Wow If True is your one-stop internet culture shop, explaining how what’s happening online shapes the real world. And we’re the internet experts and real-life besties to unravel it: tech culture journalist Amanda Silberling and science fiction author slash attorney Isabel J. Kim, Esq. More importantly, we’re the only podcast that will mention Neopets and horizontal mergers in the same episode. New episode every other Wednesday.
…
continue reading
Big Game Hunger is a weekly comedy show where Jenna Stoeber and friends craft the big next game every episode. Starting with a random genre, concept, and vibe, Jenna and a friend will take a game all the way from pitch, to slightly more developed pitch. By the end of the episode, they’ll have honed an IP so irresistible, you’ll be ready to risk $25 for it on Steam. Get ready to laugh about games you love, learn about game trends, and yearn for titles that will surely never make their release ...
…
continue reading
Have you ever wondered what life would be like on a planet different from our own, or how writers create your favorite fictional worlds? Well, wonder no more because we have the facts for you! Every other week, astrophysicist/folklorist Moiya McTier explores fictional worlds by building them with a panel of expert guests, interviewing professional worldbuilders, or reviewing the merits of worlds that have already been built. You'll learn, you'll laugh, and you'll gain an appreciation for how ...
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Amanda Silberling makes whatever a mail-puss game is, thanks Giovanni
59:11
59:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:11
Amanda Silberling, tech journalist and podcaster, joins the podcast mostly to dunk on former guest Giovanni Colantonio, but also to brag about going to the Olympics. Inbetween all that, they make the game "Mail-puss," a game based on the prompts: incredibly haunted, Mail-puss, Played secretly at a party or event The resulting folk game(s) can be pl…
…
continue reading
Moiya asks pop culture writer Amanda Silberling about her favorite video game, Splatoon! It involves squid kids, apocalypse stories, judgemental cats, and just the right level of violence. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist GUEST Amanda Silberling is a senior culture writer at TechCrunch and co-host of Wow If Tru…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Tristan Cooper makes some more great content
52:18
52:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:18
Tristan Cooper, social media manager for The Verge and Can I Pet The Dog, makes "Stable 4: They Like It!" based on the words: Anachronistic haberdasher Racing Game The resulting game leans into the indie game trope of making lots of cute hats for cute animals, using the materials you can scrounge from your trophy wins. And most importantly, the hor…
…
continue reading
None of this episode is legal advice. We're joined by IP attorney Sam Doesntwantrealnameincluded, and we discuss the legality of stealing Scarlett Johannson's voice for your AI, or if she can sue you for one billion dollars (trick question: its always legal to sue in America!). Also, listener questions about copyrighting the internet, answered with…
…
continue reading
It's an Exolore x Pale Blue Pod crossover! Moiya and comedian Corinne Caputo talk about JWST's iconic first images, then pick one as the setting for their world. They imagine a planet of scaly people who love a relaxing train ride. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist GUEST Corinne Caputo is a comedian and author o…
…
continue reading
Lin Codega, games journalist and co-founder of Rascal News, joins the pod to make "Spiral Apotheosis," based on the prompts: Addictive, Last god in the pantheon, Inscrutable, award-winning Eurogame Lin, using their expansive knowledge of what makes a TTRPG both award-winning and "Eurogame," lays out the groundwork for a game in which the rules are …
…
continue reading
So what is the point of any technology? That's right. To more accurately simulate anime girls. We talk about the relationship between LLMs (large language models), anime girls, and pornography. Also, Iz forces her boyfriend to run jailbroken LLMs to test out ERP (erotic roleplay) prompts.
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Riley MacLeod makes a whirlwind cat-based platformer
50:54
50:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:54
Riley MacLeod takes a break from his incredible games journalism to make a game based on the prompts: Pampered, Tornado Watch, Endless runner After bouncing between a few great options for a game, they land on a new cat-based platforming game. Play as a beautiful chonky cat trying to get to either end of this tornado with slow but steady determinat…
…
continue reading
Patrick Gill, a talented video essayiest and bonkers livestreamer, joins the podcast to make a nasty brain game with the prompts: Horrifying, Nobody can discover your recent lottery win, Deckbuilder The resulting brain-reaping game pits your social skills against the people in your small town as you try to keep your terrible secret. Mash up a littl…
…
continue reading
We're back from our break, more powerful than ever, and maybe even strong enough to talk about anonymous social media and whether it's good or bad (or, perhaps, it's not that simple). Amanda writes a book report, Iz grades a book report, we both reminisce about being anonymous teenagers on the internet. Also: oh, hey YikYak, we thought you were dea…
…
continue reading
Wow If True is your one-stop internet culture shop, explaining how what’s happening online shapes the real world. And we’re the internet experts and real-life besties to unravel it: tech culture journalist Amanda Silberling and science fiction author slash attorney Isabel J. Kim, Esq. More importantly, we’re the only podcast that will mention Neope…
…
continue reading
Amy Vorpahl, actress, musician and expert DM, is ready to practice making games with the prompts: Ten-minute, marching band simulator, dating sim Now it's time for the awkward marching band nerds to strip off their pseudo-military uniforms and reveal their thick buff legs. In Pucker Up and Blow, you'll have a chance to romance a variety of either s…
…
continue reading
Moiya is joined by writer Rachel Feltman to imagine a beautiful but foreboding world. They end up with a genre-bending world full of people convinced they have magical powers. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist GUEST Rachel Feltman is a science and technology writer, editor, and host of the weirdest thing I learn…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Professor Ashley makes Haut Garbage: Love in the time of Composting
51:27
51:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:27
Professor Ashley, twitch stream and a literal real professor, challenges Jenna's base concepts about fun, flirting, and composting with the prompts: extremely literal composting weeklong LARP Together they make an education workshop with structured workshops on composting and a farmer-romancing meta game. But it is NOT a cult. For legal reasons, I …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Julia Schifini makes Traitor’s Cup: Last Mascot Standing
50:00
50:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:00
janky hidden role Thank you for listening to Big Game Hunger! Email us at BigGameHungerPod@gmail.com. Visit the DFTBA Big Game Hunger merch shop at bit.ly/jennamerch. Big Game Hunger is part of the Multitude Collective of podcasts. Created and hosted by Jenna Stoeber.
…
continue reading
Short story shorter: the audio didn't upload correctly, and I can't fix it now because I am on vacation. Julia's episode will release for real next week!
…
continue reading
Moiya returns to this episode about fictional mapmaking. She talks with mapmaker Jessica Khoury about how mountains don't bend and rivers don't split, the logic behind human settlements, and how to name your places. Plus, there are dogs. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist GUEST Jessica Khoury is an author and fan…
…
continue reading
mayor They only have two more years of funding to complete this game, where you play as a penguin trying to run for mayor on the platform of brining eternal darkness and permanent ice to your town. A tough sell, but you can sway voters by wearing cute hats and little bowties! Check out Laser's work on his website, LaserTheBoy.com, and check out his…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Kaylee Rowena makes Chirry Pitt vs New Hampshire
49:04
49:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:04
Kaylee Rowena, talented comic illustrator and haunted house expert, joins the podcast to make a very pride-ful TTRPG with the prompts: underground, Local Government drama, tongue-based Taking a cue from Lasers and Feelings, they create the gayest spectrum possible: seduction to inimidation. Play as Chirry Pitt as she gets manipulates the city counc…
…
continue reading
Moiya is joined by geologist Kristina Gustovich to imagine a world built on justice and social cohesion. They end up creating sparkly cats who can see into the future and totally believe in universal basic income. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist GUEST Kristina Gustovich is a geologist and science communicator,…
…
continue reading
In this episode: Iz finally puts her law degree to good use and explains the complaint that the Department of Justice filed against Ticketmaster and Live Nation regarding their many, many antitrust oopsies (This is not the technical term). Also, PBJ metaphors, DND podcast liveshow discussion, and EBITDA, but only conceptually.…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Anica Seelie makes Suc'Noff: Don’t Wake Ghdae'dqey!
56:56
56:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:56
TTRPG creator Anica Seelie is gifted three great prompts for their skill set: maintaining a eldrich god's slumber With a firm but loving grip on these words, Anica and Jenna slowly escalate their ideas until they make a game about continually fucking to appease the eldrich horror Suc'Naath. But don't do too good a job or your partner might experien…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Mischa Stanton makes Hand (and Foot) of God
45:50
45:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:50
Mischa Stanton, audio editor extraodinare and beloved Multitude podcaster, gets a very tricky gameplay-type (left by Jacob Geller), but manages to combine it flawlessly with the two other options: lazy, sims rival, kick-punch They envision a remarkable god-sim game where, aided by many hand-and-footed angels, the player must build up its civilizati…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
rerun: Building Monsters with Dr. Emily Zarka
1:03:12
1:03:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:12
Monster Expert Dr. Emily Zarka joins Moiya to talk about the origins of monster myths! Together, they conjure up some spooky monsters to inhabit three previously built Exolore worlds. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist GUEST Dr. Emily Zarka is a professor, writer, host, and monster expert. Find her on twitter at …
…
continue reading
In this episode: We discuss "mouth biohacking" and all the fun things (rationalism, experimental mouth technologies and silicon valley, Amanda's beautiful mouth) that go along with it.
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Penny Olivia Parker makes Holley's Trolleys
53:39
53:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:39
Penny Olivia Parker aka SnapCube, voice actor, streamer, and all around delightful person, goes deep on some word- and wood-intepretation with the prompts: wooden, train, game that doesn't use any controller. The result is a cute but surprisingly hard-hitting trolley game where you try your best to communicate with the (literal, metaphorical) woode…
…
continue reading
Janet Varney, host of The JV Club and Braving the Elements, has some firm thoughts about argula that she wants to share, provoked by the prompts: wacky, fast-food tie-in, touch-based rhythm game After some discussion about drumming and fast food griddle work, she and Jenna settle on a game about composing both the perfect sandwich, and the perfect …
…
continue reading
Moiya and mythologist John Bucher put their minds together to imagine an ancient mythic underworld. It has triels, elemental symbolism, and lots of silly little guys! What's not to love? HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist GUEST John Bucher is a mythologist, a writer, and the executive director of the Joseph Campb…
…
continue reading
In this episode: Our luxury fashion correspondent (and half of our editing team), Allison Mills, is back to talk with us about Erewhon. Why are are talking about a grocery store chain from California? Because they sell 32 dollar ice and routinely go viral on social media (mostly because of the 18 dollar smoothies). Also, Morgan Sung joins us as our…
…
continue reading
Sam, superb video essayist from the channel Afterthoughts, joins Jenna for a one-yearly event: podcasting! Oh and they get the prompts: award-winning, played once annually, weird cart racer They navigate towards ARGs, the once-beloved, now forgotten child of the irl gaming world. But there they find a wealth of inspiration! Map based games! Online …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Chandana Ekanayake makes Sud Buds Survival
53:10
53:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:10
obnoxious, survival horror The once-quarter Pusheen subscription box is available for only $43.95 per box, or only $39.95 is you get an annual plan! Check it out past boxes (
…
continue reading
Moiya and fellow Multitudian Eric Silver discuss their favorite and least favorite Superhero worlds, plus best practices for building your own. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist GUEST Eric Silver is a writer, podcaster, game designer, and head of development at Multitude Productions. Follow him on X at @El_Silve…
…
continue reading
Isabel got a seven figure book deal and got the book optioned, but she continues to threaten to kill people on our podcast (especially the kid in the Omelas hole). No, this is not a bit. Iz is god's favorite princess, and Amanda can run a mile without stopping. Links Isabel's book deal announcement! The story about killing the kid in the Omelas hol…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Paul Luetkemeyer makes So you Think you Can Family? Prove It!
48:52
48:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:52
Paul Luetkemeyer, the voice of Zelf on Burnt Cook Book Party, joins Jenna to make a: claustraphobic, based on a 2007 reality tv show, family sim After flirting with a pretty banger idea for a Harry Houdini reincarnation reality TV show, they settle on a cubicle-based work-related multiplayer game where you fight through a series of puzzle rooms, li…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Rob Cocks makes Birthday Waifu Surprise Industries presents Legend of Zelda: Birthday Waifu Surprise
49:55
49:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:55
terrifying, breath-of-the-wild alike Thank Support this show, and submit your OWN random prompts, by subscribing at Patreon.com/TheJenna
…
continue reading
Moiya and writer Victoria Male talk about best pracices for adapting old stories into new versions and discuss their favorite/least favorite reboots. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist GUEST Victoria Male is an award-winning writer and multimedia producer. Find her on IG at @victoriamale1 and learn more at her we…
…
continue reading
The history of handwashing? It's way wilder than you think. Isabel is once again out of the country and/or concussed, which means Amanda is joined by her friends Caro and Andrea to talk about everyone's favorite 19th century handwashing accelerationist, Ignac Semmelweis. What does this have to do with the internet? Well, if you're going to go outsi…
…
continue reading
Jacob Geller, a writer who happens to be known for his video essays, joins Jenna to craft up a game based on the prompts: sloppy, Ides of March, fortunetelling The resulting game is, as you might expect given the sources, a really thought-provoking interrogation of game structures and player-interaction, while also being a hilarious game where you …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Jacob Burgess makes The Musical: Opening Night Rat Heist
53:58
53:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:58
Voice actor and game dev Jacob Burgess joins the pod to crack the exceptionally difficult line up of: musical, game within a game, twin stick shooter This off-off-off Broadway production company has suffered from more internal drama than is in the script for Les Rizz! And to make matters worse, a swarm of rats has descended on the premises. But as …
…
continue reading
Moiya and astrobiologist Dr. Seven Rasmussen imagine life on some distant gas giant's moon. What they come up with is cute and curious and exceptionally weird. HOSTED by Dr. Moiya McTier (@GoAstroMo), astrophysicist and folklorist GUEST Dr. Seven Rasmussen is a writer and astrobiologist whose debut science book LIFE IN SEVEN NUMBERS: THE DRAKE EQUA…
…
continue reading