Fireside Friends
58 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 5 years ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratingsWelcome to Fireside Friends, a bi-weekly podcast that discusses various forms of media (movies, video games, short fiction, etc.) and how they reflect our lives. Hosted by Ryan Persaud, Allen Ibrahim, and Kaity Marie.
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Episodes
Episode 50 - Fireside Friends x Scanline Media
August 01, 2019 08:06 - 80.4 MBThe Fireside Friends crew are joined by Jen and Six from Scanline Media as they discuss Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse! You can follow Six and Jen's work at scanlinemedia.com. You can follow Jen on Twitter at @jbu3, and Six at @sixdettmar.
Episode 49 - Otherworld
July 02, 2019 16:25 - 101 MBContent warning: Our segment on Pulse features in-depth discussions and depictions of depression, suicide, and self harm. Our discussion of the film begins at 36:44. This month, we discuss Russian Doll, Final Fantasy 7, and Magia Record before diving deep into the 2001 Kiyoshi Kurosawa film Pulse for our shared experience. Next month, we will be watching Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse! Our podcast theme is "April Elsewhere" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Episode 48 - "What The Junk?" with Fireside Friends
May 30, 2019 20:31 - 131 MBFireside Friends returns with an action-packed episode! Join us as we talk new Twilight Zone, Final Fantasy X, and Ao-chan Can't Study! before discussing The Lumberjanes for our shared experience. (Discussion on The Lumberjanes begins at 43:46.)
Episode 47 - Gilbert Dead
April 27, 2019 06:17 - 123 MBAfter an extended hiatus, Fireside Friends returns! Join Allen, Kaity, and Ryan as they catch up on the latest media discourse. Star Wars: Bad. Star Trek: Also bad. Anime: ...good? Now, imagine this: In segment two, the crew discusses the sad Netflix anime Violet Evergarden for their shared experience. In our discussion, we address an age-old question that haunts our lives: What *is* love? Grab a box of tissues, because this one gets emotional.
Episode 46 - The Long Summer
June 04, 2018 18:21 - 59 MBFireside Friends returns with discussions about music, Marvel, Star Wars and more before discussing the queer webcomic Goodbye to Halos for their shared experience. Spoilers for Avengers Infinity War begin at around 29:00. Discussion of Goodbye to Halos begins at 34:22. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "April Elsewhere" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Episode 45 - Woke Mario
April 23, 2018 14:49 - 1 hour - 73.8 MBThis month, the Fireside Friends crew talks Full Metal Alchemist and recounts concert horror stories before discussing the 1979 film The Warriors for their shared experience!
Episode 44 – We The Boys
April 02, 2018 00:50 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBThis month, the Fireside Friends are back on their bullshit with a discussion of the anime Sanrio Boys. How cute is the anime? Does it come off as a cynical marketing scheme? Do the boys kiss? The answer to all of these questions (and more!) can be found in our discussion. Also in this episode, we ask ourselves: What media did we used to be ashamed of liking? What did we dismiss at an early age, and what was met with mockery from our peers? And finally, the most important question: Wha...
Episode 43 – Early Sonic, Late Mario
February 27, 2018 21:18 - 115 MBThis month, the Fireside Friends crew gathers in a circle around the fire for discussions about how technology fits into our lives. In our first segment, Jen Unkle joins us as we discuss navigating social media and how to manage time in our capitalist hellscape. In our second segment, we discuss The Circle! We talk about how it tackles topics of social media addiction, the oversharing of personal information online, and the growing surveillance state. To top things off, we dig into sele...
Episode 42 – Literature Club
January 28, 2018 23:23 - 95.6 MBCW: We discuss Doki Doki Literature Club, which (poorly) handles themes of anxiety, self-harm, and suicide. We also touch on the transphobia present within the game’s fanbase. Fireside Friends returns with the original crew and a new format! In our first segment, we talk about anime, various visual novels, and recount our experiences with attending gaming and science fiction conventions. In our second segment, we discuss Doki Doki Literature Club! We focus on the way the game approache...
Episode 41 – Goodbye, 2017
January 01, 2018 18:41 - 1 hour - 81.4 MBRyan and Allen take one final look back at 2017 and discuss their favorite media discussed on and off the podcast, their biggest disappointments, and their biggest surprises before looking ahead to what they’re excited for in the New Year. Next month’s shared experience is Doki Doki Literature Club!
Episode 40 - Fear The Double
November 13, 2017 21:54 - 79.5 MBJoel Bocko joins us to discuss Lost Highway. We talk about how the film uses its two protagonists to explore themes of exploitation by the hands of abusive men. We also discuss David Lynch’s use of VHS horror, as well as question his depictions of absurd house parties. Finally, we examine the film in the context of Lynch’s entire filmography.
Episode 39 – The Lost Episode
October 31, 2017 12:46 - 64.5 MBIn this recently recovered episode of Fireside Friends, Shannon Strucci joins Ryan, Allen, and Jen to talk about the 2007 film [REC]. We discuss the film’s use of its small budget, well-considered characters, and the found footage format. We mention the film’s Hollywood remake, Quarantine, as well as [REC]: Boat Edition; we end the cast with a discussion of some of our favorite (but mostly our least favorite) horror movies and franchises.
Episode 38 - Car vs. Truck
October 23, 2017 00:12 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBRyan, Allen, and Jen discuss Bound! We talk about the film’s portrayal of its queer relationship, the ways in which the film succeeds at building tension, and where it stands among the rest of the Wachowski films. We also address the heated Car/Truck debate. Are trucks considered to be a type of car? (No.) Is language needlessly complicated? (Maybe.)
Episode 37 - Crimes!
October 09, 2017 21:03 - 56 minutes - 59.5 MBJoin Allen and Ryan as they commit crimes* and discuss the 1984 film, Repo Man! We talk about the film’s outrageous antics, and its themes surrounding white suburban punks and radiation research. We also reflect on Harry Dean Stanton’s vast career and discuss some of his most memorable roles. *No actual crimes were committed in the making of this podcast
Episode 36 – Papa John Misty
September 24, 2017 14:01 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBJohn Stull joins us to read and interpret lyrics from Father John Misty’s latest album, “Pure Comedy.” Is this a good album? Does it have a solid political message? Are the lyrics evocative? The answer to all of these questions, of course, is no. However, we hope you enjoy listening to us highlight the album’s most embarrassing material, as well as the in-depth analysis from Genius.com’s users. Hang on to that centrist feeling, dear listeners, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Persona Non Grata – Episode 5
September 17, 2017 16:54 - 1 hour - 89.6 MBPersona Non Grata is a mini-podcast series that follows Allen and Ryan as they make their way through Persona 5. This episode, Jennifer Unkle frees us from having to play any more of this game by guiding us through the remaining plot points. Hear us react to the game’s most ridiculous plot developments and find out which ones we accurately predicted!
Episode 35 - Mr Jackpots
September 10, 2017 19:20 - 1 hour - 74.7 MBM joins us to discuss Twin Peaks: The Return! We talk about our favorite moments of the season, how much the new show fits in with the original series and Fire Walk With Me, and ruminate on how Twin Peaks will always be a show filled with mystery. Who is the dreamer?
Episode 34 - It Just Ain't Your Story
August 27, 2017 22:22 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBJennifer Unkle joins us to discuss Don’t Take It Personally, Babe, It Just Ain’t Your Story by Christine Love! We talk about the issue of privacy in the digital age, the guilt of voyeurism in the context of visual novels, and the validation that comes with positive depictions of queer relationships in games.
Persona Non Grata - Episode 4
August 19, 2017 18:17 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBPersona Non Grata is a mini-podcast series that follows Allen and Ryan as they make their way through Persona 5! This episode, we explore Futaba’s palace, uncover the mystery of the hacker group Medjed, and check up on our social links.
Fireside Friends: Special Announcement
August 14, 2017 00:15 - 10 minutes - 9.91 MBFireside Friends has found a new home at Abnormal Mapping! What does this mean for the podcast going forward? Ryan and Allen walks you through the details. Thanks much to all of the people who have supported us up to this point. Your support and generosity means the world to us, and we wouldn’t have made it this far without your help.
Fireside Friends 33 - Company Loyalty
August 08, 2017 03:25 - 50.3 MBThis episode we discuss the film Okja, talk about our eating habits, examine our company loyalty, and consider how it all intersects with our politics. Fireside Friends is now on Patreon! You can support us and recieve access to bonus content over at patreon.com/firesidefriends. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "At Summer Pond" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsou...
Persona Non Grata - Episode 3
July 15, 2017 03:25 - 53.1 MBPersona Non Grata is a mini-podcast series that follows Allen and Ryan as they make their way through Persona 5! This episode, we talk about Kaneshiro's Palace, start some new social links, and gush over the game's best character, Makoto. Fireside Friends is now on Patreon! You can support us and recieve access to bonus content over at patreon.com/firesidefriends. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! T...
Fireside Friends 32 - Eyebrows
July 01, 2017 03:24 - 32.9 MBThis episode, Fireside Friends fully converts into an anime podcast as we discuss the six episode series of FLCL! Fireside Friends is now on Patreon! You can support us and recieve access to bonus content over at patreon.com/firesidefriends. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "At Summer Pond" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org. Other music used: "Ride On S...
Persona Non Grata - Episode 2
June 19, 2017 03:23 - 65 MBPersona Non Grata is a mini-podcast series that follows Allen and Ryan as they make their way through Persona 5! This episode, we talk about Madarame's dungeon, check in on our social links, and dunk on the game's official sad boy, Mishima. Fireside Friends is now on Patreon! You can support us and recieve access to bonus content over at patreon.com/firesidefriends. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! ...
Fireside Friends 31 - The Heart of the Cards
June 12, 2017 03:23 - 62.8 MBNiel Jacoby joins us to talk about the extraordinarily cheesy Yu-Gi-Oh! anime. You can check out Niel's podcast over at spalltalk.blogspot.com and follow them on twitter @fuckinalpamare. Fireside Friends is now on Patreon! You can support us and recieve access to bonus content over at patreon.com/firesidefriends. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "At Summer Pond" by The Orchest...
Fireside Friends 30 - Beyond the Pale
May 29, 2017 03:22 - 59.1 MBThis episode, Brenna joins us as we discuss Star Trek Beyond! You can follow Brenna on Twitter @verbranden. Fireside Friends is now on Patreon! You can support us and recieve access to bonus content over at patreon.com/firesidefriends. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "At Summer Pond" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Persona Non Grata - Episode 1
May 12, 2017 03:21 - 57.7 MBPersona Non Grata is a mini-podcast series that follows Ryan and Allen as they make their way through Persona 5! This episode, we discuss our thoughts on the first dungeon, our favorite (and least favorite) characters, and the game's muddled politics. Fireside Friends is now on Patreon! You can support us and recieve access to bonus content over at patreon.com/firesidefriends. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us ...
Fireside Friends 29 - Gettin' Friendly
May 01, 2017 03:20 - 48.9 MBFireside Friends is finally back from hiatus! This episode, we discuss the film Four Lions and challenging various preconceptions about terrorism. Fireside Friends is now on Patreon! You can support us and recieve access to bonus content over at patreon.com/firesidefriends. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "At Summer Pond" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Fireside Friends 28 - This Is Feminism
March 20, 2017 03:19 - 59.4 MBWe discuss Paper Girls Vol. 1 & 2, the reductive taxonomy of media, and the problems with male writers being upheld as feminists in the comics industry. Volumes 1 & 2 of Paper Girls includes issues 1-10. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "At Summer Pond" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Fireside Friends 27 - 24/7 Star Wars Chat
February 27, 2017 04:18 - 74.5 MBTzufit joins us as we discuss The Force Awakens, the absurdity of the prequel trilogy, and our predictions for the future of Star Wars. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "At Summer Pond" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Fireside Friends 26 - Pan Pan Pan
February 13, 2017 04:18 - 51.6 MBFireside Friends turns a year old this week! In celebration, the crew briefly talks about changes coming to the show before discussing Pan's Labyrinth. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "At Summer Pond" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Fireside Friends 25 - You Must Adapt
January 30, 2017 04:17 - 44.4 MBBrenna joins us once again as we discuss "The Evaluators: To Trade With Aliens, You Must Adapt" by N.K. Jemisin. You can send questions and comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "At Summer Pond" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Fireside Friends 24 - Goodbye, 2016!
January 09, 2017 04:15 - 74.7 MBWe made it past the flaming hellscape that is 2016, and onto what is looking to be an even greater hellscape that is 2017. Despite all of the negativity in the world, the Fireside Friends crew found time to sit down and reflect positively on the media that they enjoyed in 2016. Note that most of our choices are ones that we have not talked about on the show before, as we thought it would be redundant to choose stuff that we have already talked about at length in previous episodes. Also note...
Fireside Friends 23 - Merry Krampus
December 19, 2016 04:14 - 70.4 MBWe talk Overwatch's holiday event, Pokémon Sun and Moon, and discuss Krampus for our shared experience! Discussion of Krampus begins at 41:04. You can send questions & comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our break music this episode is "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)" by Sleater-Kinney (Ramones cover). Our podcast theme is "April Elsewhere" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Fireside Friends 22 - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct!
December 05, 2016 04:13 - 35.9 MBJohn Stull and Jackson Tyler join us as we read and interpret lyrics from Metallica's latest masterpiece, "Hardwired... to Self Destruct." You can find John's music at Jung Manhater and follow him on Twitter @SIBNAME. You can find Jackson's work at headfallsoff.com, follow them on Twitter @headfallsoff, and support them on Patreon. You can send questions & comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and review us on iTunes! Our podcast theme is "April Elsewhe...
Fireside Friends 21 - It's Lit(ten)
November 21, 2016 04:12 - 92.2 MBEditor's Note: Ryan's audio is awful for the first ten minutes, but it improves after that. Apologizes! Shaun Lau joins us as we talk about queer relationships in Yuri On Ice, fight over Pokémon Sun/Moon starters, discuss lack of representation of marginalized groups in media, and more before we discuss Ghost In The Sell for our shared experience. You can find Shaun's work at No, Totally!, follow him on Twitter @NoTotally, and support him on Patreon. Discussion about representation in medi...
Fireside Friends 20 - Solving Racism
November 07, 2016 04:10 - 69.6 MBMike Moody joins us as we talk about the new Sims 4 expansion, Cowboy Bebop, Cardcaptor Sakura, the lack of skin color options in the new Animal Crossing: New Leaf update, and more before discussing Zootopia for our shared experience. You can find's Mike's music on Soundcloud and follow her on Twitter @guysmiley22. Discussion of Zootopia begins at 34:36. You can send questions & comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and rate us on iTunes! Our break musi...
Fireside Friends 19 - Misunderstandings: The Movie
October 24, 2016 03:10 - 58.1 MBShannon Strucci stops by as we talk about transphobia in a recent episode of Atlanta; We also talk Hannibal, Yuri!!! On Ice, Law & Order: SVU, and more before discussing Tucker & Dale vs. Evil for our shared experience. You can find Shannon's work at StrucciMovies, follow her on Twitter @plentyofalcoves, and support her on Patreon. Discussion of Tucker & Dale vs. Evil begins at 34:05. You can send questions & comments to us at [email protected], follow us on Twitter, and rat...
Fireside Friends 18 - A Hint of Gay
October 10, 2016 03:09 - 71.2 MBKortney Terry returns to chat with us about magical girls, Luke Cage(and racists who think the show is "too black"), Atlanta, Hannibal, and more before discussing A Monster In Paris for our shared experience. You can follow Kortney on Twitter @Sparklykiss. Our break music this episode is "Mexican Chef" by Xenia Rubinos. Our podcast theme is "April Elsewhere" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Fireside Chat - Self Care Chat with Alex Zandra
October 03, 2016 03:07 - 18.2 MBAlex Zandra chats with us about self care, self confidence, and the importance of creating and consuming art. If you missed the previous episode in which we talk to Alex Zandra about game design and Mirror's Edge, you can check that out here! You can find Alex Zandra's work at ZandraVandra.com, follow her on Twitter @havochq, and support her on Patreon. The music used this episode is "Home" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Fireside Friends 17 - A Leap of Faith
September 26, 2016 03:06 - 102 MBAlex Zandra Van Chestein talks to us about being an independent game developer, developing her game One Last Cup, navigating gaming communities as a marginalized creator, and more before discussing Mirror's Edge for our shared experience. You can find Alex Zandra's work at ZandraVandra.com, follow her on Twitter @havochq, and support her on Patreon. Discussion of Mirror's Edge begins at 49:30. Our break music this episode is "Introduction" by Solar Fields. Our podcast theme is "April Else...
Fireside Friends 16 - Amélie Lacroix
September 11, 2016 17:00 - 62.3 MBRyan swoons over Jem and the Holograms and gets mad at Nintendo (again), Kaity shares her appreciation of the otome game Mystic Messenger, and Allen gives us the latest on World of Warcraftand its newest expansion, Legion. The group then discusses the David Cronenberg film Cosmopolis for their shared experience. Discussion of Cosmopolis begins at 36:19. Our break music this episode is "Adore" by Savages. Our podcast theme is "April Elsewhere" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Op...
Fireside Friends 15 - Paprikast
August 29, 2016 03:04 - 57.7 MBThe classic Fireside Friends crew returns to talk about Until Dawn, Black Swan, Sex Criminals, awful gender roles, and more before discussing Paprika for their shared experience. Discussion of Paprika begins at 35:58. Works Discussed: She and Her Cat: Everything Flows, Until Dawn, Black Swan, Sex Criminals, Paprika Our break music this episode is "Mediational Field" by Susumu Hirasawa. Our podcast theme is "April Elsewhere" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Fireside Friends 14 - An Outraged Slime
August 14, 2016 17:00 - 60.8 MBShannon Strucci joins us to talk about The Lobster, David Lynch films, and more before discussing Undertale for our shared experience! You can find Shannon's work at StrucciMovies, follow her on Twitter @plentyofalcoves, and support her on Patreon. There are vague spoilers for The Lobster in segment one. Discussion starts at 8:35 and ends at 16:50. Discussion of Undertale begins at 25:10. Works Discussed: Uncanny X-Force, Company, The Lobster, Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, T...
Fireside Friends 13 - The Spooky One
July 31, 2016 17:00 - 65.9 MBKortney Terry joins us as we talk about Rhythm Heaven Megamix, Star Trek Beyond, Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, the Zero Escape series, and more before discussing Cibele for our shared experience. Our discussion of Cibele begins at 29:15. Works Discussed: Rhythm Heaven Megamix, Elite Beat Agents, WarioWare, Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Zero Escape: Vir...
Fireside Friends 12 - Should I Stay or Should I (Pokemon) Go
July 17, 2016 17:00 - 62.6 MBBrenna joins us to talk about the phenomenon that is Pokémon Go, as well as discuss Grandmother-nai-Leylit’s Cloth of Winds by Rose Lemberg for our shared experience! Discussion of Grandmother-nai-Leylit’s Cloth of Winds begins at 38:29. You can support Rose Lemberg on Patreon, which can be found here. Our break music this episode is "Pokémon" by Neil Cicierega. Our podcast theme is "April Elsewhere" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org.
Fireside Friends 11 - Channing the Tatum
July 03, 2016 17:00 - 68.9 MBKaity shares her complaints with Overwatch's new competitive mode, Allen talks all things Game of Thrones following the end of the show's 6th season, and Ryan reflects on their journey of watching every Wachowski film before the group discusses Jupiter Ascending for their shared experience. Discussion of Jupiter Ascending begins at 38:06. Works Discussed: Overwatch Oneforall Alice Glass Game of Thrones The Matrix Speed Racer Bound Jupiter Ascending Our break music this episode is "Home" by...
Fireside Chat - Star Wars Battlefront
June 26, 2016 17:00 - 40.8 MBWe talk Star Wars, Overwatch, Star Trek, and more in a casual bonus episode of Fireside Friends. Our podcast theme is "April Elsewhere" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 found via Opsound.org. "Remember Remember" by Dario Marianelli
Fireside Friends 10 - My Beautiful Bird Dog Partner
June 19, 2016 17:00 - 70.1 MBWe talk Pee-wee's Big Holiday, the trend of subversive anime like Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto, the rewarding fanservice of the Warcraft movie, and the disappointments of X-Men: Apocalypse before discussing Carol for our shared experience. Discussion of Carol begins at 41:05. Works Cited: Pee-wee's Big Holiday StrucciMovies Pee-wee's Big Adventure Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto Naruto Bleach One Piece Spongebob Squarepants Fairly Oddparents Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Steven Universe Sail...
Fireside Friends 9 - Live at the Trash Fire
June 05, 2016 17:00 - 76.6 MBWe talk about the disappointments of Daredevil Season 2, the missed opportunities of the Priyanka Chopra lead television show Quantico, and the perplexing personality of That Poppy before diving into V for Vendetta for our shared experience. Discussion of V for Vendetta begins at 38:47. Works Discussed: Daredevil Quantico That Poppy V for Vendetta Our break music this episode is "Modest Mouth" by Neil Cicierega. Our podcast theme is "April Elsewhere" by The Orchestral Movement of 1932 fou...