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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 Vedinad, a nominee for Best Debut Indie Games at The Game Awards, has withdrawn his nomination because Megabonk is not his debut indie game release.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.
The Canadian crime fiction writer Louise Penny has sold more than 18 million books around the world – and she was a late starter: she was 45 when her first book appeared, after working for two decades as a broadcaster and journalist. Success as a fiction writer came quickly: her first novel Still Life won numerous awards, and introduced Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who works in rural Quebec. Louise has just published her 20th book featuring Gamache: in The Black Wolf, he's taking on a powerful conspiracy attempting to make Canada the 51st state in a fight over natural resources.Louise's music includes works by Beethoven, Michael Nyman, Bach and Neil Young.Presenter Michael Berkeley Producer Clare Walker
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.
We have an update about the game preservation story from last episode with some more context on why this might not be as big of a disaster as we first claimed. EA was rumored to be going private by being purchased by several investors representing Saudi Arabia. (This was confirmed the day after we recorded this episode.) Doug Bowser announced his retirement as the President of Nintendo of America. Microsoft has announced that there is yet another price increase on Xbox consoles thanks to "macroeconomic conditions." Then we talk to Rob about the music festival I went to last week and how I'm too out of shape to attend music festivals.
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!
The Virtual Boy is making a comeback on Nintendo Switch Online - but you'll have to buy an expensive piece of plastic or cardboard to use it. A devkit and prototype game collection was seized by UK police, and preservationists are fighting to get it back. (There's more to this story that came to light after recording this episode.) Nintendo has been awarded new patents on gameplay revolving around Pokemon battles - but could be used for more general things like summons in JRPG's. Then we talk to Rob about Donkey Kong: Bananza.
I'm back from Dragon Con and got to moderate some panels! I also talk about the artist who was kicked out of artist alley for selling AI art and explain exactly why they were kicked out and exactly why (and which) police were involved. Hollow Knight: Silksong released and broke the internet - and maybe makes a great case as for why digital preorders should actually be a thing. Some indie developers are upset at Silksong's $20 price tag because they can't afford to sell their game for $20 and it isn't as feature rich as Silksong. Then we talk to Rob about Dragon Con.
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
I will be at Dragon Con in Atlanta on Labor Day Weekend, moderating Dragon Con's first ever Speedrun Showcase, speaking with the Dad of Boy himself Christopher Judge, and moderating a panel with the cast of SYFY's The Magicians! (Sadly, the Mortal Kombat panel was dropped from the schedule the day after this was recorded!) Sony has raised the price of all models of the PS5 by $50 in the USA due to the tariffs. Gamestop made a PR move saying they would cover the difference if you traded in a last gen console - but that deal was only for 24 hours. Steam now calculates the review score based on reviews in your spoken language to prevent review bombing from other territories - but they give you the option to go back to including all reviews. Then we talk about games that people were excited for at Gamescom, and to Rob about Dragon Con.
I will be at Dragon Con on Labor Day weekend - and I couldn't talk about my schedule as we were recording, but its out now if you go look. Blizzard's Story and Franchise Development team successfully formed a union! Gamescom is bigger than it ever has been before, and it's a model that ESA should have tried with E3. Then we talk more about Dragon Con and why it's different than other conventions.
Sony has announced that the PS5 has sold over 80 million units, which is better than anyone expected. Sony also said that live service games were not going so great, but they are pushing ahead with their plans. Nintendo has denied speedrunning marathon RTA In Japan permission to showcase any Nintendo games. Then we talk to Rob about UFO 50 and Nintendo's survey about why people like physical games (and did not offer my reason as an option!)
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
We first hear from a viewer about the Microsoft Movies & TV store going away and why they are particularly disappointed in its removal. Itch.io is currently seeking new payment processors to replace the ones who are forcing content guidelines on their service. Itch.io has started to reindex free content that they originally pulled, since you don't need a payment processor to distribute that content. Nintendo is raising hardware prices of OG Switch hardware and some Switch 2 accessories, but not that of the Switch 2 - yet. Then we talk with Rob about how ESPN8: The Ocho should feature speedrunning and why we think esports hasn't really broken into the mainstream despite valiant efforts by the industry.
July 24, 2005 was when the first episode of this podcast was broadcast live via Shoutcast internet radio, so we spend some time looking at how the last 20 years have been with this show. Itch.io has deindexed every title that had sensitive content on its storefront, in response to payment processors who have given in to very small activist groups. Xbox has announced that some titles that were going to be $80 will now be $70 instead. Then we talk to Rob about 20 years in podcasting and $80 titles going away - for now.
I was at ATL Comic Convention and hosted a panel with the actors from Red Dead Redemption 2! Steam has banned many adult games due to guidelines from credit card processors. Microsoft has abruptly killed their Movies and TV store on Windows and Xbox. Then we talk to Rob about buying movies and TV shows directly from consoles rather than streaming.
I'm going to be at ATL Comic Convention on Saturday, July 19th, running a panel with the performance actors from Red Dead Redemption 2 at 2PM! Last week, I was at Summer Games Done Quick 2025, reading donations and helping raise over $2.4million for Doctors Without Borders. The SAG-AFTRA strike against video game companies is now officially over, and everyone is back to work with better pay and more AI protections. Subnautica 2 was delayed despite being ready, the founders of the studio outsted, and a $250million bonus not hit because they will not make their revenue targets by the contracted deadline due to the delay. Then we talk to Rob about the news I missed while I was at SGDQ.
I will be hosting at Summer Games Done Quick 2025 on Thursday and Saturday! I'll be hosting a Super Metroid race, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Super Mario 3, and a Kirby Super Star Ultra TAS! I will also be at the ATL Comic Convention on July 19th to moderate a panel with the performance actors of Red Dead Redemption. I was at Southern-Fried Gaming Expo and played some games (including a dual screen Commodore 128 game!), helped run a panel about obscure games, and moderated a panel with video game voice actors. It was rumored (and proven true after recording) that Microsoft was going to lay off thousands of people in their Xbox division. Beat Saber is ending support for PlayStation platforms, and will only allow multiplayer and new DLC for the Steam and Meta Quest platforms going forward. Then we talk to Rob about SFGE and Fantasy Life i.
I'll be at the Southern-Fried Gaming Expo speaking on a panel about obscure games and hosting a panel with video game voice actors! A PSA if you have a Nintendo Switch 2 - update your controllers firmware! There is a firmware update and the console does NOT automatically update your controllers. The Switch 2 is now officially Nintendo's fastest selling device, and is most likely the fastest selling video game console ever. The SAG-AFTRA voice actors strike over AI protections has been suspended, which means voice actors are now returning to work. Then we take suggestions from chat about obscure video games that you might have missed, none of which we actually used in the presentation, but it was good hearing them!
BIGFEETS Episode 48 - The AIMS team vs. The Black Wolf Gather up yer huntin' jerky, yer huntin' flossing knife, yer huntin' fae maze, and all three of your teeth... we're huntin' the Black Wolf! The AIMS team is gonna get them some native American grim reaper, and THAT'S good eatin' reaper! Strap on yer huntin' diaper for another super sopping episode of BIGFEETS!
We attempt to do two hours of gaming talk in one hour, so buckle up! The ROG Xbox Ally is the handheld Xbox, announced at Summer Game Fest. Geoff Keighley misled at the Summer Game Fest Kickoff Showcase by claiming that dev teams were smaller than they actually were - erasing the many outsourced parts of the game development process. Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is coming from Digital Eclipse, but is not Gold Master Series #4. The Nintendo Switch 2 is both plentiful and hard to find, depending on who you ask. We then talk about the transfer process, gameshare, clip sharing, the official carrying case, and what I played first. Then we talk to Rob about the Nintendo Switch 2.
I was at MomoCon working with the Momentum 2025 speedrun marathon! I will be back at Summer Games Done Quick 2025 as a host! SAG-AFTRA is now pushing back over Fortnite's use of James Earl Jones' voice to say generative AI voice lines instead of trying to work with existing voice actors who have taken over the Darth Vader character in other games. There are a few games that can't run on the Switch 2, but it's really not as surprising or bad as you think. Then we talk to Rob about how we're going to be at the Southern-Fried Gaming Expo in Atlanta on June 18-20th and also running a panel about overlooked classic games.
The AIMS team have entered a new paradigm, a stupid realm known only as, "The Dark Forest" among cast and crew. The boys are on the hunt for... the Raven Mocker? Wait.. maybe the little ghost girl? Er.. AH! The Black Wolf! Whaddya mean "...the what?" The Black Wolf! No... no that's not it. It's Jeff's dignity! The deadliest prey. It's another piss soaked free for all on this week's episode of BIGFEETS!
We start off remembering friend of the network Kurt Boutin, who went by "VOByKurt" in our community and on TikTok. Fortnite introduced Darth Vader and utilized an AI trained on James Earl Jones's voice with permission - however this made Vader say some very naughty things. Hideo Kojima wants a game that forgets what it was doing the longer you step away from it as a player. Then we talk to Rob about forgetting things after putting games down, and how to effectively parry in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
We start talking about what was actually leaked regarding the internet cult film Kung Fury, and why you shouldn't be holding your breath for it to come to theaters anytime soon. Giant Bomb has bought itself from Fandom and has become an independently owned media outlet once again. Nintendo has released a new EULA that gives them more power to go after people who engage with piracy. Then we talk to Rob about Super Nintendo World and the Mario Kart ride's seat sizes.
I spent a week on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise ship, which actually has an impressive board game collection on board. Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed to May of 2026 in a tradition that has been happening since GTA3. EA lays off 300 employees and cancelled the upcoming game in the Titanfall universe. Polygon has been sold from Vox Media to Valnet, and lays off 2/3rd of their staff. Valnet claims that it will still be the quality that is best for Polygon, despite all of its other sites being click-farms. Fandom abruptly shut down all Giant Bomb livestreaming after sending new brand guidelines making everything PG, which caused some influential people to leave the outlet. Unfortunately, my DNS servers went down half way through the show so the show is a little bit shorter and disjointed. (I merely rebooted my router right after going off the air and everything was fine.)
The Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders will finally go live, and while the console hasn't gone up in price, the accessories have. Greater Than Games, the producer of the board games Sentinels of the Multiverse and Spirit Island, is suspending operations in the face of tariff uncertainty in the US. An Atlanta-area game developer is finally entering early access with their retro-styled platform brawler, so take a look at Elemensional Rift. Then we talk to Rob about the Switch 2 prices and preorders.
Nintendo is assessing the tariff situation, and made a statement that the Switch 2 price was not made with the tariffs in mind. The 46% tariffs on Vietnam were paused for 90 days, but the 10% tariff went into effect. If you ask Google and Reddit, the physical version of Mario Kart World is $90 in the US - however, if you ask Nintendo, it is only $80. The confusion is because the internet is broken. Then we ask the multi-million dollar question - how could Mario Kart World's price have been lowered? You probably wouldn't like the answer as a consumer - but it's a reckoning a lot of AAA titles that are feature-filled or take innovation and risks will have to come to grips with. Then we talk to Rob about the price of everything gaming related, even though our wages haven't gone up to pay for it.
The Nintendo Switch 2 was announced on the same day the United States announced sweeping tariffs across every other nation on the planet. This caused the initial pre-orders for the Switch 2 to be delayed in the US. Vietnam, where Nintendo moved production to from China, had come to the negotiating table as of the recording of this show, and after recording this show, the reciprocal 46% tariff has been paused for 90 days (however the initial 10% still remains.) Board Games designed in the US are affected, too, because there just isn't the manufacturing capability or capacity in the US to do the specialty parts that many board games need. This means that board game prices will either soar, or people will just stop designing new board games. Tabletop Game makers are also facing some tough decisions about how to go forward with their business when the only good manufacturing for their niche product is in a highly tariff'd country.
In this deeply reflective episode, Kaleah explores the art of surrender and what it truly means to walk the soul path in a world driven by ego, achievement, and material gain. Drawing upon personal experience, spiritual insight, and the wisdom of “The Good Red Road,” she shares how letting go of control and aligning with your authentic self can lead to true abundance, purpose, and peace. You'll discover:
Before the Switch 2 reveal, Nintendo revealed the Virtual Game Card system, a solution to a problem not many people were having - which caused confusion. We break down who it's for and why it might not be something you would use, since you can opt out of it. Game Informer is back! At least the magazine and staff is - thanks to a crypto company. No word on the amazing Game Informer Vault, though. Sony is preserving PlayStation history on tape backups in a cold storage vault at an undisclosed location, but it's not for researchers - only for internal company use. Then we talk to Rob about the Virtual Game Cards and who they're for.
Are you an empath or highly sensitive person who often feels overwhelmed, misunderstood, or like you don't quite belong in this world? In this powerful episode, Kaleah LaRoche explores the deep and often challenging journey of the empath — from childhood wounds and emotional overwhelm to spiritual awakening and soulful empowerment. You'll discover how being highly sensitive is not a flaw, but a sacred calling. Kaleah shares insights into the empath's role in humanity, the connection between sensitivity and the Soul Path, and how to transform emotional pain into purpose. Learn how to protect your energy, recognize the spiritual gifts within your sensitivity, and walk a path of authenticity, healing, and truth. Whether you're navigating the dark night of the soul, recovering from narcissistic abuse, or simply searching for deeper meaning, this episode is a guide to embracing your empathic nature and reclaiming your spiritual power.
Yakuza is leaving Game Pass and it's all one of our listener's fault. The United Videogame Workers union has started to help the game industry unionize. Standard accessibility labels are coming across several online storefronts. SNES's are faster now, and it's because of Nintendo skimping on a resonator, so it speeds up over time. Portal is getting a new pinball machine courtesy of the Multimorphic P3 platform. Then we talk to Rob about Arcade1up and how it sounds like they are about to go under - and how our TRON cabinets are now worth a lot of money.
Discord is in talks to go public, which means that we're nearing the time when the platform might become less usable as profits will become more necessary. Forza Horizon 5 on the PlayStation 5 will require an Xbox account linked to your PSN account to play. Classic game publisher Acclaim is returning! While everyone is talking about which games they could resurrect, the reality is only the trademark was purchased, and the new company doesn't own any of the former Acclaim catalog. There's a lot of live investigation about who owns what rights to what games, with a lot of attention to Wizards & Warriors. We still aren't positive who owns it. Then we took a call about Jeff Jarrett's involvement with Acclaim and why that is a red flag. Then we talk to Rob about Acclaim and my old Flappy Bird clone that maybe Acclaim can publish.
We start off talking about preservation of television video from the late 90's and 2000's - and why it looks a lot worse today than we remember when it first aired. PEGI has reclassified Balatro and Luck Be A Landlord down to a PEGI-12 rating from a PEGI-18, which was given because it had elements of gambling. PEGI's statement described how it was modifying its rating rules to account for "fantastical elements" in games like Balatro. EA has released the source code for many of their Command & Conquer titles, which are fun to go through and will help the modding community greatly, but won't really teach you how to make a game in 2025. Warner Bros is closing Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB Games San Diego, and cancelling their projects, including a Wonder Woman game. Monolith Productions had patented the "Nemesis" system from Shadow of Mordor, and now Warner Bros holds on to the patent until 2036, while most likely not using it in any more games - but will stop other games from incorporating the same mechanic. Then we talk about how March is gonna have a lot of great game releases.
Twitch is going to be destroying a decade of gaming history by limiting all Twitch channels to only 100 hours of highlights on their account, affecting only 0.5% of active channels, which apparently include everyone I know in the speedrunning community. An entire US based team of designers has been laid off by Chinese company NetEase, even though they worked on the hugely successful Marvel Rivals. Limited Run Games has put out a warning regarding some recently released NES cartridges that may damage the cartridge or the console due to faulty voltage regulation. Then we talk with the chat about asset reuse and the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series, now that Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is out.
A malware infected game was released for free on Steam and delisted - but not before a thousand gamers downloaded and launched it. Valve recommends you format your PC. The creators of E3 have a new industry trade show, and seem to be doing everything in their power to not make the consumers interested - which is great. Former Activision CEO claims that buying Bizarre Creations, the creators of Project Gotham Racing and Blur, was a "bad decision". Then we talk to Rob about if he bought Civilization VII, and about how No Man's Sky's previous expedition rewards got wiped out on consoles.