Podcast appearances and mentions of Matt James

Three Button Mashers (Ben Lindbergh, Matt James, and Steve Ahlman) break down three old games and three new games! First, they discuss the steps Blizzard, Bungie, and Microsoft are taking to sustain or restore interest in 'World of Warcraft,' 'Destiny,' and 'Halo,' respectively, and what the announcement of 'World of Warcraft: Forever,' the un-vaulting of legacy 'Destiny 2' content, and the transfer of 'Halo' from Halo Studios to Activision say about the best ways to revitalize beloved but long-in-the-tooth franchises. Then they share their spoiler-free reviews and impressions of Remedy's sequel to 'Control,' 'Control Resonant'; the latest 'Silent Hill' spinoff, 'Townfall'; and Nintendo's new 'Fire Emblem' epic, 'Fortune's Weave.' (0:00) Intro(2:13) Blizzard, Bungie, and Microsoft updates(31:12) 'Control Resonant' (1:06:58) 'Silent Hill: Townfall'(1:26:37) 'Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave'(1:44:00) Outro Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Steve AhlmanProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This year’s Nine Upfronts gave brands and media buyers a decidedly different narrative to engage in, and it wasn’t just down to the high-production, immersive format of its showcase. Nine put forward a confident content slate that exuded what the locally owned and operated media company does best: Breadth of Australian programming, talent and connection across sports, entertainment, drama, news and lifestyle. But secondly, it revealed the engine fuelling how it’s taking all this to market in 2027 has been strategically recharged. As Nine’s chief executive officer, Matt Stanton, and chief sales officer, Matt James, told Mi3 in a podcast recorded in the immediate afterglow of the Upfronts event, Nine has become a very different media company in the last 12 months. Having tackled the heavy lifting on portfolio mix and strategy, it’s putting forward a refreshingly firm, unified proposition that covers broadcast to streaming, publishing and digital-out-of-home. Propelled by its most integrated owned and operated media offering to date, buoyed by the $850m acquisition of digital out-of-home player QMS, Nine is pitching a ‘sofa to street’ cross-platform play for advertisers, supported by a single media planning and buying platform, Nine Neo. This go-to-market strategy is designed to bring cohesion to how brands trade and measure the effectiveness of what Nine has to offer. And it’s backed by significant investment into unifying audience targeting and insights extending from screens into physical locations and commerce. The upshot: Nine is pitching itself as a strong contender against big tech and the global streaming platforms, and the only Australian-owned, fully integrated media network that can connect brands to audiences across their entire day. It’s a crucial time to shore up this full-funnel, multi-channel proposition in market. Hundreds of millions of ad dollars have exited the linear and broadcast industry over recent years, reallocated to digital platforms and walled gardens. There’s active debate right now around whether it’s the responsibility of government, media buyers or brands to proactively back Australia’s domestic media industry. Many agree supporting local-first content and journalism is crucial to societal cohesion and cultural connection. But ultimately, media companies have to demonstrate they have the audiences, scale and solid returns on investment to win ad dollars. That’s what Nine is backing itself to provide. Stanton pointed to the power of the State of Origin, Olympics and Married at First Sight in delivering cultural moments as his first proof point. “It's very important to have scale and diversity in this marketplace,” Stanton continued. “If you are a single platform – and it doesn't matter how big you are – it’s very difficult to compete with some of the big global tech players because obviously, they have the investment of a whole global team versus a local team like ours. So it's really important to get these three business units – streaming and broadcast, publishing, and out-of-home – working closely together, but also in their own right as well. They have to stand on their own two feet is the way I think about it, but then they've also got to collaborate when they need to collaborate … That's the only way we are actually going to be able to compete with the big global players. “That’s very clear to me, and the portfolio changes we’ve talked about are really significant. Now, it’s about execution, and using these three big assets at the right time, either individually or cooperatively.” Then there’s strength in fully owning and operating such assets. Nine has a “powerful” ability to unify and coordinate these all the way from content to data, technology, audience and cultural moment, said James. “It’s a big full-funnel proposition that enables us to start from brand to covering the breadth between awareness and transaction,” he said. “This is also only going to work if you fundamentally have your strategic destiny in your own hands. This requires unified content delivery systems. It requires unified IDs around our 22 million audience base. And it needs all of the investments we are making in the technology to develop this the right way. “Everything we’re developing comes with a long-term perspective, which I think is another one of our fundamental differences. I appreciate there are lots of partnerships going on in that [out-of-home] marketplace, but you can't make these kinds of investments and unify that in the way we're unifying our data, and even our content platforms across 9Now and Stan.” James additionally points to the heft of Nine’s assets today as evidence it can deliver this to advertisers. “They really do reach most of Australians, and anything we now do, we can develop from a long-term perspective, particularly as we embed outcomes-based reporting,” he said. Nine’s commitment to longevity extends to the content it’s investing in. Its recent NRL deal to 2034, along with a freshly minted seven-year EPL deal, are examples. Nine also has rights to the Olympics through to Brisbane 2032. Demand for these marquee events has never been bigger, James added. “We have properties such as The Block, MAFS [Married at First Sight], and news, which clearly anchors on consistency,” Stanton said. “Advertisers know what they are getting; it’s very consistent, trusted and at the heart of Australian cultural moments.” Under Nine’s cross-platform strategy, many loved content offerings are also now showing up across its broader asset base. “If you just put one bit of content on one bit of platform, it will not grow,” Stanton commented. “We now have the EPL and the rights on the streaming side on Stan, but we can put it onto Nine and 9Now as well. We can push it through the publishing business and outdoor as well … From an advertising point of view, when you can do that, it’s very powerful.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben, Matt James, and Polygon's Giovanni Colantonio unsheathe their adamantium takes as they tackle the week's biggest gaming stories. First, they break down Nintendo's back-to-back Directs and analyze both what was shown and what wasn't: the new look, hybrid gameplay, and November release date of the 'Ocarina of Time' remake; the exciting announcements and continued absences of some of the company's flagship franchises; the Switch 2's upcoming slate; Nintendo's leak problems, and more. Then they give their spoiler-free reviews of Insomniac's much-anticipated Wolverine adventure and explain the game's prerelease controversies and lukewarm reception. Finally, they share their spoiler-free reviews of the 'Witcher'-esque vampire action RPG 'The Blood of Dawnwalker' and assess where it ranks among the best vampire video games. (0:00) Intro(2:03) Nintendo Directs(35:08) 'Marvel's Wolverine' first thoughts(1:04:03) 'The Blood of Dawnwalker' reviews(1:40:47) Outro Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Giovanni ColantonioProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Steve Ahlman, Matt James, and Lewis Gordon get together to ask: How does Capcom keep killing it? First, they run down some recent gaming news, including a lackluster Sony State of Play, a 'GTA'-driven bump in console sales, 'Star Wars Zero Company' maker Bit Reactor's furloughed workforce, the backlash to Nvidia's DLSS 5 AI upscaling tech, and two dubious arguments in legal filings by the major console manufacturers. After that, they share their reviews of 'Onimusha: Way of the Sword' and discuss Capcom's incredible run leading up to and throughout 2026, with insights from Lewis's reporting for The Ringer on the company's comeback. Finally, they provide their impressions of two other recent releases, 'Orbitals' and 'Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy.' Read Lewis's piece here: https://www.theringer.com/2026/09/03/video-games/how-capcom-cracked-the-code-of-game-development-onimusha-resident-evil-pragmata (0:00) Intro(4:15) Patch Notes(44:35) 'Onimusha: Way of the Sword' reviews(1:03:40) Capcom's comeback(1:13:00) 'Orbitals' and 'Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy' impressions(1:29:00) Outro Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Steve Ahlman, Matt James, and Lewis GordonProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This past weekend, the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS took place, and we have all the news from a big weekend of racing. There have also been some pretty seismic events in the world of long-distance running in the past fortnight, so we'll be taking a look at them too, plus we're joined by US TV personality Matt James, live from Sydney, to hear more about his marathon journey. On this episode of Marathon Talk: 00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Martin and Deena talk about UTMB and more 05:52 - Yomif Kejelcha breaks the Half Marathon World Record in Buenos Aires 07:53 - Sabastian Sawe pulls out of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 10:35 - A review of TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS with David Macnamara from Abbott World Marathon Majors in Sydney 25:48 - Marathon Talk meets Matt James 54:06 - Wrapping up Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram Matt James | Instagram  

Energy + Speed + Follow Through = Results Live from Carlsbad, Dr. Matt James just wrapped Week 1 of Master Practitioner Training with 60+ students — capped off with a board break that’s way more than it looks like. It’s a lesson in goal setting: you need energy, speed, and follow through to break through. Dr. James shares a story that still gets him — a woman who pitched him an incredible healing center idea, had trainers lined up, hearts fully in it… but couldn’t answer where, what state, or how it would run. She’d been “talking about it” for 10 years. That was 20 years ago. Still hasn’t happened. The lesson? Great ideas without action are just ideas. If you don’t take the first step, someone else will. Ready to stop talking about your goals and start following through? Join the 4-Day NLP Practitioner Training: https://trainings.nlp.com Subscribe for more real talk on mindset, leadership, and NLP. #FollowThrough #GoalSetting #NLP #MasterPractitioner #DrMattJames #Empowerment Empowerment, Inc. is the leading authority on NLP, Huna, Mental and Emotional Release®, and Hypnosis. For more information, visit us at www.nlp.com or www.empowermentinc.com Music: “Reach for Success” by Scott Holmes https://scottholmesmusic.com/

Leadership starts with YOU. Fresh from Week 1 of Trainers Training (our flagship program, running strong for 41 years), Dr. Matt James shares one powerful tip he couldn’t fit into a full training day: before you can lead others, you have to learn to lead yourself. The difference between a manager and a leader? Managers dictate policy and procedure. Leaders help people tap into something deeper — inspiring growth beyond any ceiling they thought they had. And that starts with how you talk to yourself, especially in the moments that test you (like showing up for that workout). Are you managing yourself… or leading yourself? Want to develop real leadership and communication skills? Join Dr. Matt James for the 4-Day NLP Practitioner Training. Register now: https://trainings.nlp.com #Leadership #NLP #PersonalDevelopment #TrainersTraining #DrMattJames #Empowerment Empowerment, Inc. is the leading authority on NLP, Huna, Mental and Emotional Release®, and Hypnosis. For more information, visit us at www.nlp.com or www.empowermentinc.com Music: “Reach for Success” by Scott Holmes https://scottholmesmusic.com/

Live from Carlsbad, Day-something of the 41st Annual Trainers Training — but today Dr. Matt James is staying home to focus on clients and building AI technology to help those who help others, while his wife takes over teaching for the day. Watching her get completely re-energized — rewriting the entire day’s curriculum because she loves teaching so much — inspired today’s topic: your why. If you can’t connect what you’re doing to a bigger purpose, that’s the real question to ask: why are you doing it at all? Purpose doesn’t mean the work gets easier — you still put in effort — but it should be effortless to find the motivation. That’s the difference between people who are thriving and the ones who’ve lost their drive at work, in relationships, in life. Even hosting the team for dinner tonight has a why: connection. Ready to find your why and build the skills to live it out? Join the 4-Day NLP Practitioner Training: https://trainings.nlp.com #TrainersTraining #NLP #KnowYourWhy #DrMattJames #Empowerment #Purpose Empowerment, Inc. is the leading authority on NLP, Huna, Mental and Emotional Release®, and Hypnosis. For more information, visit us at www.nlp.com or www.empowermentinc.com Music: “Reach for Success” by Scott Holmes https://scottholmesmusic.com/

Dr. Matt James is deep into Trainers Training with a room full of soon-to-be NLP trainers and today’s topic came straight from watching them work through filter patterns. Here’s the thing: if you don’t know your own filter pattern, you can’t tell someone else what you actually need to understand something deeply. Dr. James shares his own daughter’s story. She thought she was “dumb” in school simply because she’s a detailed, literal listener and processed information differently than how it was taught. Once she learned her filter pattern, she realized she was never the problem… she just filters differently. At the Master Practitioner level, students learn all 22 major filter patterns — including one simple one Dr. James shares here: big picture vs. detail. He’s big picture, his wife is detail-oriented. Instead of that becoming a source of conflict, understanding each other’s filters means he gives her the details she needs, and she gives him space to stay big picture. Different people think differently and that’s something to celebrate, not fight. Want to learn all 22 filter patterns and transform how you communicate? Join the 4-Day NLP Practitioner Training: https://trainings.nlp.com #NLP #FilterPatterns #Communication #DrMattJames #TrainersTraining #Empowerment Empowerment, Inc. is the leading authority on NLP, Huna, Mental and Emotional Release®, and Hypnosis. For more information, visit us at www.nlp.com or www.empowermentinc.com Music: “Reach for Success” by Scott Holmes https://scottholmesmusic.com/

Dr. Matt James keeps it real today: yes, connecting to your why gives you energy, but we still live in a world where you have to grind. That’s just fact. The key isn’t avoiding the grind. It’s finding the small moments inside it, five minutes of coffee outside, grilling steaks, sitting on a balcony, to ground and rebalance yourself. With back-to-back travel ahead (Houston → a brand-new training he’s never taught before → solo for 5 days → a 3am flight to teach in Hilo), Dr. Matt is being intentional about grounding himself now, because even when you’re living your purpose, burnout is still possible. The takeaway: purpose doesn’t make you immune to burnout. You still have to build in the moments that ground you, even if it’s just 5 or 10 minutes. Shout out to the team (Karl, Ethan, Britt) holding down San Diego this week, much appreciated! Want tools to build a life you don’t need to escape from? Join the 4-Day NLP Practitioner Training: https://trainings.nlp.com #Grind #Balance #Burnout #NLP #DrMattJames #Empowerment Empowerment, Inc. is the leading authority on NLP, Huna, Mental and Emotional Release®, and Hypnosis. For more information, visit us at www.nlp.com or www.empowermentinc.com Music: “Reach for Success” by Scott Holmes https://scottholmesmusic.com/

For the Republic! Ben, Matt James, and Steve Ahlman review the new 'XCOM'-meets-'Star Wars' turn-based tactics game, 'Zero Company.' First, they react to announcements and trailers from Gamescom Opening Night Live, and share Matt's experience with FromSoftware Switch 2 exclusive 'The Duskbloods' during its closed-network test. Then, they have an in-depth, spoiler-free discussion about 'Zero Company,' touching on the nuances of its combat system, how their playthroughs differed, where the game ranks on the pantheon of 'Star Wars' games and stories, the quality of recent 'Star Wars' games versus recent 'Star Wars' TV shows and movies, the game genres they'd most like to see a first-ever 'Star Wars' spin on, and more. (0:00) Intro(1:50)  Gamescom reactions(14:28)  'The Duskbloods'(19:34)  'Star Wars Zero Company' reviews(1:31:14)  Outro Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Steve AhlmanProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Picture courtesy of John Coster and Splink (from left to right : Tim Chapman, Vikki Ings, Matt James, Andy Crickett) Roger Marsh recently caught up with Splink ahead of their numerous upcoming live appearances (including at the Wokingham Festival on Bank Holiday Monday 31st August 2026 and Summer’s End in Chepstow on Sunday 18th October […]

Ben and Matt James deliver their hands-on impressions of failing to play FromSoftware's 'The Duskbloods' during a disastrous network test, then react to recent news: fresh 'Grand Theft Auto VI' leaks, another live-service snafu for Sony in 'Horizon Hunters Gathering,' Dave Bautista's selection as a recast Kratos in Prime Video's 'God of War,' Disney's decision to double down on 'Kingdom Hearts,' and a sequel funded by a mysterious, rich patron. After that, Ben brings on prolific reporter Nicole Carpenter to talk about an epidemic of game cloning, the moral and legal lines between inspiration and imitation, and how the industry's copycat problem pertains to Steam sensation 'Meccha Chameleon,' Roblox smashes 'Grow a Garden' and 'Steal a Brainrot,' and 'Palworld.' Lastly, Ben brings on writer (and doctor) Rany Jazayerli to explain what it's like to give up gaming for decades before finally returning to the fold. (00:00) Intro (00:13) Duskbloods with Matt James (10:11) News and More! (48:31) Nicole Carpenter Joins (82:31) Rany Jazayerli Joins Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Matt James, Nicole Carpenter, Rany Jazayerli Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A fast-track bid for up to a thousand homes at Pegasus Golf Course has been knocked back - but questions remain over why, and what happens next. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has declined Wolfbrook Properties' application. The Pegasus Residents' Group is cautiously celebrating the decision. President Matt James says it's unclear why the application was declined, and they're moving with caution. "There is no clarity. I have suspicion, but it's purely a personal opinion - the key thing to fast-track is you need to be able to demonstrate national significance and regional economic benefit, and I don't think a development of this nature would have done that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fast-track bid for up to a thousand homes at Pegasus Golf Course has been knocked back - but questions remain over why, and what happens next. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has declined Wolfbrook Properties' application. The Pegasus Residents' Group is cautiously celebrating the decision. President Matt James says it's unclear why the application was declined, and they're moving with caution. "There is no clarity. I have suspicion, but it's purely a personal opinion - the key thing to fast-track is you need to be able to demonstrate national significance and regional economic benefit, and I don't think a development of this nature would have done that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The X-Men meet 'Star Wars,' and Ben Lindbergh meets Matt James as Button Mash sets the stage for two of late summer's highest-profile video games, 'Marvel's Wolverine' and 'Star Wars Zero Company.' First, Matt describes his visit to Insomniac Games and his spoiler-free impressions of the narrative, combat, and visual design of 'Wolverine.' Then, he shares interviews with Wolverine actor Liam McIntyre and Insomniac art and animation directors Grant Hollis and Brian Wyser, which Matt and Ben discuss. Finally, Ben lays out what to expect from the turn-based tactical combat, 'Star Wars' storytelling, and replayability of 'Zero Company' based on his time with the game.(00:00) Intro(02:47) 'Marvel's Wolverine'(24:43) Liam McIntyre(41:12) Grant Hollis and Brian Wyser(62:43) 'Star Wars Zero Company'Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James, Liam McIntyre, Grant Hollis, and Brian WyserSenior Producer: Steve Ahlman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The New World screwworm is one of the most disturbing parasites in North America. Unlike ordinary maggots that typically consume dead tissue, screwworm larvae infest wounds and feed on the living flesh of warm-blooded animals. The parasite was eradicated from the United States decades ago, but in 2026 it returned to the U.S. mainland, creating serious concerns for livestock, wildlife and anyone responsible for protecting animals in affected areas. For generations, one of the primary weapons against screwworm has been the sterile insect technique—producing enormous numbers of sterile male flies and releasing them into affected areas to disrupt reproduction. But could the next major weapon against screwworm come from genetics? In this episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore talks with Matt James of Colossal Biosciences about the potential for advanced genetic technologies to change the fight against New World screwworm. Colossal has publicly discussed the possibility of using genetic biocontrol and gene-drive technology against the parasite. The basic concept is remarkable: instead of simply releasing sterile flies generation after generation, genetic tools could potentially introduce traits designed to interfere with reproduction and drive those traits through a screwworm population. Moore and James discuss what this technology could mean, how genetics might complement existing eradication methods, and the much larger question surrounding modern conservation biotechnology: Can we use our growing ability to manipulate genetics not only to save threatened species, but to fight organisms threatening wildlife and livestock? It's a fascinating intersection of wildlife conservation, emerging biotechnology and one of the nastiest parasites imaginable. The New World screwworm is back. Could genetics help send it away again? Dark Outdoors investigates terrifying encounters, unsolved mysteries, true crime and dangerous wildlife—because the outdoors has a dark side.

Fresh off their exhilarating cooperative playthrough of 'Big Walk,' Ben, Matt James, and Steve Ahlman hit the highlights of a busy week in gaming. (Is there any other kind?) First, a slightly self-loathing Ben comes clean about his purchase of a PS5 Pro. Then they share their impressions and reviews of 'Big Walk,' a co-op puzzler and potential Game of the Year candidate, as well as the long-awaited return of 2D tag-team Marvel fighting in 'Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls' and Pokémon maker Game Freak's new action-RPG, 'Beast of Reincarnation.' Finally, in honor of the 10th anniversary of 'No Man's Sky,' they share their all-time top five games that made major improvements after release, as well as the five games they wish had gotten glow-ups but never did. Intro (0:00)'Big Walk' (9:00)'Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls' (37:39'Beast of Reincarnation' reactions (57:31)Greatest gaming glow-ups (1:13:51)Outro (1:45:27) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Steve AhlmanProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Master Chief said in 2001 and 2026: "I think we're just getting started." Ben brings on Matt James for a wide-ranging discussion of recent releases. First, inspired by Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey,' they examine why games aren't typically made, marketed, and analyzed through an auteurist lens like other media and whether that could ever change. Then they break down their experiences with two big-name shooters, original 'Halo' remake 'Halo: Campaign Evolved' and 'Splatoon Raiders,' before sharing their impressions of indie games 'Denshattack!,' 'The Incident at Galley House,' 'Zero Parades: For Dead Spies,' 'Esoteric Ebb,' and 'Tears of Metal,' as well as Netflix's new interactive experiment, 'Unhinged.' Finally, Steve Ahlman joins to describe his experience with Valve's Steam Machine so far.Intro (0:00)Directors discussion (3:27)'Halo: Campaign Evolved' (23:20)'Splatoon Raiders' (44:27)'Denshattack!' and indie game impressions (59:37)Steam Machine reactions (1:31:14:)Outro (1:49:51)Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Steve AhlmanProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ashley and Producer Heather are breaking down the latest Bachelor Nation headlines, and things are getting spicy with Peter Weber! Find out what he has to say after the fallout of Julie LaPlaca’s book!We dive into the dating rumors surrounding Matt James and Lindsay Hubbard, and how a Bachelor Nation alum kept quiet about getting an invite to Taylor and Travis' wedding!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Juliet and Callie immediately know they are going to disagree about movie night on ‘Love Island USA.' Before they get into it, they talk about reality TV news, starting with Lindsay Hubbard and Matt James being seen on a date in New York (02:54), Taylor Frankie Paul entering rehab and what this means for her ‘Bachelorette' season, and ‘Bachelor' producer Julie LaPlaca publishing a book about her affair with Pilot Pete. Then, at last, they get into the revealing movie night on ‘Love Island USA,' starting with Kayda's realization that Zach has been lying to her. They argue who is in the right between KC and Aniya, applaud Corbin's performance throughout the night, and fear for what is to come for Sincere. (00:00) Intro (00:00) Lindsay Hubbard and Matt James Date (05:38) Taylor Frankie Paul Rehab (07:24) Julie LaPlaca's Book (13:39) ‘Love Island USA' Movie Night Recap (13:39) Kayda Realization (18:32 KC and Aniya (33:18) Sincere's Movie (39:46) Updated Thoughts on Titi This episode is brought to you by Colgate Optic White. The Science of WOW. Hosts: Juliet Litman and Callie Curry Producer: Olivia Crerie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Matt James, Steve Ahlman, and Rob Mahoney plug in their trident controllers for a four-player, 30th-anniversary celebration of a classic console from their youth, the Nintendo 64. First, in Patch Notes, they play a guessing game about what 'Grand Theft Auto VI' will cost as preorders begin, discuss whether the price is wrong for Valve's Steam Machine, and react to reports about upcoming Xbox layoffs and studio closures. Then they play "Mash or Pass?" with Nintendo's Switch 2 ‘Star Fox' remake and ‘The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales,' and they share what they want and expect from the upcoming ‘Ocarina of Time' remake. Finally, they assess the N64's legacy and draft their favorite N64 games across several genres. Intro (0:00)Patch Notes (5:00)Mash or Pass?: 'Star Fox' (27:23)Mash or Pass?: 'The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales' (35:26)'Ocarina of Time' remake predictions (38:41)N64 Draft (47:48)Outro (2:07:13) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James, Steve Ahlman, and Rob MahoneyProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#952. For years, Bachelor fans speculated. Now, former producer Julie LaPlaca is opening up about the headlines, the rumors, and what was really happening behind the scenes.From her widely discussed connection with Peter Weber to the reality of spending years producing some of the franchise's biggest love stories, Julie is sharing a side of The Bachelor viewers rarely get to hear.Julie spent seven years behind the scenes of The Bachelor, working with leads like Hannah Brown, Peter Weber, Matt James, and Clare Crawley. She sits down with Kaitlyn to answer the questions fans have been asking for years: What are producers actually doing all day? How much of the show is real? Are storylines created before filming starts? What really happened during Peter's season? And what goes through a producer's mind when they're helping shape one of the most dramatic seasons in Bachelor history?Plus, Julie shares behind-the-scenes stories from her time on the show, what surprised her most about the leads she worked with, and why she ultimately decided to walk away from the franchise.Consider this your backstage pass to one of reality TV's most fascinating jobs.YOU CAN PRE-ORDER HER BOOK HERE: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Love-Producer/Julie-LaPlaca/9781637748862If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these AMAZING deals!Macy's: Shop in stores or online only at Macys.com!Figs: Right now, if you go to wearFIGS.com and use the code FIGSRX, you can get 15% off your first order.Merit Beauty: Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com.Wayfair: Patio season is here and these deals won't last! head to Wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.Progressive: Visit Progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little extra cash back.Apartments.com: The place to find a place!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After being bombarded by gaming news at Sony's PlayStation State of Play, Summer Game Fest, the Xbox Games Showcase, and beyond, Ben, Steve Ahlman, and Matt James get together to analyze the biggest game announcements and trailers. First, they discuss some major themes and takeaways from the week, including the onslaught of releases in store before 'GTA VI' and the industry's about-face on live-service games and console exclusivity. Then, they focus on how hype-worthy each event was and assess what they saw (and in some cases, played) of heavy hitters such as 'God of War Laufey,' 'Marvel's Wolverine,' 'Resident Evil Veronica,' 'Star Wars: Galactic Racer,' 'Final Fantasy VII Revelation,' 'Halo: Campaign Evolved,' 'Gears of War: E-Day,' and many more.Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Steve AhlmanSenior Producer: Steve AhlmanAdditional Production: Arjuna Ramgopowel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Previous bidders could help save Pegasus Golf Course. Hundreds packed a community meeting last night to discuss Wolfbrook Properties' plans to convert the 80-hectare site into housing. Waimakariri District Council's agreed to investigate whether purchasing the land is an option. Residents' Group President, Matt James, says golf course operators were keen before, and could be approached again. "The objective is to make a few marriages of people who are already in the game, and people who have got the money to come up with the cash - profit and loss was very successful. What wasn't successful is the previous owner chose to not pay his bills." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Waimakariri Council will investigate buying a north Canterbury golf course from a property developer, after local opposition to plans for housing there. Matt James, President of the Pegasus Residents Group spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Ben, Matt James, and Steve Ahlman earn a license to podcast about two early Game of the Year candidates: '007: First Light' and 'Mina the Hollower.' First, in Patch Notes, they discuss the future of 'Destiny' and Bungie after the end of development on the almost decade-old 'Destiny 2,' and what the huge hikes in the price of Valve's Steam Deck portend for the Steam Machine, the current console generation, and the future of gaming. Then, they share their spoiler-free reviews of 'First Light,' James Bond's long-awaited return to gaming at the hands of 'Hitman' maker IO Interactive, and the much-anticipated 8-bit homage 'Mina,' from the makers of 'Shovel Knight.'Intro (0:00)Reactions to ‘Destiny 2' ending (1:28)Steamdeck price increases! (14:32)‘First Light' review (32:22)‘Mina the Hollower' reactions (1:05:04)Outro (1:33:37)Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Steve AhlmanProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No 'GTA' trailer? No problem! Ben Lindbergh, Matt James, and Steve Ahlman dissect five big games you can play today. While steering clear of spoilers, they explore how ‘Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight' expands on the Lego gaming formula and draws on decades of the Caped Crusader's past; whether ‘Forza Horizon 6' delivers on the hype surrounding the series' visit to Japan; why ‘Mixtape' touched a nerve in the gaming community; whether ‘Subnautica 2' demands a deep dive in early access; and whether ‘Yoshi and the Mysterious Book' can restore the Switch 2's momentum after Nintendo announced a new price hike. Intro (0:00) ‘Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight' review (4:54) First thoughts on ‘Forza Horizon' (33:34) Reactions to ‘Mixtape' (1:01:23) ‘Subnautica' deep dive (1:25:05) ‘Yoshi and the Mysterious Book' takes (1:33:09) Outro (1:43:16) Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Matt James and Steve Ahlman Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join hosts Kevin Harris, Lisa Wills and Matt James for a candid, wide-ranging conversation with Joey from Outlier — a longtime guest who opens up about songwriting, band identity and the realities of today's music business. The episode dives into Joey's creative process, why he reimagined Cypress Hill's "Rock Superstar," and how he preserved the original's spirit while making it uniquely Outlier. Listeners will hear the backstory of the high-profile collaboration with Sen Dog and Hyro the Hero, plus a blow-by-blow of the music video shoot (from downtown Las Vegas to Red Rocks and a dried lake bed). Joey shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes about getting Sen involved, the quick, organic way the guest vocals came together, and the on-the-road camaraderie that shaped the shoot. The hosts and guest debate the industry's obsession with streaming metrics and viral numbers versus old-school hard work — ticket sales, touring and building a grassroots fanbase. Key points include how playlisting and paid promotion distort charts, why live attendance still defines a band's viability, and how Outlier approaches content and longevity without sacrificing creative integrity. Joey reflects on his past bands, the pitfalls of chasing trends, and his refusal to write to a formula — discussing tracks like "Living Dead" and newly released singles. He also previews Outlier's 2026 plans, including the upcoming Midwest tour with Silent Theory and Discrepancies, more studio output, a possible international run, and the band's decision to temporarily remove parts of their discography as they prepare new releases. Expect humor, honest industry critique and vivid road stories — from blizzard nights and broken axles to sold-out Cypress Hill crowds — plus a promise of special live moments (including a teased on-stage duet) and plenty of fan-focused insights about what it really takes to be a lasting act in rock today.

MIT just released a study on loneliness and AI. The results are not what most people expect. If you’ve been relying on AI more than usual lately, this is worth watching. Dr. Matt James breaks down what the research actually found, why AI can’t replace human connection no matter how advanced it gets, and how to use AI in a way that genuinely works for you instead of against you. In this video: What the MIT study revealed about loneliness and AI Where AI helps and where it makes things worse How to use technology intelligently without losing what matters most Ready to experience real transformation in person? Dr. Matt’s NLP Practitioner Trainings are happening across the US all year long. Four days. Live. In-person. Find a training near you: trainings.nlp.comWant to connect with a real community? Join Dr. Matt on Mighty Networks. Email info@nlp.com to get access. #NLP #DrMatt #AI #PersonalDevelopment #HumanConnection #NLPTraining #Mindset #MentalHealth Empowerment, Inc. is the leading authority on NLP, Huna, Mental and Emotional Release®, and Hypnosis. For more information, visit us at www.nlp.com or www.empowermentinc.com Music: “Reach for Success” by Scott Holmes https://scottholmesmusic.com/

Matt James was employee number 22 at Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), joining as an early engineer when revenue was just beginning to land and rising to CTO. He scaled with the business through to roughly 1000 staff worldwide and over a $1Billion in annual revenue by the time he left, with VGW going on to post A$6.1B in revenue in FY24.  Today he is Co-founder and CTO at SupplyWise, a Perth-based B2B e-commerce platform for SME suppliers and retailers, and one of Australia's more vocal voices on production-grade agentic AI coding. This is a great episode, with key discussion points including:  What an inflection-point AI coding workflow actually looks like in production (not just MVPs). How a non-technical founder should evaluate engineering hires now. Practical strategy for upgrading legacy codebases and databases when an investor or director is pushing for pace. Where the moats are when code itself is becoming a commodity The SaaS investability question: small and medium SaaS may have a golden age, but venture-backable outliers get harder hello@tribeglobal.vc 

Ben Lindbergh, Steve Ahlman, and Matt James assess their hype levels for several recently announced release dates for upcoming games and video game movies, react to the ‘Resident Evil' teaser, and share their thoughts on Microsoft's Game Pass price cut and Xbox brand rehabilitation. Then they review Sony's new PS5-exclusive rogue-like shooter ‘Saros' and compare it to its predecessor ‘Returnal.' Finally, they play Mash or Pass with four other new games: ‘Vampire Crawlers,' ‘Invincible VS,' ‘Tides of Tomorrow,' and ‘Aphelion' (plus “Rage Quit” rants about a ‘Battlefield' movie and rolling credits too early). (00:00) Intro(1:14) Upcoming games and video game movies (11:54) ‘Resident Evil' teaser(17:16) ‘Battlefield' rage quit (22:12) Microsoft's Game Pass price cut(28:15) 'Saros' review(51:54) Rolling credits rage quit (56:38) Mash or Pass Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Steve Ahlman and Matt JamesProducers: Devon Renaldo and Chris SuttonAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Lindbergh, Matt James, and Joshua Rivera join forces to share their spoiler-free reviews of three hot new IPs from international game developers: Capcom's sci-fi thriller 'Pragmata,' and indie debuts 'Mouse: P.I. for Hire' and 'Replaced.' They play "Mash or Pass?" and provide their ratings for each game on the Mash Meter, while marveling at Capcom's comeback, lamenting the decline of single-player first-person shooters, and pondering whether pixel art is a personality. (00:00) Intro (05:07) Pragmata (46:18) Mouse P.I. For Hire (65:56) Replaced Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Matt James, Joshua Rivera Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt James, EVP, CFO & Chief Acquisition Officer at Oakbridge Insurance Roll-up platforms that skipped real integration are getting exposed when they go to market. Buyers want proof of organic growth, clean data, and a platform that actually functions as one. A lot of processes are breaking down because those proof points aren't there. Matt James co-founded Oakbridge Insurance in 2020 and has since closed 60+ acquisitions, integrating 100% from day of close. This conversation covers how he built that system, what went wrong with billion-dollar competitors, and what he would fix first if he walked into a revenue-aggregating roll-up right now.  What You'll Learn Why multiple arbitrage is gone, and what buyers are scrutinizing instead How Oakbridge evaluates cultural fit before any financial criteria What a failed billion-dollar roll-up sale process looks like from the inside Building integration continuity from LOI through 90 days post-close How distributed equity drives buy-in across an acquired organization  If you're evaluating targets and want to know if they're integration-ready pre-LOI, the Intelligence Hub can help you score cultural fit, data readiness, and technology maturity. Join the professional membership at  mascience.com/membership. ____________________ This episode is sponsored by DealRoom DealRoom's State of M&A Report gives you data to back up your M&A priorities. The State of M&A Report reveals the gap between what teams think matters and where the real bottlenecks are. Download it now to get expert insights: https://hubs.ly/Q03ZxRvD0 ____________________ Episode Chapters [00:03:00]  Introduction & Matt's Background [00:05:00] How Buyer Diligence Has Shifted [00:06:00] Organic vs. Inorganic Growth and Why It Matters [00:11:00] The Four-Criteria Deal Evaluation Framework [00:14:00] Validating Cultural Fit Before LOI [00:17:00] Deal Structure: Equity, Earnouts, and Alignment [00:20:00] What Billion-Dollar Platforms Got Wrong [00:26:00]Building the Integration System at Oakbridge [00:31:00] Bridging Diligence and Integration [00:38:00] Data Infrastructure: Databricks, Power BI, and Why It's Worth It [00:45:00] Building Proprietary Deal Flow [00:52:00] First Moves When Integration Is Broken  

Intergenerational relationships take center stage in two new children's books. First, in The One About the Blackbird, a little boy learns to play guitar from his grandfather and they form a deep bond over music. In today's episode, author Melanie Florence and illustrator Matt James join NPR's Ayesha Rascoe to discuss their collaboration and shared love of The Beatles. Then, And They Walk On deals with a heavy topic: Where do our loved ones go after they die? Author Kevin Maillard and illustrator Rafael López spoke with Rascoe about “walking on” and incorporating Seminole culture in their story.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedaySee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Spring has arrived, and with it, a bounty of nerd-culture content! First, Ben Lindbergh and Van Lathan explain the compulsive appeal of 'Paradise,' first in a general, high-level, non-spoilery sense, and then in a (clearly indicated) spoiler section on the series' just-concluded second season. After that, other Ringer-Verse hosts, friends, and listeners salute unsung releases to top off another monthly roundup of fandom favorites from TV, anime, movies, video games, books, comics, and beyond that were released recently but not yet covered in depth on a full-length episode. Intro (0:00)‘Paradise' (2:50)‘Paradise' Season 2 finale and spoiler section (21:10)Steve's recommendation (1:01:07)Arjuna's recommendation (1:03:18)Matt's recommendation (1:04:50)Ben's recommendation (01:07:18)Aleya's recommendation (1:14:31)Daniel's recommendation (1:17:40)Listener nomination (1:20:52Recap of picks  (1:22:49) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Van Lathan, Steve Ahlman, Arjuna Ramgopowell, Matt James,  Aleya Zenieris, and Daniel ChinProducer: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's real … but is it spectacular? Ben, Matt James, and Steve Ahlman gather to discuss one of the most ambitious, most anticipated, and most enigmatic games of the year, open-world action-adventure epic ‘Crimson Desert.' They begin by breaking down why the game remained mysterious until its release, whether it lives up to the huge hype, how it incorporates some of the best aspects of other open-world classics, and some of its perplexing problems, along with their disagreements about the game, their shared wonder at its visuals and scale, and their sense of its significance. Then they predict the game's Metacritic rating, share their own personal scores, and pass along some non-spoilery tips and tricks to ease the early hours. Email us at ringerversegaming@gmail.com! Intro (0:00)First reactions to ‘Crimson Desert' (2:00)Predictions and tips (1:21:24)Outro (1:27:35) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Steve AhlmanProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Growth Now Movement, I sit down with transformational coach Andrew L. Anderson to talk about something that holds so many high achievers back: unconscious self-sabotage. Andrew works with successful entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals who look like they have everything together on the outside but still feel stuck, unfulfilled, or like they keep hitting the same invisible ceiling. His mission is simple but powerful. He wants to be the last coach someone ever needs. Andrew explains how he helps people uncover the unconscious emotional root causes behind patterns like procrastination, fear of success, relationship struggles, and financial blocks. Through a powerful process called Mental and Emotional Release, a method developed by Dr. Matt James, Andrew guides clients through deep breakthrough sessions designed to identify and release emotional programming stored in the subconscious mind. These sessions are intense, often lasting five to six hours, but they are designed to create massive shifts in a single day. Over the last seven and a half years, Andrew has facilitated more than 330 of these breakthrough sessions helping people finally move past the patterns that have kept them stuck for years. But Andrew's journey into this work wasn't a straight line. We talk about how his career began in education before navigating divorce, moving into real estate with Keller Williams, and eventually feeling called toward transformational coaching. Along the way, intuition, faith, and the support of key relationships helped him take the leap into the work he now feels deeply aligned with. Andrew also shares his philosophy on relationships and why he intentionally curates a "Top 10" list of the people he surrounds himself with. We talk about the importance of pruning relationships that drain your energy and building a circle that supports growth, accountability, and purpose. Beyond coaching, Andrew is a father of seven who prioritizes family dinners, gratitude journaling, prayer, and meditation as daily practices that keep him grounded. When asked how he defines success, Andrew shares a perspective inspired by Viktor Frankl: success is the worthy pursuit of a fulfilling goal. It's not about chasing achievement for the sake of validation, but about living intentionally and choosing your attitude no matter the circumstances. This conversation is about identity, purpose, and the inner work required to truly live a fulfilling life. If you have ever felt like something beneath the surface is holding you back, this episode will open your eyes to what might really be going on. In This Episode You Will Learn • Why successful people still struggle with self-sabotage • How unconscious emotional programming affects your decisions • What Mental and Emotional Release is and how it works • Why breakthrough sessions can create massive change quickly • The power of curating your inner circle intentionally • Why pruning relationships is sometimes necessary for growth • Daily habits that create emotional and mental alignment • How Andrew transitioned from real estate to transformational coaching • Why choosing your attitude is the ultimate form of freedom

Cool stuff!Follow on your preferred podcast platform, and don't forget ratings and reviews help us a TON! Follow on Social Media and subscribing on Youtube!Consider supporting the show by using the links below, as always; share this show with your fishy friends!Online

In this bonus episode of The Flame: Entertainment & Sports, Rob shares a couple of reality TV ideas that could make for entertaining future shows.First, Rob discusses two casting suggestions for a future season of The Traitors, explaining why Val Chmerkovskiy from Dancing with the Stars and Matt James from The Bachelor could be strong additions to the cast.Then Rob introduces an idea for a Bachelor franchise spinoff, featuring a potential cast that includes Matt James, Tyler Cameron, Dylan Barbour, and Grant Eckel, and explains why their personalities and friendships could make for a fun and engaging series.Timestamps:0:17 – 1:42 Traitors Casting Ideas (Val Chmerkovskiy & Matt James)1:43 – 4:00 Bachelor Spinoff Idea (Matt James, Tyler Cameron, Dylan Barbour & Grant Eckel)Socials:IG & TikTok- @theflame_esHost:Rob CaoAll podcast links available here:https://linktr.ee/tfes

Gotta 'cast 'em all! First, Ben, Matt James, and Steve Ahlman form a fireteam to discuss Bungie's long-awaited extraction shooter ‘Marathon.' They forecast whether it'll fare more like hit ‘ARC Raiders' or flop ‘Highguard,' examine the stakes for Sony's big bets on Bungie and live-service games, and react to a possible revival of the PlayStation/Xbox console wars, followed by a “Rage Quit” rant about the backlash to promotional photos for video game adaptations such as ‘God of War.' Then Ben brings on Charles Pulliam-Moore from The Verge to discuss the delights of Pokémon life-sim spinoff ‘Pokopia,' its significance for Switch 2, and the Pokémon franchise's 30th anniversary, evolution, and future, plus a second “Rage Quit” about the Trump administration coopting video games like ‘Pokopia' to make memes. Email us at ringerversegaming@gmail.com! Intro (0:00) ‘Marathon' first impressions (3:35) Live service games discussion (39:11) Are the PlayStation/Xbox console wars back? (43:56) Rage quit! (48:32 ) First thoughts on 'Pokémon Pokopia' (57:08) Switch 2 discussion (1:19:25) The future of Pokémon (1:22:16) Rage quit vs. Trump (1:35:12) Outro (1:46:23) Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Matt James, Steve Ahlman, and Charles Pulliam-Moore Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

YOU NEED PURPOSE Why Successful People Still Feel Lost Why do so many people who are intelligent, capable, and driven still feel like something in their life doesn't quite fit? In this episode, Dr. Matt James breaks down one of the most important ideas he's taught for over 30 years: Without purpose, everything else starts to feel disconnected. You can learn powerful techniques. You can study mindset. You can attend seminars and read every self-development book out there. But if you don't have a clear purpose, those tools often feel like they have nowhere to go. Your career may feel misaligned. Your conversations may feel repetitive. Even success can begin to feel flat. In this conversation, Dr. Matt explains: • Why purpose gives meaning to everything else you learn • Why motivation fades when purpose is missing • The difference between someone empowering you vs. learning how to empower yourself • Why purpose is the foundation of lasting fulfillment At Empowerment Inc., the mission has never been to empower people for them. It's about teaching people how to empower themselves. And that begins with purpose. What drives your purpose right now? Empowerment, Inc. is the leading authority on NLP, Huna, Mental and Emotional Release®, and Hypnosis. For more information, visit us at www.nlp.com or www.empowermentinc.com Music: “Reach for Success” by Scott Holmes https://scottholmesmusic.com/

SPRING TOUR TICKETS > barstoolsports.com/events/bestshowonearthtour. Ria & Fran's couple's retreat recap (00:00-15:08). What's going on with Jim Carrey? (15:09-23:46). Actor Awards recap (24:41-42:02). Law Roach says Zendaya & Tom Holland are married (42:03-48:13). Harry Styles at the Brit Awards (48:14-51:04). Connor Storrie on SNL (51:05-56:56). The Traitors S4 finale recap (58:04-1:14:41). Weekly Watch Report: Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, Love Is Blind, Love Island: All Stars + more! (1:15:59-2:09:34). Interview with Tyler Cameron - talking brand trips with Tate, being friends with both Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell, his new show ‘Bachelor Mansion Makeover' + more! (2:10:25-2:41:43). CITO LINKS > barstool.link/chicks-in-the-office.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/chicks-in-the-office

Short month, long episode! First, Ben Lindbergh and Charles Holmes extoll the virtues of one of their favorite fantasy stories, the anime series ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey's End,' touching on its themes, influences, and characters, as well as why it makes a great gateway show for non-anime fans. They also discuss some other highlights of a peak period for anime (including ‘Journal With Witch' and ‘Jujutsu Kaisen'), preview a few coming attractions, and take a detour with discussion of ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu.' After that, other Ringer-Verse hosts, friends, and listeners salute unsung releases to top off another monthly roundup of fandom favorites from TV, anime, movies, video games, books, comics, and beyond that were released recently, but not yet covered in depth on a full-length episode. Intro (00:00) ‘Frieren' (03:04) ‘Journal With Witch' (25:34) ‘Jujutsu Kaisen' (37:15) Van's recommendation (50:15) Steve's recommendation (51:55) Miles's recommendation (54:37) Daniel's recommendation (56:21) Devon's recommendation (58:30) Arjuna's recommendation (59:32) Matt's recommendation (61:29) Listener nomination (69:03) Recap of picks (71:13) Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Van Lathan, Charles Holmes, Devon Renaldo, Daniel Chin, Miles Surry, Arjuna Ramgopowell, Matt James, Steve Ahlman Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Matt James, and Joshua Rivera team up to take on one of the most anticipated video games of the year: 'Resident Evil Requiem,' the ninth mainline entry in the 30-year-old survival-horror franchise. First, they analyze the significance of Sony's shocking closure of Bluepoint Games, and an Xbox leadership shake-up. Then they compare their 'Resident Evil' histories, have an in-depth (but spoiler-free) discussion about how 'Requiem' weaves together different strands of the series, and offer their final verdicts on the game. Email us at ⁠ringerversegaming@gmail.com⁠! Intro (0:00) Patch Notes (3:00) Bluepoint Closure (3:30) Xbox Leadership Changes (10:40) First Thoughts on ‘Resident Evil Requiem' (29:11) Mash or Pass? (1:10:50) Outro (1:16:00) Host: Ben Lindbergh Guest: Matt James and Joshua Rivera Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Lindbergh, Matt James, and Steve Ahlman speedrun the month's major gaming news and releases. In Patch Notes, they break down HBO's 'Baldur's Gate' adaptation, layoffs for developers of struggling free-to-play games 'Highguard' and '2XKO,' Sony's latest bid for live-service success with 'Horizon Hunters Gathering,' and the highlights of February's PS5 State of Play. Then, in the Minigames section, they share spoiler-free impressions of six recently released games: 'Nioh 3,' Dragon Quest VII Reimagined,' 'Romeo is a Dead Man,' 'Mewgenics,' 'Mario Tennis Fever,' and 'Reanimal,' featuring thoughts on the state of Switch 2 and the debut of a new segment, Only in Video Games.Email us at ringerversegaming@gmail.com!Intro (0:00)Patch Notes (2:00)'Baldur's Gate' Adaptation (2:22)Layoffs (14:25)'Horizon Hunters Gathering' (26:32)State of Play (34:10)Minigames (44:41)'Nioh 3' (45:38)'Dragon Quest 7' (49:34)'Romeo Is a Dead Man' (53:31)'Mewgenics' (59:31)'Mario Tennis Fever' (1:05:21)'Reanimal' (1:18:44)Outro (1:26:16)Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Steve AhlmanProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Matt James, and Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier start a new save file for 2026! First they sum up the subjects they think will define the year, from 'Grand Theft Auto VI' to the Steam Machine to rising prices to anti-AI sentiments. Then they select their most anticipated games of 2026 in several categories and wrap up with big-picture predictions. Intro (0:00)Big questions about the year (3:45)Most anticipated games (35:34)2026 predictions (1:29:12)Outro (1:41:42) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Jason SchreierProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Lindbergh and Matt James share their instant reactions to gaming's annual awards show/trailer fest! First they discuss the dominance of ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,' Matt's experience attending the show in person, and the award winners that made them happiest and saltiest. Then they count down their respective top 10 lists of exciting announcements about upcoming games. Intro (0:00)Reactions to the Game Awards (2:20)Top 10 highlights (18:36)Outro (1:01:26) Host: Ben LindberghGuest: Matt JamesProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all pod down here. You'll pod, too. Recommends returns for a Thanksgiving feast! First, Ben brings on Zach Dionne to talk about 'It: Welcome to Derry,' Hollywood's obsession with Stephen King (including several new adaptations in 2025), the dos and don'ts of adapting King, the historical highs and lows, and the future of King's work on-screen. After that, other Ringer-Verse hosts and friends salute unsung releases to complete another expanded installment of the monthly roundup of fandom favorites from TV, anime, movies, video games, books, comics, and beyond that were released recently but not yet covered in-depth on a full-length episode. (00:00) Intro (02:38) 'It: Welcome to Derry' with Zach Dionne (19:17) Bigger Stephen King discussion (49:22) Van's recommendation (50:20) Steve's recommendation (51:30) Daniel's recommendation (53:58) Chuck's recommendation (54:30) Matt's recommendation (59:48) Jomi's recommendation (61:16) Listener recommendation Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Zach Dionne, Jomi Adeniran, Steve Ahlman, Van Lathan, Charles Holmes, Matt James, and Daniel Chin Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman Social: Jomi Adeniran Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices