WHAT WE DO

Generation Skywalker are delighted to welcome Zia Rezvi to the show to discuss his collecting habits and history.

Zia sits down with Stuart to explore what he calls his 'three phases of collecting'.  

Phase 1 (1977–1983) – books, magazines, scrapbook, trading cards and stickers. Phase 2 (1994–2005) – Topps trading cards, vintage and modern. Phase 3 (2011–present) – Vintage Toy Collecting.  

The pair also discuss Zia's background – from seeing the movie in Belgium on release, to his five favourite runs in his collection. Some beautiful items and some wonderful tales.

Back during May's episode of 'Those Old Fossils', Jez made the statement: "Give me a quiz on the original trilogy movies and I'd pan the lot of you".

And so here we are to see if his arrogant boast can be backed up.

Jez takes on Craig, Grant and guest Marc Hockley as they go head-to-head in Classic Original Trilogy Trivial Pursuit.  

Join in and answer the questions before they do and see how you get on.

Will Jez deliver?  Will Grant send that email to Parker Brothers?  Will Craig answer a question with something other than 'Princess Leia'?  Is Marc Hockley really there to make up the numbers (according to Jez)?

Listen in and find out.

(Unavailable as an enhanced video version.)

Watch Nick Owen talk vintage Star Wars on BBC Midlands Today! 

See the boxed ships that 'look like they've been stored in a jacuzzi'! 

Marvel at images of Mark as a young child and a teenager!

It's all here in the enhanced version of Those Old Fossils Episode 7.

Grant, Mark, Craig and Stuart settle down to discuss vintage Star Wars with a focus on the state of the hobby at the end of a horrendous 2020.

With the pandemic hitting hard, unemployment on the rise and uncertainty around when all this will end, the team admit that they all thought the hobby would take a battering over the year, but with prices spiralling out of control, how wrong they were.

The boys look back at some of the stand-out auctions from 2020 – from C&T Auctions early lockdown Palitoy-heavy sale, through to the final ever Astons auction – delving into the highlights and looking at some of the insane prices certain items went for. 

Are current market values actually sustainable? It's a hot topic that gets some great discussion flowing.

This YouTube video really is the format we'd recommend to watch this particular episode.

Go on... watch it along with us. You know you want to.

Following on from our Holiday Special 'Special', Dan, Craig, Stuart and Jez get together to watch the Holiday Special in it's entirety. 

What new insights and observations will they offer up?  

At the time of recording, none of them have watched it for many years  (apart from Jez who made his wife watch it just 24 hours before!) and we're inviting you to listen along to their reactions as they happen.  

There's even a little bit of post show analysis as they each give it a  rating out of ten. Will there be high scores all round? Or will there be  detractors?  

The perfect companion to SHOW 030.

Experiencing The Star Wars Holiday Special with your ears is one thing – actually witnessing it with your own eyes is another thing entirely.

This enhanced version fuses clips from the much maligned 1978 TV special with stills and other material to bring our indepth overview to life.

"It makes us smile, but only because we are laughing at the utter  horror. We laugh to avoid the pain." – Mark Beall  

"Words have not been invented to describe how bad it is." – Alex Carter  "

We could go on, but is The Star  Wars Holiday Special really as bad as its reputation? Jez, Craig and Stuart to try to answer that question as they look into variety shows of the time, the plot, the music, the cast, crew and much more.

The boys also draw up their own Holiday Specials for a post-Force Awakens Disney release – Will Poe and BB-8 deliver salt from Crait to the Resistance to save Christmas Dinner? Will the 60 minute makeover team be able to rebuild Maz's castle? Will Han Solo's send off be as  crazy as Ackmena using a conga to clear a Cantina? Listen in and decide  for yourselves.

Some people like to listen to our shows whilst driving, or walking the dog, or dodging covidiots in the supermarket, and that's great – our regular podcasts have got you covered.

But if you're at home and want to occasionally glance up to see what we are talking about, stick this enhanced version on your telly or other device. It'll save you Googling 'Tiki Farm George Lucas mug'.

Continuing our run of shows for the festive season, Generation Skywalker brings you the latest edition of 'The Modern Way'.

Once again the team covers all the latest announcements, as we see yet more reveals for the Black Series and Vintage Collection lines – though the majority of this month's love is directed at the Hot Toys Tusken Raider and the four new Episode One Tiki Mugs.

Keeping with a  seasonal theme, we delve into the world of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments and discuss our favourite ever Christmas related figures, along with a look forward to what we're hoping to see in 2021.

What's better than an audio guide to Star Wars beer? 

How about a guide where you can watch along and see all the cool can and bottle designs as we discuss them? Give this a whirl on YouTube and discover some great tasting (and great looking) beers.

Beer and Star Wars – they are more connected than you might think. Welcome to the first ever Generation Skywalker Beer Show.

Stuart, Craig, Jez, Dan and Mark are joined by beer expert Kimberley Owen, who takes us through a tasting of five Star Wars themed beers from Moor Beer, Tiny Rebel, Brew York and Original Stormtrooper breweries. She really knows her stuff and takes the boys out of their comfort zones, as she teaches them how to appreciate what they are drinking. We learned a lot, you might too.

Between drinks, Craig takes us through his latest blog post, which looks at drinking culture as portayed in the movies, TV shows and expanded universe, as well as a tour of Star Wars-themed beers from around the world, while the team suggests suitable ways of storing, serving and enjoying your beers.

The movie of the podcast, based on the original books.

Want to see all the covers and some inside pages of all the books discussed in our show dedicated to collecting guides? 

You're in the right place.

The team continues their look at books, with a deep dive into collecting guides.

There are so many collecting books out there – from outdated price guides and encyclopedias, through to volumes on some very niche areas of the hobby – there really is something for every collector.

The boys look at what makes a good collecting guide and discuss some of the standout authors, while each bringing three books to the table.

Discover the guides that had an impact on them through the years, along with the ones that are just among their favourites.

Our enhanced podcasts really come into their own with a show like this. 

In an episode where we cover tonnes of new and freshly announced items, it's nice to see exactly what are discussing – that's why we go to the effort of crafting these visual versions. 

It's packed full of images, stills and little touches you don't get on the audio version, so If you've not experienced one of our YouTube  extravaganzas before, this is a great one to start with.

The Modern Way is back with an announcement-heavy show as Stuart, Craig, Mark and Dan dissect all the latest news from the world of modern collecting.

Is the Tantive IV playset is better than the Freezing Chamber set? Have a listen and find out. 

The Mission Fleet toys have just hit UK shelves and we give our full and frank opinions on the range.  

Plus we discuss all the latest Black Series, Vintage Collection, Funko Pop and Hot Toys news, as well as taking a look at the new Lego Mos Eisley Cantina, which has got the team frothing at the mouth. In a good way.

Without execption, Stephen J Sansweet's collecting books have all been visual guides, so what better way to celebrate his work than with a visual podcast?

We've lovingly grafted a wealth of imagery onto what was already a great interview, to make this special chat even more special.

Extra special guest, Stephen J Sansweet, joins Stuart and Dan to delve into the many books he has written.

Head of Fan Relations at Lucasfilm for 15 years, Stephen was author or co-author of 18 books, 16 of which were Star Wars books.  

From Concept To Screen To Collectible was the catalyst book for the Star Wars collecting hobby and impacted everyone who purchased it back in 1992. Since then, he has released action figure guides, poster books, encyclopedias, vaults, price guides, scrapbooks and quote books.  And take it from us, every one of them is a must in any Star Wars library.

We discuss the impact of both From Concept To Screen To Collectible and The Tomart's Guide in depth, as well as looking at Steve's other literary works. This is a fascinating insight into a much loved pioneer of our hobby and an essential listen for any collector.

A fun zip through some of some highlights from 35 year's worth of Star Wars Expanded Universe novels, with one of the fandom's most well respected figures.

All brought to life in this enhanced version with tonnes of cover images, character illustrations and much more.

Joining Craig and Stuart as part of Generation Skywalker's book month, is Star Wars fanatic, blogger and podcaster Richard Hutchinson.

Rich is a huge Expanded Universe fan and chooses his five favourite EU books and why they mean the most to him, as well as explaining why he is so invested in the literature of Star Wars.

The chat covers a wide cross section of novels and is ideal for anyone looking to dip their toe in Star Wars Legends, as well as those wanting to revisit these stories.

See exactly what we are discussing on this lively, one-off roundtable about the original Thrawn novels. 

Packed with covers and character art, this enhanced podcast is ideal if you are unfamiliar with the books and are keen to learn more.

It's five years after Return of the Jedi: the Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven the  remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting Jedi twins.  And Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of Jedi  Knights.

In 1991, Star Wars burst back into fans' lives with the release of the Timothy Zahn novel, Heir To The Empire, which began the start of a trilogy of books, affectionately known as 'The Thrawn Trilogy'.  

Stuart and Craig are joined by Mark Mulcaster and Mark Newbold to discuss this books and the impact they had on the Star Wars Universe.  Join us as we reminisce about characters old  and new, a plot which perhaps should have been the sequel trilogy on screen and just how much these books changed the Star Wars landscape.

While this shorter, intro to our book month, might not cover as many items as our regular roundtables, we know people still like to watch along on YouTube.

So with added pics and video, here's a rich media alternative to the straight audio for your viewing pleasure.

We invite you to embrace the written word this September, as we bring you Generation Skywalker's 'book month'.

On this prologue show Jez, Craig, Dan and Stuart introduce what's to come and how we plan to celebrate the vast array of books in the Star Wars universe. And to kick off a busy month of podcasting, each host has brought in their favourite book to discuss with the rest of the class.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin...

Esteemed collector, Ross Barr takes us through his vintage collection in just five items.  

He brings some fantastic, beautifully displayed treasures to the table and the final piece – a loose Darth Vader with frosting – comes with an incredible back story.  

The interview also covers his involvement with Collector Archive Services, his amazing collection room and even other toy lines, including Masters of the Universe and GI Joe.

All the great audio of show 008 peppered with lots of high quality imagery to save you having to go and Google pics of the new Teebo.

From Mark Boudreaux's back catalogue to all the upcoming figure releases, plus our latest purchases, Grevious memes and more. 

If we talk about it, we show it.

In this month's episode, the boys give some love to some of the toys Mark Boudreaux designed as he announces his retirement.
 

New York Toy Fair seems a lifetime ago, but we check out the announcements from there, as well as further reveals from Hasbro. Mark gives his honest opinion on the Carbonized Black Series Fett on the way – not sure he'll be investing in that one.
 

As well as all this, we take a look at the second wave in the Retro line and explore the best General Grievous figures released of the cyborg so far.

The enhanced video version of show 007 that lets you see, as well as hear, what we are discussing this month.

Includes lots of great Palitoy imagery, highlights from the C&T auction, and even a great photo of a 7 year old Craig under his Christmas tree – though it's worth a look for a glimpse at the current collections of our core hosts alone!

With everyone across the globe in different levels of lockdown, the team discuss various ways to spend time with your collections in isolation. 

They look at the Star Wars Palitoy Facebook group's recent Top 5 thread, alongside a discussion around the Palitoy items sold recently by C&T Auctions.

After a great blog post over on the Star Wars Collectors Archive by Ron Salvatore, the team look at the Argentinian Pepsi promotion and recent fake sticker discovery.

And they begin their drive to discover and showcase collectors working with limited space to create kick-ass displays.

A special, enhanced video presentation of show 006 featuring a wealth of imagery and video content, including all the work that went into creating the range and the ideas behind the promotional campaign.

The show is available in our usual audio formats, but this really brings the story to life with never-seen-before concepts and visuals.

In 2017 Helix released a 40th Anniversary Star Wars range to celebrate their line from back in 1977 – and Craig, Mark and Grant Criddle played a big part.

This podcast takes you through the journey of how the 40th Anniversary range came to be – from connecting with Helix through a Twitter post, to the release and promotion of the line. 

But that is only half the story. Join Mark and Craig as they relive this great story of fan passion and where it can lead.

Generation Skywalker welcomes you to join us for the first of a six-part series on the world of diecast toys over the years.

In this first episode, Stuart is joined by Andrew Norton – a diecast focus collector and owner/editor of www.vintagestarwarsdiecast.co.uk. Together they look at the first range of diecast vehicles, judging each one on its merits, as well as discussing the packaging, licenses, mailers and everything in between.

Join us for a fun ride through the land of die cast metal and all its wonders.

(Unavailable as an enhanced video version.)

In first of our monthly Modern Roundtable shows, Daniel Burgess joins Simon, Mark, Craig and Stuart to chat about the sad end to the 5 p.o.a. line, where's best to purchase modern items in the UK, and the new Galaxy of Adventures 5" line, before looking at a selection of new and recently announced Mandalorian items.

Will Dan allow his child to open some modern figures? Will Mark allow himself to like anything modern? Will Stuart weaken and buy a Hot Toys figure? Listen in as the team all deal with their own modern issues.

Generation Skywalker welcomes its first ever guest, as Christopher James Leddy – one of the nicest guys in the universe – joins Stuart to discuss collecting Hot Toys. (A discussion which has since prompted Stuart to order a couple himself!)

Chris tells us what Hot Toys mean to him and why he collects the line. We discuss his own podcast channel – Sixth Scale Scavengers – and delve into his favourite items and what he's looking forward to from the upcoming releases later this year.

(Unavailable as an enhanced video version.)

Our first Vintage Roundtable, and this month we're asking, 'why the hell do I collect this stuff?', as well as discussing Circus World and some special value yellow tape – which raises more questions than the team offers answers. 

Craig delves into the Chinese bootleg comic world of lianhuanhua, we explore the unproduced Kenner Sandspeeder and also take an appreciative look at the wonderful imagination of the Imperial Commissary members as they dress up as cardback art.

(Unavailable as an enhanced video version.)

An introductory show and your chance to meet the five core hosts, learn a bit more about the concept behind Generation Skywalker and find out what we'll be offering over the coming weeks, months and years...

(Unavailable as an enhanced video version.)

Generation Skywalker provides 
an online resource of information and entertainment 
for anyone interested in 
Star Wars and its cultural legacy.  Presented across key channels
 our content is as diverse as it is digestible
 and presented by upbeat and expert
 ambassadors of the fan community.

Our team is made up of podcast veterans, seasoned collectors, and online fan site admins.

Chances are you'll have encountered at least one of us on your Star Wars travels. And if not, please meet Stuart Skinner, Jez Allinson, Grant Criddle, Mark Daniels, Craig Spivey and Dan Burgess – we're looking forward to getting to know you.

We're all about passionate people talking about the things they love.  

We're also about providing managable chunks of content that people can dip in and out of without overstaying our welcome. So, to that end, we are adopting a 'Rule of 5'.

Tour a collection in 5 objects... Learn the history of a topic in 5 photos... Here are 5 reasons why 'this thing' is better than 'that thing'...  You get the idea.