PODCAST

Tales of Our Time

This is a show where we discuss the stories that move us, what makes them so meaningful, and why others should find meaning in them as well. We tackle movies, books, comics, and more. Where there’s a story, there’s a reason to read (or watch!).

society & culture

All Episodes

Spiritfarer: Teaching You How to Say Goodbye

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/06/15

What can a video game teach us about grief? Host Amanda Stephens is joined by this week's guest: Bonnie Yuen to discuss a game that describes itself as "a cozy management game about death". We discuss Spiritfarer (developed by Thunder Lotus games), how it lives up to the promise of it's tagline, and why a videogame may just be the perfect medium for such a complicated topic.

en_US

Wave Makers: Persistance Leads to Hope

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/06/08

This week, we're discussing the popular Taiwanese drama, Wave Makers (directed by Chun-Yang Lin)! Host Amanda Stephens is joined by her friend Maggie Wu, as she explains just how this new Netflix drama managed to grab so much attention and live up to it's name. We discuss election culture in Taiwan, gender equality, and how this particular political drama stood out among the crowd.

en_US

Honkai Star Rail: Connecting Destinies

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/06/01

This week, we're discussing our most recent release yet: the game Honkai: Star Rail, published by HoYoVerse (Yes-- the same publishers of Genshin Impact). Host Amanda Stephens is joined by guest Mika Kofor what we know about this game so far, and how there's a little bit of everyone. We discuss what makes this game so relatable for the everyman, how this game may fit into a larger world narrative with it's famous cousin Genshin, and how even a Gacha Game can impart lessons we all benefit

en_US

Jurassic Park (2): The Deep Dive

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/05/25

Part 2 of our Jurassic Park two-parter! Host Amanda Stephens is once again joined by guest Anthony Van to follow-up on themes discussed in the first episode that we just didn't have the time for! We discuss what exactly Jurassic Park may warn us about. What it means to be a cautionary tale, and how we think Man-Vs-Dinosaur fits into the "Man vs. Nature" archetype.

en_US

Jurassic Park (1): Progress Without Ethical Planning

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/05/18

Part one of our very first two-parter! Host Amanda Stephens discusses the 1993 Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg. Joined by Anthony Van, we discuss how this classic joins the long list of cautionary tales before it. Of course, we also discuss how the film affected our own love (or fear) of dinosuars, and what the film might tell us about genetic engineering!

en_US

The Little Mermaid: It's Worth It To Dream of...

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/05/11

In honor of Disney's 2023 "The Little Mermaid", I revisit the 1989 original! (Written and directed by John Musker, and Ron Clements.) Host Amanda Stephens is joined by Kim Gordon, a self-proclaimed Little Mermaid expert! We discuss how Ariel was different from all the princesses before her, why Eric should be given more credit, and some thoughts on the upcoming new film. Join us to get a whole new perspective on this animated classic!

en_US

Everything, Everywhere, All At Once: We Choose Each...

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/05/04

Everything! Everywhere! All at once! Today my guest Tyler Gelbar and I discuss the award-winning film, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. We review the highs and lows, how a bagel can be depression, the power of kindness, and choosing who we want to be around, despite the odds.

en_US

Beetlejuice The Musical: Tearing Convention Apart

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/04/27

In this episode, we discuss "Beetlejuice: The Musical, The Musical, The Musical" (yes, repeated three times!)Specifically, we discussthe Broadway performance directed by Alex Timbers, with music by Eddie Perfect. Fellow RTI producer Chris Carnahan and I discuss why this viral show may have been panned by critics, why a show about death can be cathartic, and how the story of how a show is made may be just as interesting as the show itself.

en_US

Howl's Moving Castle: Choose Your Own Destiny

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/04/20

Did you know before it was a movie, Howl's Moving Castle was a book? In today's episode, guest Emily Daniel discusses how the book and movie compare (spoiler: they're pretty different stories). We also discuss why you should read it, even if you've seen the film, and what we can learn about choosing the life we want for ourselves from this charming story by Diana Wynne Jones.

en_US

Spiderman: Put On The Mask

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/04/13

In our second episode, guest Jared Friesen discuss the 2018 Spiderman game, by Insomniac Studios. We touch upon what makes the hero different from his other Marvel counterparts, how these stories inspire us, and why the "best Spiderman Movie" is actually a video game.

en_US

Watchers: A Dog Story Exploring Humanity

Tales of Our Time ·

2023/04/06

In our flagship episode, we discuss the novel "Watchers", by Dean Koontz. I'm joined by my friend Michelle Chiang, and we dive into similarities to Frankenstein, if golden retrievers make good spies, and why dogs in books can offer commentary to humanity.

en_US

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