Shows
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreBonus Episode: Kirby and the GameCube Ride AgainAfter all the news from the April 2nd Nintendo Direct, we had to put out a bonus episode with our reactions and some of the additional information we've found about the Star-Crossed World upgrade for Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby Air Riders, GameCube games on the Switch 2, and more. Who is this mysterious new Waddle Dee with a telescope in Star-Crossed World? Could Sakurai and Bandai Namco be bringing some of their sensibilities from Smash Bros. into Air Riders? And while the Switch 2 may be expensive, do the hundreds of dollars in rarer and pricey GameCube titles they're...2025-04-1238 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreEverything We Can Assemble About the Lost Kirby for GCNFirst announced in 2004, Kirby for Nintendo GameCube (which never received an official title beyond that) looked to be an ambitious Kirby adventure for a new console generation. But despite several exciting announcements, screenshots, and trailers that had Kirby fans of the 2000's eagerly anticipating its arrival, the game was quietly canceled, and it would be years before Kirby saw another non-handheld release. What happened to Kirby for GCN, and what kind of game would it have been? There's actually a lot we can piece together, so for this episode Sean, Bridget, and Gigi are going through all the information...2025-04-021h 19Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreEverything We Can Assemble About the Lost Kirby for GCNFirst announced in 2004, Kirby for Nintendo GameCube (which never received an official title beyond that) looked to be an ambitious Kirby adventure for a new console generation. But despite several exciting announcements, screenshots, and trailers that had Kirby fans of the 2000's eagerly anticipating its arrival, the game was quietly canceled, and it would be years before Kirby saw another non-handheld release. What happened to Kirby for GCN, and what kind of game would it have been? There's actually a lot we can piece together, so for this episode Sean, Bridget, and Gigi are going through all the information...2025-04-021h 19Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreGigi in Japan: Stories and Secrets from the Nintendo MuseumGigi, one of our co-hosts and the Editor-in-Chief of WiKirby, is back from a long trip to Japan. During the last episode we talked with her about her more Kirby-centric experiences, like the Kirby Cafes, and for this show we're moving the conversation more generally to the other Nintendo things she saw--including the Nintendo Museum. There are some parts of the museum they don't let visitors photograph, so we enjoyed hearing this inside account of what all the museum has to offer. There's also time to discuss Japan's Pokémon locales and, of course, the Kirby arcade game.2025-03-1938 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreGigi in Japan: Stories and Secrets from the Nintendo MuseumGigi, one of our co-hosts and the Editor-in-Chief of WiKirby, is back from a long trip to Japan. During the last episode we talked with her about her more Kirby-centric experiences, like the Kirby Cafes, and for this show we're moving the conversation more generally to the other Nintendo things she saw--including the Nintendo Museum. There are some parts of the museum they don't let visitors photograph, so we enjoyed hearing this inside account of what all the museum has to offer. There's also time to discuss Japan's Pokémon locales and, of course, the Kirby arcade game.2025-03-1938 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreKirby Cafes and Other Highlights from Gigi's Trip to JapanGigi recently spent several weeks in Japan, and she's back to tell us all about it! In this episode we mainly focus on the Kirby experiences, including a detailed discussion of her time at the Kirby Cafes. She has plenty to share on how to secure a reservation at one of these massively popular theme restaurants, her thoughts on the food and décor, and how it all compares to the similarly popular Pokémon Cafes. We also discuss Kirby's ubiquitous presence in Japan more broadly and how it compares to the U.S. and Brazil.Ne...2025-03-0559 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreKirby Cafes and Other Highlights from Gigi's Trip to JapanGigi recently spent several weeks in Japan, and she's back to tell us all about it! In this episode we mainly focus on the Kirby experiences, including a detailed discussion of her time at the Kirby Cafes. She has plenty to share on how to secure a reservation at one of these massively popular theme restaurants, her thoughts on the food and décor, and how it all compares to the similarly popular Pokémon Cafes. We also discuss Kirby's ubiquitous presence in Japan more broadly and how it compares to the U.S. and Brazil.Ne...2025-03-0559 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreKirby's Drum Land: Finding a Rhythm with Taiko no Tatsujin and Donkey KongaDrumroll please...it's time for an episode on drumming to Kirby music in non-Kirby games. Music class is in session as Bridget introduces Sean and Ky to the history of the Taiko no Tatsujin series, some of which contain Kirby songs and cameos. They also reflect on the iconic DK bongos and the Kirby songs that were playable in the GameCube's Donkey Konga series. The 2000's saw a surprising boom of rhythm games with instrument peripherals, from Taiko no Tatsujin to Guitar Hero. Would you want to see this trend return? And what instruments would you...2025-02-1937 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreKirby's Drum Land: Finding a Rhythm with Taiko no Tatsujin and Donkey KongaDrumroll please...it's time for an episode on drumming to Kirby music in non-Kirby games. Music class is in session as Bridget introduces Sean and Ky to the history of the Taiko no Tatsujin series, some of which contain Kirby songs and cameos. They also reflect on the iconic DK bongos and the Kirby songs that were playable in the GameCube's Donkey Konga series. The 2000's saw a surprising boom of rhythm games with instrument peripherals, from Taiko no Tatsujin to Guitar Hero. Would you want to see this trend return? And what instruments would you...2025-02-1937 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreSay Yes to the DS: Kirby Canvas Curse with Nic McConnellIn this episode, Sean and Bridget are joined by special guest Nic McConnell, Age Ratings Manager at Riot Games, to discuss his favorite Kirby game: Kirby Canvas Curse. Together they reflect on Canvas Curse's amazing visuals and level design, the enduring appeal of the DS's touchscreen controls, and the unique background of the game's director Motomi Katayama (who worked on a surprising range of series from Ridge Racer to Tekken). Then for the latter part of the show, Nic describes his work in the age ratings space, with fascinating insights on what it's like to help Riot navigate the...2025-02-051h 10Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreSay Yes to the DS: Kirby Canvas Curse with Nic McConnellIn this episode, Sean and Bridget are joined by special guest Nic McConnell, Age Ratings Manager at Riot Games, to discuss his favorite Kirby game: Kirby Canvas Curse. Together they reflect on Canvas Curse's amazing visuals and level design, the enduring appeal of the DS's touchscreen controls, and the unique background of the game's director Motomi Katayama (who worked on a surprising range of series from Ridge Racer to Tekken). Then for the latter part of the show, Nic describes his work in the age ratings space, with fascinating insights on what it's like to help Riot navigate the...2025-02-051h 10Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreCatching Up with Captain Dangerous + Switch 2 RevealKy "Captain Dangerous" Parker has been away from the podcast for a bit, so in this episode we're catching up with her on her latest miniature projects, current photography work, and what it's like to be a Nintendo Ambassador during the quiet period before a new console launch. Speaking of which, the Switch 2 was just revealed, so we've got some thoughts and reflections to share on that as well—particularly when it comes to those potentially mouse-like new Joy-Cons.This is a shorter episode, and for the time being our schedule going to start alternating episodes of...2025-01-2124 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreCatching Up with Captain Dangerous + Switch 2 RevealKy "Captain Dangerous" Parker has been away from the podcast for a bit, so in this episode we're catching up with her on her latest miniature projects, current photography work, and what it's like to be a Nintendo Ambassador during the quiet period before a new console launch. Speaking of which, the Switch 2 was just revealed, so we've got some thoughts and reflections to share on that as well—particularly when it comes to those potentially mouse-like new Joy-Cons.This is a shorter episode, and for the time being our schedule going to start alternating episodes of...2025-01-2124 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreA Kirby Music Roundtable with Megan Kelz and Duncan "PixelTea" SmithFor this episode, Sean sits down with composers Megan Kelz (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/) for a conversation all about the music of Kirby. They go in-depth on the artists behind Kirby's famous songs, highlighting many of their favorite tracks along the way, and explore the actual music theory and instrumentation behind what makes that signature Kirby sound.Megan composed "Winds of Change," the music we use as our theme music, and Duncan provided the new arrangement you hear at the start and end of every show. We are...2025-01-081h 01Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreA Kirby Music Roundtable with Megan Kelz and Duncan "PixelTea" SmithFor this episode, Sean sits down with composers Megan Kelz (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/) for a conversation all about the music of Kirby. They go in-depth on the artists behind Kirby's famous songs, highlighting many of their favorite tracks along the way, and explore the actual music theory and instrumentation behind what makes that signature Kirby sound.Megan composed "Winds of Change," the music we use as our theme music, and Duncan provided the new arrangement you hear at the start and end of every show. We are...2025-01-081h 01Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreStrawberry Battlefields Forever: Why We're Still Playing Kirby's Dream BuffetAs you gather with friends and family for the holidays, you may consider returning to 2022's Kirby's Dream Buffet—a budget-friendly party game that packs a lot of fun into $15. While not a traditional Kirby game (he's just rolling in ball form here), Dream Buffet still has tons of unlockables and more than twenty food-inspired stages of racing, battles, and mini-games. For this episode, Bridget, Sean, and Gigi dig into the feast of secrets and trivia both within and surrounding the game, including details from its related Japanese light novel and the unique way it was marketed in Brazil as...2024-12-241h 04Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreStrawberry Battlefields Forever: Why We're Still Playing Kirby's Dream BuffetAs you gather with friends and family for the holidays, you may consider returning to 2022's Kirby's Dream Buffet—a budget-friendly party game that packs a lot of fun into $15. While not a traditional Kirby game (he's just rolling in ball form here), Dream Buffet still has tons of unlockables and more than twenty food-inspired stages of racing, battles, and mini-games. For this episode, Bridget, Sean, and Gigi dig into the feast of secrets and trivia both within and surrounding the game, including details from its related Japanese light novel and the unique way it was marketed in Brazil as...2024-12-241h 04Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHAL Laboratory's "Bodacious" Kabuki: Quantum FighterFor this episode we're heading back to 1990--and forward to 2056--for Kabuki: Quantum Fighter, a pre-Kirby sci-fi platformer that marked the first time HAL Laboratory published a game they did not develop themselves. Sean and Bridget are here to discuss this bizarre adventure, in which a kabuki actor (actually a colonel who got uploaded into Earth's main defense computer) flips and hair-whips his way to defeating an evil virus. It might not be one of HAL's greatest hits, but if you're into classic NES platformers, Kabuki: Quantum Fighter is still a good time today (although you might want to...2024-12-1150 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHAL Laboratory's "Bodacious" Kabuki: Quantum FighterFor this episode we're heading back to 1990--and forward to 2056--for Kabuki: Quantum Fighter, a pre-Kirby sci-fi platformer that marked the first time HAL Laboratory published a game they did not develop themselves. Sean and Bridget are here to discuss this bizarre adventure, in which a kabuki actor (actually a colonel who got uploaded into Earth's main defense computer) flips and hair-whips his way to defeating an evil virus. It might not be one of HAL's greatest hits, but if you're into classic NES platformers, Kabuki: Quantum Fighter is still a good time today (although you might want to...2024-12-1150 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreThere's A Lot We Already Know About Kirby News For 2025It's almost 2025, and while the biggest announcements for the Switch's successor are still shrouded in mystery, there's already a lot we know about what's coming for Kirby next year. In this episode, Sean and Gigi break down what for sure is coming, what is likely coming based on our best estimates, and even a few more wild predictions toward the end.Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode.We will also now be uploading more visual versions of...2024-11-2757 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreThere's A Lot We Already Know About Kirby News For 2025It's almost 2025, and while the biggest announcements for the Switch's successor are still shrouded in mystery, there's already a lot we know about what's coming for Kirby next year. In this episode, Sean and Gigi break down what for sure is coming, what is likely coming based on our best estimates, and even a few more wild predictions toward the end.Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode.We will also now be uploading more visual versions of...2024-11-2757 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreKirby Sass Attack: Why the Feisty Kirby's Avalanche Never Released in JapanDid you know Kirby's Avalanche is the only Kirby game never to release in Japan? That's because it's the Western version of Super Puyo Puyo, redesigned with Kirby characters instead of the usual Puyo Puyo crowd. (This also explains why Kirby is a little sassier in this one, as his personality is modeled after Puyo Puyo protagonist Arle Nadja.)For this episode of Kirby Conversations, Sean, Bridget, and Gigi are going through the history of this classic Kirby puzzle game, with an avalanche of trivia, history, other puzzle games we recommend, and even notes on the...2024-11-1357 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreKirby Sass Attack: Why the Feisty Kirby's Avalanche Never Released in JapanDid you know Kirby's Avalanche is the only Kirby game never to release in Japan? That's because it's the Western version of Super Puyo Puyo, redesigned with Kirby characters instead of the usual Puyo Puyo crowd. (This also explains why Kirby is a little sassier in this one, as his personality is modeled after Puyo Puyo protagonist Arle Nadja.)For this episode of Kirby Conversations, Sean, Bridget, and Gigi are going through the history of this classic Kirby puzzle game, with an avalanche of trivia, history, other puzzle games we recommend, and even notes on the...2024-11-1357 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHappy HALoween: The Scariest Moments in Kirby GamesWith Halloween approaching for our staff and listeners in the U.S., for this episode we decided to explore our favorite scarier or high-tension moments from Kirby games. From frightening final bosses to surprisingly sophisticated moments that explore themes like death or colonialism, the Kirby series is no stranger to going to some darker places. (Lest this sound like a heavy episode, we have plenty of fun with this topic along the way, and in fact this interplay between Kirby games' lighter and darker sides is something we feel many players enjoy about the series.) And in the last...2024-10-301h 11Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHappy HALoween: The Scariest Moments in Kirby GamesWith Halloween approaching for our staff and listeners in the U.S., for this episode we decided to explore our favorite scarier or high-tension moments from Kirby games. From frightening final bosses to surprisingly sophisticated moments that explore themes like death or colonialism, the Kirby series is no stranger to going to some darker places. (Lest this sound like a heavy episode, we have plenty of fun with this topic along the way, and in fact this interplay between Kirby games' lighter and darker sides is something we feel many players enjoy about the series.) And in the last...2024-10-301h 11Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreRevisiting the Original Kirby's Return to Dream Land (with Flashback 64)For this episode, we're flashing back to the original Kirby's Return to Dream Land on Wii with Gooey and McKenna of the Nintendo 64 podcast Flashback 64. Even with the KRtDL remake out on Switch, the original still holds up with its distinct art style, motion controls, and even some unique content. And for fans of retro Kirby games, it may come the closest of any of them to capturing that spirit of the lost GameCube game once shown in trailers so many years ago. Some of us from Kirby Conversations recently appeared on Flashback 64 to discuss Kirby's...2024-10-161h 29Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreRevisiting the Original Kirby's Return to Dream Land (with Flashback 64)For this episode, we're flashing back to the original Kirby's Return to Dream Land on Wii with Gooey and McKenna of the Nintendo 64 podcast Flashback 64. Even with the KRtDL remake out on Switch, the original still holds up with its distinct art style, motion controls, and even some unique content. And for fans of retro Kirby games, it may come the closest of any of them to capturing that spirit of the lost GameCube game once shown in trailers so many years ago. Some of us from Kirby Conversations recently appeared on Flashback 64 to discuss Kirby's...2024-10-161h 29Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHow the Kirby Star Allies DLC Pushed the Switch to Its LimitsGigi has been translating Japanese developer interviews from the Kirby Star Allies artbook, and with it she's discovered some intriguing new insights about the history of KSA's extensive DLC. So for this episode, we're talking all about KSA's final DLC mode Heroes in Another Dimension and all the character additions the game received throughout 2018. How do we feel about DLC in Kirby games, and how did the developers' plans change (drastically) from what they originally had in mind? And what do we make of the complex, inspired, and sometimes technologically boundary-pushing challenges of Another Dimension? Listen as we set...2024-10-021h 11Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHow the Kirby Star Allies DLC Pushed the Switch to Its LimitsGigi has been translating Japanese developer interviews from the Kirby Star Allies artbook, and with it she's discovered some intriguing new insights about the history of KSA's extensive DLC. So for this episode, we're talking all about KSA's final DLC mode Heroes in Another Dimension and all the character additions the game received throughout 2018. How do we feel about DLC in Kirby games, and how did the developers' plans change (drastically) from what they originally had in mind? And what do we make of the complex, inspired, and sometimes technologically boundary-pushing challenges of Another Dimension? Listen as we set...2024-10-021h 11Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreNon-Kirby Games We Think Kirby Fans Would LoveIn this episode, Bridget, Ky, Sean, and our new team member Gigi share their picks for other games we think Kirby fans would like. From games that involve copying enemy abilities to inclusive platformers with similar vibes and themes, we cover more than a dozen games in this episode—including some pretty deep cuts you may not have heard of before.What unexpected or lesser-known non-Kirby games would you recommend to a Kirby fan? Let us know at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode. If you en...2024-09-1859 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreNon-Kirby Games We Think Kirby Fans Would LoveIn this episode, Bridget, Ky, Sean, and our new team member Gigi share their picks for other games we think Kirby fans would like. From games that involve copying enemy abilities to inclusive platformers with similar vibes and themes, we cover more than a dozen games in this episode—including some pretty deep cuts you may not have heard of before.What unexpected or lesser-known non-Kirby games would you recommend to a Kirby fan? Let us know at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode. If you en...2024-09-1859 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreSome Exciting News and Updates from Kirby ConversationsHi everyone. There's no regular episode this week, but we've got a few updates about the show to share. Most importantly, we are happy to announce that we will now be joined by Gigi, WiKirby Editor-in-Chief and avid translator of non-English Kirby content, as a new official member of the Kirby Conversations team! Welcome Gigi!And among other news, we also have a new giveaway running, where you can win a $50 Nintendo eShop gift card! You can enter at this Gleam giveaway page. We hope everyone who listens to this show can throw their name into...2024-09-0402 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreSome Exciting News and Updates from Kirby ConversationsHi everyone. There's no regular episode this week, but we've got a few updates about the show to share. Most importantly, we are happy to announce that we will now be joined by Gigi, WiKirby Editor-in-Chief and avid translator of non-English Kirby content, as a new official member of the Kirby Conversations team! Welcome Gigi!And among other news, we also have a new giveaway running, where you can win a $50 Nintendo eShop gift card! You can enter at this Gleam giveaway page. We hope everyone who listens to this show can throw their name into...2024-09-0402 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreAn Interview with Gigi, the Prolific Kirby Translator and Editor-in-Chief of WiKirbyIf you've ever read an English translation of a Kirby article or developer interview that was originally published in Japanese, chances are you've encountered the work of Gigi. We've cited her work several times on this podcast in the past and also refer frequently to WiKirby, the massive Kirby wiki for which she serves as editor-in-chief. So it's an honor to have her join us on this episode for a wide-ranging interview, where we cover topics like how she become such a prolific Kirby translator, the most surprising Kirby facts she's ever unearthed in Japan-only content, and what Kirby...2024-08-2851 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreAn Interview with Gigi, the Prolific Kirby Translator and Editor-in-Chief of WiKirbyIf you've ever read an English translation of a Kirby article or developer interview that was originally published in Japanese, chances are you've encountered the work of Gigi. We've cited her work several times on this podcast in the past and also refer frequently to WiKirby, the massive Kirby wiki for which she serves as editor-in-chief. So it's an honor to have her join us on this episode for a wide-ranging interview, where we cover topics like how she become such a prolific Kirby translator, the most surprising Kirby facts she's ever unearthed in Japan-only content, and what Kirby...2024-08-2851 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreThe Magolor Epilogue is a Playground of Gameplay PossibilitiesThere are so many ways to approach the Magolor Epilogue in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Along with completing the story, you can earn medals, speedrun it, or even take advantage of its brilliant combo system to go for amazing, triple-digit runs through each level. So for this episode, Sean and Bridget are breaking down all the gameplay possibilities for this ambitious subgame. Sean played through it the traditional way, maxing out Magolor's skills to earn platinum metals, but Bridget has her own "weird" (her words) way of playing through it to bring even more challenge. And of...2024-08-2152 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreThe Magolor Epilogue is a Playground of Gameplay PossibilitiesThere are so many ways to approach the Magolor Epilogue in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Along with completing the story, you can earn medals, speedrun it, or even take advantage of its brilliant combo system to go for amazing, triple-digit runs through each level. So for this episode, Sean and Bridget are breaking down all the gameplay possibilities for this ambitious subgame. Sean played through it the traditional way, maxing out Magolor's skills to earn platinum metals, but Bridget has her own "weird" (her words) way of playing through it to bring even more challenge. And of...2024-08-2152 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MorePart Time Lover: How Part Time UFO Gets Mobile Gaming RightPart Time UFO arrived in 2017 as the first game from HAL Laboratory's new mobile gaming brand HAL Egg. Clever, funny, and full of inventive crane game-inspired puzzles, it's an easy recommendation for anyone interested in what other recent games have come from Kirby's longtime developer. So for this episode, we're discussing the history, gameplay, and some of our favorite animal-balancing, cheerleader-stacking moments from Part Time UFO, across the mobile version and its expanded Switch port. Have you played Part Time UFO? And how do you feel about mobile games versus traditional console experiences? Tell us your...2024-08-1449 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MorePart Time Lover: How Part Time UFO Gets Mobile Gaming RightPart Time UFO arrived in 2017 as the first game from HAL Laboratory's new mobile gaming brand HAL Egg. Clever, funny, and full of inventive crane game-inspired puzzles, it's an easy recommendation for anyone interested in what other recent games have come from Kirby's longtime developer. So for this episode, we're discussing the history, gameplay, and some of our favorite animal-balancing, cheerleader-stacking moments from Part Time UFO, across the mobile version and its expanded Switch port. Have you played Part Time UFO? And how do you feel about mobile games versus traditional console experiences? Tell us your...2024-08-1449 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreKirby in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition and at EvoToday we're talking about Kirby in esports new and old. In Act 1, Bridget tells us about the Kirby's Adventure speedrunning challenges in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. Then for Act 2, Sean is back from Evo, the major Las Vegas fighting game tournament and convention, to talk about the surprising presence of Kirby at an event partially owned by Sony.What are your thoughts on Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition? And are there any games, just in general, that you enjoy speedrunning? Let us know at mail@kirbyconversations.com.If you'd like a monthly...2024-08-0753 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreKirby in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition and at EvoToday we're talking about Kirby in esports new and old. In Act 1, Bridget tells us about the Kirby's Adventure speedrunning challenges in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. Then for Act 2, Sean is back from Evo, the major Las Vegas fighting game tournament and convention, to talk about the surprising presence of Kirby at an event partially owned by Sony.What are your thoughts on Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition? And are there any games, just in general, that you enjoy speedrunning? Let us know at mail@kirbyconversations.com.If you'd like a monthly...2024-08-0753 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreThe Lost Characters and Power Combos of Kirby 64Exploding shurikens. Fireworks. A...refrigerator. The Power Combo system in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards lets you combine Kirby's copy abilities with dozens of inspired and hilarious results. So in this episode, we're looking back at some of our favorite abilities from Kirby's Nintendo 64 outing, while also exploring some abilities and originally playable characters that didn't make the final cut of the game. Then for Act 2, we play a game where take abilities that weren't in Kirby 64 and make up some Power Combos of our own.Do you have any stories or favorite memories from Kirby 64? And...2024-07-3156 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreThe Lost Characters and Power Combos of Kirby 64Exploding shurikens. Fireworks. A...refrigerator. The Power Combo system in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards lets you combine Kirby's copy abilities with dozens of inspired and hilarious results. So in this episode, we're looking back at some of our favorite abilities from Kirby's Nintendo 64 outing, while also exploring some abilities and originally playable characters that didn't make the final cut of the game. Then for Act 2, we play a game where take abilities that weren't in Kirby 64 and make up some Power Combos of our own.Do you have any stories or favorite memories from Kirby 64? And...2024-07-3156 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreThe Developers of Grand Theft Auto Almost Made a Kirby Game?Today we're discussing Kid Kirby, a canceled Kirby title from the 90s developed by DMA Design Limited, the Scottish company that would go on to become Rock Star North of Grand Theft Auto fame. While Kid Kirby was never finished, many assets from this unique Angry Birds-esque platformer can still be found, and they show a strikingly different take on Kirby from anything you might've seen in his official released games. After digging through Kid Kirby's history for Act 1, we then check in with Ky for Act 2 about her time at Anime Expo, her new plans in the works...2024-07-2455 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreThe Developers of Grand Theft Auto Almost Made a Kirby Game?Today we're discussing Kid Kirby, a canceled Kirby title from the 90s developed by DMA Design Limited, the Scottish company that would go on to become Rock Star North of Grand Theft Auto fame. While Kid Kirby was never finished, many assets from this unique Angry Birds-esque platformer can still be found, and they show a strikingly different take on Kirby from anything you might've seen in his official released games. After digging through Kid Kirby's history for Act 1, we then check in with Ky for Act 2 about her time at Anime Expo, her new plans in the works...2024-07-2455 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreCity Trials and Tribulations: Kirby Air Ride Community Interview Part 2Over the past two episodes, we've been covering the thriving competitive scene around Kirby Air Ride's City Trial mode--a community of over 11,000 members. This episode is part two of our two-part interview series, and Sean and Bridget continue to speak with our guests drcKARGaming, one of the top Kirby Air Ride players, and Protag, a community leader and developer on updates to the game's competitive mod.In Act 1, drcKARGaming shares a sort of oral history of the Air Ride community. It's a tale full of classic sports tropes, rivalries, and sometimes dramatic tournament results, so we...2024-07-1750 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreCity Trials and Tribulations: Kirby Air Ride Community Interview Part 2Over the past two episodes, we've been covering the thriving competitive scene around Kirby Air Ride's City Trial mode--a community of over 11,000 members. This episode is part two of our two-part interview series, and Sean and Bridget continue to speak with our guests drcKARGaming, one of the top Kirby Air Ride players, and Protag, a community leader and developer on updates to the game's competitive mod.In Act 1, drcKARGaming shares a sort of oral history of the Air Ride community. It's a tale full of classic sports tropes, rivalries, and sometimes dramatic tournament results, so we...2024-07-1750 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHow Dedicated Fans Turned Kirby Air Ride Into a Thriving EsportOver the past few years, a loyal group of players have built a thriving competitive scene around Kirby Air Ride's City Trial mode. Featuring regular tournaments for significant cash prizes and a Discord with over 11,000 members, it's a prime example of how dedicated fans can revive a classic game for a modern audience. So for a two-episode interview series, we're speaking with master Air Ride competitor drcKarGaming and community leader Protag to get an inside look at Kirby Air Ride netplay. We learned so much from this interview, from the game's unique programming ties to Super...2024-07-101h 03Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHow Dedicated Fans Turned Kirby Air Ride Into a Thriving EsportOver the past few years, a loyal group of players have built a thriving competitive scene around Kirby Air Ride's City Trial mode. Featuring regular tournaments for significant cash prizes and a Discord with over 11,000 members, it's a prime example of how dedicated fans can revive a classic game for a modern audience. So for a two-episode interview series, we're speaking with master Air Ride competitor drcKarGaming and community leader Protag to get an inside look at Kirby Air Ride netplay. We learned so much from this interview, from the game's unique programming ties to Super...2024-07-101h 03
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreWould Masahiro Sakurai Ever Make Another Kirby Game?Delivery Waddle Dee has just dropped off a fresh stack of listener mail, so for this episode we're responding to your comments and questions. We cover a range of topics, from Kirby's 3D future to whether Masahiro Sakurai, Kirby's creator, would ever return to direct a new game for the series. (Apparently this could be a slightly controversial topic, so for what it's worth Kirby Conversations is a big fan of both Sakurai's games and Shinya Kumazaki's current work on the series, so this isn't meant as a comparison between the two. It's just a fun thought experiment.) Then...2024-07-031h 07Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreWould Masahiro Sakurai Ever Make Another Kirby Game?Delivery Waddle Dee has just dropped off a fresh stack of listener mail, so for this episode we're responding to your comments and questions. We cover a range of topics, from Kirby's 3D future to whether Masahiro Sakurai, Kirby's creator, would ever return to direct a new game for the series. (Apparently this could be a slightly controversial topic, so for what it's worth Kirby Conversations is a big fan of both Sakurai's games and Shinya Kumazaki's current work on the series, so this isn't meant as a comparison between the two. It's just a fun thought experiment.) Then...2024-07-031h 07
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreBehind the Scenes of Nintendo's Merchandise PhotographySo Nintendo's hired you for a merchandise shoot and they've sent you a big plush Kirby. Now what? In this episode, Ky takes us inside her work as a photographer for Nintendo, going behind the scenes of some of our favorite photos involving Kirby, Zelda, and more. Then for Act 2, we're playing a game where we imagine new photo assignments for Ky by combining random themes, moods, and game series, with absurd and hilarious results.For Act 3, found only on Patreon, we're going inside more photoshoots with Ky, this time focusing on what happens when multiple...2024-06-1853 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreBehind the Scenes of Nintendo's Merchandise PhotographySo Nintendo's hired you for a merchandise shoot and they've sent you a big plush Kirby. Now what? In this episode, Ky takes us inside her work as a photographer for Nintendo, going behind the scenes of some of our favorite photos involving Kirby, Zelda, and more. Then for Act 2, we're playing a game where we imagine new photo assignments for Ky by combining random themes, moods, and game series, with absurd and hilarious results.For Act 3, found only on Patreon, we're going inside more photoshoots with Ky, this time focusing on what happens when multiple...2024-06-1853 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreIn 2001, People Waited 90 Minutes to Play This Canceled Kirby GameAt Space World 2001, Shigeru Miyamoto presented a showcase for Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2, a cutting-edge Kirby title that demonstrated the power of the upcoming GameCube and its connectivity with the Game Boy Advance. Crowds flocked to the play the game at the convention, press covered it widely alongside other key GameCube fixtures like Luigi's Mansion or Super Smash Bros. Melee, and then it...never got released. What happened to the mysterious Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2? That's the main subject for our episode today, as Sean and Bridget dig into the history of this canceled game and reflect on the...2024-06-051h 01Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreIn 2001, People Waited 90 Minutes to Play This Canceled Kirby GameAt Space World 2001, Shigeru Miyamoto presented a showcase for Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2, a cutting-edge Kirby title that demonstrated the power of the upcoming GameCube and its connectivity with the Game Boy Advance. Crowds flocked to the play the game at the convention, press covered it widely alongside other key GameCube fixtures like Luigi's Mansion or Super Smash Bros. Melee, and then it...never got released. What happened to the mysterious Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2? That's the main subject for our episode today, as Sean and Bridget dig into the history of this canceled game and reflect on the...2024-06-051h 01
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreTumbler Account: Our Thoughts on Playing Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble in 2024Today we're looking back at Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, a groundbreaking game that was the first handheld console software to include an accelerometer. While moving Kirby by tilting the Game Boy Color was novel at the time, we consider how it holds up in 2024 and which of the many methods to play it today works best. (If you're a speedrunner, that might even be the GameCube?!) As usual, we also cover history and trivia for the game, and Ky shares her unique childhood strategy for keeping the non-backlit Game Boy Color screen illuminated. For Act 2, we explore the gaming...2024-05-221h 07Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreTumbler Account: Our Thoughts on Playing Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble in 2024Today we're looking back at Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, a groundbreaking game that was the first handheld console software to include an accelerometer. While moving Kirby by tilting the Game Boy Color was novel at the time, we consider how it holds up in 2024 and which of the many methods to play it today works best. (If you're a speedrunner, that might even be the GameCube?!) As usual, we also cover history and trivia for the game, and Ky shares her unique childhood strategy for keeping the non-backlit Game Boy Color screen illuminated. For Act 2, we explore the gaming...2024-05-221h 07
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreBe Kine, Rewind: A Look Back at Kirby's Dream Land 2In this episode of Kirby Conversations, we're getting nostalgic with Kirby's Dream Land 2—or at least Sean and Bridget are, as Ky's playing this one for the first time. We consider how well this nearly 30-year-old title holds up today, from its introduction of Kirby's animal friends Rick, Kine, and Coo to its satisfying (and challenging) puzzle design. KDL2 was also a game designed for the Super Game Boy, a 1994 peripheral that used the Super Nintendo to bring Game Boy games to your TV with enhanced visuals, sound, and other features. So for Act 2 we look at the history of...2024-05-081h 05Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreBe Kine, Rewind: A Look Back at Kirby's Dream Land 2In this episode of Kirby Conversations, we're getting nostalgic with Kirby's Dream Land 2—or at least Sean and Bridget are, as Ky's playing this one for the first time. We consider how well this nearly 30-year-old title holds up today, from its introduction of Kirby's animal friends Rick, Kine, and Coo to its satisfying (and challenging) puzzle design. KDL2 was also a game designed for the Super Game Boy, a 1994 peripheral that used the Super Nintendo to bring Game Boy games to your TV with enhanced visuals, sound, and other features. So for Act 2 we look at the history of...2024-05-081h 05
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHow Button Masher Turned His Love of Kirby Into a GrammyIn 2022, Jake "Button Masher" Silverman and Charlie Rosen won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella. Their song was a new arrangement, performed by Button Masher and Rosen's 8-Bit Big Bang, of "Meta Knight's Revenge" from Kirby Super Star. In our episode today, Button Masher joins us to reflect on how this update of a classic Kirby song—the only Grammy-winning video game cover ever—came together, his experiences at the Grammys, and the technical brilliance of composer Jun Ishikawa's work. Then for Act 2, we discuss Button Masher's work on Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, a new...2024-04-2446 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHow Button Masher Turned His Love of Kirby Into a GrammyIn 2022, Jake "Button Masher" Silverman and Charlie Rosen won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella. Their song was a new arrangement, performed by Button Masher and Rosen's 8-Bit Big Bang, of "Meta Knight's Revenge" from Kirby Super Star. In our episode today, Button Masher joins us to reflect on how this update of a classic Kirby song—the only Grammy-winning video game cover ever—came together, his experiences at the Grammys, and the technical brilliance of composer Jun Ishikawa's work. Then for Act 2, we discuss Button Masher's work on Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, a new...2024-04-2446 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreAre Kirby Games Too Easy?The Kirby series often strives to be accessible for children and newcomers to video games. But are they too easy for everyone else? In this episode, Sean and Bridget discuss this classic question of Kirby difficulty and consider the intentional layers and inclusivity that Masahiro Sakurai and Shinya Kumazaki bring to the games they design. Then for Act 2, it's time for a funny and insightful reflection on difficulty in a different light with our new game Retirement Party, where Bridget has to guess which game each round had the higher retirement rate (percentage of players quit on it) based...2024-04-101h 04Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreAre Kirby Games Too Easy?The Kirby series often strives to be accessible for children and newcomers to video games. But are they too easy for everyone else? In this episode, Sean and Bridget discuss this classic question of Kirby difficulty and consider the intentional layers and inclusivity that Masahiro Sakurai and Shinya Kumazaki bring to the games they design. Then for Act 2, it's time for a funny and insightful reflection on difficulty in a different light with our new game Retirement Party, where Bridget has to guess which game each round had the higher retirement rate (percentage of players quit on it) based...2024-04-101h 04
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreInside the Competitive Scene of Kirby Fighters 2—With Lucy "Winters" HayesKirby Fighters 2 had humble beginnings as a lower-priced Kirby title released in the middle of a pandemic. But a community of dedicated players have embraced the game, continuing to hold tournaments, explore its deep meta, and even refine the game in a new Community Edition. One of those players is Lucy "Winters" Hayes, a co-owner of the Kirby Fighters 2 Discord, and in this episode she sits down with Sean and Bridget to describe the game's current competitive scene, how new players of all ability levels can get involved, and the surprising ways fans have continued to update and chart...2024-03-2758 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreInside the Competitive Scene of Kirby Fighters 2—With Lucy "Winters" HayesKirby Fighters 2 had humble beginnings as a lower-priced Kirby title released in the middle of a pandemic. But a community of dedicated players have embraced the game, continuing to hold tournaments, explore its deep meta, and even refine the game in a new Community Edition. One of those players is Lucy "Winters" Hayes, a co-owner of the Kirby Fighters 2 Discord, and in this episode she sits down with Sean and Bridget to describe the game's current competitive scene, how new players of all ability levels can get involved, and the surprising ways fans have continued to update and chart...2024-03-2758 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHAL Has Dozens of Unused Ideas for Kirby AbilitiesFor this episode, we take a look at Kirby's newest abilities: Ranger, Drill, Jelly, Mecha, and Sand. These abilities bring exciting new dimensions to Kirby's most recent games, and we consider how they may also help us predict what new abilities Kirby could have next. We also reflect on the bright future for Kirby games—especially given the over fifty unused ability ideas HAL has said they had for Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Then for Act 2, Ky tells us how she's been vibin' with Animal Crossing Lego, Sean describes his experiences with Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Ky...2024-03-1459 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreHAL Has Dozens of Unused Ideas for Kirby AbilitiesFor this episode, we take a look at Kirby's newest abilities: Ranger, Drill, Jelly, Mecha, and Sand. These abilities bring exciting new dimensions to Kirby's most recent games, and we consider how they may also help us predict what new abilities Kirby could have next. We also reflect on the bright future for Kirby games—especially given the over fifty unused ability ideas HAL has said they had for Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Then for Act 2, Ky tells us how she's been vibin' with Animal Crossing Lego, Sean describes his experiences with Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Ky...2024-03-1459 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreKirby: Planet Robobot and the History of Japanese MechaFor this episode of Kirby Conversations, we're looking at the influence popular mecha series had on Kirby: Planet Robobot. To start, it's Mecha History 101, as Bridget and Ky teach Sean about the rich history of Japanese mecha films and TV shows like Mobile Suit Gundam, Gurren Lagann, and more. Then we consider how Shinya Kumazaki seems to have drawn on his personal interest in mecha shows when creating the design and gameplay for Kirby's mechs (including one particularly familiar-looking drill). We also share our experiences with Planet Robobot before turning to Act 2, where Ky and Bridget discuss their love...2024-02-2847 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreKirby: Planet Robobot and the History of Japanese MechaFor this episode of Kirby Conversations, we're looking at the influence popular mecha series had on Kirby: Planet Robobot. To start, it's Mecha History 101, as Bridget and Ky teach Sean about the rich history of Japanese mecha films and TV shows like Mobile Suit Gundam, Gurren Lagann, and more. Then we consider how Shinya Kumazaki seems to have drawn on his personal interest in mecha shows when creating the design and gameplay for Kirby's mechs (including one particularly familiar-looking drill). We also share our experiences with Planet Robobot before turning to Act 2, where Ky and Bridget discuss their love...2024-02-2847 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreSweet Revenge: Why Revenge of Meta Knight Still Soars 28 Years LaterIn this episode of Kirby Conversations, Sean and Bridget take to the skies for a look back at Revenge of Meta Knight, one of several games within 1996's Kirby Super Star. From its expertly-paced action to its engaging story, we consider all the things that make this adventure such a terrific example of short-form game design. We also explore some lesser-known aspects of its development, its influences from Japanese history and other media, and how a new arrangement of its theme song even won a Grammy in 2022. Then for Act 2, we look beyond the Halberd to discuss our other...2024-02-1450 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreSweet Revenge: Why Revenge of Meta Knight Still Soars 28 Years LaterIn this episode of Kirby Conversations, Sean and Bridget take to the skies for a look back at Revenge of Meta Knight, one of several games within 1996's Kirby Super Star. From its expertly-paced action to its engaging story, we consider all the things that make this adventure such a terrific example of short-form game design. We also explore some lesser-known aspects of its development, its influences from Japanese history and other media, and how a new arrangement of its theme song even won a Grammy in 2022. Then for Act 2, we look beyond the Halberd to discuss our other...2024-02-1450 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreFrom IG to E3: Captain Dangerous on Life as a Professional Merchandise PhotographerThis is a preview for a Patreon-only episode, where Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker describes how she became a professional merchandise photographer with Nintendo, Good Smile, Critical Role, and others. From her first invitation to E3, to an emotional experience at the Good Smile headquarters, this episode is full of stories you won't want to miss. We also speak with Bridget about her incredible collection of Kirby memorabilia, including one very rare Kirby plush worth hundreds of dollars. It's a fun and funny look behind the scenes of how video games get promoted and the popularity of miniature art around...2024-01-3005 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreFrom IG to E3: Captain Dangerous on Life as a Professional Merchandise PhotographerThis is a preview for a Patreon-only episode, where Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker describes how she became a professional merchandise photographer with Nintendo, Good Smile, Critical Role, and others. From her first invitation to E3, to an emotional experience at the Good Smile headquarters, this episode is full of stories you won't want to miss. We also speak with Bridget about her incredible collection of Kirby memorabilia, including one very rare Kirby plush worth hundreds of dollars. It's a fun and funny look behind the scenes of how video games get promoted and the popularity of miniature art around...2024-01-3005 min
Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreA New Podcasting Adventure—With Kirby's AdventureWelcome to Kirby Conversations! For our first episode, we dig into the history of Kirby's 1993 outing Kirby's Adventure—Masahiro Sakurai's sophisticated NES title that not only introduced Kirby's copy ability but also helped save HAL Laboratory during a time of financial crisis. We'll explore the background of its development, its timeless pixel art, Sakurai's unique ability concepts that he never included in the final game, and the sometimes surprising reactions the game got from initial press and reviews. During our 2nd Act, we discuss the things we're looking forward to in 2024, from Princess Peach: Showtime! to Tekken 8, Ky's plan to...2024-01-3048 minKirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and MoreA New Podcasting Adventure—With Kirby's AdventureWelcome to Kirby Conversations! For our first episode, we dig into the history of Kirby's 1993 outing Kirby's Adventure—Masahiro Sakurai's sophisticated NES title that not only introduced Kirby's copy ability but also helped save HAL Laboratory during a time of financial crisis. We'll explore the background of its development, its timeless pixel art, Sakurai's unique ability concepts that he never included in the final game, and the sometimes surprising reactions the game got from initial press and reviews. During our 2nd Act, we discuss the things we're looking forward to in 2024, from Princess Peach: Showtime! to Tekken 8, Ky's plan to...2024-01-3048 min
Solutionology PodcastEpisode #12 | The Two-Week Effect: A Friendship that Shaped Our CultureIn this episode, we brought our great friend and team member, Justin Hildebrandt, into the podcast studio during his annual stint at DI Labs. You see, Justin has spent two weeks a year for the past ten years as a DI Labs Solutionologist. Why only two weeks? Because the rest of the year he's a highly skilled pilot as part of his family's agricultural aviation business in Colorado. Justin is a lifelong friend of Brian, Carl, and Sean Douglass. He's also an avid learner and a passionate problem solver, which is why he spends time at DI...2023-02-1721 min
Northern GoalNewcastle United expert Sean Douglass explains how Matty Longstaff has ended up at Aberdeen as summer transfer window slams shutThe international break comes at the right time for Aberdeen to reset after a flurry of signings, the end to their busy Euro campaign and cumbersome showing against Ross County. In the final day of the transfer window, Newcastle United fan and journalist Sean Douglass tells us how Premier League starlet Matty Longstaff has ended up on loan at Aberdeen and what he'll offer. The panel also discuss who could leave Pittodrie today and what is still needed at County. There's also more fawning over Billy Dodds' seemingly unstoppable Inverness in the Championship, and a hat-trick of losses for...2021-08-3144 min
The Plot: Conversations on WritingAdam Segal Calls Us to New Narratives of MasculinityThe founder of New Masculinities Group on how dismantling dangerous masculine stereotypes can give us better art, deeper relationships, and a more just society.2021-01-0544 min
The Plot: Conversations on WritingAdam Segal Calls Us to New Narratives of MasculinityFor this episode of The Plot I am joined by my friend Adam Segal. Adam is active with social justice work in Portland; his background is in creative writing, but he is also a cook and food distributor, and he currently facilitates small groups of fellow white people working to address white supremacy on behalf of Portland's chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice. Most relevant to this episode, however, is that he is also the founder of New Masculinities Group, a four-year-old project to engage men and people of all genders in difficult, yet necessary conversations about masculinity...2021-01-0544 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingBrian James Polak on Writing, Success, and The Journey that Never EndsThe playwright and host of American Theatre's podcast The Subtext discusses his show, post-pandemic productions, and navigating life's daily moral dilemmas.2020-11-2553 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingBrian James Polak on Writing, Success, and The Journey that Never EndsBrian James Polak is a playwright, teacher, and host of American Theatre Magazine's podcast The Subtext. I've known Brian on social media for several years, but I'd never sat down for a conversation with him in person (or at least in this case, over the phone). So as one podcaster to another, in this episode I interview him about, well, interviewing, and how he creates his signature show. We also discuss what success means to him, how an ill-fated major in Philosophy led him to theater, and how to navigate the tension between wanting to promote other artists while...2020-11-2553 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingAlex Mohajer on The Comey Rule and the Trump Stories He Wants to See DramatizedIn this episode I'm joined by journalist Alex Mohajer, and we’ll be talking about how art should represent and engage with the Trump Administration. How do we feel about the film and TV that has been produced in response to the last four years? And what should be the best approaches going forward to document this uniquely turbulent and corrupt White House across future comedies, dramas, and other genres of art? In particular we’re going to look at The Comey Rule, Showtime’s new miniseries about former FBI Director James Comey’s impact on the 2016 election. The show, wr...2020-10-3031 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingAlex Mohajer on The Comey Rule and the Trump Stories He Wants to See DramatizedJournalist Alex Mohajer discusses the future of film and TV about the Trump administration--and what stories he wants to see get told next.2020-10-3031 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingFrom The Prey to Anime—Is COVID-19 Renewing U.S. Interest in Global Films?Welcome to season 2! Today we’re talking about international film and television, and how the pandemic could be permanently changing peoples’ streaming habits in a way that benefits foreign artists. I’m joined once again by my good friend Lauren McCrimmon, a frequent co-producer on this show, and in particular we wanted to talk about The Prey, the first Cambodian film to receive distribution on Netflix. The Prey, which has been described as Cambodia’s first action blockbuster, is directed by Jimmy Henderson, an Italian-born filmmaker formerly based in London. Henderson’s other work includes RUN!, Hanuman, The Forest...2020-10-2728 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingFrom The Prey to Anime—Is Covid-19 Renewing U.S. Interest in Global Films?We reflect on The Prey--the first Cambodian film to come to Netflix--while examining how new American streaming habits are helping global film and TV industries.2020-10-2728 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingWhy Christopher Shinn Left Twitter for PatreonPlaywright Christopher Shinn on building a Patreon community and his fears about social media.2019-10-2930 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingWhy Christopher Shinn Left Twitter for PatreonFor this final episode of season one, I am joined by playwright Christopher Shinn for a conversation on how writers can use Patreon. Shinn has a long list of plays and accomplishments, including a Pulitzer nomination, an Obie Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship, and some of plays include Dying City, Where Do We Live, Now or Later, Teddy Ferrara, Against, and an adaptation of Hedda Gabler that appeared on Broadway in 2009. While Shinn used to be on Twitter, he became frustrated with the platform and has since instead begun putting his personal reflections on Patreon, the subscription-based c...2019-10-2930 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingCuckoo for Cúchulainn: A Guide to Global Medieval Literature, with Kelly WilliamsToday I am joined by medievalist Kelly Williams for a conversation on medieval literature. Kelly is a PhD candidate in Medieval English Literature at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and she’s also a close friend whom I’ve known for many years. So when I thought about doing a show on medieval lit, I knew she’d be the perfect person to go to.One thing that has been a goal of this show since the beginning has been to talk about writing and art in a way that takes people beyond the most dominant or readil...2019-10-1528 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingCuckoo for Cúchulainn: A Guide to Global Medieval Literature, with Kelly WilliamsMedievalist Kelly Williams on some of the world's greatest epics, romances, and poetry—and how to tell a good Spider-Man story.2019-10-1528 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingWhat Should a Human Be?: Eleanor Burgess and The NicetiesThe playwright of The Niceties on history, incremental vs. perfect progress, and staying humble in the face of great moral uncertainty.2019-10-0123 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingWhat Should a Human Be?: Eleanor Burgess and The NicetiesToday I am joined by playwright Eleanor Burgess for a conversation on her hit play The Niceties. The Niceties is everywhere this season—I just saw it last week in Milwaukee, but you can also find it in other major cities across the US and in London—and it is chock full of things to discuss. For anyone new to Burgess and her work, she grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, studied history at Yale College, and has her M.F.A in Dramatic Writing from NYU. Her other plays include Chill, Start Down, These Dying Generations, and Mocha...2019-10-0123 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingLoose Canon Part 2: What Overlooked Classics Should More People Know?For this episode I am joined again by my friend Lauren McCrimmon for part two of our conversation on the literary canon. If you haven’t heard part one yet, I would encourage you to listen to that first, as this show picks up where that one left off. But just to recap, we are looking at the list of the most-assigned literary texts in colleges, as documented by opensyllabus.org, to ask: how do we decide what gets to be included in the literary canon, and what major texts do we feel get over or underrepresented by our ed...2019-09-1716 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingLoose Canon Part 2: What Overlooked Classics Should More People Know?Authors like James Baldwin or Haruki Murakami are major literary voices. Why aren’t they taught more in schools?2019-09-1716 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingLoose Canon: How Do We Choose Our Most Important Literary Work? (Part 1)In part one of this series, we look at the most-assigned books on college syllabi to ask: what is the literary canon? Who shapes it, and what could a more inclusive canon look like?2019-09-0332 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingLoose Canon: How Do We Choose Our Most Important Literary Work? (Part 1)In this episode I'm joined by my friend and cohost Lauren McCrimmon for part one of what will be a two-part series on the literary canon. The literary canon, of course, refers to those books or texts that are considered to have particular historical or social importance. In the vast scope of all that has been written, the canon is the texts we hold up as being key to understanding certain themes or time periods—the classics that educated people are expected to be familiar with. But the notion of a literary canon, or canons for a particular time or...2019-09-0332 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingNambi E. Kelley on Toni Morrison, The Chi, and Relationship AdviceFor this episode we’ll be looking back on the legacy of Toni Morrison with Nambi E. Kelley. Kelley is an actor, playwright, and screenwriter. As an actor she’s appeared in numerous onstage roles with leading regional theaters, as well as in TV shows like Search Party, Madame Secretary, Elementary, and The Beast opposite Patrick Swayze. Her writing career has included plays like Xtigone, For Her as a Piano, and, perhaps most prominently, an acclaimed adaptation of Richard Wright’s novel Native Son, which has been widely produced and is currently running Off-Broadway in a production by The Acting...2019-08-2025 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingPlaywright Karen Zacarías is Ready to Eat Nuts and Kick ButtsFor this episode I'm joined by playwright Karen Zacarías for a conversation on playwriting and Marvel’s Squirrel Girl. Zacarías is one of our country’s most produced playwrights, and among her latest plays is “Squirrel Girl Goes to College: A Squirrel Girl Play,” developed with Marvel as part of their new Marvel Spotlight collection. Marvel Spotlight, which also includes plays by Christian Borle and Masi Asare, is a new collection of short plays from Marvel and Samuel French aimed at students and young adults. And in Zacarías’s play Squirrel Girl, whose real name is Doreen Green...2019-08-0522 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingAuthor and Food Network Star Jessica Tom on Her Culinary Novel #FoodWhoreFor this episode I’m excited to be joined by author and cook Jessica Tom for a conversation on food fiction. Tom is the author of the novel Food Whore: A Novel of Dining and Deceit, set in the cutthroat restaurant world of New York City. She has also been a recurring presence on Food Network, including winning Food Network Star in 2018. Tom’s website jessicatom.com is a wealth of both recipes and writing advice, so in the spirit of cooking I’m going to change up my interview format a bit and prepare one of her dishes in the...2019-07-2333 min
The Plot: Conversations on WritingWinter Miller on How to Keep Journalists Safe (with Some Help From Your Cat)In this episode of The Plot, I'm joined by playwright and journalist Winter Miller. Miller is a widely produced playwright and has also written extensively for The New York Times. In the mid-2000’s she traveled with Nicholas Kristof to the Sudan border, for research on what eventually became her best-known play In Darfur. In Darfur premiered at The Public Theater, followed by a standing room only performance at their 1800-seat Delacorte Theater in Central Park, a first for a play by a woman. She was a founding member of the Obie Award-winning playwriting collective 13P and has taught wi...2019-07-0835 minThe Plot: Conversations on WritingThe Future of Chicago TV + Science Fiction and Ted Chiang's ExhalationWelcome to The Plot! In part one, I interview playwright and filmmaker Mia McCullough and actress Elizabeth Laidlaw (The Red Line, Chicago P.D.) on their new web series The Haven. The Haven, set at a domestic violence shelter, is just one of many examples of quality Chicago-based shows, so what does that say about the future of Chicago and TV? Then, in part two, my cohost Lauren McCrimmon hops on to join me for a conversation on science fiction where we’ll unpack Ted Chiang’s new short story collection Exhalation. To watch The Haven, you can...2019-06-2351 min