Best The Sword And Staff Podcasts (2024)

1
Learning about Playing Roles from the Experts: Kids! 42:52

1M ago42:52

42:52

This week Haeny and Nathan get schooled. Specifically they visit the first grade classroom of first-grade teacher and education scholar Carmen Llerena and talk to some kids! They learn how to play pirates, all about Rainbow Friends, and how to navigate conflict through pretend play. They talk about how kids use available materials to play in unexpe…

1
Live Action Role Playing (with Swords!) at the Wayfinder Experience 38:08

1M ago38:08

38:08

There’s no denying it (looking at you, Haeny), on this week’s episode we’re diving into “role playing.” It’s right in the acronym “Live Action Role Playing” or LARPing, the topic of this week’s episode. Haeny and Nathan are joined by Judson Packard, Program Director of the Wayfinder Experience camp in the Hudson Valley that runs LARPing programs fo…

1
Writing Young Adult Fiction While Navigating Academia 40:41

2M ago40:41

40:41

This week Haeny and Nathan talk with Amy Parks, and Maika and Maritza Moulite. They are all navigating the world of academia and busy being young adult fiction authors. They talk about why they’re drawn to writing for middle school aged readers, what it’s like to be a YA author in academia, and where they get inspiration. Also, Haeny makes everyone…

1
Cosplay and the Joy of Dressing in Character 38:05

2M ago38:05

38:05

Have you ever been curious about dressing up in character? This week, Haeny and Nathan talk with Alexis and Josh about cosplay! They talk about why they dress up as characters they enjoy in community with others and how to put together costumes (having Josh sew them for you helps). They also talk about why dressing in character can feel risky, incl…

1
Taking Risks in Play and Tabletop Role Playing Games 35:28

2M ago35:28

35:28

This week Haeny and Nathan are back at the table - the tabletop gaming table that is, with Kent Davis, author of the A Riddle in Ruby fantasy series and co-author of Epic RPG, a tabletop role playing game. He talks with Haeny and Nathan about how risk comes into gaming. What makes playing roles feel risky, and how can players be encouraged to take …

1
Playing Parts and Engaging Communities Through Theater 38:21

2M ago38:21

38:21

This episode takes the theme of “playing roles” this season literally! Marah and Chris join Haeny and Nathan on the Pop and Play stage to talk about acting! They are a married couple that acts in community theater productions in San Francisco. They talk about how they got into acting, what has kept them coming back to it, and how it feels to be on …

1
Drag and Playing Roles with Lil Miss Hot Mess 42:04

2M ago42:04

42:04

Nathan and Haeny are joined by Lil Miss Hot Mess (LMHM) to talk about playing with roles through drag, Drag Queen Story Hour, and what it’s like doing drag events for kids. LMHM talks with Haeny and Nathan about her journey in drag, and how drag can be part of modeling possibilities for adulthood with kids. They tackle questions like, how can we de…

1
How Do You Design an Immersive Experience? 48:44

3M ago48:44

48:44

Haeny and Nathan are joined by immersive experience designer Caro Murphy to discuss the power of immersive experiences, what kinds of choices go into designing them, and what parallels they have to learning environments and teaching. Caro is one of the designers behind the Star Wars: Galactic Experience the team visited in last week’s episode! List…

1
An Immersive Experience at Disney’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser 50:42

3M ago50:42

50:42

This season is all about “playing roles,” and Haeny and Nathan start it off by exploring a long ago and far away galaxy at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser immersive experience. They are joined by fellow Teachers College professors Tran Templeton and Alex Bowers for their journey, and then interviewed by earthbound guest host Professor Lalitha V…

1
Introducing Season 4 of Pop and Play: “Playing Roles!” 1:47

3M ago1:47

1:47

This April 9, another season of Pop and Play is about to roll into your podcast feeds! This season, Haeny and Nathan are exploring how play allows people to try on roles they might not otherwise experience in their lives. With another set of great guests, they learn about Drag, Cosplay, Young Adult fiction, Immersive Theater Design and more. They e…

1
New Year's Bonus Episode! 19:21

6M ago19:21

19:21

Haeny and Nathan are here, technically still in the month of January, to talk about what's in, what's out, hopes for the New Year, and more! And they have what's in and what's out from some former Pop and Play guests to share as well! Pop and Play Season 4 is coming soon! But for all you poppernauts out there who can't wait, here's a special bonus …

1
Return to Shadow Appalachia 1:52:13

7M ago1:52:13

1:52:13

This is the latest episode of the reborn Order of the Sword and Staff podcast, wherein the Shadow Appalachia crew talk spiritual warfare, the delay in Shadow Appalachia, share individual strange encounters since standing on the head of the Logan County Serpent Mound a year ago, plans going forward and talk Southern Death Cult symbolism and mytholog…

1
Emberlock Cavern - Part 3 - Till Death Do Us Part. 8:54

7M ago8:54

8:54

Part 3 of The Emberlock Incident. Show notes were written by my high school archeology professor, Mr. Jones. In the latest action-packed chapter of our grand adventure, the echoes of danger and excitement reverberate through ancient, cavernous depths. Here, Aria Windstill and Marcus, our intrepid heroes, face challenges that test both their wit and…

1
Emberlock Cavern - Part 2 - Two Rings to Rule them All. 10:18

8M ago10:18

10:18

Part 2 of The Emberlock Incident. Show notes written by my 6 year old nephew Max. In this super fun episode, Marcus and Aria are having a big adventure in a place called Emberlock cavern. They find out that someone is being really sneaky and taking things that aren't theirs. Marcus finds something really cool and shiny. It's like when you find a hi…

1
Emberlock Cavern - Part 1 - Dude, Where's My Crystal Staff? 7:28

8M ago7:28

7:28

Part 1 of The Emberlock Incident. Show notes were written by my freshman literary professor, Mr. Harbuckle. Greetings, esteemed listeners. You are invited to partake in the auditory experience of 'Fight Dragons Win Prizes,' a podcast that transcends the mere confines of entertainment. In this episode, Campaign the First, is thrust forth like coin i…

1
Reviewing Planet Weirds "The Unbinding" 1:15:03

10M ago1:15:03

1:15:03

Join us for this comeback edition of The Sword & Staff. For the first time in 9 months, Rev. Josh and Sketchy Ritchie sit down for a conversation to discuss Planet Weirds newest documentary titled "The Unbinding" and the weird state of the world. The guys are joined by a panel of friends to discuss the resurrection of The Sword & Staff and Shadow A…

1
Tales From Below The Earth with Travis Turner (Uncut) 1:34:53

1y ago1:34:53

1:34:53

NOTE: S&S is beginning to release its back catalog of Uncut Editions for the world to hear! Revisit some of your favorite episodes with 30 minutes to an hour's worth of more conversation that wasn't available to anyone else except Patrons! In this week's edition, Josh and Ritchie sit down and have a conversation with their friend Travis Turner. In …

1
The Legendary Cryptids of Appalachia with Bo Kennedy from The Bump (Uncut) 1:26:34

1y ago1:26:34

1:26:34

NOTE: S&S is beginning to release its back catalog of Uncut Editions for the world to hear! Revisit some of your favorite episodes with 30 minutes to an hour's worth of more conversation that was only available to Patrons! In this week's Spooky Month edition of S&S, the guys get together with Bo Kennedy from The Bump Podcast and have a discussion o…

1
Our Strange Planet with Appalachian Intelligence (Uncut) 1:48:04

1y ago1:48:04

1:48:04

NOTE: S&S is beginning to release its back catalog of Uncut Editions for the world to hear! Revisit some of your favorite episodes with 30 minutes to an hour's worth of more conversation that wasn't available to anyone else except Patrons! In this week's edition, Rev. Josh and Sketchy Ritchie have a conversation with the guys at Appalachian Intelli…

1
The Cross & The Serpent: The Secret History of Kansas (Uncut) 1:41:36

1y ago1:41:36

1:41:36

NOTE: S&S is beginning to release its back catalog of Uncut Editions for the world to hear! Revisit some of your favorite episodes with 30 minutes to an hour's worth of more conversation that was only available to Patrons! In this week's edition of S&S, Josh and Ritchie are joined by one of their long time Patrons Coleman Barbour. In the episode, t…

1
Connecting Generations through Research with Tran Templeton and Sahana 35:43

1y ago35:43

35:43

In the final episode of season 3, Early Childhood Researcher and Professor Tran Templeton and ten-year-old Sahana join Haeny and Nathan and everyone is “going bonkers” about intergenerational research. It’ll make sense when you listen. Sahana lets Professor Templeton know what it was like to be part of her study from the perspective of a young pers…

1
Detectives and Columbo with Sonali Rajan and Mark and Arlo Maynard 37:33

1+ y ago37:33

37:33

Oh don’t mind Haeny and Nathan, they just want to hang around in your podcast feed and ask a couple of questions, if it’s no trouble. Just one more thing… did you listen to this week’s episode of Pop and Play yet? Because we’re talking detectives and Columbo! Haeny and Nathan bring on guests Mark and Arlo Maynard who have a parent and child connect…

1
Collecting M.U.S.C.L.E. Men toys (and more) with Morgan Boyd 34:17

1+ y ago34:17

34:17

Haeny and Nathan love to embrace the chaos of play, but can they also get into putting away their toys neatly? This week on Pop and Play it’s all about finding fun in order and curation: we’re talking about collecting with author, high school English teacher and collector Morgan Boyd. We talk about how Morgan’s daughter got him re-started on collec…

1
Star Wars: The Next Generation Strikes Back with the Massenas and Gabe 37:31

1+ y ago37:31

37:31

Haeny and Nathan may think they know something about Star Wars, but Gabe and siblings Sam and Zia are here to teach these padawans a thing or two about which force powers are best, and themes of family in the Star Wars universe. They also share their stories of connecting across generations and with each other as their fathers tried to indoctrinate…

1
Skateboarding with Chris Vidal of UPPERWESTSKATES 27:52

1+ y ago27:52

27:52

Note: This episode contains some adult language and content. This week Haeny and Nathan visit UPPERWESTSKATES skate shop and talk with owner Chris Vidal about skateboarding! Did you know that Nathan once owned an extremely cool skateboard. And can you guess what sport Haeny is “pretty skilled” at? It turns out, visiting a skate shop is a great way …

1
Babysitters Club Meeting with Hannah and Maisie Holbert 32:14

1+ y ago32:14

32:14

Haeny and Nathan talk all about the BSC. Oh you didn’t know that stands for Baby-Sitters Club? Well now you do. And guess what? You’re going to hear a lot more about preferring Kristy or Stacey, how the show has translated both through time and across mediums, and why it makes Nathan misty-eyed. Then Nathan’s partner and his daughter join to tease …

1
Fashion Forward with Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz and Olivia Ruiz 40:36

1+ y ago40:36

40:36

Got a strong opinion about fashion? Don’t worry, Nathan will carry that for you in his cargo shorts! Haeny and Nathan put on their best outfits and walk onto a new pop cultural catwalk with an episode on fashion! Luckily they’re joined by some experts: mother and daughter fashion trend-setters Professor Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz and Olivia Ruiz. They deb…

1
Comics across Generations with Silver Surfer: Ghost Light Co-creator John Jennings 45:59

1+ y ago45:59

45:59

Our first episode of Pop and Play Season 3 is here! Professor John Jennings joins Haeny and Nathan to talk about comics across generations. A Hugo and Eisner Award winner, Professor Jennings is the writer and co-creator of the new Marvel series Silver Surfer: Ghost Light, which just released this February! (See the episode page to learn more about …

1
One Last Ride To Re-Enchant The World 1:19:53

1+ y ago1:19:53

1:19:53

Join us for the final episode of The Sword and Staff! In this episode Josh and Ritchie discuss the current UFO phenomena, train derailments, and give some final words on how to live a re-enchanted life! Let us know what you think of this final episode. We hope it blesses you. For those interested in following the work of Josh and Ritchie and their …

1
Pop and Play Season 3 Trailer! 1:31

1+ y ago1:31

1:31

Introducing Season 3 of Pop and Play, coming February 28, 2023! Visit tc.edu/popandplay to learn more! Pop and Play is a podcast about play and pop culture with hosts Haeny Yoon and Nathan Holbert. This season explores "intergenerational play" and features a new set of great guests and topics (including kids!). Nathan and Haeny go to a skate shop, …

1
Jewish Messiah, End Times, Revelation, and Christendom 1:34:47

1+ y ago1:34:47

1:34:47

Join us for this week's Chinwag edition of S&S! In this week's edition, Josh and Ritchie get into a conversation about the news in Jewish news outlets about the supposed modern messiah. They also get into end times and Bible interpretation. They also get into a conversation on Christian Nationalism and Christendom and why they prefer the language o…

1
Ascending The Seven Heavens 1:36:25

1+ y ago1:36:25

1:36:25

In this weeks Christmas edition, Josh and Ritchie get into a conversation on the Seven Heavens. They discuss whether there's three heavens or seven heavens. They talk about the seven heavens in Ancient Jewish sources. They talk about Planet Narnia and the ancient pagan view of the seven heavens, and then they get into Dante's "Paradisio" and his sy…

1
The Serpent & The Cross: The Secret History of Kansas 1:07:50

1+ y ago1:07:50

1:07:50

In this week's edition of S&S, Josh and Ritchie are joined by one of their long time Patrons Coleman Barbour. In the episode, the guys discuss the secret history of Kansas that covers Native Americans, serpent effigies cut into the earth, Native Americans using limestones for pharmakia, various petroglyphs with mythic spiritual beings, and the cros…

1
Small Town Monsters with Seth Breedlove 1:32:58

1+ y ago1:32:58

1:32:58

In this week's edition of S&S, Josh, Ritchie, and Ward have a conversation with Small Town Monster's Seth Breedlove!In this conversation the guys talk about the importance of storytelling and preserving stories. They talk about some of Seth's experiences with paranormal phenomena in the field while making films for STM. They talk about the Deuteron…

1
Strange Creatures From Time & Space with Camp Hermon 57:02

1+ y ago57:02

57:02

On this week's edition of The Sword & Staff, Rev Josh and Sketchy Ritchie sit down for a collaboration edition with the folks over at Camp Hermon! In this edition, they discuss serpent Mounds, Bigfoot, Mothman, Wampus Cats, and how all of these manifestations of cryptids can be traced back to the trickster spirits we see described in the Bible. Let…

1
Ancient Apocalypse: Floods, Giants, and the Underworld 1:56:24

1+ y ago1:56:24

1:56:24

In this weeks edition, Rev. Josh and Sketchy Ritchie have a conversation with our old friend Travis Turner and about Netflix's Ancient Apocalypse, the great flood and flood myths, giants, and the underworld. Let us know what you think about this weeks edition! Sources: Ancient Apocalypse (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/81211003 The Lexham …

1
Our Strange Planet with Appalachian Intelligence 1:53:02

1+ y ago1:53:02

1:53:02

In this week's edition, Rev. Josh and Sketchy Ritchie have a conversation with the guys at Appalachian Intelligence! The conversation is free-flowing and broad in scope, and they talk about everything from Shadow Appalachia to the Sons of God and Genesis 6, psychedelics, mythology, flood myths, treasure hunting, the nature of reality, epistemology,…

1
The Forgotten Gods & Demigods of the Greco-Roman World 1:46:06

1+ y ago1:46:06

1:46:06

In this week's edition, Rev. Josh and Sketchy Ritchie are back with an episode on the forgotten gods and demigods of the Greco-Roman world! In this episode, they start off by talking about the Greeks and their mythology about the Titans and the Olympians. After that, they begin to draw connections between the Greek Pantheon and the Roman Pantheon. …

1
Psychedelics & Sorcery: Machine Elves in the Trees 1:16:05

1+ y ago1:16:05

1:16:05

In this week's edition the guys get into the topic of psychedelics, pharmakeia, and sorcery! The guys talk about psychedelic literature and the various writers in that movement like Terrence McKenna, Aldous Huxley, and others. They talk about the modern-day psychedelic movement and folks like Joe Rogan, Duncan Trussel, and Dennis McKenna. They also…

1
The Lost Serpent Mound of Logan County 1:09:58

1+ y ago1:09:58

1:09:58

In this week's final October edition of S&S, the guys talk about their trip to the lost serpent mound of Logan County! They talk about some odd rumors going around about it in the community and archeological circles that it has been destroyed. They talk about Josh getting kicked out of the West Virginia Archeological Society for sharing pictures of…

1
From Folklore to Flying Saucers with Tony Merkel from The Confessionals 1:38:46

1+ y ago1:38:46

1:38:46

In this week's edition of The Sword and Staff, you're going to get flooded with weirdness. This week, Josh and Ritchie sat down with Tony Merkel of The Confessionals and Merkel Media. They talk to Tony about all sorts of topics ranging from folklore to flying saucers. They talk about giants, fallen angels, ancient gods, ufos, indian mounds, conspir…

1
The Giants & Monsters of Halloween 1:36:35

2y ago1:36:35

1:36:35

In this week's edition, Josh and Ritchie pick up where they left off in their episode on the Fairy Gods of Ireland. They talk about how the same the major players in Irish Mythology become the giants and monsters of Samhain. They also talk about how Halloween is a distinctly Christian holiday (Like they did last year) and how it incorporates parts …

1
BONUS: Introducing the "How's School?" podcast 1:07

2y ago1:07

1:07

The truth is, we care about our young people, dare we say, even worry about them. But staying connected to their world and all the complexity they navigate can be a challenge. Pop and Play hosts Haeny Yoon and Nathan Holbert introduce this new podcast created and hosted by Pop and Play Producer Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Media Producer Jen Lee. "How's S…

1
The Legendary Cryptids of Appalachia 1:26:34

2y ago1:26:34

1:26:34

In this weeks Spooky Month edition of S&S, the guys get together with Bo Kennedy from The Bump Podcast and have a discussion on the legendary cryptids of Appalachia and some of the folklore surrounding them. They also spend some time connecting their folklore into the folklore of other cultures that may be somewhat surprising to listeners, and towa…

1
The Fairy-Gods of Ireland 2:03:29

2y ago2:03:29

2:03:29

In this weeks edition Josh and Ritchie drop a 2 hour episode outlining Irish Mythology. They get into the Lebor Gabala Erenn - Also known as The Book of Invasions. They discuss the six invasions of Ireland, and they talk about the six peoples ranging from the supposed Grand-daughter of Noah, Cessair, the Tuatha De Dannon, and the ever present giant…

1
Reviewing Rings of Power Episodes 3 + 4 (Wandering Wizard) 1:24:14

2y ago1:24:14

1:24:14

In this weeks Uncut Edition of Wandering Wizard, Josh and Ritchie nearly an hour and a half review of Episodes 3 + 4 of Rings of Power. Like the last time, they talk about what they like and what they don't like. They also give some interesting theories about characters, and spend a significant amount of time looking at the liturgics and ceremonies…

1
Fire In The Sky: Abduction Phenomena, Fallen Angels, and Monsters in the Margins 1:22:19

2y ago1:22:19

1:22:19

The guys are back with a new edition! In this weeks edition, Rev. Josh and Sketchy Ritchie have a conversation on abduction phenomena. They discuss the cases of Travis Walton (Which inspired Fire in the Sky) and Betty and Barney Hill. They zoom out and look at the phenomena as a whole and connect it to the Genesis 6 - Sons of God, Daughters of Men,…

1
Reviewing Rings of Power (The Wandering Wizard) 1:59:25

2y ago1:59:25

1:59:25

In this weeks edition of The Wandering Wizard, the guys review episodes one and two of Amazon's Rings of Power and get into all things Tolkien. They spend some time talking about the things the like and dislike, and they talk about some of their hopes and concerns for the show in the future. They also talk about predictions about character arcs and…

1
War Against The Rulers and Principalities 1:38:18

2y ago1:38:18

1:38:18

In this week's edition of the Sword and Staff, the boys get into a discussion about Spiritual Warfare. They shed light on the powers of the Kingdom of Darkness and the schemes of the enemy. They also talk about how Christians should think about Spiritual Warfare and how to war back. Sources Used and Recommended Reading and Listening: BibleProject S…

1
The Gods of Egypt 1:25:15

2y ago1:25:15

1:25:15

In this week's edition of the Sword and Staff, the boys have Travis Turner back in house to discuss Ancient Egypt. They get into a discussion about the creation story in Ancient Egyptian myth. They talk about Egyptian cosmology, the construction of the pyramids, giants in Egyptian myth, and how fragments of Ancient Egyptian religion are still alive…

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