Podcasts about Black wolf

The Doom soundtrack has been inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry! Stern Pinball has announced their new pinball machine based on the Transformers cartoon series, and why you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to play it. Sony has announced that they will no longer be porting their single-player games to PC, keeping them PS5 exclusive. Then we talk about more thoughts on Forza Horizon 6 as the seasonal objectives start coming in. Then we talk to Jamie from OLR about Momocon's vtuber meet and greet setup and the Transformers Pinball.

I played through Mixtape via Xbox Game Pass and I enjoyed it - but it's not going to be my GOTY and it didn't really reflect on my personal experience growing up in that time period. But you can wait for a sale - Mixtape's music licenses were agreed to in perpetuity, so the game will not be delisted. I then talk a lot about Forza Horizon 6, and how we've started to enter the roster update phase of one of my favorite game series. (But I'm still loving it) A bill in California has passed committee that will make it illegal for games to be sold that will be unplayable when the publisher shuts down online servers. Then we talk to Brad from OLR IIDX about Forza Horizon 6 and how it scales its difficulty levels.

On today's episode, Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler talks with Anthony Lamacchia, founder and CEO of Lamacchia Realty and Crush It in Real Estate, about the listings battle between Zillow, Compass and MRED, and why he thinks it's bad for homebuyers and sellers. Related to this episode: Everything you need to know about Zillow's listing war with MRED and Compass HousingWire | YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ More info about HousingWire The Top 5: What happens to mortgage rates if the Iran conflict is over? Housing demand stays firm, pushing inventory close to negative YOY Judge orders MRED to restore Zillow listing feeds in Chicago AI adoption in mortgage servicing is accelerating, BlackWolf says FHA will keep tri-merge credit reports amid shift to new scoring models To learn more about Total Expert click here. The HousingWire Daily podcast brings the full picture of the most compelling stories in the housing market reported across HousingWire. Each morning, listen to editor in chief Sarah Wheeler talk to leading industry voices and get a deeper look behind the scenes of the top mortgage and real estate.

I got the Steam Controller, and give my early impressions, as well as bemoan the fact that it can only be used in Steam and not in any other PC gaming content, such as games from Xbox Game Pass or Play Anywhere. Valve is implementing a reservation queue for future shipments of the Steam Controller due to the popularity of the first wave of orders. Nintendo has increased the price of the Switch 2 due to the AI infrastructure roll out - memory and storage is more expensive now than it was when the Switch 2 was initially manufactured. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced that Xbox Copilot for Consoles is being discontinued, so there will not be an AI chatbot added to Xbox consoles as originally planned. Then we take a call from a blind gamer sharing how Civilization V is now completely playable for blind players thanks to a recent mod. Then we talk to Jamie about accessibility and how Dolby Atmos audio works.

I was in Indiana visiting in-laws last week, and this led to a discussion of "third spaces", and a third space I wish was near me - a coffee and board gaming space in Greenfield, Indiana called Hitherto Coffee & Gaming Parlour. The Steam Controller went on sale the day after we went live (and sold out almost instantly) - but the trick is to get funds into your Steam Wallet beforehand so you're not hitting any payment processors. There is a new DRM check for PS4 and PS5 online purchases - but it's not as bad as everyone might think, and it might actually be a good thing for another pro-consumer policy. Xbox is dropping the price of Game Pass, with Ultimate going from $30 to $23 a month, and also removing the perk of having new Call of Duty's on the service from day one...but will people care? There is a new LEGO set for the Sega Genesis - and for once, it is a video game set that is not expensive! Then we talk to Jamie from OLR IIDX about Game Pass and third spaces.

Sorry this was uploaded weeks late - a lot of things happened. We're getting caught up very quickly, though! I was at a tech conference this past week and it was a dystopia regarding agentic AI...and the agents didn't even work properly! While I was in town, I visited the new Nintendo San Francisco store! On the flight home, I started playing Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream, and I'm not as drawn into it as I was the original DS version. There is a new retro console that plays the original cartridges - the Neo Geo+ AES - and is also coming with 10 cartridge rereleases that work on the original hardware. An indie game trailer dealing with serious subjects was pulled from the BAFTA Games Awards while BAFTA talked about championing games dealing with serious subjects. Then we talk to Jamie about the Neo Geo+ AES.

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Victoria Traxler spoke with Michael Black Wolf, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

I was on Jury Duty on an 8 day case. Nothing about video games and nothing really juicy, but it was a drain on me. Amazon is shutting down parts of Luna, taking away people's access to games they paid for, and not offering any refunds. The indie developer behind Papers, Please has come out and stated that they will no longer talk about new projects because they are afraid that AI will take them and release something worse before he can be finished. Nintendo is deleting Super Mario Maker 2 levels because they contain hashtags for Mario Maker communities - claiming it is advertising and against the Terms of Service. A chatter says that they miss Video Games Live - but Video Games Live has several shows this year, including one this month. Then we talk to Jamie from OLR IIDX about cats and game streaming services.

Stormgate, an indie online multiplayer game, is shutting down its online servers because their provider, Hathora, has been purchased by Fireworks AI who are turning the online game servers into AI servers. Rec Room is shutting down in June, despite having over 150 million players. Snapchat's parent company has purchased some of Rec Room's assets and hired some of the talent to help them foster an online community. Then we talk to Jamie from OLR about April Fools jokes that didn't fool us this year.

EverQuest Legends has been announced - a version of EverQuest that goes back to 1999 but adds features to allow the entire game to be soloable. Sony is increasing the PS5 price by $100 to $150 due to the AI infrastructure roll out taking all of the RAM and storage away from consumer products. Epic Games lays off 1000 Fortnite developers, including leads who were influential in Fortnite's continued success, because their legal fights with Apple and Google took more money than they thought. Then we talk to Jamie from OLR about our desired nostalgia bait.

My first job was at Blockbuster Video, so I had to try Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator. The Metaverse is no longer in VR - according to Meta - they are moving Horizon Worlds off of VR and onto mobile. Nvidia announced DLSS 5 and a vocal part of the internet rallied against it...but what about the majority that aren't terminally online? Bethesda reacted to the reactions and said they would be looking at the tech more before implementing it. Then we talk to DarkSakura about generative AI and where it might be able to be used ethically.

Austin from Wisconsin tells us about his Dogman encounter on Bray Road! Seen a Cryptid being? email us at info@cryptidcreatures.co (not.com)

We do start talking about retro computing with the Commodore 64 Ultimate - especially navigating BBS's in 2026 and how they differ from the standard internet we are used to today. "Major Nelson" Larry Hryb, formerly of Xbox and Unity, has joined Commodore as a Community Development Advisor. Zen Studios announced that their line of Zen Pinball software is being renamed, and that World Cup Soccer is being delisted at the end of March. EA has laid off a number of developers that worked on Battlefield 6 despite it breaking records - reportedly because it didn't break the records by enough. Then we talk to Jamie from OLR about why you should play World Cup Soccer Pinball.

I finally got my Commodore 64 Ultimate Starlight Edition! It's probably the best thing I'll buy all year, but it might not be for you. Valve say that the Steam Machine is still coming this year, just a little bit later than they had hoped. Nintendo is suing the US Government over the 2025 tariffs that affected the Switch 2 launch. Then we talk to Jamie about FPGA based recreations of retro hardware.

In this episode of Vestiges After Dark, we're joined by members of The Black Wolf Paranormal, a research-focused investigation team dedicated to examining reported hauntings and unexplained phenomena without the sensationalism that dominates much of the paranormal field. Together, we take a grounded look at how disciplined, evidence-based investigations are conducted, including the use of environmental monitoring tools, historical context, and careful documentation practices. The conversation highlights The Black Wolf Paranormal's ongoing research at the Bell Witch Cave, an iconic American haunting site deeply embedded in folklore and legend. We explore the challenges that arise when investigating locations with layered historical narratives, persistent cultural mythology, and strong public fascination. This episode emphasizes investigative ethics, respect for historical sites and private property, and the importance of education and transparency in a field often overshadowed by entertainment-driven dramatics. Rather than chasing dramatic claims, our guests walk listeners through methodology, field protocols, equipment use, and the philosophy behind responsible paranormal inquiry.Music Credits (for full list click here: https://esotericcatholic.org/vestiges...) Inukshuk - Too Far Gone [NCS Release] Crowd Hammer Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Bumper Music: NoCopyrightSounds Marin Hoxha & Chris Linton - With You [NCS Release] Tobu & Syndec - Dusk [NCS Release] Codeko - Crest [NCS Release] Syn Cole - Feel Good [NCS Release] Floatinurboat - Limbo (feat. ELIØTT) [NCS Release] Going Back Home (Vestiges After Dark Cover) by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM Guiding My Way (Vestiges After Dark, Epic Choir, Extreme Cover) by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM We Say Goodbye (Vestiges After Dark Cover) by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM Before the Dark by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM The Last Door by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM Back to the Willow Tree by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM • Mendum & Abandoned - Voyage (Feat. DN... Song: Unknown Brain & Hoober - Phenomenon (ft. Dax & VinDon) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/Phenomenon Watch: • Unknown Brain & Hoober - Phenomenon (... Song: Robin Hustin & Jessica Chertock - Burn it Down [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/BurnItDown Watch: • Robin Hustin & Jessica Chertock - Bur... Song: Kozah - Nobody [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://NCS.io/Nobody Watch: • Kozah - Nobody [NCS Release] Song: NIVIRO - Demons [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/NDemons Watch: • NIVIRO - Demons | Electronic | NCS - ... Song: Unknown Brain - Childhood Dreams [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/ChildHoodDreams Watch: • Unknown Brain - Faceless (Album MIX) ... Song: Syn Cole - Time [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/Time Watch: • Syn Cole - Time [NCS Release] Song: Jim Yosef - Fall With Me [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/FallWithMe Watch: • Unknown Brain - Waiting (feat. Lox Ch... Song: Mike Vallas, Jagsy & quaggin. - Left My Heart In Pain [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/LMHIP Watch: • Mike Vallas, Jagsy & quaggin. - Left ... Song: Barren Gates - Devil [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/Devil Watch: • Barren Gates - Devil | Trap | NCS - C... Song: Inukshuk - The Long Road Home [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/TLRH Watch: • Inukshuk - The Long Road Home [NCS Re... Song: Inukshuk - Too Far Gone [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/TooFarGone Watch: • Inukshuk - Too Far Gone [NCS Release] Song: Inukshuk - A World Away [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/aworldaway Watch: • Inukshuk - A World Away [NCS Release] Song: Voicians - Seconds [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream:Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/vestiges-after-dark--3076216/support.

In this episode of Vestiges After Dark, we're joined by members of The Black Wolf Paranormal, a research-focused investigation team dedicated to examining reported hauntings and unexplained phenomena without the sensationalism that dominates much of the paranormal field. Together, we take a grounded look at how disciplined, evidence-based investigations are conducted, including the use of environmental monitoring tools, historical context, and careful documentation practices. The conversation highlights The Black Wolf Paranormal's ongoing research at the Bell Witch Cave, an iconic American haunting site deeply embedded in folklore and legend. We explore the challenges that arise when investigating locations with layered historical narratives, persistent cultural mythology, and strong public fascination. This episode emphasizes investigative ethics, respect for historical sites and private property, and the importance of education and transparency in a field often overshadowed by entertainment-driven dramatics. Rather than chasing dramatic claims, our guests walk listeners through methodology, field protocols, equipment use, and the philosophy behind responsible paranormal inquiry.Music Credits (for full list click here: https://esotericcatholic.org/vestiges...) Inukshuk - Too Far Gone [NCS Release] Crowd Hammer Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Bumper Music: NoCopyrightSounds Marin Hoxha & Chris Linton - With You [NCS Release] Tobu & Syndec - Dusk [NCS Release] Codeko - Crest [NCS Release] Syn Cole - Feel Good [NCS Release] Floatinurboat - Limbo (feat. ELIØTT) [NCS Release] Going Back Home (Vestiges After Dark Cover) by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM Guiding My Way (Vestiges After Dark, Epic Choir, Extreme Cover) by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM We Say Goodbye (Vestiges After Dark Cover) by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM Before the Dark by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM The Last Door by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM Back to the Willow Tree by Bishop Bryan Ouellette, SOSM • Mendum & Abandoned - Voyage (Feat. DN... Song: Unknown Brain & Hoober - Phenomenon (ft. Dax & VinDon) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/Phenomenon Watch: • Unknown Brain & Hoober - Phenomenon (... Song: Robin Hustin & Jessica Chertock - Burn it Down [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/BurnItDown Watch: • Robin Hustin & Jessica Chertock - Bur... Song: Kozah - Nobody [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://NCS.io/Nobody Watch: • Kozah - Nobody [NCS Release] Song: NIVIRO - Demons [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/NDemons Watch: • NIVIRO - Demons | Electronic | NCS - ... Song: Unknown Brain - Childhood Dreams [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/ChildHoodDreams Watch: • Unknown Brain - Faceless (Album MIX) ... Song: Syn Cole - Time [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/Time Watch: • Syn Cole - Time [NCS Release] Song: Jim Yosef - Fall With Me [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/FallWithMe Watch: • Unknown Brain - Waiting (feat. Lox Ch... Song: Mike Vallas, Jagsy & quaggin. - Left My Heart In Pain [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/LMHIP Watch: • Mike Vallas, Jagsy & quaggin. - Left ... Song: Barren Gates - Devil [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/Devil Watch: • Barren Gates - Devil | Trap | NCS - C... Song: Inukshuk - The Long Road Home [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/TLRH Watch: • Inukshuk - The Long Road Home [NCS Re... Song: Inukshuk - Too Far Gone [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/TooFarGone Watch: • Inukshuk - Too Far Gone [NCS Release] Song: Inukshuk - A World Away [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/aworldaway Watch: • Inukshuk - A World Away [NCS Release] Song: Voicians - Seconds [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream:Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/vestiges-after-dark--3076216/support.

The Muppet*Vision 3D experience from the Disney parks is coming to the Apple Vision Pro - and other VR devices. A game archival site is going to go offline because it cannot afford to stay online due to various factors including the increasing cost of RAM and storage due to the global AI infrastructure roll-out. The State of New York is suing Valve over their use of loot boxes, possibly hoping to set a legal precedent to go after larger corporations with deeper pockets and better lawyers. Then we talk to Jamie from OLR about loot boxes and the "gaming" industry.

I was at Dice & Diversions and played a bunch of board games, and I talk about two of them - Magical Athlete, and Draft & Write Records. The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack's Virtual Boy collection has released, and I did buy the $100 piece of plastic to get the headaches I remember. There was a shakeup at Xbox - CEO Phil Spencer retired, President Sarah Bond resigned, and Asha Sharma, a former AI executive, is now CEO. Then we talk to Jamie about the Xbox shakeup and how we can be cautiously optimistic - IF they learn from their mistakes.

At the Sony State of Play, there was a new Digital Eclipse collection released for Rayman's 30th Anniversary - and I didn't get it on launch, going back on my word that their collections were now day one purchases. Steam Decks are now out of stock and Valve doesn't know when they'll be able to manufacture more. This is most likely because of the RAM shortage because AI companies have already ordered more RAM than factories can produce right now. Because of this, the Steam Machine and Steam Frame are also delayed and will not launch in the first quarter of 2026 like originally announced. Riot Games has laid off the majority of the team that built 2KXO two weeks after the game left early access. What is the actual plan for live service games to keep their teams after releasing the core product? Then we talk to Jamie at OLR about the new Stern Pinball release - Pokemon.

I spend the first part of the show excited about my Commodore 64 Ultimate shipping this month and talk about my favorite C64 game as a kid that most people had never heard of - Agent USA. (It wasn't that great.) There is a class action lawsuit in the UK against Valve over their 30% fee on every transaction, and I explain why Valve is the target right now and not any of the other storefronts that also have a 30% fee. Sony has patented a controller that has movable buttons on a touchscreen, and I talk about why it will be great as an option, but not a replacement for tactile buttons. Then we talk to OLR about accessible controllers.

PARANORMAL ENCOUNTERS: Be Careful What You Wish For.  LEANNE ESCUE will run as a Feature Guest on the PARAFlixx streaming network, TV Talk Show, on "DISEMBODIED VOICES", during Season 20, Episode 10, on October 4, 2026.  She will also be featured on PHANTASM PODCAST, on June 10, 2026; PARANORMAL ENCOUNTERS on July 23, 2026; PARANORMAL LATTE on July 9, 2026; and HAUNTED MYSTERIES on December 17, 2026.INVESTIGATIVE TEAMThe Black Wolf ParanormalFACEBOOKTIKTOKINSTAGRAMAMAZON - "Still Walking With The Unseen"Barnes and NobleWEBSITEwww.LeAnneEscueAuthor.com LeAnne Escue is a paranormal investigator, storyteller, and author drawn to the quiet spaces where history and the unseen intersect. With years of respectful investigation at locations such as the Bell Witch Cave, Waverly Hills Sanatorium, and Trousdale Place, her work focuses less on spectacle and more on presence, memory, and listening. Through her writing and research, LeAnne explores how places hold stories—and how those stories shape us. During this show, you will learn what Bigfoot like as their "special treat."TO WATCH GUESTS ON "DISEMBODIED VOICES" TV TALK SHOWTake a moment to WATCH my guests visually in a personal interview.  LEANNE ESCUE can be visually seen on PARAFlixx (www.paraflixx.com) as a Featured Guest on October 4, 2026, Season 20, Episode 10.  Shows are scheduled to launch at 8/7 Central (USA time).  Shows remain on PARAFlixx indefinitely until changes to remove are made.  Please allow an additional day in the event the show does not get launched as scheduled due to unforeseen circumstances "by the network."DETAILS FOR 3-DAY FREE TRIAL and SUBSCRIBING to PARAFLIXXON INITIAL PAGE - Go To The Bottom (see free trial box)IF SUBSCRIBINGEnter into your search bar this campaign link:  https://bit.ly/3FGvQuYDiscount Code = DV10$4.99/month (U.S.); discount is 10% off first three monthsCancel AnytimeWAYS TO ACCESS SHOWS - go to www.paraflixx.com.  Find my show by going to the upper left corner, click on BROWSE.  Scroll down to TALK SHOWS.  "Disembodied Voices."  

Dice and Diversions, a tabletop/board gaming convention in Atlanta, has been postponed to February due to the ice storm. Forza Horizon 6 was shown off on the Xbox Developer Direct, but no, you will not be flying a Gundam. I got the PlayStation VR2 PC Adapter, and getting the controllers to work over Bluetooth was a multi-day struggle. A VR mod for Cyberpunk 2077 was removed due to CD Projekt Red not allowing the modder to charge money for it. Ubisoft cancels six games and delays seven others in order to concentrate on what they think players want. Then we talk to OLR about the Cyberpunk 2077 mod and about launching the second season of the long running podcast.

I was going to be at a tabletop/board game convention next weekend in Atlanta called Dice & Diversions, however mid-week it was postponed to Feburary. An Alternate Reality Game released on Steam in 2018 recently got a lot of negative reviews for being "too hard" because apparently younger people can't send an email correctly. Meta has exited the VR Gaming business, shutting down three of its VR gaming studio acquisitions. Meta is also refocusing its remaining VR studios to be more AI and wearable devices focused, rather than with VR. Then we talk to Jamie about the upcoming debut of Orange Lounge Radio IIDX and where Meta went wrong.

Rebecca and Tara are back with Book Chat #31.  Included are the books they are currently reading as well as their first recommendations of the New Year!    Rebecca (@canadareadsamericanstyle): Patrick Bird Mysteries: Opposite Sully's Gym #2; The Road to Heaven #1 by Alexis Stefanovich-Thomson The Breakwater; Sisters of the Spruce by Leslie Shimotakahara To Touch the Water; The Solace of Open Spaces; A Match to the Heart: One Woman's Story of Being Struck by Lightning by Gretel Ehrlich Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Women Among Monuments: Solitude, Permission, and the Pursuit of Female Genius by Kasia Van Schaik Precarious: The Lives of Migrant Workers; Driven: The Secret Lives of Taxi Drivers; Pay No Heed to the Rockets: Palestine in the Present Tense by Marcello Di Cintio   Tara (@onabranchreads):  Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #20: The Black Wolf by Louise Penny The Haunting of Modesto O'Brien; The Wintermen trilogy by Brit Griffin The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig How about This by Michael Mirolla   If you have any comments or suggestions that you would like to share with Rebecca and Tara or you are interested in joining their monthly virtual book talk, please email them at craspod2019@gmail.com  

I am back from Awesome Games Done Quick 2026, where we raised over $2.4 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation! I talk about the runs that I hosted, and even quasi-commentated, as was the case with the maimai DX PRiSM Plus arcade showcase. I also talk about AGDQ's move to Atlanta for 2027, and why the city is more welcoming than many people not from around here are led to believe. LEGO has announced a "smart brick" at CES, which has no generative AI but will allow for more technology to be put into certain builds.

Louise Penny is one of the biggest mystery novelists alive today … but it didn't start out that way. Her latest novel, The Black Wolf, is the 20th in her bestselling Armand Gamache series. So how did Louise go from empty book events to packed concert halls? This week, Bookends brings you on-stage at Toronto's historic Massey Hall. Joined by nearly 2000 of her fans, Louise told Mattea Roach about her long journey to becoming an author, why she'll never tire of her characters and how pain has made her a better writer. Liked this conversation? Keep listening:Chris Hadfield — from astronaut to author Kiran Desai's novel is worth the 20-year wait

I'm hosting at Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 next week! We remember Vince Zampella, who we tragically lost this week. He was a force in the gaming industry, even if you weren't someone who regularly played the games he brought to us. Nvidia has announced that a 100 hour per month limit is coming to ALL GeForce Now customers starting January 1st, where previously it was only for new subscribers. I took a look at Daytona USA VR in VRChat and discussed why VRChat is the metaverse billionaires wanted.

I'm hosting at Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 the first week of January - tune in! I'm also hosting the English Restream of RTA In Japan Winter 2025 THIS WEEK! Reviews are out for the Commodore 64 Ultimate, and I wish I had bought one earlier so I would have it now. The Video Game History Foundation has released a bunch of ROMs of the 90's era Sega Channel, so you can relive the 90's goodness on your own emulator. Some of Arcade1up's assets have been sold to competitor Basic Fun! who entered the home arcade business earlier this year. The Indie Game Awards have revoked Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's awards due to the use of generative AI in development. Then we take a call about generative AI usage in the world.

It's that time of year when Leah, Melissa, and Kate put on their influencer hats and recommend the things that made their days a little brighter in 2025. This year, they're joined by two special guests: rockstar Strict Scrutiny intern Jordan Thomas to share some of his picks, and former Chair of the Federal Election Commission Ellen Weintraub to discuss two of democracy's favorite things—independent agencies and the regulation of money in politics. Favorite things: WANTLeah: Cozy Earth Bubble Cuddle Blanket, Jones Road Just Enough Tinted MoisturizerKate: Aventura electric scooter, Grüns Superfood Greens GummiesMelissa: True Botanicals, e.l.f. Camo Liquid BlushJordan: Tea Tree Leave-In Conditioner, Pink Oil Moisturizer,  NEEDLeah: Peloton stretching classes, Farmhounds dog treats; Badlands Ranch dog foodKate: custom bobbleheads & action figures, Lilly Allen's tour, Strict Scrutiny's upcoming West Coast tourMelissa: Caddis readers, Blackwing Matte pencils, As Ever RoséJordan: 2026 Evanescence and Korn tours, these headphones WEARLeah: Forme Power Bra, Argent, TheRealRealKate: Strict Scrutiny onesies, Cozy Earth Studio Wide Leg PantMelissa: Quince yak wool sweaters, Uniqlo White T-Shirt, Clearly Collective Collegiate Scarves, WaySoft Cashmere BeanieJordan: Crooked Con Merch, Mavi jeans READLeah: The Wedding People, Alison Espach; Julie Anne Long's Pennyroyal Green series; Lisa Kleypas' Wallflowers series; These Summer Storms, Sarah MacLean; Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, V. E. Schwab; The God of the Woods, Liz Moore; Book of the MonthKate: The Power Broker, Robert Caro; Who Is Government? Michael Lewis; Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter, Kate Conger & Ryan Mac; The Radical Fund, John Fabian Witt; Isola, Allegra Goodman; Heart the Lover, Lily King; Martyr! Kaveh Akbar; The History of Sound, Ben ShattuckMelissa: Matriarch, Tina Knowles; Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, Imani Perry; Jane Austen's Bookshelf, Rebecca Romney; Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid; The Book Club for Troublesome Women, Marie Bostwick; The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Kiran DesaiJordan: Lawless, Leah Litman; The Sirens' Call, Chris Hayes; Bad Law, Elie Mystal; Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation, Zaakir Tameez; Just Shine! How to Be a Better You, Sonia SotomayorEllen: Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell Mysteries; Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, Benjamin Stevenson; The Black Wolf, Louise Penny; Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, Judi Dench; This Is Happiness, Niall Williams; Elizabeth Strout; Amor Towles Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! 3/6/26 – San Francisco3/7/26 – Los AngelesLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I'm going to be a host at Awesome Games Done Quick 2026, and I can finally announce when! I'll be hosting Mario Kart World, Jak 3, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, Super Metroid, and maimai DX PRiSM Plus! The rest of this episode is actually about our trip to Orlando's theme parks, focusing on Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe, but we do talk a little bit about the newer rides at the Disney parks. We also take a call to talk about Ranma's trip to Super Nintendo World in Japan.

I finally built the LEGO Game Boy, and I go through the elements that it has and the different ways it can be displayed. The USS Enterprise LEGO set came out on Black Friday, but there is a bad typo on the stickers. Tim Sweeney believes Steam should not require developers to disclose if Generative AI was used to make their games, since he claims everyone will use it eventually. Nintendo is buying a Bandai Namco studio in Singapore that assisted with game development. Then we take a caller to talk about the Saudi Arabia influence in the newly resurrected Overwatch League.

There were several debuts on this day, such as Doctor Who and World of Warcraft, but also the final episode of Orange Lounge Radio was done right after my show, and we say goodbye. I will be hosting at Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 in January! Schedule will be posted in mid December. I am a sucker for the Picross series of nonogram games on the Nintendo Switch, and there are two new games celebrating Capcom and SNK, but they are twice the price of their predecessors. A US Lawmaker has taken aim at the use of Generative AI in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and calls for regulations to protect jobs. Vedinad, a nominee for Best Debut Indie Games at The Game Awards, has withdrawn his nomination because Megabonk is not his debut indie game release. Then we talk to Rob about Orange Lounge Radio: The Final.

John Maytham is joined by Louise Penny, the award-winning author behind the beloved Three Pines series. We’ll explore how she keeps Gamache fresh after 20 novels, the inspiration behind The Black Wolf, and whether this shift toward political thriller signals a new era for the series. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I checked out the Atari 50 Namco DLC and was pleasantly surprised about how well it treated the Atari 2600 Pac-Man port as the programming masterpiece that it is. Valve has announced three new pieces of Steam Hardware to come out in early 2026 - a new Steam Machine, a new Steam Controller, and the successor to the Index VR device, the Steam Frame. Then we talk to Rob about Atari 50 and finally watching the end of the Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection "dokumentary" and who was left out of the stories.

Let's chat to Louise Penny about The Black WolfPhilippa interviews Louise Penny about her latest book The Black WolfYou can order The Black Wolf here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16356/9781399730570You can order The Grey Wolf here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16356/9781399730549You can contact Philippa at: Email quickbookreviews@outlook.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/quick_book_reviewsThreads: @quick_book_reviewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@quickbookreviewsX: https://x.com/quickbookrevie3Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/quickbookreviews.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: losing track of time reading and bookish vanity plates Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: books we think would make great book club picks The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). .  .  .  1:19 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 2:29 - Snap by Belinda Bauer 6:34 - Our Current Reads 6:48 - The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (Meredith) 10:13 - Wanderers by Chuck Wendig 10:33 - It by Stephen King 11:59 - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko (Kaytee) 12:03 - Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko 14:24 - Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones 15:13 - Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko 16:06 - How to Be A Saint by Kate Sidley (Meredith) 21:45 - Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery (Kaytee) 21:53 - The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery 26:46 - The Black Wolf by Louise Penny (Meredith) 27:01 - The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny 32:54 - State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton 34:20 - The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman (Kaytee) 34:27 - The King's English Bookshop 36:49 - The Magicians by Lev Grossman 38:36 - Our Book Club Recs 39:22 - Currently Reading Patreon 40:34 - The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig 44:27 - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 44:38 - Curfew by Jayne Cowie 46:04 - Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge 48:11 - The Push by Ashley Audrain 49:19 - The Art Thief by Michael Finkel 50:15 - One of the Boys by Jayne Cowie 51:24 - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 51:25 - Washington Black by Esi Edugyan 51:27 - The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali 51:45 - Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 52:06 - CR Season 6: Episode 2 52:42 - Check our our instagram @currentlyreadingpodcast for our book club post! 52:54 - Meet Us At The Fountain 53:02 - I wish that if you don't already follow us on Instagram, to do so now. (Meredith) 53:07 - @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram 53:35 - I wish to reformat my bookish hard drive (Kaytee) 51:34 - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang 51:37 - A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 51:38 - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon   Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. November's's IPL is brought to us from Content Bookstore in Northfield, Minnesota. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

I did in fact get the Star Trek: Strategic Operations Command tree ornament from Hallmark, and I realized Hallmark is my Funko Pop with regards to spending on geek trinkets. Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed six months, and I believe it is because they fired key employees in an effort to bust unionization efforts at Rockstar North. People have spotted a "PC Cross-Buy" icon in the PlayStation Store. Digital Eclipse is launching a new Atari 50 chapter about the Namco partnership, including talking about the Atari 2600 version of Pac-Man. Then we talk to Rob about the Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection and the Atari 50 collection, as well as the final month of Orange Lounge Radio episodes.

On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: a poem a day + excitement over release days Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: we discuss your top books from 2019-2024 and draw the giveaway winner The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). .  .  .  1:59 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 2:07 - The Poetry Foundation's Poem of the Day 2:27 - A Rebellion of Care by David Gate 3:55 - The Black Wolf by Louise Penny 4:34 - The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny 6:02 - Our Current Reads 6:08 - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong (Kaytee) 8:21- A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers 9:03 - The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman (Meredith) 10:11 - Words Matter Bookshop 10:40 - The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman 14:17 - The Bookshop by Evan Friss (Kaytee) 15:12 - Parnassus Books 17:29 - Exile in Bookville 17:58 - Books - A Manifesto: Or, How to Build A Library by Ian Patterson (Meredith, Goldsboro link)  20:16 - Goldsboro Books UK 24:16 - The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler  26:03 - I Leave It Up To You by Jinwoo Chong (Kaytee) 29:05 - Flux by Jinwoo Chong (amazon link) 29:34 - The Wasp Trap by Michael Edwards (Meredith) 32:45 - The Guest List by Lucy Foley 33:09 - Listeners' Top Ranked Books 35:11 - Giveaway Post to see other listeners' best books! (reminder - giveaway is CLOSED) 42:17 - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 42:32 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 42:43 - The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green 42:56 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry 43:06 - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 43:07 - Still Life by Louise Penny 43:59 - Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon 44:03 - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 44:08 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 44:16 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 44:18 - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Giveaway Winner Christie's Reads 47:25 - Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen 47:27 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 47:30 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 47:33 - Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 47:35 - The Anxious Generation by Johnathan Haidt 47:39 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 48:17 - Meet Us At The Fountain 48:22 - I wish to tell you about the gold star item I found for reading and sleep. (Kaytee) 48:32 - Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 48:47 - Bloom 51:30 - I wish for you to try more specific ASMR rooms or listening to playlists for books. (Meredith) 51:34 - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang 51:37 - A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 51:38 - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon   Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. November's's IPL is brought to us from Content Bookstore in Northfield, Minnesota. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Caroline Flack was a Bafta-winning TV presenter, host of shows including Love Island and The X Factor. In February of 2020, she took her own life ahead of a court case in which she was charged with the assault of her then boyfriend, after weeks of press scrutiny. Her mother Christine Flack tells Clare McDonnell about spending the past five years uncovering documents from the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to try to find out more about the events around Caroline's death and she also questions the role of the press. That journey is documented in a two-part documentary out on Disney+ called Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth.A new schools inspection system begins in England today. Overall judgements, such as 'good' or 'requires improvement,' have been scrapped and schools will now be given one of five grades in several different categories. The changes were prompted by the death of the head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life in January 2023 whilst waiting for the publication of an Ofsted report she knew would grade her school as "inadequate." Clare speaks to the BBC Education Reporter Vanessa Clarke and Tom Middlehurst, Deputy Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders.Louise Penny is the multi award-winning Canadian crime novelist. Her books have sold over 18 million copies worldwide and this year marks the 20th anniversary of her hugely popular Inspector Gamache series. Her latest novel is called The Black Wolf and follows on from her previous one The Grey Wolf. Gamache has foiled a plot to poison Montreal's drinking water, but has discovered that this is simply phase one of a dark master plan and he needs to take on not only an organised crime syndicate, but also delve into the murky depths of government and power to discover who the black wolf is. There is a brand new podcast out from a familiar voice - Emma Barnett: Ready to Talk, in which Emma invites listeners into her world for bold, honest, and deeply human conversations about the experiences in life that shape and connect us. In the first episode Emma talks to her friend, the journalist and presenter Kate Thornton, about something she's never spoken about publicly before: perimenopause. In the UK, 13 million women are currently experiencing the perimenopause, or menopause, but information about what it is and what can help can be hard to find. Emma tells Clare about her own experience.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Andrea Kidd

I did get the Hallmark Xbox 360 ornament, and it does not red ring. Digital Eclipse's Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection is out, and while the documentary is great, it isn't the main focus, and apparently the online play is falling very short of expectations. Nintendo has won a lawsuit against a pirate who streamed leaked games. Nintendo has lost a patent claim in Japan that it was using to go against Palworld - for now. Then we talk to Rob about Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection and Dragon Quest I+II HD-2D Remake.

Liz and Sarah have SO MANY pitches coming up! They decided to hire Pitch Coach, Jordana Oberman, to help them up their game. And they’re so glad they did. In Take A Hike, Sarah shares why a recent L.A. Zoo outing with Violet reminded her to talk to strangers. Then Sarah gives Violet a Hit for getting Sarah to go to concerts, and Liz gives herself a Bomb for bailing on an event last minute. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from Liz’s ongoing search for the perfect Zoom lighting — LitONES Model F630 desk lamps. Finally, Sarah recommends the new Louise Penny book, The Black Wolf. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCra Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you athttps://www.rula.com/hollywood #rulapod LINKS: Jordana Oberman: https://www.jordanaoberman.com/ Eloise the Orangutan: Https://youtu.be/0xdY3Fzu5vo?si=px4XIBg6kRkbOHPy All the Way to the River: Love, Loss and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://amzn.to/3LlR5t8 LitONES Model 630 desk lamps: https://amzn.to/3X9j4if The Black Wolf by Louise Penny: https://amzn.to/4hMlPzESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allison Raskin has a pretty diverse array of interests. She's a former Buzzfeed video creator, co-host of the podcast Just Between Us, and the author of numerous best-selling books, including Please Send Help, Overthinking About You, and the new Save the Date. How does she unwind from this busy life? By being obsessed with Inspector Gamache, the Quebecois crime solver found in novels by Louise Penny and on television, played by Alfred Molina. Join us for a meandering conversation about Gamache's brilliance, maple taffy, and the Quebec lunchtime experience of the “trio”, where you get a half sandwich, a cup of soup, AND a small salad. You don't have to choose in Quebec. You can have it all. Drift off to sleep with that happy contented thought in your head.Get your copy of Allison Raskin's novel Save the Date wherever books are sold. Follow Allison's mental health account @emotionalsupportlady on Instagram. To find out more about Allison or to subscribe to Allison's Substack, visit her website, www.AllisonRaskin.com.Hey Sleepy Heads, is there anyone whose voice you'd like to drift off to, or do you have suggestions on things we could do to aid your slumber?Email us at: sleepwithcelebs@maximumfun.org.Follow the Show on:Instagram @sleepwcelebsBluesky @sleepwithcelebsTikTok @SleepWithCelebsJohn is on Bluesky @JohnMoeJohn's acclaimed, best-selling memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is now available in paperback._________________________________________________________________________Join | Maximum FunIf you like one or more shows on MaxFun, and you value independent artists being able to do their thing, you're the perfect person to become a MaxFun monthly member.

25 years ago today, the PlayStation 2 launched in the US. I recount my lonely camping out at a local store that nobody knew had PS2's, only to get a PS2 that didn't work. Once Upon A Katamari is a new entry in my favorite game series, and reviewers love it but there's an aspect of it I'm not as much a fan of. Microsoft has told the Xbox division that they must make 30% profit margins, something that no game company has been able to do. This explains why Xbox has made the decisions they have made for the past year. Then we talk about how Microsoft has opted all users of the Xbox Game Bar on PC into a Microsoft Copilot feature that periodically takes screenshots of your gameplay and sends it to their AI for learning - even if it's a game you're developing and under NDA.

I spend a lot of time in this episode telling you about Blippo+, the FMV art project originally on the Playdate console but now on Steam and Switch. It's not for everybody, but it might be for you... But first, we talk a little bit about my time with a (company owned) Meta Quest 3 VR headset, and why I'm still being a sucker and buying the Nintendo Switch Online's Virtual Boy plastic case. Atari has announced an Intellivision console that will actually ship - the Intellivision Spirit - with 45 games. No cartridge port, though. Then we talk to Rob about TRON: Ares (we haven't seen it yet) and the Intellivision Spirit.

I give my early impressions of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles after revisiting it for the first time in decades. Microsoft has stated that they are still committed to making traditional consoles. Nintendo has sued a moderator of a Switch piracy subreddit. Then we talk to Rob about Tron: Ares and the upcoming final episode of Orange Lounge Radio.

EA is being purchased by private investors in 2027, and will immediately be saddled with $20billion worth of debt when the deal closes. (EA made $7.5billion in revenue in 2025.) There is a vulnerability in all games using the Unity Runtime released since 2017, so all of those games must be patched before some systems will be allowed to run them. Microsoft has changed up the Xbox Game Pass system to incur higher prices, meaning it is no longer the best deal in gaming. Then we talk to Rob about Game Pass and why it might be a failing of Xbox leadership.

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: bookish wishes coming true and picture books we love Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: Kaytee gets silly about how reading can be dangerous The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). .  .  .  .  1:34 - Ad For Ourselves 4:33 - Currently Reading Patreon 5:02 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 5:50 - The Black Wolf by Louise Penny 7:08 - Novel Neighbor 8:09 - Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson 8:17 - Dog Eared Books 9:34 - Our Current Reads 9:54 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Vol.1 by Beth Brower (Meredith) 10:00 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 2 by Beth Brower 16:03 - A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh (Kaytee) 16:11 - An Unlikely Story 20:09 - 44 Poems on Being with Each Other by Padraig O Tuama (Meredith) 20:18 - Poetry Unbound podcast 24:24 - In the Shelter by Padraig O Tuama 24:40 - A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders 25:37 - The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown (Kaytee) 26:27 - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 32:45 - Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand (Meredith) 34:18 - Feral and Hysterical by Sadie Hartmann 37:41 - Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid 38:11 - 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered by Sadie Hartmann 38:40 - Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi (Kaytee) 42:16 - Deep Dive: When Reading Gets Dangerous 46:08 - A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas 51:05 - Meet Us At The Fountain 51:07 - I wish that more books came in volumes. (Meredith) 51:18 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Vol.1 by Beth Brower 53:10 - I wish to press an Immense World by Ed Yong. (Kaytee) 53:11 - An Immense World by Ed Yong 53:15 - The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown 54:15 - An Immense World by Ed Yong (young reader's edition)     Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. October's IPL takes us back to one of our anchor stores, The Novel Neighbor in St. Louis, Missouri. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Welcome to the Fall 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!   Today, Catherine and Sarah share 14 of their most anticipated books releasing from mid-August through December.   This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Announcement One of the many benefits to supporting the podcast through either our Patreon Community or our Substack Community (both for just $7/mo) is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available and sign up here for Patreon and here for Substack! Highlights A lightning round of some big releases coming this fall that we're not featuring in today's preview. Odd fall pickings meant they both chose to feature 7 books each. Catherine's choices are a grab bag mix: academia, mysteries, a love story, and a snarky lighter read. Of Sarah's seven books, there are 3 debut authors and 1 repeat author — and 2 sports books! Some of Sarah's picks slide her right from sad girl summer into sad girl fall.  Sarah has already read and rated one of her picks — and it was a success! Plus, their #1 picks for fall. Big Fall Releases Wreck by Catherine Newman (October 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:15] King Sorrow by Joe Hill (October 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:22] Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:25] What We Can Know by Ian McEwan (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:29] Palaver by Bryan Washington (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:32] Replaceable You by Mary Roach (September 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:35] Circle of Days by Ken Follett (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:51] People Like Us by Jason Mott (August 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:14] The Black Wolf by Louise Penny (October 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:33]  All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert (September 9) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:38]  Queen Esther by John Irving (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:46]  Hot Wax by M. L. Rio (September 9) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:02]  Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:51]  Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon (September 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:55]  Other Books Mentioned Sandwich by Catherine Newman (2024) [1:18]  The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (1989) [2:06]  Hell of a Book by Jason Mott (2021) [2:20]  If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio (2017) [3:06]  The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (2019) [4:04]  Fall 2025 Book Preview [7:26] August Sarah's Picks Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (August 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:09] We Loved to Run by Stephanie Reents (August 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[14:09] Catherine's Pick Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (August 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:19] Other Books Mentioned God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney (2021) [9:49] Search by Michelle Huneven (2022) [9:58]   The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (2020) [10:08] Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González (2022) [10:12]   Inferno by Dante (c. 1321) [11:36]   Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) [13:30]  Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [13:32] Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel (2024) [14:57]  The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue (2023) [14:59]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (2022) [15:53]  The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016) [15:54]  Good For a Girl by Lauren Fleshman (2023) [16:20]  The Longest Race by Kara Goucher (2023) [16:22]  September Sarah's Picks Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (September 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:17] Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman (September 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:31] The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (September 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[29:23] Underspin by E. Y. Zhao (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:14] Catherine's Picks The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:08]  Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent (US release: September 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:07] Other Books Mentioned Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (2022) [18:15]  Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (2023) [20:05]  Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje (2025) [20:38]  The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (2019) [24:46]  Younger by Pamela Redmond Satran (2005) [26:10] (The book upon which the television series is based.) Writers & Lovers by Lily King (2020) [26:12]  The Turner House by Angela Flournoy (2015) [29:49]  Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel (2024) [38:49]  October Catherine's Picks Workhorse by Caroline Palmer (October 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:25] The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson (October 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:14] November Sarah's Pick Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:31] Catherine's Pick Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (November 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[40:02] Other Books Mentioned The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (2018) [43:57]  December Catherine's Pick The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini (US release: December 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:19] Other Books Mentioned The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini (2024) [47:22] 

Recorded Friday, August 1, 2025 at the Bearly There Bunkhouse in Canyon Creek Montana KNTTING Barb is working on charity hats, A Hat Called Hudson x4 by Alison Shuman, and Bankhead Hat #34 (by Susie Gorlay) Eileen has been working on Maize by Tin Can Knits, fingerless mitts in Black Wolf fiber and Simple Summer Tweed Top Down V-Neck by Heidi Kirrmaier in Urth   Monokrom Worsted Susan has made  4 The Knitted Rib Watch Caps by the American Red Cross for charity and is making the Sixteen Hearts Baby Hat by Natasha Childers Kate is making the Botanic Shawl by Stephen West and The Gathering Hat by Kate Salomon Tracie has been very indecisive about yarn but is going to make the Summer Sky Tee by Comfort Zone Knits in Juniper Moon Farm Zooey Spray BOOKS Eileen:       Kate Shugak - Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow Sebastian St Cyr series by CS Harris Susan:       The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline Kate:             Spitfires: The American Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger in WWII by Becky Aikman  Population 485 by Michael Perry Tracie:         DS George Cross series by Tim Sullivan Cormac Reilly series by Dermal Mctiernan Barb:           Facing the Extreme: One Woman's Story by Ruth Anne Kocour   Our whole group recommends Great Falls, Montana for yarn shopping! Yarn & Honey Farmer's Daughter Fibers  

In this conclusion of a two-part episode, Frank and guest co-host Dan Pasternack talk to Emmy-winning writer-actor-director Robert Smigel about his lifelong obsession with Charles Schulz and Peanuts, his preference for "specific" comedy, his working relationship with Lorne Michaels and his unusual friendship with Blackwolf the Dragonmaster. Also, Triumph debates Carl Bernstein, Jesus meets Kathie Lee Gifford, Mr. T auditions for "A Doll's House" and Robert stresses the importance of "embracing oddballs." PLUS: Anne Beatts! Shel Silverstein! The brilliance of Darlene Love! Paul Simon weighs in! Robert turns into Ed Grimley! And Frank and Dan praise the inventiveness of "Leo"! Subscribe now on  Apple ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fun-for-all-ages-with-frank-santopadre/id1824012922⁠⁠⁠ Spotify ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/18EQJNDwlYMUSh2uXD6Mu6?si=97966f6f8c474bc9⁠⁠⁠ Amazon ⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/13b5ed88-d28d-4f0c-a65e-8b32eecd80f6/fun-for-all-ages-with-frank-santopadre⁠⁠⁠ YouTube ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgvlbF41NLLPvsrcZ9XIsYKkH_HvUXHSG⁠⁠⁠ iHeart ⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-fun-for-all-ages-with-fran-283612643/⁠⁠⁠ TuneIn ⁠⁠⁠http://tun.in/pxOWO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices