Constellation: Last Stand Media's Conversational Podcast

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

It's time for more Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, I (Colin) am joined by Defining Duke's Lord Cognito, Summon Sign's Brad Ellis, and Lockmort's Edit's... Lockmort. We have a very nerdy episode in store for you. I start things off by talking about my love of plants, flowers, and gardening. My hobby has blossomed (pardon the pun) into a larger part of my life recently. Is anyone else nurturing a green thumb? Cog wants to dive into the realm of indie games, a widely-evolved subsection of the console and PC space that has grown far beyond its traditional definition. Do we partake in the scene? And just what is an indie game, anyway? Lockmort's intrigued by a hypothetical zombie apocalypse, in which we'd all be tasked to survive on our own. What would be our first moves following the outbreak? Would we rely on our humanity to stay alive, or potentially lose it along the way? Finally, we come to Brad, who waxes about downloadable content, or DLC. What was our first-ever encounter with digital add-ons? Do we purchase much DLC in our day-to-day gaming lives? What's the best expansion ever? All of that -- and more! -- on the other side of the play button. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back, one-and-all, to another episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. It's me, Colin. This week, I'm joined by LSM's associate producer Ben Smith, Sacred Symbols' Chris Ray Gun, and Summon Sign's Brad Ellis. Our meandering chat begins with Brad, who wants to know what we think about fashion. Do we care about clothes? Are we into certain brands? Do we have what we'd consider an individual style? From there, we move onto Ben, who gets into idioms, the nomenclature that we use constantly, but that has a meaning beyond the literal. Which ones do we enjoy employing? From here, we move onto Chris, who inquires about the lore of our favorite pieces of fiction. Do we like getting into the nitty-gritty beyond what's right in front of us? Do we delve into in-game documents, novelizations, and iceberg videos? Finally, I round things out by laying out my love for retro gaming, while wondering if I'm enamored with old and old-style games because they're what I grew up with, or if they really are, in fact, the cream-of-the-crop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's me, Colin, and I come bearing bad news: Dagan is going to be gone for a few weeks. His work demands his presence over the next several Fridays, and thus I've slid (!) back into the host's chair. Joining me this week are LSM executive producer Dustin Furman, coordinator Micah Moriarty, and special guest Rick Hoeg of Hoeg Law. As always, topics vary wildly. Micah begins by talking about throwing parties and entertaining people at our home. Do we enjoy the process, or is it stressful? I go next with a deep cut (literally): Cold cuts, the glorious sliced meat that make the finest sandwiches imaginable. What are our go-tos? From there, we welcome Dustin's topic, all about our respective lives' biggest disappointments, from games, film, and TV, to work, love, and life in general. Finally, Hoeg brings up the rear with what ended up being our most-explored inquiry of the week: How we deal with fictional canon when we don't like all of it. Are we able to divorce ourselves from some of it and embrace the rest? Is "The Death of the Author" the true law of the land, or is authorial intent everything? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to another episode of Constellation! This week, Lockmort gets things rolling with a discussion about Online Algorithms. What are the pros and cons to the patterns we create while shopping, searching and watching content on our computers and phones? Next, Gene wants to talk about Donald Trump's guilty verdict. Now that the polarizing presidential candidate has been found guilty on all counts in his hush money case, what do we think this could mean for the United States and the world ahead of the 2024 election? Next up, David Jaffe returns to steer the conversation away from current affairs and straight towards nostalgia. Specifically, are we too quick to remember the past with rose-tinted glasses? Were the periods of time that we reflect on so fondly really that wonderful, or was it just our specific perspectives and circumstances during those years that encourage us to reminisce? And for this week's final topic, Dagan asks his cronies to remember the greatest compliments that they ever received. What are some of the nicest things that people have said to us, and which words of praise do we remember most? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast! This week's panel offers up a thought-provoking batch of topics for discussion. Micah has been thinking about family resemblances, and she'd like the rest of the gang to share their thoughts and experiences on the topic.Which of our family members do we look like most, and which physical characteristics are we grateful for inheriting? On the other hand, which cherished genetic attributes do we feel we missed out on, and how did our children fare in the resemblance department? Next, Ben wants to talk about loyalty programs. Are we inclined to take advantage of the common corporate promise of saving money in exchange for being faithful to a specific brand or retail outfit? In our experiences, which companies offer the best monetary incentives for shopping with them, and which don't inspire much loyalty at the end of the day. Batting third, Matty shares his deep passion for post-season sports. Are we crazed and rabid fans during the playoffs, especially when our favorite teams are in the mix? How do we handle the emotional roller coaster of winning and losing with the cities and the teams that we love the most? Finally, Dagan wants to share his obsession with awesome brand names. Do we recognize when a product, company or brand has an amazing moniker? What about next level game, book and movie titles? Simply put, which stuff has the coolest and most creative names? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week's chat is packed to the brim with fun topics, so gather around the water cooler! Kicking off the discussion, Cog wants to commiserate about "that dude", aka that person in our lives that we just can't seem to gel with. Inevitably, we all have that one incompatible coworker, neighbor or friend of a friend that we'll probably never click with, and is it us or them? (Spoilers,, it's probably them). Weighing in next, Micah shares her most memorable quotes. What words of wisdom or kernels of enlightenment do we remember best, and how did we learn them? Was it the advice of a beloved family member, a movie quote or a character's line from a favorite book? For our third topic, Chris wants us to get serious about our favorite old school jokes. Just good, old fashioned set-up and punchline, like the classic comedy of yesteryear. Which timeless jokes do we simply never get tired of? Lastly, Dagan trolls his fellow podcasters and the Constellation audience with a topic purposely designed to be Not Safe For Work. Everybody is tasked with telling their best real-life R-rated story, and at least one tale is a hard NC-17! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s time for another episode of Constellation, welcome back to the discussion! This week, Colin gets things started by sharing an unbelievable tale of grand adventure featuring his dogs, Treble and Rush. Do we all create intricate and possibly fictional back stories for our pets like Colin and Micah do? Next, Dagan wants us to quiet our minds with some talk about meditation. What are the potential benefits of embracing the ancient practice of TM, and is it worth exploring what all the hype is about? As the party rages on, Micah breaks the ice with some conversation starters. Will these ideas for encouraging stimulating dialogue make us master minglers or awkward social outcasts? Finally, Dustin wants to rap about the ongoing beef between two of the world’s biggest hip-hop stars. As the battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake continues to escalate, the gang takes an opportunity to discuss the feud and all things hip-hop, past and present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once all wings report in, Commander Gene leads the squadron in a discussion about Star Wars video games, from the earliest titles to the most recent entries. With countless games released over the course of five decades, which Star Wars titles are the most fun, the most difficult and the most forgettable. Vice-Admiral Brad wants to get a few things off his chest concerning the Star Wars 'Special Edition' films. The 1997 rereleases of the original three Star Wars movies is a divisive topic, and Brad and company shoot first with some real talk about messing with perfection. Grand Moff Colin picks our brains about the man who started it all, George Lucas. Is the inventor of Star Wars a wizard or just a crazy old man? Finally, Darth Dagster shares his plan for how the Star Wars films should have gone after 1983's Return of the Jedi. He may finally get the chance to run the show over at Lucasfilm after this one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, Colin Moriarty slips into the host's chair, and is joined by his wife, Punching Up co-host Micah Moriarty, and the Defining Dukes themselves, MrMattyPlays and Lord Cognito. As usual, the topics are varied. Considering the makeup of the cast today, Colin kicks things off with an inquiry into Xbox's catastrophic hardware situation. Can the brand survive as-is while selling fewer than a million units a quarter? Inspired by his new multimedia YouTube project, Matty wants to talk about new ventures we've undertaken, or perhaps still plan to in the future. Leaping off of that is Cog, who recounts important milestones in his life, and wonders which moments are truly the most important in getting us to our respective today. Finally, Micah wraps things up with one of her great passions: The grill. It turns out that no matter what Micah's doing, she'd Rather Be Grilling. Get 20% off your order with free shipping at https://www.buyraycon.com/constellation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to an unusual episode of Constellation. It is I, Colin! Some time ago, I expressed that I'd like to pursue 'themed' episodes on occasion, and indeed we pursued such a program with episode 60, which was purely political in nature. This time around, I wanted to cover another of my deep passions -- music -- and I wanted to do so with the perfect companion: My best friend, Ramon. Ramon is the writer and musician behind all of Last Stand's theme music, yes, and it's true that we met as freshmen at Northeastern due to our shared love of 311. But, in his own right, he's also an accomplished and experienced working musician with excellent insight into the business, who knows obscure bands and records like I know Vita games, and who's currently toiling away on a new project of his own. We touch on a lot of topics, and we do so loosely, so... no timestamps (sorry). Click play to listen to us wax about Coachella's lame crowds and the grind of touring, the rise of the mega-festival, how the '90s helped fashion our musical tastes, the downside to the streaming economy, how the pandemic affected live music, and so much more. We discuss bands like No Doubt, Limp Bizkit, Blur, Ben Folds Five, and the Deftones, and touch on some non-music fare, too, like pro wrestling and baseball. Please enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for another Constellation, folks. Welcome back to the conversation! Micah kicks off this week's craziness with a fitting topic: Nuts! Eaten by the handful or as an ingredient in a wide variety of foods, which nuts tend to be our favorites, and which aren't worth their salt? Next, Chris leads the gang in a discussion about adaptability. What experiences have we had adjusting to new conditions, and who do we admire for demonstrating the talent and ability to do just that? For this week's third topic, Colin would like to talk about Nintendo. As the storied video game giant continues to ride the wave of tremendous success, the team breaks down Nintendo's past, present and predictions for their future. Dagan brings the festivities to a close with some stories and concerns about scams. With the harsh uptick in frequency and sophistication, what experiences have we had with scams and being taken advantage of by those shadowy entities trying to steal our personal data? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s time for a themed episode of Constellation with the Brothers Moriarty, LSM’s Executive Producer Dustin Furman, and Summon Sign host Brad Ellis! This week, we’re focusing our topics around Last Stand’s recent trip to New York City for Sacred Symbols 300. Dustin wonders what our favorite local delicacies are when traveling. Dagan asks who our favorite content creators are and if we’d be willing to see them live. Brad ponders our favorite spots to visit in NYC. Colin reflects on his past living in the city, and whether suburban living can be argued as inferior. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greeting Constellation faithful, and welcome back to your favorite LSM conversational podcast! This week, Lord Cognito wants to know how we recover when we're feeling under the weather. Which rituals and remedies tend to cure and comfort us whenever we're down for the count? Next, Micah takes us on a pleasant stroll down to the mailbox as we reflect on our favorite magazines, past and present. The landscape for periodicals has changed drastically over the last couple of decades, but which defunct magazines do we miss the most, and which of those remaining zines could be next up for extinction? The jet-setting Gene Park is no stranger to travel, and he always remembers to pack his toothbrush and an engaging topic for conversation. This time Mr. Park would like us to discuss the planes, trains, automobiles, helicopters, horses (and unicycles) that get us from Point A to Point B. Finally, Dagan invites the gang into his dojo for a little martial arts action! Four brave warriors take to the matte in order to discuss everything from our practical experience with combat sports to our pop culture martial arts favorites in film, TV, anime and games. And don't worry, of course we talk about ninjas! 👟Grab your pair now at https://vessi.com/constellation for 15% off your first order! Get 20% off your order with free shipping at https://www.buyraycon.com/constellation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome once again to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast! This week's fearsome foursome bring a variety of fun and thought-provoking topics to discuss: Belgium's favorite son, the mighty Lockmort, gets things started with a bit of welcome nostalgia by inquiring about our earliest and happiest memories. Next, Dustin wants to talk about the movies that make us laugh. Which film comedies stand as our favorites and which ones do we think get overlooked? Colin takes a page out of Woodsy Owl's book (look it up) and would like to engage with the group concerning the environment. How do we feel about what we're doing to take care of the planet, and how can we do better? Finally, Dagan plays Constellation Creative Director and asks the gang to pitch him a Reality TV Show. Don Draper would be proud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. Colin returns to the lineup this week to talk about the current kerfuffle across the pond. What is going on with Catherine, Princess of Wales and is this whole royal fiasco a total scandal or a complete nontroversy? Micah Moriarty explores Craigslist 'Missed Connections' and puts a question to this panel of smooth-talking casanovas; Have we ever locked eyes with a stranger across a crowded subway car or supermarket aisle but lacked the courage to pursue romance? David Jaffe would like us to revel in Life's Little Pleasures. What are the rituals and routines in our lives that we look forward to and delight in the most? Finally, Dagan would like us to sing the praises of our favorite living visual artists. See, we can express admiration for people without ending it in RIP. Who knows, maybe they'll even hear us! Get 10% off at https://www.thefreezepipe.com and use code CON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Constellation is back with a very special episode. This week, Colin has left the keys to the kingdom in the hands of crazy uncle Dagan while he’s away and is joined by LSM Executive Producer Dustin Furman, Defining Duke host MrMattyPlays, and Summon Sign host Brad Ellis. To kick things off, Dustin wants to look back at how the work of Akira Toriyama has impacted us after his unfortunate passing last week. Brad wonders how we feel about amusement parks and our best memories of going to them. Matty asks about our blind spots in life and the things we wish we knew more about. And finally, Dagan ponders our worst ideas and the catastrophic outcomes. This is a unique episode, so don’t miss it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Constellation has returned for another episode. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun and Last Stand’s Coordinator, Micah Moriarty. Chris asks about the optional luxuries in life we can’t go without. Micah is curious about asking for help online. Is it worth seeking advice from an anonymous forum like Reddit? Dagan wants to explore humor that goes too far. Can anything be funny in the right context, or should certain topics be off-limits? And finally, Colin ponders the state of YouTube and our viewpoint as creators. Has the platform changed for the better or worse? 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 year, we're going to try to execute on a small number of 'themed' episodes that revolve around certain sets of topics, and today, we present to you an all-political discussion. As such, joining the Brothers Moriarty this time around is Punching Up co-host Gene Park and storied game designer David Jaffe, and you should be warned that if you don't like politics, don't want to hear about them, or get upset when you disagree with people, you shouldn't watch or listen. Dagan starts us off with a brisk chat about Jon Stewart, who has recently returned to The Daily Show in a limited capacity. Is his presence more necessary than ever, or is he one of the reasons our discourse has sunk to its current level? Gene seamlessly executes his topic from Dagan's, wrangling a wide-ranging deep-dive into social justice. Are we in a better place than ever socially, or has everything been pushed too far? From here, Colin talks about the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, and regrets how deeply propagandized American society became in a war that didn't involve it. Should we be inserting ourselves into geopolitical situations, or seeking peace no matter the cost? Finally, Jaffe rounds things out by exploring claims of fraud in the 2020 election, which haven't at all convinced him. Will Trump ever admit he lost, or does he perhaps have a point that not all is at it seems? Get 20% off your order plus free shipping at https://www.buyraycon.com/constellation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greetings and salutations! It's time for more Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Defining Duke co-host MrMattyPlays and Summon Sign host Brad Ellis. Colin's worried about unabashed consumerism and unfettered capitalism, and expresses yet more concern that the haves and have-nots are on an obvious collision course. Dagan wants each cast member to regale him with interesting (and totally true!) facts that he (and most others) are unlikely to know. Where's the best place to live when it comes to 'biome'... forest... beach... the desert?! Brad inquires. Finally, Matty explores the idea of time travel with an eye towards things we'd change, if only we'd be willing to deal with the inevitable repercussions of our modified actions, be they what they may. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for another episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty welcome Defining Duke co-host Lord Cognito and Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun to the program. Chris has been sitting on a topic for a while, now, and it's a doozy: Which fictional characters would be on Epstein's vaunted 'list' of clients? Our answers may surprise you. Cog's curious about our ability -- or lack thereof -- to manifest positive outcomes in our lives. Do we think anything is possible, so long as we truly believe? Dagan wants to know in which ways we've succumbed to peer pressure in our lives (with a natural inclination towards old stories from our youth). And finally, Colin brings up Gina Carano's lawsuit against Disney, funded by Elon Musk, that seeks to get her reinstated on The Mandalorian. Naturally, this chat gets political, which is why we buried the topic towards the end. Be aware! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back -- one-and-all! -- to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty welcome LSM's executive producer Dustin Furman and associate producer Ben Smith to the show. Topics are varied, per usual. Colin starts things off by reflecting on Last Stand itself, and inquires how the boys think the company is doing, what we might change, and how we may look in the future. Dustin has a deep and abiding love of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, widely considered some of the finest films ever crafted. Will these movies forever stand the test of time? Ben's been wondering, as of late, if he may have what it takes to try stand up comedy at open mic night. Should he take the plunge? Finally, Dagan chronicles his experiences with both ghosting and being ghosted. Have we been abandoned by people in our lives? Or are we the ones doing the abandoning? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun. A trio of topics therefore await you this episode, beginning with Dagan's deep-delve into gossip. It turns out Dag's a bit of a gossiper himself, and wonders if we partake, and if so to what extent. Colin thereafter turns everyone's attention to the so-called 'public domain,' where created works across mediums reside after a certain number of years post-launch, a space where anyone can play with the likes of Count Dracula, and -- yes indeed -- Steamboat Willie. How do we feel about the rules and restrictions placed around others' creations? Finally, Chris steers us into the realm of true crime, where for reasons unknown, people fixate about the grisly downfall of others. Do we share in this cultural obsession, or are we perplexed by it all? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for more Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Defining Duke co-host MrMattyPlays and storied game designer David Jaffe. We begin our lengthy chat with a topic that's grown increasingly popular in recent years: Thrifting. Matty has found great value in buying secondhand, and wonders if we've had similar experiences. Colin, meanwhile, wants to delve into our respective brand loyalties -- not the obvious ones! -- but rather some of the automatic brand purchases we make without even thinking about it, from toiletries to clothing and beyond. Dagan harkens back to his earlier days to remember some legends from his youth, stories, people, and events that are almost always heavily-fictionalized if not outright fake, yet persist over the generations. Finally, Jaffe returns to a well-worn and host-favorite topic here on Constellation, and that's UAPs. Recent Congressional hearings, a mysterious new video, and the promise of more to come leaves us with plenty to digest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greetings and salutations! Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by LSM executive producer Dustin Furman and coordinator Micah Moriarty. We have two food-related topics this week, and while they're not similar, we positioned them back-to-back. On the one hand, Dustin wants to talk about his move towards healthier eating, and how our respective daily diets add to or detract from our overall health. Then, Micah dishes about expiration dates, specifically with the things we eat. What is our confidence in these mysterious dates? Are we hardcore followers, or do we throw caution to the wind? Meanwhile, Dagan wants to opine about not only doing good deeds, but being on the receiving end as well, and how the reciprocity therein helps make the world go 'round. Finally, one listener compiled some interesting data about our humble podcast Constellation, and Colin goes through some of it, wondering how the show may morph and improve into the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Punching Up's Gene Park and -- for the first time ever! -- Summon Sign's Brad Ellis. Colin begins this week off by asking everyone how they spent their holiday breaks. Did we rest? Game? Read, watch TV or a movie, or spend time with family? It turns out we did a little bit of everything. Dagan has recently become captivated with the so-called Tetris Kid, a 13 year old midwesterner who obliterated the NES port of the famous Soviet-era game. Being that we have skateboarder Dagan as a co-host, Brad wanted to discuss extreme sports, their rise into the mainstream, and which iterations we've most taken to in our lives. Finally, Gene ends the show on an appropriately down note, as we go into various examples of rejection that have befallen us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome one-and-all to yet another episode of Last Stand Media's conversational podcast, Constellation. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Defining Duke co-host Lord Cognito and legendary game designer David Jaffe. Colin has an important question for his fellow gamers: Just what do we mean when we say 'role-playing game'? Do we need to be more specific with our classifications and definitions, or are we comfortable with Madden being an RPG? Cog wants to know how we deal with defeat and loss in life. We all feel an inner energy and competition, but how do we limit those feelings in public and learn to let go? Jaffe has rediscovered his long-dormant love of reading, and wants to share his passion with the crew. Where does reading fit into our lives? Finally, Dagan just turned 50, and as such, he's wondering about missed opportunities, specifically when it comes to those random pursuits that you just never get around to. If we could drop everything right now and learn something new, do something fun and exciting, or explore the unknown, how would we use that time? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome one-and-all to yet another episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. Accompanying the Brothers Moriarty this week are Gene Park and Micah Watson of Punching Up: A Nintendo Podcast. Since we're a cast full of writers, Dagan thought he'd probe our respective approaches to the craft, where we draw inspiration, and how we came to love the written word. Micah reflects on an old internet cartoon from her high school years, Salad Fingers. What is it that we love about surrealist and absurdist humor on the internet, and what are some of our favorite examples of similar fare? As a Washington DC resident, Gene has noticed first-hand the rise in criminality in his own city, and wonders if and when we as a society will get our heads around solving our myriad criminal justice-related problems. Finally, Colin wants to chat about Elon Musk. Do you love him, hate him, or fall somewhere in between? Is he an inspiration, a menace, a distraction, or perhaps just an annoyance? Believe it or not, no one holds back in their responses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Constellation, Last Stand's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by LSM executive producer Dustin Furman, and -- for the first time -- popular YouTuber Finn Mckenty, the Punk Rock MBA. Let's get into the topics, shall we? Knowing that Finn is a fellow music connoisseur, Colin wants to probe his mind about one of his beloved musical genres: Raprock. Does it deserve more respect? And why is it experiencing a resurgence in recent years? Keeping seasonality in mind, Dustin's topic is Christmas, something fun for children but bastardized by commerce nonetheless. As adults, do we even care anymore? Finn's keen to chat about reality TV: Its history, its long run of success stories, and how it inspired our entertainment lives. Finally, Dagan's topic is one for the ages, all about our favorite bad guys in fiction. If we had to construct a so-called Mount Rushmore of Villainy, who would adorn it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greetings! Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by LSM Associate Producer Ben Smith and Lockmort of Lockmort's Edits on our YouTube channel. We start today's podcast off with a basic topic that spawns a substantial back-and-forth: Shoes. Are they important to us, style and/or function? What are our favorite brands? And so on. We then veer into more serious territory, as Lockmort gives us the rundown on a gallbladder-related situation that saw him visiting the ER multiple times. Have we ever experienced any unexpected medical catastrophes? Ben wants to chat (pun intended) about so-called internet friends, the people we've met -- and perhaps only know -- online. How much of our social life is consumed by a new style of camaraderie? Finally, Colin wants to discuss a recent claim out of American company OpenAI: That something is going on behind the scenes there with its Q-Star AGI program that may threaten humanity. Or so says a Reuters report. But what does that even mean? We get into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Punching Up co-host Gene Park and legendary games designer David Jaffe. Our topics are many-varied on this lengthy episode, and we begin with Jaffe, who has recently started taking the mega-popular medicine Ozempic. Like many others on the drug, he likes what he's seeing so far and wants to tell the tale. From there, we go to the idea of aging out of interests, spurred on by Gene's lapse in both listening to and playing music as a hobby. Meanwhile, Dagan's curious about our first names: What we think about them, our experiences with them in life, and perhaps even some names we wish we wielded instead. Finally, Colin checks-in with the cast for their early 2024 US election thoughts. As the field takes shape, which candidates are most appealing so far? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome one-and-all to another episode of Constellation, Last Stand's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by LSM executive producer Dustin Furman and horror YouTuber Jimmy Champane. Colin starts things off in earnest with a conversation about the recent rise in antisemitism in the west. This isn't about Israel and Palestine -- that's its own thing, and it's an issue far too complex for this show -- but what isn't complicated is truly seeing people as individuals, and not as parts of evermore-subdivided groups. Changing the tone entirely, we move to Dagan. The topic? Humor. What makes us laugh? It's an easy enough question to conceptualize, and yet it's deeper than mere subject matter when it comes to the times in our lives when we laugh 'til we cry. Our guest Jimmy talks about a subject near-and-dear to all of our hearts here on this episode: Handheld gaming. Let's go through our respective histories with handhelds from Sony, Nintendo, SEGA, and beyond, and why we fell in love with lo-fi gaming. Finally, Dustin wraps things up with a food-related topic that left us hungry by episode's end. What do our daily meals look like, specifically when it comes to dinner? How do we switch things up, and what are our classic go-to selections? The answers may surprise you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gather 'round for another episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. Joining the Brothers Moriarty this week is LSM's coordinator and shopkeep Micah Watson, alongside Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun. Dagan gets us started by asking us each to pitch a new video game to the audience, and naturally delivers a delightful idea of his own as well. Micah's nail person recently moved shops, and that presents a problem: She has no idea what salon she's defected to. She's turned to internet sleuthing to solve the case. Chris wants to chat about breakups and how they present themselves in our lives. Sometimes they're our choice; other times we're blindsided by them. What memories come to mind when the topic comes up? Finally, Colin ends with something silly: The humble egg. Fresh off an 'argument' between he and Micah about how eggs should be cooked and consumed, he goes to bat for why eggs may be the best food of them all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for another episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by the cast of Defining Duke, MrMattyPlays and Lord Cognito. As usual, we wind through a variety of topics, beginning with a big one: Change. Matty explores the ways his life has morphed, and how it needs to continue to adapt if he's to sustain his perfect pocket of happiness. Spurred on by something Chris Ray Gun noted in passing on Sacred Symbols a few weeks ago, Colin is curious how the cast feels about taking a hiatus from our gaming obsessions. Considering our jobs, are we able to escape the grind? Do we even want to? Cog, meanwhile, is feeling nostalgic. He wonders which eras of our lives -- and in what capacity, whether with sports, or friends, or music, or games, or whatever -- are most precious to us? Finally, Dagan wraps things up with a political topic, at least kinda. With the holiday season nigh, are we prepared for the inevitable partisanship that may ensue around the dinner table? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to an especially meaty episode of Constellation, as we celebrate the recent nuptials between Colin and Micah! This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by LSM coordinator and shopkeep Micah Watson and executive producer Dustin Furman, and -- as noted -- topics are designed around the Moriarty/Watson wedding, which is discussed extensively and in great detail. Colin starts things off by talking about the various friends he's gathered along the way, how awesome it was to see them interacting together, and how honored he was by the presence of so many loved ones. Dustin chats about the act of getting to Virginia for the occasion in the first place, the legacy of road trips in his life, and how travel can open up a whole world of new possibilities for anyone. Musical playlists often play an important role in road trips (as they did at the wedding), and Micah delves into the nerveracking exercise of creating a series of songs that will please as many people as possible. (Thankfully, the wedding turned into a party before long, and she did a great job.) Finally, we come to Dagan, who made note of the chronicling of the day's events through the art of photography. Living in the moment is difficult sometimes, but you can't lose sight of capturing the moment, either. Were the newlyweds able to strike the perfect balance between being present while also respecting the undeniable power of posterity? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation! This week, Colin and Dagan are joined by legendary game designer David Jaffe and Last Stand's executive producer, Dustin Furman. Colin wants to discuss colonialism and its lingering presence today, while Dustin would like to talk about horror movies—our best, favorites, and overall thoughts on the enjoyment of being scared. This episode is a bit abnormal, with a few issues that caused Jaffe and Colin to drop out before the final topic. But don't worry; Dustin and Dagan held down the fort with a discussion on karaoke. It starts pretty straightforward but delves deep into the nature of insecurity and rising above it. This might be the most unique episode of Constellation yet, so please enjoy and forgive us for the mid-show mix-up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yes indeed: It's time for another episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Defining Duke co-host MrMattyPlays and Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun. Dagan brings a mighty topic this go-around, especially considering the time of year. Halloween draws near, after all. So how do we feel about it? Are we a fan? Were we as kids? Where do we stand now? Chris keeps things ethereal with his topic, one that will become more pertinent in decades to come: Transhumanism. Inspired by Cyberpunk 2077's recent expansion, Chris expounds on the many potential outcomes of a modified person, and wonders whether we've always been a little too eager to change ourselves. Like Dagan, Matty also taps the seasonal energy -- though a little further out on the calendar -- by asking what we're grateful for. But he has an important caveat, in that we should dig deep to find what we're really thankful for beyond the obvious. Finally, Colin wraps things up by asking the guys about violent and sexual content in the media we consume, whether via TV shows and movies, video games, and elsewhere. Has it all gotten out of control? He certainly thinks so. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greeting and salutations! We're glad to see you return for another episode of Last Stand Media's conversational podcast, Constellation. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Punching Up co-host Micah Watson and Last Stand's composer Ramon Narvaez. Ramon brings a fun topic to the show this week: Cult movies. We each chose three titles to discuss (for 12 total), films we think deserve attention even if they've flown far under the radar. Micah, meanwhile, wants to chat about the plight of acne. Did we suffer from it in our younger years (or perhaps we still do)? Colin is becoming increasingly infuriated by the eager acceptance of so-called AI art, which isn't actually art at all, but wholesale theft merely rearranged for the undiscerning consumer. Does the panel share his concerns? Finally, Dagan inquires as to separating the art from the artist. That is to say: When something you love was made by someone you hate, can that ever be rectified? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for more Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Punching Up co-host Micah Watson and LSM associate producer Ben Smith. Two of the four topics this week flow into each other rather naturally, and so we opted to start there. Micah inquires as to our respective online shopping habits, and specifically what we'd consider the negatives to the universal convenience of click-to-buy commerce. Funneling into that is Ben's topic, warranties on the more expensive items we acquire. Are we willing to pay the upfront extra cost to protect our investments, or would we rather roll the dice? Speaking of spending money, Dagan's topic concerns America's increasingly-aggressive culture of tipping. Where do we draw the line? Finally, with their nuptials just weeks away, Colin prods Dagan and Ben on his and Micah's behalf for their advice for a happy, healthy, and fruitful marriage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello! Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Sacred Symbols co-hosts Chris Ray Gun and Dustin Furman. Fresh off of his trip to Japan, Dustin wants to talk about our experiences with foreign food, both overseas and our sometimes-faithful replicas back home. Chris, meanwhile, is fascinated by the rise of so-called American anime, products like Netflix's Castlevania that finally pay homage to art stylings and production touches from the east. Dagan starts a discussion about what our favorite curse (or swear) words are, the inappropriate pieces of our lexicon that spice up our respective vocabularies. Finally, Colin inquires about everyone's feelings concerning online fame. Each cast member is at a different level of being well-known on the internet. Does this status matter? And what happens when it declines? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greetings one-and-all! Welcome back to Constellation. On this week's episode of Last Stand Media's conversational podcast, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by legendary games designer David Jaffe and Punching Up co-host Micah Watson. As usual, we have some random topics to throw your way. Jaffe had an online experience recently that gave him pause, and has him reflecting on the hatred fomenting in seemingly every corner of the internet. Meanwhile, Dagan wants us to present him with our biggest hot (or bad?!) takes. What 'crazy' ideas do we hold that we know most people won't agree with? Colin probes everyone's minds for their current feelings on the free-to-play gaming scene, and whether it's sustainable (and even perhaps a net positive for our sprawling industry). Finally, Micah submits to the audience a truly Micah topic: Milk. Do we drink it? Do we care about it? Do you fear it? Have you ever truly thought about where it comes from...? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Defining Duke co-hosts MrMattyPlays and Lord Cognito. Colin needs a place to commiserate -- and he finds it here amongst sports fans -- as he comes to grips with his fandom for one of the NFL's most-cursed teams. Can he possibly recover? Meanwhile, in the realm of things far more serious, Cog chronicles a near-death experience he had, and solicits any similar stories from the group. Matty taps into the powerful nostalgia muscles we all seem to share, and wonders how captured we are by the past as opposed to living in the present. Finally, Dagan confronts the entire premise of multitasking. Why can't people just do one thing at a time? It turns out that question is far more profound than you might think at first blush. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for Constellation! This week, Punching Up co-hosts Gene Park and Micah Watson join the Brothers Moriarty for Last Stand's conversational podcast. As usual, topics are varied. Micah wants to discuss homesickness, how it's affected us in the past, and whether we long to go back to where we come from. (Naturally, such a personal topic veers widely into parallel conversations.) Gene chronicles his years of social media activity, and wonders whether such wide exposure has been a net positive or negative for us as individuals, and for the greater whole. Dagan has a bone to pick with hipsters... or does he? After all, what does the word even mean? What does such a connotation say about a person? Is it an insult, a compliment, or perhaps a misnomer entirely? Finally, Colin caps things off with some light fare: The best gaming controller. Which input device from the annals of history speaks to us most? Funnily enough, we have four entirely separate answers to share. Go to https://www.factormeals.com/command50 to get 50% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gather 'round for more Constellation, Last Stand Media's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by LSM executive producer Dustin Furman and associate producer Ben Smith. Ben would like to reminisce about our roommate experiences, recollecting the memorable people we've lived with in years past. Dustin wants to analyze the very meaning of the term 'masculinity' and explore why we sometimes employ such a narrow definition of the word. Dagan's topic delves into the popular fare around us that we simply can't get into. From pro wrestling to The Simpsons and beyond, what don't we get about what so many others adore? Finally, piggybacking off of a topic in recent weeks concerning immigration, Colin wants to see if this week's panel can pass a form of the US immigration quiz given to those who seek American citizenship. The results may surprise you. Get a wireless plan for $15 a month at https://www.mintmobile.com/con Download DraftKings with code CONSTELLATION to get $200 in bonus bets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time yet again for Constellation, Last Stand's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun and Punching Up co-host Micah Watson. Micah brings a heavy and personal topic to the show this week: Her upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness. How did faith affect her life, and why did she ultimately decide to walk away? Chris' topic, meanwhile, is a bit more ethereal, as he wants to explore the variables in our lives that ended up having a major effect down the road. How did we become the way we are, anyway? Dagan, meanwhile, wants to get into lying: The lies we've told and been victimized by, the role of lying in polite society, and all of the ramifications therein. Finally, Colin wants to know everyone's contemporary gut reactions to Apple Inc., the famous American company with a perpetually dominant position in our culture. Why do so many people love Apple? And how come this specific corporation draws such visceral reactions from others? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Constellation! Joining the Brothers Moriarty on today's episode of Last Stand's conversational podcast is Defining Duke co-host Lord Cognito and executive producer Dustin Furman. Dustin comes wielding a mighty topic this week: The arcade. Allow us to reminisce about the quarter-munching days for your enjoyment. Cog, meanwhile, is curious what our habits are when it comes to nutrition labels. Do we analyze the food we buy and eat? What do we look for, want, and avoid? Dagan is eager to know what our hidden talents are, not ones that we'd use professionally per se, but rather personally. What are we lowkey good at that would surprise others? Finally, Colin brings up the rear with a timely topic. Being that it's mid-August, it makes a lot of sense to talk about going back to school. Did we look forward to or dread returning to the classroom in our youth? How did we prepare -- successfully or unsuccessfully -- for our return to the grind? Get a wireless plan for $15 a month at https://www.mintmobile.com/con Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time once more for Constellation, Last Stand's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are reunited, and are joined by legendary game designer David Jaffe and LSM's associate producer Ben Smith. We've split this episode in half by design, frontloading it with lighter fare and ending it with political topics some may choose to skip. Thus, Dagan and Ben go first. Dagan regales us with a story about a time he pretended he had a skillset he actually didn't so he could get a specific job, and he wonders if any of us had ever 'faked it 'til we made it', as it were. Meanwhile, Ben wants to talk about getting away from your everyday life. Is seeing the world around us worth the time and effort, or is creature comfort the most important thing? The second half of the podcast, meanwhile, deals with more controversial fare. Jaffe has a little of what we term 'pandemic nostalgia,' a longing for the surprising upside to one of modernity's biggest calamities. Did we take anything positive from the experience? Finally, spurred on by a recent New York Times article about crowded schools in NYC, Colin wants to know the gang's thoughts on illegal immigration and its effect on our society. How come the average American citizen isn't more clued-in on the games being played at the southern border? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices