Wednesday January 13, 2016 11:53 AM

A highly rated podcast in the TV and Film category on iTunes, Mike Pilot's show is called "Full of Sith."

For more information on Mike Pilot's podcast: "Full of Sith" offers a new show weekly (released Sunday night) and additional shows focusing on special news. www.fullofsith.com .

"Full of Sith" is dedicated to the best "Star Wars" conversations in the galaxy. With hosts Bryan Young, Mike Pilot, and Amy Rat­cliffe.

Cumru Township, PA —

Mike Pilot remembers exactly when he got hooked on "Star Wars."

He was 6 years old when his dad took him to the theater to see "The Empire Strikes Back."

"When Darth Vader revealed that he's Luke's father, that really captured me," Pilot said. "Ever since then I've been a big fan of the movies."

Pilot, who lives in Cumru Township, went from collecting "Star Wars" toys his whole life to now, at age 40, hosting one of the highest-rated podcasts on iTunes in the TV and Film category.

"The show is about us as fans and the fans, and everyone loving 'Star Wars,' " said Pilot, who goes by the name Pilat when he's not in his podcast persona.

In its fourth year, the podcast, called "Full of Sith," focuses on breaking down "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." It has listeners from all over the world.

"We have listeners in Japan, Russia, the U.K., Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Libya," he said, "Canada, Mexico, and China is very big with 'Star Wars.' "

Biggest piece of conversation

Pilot has gained listeners through hosting two previous pop-culture-oriented podcasts since 2006. His current podcast was inspired by an acquisition.

"We heard that Disney bought Lucasfilm," he said, adding that not long after, it was announced a new "Star Wars" movie was on the horizon. "There was a lot more to talk about."

Family, friends and his colleagues at Albright College, where he works full time in the IT department, wanted his take on the buzz around "Star Wars" that included the announcement of upcoming films beyond "The Force Awakens."

"Everybody I knew wanted to talk about 'Star Wars' and just the hope and excitement of seeing the story continue," Pilot said. "We will have a lot of content over the next few years."

From a fan perspective, the biggest piece of conversation on the podcast ever since "The Force Awakens" was released revolves around Rey.

"Who is Rey?" Pilot said. "What is her lineage? Who are her parents? People wonder if she is Luke's daughter, or Han Solo or Princess Leia's daughter."

Pilot and his co-hosts, Bryan Young, a writer and author from Utah, and Amy Ratcliffe, a writer from California, manage a lot of fan interaction through social media.

"We have 26,000 Facebook followers, and we have a lot of Twitter followers," Pilot said. "We are honestly interested in everybody's 'Star Wars' story."

"Star Wars" fandom

Aside from current "Star Wars" news, the podcast features interviews with people on the Lucas Film story group and voice actors and writers who write a lot of their "Star Wars" books.

"Next week we are talking to one of the voice actors for the "Star Wars Rebel" cartoon on Disney XD," he said.

Pilot, who grew up in Reading and is a 1993 Reading High School graduate, is motivated to host his podcast, which he records out of a studio in his home, for the "Star Wars" fandom.

"Our show has always been counted as a safe place for fans to go and tell us what they think," he said. "I take the show very seriously; it's like a second child to me."

Pilot said they have been offered sponsorships, but so far he hasn't gone that route.

"I have never made money off the show because then it would be a job," he said.

First reaction

After sitting through a 22.5-hour "Star Wars" marathon leading up to "The Force Awakens" with his wife, Arianna, and 10-year-old daughter, Anyah, who is also a huge "Star Wars" fan, Pilot said his adrenaline was pumping in anticipation of what was to come.

"The first hour of the movie I was in awe of the new characters," he said. "Rey blew me away. They chose the perfect person (Daisy Ridley) for that role. She became my favorite almost instantly. Her determination and the kind of person she is, I'm proud they put forth a character that my daughter can look up to."

As for the original cast, Pilot was most impressed with Harrison Ford's performance.

"I liked him becoming the mentor and telling them the Force is real," he said. "For him to become that old man and tell the new characters it's all real, his facial expressions, his acting was awesome in this movie."

Pilot shared his biggest "Star Wars" moment, and it has to do with his daughter.

"My daughter came into 'Star Wars' on her own, and I never pushed her into it," he said. "When she saw 'Empire Strikes Back,' and that big reveal happened (when Darth Vader revealed he is Luke Skywalker's father), she said, 'Daddy, that is his Daddy.' She had the same connection with her father as I did with my father. That big connection is powerful."

Contact Courtney H. Diener-Stokes: life@readingeagle.com.