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Recorded during our New Year's Resolutions and released just in time for the Resurrection -- this installment is all about reboots, remakes and re-starts!   No wait, that's not right...  lemme do that over... 0:00:00 Intros 0:01:18 The Up Front: Fuck 2016, man 0:04:59 The Interview:  iFanboy's own Ron Richards talks about why reboots happen and when they work, and takes on the Geek-del Test! 0:28:48 The Roundtable:  Monster Mike and Jetpack Jack pick their best reboots and remakes, generally mispronounce a lot of words, and check in with some New Year's Resolutions...! 1:45:12 The Community Calendar! 1:49:42 Outro & Credits 1:50:06 Bonus Track:  "Shadow & Flame Boogie"

This installment is all about stories and writing!  We're tellin' tales out of school (and occasionally singing into a can)! 0:00:00 Intros 0:01:22 The Up Front: On nerves of steel and the courage to tell stories 0:05:59 The Interview:  Publishing agent Jennifer Johnson-Blalock talks about the world of pitches and queries, reveals her favorite storytellers, and takes on the Geek-del Test! 0:51:13 The Roundtable:  Monster Mike and Jetpack Jack talk about storytelling, misattribute famous 70's gangster movies and give readings from their favorite works of fiction! 2:33:34 The Community Calendar and The Monthly Marathon: Grovers' Mills, Population: You! 2:38:38 Outro & Credits 2:40:03 Bonus Track:  "Rocket Into Space"

Scratch My Bard A Podcast in Five Acts Dramatis Personae (in order of appearance): BRIAN, Prince of Cats - The Chippewa Valley Geek DOUG SCHOLZ-CARLSON - Artistic Director of the Great River Shakespeare Festival "MONSTER" MIKE - A country vicar, In love with Hernia "JETPACK" JACK - Sea-captain, Former Roomate of a Fourth Cousin to the Exiled Duke Act I, Scene 1 - Intros Act I, Scene 2 - The Up Front: On the Classics and Accusations of Snobbery Act II, Scene 1 - The Interview:  GRSF Artistic Director Doug Scholz-Carlson tells us what goes into making a festival happen, muses about what makes Shakespeare great, and takes on the Geek-del Test! Act III, Scene 1 - The Roundtable:  Monster Mike and Jetpack Jack wax lyrical on bards, the Bard and a lot of other ado about really not much else of importance. Act IV, Scene 1 - The Community Calendar Act IV, Scene 2 - The Monthly Marathon: Bardic Lore cont'd! Act V, Scene 1 - Outro & Credits Act V, Scene 2 - Bonus Track:  "Hey Nonny Nonny"

We're cashing in with a discussion about economics, money and coinage in our games. 0:00:00 Intros 0:01:26 The Up Front: On Piracy and Being Poor As Flumph 0:05:37 The Interview:  Game designer Caleb Stokes talks to Monster Mike about Red Markets, economic horror, and takes on the Geek-del Test! 0:43:53 The Roundtable:  Monster Mike and Jetpack Jack, ante up and put in their two cents about how money should work in our games... 1:51:20 The Community Calendar and The Monthly Marathon: Bardic Lore! 1:53:15 Outro & Credits 1:54:35 Bonus Track:  "Tarras Q" Q"

The sleeper has awakened, and we're talking all about Dune, Frank Herbert and the spice! 0:00:00 Intros 0:00:46 The Up Front: On the Fourth Worst Decision of My Life 0:04:15 The Interview:  Game designer Matt Colville talks about the history of Last Unicorn Games, muses on gaming in licensed settings, and takes on the Geek-del Test! 0:48:29 The Roundtable:  Monster Mike, Jetpack Jack, and special guest Easy Erik give their Herbert book reviews, discuss gaming opportunities in the Duniverse, and check in with some New Year's Resolutions... 1:53:44 The Community Calendar and The Monthly Marathon: Bug Hunt! 2:00:46 Outro & Credits 2:02:21 Bonus Track:  "Shai-Hulud (Slight Return)"

We've got a three-pipe pod for you this month and it's all about mysteries and Holmesian gaming! 0:00:00 Intros0:01:10 The Up Front: On the Tyranny of Excellence and Just Watching The Damn Movie Already0:04:57 The Interview:  Game designer Bryce Whitacre clues us in on Baker Street, muses why Sherlock is a cultural touchstone, and takes on the Geek-del Test! 0:29:26 The Roundtable:  Monster Mike and Jetpack Jack discuss mysteries in RPGs, steal a time-honored podcast game, and bear witness to a drive-by gifting...2:04:29 The Community Calendar and The Monthly Marathon: I'm still stuck in Season Two of Twin Peaks, but I'll start watching Dune right away too 2:08:39 Outro & Credits

We're talking about the Dark Side, and how you got to change your evil ways (baby)! 0:00:00 Intros0:01:12 The Up Front: On Bulgakov and the Necessity of the Shadow0:06:07 The Interview:  Our first return guest, Rev. Derek White, the Geek Preacher, comes back to tell us about the history of the dark side, opines on the nature of evil, and re-takes the Geek-del Test! 0:53:31 The Roundtable:  Now with improved Monster Mike and Jetpack Jack!  Ethics!  Matchups!  Dark secrets revealed!  And more!1:45:58 The Community Calendar and The Monthly Marathon: I'm still stuck in Season Two of Twin Peaks 1:50:09 Outro & Credits1:51:32 Bonus Track:    Roll It!

We're talking about capital G-Good and the light side of the Force this time out! 0:00:00  Intros 0:01:05  The Up Front:  On ethical consistency and WWCAD! 0:05:34  The Interview:  Original Gamerati Ed Healy talks about ethics and community, opines on internet karma, and takes on the Geek-del Test! 0:56:25 The Roundtable:  Wherein Monster Mike and Jetpack Jack get good for once! 1:46:08  Announcements et al 1:47:51  Outro & Credits 1:49:08  Bonus Track:    Browncoat Blueswncoat Blues

We're taking a bite out of zombies this time around, getting the lowdown on a locally-produced survival horror RPG, and (re)making some very exciting announcements! 0:00:00 Intros 0:01:11 The Up Front: On oblivion and undeath - also, Clearwater Con 2015! 0:06:47 The Interview: Eau Claire game designers Craig Sieracki and Matt Scott talk about their love of zombies, break down the inner workings of CHOMP, and take on the Geek-del Test! 0:24:56 Payin' some bills 0:30:51 The Roundtable: Wherein Mike and Jack try to find some braaaaaaaaains! 1:30:30 Community Calendar 1:33:13 Outro & Credits 1:34:36 Bonus Track: The Lannister Suite, in 3 Movements (or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Never Try To Play Slide Guitar Ever Again), featuring: - Roslin's Wedding - Mannish Boy-King - I'm a Steady Whorin' Half-Man

We're talking about Asian and Asian-inspired gamery, geekery and all sorts of other cool stuff! 0:00:00  Intros0:01:06  The Up Front: On geek vs. capabilities0:05:35  The Interview:  Master Rich Parsons tells us what it takes to become a martial arts guru, breaks down some RPG combat systems, and takes on the Geek-del Test!0:42:02  Payin' some bills 0:47:16 The Roundtable:  Wherein Mike and Jack talk Asian gaming and films, confront rules bloat, and make like Bruce and Jackie with the picks! 1:39:42  Community Calendar 1:43:26  Outro & Credits 1:44:55  Bonus Track:    Wampa Roll!

Episode Eleven of The Chippewa Valley Geek Podcast and Rhythm & Blues Revue is complete and can be found here or on iTunes and Stitcher! We're covering the holidays with an examination of feasts and food in history, games and geek media! 0:00:00  Intros0:02:00  The Up Front: On pageantry and periodicity0:05:38  The Interview:  Medieval food expert Cassandra Baldassano tells us about medieval misconceptions, humors us with a discussion of the four humors, and takes on the Geek-del Test!0:27:!6  Payin' some bills 0:32:19  The Roundtable:  Wherein Mike and Donny and Jack make with the matchups, celebrate 7 holidays in 90 minutes, and enjoy an offally good dinner!1:58:08  Announcements and the Community Calendar 2:03:47  Outro & Credits 2:04:58  Bonus Track:    Highway 53 Blues!

We're back from an accidental hiatus, and we're talking about freewill and fate in our lives and in our games! 0:00:00  Intros0:02:02  The Up Front: On choosing to choose poorly0:07:05  The Interview:  Author and illustrator Matt Youngmark tells us about the Choose-o-matic Book Series, vouches for the creative influence of Jean-Claude Van Damme, and takes on the Geek-del Test!0:30:24  Payin' some bills 0:34:54  The Roundtable:  Wherein Mike and Donny fulfill their destiny by defending the fantasy that they have some control over their sad, pathetic lives.  Also, we discover a long lost classic of geek literature together!1:52:25  A rebuttal of sorts 1:53:42  A non-calendar and a long-distance dedication 1:54:46  Outro & Credits 1:56:31  Bonus Track:    CN Woman Boogie!

It's the start of Season Two, and you're getting a veritable cannonade about canon in this episode! 0:00:00 Intros 0:02:06 The Up Front: On race and re-casting canon 0:12:25 The Interview:Tom Foss of The Fortress of Soliloquy explains the point of canon, lets us know where it goes horribly wrong, and takes on the Geek-del Test! 0:56:12 Payin' some bills 1:01:26 The Roundtable:WhereinDonny and Mike heap their scorn on canon, then decide they're kind of OK with it after all, and then go and choose the wrong cannon!1:45:31 The Community Calendar 1:50:44 Outro & Credits   1:52:05 Bonus Track: Sagan the Blues!

We're talking magic this month and it's a sorcerous smorgasbord! 0:00:00 Intros0:01:12 The Up Front: On the "Magic" of Childhood0:07:06 The Interview:  Our very own "Monster" Mike Holcomb sits in the hotseat, debunks the Player's Handbook, and takes on the Geek-del Test!0:34:33 Payin' some bills 0:38:14 The Roundtable:  Dastardly Donny and a special surprise guest share their gifts, equivocate on invocation, and make like Terry and Howie with some picks!1:40:53 The Community Calendar 1:45:50 Some GaryCon coverage:     1:46:36 - Paul Stormberg and The Moathouse     1:59:08 - David Lankton & Scott Diehl of CMX Games and Copper Country 2:07:07 The Monthly Marathon: Gotham?  I barely met 'im! 2:07:52 Outro & Credits2:09:34 Bonus Track:    Me and Her Pony Blues!

Episode Seven of The Chippewa Valley Geek Podcast and Rhythm & Blues Revue   Welcome to 2014!  Here's your accordion!   0:00:00 Intros0:01:44 The Up Front: On Geeks Bearing Gifts0:06:57 The Interview:  Rev. Derek White, the Geek Preacher, gets theological up in the hizzy, grants us a +2 bonus on our Knowledge (Hell) skill checks, and takes on the Geek-del Test!0:36:57 Payin' some bills 0:40:26 The Roundtable:  Wherein the boys talk about hockey sticks, mapping infinite planes, and throw out far too many country music references for my personal comfort level!1:32:03 The Community Calendar 1:37:13 A Warpcon travelogue 1:44:18 The March Monthly Marathon: Gods, will this winter ever end?1:45:25 Outro & Credits1:46:46 Bonus Track:    Sold My Soul For Rockin' Rolls!

It's October 2013 (kind of), and we're talking about monsters, varmints and things that need killin'!   0:00:00 Intros0:01:56 The Up Front: On Addiction and Mental Illness in Geek Games & Media0:06:54 The Interview:  Author, Lecturer and Paranormal Researcher Chad Lewis gives me the lowdown on the hodag, tells you why to stay off Hwy 37, and takes the Geek-del Test!0:25:10 Payin' some bills 0:28:01 The Roundtable:  Wherein the boys talk about what makes a great monster, make like Terry and Howie with the picks, and Monster Mike inadvertently puts his geek qualifications into question!1:05:14 The Community Calendar 1:09:21 The October Monthly Marathon: Itty Bitty Don't-Say-This-In-School-boy!1:09:39 The October Giveaway Contest1:10:32 Outro & Credits1:12:29 Bonus Track:    Hodag Me!

  It's September 2013, and we're talking about the act of creation and generating new material and stuffs for our hobbies!     0:00:00 Intros 0:01:09 The Up Front: On My Talentless Fanboy Angst 0:08:11 The Interview:  Sculptor Scott Francek offers trade secrets, opines on the relative worth of nudity and horses to an artist, and takes on the Geek-del Test! 0:37:44 The Roundtable:  World Building, Adventure Building, and Encounter Building! 1:18:14 The Community Calendar 1:23:00 The September Monthly Marathon: Game over, man!  Game over! 1:24:14 The September Giveaway Contest 1:24:43 Outro & Credits 1:26:26 Bonus Track:    You Know My Rider  

It's August 2013, and we are continuing the gender issues discussion this month - this time from the other side of the septic tank!  Also, Eli Bremmer and the Eau Claire Coalition! 0:00:00 Intros 0:01:11 The Up Front: On SDCC 0:08:56 The Interview:  The Eau Claire Coalition 0:40:32 The Roundtable:  Masculinity and Gender Issues in Society and Geekery 1:21:18 The Community Calendar 1:25:56 The August Monthly Marathon: Golem?  I barely met ‘im! 1:28:32 The August Giveaway 1:29:49 Outro & Credits 1:31:04 Bonus Track:    Riddle of Steel  

It's another podcast!  'Cause podcasts are cool!  (Dont worry - it's way shorter than last month.)Join me as I celebrate our Independence Day with a TARDIS trip to the UK of Whoville!  Also, why Kevin Smith doesn't suck as much as you would like me to think he does! Contents include: 00:00  Introductions 01:05  The Up Front:  On How I'm Over You Being Over Kevin Smith 06:30  The Roundtable:  Is There A Doctor In The House? 41:12  The Community Calendar for July/Early August 2013! 45:50  The July Monthly Marathon Challenge!46:55  Another Giveaway! 48:55  End Credits 50:21  Bonus Track! – “11 Doc Rock” 

2013-06 It's ladies night here at the Geek this month!  Join me as we discuss gender issues in geek culture, plot the immolation of an Oscar-winning film director, and take a trip north to tropical Duluth! Contents include: 0:00:00:  Intro & Disclaimers 0:02:23:  The Up Front:  On Eowyn vs. the Witch-King 0:22:29:  Berserkon coverage & Interviews 0:23:06  Andrew Goenner of Time Heroes, and more! 0:34:03  Joanna Gaskell of Standard Action, and more! 0:50:40  Trin Miller of The Gamers: Hands of Fate, and more! 1:04:23  Bill Cavalier, the Dungeon Bastard, period. 1:27:36  The Roundtable – Gender Issues and Women in Geek Culture 2:10:43  The Community Calendar for June/Early July 2013! 2:17:45  The June Monthly Marathon Challenge! 2:19:03  Another Giveaway! 2:21:09  End Credits 2:22:42  Bonus Track! – “Babs' Boots (and Other Sordid Tales of the New 52)”