Podcasts about unsung stories

Dr Rachel Knightley speaks to her Great British Horror 5 co-contributor, award-winning author of ovels, short stories and articles (“Usually strange ones”) Aliya Whiteley. is the author of seven books of speculative fiction, including the Arthur C. Clarke Award shortlisted Skyward Inn and The Loosening Skin, and also The Beauty, which was shortlisted for both a Shirley Jackson award and the Otherwise Award. A tenth anniversary edition of The Beauty was published in 2024. She has written over one hundred published short stories that have appeared in magazines such as F&SF, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Strange Horizons, The Dark, McSweeney's Internet Tendency and The Guardian, as well as in anthologies such as Unsung Stories' 2084 and Lonely Planet's Better than Fiction. Her non-fiction includes The Secret Life of Fungi, a look at how fungi are a permanent presence in her life. She also writes a regular non-fiction column on sci fi and fantasy matters for Interzone magazine. For a writing workout based on Aliya's interview with Rachel, scroll down or visit WritersGym.com to download every Writing Workout in the series.   Find out more about Aliya at https://aliyawhiteley.uk/about/   Join our mailing list at drrachelknightley.substack.com or get in touch at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com     Writing Workout based on Aliya's interview   Warm-up: The Enormous Importance of Weird   Write down a list of your five weirdest interests or experiences.   Pick the one you're least likely to write about.   Write about it for five minutes. Just for you.   Exercise 1: Fiction, Memoir and Truth   “I'm not an expert on fungi at all, but I wanted to write something about my fascination with them. and I tried, I did like a huge amount of research and was trying to put across things in a very dry academic kind of way… so instead I wrote this very short, personal book about how I just found fun everywhere throughout my life.”   Think about an experience doing something you love. Describe the sensations in your body, physical and emotional. Show us what you feel and discover. Write another version, in third person. Change the character's gender, or location, or even their activity. Keep the emotional truth but change the literal truth.     Exercise 2: Remembering to Play     “I'm a big believer in all sorts of exercises and routines that you put around writing, it's a bit like scaffolding. It kind of takes the pressure off what it is you're trying to build. Something like working on 381, where every section of that book is 381 words long. That moves a lot of pressure of what's happening in the novel because you've applied sort of weird constraints to it.”   “Or exercises like, okay, so I have to put these five particular objects that I've just made up on the spot. They have to appear in this next short story somewhere. And then the narrative or the characters or all the other things that you would choose to worry about aren't there any longer because you're thinking about these five objects.”     Cool-down: Voices on the Bus   Choose one of Aliya's favourites:   “All the voices that are in your head and you're all on the bus together. And the writer self is the one driving the bus. One of your passengers is shouting, but passengers are allowed to shout every now and again on my buses. That's okay. It doesn't mean catastrophe ahead. t's a whole range of emotions and thoughts and processes and some, there are the ones that, you know, they're trying to warn you all the time, but you know, they're not driving the bus.” Aliya Whiteley   Who are the passengers on your bus?   What is each of them interested in?   Who's really enthusiastic?   Who panics easily?   What does each one love?   What does each one want?

Send us a Text Message.Ever hit rock bottom and wonder how to climb back up? Imagine losing every penny you had, including your retirement savings, and then finding the resilience to start anew. That's the journey we're kicking off this season on The Daily American. I'm back, your everyday Joe Schmo, sharing raw and unfiltered conversations with ordinary folks who embody the true spirit of resilience. Everyone has ups and downs, some of us more than others based off how we cope with certain events. From personal setbacks to unexpected triumphs, this episode sets the tone for a season dedicated to stories that mirror our own struggles and victories. Like many who have opened up on the Daily American, I must find a way to overcome some concurrent issues. After a hiatus marked by personal and financial turmoil, I'm returning with a renewed commitment but same addictions to bring you compelling stories that resonate with the average American. Forget the glitz and glamour of Hollywood; we're diving into the real-life experiences that shape our communities. This premiere episode highlights the importance of perseverance and finding hope in the most unlikely places. So buckle up and tell your grandma' to tune in—these are the unsung tales of everyday heroes, told one voice at a time.Support the Show.thank you for being a part of this journey info@dailyamericanpodcast.comwww.dailyamericanpodcast.com

This week we hear from Anne, a mum of three and recent Grandma. On this episode, we chat through our decision making and setting our priorities; being in community with God's people and being in His word. I appreciated Anne's empathy and acknowledgment of how hard this can be as mothers, and as hurting people. A helpful episode to not just listen to, but realign family priorities with your husband and share with your Bible Study group as you commit to meeting with each other, encouraging each other in this way. Visit our website to learn more about Unsung Stories. View this episodes TranscriptSee this episodes Show NotesSubscribe to our newsletterRead our latest blog postsYou can find more motherhood related content on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast

A candid episode with Unsung Stories host, Laura Smith, discussing the future of this podcast, Laura's decision making process and a reading of a liturgy "For those who have not done great things for God" from the book Every Moment Holy. Visit our website to learn more about Unsung Stories. Subscribe to our newsletterRead our latest blog postsYou can find more motherhood related content on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast

This episode with Lauren, mumma of two, considers how God is refining, moulding and teaching us though trials of many kinds. And, that the trials we face might be bigger life events, or smaller ones. We talk about how as christians, we all will be being moulded in different ways as God is growing to be more like Jesus and himself in holiness. For Lauren, her trial has been around her weight. As you will hear, she has tried hard at loosing weight over the last 20 years, though nothing seems to work. Not only has she tried every diet out there, she has considered her weight as a christian - is she being sinful in some way by leaning into laziness or gluttony. She's tried it all to get it under control. Her landing in this? God is using her weight to have her lean on him, to trust in him. There is purpose to this trial she is enduring, and more and more she sees God's goodness in how he is shaping her character, her priorities and heart in this. Visit our website to learn more about Unsung Stories. View this episodes TranscriptSee this episodes Show NotesSubscribe to our newsletterRead our latest blog postsYou can find more motherhood related content on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast

Jake and Ron chat with British Fantasy Awards Finalist Rym Kechacha, author of To Catch a Moon, published by Unsung Stories. She is a writer and teacher living in Norwich, England. Her debut novel, Dark River, was nominated for two British Fantasy Awards. To Catch a Moon is influenced by the surrealist paintings of Remedios Varo. Rym Kechacha spins a wild fantasy from Varo's dreamlike imaginings, a world in which the moon's daughter holds the key to mankind's fate. Populated by witches, sentient animals, and a lion made of leaves, To Catch a Moon is a bold and fearless ode to the power of Remedios Varo's timeless paintings.  To Catch a Moon by Rym Kechachahttp://www.unsungstories.co.uk/to-catch-a-moon-by-rym-kechachaRym Kechacha web sitehttps://rymkechacha.squarespace.com/Rym Kechacha's review of the book Matthew Bourne and his Adventures in Dancehttps://dancetabs.com/2012/04/book-matthew-bourne-and-his-adventures-in-dance/Rym Kechacha Social MediaTwitter: @RymKechachaRemedios Veroshttps://www.wikiart.org/en/remedios-varoKnow the Artist Remedios VerosYouTube Several Circles Art History Channelhttps://youtu.be/RNZ41SrHrt4Unsung Storieshttps://www.unsungstories.co.uk/Instagram: unsung.booksThe Wrath of the iOtiansEmail: thewrathoftheiotians@gmail.comInstagram: thewrathoftheiotiansTwitter:  @OfiOtiansWebsite: https://thewrathoftheiotians.buzzsprout.com/MusicLand Of The Me-me by Aleksandar Dimitrijevic (TONO)Licensed under the NEO Sounds Music License Agreement

This week we are joined by Terri, mumma of 5 kids (at the moment). She is passionate about foster care and currently is fostering two children at the moment. In this episode, we consider foster care, however the focus of the conversation leans towards our self reliance - how more often than not, we find it safer to trust ourselves and what we know, rather than trusting in God. The challenge we consider is what we do when faced to choose our own way or choose God. Terri encourages us that we can risk more than we think we can - we can choose faithfulness and self sacrifice and God will sustain us and supply all our needs. We consider our need to have an eternal focus and to trust God's promises at every step along the way. Visit our website to learn more about Unsung Stories. View this episodes TranscriptSee this episodes Show NotesSubscribe to our newsletterRead our latest blog postsYou can find more motherhood related content on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast

Sylvia is a mum of 3, a pastors wife and carer of her father. As we reflect on her story, we chat though how our hearts are idol factories and how we want to been seen as ( Successful? Independent?) by those around us. We consider what is the successful life and land on where we derive our value from. She is vulnerable in her story, sharing how the pain and trauma in her to desire certain things for her life, though through Gods intervention, she had a multitude of choices to make in order to align her heart to him. She now seeks faithfulness at every point,  looking for ways that she can lay down her desires for this world here and now and work hard for eternity to come. Visit our website to learn more about Unsung Stories. View this episodes TranscriptSee this episodes Show NotesSubscribe to our newsletterRead our latest blog postsYou can find more motherhood related content on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast

SNEAK PEAK of Unsung Stories, Season 6. Australia's favourite podcast for Christian mothers who want to know and love Jesus more. Who are following Jesus as King and wrestling with the hard and refining moments of this stage of life. On this show, we chat to regular christian mums in our churches. They are open and honest with their struggles and share how God is with them in motherhood. Join us on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcastCheck out our website:• Subscribe to our mailing list• View Blog• Listen to previous  episodeswww.unsungstoriespodcast.comSeason 6 is launching Wednesday 19 October, 2022

Mum Guilt - it's nearly a right of passage to motherhood isn't it? This episode we relisten to Sarah's experience with mum guilt, the different ways it plays out for her and how she works through it in her own journey.It's so encouraging to listen to a real, mum of four's experience of raising Christian kids - how she seeks to point them to Jesus, struggles with Bible time and what has and hasn't worked for their family. Sarah's reminder is helpful,  "You don't have to be the perfect parent. God hasn't called you to perfection. And he doesn't expect you to be, he knows that you're not. But, we are called to be faithful and obedient with what God has given us to point our families to God. God uses our weaknesses to do that."Visit our website to learn more about Unsung Stories. View this episodes TranscriptSee this episodes Show NotesSubscribe to our newsletterRead our latest blog postsYou can find more motherhood related content on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast

Motherhood is hard. Every time Rachel cried out to God for help and relief, she was met with radio silence. Did God hear her? Did God care? Does God even exist?  Have another listen to  Rachel's Unsung Story, where she dealt with unmet expectations in motherhood, being humbled and wrestling with big doubts as to God's existence and care for her in a difficult season of life. Join our mailing list, see episode show notes or view our blog. www.unsunstoriespodcast.comThere's even more cool stuff on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast

Kimberly Jenkins joins us to discuss her new podcast The Invisible Seam: Unsung Stories of Black Culture and Fashion, in partnership with Tommy Hilfiger. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Unsung Stories we are joined by Nat. Nat and her husband have two primary aged children. The life Nat has lived the last 13 years isn't one she ever would have written for herself, however after years of deep grief and heartache, she has come to the conclusion that the times that seem darkest and messiest is when God has done the mightiest work in her life. From walking through cancer treatment with her own mumma that lead to her mum passing away, followed by an infertility diagnosis weeks later. The harrowing road of infertility treatments, their hearts being changed to pursuing adoption regardless of their infertility outcomes. Then came navigating the messy world of adoption, bringing home two toddlers and facing the reality of her shortcomings as a parent. There were times where she couldn't understand or see God's hand and where she wrestled with considering what it means to be blessed by God. Nat's story will shape how you view adoption and make you marvel at God's goodness and faithfulness to his people. Join us on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcastVisit our websiteJoin the mailing list

A second Unsung Stories episode this week?! The mailing list subscribers already knew this, but this season is going to be a trial of smaller episodes each week as well. After realising how much time I spent writing Instagram posts last year, I thought I could invest that time into a smaller, bite size episode each week. 5-10 minutes. It might work, it might not, but my hope is that as I pull back from social media, we are all still encouraged in a quick and time efficient manner each week. This first episode is chatting further about feelings of failure. I chat through how we, and our culture, push perfection and being in control. We don't like feeling weak. But the bible offers hope in 2 Corinthians, when Paul encourages us that when we are weak, Christs power is on display. Have a listen and let me know what you like, what you didn't like. Your feedback is going to be helpful with these episodes and deciding they continue! Check Out www.unsungstoriespodcast.com/free-prints for your free print this week!Join us on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast

What is it about motherhood that makes us question everything we thought we knew? Why does it feel so dang hard? Why does it feel like I'm failing before I even try? What is with the guilt? There is something about motherhood that seems to bring out our fears and failures, and rock the boat of who we thought we are, or could be. Does this sound like you? This week on Unsung Stories, Laura chat's through motherhood and the things she observes in motherhood today. Hitting topics like mum guilt, unmet expectations, bloated standards and fearing failure, Laura shares her honest and real experiences of motherhood - not the filtered version we're used to online. If this episode resonated with you, please encourage your friend by sharing with her. If you haven't already, subscribing and reviewing this show would be helpful. Reach out and share your thoughts @unsungstoriespodcast

Troop is an American R&B group from Pasadena, California, United States. The group has had three number-one singles and ten top-ten singles on the Billboard R&B Singles chart. They have also completed five albums, which include three certified gold and one certified platinum album. TROOP is an acronym for "Total Respect Of Other People".    The group is most notable for a series of number-one R&B hits, including popular cover versions of the songs "All I Do Is Think of You" and "Sweet November", originally performed by musical acts The Jackson 5 and The Deele, respectively. They also had a number-one hit with the original song "Spread My Wings".  #Troop #RnBMusic #RnB #rnb #rnbpodcast #rnbmusic #newjackswing #hiphop #hiphopmusic  #DJCassidy #PassTheMic #HalftimeChat

Working mum, Crunchy mum, Helicopter mum... SAH, Breastfeeding, Attachment Based, Kmart, By The Book, Allergy, DIY, Workout, Small Business Slayer, Influencer, Anxious, Charity, Tired, Child Led, Martyr, Perfect, Packet Food, Competitive, Mimosa.... What kind of mum are you???There are so many identifiers for us to associate with!But what about us? What does it actually mean to identify as a Christian mum?  And more than that, what about the different pulls we have that we WANT to identify as. The lures that appeal to us, that validate and give worth to what we value. Today Sarah and I chat through our identity as christian women and the tension we have as we consider all the different labels we have as women today. We chat through the temptations we face. Sarah provides a helpful framework of thinking as we align our feelings and experiences to be under christ - how the gospel is the lens that we look at everything through.DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT UNSUNG STORIES? This can be through your prayers, finances, gifts and skillsets - or simply by rating and reviewing the show! Thank you for partnering with Unsung Stories in these ways. Please reach out through our website if you can offer something specific to this show. "We have that inheritance. We are those children. We are the betrothed. We are the elected and adopted all of those words. That mean we, we are in Christ. Now. We are part of his kingdom. We are part of his purposes part of his church family. There's no waiting for those things. But other things that we chase after in our identity, may never come to fruition.""Family and ministry and work and all of those things - they're  juggling balls. Some of those are made of glass that you can't drop. And some of them are made of rubber. You have to like bounce and let them go for a little while.""There is enormous purpose in this life. When it is weaved for God and that his purposes are grand and beautiful and that he wants us to be part of those is just amazing.""this life matters and the decisions that we make matter in this life - but they're also pale in comparison to what's comes next. And what eternity is and the peacefulness of, thinking about marriage and work and those things that are important, but they not everything."

Halftime Chat with Tabitha Duncan who formed the group and got them signed with Keith Sweat. In a candid interview with Halfitme Chat, Tabitha explains how the group came together, the messy business of the recording industry and new music from Kut Klose.  Kut Klose is an American R&B trio that formed in Atlanta, Georgia. The three female singers that made up the group were Athena Cage, Lavonn Battle and Tabitha Duncan. The girls were discovered by Keith Sweat who produced their debut album. They are best known for their hit single "Get Up On It" (featuring Keith Sweat), "I Like" and the album Surrender.   In 1995, Kut Klose released their first album, Surrender, releasing three singles, "Surrender," "Lovely Thang," and "I Like", which peaked at No. 8 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No. 34 on the Billboard Billboard Hot 100. The album peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart #KutKlose #KeithSweat #NewJackSwing #TeddyRiley #RnBMusic #RnBPodcast #SoulMusic #RnBMusic #RnB #HipHop

Join Dr. Threat and Professor Aldridge as we embark on a new course being offered at Chapman University.

This week on Unsung Stories, we're chatting about finding God in the little things. Mandy, a mum to three boys - including twin toddlers - shares how her unexpected journey of motherhood taught her to see God in everything, big and small. From a surprise twin pregnancy to a mid-pandemic move, join us as we dive into the delights and blessings of Christ-centred community, and the importance of trusting God to take control of our lives."When we place our need for control within His hands, we become the reflections of His glory and steadfast love""Our relationship with God is a relationship of the heart.""It's good to make our plans, but also to know that God's will be done. He's going ahead of us, and He does have control, and He's watching over us."Join us on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast. Thank you for sharing this show with a friend. 

This week Adri is generous in sharing her grief and dependance on God that came with loosing her father, the importance of the church and church family, self care in motherhood - all the while reminding us that we do not need to clean ourselves up to come to God. He loves us as we are. We are not called to perfection. *TW Death* Are you struggling with grief over the loss of a loved one? There is help available. Your local church, counsellors or psychologists, GP and Beyond Blue are all great places to seek help from.Can you help this show? Subscribe, leave a review, share with your bible study, share our Instagram content. Help encourage other mums by helping them find Unsung Stories. Check out our website www.unsungstoriespodcast.com. Follow us on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast.  "We forget that he will use us in our weakness. He will accept us as we are, not showered with grubby floors. He still loves us"."Any self care that we do now is just to keep us going until Christ returns and truly restores all things"."Stop trying to be the solution. It's Jesus"."Be praying that the Spirit will help you choose God's way, that he would mould your heart, wants and needs to match his".

In Bec's Unsung Story this week, we hear how her motherhood journey so far has been intertwined with anxiety, depression, unplanned children, unmet expectations and how she approached God through it all.  Bec is generous in being vulnerable with us about her mental health and shares her experience of reaching out for help. She helpfully reminds us that we do not not need to clean ourselves up to come to the Lord. *This week we discuss mental health. Please know there is help available. Beyond Blue and Lifeline are great resources to tap into if you are needing immediate, professional support*Please subscribe, rate and review this show. It helps mums who could use the encouragement find the show. Share this episode with a friend who you think may like it. Join us on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast. "Hold firm to who you are in Christ, no matter how you're feeling. Feelings don't always provide the clearest indicator of who God is, and his love for us. And it's very easy to believe the lies that both your head in the devil feed you in those dark times that you think are true""He sent His Son to die for us while, we were still far off, we don't have to clean ourselves up to come to him""I knew that in Christ, there was no more condemnation, but I was really condemning myself for feeling like the way I was when I wasn't coping better. And I think that made me scared to talk to God was cause to believe the lie again, that I had to have it all together to approach God"

Todays conversation with Sarah is on mum guilt - the first episode in our new and exciting season of Unsung Stories. Sarah helpfully shares her experience with mum guilt, the different ways it plays out for her and how she works through it in her own journey. Listen to a real, mum of four's experience of raising Christian kids - how she seeks to point them to Jesus, struggles with Bible time and what has and hasn't worked for their family. Can you help the show? Please RATE and REVIEW, or SUBSCRIBE on whatever platform you listen to this show on :)Join us on instagram @unsungstoriespodcast to continue this conversation and other surrounding motherhood during the week. "I imagine the day where I get to see my creator face to face. I come to him with my head hung in guilt and shame, and God gently puts his hand under my chin, lifting my face towards him, looking me in the eyes and saying "well done, good and faithful servant". "It just takes me out of myself and points to Jesus. Why am I trying to be perfect? I can't be perfect. And I do know that. I know that's why I need Jesus. But I still feel this guilt deeply.""Lots of my guilt is comparing to other mums, who appear to be perfect, which they're probably thinking the same about me.""I just need to care about what God thinks and what his opinion of me us. Audience of one. He is my father. I don't need to impress him. He is for me. He loves me. He forgives me. So I don't know why I live my life that focused on the noise of everybody else.""In one sense, God's got it. He's in control. We just need to be faithful in our work, in the gifts he's given us to bring him glory and make disciples in our families. And yet, that's a very daunting task." "You don't have to be the perfect parent. God hasn't called you to perfection. And he doesn't expect you to be, he know's that you're not. But, we are called to be faithful and obedient with what God has given us to point our families to God. God uses our weaknesses to do that."

SNEAK PEAK of Unsung Stories, Season 2. Australia's latest podcast for Christian mothers who want to know and love Jesus more. Who want to point their families to him but are wrestling with the hard and refining moments of this season. On this show, we chat to regular christian mums in our churches. They are open and honest with their struggles and share how God is with them in motherhood. Season 2 is launching Monday 12th July, 2021. 

"the first stop, we have to start big..."

Project Triangle Strategy vs. Unsung Story: We pit two upcoming tactical RPGs against each other. Plus: Is the Link's Awakening remake actually good? Episode Timeline (0:23) - Intro (9:01) - Project Triangle Strategy (33:17) - Unsung Story (51:05) - Link’s Awakening (1:11:31) - Outro

Motherhood is hard. Every time Rachel cried out to God for help and relief, she was met with radio silence. Did God hear her? Did God care? Does God even exist?  Hear Rachel's Unsung Story, where she dealt with unmet expectations in motherhood, being humbled and wrestling with big doubts as to God's existence and care for her in a difficult season of life. www.unsungstoriespodcast.com/rachelthitchenerwww.instagram.com/unsungstoriespodcastTell us which is your iTunes Review and we'll send you a cute gift in the mail

En este capítulo platicamos de Unsong Story un juego de Early Acces el cual pretende ser una secuela espiritual a Final Fantasy Tactics

So many mums have similar struggles after having kids - struggle with their sin, struggle with self discipline, struggle with control. Hear Sophia share her struggles with these things and how she points her heart to Jesus and prioritises Him in her life. "I've just been challenged to trust God more. Being a mother, I've learnt that I'm not in control even though I really want to be". Join us on Instagram @unsungstoriespodcast. See the AUSLAN interpretation on the Episode page of Unsung Stories website.www.unsungstoriespodcast.com/episodes

Welcome to Unsung Stories - Australia's latest podcast for christian mothers who want to KNOW Jesus more, LOVE him more, but are also facing the reality of this hard and tiring season of life. Hear from real women in Australian churches who are living for Jesus in motherhood. A parenting podcast like no other. A podcast for christian parents. 

Featuring: Michael "Boston" Hannon John “Musim” Beauchamp, and Lora “Mina” Lennon Running Time: 1:07:37 Music by MusiM: Homepage | Bandcamp Livestream: YouTube This month we chat about Cyberpunk 2077, Epic Seven, Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Atlus has big plans for Persona’s 25th anniversary Unsung Story launching in early access soon A few RPG announcements during the Game Awards 2020

In this episode a doctor explains about his medical journey, struggles, success and life of a typical medical student.

松野泰己氏や吉田明彦氏、崎元仁氏といった名立たる日本人スタッフが開発に携わるという触れ込みでプロジェクト始動したSRPG。

For the latest podcast SWH! caught up with writer Vicki Jarrett to talk about her latest novel Always North (out now, published by Unsung Stories). As Vicki explains, it's a story that has been over 10 years in the telling from the inspiration of an unforgettable video to final publication. She discusses the themes and ideas which are at the book's heart, the vital role of her central character and the moral dilemmas she faces, the coincidental yet prescient timing of publication, the speculative writers who have inspired her, and a whole lot more.

Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark does something that no game has done in quite awhile....scratch that hard-to-reach Final Fantasy Tactics itch.  Several have tried and failed, or just never came out.  (Unsung Story)  Fell Seal even improves upon the old formula with some modern quality-of-life improvements and runs really well even on old systems.  Can't wait for the Switch version!   We also cover today's Pokemon Direct, which revealed some more info on the Galar region, some new Pokemon, and the Dynamax system.  Some E3 news was touched on, and Dan gives brief first impressions of Outer Wilds.  

Welcome to the first episode of the Cakes & Ale Book Club! Every month we will be bringing you a mix of discussions and interviews about recent genre fiction we've been reading, and we're kicking things off in style with The Loosening Skin by Aliya Whiteley, published by Unsung Stories. We will be discussing this wonderful book, with comments from listeners who have been reading with us this month, followed by a interview with Aliya Whiteley about her work and career.The Loosening Skin is set in a world where, every seven years, people shed their skin - and with it shed aspects of their personality, even their love for one another. Those emotions and memories remain bound up in the old skin, to be kept, or burned, or sold. Rose Allington, a former celebrity bodyguard whose relationship with client-turned-lover Max Black ended abruptly with her last moult, falls back into his world when his old skins are stolen and he doesn't know who else to trust to get them back. But as the world around her turns to medication to keep their skin from ever shedding again, Rose is determined to be true to herself - even when that means leaving behind everything she used to be.Time for Cakes and Ale, a podcast featuring geeky ramblings with Becks & Eeson, and also home to "Time for Cherry Pie and Coffee", a Twin Peaks podcast, and "The Tally Ho", a Prisoner podcast.Follow us on Twitter @TFCAALike us on FacebookVisit our Website See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tuesday Breakfast - 25 September 2018with Ayan, Lauren and Anya (we miss you George!) 7.00 am  Acknowledgement of Country7:02 am  News Headlines7.10 am  China Aleisse (Ah- lease) is a producer, director, writer and experience facilitator from Detroit Michigan, who settled here a few years ago.  She is the founder of Floating Key - a curatorial platform that centers Black elevation and PoC Solidarity in Naarm. China returns to Tuesday Breakfast to discuss her exciting collaborative show, Reclaiming the Name: A Journey to our Unsung Stories.7.20 am Community Announcements7.30 am Raquel Willis is a powerful black transgender activist and writer from the U.S. who was recognised this year as one of America's most influential African Americans on The Root 100, alongside Solange Knowles, Tamika D. Mallory and Patrisse Khan-Cullors. She has also been named in ESSENCE's Woke 100 Women, which honors the women who are blazing trails for equal rights and inclusion for Black people in America.7.45 am  Alternative News8.00 am Meena Singh is the Director Legal and Client Services of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and a proud Yorta Yorta woman. Meena joins us in the studio to discuss the recent Victorian Supreme Court decision that an Aboriginal man’s request to be sentenced by a Koori Court shouldn't have been denied. 8.15 am Idil Ali is a Senior Youth Practitioner at Drummond Street Services. A writer, performing artist, moderator and community organiser her work is centred in community autonomy, resistance and freedom. Idil alongside Meriki Onus of Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance - WAR, created the Idil Ali is the co-founder of the fundraiser, Naarm Imagining Abolition.  Idil joins Tuesday to share more information about the fundraiser.  Songsartist: Satyameva Jayate, Neha Kakkar, Dhvani Bhanushali, Ikkasong: DILBARartist: Seinabo Setsong: I owe you nothingartist: Kaiitsong:  Natural Womanartist: Sampa The Greatsong: FEMALEartist: Solange song: Cranes in the Sky

Live show special! Ed, Del and Producer Al are joined by Under The Pendulum Sun author, Jeannette Ng, Clark Award winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky and Unsung Stories publisher George Sandison. They discuss the latest book news in front of a live audience. All recordings are issued under official license from Fab Radio International. The Bookworm is a Truly Outrageous Production.

Spotlight: Yasumi Matsuno   Now that we’ve officially in the Tactics run of the Ivalice era, I figured that now would be a good time to shine a little light on a huge force behind the scenes of the Tactics games: Video Game Designer, Director, and Producer, one with an absolutely stellar career: Yasumi Matsuno.   Yasumi Matsuno was born October 24th, 1965 in Myoko, in the Niigata Prefecture of Japan. Growing up in a rural environment, Matsuno claims that he was very isolated as a child. Thus, nearly all of his time was spent in front of television screens, reading books, and practicing the very specific hobby of creating dioramas, especially those based on World War 2. Oddly enough, quite the indoor kid considering that he grew up in the countryside.   His had his first video game experiences as a high schooler, playing one of two arcade games at the local train station. One was PacMan, a game I’m sure we’re all familiar with, and the other was a game called “Xevius”, a vertically scrolling shooter war game where you take on the role of a combat airplane.   Matsuno wanted to become a writer for either books or movies, but he decided to do the smart thing and go to college and study Foreign Policy.  Finding his studies unfulfilling, he dropped out of school after 3 years to pursue his dreams. He did manage to get a writing gig as an economic reporter, but he wanted something more creative. A fan of the games Ultima Online, Dragon Quest, and The Legend of Zelda, he tried to land a writing job at a gaming company. Incredibly good at getting jobs, Matsuno landed a lead “Planner” position at a game developer called “Quest”.   The first game he did “planning” for was for the NES game “Conquest of the Crystal Palace”, not much is known about this game’s development, except that this was the first time Matsuno and his later partner in crime, composer Masaharu Iwata, began working together.   Moving up to a director position at Quest, Matsuno pitched a Fantasy RPG strategy game that would be put out on the new SNES. Borrowing strategy, fantasy, and Active-Time elements from the games “Nobunaga’s Ambition”, “Daisenryaku”, and “Master of Monsters”, game would come to be known as “Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen”. If I were to describe the gameplay to a Final Fantasy player, it would be Final Fantasy Tactics, but with a much simpler map. A couple interesting facts about the game: the North American Edition of the SNES version is considered one of the rarest games of all time since only 5000 copies were ever shipped. Another odd fact: Ogre Battle was a Queen song, and also Queen’s name is used in The “March of the Black Queen” part of the title. Basically, Matsuno is a huge fan of Queen and refers to them often in his games.   After the success of Ogre Battle, Matsuno would get to work on a sequel, changing the gameplay in drastic ways, focusing more on intimate battles, and making the world a 3D one. Behold the awkwardly titled “Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together”. Now Ogre Battle was pretty much FF Tactics, but this, if you’ve seen screenshots of it, was almost exactly the same game, but with a tragic multi-branching storyline inspired by the Bosnian Genocide.   Tactics Ogre was an extremely popular game, with RPG Gamer calling it “forever [...] a masterpiece”.   Oh, and “Let Us Cling Together” is a Queen song.   Not one to stay anywhere for very long, in 1995 Yasumi Matsuno quit “Quest” to move to the big leagues. He would get a job at Square Soft, getting to work on a game very, very, very, similar to Tactics Ogre, a game called…   ...Bahamut Lagoon.   ...Which would later have the Final Fantasy name slapped on it in the form of “Final Fantasy Tactics”.   Tactics, of course, would turn out to be legendary. As in hearing people tell us to get to tactics is a legendary pain in the ass. That’s how popular the game has become.   Creating the Ivalice Universe, Matsuno would stretch his strategic and tactical game design skills in the loosely-related Vagrant Story. Inspired by architecture from France, nearly canceled due to it’s size, it released in 2000, and would be a smash hit, and earn the coveted 40/40 from Famitsu Magazine.   Next he would oversee Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced in a producer role, and also help out with the horrible PlayOnline Function on FFXI, but his next big gig would be as co-director (along with Hiroyuki Ito) of a little PS2 game called “Final Fantasy XII”.   FF12’s development history is insane and I’m not gonna get into it here, but Matsuno was one of the people deeply upset by Hironobu Sakaguchi’s messy departure from Square-Enix, and quit square officially over “illness”, which may or may not be true, we talk about that on the FF12 review I think.   Since 2006, Matsuno has been a free man, a freelance game that many companies have clamored for. He wrote the super-violent Wii game “Madworld”, as well as the 3DS game “Crimson Shroud”. He was asked to help write another Tactics Ogre Game, and even worked with Hironobu Sakaguchi on his mobile title “Terra Battle”.   Currently he’s working on two games for Mobile Platforms, “Unsung Story” and Lost Order”.   In conclusion, for those guys who think that the greatest Final Fantasy game of all time is Tactics, you know who to thank. Matsuno is one of those game Directors who truly has a unique style. Way to go, Matsuno

This week, we’re joined by Nick Nundahl and Joe Wetmore of Instant Replay Live, where we reprise our talk on cartoons and TV, leading us to talk about Marvel’s Defenders and expectations. Speaking of expectations, No Man’s Sky has hit us with a new update, so we discuss the changes that have been made to the game one year later. We also talk about the Unsung Story story, Kickstarter, and crowdfunding in general — including Nick’s friend Jack’s GoFundMe to bring tabletop RPGs to people with visual impairment. But the fun doesn’t stop there! There’s even more to discuss, including Skyrim mods, Dream Daddy and Game Grumps, gay Magic cards, Joe’s tabletop system, solar eclipses, SNES Classic preorders, and more! Games include Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, Bloodborne, Hyper Light Drifter, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Grand Theft Auto V, Snipperclips: Cut it Out, Together!, and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

Nesse episódio de notícias, discutimos como seria o cheiro do cangote de Hideo Kojima em sua vindoura visita ao Brasil, comentamos o possível renascimento de Unsung Story e os anúncios dos próximos spin-offs de Persona.E o que você tem a dizer?Deixe seu feedback acessando o post deste podcast, ou mande um e-mail para contato@jogabilida.deLinks Comentados: Lote nossa caixa no vertice@jogabilida.de Contribua com nosso Patreon ou Padrim Siga-nos no Twitter: Jogabilidade Assine:  Canal do Youtube Blocos do Podcast: Um raio de esperança para Unsung Story: 00:04:26 Kojima na BGS: 00:14:51 Email 1: 00:23:33 Email 2: 00:30:28 Anúncios de Persona: 00:36:00 Email 3: 00:43:40 Email 4: 00:45:23 Email 5: 00:48:10 Lançamentos: 00:51:33 Trilha do Podcast: “Late Nite Funk Squad”, por David Tobin, Jeff Meegan e Malcolm Edmonstone “Rivers in the Desert”, de Persona 5

Micah and Brad give you an extended episode with a very thought-provoking rendition of What Do You People Want! We're also discussing a Dad's terrific save for his son, the WNBA in NBA Live, why you (again) really, really probably shouldn't back video game Kickstarter projects, our speculation of Ninja Theory's newest game, and much more!   Use our Amazon page to donate to the show: www.densepixels.com/amazon   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Dense Pixels   You can now follow us on Twitch! Brad - DensePixelsBrad Terrence - App4RITioN410 Micah - denseblacknerd   Twitter: @DensePixels Facebook: Dense Pixels Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Google Play Music   Headlines   Anthem’s lead designer Corey Gaspur passes away The WNBA will be represented in NBA Live 18 Dragon Quest Builders 2 will be released on PS4 and Switch Kickstarter debacle title Unsung Story goes to a completely new development studio Dad subs in for son’s televised Rocket League match; scores goal   Top Stories   Game publishers argue that policies from current White House are harming the US game industry QUESTION OF THE WEEK

This week on the Digital Fiasco podcast: GameStop’s associates and guests want to work on Thanksgiving, Sony lets the slime out of the bag, Mario Odyssey isn’t suitable for children, Unsung Story remains unsung, and Bungie’s new security measures shows they don’t care about streamers.           Share This: The post Epsiode 42: Bungie Doesn’t Care About Streaming appeared first on Digital Fiasco.

Nesse episódio, Bruno Carvalho, Edu Aurrai e Felipe Mesquita, falaram sobre mais recente update do Nintendo Switch, e seu processo manual associado, Neymar deixando o Barcelona, e a Konami, na mão, o livro de colorir do Witcher, Associação dos Mediums processando a Rockstar, e um algo a mais. Duração: 104 min Comentados:>Timeline feita pelo Jason Schreier sobre a ''novela'' de Unsung Story>Capa de PES2018 com Neymar no Barcelona>Novos controles Xbox Trailers da Semana:> The WNBA Joins NBA LIVE 18>Resident Evil Revelations PS4 / X1 Announce Trailer >Valnir Rok Announcement Trailer > Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption - Announcement Trailer> Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire – Expansion Announcement>Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Combat | Gameplay Trailer>FIFA 18 | FUT ICONS Stories Trailer ft. Ronaldinho> Night Trap - 25th Anniversary Edition | Release Date Announcement>Monster Hunter Stories - Official Nintendo 3DS Trailer >Persona 5 Dancing Star Night Trailer >Persona 3 Dancing Moon Night Trailer >Podtrash 361 – Day of the Dead com participação de Edu Aurrai

It was recently that Unsung Story, after months of no updates, was passed along to a whole new developer who was going to build the game from the ground up.  Corey and Will backed Unsung Story on Kickstarter years ago and give their thoughts on it to this point.  During "What We Played" Will played Nier: Automata, Corey played more Rocket League and Dan prepared for this weekend's Splatfest on Splatoon 2.  After the episode Dan and Corey cover last week's Game of Thrones episode, The Queen's Justice.

Veja hoje que destino tomou o Kickstarter do jogo tão esperado pelos fãs de Unsung Story. Veja mais informações sobre o novo jogo dos criadores de Torchlight e Torchlight II! Atualização do Playstation 4: Veja quais as novidades. Essas e outras notícias você vê agora no Play to Update. Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=45&v=GuzDwofL4yY Acompanhe nossas redes sociais. Twitter: https://twitter.com/playtoupdate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playtoupdate/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playtoupdate/ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/playtoupdate Feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:293054754/sounds.rss

Cassandra is a writer of fantastic stories that blend cultures, mythologies, and the modern world together in wonderful ways. The sequel to her fantastic novella 'Hammers on Bone' will be out in August 2017, and she is also one of the writers for the eagerly anticipated '2084' from Unsung Stories. CASSANDRA'S BOOK CHOICES: Flex by Ferrett Steinmetz Brimstone by Cherie Priest The Girl From The Well by Rin Chupeco Cassandra tweets @CassKhaw. You can find out all about her work, both existing and upcoming, on her website.  If you haven't already, please consider leaving the podcast a review on iTunes.

Episode 41 is part of the Spring 2017 issue! Read ahead by picking up your copy here: http://www.glittership.com/buy/     A Spell to Signal Home by A.C. Buchanan     “Ash.” The voice is at once close beside me and yet muted, as if the sound is being filtered through a dream or a long stretch of time, a universe drawn out like an endless vibration of music. I can taste the sweetness of blood in my mouth, but no syllables emerge and my body feels heavy and soft. “Ash.” Beyond the voice are the sounds of a living planet. It’s hard to pinpoint how the noise of life and the noise of machines differ, when one can so easily mimic the other and both contain so much variety, the boundaries between them blurred, but it’s unmistakable. This is no barren outpost, no hub of spinning metal; this is a result of millions of years of evolution, web-like ecosystems tangling into one another. It will differ from all others and yet on another level it will be the same as all others, interlocking chains of consumption and relation and habitat. “Ash, we’re going to need to get you out. Can you talk to us?”     Hello, welcome to GlitterShip Episode #41. This is your host Keffy and I'm super excited to be sharing this story with you. We have a poem and a GlitterShip original for you today. Our poem is "Songs of Love and Defense in the Dawn" by Hester J. Rook.   Hester J. Rook is an Australian writer and co-editor of Twisted Moon magazine, a magazine of speculative erotic poetry (twistedmoonmag.com). She has previous prose and poetry publications in Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine, Liminality Magazine, Strangelet and others. She's on Twittter @kitemonster and you can find her other work on her site http://hesterjrook.wordpress.com/.     Songs of Love and Defense in the Dawn by Hester J. Rook     I am bird song the whole of me, thrumful the nattering hiss of the seawind through my whispered bones. They seek to rewrite me call me raucous, unwieldy, liar, schemer, temptress until I am heavy (but weightless) like a pelican skimming belly over water. They speak as though their story can varnish them with righteousness despite the hurt they cause; rewrite our histories. But I am birdsong and ironbark; my words are warnings and heralds of the crisp                                                                      lipbitten dawn bright as the frosted wingtips of the black swans gliding through silver. I am birdsong and I am louder than the thunderstorm and softer than the gathering dusk on the hills fiercer than teeth in a kiss and unafraid I gather up my feathers and I shield.     Our original short story is "A Spell to Signal Home" by A.C. Buchanan. A.C. Buchanan lives just north of Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. They're the author of Liquid City and Bree’s Dinosaur and their short fiction has most recently been published in Unsung Stories, the Accessing the Future anthology from FutureFire.net and the Paper Road Press anthology At the Edge Fierce Family. They also co-chair LexiCon 2017 - The 38th New Zealand National Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention and edit the speculative fiction magazine Capricious. You can find them on twitter at @andicbuchanan or at www.acbuchanan.org.     A Spell to Signal Home by A.C. Buchanan     “Ash.” The voice is at once close beside me and yet muted, as if the sound is being filtered through a dream or a long stretch of time, a universe drawn out like an endless vibration of music. I can taste the sweetness of blood in my mouth, but no syllables emerge and my body feels heavy and soft. “Ash.” Beyond the voice are the sounds of a living planet. It’s hard to pinpoint how the noise of life and the noise of machines differ, when one can so easily mimic the other and both contain so much variety, the boundaries between them blurred, but it’s unmistakable. This is no barren outpost, no hub of spinning metal; this is a result of millions of years of evolution, web-like ecosystems tangling into one another. It will differ from all others and yet on another level it will be the same as all others, interlocking chains of consumption and relation and habitat. “Ash, we’re going to need to get you out. Can you talk to us?” I keep thinking that it’s important to answer, but each time the thought begins it’s pushed away into sucked up by the humid air. My mind drifts back, past the negotiations on Feronia station, through the twelve years of my blossoming diplomatic career, to Volturna, the ocean planet where I grew up, and the warm waters we splashed and played and relaxed in, and I think it might be my sister Francie’s voice calling me but I pull myself far enough into consciousness to realize that it’s too high-pitched, too alien… There are hands on my body, and words: don’t think anything’s broken, still breathing. I realize the air is breathable, which means we’re almost certainly on a terraformed planet, and yet there’s so much life, much more than is usually imported. I feel hands beneath me, my body being lifted, dragged, set down. There’s a bright light—sunlight—through my eyelids. Fragments of words come to me, words that I memorized long ago. A spell for safety in travel. But it’s in an older English than my native tongue, and so, so far away that I see only occasional words, faded ink on thick paper. I still don’t know what sandalwood is, and I think I need to stay awake, but I’m so tired…     When she was ten, Francie had edited the family spellbook, inserting “she or” and “her or” and “hers or” in blue ballpoint, her unsteady hand unused to holding a pen. I thought Dad would yell, even though he didn’t yell often, because the book was hundreds of years old and had come from Earth, but instead he turned the large pages one by one and said it was a fair point, and that it was at least a more useful amendment than the “tastes disgusting” comment written in cursive on at least two pages. Dad didn't really believe in spells, but the book was important enough to him that when our parents first came to Volturna he'd asked for an exemption on the dimensions (but not total volume, he'd never push it that far) permitted for cultural and religious items, family heirlooms. Mum brought a Bible from the Scottish arm of her family, and the korowai she graduated in, even though she didn't feel right taking it so far from her whanau, because her grandmother—approaching ninety at that point—insisted, saying she’d have her own children one day and they needed to be connected. We didn't quite know what that meant. Earth fascinated us, but in the same ways as tales of every other world fascinated us. Volturna was our home, and we knew its waters in an instinctive way our parents' Terra-born generation couldn't quite understand. And so on the day that Francie narrowly avoided being in trouble for her annotations, much like any other, we stripped off and yanked on our rashguards and shorts, a process we'd perfected through practice to a matter of seconds. Mine were in the wash so I was wearing my slightly-too-small spare set, lilac with a frill around the edge of the shirt. All Francie's pairs were black. In a few years I would be required to tell the doctors about how much I hated my body, and I'd rewrite this scene for them then, tell them I cried every time I had to change and was too ashamed to do so even in front of my sister.  The truth was that as long as people got most things about me right I could deal with my body. I'd never love it, but I could not think about it easily enough. “Go!” Francie yelled, and she yanked open the hatch and we dived out without hesitation, over the narrow platform, into the warm water around us. I ducked to wet my hair and then Francie did the same, hers chopped short and uneven. I envied it for a minute as mine smacked across my face. “Oy!” Dad's voice yelled at us from inside. “What have I told you about closing this thing after you?” We'd heard him alright, but if we were going to close it we'd have to walk onto the platform and down the first two steps before we could reach to close it. Waste of time. “Sorry, Dad. Could you throw me a hair tie?” “You kids will be the death of me.” But sure enough one dropped down into my outstretched hand before the hatch grated shut. We'd been in our new apartment a little over two years, moving because our parents had decided Francie and I should have our own rooms. It was on the edge of town and taking a few strokes out we could see it spread out before us; the buildings and walkways rising out of the waters that covered the planet. The flag the council had chosen, a blue circle ringed with white light against the black of space, fluttered from the higher structures. We had never seen land, and it was only when we opened the spellbook that we felt we might be missing out.     When I wake again there are drugs coursing through my veins and dampness seeping through my clothes. I open my eyes and see sunlight mottling through the trees above me. I remember being at a reception to mark the conclusion of negotiations regarding access to the route between Feronia Station and Auuue. The subject had been straightforward in itself, but was critical in its implications, setting the terms for future engagement between the Terran and Auuueen governments. So, having sealed a new treaty, we were feeling good. I’d had a key role in these negotiations, more than was typical for a third level diplomat, and it was hard not to take that as a sign that promotion was on the horizon. I had a glass in my hand and the sweet after-taste of spiced Auuueen seafood in my mouth, and was surely blessed that I’d not only secured a career that gave me the opportunity to travel the galaxies, meet high ranking people and hopefully effect some change for the better, but also one where the gown I wore—shimmering layers of deep-green over a blue-black underlay—was an utterly appropriate expense claim. I sit up and dizziness hits, nausea growing in me. I force myself to stay upright, pressing my knuckles firmly against the damp ground. There’s something rustling in the bushes to my right, birds flying overhead. My memories after the reception are brief and fragmented. I remember a distress call, drawing us out of FTL, being unable to get back to anything beyond light speed. “Cay?” I say, operating by guess work. My throat is dry. “I’ll be right with you.” His voice is behind me. I ease myself round, bit by bit, every muscle hurting. He’s tending to the injured leg of the ambassador, who seems, mercifully, to be otherwise unhurt. The only non-human on the shuttle, Cay’s wiry frame belies its near unbreakability. I shift my weight so I can balance, rub my eyes. “We crashed?” “Emergency landing. This shuttle is built for capitals and ambassadorial stations, not wilderness, which seems to be all this planet has.” Looking up I can see the blue sky, the gaping wound in the forest canopy we must have hurtled through. “Is… did everyone?” “Everyone’s alive, yes. Some injuries, but I think with treatment everyone will be okay. Getting out of here is going to be more of a problem. Don’t try and stand up—I put you on Combamex to speed up your healing time, but it will make you woozy for a while. Flashes of memory. “There’s a… this is classified information…” the ambassador had said, as we all stared in panic. She’d paused, briefly, grappling with the weight of disclosure even though all our lives were at stake. “There’s a planet… Silvanus. It’s a wildlife reserve, for species from Terra. Breathable atmosphere. Uninhabited, but it’s our only chance. We can be there in a week, two at the most.” Against Cay’s advice, I stand. Vertigo hits and I vomit, just a little, cling to a tree and manage to stay upright until it passes. Insects are buzzing all around, and the damaged shuttle is behind me. Just a few meters away the forest opens out into a clearing. The ground is covered with orange flowers, smelling of warmth, rising out of the soil to greet us.     “Marigold. Hematite. Elder. Rue. Tiger’s eye.” I list the unfamiliar ingredients, trying to picture, smell, taste such far away substances. “Tiger’s eye? Did they really use eyes from tigers?” “It’s a type of rock.” Francie was thirteen and could make me feel small without even trying. “What are cloves?” She wasn’t asking me. The device on her wrist responded near instantly. Terran spice, made from aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. Native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. Francie threw her arms down in despair. “We’re never going to be able to find any of this stuff.” Mum had said I had to be patient with Francie when she got upset like this, that she was going through a confusing time, and that I’d understand soon enough. I understand confusion, I had wanted to say. I want the androgen blockers and I want to wear dresses and I’m not a boy, but I don’t think I’m the girl I’ve always told you I am either. But I didn’t say anything like that. Not to Mum and not to Francie. Not for a long time. I perched on an inflated cushion and looked at my sister. “You could just tell her you like her?” I suggested. Francie wailed. “I don’t think you could understand any less if you tried! I’m out of here!” We used to dive into the water to escape, but now Francie barricaded herself in her upstairs room. I put away the book, because we had to be very careful with it, grabbed the largest mug I could find and hit the strawberry setting on the milkshake maker, hoping that despite all my own confusion, I at least had a few years before I needed to be worrying about love potions.     We all gather in the clearing. I allow the Ambassador to lean on my shoulder as she walks. She’s short, as those who grew up constrained by Terran gravity usually are, but she cuts an imposing presence. Perhaps that’s why I find it so hard so use her name. Still, I admire her much more than I fear her. If anyone can get us home, I feel, it’s her, but her face is pale with shock and she says little. Aside from us, the group comprises two other diplomats, the pilots, a security guard and two guests flown by special arrangement between governments: Cay and an elderly human. Solomon, the pilot, his uniform crumpled and ripped on one sleeve, looks at the Ambassador, seeking her permission to lead this meeting. She accepts, gratefully, and he summarizes our current position. Our FTL drives are near completely destroyed—by what, he can’t tell, but there’s zero prospect of fixing them. Even if we could launch the shuttle, an unlikely prospect in itself, there are no stations or inhabited planets reachable on our support systems. He’s been trying to get a distress signal working, but no luck so far. He’ll keep trying. The good news, he continues, trying to keep us optimistic, is the breathable air, the hospitable climate, that we have three day’s supply of food and with our databanks intact there is no doubt we can find food on this world. We spend the day exploring the immediate area, administering medical treatment, working fruitlessly on sending a signal. The nine of us sleep, eventually, bunched together with spare clothes pulled over us like blankets. We try not to think about the future.     “What’s oregano?” Francie, now fifteen, had digitized the spellbook in response to Mum’s complaints about her getting her oily fingers all over it. Only I knew that at night she’d creep downstairs and pull it from the shelf, holding it in her arms as if it exuded some comfort. I’d mocked her, once, for being so attached to those archaic, impossible beliefs, and she’d cried and I’d never mentioned it again. “It’s a herb…” said Dad. “…for pizza,” said Mum, her eyes looking far away. Dad squinted, looked at the screen. I propped myself up on my hands to see what he was looking at A Spell to Prevent the Conception of Child. This was going to be good. Francie looked down and her skin, paler than mine, blushed bright red. “Oh, no no no,” she stumbled, pointing desperately at the lower part of the screen as I enjoyed every second. “This one. A Spell to Aid Understanding of Numbers. I have an exam next week.” “That’s kind of like cheating though, isn’t it?” I asked our parents. This day was getting even better. “But of course, Ash, you don’t believe in spells so it can’t make any difference to your sister’s results, can it now?” My mood deflated rapidly. It was fun while it lasted. Francie couldn’t be pregnant in any case though; she’d gotten her implant about the same time I got mine, though mine was larger—three circles under the skin of my upper arm, one releasing an androgen blocker, one for estrogen and one for progesterone. “So where do I get oregano from?” Francie insisted impatiently. “That’s not how spells work,” Dad replied. “There’s nothing special about oregano that helps you with maths. It’s about focusing your mind. You can use something else as long as it fits right for you. Why don’t you go for a swim and see if you feel drawn to something you could use instead?” “So what now?” Mum said when Francie had left. “She’s going to drag in a load of seaweed because she thinks it bears some resemblance to oregano? Well I hope you’re going to be the one cleaning it up.” Dad shrugged. “Yeah, I’ll do that. I’ll do a lot more than a bit of cleaning to get her through the next few weeks. If she’s out there in the water and the fresh air, maybe she’ll relax a bit. Staring at those numbers a thousandth time isn’t going to help her half as much as a break. These spells work sometimes, you know, just not how you’d expect.”     “Who would do this?” I ask the Ambassador. Cay has cut a tree-branch into a cane of sorts, and we’re walking out through the clearing in search of running water. “I thought the days of war were behind us.” She sighs. “I was running a list through my head all night. There are a few governments I think would like to kill us, a couple of separatist or nationalist factions that object to their governments’ treaties with us. But they didn’t just want to kill us. If they had they could have blown us up outright. But they drew us out and disabled our drives where they thought—because Silvanus is classified—there were no habitable planets. They didn’t just want us to die, they wanted us to die slowly.” My chest feels tight at the thought, even though the air is clear and full of oxygen. I hear a long howl in the distance. I hold up my wrist and it senses, reports back: Howler monkey (genus Alouatta monotypic in subfamily Alouattinae). It takes us more than an hour, with measurements and sheer instinct guiding us, to find water, but suddenly we’re beside a small but fast flowing stream, just narrow enough to jump. We smile at each other, perhaps our first smile on Silvanus. While the air is humid enough for us to condense sufficient drinking water, we still need to wash ourselves and clean our clothes. This find won’t solve all our problems, but it will help, and right now that counts for success. There’s something moving on the other side of the river. Something large. I’ve been trained on the use of arms, as everyone entering the diplomatic service is. I’ve never expected to use one outside a carefully controlled range. But before we set off, the guard handed me a stun gun, and now I draw it, awkwardly. It all happens at once; a snarl, a lunge towards us, huge and fast, across the stream. I fall backwards as I fire, rolling over on the rocks, panicked. It takes some time before I realize I’m safe. The Ambassador helps me to my feet. “Tigers,” she says, bitterly. “They seem so beautiful, don’t they? And yet…” I nod, still shaking. “Same with people. I don’t think whoever did this was after us, our government, our missions. I think they were after me.” “Who?” I shouldn’t be asking such a question, but at the same time I was almost killed too and might be stranded on this planet with weird animals forever, so I think I deserve some answers. “Someone I once loved.” The tiger lies motionless by the river. “You can’t trust everyone, Ash. Believe what you know.”     Francie left home to share a tiny apartment in New Venice with a friend, two hours away by boat. I took over her larger bedroom, packed everything she left behind into four small boxes. When I visited her she’d poured me wine and we’d eat fried rice from a little shop beneath her apartment. Afterwards I’d crash on an inflatable mattress in her kitchen and listen to the boats and the spray against the windows and the clinking of bottles. When I woke one morning she was already studying, even though it was a Saturday. There were no universities on Volturna yet, but she was in an amalgamated program with video-conferenced lectures, a practical engineering placement and three block courses a year from visiting lecturers. “Coffee?” she asked, considerate of my seventeen-year-old, early morning brain. I signaled yes, trying to unpick the disaster that was my hair. Dad called Volturnan coffee a hideous imitation and refused to touch it, but like most of our friends, Francie and I swilled it near constantly. “What are you studying?” I asked, looking over at her screen, caffeine in my hands at last. “Case study from Glar. You know that weird planet where the local life-forms change how everything operates, including all the buildings.” I did, vaguely. She showed me a picture. “Well it means that some things aren’t possible, but they can also do things like this…” “How does that even stay up?” The giant structure seemed to be almost floating in the air, anchored to the ground at just one small corner. Francie showed me a screen full of equations. I shrank in mock horror. “Magic,” I said. “I’m just going to believe that it’s magic.”     I hold my wrist beside plant after plant. About half it recognizes automatically; for others I have to input data: color, size of leaves, flowers. I’m building a list, edibles and poisons. This one is easy. Origanum vulgare, my device says. Colloquially known as oregano, a common species of Origanum, a genus of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Safe, edible herb for humans, although allergies are recorded. And I remember something in my personal data files, something I haven’t looked at in a long time. I sit on a fallen tree, bring up the projection of pages many hundreds of years old. A Spell to Send a Message Home And on it, Francie’s childish hand over the calligraphy. When a traveller wants to signal home SHE OR he must do the following… Snippets of Francie’s voice, so young, so far away: you have to call her “she”. She’s my SISTER! Francie’s edits weren’t just about her, I realize. She was defending me. When I was eighteen, I downed a half bottle of a terrible orange flavored liquor before I told her that maybe I wasn’t a woman and could she please say they, not she and then I cried on her balcony because I felt like I was backing down and like I’d been lying all my life, and she’d told me to come inside before I vomited on one of her neighbors’ heads as they walked out of their door and then I laughed and then I did vomit, bitter orange disgustingness over the balcony and into the water below. Francie threw me a towel and said that she loved me but not quite enough to clean up after me. Another memory, two years later: my family seeing me off to my first internship. I would not see Volturna—or any of them—for three years. Francie checking, one last time, that I had a copy of the spellbook in my data files. You need to be connected. It’s been nearly twenty years since I tried to cast a spell, but Francie once said it was in our blood, so perhaps that doesn’t matter. Here on Silvanus I find more than half of what I need. That which I cannot, which perhaps grows in cooler or warmer climes, I find alternatives for, following my father’s advice and looking up pictures, then letting myself be drawn to a flower or a rock. I project up the image again, weightless pages before me with the writing of generations. I use my finger as a stylus. SHE OR HE OR THEY OR SIE OR CO OR E OR OR OR OR OR OR OR… I finish my work. I close the book. And from the distance, from beyond the black of space and its spinning stations, through traffic routes and past more planets than I could ever remember, from Volturna’s deep waters and floating towns, my sister signals me home. END     “Songs of Love and Defense in the Dawn" is copyright Hester J. Rook 2017. “A Spell to Signal Home” is copyright A.C. Buchanan 2017. This recording is a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license which means you can share it with anyone you’d like, but please don’t change or sell it. Our theme is “Aurora Borealis” by Bird Creek, available through the Google Audio Library. You can support GlitterShip by checking out our Patreon at patreon.com/keffy, subscribing to our feed, or by leaving reviews on iTunes. Thanks for listening, and I’ll be back soon with a reprint of "The Passing Bell" by Amy Griswold.

Ericka Blount Danois is an award winning author who has worked as a staff writer, editor, freelancer, and stringer for a number of publications including: Spin, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, ESPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Vibe, and The Source. She also has written a non-fiction book on the history of Soul Train, entitled, Love, Peace and Soooooouul! The BRNDD hosts caught up with her to talk about her career over the past couple decades; from interviewing Pac to meeting former Cuban President Fidel Castro.  Highlights:  15:01: Behind the Scenes of All Eyez On Me and Rooming with Benny Boom 23:40 Journalistic fairness and the story behind Little Melvin 29:45 Working for Vibe and Covering Nas before illMatic 38:32 Writing for the Legendary Source 41:38 The world of Freelance Writers 44:29 Writing Love, Peace and Soooooouul! 51:25 the Transition from Traditional Print to Digital and Blogs 54:26 Black Comedy 1:02:15 Unsung Stories and Charlie Murphy 1:08:28 Sports Figures and 30 for 30 1:11:52 Interviewing Fidel Castro 1:17:18 Fake News 1:23:00 Where Were you When Prince Died? 1:30:41 The Impact of Love Peace & Soul 1:32:28 Advice to Upcoming Writers; is it still fun for you?  Ericka's  Website: http://www.erickablount.com/ Love, Peace & Soul Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/lovepeaceandsoul/ Purchase Love, Peace & Soul:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-peace-and-soul-ericka-blount-danois/1114718203?ean=9781480341012  BRNDD Podcast: Website: debonairmaterial.com E-Mail: brndd@debonairmaterial.com Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/brnddpodcast Twitter: @DebMaterial Instagram: @debonairmaterial facebook: www.facebook.com/DebonairMaterial/ https://www.facebook.com/brnddpodcast/ RSVP for BRNDD Live: July 13th:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1293084974112947/ Ronald James Twitter and Instagram: @whoisronjames  

Ryan and Matt "Extra Credit" Amberg are back and breaking bad about Christmas,  Carrie Fisher, and Rogue One before it's on to time spent with the Friday the 13th The Game beta, the Gwent beta, The Witcher 3, Codenames, Star Wars Battlefront's Scarif DLC, and Super Mario Run. Then some Zelda, some Double Dragon 4, some Frog Fractions 2, and some Unsung Story make the news before things get real unintelligible!

Happy New February! After many scheduling conflicts, Alvin and Robert reconvene to compare their travel logs of Xenoblade Chronicles X's lush Planet Mira and have a wider discussion of meaningful quest design in recent open world games, including Fallout 4, Just Cause 3 and Batman Arkham Knight, and Alvin observes examples of East-West pollination evident in the design of Xenoblade and XCOM 2. In recent games, Alvin brings his wit & wisdom to The Witness and gets returns to Homeworld in Deserts of Kharak, while Robert broods over tragedy simulator Pathologic HD, and neither of us have a great time with Final Fantasy Explorers. We also fawn over Meitantei Pikachu, lament the fact that Unsung Story will remain unsung, and we tell you why you should put aside your social anxiety to break out your DanganRonpa and/or Watch_Dogs-branded wallet to back Knights & Bikes on Kickstarter. And last, but certainly not least, what games podcast would be complete without a discussion of the recent controversy surrounding Fire Emblem Fates? All this and more, in MisanthroPlay Episode #6!

This week; eSports, Call of Duty, TBS, Unsung Story, Pharmacy Asshat and more... Get the full shownotes at http://trainednoobs.com/13

Six hours have passed since the occupation of 8-4 Towers by one Alexander O. Smith, founder and leader of the Kajiya sect. Tune in for talk of his various localization feats (Vagrant Story! Tactics Ogre! Final Fantasy XII!) as well as his current Kickstarter project Unsung Story, along with thoughts on Don't Starve, Kirby: Triple D, DayZ, Zubaz, and plenty more.