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Two nerdy friends, Rian and Kris, banter about all things storytelling in books, games, TV and film. Sometimes the conversations get deep, sometimes they're cheesy, but always they're from the heart.

4D AGO

16: The Anti-TBR/TBP Tag

Kris and Rian often talk about all the books and games they love and are currently reading or playing, but in this episode it’s all about the stuff they won’t be reading/playing, don’t like, or find problematic—all in good fun, of course. The Anti-TBR/TBP Tag: A popular book/game EVERYONE loves that you have no interest in reading/playing? A classic book/game (or author/developer) you don’t have an interest in reading/playing? An author/developer whose books/games you have no interest in reading/playing? A problematic author/developer whose books/games you have no interest in reading/playing? An author/developer you have read/played couple of books/games from & have decided their books/games are not for you? A genre you have no interest in OR a genre you tried to get into and couldn’t? A book/game you have bought but will never read/play? (this can be a book/game you have unhauled/returned to the library/store unread/unplayed) A series you have no interest in reading/playing OR a series you started & have DNF’d? A new release you have no interest in reading/playing? 00:00 Intro 01:16 Giveaway winner 02:10 Read / Watch / Play 12:15 Anti-TBR/TBP Tag intro 13:04 Question 1 17:02 Question 2 22:15 Question 3 28:24 Question 4 37:09 Question 5 44:00 Question 6 51:16 Question 7 56:50 Question 8 01:04:40 Question 9 01:09:34 Links References: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j_11fD44EU&t=0s Nicole and Her Books - https://www.youtube.com/@nherbooks Books and games mentioned: Confessions of a Mask - Yukio Mishima Fourth Wing Andy Weir Charles Dickens F. Scott Fitzgerald Best Served Cold When the Moon Hatched Dragon Riders of Pern Murderbot Wind and Truth Butter The Liar's Knot Level Unknown Pantheon Fellow Travelers Monster Hunter Wilds Fortnite League of Legends DOTA 2 Overwatch 2 Valorant Castevania 2K Games BioShock Borderlands 2 X-COM 2 Riot Games Five Nights at Freddy’s Tales of Vesperia Tales of Symphonia Tales of Arise Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Shin Megami Tensei V Mato: Anomalies Two Point Campus Two Point Museum Red Dead Redemption God of War The Witcher Avowed Lies of P Black Myth Wukong People Mentioned: Colleen Hoover, Salley Rooney, Taylor Jenkins-Reid, Fredrick Bachman, Freida McFadden, Larry Coreia, T.J. Klune Follow Kris: YouTube Instagram Bluesky Follow Rian: Instagram Bluesky Follow Genre Blender for podcast updates: Patreon YouTube Instagram ⁠BlueSky⁠ TikTok Website

1h 11m
FEB 17

15: Fanfiction Opening Gateways for New Authors (with Shayla Morgansen)

Kris is joined by author Shayla Morgansen to explore the world of fanfiction! Kris and Shayla discuss their introductions to fanfiction, and the relationship between fanfiction, fandoms, and publishing. Stay tuned for the giveaway! 00:00 Welcome Shayla! 02:05 Giveaway and intro to Mythos Unbound 11:55 Read Watch Play 18:26 Shayla’s smooth segue into the main topic: Fanfiction! 39:18 Fanfiction and publishing 52:50 Links and where to find Shayla’s work To enter the giveaway, don't forget to subscribe to Genre Blender Podcast on YouTube, and let us know what your favourite fandom is! Open to international entrants, closing March 1st, 2025. References: https://www.fanfiction.net/ Books: The Sorceress in Exile Dark Empathy The Love Hypothesis Fifty Shades of Grey Point Pleasant Movies: Eileen Barbie Follow Shayla: Website Instagram TikTok Follow Kris: YouTube Instagram Bluesky Follow Rian: Instagram Bluesky Follow Genre Blender for podcast updates: YouTube ⁠Patreon⁠ Instagram ⁠BlueSky⁠ TikTok Website

55 min
FEB 3

14: Personal Canon Tag

Kris and Rian take on Taylor's Personal Canon Tag and talk about the books, TV shows, movies, and games that shaped them throughout their lives. Chapters 00:00 Intro to the Personal Canon Tag 02:07 Read Watch Play updates 06:37 Early childhood 16:37 Childhood 28:09 Early adolescence 40:27 Adolescence 51:32 Young adulthood 1:05:50 Adulthood 1:18:17 Links and next episode preview Books: The House with the Golden Door Exodus: The Archimedes Engine Nemesis Games (The Expanse #5) Dust of Dreams Mike Higgs (author and illustrator of House Mouse) The Magic Pudding - Norman Lindsay Goosebumps - R.L. Stine The Complete Book of Naughty Stories for Good Boys and Girls - Christopher Milne A Series of Unfortunate Events - Lemony Snicket Tomorrow, When the War Began - John Marsden The Last Vampire (series) - Christopher Pike Animorphs Lord of the Flies - William Golding Neuromancer - William Gibson Die for Me - Karen Rose Embassytown - China Mieville The Stand - Stephen King Shows/Movies: The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (1988) Barney & Friends Mr Bean Homeward Bound: Lost in San Francisco Earth 2 (1994) Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) Neighbours Farscape (1999) Charmed Blade Runner (1982) Battlestar Galactica (2004) The Fosters (2013) Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002) Atomic Blonde (2017) Games: No Man’s Sky Totally Rad (NES) Complete Gameplay video Toejam and Earl (Sega Megadrive) Donkey Kong Country Banjo Kazooie The Simpsons: Hit and Run Neverwinter Nights (2002) Star Wars Galaxies (2003) The Sims Mass Effect (Legendary Edition) Saints Row Life is Strange (all games) Tell Me Why Fable Stardew Valley Original Tag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2NZwVffyU0&t=2s Channel Mentioned: @MaedBetweenthePages Follow Kris: YouTube Instagram Bluesky Follow Rian: Instagram Bluesky Follow Genre Blender for podcast updates: Patreon YouTube Instagram ⁠BlueSky⁠ TikTok Website

1h 20m
JAN 20

13: How Physical Health, Mental Health and Neurodivergence Affect Our Hobbies

It's no secret that life can get in the way of things we enjoy! This week Rian and Kris take you on their journeys of how their physical and mental health sometimes interferes with their favourite hobbies. Join the free (and only) tier of our Patreon for members-only content and access to our private Discord server. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:47 Read Watch Play updates 12:57 Main topic: How physical/mental health helps/hinders our hobbies 13:47 Rian talks about POTS 18:15 Rian talks about insomnia 20:12 Kris talks about chronic kidney disease 24:44 Neurodivergence 24:58 Rian talks about autism 25:14 Executive dysfunction and task switching 27:53 Hyperfocus 30:40 Routines and rituals 32:00 Sensory processing disorder 33:58 Agnosia 36:51 Kris talks about auditory processing 40:10 An interruption 40:29 Noise-blocking earbuds 42:20 Mental health 43:17 Trigger warnings 43:37 Kris talks about depression 46:29 Rian talks about anxiety 52:21 Coping tools and advice (end trigger warning) 1:00:21 Links and socials Tendril Theory - https://eisforerin.com/2015/08/10/tendril-theory/ Books: Absolution - Jeff VanderMeer Days at the Morisaki Bookshop - Satoshi Yagisawa The Fall of the Giants - Gregory Kontaxis Swan Song - Robert McCammon Exodus - Peter F. Hamilton Films: Sharper (2023) Nightcrawler (2014) The Mauritanian (2021) Longlegs (2024) Nightmare Alley (2022) Road House (2024) Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) Wicked (2024) Games: Exodus Follow Kris: YouTube Instagram Bluesky Follow Rian: Instagram Bluesky Follow Genre Blender for podcast updates: Patreon YouTube Instagram ⁠BlueSky⁠ TikTok Website

1h 1m
JAN 6

12: Nerding Out for the New Year

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 Watch Play updates 10:43 Intro to main topic: nerding out for the new year 11:16 Kris’s books, TV, games of 2024 14:26 Rian’s books, TV, games of 2024 21:30 Our approaches to new year goal-setting 26:48 Rian’s 2025 theme and goals 31:18 Kris’s 2025 theme and goals 35:17 Intentions for our personal hobbies 42:39 2025 podcast wishlist and goals 52:51 Links and socials Books: The Genesis of Change - Livia J. Elliot Ice Station - Matthew Reilly Absolution - Jeff VanderMeer The Blood Stones - Tori Tecken Kokoro - Natsume Sōseki The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams Normal People - Sally Rooney NeuroTribes - Steve Silberman Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami East of Eden - John Steinbeck Stories of Your Life and Others - Ted Chiang Movies/TV: Yellowjackets The Resident Pantheon Arcane Arrival True Detective Terminator Zero Games: Chef RPG Dave the Diver Killer Frequency Worms Dragon Age Firewatch Unavowed Follow Kris: YouTube Instagram Bluesky Follow Rian: Instagram Threads Bluesky Follow Genre Blender for podcast updates: Patreon YouTube Instagram ⁠BlueSky⁠ TikTok Website

54 min
12/23/2024

11: End of Year Book Tag (and Unwrapping Our Gifts!)

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 announcement 08:45 End of year book tag 09:26 Are there any books you’ve started this year that you’ve yet to finish? 16:59 Do you have a Summer book to transition into the end of the year? 20:26 Are there any new releases that you’re still waiting for this year? 25:27 Are there any books you want to read before the end of the year? (and thoughts on reading goals) 29:27 Is there a book that could still shock you and become your favourite of the year? 32:45 Have you already started making reading plans for 2025? 44:24 Book tag final thoughts 45:12 Gift book exchange 51:45 Wrap-up and links Books mentioned: Dust of Dreams - Steven Erikson The Advent of Winter - Dom McDermott Duet of Pernicious Eels - Kaden Love LastRock - Phil Tucker Blood of the Kami - Baptiste Pinson Wu The Island of Dr. Moreau - H. G. Wells Parable of the Sower - Octavia E. Butler Books of the Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin Absolution - Jeff VanderMeer The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams Normal People - Sally Rooney The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin Kokoro - Natsume Sōseki Travels with a Writing Brush - Meredith McKinney (editor/translator) Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World - Haruki Murakami The Stand - Stephen King Swan Song - Robert McCammon Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse Series) - James S. A. Corey Imperium (Cisero #1) - Robert Harris Confessions of a Mask - Yukio Mishima A Memory called Empire - Arkady Martine Those left Behind - N.C. Scrimegour Elder Race - Adrian Tchaikovsky Games mentioned: I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival The Expanse - A TellTale Series Shows mentioned: Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024) Follow Kris: YouTube Instagram Bluesky Follow Rian: Instagram Threads Bluesky Follow Genre Blender for podcast updates: Patreon YouTube Instagram BlueSky TikTok Website

54 min
12/09/2024

10: I've Never Fan-Fictioned

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 writing bug? 25:28 Tangent: fan-fiction 26:34 Back on topic: When did we get the writing bug? 30:08 Tangent: poetry 32:19 What made Kris decide to start his writing project? 39:21 When was the last time Rian took writing seriously? 42:33 Different writing processes 49:55 Inspiration in our childhood 57:35 Where to find us | Preview of next episode Mystic River The Advent of Winter Chef RPG Night Shift - Stephen King Hardcore Literature (YouTube) Close To You (2023) Dragon Age: The Veilguard Rian’s posts on Threads Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) Star Trek: Voyager (1995) The X-Files (1993) Sliders (1995) Farscape (1999) Firefly (2002) Fringe (2008) Torchwood (2006) Tomorrow series - John Marsden The Last Vampire series - Christopher Pike The Forsaken Planet - Bryan Wilson Hybrid Helix series - J.C.M. Berne Follow Kris: YouTube Instagram Bluesky Follow Rian: Instagram Threads Bluesky Follow Genre Blender for podcast updates: Patreon YouTube Instagram TikTok Website

59 min
11/25/2024

9: I Used To Get Paid To Read

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 The Penguin (2024) Bear and Breakfast Batwoman (2011 comic book series) by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III Culture Warlords: My Journey Into the Dark Web of White Supremacy - Talia Lavin Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over America - Talia Lavin Disclaimer (2024) Dragon Age: The Veilguard SBS statistics infographic about Australians reading and buying books (Instagram) Follow Kris: YouTube Instagram Bluesky Follow Rian: Instagram Threads Bluesky Follow Genre Blender for podcast updates: Patreon YouTube Instagram Website

54 min

See All (16)

Two nerdy friends, Rian and Kris, banter about all things storytelling in books, games, TV and film. Sometimes the conversations get deep, sometimes they're cheesy, but always they're from the heart.

Creator

Genre Blender
Years Active

2024 - 2025
Episodes

16
Rating

Explicit
Show Website

Genre Blender

Genre Blender

16: The Anti-TBR/TBP Tag

15: Fanfiction Opening Gateways for New Authors (with Shayla Morgansen)

14: Personal Canon Tag

13: How Physical Health, Mental Health and Neurodivergence Affect Our Hobbies

12: Nerding Out for the New Year

11: End of Year Book Tag (and Unwrapping Our Gifts!)

10: I've Never Fan-Fictioned

9: I Used To Get Paid To Read

About

Information

Genre Blender

Episodes

16: The Anti-TBR/TBP Tag

15: Fanfiction Opening Gateways for New Authors (with Shayla Morgansen)

14: Personal Canon Tag

13: How Physical Health, Mental Health and Neurodivergence Affect Our Hobbies

12: Nerding Out for the New Year

11: End of Year Book Tag (and Unwrapping Our Gifts!)

10: I've Never Fan-Fictioned

9: I Used To Get Paid To Read

About

Information