Means of Play

Leisure EN ↓ 3 episodes

Means of Play is a podcast that takes games seriously as texts worth dwelling in. Each episode, two co-hosts treat a single game the way a religious community treats a sacred text: with attention, ritual, gratitude, and the assumption that it has something to teach us about being human.

Author

Means of Play

Episodes

The Theology of Nostalgia: Analyzing 'Mixtape' the Video Game 03.07.2026 42:55

Discover how the game Mixtape becomes a vessel for nostalgia, relationships, and life's transitions. Join Cozy Tea Pastor and Nerd Pastor Nate as they explore the storytelling power of music, liturgy, and memory in this evocative narrative game. Main Topics: - The role of music as a form of liturgy and intentionality in storytelling - How Mixtape captures the essence of relationships and remembran...

Why This Game Forces You to Hide Your Success 19.06.2026 41:32

How does a completely wordless video game translate the emotional weight of relational compromise, personal evolution, and the quiet triumph of finding room for all of who you are into interactive play? In this episode of the Means of Play podcast, Cozy Tea Pastor (Ian) and NerdPastorNate (Nathan) offer a close reading of Unpacking, the award-winning zen puzzle game developed by Witch Beam and pub...

Why "White Jesus" Shows Up in This Award-Winning Indie Game 05.06.2026 34:01

How does a video game translate the overwhelming cognitive load of teenage life, disordered eating, and spiritual burnout into interactive play? In this episode of the Means of Play podcast, Cozy Tea Pastor (Ian) and NerdPastorNate (Nathan) offer a close reading of 'Consume Me', the semi-autobiographical life simulator developed by Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson, and published by Hexecutable. Winn...