer at science fiction conventions to his contributions, which included reviews, short story readings, music selection, interviews, and convention updates. In tribute to Ralph, you'll hear his readings of two classic short stories, Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and Arthur C. Clarke's "The Star," as well as his message to the people of 2085, which was included in the Stony Brook Time Capsule of 1985. Plus, learn how you can receive your choice of 324 different Destinies exclusive premiums for your support of WUSB during this Radiothon special.



March 28, 2024 Destinies is pre-empted for the WUSB Student Lockdown



March 21, 2025 Part 2 of the July 20, 2022 phone conversation with actor Sam J. Jones, who starred in 1980's Flash Gordon. Discover how he felt about his guest-starring role on Sci-Fi's Flash Gordon in 2007. Learn about how he was cast as a version of himself in Seth McFarlane's Ted and Ted 2, and what input he had in the way he was presented. Hear about the way special effects techniques have evolved since 1980. And find out about the recent films Sam has appeared in. Plus, Patrick Thomas' "Dear Cthulhu" returns to answer a letter from a farmer with a money problem.



March 14, 2025 Host Howard Margolin celebrates 41 years with Destinies by presenting part one of a two-part phone interview with actor Sam J. Jones, best remembered as Flash Gordon from the 1980 film, and for playing a version of himself in Ted and Ted 2. You'll find out what he likes about going to conventions after so many years, especially in the post-pandemic world. You'll learn about the challenging stunt-scenes in Flash Gordon; what kind of advice Sam was given by his veteran co-stars like Topol, Brian Blessed, and Max Von Sydow; and how the cast gets along more than 40 years after the film was released. And, you'll hear about Sam's other work within the genre, including The Spirit and The Highwayman. Plus, Christina M. Rau reads her poem "Calling the Satellites Home."

March 7, 2025 Remembering George Zebrowski, who died on December 20th, 2024 at the age of 78, by going back to George's appearance in the WUSB studio during the I-Con 10 Mystery Guest special on April 19th, 1991. The winner of the 1999 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for his novel Brute Orbits, George was part of a group of authors, scientists, and editors who appeared live on Destinies, joining co-hosts Howard Margolin and Glenn Greenberg for an impromptu gathering during the annual convention of science fiction, fact, and fantasy. Along with his partner in work and life, Pamela Sargent, scientist and author Charles Pellegrino, and Marvel Comics promotions director Steve Saffel, George and the group talked about their individual and mutual projects, the state of science fiction at the time, working with cover artists, and the differences in publishing between novels and comic books.



February 28, 2025 Actor Mark Strickson, who played Vislor Turlough during the Peter Davison era of Doctor Who, returns for an update interview, exactly 39 years to the day after his first appearance. In a conversation recorded at last summer's Long Island Doctor Who convention, you'll learn about the direction Mark's life and career went since 1986, including his evolution into a producer of nature documentaries, and his occasional return to Doctor Who through Big Finish audio productions. Also, Doctor Who actors Colin Baker and Terry Molloy star as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in an onstage performance of act one of their version of "The Hound of the Baskervilles," as the first edition of the L.I. Who Cabaret begins. Plus, in memory of actress Michelle Trachtenberg, who died on February 26th at the age of 39, you'll hear her songs from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode "Once More With Feeling."



February 21, 2025 The Destinies Film Review Avengers (Howard Margolin, Audrey Dettmering, Dave Campfield, Timothy Gillespie) assemble to discuss Captain America: Brave New World. Is the movie a worthy successor to the previous Captain America series, which included some of the best in MCU history? How does Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson take up the mantle of Captain America without the benefit of Steve Rogers' super-soldier serum? Is the movie unwittingly prescient, in making the President of the United States into a red rage monster? What did Marvel do to address threats of boycotts if the Israeli character Ruth Bat-Seraph remained in the film? And what is the movie worth on the famous Destinies zero to $9.50 rating scale?



February 14, 2025 Saluting the release of Captain America: Brave New World, with Tom Taylorson telling the story of how Steve Rogers met Sam Wilson as he reads from the novelization of Captain America: The Winter Soldier on the Destinies Audiobook Sampler. In memory of humorist Jules Feiffer, travel back to 1981 for an encore performance of Feiffer's sketch "George's Moon," performed by Cameron Douglas and Robert Smedfjeld of the Little Theater Company of Commack. Christina M. Rau reads her poem "Our Sacred Geometry." Patrick Thomas' "Dear Cthulhu" answers a letter from a man with a gambling problem.

  

February 7, 2025 Destinies is pre-empted by WUSB's semi-annual Regis Marathon:

"I'm out of control!" I meant Reggae Marathon.

January 31, 2025 An all-memorial special as The Voice of Science Fiction brings you its 40th annual tribute to the crews of the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia. Learn about the crew and the preparation that went into Columbia's last mission when Evelyn Husband reads part 15 of High Calling: The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband. Travel back to 1966, to relive the Broadway debut of the late actress Linda Lavin, with her songs from It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman. In memory of cartoonist and writer Jules Feiffer, hear his take on "Superman," in a sketch from his 1969 collection, "Feiffer's People," performed by the Destinies crew in 1986. And, learn about the career of director Jeannot Szwarc, over music from John Barry's score for his 1980 film Somewhere in Time.



January 24, 2025 Learn the history behind the long friendship of Saul Tigh and William Adama as Jonathan Davis reads part 2 of Craig Shaw Gardner's Battlestar Galactica: The Cylons' Secret on the Destinies Audio Book Sampler. Return to the Smithtown Historical Society's Frank Brush Barn Grounds on the evening of July 23rd, 2024 for part two of the Smithtown Community Band's final "Starry Nights" concert. Associate Conductor Bradley S. Hartman leads the Band in his own "Ascending to the Skies Above" and Yukiko Nishimura's "Starship." Then, Conductor William T. Link takes over for a medley of John Williams' "Star Wars Marches." And, learn about the Smithtown Community Band's 2025 concert schedule.

  

January 17, 2025 Return to the Smithtown Historical Society's Frank Brush Barn Grounds on the evening of July 23rd, 2024, for part one of a two-part concert by the Smithtown Community Band. Under the direction of William T. Link, the band performs a medley of songs from the soundtrack of Guardians of the Galaxy, and, with guest-vocalist Georganna Piazza, "The Music of the Night" from The Phantom of the Opera. Then, in honor of the 20th anniversary of Sci-Fi's Battlestar Galactica series, learn how the original war with the Cylons began when Jonathan Davis reads part one of Craig Shaw Gardner's novel The Cylons' Secret on the Destinies Audiobook Sampler.

January 10, 2025 Travel back to 2024's Long Island Doctor Who convention for an exclusive update interview with Jason Haigh-Ellery, producer of Big Finish, which has been releasing original Doctor Who audio dramas since 1999. Returning to Destinies for the first time since 2012, Jason reflects on the origins of Big Finish; how he got the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Doctors to come on board, and later, the 4th, 9th, and 10th Doctors; how Big Finish's recording techniques had to adapt to the 2020 pandemic; and how he continues to reunite Doctor Who cast members who live around the world. In addition, Patrick Thomas' "Dear Cthulhu" answers a letter from a man who is dealing with the consequences of a golfing accident. Plus, Christina M. Rau reads her poem "Everything in Totality."



January 3, 2025 The Destinies Film Review Team (Howard Margolin, Audrey Dettmering, Dave Campfield, Justin Paul, Alex Blaut, Evan Iervalino) assembles live to list their favorite and least favorite science fiction, fantasy, adventure, horror, super-hero, and genre-adjacent movies of 2024. Out of the 150 films eligible for consideration, will there be a consensus among the group? Which, if any, of the year's biggest films will make the best lists? Will there be any surprises or absolute disagreements? Were there any unseen titles that sounded intriguing upon review? And what movies are the team most looking forward to in 2025?

  

December 27, 2024 Destinies explores the multiverse from the point of view of the history of the Beatles. Author Paul Levinson returns for his third appearance to discuss and read from his novel It's Real Life: An Alternate History of the Beatles. It's 1996, and in a world where the Beatles never disbanded, DJ Pete Fornatale walks in the tunnels under Fordham University to emerge and find that the world of music he inhabits is very different. As he struggles to understand how to get in and out of alternate realities, and make sure John Lennon isn't killed in any of them, he will meet the woman who inspired Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne," learn how she can travel between realities at will, and find out how much the world differs when the history of the Beatles changes.

  




Dr. Howard Margolin

You can write to Howard Margolin to offer comments about the show or to request copies of Destinies episodes on CD by emailing

DestiniesVoice@aol.com

or write:
Destinies c/o WUSB Radio
Attn: Howard Margolin
2nd Floor West Side Dining
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-3200



To contact Destinies Webmaster, Captain Phil click the Captain's Lunchbox


captphil@captphilonline.com