Incarnate

For the second episode of, "A Podcaster Says What?", we'll be deconstructing the myth of the strong female character--a fixation that has only been around for the past 7 years or so. Enjoy!

Welcome to the ‘A Podcaster Says What?’ podcast! This first episode is a simple exploration of the thoughts, beliefs, and experiences that combine to keep a fella single and chaste for almost half a century.

Song is "Psycho In My Head" by Skillet Footage and art from the Korean drama, "It's Okay to Not Be Okay". I wanted to do a bizarre little experiment: use an English song in conjunction with a k-drama and make that song heavy. I typically use lighter music from the OST for these types of videos, and I still plan on doing one for this show. But I've had Skillet's "Psycho"...well...in my head for a long time, and I though the subject matter of this show worked with the theme of the song. The edit does make it look much more like a horror/thriller, which is kind of fun, but not at all what the actual show is about. Always interesting to see how images and footage can be arranged to present material in a completely different way...

"Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" got me misty a few times, and I wanted to encapsulate some of those moments and try to give them weight without hours of content for context. Definitely a challenge with a particularly short song, even with me adding a little to its length. I chose "Winter is Coming" because that's the song that stuck with me when I was done watching. I found it interesting, because I think it can accent both grief and joy equally well. No lyrics included for this one, because these aren't words per se. More like sounds.

Using some basic color correction and AI-enhanced audio to see if I can salvage the very first video I ever shot back in 2013. Unfortunately, AI can't fix clipped audio, and nothing I know of can compensate for my ancient Logitech webcam's ridiculously low frame rate. :(

I first saw Descendants of the Sun about five years ago, and "Always" did an amazing job of carrying the emotional weight early on in the show. As is almost always the case, even great songs aren't used for the duration, and there are a lot of moments that miss its presence. Somehow it managed to slip from my mind until recently, when I heard it in another drama ("Touch Your Heart"). I was suddenly seized with a desire to bring the poignant emotions I experienced from this great piece of music to the narrative beats it was absent from. Some of the earlier scenes did feature it, but I wanted to tell an abbreviated version of the story and needed those early scenes to help bookend it. This is a tribute to a song that made a significant impact on me, and a show that was, for the most part, a satisfying and engaging experience.

In a very empty courtroom, a one-sided case is brought forward to take a deeper look at characters and plot of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. On the surface, the film seems to have done its job as a light, fun romp into the Mushroom Kingdom. But did it have the potential to be something more? Did it truly fall prey to Xoteism? Take a gander to find out!

Witness seasoned veteran Brave Cariad parlay her Elder Scrolls Legends expertise into Skyrim. Marvel at her unique style of navigation as she explores the roots of a cherished CCG!

Discussing the quirks, strategies, struggles, and triumphs of crafting a story while in the process of writing a novel.

Discussing the quirks, strategies, struggles, and triumphs of crafting a story while in the process of writing a novel.

Discussing the quirks, strategies, struggles, and triumphs of crafting a story while in the process of writing a novel.

Discussing the quirks, strategies, struggles, and triumphs of crafting a story while in the process of writing a novel.

I discovered "My Hero Academia" recently--during a time when heroism is mostly being mocked and perverted by western "heroes". When the ostensibly noble, powerful, and humble character of All Might was introduced, I expected him to be a flat laughingstock, loser, or a corrupt, morally-bankrupt counterfeit. I cannot tell you how refreshing and wonderful it was to be wrong. The main story is not about All Might, but he has a very crucial and satisfying arc at the beginning of the series (as well as a great role in the story afterwards). I wanted to give him a video tribute, but I needed to find the right song. MHA has some great music, but trying to string it together for 3+ minutes would be challenging (and take more time than I had to spend on this project). I've been a fan of John Cooper and Skillet since college, and fortunately the band has a song that fits the beats and tone perfectly. If you haven't checked out MHA or Skillet yet, I highly recommend both. (Link to "Awake": https://www.amazon.com/Awake-Skillet/dp/B002FZL94Y) Enjoy!

The saga begins! As I began planning my "cases" regarding the Prequels and DSW, I realized it'd be a good idea to present evidence for being a fan without making a drawn out video about my entire history with the franchise. And what better way than to discuss a seldom (if ever) mentioned omission in the Blu Ray version of Empire Strikes Back. All in good fun!

I shoot from the hip and the heart in this unpolished rambling reflection on the 2022 film, Terror on the Prairie. My initial approach to the review had to be scrapped after I watched it. I avoided going into too much detail about the film to keep it unspoiled for those who are interested in taking a gander.

A brief exploration of how the Prequels altered Vader's legacy, and how the context of some dialogue from the OT was made almost comical as a result.

A rough re-edit of a project done many, many years ago ( first video on this channel, formerly titled, "Busted"). At ~9 minutes I knew it was too long when the editor gave it to me, but I didn't think I could trim it down. Tonight I figured I'd challenge myself and milk a little usefulness out of this debacle. Not perfect, but half the length and a look that is closer to what I was going for at the time, so I'll call it a win. Ramping up for a video I plan to do in the next few weeks about this very subject...

Looking at the power words actually have, how we take control....and about half a dozen tangents along the way.

YouTube's removal of "Dislike" visibility didn't protect me. I feel betrayed. And sad. …It’s almost as if hiding video “Dislikes” wasn’t intended to help the average YTer at all… Love ya, Rumble!

The story of how two people found their sole mates, as told by their missteps...and a few pairs of shoes.

A reflection on the character of Boba Fett as he was portrayed in the original trilogy, and how his mythos was added to through the EU novels. If the current portrayal of the bounty hunter isn't resonating with you, this may whet your appetite for some classic tales.

...everything is a sheath!

A random discussion I ended up having with a faux Jordan Peterson (me). Certainly not as engaging as the real thing, but a lot of fun to explore. Sometimes something gets stuck in yer brain and you just need to get it out.

One of my favorite pieces of music from The Mandalorian is 'Nurse & Protect' by Ludwig Goransson (who did the full soundtrack), and I thought it was underused. Mando's fight scene during the prison break episode was visually impressive--one of his best displays of prowess--but it lacked energy. Several episodes later, when I heard N&P during IG-88's laudable assault, I knew I had to see how well the music paired with the earlier scene. I only did a few tweaks to the footage and the music--the timing was almost a natural fit.

A theory that tries to explain the incessant, pointless fighting on Social Media, and how a focus on validation and victimhood exacerbates the situation.