Ep. 28: "Ain't No Anxiety Mountain High Enough" (Celeste)

Hiii listeners! We're back from our summer vacation and ooh ooh OOH it's just so damn hot that we needed to cool ourselves off with a nice little retreat to the snowy mountains of... CELESTE!

This 2018 indie platformer is considered by many (ourselves included) to be a modern masterpiece. It's themes of self-reflection, anxiety, and perseverance made for a story that queer and trans gamers saw their own journeys reflected in. We talk about why that is, and how the game retroactively served as a vehicle for lead developer Maddy Thorson's own exploration of their gender identity.

We also catch up on the summer bops we've been bumping, anime we (Laurence) have been watching, and we discuss the current conversation about pervasive sexism and working conditions in the video game industry, particularly in light of the recent sexual harassment lawsuit levied at gaming giant Activision Blizzard.

It's a packed ep! And we're incredibly glad to be back. So grab ya hiking boots and let's go catch those strawberries!

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Intro and outro music by Connor Marsh (@connorjmarshmallow)

Show art by Nick Adams (@stickartams)

Special thanks to our patrons: Blueberri Mary, Elijah Punzal, & Martha Turner <3

MUSIC THIS WEEK:
"First Steps" by Lena Raine
"Reach for the Summit" by Lena Raine