Genre Blender

What a year! Kris and Rian discuss their approaches to goal-setting for the new year, compare their yearly themes for 2025, then celebrate their best-of-2024 books, TV shows and games. They also hint at their wish lists for the podcast. Join the free tier of our Patreon for access to our Discord community and buddy reads chat: https://www.patreon.com/GenreBlender Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:28 Read Wa...

It’s time for the end of year book tag! Kris and Rian talk about their unfinished books, Summer reads, and 2025 reading plans, then cap off the year with a holiday book exchange while trying not to be awkward while unwrapping their gifts. Chapters: 00:00 Intro to the end of year book tag 01:06 Read / Watch / Play updates 04:05 Gift book exchange info 05:05 Rian’s new project 07:04 Discord server a...

Rian gives a spoiler-free mini review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Kris discusses the origins of his upcoming self-published book, and the duo discuss the concept of the “aspiring author” and what that means to them. Chapters: 00:00 Intro | Read/Watch/Play updates 18:07 Main topic: The Aspiring Author 18:43 What even is an ‘aspiring’ author? 20:42 Writer vs author 23:37 When did we get the writin...

Rian reveals their Dragon Age: The Veilguard play time, Kris is emotionally destroyed after reading a book he was not prepared for, and the duo have a philosophical discussion about what, why, and how hobbies fit into their lives. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:48 Read Watch Play updates 09:22 Main Topic: Hobbies and how they fit into our lives 51:54 Outro, links, next episode The Road - Cormac McCarthy...

In celebration of Trans Awareness Week, and to show trans visibility during such a tumultuous time, Kris and Rian share their thoughts on the trans memoirs they’ve read, and the impact they’ve had on their own journeys through gender transition. 00:00 Intro to the episode and Trans Awareness Week 01:37 Trigger warnings 02:48 Read/Watch/Play updates 08:06 Our experiences with trans memoirs 12:52 So...

Games, games, and more games, oh my! The duo discuss storytelling in their favourite video games (and their gripes with being too time-poor to enjoy said video games), and Rian mentions Mass Effect fifty-six million times. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:51 Read / Watch / Play updates 08:33 Main topic: Compelling storytelling through gaming 54:58 Outro and links Blog References:  The Power of Storytellin...

The duo queer it up this episode as they consider the topic of queer representation in media; from reminiscing over queer characters that informed their early years, to realising just how much queer rep—on paper and on-screen—has improved over the years. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:00 Trigger warnings 01:06 Read / Watch / Play updates 07:44 Main topic: Queer representation in media 56:23 Outro and li...

Rian and Kris cross the border to the mysterious Area X for their very first buddy read. The duo discuss Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach trilogy in-depth, and walk away forever changed. Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for free to participate in the book discussion! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:58 Kick-off with a quote 06:33 Non-spoiler intro to the trilogy 08:52 Structure of the discussion 10:16 Plot and charac...

Rian nerds out over a new favourite anime, Kris gets hooked on a game about…. cooking? And the pair barely scratch the surface on a mega topic for discussion: adaptations and cross-overs. ⁠Best movie adaptations of popular novels⁠ ⁠The Way of Unity - Sarah K. Balstrup⁠ ⁠Leviathan Wakes - James S. A. Corey⁠ ⁠The Three Body Problem - Cixin Liu⁠ ⁠Annihilation - Jeff Vandermeer⁠ ⁠Authority - Jeff Vand...

Rian watches an artsy lesbian thriller, Kris watches a renowned sci-fi classic, and they both dig themselves a hole while discussing the main topic of the week: modern vs classic fiction. Article Mentioned:  What makes a classic? Books mentioned:  - The Shining - Stephen King  - Old Man's War - John Scalzi  - Annihilation - Jeff Vandermeer - Club Contango - Eliane Boey - The Tale of Genji - Mu...

After sharing their read/watch/play updates and Kris’s current writing project, the pair discuss why they read, and Rian shares their ridiculous number of reading projects. Books and authors mentioned: Toll the Hounds - Steven Erikson Legacy of Brick & Bone - Krystle Matar The Swamp - Palmer Pickering The Host - Stephenie Meyer Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Murakami The Shining - Stephen King Ra...

Rian and Kris introduce the podcast and themselves, and have a very non-confrontational debate about sci-fi vs fantasy because the first episode is way too early for the friends to enemies narrative trope. Books and authors mentioned: Jeff Vandermeer - Area X (series) Stephen King Adrian Tchaikovsky - Elder Race (novella) Christopher Ruocchio - The Sun Eater (series) Patrick Rothfuss - The Name of...