Ep. 387: Poems, Plagues, Pokémon Pokopia & the Backlog Paradox

Ep. 387: Poems, Plagues, Pokémon Pokopia & the Backlog Paradox

March 18, 2026 · 31 min · Episode 429

About this episode

The hosts discuss gaming experiences, family dynamics, and the evolving role of millennial dads in this live episode.

Jeff survived the family plague (barely), and this week we're recording live — poems and all. This episode kicks off with a live poem creation featuring the Steam Deck and Skate 3. From there, Jeff shares how the Steam Deck was his lifeline while sick on the couch: full Steam library plus PS5 streaming, all from under the blankets. We compare it to the consoles that shaped our lives — the Game Boy SP, the PSP, and why portability matters more than ever for gaming dads. Then we dig into Pokémon Pocketopia on the Switch 2. Jeff's family is all-in and Trevor might not be far behind. We break down what it is (Minecraft meets Pokémon in a post-apocalyptic world), the Switch 2's GameShare feature that lets you play co-op from a Switch 1, and whether this could be the next Animal Crossing for families. Jeff's kid discovered Skate 3 on Game Pass and asked dad for help beating a challenge. 100+ hours of muscle memory kicked in — double kickflips, dark slides, 920s. The kid walked out of the room. Trevor confesses he may have traumatized his own kids at Mario Kart and GoldenEye beyond recovery. We also talk about the "I didn't marry a loser" social media trend — wives pushing back on the…

People in this episode

Hosts: Trevor Alexander, Jeff Smalley

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Steam Deck, Skate 3, Game Boy SP, PSP, Pokémon Pocketopia, Switch 2, Animal Crossing

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