Category Archives: Podcast

Podcast Posts

VoK 82: WolfCast – “Two Swords” (S04E01 Review)


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Vassals of Kingsgrave will be providing not one but two, count ’em, two review episodes of Game of Thrones Season 4 per week, sharing the views of our podcasters on both sides of the Atlantic.  The series’ kicks off with Wolfcast – our European and Asia-Pac hosts’  take on episode 1, Two Swords, in which we discuss how it’s not cool to melt the family sword; how far we’d go for a piece of chicken; and giant He-Man hands.

Podcasters: Bina007, Nadia, Shellfish (Peter), Saad164 (Saad), Aiwendil (Alix), BarrelRoll42 (Jon), Regula Roone (Seif).

Credits:
Edited by Bina007.

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VoK 81: LOTR ReRead (Part 7) – The Destruction of the Ring


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The epic Vassals quest to destroy the One Ring finally reaches Mordor as we complete Book Five and begin Book Six of Tolkien’s fantasy epic Lord of the Rings.  Join Bina007, Shellfish (Peter), Nadia, Whiteraven (Brett), Middlecylone (Amanda) and Teddard (Eddie) as they discuss how culpable Gandalf is; Breomer’s poor swordsmanship, and the general awesomeness of Sam as we journey to the Field of Cormallen.

Please note that this episode contains spoilers for Lord of the Rings and incidentally other parts of the Tolkien oeuvre as well as George R R Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.

Intro;  3m: Book Five Chapter Eight: The Houses of Healing; 17m: Chapter Nine: The Last Debate; 32m Chapter Ten: The Black Gate Opens;   44m Book Six Chapter One: The Tower of Cirith Ungol; 56m: Chapter Two:  The Land of Shadow; 61m: Chapter Three: Mount Doom; 80m:  Chapter Four: The Field of Cormallen; 90m: Outro; 96m Aftershow.

Credits:
Edited by Bina007

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VoK 80: Game of Thrones – Pre-Season 4 Speculation


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Vikram (Fortytwo) is joined by Brook (Asha Greatjoy) and Grey(claudiusthefool) to go over the Production/Featurette videos, Trailers and casting news and get psyched for the upcoming Season 4 of HBO’s Game of Thrones premiering April 6th 2014

Credits:
Edited by Vikram (Fortytwo)
Outro Music was Ramin Djawadi’s Night’s Watch from Game of Thrones Original Soundtrack.

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Show Notes @ Google Docs

VoK 79: Mercy (The Winds of Winter – Sample Chapter)


TitanOfBraavos
Join the Vassals for a spoiler-filled discussion of the latest teaser chapter from George R.R. Martin’s The Winds of Winter: Mercy. Duncan (Valkyrist), Bina (Bina007), Zach (Alias), Eddie (Teddard), Michal (inkasrain), and Nadia (in all worlds!) discuss bleeding out, aging up, moral culpability, psychotic breakdown and other cheerful happy endings.

Credits:
Edited by Bina007 and Valkyrist, with music excerpts from the amazeballs Elvis Costello and Talking Heads.

Update: A cleaner version of the audio has been uploaded 🙂

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Links:
Mercy (chapter text)
VoK 61: The Winds of Winter (Preview Chapters)

VoK 78: Full Cast(le) Recording #2 – Beware of Flying Babies


In the second installment in the “Full Cast(le) Recording” series, the Vassals of Kingsgrave ascend the auditory stage to perform a dramatic reading of Jaime VI from A Feast for Crows.

Stick around after the curtain falls to hear the vassals discuss the chapter, debate the sanity and circumstance of Brynden Tully, and inevitably wind up debating the various deviations of HBO’s Game of Thrones.

2:00 – Chapter Reading
31: 40 – Aftershow Discussion

Cast:
Michal (inkasrain) – Narrator
Katie (Lady Griffin) – Jaime Lannister
Peter (Shellfish) – Brynden “Blackfish” Tully / Lyle “Strongboar” Crakehall
Leigh (LordManderBlee) – Edmure Tully / Forley Prester
Zach (Alias) – Daven Lannister
Eddie (Teddard) – Emmon Frey / Ryman Frey
Brooke (Asha Greyjoy) – Genna Lannister / Person Who Calls After Jaime / Queen of Whores
Paul (Pod’s Plight) – Karyl Vance / Spearman
Thomas (FTWard) – Addam Marbrand / Clement Piper
Amanda (middlecyclone) – Singer / Walder Rivers / Norbert Vance
Dan (witless chum) – Edwyn Frey

Crew:
Michal (inkasrain) – Host
Katie (Lady Griffin) – Editor

Credits
“The Rains of Castamere” Harp Cover by Harp Twins Camille and Kennerly
“The Rains of Castamere” Instrumental by Ramin Djawadi

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VoK 77: Downton Abbey (ITV series)


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Vikram (Fortytwo) is joined by Nadia, Glen(Dagos_Rivers) and Saad (Saad164) to review Julian Fellowes Period Drama Downton Abbey.

Beware of Spoilers and we regret the poor audio quality.

Credits:
Edited by Vikram (Fortytwo)
Audio and Music excerpts taken from the Show

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VoK 76: Metanarrative in the Game of Thrones (Part 2) – Martin and Tolkien (audio essay)


Robert_Rhaegar
In this followup episode to VoK 23, Valkyrist continues to look at postmodern theory in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. However, where part 1 dealt with the story and characters, part 2 focuses on structure, and how Martin’s fantasy texts contrast with the more traditional writing of J. R. R. Tolkien.

Contains spoilers for all published books in A Song of Ice and Fire

Credits:
Written and Edited by Valkyrist
Music from HBO’s Game of Thrones soundtrack

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Links:
The Postmodern Condition: A Report on the Understanding of Knowledge (by Jean-François Lyotard)
VoK 23: Metanarrative in A Game of Thrones (Part 1)

VoK 75: The Hedge Knight (by George R. R. Martin)


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The Vassals raise their pavilions at Ashford Meadow to discuss The Hedge Knight, the first story in George R. R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg series of novellas. Topics include the role of smallfolk in Westeros and the main story, knights and knighthood, how coinage and the economy of Westeros functions, the age old question of who has a right and claim to rule, and why fahrenheit is better than celsius. Zach (Alias), Bina (Bina007), Vikram (FortyTwo), Amanda (MiddleCyclone), Michael (Mordion), Leigh (LordManderblee) and Nadia (Nadia) also consider various theories that the story has spawned and how they relate to the A Song of Ice and Fire world at large.

Credits:
Edited by Zach (Alias)
Music excerpts taken from the soundtrack of HBO’s Game of Thrones, composed by Ramin Djawadi

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Links:
Legends (The Hedge Knight)
The Hedge Knight Graphic Novel
Legends II (The Sworn Sword)
The Sworn Sword Graphic Novel
Warriors (The Mystery Knight)

VoK 74: Vikings (History Channel series) – Season 1


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Vikram (Fortytwo) is joined by Brett(White Raven) and Nadia to review and discuss Michael Hirst’s Epic Saga Vikings. The crew try to puzzle out navigation by sun dial, women in Viking society, what was the point of the priest character Athelstan, Effect of Vikings on England and then finish it all off with One Nite/marry/kill game.

Credits:
Edited by Vikram (Fortytwo)
Outro music was Fever Ray’s If I had a heart

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VoK 73: Twin Peaks (ABC series)


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Join Katie (Lady Griffin), Bina (Bina007), and Saad (saad164) at the RR Diner for a cup of black coffee and a slice of cherry pie in this special Twin Peaks episode. The vassals decide their scariest Lynch moment, debate Dale Cooper’s terrible white knight status, cross themselves at the arcane horror that is Leo Johnson’s ponytail, and cap it all off with a game of “Marry, One Night, or Wrapped In Plastic.”

Spoilers for all episodes of the 1990-1991 television series Twin Peaks. Spoilers also for the films Muholland Drive (2001), Lost Highway (1997), Blue Velvet (1986), and Inland Empire (2006). The 2004-2010 television show Lost is discussed with minor spoilers.

Credits:
Edited by Katie (Lady Griffin)

Intro Music: “Twin Peaks Theme” by Angelo Badalamenti (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f_1d2zyjaI)

“Sycamore Trees” by Angelo Badalamenti and performed by Jimmy Scott (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr-hiJscLTo)

Outro Music: “Laura Palmer’s Theme” by Angelo Badalamenti (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khMlcTE7lw8)

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VoK 72: Interview with Remy J. Verhoeve (author of “Waiting for Winter”)


WaitingForWinter
In this episode, Valkyrist interviews author and blogger, Remy J. Verhoeve, about his new book – Waiting for Winter: Re-Reading “A Clash of Kings,” Part I. Topics covered include: the politics of the A Song of Ice and Fire fandom; fresh insights and lingering mysteries in book 2; and the culture of “fan theorizing” that Martin’s series has inspired.

Due to equipment problems, the audio quality is not the best, but it has been cleaned up as much as possible. The episode also features several cameo appearance’s from Remy’s infant son.

Warning: Contains #SPOILERS# for all published books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, as well as the 2005 film Oldboy (???)

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist

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Links:
Waiting for Winter: Re-Reading “A Clash of Kings,” Part I (Amazon)
Stormsongs (Remy’s Blog)
Jaime, Azor Ahai & the God of War

VoK 71: Jean Cocteau Cinema (Q & A)


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Travis (travisotraviso from the forums) went to one of the Game of Thrones showings at GRRM’s Jean Cocteau Cinema in Sante Fe, and talks through the experience with Brian (Ikswarum). Travis went on the night where Maisie Williams visited, and he plays the audio from the Q&A sessions that George and Maisie held. Hear about Maisie’s dream role, what she learned most during filming, and her thoughts on which character has most influenced Arya. GRRM shares the experience that inspired Tyrion’s loss of nose, and stick around for the after show, where Travis and Brian stumble through understanding the “Pop Vinyl” figures.

Credits:
Edited by TravisoTraviso

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VoK 70: Frozen [2013] (Review)


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Join our (whatever the collective noun is for snowmen) of Vassals and special guest host Amin from A Podcast of Ice and Fire, to discuss Disney’s super-hit, the Oscar winning Frozen. We take a semi-serious look at the issues of feminism, LGBT rights and depictions of race in Disney.  We also take a not very serious look at whether Hans is gay, whether A Song of Ice and Fire could have a happy fairytale ending, and what kind of protection one might need in dating Elsa.

Naturally this is full of spoilers for Frozen, but also Mulan, Pocahontas, Brave and assorted other Disney princess movies.

Podcasters: Amin; Nadia; Bina; Duncan (Valkyrist); Julia (No True Lady); Michal (Inkasrain); Saad (Saad164); Zach (Alias) and Elena (Lady Grey).

Edited by Bina007 using excerpts of music from the wonderful, and now Oscar-winning, original soundtrack to the movie.

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VoK 69: SoccerCast (Vol.1)


Soccer-01

Bina007 is joined by Linecom1, Lordmanderblee, and Pod’s Plight from the APOIAF forums to discuss the World Cup, British Snobbery, the English Premier League, and the EPL to Westeros Converter.

Credits:
Edited by Linecom1

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VoK 68: House of Cards (Netflix series) – Seasons 1 & 2


HOUSE-OF-CARDS-CAST

Beware of Spoilers, the following podcast discusses Season 1 and 2 of House of Cards in detail.

Join the Vassals as they review and discuss the first and second season of Netflix Original Series “House of Cards”. Quorum includes Fortytwo, FTWard, Mordian, Shellfish and Bina007.

Credits:
Edited by Vikram aka Fortytwo
Outro is “Whatever Became of Hubert” by Tom Lehrer

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VoK 67: LOTR ReRead (Part 6) – The War of the Ring


WitchKing

The Fellowship of Vassals record their best reread yet, covering the Siege of Minas Tirith; the Ride of the Rohirrim; and the Battle of Pelennor Fields. Naturally, this podcast is chock-full of spoilers for all of Tolkien’s works.

02:30 – White Raven recaps Chapters 1 (Minas Tirith) and Chapter 2 (The Grey Company).  Shellfish accuses Aragorn of being a usurper and MiddleCyclone accuses Gandalf of knowing less than the average Gondorian. Bina007 defends Eowyn’s decision to abandon her people and ride to war, and Nadia supports the manliness of archers.

35:00 – Shellfish recaps Chapter 3 (The Muster of Rohan), in which it is discusses how good orcs are at math; how scary it must be to watch people lay siege upon you; and the difference between Book and Movie Eomer.

50:20 – Teddard recaps Chapter 4 (The Siege of Gondor), including the attack from the Mordor Air Force. White Raven argues that Faramir is baked and Bina007 plays devil’s advocate for Denethor.

1:12:00 – Nadia recaps Chapter 5 (The Ride of the Rohirrim), inciting the mantra, “Theoden is magnificent here, but also really stupid”.

1:28:00 – Middlecyclone recaps Chapter 6 (The Battle of the Pelennor) Fields, the coolest chapter in perhaps ALL of literature. Fact! But we all have a bit of a rant about how the movie handles the Army of the Dead.

1:45:57 – Bina007 recaps Chapter 7 (The Pyre of Denethor), and discusses what would happen if an Eagle took the ring, and more seriously, the overtly religious nature of this chapter (and the twisted love Denethor has for Faramir).

Credits:
Edited by Bina007

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VoK 66: Sherlock (BBC series)


sherlock

Julia (No True Lady), Nadine (Erinyes), Nadia, Bina, and special guest Kyle (from APOIAF) ruminate on the triumphs, missteps and the future of BBC’s smash hit Sherlock. Guest starring Kyle’s little birds and Julia’s surprise dinner guests.

Credits:
Edited by Julia aka No True Lady

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VoK 65: Fall of Giants (by Ken Follett)


FOG

*Spoiler warning to potential fans of Ken Follett*

Mordion (Michael) and Dagos_Rivers (Glen) discuss the 2010 book release, ‘Fall of Giants’ by Ken Follett, decide to spoil every single sentence in the book, discuss other adult authors like ‘Child Lee’, Dan Brown and Jeffrey Archer, and discuss and value for money when using Audible.

Other topics of discussion:
-Marry, one night or join the Russian Army
-Scottish Referendum
-The perils of Downton Abbey-esque Housemaids
-TV adaptations

Credits:
Edited by Dagos_Rivers

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VoK 64: LOTR ReRead (Part 5) – Forum Feedback Discussion


Anduril

In this episode our Fellowship of Vassals takes a break from carrying the Ring into Mordor in order to discuss all the fantastic feedback the four previous episodes have had in the Podcast of Ice and Fire forums.

Podcasters: Shellfish (Peter), WhiteRaven (Brett), Teddard (Eddie), MiddleCyclone (Amanda), Scilens (Tanja) and Bina007 (also editing, using music from the Brobdingnanian Bards and Chicago.)

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VoK 63: Writer’s Workshop


QuillFive Vassals sit down to discuss the craft of writing and share some of their own work. Join Steven (SJLee), Michal (inkasrain), Zach (Alias), Duncan (Valkyrist), and Ace (SomeNewGuy), as they share their insights into writing, offer feedback to one another, and discuss their latest projects.

Ace shares an inspired-by-real-life comedy of life overseas in the Peace Corps. Zach and Duncan discuss their early foray into fantasy fiction. Michal’s unique cop drama, set in a world of drug-addicted dragons, captures the interest of her fellow hosts. And Steven describes his post-apocalyptic novel, which is nearing completion. The conversation covers many areas of writing:

1:55 – Part 1: General Discussion on Writing
23:15 – Part 2: Roundtable Conversation on Work [Gardeners vs. Architects; Breaking down the Fantasy Genre; Plot vs. Character; Female Characters and “Unlikeable” Protagonists; World-building; Writing Post-Apocalyptic Fiction; Publishing your Work]
1:58:10 – Part 3: Advice to Fellow Writers [including a defense for Fan Fiction]

Credits:
Edited by SJLee

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Links:
The Anxiety of Writers
Year of the Dragon by inkasrain (extract)
Quincy’s Tale by SomeNewGuy
The Knight of Leafport by Valkyrist (extract)
A Shattered World by SJLee (extract)