Podcasts about george r

ElectroCosplay joins from New York to talk about some of her favorite fantastical fandoms, plus we're talking about Cosplay too! We start things off by talking about one of the biggest fantasy video games series, Elder Scrolls. Electro and I talk about how she got into the Elder Scrolls series, and we bounce around between talking about Skyrim, Elder Scrolls Online, and how she incorporates Elder Scrolls themes and idea into her real life decorating for her home. Plus, there is a request for Elder Scrolls 6 (take note Bethesda!) From there, Electro and I talk about George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, and its television counterparts, Game of Thrones. We talk about how she first got into ASOIAF, her thoughts on the books and a particular thought about just where the final books may be. We also talk about The Game of Thrones series, plus House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. All through that, we talk about the characters, the stories, and what story she'd love to see done. We then get to Dungeons and Dragons. Electro talks about how she got interested in the game thanks to Baldur's Gate (and fan fiction!). We talk about the kinds of characters she enjoys playing, some of her favorite spells, and what keeps her coming back to slinging dice and creating stories with others. Then we wrap up with Cosplay. She talks about how she got started with zero skills and how she built her skills and repertoire from the ground up. We talk about a number of her cosplay looks, including her Royal Cookie dress and all that went into designing and creating it. Plus we hear some behind the scenes stories about debuting her work at conventions and all that goes into navigating with a huge gown. You can find Electro at: https://www.instagram.com/electrocosplay/ https://linktr.ee/electrocosplay https://www.electrocosplay.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@electro_cosplay

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle discuss the 9th chapter of the book "A Dance With Dragons" from the series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. In the first half of the podcast we go through the chapter chronologically with Kyle who is on his first read through (Spoiler Free), and in the second half Jeff and Nelson dig into theories in a full spoiler section. If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord to chat with us or for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXD#asoiaf #asongoficeandfire Thanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin▬ Non-Spoiler / Spoiler  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬0:00 - Spoiler Free 1:07:20 - Spoiler Section

Host Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll reflect on authors who take big risks in their storytelling, everything from subject matter to writing styles and killing off significant characters.   Books mentioned in this episode include:   • “The First Law Series” and “The Heroes” by Joe Abercrombie   • “Brighton Rock” and “The End of the Affair”  by Graham Greene   • “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman   • by Joe Abercrombie   • “The Road” and “Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy   • “Flesh” by David Szlay   • “Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin   • “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” and “The Adventure of the Empty House” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle • “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” by J. K. Rowling   • “The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie   • “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift   • “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn • “Patriot” by Alexei Navalny   • “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov   • “Ball Four” by Jim Bouton and Leonard Shecter   This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.  Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two new podcast episodes a week on Fridays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. ET. Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe We want your feedback!Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up! Our email address is: AudiobookCafe@ami.ca About AMIAMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+Learn more at AMI.caConnect with Accessible Media Inc. online:X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaInc Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“We should start back” sono le primissime parole de “Le Cronache del Ghiaccio e del Fuoco” di George R.R. Martin e noi abbiamo pensato di fare esattamente così.Vaes Dothrak è immensa, Dany non riesce a vederne la fine. La città giace ai piedi della Madre delle Montagne, accessibile solo ai khal e ai loro bloodriders.Come spiega Mormont, ora ufficiosamente al servizio della Khaleesi, è una città fatta da schiavi allo scopo, un giorno, di ospitare tutti i suoi figli Dothaki, come hanno da tempo profetizzato le vecchie del Dosh Khaleen, le anziane vedove dei khal morti, portate qua a passare il resto della loro vita tra le case vuote di una città che sembra un fantasma.A Daenerys fa strano pensarla come una città, lei ne ha viste tante e mai senza delle mura di cinta o uno stile ben preciso; Vaes Dothrak la confonde, così come la confondono tutte le statue di antiche divinità e vecchi eroi che adornano la strada principale che stanno percorrendo verso il centro.Insieme a lei Ser Jorah e suo fratello Viserys, di nuovo a cavallo, dopo che Dany, a sua insaputa, è riuscita a convincere Khal Drogo a ridargli una cavalcatura.Viserys non si è minimamente adattato alla cultura dothraki, anzi ne schernisce gli usi e costumi, non fa alcuno sforzo per comprenderla, l'unica cosa che brama e richiede insistentemente a Drogo è un esercito per poter riconquistare i suoi Sette Regni.Ser Jorah è scettico, quasi gli ride in faccia ma Dany, a sorpresa, lo difende nonostante dubiti anche lei delle capacità militari del fratello; se solo esistesse qualcuno di più capace e affascinante, qualcuno che potrebbe ammaliare le folle e farsi seguire fedelmente da chiunque…Dopo essere stata avvertita da Cohollo, uno dei bloodrider di Drogo che il khal non tornerà nella sua tenda quella sera, Dany è solleva, specialmente all'idea di passare una serata senza sforzi e all'insegna del riposo assoluto, d'altronde il bimbo che porta in grembo sta crescendo e cavalcare diventa ogni giorno più pesante. La Khaleesi decide quella sera di invitare a cena suo fratello per donargli dei vestiti fatti apposta per lui. Sono in stile dothraki, adatti alle lunghe cavalcate, leggeri e dinamici, pensati per il caldo afoso delle immense steppe; sono anche un modo per aiutarlo a integrarsi e innalzare il suo rango tra i leader del khalasar.Viserys però è furioso, non ci sta; come si permette sua sorella, sua sottoposta, a ordinargli qualcosa? Lui è il suo re e non ammette che una “puttana” gli dia ordini, specialmente inviando una umile schiava.Questo litigio porta Dany a versare del sangue, il suo primo sangue in terra sacra: a Vaes Dothrak nessuno può portare un'arma o versare sangue altrui, Dany viola questo principio.Alla sera è ovviamente turbata e scossa e l'unica cosa che la può calmare sono le sue uova di drago. Chiede alle sue ancelle di portarle un uovo da cullare insieme al figlio in grembo; Irri le porta l'uovo verde con striature bronzee e in questo momento magico Dany riesce a sentire i calci di suoi figlio, il vero drago dentro di lei.Ovviamente condividete su tutte le piattaforme, spargete la voce e mettete like al video. Potete trovarci su tutti gli altri social tramite i link qua sotto:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tronodispadepod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/tronodispadepodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tronodispadepod/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mdslx4Nd8vunpc7nP3B45Google Podcast: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3uZm0vcy81MDk3ZTk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ilpodcastdelghiaccioedelfuocoKo-fi: https://ko-fi.com/ilpodcastdelghiaccioedelfuocoLinkt.ree: https://linktr.ee/ilpodcastdelghiaccioedelfuoco

SALVATION! Tottenham are staying up in the Premiere League for the 2026 / 2027 Season. Boston Jack and Minneapolis Jonah (@SkoolieSpurs) joins Host Kyle. The lads talk about the experiences at their local Spurs Pub watching the final match and how they felt going and during our fight against Everton The fans this season and the turnaround de Zerbie has been able to get out of the squad The Premier League Season as a whole Moments to remember from this season Season Superlatives  Entertainment Corner: Jack Project Hail Mary (the film) Kin by Tayari Jones Into The Blue by Emma Brodie Kyle NBA Finals A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle discuss the 8th chapter of the book "A Dance With Dragons" from the series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. In the first half of the podcast we go through the chapter chronologically with Kyle who is on his first read through (Spoiler Free), and in the second half Jeff and Nelson dig into theories in a full spoiler section. If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord to chat with us or for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXD#asoiaf #asongoficeandfire Thanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin▬ Non-Spoiler / Spoiler  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬0:00 - Spoiler Free 1:35:57 - Spoiler Section

Three years of Dancing with Dragons Podcast somehow flew by, and it has us thinking about the exact moments that turned Game of Thrones from “a show we tried once” into a world we never really left. We look back at how we found Westeros, what it felt like to fall into George R.R. Martin's universe for the first time, and why A Song of Ice and Fire still sparks better arguments than almost anything else on TV.Send us Fan MailSupport the showFollow Dancing with Dragons on Instagram Follow Tony on IG: Sirtone_Reviews  Follow Minwa on IG: TheArabKhaleesihttps://dancingwithdragons.buzzsprout.comEmail us @DancewithDragons62@gmail.com

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3018: Eddie Corbano explores how anger and the desire for revenge after a breakup can become a powerful catalyst for healing when directed in healthy ways. By channeling emotional pain into self-improvement and eventually rediscovering authenticity, he shows how recovery can transform heartbreak into personal growth and renewed confidence. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://lovesagame.com/the-need-for-revenge-on-your-ex/ Quotes to ponder: "Very few of us realize that anger can be a good thing at the beginning of our recovery." "You will enter a new phase where getting back at your Ex won't matter anymore, and it will become irrelevant what they think." "The most important thing is to be authentic, to re-connect with the real you." Episode references: A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin: https://www.amazon.com/Clash-Kings-Song-Fire-Book/dp/0553579908 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Skagos è uno dei luoghi più remoti di Westeros, una grande isola situata nel profondo Nord, al largo del Forte Orientale, oltre di essa solo il Mare dei Brividi. Isola rocciosa (non a caso, forse, il suo nome significa proprio "roccia", "pietra", nell'antica lingua dei Primi Uomini), circondata da correnti impetuose che fanno infrangere continuamente navi sulle sue coste, ha una reputazione sinistra... o meglio, ce l'hanno i suoi abitanti: gli skagosi, si dice, sono poco più che selvaggi, praticano ancora antiche e terribili usanze, organizzano macabri banchetti (mettiamola così) e si governano praticamente da soli, in eterno conflitto con l'autorità di Winterfell, tanto che una loro ribellione a Casa Stark si conta anche nella storia recente. L'unica cosa che non sembra essere fuori dall'ordinario è il loro aver addomesticato gli unicorni, enormi caproni lanosi con un grande corno che cresce dalla loro fronte, endemici dell'isola. Nonostante tutto questo, sembra che George R.R. Martin stia chiedendo al lettore di prestare attenzione: gli skagosi praticano commercio, hanno lord e leggi, nonostante ciò che viene detto chi ha avuto modo di incontrarli non ne sembra essere così orripilato come dovrebbe, forse forse non tutto è come sembra... e The Winds of Winter ci porterà dritti dritti sull'isola, perché è lì che si trova Rickon Stark, che Wyman Manderly è disperato nel voler recuperare, tanto da ingaggiare Davos Seaworth per il suo passato. Lui, solo lui, è in grado di navigare in quelle acque oscure. Cosa troverà Davos a Skagos? Cosa scopriranno i lettori con lui? In questo episodio, proviamo a fare chiarezza, andando a parlare non solo del piccolo Stark e del suo metalupo, ma anche di segreti che possono svelare la verità dietro le leggende che circondano l'isola...Art by Eddie MendozaSupportate il canale in cambio di contenuti esclusivi: https://www.patreon.com/LaCittadellaQui trovate tutti i link del canale e dei suoi host: https://linktr.ee/LaCittadella

Welche acht Bücher stehen in deinem Regal oder hast du gelesen, deren Anblick starke Erinnerungen an Momente in deinem Leben oder an wichtige Erfahrungen weckt? Ähnlich, wie wenn du ein Lied hörst und es dich in Erinnerung an einen wichtigen Moment oder eine wichtige Zeit in deinem Leben versetzt, welche acht Bücher haben dieselbe Wirkung auf dich und warum? Das ist die Frage, die der YouTuber „The Accidental Bookseller“ in seinem „8 Memories“ Buchtag stellt, und diesen Buchtag beantworte ich heute für euch. Dabei erwähne ich folgende Titel: „Bernsteinfeuer“ von Elizabeth Lowell „Der Herr der Ringe“-Trilogie von J.R.R. Tolkien „Sevenwaters“-Trilogie von Juliet Marillier „Jesus von Texas“ von D.B.C. Pierre „Twilight“-Reihe von Stephenie Meyer „Cassia & Ky“-Reihe von Ally Condie Dylan Thomas Gedicht „Do not go gentle into that good night“ „Das Lied von Eis und Feuer“-Reihe von George R.R. Martin „Sophia, der Tod und ich“ von Thees Ullmann „Zartbittertod“ von Elisabeth Herrmann „Die große Sherlock Holmes Edition“ von Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Wer auch mitmachen möchte, fühle sich bitte getaggt. Viel Spaß beim Zuhören, eure Ilana *Das Buch wurde mir als Rezensionsexemplar vom Verlag oder dem Autor/der Autorin zur Verfügung gestellt. Ich benutze Affiliate Links von Amazon.de, d.h. ich erhalte eine Provision, wenn ihr sie klickt und Produkte bestellt. Näheres siehe "Impressum und Rechtliches". 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle discuss the 7th chapter of the book "A Dance With Dragons" from the series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. In the first half of the podcast we go through the chapter chronologically with Kyle who is on his first read through (Spoiler Free), and in the second half Jeff and Nelson dig into theories in a full spoiler section. If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord to chat with us or for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXD#asoiaf #asongoficeandfire Thanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin▬ Non-Spoiler / Spoiler  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬0:00 - Spoiler Free 1:09:30 - Spoiler Section

“We should start back” sono le primissime parole de “Le Cronache del Ghiaccio e del Fuoco” di George R.R. Martin e noi abbiamo pensato di fare esattamente così.Nel verde mare dothraki Daenerys si sente finalmente libera. Lontana dalle costrizioni regali di Westeros e dalle strette mura dell'immenso palazzo di Illyrio, Dany si scopre khaleesi, moglie del più potente dei khal e, per la prima volta nella sua vita, più in alto rispetto al fratello. Remoti sono i giorni di sofferenza e dolore provati a inizio viaggio, quando le ore a cavallo sembravano infinite ed estenuanti e le notti terrificanti e insonni. Drogo di certo non le stava vicino, anzi era proprio quello che le dava il colpo di grazia tanto che Dany, durante uno dei suoi momenti più oscuri, contempla anche il suicidio.Eppure niente di tutto ciò ha più importanza di fronte al drago che le si presenta in sogno ancora una volta e la riforgia e la purifica nel suo fuoco sacro.Da quel momento in poi Dany non ha più paura, sicura nella sua posizione di khaleesi e protetta dal suo cavaliere, Ser Jorah, che ha ormai quasi del tutto abbandonato suo fratello per seguirla e darle consiglio.Nonostante Viserys sia ormai lo zimbello del khalasar, debole e appiedato, Daenerys prova pietà per lui; è comunque suo fratello e loro sono gli ultimi draghi - sebbene Jorah affermi che l'ultimo drago sia stato Rhaegar.Dany di dubbi ne ha tanti, di certezze pochissime, tuttavia sa che le uova regalatele da Illyrio le sembrano calde al tatto e che quello nero e scarlatto le appare più vivo che mai; conosce inoltre una leggenda di Qarth che racconta dell'origine dei draghi, secondo la quale i draghi sono nati dalla luna che, avvicinandosi troppo al sole, si è rotta e da li sono emersi decine di migliaia di draghi. Rassicurata dal sogno di drago e forte nella sua ritrovata posizione, Dany prende in mano la situazione e affronta Drogo faccia a faccia, ridefinendo il loro rapporto di fronte l'intero khalasar.Ed è proprio il giorno del suo 14° compleanno che Dany scopre di essere incinta, diventerà madre. Ovviamente condividete su tutte le piattaforme, spargete la voce e mettete like al video. Potete trovarci su tutti gli altri social tramite i link qua sotto:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tronodispadepod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/tronodispadepodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tronodispadepod/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mdslx4Nd8vunpc7nP3B45Google Podcast: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3uZm0vcy81MDk3ZTk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ilpodcastdelghiaccioedelfuocoKo-fi: https://ko-fi.com/ilpodcastdelghiaccioedelfuocoLinkt.ree: https://linktr.ee/ilpodcastdelghiaccioedelfuoco

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle discuss the 6th chapter of the book "A Dance With Dragons" from the series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. In the first half of the podcast we go through the chapter chronologically with Kyle who is on his first read through (Spoiler Free), and in the second half Jeff and Nelson dig into theories in a full spoiler section. If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord to chat with us or for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXD#asoiaf #asongoficeandfire Thanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin▬ Non-Spoiler / Spoiler  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬0:00 - Spoiler Free 1:20:28 - Spoiler Section

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle discuss the 5th chapter of the book "A Dance With Dragons" from the series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. In the first half of the podcast we go through the chapter chronologically with Kyle who is on his first read through (Spoiler Free), and in the second half Jeff and Nelson dig into theories in a full spoiler section. If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord to chat with us or for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXD#asoiaf #asongoficeandfire Thanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin▬ Non-Spoiler / Spoiler  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬0:00 - Spoiler Free 1:11:45 - Spoiler Section

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle discuss the 4th chapter of the book "A Dance With Dragons" from the series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. In the first half of the podcast we go through the chapter chronologically with Kyle who is on his first read through (Spoiler Free), and in the second half Jeff and Nelson dig into theories in a full spoiler section. If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord to chat with us or for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXD#asoiaf #asongoficeandfire Thanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin▬ Non-Spoiler / Spoiler  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬0:00 - Spoiler Free 1:11:15 - Spoiler Section

I recruited my friends Tinkered Thinking (✍️

JON SNOW WALKS AWAY… SANSA RETURNS… AND DAENERYS CLAIMS HER POWER. Full Length Watch Alongs & Early Access:   / thereelrejects   Game of Thrones 6x1 & 6x2 Reaction:    • GAME OF THRONES 6x01 & 6x02 REACTION – THE...   Game of Thrones 5x9 & 5x10 Reaction:    • GAME OF THRONES 5x9 & 5x10 REACTION – THEY...   Game of Thrones 5x7 & 5x8 Reaction:    • THIS HARDHOME SCENE IS INSANE – White Walk...   Gift Someone (Or Yourself) An RR Tee! https://shorturl.at/hekk2 Tara Erickson & Andrew Gordon return to Westeros for one of the most shocking turning points in the series, bringing you their Game of Thrones Season 6 Episodes 3 & 4 reaction, recap, commentary, breakdown, analysis, and full spoiler review!! Tara Erickson & Andrew Gordon react to and break down Game of Thrones Season 6 Episodes 3 & 4, the HBO fantasy epic created by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, based on the novels by George R.R. Martin. These episodes center on the aftermath of Jon Snow's resurrection, with Kit Harington (Pompeii, Eternals) delivering a powerful, introspective performance as Jon grapples with what it means to return from death and ultimately makes the shocking decision to leave the Night's Watch behind. Follow Andrew Gordon on Socials:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieSource Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/agor711/?hl=en Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Agor711 Follow Tara Erickson: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaraErickson Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/taraerickson/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/thetaraerickson Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Follow Us On Socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/  Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/reelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Music Used In Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB:  https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(00:00:00) Technical Difficulties and Podcast Introduction (00:01:07) Ryan Coogler's Nostalgic Projects (00:01:35) The Anamorphs Series: A Blast from the Past (00:03:19) The Anamorphs TV Show and Cultural Impact (00:07:00) The Intricacies of the Anamorphs Universe (00:11:24) The Anamorphs Book Series: A Massive Production (00:20:50) The Challenges of Ghostwriting (00:25:45) The Rules of Morphing in Anamorphs (00:29:57) George R.R. Martin's Long-Awaited Winds of Winter (00:53:00) Robert Kirkman's New Comic Book Series On this week's episode, the guys kick things off by diving into the latest buzz surrounding the film industry, particularly focusing on the announcement of another intriguing reboot project by the acclaimed filmmaker Ryan Coogler. Following his successful work on the recent revival of The X-Files, Coogler is now set to tackle a Disney+ series based on the beloved children's book series, Animorphs. This news has sparked excitement among fans who are eager to see how Coogler will reinterpret the classic tales of transformation and adventure that captivated a generation of readers. The guys discuss the potential directions the series could take, considering the rich source material and Coogler's unique storytelling style, which often blends depth with entertainment.The conversation then transitions to an interesting topic that Joe brings to the table. He recounts a recent post he stumbled upon on Reddit, which has generated quite a bit of speculation and intrigue within the literary community. The post, authored by an anonymous individual claiming to be an employee at Bantam Books— the esteemed publisher behind George R.R. Martin's monumental series, A Song of Ice and Fire—makes a bold assertion. According to this mysterious source, a manuscript for the much-anticipated novel, The Winds of Winter, has been submitted by Martin as of January 2026. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the fanbase, who have been eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series for years. The guys delve into the implications of this news, discussing the long-standing anticipation surrounding the book, the challenges Martin has faced in completing it, and how this potential release could impact the overall narrative arc of the series.As they explore this topic further, they reflect on the journey of A Song of Ice and Fire, examining how the series has influenced modern fantasy literature and its cultural significance in the realm of television adaptations. They also ponder the various theories that fans have developed over the years while waiting for The Winds of Winter, considering how the series has evolved and how it might conclude. The dialogue is rich with insights and perspectives, making for a compelling segment that resonates with both casual listeners and die-hard fans alike.Official Website: https://www.comesnaturallypodcast.comOfficial Merchandise: https://shop.spreadshirt.com/comes-naturally-podcast/iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/kqkgackFacebook: http://tinyurl.com/myovgm8Tumblr: http://tinyurl.com/m7a6mg9Twitter: @ComesNaturalPodYouTube: http://tiny.cc/5snxpy

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle discuss the 3rd chapter of the book "A Dance With Dragons" from the series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. In the first half of the podcast we go through the chapter chronologically with Kyle who is on his first read through (Spoiler Free), and in the second half Jeff and Nelson dig into theories in a full spoiler section. If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord to chat with us or for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXD#asoiaf #asongoficeandfire Thanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin▬ Non-Spoiler / Spoiler  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬0:00 - Spoiler Free 1:09:40 - Spoiler Section

In Part 2 of our George R.R. Martin episode, those who can do, teach. Martin enters the Twilight Zone before rolling the dice on a Game of Thrones. Hope you'll join us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle discuss the 2nd chapter of the book "A Dance With Dragons" from the series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. In the first half of the podcast we go through the chapter chronologically with Kyle who is on his first read through (Spoiler Free), and in the second half Jeff and Nelson dig into theories in a full spoiler section. If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord to chat with us or for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXD#asoiaf #asongoficeandfire Thanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin▬ Non-Spoiler / Spoiler  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬0:00 - Spoiler Free 1:08:20 - Spoiler Section

George R.R. Martin is the architect behind the greatest fantasy series of all time. Game of Thrones has 59 Emmys, with 159 Emmy nominations – making it the most nominated dramatic television series of all time. Martin's book series “A Song of Ice and Fire” has reportedly sold nearly 100 million copies. And yet, back in the 1970s, Martin was living at his parents' house in New Jersey, covering local baseball part-time and getting rejected by sci-fi publications. Then he had a thought – should he abandon writing altogether and become a realtor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TEXT US YOUR THOUGHTS!This week on Good2Game Radio, Tony and Jaime dive headfirst into chaos—where medieval drama meets zombie panic and somehow still finds time to argue about TV budgets like two dads at Best Buy. The duo breaks down the latest Game of Thrones spinoff twists, including surprise endings, budget-friendly filmmaking (aka “we found spare change, let's make a show”), and why modern TV seasons take longer than a George R.R. Martin book.Then it's all about Resident Evil 9, where Jaime proudly “wears the pink ribbon” after caving to digital, while Tony clings to physical copies like they're collector's gold. Expect horror stories about stalker enemies, broken light bulbs, and pure gamer panic.Finally, they tackle Marathon vs. Arc Raiders, debating steep learning curves, neon overload, and whether gamers today have the patience of a goldfish. Spoiler: they don't.It's insightful, ridiculous, and exactly the kind of gaming therapy you didn't know you needed.Support the show https://discord.gg/3yfGt9gahB

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle discuss the 1st chapter of the book "A Dance With Dragons" from the series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. In the first half of the podcast we go through the chapter chronologically with Kyle who is on his first read through (Spoiler Free), and in the second half Jeff and Nelson dig into theories in a full spoiler section. If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord to chat with us or for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXD#asoiaf #asongoficeandfire Thanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin▬ Non-Spoiler / Spoiler  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬0:00 - Spoiler Free 1:22:10 - Spoiler Section

Send a textIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle, discuss the second half of "The Mystery Knight" from "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" by George R.R. Martin.  If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXDThanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin

Regresamos al continente donde reside el "writers block" que afecta a George R.R. Martin hace más de 15 años: ¡WESTEROS! para hablar de la primera temporada de A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. 00:00 - Intro01:15 - SNL10:00 - Evangelion 30th Anniversary 18:01 - The Breakfast Club32:00 - Videoheaven 39:35 - A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms01:06:00 - Bye!

HBO's Game of Thrones is back with yet another spinoff, this time based on George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas. A departure from the palace intrigue and massive scale of both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms digs into more lighthearted slice-of-life drama, at least until its explosive climax. We discuss the short first season, its pitch-perfect casting, and its memorable roster of Westerosi characters.

Today on Too Opinionated, we're joined by rising actress Abigail O'Regan, who appears in the highly anticipated HBO series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the next hit show in the Game of Thrones universe. Based on George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg stories, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms explores the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire Egg nearly a century before the events of Game of Thrones. Abigail plays Daisy in the series, bringing heart and depth to this new story set in the world of Westeros. Abigail is also known for her work in:

Send a textIn this episode Nelson, Jeff and Kyle, discuss the first half of "The Mystery Knight" from "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" by George R.R. Martin.  If you have any Questions, Theories or just want to tell us anything we missed? Join our discord and talk about it with us and we can bring it up on the next episode!Checkout our discord for any podcast resources: https://discord.gg/2xNktUPUXDThanks to Dalton for Music!Thanks to jraijin on fiver for the art! Here is a link to his page: https://www.fiverr.com/jraijin

Jurandir Filho, Thiago Siqueira, Rogério Montanare e Fernanda Schmölz batem um papo sobre a primeira temporada de "O Cavaleiro dos Sete Reinos"da HBO. A série chegou como algo raro dentro do universo criado por George R.R. Martin: uma história menor em escala, mas enorme em diversão, humanidade e espírito de aventura. Depois de produções grandiosas como "Game of Thrones" e "A Casa do Dragão", a nova série mostra que o mundo de Westeros não precisa apenas de guerras gigantescas, dragões e disputas pelo trono para ser fascinante. Às vezes, basta acompanhar dois personagens caminhando pela estrada.- ASSINE O SALA VIP!Um podcast EXCLUSIVO do RapaduraCast toda semana! http://patreon.com/rapaduracast

A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS is another major hit for HBO and HOUSE OF THE DRAGON season 3 is just around the corner! So, what's next for GAME OF THRONES and will author George R.R. Martin still be a part of it? Speaking of HBO and their parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, DJ and Roxy discuss the latest in the bidding war between Paramount and Netflix! Support!⁠⁠https://www.allsorrows.com/store/p/danger-boi-the-antagonists-comic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chuffed.org/project/167415-monarca-mn-rapid-response-line⁠⁠More DJ!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/djtalkstrash⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More Roxy! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/roxystriar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theme Music by: Steven James SchmidtFor exclusive bonus podcasts like What We're Into, Mutant Academy, and more, check out our Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OnlyStupidAnswers

Is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms the sleeper hit of the Game of Thrones universe? In this full A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms spoiler review, the SuperHero Homies break down everything from the tonal shift in the Westeros saga to the chemistry between Dunk and Egg, the action choreography, the comedy, and whether the shorter episode count helps or hurts the series. Main Review begins at 20:00 We dive deep into: How A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms compares to Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon The refreshing tone shift in the GoT universe The shorter 6-episode season and condensed runtime Action choreography and grounded swordplay The humor and lighter fantasy elements The incredible chemistry between the two lead actors Minor gripes and overall season rating If you're a fan of Game of Thrones lore, HBO fantasy series, George R.R. Martin adaptations, House of the Dragon discussions, and spoiler-filled TV reviews, this episode is for you. But before we ride into Westeros… We open with a passionate discussion on why The Last Jedi might be the worst Disney-produced Star Wars film. Yes. We said it. Expect bold takes, Star Wars debate, and full nerd-energy analysis. We also talk about the possibility of Caleb McLaughlin playing Miles Morales in a future Spider-Man movie and why that casting could absolutely work in the MCU or Sony Spider-Verse. And we show love to AJ Styles heading into the WWE Hall of Fame, debating who should induct him. Samoa Joe? Kurt Angle? John Cena? Wrestling fans, this one's for you. If you enjoy: Superhero podcasts Comic book discussions MCU & DC Comics analysis Game of Thrones reviews HBO fantasy breakdowns Star Wars debates Spider-Man casting rumors WWE Hall of Fame conversations Pop culture roundtables Welcome home. About SuperHero Homies We're a superhero and comic book podcast covering Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, video game adaptations, pro wrestling, and all things nerd culture. Detailed analysis, strong opinions, and fun debates every week. Support the Homies! Our official merch store is LIVE! Grab t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags & more: https://superherohomies.printify.me/ If you love in-depth reviews, pop culture discussions, and nerd debates, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe. Help us grow the Homie-verse

On this episode of Mystery Crate, things spiral immediately.Mike Fuentes attempts to defeat Chris Cote by taking on the 6 McDonald's cheeseburger challenge — can he actually finish six McDonald's cheeseburgers in one sitting? From there, the show derails into a full-blown argument about the Renaissance Festival (Ren Faire) — is dressing up medieval and drinking all day harmless fun, or is it officially “dorky”? The crew debates nerd vs dork culture, tailgates vs Ren Fests, and whether calling something “dorky” is secretly an insult.We also:-Try beef bacon and compare it to pork bacon (yes, this gets serious)-Debate Game of Thrones vs Lord of the Rings-Pitch a George R.R. Martin hot tub sitcom theory about why he hasn't finished Game Of Thrones-React to viral AI LeBron James videos-Develop a brand-new fear of sinkholes in Florida-Talk Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and the future of the Game of Thrones universe If you're here for fast food challenges, fantasy book conspiracies, Ren Faire arguments, or pure Mystery Crate nonsense — this episode has all of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Intimacy coordinators Casino Carlisle (Branson), George R.R. Word (Charles), and Fallyn Matcha-Dubai (Ty) share their expertise with some of Hollywood's leading actors. Subscribe to E1 on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/e1podcast Ending song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBcgWQDKJhI Join the E1 Discord: https://discord.com/invite/xTBVk23 Listen to Charles' new show Trouble in River City: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TroubleInRiverCity

To help this podcast continue and the website The Alabama Take keep going, click this link to donate as much or as little as you wish. Every bit helps. Thank you!They're back after a hiatus that lasted too long! And it's with a plus-sized episode!This week, Blaine begins with how to make a donation for The Alabama Take, why it's important, and how the funds will be used (0:02) Blaine then gives an overview of the episode (1:47).In the non-spoilers, which begin every episode, Blaine, Adam, and Donovan thank those who have helped the site and podcasts thus far (2:44). The episode kicks off in earnest with shows they repeatedly watch and what makes that a must (5:04): included is the series 'Band of Brothers,' which Adam claims to be HBO's best series (5:29) and Blaine found 'Lonesome Dove' a must after hearing of the death of Robert Duvall (11:34). Plus, he throws in the brilliance of comedian Dusty Slay as well as his Alabama connection (13:56). Continuing with non-spoilers, Blaine explains in general how 'Wonder Man' is easily Marvel's greatest television series and its best attempt at anything in many years (15:08). From there, it's non-spoilers for shows that will appear in the spoiler section; the first of which is 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,' what could be the best of the George R.R. Martin universe of shows on HBO (17:19). Blaine and Adam then discuss how Apple TV's 'Shrinking' is stinking and a little bit of why (21:33). Lastly in the non-spoiler section is the new Netflix series 'How to Get to Heaven from Belfast,' which has all three hosts intrigued (22:39).After a short break, they get into the meat of the episode, pondering how goods HBO's 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' truly is and if what appears in the penultimate episode is fully needed (31:06). From there, it's the specifics on Apple TV's 'Shrinking' and why it now sucks (52:47). In the final spoiler conversation, all three hosts have full attention to Netflix's new show 'How to Get to Heaven from Belfast' (1:08:35) because of how quickly it lets the viewer in, which has a lot to do with aging.For more, visit The Alabama Take website.To sign up for the site's newsletter and not rely on social media, sign up here.To help both the podcast and The Alabama Take site itself, consider making a donation of any size with the link here.

Jason and Greta unpack the season finale and the fallout from the Trial of Seven. George R.R. Martin's discusses what's next for Dunk and Egg. Then, they sit down with showrunner Ira Parker to discuss what the tourney meant for Dunk, if Egg will ever escape his Targaryen lineage, and whether Dunk was really knighted by Ser Arlan – and if that even matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Lewis journeys into the world behind the latest story from the Game of Thrones universe, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, to discover how it illustrates that medieval history is far more colourful and spectacular than you might think.After nerding out about the world created by George R.R. Martin with Dr. Eleanor Janega, Matt is joined by Dr Hugh Doherty, the show's historical advisor, who worked with its writers to build a believable world of knights, codes, and clashing swords, bringing authentic medieval life to Westeros. They discuss what the show gets right — and why it matters.MOREDragons: From Eden to Middle EarthListen on AppleListen on SpotifyTolkien: Middle Earth & the Middle AgesListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Joseph Knight, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 3 is where A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms starts to feel truly special. Jason and Rachel break down the episode's biggest moments, focusing on Dunk and Egg's evolving friendship, the subtle reveals hiding in plain sight, and how George R.R. Martin quietly turns a simple tournament story into something far bigger. Spoilers for Episode 3 Like & Subscribe Leave a 5-star review if you're enjoying Thumb War Email us: ThumbWarPod@gmail.com Ad-free episodes + bonus content on Patreon: http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Westeros is once again at the forefront of television audience's minds! Dunk and Egg have stolen our hearts in A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS. Rhaenyra vs. Alicent returns to our screens this summer! How can your possibly keep it all straight? Maesters Ashley and Jason take the tomes down from the Citadel to unveil George R.R. Martin's history of A Song of Ice and Fire evolution into the Game of Thrones juggernaut it is tonight with these episodes from the archives for this MEGA EPISODE:GHL 256 - Game of Thrones Series Review & Retrospective - Hot takes moments after the OG series wrapped!GHL 251 - Our Perfect Kingsguard - who would we most want protecting our reign? Featuring special guest, Rachel Cushing!GHL 19 - House Targaryen - Cousins be kissing!GHL 10 - Jon Snow - A massive debate about whether or not we know everyone or nothing about Jon Snow!Learn what it takes to reinvent fantasy for a modern audience. Is it dark edginess? Or practiced tropes? Introducing a new character every chapter? Join us for this in-depth celebration of A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE!Follow Rachel Cushing Levine on Threads ► https://www.threads.com/@rachelcushinglevine#SpookySeason Merch ► https://www.teepublic.com/stores/jawiinFor exclusive bonus podcasts like our Justice League Review show our Teen Titans Podcast, GHL Extra & Livestreams with the hosts, join the Geek History Lesson Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/JawiinGHL RECOMMENDED READING from this episode► https://www.geekhistorylesson.com/recommendedreadingFOLLOW GHL►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geekhistorylessonThreads: https://www.threads.net/@geekhistorylessonTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@geekhistorylessonFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/geekhistorylessonGet Your GHL Pin: https://geekhistorylesson.etsy.comYou can follow Ashley at https://www.threads.net/@ashleyvrobinson or https://www.ashleyvictoriarobinson.com/Follow Jason at https://www.threads.net/@jawiin or https://bsky.app/profile/jasoninman.bsky.socialThanks for showing up to class today. Class is dismissed!

But what of the VULGAR auteurs? We check in with Paul W.S. "The Other Paul Anderson" Anderson's latest "boy do I love my wife, Milla Jovavich" project, In the Lost Lands, based on some short stories by (checks notes) George R.R. Martin. Hmn. Wonder if Stu's ever heard of this guy.Check out Flop TV (tix here), and stay updated on Flop House events and side projects, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets!Wikipedia page for In the Lost LandsRecommended in this episode:Dan: Elvis: That's the Way it Is (1970)Stu: Sorry, Baby (2025)Elliott: Bugonia (2025), Save the Green Planet (2003)

The HBO series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms may be set in the same fantasy world as Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, but it's a small, grounded story – a kind of medieval buddy comedy. It follows a sweet but dim knight (Peter Claffey) and his wise-beyond-his-years young squire (Dexter Sol Ansell) trying to make their way in a tough world. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on a series of novellas by George R.R. Martin.Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhourLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

GAME OF THRONES is back with another spin-off, A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS! DJ and Roxy explore what differentiates this show from class formula and HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, and discuss the future of the franchise and whether George R.R. Martin might be better off moving on from the series. Plus, Lobo revealed and MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE!

Jason and Rosie are joined by Abu to discuss all the juicy details from The Hollywood Reporter’s big interview with George R.R. Martin. Plus, they break down how the first episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is landing with fans and critics, before diving into some of the big themes in the show. Follow Jason: IG & Bluesky Follow Rosie: IG & Letterboxd Follow X-Ray Vision on Instagram Join the X-Ray Vision DiscordSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, our Gabfest panel includes Steve and guest hosts Nadira Goffe and Laura Miller with a typically eclectic collection of topics. First up, Dana hops on the call to decode the unspoken truths and dream imagery of Kleber Mendonça Filho's film The Secret Agent. Set in 1970s Recife, Brazil and starring a very charming Wagner Moura, the film is a heterodox brew of political thriller, magical realism, and attentive character study about the everyday surreality of life under dictatorship.Next, it's back to Westeros with a discussion of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a Game of Thrones prequel set 100 years before the original show based on George R.R. Martin's fantasy epic. Grounded and surprisingly funny, don't expect dragons in this knight's tale.Finally, they turn to “Gluttons for Punishment,” a recent Vulture article by Lila Shapiro about UPenn religious studies professor Justin McDaniel using some extreme, unorthodox measures to get his students to finish books.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel talks to Laura about the secret pleasures of wood stacking as discussed in her recent piece “The Art of the Holzhausen.”EndorsementsNadira: Some melancholy shoegaze pop from Scandinavia, specifically the albums Goodbyehouse by Snuggle and Big City Life by Smerz.Laura: The novels of Robert Jackson Bennett in his Shadow of the Leviathan series including Hugo-winning The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption.Steve: The Substack essay “The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls Down” by Adam Bonica about the cost of American exceptionalism.And a bonus one from Dana: Pictures of Ghosts, the documentary by The Secret Agent director Kleber Mendonça Filho about Recife, Brazil in the 1970s.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, our Gabfest panel includes Steve and guest hosts Nadira Goffe and Laura Miller with a typically eclectic collection of topics. First up, Dana hops on the call to decode the unspoken truths and dream imagery of Kleber Mendonça Filho's film The Secret Agent. Set in 1970s Recife, Brazil and starring a very charming Wagner Moura, the film is a heterodox brew of political thriller, magical realism, and attentive character study about the everyday surreality of life under dictatorship.Next, it's back to Westeros with a discussion of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a Game of Thrones prequel set 100 years before the original show based on George R.R. Martin's fantasy epic. Grounded and surprisingly funny, don't expect dragons in this knight's tale.Finally, they turn to “Gluttons for Punishment,” a recent Vulture article by Lila Shapiro about UPenn religious studies professor Justin McDaniel using some extreme, unorthodox measures to get his students to finish books.In an exclusive bonus episode for Slate Plus subscribers, the panel talks to Laura about the secret pleasures of wood stacking as discussed in her recent piece “The Art of the Holzhausen.”EndorsementsNadira: Some melancholy shoegaze pop from Scandinavia, specifically the albums Goodbyehouse by Snuggle and Big City Life by Smerz.Laura: The novels of Robert Jackson Bennett in his Shadow of the Leviathan series including Hugo-winning The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption.Steve: The Substack essay “The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls Down” by Adam Bonica about the cost of American exceptionalism.And a bonus one from Dana: Pictures of Ghosts, the documentary by The Secret Agent director Kleber Mendonça Filho about Recife, Brazil in the 1970s.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Da7e and Neil return to Westeros to meet Ser Dunk and his new friend Egg as they make their way to a tourney and HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gets underway.In The Calm [04:26], they discuss the show's leisurely pace and lighter tone, the chemistry between its leads, and the many colorful banners they spotted in Ashford Meadow. They also discuss the lore behind stories about The Vulture King and the mummers' play about the knight with the mirror shield.Then in The Storm [54:16], your faithful hosts break down the "Weeks Ahead" trailer and discuss how the show will pad out the plot of George R.R. Martin's novella with flashbacks, dragon dreams, and feats of strength.Next week, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms continues with episode two, "Hard Salt Beef" on Sunday evening, then Da7e and Neil will be back in your feeds with their deep dive on Monday afternoon.To interact with the show, send your comments and questions to stormofspoilers@gmail.com, and follow us on Twitter/X and Bluesky @Da7eandNeil.You can also support Da7e and Neil and get all kinds of bonus content (from the Game of Thrones era to the LOST rewatch to our Twin Peaks rewatch project to our current Adventure Pod and Hannibal watch project) by subscribing to our Patreon here: patreon.com/Da7eandNeil

What if the most transformative thing you can do for your writing craft and author business is to face what you fear? How can you can find gold in your Shadow in the year ahead? In this episode, I share chapters from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words. In the intro, curated book boxes from Bridgerton's Julia Quinn; Google's agentic shopping, and powering Apple's Siri; ChatGPT Ads; and Claude CoWork. Balancing Certainty and Uncertainty [MoonShots with Tony Robbins]; and three trends for authors with me and Orna Ross [Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast]; plus, Bones of the Deep, Business for Authors, and Indie Author Lab. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn  Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. What is the Shadow? The ‘creative wound' and the Shadow in writing The Shadow in traditional publishing The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author The Shadow in work The Shadow in money You can find Writing the Shadow in all formats on all stores, as well as special edition, workbook and bundles at www.TheCreativePenn.com/shadowbook Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words The following chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn. Introduction. What is the Shadow? “How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also if I am to be whole.” —C.G. Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul We all have a Shadow side and it is the work of a lifetime to recognise what lies within and spin that base material into gold. Think of it as a seedling in a little pot that you're given when you're young. It's a bit misshapen and weird, not something you would display in your living room, so you place it in a dark corner of the basement. You don't look at it for years. You almost forget about it. Then one day you notice tendrils of something wild poking up through the floorboards. They're ugly and don't fit with your Scandi-minimalist interior design. You chop the tendrils away and pour weedkiller on what's left, trying to hide the fact that they were ever there. But the creeping stems keep coming. At some point, you know you have to go down there and face the wild thing your seedling has become. When you eventually pluck up enough courage to go down into the basement, you discover that the plant has wound its roots deep into the foundations of your home. Its vines weave in and out of the cracks in the walls, and it has beautiful flowers and strange fruit. It holds your world together. Perhaps you don't need to destroy the wild tendrils. Perhaps you can let them wind up into the light and allow their rich beauty to weave through your home. It will change the look you have so carefully cultivated, but maybe that's just what the place needs. The Shadow in psychology Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychologist and the founder of analytical psychology. He described the Shadow as an unconscious aspect of the human personality, those parts of us that don't match up to what is expected of us by family and society, or to our own ideals. The Shadow is not necessarily evil or illegal or immoral, although of course it can be. It's also not necessarily caused by trauma, abuse, or any other severely damaging event, although again, it can be. It depends on the individual. What is in your Shadow is based on your life and your experiences, as well as your culture and society, so it will be different for everyone. Psychologist Connie Zweig, in The Inner Work of Age, explains, “The Shadow is that part of us that lies beneath or behind the light of awareness. It contains our rejected, unacceptable traits and feelings. It contains our hidden gifts and talents that have remained unexpressed or unlived. As Jung put it, the essence of the Shadow is pure gold.” To further illustrate the concept, Robert Bly, in A Little Book on the Human Shadow,uses the following metaphor: “When we are young, we carry behind us an invisible bag, into which we stuff any feelings, thoughts, or behaviours that bring disapproval or loss of love—anger, tears, neediness, laziness. By the time we go to school, our bags are already a mile long. In high school, our peer groups pressure us to stuff the bags with even more—individuality, sexuality, spontaneity, different opinions. We spend our life until we're twenty deciding which parts of ourselves to put into the bag and we spend the rest of our lives trying to get them out again.” As authors, we can use what's in the ‘bag' to enrich our writing — but only if we can access it. My intention with this book is to help you venture into your Shadow and bring some of what's hidden into the light and into your words. I'll reveal aspects of my Shadow in these pages but ultimately, this book is about you. Your Shadow is unique. There may be elements we share, but much will be different. Each chapter has questions for you to consider that may help you explore at least the edges of your Shadow, but it's not easy. As Jung said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular.” But take heart, Creative. You don't need courage when things are easy. You need it when you know what you face will be difficult, but you do it anyway. We are authors. We know how to do hard things. We turn ideas into books. We manifest thoughts into ink on paper. We change lives with our writing. First, our own, then other people's. It's worth the effort to delve into Shadow, so I hope you will join me on the journey. The creative wound and the Shadow in writing “Whatever pain you can't get rid of, make it your creative offering.” —Susan Cain, Bittersweet  The more we long for something, the more extreme our desire, the more likely it is to have a Shadow side. For those of us who love books, the author life may well be a long-held dream and thus, it is filled with Shadow. Books have long been objects of desire, power, and authority. They hold a mythic status in our lives. We escaped into stories as children; we studied books at school and college; we read them now for escape and entertainment, education and inspiration. We collect beautiful books to put on our shelves. We go to them for solace and answers to the deepest questions of life. Writers are similarly held in high esteem. They shape culture, win literary prizes, give important speeches, and are quoted in the mainstream media. Their books are on the shelves in libraries and bookstores. Writers are revered, held up as rare, talented creatures made separate from us by their brilliance and insight. For bibliophile children, books were everything and to write one was a cherished dream. To become an author? Well, that would mean we might be someone special, someone worthy. Perhaps when you were young, you thought the dream of being a writer was possible — then you told someone about it. That's probably when you heard the first criticism of such a ridiculous idea, the first laughter, the first dismissal. So you abandoned the dream, pushed the idea of being a writer into the Shadow, and got on with your life. Or if it wasn't then, it came later, when you actually put pen to paper and someone — a parent, teacher, partner, or friend, perhaps even a literary agent or publisher, someone whose opinion you valued — told you it was worthless. Here are some things you might have heard: Writing is a hobby. Get a real job. You're not good enough. You don't have any writing talent. You don't have enough education. You don't know what you're doing. Your writing is derivative / unoriginal / boring / useless / doesn't make sense. The genre you write in is dead / worthless / unacceptable / morally wrong / frivolous / useless.  Who do you think you are? No one would want to read what you write. You can't even use proper grammar, so how could you write a whole book? You're wasting your time. You'll never make it as a writer. You shouldn't write those things (or even think about those things). Why don't you write something nice? Insert other derogatory comment here! Mark Pierce describes the effect of this experience in his book The Creative Wound, which “occurs when an event, or someone's actions or words, pierce you, causing a kind of rift in your soul. A comment—even offhand and unintentional—is enough to cause one.” He goes on to say that such words can inflict “damage to the core of who we are as creators. It is an attack on our artistic identity, resulting in us believing that whatever we make is somehow tainted or invalid, because shame has convinced us there is something intrinsically tainted or invalid about ourselves.” As adults, we might brush off such wounds, belittling them as unimportant in the grand scheme of things. We might even find ourselves saying the same words to other people. After all, it's easier to criticise than to create. But if you picture your younger self, bright eyed as you lose yourself in your favourite book, perhaps you might catch a glimpse of what you longed for before your dreams were dashed on the rocks of other people's reality. As Mark Pierce goes on to say, “A Creative Wound has the power to delay our pursuits—sometimes for years—and it can even derail our lives completely… Anything that makes us feel ashamed of ourselves or our work can render us incapable of the self-expression we yearn for.” This is certainly what happened to me, and it took decades to unwind. Your creative wounds will differ to mine but perhaps my experience will help you explore your own. To be clear, your Shadow may not reside in elements of horror as mine do, but hopefully you can use my example to consider where your creative wounds might lie. “You shouldn't write things like that.” It happened at secondary school around 1986 or 1987, so I would have been around eleven or twelve years old. English was one of my favourite subjects and the room we had our lessons in looked out onto a vibrant garden. I loved going to that class because it was all about books, and they were always my favourite things. One day, we were asked to write a story. I can't remember the specifics of what the teacher asked us to write, but I fictionalised a recurring nightmare. I stood in a dark room. On one side, my mum and my brother, Rod, were tied up next to a cauldron of boiling oil, ready to be thrown in. On the other side, my dad and my little sister, Lucy, were threatened with decapitation by men with machetes. I had to choose who would die. I always woke up, my heart pounding, before I had to choose. Looking back now, it clearly represented an internal conflict about having to pick sides between the two halves of my family. Not an unexpected issue from a child of divorce. Perhaps these days, I might have been sent to the school counsellor, but it was the eighties and I don't think we even had such a thing. Even so, the meaning of the story isn't the point. It was the reaction to it that left scars. “You shouldn't write things like that,” my teacher said, and I still remember her look of disappointment, even disgust. Certainly judgment. She said my writing was too dark. It wasn't a proper story. It wasn't appropriate for the class. As if horrible things never happened in stories — or in life. As if literature could not include dark tales. As if the only acceptable writing was the kind she approved of. We were taught The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie that year, which says a lot about the type of writing considered appropriate. Or perhaps the issue stemmed from the school motto, “So hateth she derknesse,” from Chaucer's The Legend of Good Women: “For fear of night, so she hates the darkness.” I had won a scholarship to a private girls' school, and their mission was to turn us all into proper young ladies. Horror was never on the curriculum. Perhaps if my teacher had encouraged me to write my darkness back then, my nightmares would have dissolved on the page. Perhaps if we had studied Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or H.P. Lovecraft stories, or Bram Stoker's Dracula, I could have embraced the darker side of literature earlier in my life. My need to push darker thoughts into my Shadow was compounded by my (wonderful) mum's best intentions. We were brought up on the principles of The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale and she tried to shield me and my brother from anything harmful or horrible. We weren't allowed to watch TV much, and even the British school drama Grange Hill was deemed inappropriate. So much of what I've achieved is because my mum instilled in me a “can do” attitude that anything is possible. I'm so grateful to her for that. (I love you, Mum!) But all that happy positivity, my desire to please her, to be a good girl, to make my teachers proud, and to be acceptable to society, meant that I pushed my darker thoughts into Shadow. They were inappropriate. They were taboo. They must be repressed, kept secret, and I must be outwardly happy and positive at all times. You cannot hold back the darkness “The night is dark and full of terrors.” —George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords It turned out that horror was on the curriculum, much of it in the form of educational films we watched during lessons. In English Literature, we watched Romeo drink poison and Juliet stab herself in Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. In Religious Studies, we watched Jesus beaten, tortured, and crucified in The Greatest Story Ever Told, and learned of the variety of gruesome ways that Christian saints were martyred. In Classical Civilisation, we watched gladiators slaughter each other in Spartacus. In Sex Education at the peak of the AIDS crisis in the mid-'80s, we were told of the many ways we could get infected and die. In History, we studied the Holocaust with images of skeletal bodies thrown into mass graves, medical experiments on humans, and grainy videos of marching soldiers giving the Nazi salute. One of my first overseas school field trips was to the World War I battlegrounds of Flanders Fields in Belgium, where we studied the inhuman conditions of the trenches, walked through mass graves, and read war poetry by candlelight. As John McCrae wrote: We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Did the teachers not realise how deeply a sensitive teenager might feel the darkness of that place? Or have I always been unusual in that places of blood echo deep inside me? And the horrors kept coming. We lived in Bristol, England back then and I learned at school how the city had been part of the slave trade, its wealth built on the backs of people stolen from their homes, sold, and worked to death in the colonies. I had been at school for a year in Malawi, Africa and imagined the Black people I knew drowning, being beaten, and dying on those ships. In my teenage years, the news was filled with ethnic cleansing, mass rape, and massacres during the Balkan wars, and images of bodies hacked apart during the Rwandan genocide. Evil committed by humans against other humans was not a historical aberration. I'm lucky and I certainly acknowledge my privilege. Nothing terrible or horrifying has happened to me — but bad things certainly happen to others. I wasn't bullied or abused. I wasn't raped or beaten or tortured. But you don't have to go through things to be afraid of them, and for your imagination to conjure the possibility of them. My mum doesn't read my fiction now as it gives her nightmares (Sorry, Mum!). I know she worries that somehow she's responsible for my darkness, but I've had a safe and (mostly) happy life, for which I'm truly grateful. But the world is not an entirely safe and happy place, and for a sensitive child with a vivid imagination, the world is dark and scary. It can be brutal and violent, and bad things happen, even to good people. No parent can shield their child from the reality of the world. They can only help them do their best to live in it, develop resilience, and find ways to deal with whatever comes. Story has always been a way that humans have used to learn how to live and deal with difficult times. The best authors, the ones that readers adore and can't get enough of, write their darkness into story to channel their experience, and help others who fear the same. In an interview on writing the Shadow on The Creative Penn Podcast, Michaelbrent Collings shared how he incorporated a personally devastating experience into his writing:  “My wife and I lost a child years back, and that became the root of one of my most terrifying books, Apparition. It's not terrifying because it's the greatest book of all time, but just the concept that there's this thing out there… like a demon, and it consumes the blood and fear of the children, and then it withdraws and consumes the madness of the parents… I wrote that in large measure as a way of working through what I was experiencing.” I've learned much from Michaelbrent. I've read many of his (excellent) books and he's been on my podcast multiple times talking about his depression and mental health issues, as well as difficulties in his author career. Writing darkness is not in Michaelbrent's Shadow and only he can say what lies there for him. But from his example, and from that of other authors, I too learned how to write my Shadow into my books. Twenty-three years after that English lesson, in November 2009, I did NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, and wrote five thousand words of what eventually became Stone of Fire, my first novel. In the initial chapter, I burned a nun alive on the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River. I had watched the bodies burn by night on pyres from a boat bobbing in the current a few years before, and the image was still crystal clear in my mind. The only way to deal with how it made me feel about death was to write about it — and since then, I've never stopped writing. Returning to the nightmare from my school days, I've never had to choose between the two halves of my family, but the threat of losing them remains a theme in my fiction. In my ARKANE thriller series, Morgan Sierra will do anything to save her sister and her niece. Their safety drives her to continue to fight against evil. Our deepest fears emerge in our writing, and that's the safest place for them. I wish I'd been taught how to turn my nightmares into words back at school, but at least now I've learned to write my Shadow onto the page. I wish the same for you. The Shadow in traditional publishing If becoming an author is your dream, then publishing a book is deeply entwined with that. But as Mark Pierce says in The Creative Wound, “We feel pain the most where it matters the most… Desire highlights whatever we consider to be truly significant.” There is a lot of desire around publishing for those of us who love books! It can give you: Validation that your writing is good enough Status and credibility Acceptance by an industry held in esteem  The potential of financial reward and critical acclaim Support from a team of professionals who know how to make fantastic books A sense of belonging to an elite community Pride in achieving a long-held goal, resulting in a confidence boost and self-esteem Although not guaranteed, traditional publishing can give you all these things and more, but as with everything, there is a potential Shadow side. Denying it risks the potential of being disillusioned, disappointed, and even damaged. But remember, forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. Preparation can help you avoid potential issues and help you feel less alone if you encounter them. The myth of success… and the reality of experience There is a pervasive myth of success in the traditional publishing industry, perpetuated by media reporting on brand name and breakout authors, those few outliers whose experience is almost impossible to replicate. Because of such examples, many new traditionally published authors think that their first book will hit the top of the bestseller charts or win an award, as well as make them a million dollars — or at least a big chunk of cash. They will be able to leave their job, write in a beautiful house overlooking the ocean, and swan around the world attending conferences, while writing more bestselling books. It will be a charmed life. But that is not the reality. Perhaps it never was. Even so, the life of a traditionally published author represents a mythic career with the truth hidden behind a veil of obscurity. In April 2023, The Bookseller in the UK reported that “more than half of authors (54%) responding to a survey on their experiences of publishing their debut book have said the process negatively affected their mental health. Though views were mixed, just 22%… described a positive experience overall… Among the majority who said they had a negative experience of debut publication, anxiety, stress, depression and ‘lowered' self-esteem were cited, with lack of support, guidance or clear and professional communication from their publisher among the factors that contributed.” Many authors who have negative experiences around publishing will push them into the Shadow with denial or self-blame, preferring to keep the dream alive. They won't talk about things in public as this may negatively affect their careers, but private discussions are often held in the corners of writing conferences or social media groups online. Some of the issues are as follows: Repeated rejection by agents and publishers may lead to the author thinking they are not good enough as a writer, which can lead to feeling unworthy as a person. If an author gets a deal, the amount of advance and the name and status of the publisher compared to others create a hierarchy that impacts self-esteem. A deal for a book may be much lower than an author might have been expecting, with low or no advance, and the resulting experience with the publisher beneath expectations. The launch process may be disappointing, and the book may appear without fanfare, with few sales and no bestseller chart position. In The Bookseller report, one author described her launch day as “a total wasteland… You have expectations about what publication day will be like, but in reality, nothing really happens.” The book may receive negative reviews by critics or readers or more publicly on social media, which can make an author feel attacked. The book might not sell as well as expected, and the author may feel like it's their fault. Commercial success can sometimes feel tied to self-worth and an author can't help but compare their sales to others, with resulting embarrassment or shame. The communication from the publisher may be less than expected. One author in The Bookseller report said, “I was shocked by the lack of clarity and shared information and the cynicism that underlies the superficial charm of this industry.” There is often more of a focus on debut authors in publishing houses, so those who have been writing and publishing in the midlist for years can feel ignored and undervalued. In The Bookseller report, 48 percent of authors reported “their publisher supported them for less than a year,” with one saying, “I got no support and felt like a commodity, like the team had moved on completely to the next book.” If an author is not successful enough, the next deal may be lower than the last, less effort is made with marketing, and they may be let go. In The Bookseller report, “six authors—debut and otherwise—cited being dropped by their publisher, some with no explanation.” Even if everything goes well and an author is considered successful by others, they may experience imposter syndrome, feeling like a fraud when speaking at conferences or doing book signings. And the list goes on … All these things can lead to feelings of shame, inadequacy, and embarrassment; loss of status in the eyes of peers; and a sense of failure if a publishing career is not successful enough. The author feels like it's their fault, like they weren't good enough — although, of course, the reality is that the conditions were not right at the time. A failure of a book is not a failure of the person, but it can certainly feel like it! When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Despite all the potential negatives of traditional publishing, if you know what could happen, you can mitigate them. You can prepare yourself for various scenarios and protect yourself from potential fall-out. It's clear from The Bookseller report that too many authors have unrealistic expectations of the industry. But publishers are businesses, not charities. It's not their job to make you feel good as an author. It's their job to sell books and pay you. The best thing they can do is to continue to be a viable business so they can keep putting books on the shelves and keep paying authors, staff, and company shareholders. When you license your creative work to a publisher, you're giving up control of your intellectual property in exchange for money and status. Bring your fears and issues out of the Shadow, acknowledge them, and deal with them early, so they do not get pushed down and re-emerge later in blame and bitterness. Educate yourself on the business of publishing. Be clear on what you want to achieve with any deal. Empower yourself as an author, take responsibility for your career, and you will have a much better experience. The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author Self-publishing, or being an independent (indie) author, can be a fantastic, pro-active choice for getting your book into the world. Holding your first book in your hand and saying “I made this” is pretty exciting, and even after more than forty books, I still get excited about seeing ideas in my head turn into a physical product in the world. Self-publishing can give an author: Creative control over what to write, editorial and cover design choices, when and how often to publish, and how to market Empowerment over your author career and the ability to make choices that impact success without asking for permission Ownership and control of intellectual property assets, resulting in increased opportunity around licensing and new markets Independence and the potential for recurring income for the long term Autonomy and flexibility around timelines, publishing options, and the ability to easily pivot into new genres and business models Validation based on positive reader reviews and money earned Personal growth and learning through the acquisition of new skills, resulting in a boost in confidence and self-esteem A sense of belonging to an active and vibrant community of indie authors around the world Being an indie author can give you all this and more, but once again, there is a Shadow side and preparation can help you navigate potential issues. The myth of success… and the reality of experience As with traditional publishing, the indie author world has perpetuated a myth of success in the example of the breakout indie author like E.L. James with Fifty Shades of Grey, Hugh Howey with Wool, or Andy Weir with The Martian. The emphasis on financial success is also fuelled online by authors who share screenshots showing six-figure months or seven-figure years, without sharing marketing costs and other outgoings, or the amount of time spent on the business. Yes, these can inspire some, but it can also make others feel inadequate and potentially lead to bad choices about how to publish and market based on comparison. The indie author world is full of just as much ego and a desire for status and money as traditional publishing. This is not a surprise! Most authors, regardless of publishing choices, are a mix of massive ego and chronic self-doubt. We are human, so the same issues will re-occur. A different publishing method doesn't cure all ills. Some of the issues are as follows: You learn everything you need to know about writing and editing, only to find that you need to learn a whole new set of skills in order to self-publish and market your book. This can take a lot of time and effort you did not expect, and things change all the time so you have to keep learning. Being in control of every aspect of the publishing process, from writing to cover design to marketing, can be overwhelming, leading to indecision, perfectionism, stress, and even burnout as you try to do all the things. You try to find people to help, but building your team is a challenge, and working with others has its own difficulties. People say negative things about self-publishing that may arouse feelings of embarrassment or shame. These might be little niggles, but they needle you, nonetheless. You wonder whether you made the right choice. You struggle with self-doubt and if you go to an event with traditional published authors, you compare yourself to them and feel like an imposter. Are you good enough to be an author if a traditional publisher hasn't chosen you? Is it just vanity to self-publish? Are your books unworthy? Even though you worked with a professional editor, you still get one-star reviews and you hate criticism from readers. You wonder whether you're wasting your time. You might be ripped off by an author services company who promise the world, only to leave you with a pile of printed books in your garage and no way to sell them. When you finally publish your book, it languishes at the bottom of the charts while other authors hit the top of the list over and over, raking in the cash while you are left out of pocket. You don't admit to over-spending on marketing as it makes you ashamed. You resist book marketing and make critical comments about writers who embrace it. You believe that quality rises to the top and if a book is good enough, people will buy it anyway. This can lead to disappointment and disillusionment when you launch your book and it doesn't sell many copies because nobody knows about it. You try to do what everyone advises, but you still can't make decent money as an author. You're jealous of other authors' success and put it down to them ‘selling out' or writing things you can't or ‘using AI' or ‘using a ghostwriter' or having a specific business model you consider impossible to replicate. And the list goes on… When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Being in control of your books and your author career is a double-edged sword. Traditionally published authors can criticise their publishers or agents or the marketing team or the bookstores or the media, but indie authors have to take responsibility for it all. Sure, we can blame ‘the algorithms' or social media platforms, or criticise other authors for having more experience or more money to invest in marketing, or attribute their success to writing in a more popular genre — but we also know there are always people who do well regardless of the challenges. Once more, we're back to acknowledging and integrating the Shadow side of our choices. We are flawed humans. There will always be good times and bad, and difficulties to offset the high points. This too shall pass, as the old saying goes. I know that being an indie author has plenty of Shadow. I've been doing this since 2008 and despite the hard times, I'm still here. I'm still writing. I'm still publishing. This life is not for everyone, but it's my choice. You must make yours. The Shadow in work You work hard. You make a living. Nothing wrong with that attitude, right? It's what we're taught from an early age and, like so much of life, it's not a problem until it goes to extremes. Not achieving what you want to? Work harder. Can't get ahead? Work harder. Not making a good enough living? Work harder. People who don't work hard are lazy. They don't deserve handouts or benefits. People who don't work hard aren't useful, so they are not valued members of our culture and community. But what about the old or the sick, the mentally ill, or those with disabilities? What about children? What about the unemployed? The under-employed? What about those who are — or will be — displaced by technology, those called “the useless class” by historian Yuval Noah Harari in his book Homo Deus? What if we become one of these in the future? Who am I if I cannot work? The Shadow side of my attitude to work became clear when I caught COVID in the summer of 2021. I was the sickest I'd ever been. I spent two weeks in bed unable to even think properly, and six weeks after that, I was barely able to work more than an hour a day before lying in the dark and waiting for my energy to return. I was limited in what I could do for another six months after that. At times, I wondered if I would ever get better. Jonathan kept urging me to be patient and rest. But I don't know how to rest. I know how to work and how to sleep. I can do ‘active rest,' which usually involves walking a long way or traveling somewhere interesting, but those require a stronger mind and body than I had during those months. It struck me that even if I recovered from the virus, I had glimpsed my future self. One day, I will be weak in body and mind. If I'm lucky, that will be many years away and hopefully for a short time before I die — but it will happen. I am an animal. I will die. My body and mind will pass on and I will be no more. Before then I will be weak. Before then, I will be useless. Before then, I will be a burden. I will not be able to work… But who am I if I cannot work? What is the point of me? I can't answer these questions right now, because although I recognise them as part of my Shadow, I've not progressed far enough to have dealt with them entirely. My months of COVID gave me some much-needed empathy for those who cannot work, even if they want to. We need to reframe what work is as a society, and value humans for different things, especially as technology changes what work even means. That starts with each of us. “Illness, affliction of body and soul, can be life-altering. It has the potential to reveal the most fundamental conflict of the human condition: the tension between our infinite, glorious dreams and desires and our limited, vulnerable, decaying physicality.” —Connie Zweig, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul The Shadow in money In the Greek myth, King Midas was a wealthy ruler who loved gold above all else. His palace was adorned with golden sculptures and furniture, and he took immense pleasure in his riches. Yet, despite his vast wealth, he yearned for more. After doing a favour for Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, Midas was granted a single wish. Intoxicated by greed, he wished that everything he touched would turn to gold — and it was so. At first, it was a lot of fun. Midas turned everything else in his palace to gold, even the trees and stones of his estate. After a morning of turning things to gold, he fancied a spot of lunch. But when he tried to eat, the food and drink turned to gold in his mouth. He became thirsty and hungry — and increasingly desperate. As he sat in despair on his golden throne, his beloved young daughter ran to comfort him. For a moment, he forgot his wish — and as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek, she turned into a golden statue, frozen in precious metal. King Midas cried out to the gods to forgive him, to reverse the wish. He renounced his greed and gave away all his wealth, and his daughter was returned to life. The moral of the story: Wealth and greed are bad. In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is described as a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” He's wealthy but does not share, considering Christmas spending to be frivolous and giving to charity to be worthless. He's saved by a confrontation with his lonely future and becomes a generous man and benefactor of the poor. Wealth is good if you share it with others. The gospel of Matthew, chapter 25: 14-30, tells the parable of the bags of gold, in which a rich man goes on a journey and entrusts his servants with varying amounts of gold. On his return, the servants who multiplied the gold through their efforts and investments are rewarded, while the one who merely returned the gold with no interest is punished: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Making money is good, making more money is even better. If you can't make any money, you don't deserve to have any. Within the same gospel, in Matthew 19:24, Jesus encounters a wealthy man and tells him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, which the man is unable to do. Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Wealth is bad. Give it all away and you'll go to heaven. With all these contradictory messages, no wonder we're so conflicted about money! How do you think and feel about money? While money is mostly tied to our work, it's far more than just a transactional object for most people. It's loaded with complex symbolism and judgment handed down by family, religion, and culture. You are likely to find elements of Shadow by examining your attitudes around money. Consider which of the following statements resonate with you or write your own. Money stresses me out. I don't want to talk about it or think about it. Some people hoard money, so there is inequality. Rich people are bad and we should take away their wealth and give it to the poor.  I can never make enough money to pay the bills, or to give my family what I want to provide. Money doesn't grow on trees.  It's wasteful to spend money as you might need it later, so I'm frugal and don't spend money unless absolutely necessary. It is better and more ethical to be poor than to be rich. I want more money. I read books and watch TV shows about rich people because I want to live like that. Sometimes I spend too much on things for a glimpse of what that might be like.  I buy lottery tickets and dream of winning all that money.  I'm jealous of people who have money. I want more of it and I resent those who have it. I'm no good with money. I don't like to look at my bank statement or credit card statement. I live off my overdraft and I'm in debt. I will never earn enough to get out of debt and start saving, so I don't think too much about it. I don't know enough about money. Talking about it makes me feel stupid, so I just ignore it. People like me aren't educated about money.  I need to make more money. If I can make lots of money, then people will look up to me. If I make lots of money, I will be secure, nothing can touch me, I will be safe.  I never want to be poor. I would be ashamed to be poor. I will never go on benefits. My net worth is my self worth. Money is good. We have the best standard of living in history because of the increase in wealth over time. Even the richest kings of the past didn't have what many middle-class people have today in terms of access to food, water, technology, healthcare, education, and more. The richest people give the most money to the poor through taxation and charity, as well as through building companies that employ people and invent new things. The very richest give away much of their fortunes. They provide far more benefit to the world than the poor.  I love money. Money loves me. Money comes easily and quickly to me. I attract money in multiple streams of income. It flows to me in so many ways. I spend money. I invest money. I give money. I'm happy and grateful for all that I receive. The Shadow around money for authors in particular Many writers and other creatives have issues around money and wealth. How often have you heard the following, and which do you agree with? You can't make money with your writing. You'll be a poor author in a garret, a starving artist.  You can't write ‘good quality' books and make money. If you make money writing, you're a hack, you're selling out. You are less worthy than someone who writes only for the Muse. Your books are commercial, not artistic. If you spend money on marketing, then your books are clearly not good enough to sell on their own. My agent / publisher / accountant / partner deals with the money side. I like to focus on the creative side of things. My money story Note: This is not financial or investment advice. Please talk to a professional about your situation. I've had money issues over the years — haven't we all! But I have been through a (long) process to bring money out of my Shadow and into the light. There will always be more to discover, but hopefully my money story will help you, or at least give you an opportunity to reflect. Like most people, I didn't grow up with a lot of money. My parents started out as teachers, but later my mum — who I lived with, along with my brother — became a change management consultant, moving to the USA and earning a lot more. I'm grateful that she moved into business because her example changed the way I saw money and provided some valuable lessons. (1) You can change your circumstances by learning more and then applying that to leverage opportunity into a new job or career Mum taught English at a school in Bristol when we moved back from Malawi, Africa, in the mid '80s but I remember how stressful it was for her, and how little money she made. She wanted a better future for us all, so she took a year out to do a master's degree in management. In the same way, when I wanted to change careers and leave consulting to become an author, I spent time and money learning about the writing craft and the business of publishing. I still invest a considerable chunk on continuous learning, as this industry changes all the time. (2) You might have to downsize in order to leap forward The year my mum did her degree, we lived in the attic of another family's house; we ate a lot of one-pot casserole and our treat was having a Yorkie bar on the walk back from the museum. We wore hand-me-down clothes, and I remember one day at school when another girl said I was wearing her dress. I denied it, of course, but there in back of the dress was her name tag. I still remember her name and I can still feel that flush of shame and embarrassment. I was determined to never feel like that again. But what I didn't realize at the time was that I was also learning the power of downsizing. Mum got her degree and then a new job in management in Bristol. She bought a house, and we settled for a few years. I had lots of different jobs as a teenager. My favourite was working in the delicatessen because we got a free lunch made from delicious produce. After I finished A-levels, I went to the University of Oxford, and my mum and brother moved to the USA for further opportunities. I've downsized multiple times over the years, taking a step back in order to take a step forward. The biggest was in 2010 when I decided to leave consulting. Jonathan and I sold our three-bedroom house and investments in Brisbane, Australia, and rented a one-bedroom flat in London, so we could be debt-free and live on less while I built up a new career. It was a decade before we bought another house. (3) Comparison can be deadly: there will always be people with more money than you Oxford was an education in many ways and relevant to this chapter is how much I didn't know about things people with money took for granted. I learned about formal hall and wine pairings, and how to make a perfect gin and tonic. I ate smoked salmon for the first time. I learned how to fit in with people who had a lot more money than I did, and I definitely wanted to have money of my own to play with. (4) Income is not wealth You can earn lots but have nothing to show for it after years of working. I learned this in my first few years of IT consulting after university. I earned a great salary and then went contracting, earning even more money at a daily rate. I had a wonderful time. I traveled, ate and drank and generally made merry, but I always had to go back to the day job when the money ran out. I couldn't work out how I could ever stop this cycle. Then I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, a book I still recommend, especially if you're from a family that values academic over financial education. I learned how to escape the rat race by building and/or accumulating assets that pay even when you're not working. It was a revelation! The ‘poor dad' in the book is a university professor. He knows so much about so many things, but he ends up poor as he did not educate himself about money. The ‘rich dad' has little formal education, but he knows about money and wealth because he learned about it, as we can do at any stage in our lives. (5) Not all investments suit every person, so find the right one for you Once I discovered the world of investing, I read all the books and did courses and in-person events. I joined communities and I up-skilled big time. Of course, I made mistakes and learned lots along the way. I tried property investing and renovated a couple of houses for rental (with more practical partners and skilled contractors). But while I could see that property investing might work for some people, I did not care enough about the details to make it work for me, and it was certainly not passive income. I tried other things. My first husband was a boat skipper and scuba diving instructor, so we started a charter. With the variable costs of fuel, the vagaries of New Zealand weather — and our divorce — it didn't last long! From all these experiments, I learned I wanted to run a business, but it needed to be online and not based on a physical location, physical premises, or other people. That was 2006, around the time that blogging started taking off and it became possible to make a living online. I could see the potential and a year later, the iPhone and the Amazon Kindle launched, which became the basis of my business as an author. (6) Boring, automatic saving and investing works best Between 2007 and 2011, I contracted in Australia, where they have compulsory superannuation contributions, meaning you have to save and invest a percentage of your salary or self-employed income. I'd never done that before, because I didn't understand it. I'd ploughed all my excess income into property or the business instead. But in Australia I didn't notice the money going out because it was automatic. I chose a particular fund and it auto-invested every month. The pot grew pretty fast since I didn't touch it, and years later, it's still growing. I discovered the power of compound interest and time in the market, both of which are super boring. This type of investing is not a get rich quick scheme. It's a slow process of automatically putting money into boring investments and doing that month in, month out, year in, year out, automatically for decades while you get on with your life. I still do this. I earn money as an author entrepreneur and I put a percentage of that into boring investments automatically every month. I also have a small amount which is for fun and higher risk investments, but mostly I'm a conservative, risk-averse investor planning ahead for the future. This is not financial advice, so I'm not giving any specifics. I have a list of recommended money books at www.TheCreativePenn.com/moneybooks if you want to learn more. Learning from the Shadow When I look back, my Shadow side around money eventually drove me to learn more and resulted in a better outcome (so far!). I was ashamed of being poor when I had to wear hand-me-down clothes at school. That drove a fear of not having any money, which partially explains my workaholism. I was embarrassed at Oxford because I didn't know how to behave in certain settings, and I wanted to be like the rich people I saw there. I spent too much money in my early years as a consultant because I wanted to experience a “rich” life and didn't understand saving and investing would lead to better things in the future. I invested too much in the wrong things because I didn't know myself well enough and I was trying to get rich quick so I could leave my job and ‘be happy.' But eventually, I discovered that I could grow my net worth with boring, long-term investments while doing a job I loved as an author entrepreneur. My only regret is that I didn't discover this earlier and put a percentage of my income into investments as soon as I started work. It took several decades to get started, but at least I did (eventually) start. My money story isn't over yet, and I keep learning new things, but hopefully my experience will help you reflect on your own and avoid the issue if it's still in Shadow. These chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn  The post Writing The Shadow: The Creative Wound, Publishing, And Money, With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

MUSICHarry Styles is back with a new album after a three year hiatus and the ladies are READY. Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, set for a March 6 release. Produced by his longtime collaborator Kid Harpoon, the album, which will mark Styles' fourth studio album and his first since 2022, will feature 12 new tracks.https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/harry-styles-album-kiss-all-the-time-disco-occassionally-1235499907/ Disturbed, Limp Bizkit and Bad Omens will headline the Inkcarceration festival, July 17th through the 19th in Mansfield, Ohio. Other acts on the bill include Papa Roach, Starset, Hollywood Undead, Sleep Theory, A Day to Remember, Motionless in White and Ice Nine Kills.Black Stone Cherry have teamed up with Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman for a cover of Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)." Check it out on YouTube. Lamb Of God will release their 10th studio album, titled "Into Oblivion," on March 13th. https://rocksound.tv/news/lamb-of-god-announce-new-album-into-oblivion Twenty One Pilots have shared the first trailer for More Than We Ever Imagined, the concert film that will be in theaters on February 26th. Watch it now on YouTube. Adam Lazzara, frontman of Taking Back Sunday, made a surprise guest appearance during Halsey's 'Back of Badlands' tour at Hammersmith Ballroom in New York City. https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/watch-taking-back-sundays-adam-lazzara-join-halsey-on-stage-in-new-york/ NEW ALBUM RELEASES:· A$AP Rocky - Don't Be Dumb· Funeral Portrait - Live From Suffocate City· Richard Marx - After Hours TVPamela Anderson sat down with Andy Cohen and explained that she left the show and “went right to bed” after presenting the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy to Rose Byrne because was avoiding Seth Rogen, who produced and starred in “Pam And Tommy,” (2022 miniseries about the fallout over a stolen sex tape she made in the mid-1990s with then-husband Tommy Lee.) https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pamela-anderson-seth-rogen-golden-globes-yucky_n_69693545e4b00edae2a40599 Can it be that I have entirely missed the point of "Baywatch"? Because a casting call just went out for the new reboot, and check this out: https://deadline.com/2026/01/baywatch-open-casting-call-fox-reboot-1236684357/ Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has publicly expressed his disappointment with the creative process of House of the Dragon. https://collider.com/george-rr-martin-abysmal-relationship-with-house-of-the-dragon-showrunner-ryan-condal/ And speaking of GOT: Sophie Turner has been cast as Lara Croft in a new live-action television adaptation of the Tomb Raider franchise, developed by Prime Video. https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/tomb-raider-sophie-turner-lara-croft-first-look-1236605699/ Jay Leno remains committed to his wife, Mavis, who was diagnosed with advanced dementia in early 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h361wQC3E4M MOVING ON INTO MOVIE NEWS:IN THEATERS:28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Ralph Fiennes)o This picks up immediately after the events of "28 Years Later", with Spike (Alfie Williams) befriends "Willow's" Erin Kellyman while trapped on the quarantined mainland among a group of Satanists like by Jack O'Connell. And back at the bone temple, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) begins experimenting on an infected alpha . . . and becomes convinced he can find a cure.o 94% Tomatometer "Hamnet" expands nationwide. (PG-13) Trailer· Paul Mescal is William Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley is his wife Agnes in this movie about them grappling with the death of their young son Hamnet . . . which inspires him to write his famous tragedy "Hamlet".· 86% tomatometer / 93% Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen's daughters are feuding . . . over a man. https://people.com/lola-sheen-speaks-out-after-sister-sami-claims-shes-dating-her-ex-boyfriend-11885476· AND FINALLYAlmost everyone has a memory of a Disney movie that upset them as a child, also known as ‘PTSDisney': People online are sharing the most traumatizing Disney movie moments. https://www.buzzfeed.com/haein_jung/childhood-traumatizing-moments-from-disney-moviesHere are some highlights: 1. Mufasa's death in "The Lion King".2. Miguel singing to Mama Coco in "Coco".3. When Bambi realizes his mom didn't outrun the hunters.4. Jessie's flashback scene in "Toy Story 2".5. At the beginning of "Up" when Ellie passed away.6. When the dog is shot in "Old Yeller".7. The toy monkey scene in "Toy Story 3".8. When all the kids turned into donkeys in "Pinocchio".9. The Evil Queen's transformation in "Snow White".10. When the older brother dies in "Big Hero 6".AND THAT IS YOUR CRAP ON CELEBRITIES!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's time to travel back to Westeros with The Game of Thrones Podcast: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Join hosts Jason Concepcion and Greta Johnsen as they unpack all things knightly and unknightly in the new HBO original series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, with help from the show's writers, cast, and crew. The first podcast episode launches January 12th with an exclusive interview from George R.R. Martin, the man who started it all. Then, starting January 18th, podcast episodes will come out weekly right after new episodes of the show airs on HBO and HBO Max. We'll see you at the tourney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To help get listeners ready for the new series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, hosts Jason Concepcion and Greta Johnsen are joined by George R.R. Martin, who created Westeros over three decades ago. They discuss what inspired George to write the original Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas and what knighthood means in this world. Jason and Greta also break down the trailer and play a new game called “Would You Knight It?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices