Constellation: Last Stand Media's Conversational Podcast

Welcome back red, blue and purple people, to another episode of Constellation. This week on LSM's conversational podcast, we're getting a little bit political. Now that the 2024 presidential election is behind us and the results are in, Colin, Jaffe and Dagan discuss the outcome, the winners and losers and what it all might mean as the world hurtles into 2025. Is the gang feeling optimistic, cynical, hopeful, bitter, angry or worried in the face of these imminent changes? Regardless of your political stripe we hope you enjoy the conversation, and thanks so much as always for tuning in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's an all new Constellation hosted by Last Stand Media's resident goblinoid Chris Ray Gun! On this episode, the goblin will ensnare you in a winding tale for the ages along with Benjamin and MisterMatthewPlays. MisterMatthew kicks things off with the trials and tribulations of midnight releases. Our pal Benjamin commits the cardinal sins of both Wrath and Envy over those of us who choose to "take naps," a pastime he views as "for little b**es." The gremlin will then close out this meeting of minds with "Guilty Pleasures," a topic that winds and weaves into many avenues; games, movies, music, and Joaquin Phoenix's The Joker 2. Sit back, relax, pop open a "brew" or something, shut up, and enjoy. Love you long time. The Dodgers are technically a New York team, so we still won. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to another episode of Constellation for your ear holes and eyeballs! As the famous saying goes, and then there were three. This week on LSM's conversational podcast, we set sail with a trio of your favorite podcasting personalities rather than the usual foursome. Will this bit of streamlining make this nearly perfect show even better? Kicking things off, Matty talks to his comrades about personal reflections. When consuming various media ranging from video games to movies, how much introspection is involved? What plays into our feelings about the entertainment we choose to spend our time with, and how often do we allow ourselves the right to form judgements honestly while also giving ourselves permission to change our minds about the things we watch, read and play? Next up, Lord Cognito wants to weigh-in on our history with doctors. From the gifted healers that make our lives better to the mediocre medical practitioners who only add to our pain and suffering, what experiences have we had with doctors? As the nature of healthcare becomes increasingly difficult to navigate for the providers and their patients, does the prescription exist for the perfect doc? Finally, the Dagster asks the gang about trading reality for our idyllic fantasy worlds. Given the chance, which fictional places from our favorite works of fiction would we choose to inhabit, and why? Thanks so much for tuning in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back, true believers, to another action-packed episode of Constellation. We join our heroes once again as they assemble for yet another round of exciting and dynamic conversation! The mighty Chris Raygun is the first to jump into the fray with a discussion about food collaborations. From Krabby Patties at Wendy's to Supreme branded Oreo Cookies, when two companies join forces to market and sell their culinary wares, are we hungrily forking over our money or do we tend to steer clear of these brand name food mash-ups? The next courageous crusader in today's fearless foursome, David Scott Jaffe, would like to discuss superheroes. From the pages of the comic books that defined our youths to the TV and feature film adaptations that continue to stimulate our imaginations today, which costumed crime fighters do we love and cherish the most, and which simply can't scale the heights of our affections? The third selfless champion stepping up to defend podcast audiences from stale and boring conversation, Brad Ellis would like to engage the gang in a talk about traditions. Which frequent or even daily rituals and routines have we embraced, and which annual traditions have we enjoyed upholding with family and friends? The last of this week's fearless foursome, Dagster Moriarty wants to ask his companions about hometown pride. Do we have strong feelings of love and loyalty for the places where we were born and raised? Or do we perhaps have more pride in the cities or towns that we've decided to call home later in life? Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to another delicious episode of Constellation. If you're hungry for some engaging conversation, we've got three meaty topics for you to feast on. First, Gene Park gets things cookin' with a discussion about our day jobs. What are the primary occupations that pay our bills, and how do we juggle our busy professions with our podcasting endeavors? Next, Micah wants to spice things up by talking about anger. Who or what makes us hot under the collar, and what strategies do we utilize to help us cool down before we boil over? Finally, Hoeg serves up a big batch of social media super stardom! The Hollywood Reporter has listed 'The 50 Most Influential Influencers' and LSM's favorite lawyer wants to talk about it. How familiar are we with this new wave of the most popular Instagram, YouTube and TikTok icons, and how are we all faring so far in this era of social media celebrity? Bon Appetit! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for the latest Constellation conversation, starring some of your favorite Last Stand Media personalities. This week, Colin gets things started with a discussion about natural disasters. After mother nature recently wreaked havoc on the southeastern United States, and with the possibility of even more devastation in store, which forces of nature have we personally witnessed, and which natural disasters frighten us the most? Next, Micah eases our anxiety with a conversation around confidence boosters. From our favorite articles of clothing to lucky tokens or even the perfect haircut. What helps us feel extra self-assured and empowers us to take on the world? Contributing the third topic today, our favorite European pal would like to talk about the psychological effects of Covid. As we approach the 5 years anniversary of the dawn of the global pandemic, Lockmort picks our brains about our social tendencies in the wake of the lockdown. Are we more or less socially active then we were before the world changed in 2020, and how content are we with our current social habits and routines? Finally, Dagan returns to the show and asks the gang: "What's the craziest thing that ever happened to you?" Do we each have that one unbelievable incident or bizarre event that took place in our lives which almost doesn't even seem real upon reflection? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s another episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media’s conversational podcast! Chris Ray Gun (tiny big-headed blind freak) is at the helm yet again, joined by MrMattyPlays (todd howard simp), Lord Cognito (xbox shill), and none other than Gene Park (beauty pageant judge)! Matty selfishly regales us with tales of his wedding and true love in front of three painfully single people. Gene swerves the conversation to our history with Ubisoft (stewards of the acclaimed Skull & Bones franchise) and how Assassin's Creed Shadows is shaping up post-delay. Cog takes us on a winding path about our favorite drinks, poisons, and elixirs. Chris ends with what is essentially a show and tell about video game special editions. It’s literally just “look at the cool things I have” the entire time. This fellow is a genuine jerk. Someone should knock his block off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for a 'very special' one-on-one episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. It's me, Colin. Joining me today is storied game designer David Jaffe for an intimate (no, not like that) three-ish hour chat about a variety of topics. We dwell a great deal on video games, of course, touching on Steam, Concord, Freedom Wars, Bloodborne, Dragon Age, and much more. We even get into more philosophical ideas like visionary game design, bad opening sequences, and more. As we're often wont to do, however, we also get much more personal and serious, opining about our respective childhoods and upbringing, relentless online negativity that's slowly chasing us offline, and how we deal we deal with depression (and the anxiety that stems from it) in our lives. Please enjoy an unfocused -- but deep -- episode of Constellation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a rare themed episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, I (Colin) welcome Punching Up co-host Micah Moriarty, Summon Sign host Brad Ellis, and LSM producer Ben Smith to the show, and I asked each of them to bring a topic centered around our recent experience at our live show in California. Brad kicks things off with a chat about San Diego itself, the host city of our event, a unique and special locale that has a lot to offer. What do we think of southern Southern California? Next, I get into the entire premise of 'going backstage' or 'being backstage' at an event. I love the mysticism and history behind the scenes at these different venues. Does anyone else feel it, too? Third up is Ben, who experienced some limited technical difficulties during our show. When tech goes awry in our day-to-day lives, how do we react, and what do we do? Finally, Micah rounds things out with an exploration of late-night eating. After all, seeing an In-N-Out shoulder-to-shoulder crowded after midnight set her mind alight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to "a very special episode" of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, I (Colin) am joined by a duo of guests as opposed to our traditional trio: Punching Up's Gene Park and storied game designer David Jaffe. In an unusual (though not unprecedented) move, I asked the guys not to come prepared with any topics this week. Instead, I thought we'd just chat about whatever and see where that brought us. Perhaps not surprisingly, a lack of a concrete plan led us into nearly three hours of video game talk about a wide variety of topics: Concord, Astro Bot, Drawn to Death, Jim Ryan, Mark Cerny, Naughty Dog, The Last of Us Online, Killzone, Resistance, Uncharted, God of War, PlayStation games going to Xbox, Phil Spencer, Bobby Kotick, Nintendo, Super Switch, and on and on. We hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Uncharted Territory! Chris Ray Gun (Sacred Symbols) hosts this weeks episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. Joined by Micah Moriarty (Punching Up) and Lockmort (a foreigner,) this ever-winding episode gets nutty. Micah forces us to envision our own Freaky Friday scenarios and decide which celebrities and LSM cohosts we'd switch bodies with. Chris sets his sights on animals that the world will be better without. Lockmort asks us about the three dumbest things we've ever done. Chris is hosting so expect frequent derailments. For free breakfast for life go to https://www.hellofresh.com/freecon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time once more for another episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, I (Colin) am joined by Punching Up co-host Micah Moriarty, Defining Duke co-host Lord Cognito, and Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun. As usual, topics are varied. Chris kicks things off with an inquiry into exotic animals. No, not cats, dogs, and the like, but far more unordinary fare. Do we want a weird creature companion? Next, Micah explores the wide world of salads. Are we excited or repulsed by leafy greens and their endless accoutrements? From there, Cog takes us down an interesting path, exploring our respective sleep schedules, and the cadence by which we go through our daily lives. Are we early birds or night owls? Finally, I wrap things up -- here, on the precipice of football season! -- by checking everyone's temperature on the upcoming NFL campaign. Are we optimistic, pessimistic, or wildly disinterested? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, I (Colin) am joined by LSM executive producer Ben Smith, Summon Sign host Brad Ellis, and Hoeg Law's Rick Hoeg. Rick kicks off this time around with a topic about mythological pantheons. From Roman to Greek to Norse and beyond, do we find ourselves particularly interested in or attracted to any of these ancient forms of worship? Next up is Brad, who wants to chat about film, TV, and game adaptations. Whether we're talking about The Last of Us, Batman, Castlevania, or something else entirely, which IP have most successfully crossed media boundaries in our eyes? From here, we come to Ben for a conversation all about cars. What was the first car we personally owned? What car do we own now? Do we like driving? Finally, I wrap things up with an inquiry into vigilantism, specifically through the lens of recent 'predator catcher' videos that have gone from non-violent to decidedly aggressive. Do the victims deserve this level of treatment, or have things officially gotten out of control? For free breakfast for life go to https://www.hellofresh.com/freecon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for more Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, I (Colin) am joined by LSM coordinator and shopkeep Micah Moriarty, storied game designer David Jaffe, and Lockmort's Edits' Lockmort. We begin with my topic, a heady one no doubt, but a fun one with lots of threads from which to pull. Warner Bros. Discovery -- the owners of HBO, CNN, Cartoon Network, WB Pictures, WB Games, and much more -- is in freefall, with value dropping 70%. How would we save this storied brand from seemingly-certain destruction? Next up is Micah, who wants to know which songs are currently in everyone's heads. What are you humming as you go about your recent business? Then, Jaffe steps to the plate with a classic gaming conundrum, but for real life: If given the opportunity, how would we "re-spec" ourselves, like a character in an RPG? Finally, Lock brings up the rear with a conversation about video game movies. Borderlands is apparently very bad. What gaming film do we want to see made that would hopefully be the exact opposite? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome -- one and all! -- to another episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, Colin is joined by Punching Up's Micah Moriarty, Defining Duke's MrMattyPlays, and Summon Sign's Brad Ellis. Matty kicks things off with a soliloquy for Game Informer, the popular gaming publication founded in the early-'90s, and inexplicably shuttered right before we began recording. How do we feel about its closure, and its impact on the industry? Next up is Micah, who inquires as to our favorite brand mascots over the years. Where do the Geico Gecko, Mr. Clean, and the Trix Rabbit stack-up? Then, Brad brings us on a journey, recounting our favorite roadtrip memories from our past. Did we find ourselves on long roadbound adventures with friends and family? Finally, Colin wraps things up by inquiring about space travel. How does everyone feel about the idea of exploring the seemingly unexplorable? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, I (Colin) am joined by Punching Up co-host Gene Park, Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun, and storied game designer David Jaffe. Indeed, this is the same cast that appeared on Episode 78 of our show, and we're back just a month-or-so later by popular demand, with another four hour-long heater. As was the case last time, this conversation is virtually entirely political, and we didn't split it up into topics because the structure is frankly more chaotic than that. But we touch on many, many topics: Kamala Harris, Trump vs. Harris, SCOTUS, Elon Musk, voting, the end of the United States, culture, race, and -- inexplicably -- a solid 25 minutes on Boogie2988. Anyway, please enjoy. And remember! This episode is obviously not going to be for everyone. No whining allowed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. Today, I (Colin) man the host's chair, and welcome LSM coordinator Micah Moriarty and Virtual Legality's Rick Hoeg to the show for a trifecta of fun inquiries. Micah kicks things off with some "would you rather?" premises that she lifted from a magazine. Don't worry: Nothing perverted! Instead, would we rather see 10 minutes ahead of 150 years ahead? Would we rather be dipped in maple syrup or nutella? That sort of thing. Next, Hoeg hits us with a shorter topic hinging upon gaming, watching films and TV, and so on at certain times of year, during specific holidays, days, months, and so on. Are we calendrical? Finally, I wrap things up by talking about reading books. It's summertime, which means I'm floating around the pool almost every day reading a book for an hour or two. But once the pool is closed, I probably won't read a book until it's open again. Where does reading fit into our lives? And what are some books we've recently read that we'd recommend to the audience? Go to https://www.hellofresh.com/conapps for free appetizers for life Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to another Constellation conversation! Dagan finally returns to the fold to host the latest exciting discussion with a cast of some of your LSM favorites. First, Dustin wonders about becoming a dad. As he and his wife Holly prepare for the imminent birth of their first child, the soon to be father asks for the crew's thoughts and advice on parenting. Next up, Ben wants to pick our brains about flying. What do we think about air travel, and what were some of our best and worst experiences in planes and airports? Once the gang lands safely back on the ground, Cog inspires us to appreciate our parents. As they get older, how have our relationships developed with the people that brought us into this world? Closing out this week's conversation, Dagan reflects on his intermittent hypochondria and inquires about his cohost's experience with this specific flavor of anxiety. Do we know people who tend to worry about their health to an unhealthy degree? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for more Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, I (Colin) am joined by my lovely wife and Last Stand's coordinator Micah Moriarty, Summon Sign's Brad Ellis, and Lockmort's Edit's Lockmort. And boy, do we have a nerdy assortment of topics for you. Micah kicks things off with a short D&D-like campaign she wrote for us to participate in, complete with branching paths and dice rolls. Will we survive? Brad follows-up with a chat about LEGO sets, their quality, their licenses, and their great expense. Are we fans? From there, I (Colin) take over by talking about schadenfreude, the German word that means reveling in the misfortune of others. Let's be honest: None of us is above it... right? Finally, Lock wraps things up with a peek into the what-ifs of Assassin's Creed's future. If it was up to us, where in history would we set a new AC title? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a special, one-topic-driven episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, I (Colin) am joined by Punching Up co-host Gene Park, Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun, and storied game designer David Jaffe, and we gather for a some-four-hour chat all about the first of two scheduled presidential debates for the 2024 election cycle between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. This is obviously an exclusively, deeply political conversation, so be warned before you hit play. We touch on just about everything imaginable: The debate itself, the fallout thereafter, who we think will ultimately win, if we believe that Biden specifically will even ultimately be one of the nominees, and -- of course -- we get deep into the weeds on all of the important issues they spoke about during the debate, and more. Again, be warned: If you don't like or care about politics, or if you get upset when you hear serious, adult opinions you don't agree with, don't listen or watch. For those with open minds and a curiosity for a wide variety of opinions, however, please enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices