Checkpoint Charlie Podcasts

By AM950 Radio

We had a great show featuring two musicians playing at Twangfest at Palmers Bar Patio on May 13, 2023. First up was John Magnuson (formerly of the Carpetbaggers) and Doug Collins (pictured here with his band The Receptionists.) Paul then ends the show with a tribute and personal remembrance of opening up for his hero Gordon Lightfoot in Superior, W…

By AM950 Radio

By AM950 Radio

Paul Metsa plays back an interview he did on WTIP in Grand Marais, MN last month about his new book, “Alphabet Jazz: Poetry, Prose, Stories and Songs.” Order now on Amazon or wherever you get your books!By AM950 Radio

By AM950 Radio

By AM950 Radio

By AM950 Radio

By AM950 Radio

Paul read several pieces from his latest book Alphabet Jazz- Poetry, Prose, Stories, and Songs and played a couple of his recordings as well. The book can be purchased at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Alphabet-Jazz-Poetry-Prose-Stories/dp/B0BF2LST6B) or in the Twin Cities at the Electric Fetus, Grumpy’s Bar NE, and HiFi Hair and Records in Loring …

Paul hosts the Wall of Power Radio Hour every Saturday night at 6 PM on AM950, and in this interview joins Matt to discuss stories and hs new book Alphabet Jazz.By AM950 Radio

" One US soldier, who had been ordered to figure this out, actually hopped in a tank…." On today's episode, I am going discuss the game Papers Please and Checkpoint Charlie. Sources Checkpoint Charlie - Gate to Communism - U.S. Army in Cold War Berlin Video, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Tk9iYbZI4. MacGregor, Iain. Checkpoint Charlie: The…

By AM950 Radio

In this episode, I do something a little different and talk about my top 5 favorite medievalisms in video games.

"One time he in 1462, he left thousands of impaled victims impaled on a field after retreating from a battle." In this episode, I discuss the actual Dracula who lived and two Dracula games. Sources mentioned in the episode. Florescu, Radu, and Raymond T. McNally. 1994. In Search Of Dracula: The History of Dracula and Vampires. Subsequent edition. B…

"Lacy also uses the example of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, if you haven't watched it, stop listening and go watch." In this episode, I will discuss side quests in two Zelda games and side quests in some of the medieval romances. Sources mentioned in the episode. Howard, Jeff. 2008. Quests: Design, Theory, and History in Games and Narratives. 1…

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These ships and their high speeds were a cornerstone of the Viking hit-and-run raiding technique. In this episode, I will discuss Viking ships and their use in the game Northgard.

"Things were not all sunshine and daisy, though." In this episode, I will discuss the game Crusader Kings III again, along with the formation of England as a nation during the middle ages. Sources mentioned in this episode: Magazine, Smithsonian, and Mary Rambaran-Olm Wade Erik. n.d. “The Many Myths of the Term ‘Anglo-Saxon.’” Smithsonian Magazine.…

Paul is joined by folk/pop veteran Jonatha Brooke.By AM950 Radio

Host Paul Metsa chatted with Winona LaDuke, founder of HonortheEarth.org about the genesis of the organization, their work, and the upcoming Water Is Life concert on Sept. 4, 2022 at Bayfront Park in Duluth, MN. Paul also chatted with Alan Sparhawk, founder and guitarist /songwriter for the Duluth band Low who is performing at the festival. Al goes…

"There are giant sacks of gold in the castle." In this episode, I will discuss the Sheriff of Nottingham board game and a brief history of the Robin Hood stories. Sources mentioned in the episode. Baldwin, David. 2012. Robin Hood: The English Outlaw Unmasked. Amberley Publishing.

"After continuing to be an absolutely heinous person he was assassinated." In this episode I discuss the board game Coup and Maximilian Robespierre and Rafael Trujillo along with the coups both men were involved in. Sources mentioned in this episode “Coup.” n.d. BoardGameGeek. Accessed August 3, 2022. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/131357/coup…

"It is so easy as a child to see your parents and other adults in black and white terms when in reality we are all shades of grey." In this episode, I discuss the video game Hades, Greek Myths, and whether or not the game is a Greek Myth. Sources mentioned in this episode. Buxton, Richard. 2004. The Complete World of Greek Mythology. London: Thames…

By AM950 Radio

"The Black Plague was just shit icing on the cake for Europe." In this episode, I discuss several times when the apocalypse was supposed to happen and the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout New Vegas. No sources were mentioned specifically in this episode but for a full list see www.playingwtpast.com

"I will say that the US's train system isn't always the best, looking at you DC metro, but it is SO much better than not having it at all." In today's episode, I am riding the rails and exploring the game Ticket to Ride and the history of trains. Sources mentioned in the episode: “Railroad - Railroad History | Britannica.” n.d. Accessed June 7, 202…

We had a great chat with two of the best folksingers in MN Charlie Maguire and Pop Wagner. We talked about the great new Woody Guthrie book by Nora Guthrie and Robert Santelli as well as their upcoming show Woody Guthrie- Coast to Coast on July 16th at the Belvedere Room at Crooners Supper Club in Fridley.…

"Ludwig was taken to Berg, where the small castle was being turned into a one-person asylum." Today's episode discusses the board game Castles of Mad King Ludwig and the actual King Ludwig II. Sources mentioned in the episode. McIntosh, Christopher. 2019. The Swan King: Ludwig II of Bavaria. Reissue edition. Bloomsbury Academic. “Parsifal | Summary…

"The modern Merlin-like take is Aliens." In this episode, I dive into the alien artifacts on earth theory, the racism in that theory, and the alien artifacts in StarCraft 2. Sources mentioned in the episode Bond, Sarah E. 2018. “Pseudoarchaeology and the Racism Behind Ancient Aliens.” Hyperallergic. November 13, 2018. http://hyperallergic.com/47079…

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"People were killed by the thousands during this time period." In this episode, I will be discussing the Guillotine, both the game and device." For more information, go to www.playingwtpast.com

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"I rode one of these in Japan at night, and it was so much fun." In this episode, I discuss Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, the early history of rollercoasters, and how much I love riding them. Sources mentioned in the episode Silverman, Stephen M. 2019. The Amusement Park: 900 Years of Thrills and Spills, and the Dreamers and Schemers Who Built Them. Illu…

"The deliberate burning of the temple in the 4th century BCE was by an infamous arsonist, Herostratus" In this episode, I discuss the game 7 Wonders Duel and dive into the history of two wonders in the game.

Beelzebub "Evil is going to evil." In this episode I discuss the deity/demon Baal in history and in the video game Diablo II. Sources mentioned in this episode “Baal - New World Encyclopedia.” Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Baal. “Semite | Definition, Peoples, & Facts | Britannica.” Accessed March 16, 2022. http…

"Dysentery" On this episode, I discuss all the different ways to die in the Oregon Trail game and what the reality of those deaths were like. Sources mentioned in the episode CDC. “Measles Signs and Symptoms.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 5, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/symptoms/signs-symptoms.html. The New York Times. …

"There was a legend that arose after her death that she was descended from a demon. " In this episode, I discuss Eleanor of Aquitaine as Queen of England and the game Civilization VI. Sources mentioned in the episode Hilton, Lisa. Queens Consort. Pegasus Books, 2021. Turner, Ralph V. Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen of France, Queen of England. Yale Uni…

"He stole some of Eleanor's hawks." In this episode, I discuss Eleanor of Aquitaine as Queen of France and the game Civilization VI. Sources mentioned in the episode. Civilization Wiki. "Civilizations (Civ6)." Accessed February 14, 2022. https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/Civilizations_(Civ6). Hilton, Lisa. Queens Consort. Pegasus Books, 2021. Tu…

"All of the sudden you're about to die and then a dragon comes sweeping in." In this episode, I will discuss some of my favorite video game quests. Sources mentioned in this episode Howard, Jeff. Quests: Design, Theory, and History in Games and Narratives. 1st edition. A K Peters/CRC Press, 2008. Kelly, Douglas. “Multiple Quests in French Verse Rom…

"Team Squirrels!" In today's episode, I will be discussing the video game The Witcher and the profession of monster hunting with friend of the show Becca. Sources Mentioned in the episode Duda, Heather L. The Monster Hunter in Modern Popular Culture. 1st edition. McFarland, 2009.

"Vikings!" In this episode, I will be discussing more sword history from the Roman through the late medieval era. Sources mentioned in the episode Loades, Mike, Swords and Swordsmen, Reprint edition (Pen & Sword Military, 2011).

"It's Chivalry time again!" In this episode, a very special guest and I discuss Jedi Knights and how they compare to French and English Knights. Please go to www.playingwtpast.com for a complete list of sources.

"Humans are going to Human." Sources mentioned in the episode. Philip Sugden, The Complete History of Jack the Ripper https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/59959/letters-whitechapel Please rate, review and subscribe if you liked the podcast. For more information about this episode and all other episodes, visit www.playingwtpast.com…

"What history is it full of, you ask? Jack the Ripper history." In this episode, I will discuss the Jack the Ripper murders as they relate to the board game Letters from Whitechapel. Sources mentioned in the episode. Philip Sugden, The Complete History of Jack the Ripper Please rate, review and subscribe if you liked the podcast. For more informati…

"Egypt had some unique swords, including one that was found in King Tutankhamun's tomb." In today's episode, I will be discussing the history of swords—specifically, the history of swords from the beginning through part of the classical era. Sources mentioned in the episode. Loades, Mike, Swords and Swordsmen, Reprint edition (Pen & Sword Military,…

"I get to talk about one of my favorite historical topics." In this second episode about Dante's Inferno, I talk a closer look at the game and different ways to look at the history in it. Sources mentioned in the episode. The Inferno in the Devine Comedy translated by John Ciardi "Courtly Violence: Digital Play: Adapting Medieval Courtly Masculinit…

"Dante was absent when Charles of Valois arrived and therefore missed the murder, pillaging, and purge trials that happened." In this first of two episodes, I will be discussing Dante's Inferno, the poem, and the video game and how similar they are. Sources mentioned in the episode and full list of sources for the episode. Alighieri, Dante. 2003. T…

"A mystical creature that comes in at night and it eats peoples dreams" In this episode of Playing With the Past, friend of the show, Ryan, will join me for an in-depth discussion of Pokémon and the folklores that have inspired some Pokémon. Sources mentioned in the episode. Repackaging Japanese Culture: The Digitalization of Folktales in the Pokém…