x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast

Join hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) to talk about Kingdom Hearts, a little video game franchise about really big feelings. We attempt to unravel how this deceptively expansive game series has touched an entire generation of deeply earnest weirdos - and along the way, we may realize that what we’re talking about might not be just a video game, but a whole lot more.Never heard of Kingdom Hearts? That’s okay! We’re here to break it down for you, explain why we love it, and

leisure video games

All Episodes

00:57:19

What is a Nobody?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2026/01/04

Welcome to the new year - what some might consider our “Year of the Nobody.” And so we really needed to get this one out of the way early! A remnant of the body left behind when the heart falls to darkness, Nobodies are a new enemy type for Kingdom Hearts 2, sure… but as they can retain their form and memories after the transition, the term “Nobodies” encompasses many crucial characters to come as well. What does this change of nature mean for the dynamics between these characters? What does someone

en

01:06:18

Who is Naminé?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/12/14

The colorful and cartoonish aesthetic of Kingdom Hearts masks some deep tragedies - and perhaps none suffers underneath bright streaks of color more than Naminé. She’s a sketchbook-wielding "witch" with the power to change the hearts of those closest to Sora, born an anomaly among anomalies, imprisoned as the villains’ plaything, and convinced of some of the worst lies Nobodies tell themselves… because for her, in her unique situation, they might just be true. She’s also an icon for indoor kids

en

01:27:40

What Happens in Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories...

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/12/07

While Sora struggles against the machinations of the Organization in the floors above, Riku climbs his way out of his own personal darkness in the basement of Castle Oblivion in Reverse/Rebirth, the secret second half of Chain of Memories. Where Sora’s journey is about the lies others tell him, Riku’s journey is more about the lies he tells himself. But luckily, in this game he’s got King Mickey by his side (and finally in a Kingdom Hearts game for realsies!), so not even whatever the hell the

en

00:55:15

Who is Goofy?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/11/30

GAWRSH! The final pillar of the core Kingdom Hearts trinity, Goofy & his trusty shield are often the grounding force for Sora and Donald, the voice of reason and honest virtue to balance their impulsivity. But is that really in line with his characterization in wider Disney media? It may have more to do with his status as the only real fatherly presence among the core Disney cast… which is why we spend an inordinate amount of time in this episode talking about his relationship with his son, Max

en

01:15:30

What is a Heartless?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/11/23

How could the distillation of every dark thought a person’s ever had be so… cute? The Heartless may be the manifestation of evil, but they’re also a part of the natural ecology of the Kingdom Hearts universe. The only problem, it seems, is when the hubris of man throws the natural ecology out of balance - sounding familiar? We’ll take a look at the different types of Heartless, where they come from, and why they do what they do, as well as calling out a few of our faves.Sponsors - Cornbread

en

01:07:49

Where is Agrabah?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/11/16

We can show you the world: shining, shimmering, splendid… Today we’re covering that desert jewel, that diamond in the rough, the world of Agrabah from the movie Aladdin. Its vast rolling dunes hide deep and rare magical secrets… but is it enough to make the world feel full for the video game? Is Agrabah an entire Cave of Wonders, or merely a place that’s flat and immense, where the heat is intense? Either way, as long as Genie’s still hanging out there, count us in!Sponsors - Insert Coin -

en

01:14:18

Who is Donald Duck?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/11/09

Let’s get our feet wet! We’re talking about Donald Duck, that famously-hotheaded waterfowl from the core Disney cast. Because of his notable temper you might expect Donald to be placed in more of a melee-berserker role in the game… but as it turns out, Donald means much more to the makers of Kingdom Hearts than we may consider here in the West. Why does Donald get such a spotlight? Is there more to his contentious relationship with Sora than the games might imply? And where did a duck learn

en

01:29:25

What Happens In Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories...

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/11/02

You’d be forgiven for thinking a game that came out on a handheld console in between numbered installments is just a simple side game, easily ignored. Unfortunately, you’d be dead wrong! Today we’re covering the plot of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, a deckbuilding action game for the Game Boy Advance, with one hell of an impact on the wider KH story. As Sora & friends climb the many floors of Castle Oblivion, their memories laying before them like an open book, a mysterious force known then

en

01:12:22

Are Ya Winnin’ Son? with David Tilstra #2

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/10/26

We welcome filmmaker, podcaster & avid gamer David Tilstra back to the show to check back in on his KH progress! Some of the biggest twists, the baddest fights, and the best story beats happen in the back half of Kingdom Hearts 1 - how do they stack up against David’s expectations from Disney, other games, and storytelling in general? How many times did it take him to finally beat Riku? And what’s he looking forward to from the rest of the series?Sponsors - Dispatch, a superhero workplace

en

01:09:26

What is a Princess of Heart?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/10/19

Few intellectual properties are as well-protected as the iconic Disney Princesses™. So how did this quirky little game handle having so many all at once? Enter: the “Princesses of Heart,” a translation of the cultural weight of those princesses (and also Alice) into the Kingdom Hearts cosmology. Who made the cut? Who else was left on the bench? And why don’t they ever make eye contact with each other? It’s kind of weird, actually.Sponsors - GFW Clothing, button-up shirts for all bodies. Use

en

00:59:02

Where is Traverse Town?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/10/12

As your world is crumbling to pieces all around you, and you fall into unknown depths of pure darkness… if you’re very lucky, you may find yourself deposited onto the gaslamp-lit streets of a cozy little haven. Today we’re talking about Traverse Town, the first hub world of Kingdom Hearts - packed tight with little shops, therapy dogs, and anything else you might need on your way through to worlds beyond, all who need shelter may call this place home, for however long they need it. (Which, y’know,

en

01:02:11

Have You Heard the Music of Kingdom Hearts? with Pom...

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/10/05

Recording artist Pom Pom Squad - aka Mia Berrin, Mayanna’s younger sister - hops into the booth to gush with us about the music of Kingdom Hearts. A complex & mature score for what is purportedly a game for children, full of rich character details for a sprawling ensemble, the score of these games manage to weave together some of the most well-known musical themes of all time, original compositions and motifs whose beauty rivals the masters of classical Western music, iconic J-pop anthems, and

en

01:37:01

Who is Kairi?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/09/28

What if we told you there was a character vital to the Kingdom Hearts narrative and world in multiple ways, who possessed all the qualities that make Sora a hero and TWICE his raw magical potential, who starts their journey across the universe by bravely forging into darkness at the exact same time Sora does, who learns to wield the legendary Keyblade right alongside him… and yet we all shove this person into the back seat, just because she’s a girl? Well today we’re shining the spotlight she

en

01:16:42

What is a Heart?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/09/21

We’re so glad you’ve followed your heart back to us! Today we’re talking all about Hearts: what they are, what they can do, and why everybody wants ‘em so dang much. Not just the core of every person’s being, driving their every action - they’re also a source of limitless power, whose true nature eludes even the most learned scholars of the Kingdom Hearts universe. Could that true essence really be darkness, as Ansem, Seeker of Darkness theorizes? (Probably not - having that be your name sounds like

en

01:11:18

Where is Destiny Islands?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/09/14

Welcome to the beach! It’s very spooky here. Today we’re covering Destiny Islands, a little backwater world somehow drawn deep into the heart of everything. It’s home for Sora, Riku, Kairi, and so many more - it’s their safe place, the place where nothing bad could ever happen. So why do so many bad things keep happening to it? How do so many of the heroes and villains of this series find themselves inexplicably drawn to those vibrant shores? There’s something in that PS2-era bright-turquoise water,

en

01:19:20

Who is Riku?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/09/07

“We’ve always been rivals, haven’t we?” This week we’re talking about Riku, best friend turned villain turned deuteragonist of Kingdom Hearts. He’s strong, he’s confident, he’s ambitious, and when others turn away in fear Riku dives in head-first… but of course, that also leaves him vulnerable to forces he hasn’t even begun to understand, and paves the way for ultimate darkness to overtake the universe. Can even those who fall so far into darkness find their way back to light, despite all they might

en

00:59:35

Are Ya Winnin’ Son? with David Tilstra #1

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/08/31

Mischa & Mayanna have been fans of Kingdom Hearts for a long time, they’ve dived deep into the lore… but there’s one thing they’ll never understand: what it’s like to first experience these games with a full adult brain! To that end they’ve invited Mayanna’s partner, filmmaker, podcaster & gamemaster David Tilstra, to give his impressions of the series as he progresses through them for the first time as a grown-up. How has a lifetime as an avid gamer affected how Kingdom Hearts looks &

en

01:19:32

What is a Keyblade?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/08/24

It’s a big key, and you hit stuff with it… but of course, it’s also SO much more. We’re taking a look at Keyblades, the signature weapon of the series. Filled to the brim with personality, power, panache, and plot relevance, these unique weapons make Kingdom Hearts simultaneously iconic and ridiculous. We’ll unlock all the important info for you: What can they do? Where do they come from? Why are they special? What are they for? And of course, which ones are the prettiest?Sponsors - Insert

en

01:03:20

Where is Olympus Coliseum?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/08/17

Hop in the Gummi Ship with us and journey to Olympus Coliseum, the world of Disney’s Hercules - one of the most prolific Kingdom Hearts worlds (for some reason), and the KH capital for death, heroes, and seemingly-random yet oddly resonant Final Fantasy cameos. Under the shadow of warriors both triumphant and fallen, it’s here that Sora learns what it means to be a capital-H Hero - and where we all learn exactly what Disney and Square Enix think it means too.Sponsors - Gender Free World,

en

01:01:21

Who is Sora?

Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast ·

2025/08/10

Oh Sora, the boy that you are! We start our dive into the KH series by covering the protagonist of (most of) the games, and the moral center around which the entire KH universe revolves. And sure, he has to be that way to be the main character of a game about love and connection - but where does that leave him? Does relying on his friends make him weak? Does believing in goodness make him dumb? And the most important question of all: Why are his shoes so big?? Sponsors - Cornbread Hemp,

en

23 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

詭哭郎嚎

郎祖筠 & FMTaiwan製作團隊

Ron en Erik Podcast

Ron en Erik

Poor Man"s Pinball Podcast

Poor Men Ian and Drew

WeAreChange on Odysee

WeAreChange