Ep.14: "Masc-Top Charizard" (Pokémon 25th Anniversary!)

Happy 25th Anniversary, Pokémon Trainers! Can you believe it's been a whole quarter century of catching-them-all?

This week we're taking a deep dive on one of the most beloved video game franchises of all time (well, for one of our hosts at least.)

We discuss all of the Pokémon-related news from the last week including the surprisingly delightful Pokémon Post Malone Virtual Concert and the new video game announcements: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (remakes of Laurence's favorite Pokémon games, the Nintendo DS's Pokémon Diamond & Pearl,) & Pokémon Legends: Arceus (a new open-world Pokémon game seemingly inspired by Breath of the Wild)

We then go in-depth on a conversation about why the gays love these pocket-monsters so dang much, as well as a hearty conversation on our tenuous relationship between Pokémon and anti-capitalism, queer themes in the franchise, and so much more!

Up top we also discuss Gayming Magazine's 1st annual Gayming Awards! An event celebrating and honoring LGBTQ video games, creators, and members of the video game industry. (Our invite must have gotten lost in the mail but that's okay!)

Whether you're a diehard Pokémon-stan like Laurence, or kinda lukewarm on the series like Eric, we hope you find something to love about this episode! One thing we both agree on is that Pokémon is a cultural tour de force, so we're happy to celebrate 25 years of it here on the pod.

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Eric Solis:
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Twitter @eric_of_the_sun

Laurence Turner-Cordova:
Instagram @afroman76
Twitter @afroman76 

Intro and outro music by Connor Marsh (@connorjmarshmallow)
Show art by Nick Adams (@stickartams)

MUSIC THIS WEEK:
"Introduction (Pokémon Diamond & Pearl)" by Go Ichinose
"Lake Theme" by Go Ichinose, arr. Carlos Eiene (insaneintherainmusic), Doug Perry
"Ending Theme" by Go Ichinose, arr. Carlos Eiene (insaneintherainmusic)

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