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Queens of Fantasy Podcast

Marissa Trarback, Alix Calfa, Taylor Andresen

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This is the Queens of Fantasy podcast, a podcast dedicated to deeply analyzing, discussing, and reading fantasy series alongside other readers. Each season of this podcast is dedicated to a specific fantasy series and/or author. The Queens in this podcast include myself, Marissa, Alix, and Taylor. We are your guides and companions for your adventure through various fantasy worlds.
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The Book Jar Podcast

Marissa Trarback, Megan Breitenbach

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A podcast between two avid readers in which the topics are chosen from the book jar! Episodes are released every two weeks. Send us your topics to have them added to the jar.
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The Crowned Heathens Podcast

Marissa Trarback, Matthew DiBenedetto, Matthew Sacco

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No stupid questions here. Join Marissa, Matthew, and Sacco each week for video game discussions. From our favourite all-time video games to games we couldn't finish, we'll be discussing a variety of video games, including Playstation, Xbox, mobile, and PC games. Weekly discussions also include games we're currently playing from all genres – with several tangents for your enjoyment. After all, when there are no stupid questions, every topic is on the table. Genres you can expect we'll talk ab ...
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This one kind of got out of hand. We tried to talk about video game genres that we just can't stand/didn't like playing and it got heated! Matt stirs the pot, Marissa wants to hit Matt with the pot, and Sacco gets mad at EA. Games we talk about this week: Life is Strange, Bladurs Gate, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Final Fantasy, Dragon Age, Detroi…
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Another book down, only five (six with the prequel) to go! From wells of magic in a magic-free town to genius plans by our main characters being executed every other chapter, Queens Marissa, Tay, and Alix dive right into this novel. Queens Marissa and Tay decide to ride out a theory until it's impossible to hold on to. Queen Alix tries to direct wi…
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Anybody up for a challenge? Reading challenges are popular across TikTok, StoryGraph, and pretty much anywhere you find readers. Megan and Marissa give their thoughts on reading challenges – which ones they love and which ones they can't quite get into. Megan compares reading challenges to playing the Sims and Marissa changes her opinion quickly as…
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After a week off due to illness, the Heathens are back and as chaotic as ever. Sometimes when you play video games for hours on end you need something to eat and drink. This week we discuss our go to bevs and snacks while gaming. Matt helps Marissa, Marissa gets interrupted, and Sacco is unhinged. Games we talk about this week: NHL, Madden, FIFA, F…
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In this episode, some theories are made, others are proved wrong and discussions are had. Queen Marissa has something to say about the accuracies of the weather conditions, Queen Tay wants to know the others favourite flavour of ice cream and Queen Al is just so excited to see all her very favourite characters come together in a single storyline. T…
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Alix Calfa joins us for a surprise guest episode! Marissa and Alix discuss BookTok – and, in fact, all things about books online. The readers tackle discussing good recommendations and poor ones, as well as some of the more popular BookTok books and whether they are worth the read. As always, we start the podcast with some of our more recent reads.…
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We are back!!!! Welcome back to your weekly dose of chaos featuring Matt, Marissa, and Sacco. This week we are doing a quick re-intorduction about the Heathens. A nice way to ease back in. Matt has a preferred name, Marissa wants t-shirts, and Sacco has a lot of friends. Games we talk about this week: Final Fantasy, Spider-Man, Halo, Dragon Age, Ba…
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Another book down! The Queens finish Book 8, The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan, and discover that the slog might be at least a little real. After debating the timeline, the Queens discuss everything from Elayne's judgemental POVs to exactly what fanfiction they want someone to write. Queen Alix rants over the start of her least favourite storyli…
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Do you use bookmarks? Marissa and Megan discuss the most remarkable bookmarks they've had over the years. From American one-dollar bills to a leather marker with a flower that seems one petal short, both readers talk about whether or not they use them, what will count as a bookmark, and whether dog-earring is ever an option. We start the podcast wi…
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The Queens officially begin the slog, but with the power of friendship they are sure to make it through. From screaming to get through the Gateway, to screaming not to kiss her there, the Queens have a lot to talk about despite a slow moving plot. Queen Tay pulls out her map to make a theory, Queen Al tries to figure out what Alliandre did with her…
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Gather round, young adventurers, for we have a story recap for you! We are officially (but not literally) halfway through the series – if we don't count the prequel. To celebrate, we're reviewing everything we've read so far in The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. From the first moments we stepped into Eamon's Field to the last moments we saw…
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Slumps suck. Reading slumps extra suck. Every avid reader has been through one reading slump or another and, while sometimes they are inevitable, there are some ways to get through them without losing your mind. Marissa and Megan discuss their experiences with their own reading slumps, and all the top tips they have to prevent them. From reading ch…
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We'd like to emphasize our trigger warnings throughout book seven. To avoid rape and sexual assault discussions, please see the timestamps at the bottom of this description. Take care of yourselves, and we thank you for listening! Book seven is finally closed! But, before The Queens can put this baby on their shelves, we've gotta discuss the good, …
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Everybody loves a good villain. From the most sinister non-human entities to the humans we start to empathize with, we've got all the best baddies from books we've read. We start with a classic President Snow and end with an even more classic villain who will suck your blood, and we hit every bad guy in between. We start the podcast with our most-r…
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We'd like to emphasize our trigger warnings throughout book seven, and particularly for this episode. Given the frequency of certain content throughout this book – rape and sexual assault, in particular – we are putting out a blanket warning for this episode. Please expect rape and sexual assault content throughout the whole podcast. The Queens hav…
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On the eve of the Heathens taking a short break, we thought it would be a good idea to look back at the past 4 years and give a short list of recommends and do not recommends. We will continue posting podcasts starting June 26 and will continue to stream and monitor the discord in the meantime. Matt is chaotic, Marissa agrees with Matt, and Sacco h…
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With the advance of technology comes an advancement in what developers can build for us to explore and adventure through. The heathens look back at their favourite video games and discuss the environments and sceneries that they fell in love with. Matt interrupts everyone, Marissa stands up for herself, and Sacco has trouble speaking. Games we talk…
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The Queens begin the seventh book of the Wheel of Time series, A Crown of Swords. We'd like to emphasize our trigger warnings throughout book seven. Please see the trigger warnings below and keep yourself safe. Welcome back to Book 7. As Elayne falls in the Queens' eyes, we follow the crew as they braid each other's hair in the dark and negotiate a…
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From the rawest insight into people's lives to illuminating spotlights on important issues, biographies and memoirs can leave a long-lasting impact. In this episode, Marissa and Megan discuss their favourite memoirs and autobiographies. Marissa discusses several dancer and a few artists' memoirs, while Megan talks about reading about therapy and de…
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Sometimes the topics are straightforward, like this one and still Matt gets confused/pedantic. This week the heathens talk about the video game boss fights that gave them the most trouble. Matt tries to clarify the topic, Marissa loves a good challenge, and Sacco plays nerdy games. Games we talk about this week: God of War, Kingdom Hearts, Final Fa…
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The Queens begin the seventh book of the Wheel of Time series, A Crown of Swords. We'd like to emphasize our trigger warnings throughout book seven. Please see trigger warnings below. In the aftermath on Dumai Wells, our friends return to find someone upon a throne that is not theirs. Meanwhile in Salidar, Egwene receives some blackmail. In this ep…
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Matt is sick and couldn't think of a topic so Sacco came to the rescue? What is your chicken noodle soup video game aka what games do you play when you're sick or feeling down? Also in a rare occasion, we talk about some news! Matt is coughy, Marissa has a different opinion, and Sacco talks about ads. Games we talk about this week: Big Brain Academ…
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Let the Lord of Chaos reign – finally! The Queens wrap up the sixth book in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, Lord of Chaos. Along this adventure, we get a little serious discussing some more sensitive topics that are coming up. Please see the trigger warnings below. We start with Perrin and Faile marching into Camelyn to meet Faile's paren…
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Welcome to Poetry 101. Marissa is a big poetry buff, and this week we're discussing all our best tips for getting into poetry. Throughout this podcast, Marissa and Megan share their experiences with poems and poetry – and give you all the reasons why you shouldn't be scared of them, no matter what your high school English teacher made you feel. Fro…
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After a bit of chaotic clarification on what the topic actually is the Heathens discuss what their favourite features are from the video games of their past. Matt finally segues, Marissa gets interrupted, and Sacco knows how to spell segue. Games we talk about this week: Stardew Valley, NHL, Grand Theft Auto, Burnout, FIFA, Minecraft, Baldur’s Gate…
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Guess what adventurers? We have a new Amyrlin Seat. The Queens continue along on their journey through the sixth book in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, Lord of Chaos. Along this adventure, we get a little serious discussing some more sensitive topics that are coming up. Please see the trigger warnings below. We also had some technical is…
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Not every game has boss fights but if a game does have boos fights then it needs a super clever, well-planned boss fight. This week we look back at our vast history of video games and discuss our most memorable boss fights. Matt struggles with segways, Marissa is obsessed with Baldur's Gate, and Sacco feels attacked. Games we talk about this week: …
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Let the Lord of Chaos reign... soon, we hope. The Queens continue along on their journey through the sixth book in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, Lord of Chaos. Along this adventure, we get a little serious discussing some more sensitive topics that are coming up. Please see the trigger warnings below. We also make a little boo-boo with …
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This one got surprisingly heated for a podcast about springtime. But anyway, here we are at the precipice of Spring and we are talking about the games that have that Springy vibe. Matt only draws Batman, Marissa gets heated, and Sacco feels attacked. Games we talk about this week: Monster Jam, Dirt Rally, Sonic The Hedgehog, Animal Crossing, Starde…
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When one Wheel of Time book closes, another is opened. The Queens embark on the sixth book in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, Lord of Chaos, and they are here to talk about it. What is a prologue? Is dancing less work for women? Queen Marissa puts two degrees to use in order to answer our questions. Queen Tay finds out that her experience…
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This is a game that we know quite a bit about because we play it all the time! We take a deep dive into the history and details of Apex: Legends. Matt doesn't listen, Marissa made a lot of notes, and Sacco remembered something Marissa didn't. Games we talk about this week: Apex Legends. Like our content? Find more Crowned Heathens content on Facebo…
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Another book: completed! The Queens finish reading book 5, The Fires of Heaven, in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, and they have a lot of thoughts. The Queens battle out theories while the characters fight in too many battles to count. Be prepared to (maybe) wave goodbye to a beloved character – as well as several forsaken – and also say …
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Will we hurt each other's feelings? You'll have to listen to find out! In this episode of The Book Jar Pod, Megan and Marissa discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of the books they've recommended to each other over the years. From some classic recommendations like Sabriel and Iron Widow to some newer ones like Emma and Throne of Glass, expect to…
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Well, this was more chaotic than we thought it would be. This week we decided to play another game and tackle 20 questions but with video games, characters and objects. Again if this was an enjoyable experience please let us know in the discord and we'll do this again! Matt came prepared, Marissa gets stumped, and Sacco asks fun questions. Games we…
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Things are heating up – and cooling off. The Queens continue reading book 5, The Fires of Heaven, in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, starting with some confusion of the week's homework. From there, Queen Marissa reveals her newest mindset while confessing that she may or may not have been struggling in previous episodes. (Tell her you did…
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Many of us have grown up through various console generations each of which offered a very different gaming experience to the last. This week we take a trip down memory lane and revisit our video game golden ages. Matt has a stroke of genius, Marissa lives in the present, and Sacco wasn't in a Nintendo family. Games we talk about this week: The Lege…
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And the books keep coming. The Queens continue reading book 5, The Fires of Heaven, in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, starting with a discussion on whether or not Queen Marissa is truly doing okay. (We think she's mostly fine.) Queen Tay questions whether or not we'll ever get the answer to a mystery that's been bugging her since book 3.…
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Megan is back! And we have some book talk to catch up. Marissa and Megan go through their most recent reads – all 25 books they've read since they've last met. From Heartstopper and Fly By Night to The Fires of Heaven and The City of Brass, join your fave readers as they rate and discuss all the books they've read to start this year. We end the pod…
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Welcome to the Crowned Heathens Jeopardy special. In a twist to the usual trivia podcasts that we all love so much, we decided to try a new format this week. We had a blast with this one and hope you do too! Matt struggles to segue, Marissa is our gracious host, and Sacco tries his best. Games we talk about this week: Final Fantasy, Halo, Apex Lege…
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Book five is officially underway! The Queens start book five, The Fires of Heaven, in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, jumping right into the story with a trip to the Amyrlin Seat's office. Queen Tay reveals who she's been imagining Nynaeve as this entire time. Queen Marissa is tiring quickly of the misogynistic starts to the novels. And Q…
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The Heathens are sick this week so be warned. But anyway, DLCs are crazy these days. There are a lot of different types of DLC from microtransactions to huge expansion packs. What makes a DLC worth it? Matt is a pirate, Marissa is sick, and Sacco is more sick. Games we talk about this week: FIFA, EA FC, The Sims, Zoo Tycoon, Age of Mythology, Desti…
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Let's have some girl talk. And by girl talk, we're talking about our fave girlies in books. To top it off, Marissa is joined by both Alix Calfa and Taylor Andresen, from our sister podcast, The Queens of Fantasy. The three readers discuss an abundance of amazing female characters they've read in novels. From Sabriel and Katniss Everdeen to the lead…
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Another book down. And only ten, no wait, eleven more to go! In this episode, the Queens finish off book four, The Shadow Rising, of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series and discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly. From the chilling moments in The White Tower to the long, laboured adventures in Eamon's Field, the Queens dive into this one head …
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In this episode, we spend the first half deciding what the topic actually is. Anyways, we talk about all the different types of RPGs and what we like and don't like. Matt has a type, Marissa gets annoyed, and Sacco has sugar. Games we talk about this week: Final Fantasy, Fable, Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, Dragon Age, God of War, The Last of U…
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Your Queens are back to present part three of Book Four, The Shadow Rising. Queens Tay and Marissa discuss Perrin and Faile's turbulent and almost-cute-until-its-not relationship, Aviendha's unique wingman-ing, and the most uncomfortable encounter between Elayne and Thom that involves way too much mustache grabbing. Oh, and Rand does stuff too. Pro…
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We all want to express ourselves in our unique ways, especially in video games. When you get the option to customize your character we all have things that we need to be able to change to feel satisfied with our options. This week the Heathens talk about their must-have customizations. Matt struggles, Marissa chose violence, and Sacco self-deprecat…
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Please Note: We experienced some technical difficulties with Taylor's audio this week. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you still enjoy this episode! We're back with part two of book four – and our Queens have a lot to discuss. We've got biblical connections, rising tensions, more misogyny, and a growing plot, which, of course, means mor…
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Another week, another guest. Alix Calfa, from our sister podcast, The Queens of Fantasy podcast, joins Marissa to discuss a truly industry-changing social media platform: BookTok. Both Alix and Marissa point out the good, the bad, the ugly, and the inspirational aspects of such a whirlwind force as BookTok is. We mention fave creators, fave book re…
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Lots of spoilers for the games listed below!! The Heathens have played a lot of video games and some are great adventures. But some adventures are great only once. This week Matt, Marissa, and Sacco talk about the games that they liked and would recommend but would never play again. Matt tries to segue, Marissa has some string opinions, and Sacco i…
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Book four has officially started... and the Queens are not particularly impressed. From checking out ankles and bosoms to declaring women obsessed with *checks notes* cleaning, dusting, and ruining men's days, The Shadow Rising embarks to stake its claim as the most misogynistic book in The Wheel of Time series. Beyond that, Alix attempts to share …
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