Read along with the Sword and Laser book club! From classic science fiction to the latest gritty fantasy, we cover it. Subscribe for book discussions, author interviews, hot releases, and news from the genre fiction world!
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It's a book club for games! Mike and Ting talk about games while working through their backlogs - or more likely, make their backlogs worse by playing other things entirely. Join them playing the book club game and tell them their opinions are bad on Reddit and Twitter.
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Book of the Mouse Club is an Unofficial Disney podcast that explores books about Disney, its history, films, theme parks and more. Join us for discussions about books, interviews with authors and broader topics that relate to the literary realm of Disney. Disclaimer: Book of the Mouse Club has no affiliation with The Walt Disney Company. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and participants are theirs and theirs alone and do not represent the organizations or companies they happen to wo ...
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Not Your Average Book Report, hosted by Sam and Sarah Scott, is a whimsical podcast exploring children's literature. With a down-to-earth approach (meaning as much laughter as possible), they hope to inspire meaningful conversations for both kids and adults inviting everyone to never lose the childlike joy of reading.
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Well Fic Me Sideways is a deep dive into fanfiction culture and tropes. Bringing a new topic and three fics to discuss in a Fanfic book club every episode- Bee, Mouse and Zara form the nitty gritty fanfic committee to peer review popular tropes for desirability, logistics, historical accuracy and a complimentary vibe check! Updates every first and third Saturday.
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#105: Adventureland Attraction Summer Series - “Skipper Stories: True Tales from Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise” by David John Marley ft. Guest Reader Allie Ring of the DCOMmentaries Podcast
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And now you are about to see the eighth wonder of the world…the final installment of the Adventureland Attraction Summer Series! Courtney and Emily welcome former Jungle Cruise Skipper, Allie Ring, to discuss “Skipper Stories: True Tales from Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise” by David John Marley. This collection of stories allows readers to learn about …
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Mike and Ting talk about The Case of the Golden Idol. Contains SPOILERS for The Case of the Golden Idol! Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: What is The Case of the Golden Idol? The Case of the Golden Idol OST: 1 - The Watching Eye | Composed by Kyle Misko (2022) (YouTube) The Case of the Golden Idol - Metacriti…
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Mike and Ting talk about the Paris Olympics and Disney forcing arbitration in a wrongful death case. NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for The Case of the Golden Idol. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Pre-Chat An ambitious Olympics opening ceremony showboats French culture on the Seine River An Olymp…
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This is not a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles podcast but it sure does end like one. But before it comes to that we boggle at all the awesome award winners, and talk about our good first impressions of The Spear That Cuts Through Water. Oh, and we have an idea for a cafe filled with Brandon Sanderson puns. Oh the puns!…
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Mike and Ting talk about Animal Well. Contains SPOILERS for Animal Well! Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: What is Animal Well? ANIMAL WELL BIGMODE The Promo Campaign for Animal Well (YouTube) Shrek - Ogres are like Onions (Blu-Ray 1080p) English [scene] (YouTube) What The Heck Is A 'MetroidBrainia'? Introduci…
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Mike and Ting talk about Inside Out 2 and dumb Prime Day purchases. NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Animal Well. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Pre-Chat Inside Out 2 (2024) - IMDb Inside Out (2015) - IMDb Bing Bong | Inside Out Wiki Inside Out 2 Makes No Sense (YouTube) Anxiety | Inside Out W…
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Oh, Hugos. Also, the best Sci-Fi books of all time, and will AI kill the planet? We kick off our August book The Spear that Cuts Through Water, and wrap up our last thoughts on Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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We debate whether we want dead celebrities to read our audiobooks. How long is too long for a series? And our non-spoilery takes on Cursed Bunny.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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#104: Adventureland Attraction Summer Series - Author Interview “Before the Birds Sang Words” by Ken Bruce
1:12:21
1:12:21
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The birds sing words and the flowers croon in this episode all about The Enchanted Tiki Room. In this second installment of the Adventureland Attraction Summer Series, Courtney and Emily interview author Ken Bruce about the enchanting context and early history of the attraction in his book, “Before the Birds Sang Words”. Go beyond the origin myth o…
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Mike and Ting talk about Balatro. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: What is Balatro? Jester - Wikipedia Balatro A 127,076x Multiplier to the Moon! | Balatro | Road to 100% #18 (YouTube) The Making of Balatro (feat. LocalThunk) - Dear Dwyery #01 (YouTube) Big two - Wikipedia “Balatro is the first Deckbuilder I …
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Pre-Chat: Jonathan Blow is Watching You Mouse Jiggle
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Mike and Ting talk about pretending to work while watching inspirational Jonathan Blow videos. NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Balatro. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Pre-Chat Last month, Wells Fargo reportedly fired over a dozen employees for using tools that fake productivity at work Nvidia…
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It's awards season and we cover them all, including a Martha Wells sweep! We wrap up our thoughts on Sword of Kaigen and get excited (read: trigger warnings) for Cursed Bunny, our July pick.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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#103: Adventureland Attraction Summer Series - “The Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann David Wyss
1:10:23
1:10:23
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S.O.S! Courtney and Emily are stranded on the island of New Switzerland. Luckily, there is a terrific treehouse complete with a library where they can read and be safe from the jungle’s wild animals. Join your hosts for their first selection of the Adventureland Attraction Summer Series, “The Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann David Wyss, and compare…
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Are we living in a Maas society? Veronica has recommendations in joining on the Sarah J. Maas train. Independent bookstores are on the rise. We kick off The Sword of Kaigen and give our spoilery thoughts on Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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Mike and Ting talk about Helldivers 2. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: What is Helldivers 2? Helldivers 2 Main Theme - "A Cup Of Liber-Tea" (YouTube) Helldivers 2 - Metacritic Sony demands PSN accounts for Helldivers 2 PC players, and it’s not going well | Ars Technica Map Shows All Countries Where Helldiver…
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Mike and Ting talk about Count Binface, keyboards and GPT-4o. NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Helldivers 2. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Pre-Chat Shark Week - Wikipedia Is the World Really Falling Apart, or Does It Just Feel That Way? - The New York Times Count Binface invades Westminster i…
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#489 - Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Veronicas
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We have Locus Award and Arthur C. Clarke award nominees. We share our non-spoilery thoughts on Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. And Tom discovers Birria Ramen!By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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#102: Author Interview - “Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort that Never Was” by Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer
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Many are familiar with Disney’s theme parks, cruise ships, resorts, and broader media empire, but did you know Disney tried to build a ski resort in Mineral King, California in the 1960s? Courtney and Emily are joined by authors Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer to discuss how this resort never broke ground despite over a decade of planning. Their boo…
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Some great books in the Seiun Awards in Japan, why Sword and Laser is good for your heart, we kick off the May pick, and finally wrap up our thoughts on the surprising complexity and depth of the awesome Cordelia's Honor.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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Triple-I, Switch Indies and Now Playing
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Mike and Ting talk about the Triple-I Initiative, the Switch Indie World Showcase, what they've been playing, and some rapid fire news. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Triple-I The Triple-i Initiative 2024: A New Gaming Showcase (YouTube) Slay the Spire 2 Officially Announced, Won't be in Unity Why there are…
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Mike and Ting talk about Udio, deepfakes and the AI Pin. NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Triple-I, Switch Indies and Now Playing. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Pre-Chat Udio | Dune the Broadway Musical, Showtunes, Soundtrack by BobbyB Udio, the Mysterious GPT Update, and Infinite Attention (…
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#101: “The Hundred and One Dalmatians” by Dodie Smith
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Only one book is appropriate for episode #101 and that is Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel, The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Join Courtney and Emily as they compare the original source material to Disney’s 1961 animated feature and 1996 live action film. Follow Our Reading Journey On Social Media! Official Instagram: @BookoftheMouse Courtney: Instagram @gre…
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OMG all of the top bestsellers are romantasy! What order should you read series in? Does it matter? Also why is Veronica telling Tom to suck it? Or did we misunderstand. Tune in and find out!By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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Will Veronica and Tom make it to Glasgow? Not after that embarrassing German pronunciation. And after talking some baseball, they dig into non-spoilery discussion of Cordelia's Honor.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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The Nebula Award nominees are out! Should we re-read Neuromancer? Veronica explains Type I, II, and III fun. The truth behind Cordelia's Honor. And our final thoughts on Iron Widow.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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Mike and Ting talk about Cookie Clicker. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: What is Cookie Clicker? Hover (YouTube) Cookie Clicker DashNet | creating video games | Patreon Cow Clicker - Wikipedia #Gamelab2018 - Jon Blow's Design decisions on creating Jai a new language for game programmers (YouTube) Incremental…
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Mike and Ting talk about oversized phones and Inside Out 2. NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Cookie Clicker. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Pre-Chat Does the iPhone 15 Pro Max bend and crack easily? Consumer Reports says no - 9to5Mac Hands-on with the Apple Watch Ultra: It's not too big. | Mas…
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#100: The Book of the Mouse Club 100th Episode Celebration!
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We got ears, it's time for cheers! Like the Walt Disney Company, Courtney and Emily are celebrating their own hundredth milestone - 100 episodes! During the Book of the Mouse Club 100 celebration, your hosts will recap their reading “wrapped” with data from the 104 books they’ve read since episode 1 and share reflections and behind the scenes anecd…
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
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Join hosts Sam and Sarah on this episode of "Not Your Average Book Report" as they dive into Judy Blume's timeless classic "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." Discover how this beloved coming-of-age tale resonates with readers and explore its enduring themes of identity, friendship, and faith. Power Rank These Three from Worst to Least Worst: 1…
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We check in on who's winning the tournament. A vikings kids book! Where it's stabbing time! We talk a little bit about Iron Widow, and wrap up Shadow of the Gods.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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Mike and Ting talk about Hogwarts Legacy. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: What is Hogwarts Legacy? Hogwarts Legacy Official Soundtrack | Full Album | 4K (YouTube) Hogwarts Legacy controversy explained | GamesRadar+ Hogwarts Legacy has officially cleared Zelda as 2023’s best-selling game worldwide | VGC Hogwa…
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Pre-Chat: Breakfasts, Briney Tea & Basements
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Mike and Ting talk about pineapple for breakfast, salt in tea and more revenge bedtime procrastination. NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Hogwarts Legacy. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Pre-Chat Bienvenue à Londres City - Le Relais De Venise English Breakfast Society recommends swapping tomato …
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A few more thoughts on the Hugos, who would win in a fight between Maas and Yarros, and we preview our March Madness brackets!By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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#99: Author Interview - “The Miles Mitchell Mysteries: A Private Eye At A Magical Place” by Aaron Forringer
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The Most Magical Place on Earth is sometimes more than meets the eye…so let’s meet our magical private eye! When mischievous magical mysteries arise, that is when Miles Mitchell, private eye, takes the case. Courtney and Emily are joined by Aaron Forringer to discuss his collection of short stories, “The Miles Mitchell Mysteries: A Private Eye At A…
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In this episode we're reading Matilda by Roald Dahl. Sam and Sarah share laughter-inducing excerpts (You can do it, Brucie!) and reminisce about their favorite teachers who inspired them. Immerse yourself in a delightful blend of nostalgia, humor, and genuine moments as we discuss this classic.By Not Your Average Book Report
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We've opened nominations for Mad Marchness!, our March tournament of book picks. Plus, the failure of the Hugos and the rise of Romantasy. And we begin our first impressions of Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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Mike and Ting talk about the games and hardware they're looking forward to in 2024. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Looking Forward Palworld | Early Access Launch Trailer | Pocketpair (YouTube) Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | Ubisoft (US) Palworld sells 1 million copies in just 8 hours, and the servers ar…
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Mike and Ting talk about the Clicks keyboard, the Rabbit r1 and streaming service ads. NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for 2024 Look Forward. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Pre-Chat BlackBerry - Wikipedia Clicks for iPhone Founders Edition Rick and Morty: Jerry's playing (YouTube) Rabbit Introduc…
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Surprise, there's a problem with hosting the Hugos in China. Plus: Keanu Reeves is co-writing with China Mieville, we kick off our February read, The Shadow of the Gods. And our spoilery thoughts on The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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#98: “The Art of Wish” by Stephen Rebello and Kimmer Baughman
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The Walt Disney Company has been wishing on stars since 1923 and Disney’s Wish is a tribute to the 100 years of animation from the studio. Courtney and Emily kick off season 7 with “The Art of Wish” celebrating Disney Animation Studios’ 62nd film. Its unique “moving painting” animation pays tribute to the golden age of Disney animation and there ar…
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Alternatives to Goodreads, and one of them is Amazon. Which owns Goodreads. What you can and can't do with Mickey Mouse. The "Who should play Murderbot" discussion continues. Typical human and augmented human stuff! Plus why Veronica should read this month's book pick.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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#479 - Where Have All The Beef Suits Gone?
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Are there too many Nat 20s in Kings of the Wyld, our stance on Skarsgard as Murderbot, and we introduce the January pick (which has a lot of triggers).By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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Mike and Ting look back on 2023. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Year in Review Undertale - Snowdin Remix (YouTube) Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia 2023 Israel–Hamas war - Wikipedia Mask-wearing no longer mandatory on public transport from Feb 13, as Singapore steps down COVID-19 restrictions - CNA T…
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Pre-Chat: Recap, RE: Cruise and Replaced by AI
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Mike and Ting talk about Spotify Wrapped, cruise holidays and Pictionary vs AI. NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for 2023 Wrap Up. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Pre-Chat The Stand Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A …
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All the end of year book picks are out with lots of great titles to add to your own list! Did Vonnegut think he was a genre writer? And our non-spoilery thoughts about Kings of the Wyld.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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#97: "How the Villains Ruined Christmas" by Serena Valentino
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The Villains are trying to ruin Christmas! Classic Disney villains are up to their usual dastardly deeds, but the spirit of Christmas cannot be defeated. Courtney and Emily discuss Serna Valentino’s picture book “Disney Villains: How the Villains ruined Christmas” in their concluding episode of season 6. Picture books and reading are synonymous wit…
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Veronica now knows how to catch up on Old Man's War. Should good books not be SciFi? Is "they said" saying too much? He “sucked his teeth” is not enough! We kick off Kings of the Wyld and wrap up Mimicking of Known Successes.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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Mike, Ting and Mike (@msdq) from Xdrive Megabox (@xdrivemegabox) talk about Baldur's Gate 3. Contains SPOILERS for Baldur's Gate 3! Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Background 01 Baldur's Gate 3 Original Soundtrack - Main Theme Part I (YouTube) Baldur's Gate 3 - Metacritic Baldur's Gate 3 Proves Modern Gaming…
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Pre-Chat: Artificial Emotional Intelligence
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Mike and Ting talk about the Inside Out 2 teaser trailer, the Humane Ai Pin and buying an Apple Watch. NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Baldur's Gate 3. Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or mike.and.ting@lostlevels.club Show Notes: Pre-Chat Inside Out 2 | Teaser Trailer (YouTube) Inside Out (2015) - IMDb Rule 34 - Wikipedia How to Tell Whet…
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#476 - Don't Get Your Atmoscarf In A Bunch
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We're huge fans of mushrooms! Fourth Wing is EVERYWHERE. And remember, the very aspects of a novel you might not fancy could be the same ones that captivate someone else.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont
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