The Play Greater Podcast

Play Greater Podcast — Episode #31: We're Back! We've been away for a while (okay, a long while), but the Play Greater Podcast has officially returned from its extended hiatus! We aren't here to dwell on the past; we're looking at the new state of things and everything exciting on the horizon for Greater Than Games. In this episode, we talk about our big return, special collaborations, and even manage to make time to spin the wheel! Topics of Note: The Return of Greater Than Games: We are back in action! We discuss the relaunch of the studio and what the "new normal" looks like for us moving forward. The Expanding TCCU: The Trevor Casterline Cinematic Universe has expanded once again, with a live-art drawing show, starring Christopher Badell, Adam Rebottaro, and Nolan Nasser! Check out Draw The Line! The new GTG Team and going to Gen Con: Who is part of GTG now? Check it out! Also, come see us at Gen Con in booth #2856! New Games from GTG: Digital Detox, a game designed by Christopher Badell, and Crime Scene Tamperer that we made in conjunction with the Brothers Chaps! Who are the Brothers Chaps? We dive into our excitement about working with Mike and Matt Chapman, the creators of the legendary Homestar Runner. If you don't know about those things, you should check it out! New Website & Store: We have a fresh coat of paint! Check out the all-new GTG website to see the latest projects and updates. CRITICAL URL UPDATE: Our website is now www.greaterthan.games. Please do NOT go to the old .com address. Only "Greater Than Dot Games" from here on out! The Webstore: Looking for games? You can find everything in our new digital storefront here . Submit Your Letters: We want to hear from you! We've set up a brand-new submission form for your questions, design quandaries, and general curiosities. Submit your letters here! SPOILER WARNING: The Stormlight Archive: We spend some time geeking out over Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series. If you aren't caught up, skip the following segment: Spoilers start at: about 52 minutes in Spoilers end at: around 1 hour and 5 minutes in The JoCo Cruise: We chat about our time on the high seas with the JoCo Cruise — a nerd-centric floating festival of music, comedy, and gaming! Outro: We also have a new Outro! Good luck, Paul! Special Thanks A massive shout-out to Trevor for all the help in getting this show back on the air and into your ear holes! We couldn't have done it without the technical wizardry. Subscribe & Follow Make sure to check out the rest of the new content on our site, and stay tuned for more episodes (now both bi-weekly AND bi-monthly, somehow!) as we exchange stories, tell tales, and — as always — Play Greater.

The Show Notes are MINE! (Temporarily.) Show Notes: Run Time: 1:27:22 Hello, everyone! It's me, one of your hosts, Christopher! Matt has left the room... and the country! Our intrepid Audio Technician and Show Note Writer is in a far-flung land... actually, he's on a boat, so it's more like far-flung water. Anyway, he's not here, so you're stuck with me for writing the show notes! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha! I cannot be controlled, only unleashed! Me and two of your hosts Paul talk about goofs, the lack of a Matt Bender, and we claim that he'll put certain information in the show notes... but that's impossible! And I have no ability to answer that Matt Bender specific question, so these show notes have no answers! Then, I tell a story about dryers. (With a lot of rabbit trails.) The story ends on a cliffhanger! Who could say what happens next? We finally get into GTG News and World Report! Disparation things are going well! The Sentinel Choices Zine layout is complete! Paul is on a cruise! (With Matt Bender!) The Spirit Island accessories survey is probably coming out in a week or two! The Defenders of the Realm crowdfunding campaign is happening later this year! Bad things are happening in Rwanda! A very cool building in St. Louis is going to go away, but replaced with a hella cool building! Round buildings are cool! Gen Con is in several months and we're working hard on stuff for it! And that's everything you need to know. Then, we move onto your letters, which are delightful, but not plentiful enough! More letters, please! We start off with a fantastic quiz game to see how up on Sentinel Comics and pop culture our very own Paul Bender is. The answer: somewhat! To both! We also discuss pronunciations, beverages, food, and more! The Wheel of Topics generates a very early "Classic Christopher Story"! Spoilers: Christopher doesn't get injured in this one! (But someone does!) We'll be back in a month with another episode! Write in more letters! We need more! And, as always, don't be shy! COME SAY HI!

Inanity is a theme of this podcast… Show Notes: Run Time: 1:40:34 Merriest of New Years, denizens of Podcast Land! Welcome to the latest episode of the Play Greater Podcast! Listen as Juan of your hosts Christopher and too of your hosts Paul accurately predict the actions of their long-lost audio technician, answer letters about assorted pronunciations with reckless abandon, and discuss the word 'oft.' Check below for links and/or info mentioned in episode: Look up Modern Lucky Charm info here! Query? Question?? Quibble??? Send us a letter about it by following this artisanal hyperlink! And, remember… Don't be shy; come say "hi!"

#1 Nightsnake Podcast Show Notes: Run Time: 1:40:50 Serpentine salutations to our sibilant assembly! Sooth your simpering souls with another episode of the Play Greater Podcast! (And make certain to slither your way to Booth 2150 at Pax Unplugged!) Listen as one of your hosts Christopher and two of your hosts Paul talk about 90's kids movie theme songs, 90's kids cereal mascots, and mention several things out of the blue that Trevor has to take out in post with fancy fairy dust sounds. Check below for links and/or info mentioned in episode: Check out Shut Up & Sit Down's Compile Review here! Follow our Defenders of the Realm crowdfunding campaign here! (It goes live on November 19th!) Follow Handelabra's ongoing Sentinels of the Multiverse 2 crowdfunding campaign here! Check out something Compile related here! Looking up Pax Unplugged to plan your trip from Germany? Check that out here! Watch a funny Jonathan Frakes supercut here! Want to look at the 90's honeycomb mascot for reasons? Check that out here? Do you have opinions about 90's kids movie theme songs or 90's kids cereal mascots? Do you NEED to see Nightsnake in more (i.e. any) official Sentinels products?!?!?! Send us a letter about it by following this artisanal hyperlink! And, remember… Don't be shy; come say "hi!" So please don't by shifty! Cause, wouldn't it be nifty… To visit 2150? (That's our Booth number. At PAX Unplugged. Remember? Yeah, you remember!)

It's time for shenanigans!!! Show Notes: Run Time: 1:43:11 With this here episode, you thought you were in for a secure on-the-chain experience, but… lo! You're in for an episode that is absolutely, completely, and one-hundred percent OFF. the. chain. (like, the idiom, not the iconic Fleetwood Mac tune… that wouldn't make any sense linguistically.) Buckle-in, strap-up, and push your lap-bar down as far as it will go, (also keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times) cause it's time for another episode of the Play Greater Podcast! (also, it might be time to ride The Viper? It's unclear…) Holy cow and/or smokes, it's about to get Weathertop-crazy and Nazgul-nuts! So, if you're waiting for a strider-like hunk of nature-loving, non-toxic masculinity… lights ON for ranger; otherwise, lights OFF for danger. Listen as one of your hosts Christopher and two of your hosts Paul set up elaborate and ever more whimsical shownote traps for their sometime and currently absent audio technician. Judge for yourself how the proverbial game of grease and misnumbered pigs shakes out in the end… For record-keeping purposes, it's important to document that one of your hosts Christopher and two of your hosts Paul did, in fact, feed four to five thousand odd folks with a mere basket filled with Compile boxes, aux packs, and playmats. Check below for links and/or info mentioned in episode: Looking for a translated-to-German-version of our classic slogan that still rhymes? So are we! Please email the writer of the show notes! (You know who you are! Please email me and not Christopher or Paul!) Looking for a rad article about the logistics of the Battle of Helm's Deep? Well, you came to the right place. Check below for Matt's opinions and/or predictions as asked for in this podcast: Matt's Opinions on the question. "What's an RPG?" RPG's are experiences that invite people to buy into and press into the following statement: "Living truthfully under imaginary circumstances." This remains true in my opinion, whether the RPG in question is experienced through the interface of a computerized game, facilitated by a person or persons, or arose from the spontaneity of the moment. This is humorous to me and is something I literally do believe to be true. But, that perspective can also be characterized as implicitly pedantic and thus is not always a useful way to practically define RPGs in a developing-a-product-in-this-industry sense. For more on this, ask me at the next convention at which you see me. I'd love to chat more. Just ask folks who were at the Gen Con Compile Release Party. I'll diatribe about "Play" and "Roleplay" for hours… with very little prompting. Matt's Prediction for spins of the Wheel. Of. Topics. 2 spins…? Did you form a strong opinion of some kind in this episode that must be shared? Did you notice a misnumbered, greased pig out of sequence and/or missing from the pen? Do you know how to say '"Don't be shy; come say "hi!"' in German in a way that makes sense but also rhymes?! If the first two… send us a letter about it by following this artisanal hyperlink! If the third one, seriously email me directly in the next month… DON'T email Paul and/or Christopher…. And, remember… Don't be shy; come say "hi!"

It's the first day of Gen Con! Show Notes: Run Time: 1:35:03 Well aren't you just a splendid, spiffy ol' sport for dropping on by… Welcome to another episode of the Play Greater Podcast! It may be bad radio, but it's a podcast, I guess… Listen as one of your hosts Christopher and two of your hosts Paul intro-slash-banter so hard and so long that they almost get recast by Producer and Axis-upon-which-all-podcasts-rotate, Trevor Casterline. This boisterous banter includes but is not limited to topics such as: granola gaffes, macho mallards, and Martin Sheen. Check below for links and/or info mentioned in episode: Read the literary epic that is Christopher's French Burned Peanut article here! Recommendations (for future Mark): 1) Seeing dope, old things (some are kept in buildings while others are the buildings themselves) The British Museum (the S-Tier move is to go here over two days) The Natural History Museum Westminster Cathedral Hampton Court Palace William the Marshall's Tomb (only if you're a hardcore fan of the 12th century) 2) Being in dope, old buildings and drinking beer (i.e. pubs) Ye Olde Mitre (weekday only and is in a sketchy, dark alley… don't worry about it) Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (has food and catacombs… in no particular order) The Grapes, Limehouse (owned by Sir Ian McKellen) Local St. Louis Eatery: Chuck's Hot Chicken Lona's Lil Eats GTG Gen Con Sign-ups and FYI: Sign-up here for the Compile Release Party on Friday night! Sign-up here for the LIVE recording of the Play Greater Podcast on Saturday morning! Sign-up here for the LIVE recording of the Letters Page Podcast on Saturday mid-morning! Sign-up here for the Party Game Night on Saturday night! Player Slots for the Spirit Island Mega Events on Friday and Saturday are sold out, but if you want to watch the event and be a part of the mega fun, we encourage you to come! No sign-up or tickets necessary! Check out the information for those events here! Would you describe yourself as Auntie-Panelling or Uncle-Panelling, perhaps? Do you leave a little dirt under your pillow for the dirt man? Are you a nineties kid who just understands? Send us a letter about it by following this artisanal hyperlink! And, remember… Don't be shy; come say "hi!" Also! Stay awhile; play Compile!

This month's episode is sponsored by PLA and other printing filaments. Show Notes: Run Time: 1:09:12 Hey there cool cats and cucumbers! It's just so spiffy to welcome to another episode of the Play Greater Podcast. We're full of chaotic goofs and zany spoofs all for the sole purpose of your listening pleasure, so we hope you treasure this little measure of one of your hosts Christopher and two of your hosts Paul. Listen as your hosts engage in a Meisner-esque repetition exercise with the name of this podcast, discuss the finer points of pre-Y2K tissue taglines, and teach the important distinction between letters-from-listeners letters and wheel-of-topics topics. Check below for links and/or info mentioned in episode: Find the 1st Tiktok link in question here! Find the 2nd Tiktok link in question here! Have scintillating cicada questions? Here's the link! Toronto's soccer club is named: The Reds. Bradley Cooper has only ever been nominated for an Oscar Award. The actor that two of your hosts Paul was talking about who was on Brooklyn Nine-nine is Joe Lo Truglio. Now that you know the distinction between letters-from-listeners letters and wheel-of-topics topics, send us a letter with either by following this artisanal hyperlink! And, remember… Don't be shy; come say "hi!"

We're kinda useful but dorky! Show Notes: Run Time: 1:28:38 Holy howdy dear Play-Greaterians and other denizens of Podcast Land, we here at the Play Greater Podcast are back with another episode! We sure missed you last week, and we cannot wait to get into this latest episode with you! (Cause, as you surely know, anytime any one of you listens to an episode of the podcast, we are actually there listening with you too… Them's the rules!) Listen as one of your hosts Christopher and two of your hosts Paul go slightly overboard with slightly overwrought bits artisanally crafted to be nonsensical without their visual components. In other words, we're back, and we're right on track for another typical episode! Hope you enjoy! Check below for links and/or info mentioned in episode: Curious about the Chesapeake Bay impact crater and would prefer an actual map instead of a theatre-of-the-mind thing? Check that out here! (it is likely that this is the EXACT article read by two of your hosts Paul!) Can confirm, your hosts and their made-for-any-medium-but-radio bits are doofus-canoes. (It's a technical podcasting industry term.) Want to know more about the gestures that Paul and Christopher might be making? Check out more about those potential gestures here! Want to read an interesting article about sea shanties? (how could you NOT?!) Check that out here! Want to get more pedantic? Do so here! Want to read about Danny Kaye? We recommend learning more here! Local St. Louis Eateries: Salve Asteria Meyou Tai Eatery Cafe Natasha (in case it wasn't noted before, though it is sadly now closed) And, remember… Don't be shy; come say "hi!" Stay awhile; play Compile!

Merry… different episode! Show Notes: Run Time: 0:08:34 Howdy hey, denizens of podcast land! We here at the Play Greater Podcast are coming at you with a bit of a truncated episode this month. (I know… we are sad about it too. Hopefully, it'll only be a one-off, so that we're back with regular-length programming next month!) Listen as one of your hosts Christopher and two of your hosts Paul wax on and wax off about a handful of topics, included but not limited to: health, new employees, Defender's of the Realm playtesting, tiks and/or toks, spirits and their requisite islands, and a compiled list of other topics! We hope you enjoy this month's different episode, and we literally cannot wait to chat more again next month! Got big-butt feelings about something?! Oof… you can send us a letter about it by following this artisanal hyperlink! And, remember… Don't be shy; come say "hi!"

Well, look where you've found yourselves… Show Notes: Run Time: 1:49:01 …in another episode of the Play Greater Podcast! Welcome to all of you Play-Greaterians and would-be Play-Greaterians; it is absolutely spiffing that you're here! This episode is but the latest entry into the extended Greater Than Games cinematic podcast universe. Listen, as one of your hosts Christopher and two of your hosts Paul discuss left-hand-drive yaris preferences, tire-roundness percentage anecdotes, and altogether more automobile banter than might be expected. Hear, as your hosts proceed to pratfall into a chronometrical convention corrigendum. Marvel, as your hosts use intense and intentional grammatical goofery in the face of calendar clarity. Check below for links and/or info mentioned in episode: Looking for the 2 episodes from your hosts' "other podcast" where Christopher tells his injury story? Check out the first episode here. Check out the second episode here. (Good memory Christopher!) Looking for the GtG Booth Number at Pax Unplugged 2023? It was #2837! Looking for holiday sales on the webstore? Get 25% off your purchase with HOLIDAY25 at check out! Shop here. Wondering how many seasons there are of the show Fringe? Five. Are you weighed down by queries and need some theories? Are you not sure what the point of your existence is and need someone to weigh in? Are you hung-up on hanging prepositions? Send us a letter about it by following this artisanal hyperlink! And, remember… Don't be shy; come say "hi!"

…and the Cascade in the Caucasus! Show Notes: Run Time: 1:39:39 Hey there, delightful and delighted denizens of Podcast Land! Welcome, welcome to the greatly anticipated (we assume) next installment of the Play Greater Podcast. In celebration of Essen Spiel 2023, this is the Germany episode! That's right, folks! For this episode, we've curated a list of all things German for our discussion today and made most certain to exclude anything not germane! Are you at Essen Spiel 2023? Come to the Greater Than Games and Flat River Group booth: Hall 4, J110 For a complete explanation of the 90's sitcom referenced in this episode, click here! Matt Bender's fun memories from this summer include, but are not limited to: Shakespeare in the Park and getting to see a friend of his perform in the touring production of Wicked. Artists recommendations from Paul: High Kings Stan Rogers Archie Fischer Artist recommendations from Christopher: Frank Turner The Decemberists The Mountain Goats Do you have a burning question for our hosts? Do you have a piping-hot, low-stakes hypothetical that's been tearing your friend group apart? Do you have too much time on your hands and would like to send in a list of all St. Louis eateries previously mentioned on the podcast? Send us a letter about it by following this artisanal hyperlink! And, please remember… Don't be shy; come say "hi!" (especially if you're in Germany this time!)

You came to say "hi!" Show Notes: Run Time: 1:38:59 Greetings, you denizens of Podcast Land! Welcome to this LIVE Gen Con 2023 recording of the Play Greater Podcast. Last episode we could taste Gen Con in the air, but this episode we can taste Gen Con in the flesh! Listen as some number of hosts talk about wide ranging topics like: inexplicably being in Indianapolis, the inherent mirth of milk tents, and real-life-exemplary-human-being Andy Arenson. Want to know the copious details of what we did at Gen Con 2023?! As revealed later in the episode, we spent most of our time here! Want to know in what episode two of your hosts Paul shared opinions about The Rings of Power? Frankly, so would we! If you happen to know and/or would like to ask a follow-up question, send us a letter by following this artisanal hyperlink. And in case we haven't said in a while… Don't be shy; come say "hi!"

It's July! Show Notes: Run Time: 1:28:40 It's genuinely July! An earnest welcome to this most sincere of monthly episodes! Listen as our hosts barrel through the Intro-Slash-Banter Segment and GTG-News-And-World-Report Segment in order to spend maximum time on crowd-pleasing micro-segments like: pantomime, describing pantomime, observing a schedule adjacent to a microphone, and of course the community crunch along! FYI, the Gen Con live recording of the Play Greater Podcast IS 2 hours long and will transpire on August 3rd from 3-5pm (Central). Looking for something referenced in the podcast? Find the mentioned info and links below: Christopher and Paul are doing a livestream with Penny Arcade to show off some new upcoming games! "License to Grill" on July 12th from 3-5pm (Pacific) "Defenders of the Realm" on July 13th from 3-5pm (Pacific) Link for GenCon badge? That'll be here! Link for Pax West badge? That's right here! Link to redbubble merchandise site that we don't plug enough? We got it right here! (Thanks Russ!!!) Link to a breakdown of every "Spirit Island Mega Event" reference in Play Greater Podcast history? No problem, right here! Fun Fact: Christopher recommends fermented shark. Christopher loves fermented shark. If you would like to become best friends with Christopher at conventions, bring him fermented shark… so that he makes happy faces! Also, we are now the canonical apex predator of deer. Your move now, deer. Care to crunch along with Christopher's mischievous mastications? Check out this episodes' snack here! Wondering what the legally distinct "zorrm" looks like? Check it out: A relic of a time gone by! Matt Bender's Final Words: lickety-split, lugubrious Finally, do you have a question or request? Send us a letter about it. Do it. I bet you won't. You may respond to this goading with a letter by following this artisanal hyperlink! Anyway, thank you for listening! And, remember… Don't be shy; come say "hi!"