On this episode of THE SOUNDS OF FILM with Tom Needham, we delve into the thought-provoking documentary ETERNAL YOU with directors Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck. Known for their acclaimed debut film The Cleaners, the duo now tackles the technological revolution of “digital immortality”—a groundbreaking concept blurring the boundaries between life and death.

ETERNAL YOU examines how artificial intelligence and advanced technologies allow people to interact with digital avatars of deceased loved ones. From a grieving mother reuniting with her late daughter in virtual reality to a man spending months talking to an AI replica of his girlfriend, the film raises urgent questions about grief, ethics, and the commercialization of human emotions.

Tom Needham engages the filmmakers in a compelling discussion about the psychological, social, and philosophical implications of resurrecting the dead through AI.

The episode also explores how this technology challenges traditional ideas of mortality, accountability, and the very essence of what it means to be human.

Join us for an eye-opening conversation about the promises and pitfalls of digital resurrection, the race for afterlife-related technologies by major corporations, and the future of humanity in an increasingly digitized world.

Listen to the interview on America’s longest running film, music and ideas radio show, The Sounds of Film on WUSB on Thursday at 6 pm.

On the next episode of SOUNDS OF FILM with Tom Needham, we are honored to feature Dr. Charles Camarda, a NASA veteran whose remarkable career has left a lasting impact on space exploration. Growing up in Ozone Park, Queens, Dr. Camarda rose to prominence as a mission specialist on the historic STS-114, the first space shuttle mission following the tragic Columbia disaster in 2003.

Beyond his time in space, he has held key leadership roles, including director of engineering at the Johnson Space Center and deputy director of NASA’s Engineering and Safety Center.
Dr. Camarda has been a steadfast advocate for safety and accountability within the space program, courageously addressing systemic challenges and leadership culture at NASA.

He joins us to discuss his groundbreaking career and his new book, ”Mission Out of Control,” which explores the erosion of a research-focused culture in high-risk organizations.

This airs Thursday, January 23 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

This week, Destinies takes you back to last summer for some music and celebrates the 20th anniversary of a well-loved TV series.

Tune in Friday night and 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.

Friday, January 17th, at 11:30 PM.

Hosted by Howard Margolin

Destinies-The Voice of Science Fiction

This week’s Sounds of Film radio show features an exciting conversation with independent director Jim McKay, known not only for his groundbreaking 1996 indie film “Girls Town,” but also for directing acclaimed television episodes of “The Wire,” “Treme,” “Better Call Saul,” “Big Love,” “Criminal Intent,” and “Mr. Robot.”

Jim joins the show to discuss the newly restored 4K release of “Girls Town,” a gritty and powerful classic that explores the lives of three teenage girls navigating the harsh realities of patriarchal violence while finding solidarity, strength, and empowerment in their friendship. With its bold, improvisational style and an unforgettable soundtrack featuring Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa and PJ Harvey, the film remains as impactful and relevant today as it was when it premiered at Sundance nearly 30 years ago.

The show will dive into the making of “Girls Town,” the indie film scene of the 1990s, and Jim’s artistic journey across film and television.

This program airs Thursday, January 16 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Prepare for an enthralling journey into the unknown on this week’s episode of the SOUNDS OF FILM with Tom Needham. It airs Thursday, January 9, between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

Join us as we sit down with award-winning filmmaker and UFO documentarian Dean Alioto, the creator of the groundbreaking new documentary, “The Alien Perspective.” Known for his pioneering work in the found-footage genre with “The McPherson Tape” and his cult classic “Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County,” Alioto has spent decades exploring the mysteries of the paranormal and extraterrestrial encounters.
“The Alien Perspective” offers a fresh and groundbreaking take on the UFO phenomenon, examining it for the first time from the visitors’ perspective.

Featuring exclusive interviews with world-renowned experts like astrophysicist Michio Kaku, SETI astronomer Seth Shostak, investigative journalist Leslie Kean, and philosopher Nick Bostrom, this documentary combines cutting-edge science, credible eyewitness accounts, and philosophical insights to reimagine how we think about extraterrestrial life.

Delve into the most famous UFO incidents, including the Rendlesham Forest Incident and the Navy’s “Tic Tac” encounter, as Alioto introduces testimonies from military witnesses and firsthand experiencers. Learn about artifacts allegedly not of this Earth, simulation theory, and the possible motivations behind alien visits to our planet.

Whether you’re a believer, a skeptic, or someone simply curious about the unexplained, this episode will challenge your perspective and spark your imagination. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with Dean Alioto about his thought-provoking documentary “The Alien Perspective.”

Celebrate the late David Bowie's birthday on Davie Jones Locker on Wednesday January 8 at 8:00 PM. We'll feature classic Bowie tracks along with music from musicians appearing at The Sound and Vision of David Bowie shows at The Cutting Room, January 9–12.

The Sound and Vision of David Bowie – A Celebration is a band of latter-day Bowie collaborators and co-creators who gather annually to perform his music exclusively at The Cutting Room in New York City. These artists have been integral to Bowie’s work since the mid-1990s, from the Outside/Nine Inch Nails tour in 1995 to his theatrical masterpiece Lazarus in 2015. Members of the group have contributed to every Bowie recording and tour from 1997 onward, including Earthling, hours, Heathen, Reality, The Next Day, Blackstar, and the newly released Toy—Bowie’s long-lost 2000 album.

From Howard Margolin

This week, Destinies explores the multiverse through the lens of Beatles history.

Tune in Friday night at 11:15 PM as 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. Set in 1996, the story imagines a world where the Beatles never disbanded. DJ Pete Fornatale walks through the tunnels beneath Fordham University, only to emerge into a music world that's vastly different from his own.

As Pete struggles to navigate alternate realities and ensure John Lennon’s survival in each of them, he meets the woman who inspired Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne.” She reveals her ability to travel between realities at will, showing just how much the world changes when the history of the Beatles shifts.

Friday, December 27th, at 11:15 PM.

Hosted by Howard Margolin.

Destinies – The Voice of Science Fiction

The Melting World pays tribute to the recently departed Zakir Hussain, the legendary Indian tabla player and composer. The son of renowned tabla maestro Allah Rakha, Hussain played a pivotal role in bringing classical Indian music to a global audience alongside Ravi Shankar.

As a young virtuoso, he sought collaborations across musical boundaries, working with Indian, European, and American artists. He co-founded the groundbreaking fusion band Shakti with British guitarist John McLaughlin, and frequently collaborated with The Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, jazz icon Charles Lloyd, and longtime partner Shiv Kumar Sharma, the master of the santur.

Join us this Sunday from 12:00–5:00 AM for a deep dive into the life and music of one of the greatest musicians of all time. Only on WUSB 90.1 FM and streaming at wusb.fm, where unique sounds begin.

This week, Destinies salutes the release of Kraven the Hunter and makes a final trip to the I-Con 31 Cabaret. Tune in Friday night as Peter Parker attends the funeral of his friend Ned Leeds, while Mary Jane Watson reflects on her relationship with Peter—and his confession that he is Spider-Man.

The Destinies Audiobook Sampler and Destinies Radio Theater join forces for part two of Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt, adapted by Graphic Audio from Neil Kleid's novelization.

Next, journey back to the Stony Brook Student Activities Center auditorium, where comedy rap artist Devo Spice delivers his songs "Half-Assed Rapper" and "Earworm" during the closing act of the I-Con 31 Cabaret.

Catch it all on Friday, December 13th, at 11:30 PM.

Hosted by Howard Margolin. Destinies—The Voice of Science Fiction.