Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! Iron Lung is a staggering work of indie horror, but we would argue that it's also an unconventional and hyper ambitious Faust fable, restaging the whole drama of Marlowe's classic deal-with-the-devil play inside a claustrophobic submarine stained with blood. In this episode, we're mapping Marlowe's characters onto Markiplier's minimalistic ensemble, laying out the terms of Simon's remixed Faustian bargain, and hunting for his oft-conjured but seldom seen Mephistopheles. It's Lynchian! It's Lovecraftian! It's positively Faustian! And here's the kicker, the film's ending takes on a whole new level of meaning and symbolism when interpreted through this lens! Let's dive into it! LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! It's been called "revolutionary." It's been called "game-changing." It's been called "The Worst Game Show in Podcast History." That's right, Trivia Deathmatch is back for Volume 3! Ten rapid-fire questions of the finest fantasy and horror arcanum known to man. The questions are harder this time, but are we any smarter? LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! In this episode, we're back in Westeros to revisit the first season of Game of Thrones, fifteen years later. Was this the best Game of Thrones ever got? Is this the best fantasy adaptation of all time? Let's dive in! Topics include: a total reevaluation of Jaime Lannister, the color palette of the Seven Kingdoms, the tension between big budgets and the viewer's imagination, forgotten character crossovers, the secret to great genre casting, grounded drama vs. epic fantasy, and the strange disappearance of chest hair onscreen. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! This episode is a celebration of Heated Rivalry and its refreshing avoidance of anything cliché – in romance, queer romance, and popular fiction in general. Topics include the power and pitfalls of representation, the unique storytelling potential of sex scenes, and the euphoria of narrative wish-fulfillment. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! In this remarkably chaotic episode, we take another crack at making a Second Breakfast game show. Ten trivia questions, arguably zero winners, many more ASMR dice rolls, one contested bonus point — oh, and we completely forgot to keep score. I cannot tell you how much fun these are to record. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! In anticipation of HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, this episode is our deep-dive analysis of GRRM's The Hedge Knight, which will serve as the (absolutely fantastic) source material for the show's first season. Topics include: Witcher-esque grim optimism, dream / prophecy analysis, echoes of GOT & LOTR, and the chance for this story to be for fantasy what The Mandalorian was supposed to be for science fiction. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! Discussion of Crossroads of Ravens, Ch. 17-23 The grand finale is here! In this episode, we investigate Sapkowski's searing final word on Faustian bargains, his continued experiments in form, and the conflicted legacy of Preston Holt. Maggie goes deep on the (surprising) return of the law of surprise. Cam argues against the idea that this series is "grim dark". LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! As a brand new year takes shape, we're trying something silly and different — a game show! In this episode, we're doing a trivia tussle / deathmatch (depending on who you ask). We've got ten horror questions, ten fantasy questions, lots of ASMR dice rolls, and one lucky winner! LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! Discussion of Crossroads of Ravens, Ch. 9-16 Crossroads of Ravens continues to be a fascinating, provocative addition to the Witcher mythology! In this episode, we're investigating the trustworthiness of Preston Holt, the stepping stones that tie this prequel to the core saga, and Sapkowski's latest riff on the franchise-long question about who the real monsters are. Cam wonders if this book is a speed run of the entire series. Maggie ropes in Prometheus and Frankenstein. We work together to analyze Geralt's strategic silences and the sudden onrush of Faustian bargains across the Continent. Oh and there's an evil slime stalking through the countryside. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! We're back for the sixth (!) annual Brekkie Awards, a celebration of the most affecting and transformative art of the year. In this episode, we're announcing winners, shouting out honorable mentions, and applauding Maggie's ability to cheat in almost every category. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! Discussion of Crossroads of Ravens, Ch. 1-8 Surprise! We're returning to the wonderful world of chapter-by-chapter fantasy discussions with the latest Witcher novel, Crossroads of Ravens. In this episode, we're exploring the narrative paradox of introducing a character like Preston Holt in the ninth book of the series, young Geralt's illluminating / overlapping Faustian bargains, Sapkowski's tricky relationship with giving his characters "thesis statements," and the strange reputation inflation that happens when a franchise gets too successful. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! The grand finale of our 2025 Advent Calendar is finally here, so we thought we'd finally talk about something festive! For this episode, we watched the modern holiday horror classic "Krampus". Topics include: practical / digital creature design, the x-factor of onscreen family dynamics, key cinematic influences, and the existential, dread-inducing, high-pressure shadow of rewatchability that hangs over all holiday films. Merry Christmas! LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! In this episode, we're doing some very serious analytical work — creating the definitive tier list of all the worst breaches of theater etiquette we've ever witnessed firsthand. The vibes are frantic, the complaints are petty, and spirits are high. Happy Festivus! LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! After the recent disappointment of Black Ops 7, Cam went back to 2017's Call of Duty: WWII in the hopes of finding a simple, competently made FPS campaign. Instead, he found the most impressive, immersive, and profound game in the franchise — a largely overlooked modern classic that feels like a minor miracle in the current gaming landscape. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! We try to mention "fun factor" in all of our gaming episodes. It's a mercurial, tricky concept that is too often overlooked in critical analysis. In this episode, we're celebrating an absolute masterpiece of fun — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge. Topics include: arcade difficulty, colorful combat, and mechanical variety. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! This episode is a post-mortem of the shockingly unenjoyable Terrifier game. We're trying to figure out where it all went wrong, and that question will take us through combat expression, enemy variety, core understanding of the source material, and a brief digression into the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! Somehow, this French indie movie is both the best James Bond movie and best Batman / Catwoman movie ever made. In this episode, we're investigating the endless, delirious style of Reflection of a Dead Diamond. Topics include: the art of rug pull revelations, how to balance realism and surrealism, and the enduring cultural influence of Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! Diablo's latest season is like a box of crayons that has one gloriously beautiful crayon inside of it — but the rest is empty. Functionally, this is a season without a story, and as much as we are adoring the new Paladin class, this episode is ultimately about how alarmed we are by the narrative precedent established by this Season of Divine Intervention. Topics include: difficulty curve, constant bugs, fun factor, the new seasonal powers, underlying systems reworks, the seasonal campaign, a class update about the delightful Paladin, and some existential wrap up questions. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! In this episode, we're exploring the calming, focusing, and meditative power of Powerwash Simulator 2, a game that Cam accidentally dumped fifty hours into — and found some measure of inner peace along the way. Topics include: the immortal attraction of color, what makes a great iterative sequel, and the thrill Maggie gets from pretending to farm. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here! Wake Up Dead Man is far and away the best Knives Out movie, somehow managing to be both a great screwball comedy and an earnest drama about faith. In this episode, we're exploring that dichotomy, and Maggie's hunch that this feels like two movies stitched together. Topics include: the boundless talent of Josh O'Connor, the narrative demotion of Benoit Blanc, and the difficulty of ancillary political satire. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com