Category Archives: Podcast
Book-Space! #23. Uprooted
After a bit of a pause, the Space-Biff! Book-Space! returns to discuss natural magic vs. orderly magic, crusty old wizards vs. vigorous young witches, and Naomi Novik’s Uprooted vs. Brock, Summer, and Dan. Listen here or download here.
Next time, it’s all about translation. That’s right, we’re reading R. F. Kuang’s Babel.
Space-Cast! #20. The Acts of the Interviewees
Come to hear about Jeff Warrender’s The Acts of the Evangelists, stay for the rambling discussion about New Testament scholarship. Or don’t. Stay away, all ye who fear extended chats about religion, independent publication, and games as devotion.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
Book-Space! #22. Mind MGMT
Everybody knows psychics aren’t real. What Mind MGMT presupposes is… what if they are? Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss Matt Kindt‘s graphic novel, including professional conspiracy theories, non-professional relationship advice, and our mutual bewilderment when people say they don’t like the art. Listen here or download here.
Next time, we’ll be reading about dragons via Uprooted by Naomi Novik.
Space-Cast! #17. Making Magnates Work
What goes up must come down. That’s the proposition of James Naylor’s Magnate: The First City, the modern Monopoly that sees its housing boom through to the inevitable bust. Today, James joins Dan to chat about real estate development, game development, and what makes Humbleburg more of a “first” city than the many counter-examples that are undoubtedly popping into your head.
This month, we’re making a donation to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Please consider making a donation of your own or searching for ways to help your local homeless community.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
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.