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As the wait for the next Best Picture to reveal itself continues, we discuss Xan's film pick , "Sleeping Beauty"!!!Twitter : @oscarsgold @hidarknesspod @beatlesblonde @udanax19Facebook : facebook.com/goldstandardoscarsPatreon : patreon.com/goldstandardoscars
"Avto FM"-in qonaqları Müştəri təcrübələri üzrə baş mütəxəssis Səadət Abbasova və Məhsul marketinqi üzrə baş mütəxəssis Xanım Rüstəmli idi.Onlarla birlikdə oyun oynayaraq necə hədiyyə qazanmağın mümkün olduğunu, ABB Mobile tətbiqi daxilində təqdim olunan “abb play” oyunu, “abb play”i daha maraqlı etmək üçün planlaşdırılan yeniliklər və digər mövzular haqqında danışdıq.Eyni zamanda qalib gəlmək istəyənlər üçün balaca bir “ipucu” da verdik.
En este nuevo episodio de Rutas sin GPS nos adentramos en la comarca del Eume con Xan Ramírez, quien nos descubre Pena Lobeira, un mirador poco conocido en el municipio de Capela. Desde aquí, sobre los 500 metros de altura, se pueden contemplar paisajes impresionantes y un conjunto de enormes rocas graníticas que parecen pistas de aterrizaje. Xan nos cuenta la historia del lugar, su relación con la Bajada del Belelle y cómo recorrer la zona respetando la naturaleza y el ganado local. También nos habla del nacimiento del río Belelle, caseríos históricos y la mezcla de paisaje agrícola con turismo rural. Una ruta accesible, con dificultad baja y llena de historia y geología. ¡No te pierdas este episodio si quieres descubrir un tesoro escondido en las Fragas del Eume!
In this episode, Xan dives into the hot new Shonen Jump sensation, Ichi the Witch, by Osamu Nishi with art by Shiro Usazaki. This series follows Ichi, a feral boy who becomes the world's first male witch. Does this hit have the magic to become one of the "New Big Three"? We analyze its unique premise, stunning artwork, and shonen potential. In This Episode: A light spoiler look at the first chapter's high-concept, "first male witch" hook. Discussing the beautiful, dynamic artwork and Shiro Usazaki's artistic return. The latest manga releases and a preview of our upcoming schedule for Ichibancon next week! Support the Show: Help us power up our reviews: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "If you could master one type of 'witch' magic from any series, what would it be and why?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #IchiTheWitch #OsamuNishi #ShiroUsazaki #ShonenJump #Shonen #ActionManga #VizManga Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
De mirador en mirador, la comarca se deja ver. De mirador en mirador, cada semana aquí aparece Xan Ramírez en "Rutas sin GPS", en este espacio que cierra nuestro programa de los viernes y nuestra emisión a lo largo de la semana aquí en Voces de Ferrol. Xan, ¿cómo estás? ¿Qué tal? Buenos días. Xan Ramírez: Estoy... estoy estupendamente como todos los viernes a esta hora, esperando ya que prácticamente es la hora de comer, incluso a lo mejor algún... no sé si tocará un vermutcito previamente. Ya se acabó la jornada laboral, viene un fin de semana regular, regularce te, pero yo creo que mañana va a abrir una ventanita ahí que me va a permitir disfrutar con las... con las raquetitas en los Ancares. Entonces, ¿que cómo estoy? Estupendamente Isidoro. Isidoro Valerio: Bueno, vuelves a Ancares por tanto. Oye, el fin de semana pasado lo clavamos, ni que fuéramos los hombres del tiempo, porque hubo nieve en O Caxado, que era lo que... lo que decíamos. Xan Ramírez: Hombre, hombre, el departamento climatológico de Radio Voz en esta sección... raro que... que a 24 horas por lo menos no lo clavemos. Y decíamos de que la gente no... no fuera al Caxado este fin de semana porque casi seguro que venía nieve y así fue. Ya viste las fotos que había en la prensa escrita, que efectivamente pues estaban los coches por allí con la nieve. No tenemos esos problemas pero, a ver, dijimos son 750 metros de altura y quieras que no, pues esa Sierra de la Faladoira pues siempre es un pequeño problemilla de humedades y demás. Así que lo clavamos. Oye, y te voy a decir una cosa, llegué el lunes al trabajo y un compañero de As Pontes me dijo: "Oye, no sabía yo que aquello era un radar, yo pensé que era un repetidor normal y corriente". Y dije yo: "Vaya hombre, estamos informando a la gente, qué maravilla". [01:21 - 01:46] Memes and Weather Isidoro Valerio: Bueno, está muy bien. Oye, por cierto, que han surgido con esto de que no para de llover, cientos de memes. A mí el que más me ha gustado es: "Quien haya molestado a la Virgen de la Cueva que le pida perdón o algo". Xan Ramírez: (Risas) Hay uno de... hay uno de Davila, este... este que es increíble también, que nuestro Señor se aparece a Noé y le dice que le va... van a llover 40 días y 40 noches, que se haga un acta... y la vieja que está al lado con el paraguas dice: "40 días y 40 noches, ¿dónde hay que firmar?". Isidoro Valerio: Claro, claro. Bueno, en fin, dicen que mañana no llueve, así que a ver si puedes disfrutar tú con las raquetas en Ancares. [01:46 - 04:39] The Route: Mirador da Miranda (Cariño) Isidoro Valerio: Pero hoy nos vas a llevar a la zona de Cariño, a un mirador que tenemos justo encima de Cariño. Xan Ramírez: Pero justo, justo, justo. Porque si... si casi casi si saltas, estás viendo que está Cariño allí casi... lo que nosotros decimos en cartografía "las curvas de nivel", eso que representa la gráfica del terreno, de la pendiente del terreno, es una pendiente tremenda porque está pues en la práctica casi... casi encima. Con lo cual, este tipo de miradores (es lo que pasa, a ver, tenemos la pendiente de la Garita de Herbeira que también yo siempre lo pongo como ejemplo de lo que es la altura sobre el nivel del mar), este tipo de miradores que están casi cortados, pues te da una sensación de muchísimo más de lo que realmente... de lo que realmente son, ¿no? Porque estamos hablando de que bueno, tampoco son tantos metros de altura y sin embargo son sobre 400, 400 y pico metros de altura, que es mucho para estar justo ahí al lado del mar. Y el Mirador de Miranda desde luego es una... una virguería. Isidoro Valerio: Mirador de Miranda, que yo no lo conocía y cuando me has enseñado las fotografías del lugar que hoy nos vas a recomendar, me he quedado impresionado porque la vista es muy, muy, muy bonita. Pero muy bonita, de... probablemente de lo más bonito en miradores que tenemos aquí en la zona, ¿no? Porque estamos... bueno pues en una costa que... que tiene así muchas entradas, que es así como... con muchos vericuetos y la verdad que además por la vegetación que tiene toda esa zona es realmente bonito. Xan Ramírez: Sí, y además es de los sitios que además encima también es accesible en coche, que es otro de las cosas que decimos, ¿no? Que bueno, que a veces hacemos caminar un poquito al oyente de Radio Voz, pero que en estos casos pues te puedes acercar. También es cierto que ojo, que son las carreteras, estas pistas asfaltadas de la Sierra de la Capelada, estamos en esta zona de Geoparque, en ese Cabo Ortegal y quieras que no... pues siempre. Pero que vaya, que no necesitamos grandes esfuerzos para acercarnos hasta ahí. Y sin embargo, pues son esos sitios que son pues prácticamente desconocidos y que sin embargo están... Yo siempre dije que había que hacer una gran guía de miradores de toda nuestra comarca, ¿no? En su día se hizo... se hizo una pequeña donde había participado yo, pero realmente nos falta poner en valor esos sitios, ese landscape que dicen esos los ingleses, ¿no? Ese horizonte, esa vista brutal, porque es lo que podemos vender. O sea, si no vamos a vender nuestro paisaje, no vamos a vender nuestra lluvia. En Santiago sí que la lluvia es arte, pero nosotros aquí la verdad es que no. Xan Ramírez: Y es que se llega fácilmente porque todo el mundo yo creo que conoce esa carretera que va desde Cedeira a Cariño, de San Andrés, que pasa por encima de San Andrés y que baja hacia Cariño por esa canteira enorme que hay allí. Y que me parece que debe ser como la provincial 2205, una cosa así. Pero bueno, y que además si vamos desde Cedeira pues no hay pérdida porque la sigues toda. Pero si vamos desde Cariño, pues o sea... en este caso sería desde Mera hacia Cariño, en ese lugar tan conocido como es "A Pedra" (ya sabe todo el mundo que para ir a Cariño hay que pasar por A Pedra, dice el refrán), pues ese lugar de A Pedra tiras para arriba por esa carretera que... que es absolutamente la misma. Y allí a medio camino, en el kilómetro más o menos 9, tenemos allí dos cruces, uno para la derecha y el otro para la izquierda. Y si venimos... no sé, nosotros tendremos que coger hacia el sur. Estamos metidos en la Sierra de la Capelada, acabamos de pasar por esa cantera de dunita y estamos aquí inmensos en estos... en estas vaguadas tremendas que hay, estos regos en esta zona. Y que bueno, coges esa pista asfaltada que te va llevando por cierto entre mamoas, es decir, entre mamoas e incluso hay algún castro en la zona. O sea que es una zona que siempre estuvo habitada por el ser humano y nos vamos acercando, como punto de referencia, ese punto alto que además tiene un montón de antenas encima, tiene un montón de repetidores, con lo cual pues tampoco tenemos mucha pérdida. Y además encima al llegar allí lo que tenemos pues es un área recreativa de estas tipo merendero, con mesas y demás. Con lo cual pues... a ver, estos días con lo que llueve a lo mejor no es la mejor recomendación, pero la gente que se lo apunte en el podcast y desde luego cuando empiece a despejar un poquito el tiempo es lo que dices tú: la vista es interminable. Isidoro Valerio: Interminable, porque es una vista 360 grados, se ve... bueno, yo la verdad que estoy alucinando porque no sabía de este lugar, pero se ve desde a Serra da Capelada, el puerto de Cariño que queda allí justo como... como si tiras una piedra y cae yo creo que en el puerto, ¿no? Estaca de Bares, el puerto de Espasante, incluso Ortigueira, ¿no? Que lo vemos... lo vemos todo pero con una claridad... Hay que decir que las fotos que luego compartiremos supongo que están hechas en verano, ¿no? Xan Ramírez: Sí, en estos días creo que no hay esa... Porque además, sabes que en la Capelada se mete ese... ese neboeiro, lo que le llaman "o vento da Capelada" y realmente pues se pone aquello horrible y no hay quien aguante porque además encima es un sitio tremendamente frío; al estar tan pegado al mar la humedad te corroe. Y pero sí, o sea, las fotos que adjuntamos ahí a las redes sociales de Radio Voz pues están hechas... bueno, cualquier día de primavera o cualquier día de otoño también pueden ser, evidentemente. Pero la vista es la que dices tú, ¿eh? O sea, estamos colgados justo encima de Cariño, justo encima de ese... de esa zona de A Pedra. Vamos a tener, si miramos hacia Cariño, hacia nuestra espalda vamos a tener todos esos parques eólicos de la Sierra de la Capelada con la Garita de Herbeira justo detrás de nosotros. Hacia el sur vamos a tener toda esa zona de Campo do Hospital que va hacia allá y la zona... hay otra zona también de mirador, bueno no es tanto mirador pero también es una altura, que son "Os Penedos", que también se ve... se los vamos a ver, es uno... unos penedos grandes que hay en esa zona de la Capelada que están más hacia la zona de San Adrián de Veiga, más hacia la zona de Mera. Y luego hacia el norte desde luego tenemos todo el Cabo Ortegal, o sea es una auténtica barbaridad. Que por cierto, si en el cruce ese, en vez de desviarnos para aquí, nos hubiésemos desviado hacia el otro lado, hay una pista de tierra que se mete hacia la costa, es un poquito más ya... más complicada, esa sí que habría que caminar, se puede dejar... se puede ir por tierra hasta un curro que hay allí, una especie de curro para meter el ganado, pero que sales justo al lado contrario de este mirador de Miranda que estamos contando. Estaríamos en los cantiles de Olimo, de toda esta zona del Cabo Ortegal que es Olimo, y que bueno, alucinas también, ¿eh? De pasar alguna foto porque tanto para la derecha como para la izquierda tenemos todos esos farallones del Cabo Ortegal que... que bueno, estás ahí también estás allí cortado a pico sobre el mar en esta parte del Atlántico y alucinas por colores. O sea que es que podemos hacer un día que haga bueno, podemos hacer un entero incluso para pasear con críos y demás que sin problema ninguno quedando alucinaditos con lo que tenemos por allí. [04:39 - 05:05] Closing and Wrap-up Isidoro Valerio: Bueno, terminamos... terminamos ya. He estado, mientras contabas todo esto, leyendo un poquito comentarios que hay en redes acerca del Mirador da Miranda y algo en lo que coincide mucha gente es que la carretera es muy estrecha y está llena de baches. Yo no sé si tú has ido recientemente y esto es así, pero bueno, lo advertimos por si acaso. No creo que sea esta la mejor época para subir allí, ¿eh? Xan Ramírez: Eh... no, evidentemente ya lo decíamos. A ver, carreteras estrechas, ya dijimos que era una pista asfaltada como todas estas que hay por la zona de la Capelada. Todas las carreteras... A ver, también es cierto que la gente que sube a estos sitios es gente tirando un poquito a dominguera... lo de las carreteras estrechas a los que tenemos una conducción en ese tipo de sitios no se nos hace un poquito igual. Y que esté lleno de baches pues ya sabes que depende de cuándo sean las elecciones. Isidoro Valerio: Bueno, pues listo. Ahí queda la recomendación. El que la quiera tomar, que la tome y el que no, pues que se lo pierde. Mirador da Miranda en Cariño, nuestra recomendación de esta semana. Querido Xan Ramírez, que tengas un buen fin de semana en raquetas en Ancares, que el tiempo te acompañe y nos vemos el próximo viernes aquí en Radio Voz. Un abrazo. Xan Ramírez: Un abrazo. Estaremos en otro mirador.
In this episode, Xan dissects the romantic comedy Hope You're Happy, Lemon by Mizuki Kishikawa. This manga takes the classic "body swap" premise and injects it with the high-stakes drama of an ex-girlfriend wild card. Does this story honor the beloved trope with fresh emotion, or does it rely on predictable beats? We analyze its charms and challenges. In This Episode: A light spoiler discussion of the first chapter's compelling setup. Analyzing the manga's execution of the body-swap trope and its tangled love triangle. Breaking down the character dynamics and emotional stakes. Highlighting the latest and greatest manga releases. Support the Show: Help us keep the reviews balanced: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "If you had to swap bodies with someone from your past for a day, who would it be and why?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #HopeYoureHappyLemon #MizukiKishikawa #RomCom #BodySwap #Shojo #VizManga Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines:Attempted bombing at Boorloo Day of Mourning rally Gaza and West Bank updatesUN Human Rights Council review urges extensive action by Albanese government Telstra service issues affecting regular and emergency calls by older iPhones We played a speech by veteran Gumbaynggirr activist and historian Professor Gary Foley at this Monday's Invasion Day rally in Naarm. Speaking on the steps of Parliament House on Spring Street, Professor Foley reminded the crowd about the artificial history of so-called Australia's national day, and connected present-day Invasion Day rallies to a legacy that began with the 1938 Day of Mourning. Check out Professor Foley's website and incredible archive (access to physical materials by appointment) at Victoria University to learn more about the history of the Aboriginal land rights movement.// We listened to a speech and segments of commentary by Torres Strait Islander woman Julie Saylor Briggs delivered at the Djilang Invasion Day rally on Monday. During the rally, Julie read out the text of the original motion moved by Aboriginal community members at the 1938 Day of Mourning gathering, and spoke about the history of colonial violence on Wadawarrung Country, the colonial child removal industry, and the relationships between genocide, dispossession and ecocide. Our thanks to Amy from 3CR's Kill Your Lawn and Kick Your Fence for sharing this recording.// Leila interviewed Dr James Martin, Tobacco Harm Reduction Advisor for Harm Reduction Australia and Director of the Bachelor of Criminology at Deakin University, about the social impacts of Australia's law enforcement approach to substance use with a focus on Victoria's tobacco licensing laws. From February first, the Victorian Labor government will be enforcing new tobacco licensing laws, which restrict the sale of tobacco products to licensed retailers only. Individuals or businesses who sell tobacco without a licence may face fines of over $100,000, and fines for the sale of illicit tobacco products are even higher. You can listen back to Dr Martin's interview with Inez on the 20th of March 2025 about vaping regulations here.// Lucinda Thorpe, Privacy Campaigner at Digital Rights Watch joined us to discuss the use of AI by police in Australia for report writing, suspect identification, and to guide investigations. Victoria Police use generative AI in 20% of crime reports. When a contact centre employee files an online crime report, they use generative AI on the form to generate a summary for police officers. However, these systems are trained on biased data and can reproduce racism, sexism, and other inequalities. If you have been affected by police use of generative AI, contact Digital Rights Watch at info@digitalrightswatch.org.au// We replay a conversation between Xan and Koshin of Uprise Radio from early this month about Israel's controversial recognition of Somaliland's independence last year. The recognition of Somaliland by Israel, a state whose own recognition is contested, occurred late last year, and is a significant geopolitical development in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea region. Tune in to Uprise Radio every Wednesday at 5:30PM on 3CR.// Invasion Day Donation Initiatives:Dhadjowa FoundationGrandmothers Against Removals Victoria
Hoy Xan Ramírez nos propone un plan para el fin de semana desde el Monte Caxado, uno de los puntos más altos de la comarca, a 750 metros de altitud. Este enclave ofrece panorámicas de 360 grados de As Pontes, la Serra da Faladoira, la Serra da Coriscada y la costa norte de Galicia. El radar de Enaire, visible desde lejos, marca el punto culminante y permite orientarse fácilmente. Ramírez recordó que la carretera AC-101, que une As Pontes y Ortigueira, puede requerir precaución ante nieve, cadenas o neumáticos de invierno, ya que la cota de nieve este fin de semana se sitúa entre 400 y 500 metros. La ruta combina historia y naturaleza: el trayecto forma parte del antiguo “Camiño dos Arrieiros”, jalonado de cruceiros, mámoas y vestigios megalíticos. Además, la zona es ideal para senderismo y disfrutar del paisaje sin necesidad de GPS. Xan recomienda prudencia, especialmente en tramos con ganado suelto y baches, pero asegura que el acceso en coche hasta el radar aeronáutico es posible, ofreciendo a los visitantes un lugar perfecto para contemplar la comarca y la nieve sin complicaciones.
In this episode, Xan and Gretta delve into the charming yet complicated world of Betrothed to My Sister's Ex by Tobirano, with art by Chikage Nakakura. This manga adaptation of a hit light novel presents a classic Cinderella romance with a mistaken-identity twist. Does this tale of an overlooked baron's daughter and a dashing count earn its "happily ever after," or does the heroine's profound self-sabotage undermine the fantasy? We debate the highs and lows. In This Episode: Analyzing the classic "Cinderella with a twist" premise and its execution. A critical discussion about Marie's extreme self-deprecation and its impact on the romance. Sharing what we enjoyed about this popular shojo adaptation. The latest must-read manga releases and news. Support the Show: Help us keep the reviews coming: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a classic romance trope (like mistaken identity or Cinderella) that you never get tired of, and what makes it work for you?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #BetrothedToMySistersEx #Tobirano #ChikageNakakura #Shojo #RomanceManga #Cinderella #LightNovelAdaptation Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, Damien is joined by Emmy-nominated filmmaker and showrunner Xan Aranda for a wide-ranging discussion on taste, creative authority, and decision-making in filmmaking. Drawing on her experience across film and television — including work with Netflix, HBO, and Amazon — Xan talks about why strong opinions are not optional in creative work, particularly in editing and directing. She reflects on collaboration, trust, and the dangers of consensus-driven filmmaking, where too many voices dilute responsibility.The conversation touches on her work on Blue Jay, produced with Mark Duplass, her role as Co-Executive Producer on Netflix's My Love, and her experience navigating creative leadership across independent film and global television productions.This episode is a grounded, unsentimental look at how films and series are actually made — through taste, confidence, and the willingness to choose.https://www.xanaranda.comUse Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:25% Off More Labshttps://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off Strong Coffee Companyhttps://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY15% Off Tusslehttps://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off Eric Javitshttps://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY25% Off Quantum Energy Squarehttps://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off Long Tablehttps://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off HyperNaturalhttps://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off wearplaygroundhttps://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY15% Off STAND+https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY10% Off Molly Bzhttps://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY41% Off Cozy Earthhttps://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABYX (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby. https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en
Hoy en “Rutas sin GPS”, Xan Ramírez nos llevó a descubrir el Mirador de Orillamar, en la ribera de Maniños, Fene. A cero metros sobre el nivel del mar, el mirador ofrece vistas únicas de la Ría de Ferrol, astilleros y playas cercanas. Entre patrimonio histórico e industrial, se aprecian casas indianas, pazos y restos del Castro das Escadas, con historia que se remonta a 2.000 años. Además, la zona permite paseos tranquilos y es accesible en coche, ideal para disfrutar de la naturaleza y la historia local. Xan destaca la importancia de recuperar espacios públicos junto a Navantia, mejorando el disfrute de la ciudadanía.
In this episode, Xan delves into the dark, hyper-detailed cyberpunk world of Mujina into the Deep by Inio Asano (creator of Goodnight Punpun). This highly anticipated manga presents a brutal, near-future dystopia where human rights are a commodity. Does this stark departure from Asano's usual work justify its intense hype? We dissect its visceral art, grim narrative, and polarizing characters. In This Episode: Analyzing the shift from Asano's introspective slice-of-life to this ultraviolent, action-sci-fi world. A critical look at the manga's stunningly detailed artwork and its bleak, oppressive themes. The latest manga news and announcements for upcoming events. Support the Show: Help us navigate challenging works: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's the most drastic genre shift you've seen from a creator you admire, and did it work for you?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #MujinaIntoTheDeep #InioAsano #Cyberpunk #SciFiManga #VizSignature #ActionManga #Dystopian Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Defensores del medioambiente y de las comunidades locales denuncian la irresponsabilidad de la empresa franco británica Perenco que extrajo petróleo en la selva de Petén, en plena reserva protegida. La actividad petrolera, que concluyó en agosto de 2025, dejó pasivos ambientales y costos millonarios al estado guatemalteco. Esta es la historia del controvertido campo Xan, una instalación petrolera en plena Reserva de la Biósfera Maya del Petén, el principal espacio protegido de Guatemala en el norte del país. Durante cuatro décadas, las empresas Basic Ressources y Perenco sacaron miles de barriles de petróleo del subsuelo hasta que el gobierno guatemalteco de Bernardo Arévalo diera por terminada la licencia de funcionamiento el 12 de agosto de 2025. Los motivos para cerrar esta explotación, que representaba el 90% de la producción nacional, eran múltiples. Primero, una producción que caía en picada. De más de 9 millones de barriles producidos en 1998 al pico de la producción, el campo Xan solo produjo 1,8 millón de barriles en 2024. La explotación petrolera en la reserva de la Laguna del Tigre no solo ya no era rentable, sino que le generaba más costos que ganancias al Estado guatemalteco. El estado guatemalteco, en desventaja económica El contrato petrolero contenía una cláusula que preveía el reembolso de “costos recuperables”, es decir reembolsos que el Ministerio de Energía y Minas de Guatemala pagaba a la multinacional petrolera Perenco para compensar los gastos de funcionamiento del campo petrolero. Un mecanismo en el que, a fin de cuentas, Guatemala acabó gastando más de lo que recibía por la explotación petrolera. En un informe de 2023, el Observatorio de Industrias Extractivas de Guatemala (OEI), con el apoyo de la ONG Oxfam, indica que " al comparar los datos de ingresos y costos recuperables, durante los años 2009 al 2018, el Estado de Guatemala recibió producto de la extracción de hidrocarburos alrededor de 732 millones de dólares americanos y devolvió a empresas petroleras USD 883 millones; es decir, por cada dólar ganado tuvo que invertir 1.21 dólares”. Y en su informe más reciente, el OIE observa que “la disminución de la producción de barriles no fue acompañada por una reducción de los costos recuperables. Los datos disponibles indican que entre 2010 y 2021 Guatemala perdió el equivalente a 77.731.274 de dólares americanos para mantener las operaciones petroleras del contrato 2-85”. Los pasivos ambientales A los costos económicos se suma la devastación ambiental, razón por la cual el gobierno del presidente Arévalo también decidió cerrar el campo petrolero. “Los ministerios de Guatemala han calculado entre 6000 y 10.000 hectáreas de bosque perdido” en el conjunto del biotopo de la Laguna del Tigre en el que está ubicado el polígono del contrato petrolero, recuerda Gabriela Muñoz, investigadora del Observatorio de Industrias Extractivas. La deforestación se debe no solo a la apertura de brechas en el bosque para las instalaciones petroleras, sino también a la construcción de caminos “que poco a poco han ido colonizando el parque. Este impacto indirecto de deforestación se lo atribuimos a las empresas petroleras que iniciaron las actividades humanas en la región”, acusa Gabriela Muñoz. La actividad petrolera inició antes de la creación de la reserva de la Laguna del Tigre. Pero entre los años 2001 y 2010, los gobiernos de la época decidieron prorrogar el contrato petrolero. “A través de alianzas con actores antidemocráticos asociados al crimen organizado, ha logrado moldear la regulación ambiental y de industria petrolera para que se ajuste a sus necesidades. Fue a través de este tipo de desregulación que lograron posicionarse en el área protegida”, lamenta la investigadora. Comunidades locales denuncian contaminación Un activista defensor de los derechos de las comunidades de la región de la Laguna del Tigre acusa también a la empresa Perenco de irresponsabilidad ambiental. “No se contó con un cierre seguro que garantizara la no contaminación en el área. Es notorio el mal olor a azufre en la zona. Y los tanques de aguas ácidas que utilizaba la empresa para inyectar a los pozos se quedaron en estanques en mal estado. Con las lluvias se desbordan y van a dar a las lagunas”, alerta el activista que pidió mantenerse en el anonimato. El impacto para la salud de las poblaciones locales que vive alrededor del campo Xan es otra incógnita. “No tenemos pruebas porque no hemos encontrado un profesional de salud independiente para hacer un estudio, pero hemos visto muchas alergias en la piel y que son más frecuentes en esta región”, dijo el activista a RFI. La respuesta de Perenco Contactada por Radio Francia Internacional, la transnacional Perenco asegura que "al finalizar las licencias de Perenco Guatemala el 12 de agosto de 2025, la Secretaría de Energía y Minas de Guatemala confirmó haber recibido todos los activos en óptimas condiciones operativas, debidamente asegurados, en condiciones ambientales adecuadas y sin afectación ambiental, tras tres auditorías in situ". En un correo electrónico dirigido a RFI el 9 de diciembre, un portavoz de Perenco niega cualquier responsabilidad en la deforestación en el área. La empresa afirma que le correspondía al estado velar por el uso de suelo y afirma que la deforestación ligada a la expansión de la ganadería se debe a las comunidades locales. Un representante comunitario consultado por RFI acusa en cambio a empresas madereras de haber saqueado el bosque, con complicidad de responsables políticos de la época. La transnacional, con sede en París y Londres, asegura también que contribuyó al desarrollo social y económico del país. Pero para el representante de una de las comunidades locales consultado por RFI, los años de explotación petrolera fueron sinónimos de represión y pobreza. ¿Quién pagará por la restauración ambiental de la zona? ¿Cómo limpiar las aguas y los suelos contaminados? ¿Cómo asegurarse del buen cierre de los 59 pozos de las instalaciones del campo Xan? El gobierno de Guatemala estimó en 50 millones de dólares el costo inmediato para la clausura del campo Xan. Un gasto que será pagado por los contribuyentes guatemaltecos. Entrevistas: -Gabriela Muñoz, investigadora del Observatorio de Industrias Extractivas de Guatemala. -Un defensor de los derechos y comunitario de la región.
In this episode, Xan travels to that galaxy far, far away to review Star Wars: Path of the Lightsaber by Kenny Ruiz. This manga follows a young salvager who discovers a lost lightsaber in the tumultuous era right after The Last Jedi. Is this a worthy addition to Star Wars canon, or does it fumble its potential? We ignite our sabers and dive into this new corner of the saga. In This Episode: A breakdown of the story's unique setting in the post-Last Jedi timeline and its scrappy, ground-level protagonist. Analyzing how it expands—or doesn't expand—the lore of the Jedi and the Force. The latest manga news and releases. A quick apology for this episode's lateness! Thanks for your patience. Support the Show: Help us keep the hyperdrive running: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "If you found a lost lightsaber in the Star Wars universe, what would you do with it?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #StarWars #PathOfTheLightsaber #KennyRuiz #StarWarsManga #VizManga #SciFiManga #TheLastJedi Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Merry Christmas Eve! In this special holiday episode, Xan unwraps Kamudo, the new fantasy epic from the legendary duo Akira Himekawa (creators of The Legend of Zelda manga). Set in a divine world before mankind, this series follows Kamuna, a boy born with a dragon's hand. Is this widely anticipated manga worth the hype? We dive into its stunning art and mythic world to find out! In This Festive Episode: A review of the lush art and ambitious world-building in Kamudo. Update #4 in the "45 Books for 45 Years" project (Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin). The latest manga releases for your holiday wishlist. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas! Support the Show: A great gift to the podcast: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "If you could receive one fantastical ability (like a dragon's hand) as a 'gift,' what would you choose and why?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #Kamudo #AkiraHimekawa #FantasyManga #VizManga #LegendOfZelda #HolidayEpisode #MerryChristmas Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
GET A SYDNEY PLUSH (LAST CHANCE!!!)Audio gathered from various sources at SITE2 on day 1333.MAJOR INSIGHT INTO:Dynamics between ENTITY7 and ENTITY6ENTITY7's propensity for wildlifeMINOR INSIGHT INTO:Complicated affairs between ENTITY7 and his social circleENTITY6's fear of plastic insectsImportant notes:I'm too tired to explain how I was able to rig the outside megaphone and microphones right now, but it's a similar method to the intake for ETITY2's radio.I imagine ENTITY3 will disconnect it come next week.Keep AGENT23 away from this one. It's so soap-opera-like that I imagine she'd have a tonally inappropriate field day, and I'm on my fifth night without sleep.-Disclaimer: Camp Here & There is intended for audiences aged 16+. The story deals with mature themes and graphic horror which may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.Performances by Emily Safko, Ty Coker, and Voicebox Vance.With original music composed by Will Wood and produced by Jonathon Maisto.Additional music composed by Kyle Gabler and Another You.Dialogue editing by Emily Safko. Audio engineering by The Leo!Mumbling Crowd sourced from imagefilm.berlinMidwest Clean Guitar sourced from YellowTreeCrashbox effect sourced from MshanenList of people in the crowd: Lacey, Sharpie, Splemonocracy, Riley, Hunter, MK, Shiloh, The Leo, Xan, Cupid, Tundra, Ragtime, Addie, Reese, Rhys, Ren, and CaliWEBSITEPATREONDISCORD
In this episode, Xan travels back to the dawn of modern manga with Lost World by the legendary Osamu Tezuka. As the inaugural work in Tezuka's classic sci-fi trilogy, does this proto-manga about a rogue dinosaur planet stand as a visionary classic, or is it a fascinating but dated relic? We unearth its historical importance and see how it holds up today. In This Episode: Analyzing the historic, foundational style of this early sci-fi adventure. A look at the "Tezuka Star System" and how it shapes the classic characters. Update #3 in the "45 Books for 45 Years" project (Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros). The latest manga news and releases. Support the Show: Help us preserve manga history: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's the oldest or most historically significant comic or manga you've ever read, and what did you think of it?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #LostWorld #OsamuTezuka #Tezuka #ClassicManga #SciFiManga #DarkHorseManga #HistoryOfManga Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Allen, Joel, and Yolanda recap the UK Offshore Wind Supply Chain Spotlight in Edinburgh and Great British Energy’s £1 billion manufacturing push. Plus Ørsted’s European onshore wind sale, Xocean’s unmanned survey tech at Moray West, and why small suppliers must scale or risk being left behind. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes’ YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! You are listening to the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast brought to you by build turbines.com. Learn, train, and be a part of the Clean Energy Revolution. Visit build turbines.com today. Now, here’s your host. Allen Hall, Joel Saxon, Phil Totaro, and Rosemary Barnes. Allen Hall: Welcome to the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. I’m your host Allen Hall in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Queen City. I have Yolanda Pone and Joel Saxon back in Austin, Texas. Rosemary Barnes is taking the week off. We just got back from Scotland, Joel and I did, and we had a really great experience at the UK offshore wind supply chain spotlight 2025 in Edinburgh, where we met with a number of wind energy suppliers and technology advocates. A Joel Saxum: lot going on there, Joel. Yeah. One of the really cool things I enjoyed about that, um, get together the innovation spotlight. [00:01:00] One, the way they had it set up kind of an exhibition space, but not really an exhibition. It was like just a place to gather and everybody kind of had their own stand, but it was more how can we facilitate this conversation And then in the same spot, kind of like we’ve seen in other conferences, the speaking slots. So you could be kind of one in ear, oh one in year here, listening to all the great things that they’re doing. But having those technical conversations. And I guess the second thing I wanted to share was. Thank you to all of the, the UK companies, right? So the, all the Scottish people that we met over there, all the people from, from England and, and around, uh, the whole island there, everybody was very, very open and wanting to have conversations and wanting to share their technology, their solutions. Um, how they’re helping the industry or, or what other people can do to collaborate with them to help the industry. That’s what a lot of this, uh, spotlight was about. So from our, our seat, um, that’s something that we, you know, of course with the podcast, we’re always trying to share collaboration, kind of breed success for everybody. So kudos to the ORE [00:02:00] Catapult for putting that event on. Allen Hall: Yeah, a big thing. So, or Catapult, it was a great event. I’ve met a lot of people that I’ve only known through LinkedIn, so it’s good to see them face to face and. Something that we’ve had on the podcast. So we did a number of podcast recordings while we’re there. They’ll be coming out over the next several weeks, so stay tuned for it. You know, one of the main topics at that event in Edinburg was the great British Energy announcement. This is huge, Joel. Uh, so, you know, you know, the United Kingdoms has been really pushing offshore wind ambitions for years, but they don’t have a lot of manufacturing in country. Well, that’s all about the change. Uh, great British energy. Which is a government backed energy company just unveiled a 1 billion pound program called Energy Engineered in the uk, and their mission is pretty straightforward. Build it in the uk, employ people in the uk, and keep the economic benefits of the clean energy transition on British soil. 300 million pounds of that is really [00:03:00] going to be focused on supply chain immediately. That can happen in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. It’s a big promotion for the UK on the wind energy side. I see good things coming out of this. What were your thoughts when you heard that Joel Saxum: announcement, Joel? The offshore wind play. Right. It’s like something like this doesn’t happen to economies very often. Right. It’s not very often that we have like this just new industry that pops outta nowhere. Right. We’re, we’re not making, you know, it’s like when, when. Automotive industry popped up in the, you know, the early 19 hundreds. Like that was this crazy new thing. It’s an industrial revolution. It’s all this new opportunity. So offshore wind in, in my idea, same kind of play, right? It’s this new thing or newer thing. Um, and as a government, um, coming together to say, Hey, this is happening. We have the resources here. We’re gonna be deploying these things here. Why would we not take advantage of building this here? I mean. Any politician that says I’m bringing jobs or I’m bringing in, you [00:04:00] know, um, bringing in funds to be able to prop up an industry or to, uh, you know, start a manufacturing facility here or support an engineering department here, um, to be able to take advantage of something like this. Absolutely right. Why offshore this stuff when you can do it Here, you’ve got the people, you have the engineering expertise. It’s your coastline. You’ve operated offshore. You know how to build them, operate ’em, all of these different things. Keep as much of that in-house as you can. I, I mean, we’ve, we’ve watched it in the US over the last few years. Kind of try to prop up a supply chain here as well. But, you know, with regulations and everything changing, it’s too risky to invest. What the, it looks like what the UK has seen over there is, well, we might as well invest here. We’ll throw the money at it. Let’s, let’s make it happen on our shores. The Allen Hall: comparison’s obvious to the IRA Bill Yolanda and the IRA bill came out, what, A little over two years ago, three years ago, roughly. We didn’t see a lot of activity [00:05:00] on the manufacturing side of building new factories to do wind. In fact, there was a lot of talk about it initially and then it. It really died down within probably a year or so. Uh, you know, obviously it’s not a universal statement. There were some industries model piles and some steelworks and that kind of thing that would would happen. But sometimes these exercises are a little treacherous and hard to walk down. What’s your thoughts on the UK government stepping in and really. Putting their money where the mouth is. Yolanda Padron: I think it’s, I mean, it’s, it’s great, right? It’s great for the industry. It’ll, it’ll be a great case, I think, for us to look at just moving forward and to, like you said, government’s putting their money where their mouth is and what exactly that means. You know, not something where it’s a short term promise and then things get stalled, or corporations start looking [00:06:00] elsewhere. If every player works the way that they’re, it’s looking like they’re going to play right now, then it, it could be a really good thing for the industry. Allen Hall: Well, the, the United States always did it in a complicated way through tax policy, which means it runs through the IRS. So any bill that passes Congress and gets signed by the president, they like to run through the IRS, and then they make the tax regulations, which takes six months to 12 months, and then when they come out, need a tax attorney to tell you what is actually written and what it means. Joel, when we went through the IRA bill, we went through it a couple of times actually, and we were looking for those great investments in new technology companies. I just remember seeing it. That isn’t part of the issue, the complexity, and maybe that’s where GB Energy is trying to do something different where there’s trying to simplify the process. Joel Saxum: Yeah. The complexity of the problem over here is like that. With any. Business type stuff, right? Even when you get to the stage of, um, oh, this is a write off, this is this [00:07:00] for small businesses and those things, so it’s like a delayed benefit. You gotta plan for this thing. Or there’s a tax credit here, there. Even when we had the, um, the electric vehicle tax credits for, uh, individuals, right? That wasn’t not something you got right away. It was something you had to apply for and that was like later on and like could be. 15 months from now before you see anything of it. And so it’s all kind of like a difficult muddy water thing in the i a bill. You’re a hundred percent correct. Right. Then we passed that thing. We didn’t have the, the rules locked down for like two years. Right. And I remember we had, we had a couple experts on the podcast talking about that, and it was like, oh, the 45 x and the 45 y and the, the C this and the be that, and it was like. You needed to have a degree in this thing to figure it out, whereas the, what it sounds like to me, right, and I’m not on the inside of this policy, I dunno exactly how it’s getting executed. What it sounds like to me is this is more grant based or, and or loan program based. So it’s kinda like, hey, apply and we’ll give you the money, or we’ll fund a loan that supports some money of with low interest, zero [00:08:00] interest, whatever that may be. Um, that seems like a more direct way, one to measure ROI. Right, and or to get things done. Just just to get things done. Right. If someone said, Hey, hey, weather guard, lightning Tech. We have a grant here. We’d like to give you a hundred grand to do this. Or it was like, yeah, if you put this much effort in and then next year tax season you might see this and this and this. It’s like, I don’t have time to deal with that. Yolanda Padron: Yeah. We might also just change the rules on you a little bit, and then maybe down the line we’ll see where we go. Yeah. It does seem like they’re, they’re setting up the dominoes to fall in place a bit better. This way. Yeah, absolutely. Joel Saxum: That’s a, that’s a great way to put it, Yolanda. Let’s setting up the dominoes to fall in place. So it’s kinda like, Hey. These are the things we want to get done. This is what we wanna do as an industry. Here’s a pool of money for it, and here’s how you get access to it. Allen Hall: A lot’s gonna change. I remember, was it a couple of months ago, maybe, maybe a year ago, time flies guys. Uh, we were just talking about. That on the way home from [00:09:00]Scotland, like how many people have had in the podcast? It’s a lot over 60 have been on the podcast as guests. Uh, one of the people we want to have on is, uh, Dan McGrail, who’s the CEO of Great British Energy because, uh, we had talked about with Rosemary the possibility of building turbines all in. The uk, they have blade factories. All this stuff is doable, right? They have technology. This is not complicated work. It just needs to be set up and run. And maybe this is the goal is to just run, it may maybe not be OEM focused. I I, that’s what I’m trying to sort through right now as, is it vestas focused? Is it GE focused? Is it Siemens Keesa focused? Is there a focus or will these turbines have GB energy? Stamped on the side of them. I would Joel Saxum: see love to see support for sub-component suppliers. Yeah, I would too. Yeah. The reason being is, is like that’s, that’s more near and dear to my heart. That’s what [00:10:00] I’ve done in my career, is been a part of a lot of different, smaller businesses that are really making a difference by putting in, you know, great engineering comes from small businesses. That’s one of my, my things that I’ve always seen. It seems to be easier to get things done. In a different way with a small business than it does to engineering by committee with 50 people on a team faster, sometimes better. Uh, that’s just my experience, right? So I would like to see these smaller businesses propped up, because again, we need the OEMs. Yes, absolutely. But also spread it around, right? Spread the wealth a little bit. Uh, you know, a, a factory here, a factory there, a engineering facility here. The, uh, you know, an execution plant here. Some things like that. I would love to see more of these kind of, uh, spread around like the, like GB energy’s money spreads around, like fairy dust. Just kind of plant a little here, plant a little in this city, make a little here, instead of just lumping it to one or lumping it into one big, um, OEM. And that doesn’t necessarily [00:11:00] have to be an OEM, right? It could be a blade manufacturer that I’m talking about, or. Or a big, big gearbox thing or something like that. We need those things, and I, I’m all for support for them, but I just don’t think that all of its support should go to them. Speaker 7: Australia’s wind farms are growing fast, but are your operations keeping up? Join us February 17th and 18th at Melbourne’s Poolman on the park for Wind Energy o and M Australia 2026, where you’ll connect with the experts solving real problems in maintenance asset management. And OEM relations. Walk away with practical strategies to cut costs and boost uptime that you can use the moment you’re back on site. Register now at W OM a 2020 six.com. Wind Energy o and m Australia is created by Wind Professionals for wind professionals because this industry needs solutions, not speeches. Allen Hall: If you haven’t booked your tickets to Wind Energy o and m Australia 2026, you need to be doing [00:12:00] that. Today, uh, the event is on February 17th and 18th in Melbourne, Australia. Uh, we’ll have experts from around the world talking everything o and m, and there’s so many good people are gonna be on the agenda, Joel, and a lot of big companies sponsoring this Joel Saxum: year. Allen Hall: You want to give us a highlight? Joel Saxum: Yeah, so like you said, Alan, we have a ton of sponsors going to be there and, and I’d like to say the sponsors. Thank you ahead of time. Of course. Right. We’re, we’re, we’re super excited for them to get involved because as we’ve put this event together. We’re trying to do this no sales pitches, right? So we wanna do this, not pay to play. We want people here that are going to actually share and learn from each other. And the sponsors have been kind enough to get on board with that message and follow through with it. So, like our lead industry sponsor Tilt, uh, Brandon, the team over there, fantastic. Um, they have, they’re, they’re the, their key sponsor here and they’re supporting a lot of this. So the money’s going to applying in experts from all over the [00:13:00] world, putting this thing together. Uh, so we have an, uh. A forum to be able to talk at, uh, C-I-C-N-D-T. From here in the States, uh, we’ve got Palisades, who’s another operator in the, uh, Australian market, uh, rig com. ISP over there doing blade work and it just keeps rolling down. We’ve got squadron on board, squadron’s gonna do one of the coffee carts. Um, so I know that we’ve got a limited bit of tickets left. I think we are 250 in the venue and that’s what the plan is. I think we’re sitting at about half of that leftover. Allen Hall: Yeah, it’s getting close to running out. And I know in Australia everybody likes to purchase their tickets at the last minute. That’s great. And but you don’t wanna miss out because there is limited seating to this event. And you wanna go to WMA w om a 2020 six.com. Look at all the activities. Book some tickets. Plan to book your travel if you’re traveling from the United States or elsewhere. You need a couple of weeks [00:14:00]hopefully to do that ’cause that’s when the airline prices are lower. If you can book a a couple of weeks ahead of time. So now’s the time to go on Woma 2020 six.com. Check out the conference, get your tickets purchased, start buying your airline tickets, and get in your hotel arranged. Now’s the time to do that. Well, as you know, war has been selling off pieces of itself after setbacks in the America market. Uh, sounds like two heavyweight bidders are looking for one of those pieces. Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and ENG G are allegedly competing for Seds European. Onshore Wind business, a portfolio valued at roughly 1 billion euros. Supposedly the bids are gonna be due this week, although nothing is certain in a billion dollar deals. This is a little bit odd. I understand why Stead is doing it, because they’re, they’re trying to fundraise, but if they do this. They will be essentially European offshore wind only [00:15:00] with some American onshore and a little bit American offshore. Not much. Uh, that will be their future. Are they gonna stay with America one onshore or, and American offshore? Is that a thing? Or they just could, could be all European offshore wind. Is that where Osted is headed? It’s a complicated mix because, you know, they’re, they’re, they’ve negotiated a couple of other deals. Most recently to raise cash. They’re supposedly selling, uh, another set of wind farms. I dunno how official that is, but it’s, it seems like there’s some news stories percolating up out there trying to raise more cash by selling large percentages of offshore wind farms. Where does Joel Saxum: this all end? I don’t know. The interesting thing is like if you looked at Ted, uh, man, two years ago, like if you Googled anything or used a jet, GPT or whatever it was like, gimme the. Three largest wind operators in the world. They were the top three all the time. Right. And, and most valuable. At one point in time, they were worth like, [00:16:00] uh, I don’t wanna say the wrong number, but I, I thought, I thought 25 billion or something like that. They were worth. ATS at one point in time. Market share. Allen Hall: Yeah, Joel Saxum: I think that seems right. So like they, they were huge and it just seems like, yeah, they’re trying to survive, but in survival mode, they’ve just kind, they’re just dwindling themselves down to being just o just a small offshore company. And, or not small, but a small, just a, just a siloed offshore company. A large offshore company. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, like, even just, there was, there’s another article, um. Today we’re, we’re talking here, CIP and Engie looking to buy their European onshore business. They’ve also are putting up like, uh, was it greater Ang of four in Taiwan for, for sale as well. So, I mean, like you said, where does it stop? I don’t know. Um, CIP is an interesting play. Uh, an Eng, CIP and Engie kind of battling this one out ’cause the CIP management team is a bunch of ex or said people, so they know that play very well. Um, ENGIE of course, being a big French [00:17:00] utility. So that one will sell, right? They’re, their European offshore or onshore assets will be gone shortly. Uh, they’ll be sitting with a bunch of offshore assets that they own and partially own around the world. Uh, and of course their, their, I think their US onshore fleet is about a gigawatt, maybe a and a half. Um, that could be the next domino to fall. You don’t, I, sorry, Yolanda, I used your, your, your, uh, euphemism from before, but, um. That they’re actively parting ways with some stuff. I don’t know when it stops. Allen Hall: It is odd, right? EOR has basically stopped a lot of renewables. Stat Craft has pulled back quite a bit. Another Norwegian company. A lot of the nor Northern European companies are slowing down in wind altogether, trying to stick to onshore for the most part. Offshore will still be developed, but just not at the pace that it needed to be developed. There is a lot of money moving around. Billions [00:18:00] and billions of, of euros and dollars moving. And I guess my, my thought is, I’m not sure from a market standpoint where Orid is headed, or even Ecuador for that matter, besides maybe moving back into oil and gas. They never really left it. The direction of the company is a little unknown because these, uh, news articles about sales. Are not really prefaced, right? It’s just like, all right, Taiwan, we’re selling more than 50% of the projects in Taiwan. We’re out, we’re selling European onshore pow, which there’d been some rumors about that, that I had heard, but nothing was really locked in, obviously, until you really start seeing some reliable news sources. Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners is an interesting play just because it kind of keeps it. Up in Denmark and not in France with Engie. That’s what I’m, in my [00:19:00] head. I’m thinking Sted is not likely to sell it to Engie just because they’re French. This is a national, uh, security issue for Denmark Sted. Is it, I I how Engie is involved in this maybe to help set a, a baseline of what the valuation is so that CIP can then purchase it. Do you see CIP losing this, Joel? Joel Saxum: No, I don’t think so. I think, yeah, I think CCIP has to land with this one and, and CI P’s been building a portfolio quietly, building a, not, I guess not quietly, they’ve been building a portfolio for the last few years. It’s pretty stout, uh, pretty fairly sizable. Right? And it, it’s an interesting play watching this for me because you, you see all these people kind of rotating out. And it, and it has to do with the, the, in my opinion, it has to do with the macroeconomics of things, right? Once, when you develop something and you get through, like in, into the teething pain cycle and all that kind of stuff. [00:20:00] The asset is not designed to have a 50, 70%, you know, margin, right? That’s not how wind works. Wind, wind operates of small margins and a lot of times in the early, a early stages of a project, you end up running into issues that eat those margins away. So when you’re talking about small margins, they’re six to 10% is what you kind of see. Um, and it’s pretty easy to eat away a 6% or a 10% margin. If you have some kind of serial defect you have to deal with, uh, or that, that the OEM’s fighting you on and, and you know, whether or not they take responsibility for it or you have to pay for it. A lot of times those processes can drag out for 12, 24, 36 months until you get made whole. So the early state, the first, you know, five years of a lot of these projects, five to eight years, are very expensive. And then once you get through kind of those things and the thing starts just chugging. Then you actually are starting to make money, and that’s where CIP P’S buying these assets is in that years after it’s gone through its teething pains and the company that developed it is like, man, [00:21:00] we need to get outta this thing. We’ve just been burning through cash. Then CI P’s kinda swooping in and grabbing ’em. And I think that this is another one of those plays. Allen Hall: So they’re gonna live with a smaller margin or they’re gonna operate the assets differently. Joel Saxum: The assets may be being operated better now than they were when they started, just in that, in, they exist, the starting company simply because the, some of the issues have been solved. They’ve been sorted through the things where you have early, early failures of bearings or some stuff like the early fairings of gearboxes. Those things have been sorted out, so then CIP swoops in and grabs them after the, the teething issues that have been gone. Allen Hall: Does evaluation change greatly because of the way horse did, manages their assets? Up or down? Joel Saxum: I would say generally it would go up. Yeah. I don’t necessarily think it’s dependent on o and m right now. I think it’s just a, it’s a time to buy cheap assets, right? Like you see, you see over here in the States, you see a lot of acquisitions going on. People divesting, they’re not divesting because they’re like, oh, we’re gonna make a ton of money off this. They may need the cash. They’re [00:22:00] divesting in, in, um, what’s the term, like under duress? A lot of them, it may not look like it from the outside in a big way, but that’s kind of what’s happening. Yolanda Padron: Yeah, I think it’ll be really interesting to see, uh, you know, there were a lot of layoffs in Ted and Europe as well, so seeing if maybe some of the people who can make those assets perform better. Come back just with a different t-shirt on. Allen Hall: As wind energy professionals staying informed is crucial, and let’s face it difficult. That’s why the Uptime podcast recommends PES Wind Magazine. PES Wind offers a diverse range of in-depth articles and expert insights that dive into the most pressing issues facing our energy future. Whether you’re an industry veteran or new to wind, PES wind has the high quality content you need. Don’t miss out. Visit PES wind.com today in this quarter’s, PES Wind Magazine, which you can download a copy at PES [00:23:00] wind.com. There’s an article by Xan and they were, uh, contracted by Ocean Winds to evaluate the sea floor from. The sea floor at Moray West, which is way, way, way up north on the northern end of Scotland. A pretty rough area, Joel. And, but what ex Ocean did was they used unmanned survey equipment to monitor the ocean floor where the mono piles were gonna replace for the Moey West Wind Farm. That is a really difficult area to operate any sort of boat, but. Uh, the reason we’re doing this remotely unmanned was that it, it gave them sort of a, a less costly way to get high resolution images of the sea bottom. This is interesting because ocean wind was developing more a West apparently hadn’t used anything like this before, but the results, at [00:24:00] least from what I can see in PS win, look Joel Saxum: great. Yeah. This is a technology that’s been, um. Man, it’s been under development by a lot of companies in the last six, eight years. And now it’s starting to get to the point where it is, I mean, we’re, we’re TRL nine plus, right? There’s a lot of these solutions out there that are commercially ready. Xans been a top of this list since, man, since I was playing in that oil and gas world, to be honest with you. Like 20 18, 20 17, uh, really cool looking boats. That’s besides the point. Uh, but when they show up at trade shows and stuff with ’em, you’re like, ah, oh, that thing’s neat looking. Um, but it, it, it, it solves all kinds of problems, right? So when you go offshore and you’re just gonna do, say you’re just gonna go out there and do multibeam, so you’re just gonna do echo sound where you’re just looking to see depths and what’s on the sea floor. The minimum kind of vessel you need for that is 10 to 15 meters long. You need probably two to six people on that vessel. And that’s just, if you’re going out doing shift work, if you’re staying out there [00:25:00] and working 24 7, that vessel grows to. 30 meters instantly, right? So now you’re burning thousands and thousands of dollars in fuel. You’ve got food on board. You got all, it’s just a pain to put this vessel out there. You take all of those people out of harm’s way. You take all the costs away and they, and you put two of them, or one or two of them on shore in a facility, and then you put this three meter vessel out there that’s fully autonomous. No people, but collects the same style of data. I mean, it’s a no brainer, right? So you’re getting the same style of data and if, and the thing’s working 24 7, there is no need to have someone sleep. There’s a not a technician issue. There’s not, none of this is, is a problem anymore. Nobody’s getting seasick, right? So you’re sitting, you’re, you’re sitting back on shore, uh, going to work, uh, with no PPE on, um, having a, having a coffee from Starbucks down the street. And you’re running this thing 24 7, you’re collecting all [00:26:00] that fantastic data. Uh, it is just, like I said, it’s a no brainer. Now, now they’re getting to the stage where they’re putting ’em out as swarms, so you can cover whole fields. You’re doing live cable inspections. It’s, it’s pretty fantastic. So Exo ocean’s really making the next generation of robotics o offshore. Allen Hall: Yeah. And that’s gonna drive down the cost of energy. These kind of developments make huge strides in lowering costs, and this is why you need to read PES Win Magazine. So there’s a. Great articles all throughout the magazine. This quarter’s issue is, is Heavy with articles. Get your free copy@pswin.com today. As you know, in the wind industry, survival has always belonged to those who can keep up, uh, and Sorn freeze. Nuon knows better than most with his decades of experience at LM Wind Power and Uzon. He now chairs two Danish subcontractors, Polytech and Jupiter. Bach. Uh, his message to smaller suppliers in, in a recent article is. Pretty blunt. It [00:27:00]says the manufacturers, big OEMs want fewer partners and larger partners who can take on more responsibility. And if you cannot invest and grow with those manufacturers, you’ll be left behind the winners. It says it will be those who stay close to the turbine makers and adapt as the industry evolves. Joel, this is a really interesting discussion that, uh, Soren put out there. Obviously he’s invested in Polytech and Jupiter, Bach, uh, to great suppliers obviously, but small businesses are where a lot of the key technologies have been driven over the last five, six years. In wind, or more broadly the last 20 years in wind, a lot of great technology has come out of places that you wouldn’t have thought of. The OEMs have not been the bastion of innovation. I would say it [00:28:00] is necessary. You have both, wouldn’t you think? You have to have the small business innovation to prove out ideas and to show that they work, but you also have to have the large manufacturers to implement those ideas more broadly without either one of them, nobody wins. Joel Saxum: I fully agree and I think that one of the things that’s a little bit, uh, more of a granular comment there is. I think sometimes you need the OEMs and the other suppliers within the supply chain to open their doors a little bit, right? So this is, this is me wearing my, my small business, small innovative business, uh, in the wind industry cap. And that is, man, sometimes it is hard to get a conversation with a large subsupplier or with an OEM when you have something that can help them. And they just don’t want to communicate, don’t want to help. It’s just our way or the highway kind of thing. And if you watch, like we, so the podcast gives us an kind of, or not [00:29:00] gives us, it forces us to have kind of an op, an opportunity to look at, you know, what are the, what are the financial statements of some of these OEMs? What are the financial statements of some of their large sub-suppliers? You know? ’cause if they’re located in countries where that stuff is public knowledge, you can see how and what they’re doing. And if you, if you look at business in a general way where you rely on one customer or two customers to, for your whole business, you’re gonna be hurting. Um, especially in the way we look at things or what we’re seeing in the wind industry right now is if you’re, if you are a large company to say you do a hundred million in revenue and your customers are ge Vestas. Depending on what happens regulatory wise, in some random country somewhere your a hundred million dollars could shrink to 50 real quick. Um, so I don’t think that that’s a great way to do business. I think, you know, having a bit of diversification probably helps you a little bit. The OEMs Allen Hall: have a particular job to do. They need to deliver turbines onsite on time and create power for their customer. That’s our main [00:30:00] focus. They are a generator. Driven company, they make generators on steel towers with a propeller system basically. Right. Just simplify it way, way down. There’s not a lot of technology in that itself. Obviously there’s control systems, obviously there’s electronics involved, but the concept from this basic fundamentals is not difficult to to grasp. The difficulty is in execution. Showing that that product can last for 20 years, and that product can last in different environments. Australia, United States, up in Scandinavia, Canada, way down south and Brazil. There’s some really rough environments there and the OEMs are relying upon in industry, uh, guidance from like the IECs and then the dvs, uh, uls Tube. Nord. Uh. Bvs where they’re trying to make these turbines comply to a [00:31:00] set of essentially regulations, which just simplify it. You can do that. But as we have seen historically in the wind industry, if you make a turbine that just meets those requirements, you do not necessarily have a successful product. You have a product that is marginal, and as Yolanda has pointed out to me numerous times, there’s a lot of real issues in wind turbines. That probably could have been solved five years ago by small mobile companies with outside of the box ideas that could have given the OEMs a huge advantage, especially in blades. Yolanda Padron: Yeah, and I think a lot of these companies are, they’re looking at things from a different point of view, right? They’re smaller companies. You have people who could know the product, they know the real issue that’s going on on the ground. They know. Kind of what they need to do, what the next step is to move forward in their solution.[00:32:00] Right? But it’s not like it’s a, a company where you need 30 people to sign off before you can go onto the next stage, and then you need 30 more people to sign off before you can get funding to do something else. And so yes, the OEMs are doing a good job in their scope. If they’re meeting their scope, they are doing a good job. You know, if I, if I take like bread and cheese, then yes, I have a sandwich, right? Like, it might not be the best sandwich in the world, but I have a sandwich. So like, they’re making the sandwich and that’s great. But if you want something to, to actually work and to last and to, to give everybody else the, the idea that. You know, wind is profitable and we can all benefit from it. You have to get all those different layers in there, right? You have to make [00:33:00] sure that you know, if you have a big lightning issue, then you get the right people in the room to get that retrofit in there to solve your lightning issue. If you have a big leading edge erosion issue, then you get those right people in the room to solve everything, and it’s not always going to be a one size fits all. Right, but you do need those smaller companies to, to be in the room with you. Joel Saxum: I’m a hundred percent agreeing with you, Yolanda, and I think that this is the issue here is that at some level then an OEM, an OEM engineering head would have to admit that they’re not the end all be all, and that they may have got a couple of things wrong. And what, what I would love to see and who, and maybe maybe ask you this question, who of the major four Western OEMs. Do you think would be open to like an industry advisory board? Nordex, you think it’s Nordex? I think Yolanda Padron: that’s the closest one so far that we’ve seen. Right? Joel Saxum: Yeah. I, I, I agree with you, and I’m saying that because I don’t think any of the other ones would ever admit that they have an [00:34:00] issue, right? They have attorneys and they have problems, Allen Hall: so they really can’t, but I, I think internally they know that they haven’t optimized their production, they haven’t optimized their performance out in the field. They’re trying to improve availability, that’s for sure. Estes has spent a great deal of time over the last year or two improving availability so that the money is being spent. The question is, do they have all the right answers or the overspending to get to the availability that they want to deliver to their customers? That’s a great question because I do think that we we’re just in Scotland and there’s a number of technology companies in the UK that I think, wow, they should be implementing some of these. Ideas and these products that have been proven, especially the ones that have been out for a couple of years, they should be implemented tomorrow, but they’re not yet because they can’t get through the door of an OEM because the OEM doesn’t want to hear it. Joel Saxum: Yeah, agreed. Agreed. Right. Well, well, like I, the, the, the example that keeps popping into my mind is Pete Andrews and the team over [00:35:00] at Echo Bolt, simply because they have a solution that works. It’s simple. They’ve done the legwork to make sure that this thing can be optimized and utilized by technicians in the field around the world. But they, it just like, they haven’t gotten the buy-in from, from whoever, uh, that it seems to be, you know, there’s a hurdle here. Uh, and that hurdle may be the Atlantic Ocean. I don’t know. Uh, but I would love to see, I would love to see their, uh, solution for bolted connections, uh, and monitoring bolted connections kicked around the world because I think you could save. Uh, the wind industry a ton, a ton, a ton of money. And that is an example of a small business full of subject matter experts that made a solution that can solve a problem, whether you’re an OEM or you’re an operator or whatever. There’s there that’s there, utilize them, right? Those are the kind of things that we need in this industry. Yolanda Padron: And it’s also those smaller companies too that will look at your feedback and then they’ll say, oh. Okay, do I need to adjust here? [00:36:00] Did I not focus on this one parameter that your specific site has? Right. And you don’t see that from the OEMs ’cause they have so, uh, they have so many problems that they’re trying to tackle at once that it gets really difficult to, not just to hone in on one, but to, to tell everybody, oh, I, I have this perfect solution for everything. Here you go. Allen Hall: Right. I think there’s an internal conflict in the engineering departments and manufacturing departments of any OEM, regardless if it’s in wind or in any other industry, is that they have a system to make this product and they’re pretty confident in it, otherwise they wouldn’t be doing it. They don’t want to hear outside noise is I, I would describe it as noise. Like, uh, if you have a great solution that would help out their manufacturing process. But I work here, I know how, I know the ins and outs that that new idea by a small company won’t work here. Those [00:37:00] barriers have to be knocked down internally in the OEMs. The OEM management should be going through and saying, Hey, look, if I find me the manager of this operation, if I find a company that could help us and save us money, and you’re being a roadblock, guess what? See ya. Hit the road because there is no way you can let those opportunities pass you by. In today’s marketplace, you need to be grabbing hold of every opportunity to lower your cost, to improve your product availability, to improve your relationship with your customers. How do you do that? Quickly, you look at the companies that are providing solutions and you grab them, grab them, and hold on for your life and listen to what they have to say because they have probably done more research into your product than your people have. That wraps up another episode of the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. If today’s discussion sparked any questions or ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us on LinkedIn and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you [00:38:00] found value in today’s discussion, please leave us a review. It really helps other wind energy professionals discover the show and we’ll catch you here next week on the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast.
Send us a textIn the latest episode of The Lost In The Sauce Podcast, Sauce is joined by a Friend of the show, Xanzanxan! The two sit down to catch up on the past and recent updates. Xan, a designer, visionary, and creative, discusses their temporary move to New York, the launch of their new brand "Elose," the Iconic “X” fashion show, growth, styling Tips and advice, and much more! Pass The Aux Segment | Tim Gent - Keep Workin'Shop and Support Elose | https://elose.co/Elose IG Page | https://www.instagram.com/elose.co?igsh=MWhoemd2c2FjbHBsOQ==Follow Xan | https://www.instagram.com/xanzanxan?igsh=aTNxY2dqMnRuMzIxPodcast Platforms | https://linktr.ee/Lostinthesauce5Sauce IG | https://www.instagram.com/sauceville_615/
In this episode, Xan ventures into the grim, oppressive world of Tower Dungeon by legendary creator Tsutomu Nihei (Blame!, Knights of Sidonia). Does the master of sci-fi architecture successfully conquer the dark fantasy genre with this tale of a nightmarish, living tower? We explore whether his iconic style creates a new horror classic or falters outside its usual domain. Also in This Episode: The latest update on the "45 Books in One Year" project (now reading: Holding Pattern). We're taking requests! What movie should we tackle in our next review episode? All the breaking news from the manga world. Support the Show: Fuel our exploration of dark corners: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a creator (writer, artist, director) you'd love to see tackle a genre totally outside their usual wheelhouse?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #TowerDungeon #TsutomuNihei #DarkFantasy #Seinen #Grimdark #HorrorManga #Nihei Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
"Zaman Maşını" verilişinin qonaqları Elm və Təhsil Nazirliyinin əməkdaşı Türkan Cəfərli, gənc maarifçilər Mənsurə İmanquluzadə və Xanım Osmanova oldular.
Esta semana en el espacio “Rutas sin GPS” de Radio Voz, Xan Ramírez nos lleva al Mirador de Ancos, en Neda, un enclave que ofrece panorámicas espectaculares de toda la Ría de Ferrol. Se puede acceder cómodamente en coche desde varias rutas: pasando por Casadelos y la Capilla de San Antonio, por la zona del Molino de Gradaílle o desde Trasmonte, con precaución en tramos estrechos y pendientes. Desde la plataforma, se aprecian el Faro de Frouxeira, el Coto de Ancos, Montefaro, Brión, la fábrica histórica de telas y los astilleros, así como el río Xuvia y toda la bocana de la ría. Xan destacó la experiencia de observar la puesta de sol y la belleza de la comarca, recomendando a los oyentes disfrutar del lugar en días de buen tiempo y con calma, aprovechando un banco construido por un vecino para contemplar el paisaje desde un punto privilegiado.
In this episode, Xan delves into the award-winning Akane-banashi by Yuki Suenaga, illustrated by Takamasa Moue. ----more---- This manga brilliantly explores the traditional Japanese art of rakugo through the eyes of a young woman on a mission of artistic revenge. Does it successfully translate the humor, tension, and passion of live performance onto the page? We break down this modern shonen masterpiece. Also in This Episode: Announcing a personal project: "45 Books in One Year" (starting with Project Hail Mary). We want your input! What movie should we review next? The latest and greatest manga news. Support the Show: Help us keep the stories coming: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a traditional art, craft, or skill you'd love to see a manga explore in-depth?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #AkaneBanashi #YukiSuenaga #RakugoManga #ShonenJump #VizManga #ComingOfAge #ArtisticRevenge Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
In this episode, Xan dives into the acclaimed prequel, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, by Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court. This series explores the street-level heroes who operate without a license in the MHA universe. Does this grittier, more personal tale of Koichi and his friends surpass the global stakes of the original? We deliver our verdict on this complete collection. In This Episode: Why this prequel offers a fresh, ground-level perspective on the MHA world. How it deepens the lore with fantastic backstory for key characters like Eraser Head. An announcement for an upcoming convention appearance! The latest manga news and releases. Support the Show: Help us keep the spotlight on great spin-offs: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a spin-off or prequel series that you think rivals or even surpasses the original?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #MHAVigilantes #MyHeroAcademia #Vigilantes #HideyukiFuruhashi #BettenCourt #Prequel #SpinOff Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
In this episode, Xan tackles Kaiju Kamui by Shintaro Arima, a kaiju manga that wears its Evangelion influences on its sleeve. Does this story of a pilot bonding with a biological weapon to fight monsters forge its own path, or does it get crushed under the weight of its inspirations? We break down what works and what feels a little too familiar in this action-packed series. ----more---- In This Episode: A critical look at the series' clear Evangelion parallels and its original ideas. Our final verdict on whether it's a worthy read for kaiju and mecha fans. The latest headlines and releases in the world of manga. Support the Show: Help us keep the reviews coming: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a manga or anime you feel is a little too derivative of another series?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #KaijuKamui #ShintaroArima #KaijuManga #Mecha #Evangelion #ActionManga Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
In this special episode, Xan is joined by Gretta to revisit a true classic: Mushishi by Yuki Urushibara. Originally reviewed in Episode 120, does this beloved fantasy mystery about a wandering "Mushi Master" hold up after all these years? We examine the beautiful new Kodansha Collector's Edition to see if it's the definitive way to own this atmospheric and philosophical series. In This Nostalgic Episode: A fresh look at Ginko's journeys and the ethereal world of the Mushi. Is the new Collector's Edition worth the upgrade over the original prints? Does Xan's original review from 120 episodes ago still stand? The latest manga news and Gretta's new obsession with Murder, She Wrote. Support the Show: Help us continue our journey through manga history: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a manga or book you loved years ago that you'd love to see get a beautiful, deluxe re-release?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #Mushishi #YukiUrushibara #Kodansha #CollectorsEdition #Seinen #FantasyManga #ClassicManga Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
In this episode, Xan dives into the brutal and unique dystopian action of Tank Chair by Manabu Yashiro. This manga features a comatose assassin in a weaponized wheelchair and the sister who guides him on a violent path to recovery. Is this an underrated gem for fans of Chainsaw Man and Dorohedoro? We load up and fire off our full review. In This Episode: Breaking down the hyper-violent, heartfelt, and utterly original premise. How the series balances its crazy action with a powerful sibling bond. An announcement for an upcoming convention appearance! The latest headlines from the world of manga. Support the Show: Help us keep the spotlight on hidden gems: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's the most creative or unexpected weapon you've seen in a manga or anime?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #TankChair #ManabuYashiro #Seinen #ActionManga #DystopianManga #HiddenGem #kodanshaManga Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
In this episode, Xan examines Mr. Megaman (Rockman-san) by Yushi Kawata & Yukito—a bizarre but charming slice-of-life manga where the Blue Bomber trades battling Robot Masters for a career in dentistry. Is this Udon Entertainment manga a loving tribute or a cavity-inducing misstep? We drill into this unique video game homage to find the root of its appeal. In This Episode: Analyzing this quirky slice-of-life take on a classic Capcom icon. Who this niche manga is for (and who might want to skip it). The latest manga news and upcoming releases. Support the Show: Help keep the podcast running: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's the weirdest or most unexpected 'day job' you can imagine for a classic video game character?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #MrMegaman #RockmanSan #MegaMan #UdonManga #SliceOfLife #VideoGameManga #Capcom Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken YouTube Tags:
n this episode, Xan kicks off the 600s with a delightful change of pace: Cats with Jobs by Pandania. This wholesome slice-of-life manga explores the secret world of felines with careers. Is it the cathartic and relaxing read we all need? We dive into this charming webcomic-turned-manga to see if its gentle humor and positive vibes are a perfect palate cleanser. In This Episode: A review of this gentle, episodic manga about working cats. How it succeeds as a comforting, low-stakes read. Exciting new updates and the latest manga news. Support the Show: Help us continue reviewing: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "If your pet (or a favorite animal) had a job, what would they be perfectly suited for?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #CatsWithJobs #Pandania #SliceOfLife #WholesomeManga #Webcomic #ComfortRead Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Celebrate 600 episodes of the Spiraken Manga Review! For this landmark episode, Xan tackles the controversial and popular Chained Soldier (Mato Seihei no Slave) by Takahiro with art by Yohei Takemura. Does this hit fantasy harem manga about a young man empowering a squad of super-powered women live up to its hype, or does it get... well, chained by its own tropes? We deliver a definitive verdict for this Yen Press title. In This Special Episode: A critical deep-dive into the series' unique power system and ecchi-heavy narrative. Our honest "mid-tier" assessment and who this manga is really for. A look ahead at the future of the Spiraken Manga Review! The latest and greatest in manga news. Support the Show for 600 More: Help fuel the next chapter: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a 'guilty pleasure' manga or anime you enjoy, regardless of its critical reception?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #ChainedSoldier #MatoSeiheiNoSlave #Takahiro #Episode600 #FantasyHarem #YenPress #Milestone Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Xan and Cam discuss life changes.
As the wait for the next Best Picture to reveal itself continues, we review Xan's movie pick, "Fatso"!!!Twitter : @oscarsgold @hidarknesspod @beatlesblonde @udanax19Facebook : facebook.com/goldstandardoscarsPatreon : patreon.com/goldstandardoscars
In this special milestone episode, Xan is joined by Gretta to revisit a true classic: Cat's Eye by Tsukasa Hojo. Originally reviewed 300 episodes ago, does the story of the three Kisugi sisters—art thieves reclaiming their father's work—still hold up? We dive into the new Kana omnibus edition to see if this iconic manga is worth a modern reader's shelf space. In This Episode: A fresh look at the classic heist/romance and how it holds up today. Is the new Kana omnibus release the definitive way to read it? Our thoughts on the new Cat's Eye anime adaptation on Disney+. The latest manga news and releases. Support the Show: Help us celebrate 600 episodes: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a classic manga from your past that you'd love to see get a brand-new, high-quality release?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #CatsEye #TsukasaHojo #KanaManga #ClassicManga #HeistManga #300Episodes Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
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Xan hits the set with Tenmaku Cinema, the short-lived but ambitious manga from the acclaimed duo Yūto Tsukuda (Story) and Shun Saeki (Art). Does this Viz Media title swap culinary ecstasy for cinematic passion, delivering a heartfelt story about a young cinephile and his literal ghostwriter? We explore if it captures movie-making magic without the infamous Food Wars! fan service. In This Episode: Analyzing the authentic filmmaking passion and terminology. How this series compares to the creators' previous blockbuster hit. Why this canceled manga still delivers a complete first story arc. The latest must-read manga releases. Support the Show: Help us keep the cameras rolling: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "If a ghostly screenwriter offered you one perfect script, what story would you want them to write for you?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #TenmakuCinema #YutoTsukuda #ShunSaeki #Shonen #FilmmakingManga #VizMedia #FoodWarsCreators Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Xan beams down to review Tokyo Alien Bros by Keigo Shinzō, a unique seinen manga that swaps alien invasions for everyday life. Follow two extraterrestrial brothers—one a natural, one a disaster—as they attempt to master "being human" in the heart of Tokyo. Does this heartwarming Viz Media title use its sci-fi premise to explore universal truths about family and belonging? We decode its charming blend of comedy and insight. In This Episode: How this manga uses aliens to explore the human experience. The hilarious and heartfelt dynamic between the two brothers. The latest manga releases you won't want to miss. Support the Show: Help support the podcast: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "If you had to teach an alien one thing about being human, what would it be?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #TokyoAlienBros #KeigoShinzo #Seinen #SliceOfLife #SciFiManga #VizMedia #ComedyManga Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Xan delves into Natsume & Natsume by Shunsuke Sorato, a shojo rom-com about a "villainous-looking" boy and an incredibly popular girl who share the same name. Does this Azuki Manga series live up to its fantastic setup, or does it become a case of wasted potential? We break down where this opposites-attract story soars and where it sadly stumbles. In This Episode: Analyzing the strong premise and its execution. Discussing where the story misses opportunities for deeper character growth. The latest manga releases and updates. Support the Show: Help us continue providing honest reviews: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a manga or show you loved the idea of, but felt let down by the execution?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #NatsumeAndNatsume #ShunsukeSorato #Shojo #RomCom #AzukiManga #OppositesAttract Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Xan explores Spacewalking with Me by Inuhiko Doronoda, a poignant coming-of-age manga about an unlikely bond between a daydreamer and a "yankee" delinquent. Does this Kodansha title use its cosmic metaphor to deliver a relatable story about human connection and the tethers that keep us grounded? We dive into its heartfelt narrative. In This Episode: Analyzing the powerful theme of emotional "tethers" and friendship. Why the dynamic between the two leads feels so genuine. The latest manga releases you need to know about. Support the Show: Help keep our podcast exploring new stories: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "Who was the most unlikely friend you've ever had, and what 'tethered' you together?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #SpacewalkingWithMe #InuhikoDoronoda #Shonen #SliceOfLife #ComingOfAge #Kodansha #FriendshipManga Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Story-Eater, Spin a Yarn of Chaos ep.701 Climber, tattoo collector, and peanut-butter connoisseur, Xan van Rooyen is an autistic, non-binary storyteller from South Africa, currently living in Finland. They are the author of several short stories, novels, and are part of the Sauuti Collective. Find Xan online @xan_writer ---- Listen Elsewhere ---- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TallTaleTV Website: http://www.TallTaleTV.com ---- Story Submission ---- Got a short story you'd like to submit? Submission guidelines can be found at http://www.TallTaleTV.com ---- About Tall Tale TV ---- Hi there! My name is Chris Herron and I'm an audiobook narrator. In 2015, I suffered from poor Type 1 diabetes control which lead me to become legally blind for almost a year. The doctors didn't give me much hope, predicting an 80% chance that I would never see again. But I refused to give up and changed my lifestyle drastically. Through sheer willpower (and an amazing eye surgeon) I beat the odds and regained my vision. During that difficult time, I couldn't read or write, which was devastating as they had always been a source of comfort for me since childhood. However, my wife took me to the local library where she read out the titles of audiobooks to me. I selected some of my favorite books, such as the Disc World series, Name of the Wind, Harry Potter, and more, and the audiobooks brought these stories to life in a way I had never experienced before. They helped me through the darkest period of my life and I fell in love with audiobooks. Once I regained my vision, I decided to pursue a career as an audiobook narrator instead of a writer. That's why I created Tall Tale TV, to support aspiring authors in the writing communities that I had grown to love before my ordeal. My goal was to help them promote their work by providing a promotional audio short story that showcases their writing skills to readers. They say the strongest form of advertising is word of mouth, so I offer a platform for readers to share these videos and help spread the word about these talented writers. Please consider sharing these stories with your friends and family to support these amazing authors. Thank you! ---- legal ---- All stories on Tall Tale TV have been submitted in accordance with the terms of service provided on http://www.talltaletv.com or obtained with permission by the author. All images used on Tall Tale TV are either original or Royalty and Attribution free. Most stock images used are provided by http://www.pixabay.com , https://www.canstockphoto.com/ or created using AI. Image attribution will be declared only when required by the copyright owner. Common Affiliates are: Amazon, Smashwords
Xan explores a delightful departure from the norm with Lil' Leo by the legendary Moto Hagio—a foundational member of the Year 24 Group. Does this collection of charming short stories about a curious cat prove the iconic writer's versatility and add a lighter, heartfelt chapter to her monumental catalog? We delve into this Denpa-published gem. In This Episode: Appreciating the gentle, whimsical tone of Leo's adventures. Discussing Moto Hagio's incredible range beyond her dramatic shojo classics. The latest manga releases and news. Support the Show: Help keep our podcast purring along: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a surprisingly gentle or comedic manga from a creator known for more serious work?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #LilLeo #MotoHagio #Shojo #SliceOfLife #Year24Group #CatManga #Denpa Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Xan saddles up for Buffalo 5 Girls by Moyoco Anno—a short-lived but explosive josei manga about a band of women fleeing oppression on stolen motorcycles across the Wild West. Was this bold, feminist tale from the creator of Sugar Sugar Rune worth the ride despite its premature cancellation? We dive into its themes of freedom, sisterhood, and what could have been. In This Episode: Analyzing Moyoco Anno's unique take on female empowerment and rebellion. Why this Azuki Manga series ended too soon and its lasting impact. The latest manga releases you shouldn't miss. Support the Show: Help keep our podcast riding: Gofundme Engage With Us: Subscribe! YouTube | Website Follow @spiraken on X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram Join the community on Discord Support us on Patreon Rate us on Apple Podcasts Random Question of the Day: "What's a canceled or underrated manga you wish had gotten more chapters?" #Spiraken #MangaReview #Buffalo5Girls #MoyocoAnno #Josei #WildWestManga #FemaleEmpowerment #AzukiManga Music Credits: "Trendsetter" by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: patreon.com/spiraken Discord: tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X: x.com/spiraken YouTube: youtube.com/@spiraken Twitch: twitch.com/spiraken Amazon Store: amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Appare Ranman! – Steampunk Madness Across the Wild West!
Xan and Andrea talk about mental health and burnout
Xan and Cam discuss starting their careers.
As the wait for the next Best Picture to reveal itself continues, we discuss Xan's movie pick, "A New Leaf"!!Twitter : @oscarsgold @hidarknesspod @beatlesblonde @udanax19Facebook : facebook.com/goldstandardoscarsPatreon : patreon.com/goldstandardoscars
Xan and Cam talk about how Cam broke his neck.
Utopia Utopia~ A new world was the mission. A secret civilization no one knew about changed everything.When Dr. Delilah Dweck, a decorated physician, boards the first manned mission to Mars, she's chasing the dream of discovery. Alongside her is an astrobiologist, Dr. Jacob Stern, and a handpicked team of elite scientists, each prepared to leave Earth behind forever. Their mission: to build a permanent colony and turn the barren red planet into humanity's next home.Mars holds secrets far older—and far stranger—than anyone could have imagined. Beneath the dust lies a thriving ancient civilization: the Xan'tains. Not only are they alive, they claimed to have seeded Earth millions of years ago—and now, they're ready to reclaim their descendants.The price of survival? Reproduction. Each astronaut must help populate the colony, either biologically or through artificial means. Their children, born of Mars and Earth, exhibit extraordinary abilities—abilities the Xan'tains see as the next evolution.As the colony expands beyond Mars and into the stars, the crew discovers a powerful galactic federation balancing diplomacy and domination. But when Delilah uncovers a conspiracy that threatens to shatter this fragile peace, the true test begins. Can Delilah protect both her people and the future they're building—or will Utopia collapse under the weight of its own creation?A sweeping saga of interstellar discovery, ancient power, and the fragile hope of unity. Utopia is perfect for fans of The Expanse and The Three-Body Problem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Conflict in marriage isn't just inevitable—it can actually be good… if you know how to handle it. In this episode, we (Nathaniel and Xan) share five unhelpful ways couples commonly navigate conflict (think: avoidance, blame-shifting, and yelling matches) and contrast them with the six simple steps we use when tension arises in our own marriage. We talk about why a conflict resolution plan might sound stiff—but actually leads to deeper connection, better communication, and much less chaos. Whether you're newly married or ten years in, this episode is packed with practical tools to help you stop fighting at each other and start fighting for your marriage. One Degree Shift: Create a conflict plan that works for you and your spouse… or at least start the conversation.
Xan discusses all the issues with his past job that he's been holding onto.
As the wait for the next Best Picture to reveal itself continues, we discuss Xan's movie pick, "Ninotchka"!!Twitter : @oscarsgold @hidarknesspod @beatlesblonde @udanax19Facebook : facebook.com/goldstandardoscarsPatreon : patreon.com/goldstandardoscars