Research & Respawn

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.

In this episode, Cody and Kit tackle the basics of research methods, exploring different types of studies and the importance of sampling. Learn how to spot strong versus weak research, ask critical questions, and become a smarter consumer of science in the media.

We’re going to space! Metaphorically...to talk about Mass Effect. This episode explores the impact of the Mass Effect video game series, including its emphasis on player agency, the availability of romance, and the game’s controversies.

This time, we’re talking about happiness – and trying not to make it too depressing. This episode breaks down what happiness really means and the factors that shape our well-being around the world.

In this episode, we tackle how media reporting shapes what we know. We discuss the pitfalls of science and media literacy, the impact of incomplete news, and real-world examples of how reporting can influence public understanding and behavior.

Join Cody and Kit to talk about horror and some of our favorite scary media. This episode uncovers why we love scary stories, how horror taps into our deepest fears and cultural anxieties, and how monsters and metaphors evolve over time.

What draws us to video games? This episode explores player motivations and interests drawn from data. From “hardcore” and “casual” to Bartle types and more, find out what research has to say about what makes players tick.