SideQuest Enthusiast
18 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago -A gaming podcast about the quests we play to be who we are. Hosted by writer and interdisciplinary artist Kyle V. Hiller aka Dr. Chillgood.
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Episodes
Episode 14: Is Tina Amini an Alien? …and Other Spooky Game Stories
October 31, 2021 17:46 - 1 hour - 211 MBTina Amini is not for this world—at least, that’s the back-handed compliment she says her father gave her. But Editor-in-Chief at IGN is no stranger to the unusual, and in this episode of the pod, Tina talks about playing the spookiest games in the friendliest way, offers gamer-centric lifestyle tips, and considers the nuances of story, especially the scary ones. She also muses about Halloween traditions, a video game museum idea, and being a woman in gaming. That’s assuming she’s human—Kyle...
Episode 13: Alanah Pearce and the Evolution of a Video Game Writer
October 15, 2021 22:00 - 1 hour - 150 MBAlanah Pearce has had quite the journey as a video game writer. From her earnest beginnings working in media as a journalist before diving into a variety of creative roles, Alanah has made a name for herself in gaming. Now, the Australia native is part of Santa Monica Studio’s development team (God of War, Journey), Alanah comes to the show with plenty to reflect on when it comes to how all of her writing since childhood has led her to the AAA studio. Also, Kyle and Alanah chat lots about P...
The Fetch: September 2021 Edition
October 01, 2021 17:58 - 1 hour - 227 MBWelcome to The Fetch! This is the debut episode of a new segment that premieres monthly, wrapping up gaming and nerd culture happenings from the past month, while also kicking it and talking about the fetch quests of real life. Kyle, aka Dr. Chillgood, is joined by his brother from another mother Marcus Alford, one of the hardest working lazy people you’ll find in the whole world. Not just the city, the world. No, Gretchen will not be in any episodes. But we are trying to make fetch happen ...
Episode 12: Shouting Out to the World with Voice Actor José Favela
September 24, 2021 20:15 - 38 minutes - 87.7 MBIn a world consumed by the pursuit of attention, likes, retweets, and clout stands a gem who cheerleads as intensely as anyone in the gaming world. Voice actor José Favela comes through the Land of Enthusia to talk about the journey into VO, from humble (and lucky) beginnings to speaking out a future into the universe that has gradually been coming true. After discussing the nuances of translating games from English to Spanish, José also sings praises for Celeste and its emotional impact. F...
Episode 11 - Rappin' Truths with Mega Ran
September 03, 2021 16:34 - 39 minutes - 89.8 MBRaheem “Mega Ran” Jarbo bills himself as a teacher, a rapper, and a hero. He’s also a Guinness World Record holder, having recorded the most video game songs in the world. His records run deep, including new releases like Black Materia: The Remake, Maverick Hunters with Noveliss, and Ages, Vol. 2 in 2021. But in this episode, the debut of Season 2 of SideQuest Enthusiast, Mega Ran visits the Land of Enthusia to talk about his origins as told in his memoir Dream Master. “A former middle scho...
Episode 11: Rappin' Truths with Mega Ran
September 03, 2021 16:34 - 39 minutes - 89.8 MBRaheem “Mega Ran” Jarbo bills himself as a teacher, a rapper, and a hero. He’s also a Guinness World Record holder, having recorded the most video game songs in the world. His records run deep, including new releases like Black Materia: The Remake, Maverick Hunters with Noveliss, and Ages, Vol. 2 in 2021. But in this episode, the debut of Season 2 of SideQuest Enthusiast, Mega Ran visits the Land of Enthusia to talk about his origins as told in his memoir Dream Master. “A former middle scho...
Episode 10: The Meta of Chrono Trigger with Boss Fight Books’ Michael P. Williams
June 11, 2021 20:45 - 1 hour - 202 MBMichael P. Williams, a librarian, writer, editor, and lover of many things JRPG, swings by Enthusia to talk about the classic game Chrono Trigger. Released in 1995, the game has stood the test of time, but have we been overlooking the real meaning of Chrono Trigger all along? Twenty-six years later and revelations are abound: Chrono Trigger is a work of art that allows its players to interpret its messages in its own way, in the same way that the game affords many freedoms to its players tha...
Episode 9: Jessica Creane and the Secret Ingredient to Chaos
May 28, 2021 21:30 - 42 minutes - 97.7 MBWhat is chaos? Like, what actually is it? And how is it relevant to gaming? Find out as Jessica Creane pays a visit to Enthusia in this episode of the pod. Here, Jessica talks about her company IKantKoan, a team of deep thinkers, creators, experts, and experimenters who thrive on creative and strategic challenges unique to boundary-bending work. Their work creates playful, purpose-driven work that connects folks to deep truths about themselves and the world. Whether it’s through immersive th...
Episode 9 - Jessica Creane and the Secret Ingredient to Chaos
May 28, 2021 21:30 - 42 minutes - 97.7 MBWhat is chaos? Like, what actually is it? And how is it relevant to gaming? Find out as Jessica Creane pays a visit to Enthusia in this episode of the pod. Here, Jessica talks about her company IKantKoan, a team of deep thinkers, creators, experts, and experimenters who thrive on creative and strategic challenges unique to boundary-bending work. Their work creates playful, purpose-driven work that connects folks to deep truths about themselves and the world. Whether it’s through immersive th...
Episode 8: Streams, Star Wars, and Chicken Wings with CtrlAltQuin
May 14, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 147 MBWhat do cringe comedy, Star Wars, and video games all have in common? They’re all tools CtrlAltQuin uses to kill with kindness—whether it’s through charity streams, playing games with friends, or letting their emotions and vulnerabilities and impeccable truths spill while on camera. Quin, a trans, nonbinary person, prides themselves on not only their gift for comedy, their invaluable rap bars, but their ability to simply be themselves. Quin’s success on stream is evidence of that, as they’ve...
Episode 7: Shooting for the moon with Sailor Victoria
March 22, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 117 MBSideQuest Enthusiast supports the weebs…because we, too, are weebs. And with the 30th anniversary of the original Sailor Moon manga hitting the shelves this year, Victoria L. Johnson, aka Sailor Victoria, came through to talk about all things in the name of the moon. Johnson is the creator and host of the Sailor Moon Fan Club podcast. She’s also a pop culture journalist with bylines in Complex, Vulture, Vibe, Mashable, and co-hosted the podcast Nerds on Hip-Hop. She comes through the Land of...
Episode 7: Shooting for the Moon with Sailor Victoria
March 22, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 117 MBSideQuest Enthusiast supports the weebs…because we, too, are weebs. And with the 30th anniversary of the original Sailor Moon manga hitting the shelves this year, Victoria L. Johnson, aka Sailor Victoria, came through to talk about all things in the name of the moon. Johnson is the creator and host of the Sailor Moon Fan Club podcast. She’s also a pop culture journalist with bylines in Complex, Vulture, Vibe, Mashable, and co-hosted the podcast Nerds on Hip-Hop. She comes through the Land of...
Episode 6: Dreaming Elsewhere with Davionne Gooden
March 05, 2021 15:36 - 44 minutes - 102 MBWhat’s it like making a video game? Even better question: what’s it like writing a video game? Filmmaker, photographer, and game maker Davionne Gooden swings by the Land of Enthusia and talks about his game She Dreams Elsewhere, “a surreal adventure RPG about dreams and the extent to which they mirror reality. You play as Thalia, an anxiety-ridden, comatose woman who delves into her dreams and confronts her inner nightmares in order to finally wake up… It’s a deeply personal narrative dealin...
Episode 5: The Legend of Pelvic: A Lady to the Past
February 19, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 90.9 MBLady Pelvic is the force behind Pelvic Gaming, a YouTube channel featuring gaming reviews, Top 5s, and more. She’s been at it for several years now, and one thing rings true throughout her work: she’s a huge Zelda fan. With the 35th Anniversary of the Legend of Zelda series coming this month (February 2021), Lady Pelvic pays the Land of Enthusia a visit to talk with Kyle about why Majora’s Mask is the best Zelda game while still deliberating on the magic of the other entries like Ocarina of...
Episode 4: Kiesha Richardson, Ge’NeL Magazine, and the Art of War in Video Games
February 01, 2021 11:00 - 52 minutes - 72.6 MBKiesha Richardson is the founder of Ge’NeL Magazine, a woman-centric video game and geek culture website that cares deeply about normalizing minority groups in geek and gaming spaces. In this episode, she sits down with Kyle to talk about what it was like starting an online mag and why it’s important to carve spaces especially for Black women in nerd culture. She gushes about how she first fell in love with story in games with World of Warcraft and how there’s still hope for single-player ca...
Episode 3: Anniversaries for days, 2021 Predictions, and MLK Day Reflections
January 18, 2021 21:45 - 41 minutes - 93.9 MBWelcome to 2021, the year where almost every franchise is celebrating a major anniversary! Kyle talks about how Pokemon and Zelda should have big celebrations this year and makes a few predictions about what's to come this year from Nintendo. There's also Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury hype. To conclude, there are reflections on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, what it means to be part of the social change needed in America, and why Black and Brown people in gaming spaces are vital.
Episode 2: The Game Awards, Accessibility, and the Technicolor Dreamcast
December 09, 2020 11:50 - 46 minutes - 106 MBOn this episode of SQE, Knuckles (actually, it’s Kyle) and Mina reminisce about old school consoles that they wish they had or could revisit again before talking about how gatekeeping and money kept them from really diving into games when they were younger. Then, (16:37) it’s all about the Game Awards. What did we like? What did we play? Why are the same five games nominated for every category? Why is Tom Nook such a bad role model for the kids? The big question is, though, how do we play v...
Episode 1: That New Game Plus Smell
November 20, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 104 MBOn the first episode of Sidequest Enthusiast, Kyle, Mina, and Anairis talk about fond memories of getting new consoles. They also consider the next generation with the release of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and what a new era means for players and developers of color. What kinds of games do we want with characters and stories that are diverse? There's also talk of Monster Prom, Fire Emblem, and how simping ain't easy.