Research & Respawn

We continue our deep dive into AI with deep fakes.

AI gets framed as a miracle or an apocalypse. Join Cody and Kit to discuss the hype and threat of AI, tracing how systems that predict, rank, generate, and automate reshape truth, work, privacy, education, power, and who pays when systems fail.

A life simulation, but with friends and strangers, join Cody and Kit to discuss Second Life. From an economy where you can earn a virtual living to bondage and sex dungeons, this long lasting multiplayer virtual world probably has something to offer everyone.

In this episode, we discuss Paralives, the cozy indie contender bringing flexible building, community-first development, and fresh creative energy to a genre (and angry players) ready for something different in their life sim.

Step into the visually stunning world of InZoi, where realism, ambitious systems, and big questions about the future of life simulation take center stage. We’ll unpack one of the new successors to The Sims in allowing players to build, explore, and play with life itself.

Dive into the life-sim legend that made virtual families, dream homes, chaos, and creativity iconic. Join Cody and Kit to discuss why, despite player complaints, The Sims still sets the standard for sandbox life-play decades later.

Why do so many animal “facts” feel obvious even when they are incomplete, exaggerated, or based on animals in artificial settings? In this episode, Cody and Kit explore some of the common myths we’re told about animal intelligence and behavior.

Summary: Join Cody and Kit for a dive into Baldur’s Gate 3. In this episode, we explore why it captivated players, how it reshaped RPG expectations, and made choice, romance, identity, and consequences feel unforgettable. Content note: Some discussion of BG3’s companion arcs involves trauma, consent, bodily autonomy, and coercion.

Why do your tastes feel personal when they’re shaped by class, upbringing, and power? In this episode, Cody and Kit unpack some theory: Bourdieu’s Distinction and the hidden social logic behind what feels natural, sophisticated, and “just your preference.”

Join Cody and Kit as they explore Night in the Woods, a game that balances humor, sadness, and economic turmoil. We follow Mae’s messy journey to the town of Possum Springs and discuss why it remains a favorite, 5/5 weird experience.

Fandom turns shared love into identity, meaning, and often also into real-world coordination. This episode explores how the same machinery that produces charity, joy, and community can also generate spirals, outrage, and backlash.

Today we explore the hidden work that keeps fandom communities running. From moderation to parasocial care, we unpack emotional labor in fandom and how platforms and AI are reshaping that work, often making it more intense and harder to see.

This episode serves as Part 1 to our discussions of fandom. Join us for a casual overview of fandom where we will explore what fandom is, how it functions, and elements of Cody and Kit’s personal experiences in fandom.

A viral study claimed that standing in a “power pose” could change your hormones and transform your life. In this episode, we explore why it sounded so convincing, where the science went wrong, and what shaky research can do when it spreads.

On this episode we discuss neuroplasticity (or brain plasticity), exploring how our brains adapt, change, and recover throughout life. From learning guitar to traumatic injuries, the brain has incredible potential to heal and rewire itself.

It’s dark, it’s emotional, and it’s Kit’s special interest. Join us as we take a dive into the world of Thedas to explore Dragon Age, a gameworld where power has consequences, systems fail loudly, companions remember everything, and the real question is what you’re willing to live with when the world pushes back.

Part two of our episode exploring parasocial relationships, wrapping up Kit and Cody's thoughts on digital connections, both with living and AI counterparts.

Join Cody and Kit as they explore the world of parasocial bonds, from obsessing over your favorite celebrity to falling in love with pieces of code. Discover how digital connections shape our lives, for better or worse.

From rescuing princesses to romancing space captains, this week we explore the history and experience of video games romance. Join Cody and Kit as they unpack flirty mechanics, cozy crushes, and why player-driven passion is continuing to gain popularity. 

“Dream Daddy” has it all: funny dads, musically inclined café puns, and heartfelt stories. Multiple paths to explore, a fun replay, and at least Kit is completely enamored. 5/5, would dad again.

“Love, Ghostie” provides coziness in death and romance. Easy to pick up, hard to put down, and a quick 5/5 from the hosts (or at least Kit).

“Date Everything” kicks off with relevant jokes and quirky charm, but the things quickly become tedious. Repetitive gameplay and janky controls make it a slog, making it more of a “meh” than must-play.

Today, Kit gets on a soapbox to declare that genre does not exist.

Hosts Cody and Kit dive into a controversial sociology study, exploring the clash between biology and culture in gender research, peer review pitfalls, and the risks of biological determinism.

In this episode, Kit goes after BioWare and EA for turning a (somewhat) loved franchise into something unrecognizable with wild pivots, forgotten lore, and lost magic in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.