Category Archives: Podcast

Space-Cast! #32. The Mirroring of Jenna Felli

Wee Aquinas still prefers the title "Cosmic Jenna."

Jenna Felli is the well-known designer of some truly unique board games, among them Shadows of Malice, Zimby Mojo, Bemused, Dûhr: The Lesser Houses, Cosmic Frog, and The Mirroring of Mary King. Despite having designed some recognizable games, however, Jenna is appearing for the first time on today’s episode. Join us as we discuss chaos, identity, and authenticity in board games and in life.

Listen here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.

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Book-Space! #24. Babel

Wee Aquinas also has suspicions about education.

Ever wondered what a translator’s life is like? R.F. Kuang’s Babel lends readers an accurate impression of higher education, British colonialism, and the magical powers of silversmithing. Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss this wonderfully dense and evocative book. Listen here or download here.

Next time, spider aliens! Courtesy of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time.

Space-Cast! #26. Voting for Women

This image looks uncomfortably confrontational between Wee Aquinas and the Suffragist.

Now that Tory Brown’s supernal Votes for Women has escaped into the wild, it’s time to sit down and discuss the important questions. Listen in as we chat about approachable “war” games, the importance of understanding one’s political opposition, and why Brown chose to include a guano magnate’s whining about Emmeline Pankhurst. As a bonus, we also delve into the game’s relevance today.

Listen here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.

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Space-Cast! #25. Nonsense Words

"I know how that feels!" says Wee Aquinas, making the entire theophilosophical world blink twice and wonder what he could be talking about.

What’s the difference between a puzzle and a game? Heck if we know. Today’s Space-Cast delves into two puzzle titles by designer Blaž Gracar: the 18-card microgame All Is Bomb and the pen-and-transparent-sheet game LOK. Listen in as we discuss both games, the value of nonsense words, and share some of our favorite puzzle recommendations.

Listen here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.

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Space-Cast! #24. Air, Land, & Snap

Wee Aquinas does not approve of AL&S's WW2 setting. His idea of warfare included more catapults.

Like everybody else, Jon Perry and Dan Thurot have been playing Marvel Snap. Unlike everybody else, Jon Perry has designed games such as Time Barons, Scape Goat, and — more relevantly — Air, Land, & Sea. Listen in as we discuss lane battlers, Marvel Snap, the perils of porting digital games to tabletop, and much more.

Listen over here or download here. Timestamps are after the jump.

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Space-Cast! #23. Watch Out! That’s an Amabel!

Wee Aquinas doesn't stake vampires. He stakes rude vampire hunters.

Once again we’re joined by Amabel Holland. This year, we discuss her forthcoming freebie game Watch Out! That’s a Dracula!, along with legacy games, textually queer games, and a transition in the tone of her work.

Listen over here or download here. Timestamps are after the jump.

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Book-Space! #23. Uprooted

This is the first time New Wee Aquinas has ever held a book. Sniffle. My baby's all grown up.

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! #22. My Father’s Interview

Wee Aquinas holds moral objections to these proceedings.

Have you ever gone mad pursuing a parent’s ambition? That’s the topic of T.C. Petty III’s My Father’s Work, a game of intergenerational trauma, weird science, and scaring off your loved ones. Also an app.

Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.

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Space-Cast! #20. The Acts of the Interviewees

This once, Wee Aquinas is entirely on the interviewee's side.

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.

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Book-Space! #22. Mind MGMT

Whoa! It's been so long that Wee Aquinas hasn't shifted to his new form!

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.