Creative Commoners

Wherein our crew of salty sea dogs speak of online piracy and digital media, heaving down on DRM in video games, authors and e-book royalties, reasons why people steal, and how good will and trust can turn the tide. Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen, mateys! Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein we meet again with author Ian T. Healy to discuss the release of his third Just Cause novel, Day of the Destroyer. We also delve into the mammoth topic of worldbuilding, Corey dweebs over Bioshock Infinite, Allison wants more Dinklage, Chris goes bio-punk, and Ian makes B.J. West an offer he shouldn’t refuse. Theme music by Latché Swing. “Day of the Destroyer” cover image courtesy of Ian Thomas Healy.

Wherein we bust out the Story Forge cards and the Story Form app to create a delightful trio of stories right before your very ears. These tales are full of mental instability, forbidden kisses, cough syrup, and… Peter Dinklage. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein we binge on the topic of information overload. How has the Information Age changed our brains and society? How do we stave off overchoice and analysis paralysis? And what happens when all this noise stifles and stymies our creative pursuits? This episode is pure TMI. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein our dreamy hosts put to bed all manner of sleepy talk, including nightmares, sleep paralysis, the mysteries of the brain, dreams as depicted in fiction, and using the unconscious mind to solve daytime problems and hatch brilliant ideas. Elsewhere, a gynoid dreams of electric revenge. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein Corey and Chris dial back the bro-ometer for another dude-tastic episode. This time, the guys enlist a lady bot named A.L.I.E. to co-host, dish over SimCity 5 and the new Star Trek trailer, reveal progress on their creative projects, and finish off by measuring their manhood. Theme music by Latché Swing. Sound effects by robinhood76, keykrusher, joelaudio, and nnus_nnus.

Wherein Corey and Chris deliver the manliest show known to man. What do sportball, My Little Pony, hot hatches, Robotech, and repressed emotions all have in common? BRO SHOW! Grab a Manwich and hit the man cave! Theme music by Latché Swing. Static Motion, The Forest and the Trees, and The House of Leaves by Kevin MacLeod.

Wherein we cross our arms and refuse to leave behind our childlike sense of wonder. Corey goes Brony, Allison wants to gaze upon Uranus, and Chris geeks out over automatons. Special appearances by Craig the Crizzly Bear, CreoBot 2000, Madam Creontin, and Archie and Edith Bunker. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein we have a rousing chat with literary troublemaker and highly pseudonymous Andrew Shaffer (aka @EvilWylie, @EmperorFranzen, Fanny Merkin, and Edgar Allen Pole). The author of the hit Fifty Shames of Earl Grey and the new Literary Rogues: A Scandalous History of Wayward Authors stopped by the studio to talk about his writing exploits, fun Twitter exchanges, his greeting card line featured on The Colbert Report, and why he feels satire and humor matter. And we kinda punk Patton Oswald at the end. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein we discuss the taboos surrounding sex, sensuality, and carnal ribaldry. Is our society becoming more comfortable with sexuality? How has media and internet changed our views? We explore this all, through the guilt and shame, the portrayal of women and men in media, the rise of erotic fiction, and the full frontal exposure of our minds. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein we discuss the taboos surrounding profanity, dirty swears, and other such f#$&%! We marvel at the power of our words and how we use them, discuss why works such as “Django Unchained” and “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” have come under scrutiny, and ponder why bad language is treated as more harmful to children than violence. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein we discuss the taboos in our culture surrounding the topic of violence. We delve into censorship and creative expression, wade through the common culprits of blame, speculate on the so-called “culture of violence” in America, and ponder why we, as humans, are drawn to violent entertainment. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein our hosts continue their hilarious conversation with guest BJ West. We learn about the genesis of Story Forge, follow the publishing journey that resulted in his successful Kickstarter campaign, and hear about the exciting projects BJ is brewing. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein our hosts have a rousing conversation with creative commoner BJ West, film maker, graphic artist, writer, and creator of Story Forge. In our first part, we hear about BJ’s creative origins, his rise to glory, and the truth behind his Bond villain costume. Theme music by Latché Swing. Teleporter sound effect by Cyberkineticfilms.

Wherein the gang ragefaces into ehrmagerd territory and can has moar internet memes. They cover the big hits of 2012 before turning to lively discussion of what memes are, how they relate to the selfish gene, and why technology is driving us into a new age… the dawn of the teme. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein our hosts kick off the new year by catching up, sharing new developments for the show, and discussing creative plans on the horizon. Elsewhere, Allison shows off her mixologist talents, Corey gets his own robot, and Chris reveals something he’s never done. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein we discuss Corey’s progress with National Game Design Month (NaGaDeMon), comparing game development to other creative endeavors. Then we discuss Indie Game: The Movie, which captures the emotional investment and struggles of the creators behind Super Meat Boy, Braid, and Fez. Elsewhere, Allison plasters the tabloids, Corey gets hungry, and Chris wants your hate mail. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein we discuss the struggles, defeats, and even triumphs of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). We talk about the persistence of distractions, like technology, holidays, and the election, and the growing need for a creative space to keep focus. Elsewhere, Chris starts a new toy line, Allison crushes peoples’ dreams, and Corey preps for his new “after dark” show. Theme music by Latché Swing.

Wherein we discuss more villain types. We cover the newest Bond villain, Raoul Silva, as well as those you love to hate, like Nurse Ratched, Dolores Umbridge, Randall Flagg, and Hans Landa. We talk about the over-the-top or flamboyant villains, like Dr. Evil, Zorg, and The Joker, villains that straddle several types, like Handsome Jack and GLADoS, and even delve into non-living villains with Skynet and HAL 9000. Elsewhere, we tangent into storytelling in video games and the difficulty of writing a good villain. Theme music by Latché Swing. Handsome Jack dialogue property of Gearbox Software.

Wherein we discuss villains a-plenty! Protagonist villains like Walter White, those who skirt the villain/hero line like Dexter, sympathetic villains like Magneto, and menacing villains like Jaws, Terminator, and Anton Chigurh. Elsewhere, Allison reveals her most villainous voice, Chris ponders formless evil, and Corey ties the episode to the railroad tracks. Theme music by Latché Swing.