The Side Quest Book Club Podcast

Slava & Jonathan
  • 5.0 (7)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

If you’re a reader looking for something deeper or an indie author working on your book, The Side Quest Book Club is for you. We skip the usual book reviews and ratings. Each episode turns fun side quests into real lessons, so you’ll leave not just entertained, but with a better understanding of why storytelling matters.

  1. Vitalerium: Descent into the Void Part 4 - Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Sci-fi Cyberpunk Dystopian Book

    6H AGO

    Vitalerium: Descent into the Void Part 4 - Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Sci-fi Cyberpunk Dystopian Book

    Hey Side Questers! We are back with part 4 of our discussion of Nicholas Keating Casbarro's Vitalerium: Descent into the Void. Nick joins us for this final episode. We get a little taste of the next book in the series. ABOUT THE BOOK Nearly six centuries have passed since humanity discovered vitalerium, which ushered in a golden age of space exploration and colonization. Planet Deorum’s society is centered around this illustrious, gravity-bending blue crystal. The year is 2701. Following a near-fatal disaster, roughneck freelancer Roman Matthews becomes unwittingly trapped at the center of a harrowing conspiracy. Hunted by Deorum’s government, the Coalition for Prosperity, Roman must use his deadly skillset to survive against all odds. Roman and his band of unlikely allies will discover that the Coalition’s indiscretions threaten the delicate balance of advanced civilization. As a sect of the Coalition prepares to implement its Machiavellian vision of utopia, the proverbial pendulum begins to swing toward chaos Vitalerium World:Website: https://vitaleriumseries.com/Nick’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/InsideVitalerium YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkGe5mgjNnAl2VJ3E5TBmAg Insta: https://www.instagram.com/vitaleriumseries Twitter: https://x.com/vitalerium Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vitaleriumseries  -Publicist - Eve Bailey / Flo Agency: https://flo.agency/  -Cosplayer 1 Shanice Foster: Luxsteez Cosplay - https://www.instagram.com/luxsteezcosplay/ -Cosplayer 2 Matthew Harden: MH Cosplay Design - https://www.instagram.com/mhcosplaydesign/ -Comic Illustrator - Francisco A. Hnilo: https://www.behance.net/fahilustracion -Comic Colorist - Chandran Ponnusamy: https://www.facebook.com/ponnusamychandran & https://www.deviantart.com/ponnusamychandran/gallery -Graphic Designer - Ahmed Geatar: https://www.behance.net/ahmedgad  ABOUT THE SIDE QUEST BOOK CLUB PODCAST Reading is the ultimate side quest. Side Quest is a casual book club podcast full of literary adventures. Join Slava and Jonathan as they discuss the books they are reading, life, history, belief systems, and much more. Explore world-building, characters, and story development—and share some laughs along the way. New episodes drop every TUES.  LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSION This is a video version of our audio podcast. Want to listen on the go?Find *Side Quest Book Club* on your favorite podcast app. 🎧 **Subscribe on Any Platform https://linktr.ee/asidequest  JOIN THE GUILD 🌐 Official Website / Quest Log:https://www.thesidequestpodcast.com/  💬 Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesidequestpodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sidequestpodcast  CREDITS Hosts: Slava and JonathanPodcast Hosting & Distribution by Transistor.fm https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=slava Intro/Outro Music: HoliznaCC0vEditing by: CharacterNorth6081  - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/u/CharacterNorth6081/s/k3mFE9aGqh    - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/parasss.__

    1h 59m
  2. Vitalerium: Descent into the Void Part 3- Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Sci-fi Cyberpunk Dystopian Book

    FEB 24

    Vitalerium: Descent into the Void Part 3- Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Sci-fi Cyberpunk Dystopian Book

    Hey Side Questers! We are back with part 3 of our discussion of Nicholas Keating Casbarro's Vitalerium: Descent into the Void. ABOUT THE BOOK Nearly six centuries have passed since humanity discovered vitalerium, which ushered in a golden age of space exploration and colonization. Planet Deorum’s society is centered around this illustrious, gravity-bending blue crystal. The year is 2701. Following a near-fatal disaster, roughneck freelancer Roman Matthews becomes unwittingly trapped at the center of a harrowing conspiracy. Hunted by Deorum’s government, the Coalition for Prosperity, Roman must use his deadly skillset to survive against all odds. Roman and his band of unlikely allies will discover that the Coalition’s indiscretions threaten the delicate balance of advanced civilization. As a sect of the Coalition prepares to implement its Machiavellian vision of utopia, the proverbial pendulum begins to swing toward chaos Vitalerium World:Website: https://vitaleriumseries.com/Nick’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/InsideVitalerium YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkGe5mgjNnAl2VJ3E5TBmAg Insta: https://www.instagram.com/vitaleriumseries Twitter: https://x.com/vitalerium Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vitaleriumseries  -Publicist - Eve Bailey / Flo Agency: https://flo.agency/  -Cosplayer 1 Shanice Foster: Luxsteez Cosplay - https://www.instagram.com/luxsteezcosplay/ -Cosplayer 2 Matthew Harden: MH Cosplay Design - https://www.instagram.com/mhcosplaydesign/ -Comic Illustrator - Francisco A. Hnilo: https://www.behance.net/fahilustracion -Comic Colorist - Chandran Ponnusamy: https://www.facebook.com/ponnusamychandran & https://www.deviantart.com/ponnusamychandran/gallery -Graphic Designer - Ahmed Geatar: https://www.behance.net/ahmedgad  ABOUT THE SIDE QUEST BOOK CLUB PODCAST Reading is the ultimate side quest. Side Quest is a casual book club podcast full of literary adventures. Join Slava and Jonathan as they discuss the books they are reading, life, history, belief systems, and much more. Explore world-building, characters, and story development—and share some laughs along the way. New episodes drop every TUES.  LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSION This is a video version of our audio podcast. Want to listen on the go?Find *Side Quest Book Club* on your favorite podcast app. 🎧 **Subscribe on Any Platform https://linktr.ee/asidequest  JOIN THE GUILD 🌐 Official Website / Quest Log:https://www.thesidequestpodcast.com/  💬 Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesidequestpodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sidequestpodcast  CREDITS Hosts: Slava and JonathanPodcast Hosting & Distribution by Transistor.fm https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=slava Intro/Outro Music: HoliznaCC0vEditing by: CharacterNorth6081  - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/u/CharacterNorth6081/s/k3mFE9aGqh    - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/parasss.__

    1h 32m
  3. Paper Roses - Author Interview with Debby Show

    FEB 19

    Paper Roses - Author Interview with Debby Show

    This time, we sit down with author Debby Show. We talk generational trauma and her debut novel, Paper Novels. Author Debby Show is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and School Psychologist based in California. With years of experience with individuals and families, she brings a deep understanding of human behavior, relationships, and generational dynamics to her fiction. 00:00 Introduction to Debbie Show and 'Paper Roses.'10:10 The Role of the Scapegoat in Families17:47 Understanding Intergenerational Trauma26:07 The Impact of Debbie's Sister's Actions39:06 The Nature vs. Nurture Debate41:45 Writing Advice for Aspiring Authors JOIN THE GUILD 🌐 Official Website / Quest Log:https://www.thesidequestpodcast.com/  💬 Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesidequestpodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sidequestpodcast Threads: CREDITS Hosts: Slava and JonathanPodcast Hosting & Distribution by Transistor.fm https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=slava Intro/Outro Music: HoliznaCC0vEditing by: CharacterNorth6081  - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/u/CharacterNorth6081/s/k3mFE9aGqh    - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/parasss.__

    49 min
  4. Vitalerium: Descent into the Void Part 2- Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Sci-fi Cyberpunk Dystopian Book

    FEB 17

    Vitalerium: Descent into the Void Part 2- Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Sci-fi Cyberpunk Dystopian Book

    Hey Side Questers! We are back with part 2 of our discussion of Nicholas Keating Casbarro's Vitalerium: Descent into the Void. ABOUT THE BOOK Nearly six centuries have passed since humanity discovered vitalerium, which ushered in a golden age of space exploration and colonization. Planet Deorum’s society is centered around this illustrious, gravity-bending blue crystal. The year is 2701. Following a near-fatal disaster, roughneck freelancer Roman Matthews becomes unwittingly trapped at the center of a harrowing conspiracy. Hunted by Deorum’s government, the Coalition for Prosperity, Roman must use his deadly skillset to survive against all odds. Roman and his band of unlikely allies will discover that the Coalition’s indiscretions threaten the delicate balance of advanced civilization. As a sect of the Coalition prepares to implement its Machiavellian vision of utopia, the proverbial pendulum begins to swing toward chaos Vitalerium World:Website: https://vitaleriumseries.com/Nick’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/InsideVitalerium YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkGe5mgjNnAl2VJ3E5TBmAg Insta: https://www.instagram.com/vitaleriumseries Twitter: https://x.com/vitalerium Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vitaleriumseries  -Publicist - Eve Bailey / Flo Agency: https://flo.agency/  -Cosplayer 1 Shanice Foster: Luxsteez Cosplay - https://www.instagram.com/luxsteezcosplay/ -Cosplayer 2 Matthew Harden: MH Cosplay Design - https://www.instagram.com/mhcosplaydesign/ -Comic Illustrator - Francisco A. Hnilo: https://www.behance.net/fahilustracion -Comic Colorist - Chandran Ponnusamy: https://www.facebook.com/ponnusamychandran & https://www.deviantart.com/ponnusamychandran/gallery -Graphic Designer - Ahmed Geatar: https://www.behance.net/ahmedgad  ABOUT THE SIDE QUEST BOOK CLUB PODCAST Reading is the ultimate side quest. Side Quest is a casual book club podcast full of literary adventures. Join Slava and Jonathan as they discuss the books they are reading, life, history, belief systems, and much more. Explore world-building, characters, and story development—and share some laughs along the way. New episodes drop every TUES.  LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSION This is a video version of our audio podcast. Want to listen on the go?Find *Side Quest Book Club* on your favorite podcast app. 🎧 **Subscribe on Any Platform https://linktr.ee/asidequest  JOIN THE GUILD 🌐 Official Website / Quest Log:https://www.thesidequestpodcast.com/  💬 Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesidequestpodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sidequestpodcast  CREDITS Hosts: Slava and JonathanPodcast Hosting & Distribution by Transistor.fm https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=slava Intro/Outro Music: HoliznaCC0vEditing by: CharacterNorth6081  - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/u/CharacterNorth6081/s/k3mFE9aGqh    - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/parasss.__

    1h 22m
  5. Vitalerium: Descent into the Void Part 1 - Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Sci-fi Cyberpunk Dystopian Book

    FEB 11

    Vitalerium: Descent into the Void Part 1 - Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Sci-fi Cyberpunk Dystopian Book

    Hey Side Questers! Sorry about the late upload. Today, we dive into the first part of our discussion of Nicholas Keating Casbarro's Vitalerium: Descent into the Void. ABOUT THE BOOK Nearly six centuries have passed since humanity discovered vitalerium, which ushered in a golden age of space exploration and colonization. Planet Deorum’s society is centered around this illustrious, gravity-bending blue crystal. The year is 2701. Following a near-fatal disaster, roughneck freelancer Roman Matthews becomes unwittingly trapped at the center of a harrowing conspiracy. Hunted by Deorum’s government, the Coalition for Prosperity, Roman must use his deadly skillset to survive against all odds. Roman and his band of unlikely allies will discover that the Coalition’s indiscretions threaten the delicate balance of advanced civilization. As a sect of the Coalition prepares to implement its Machiavellian vision of utopia, the proverbial pendulum begins to swing toward chaos Vitalerium World:Website: https://vitaleriumseries.com/Nick’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/InsideVitalerium YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkGe5mgjNnAl2VJ3E5TBmAg Insta: https://www.instagram.com/vitaleriumseries Twitter: https://x.com/vitalerium Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vitaleriumseries  -Publicist - Eve Bailey / Flo Agency: https://flo.agency/  -Cosplayer 1 Shanice Foster: Luxsteez Cosplay - https://www.instagram.com/luxsteezcosplay/ -Cosplayer 2 Matthew Harden: MH Cosplay Design - https://www.instagram.com/mhcosplaydesign/ -Comic Illustrator - Francisco A. Hnilo: https://www.behance.net/fahilustracion -Comic Colorist - Chandran Ponnusamy: https://www.facebook.com/ponnusamychandran & https://www.deviantart.com/ponnusamychandran/gallery -Graphic Designer - Ahmed Geatar: https://www.behance.net/ahmedgad  ABOUT THE SIDE QUEST BOOK CLUB PODCAST Reading is the ultimate side quest. Side Quest is a casual book club podcast full of literary adventures. Join Slava and Jonathan as they discuss the books they are reading, life, history, belief systems, and much more. Explore world-building, characters, and story development—and share some laughs along the way. New episodes drop every TUES.  LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSION This is a video version of our audio podcast. Want to listen on the go?Find *Side Quest Book Club* on your favorite podcast app. 🎧 **Subscribe on Any Platform https://linktr.ee/asidequest  JOIN THE GUILD 🌐 Official Website / Quest Log:https://www.thesidequestpodcast.com/  💬 Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesidequestpodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sidequestpodcast  CREDITS Hosts: Slava and JonathanPodcast Hosting & Distribution by Transistor.fm https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=slava Intro/Outro Music: HoliznaCC0vEditing by: CharacterNorth6081  - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/u/CharacterNorth6081/s/k3mFE9aGqh    - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/parasss.__

    1h 22m
  6. She Had Glass Eyes Part 2 - Indie Author Interview with C.S. Schiavone

    FEB 3

    She Had Glass Eyes Part 2 - Indie Author Interview with C.S. Schiavone

    We sat down with author and musician Callie Sioux Schiavone. Her book, She Had Glass Eyes, really drew us in. It explores how humanity and technology connect, blurring the line between reality and the narrator’s imagination. Callie Sioux is a creative alchemist who uses multimedia to turn real-life adventures into fiction and entertainment. She is an author, musician, entrepreneur, podcaster, and music venue owner. Raised as a ranch kid in New Mexico, she writes stories, songs, films, and audio dramas that capture wide-open spaces, grit, and persistence. 1232, her audio epic, is a behemoth project that launched her into the world of audio drama. Her recent signing with Twenty Hills Publishing will bring her speculative fiction to a bookstore near you. 00:00 Introduction to Callie and Her Journey10:01 Life Experiences and Side Quests19:51 The Inspiration Behind 'She Has Glass Eyes'29:56 Exploring the Euphonia Machine and Its Historical Context39:55 Writing Process and Overcoming Fear55:25 The Writer's Journey: Carving Out Time59:22 The Struggle of Christian Art01:09:30 Authenticity in Storytelling01:18:30 Introducing 1232: A Time Travel Fantasy01:40:40 Supporting Creative Projects JOIN THE GUILD 🌐 Official Website / Quest Log:https://www.thesidequestpodcast.com/  💬 Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesidequestpodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sidequestpodcast  CREDITS Hosts: Slava and JonathanPodcast Hosting & Distribution by Transistor.fm https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=slava Intro/Outro Music: HoliznaCC0vEditing by: CharacterNorth6081  - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/u/CharacterNorth6081/s/k3mFE9aGqh    - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/parasss.__

    1h 53m
  7. She Had Glass Eyes - C.S. Schiavone - Victorian Gothic - Short Story - Indie Author

    JAN 27

    She Had Glass Eyes - C.S. Schiavone - Victorian Gothic - Short Story - Indie Author

    Our discussion of She Had Glass Eyes, a book by C.S. Schiavone that explores how humanity and technology connect and blurs the line between reality and the narrator's imagination. 00:00 Introduction to 'She Had Glass Eyes'10:04 Character Analysis: Dilly the Mortician20:00 Themes of Obsession and Madness30:02 Writing Style and Historical Context Socials:  @calliesioux  @1232audioepic Audio Epic https://audio-epic.com/ & https://1232audioepic.bandcamp.com/album/season-one-1232Fundraising link:  https://audio-epic.com/1232-faq#YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@calliesioux JOIN THE GUILD 🌐 Official Website / Quest Log:https://www.thesidequestpodcast.com/  💬 Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesidequestpodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sidequestpodcast  CREDITS Hosts: Slava and JonathanPodcast Hosting & Distribution by Transistor.fm https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=slava Intro/Outro Music: HoliznaCC0vEditing by: CharacterNorth6081  - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/u/CharacterNorth6081/s/k3mFE9aGqh    - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/parasss.__

    35 min
  8. Author Interview - Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Vitalerium Decent into the Void with Special Surprise

    JAN 20

    Author Interview - Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Vitalerium Decent into the Void with Special Surprise

    Our talk with Nicholas Keating Casbarro discussing his breakout novel Vitalerium.  Nearly six centuries have passed since humanity discovered vitalerium, which ushered in a golden age of space exploration and colonization. Planet Deorum’s society is centered around this illustrious, gravity-bending blue crystal. The year is 2701. Following a near-fatal disaster, roughneck freelancer Roman Matthews becomes unwittingly trapped at the center of a harrowing conspiracy. Hunted by Deorum’s government, the Coalition for Prosperity, Roman must use his deadly skillset to survive against all odds. Roman and his band of unlikely allies will discover that the Coalition’s indiscretions threaten the delicate balance of advanced civilization. As a sect of the Coalition prepares to implement its Machiavellian vision of utopia, the proverbial pendulum begins to swing toward chaos Vitalerium World:Website: https://vitaleriumseries.com/Nick’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/InsideVitalerium YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkGe5mgjNnAl2VJ3E5TBmAg Insta: https://www.instagram.com/vitaleriumseries Twitter: https://x.com/vitalerium Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vitaleriumseries  -Publicist - Eve Bailey / Flo Agency: https://flo.agency/  -Cosplayer 1 Shanice Foster: Luxsteez Cosplay - https://www.instagram.com/luxsteezcosplay/ -Cosplayer 2 Matthew Harden: MH Cosplay Design - https://www.instagram.com/mhcosplaydesign/ -Comic Illustrator - Francisco A. Hnilo: https://www.behance.net/fahilustracion -Comic Colorist - Chandran Ponnusamy: https://www.facebook.com/ponnusamychandran & https://www.deviantart.com/ponnusamychandran/gallery -Graphic Designer - Ahmed Geatar: https://www.behance.net/ahmedgad  ABOUT THE SIDE QUEST BOOK CLUB PODCAST Reading is the ultimate side quest. Side Quest is a casual book club podcast full of literary adventures. Join Slava and Jonathan as they discuss the books they are reading, life, history, belief systems, and much more. Explore world-building, characters, and story development—and share some laughs along the way. New episodes drop every TUES.  LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSION This is a video version of our audio podcast. Want to listen on the go?Find *Side Quest Book Club* on your favorite podcast app. 🎧 **Subscribe on Any Platform https://linktr.ee/asidequest  JOIN THE GUILD 🌐 Official Website / Quest Log:https://www.thesidequestpodcast.com/  💬 Follow Our Adventures on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesidequestpodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sidequestpodcast  CREDITS Hosts: Slava and JonathanPodcast Hosting & Distribution by Transistor.fm https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=slava Intro/Outro Music: HoliznaCC0vEditing by: CharacterNorth6081  - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/u/CharacterNorth6081/s/k3mFE9aGqh    - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/parasss.__

    1h 20m
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

If you’re a reader looking for something deeper or an indie author working on your book, The Side Quest Book Club is for you. We skip the usual book reviews and ratings. Each episode turns fun side quests into real lessons, so you’ll leave not just entertained, but with a better understanding of why storytelling matters.

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