Mary Cordova - Podcast Details

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#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastMeet Tracy Cram Perkins: Navigating Dementia Home Care with Humor & HeartDementia caregiving is one of the toughest journeys a family can face — but Tracy Cram Perkins has turned her personal struggles into a compassionate survival guide for others.In this heartfelt episode of The Senior Spotlight, host Mary Cordova sits down with Tracy, a four-time dementia caregiver and local award-winning author of Dementia Home Care: How to Prepare Before, During, and After. Tracy shares life hacks, coping strategies, and creative techniques that help caregivers navigate the daily challenges of dementia — while finding moments of humor and peace along the way.Tune in for real-world advice on:2025-04-2822 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastThe Eyes Have It: AI-Powered Gaze Tracking for Early Alzheimer’s Risk DetectionSeniorLife.AI detects amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI)—a precursor to Alzheimer’s—up to 10 years before clinical diagnosisHow might life be different if early signs of Alzheimer’s could be detected a decade earlier—and preventative measures taken in time?In this episode of #TheSeniorSpotlight, host Mary Cordova welcomes back Ash Roy and Shoko Hoshi, the visionary minds behind SeniorLife.AI, to unveil a groundbreaking advancement in early Alzheimer’s risk detection.Learn how a simple, 5-minute eye-tracking test—conducted on an iPad—can identify amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a potential early...2025-04-1437 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastA Day in the Life of a Senior Care Advisor In this heartfelt episode of The Senior Spotlight, host Mary Cordova—co-founder of Concierge Care Advisors—sits down with Senior Concierge Advisor Ashley Angst for an inside look at what it really means to walk alongside families during one of the most emotional and complex chapters of life: finding the right care for a senior loved one.Ashley opens up about the rewarding and often challenging work of a Senior Care Advisor, sharing behind-the-scenes stories that showcase the highs, the challenges, and the deeply human connections that define this role. Together, Mary and Ashley discuss the...2025-03-2928 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastIntroducing the Concierge Care Advisory BoardConcierge Care Advisors is setting a new standard in senior care with the Concierge Care Advisory Board—a team of healthcare, policy, and senior living experts dedicated to improving outcomes for seniors and their families.In this episode of The Senior Spotlight, host Mary Cordova speaks with Dr. Brian Ferris, Linda Marzano, and Shane Bray, with insights from Dr. Alex De Moraes. They discuss the biggest challenges families face in senior care, the role of data-driven decision-making, and why expert guidance is essential for long-term success.The conversation highlights how proactive planning, financial clarity, and a...2025-03-1739 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastManaging Caregiver Stress and BurnoutCaregiving can be deeply rewarding but often comes with significant emotional, physical, and mental strain. In this episode of #TheSeniorSpotlight, host Mary Cordova speaks with Dr. Brian Ferris and Dr. Alex De Moraes from the Concierge Care Advisory Board about how to recognize the signs of caregiver burnout, caregiver coping strategies, and ways to maintain well-being while caring for a loved one. They discuss the impact of stress on caregivers, financial considerations when it comes to caregiving, and the importance of respite care. Listeners will walk away with practical insights to help manage stress, set boundaries, and seek support.2025-03-0214 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastEating Well, Aging Well: The Importance of Nutrition to Senior HealthTune in for an insightful discussion about senior nutrition and its impact on long-term health. Doctor Ferris and Doctor De Moraes of the Concierge Care Advisory Board break down common misconceptions about nutrition. They explore the history of dietary recommendations, the unintended consequences of modern food processing, and why the key to healthy aging isn’t about restrictive diets but rather about understanding the body’s evolving nutritional needs.Their conversation highlights the social and emotional aspects of eating, emphasizing that food is more than fuel—it’s tied to culture, memory, and well-being. Learn how small, sustaina...2025-02-1723 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastMove More, Live Better: The Power of Exercise for SeniorsStaying active isn’t just about fitness—it’s about freedom, independence, and quality of life as we age. In this episode of The Senior Spotlight, host Mary Cordova sits down with Dr. Brian Ferris and Dr. Alex De Moraes, members of the Concierge Care Advisory Board, to discuss the profound impact of exercise on senior health.Regular physical activity improves balance and mobility, reduces fall risks, enhances cognition and mental health, lowers the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, and helps seniors maintain their independence longer. However, getting started can be challenging. Our expert...2025-02-0118 min $I\'m Right. I\'m Right!$ I'm Right. I'm Right!Season 8/ Ep. 4: Secrets to a Long-Lasting RelationshipIn this week’s episode, hosts Jill and Anthony talk to guests Mary and Denis Vogel about their 52-year marriage and the secrets to building and maintaining a happy, healthy relationship. 2025-01-3042 min $I\'m Right. I\'m Right!$ I'm Right. I'm Right!Season 8/ Ep. 4: Secrets to a Long-Lasting RelationshipIn this week’s episode, hosts Jill and Anthony talk to guests Mary and Denis Vogel about their 52-year marriage and the secrets to building and maintaining a happy, healthy relationship. 2025-01-3042 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastFrom Resolutions to Results- Fitness & Cognitive Well-BeingIn this episode of The Senior Spotlight, host Mary Cordova sits down with Dr. Brian Ferris and Dr. Alex De Moraes from Concierge Care Advisors’ Advisory Board to explore how physical activity and healthy habits can positively impact cognitive health later in life.They dive into the science behind the connection between fitness and dementia prevention, sharing practical tips for incorporating movement into daily life. From simple lifestyle changes to the importance of social engagement, this conversation offers actionable insights to help you protect your brain health at any age. Whether you’re looking to start small or c...2025-01-1835 min

The Simple TruthSunday January 12, 2025Have you ever been ridiculed for your love of God? Today, Pastor Dion reminds us of the story of Mary and her gift to Jesus when she anointed his feet with oil. Mary had experienced the restoration and salvation of Jesus. She went all out and offered Jesus her best. Criticism followed from other religious people. Church attendance one day a week does not draw anyone’s criticism, but worshiping God seven days a week does. Do something out of love for God, so strange, that others notice.2025-01-1200 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastPlanning for Peace of Mind: Financial Strategies for Seniors and FamiliesIn this insightful episode of The Senior Spotlight, host Mary Cordova is joined by financial planner Aaron Steele, founder of Steele Capital Management, and Senior Concierge Advisor Jenny Austin-Krzemien to discuss the critical role of financial planning in navigating the complexities of senior care.From private pay strategies to leveraging government benefits like VA Aid and Attendance, Aaron shares his wealth of experience in helping seniors and their families secure a financially stable future. The discussion dives into the challenges of unpreparedness, the importance of pre-planning, and practical tips for protecting assets while ensuring quality care.2024-12-2425 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastFinding Comfort & Joy: Navigating the Holidays with Seniors Facing Memory LossThe holidays can be a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but for seniors with memory loss and their families, they can also bring unique challenges. In this special holiday episode of #TheSeniorSpotlight, host Mary Cordova is joined by Senior Advisors Jenny Austin-Krzemien and Kelsey Jochum to share compassionate insights and practical tips for navigating the season with loved ones facing dementia or memory challenges.Discover how senior living communities create meaningful, festive experiences that bring comfort, connection, and joy during the holidays. Learn the importance of meeting seniors where they are, recognizing signs of overstimulation, and cr...2024-12-1722 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastHoliday Scams 101: What Seniors and Families Need to KnowIn this special holiday episode of #TheSeniorSpotlight, host Mary Cordova is joined by Matt Santelli, Community Outreach & Education Specialist at Pierce County Human Services, and Jenny Austin-Krzemien, Senior Concierge Advisor. Together, they discuss the alarming rise of scams targeting seniors during the holidays—a time meant for joy and generosity.Matt explains how scammers prey on seniors’ trust and loneliness, using tactics like fake charities, imposter scams, and fraudulent job offers. Jenny shares surprising stories of seniors falling victim to schemes, from heartbreaking romance scams to predatory sweepstakes frauds.This episode goes beyond raising awareness—it's p...2024-12-0226 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastPreventing Falls and Improving Lives: Revolutionizing Fall Risk Assessment with SeniorLife.AIIn this episode of #TheSeniorSpotlight, host Mary Cordova dives into the groundbreaking technology of SeniorLife.AI with special guests. Meet the Founder and Co-CEO of SeniorLife.AI Ash Roy and co-founder Shoko Hoshi, and learn how their game-changing technology reduced senior fall incidents by 58% in a 2-year case study in Japan. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among seniors, but SeniorLife.AI is changing the game with its innovative Vision AI technology. Learn how this FDA-approved, HIPAA-compliant platform is transforming senior care by providing fast, accurate fall risk assessments in just 10-20 seconds—no sensors or...2024-11-1924 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastThe Growing Crisis of Memory Loss: What Seniors and Families Need to KnowEpisode #8: The Growing Crisis of Memory Loss: What Seniors and Families Need to KnowIn this episode of #TheSeniorSpotlight, host Mary Cordova is joined by Dr. Brian Ferris and Dr. Alex De Moraes to unpack the growing crisis of memory loss and its impact on seniors and their families. Together, they explore the different types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Parkinson’s-related cognitive decline, and discuss the subtle early signs families often miss. The doctors share practical advice on prevention, the role of lifestyle and health management, and why early intervention is crit...2024-11-1911 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastMemory Loss in Seniors: Insights on Healthy Aging and Cognitive HealthTune in to #TheSeniorSpotlight podcast as host Mary Cordova sits down with Dr. Brian Ferris and Dr. Alex De Moraes to explore the complexities of memory loss in seniors. In this episode, the doctors discuss how cognitive decline, including conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's, often intersects with health issues such as cardiovascular disease and strokes, affecting seniors' overall well-being. They highlight the importance of distinguishing between behaviors triggered by environmental changes—like transitioning to assisted living—and those stemming from medical conditions.The conversation also underscores the value of early intervention strategies, including socialization, exercise, and managing anxi...2024-11-0424 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastEmpowered Healthcare: The Importance of Involving Seniors in Their Care Decisions In this insightful episode of #TheSeniorSpotlight Podcast, host Mary Cordova is joined by Dr. Alex De Moraes and Dr. Brian Ferris to explore the critical importance of involving seniors in their care decisions. Together, they tackle the challenges of keeping seniors informed and engaged in medical choices, from understanding POLST directives to navigating hospice care. Dr. De Moraes shares the emotional complexities of initiating conversations around end-of-life care and the need to introduce hospice support earlier to improve quality of life—highlighting that hospice isn’t always the end, but a turning point for many. Dr. Ferris refl...2024-10-2122 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastProtecting Seniors from Elder Abuse In this powerful episode of #TheSeniorSpotlight, we uncover the often-hidden issue of elder abuse and provide essential guidance on how to recognize and prevent it. Host Mary Cordova, Dr. Brian Ferris, and Dr. Alex De Moraes share their frontline experiences and expert insights on the many forms of elder abuse, including physical, emotional, and financial exploitation.Learn about the alarming prevalence of financial abuse, often committed by individuals falsely claiming power of attorney. The doctors also dive into the complexities of elder care, particularly for seniors with conditions like dementia, who may have difficulty communicating their needs...2024-10-0819 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastPersonalized Care and Heart Health for Senior Well-Being Join us for an enlightening episode of #TheSeniorSpotlight as we explore the secrets of living a longer, healthier life. Mary Cordova, Dr. Brian Ferris, and Dr. Alex De Moraes offer invaluable insights to help you navigate the complexities of senior healthcare and make informed decisions for a healthier future.Dr. Alex De Moraes highlights the critical role of cardiovascular health in overall well-being and longevity, while Dr. Brian Ferris connects the dots between conditions like stroke, heart disease, and aneurysms. Their discussion dives deep into the often hidden progression of cognitive decline and heart disease, using the...2024-09-2436 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastNavigating Senior Healthcare: Insights from Physicians and AdvocatesHave you ever felt lost and overwhelmed by the healthcare system while trying to care for a loved one? You’re certainly not alone.In this episode, discover effective strategies for post-hospitalization care and learn about the crucial role of case managers from seasoned experts. Join host Mary Cordova, Dr. Brian Ferris, and Dr. Alex De Moraes for a heartfelt discussion on the emotional and logistical challenges families face while navigating post-discharge care, especially for seniors unfamiliar with the complexities of the healthcare system.Episode 3 of #TheSeniorSpotlight highlights the importance of advocates and support networks du...2024-09-1011 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastEnsuring Safe Transitions in Senior Care- Geographical Challenges & Patient Advocacy In Episode 2 of #TheSeniorSpotlight, we explore the complexities of senior healthcare with insights from Dr. Brian Ferris and Dr. Alex De Moraes. We address the geographical challenges faced by seniors transitioning to care facilities farther from their medical clinic, as well as those of seniors living in remote areas needing to travel to larger medical centers for care.Our discussion emphasizes the importance of seamless care transitions and effective communication among healthcare providers. We highlight the need for strong advocacy to prevent readmissions and ensure safe discharges. Often, families feel disempowered when their senior is discharged from...2024-08-2615 min

#TheSeniorSpotlight PodcastNavigating Advanced Directives, Legal Planning, and Healthy Aging: Expert Insights on Senior CareIn the debut episode of #The Senior Spotlight Podcast, host Mary Cordova welcomes Dr. Alex De Moraes and Dr. Brian Ferris for an essential discussion on how to ensure your loved one's medical and financial wishes are honored. This episode explores the crucial legal documents every senior needs, emphasizing the importance of early conversations and proactive planning to ensure that healthcare preferences are honored.Dr. De Moraes and Dr. Ferris discuss the nuances between POLST forms and advanced directives, clarifying their distinct roles in both emergency and long-term care scenarios. Through real-life stories, they highlight the severe...2024-08-1330 min

Untold Legends: The PodcastS2: Episode 6 - The Cusp of the Fairytale with Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Preeti ChhibberWelcome back to the UNTOLD LEGENDS podcast hosted by Natalie C. Parker & Zoraida Córdova. We've had a little bit of a rebrand, so if you remember VAMPIRES NEVER GET OLD, we are still the same editors and writers, we've just expanded. Natalie and Zoraida are welcoming in the new year by chatting with Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Preeti Chhibber! This episode navigates honesty in storytelling, figuring out who the real monsters are, and how different iterations of Peter Pan—specifically the enchanting and sometimes terrifying mermaids from the tale—inspired their stories. Maggie Tokuda-Hall is the a...2024-01-1236 min

Juanito PodcastCrimen Real | El Caso de Mary Bell "La niña Psicopata" #crimen #psicópata #podcastsEpisodio 47 de Juanito Podcast Les traemos el caso de Mary Bell una niña psicopata de new castle inglaterra! espero les agrade tanto como a nosotros lo fue Crear este Episodio ♥!Correo: nauj23102@hotmail.comRedes:Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/JuanitoPodcastSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0a1V2Ey...Tiktok: JuanCamaneyyIG: JuanitoPodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-10-091h 22

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastThe Last of Us Part 3: The TV Show (Season 1) w/ Becca Rowland"Joel is sooo babygirl-coded."This week we're joined by our friend Becca Rowland, who first guested on our original The Last of Us episode, to discuss the stellar HBO adaptation of Naughty Dog's beloved 2013 video game. We knew that we would probably want to discuss this season of television, compare it to our thoughts the game, and talk about how much we are head-over-heels, madly, deeply in love with Pedro Pascal & would trade the world for a journey with him across a post-apocalyptic America, but it wasn't until after episode 3 broke our hearts into tiny little pieces...2023-04-011h 32

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastThe Nintendo 3DS: In MemoriamWe're gathered here today to mourn & celebrate the life of a video game console, Nintendo's last handheld-only device, the small but mighty Nintendo 3DS.As of March 27th, 2023, the Nintendo eShop for the 3DS and Wii U will be officially shut down, meaning 866 Wii U games and 1547 3DS games will no longer be available to purchase. We've already dedicated an episode in the past to the Nintendo Wii U, so today we're taking a look back at our memories of the 3DS: our favorite games to grace the device, StreetPass & other quirky apps, its hit-&-miss use...2023-03-241h 14

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastThe 2022 Video Game, Pop Culture, and Beyond AwardsIt's Awards Season, and you know what that means: it's time for us to once again honor the best and the gayest in gaming, pop culture, and beyond with the second annual VGPCBAs!Spanning 27 prestigious categories, Eric and Laurence present the awards and dish out legendary trophies for the best (and worst) people, games, and culture that the last year had to offer. Plus this year, extra special guest presenters join us to hand out some of the most coveted awards!It is truly THE most prestigious awards show of the season, we can't think...2023-03-121h 15

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastLet's-a-Go to Super Nintendo World!We are back! After a quick hiatus, Eric & Laurence are back to chat all about their trip to Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood, which they visited back in January 2023 during its technical previews. Now, while this ep. may have been recorded a few weeks back, our takes are still hot n' fresh like a plate of Spicy Spaghetti from Toadstool Café! What did we think of the land's signature attraction, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge? Is a visit to Bowser's Jr.'s Lair worth the $40 power-band upcharge? What about the rest of the interactive elements scattered throughout the l...2023-03-051h 09

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastM3GAN: The Little Doll Who SL4YS (w/ Sara Brown)~She's bulletproof, nothing to lose... Fire away, fire away~On this week's episode we discuss the film M3GAN! Returning guest Sara Brown (from our Persona 5 and Catherine: Full Body episodes) joins us to talk about the little murderous doll who has captivated audiences nationwide and immediately become a new gay horror icon.We talk about how she joins a lineage of haunted little dolls while also subverting the trope with a modern twist about our over-reliance on technology in child-care. Plus we ruminate on why she resonates so much with queer audiences. Is it because...2023-02-031h 27

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastGlass OnionThere's a mystery afoot! And that mystery, dear listener, is the question: is Glass Onion a worthy follow up to its 2019 predecessor Knives Out? Is there more queer stuff here that warrants a whole episode-length discussion of one of the best new detective film series of the 21st century? How good at Among Us was Stephen Sondheim, actually? Ok, so there's way more than just one mystery, but your sleuths Eric and Laurence are more than ready to take up the case in this first episode of our 2023 Filmuary series! We chat the yassification of Benoit Blanc, some stellar p...2023-01-201h 14

Gay for Play: A Video Game Podcast2023 and Me (& G4P)Brand new year, same fabulous us! Laurence and Eric welcome in 2023 with a fun little check-in ep. to start off an exciting year of queer games culture and more! We give an update on the highly anticipated and long awaited Video Games, Pop Culture, and Beyond Awards, Eric's work-related adventures with some Celebrity Gay Icons of NoteTM, how old Drag Race makes us feel, exciting new releases coming this year, and the plethora of Star Wars media out right now and whether any of it is good (spoilers: Andor definitely is). Thank you for listening to Gay for Play i...2023-01-1455 min

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastG4P's GOTYs of 2022Another year in the books, another Game of the Year list to make! We, as gay people, love to craft our little lists at the end of every year, so this week we’re having a good ol’ fashioned Game of the Year episode as we each share our individual top 5 favorite games of 2022, alongside a pretty substantial list of our honorable mentions! Which games scored 10s across the board and snatched a coveted spot on our lists? Only time (particularly the next hour and forty-five minutes of this pod) will tell!Here's to a Happy New Year...2022-12-311h 45

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastWhat if Kratos and Sonic Kissed? (God of War: Ragnarok & Sonic Frontiers)In our last regular episode of the year, we're discussing two huge games from November that we've gotten into over the past month-- Sonic Frontiers and God of War: Ragnarok. One is one of the most narratively compelling games of the year and one is, well, some good honest fun let's just say that! Eric and Laurence also discuss their Spotify Wrappeds (Spotifies Wrapped?), End of the Year List Season, feelings on the Game Awards (which aired the day after we recorded this episode), and later in the episode discuss some thoughts on Star Wars: Andor, the Don't...2022-12-161h 24

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastSchoolin' Life in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (w/ Travis Ryans)This week, our friend & fellow queer gaming podcaster Travis Ryans (they/he) from the Rainbow Road Podcast, returns to the show to discuss Pokémon Scarlet & Violet! The 9th Generation of mainline Pokémon games recently released for Nintendo Switch. Since its launch, the game has gone viral for its myriad technical issues, bugs, and poor performance, but is there still a worthwhile Pokémon RPG to be found beneath all of the mess? Well, as they would say in the Paldea region, "es complicado!"We dive into all of our thoughts, critiques, letdowns and plea...2022-12-051h 22

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastMajora's Mask4MascIt's Halloween time once again, and we are celebrating with an iconically spooky game! Well, first we're doing our civil duty as gay podcasters & sharing our love for Carly Rae Jepsen's The Loneliest Time, as well as briefly going over all the drama surrounding Bayonetta 3 on the internet this past week, but after that we're talking ALL about THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA'S MASK-- the infamously dark sequel to Ocarina of Time released for the Nintendo 64 in the year 2000. For a 22 year old game, Majora's Mask was absurdly ahead of its time, having lots to s...2022-10-291h 35

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastSomewhere Overwatch the Rainbow (w/ Brian Moreno)This week, Eric and Laurence are joined by Brian Moreno (he/him), the president of the Los Angeles Gayming Society, to discuss Blizzard's mega-popular hero shooter OVERWATCH (2)! Initially released in 2016, Overwatch is a multiplayer competitive shooter featuring a roster over over 40 playable characters with unique abilities and diverse, international backgrounds. The game garnered massive popularity from it's super high-quality animated shorts, went on to become a massive e-sports venture, and garnered headlines for canonically confirming two of its mascot characters (Tracer and Soldier:76) as queer.Overwatch's servers shut down earlier this month with the release...2022-10-221h 41

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastI Dream of Disney (Disneyland & Disney Dreamlight Valley)The boys are back from a nice little vacay to discuss their recent trips to the famous Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure theme parks! We went in the same week but on different days from each other, and we review our experiences, ruminate on whether Disney is in its flop era, talk about childhood joy, Disney adults, Star Wars slaying, Marvel's Flop Avengers Campus, and the overall state of the theme park experience in 2022. Later in the episode, to keep the Disney train rolling, we discuss DISNEY DREAMLIGHT VALLEY, Disney's foray into the life-sim genre hoping...2022-10-081h 24

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastValiDate, Splatoon 3, and September Game Announcements!This week, Laurence and Eric meet up for a more casual eppy to discuss this week's Nintendo Direct, Sony State of Play, Tokyo Game Show announcements, and more gaming news*! (*and by "more gaming news" we mean a long tangent about astrology and how 6 planets are in retrograde right now which is really harshing our vibe.) But hey! The sequel to The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild finally has a name/release date, Pikmin 4 is real, and God of War: Ragnarok looks good, so even though the stars are giving us grief rn, the future looks bright...2022-09-171h 20

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastWe're Worried, Darling (Immortality & Ooblets)After a couple months of having lovely guests on the pod, this week Eric and Laurence sit down one-on-one for a classic catch up on the truly wild amount of culture that's been happening. From the "Don't Worry Darling" drama, to Lea Michele debuting in Funny Girl, to Queen Liz 2 kicking the bucket and reincarnating as Trisha Paytas's baby— there's a LOT to discuss. Plus, Video Games! We played a couple of great ones this week. Immortality is the latest FMV (Full-Motion Video) game by "Her Story"-creator Sam Barlow, in which you, th...2022-09-091h 17

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastALIEN POYO-STAR (Kirby! w/ Alejandro Muñoz)"Category: Pink Round Puff he's the BALL... Alien SUPAstar!" Today we are talking about beloved Nintendo icon Kirby!!! Created by then-19-year-old Masahiro Sakurai (who later went on to create the Super Smash Bros. series), Kirby first hit the scene in 1992 with Kirby's Dream Land for the Nintendo Game Boy. Kirby was designed to be approachable to new and younger players unfamiliar with games, and since his inception Kirby has been known as a series with something to offer for everyone: beloved by newcomers and veteran players alike. Kirby superfan and artist Alejandro Muñoz...2022-08-271h 16

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastThe Kwanstone Project (with TinTin V.)This week, we're joined by indie game developer, artist, founder of Sipsong Studios, and creator of the new mobile title THE KWANSTONE PROJECT, TinTin V! (he/him)We interview TinTin about his experience of becoming a self-taught game developer over the pandemic & how his Lao-heritage and queer identity/community inspired and shaped the creation of his game. We also take some tangents to discuss our thoughts on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Mario Kart, Beyonce's Renaissance, and more! THE KWANSTONE PROJECT is available now on iOS and Android! Go download it now! (not...2022-08-131h 15

The Simple TruthSunday July 31, 2022Have you ever thought of sharing the gospel, only to find it too intimidating to try? You wouldn’t be the first! In today’s message, Pastor Dion speaks about the Apostle Paul sharing the gospel with the Gentiles. And, how his God-given ability to do so; inspired the people of Antioch to do the same! God allowed his messengers to do incredible things, even when they doubted him! Moses doubted his deliverance, Abraham doubted his wife, and Mary doubted her pregnancy. If God is with you, why do you doubt him?2022-07-3100 min

Gay for Play: A Video Game Podcast"PSPSPSPSPSPS" (Prey & Stray w/ Travis Ryans)This week we are thrilled to be joined by our *EXTRA* special guest, Travis Ryans!! Travis (they/he) is one of the hosts Rainbow Road: A Gay Gaming Podcast, our fellow queer gaming podcast sibling to the north. They join us to discuss PREY, the 2017 FPS/immersive sim from Arkane Studios and Bethesda about a space station overrun by a hostile spooky alien force known as the Typhon. We dive into the game's themes of morality, empathy, queerness, and iconic moments that can only be experienced through the medium of games. Then, in the second h...2022-07-291h 29

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastYu-Gay-Oh! (w/ Jake Carlin)With the recent tragic passing of "Yu-Gi-Oh!" series creator, Kazuki Takahashi, this week we reflect on the legacy of his iconic franchise, from its manga origins to what is now one of the most popular trading card games & multimedia franchises on the planet."Yu-Gi-Oh!" tells the story of Yugi Motoh, a timid, kind, young gamer with an iconic spiky hairdo who becomes possessed by the vengeful spirit of an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, who becomes Yugi's alter ego as he battles his opponents in Duel Monsters, a card game that went on to inspire the real-life TCG we k...2022-07-161h 43

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastOur Fave Games of 2022 (So Far)!Well gamers, Pride month has officially ended, and with it, the first half of 2022! We'll be honest, given the current events unfolding on the national stage, Pride month was a little rough on us this year, and we weren't quite in the right headspace to record episodes throughout the month. But we have mustered our strength & gathered once again, coming to the mic as we are, to discuss what we've been playing lately & how our GOTY list is shaping up as we discuss our favorite games from the first half of the year!Tangents include o...2022-07-021h 41

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastCategory Is: Summer Game(s) Announcements!Welcome to Gay For Play! A podcast where we take a look at the world of gaming through a queer lens. This week, the CATEGORY IS: Summer Gaming Announcements! E3 may be six feet under girl, but in its wake we've still gotten a *lot* of cool announcements this month, with various publishers & gaming companies big & small holding virtual press conferences to show off new and upcoming games. We watched through most of them and picked over 40 video games to discuss in this episode! Below is a list of everything we discuss in this episode, i...2022-06-171h 52

Gay for Play: A Video Game Podcast"You Tellin' Me a Queer Coded this Villain?"HAPPY PRIDE 2022!We are back for an all new season of Gay For Play, and we're kicking it off by talking about Queer & Queer-*Coded* Villains in video games. Queer coding the bad guy is a trope seen in media for ages, dating back to old Hollywood censorship laws & really entering our generation's collective consciousness through the villains of the Disney Renaissance of the 1990s, right around the same time that the medium of video games started to come into their own. Eric and Laurence discuss how this trope came about and why...2022-06-031h 05

Writing Excuses17.22: Establishing the EnsembleYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler Every character in your ensemble needs to matter to the team, or they probably don't belong in the ensemble. Zoraida Cordova leads us into this discussion of how we build our ensembles, how we introduce the characters, and how we ensure that all of them are important to the group. Liner Notes: The article about Superman's very first line of dialog is here. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donati...2022-05-3017 min

Writing Excuses17.21: Casting Your Story With Character VoiceYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler Every member of your ensemble has a reason to be there, but they also have their own voice. Zoraida Cordova joins us for a discussion of how we make our ensemble characters distinct from one another. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy 2022-05-2321 min

Writing Excuses17.20: Basics of Ensemble CharacterizationYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler What's the difference between an ensemble story, and a story the has a lot of characters in it? Zoraida Cordova joins us for this episode, kicking off an eight-episode mini-master-class about ensembles. In this episode we discuss what makes ensembles work, and how we distinguish the "pro-protagonist" from the "co-protagonist" as we create character arcs. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/bra...2022-05-1615 min

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 56: Groove is in the (Kingdom) Heart(s) - G4P Season Finale Final MixIt's our season finale! We'll be off for the next month, but before we take a little slumber in our memory recovery pods, we're back for one more episode to take another look at one of our favorite video game franchises that we simply cannot stop talking about: KINGDOM HEARTS.The beloved Final Fantasy / Disney crossover JRPG series has been back on our minds lately. It celebrated its 20th Anniversary earlier this month, alongside the reveal of the next mainline entry in the series: Kingdom Hearts IV. And just recently, the iconic singer of the KH theme...2022-04-291h 25

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 55: Sonic Thee HedgehogThis week, in honor of the new Sonic movie hitting theatres this weekend, we’re doing a deep dive on the blue blur himself: the hog, the myth, the legend– Sonic the Hedgehog! It's Sonic! The cool blue hedgehog who runs fast and loves chili dogs! You know the guy! In this episode we discuss the loveable blue guy's origin, our first exposure to this gaming icon, and discuss his history as a gaming cultural figure over the years. Plus we get into how the Sonic fandom has made their own queer spaces around the character, from the c...2022-04-081h 15

Gay for Play: A Video Game Podcast"The Power of the Twink" *BONUS EP. TEASER*This is a preview for our new bonus episode on Jane Campion's THE POWER OF THE DOG, available now on our Patreon page! (the bonus episode, not the movie. That's on Netflix!)In it we dive deep into the movie & discuss its themes of masculinity, longing, and queer cowboy culture. We also touch on the 2022 Oscar winners (but worry not, we don't spend much time on *that* Discourse™)To listen to the full episode, head on over to patreon.com/gayforplaypod and become a patron at any tier! (starting @ only $1/month) We're switching to a b...2022-04-0306 min

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 54: What Else We're Gay For (Other Than Elden Ring, Still)Full transparency: we're still just playing Elden Ring / experiencing video game burnout from playing too much Elden Ring, so we figured this week would be a great opportunity to catch up on other video game & pop culture moments that have been in the zeitgeist! Aside from an obligatory Elden Ring corner, topics the employee walkouts at Disney over the company's ongoing financial support of anti-LGBTQ politicians, the Hogwarts Legacy State of Play presentation, a few other video games we've been checking out (Tunic, Paradise Killer, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, Kirby and the Forgotten Land), The...2022-03-251h 15

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 53: "Try Finger, But Hole" (Elden Ring)Around once a year, a game releases that seems to completely dominate the gaming cultural conversation (by which we mean it's massively popular and men get really testy about it online). This year the game in that spotlight seems to be ELDEN RING - a new open world RPG from FromSoftware (creators of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, & Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice), directed by studio head Hidetaka Miyazaki and featuring a story & lore written by George RR Martin (yes, *that* George RR Martin)In this episode, we discuss our thoughts on this massive, brilliant, ruthless open-work adventure (basically we...2022-03-111h 15

The Simple TruthSunday February 27, 2022Being grateful changes your perspective and can change your entire life. Mary Magdalene exemplifies this. In today’s edition of The Simple Truth, Pastor Dion shares that when Jesus cast out the demons that possessed her, the entire focus of Mary’s life changed. She was so grateful for what Jesus had done for her that she became a faithful follower. Pastor Dion teaches that Mary always remembered how Jesus had rescued her and she responded in love and service to him and others.2022-02-2700 min

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 52: "HogwartsPilled" - Harry Potter Video Games (w/ Leo Grierson)Yer a wizard, podcast listener! This week we are here to discuss the Harry Potter franchise, its various video game adaptations, and our complicated relationship with the franchise as queer & trans individuals whose childhood fondness for this series has turned sour in our mouths like a bad Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean in light of JK R*wling's dangerous and repeated transphobic comments over the past few years. Our guest (and DEAR friend of the pod) Leo Grierson unpacks their feelings with us through the lens of the old PC Harry Potter video games, how we...2022-02-251h 25

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 51: “Feeling the Final Fantasy” - JRPGs & Drag (w/ Blueberri Mary)On today's episode, we are joined by our dear friend Devon, aka Ms. Blueberri Mary, to discuss one of our favorite video game genres: the humble JRPG! (Japanese Role Playing Game) And more particularly, how the fashion and design sensibilities of games like Final Fantasy X & X-2 have influenced and entire generation of queer designers and drag artists.We get into the character designs and looks that left our young gay brains gagged and inspired, how in practice they aren't too dissimilar from the pop stars and divas that typically evoke idolatry from the gays, and how...2022-02-181h 27

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 50: "I’m a Sinner, Baby" (The Forgotten City)***Timestamps for Spoilers*** (Spoiler discussion for The Forgotten City runs from 50:15 to 1:03:00)Salve friend!Believe it or not, this is our 50TH EPISODE OF THE POD!!! We wanna thank y'all up top for helping us make it to half of a hundo. Here's to at least 50 more!For our 50th episode, Daddy Nintendo gifted us an anniversary gift in the form of a juicy Nintendo Direct to discuss! We share our thoughts on Kirby going Throatzilla on large inanimate objects, Earthbound finally landing on Switch Online, Mario Kart 8 receiving new DLC 8 years...2022-02-121h 28

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 49: "Wyrdeer! We're Queer!"- Pokémon Legends: Arceus (w/ Connor Marsh)To paraphrase one Ms. Gia Gunn "This is a place for (Pokémon) Legends, okay?"This week, we're joined by our friend (and composer of our theme music) Connor Marsh (he/him) to discuss Pokémon Legends: Arceus— the latest entry in the Pokémon franchise that brings a much needed breath of fresh air to the long-running series of loveable monsters. A prequel to Pokémon Diamond & Pearl (Laurence's favorite Pokémon entries of all time), Legends Arceus is set in the Hisui region— a land of the distant past that will one day c...2022-02-041h 26

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 48: But I'm a Cheerleader! (with Becca Rowland)All month long January has been FILMUARY here at Gay For Play.This week, we're ending the month by discussing a queer cult classic, the 1999 satirical romantic comedy: But I'm a CheerleaderAnd the boys are not alone this week! We're joined by dear friend of the pod Becca Rowland, who last joined us on our The Last of Us (Part 1) episode last March! Becca's the one who recommended we watch this movie for our last episode of Filmuary, and we're so glad she did, because the three of us have so much to say...2022-01-281h 21

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 47: "One Pill, Two Pill, Yass Pill, Blue Pill" (The Matrix / The Matrix Resurrections)FILMUARY continues here at Gay for Play this week! In today's episode, we dive deep into a discussion of The Matrix and its newest installation, The Matrix Resurrections! One of us is a lifelong fan of this iconic sci-fi trilogy, and one of us is a total newcomer to the franchise (& hadn't even seen the original until like, last week!). But we both have a LOT to share about Keanu and his slo-mo bullet dodging adventures. It would be a Herculean task to have a thorough conversation about a series that has been discussed to de...2022-01-211h 25

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 46: Musical Theatre Films of 2021- Faves and FlopsWe're back with our first episode of 2022! Except here's the thing... January is famously a slow month for video game releases. We also haven't been playing that many games lately, but we have been watching a lot of movies! (They're kinda like video games except you can't decide when people jump). So we've decided to make January a month of talking about cinema!!! Because it's our podcast and we can talk about whatever we want,. "FILMuary" we're calling it. And we're kicking it off by going back to our roots and tapping into our inner musical theatre kids and...2022-01-141h 36

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 45: Our Fave Games of the Year 2021!!Happy New Year y'all!Our first full year of video game podcasting is drawing to a close and We're closing out 2021 with a just a chill, good ol' discussion of 10 of our favorite games of the year. We're not tryna to decide on some sort of "definitive", "OFFICIAL", "G4P 2021 GOTY!" or anything like that, but rather, just taking the time to each share and honor 5 games that really vibed with us this year! (loosely ranked, because ultimately people love lists and we are trying to keep this show entertaining and suspenseful, obvi)W...2021-12-311h 26

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 44: The 1st Annual Video Game, Pop Culture, and Beyond Awards!Coming to you LIVE from the Red Carpet, it's us! We are here to host and present the first ever VIDEO GAME POP CULTURE AND BEYOND Awards, where we will honor the best and brightest of 2021's video games, pop culture moments, (and beyond!) Move over, Game Awards, because it's our time to shine.Spanning 33 prestigious categories including "Best Indie", "Biggest YASS of the Year", "Gayest Game of the Year", and of course, the highly coveted "Game of the Year" - Laurence and Eric will be presenting the list of nominees and awarding the winners with NFBs (N...2021-12-171h 27

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 43: Side by Side by UnsightedStudio Pixel Punk's Unsighted is a Queer, Zelda/Metroidvania-like indie game with engaging gameplay, an emotionally-rich narrative, and some really inspired game mechanics. It's a real hidden gem that has quickly become a late-contender for one of our favorite games of the year! And speaking of our favorite games of the year, we recorded this episode pre-Game Awards, but we have a special announcement on our own upcoming GOTY plans!After our discussion on Unsighted (and a quick Pokémon BDSP-update from Larry,) we discuss Real Housewives, Selling Sunset, tick, tick...BOOM, theatre, a...2021-12-101h 02

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 42: Anniversary Crossing! (ACNH Retrospective and 2.0 Discussion)It’s the 1-year anniversary of GAY FOR PLAY!!! We’re celebrating by taking it back to the game that started it all for us: Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which fittingly, recently received a massive 2.0 update and DLC expansion with Happy Home Paradise. We discuss what’s new about the game, what the game has meant for queer players over the past year and a half, and how to get back into the game if you’re one of the many people who fell off of the game at some point (spoiler alert: it’s not too hard!)We als...2021-11-271h 30

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 41: All Too Yass (90-Minute Version) (G4P's Culture Catch-Up Version)Greetings Swifties and Swifties-in-the-making...This week, ahead of our 1-year(!) anniversary next week, we're back with another edition of "Rest Mode" where we catch up on the video game and pop culture news that we've been digging into!There is truly SO much to discuss this week: The Game Award nominations are OUT! GTA remasters are buggy as hell! Corporations like Meta and Activision-Blizzard are continuing to exhibit ghoulish evil flop behavior! New POKEMON games are here. Jen Shah is under ARREST on national TV. Britney's conservatorship is OVER! And of course... RED (Taylor's Version...2021-11-191h 28

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 40: Nier AutotomatoFor the Glory of Podcast-kind!This week we discuss NieR: Automata, the 2017 Action JRPG from the visionary mind of director Yoko Taro and PlatinumGames that has us a bit divided!The game tells a rich story about a post-apocalyptic future where sexy battle androids are still fighting in the name of their ancient human creators. The game explores themes of identity, humanism, and philosophy through a really non-conventional gameplay experience that some consider a gaming masterpiece. But what exactly is a "masterpiece"? What makes a game, or any piece of art in any m...2021-11-121h 24

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 39: Our Personal Canon! 5 Pieces of Media That Shaped UsHey y'all! This week, between travel plans and the distraction of the Animal Crossing 2.0 update, we didn't have time to record a brand-new episode this week, but fear not! We're re-releasing our favorite Patreon-exclusive bonus episode here onto our main feed! In it, we pick 5 pieces of media (a TV show, Book, Movie, Album, and of course, a Video Game) that hold a special meaning to us and explain why our picks have helped shape us into the queer weirdos we are today. (Shouts out to the...2021-11-051h 04

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 38: Halloqween Spooktaculqueer!BOO! Surprise! we’re back for yet another HALLOWEEN-y episode of Gay For Play!This week, we’re talking all about the video games that scared us; from recent titles like Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye, to classic childhood haunts like underwater levels in N64 games, creepypasta video game urban legends, and indie horror game titles that have chilled us to the bone.We also discuss a bit of news, including the rocky launch of Nintendo 64 games on the Switch Online service, highlights from this week’s Playstation State of Play event...2021-10-291h 22

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 37: "Be Gay Do Crimes - The Game" (Night in the Woods)🎃 Happy Halloween! 🎃 To celebrate the spooky season, this week we're discussing Night in the Woods (2017) - a story-driven, sidescroller adventure game where you play as Mae Borowski, a 20 year-old recent college dropout who has returned to her hometown of Possum Springs; a quaint autumnal town in decay along the American Rust Belt -- reconnecting with her family, neighbors, and her queer cohort of childhood friends over the course of a couple weeks in late October (including of course......HAalloweEeEeen!) We have lots of thoughts to unpack about this really beautiful, honest, and very existentially spooky video g...2021-10-221h 09

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 36: Metroid Monkey Ball: Banana DreadHappy October, listeners! The autumn air is crisp, Halloween is approaching, and we are smack dab in the middle of the fall video game season. There are just so so so many video games to play and discuss at this juncture in time, so this week, we're taking a look at two recent video game releases that we've been enjoying!Eric talks about his spooky space adventures with Metroid Dread, while Laurence brings some vaporwave monkey marble madness to the table with Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania. We briefly discuss the history of...2021-10-151h 07

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 35: Let's TALK about the BugsnaxThe Bugsnax are out of the bag, and we're FINALLY here to talk about them! This week we're discussing last year's smash indie hit Bugsnax, and how this cute Pokemon Snap inspired collect-a-thon about Grumpuses snacking on weird half-bug/half-snack creatures surprisingly has some of the most heartfelt queer representation we've seen in a video game in years!Before that though, we do of course talk for about 15 minutes about our boy Sora from Kingdom Hearts miraculously making his way into Super Smash Bros Ultimate, because how could we not? But once we get that out of o...2021-10-081h 17

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 34: Mamma Mia, NOT this Mario Movie... (Nintendo Direct Recap!)It's-a us! We weren't planning on releasing this episode this week, but after last week's Nintendo Direct presentation, we simply HAD to get on the mic and weigh in with our reactions to the incredibly chaotic cast reveal of the Super Mario movie.Aside from that, there were also some cool announcements in this week's direct! We go over our favorite announcements from the event, but that being said, the Mario cast discussion makes up about the first 20 minutes of this episode, because truly how were our brains supposed to focus on anything else? (This...2021-10-0148 min

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 33: "Why Won't Nintendo Let Us Play as Zelda?" (w/ Sam Weller)Hey! Listen!Our guest this week is Sam Weller! the host & creator of one of our favorite L.A. comedy shows, Super Dating Simulator. He joins us to discuss making queer-centric comedy out of anime/video game/nerd culture, before we launch into our MAIN topic of the week, where we'll be diving into a hot button issue for Nintendo-stans Why the **** won't Nintendo let us play as Princess Zelda??We've talked about the Legend of Zelda series on this podcast often, but this week we're focusing on the titular Princess Zelda...2021-09-241h 32

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 32: Rest Mode! G4P's Culture Catch-UpWelcome to Rest Mode! Our Multimedia Culture Catch-Up Corner. Listennnnn... We play a lot of video games here at Gay For Play, but we also consume a lot of other media! The thing about video games is that they are long and sometimes it's fun to talk about other things, so this week, the two of us sit down to talk about the TV shows, books, music, and yes, video games, that we've been enjoying lately.We discuss, amongst many topics: the Drag Race All Stars 6 Finale, Netflix's Q-Force, our thoughts on Lady Gaga's Dawn...2021-09-101h 23

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 31: "Qatherine is Qamp" (Catherine: Full Body w/ Sara Brown)This week we're joined once again by our friend Sara Brown: an iconic comedian & cosplayer who you may have previously heard on our Persona 5 Royal episode! She's back to talk about yet another ATLUS game, the super stylish, puzzle horror RPG Catherine: Full Body. And much like Persona 5, this cult classic misses the mark pretty heavily in regards to how it handles LGBT representation. (CONTENT WARNING for transphobia in this game that we discuss at length about halfway through this episode) We chat with Sara about Catherine's portrayal of straight culture, muse on authorial i...2021-08-271h 33

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 30: Ariana Grande, Fortnite, & the Inevitable Brand-Singularity PointWhere we dropping, gays? This week, Laurence and Eric discuss the recent Ariana Grande Rift Tour Fortnite concert: the latest and most ambitious virtual interactive concert by the battle royale shooter-turned-multimedia social gaming hub(?) We don’t quite know how to describe what Fortnite even really is these days. We talk about Fortnite’s history and what it has become: a massive multimedia global cultural phenomenon that hosts in-game concerts, events, and more branding deals than the eye (of the storm) can see. This of course, inevitably leads us to a conversation on one of our favorite topics here...2021-08-201h 02

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 29: "There's a She-Wolf In the Twilight" (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)~Awooo! Hi heroes, this week we're travelling back to Hyrule, joined by our show artist and bestie NICK ADAMS to revisit his (& Eric's) favorite Zelda adventure: 2006's The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Nintendo Gamecube/Wii! We discuss the game's beautiful, melancholic world-building, queer-coded characters, Link's masculinity (not to mention his sexy sumo wrestling scene), take an unhinged tangent on the Zelda-timeline after promising ourselves not to, and we attempt to answer the question every Zelda-fan must ask themselves- Water Temples: flops or no?We also talk more about the ongoing discussion of sexism and h...2021-08-131h 39

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 28: "Ain't No Anxiety Mountain High Enough" (Celeste)Hiii listeners! We're back from our summer vacation and ooh ooh OOH it's just so damn hot that we needed to cool ourselves off with a nice little retreat to the snowy mountains of... CELESTE!This 2018 indie platformer is considered by many (ourselves included) to be a modern masterpiece. It's themes of self-reflection, anxiety, and perseverance made for a story that queer and trans gamers saw their own journeys reflected in. We talk about why that is, and how the game retroactively served as a vehicle for lead developer Maddy Thorson's own exploration of their gender identity.2021-08-061h 04

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 27: Our Fave 2021 Games (So Far)!!Greetings LGBTQs, Allies, et al. Thank you for supporting this show for the past 7 months!It’s the beginning of summer, it’s Cancer szn, and the time has come for us two Cali boiz to take our first little vacation!In this unofficial “season 1 finale” episode, we’re once again in person together taking a look at the year in gayming so far- we talk our favorite games of the year up to now, our favorite non-2021 games we’ve played this year, and our most anticipated games of the months ahead.We also...2021-06-261h 13

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 26: Gay for Play's E3 2021 RuCapWell folks, E3... certainly happened this year! Whether it was a hit or not is greatly up for debate, but nevertheless, the famous gaming showcase returned to 2021 in an all-digital format. Some hugely anticipated games were revealed & showcased for the first time, some press conferences were big flops, but you can't say there weren't games aplenty- from small indie devs and publishers, to titans of the industry like Xbox, Bethesda, and Nintendo. We, being **highly-certified professional video game journalists**, watched pretty much every showcase E3 and Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest had to offer, and we're he...2021-06-181h 36

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 25: "Mama Let's Research!" (PRIDE 2021: Queer Gaming's Past & Present)In honor of Pride Month, this week we’re taking our silly gay lil show back to its roots and celebrating queer-centric video games throughout gaming history! First, Laurence shares the stories of two of the earliest documented LGBTQ-centric video games -- Caper in the Castro and Gayblade-- exploring the stories of how these two landmark games came about as a form of protest and resilience during the height of the AIDS-epidemic.Then, Eric jumps us forward in time to discuss a modern queer gaming icon: game developer Robert Yang. Unafraid to create intimate, explicit, & pr...2021-06-111h 02

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 24: Too Much Wii U! (with Rawlins and Sam)Hey squirrel-friends! It’s Pride 2021! And we’re kicking the month off with an HISTORIC crossover event. This week, we’re joined by Rawlins & Sam, hosts of the brilliant podcast Rawlins and Sam Watch Too Much TV, to talk about Nintendo’s queerest AND most TV-centric console: the Nintendo Wii U!We talk about why we love this dear little flop of a console, how it in many ways served as a prototype/precursor to its much more lucrative successor- the Nintendo Switch, and how despite being a commercial failure, it delivered some iconic gaming moments!ALSO...2021-06-041h 41

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 23: "Summer Vibez Special!" (Resident Evil & Fire Emblem: Three Houses)After half a year of podcasting remotely, Laurence and Eric are FINALLY united in the meat space! We’re celebrating the historic occasion by chillaxin’ in the LA summer sun and giving you a laid-back, grab bag episode! We share our predictions for E3, our takes on the Pride discourse, and talk about how the new Mario Golf game is named after a brand of poppers. Then we dive into our main topic, where in the spirit of playing games together, Eric attempts to convince Laurence to check out the Resident Evil franchise, and Laurence tries...2021-05-271h 10

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 22: "Cause That's What a Mothaf***in' Monster DO" (Monster Prom)This week, Laurence and Eric play and discuss MONSTER PROM, a 2018 multiplayer dating sim where you play as a monster at Monster high seeking a monster date to take to prom!! We take a look at the game's total open approach to queer dating and gender identity options, explore the characters' monstrous chaotic debauchery, and compare the game to our own (much tamer) high school prom memories!We also cover the Epic vs Apple trial, and talk yet again about Lady Dimitrescu– Resident Evil’s 9’6” vampire woman that the internet is MAD horny for (and rightfully...2021-05-131h 01

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 21: "Edith Finch: What Remains of HA?"This week, it’s just the two of us for the first time in a minute! We share our thoughts on New Pokémon Snap & Super Mario Party’s incredibly belated new online mode before diving into our main topic of the week: WHAT REMAINS OF EDITH FINCHDeveloped by Giant Sparrow Studios and published by Annapurna Interactive, this 2017 narrative adventure game explores the story of Edith Finch, a young woman & the last remaining member of her family, revisiting her abandoned childhood home: the sprawling manor of the Finch family, who have all tragically perished due to what...2021-05-061h 09

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 20: "Kingdom Farts" (with Casey Fox)Simple and Clean is the WAY that you're making US feel tonight, dear listener.Why?Because this week, we’re finally diving into one of our favorite game series of all time: KINGDOM HEARTS! An incredibly fun, beloved, and at times, convoluted series of action RPGs with killer gameplay, truly gorrrrgggge music, and an emotionally compelling story that blends the anime-style storytelling of Final Fantasy with - you guessed it - the beloved characters, settings, and IP of the Walt Disney Company! (really!)We know that sounds bonkers and impossible to parse, but luckily we're jo...2021-04-291h 48

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 19: "Achievement Unlocked: Trans Rights!" (If Found w/ Jasmine Mosebar)*TIMESTAMPS Below*This week we’re joined by our friend Jasmine Mosebar (she/her) to discuss Irish indie dev. Dreamfeel’s hit 2020 visual novel: If Found…: a coming of age story about a trans girl named Kasio returning to her small Irish hometown one fateful December in 1993. We talk about how refreshing it is to have queer/trans stories that aren’t centered around romance or coming out, the game's brilliant "erasing" mechanic, and how this game sets a new standard for trans storytelling in not just video games, but ALL mediums. Plus we talk about th...2021-04-221h 46

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 18: "The Last of Us Part II: The Second One" (w/ Connor Marsh)Well, we’re FINALLY doing it. We’re joined once again by friend and show composer Connor Marsh (he/him) to tackle one of the biggest games of 2020: Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II for the Playstation 4. (A quick note on **SPOILERS**: This is one of those games that are impossible to talk about without going deep into the plot, so please note that we will be fully discussing spoilers from 15:45 onward.)From there, join us as we dive DEEP into discussing this timely & divisive masterpiece of a game, a...2021-04-081h 56

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 17: Straight For Play! (w/ Larry & Erick)Laurence and Eric are out this week, but fortunately they’ve entrusted the show to their (totally real) friends Larry and Erick, who are here to talk to you, dear listener, about video games from a what? HETEROSEXUAL perspective. We know you usually come to this show for queer, diverse perspectives on video games, but the thing is: Straight voices these days are so often overlooked (& even silenced!) in the worlds of gaming and podcasting. So Laurence & Eric, as fierce allies of the Heterosexual Community, are here to give Larry & Erick space to talk about some of vi...2021-04-0140 min

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 16: Games that Got Us THROUGH the Past Year (w/ Connor Marsh)Y'all, it's been a whole year since we first locked down in our homes last March with nothing but Animal Crossing to keep us company. It's been a tough couple of weeks, & we're all feeling some type of way about this Panniversary, so we decided to take things a bit more casual this week. Instead of focusing on one game, we're joined by our good friend: actor & composer Connor Marsh (he/him) to kiki with us on some game news and take a retrospective look at this past year in Gaming Culture & games that meant a lot to...2021-03-251h 30

Gay for Play: A Video Game PodcastEp. 15: "Nature is Healing, WE are The Last of Us" (TLOU Part I w/ Becca Rowland)Craft your med-kits and molotov cocktails, because we’re tackling a big game on our list this week! We’re joined by our dear friend, Chicago-based actress Becca Rowland, to talk about Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us (Part 1!)Widely considered by many to be one of the best video game narratives of all time, this post-apocalyptic action-adventure game explores the relationship between Joel & Ellie, two strangers who become surrogate father/daughter figures for each other as they journey across a version of America decimated by..... a deadly pandemic that turns people into fungus zombies. (Look, sorry...2021-03-181h 41

Season 13 – Writing Excuses13.50: What Writers Get Wrong, with Zoraida CórdovaYour Hosts: Brandon, Mary Robinette, Dan, and Howard, with special guest Zoraida Córdova Zoraida Córdova, an award-winning author of urban fantasy, was born in Ecuador and grew up in Queens. She joins us to talk about what writers get wrong (and what they can get right and do well) when portraying latinas in the United … Continue reading 13.50: What Writers Get Wrong, with Zoraida Córdova →2018-12-1720 min

Writing Excuses13.50: What Writers Get Wrong, with Zoraida CórdovaYour Hosts: Brandon, Mary Robinette, Dan, and Howard, with special guest Zoraida Córdova Zoraida Córdova, an award-winning author of urban fantasy, was born in Ecuador and grew up in Queens. She joins us to talk about what writers get wrong (and what they can get right and do well) when portraying latinas in the United States. Credits: This episode was recorded live at FanX Salt Lake (formerly "Salt Lake Comic-Con") by Dan Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson Liner Notes: The comic book Howard referenced is Guardians of Infinity #3, (2016), which features a back-up story entitled "Yo Soy Groo...2018-12-1720 min

Pocket-Sized PlayMonsterhearts: Memories of Mercy Falls 03 - "Rogues Gallery"Timecodes 00:00:46 - Thomas (Bought Loyalty; Lash Out Physically) 00:10:00 - Smoke break (Contract; Turn Someone On) 00:14:03 - Jump the fence (Keep Your Cool; Run Away) 00:16:55 - A nun’s habit (Gaze Into the Abyss) 00:20:50 - Sister Mary Edward Price 00:27:53 - “Take off your fucking clothes and follow my lead!” (Lash Out Physically) Links Our website www.gauntlet-rpg.com Our Patreon patreon.com/gauntlet Follow us on Twitter...2018-08-2432 min

Pocket-Sized PlayMonsterhearts: Return to Mercy Falls 13Timecodes “So, are we going to have a three-way or what?” (01:15) “I totally fucked her” (07:25) Denouement (13:50) Sister Mary Edward Price (19:23) Gauntlet Hangouts: https://gauntlet-hangouts.firebaseapp.com/events 2018-01-2127 min