Category Archives: Podcast
Space-Cast! #16. A Nicaea Conversation
Nearly seventeen hundred years ago, a bunch of theology nerds were called together to answer one simple question: what is the nature of God? Their answer has shaped the way we’ve thought about the divine ever since. That’s the topic of Amabel Holland’s Nicaea, plus an irreverent twist or two. Today, Amabel joins us to chat about orthodoxy, heresy, and the politicking that happened in between the extremes all those years ago.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
Book-Space! #21. Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir got famous writing about a man stranded in an isolated environment who uses science and pluck to solve his way out of danger; in Project Hail Mary, he flexes his authorial talents to their limit with a novel about a man stranded in an isolated environment who uses science and pluck to solve his way out of danger. Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss Ryland Grace’s portentous name, watching aliens poop, and how Weir blends hard and soft science fiction to tremendous effect. Listen here or download here.
Next time, we’ll be activating our latent psychic abilities by reading Mind MGMT by Matt Kindt.
Space-Cast! #15. Paleopalooza
There’s something dangerous in those bushes over there. A sabre-tooth tiger? A handful of poisonous berries? Nope, it’s designer Peter Rustemeyer, here to chat about the origins, development, and history of Paleo, 2021 winner of the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
Book-Space! #20. Autonomous
Ever developed a robust opinion about the possibility of intercourse with a robot? And we’re not talking about conversation here. Neither had Summer, Brock, or Dan. Good thing we read Autonomous by Annalee Newitz! Now we’re bubbling over with perspectives on robo-love, pharmaceutical monopolies, and how to make pharma pirates seem boring. Listen here or download here.
Next time, we’re voyaging beyond the solar system in Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.
Space-Cast! #14. Mind Managed
For today’s “podcast,” our topic of discussion is everything about Mind MGMT by Sen-Foong Lim and Jay Cormier. Over the course of a single episode, we discuss Sen and Jay’s psychic powers, origin stories, and the process of designing, iterating, and activating latent psychic potential — sorry, I mean adapting Matt Kindt’s comic series.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
Space-Cast! #13. Lethargic Gods
This month on the Space-Biff! Space-Cast!, we’re joined by Ryan Laukat to discuss his latest game, Sleeping Gods! In the process, we also discuss open-world video games, open-world board games, and how to adapt the former into the latter.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps and further notes can be found after the jump.
Book-Space! #19. Seven Surrenders
If our last episode left you confused, today we’re doubling down! Twice the confusion! Double! Times two! Continuing the futuristic saga of a golden age on the brink of disaster, we discuss unreliable narrators, miracles real and invented, and what happens when you name your sniper character Sniper. Come along as we dive into Seven Surrenders by Ada Palmer. Listen here or download here.
Next time, we’ll be dipping into something friendly and light with Autonomous by Annalee Newitz.
Space-Cast! #12. Slavery and Emancipation
This month on the Space-Cast!, we’re investigating a difficult topic — the representation of slavery in board games. To help navigate these waters, we’re joined by Patrick Rael, Professor of History at Bowdoin College, to discuss how board games have depicted slavery in the past, what they’re doing right now, and how we can use them to learn about sensitive historical issues.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps and further notes can be found after the jump.
Space-Cast! #11. Beyond the Cardboard
As promised, today we’re talking about nothing but tech trees — specifically, Dennis Chan’s Beyond the Sun, a game about exploring the far reaches of the galaxy by climbing the branches of the humble technology tree. Along the way, we discuss some of Dennis’s inspirations, favorite tech systems, and whether Dan is bad at traversing outer space.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
Space-Cast! #10. An Holy Kiss
Smooch! For the Space-Biff! Space-Cast!’s decepisode, today I’m joined by Ben Madison to discuss The Mission: Early Christianity from the Crucifixion to the Crusades. Along the way, we investigate religion as an inspiration in game design, including an examination of what happens when playthings, religious beliefs, history, and personal faith journeys intersect.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
SPACE-BIFF! 