Parallel Quest
93 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago -Parallel Quest is a podcast that talks about the stories we love and shares our personal stories of how they have impacted our lives. The discussions cover all sorts of stories from a variety of different media forms such as books, movies, and video games. Put on your nostalgia goggles and join the journey of Parallel Quest.
Cody and Zach have been close friends since high school, who love stories and the craft of storytelling. Parallel Quest is their journey in sharing personal stories from the first, fifth, or 100th time they have absorbed a particular story. Rather than a traditional "review" of the variety of different stories and their media formats, Parallel Quest focuses to discuss "how it is remembered" instead of "why it is good."
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Episodes
The N64's Swan Song | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
March 10, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 105 MBThe Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, is a great game that gets overshadowed by a variety of different things. It came out at a time where the world was becoming more and more enthralled with Sony and what they were doing with the Playstation 2. Even though the game was very good, it did not have the impact on fans in the same way that its older brother, Ocarina of Time, did. With those two obstacles in its way, Majora's Mask seems to have aged like that of a fine wine, more special with each...
When the Virtual Becomes Reality | Ready Player One
March 03, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 97.4 MBReady Player One was an explosive success both in written form and on the silver screen. The story of Wade Watts and his journey through the Oasis of James Halliday is one that is filled with charm and jam packed with 80’s nostalgia. While it might not be the most beloved work by literary critics, it is a joy to experience for anyone looking for a fun trip in a world enveloped with pop culture obsession. Watch the show on YouTube Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s Hou...
10 of our Favorite Supporting Characters
February 17, 2021 10:00 - 2 hours - 132 MBSupporting/secondary characters serve many functions within the realm of storytelling. At times they are used to drive the plot, other times they are the voice of reason, or maybe the voice of temptation. Oftentimes a story gives us a main character that we are supposed to admire or respect, but in this episode of Parallel Quest the guys shed the spotlight on those in the second chair by listing 10 of their favorite supporting characters and why they like them. TIMESTAMPS 0:00:00 Introduct...
The Gift Every Kid Wanted | Super Mario 64
February 10, 2021 00:09 - 1 hour - 81.1 MBSuper Mario 64 accompanied by a Nintendo 64 was every young kid’s dream Christmas gift in the mid-90’s. In this week’s episode the guys discuss Super Mario 64, their favorite characters to use in Nintendo games, gamer rage, the rumble pack, and how video games allow us to play a part in crafting our own stories. If you would like to watch the podcast check it out on YouTube TIMESTAMPS 0:00:00 Introduction and welcome to our first video podcast. 0:03:27 The Sleepy Drive-Tru Guy 0:11:28 ...
A Good Sequel but the Worst Installment | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
February 03, 2021 23:15 - 1 hour - 103 MBA bad experience with leftovers, our favorite mega monsters, and a terrible plot summary of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is what you have too on this 39th episode of parallel quest. STORIES FROM THE GUYS Zach: The quest for the best salad dressing on planet Earth Cody: When leftovers decide to attack. OUR FAVORITE MEGA MONSTERS Something that is not talked about enough when the second Harry Potter is discussed is the fact that it includes a handful of large and terrifying cre...
Is it really the "Great American Novel?" | The Great Gatsby
January 21, 2021 23:03 - 1 hour - 104 MBVelveeta Cheese, Italian authors, lifestyles of the rich and dysfunctional, men in grocery stores, and the question of are there any heroes in The Great Gatsby. All of this and more is discussed in this week’s episode of Parallel Quest. STORIES FROM THE GUYS Zach shares with us about his latest road trip and literature that he is reading. The most surprising takeaway is his opinion on where the best Barbecue in the United States can be found. Cody went on a journey for liquid gold at the ...
The Black Spot, Mermen, and Coffee Shop Conspiracies | Treasure Island
January 14, 2021 01:52 - 1 hour - 99.2 MBThis week’s episode of Parallel Quest discusses many things such as conspiracies about coffee shops, why it would be terrible to be a mermaid, and wrapping up with the main discussion about Treasure Island. STORIES FROM THE GUYS Zach shares with us his thoughts on how a large chain of coffee shops may be pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes. To make it even more egregious, this is something happening during the holiday season! Cody brings up something that he feels not enough people in t...
We had to Read it but We didn't Love it | The Scarlet Letter
January 06, 2021 01:42 - 1 hour - 95.2 MBThe guys are starting off 2021 with a bang! Kicking off the year by discussing one of their least favorite literary works that they were obligated to read during their tenure in high school, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Even though this was not their favorite read, it turned out to be a rather fun episode for the guys. Zach tells about his latest battle with a random pedestrian. Not a battle of physicality or dominance, but rather a civil sparring of cordiality and polite behav...
2020 was Okay but Ready Player Two was Truly Disappointing
December 29, 2020 16:40 - 2 hours - 117 MB2020 is almost over and the guys decide to have a discussion that is all over the place to end the year. Listen in as Zach shares about his potential future as a craftsman, now that he is the proud owner of his very own workbench. But, not only is he a future artist in the technique of lumber-slinging, he shares tales of his inner competitive nature. A simple board game of Ticket to Ride might seem like a casual family fun day, however, Zach competes at everything as if it were a championshi...
A Classic Storybook Brought to Life | How the Grinch Stole Christmas
December 15, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 107 MBINTRODUCTION In today’s episode of Parallel Quest the guys start off by having a discussion of bedside manner. Is it better for a doctor or nurse to be completely silent during an exam or are a few words of assurance that “everything looks good” a little better? One thing leads to another and Zach ends up telling a story about a time that he had swollen lymph nodes or, according to his doctor, “possibly cancer.” 2020 has definitely been the year of strange things and the changing of tradi...
A Story Synonymous with Americana
December 08, 2020 22:52 - 1 hour - 104 MBINTRODUCTION In the first part of today’s episode of Parallel Quest the guys start by discussing Zach’s new-found joy in jumpstarting people’s vehicles. He also shares that it is one of the few skills that he can bring to the table in the realm of “car issues.” He uses this introductory story as motivation to continue to improve his handiness. The guys also discuss the one thing that will make Cody not want to follow someone in social media. We guarantee it is not what you think, but wou...
When Fantasy is Funny | The Princess Bride
December 01, 2020 23:46 - 1 hour - 108 MBINTRODUCTORY DISCUSSION In part 1 of this episode the guys talk about their beloved Cleveland Browns and how they are actually doing pretty good this year. In spite of that Zach, still has to deal with the constant reminders from Steelers fans (since he lives in Pittsburgh) about how they are still better. Is it possible that a more expensive air filter can improve your quality of life? Can it prevent you from getting things, such as influenza? Can it provide you with a better night's sl...
20 Great Comedies | Each of the Guys Shares 10 of Their Favorite Comedies
November 25, 2020 01:34 - 2 hours - 116 MBEvery ten episodes, the guys try to shake up the formula a little bit to Parallel Quest, trying to keep it as fun as they possibly can. Rather than a "Genre Crush" the guys have decided to use episode 30 to talk about 10 of their favorite comedies. Each host takes a little bit of a different approach in how they present their list, but provide a good variety in the types of comedies they enjoy. The lists have a good range in the type of comedy they are as well as what medium they appear in. ...
Remembering Some of our Favorite Scary Stories | Goosebumps
November 19, 2020 00:52 - 2 hours - 118 MBIn this week's episode the guys go back in time to discuss one of the most iconic children's series of their upbringing, Goosebumps. R.L Stine was able to successfully churn out book after book, and consistently gave kids all over with a story to be spooked by. The guys take time to share the history of how Goosebumps came about and grew in popularity. A series with dozens of books that drew the guys in because of their intriguing cover art. Not only was Goosebumps a successful children's ...
A New Age of Horror Influenced by Classics | Get Out
November 10, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 99 MBAs Zach is a new author in the genre of children's horror, the guys at Parallel Quest have decided to take the next couple episodes and talk about some horror themed stories. If you have any interest in checking out Zach's book, Nightmare at the Fair, you can find it here: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books As the two guys approach this episode discussing the film, Get Out, the come from the angle of long time fan and long time observer. Zach is a fan of horror stories, while horror is n...
Zach's First Book | Discussing Nightmare at the Fair
November 01, 2020 22:38 - 1 hour - 92.1 MBIn this episode, Cody has prepared a list of questions for Zach about the process in writing Nightmare at the Fair. If you would like to skip straight to the interview, jump to 00:43:00. Check out the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Fair-Terror-Town-Book-ebook/dp/B08M9KM1ZV/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=nightmare+at+the+fair&qid=1604268607&sr=8-2 Introduction Stories from the guys Zach: surprise parties - what’s your take? Cody: the battle of political signs. “Terribly Terr...
A Mordern-Day Tall Tale | Big Fish
October 19, 2020 10:15 - 2 hours - 129 MBMost people who have heard of Big Fish are probably familiar with the film by Tim Burton, however, before it hit the big screen, it was written as a short novel by Daniel Wallace. Leading up to the guy's conversation about Big Fish, Zach shares about his experience rewatching the Star Wars prequel films. Is Phantom Menace dreadful or does it have some redeeming qualities? Were midichlorians the death of Star Wars? What does the future hold for the infamous "broom boy" in the stories about ...
Our Least Favorite Star Wars Film | Attack of the Clones
October 12, 2020 02:29 - 2 hours - 115 MBEveryone is entitled to their own opinions on how they feel about stories. Many have created lists of how they rank the Star Wars films, most will put Episode I at the bottom of that list. While we don't claim that Phantom Menace is a great film, we believe that Attack of the Clones is a misstep for Star Wars, and a missed opportunity with the lead up to the era of the Clone Wars. The storytelling is what we have the largest critique for in this particular entry. While we have our own opinio...
Holes — When You Read Something Good for School
October 06, 2020 23:00 - 2 hours - 116 MBIn today's episode of Parallel Quest we discuss the children's book Holes by Louis Sachar. This served as a book that opened our eyes that not all of the books that you have to read for school are dreadfully boring. Stanley Yelnats adventure to and survival in Camp Green Lake is one that covers many important concepts for children and adolescents, while doing so in a fun and entertaining way. The guys discuss how they initially experienced this book for the first time. Cody saw this as a h...
BONUS QUEST | The Social Dilemma — A Documentary You Need to See
September 29, 2020 22:01 - 2 hours - 129 MBA Review of the Social Dilemma — Interesting info/stories from the documentary and any criticisms we might have A brief summary of the concept and subject matter within the documentary Cody The way in which Google autofill works based on region. It truly does develop regional narratives The notification system is completely aware of how much time you spend on the applications, and I never gave much thought to how it prompts us, just passively gave into the loop. Targeted advertising. ...
LOST — Cinema Quality Television
September 21, 2020 01:30 - 2 hours - 142 MBIntroduction Stories from the week Cody: My wife discovers YouTube Zach: How to properly interact with neighbors; Faking a building plan Intro topic of discussion: Weird Fantasies. Each host names a weird fantasy they would have liked to be a reality. Cody: stranded on an island. Zach: professional theme park YELP reviewer Main Topic — Lost Initial Impact We figure the best way to start talking about LOST is by discussing the elements that made us interested in watching the show i...
The Twilight Zone — A Beloved Anthology
September 13, 2020 22:21 - 1 hour - 110 MBThe guys start off the episode with a returning segment, "10 questions." This time Cody answers 10 questions from Zach that range from whether Rambo would win in a fighter over the Terminator, to what movie he would completely erase from existence. In our MAIN TOPIC we discuss the TWILIGHT ZONE, it's history, plot, and impact. History Was first aired in 1959 and ran for five seasons Rodman Serling, or just Rod Serling, was a man before his time. Fascinated with pulp magazines as well a...
The Hobbit — A Top Tier Children's Story
September 08, 2020 01:35 - 1 hour - 107 MBIn this week's episode the guys share their experiences with the world famous story, The Hobbit. This is one of the guys' favorites and they look forward to sharing what they love about it with you. INTRODUCTION: In this episode's introduction the guys share about a variety of their different interests from pickling to board games. They wind up talking about strange injuries through all of this as well. Take a look back behind the curtain as the guys talk about going "Under the Influence," ...
Genre Crush: Science Fiction
August 31, 2020 09:00 - 2 hours - 119 MBOpening Conversation: Disastrous water stories. Podcast Friends: In this episode we introduce you to another podcast you may want to check out PETRI DISH, listen to their promo, and you can find them at https://anchor.fm/petridish A conversation that has nothing to do with science fiction: Zach's review of the docuseries THE LAST DANCE. This documentary series reminded us all of how great Michael Jordan really was at the game of basketball. As natives to the wondrous land of Cleveland, Ohi...
The Most Dangerous Game — Why You Should Read Short Stories
August 24, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 94.2 MBThe Most Dangerous Game may be one of the most influential short stories of all time, and gives us reason to admire and respect the power of the short story. PART 1: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE NEVER SHOULDA HAPPENED The guys kick off the podcast with one of their favorite introductory games to play. This time they are discussing, good, bad, and never should happened within the realm of villains. Many stories that have memorable conflict contain a villain who is able to make that conflict f...
The Matrix — Philosophy. Sunglasses. Firearms. Leather
August 17, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 95.3 MBThe Matrix was a cinematic marvel when it was first released in 1999, how well did it hold up over time? The guys open up the podcast with some fast firing questions in order to help you get to know Zach a little bit better. Although, there are a couple of intellectual properties that he decides to eliminate from existence for the rest of time. In the conversation about the Matrix the guys start off with some history in how the film was made, but very quickly find themselves in a conversat...
The Prestige — Are you Watching Closely?
August 10, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 86.1 MBIn this episode, the guys devote the main topic to one of Cody's favorite films, The Prestige. Before preparing for this episode, neither of the guys knew that is was based on a novel by Christopher Priest (which is worth a read, even if you have seen the movie). Before getting into the main topic, the guys talk about some of the media that they are taking in as well as update you all on the interesting stories going on in their lives. If you have anything interesting yourself you would lik...
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone — A Magical New Era
August 03, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 93.8 MBThe Harry Potter phenomenon is something that the guys have referenced before and now it is time to have our first discussion centered around it. The guys warm up by telling stories from the week and catching up with what is going on in life. Zach shares an interesting story about a time that he was robbed while Cody shares about his most recent trip to Florida (disclaimer: Cody traveled before the recent spike in virus cases). The guys jump into the main topic of discussion without any o...
HALO — Gaming Evolved
July 27, 2020 09:00 - 2 hours - 119 MBPART 1: OPENING DISCUSSION In this first part of the episode, the guys catch up with what's going on in life before getting into the main topic discussions. Zach begins by sharing his recent adventure back into the world of Terraria. The video rental store is something that was so important in our lives as kids, and the guys discuss their thoughts on the all-but-dead industry. We introduce a new segment called "Retry" where we talk about a story that we did not like at first, but after...
007 Casino Royale — A Proper Reboot
July 20, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 93.8 MBCasino Royale is our main topic of conversation but before we get to that point we have many fun segments in this episode. Stories from the guys: Zach tells a story about the most epic hand in poker that he has ever had, while Cody shares about the experience of witnessing his kids skateboard for the first time. Question from our listeners: This week's podcast is blessed with a question of discussion from one of our wonderful listeners. The guys talk about which fictional world they would ...
Pokemon — A Gem of our Generation
July 13, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 89.4 MBThis episode marks one of our longest discussions. Pokémon is a phenomenon that impacted many. Young and old, many were familiar with the new craze of “pocket monsters” created in Japan. A video game, card game, television series, and a feature length film were all created within the intellectual properties infancy, but all went on to be commercially successful. The charm and cuteness of Pokémon were always a draw, but the first movie tells a much darker tale. A tale with deep themes of ...
Jurassic Park — Making the Prehistoric Cool Again
July 06, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 75.5 MBIt would be near impossible to grow up through the 90's and never have heard of Jurassic Park. Whether you were a fan or not, the franchise had a domination and prehistoric footprint on American culture. Even though this film frightened us as children, it was a terror that we willingly and excitingly went back to, time and time again. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE SHOW YOU CAN DO SO AT STEELLAKESTUDIO.COM/PATREON TIME STAMPS —00:02:30— Stories from the week, Zach's great idea. —00:1...
The Tiger King — The Show that Oddly Took the World by Storm
June 29, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 74.2 MB00:05:45 — A quick discussion of Joe Hill's book Heart Shaped Box 00:10:45 — Finishing up Lord of the Flies on audio book and really thinking about the darker side of our human nature. Cody doesn't think that the part most people talk about (Piggy's death) is even the worst part of the story. 00:14:00 — How the theme within Lord of the Flies is scarily related to things going on in the world today. 00:15:10 — Community question of the week and discussion. Why is it that covers are so ...
Genre Crush: Fantasy
June 22, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 63.8 MBThe Parallel Quest team has decided to use their tenth episode to have what they call a "Genre Crush." This is where the guys discuss a particular genre, a little bit about its history and influence, and finish up with their favorite components and stories within it. —A quick discussion of the Tiger King and how it was taking the world by storm as the guys were recording this episode. As we have now come to find out, its influence only grew from here. There might be an episode in the future...
Smallville — A TV Epic that Defines the Early 2000s
June 15, 2020 14:54 - 1 hour - 69.5 MBSmallville was a smart combination of teen drama, coming of age, and action. It was regularly enjoyed by many during its 11 year run. THE CREATIVE PROCESS Cody and Zach start off the show by going through their different approaches to creating their projects. -Zach discusses how he goes about planning and making a schedule for writing -Cody shares how he plans for public speaking and podcasting, and how he comfortably does it without notes. -The guys discuss why people may struggle wi...
The Phantom Tollbooth/A Terrible Rocky Movie Pitch
June 08, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 61.1 MBThis episode of Parallel Quest is special because one of the show hosts, Zach, gets to talk about his favorite book of all-time. The Phantom Tollbooth is not the most popular novel in the realm of children's literature but has a timeless value to it, making it one of the best ones that we could read with our children. -Terribly Terrific: This is a new introductory segment for the guys, where they have to come up with a terrible story pitch that might be secretly terrific. In this episode, ...
Final Fantasy 7/The Wrong Gift
June 01, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 72 MBIn the main topic, the guys have a full discussion on Final Fantasy 7, the 1997 Playstation classic. They go over the history of the franchise, an outline of the story, and Cody shares why it is one of the most important stories in his life. SHOW ORDER -The impromptu wedding -Trashed creative Ideas: The Once Upon a Time rip-off; the skate video that never was. -MAIN TOPIC: Final Fantasy 7 -An interjection about Legend of Dragoon; the game that Zach played instead of Final Fantasy 7 -Ge...
The Hero of Time/Legend of Zelda
May 28, 2020 02:41 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBThere are only a handful of video games in the world in which most people have heard of, or have familiarity with, and the Legend of Zelda is one of those few series. From the first time we picked up the controller to present day, journeying as the green-clad hero has always been a joy. The guys talk about their experiences with the famous video game franchise in this episode of Parallel Quest. SHOW ORDER -A brief discussion over our intrigue with murder mysterious and stories that center ...
Everything is Gonna be Alright/Armageddon
May 25, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 66.5 MBSometimes it is good to like things that are not unanimously considered to be great. The inverse can also be true: it can be a good thing to dislike something that everyone else loves. As long as the feeling for that particular thing is genuine, it adds a level of nuance and perspective to it. This is the case with Michael Bay's movie, Armageddon. The guys discuss how they remember growing up and loving the tale of oil riggers who saved planet earth. -A discussion on snowboarding. -Cody's ...
Good and Bad Sequels/Dragon Ball Z
May 21, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 83.6 MB-Talking about our hobbies and the need to narrow them down to the most important ones -Playing guitar. For some this is an interest that passes a quickly as junior high is over, for others it is an instrument they enjoy playing for their entire lives. Cody and Zach discuss their thoughts on sticking with the instrument. -"The Good, the Bad, and the Never Should've Happened." This is a segment where the guys each point out one good sequel, one bad sequel, and one sequel that never should ...
Beginning at the Middle/Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
May 18, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBStar Wars is one of the most iconic intellectual properties of all time, but since the debut of the original trilogy in 1976 the films have not always delivered to the high hopes and expectations that fans have set. This is a trend that began with Episode 1: The Phantom Menace with its release in 1999. Even though this movie does not have the same greatness as its predecessors (which are also, oddly, sequels), the summer of 1999 brought back Star Wars hype for a new generation. The main top...
$300 Pizza/Fellowship of the Ring
May 15, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 87.1 MBCody and Zach talk about one of their favorite stories ever, The Fellowship of the Ring. While, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings can be tied to an older generation, Peter Jackson's films were released at the perfect time in life to connect two generations. The book always tends to be better than the film, but it is also important to remember that there are so many films that get people to pick up a book, which is most definitely true for the guys when it comes to Fellowship of the Ring. SHOW ORD...
Meet the Team/Our Favorite Stories
May 09, 2020 15:59 - 1 hour - 88.6 MBThe team kicks of the first episode by introducing themselves (Cody and Zach) as well as sharing why they want to create Parallel Quest: To discuss our favorite stories and share the memories we have from the first, fifth or 100th time we have absorbed them. Cody and Zach alternate by going through a list of some of the most influential stories they have enjoyed in their life, as well as discuss the media format they belong to. Zach's List -The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (Book) ...