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Podcast Episodes Featured

Episode 22: Memorable Queer Characters in Books and Video Games

Part two of our Pride month episodes! Kris and Rian share the LGBTQIA+ characters from books and video games that have stuck with them the most.

Podcast Episodes

Episode 21: Memorable Queer Characters in TV Shows

Happy Pride Month! To celebrate, Kris and Rian talk about their favourite and most memorable queer and LGBTQIA+ characters in TV shows over the years. This is part one of two-part series.

Podcast Episodes

Episode 20: Arthouse and Auteur Cinema

Kris and Rian get inspired (thanks, Jack!) to talk about arthouse and auteur cinema. After some hazy definitions, the duo discuss why these styles of film-making are important, and share some of their favourites.

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Episode 19: Let’s Talk Movies (with special guest Jack!)

Jack, our resident movie expert, joins the podcast for this special episode. Rian picks Jack’s brain about favourite and underrated movies, filmmakers, adaptations, and what makes storytelling in films so unique, followed by a lightning round of questions just for fun.

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Episode 18: Stories for Escapism

Kris and Rian are hyped over some recent video game news and rumours. Rian actually finished some video games this week, Kris surprises Rian with a classic book he enjoyed, and the pair discuss how they immerse themselves in stories for escapism.

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Episode 17: Keep it Cozy

No matter how you spell it, there’s something to be said for curling up with a cozy game, book, TV show or movie. Kris and Rian dive into some of their favourites, and discuss the role that cozy stories (in their many forms) play in their lives.

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Episode 16: The Anti-TBR/TBP Tag

Kris and Rian often talk about all the books and games they love and are currently reading or playing, but in this episode it’s all about the stuff they won’t be reading/playing, don’t like, or find problematic—all in good fun, of course.

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Episode 15: Fanfiction Opening Gateways for New Authors (with Shayla Morgansen)

Kris is joined by author Shayla Morgansen to explore the world of fanfiction! Kris and Shayla discuss their introductions to fanfiction, and the relationship between fanfiction, fandoms, and publishing. Stay tuned for the giveaway!

Discussions Featured

Absolution & Area X/Southern Reach discussion

Kris and Rian lose themselves in Area X for the final time (maybe?) while discussing Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer, the absolutely-definitely-final book in the Southern Reach series. Kris has props, they both have beverages, and yes, they discuss THAT scene. Spoilers ahead for this one, folks. Buckle up, it'

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Episode 14: Personal Canon Tag

Kris and Rian take on Taylor's Personal Canon Tag and talk about the books, TV shows, movies, and games that shaped them throughout their lives.

Podcast Episodes

Episode 13: How Physical Health, Mental Health & Neurodivergence Affect Our Hobbies

It's no secret that life can get in the way of things we enjoy! This week Rian and Kris take you on their journeys of how their physical and mental health sometimes interferes with their favourite hobbies.

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Episode 12: Nerding Out for the New Year

What a year! Kris and Rian discuss their approaches to goal-setting for the new year, compare their yearly themes for 2025, then celebrate their best-of-2024 books, TV shows and games. They also hint at their wish lists for the podcast.

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Episode 11: End of Year Book Tag (and Unwrapping Our Gifts!)

It’s time for the end of year book tag! Kris and Rian talk about their unfinished books, Summer reads, and 2025 reading plans, then cap off the year with a holiday book exchange while trying not to be awkward while unwrapping their gifts.

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Episode 10: I've Never Fan-Fictioned

Rian gives a spoiler-free mini review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Kris discusses the origins of his upcoming self-published book, and the duo discuss the concept of the “aspiring author” and what that means to them.

Podcast Episodes

Episode 9: I Used To Get Paid To Read

Rian reveals their Dragon Age: The Veilguard play time, Kris is emotionally destroyed after reading a book he was not prepared for, and the duo have a philosophical discussion about what, why, and how hobbies fit into their lives.

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Episode 8: Cried Over a Bowl of Spaghetti (Trans Awareness Week)

In celebration of Trans Awareness Week, and to show trans visibility during such a tumultuous time, Kris and Rian share their thoughts on the trans memoirs they’ve read, and the impact they’ve had on their own journeys through gender transition.

Podcast Episodes

Episode 7: Stressed Out By Stardew Valley

Games, games, and more games, oh my! The duo discuss storytelling in their favourite video games (and their gripes with being too time-poor to enjoy said video games), and Rian mentions Mass Effect fifty-six million times.

Podcast Episodes

Episode 6: Loyalty Card For The Next Time I Come Out

The duo queer it up this episode as they consider the topic of queer representation in media; from reminiscing over queer characters that informed their early years, to realising just how much queer rep—on paper and on-screen—has improved over the years.

Podcast Episodes

Episode 5: Area X, Where Lots of Things Suck (Buddy Read #1)

Rian and Kris cross the border to the mysterious Area X for their very first buddy read. The duo discuss Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach trilogy in-depth, and walk away forever changed.

Podcast Episodes

Episode 4: Made For Pure Love

Rian nerds out over a new favourite anime, Kris gets hooked on a game about…. cooking? And the pair barely scratch the surface on a mega topic for discussion: adaptations and cross-overs.

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Episode 3: Kicked Off The Internet

Rian watches an artsy lesbian thriller, Kris watches a renowned sci-fi classic, and they both dig themselves a hole while discussing the main topic of the week: modern vs classic fiction.

Podcast Episodes

Episode 2: Stupid Ridiculous Idea

After sharing their read/watch/play updates and Kris’s current writing project, the pair discuss why they read, and Rian shares their ridiculous number of reading projects.

Podcast Episodes

Episode 1: Non-Confrontational Fisticuffs

Rian and Kris introduce the podcast and themselves, and have a very non-confrontational debate about sci-fi vs fantasy because the first episode is way too early for the friends to enemies narrative trope.