Best Nick Calandra Podcasts (2024)

1
How Does Something Like Concord Happen? | Firelink Podcast 1:32:16

1h ago1:32:16

1:32:16

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Nick break down everything that led to Sony pulling the plug on Concord after only two weeks. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Making Failure Feel Good | Windbreaker Podcast 1:40:35

3h ago1:40:35

1:40:35

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about how failure is used successfully (and unsuccessfully) in games, both narratively and mechanically. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Has Gaming Infiltrated Hollywood? (ft. Pete Blumel - Modern Warfare 1-3, Shrek) | Dev Heads Podcast 1:31:46

1h ago1:31:46

1:31:46

This week, the Dev Heads crew is joined by Pete Blumel, a veteran producer of film and AAA games that's worked on everything from Modern Warfare to Shrek, to chat about the relationship between Hollywood and gaming. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreo…

1
Deadlock, Wukong, and Star Wars Outlaws Impressions | Firelink Podcast 1:33:24

7d ago1:33:24

1:33:24

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Jesse chat about the big new games they've been playing, including Valve's Deadlock, Star Wars Outlaws, and Black Myth Wukong. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Making Games Harder For Ourselves | Windbreaker Podcast 1:30:24

7d ago1:30:24

1:30:24

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about our favorite emergent and self-imposed challenges in gaming history. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Breaking Down the Biggest Gamescom Reveals | Firelink Podcast 1:35:21

8d ago1:35:21

1:35:21

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Jesse discuss the biggest news out of Gamescom, including Bethesda's Indiana Jones, the rad-looking Amazon series Secret Level, and the return of Peter Molyneux. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWind…

1
The Movies That Influenced Games the Most | Windbreaker Podcast 1:32:57

7d ago1:32:57

1:32:57

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 take a look at some of the movies throughout history that've had the biggest influence on video games. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Being Deceptively Indie (ft. Wilson Chung - Trepang2) | Dev Heads Podcast 1:28:29

14d ago1:28:29

1:28:29

This week, the Dev Heads crew is joined by Trepang2-developer Wilson Chung to what goes into making a game feel big, even if you're working with a small team. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
An Alternate History of Video Game "What Ifs?" | Windbreaker Podcast 1:47:12

7d ago1:47:12

1:47:12

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 go look back at some of the biggest "what ifs?" in video game history, including Silent Hills, Starcraft: Ghost, and the Nintendo PlayStation. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/Seco…

1
Game Music We Can't Get Out of Our Heads | Firelink Podcast 2:07:47

23d ago2:07:47

2:07:47

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Jesse discuss the video game music that they just can't seem to get out of their heads. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
The Gaming Magazines, Media, and Spaces That Defined Us | Windbreaker Podcast 1:52:40

21d ago1:52:40

1:52:40

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Marty, Jack, and JM8 go nostalgic on the gaming magazines, media, and spaces that defined us growing up. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Did Our Childhood Games Infect Us? (ft. Julia Minamata) | Dev Heads Podcast 1:31:06

10d ago1:31:06

1:31:06

This week, the Dev Heads crew is joined by indie developer Julia Minamata to discuss what childhood games inspired us as kids, and how has that lead to where we are today in our careers. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
More Layoffs at Bungie While CEO Buys Cars | Firelink Podcast 1:35:46

1M ago1:35:46

1:35:46

This week on Firelink, Nick and KC discuss the Bungie layoffs and the fixation on dead games currently holding the industry. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
How to (Not) Do an Ending | Windbreaker Podcast 1:42:18

15d ago1:42:18

1:42:18

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about what goes into a satisfying video game ending, and what causes some finales to stumble. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Is Marvel Rivals Set to be The Next Big Hero Shooter? | Firelink Podcast 1:57:02

1M ago1:57:02

1:57:02

This week on Firelink, Nick, KC and Jesse discuss Marvel Rivals after spending some time with it. Will it be the next big thing? Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Our Favorite Game Devs and Studios | Windbreaker Podcast 1:40:42

1M ago1:40:42

1:40:42

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and JM8 chat about the game developers that they would most like to meet. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
How Game Dev Has Changed (ft. Tim Schafer) | Dev Heads Podcast 1:25:18

1M ago1:25:18

1:25:18

This week, the Dev Heads crew are joined by industry icon, Tim Schafer, to discuss how game development has changed through the decades. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Launching a New Franchise in 2024... Good Luck | Firelink Podcast 1:46:41

2M ago1:46:41

1:46:41

This week on Firelink, Marty, Nick, and KC discuss launching a franchise in 2024 and the difficulties surrounding that. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Can't Get You Out of My Head | Windbreaker Podcast 1:17:15

2M ago1:17:15

1:17:15

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about the slightly-obscure games and moments that they keep thinking about years later. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Xbox Continues to Confuse | Firelink Podcast 1:46:50

2M ago1:46:50

1:46:50

This week on Firelink, Marty, Nick, and KC discuss Xbox’s confusing changes to Game Pass. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Games That Actually Make Us Laugh | Windbreaker Podcast 1:37:34

2M ago1:37:34

1:37:34

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about the various ways that games can actually make us laugh. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
The Challenges of Designing Horror (ft. Fredrik Olsson - Amnesia: The Bunker) | Dev Heads Podcast 1:47:10

2M ago1:47:10

1:47:10

This week, the Dev Heads crew are joined by Fredrik Olsson, the creative lead on Amnesia: The Bunker, to discuss the challenges of designing horror. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Don't Forget to Enjoy Your Hobby | Firelink Podcast 1:25:31

2M ago1:25:31

1:25:31

This week on Firelink, Marty, Nick, and KC discuss just enjoying our hobbies. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Modern Media Has a Lore Problem | Windbreaker Podcast 1:30:26

2M ago1:30:26

1:30:26

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about the growing popularity of lore-based media, and the increasing barrier to entry a lot of stories have. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Is Shadow of the Erdtree the Best Expansion Ever? | Firelink Podcast 1:59:35

2M ago1:59:35

1:59:35

This week on Firelink, Marty, Nick, and KC discuss their thoughts on Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
How Hard is Too Hard? | Windbreaker Podcast 1:48:15

2M ago1:48:15

1:48:15

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat that old chestnut of difficulty in games, springboarding off the release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
How to Get Into Game Dev | Dev Heads Podcast 1:43:28

2M ago1:43:28

1:43:28

This week, the Dev Heads crew chats about their unique paths into the games industry. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
AAA's Franchise Identity Problem | Windbreaker Podcast 1:35:59

3M ago1:35:59

1:35:59

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about AAA franchises, and whether or not their evolution lends to an inherent identity problem. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Summer Game Fest Winners and Losers | Firelink Podcast 1:54:26

3M ago1:54:26

1:54:26

This week on Firelink, Marty, Nick, and KC discuss their thoughts on Summer Game Fest following all the big reveals. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Catching Yahtzee Up on Summer Game Fest | Windbreaker Podcast 1:30:16

3M ago1:30:16

1:30:16

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Frost and Marty catch Yahtzee up on all the big announcements from this weekend's Summer Game Fest showcases. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
A Publishing Success Story with Manor Lords (ft. Tim Bender) | Dev Heads Podcast 1:05:14

2M ago1:05:14

1:05:14

This week, the crew is joined by Tim Bender, CEO of Hooded Horse, to talk about games publishing and their big recent success story with Manor Lords! Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Our Summer Game Fest Expectations and Speculation | Firelink Podcast 1:59:20

3M ago1:59:20

1:59:20

This week on Firelink, Marty, Nick, and KC discuss their hopes, fears, and predictions for the upcoming Summer Game Fest showcases. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
The Line Between a Game and an Experience | Windbreaker Podcast 1:26:15

3M ago1:26:15

1:26:15

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty discuss what delineates a game from an experience. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
PlayStation's Weird PR Fiasco | Firelink Podcast 1:52:48

3M ago1:52:48

1:52:48

This week on Firelink, Marty, Nick, and KC discuss the weird PR mishap that Sony just caused with star director, Neil Druckmann, from Naughty Dog. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
Reminiscing About the Infamous Series | Windbreaker Podcast 1:16:47

3M ago1:16:47

1:16:47

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty discuss the 15th anniversary of Sucker Punch's Infamous, and chat about games/franchises they'd like to see make a comeback. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
What It Takes To Solo Develop a Game (ft. Yahtzee Croshaw) | Dev Heads Podcast 1:50:39

3M ago1:50:39

1:50:39

This week, the crew is joined by Yahtzee Croshaw to chat about his new game Starstruck Vagabond, and the trials and tribulations of solo game development. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
More Games Need to Embrace the Weird | Windbreaker Podcast 1:45:52

4M ago1:45:52

1:45:52

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty discuss the history of weird in games. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Indie Developers Are Absolutely Crushing It Right Now | Firelink Podcast 1:36:44

4M ago1:36:44

1:36:44

This week on Firelink, Marty, Nick, and Frost discuss the recent wave of excellent indie games we've been getting this year. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
Shhh... Let's Talk About Video Game Secrets | Windbreaker Podcast 1:45:03

4M ago1:45:03

1:45:03

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty discuss the past, present, and future of secrets in video games. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
An Introduction to the Team | Dev Heads Podcast 1:40:57

4M ago1:40:57

1:40:57

Welcome to Dev Heads! A brand-new podcast from Second Wind hosted by JM8, Tina Sanchez and Michael "Mikee" Tsarouhas focused on the games industry, completely hosted by game development professionals! Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWin…

1
Xbox, What the Hell Are You Doing? | Firelink Podcast 2:05:50

4M ago2:05:50

2:05:50

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Frost discuss Microsoft... and their baffling decisions. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
What We Want from Our Video Game Villains | Windbreaker Podcast 1:49:22

4M ago1:49:22

1:49:22

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty discuss what goes into a good video game villain, and where some games stumble. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
When Developers / Publishers Lose the Trust of Their Fans | Firelink Podcast 2:10:02

4M ago2:10:02

2:10:02

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Nick discuss the times that devs / publishers have lost the trust of their fans, and the road to earning it back. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
The Stop Killing Games Campaign (ft. Ross Scott) | Windbreaker Podcast 1:54:02

4M ago1:54:02

1:54:02

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Jack chat with Ross Scott about games preservation and his Stop Killing Games campaign. For more info on how to get involved check out the website at https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as l…

1
Games I Think Only I Played | Firelink Podcast 2:21:56

4M ago2:21:56

2:21:56

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Frost chat about the strange games from their childhoods that it feels like nobody else ever played. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
The Art of Leveling Up | Windbreaker Podcast 1:27:01

4M ago1:27:01

1:27:01

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about what makes a good leveling system in games. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
The Many Challenges of Games Criticism | Firelink Podcast 1:52:37

5M ago1:52:37

1:52:37

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Nick chat about what it's like to be a games critic as a follow-up to our discussion on how there's just so much media these days! Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

1
The Worst Things About our Favorite Games | Windbreaker Podcast 1:39:17

5M ago1:39:17

1:39:17

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about the worst things in their favorite games -- from Super Metroid’s wall-jumping, to the Okumura boss in Persona 5, to the final quarter of most From Soft games. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as…

1
Guys... There's A Lot of Media | Firelink Podcast 1:54:50

5M ago1:54:50

1:54:50

This week on Firelink, Marty, KC, and Nick chat about the absolute deluge of games, movies, and TV that we currently find ourselves in. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroupBy Nick Calandra

1
How to Build a Better Save System | Windbreaker Podcast 1:27:23

5M ago1:27:23

1:27:23

On this week’s episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about the history of save systems, the games that did it differently, and the ones that dropped the ball. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Nick Calandra Podcasts

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