The Nerdologues

Only four episodes remain before Talking Games says goodbye. This week, our boys look ahead to the future of probably their favorite game genre. 

You've heard of Rocktober, but Aprock?? In the second of our musical episodes to kick off April, Eric shares some audio from another, much looser benefit show he recently played. How loose? Well, the venue's sound tech joined him on stage for a 90-minute set. They'd met about a half hour prior. 

Mike & Spencer go out of this world!!! ...mainly just right above the atmosphere, as we talk about the real dangers of living in space! All inspired by the dangerous situations in the cooperative space opera board game, The Captain is Dead!

With UNC's big win in the NCAA Tournament, it's clear there's something in the water in the Carolinas. Also, the Raiders are on the move to Sin City, and we drafted a fantasy baseball team!  And have you seen Ronaldo's new statue??

It's not uncommon on this podcast -- or in, like, real life -- for folks to look back on their past mixes with a combination of shame and regret. This week, Chicago media producer Aaron Amendola tackles that idea head on as he confronts his musical choices on a rampantly emo 1999 mix CD -- and he also has to confront the kind of person who made that CD. 

Jenn Bane feels she wouldn't be the woman she is today without Neopets; It introduced her to gaming, message boards, and friends she still keeps in touch with. What started as and could have easily remained a conversation about the land of Neopia awaiting users at Neopets.com ends up being a discussion about Jenn and MBS's social habits as young people and how Neopets and youth have changed over the life of the Internet.

Kicking off a couple weeks of musical episodes! Once upon a time (like 6-7 years ago), Eric was a one-man Springsteen tribute called My Own Boss. Last week, he brought that act back for a special one-night-only fundraiser for the ACLU, and he brought some friends along. Here are those friends!

Spencer and Mike pick apart how the brain can be not firing on all cylinders. Also, how it can screw you up playing the tense-friend revealing card game, Anomia! (It’s ah… what’s the word?... EDUCATIONAL!)

It's always a treat for MBS to share the love of a topic with her guest, and this RENT-head reunion was no exception. Mark saw the show on Broadway with its original cast as a high school southerner doing college visits, and it kinda changed his life. In addition to introducing him to a world of artists and diversity (and disease) he had no concept of, it "reaffirmed and maybe even instilled [his] love of a big ensemble of people trying to tell a meaningful story together." 

This week, Eric shares another one of his own mixes, a friend-requested overview of his very favorite performer.