PodCavern

This week, hosts Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) and Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) talk Salt! Where does it come from? What does it do to our bodies when we eat it? What are some of the different kinds of salt and what purpose do they serve in a kitchen? Most importantly, how can you eat the inside of a volcano?! The post 133. Salt appeared first on PodCavern.

January means it's that time of year again for...video game discussions! 2023 was a weird year for video games. It has arguably the highest highs in gaming we have seen in a long time in terms of quality of output, but it also has arguably the lowest lows we have seen in the industry as a whole for the people who make those games. In recognizing that, we still want to celebrate the truly amazing games that came out this year and hope that 2024 turns that dark ship around for those who make the games we enjoy so much. So join Tuong La and self-proclaimed game GODS Angus MacDonald, Ethan Howieson, and Mathew Whalley as they step into our 7th GOTY podcast discussions and put together our Top 5 Video Games of 2023 list! The post 161 – Top 5 Video Games of 2023 appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) and Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) talk Vinegar! Whether it's white, balsamic, wine, rice, or apple cider, vinegar is absolutely essential to any well-stocked pantry. But what is it that makes these acidic condiments so special? And how did we figure out how to make them in the first place? The post 132. Vinegar appeared first on PodCavern.

Angus and Sal take to the stage at Super City’s Rat King Theater for their 100th episode. The boys are interrupted by an old artificial frenemy and joined by Mighty Mind (Rich Hillborn) , a hero celebrating a 100th of his own. The post EP100 – The 100th Episode Spectacular appeared first on PodCavern.

We’ve heard that dogs are a man’s best friend, but who’s a dinosaur’s best friend? Probably another dinosaur, but also, maybe, man. That’s what the Pixar Pals are exploring with The Good Dinosaur, as our hero Arlo (no relation to JLo) embarks on a journey fueled by vengeance yet sidelined by a lesson: maybe being good is better than being big. The post PP16 – The Good Dinosaur (2015) appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) and Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) are excited to announce that the nomination period for Munch Madness 2024 has begun! We break down the bracket system and nomination form for this year's tournament, talk about last year's champion and runner-up, and share some predictions for which foods we think stand a chance this year. Now, it's your turn! Head to https://forms.gle/stJMPRhUFpQsxqcr9 to cast your votes and make your write-in nominations before the end of January! Got a contender you want to see in the tournament? Encourage your friends to vote too! Get titillated. The post 131. Munch Madness 2024 Nominations Are Open! appeared first on PodCavern.

This is Christmas! Inspired by our Halloween Cocktails episode, we decided to get into the Christmas spirit this year by filling our cups with some delicious yuletide drinks. Join Santa's Mischievous Mixologists Tuong La, Samantha Leggatt, Bradley Sales, and Laura Gordon as they make things merry, bright, and bring several rounds of CHEERS while ranking our festive Top 5 Christmas Cocktails list. The post 160 – Top 5 Christmas Cocktails appeared first on PodCavern.

Angus talks with Sal about his new style. The boys are also visited by guest Chonklesha Versace (Jinny Lewis) the brutally honest publicist for Mayor Hicks. She tells it like it is. The post EP99 – Telling It Like It Is appeared first on PodCavern.

For Disney’s 100th anniversary, if you were hoping for a brand new animated feature packed with head-scratching tunes, unnecessary nods to classic characters, and a cast who can’t stop talking... The post DD62 – Wish (2023) appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, host Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) chats with special guest Emma Lanza about the food of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings! We're talking books, movies, AND animated adaptations, with apologies to the book purists out there, because, let's be real, visual depictions of fictional food are wonderful and worth exploring too! What the heck are "seed cake" and "lembas bread?" What can Bilbo Baggins teach us about hospitality? Is Samwise Gamgee the ultimate salt-loving bisexual icon? The post 130. The Food of J.R.R. Tolkien ft. Emma Lanza appeared first on PodCavern.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. We have a lot of it on Earth and if we can safely use hydrogen fuel then it becomes a very appealing energy source because it turns into water when it burns. Because it’s such a small molecule, storing it is tricky because any tiny cracks or gaps will cause it to escape, which is generally a bad thing. This is why Jonas Welsch, a PhD student in Electrical Engineering at the University of British Columbia, is studying ultrasonic transducers and how they can be used to monitor for leaks. Katie and Vinny talk about hippos and teeny pulses of light. The post E40: Sensing hydrogen leaks with Jonas Welsch appeared first on PodCavern.

Tony has strange dream and people keep on disappearing! Turtle Sensei has not seen Sprout since she left last. Does the squad need to start killing random Atlanteans to find out if they are really themselves? Tune in to find you! The post S01E21 – Narwal Ultrasound appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, host Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) calls up friend of the show Amanda McLoughlin (@shessomickey) to talk about everyone's favorite Hanukkah treat, Latkes! We get into some creative (and possibly cursed?) alternatives to the potato pancake and share stories of building new family traditions out of conversion to Judaism! Also, are air-fried foods fried enough for Hanukkah? The post 129. Leveling Up Latkes with Amanda McLoughlin appeared first on PodCavern.

The world is built around fossil fuels. Cars, shipping, air travel, it’s all powered by carbon emitting combustion engines. What if we could use something else? What if we could use chicken fat?? That’s exactly what Master’s student Zak Kaal is researching at the University of Alberta .Vinny and Katie talk about asteroids and immune systems. The post E39: Turning chicken fat into jet fuel with Zak Kaal appeared first on PodCavern.

Angus and Sal have been tasked with broadcasting the 98th Annual Hero Day Parade. They will describe in great detail each float, no matter how difficult, so you fine listeners who can’t make it out to see the parade in person can still get into the holiday spirit. The post EP98 – The 98th Annual Hero Day Parade appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) review the official One Piece cookbook, Pirate Recipes by Sanji! We tried out the recipes for Meat on the Bone and Exploding Apples, and shared some tips & warnings about how to have a good time cooking from a recipe! The post 128. One Piece: Pirate Recipes by Sanji – Meat on the Bone & Exploding Apples! appeared first on PodCavern.

Yeast is everywhere. We use it to make bread and beer but it’s a fungus with its own biology. Science is turning to yeast once again to make wonderful things for us. We can bioengineer it to turn its natural processes into building compounds that humans can use, like medicine. That’s the research being done by this episode’s guest, Asia Vighi, a PhD student in Bioengineering at McGill University. Katie and Vinny talk about heat sensing and how babies feel pain. The post E38: Transforming yeast into factories with Asia Vighi appeared first on PodCavern.

The Russians are in Atlantis?! It cannot be! Why? ...and What!?! The royals have been murdered? Is Princess Metopia telling the truth? Has there been a coup? ...and How safe is it, really, to go biting on undead? Tune in to find out! The post S01E20 – Tow proposals and a funeral appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) talk about Teffer's latest project, Three of Cups! You can get your hands (and your mouths!) on some of Teffer's delicious herbal tea blends by filling out the order form at this link: https://tinyurl.com/3ofCups The post 127. Introducing Three of Cups Tea! appeared first on PodCavern.

Wands contends with a tree. The post Year 3 appeared first on PodCavern.

The human brain has receptors for cannabinoids which the body naturally produces to regulate stress. The connection between cannabis use and mental health has long been discussed but still requires much study. Lyne Baaj is a Master’s student in neuroscience at McGill University examining the effect of cannabis use on depression and anxiety. Vinny and Katie talk about early humans and treating obesity. The post E37: Connecting cannabinoids to mental health with Lyne Baaj appeared first on PodCavern.

Angus and Sal break into The Super City Maximum Security Zoo to save their old friend RepTyler (Woody McCadden). But this time it might be the mystical Lizard Carpenter who saves them. The post EP97 – Fellas Saving Fellas appeared first on PodCavern.

Sure, we’ve all heard the voices inside our own heads, but Pixar is letting those inside voices out to play with your favourite Pals in - you guessed it! - Inside Out. Follow Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger, and Fear as they navigate the emotional rollercoaster that comes with growing up, saying goodbye, and making your voice heard, as they learn the importance of letting all our emotions shine through. The post PP15 – Inside Out (2015) appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) bring you an episode that's been cooking for a long time. That's right, it's finally time for rice. What is the Columbian Exchange and how does the transatlantic slave trade connect to the prominence of rice worldwide? Also, some of our favorite rice dishes and a game of “Rice Varietal or Kentucky Derby Horse!” The post 126. Rice appeared first on PodCavern.

BONUS MATERIAL for Oneiric, because gosh darn it how awesome are these two poems? Dreamroots, episode 3 Sonnet V, by George Santayana Ulalume, by Edgar Allan Poe The post Dreamroots 3 appeared first on PodCavern.

Of MacGuffins. The post Month 22 appeared first on PodCavern.

Kids learn about shapes from a very young age. Circles, squares, triangles are familiar territory. But when it comes to high-energy physics, the topology gets a good deal more complicated. Recent PhD grad and mathematician, Christopher Mahadeo, joins us to talk about the geometry of shapes that are used in cutting edge physics. Vinny and Katie talk about detecting radioactivity and the human genome project. The post E36: Understanding Topology through Donuts with Christopher Mahadeo appeared first on PodCavern.

Animals make every movie better. That's a fact. Cinema has a long history of using animals in their films, real and animated. Something about an animal protagonist is just inherently more joyous and interesting as we get to inject human emotion on creatures that famously do not speak human, while also playing into their animal behaviours that better serve the story. This week join Tuong and our Furry Friend lovers Justin & Shannon Godelie (Pull the Plug) and Dan Foerster as they go off-leash and rank Top 5 Movies with Animals as Leads. The post 159 – Top 5 Movies with Animals as Leads appeared first on PodCavern.

The White Bear Clan has come to Atlantis? Impossible! And why would they destroy the Shroomie grove? Will our heroes defeat them once more? Will they get answers? Tune in to find out! The post S01E19 – The Circle of Life appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) dish up an episode all about cornbread! Teffer shares some pro-tips and tricks for stepping up your game next time you bake this cornmeal classic. Also, Teffer gets kicked out of the entire European Union, and we come to the defense of boxed mixes & processed food! The post 125. Cornbread appeared first on PodCavern.

Enter Daneeka. The post Month 18 appeared first on PodCavern.

Anyone who enjoys potato chips knows how great salty foods are. We, as humans, need salt for so many of our functions including our neurons and muscle contractions so it makes sense that we find it so enjoyable. But how do our brains know when we’re getting some of that salty goodness? We talk with zoology PhD student Sasha McDowell from UBC who is studying the neurology of how fruit flies taste salt to give us insight into our own brains. Katie and Vinny talk about Venus and cork trees. The post E35: Fruit flies tasting salt with Sasha McDowell appeared first on PodCavern.

Angus and Sal are visited by 90’s radical dude Dunkaroos Blockbuster (Rich Hillborn) who gives them the 4-1-1 on what it’s like to be a Dinosaur Person living in Super City. Only 90’s kids will get this episode! The post EP96 – That 90’s Show appeared first on PodCavern.

We know you’re sick of frat house movies, but we swear, this one is monstrously good! The Pixar Pals are rewinding to the origins of your favourite former scarers’ enemies-to-besties friendship, with a story featuring fantastic new friends, righteous rivals, and a certain serpentine antagonist we all love to loathe. Consider this our application for admission to Monsters University! The post PP14 – Monsters University (2013) appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) have a special treat for you- an episode all about making fresh cheese at home! First, Tom interviews Alexis Cobham, co-owner of CheeseMaker.ca, to learn all about her culinary journey, the inspiration behind the company's cheese kits, and some expert tips to help make the most of their products. Then, Teffer tries out the kit and reports back to Tom about how it all went down! The post 124. Making Fresh Cheese with Alexis Cobham of CheeseMaker.ca! appeared first on PodCavern.

In which Wands meets a talking wolf again. The post Year 1 and 3 Days appeared first on PodCavern.

Gaming is a multi-billion dollar industry more than double the size of the movie and music industry combined. But for the longest time a huge group of gamers, people with physical disabilities, were excluded due to the nature of the controls, whether it’s controllers or keyboards. That’s rapidly changing and people like Carleton University’s Georgia Loewen, a Masters’ student in Human-Computer Interaction, are working on improving accessibility to games. We discuss the growing field of wearable technology. Vinny and Katie talk about special frogs and a problem with Voyager 2. The post E34: Making video games accessible with Georgia Loewen appeared first on PodCavern.

Olé, Olé, Olé! Something about watching a live sports game is so much different and unmatched compared to simply watching it on TV. The energy. The crowds. The overpriced concessions. All of it is elevated by the pure buzz you get from the excitement in the stadium. Alas, the true hero of all sports games is not the players themselves, but the one that keeps the crowd cranked to an 11 in an oversized (and probably overheated) novelty costume! So join Tuong La and Sports Aficionados Julian McKenzie, Eric Silver (Multitude, Join the Party, Tell Me About it), and Tom Zalatnai (No Bad Food) as they look through at the most chaotic side of sports and rank Top 5 Sports Mascots! The post 158 – Top 5 Sports Mascots appeared first on PodCavern.

Atlantis is like no other place our ninja have ever been to before, older and more majestic than the most ancient wonders that have withstood the test of time on the surface. The squad has emerged into the dry section of the city and they are being welcome by the Atlantean King and Queen themselves. What will the royal reception be like? Will they finally be able to return to the surface? Tune in to find out! The post S01E18 – Is it a sex thing? appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) talk about Pumpkin Bread, quick breads, pureed squash, and the joys of a quick slice of cake on the go. Surprisingly great for gluten-free baking, super easy to make, and infinitely versatile, you should make quick breads a staple of your home baking! Happy National Pumpkin Bread Day! The post 123. Pumpkin Bread appeared first on PodCavern.

BONUS MATERIAL for Oneiric Dreamroots, episode 2 Celephaïs, by H.P. Lovecraft The post Dreamroots 2 appeared first on PodCavern.

In which Wands meets a talking wolf. The post Year 1 appeared first on PodCavern.

Epigenetics is the study of which parts of our genetic code are turned on or off based on environmental signals. Dorothy Lin, a graduate in medical genetics, takes a statistical look at the factors that can affect childhood development. Katie and Vinny talk about playing rats and next-generation urinals. The post E33: Methylating DNA with Dorothy Lin appeared first on PodCavern.

Angus contemplates moving from vigilante work into professional heroism. Sal brings up The Coil’s Help reviews on the office’s fancy new holo screen. The post EP95 – Deconstructive Criticism appeared first on PodCavern.

If yeh had the chance to change yer fate - would yeh? The Dummies are saying yes and running into the open air this week with Merida, a strong-willed princess who’s a beast with a bow and arrow, and her mother, who turns out to be a beast of another kind. Find out what fate has in store for this family and sing along to some stunning melodies as we discover what it means to be Brave. The post PP13 – Brave (2012) appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) get into the Halloween spirit by talking about all of our favorite chocolate candy bars! The post 122. Chocolate & Candy Bars appeared first on PodCavern.

The sound of the Hatch is a C major chord. The post Month 5 appeared first on PodCavern.

Mosquitos are a real pain when you’re going camping. But cattle get pestered by bugs even when they’re hanging out on the farm, more specifically by stable flies. They can number in the hundreds on any given cow, bite painfully, and feed on their blood. Saif Nayani, a Master’s student in biology, studies how stable flies find cows through the chemicals they emit and then using those chemicals to build a trap. Katie and Vinny share facts about the thymus and sexist cars. The post E32: Protecting cows from stable flies with Saif Nayani appeared first on PodCavern.

This is Halloween. Just when we thought we ranked every Halloween topic on this show, a spook of inspiration came to us! So move aside that chocolate/candy and get your cocktail shakers because this week Tuong La, Samantha Leggatt, Bradley Sales, and Laura Gordon are concocting some ghastly, bone-chilling, and delicious drinks in our cauldrons with Top 5 Halloween Cocktails. The post 157 – Top 5 Halloween Cocktails appeared first on PodCavern.

They already failed once to catch the smoke-made hellcat wreaking havoc inside the oracle whale. But now they have extra help from the mushroom girl, Sprout, will it be enough? And once they catch it, what will the Atlanteans do with them? Will they let them go? Will they help the squad get back to the surface world? Tune in to find out! The post S01E17 – Deep Conditioning appeared first on PodCavern.