Best Simon Parkin Podcasts (2024)

1
Correspondence Special #3: What was the best year for video games? 34:41

8h ago34:41

34:41

In this special correspondence edition, host Simon Parkin reads out listeners' correspondence, answers questions, and offers at least one clue about a forthcoming special guest. Hear Simon discuss which was the best year for video games, which video game characters would make the best stand-up comics, and what Hollywood will do for #content when th…

1
Eric Barone, creator of Stardew Valley. 1:15:06

5d ago1:15:06

1:15:06

My guest today is the American game designer and musician Eric Barone. Born in Los Angeles, he spent his childhood in the suburbs of Seattle. In 2011 he graduated from the University of Washington Tacoma with a degree in computer science, but was unable to find employment. He started developing a video game to hone his programming skills. Supported…

1
MGIF S6 E18: Anna Hollinrake 1:03:12

3d ago1:03:12

1:03:12

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with third time guest, a MGIF staple, podcast soulmate Anna Hollinrake! I met up with Anna at our favourite sandwich shop and we loaded up on nice stuff before struggling to balance various bagels, c…

1
Nina Freeman, gamemaker (Cibele, Tacoma, Last Call). 1:12:51

10d ago1:12:51

1:12:51

Nina Freeman is an American independent video game writer and designer. While a student at Pace University in New York, she was drawn to the work of Frank O’Hara and other poets of the New York School, who documented their lives through witty, confessional verse. She began to explore ways in which she could employ a similar tone, not in poetry, but…

1
MGIF S6 E17: Moo Yu 1:17:43

10d ago1:17:43

1:17:43

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with industry veteran, Mr Moo Yu! I met up with Moo outside Waterloo station in London, where we went for a short stroll on a rainy afternoon before finding a covered space outside a cafe to chat abo…

1
Abubakar Salim, actor (Napoleon, House of the Dragon). 1:13:06

18d ago1:13:06

1:13:06

My guest today is the British actor Abubakar Salim. Born in Hertfordshire to a family of first-generation Kenyan immigrants, he joined the National Youth Theatre at the age of sixteen, then won a scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He made his professional stage debut in 2010 playing Osric in Prince of Denmark at t…

1
MGIF S6 E16: Lana Zgombic 1:15:14

17d ago1:15:14

1:15:14

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is another returning guest - it’s the majestic Lana Zgombic! I visited Lana at home where she gave me the grand tour of her lovely flat, complete with Elden Ring and Bloodborne themed painted portraits,…

1
Chet Faliszek, gamemaker (Half-Life 2 series, Left 4 Dead series, The Anacrusis). 1:22:20

23d ago1:22:20

1:22:20

My guest today is the American writer and game designer Chet Faliszek. In the nineties he and his friend Erik Wolpaw founded the website Old Man Murray. The satirical online publication poked fun at video gaming’s sacred cows and established a tone that is still prevalent across the internet today. After catching the attention of Half-Life creator …

1
MGIF S6 E15: Rory Powers 1:37:37

24d ago1:37:37

1:37:37

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the POWERFUL Rory Powers. Rory is one third of the colossal let’s play youtube channel known as RKG, one half of wildly successful podcast This Paranormal Life, a musician, a writer - the guy do…

1
MPC Game Club: Stephen's Sausage Roll (feat. Glenn Moore). 37:25

30d ago37:25

37:25

Friend of the podcast Glenn Moore joins Simon for a special bonus episode to discuss April's book-club-game, Stephen's Sausage Roll edition. This previously supporter-only episode gives a taste of the bonus monthly episode My Perfect Console supporters receive through Patreon. Throughout April 2024, Glenn and Simon, together with many of the My Per…

1
Veronica Roth, novelist (The Divergent Trilogy, When Among Crows). 1:10:00

1M ago1:10:00

1:10:00

My guest today is the American novelist and short story writer, Veronica Roth. Born in New York and raised in Illinois, she studied creative writing at Northwestern University. While a student, she wrote Divergent, a dystopian science fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic version of Chicago. The book sold to a publisher even before she graduated,…

1
MGIF S6 E14: Masud Milas 1:10:18

1M ago1:10:18

1:10:18

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the one and only, Mr Masud Milas! Masud is a comedian, comedy writer and makes up one third of the Mystery on the Rocks podcast. We met up in our favourite coffee place then walked around Soho, …

1
Correspondence Special #2: The best game Keita Takahashi never made. 33:20

1M ago33:20

33:20

In this special correspondence edition, host Simon Parkin reads out listeners' correspondence, answers questions, and offers at least one clue about a forthcoming special guest. Hear about the genius game that Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi never made, the latest on film director Steven Spielberg's adaptation of 'A Game of Birds and Wolves…

1
Teddy Dief, gamemaker (Hyper Light Drifter, We are OFK). 1:16:29

1M ago1:16:29

1:16:29

My guest today is the American videogame designer and writer, Teddy Dief. Born in Illinois, they graduated from Columbia University with a degree in music, computer science, and Japanese. Then while studying for an MFA in filmmaking and game design at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, they worked on Pirates of the Caribbean Online, and as a designer …

1
MGIF S6 E13 Alex Donaldson 1:13:47

1M ago1:13:47

1:13:47

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the marvellous Alex Donaldson. Alex is a video game critic, the owner of RPG Site and Assistant Editor / editor at large for VG247. We walked around the mean streets of Solihull and took in some…

1
Keith Stuart, journalist & novelist (A Boy Made of Blocks, Love is a Curse). 1:20:18

2M ago1:20:18

1:20:18

My guest today is the English author and journalist, Keith Stuart. He grew up in a town near Stockport in Greater Manchester, then studied English and Drama at Warwick University. After graduating he joined Big Red Software, testing Game Genie codes for the Game Boy, and coming up with names for the vehicles and tracks in Big Red Racing. In 1995 he…

1
MGIF S6 E12 Simon Parkin 1:02:37

2M ago1:02:37

1:02:37

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the absolutely wonderful Simon Parkin! Simon is a journalist, non-fiction writer and games critic. He also hosts the podcast My Perfect Console, where guests are invited to choose five games tha…

1
Masaya Matsuura, musician, gamemaker (PaRappa the Rapper). 1:19:20

2M ago1:19:20

1:19:20

My guest today is Masaya Matsuura, a Japanese musician and game designer widely considered to be the inventor of rhythm action video games. Born in Osaka City, music ran in the family; his father often performed with his guitar in clubs around Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. My guest was an unruly student until he discovered a love of keyboards and syn…

1
MGIF S6 E11 Paul Kilduff-Taylor 1:20:40

2M ago1:20:40

1:20:40

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the guy they very often call Paul Kilduff Taylor! Paul is a previous guest of the show, and the man behind Mode7 Games. He is also an extremely brilliant music man who is behind several soundtra…

1
Sarah Keyworth, comedian. 1:18:11

2M ago1:18:11

1:18:11

My guest today is the English stand-up comedian Sarah Keyworth. Born in Nottingham in 1993 they studied drama at De Montfort University, where they became an active member of the university's comedy club. After graduating, my guest then worked for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, while performing on the circuit. Their first show, Dark …

1
MGIF S6 E10 Frankie Ward 1:33:03

2M ago1:33:03

1:33:03

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the fabulous Frankie Ward! Frankie is an amazing, highly experienced presenter and streamer. She is an Intel Gaming Ambassador and is currently working on FC 24, VALORANT and Fortnite, but she’s…

1
12. Simon Parkin (Journalist @ The New Yorker, My Perfect Console) 56:11

2M ago56:11

56:11

Award-winning journalist and non-fiction writer, Simon Parkin, discusses his journey into journalism, curiosity about video games, the transition from 2D to 3D gaming, and informing the broader culture about the medium. ------ Simon Parkin's website (with links to his books, articles, and audio) simonparkin.com My Perfect Console shows.acast.com/my…

1
John Johanas, creative director Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within, Hi-Fi Rush). 1:26:29

2M ago1:26:29

1:26:29

My guest today is John Johanas, creative director at the Tokyo-based studio Tango Gameworks. Born on Long Island, New York, he played in a Radiohead covers band while in High School. After graduating with a degree in East Asia studies from Brandeis University, he moved to Japan to work as an English teacher. He started translating Japanese books in…

1
MGIF S6 E9 Jane Perry 1:02:50

2M ago1:02:50

1:02:50

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with actress and voice over queen, it’s Jane Perry! Jane is an actress who you may know as the voice of Rogue in Cyberpunk, Selene in Returnal - a role for which she won a BAFTA - and Agent 47’s hand…

1
Siobhan Reddy, co-deputy chair, BAFTA. 1:13:34

2M ago1:13:34

1:13:34

My guest today is Siobhan Reddy, a video game executive and the co-deputy chair of BAFTA. Born in South African to Irish and Australian parents, at the age of four she moved to Campbelltown, New South Wales in Australia. There as a student she became interested in filmmaking and technology. At eighteen she moved to the UK and began working for Perf…

1
MGIF S6 E8 - Inel Tomlinson 1:16:41

2M ago1:16:41

1:16:41

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with Actor, comedian, voiceover artist and MUCH more, it’s Inel Tomlinson! Recorded in February of 2024, we talk about firsts - first games, first stand up, first forays into TV, and from these start…

1
Correspondence Special #1: Revisiting Jack Thompson. 38:25

3M ago38:25

38:25

In this special correspondence edition, host Simon Parkin explores feedback from the recent episode with Jack Thompson, reads out listeners' correspondence, answers questions, and offers at least one reveal about a forthcoming special guest... Be attitude for gains. https://plus.acast.com/s/my-perfect-console. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…

1
MGIF S6 E7 - Steffan Powell 1:34:50

3M ago1:34:50

1:34:50

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with presenter and journalist Steffan Powell! Recorded in January 2024, I met Steffan outside the South Bank centre in London. We went for a stroll alongside the Thames, grabbed a coffee from one of …

1
Wes Fenlon, senior editor, PC Gamer. 1:22:44

3M ago1:22:44

1:22:44

My guest today is Wes Fenlon, a San Francisco-based writer and senior editor at the video game publication PC Gamer. Having graduated from The University of Georgia with a degree in journalism and magazines, my guest freelanced for The Wirecutter –– the product review website now owned by the New York Times –– and Tested.com where he reviewed and r…

1
Jack Thompson, Former lawyer, "anti-video-game activist." 1:15:32

3M ago1:15:32

1:15:32

My guest today is former lawyer who gained recognition in the late nineties and early 2000s as an "anti-video game activist", criticizing the content of violent video games and their alleged effects on children. Via a series of high-profile lawsuits, including several against Rockstar, the creator of the Grand Theft Auto series, he claimed that Mat…

1
MGIF S6 E6 - Steve McNeil 59:26

3M ago59:26

59:26

This episode is with comedian, author, TV man and capital G GAMER, it’s Steve McNeil! Recorded in October of 2023, I visited the VIBRANT / mostly concrete town of Milton Keynes, where Steve took me on a driving tour of everything the place had to see (basically the Milton Keynes concrete cows). After doing our level best to not mention computer gam…

1
Abhi Swaminathan, gamemaker (Venba). 1:13:15

3M ago1:13:15

1:13:15

My guest today is a game developer and founder of Visai Games. At the age of twelve he moved to Canada from Southern India, then, hoping to enter the games industry, studied Computer Science at the University of Toronto. After graduating, my guest took a programming job at the mobile games studio, Uken Games. In his spare time he and an artist frie…

1
MGIF S6 E5 - GLESGAMES! - and The Scottish Game Scene (SCOTLAND FOREVER) 1:18:07

3M ago1:18:07

1:18:07

Photos courtesy of Lyndsay Spence It’s a longer one this week as I take you on an audio journey to Scotland, as I make my way to the fabulous Glesgames! Recorded THIS MONTH - March 2024 - I took a train to Edinburgh where I stayed with a friend (shout outs to Mark - I love you mate) before making my way over to Glasgow to attend Glesgames - an even…

1
Val McDermid, crime writer, Booker Prize judge. 1:07:12

3M ago1:07:12

1:07:12

My guest today is a Scottish crime writer. Born into a working-class family in Fife, she studied English at St Hilda’s College Oxford, where she was the first student to be admitted from a Scottish state school. She first worked as a journalist, then a dramatist and, in 1987, published her first novel, Report for Murder. Since then, my guest has re…

1
MGIF S6 E4 - George Osborn 1:04:21

3M ago1:04:21

1:04:21

Welcome back! Episode 4 is with returning guest George “not that one) Osborn! Recorded in Octobier 2023, I was refreshing George’s headshots in Stoke Newington’s Loading Bar so I decided we should double up (or double down?) and crack out an hour of magical podcasting. Surprisingly for us, we used up 80% of our usual mutual silliness putting the he…

1
Patrick House, neuroscientist and writer. 1:20:49

4M ago1:20:49

1:20:49

My guest today is an American neuroscientist and writer. Born in New York, he earned his Ph.D. in neuroscience from Stanford University in 2014, researching Toxoplasma gondii, the single-celled feline parasite that infects mouse brains and may––or may not––mess with their fear of cats. As well as studying ancient genetics – specifically conducting …

1
MGIF S6 E3 - Luke Hebbelthwaite 1:18:06

4M ago1:18:06

1:18:06

Welcome back! Episode 3 is with the magnificent Luke Hebbelthwaite! Luke is head of games at BAFTA - if you’ve seen a BAFTA games thing in the past, you can bet Luke was involved in it! Recorded in January 2024, Luke met with me in the churchyard close to BAFTA 195 in London Piccadilly where we had a mini tour of the surrounding area, before headin…

1
Yoshinori Kitase, director & producer (Final Fantasy series, Chrono Trigger). 1:05:27

4M ago1:05:27

1:05:27

My guest today is a Japanese video-game director, producer, and executive officer of Square-Enix. Born in 1966 in Fussa City in the suburbs of Tokyo, he studied filmmaking at Nihon University. After graduating, he was working at an animation studio when he first played Final Fantasy on the Famicom, and immediately saw the dramatic potential of the …

1
MGIF S6 E2 - Ellie Gibson 1:14:56

4M ago1:14:56

1:14:56

Welcome back! Episode 2 of Season 6 is with the mighty Ellie Gibson! Ellie Gibson is a comedian, journalist and these days a streamer of computer games, as people over 40 born in the UK sometimes call them. Aside from her legendary tenure at Eurogamer, you may know her from the TV series Dara O’ Briain’s Go 8 Bit as well as being one half of the ex…

1
Rod Fergusson, SVP Blizzard Entertainment (Gears of War, Bioshock Infinite, Diablo IV). 1:18:03

4M ago1:18:03

1:18:03

My guest today is Senior Vice-President of Blizzard Entertainment and General Manager of the Diablo video game series. After attending the University of Ottawa for Computer Science, my guest joined Microsoft as a Microsoft Consultant, before he moved to the company’s games division to work titles including Microsoft Train Simulator, then the Xbox v…

1
MGIF S6 E1 - Johnny Chiodini 1:26:38

4M ago1:26:38

1:26:38

Welcome to season 6 of MGIF, a videogames-leaning podcast where you listen to me walking around (mostly) London having fun silly chats with people who are involved with or have an interest in videogames in one way or another. IF, while you’re listening to this podcast, you begin to think about videogame culture and its wider place in society, that …

1
11. Chris Plante (Editor-in-chief @ Polygon; The Besties podcast) 1:13:33

4M ago1:13:33

1:13:33

Chris Plante, Editor-in-chief of Polygon and co-host of The Besties podcast, chronicles his journey into games journalism, his fondness for "7/10 (rated)" video games, and what makes video games different (and the same!) as other mediums. ------ Polygon: Gaming and Entertainment News, Reviews, and More Polygon.com The Besties (podcast) themcelroy.f…

1
Helen Macdonald & Sin Blaché (Writers, H is for Hawk, Prophet). 1:18:24

4M ago1:18:24

1:18:24

My guests today are co-authors of the techno-thriller novel Prophet. Helen Macdonald is an English writer, naturalist, and an affiliated research scholar at the University of Cambridge. Their 2014 book “H is for Hawk” tells the true story of a year spent training a northern goshawk while grieving. The book won, among many other things, the Samuel J…

1
Iain Lee (broadcaster, comedian, counsellor). 1:19:30

5M ago1:19:30

1:19:30

My guest today is an English broadcaster, writer, television presenter and stand-up comedian. Born in Slough, he began working as a comic in the early nineties, soon landing a gig as co-host of Channel 4’s The 11 O’clock Show, the satirical comedy programme that launched the careers of Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervais. A slew of high-profile TV …

1
Gary Whitta, screenwriter (The Book of Eli, Star Wars: Rogue One). 1:20:44

5M ago1:20:44

1:20:44

My guest today is a British author and screenwriter for film and video games. Born in London, he began his career as a writer for the games magazine Commodore User, then joined the team that founded PC Gamer, of which he later became editor-in-chief. In 2010, my guest found success in Hollywood as the writer of The Book of Eli, a post-apocalyptic n…

1
Best of 2023 (Part 2). 1:11:32

5M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

Another selection of some of our favourite clips from My Perfect Console's amazing line-up of guests from 2023. Cast in Order of Appearance Henk Rogers Dylan Cuthbert Charles Cecil Jörg Tittel Ellie Gibson Danny Pudi Joseph Mackertich Josh Wardle Dan Vecchitto Tarn Adams Kelsey Lewin Stella Wisdom Tetsuya Mizuguchi Nolan Bushnell Thanks for listeni…

1
Best of 2023 (Part 1). 58:29

6M ago58:29

58:29

It's been a thrilling first year for My Perfect Console. Here are some of our favourite clips from 2023. Cast in Order of Appearance Dara Ó Briain Heather Ann Campbell Pierre Novelli Ashly Burch Jennifer Hale Dominic Armato Phil Wang Jason Schreier Lucas Pope Meghan Jayanth Peter Molyneux Ronan Farrow Naomi Alderman Mike Rose Susan Calman Josh Sche…

1
Console of the Year Award (2023) 29:12

6M ago29:12

29:12

A special episode announcing the winner of the My Perfect Console of the Year (2023) Tournament. It's time. Fifty-two consoles have now been whittled down to two final machines. It's an all-North American final, as the U.S.A.'s Heather Anne-Campbell takes on Canada's Phil Fish. Both machines are spectacular, potential best-sellers: Heather Anne-Cam…

1
Nolan Bushnell, co-founder Atari. 1:13:44

6M ago1:13:44

1:13:44

My guest today is an American scientist, entrepreneur, and a founding father of the video game industry. Born in 1943, he grew up in Utah, in a Mormon family, before leaving to study engineering and business at Utah State University. While a student he played Spacewar!, one of the earliest digital games designed for the PDP-1 computer. After gradua…

1
Josh Scherr, narrative director (co-writer Uncharted 4, The Last of Us Part II). 1:21:46

6M ago1:21:46

1:21:46

My guest today is an American writer and narrative designer for video games. After graduating from the USC School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Animation, he worked as an animator in Hollywood, contributing to an early version of Shrek at DreamWorks, Dinosaur at Disney, and to the music video Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In 2001…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Simon Parkin Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide