Episodes

  • Steam Deck Review and Halloween Christmas Special

    Steam Deck Review and Halloween Christmas Special
    Dec 20 2022

    Jon reviews his new Steam Deck in our 2022 holiday special! …but probably not the holiday you’re thinking of. Plus: Cody lost his expensive headphones but WON a brand-new gaming PC, and he and Jon discuss whether it should become part of a new VR rig. They also recount their recent experience at a friend’s wedding in Wisconsin with some of the best cocktails basically ever, then wrap up by reminiscing about their favorite Nintendo 64 memory to celebrate the 64th episode of Game/Life Balance U.S. Sit back and enjoy a Wisconsin brandy old fashioned while you listen!

    • Theme song credit: Subterranean Kamikaze by Juan Medrano and zircon via OverClocked ReMix - download at https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01730
    • Visit our sister show in Australia at https://gamelifebalanceaustralia.com
    • Check out other geeky podcasts on the GonnaGeek Network at https://www.gonnageek.com/
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Alcoholic Mountain Dew and Cosmopolitan Bottle Service

    Alcoholic Mountain Dew and Cosmopolitan Bottle Service
    Dec 6 2022

    Cody reviews alcoholic Mountain Dew and Jon recaps his Allegiant Stadium and Cosmopolitan bottle service experiences. They also discuss disgusting malt beverages, $1,500 bottles of vodka, and Las Vegas vibes. Plus: Cody went to another symphonic performance of Distant World: Music from Final Fantasy, and Jon has returned to Eorzea to play critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, which includes a free trial with unlimited playtime up to level 60 and includes the award-winning first expansion Heavensward.

    • Theme song credit: Subterranean Kamikaze by Juan Medrano and zircon via OverClocked ReMix - download at https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01730
    • Visit our sister show in Australia at https://gamelifebalanceaustralia.com
    • Check out other geeky podcasts on the GonnaGeek Network at https://www.gonnageek.com/
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • House-Destroying Kids and an Assassin’s Creed Origins Review

    House-Destroying Kids and an Assassin’s Creed Origins Review
    Nov 22 2022

    Jon helps Cody talk through his home gaming setup and explains how kids destroy houses. Plus: Jon’s basement cricket and escape artist dog; a FULL GAMER review of Assassin's Creed Origins; a debate about movies that are more than 3 hours long; and trading time for loot in “sit back” versus “lean forward” video games such as critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, which includes a free trial up to level 60 with unlimited playtime and includes the award-winning first expansion Heavensward.

    • Theme song credit: Subterranean Kamikaze by Juan Medrano and zircon via OverClocked ReMix - download at https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01730
    • Visit our sister show in Australia at https://gamelifebalanceaustralia.com 
    • Check out other geeky podcasts on the GonnaGeek Network at https://www.gonnageek.com/
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Gaming Around Kids and Hades Revisited

    Gaming Around Kids and Hades Revisited
    Nov 8 2022

    Hear how Hades holds up in 2022 and how Cody and Jon handle gaming around their kids. In their first episode from a 3-year hiatus, you'll also hear about where they've been, why they're back, and whether a sound effects soundboard can make the show even worse than it already was in the first place.

    • Intro music credit: Subterranean Kamikaze by Juan Medrano and zircon via OverClocked ReMix - https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01730 
    • Outro music credit: Unity by TheFatRat with permission - https://soundcloud.com/thefatrat/thefatrat-unity-1
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Literally The Only Podcast Ever Made in All of 2019 (Game/Life Balance U.S. Podcast Ep. 060)

    Literally The Only Podcast Ever Made in All of 2019 (Game/Life Balance U.S. Podcast Ep. 060)
    Jul 25 2019
    Cody and Jon record their first episode together in 2019, and hilarity ensues. Also in this jam-packed episode: Cody dives into Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, and Jon reviews Hollow Knight and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. They also talk about Xbox Game Pass, Risk of Rain 2, the TV shows Silicon Valley and Star Trek: The Next Generation, and micheladas. Having a core exercises for swimming will make you a better, stronger swimmer.

    Show Notes:

    * Join the GonnaGeek Discord server, where you can chat with Cody, Jon, and several other members of the GonnaGeek Network: https://discord.gg/yBBBtGT
    * To nominate an SNES Classic game for them to review on a future episode, email unqualifiedpodcast@gmail.com or tweet at Cody @ProducerCody and/or Jon @eatplaygame
    * Find Game/Life Balance U.S. on the GonnaGeek Network, on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more!
    * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with permission
    * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com
    * Learn something new in just a few minutes every day on Cody’s daily podcast for Curiosity.com
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    1 hr and 35 mins
  • Elliot Callighan Talks “Unlock Audio” and Sound Design for Media (Game/Life Balance U.S. Podcast Ep. 059)

    Elliot Callighan Talks “Unlock Audio” and Sound Design for Media (Game/Life Balance U.S. Podcast Ep. 059)
    Apr 23 2019
    Elliot Callighan, composer and sound designer for media and adjunct professor at DePaul University, joins Cody to discuss his new project, Unlock Audio. It’s a tool for re-framing game audio to make it developer-centric from both a creative and business perspective. They also talk game design education, sound design, and — of course — what video games they’ve been playing lately! 10 tips for creating a stylish kid’s room on a budgetPaint. Painting remains one of the most affordable ways to decorate a space. Use stickers. Wall sticker art is one of the most popular ways to decorate a child’s room — and one of the easiest. Stick with twins. Try to DIY. Infuse color and texture. Add greenery. Repurpose and recycle. Add a mobile,  click for more decorating tips.
    Elliot is a classically trained violinist and pianist, metal guitarist and electronic music enthusiast with degrees in Music Composition and Sound Design for Cinema. Currently, Elliot is an independent Composer and Sound Designer, a Soundpost Co-Chair for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Overture Council as well as Adjunct Faculty in the Film & Game programs at DePaul University. His work has been featured in campaigns for United Airlines, The Chicago Advertising Federation, GMC, The Godrej Group, Chevrolet Motors, The Goodman Theatre as well as many independent films and games. In addition, he is an Officer and Platoon Leader in the Illinois Army National Guard.
    Show Notes:

    * Elliot Callighan discusses:

    * How he got into composing and sound design for media, including video games.
    * Why anyone who’s interested in working on video games should participate in a game jam.
    * His new project, Unlock Audio: “I think we’re on the cusp of how game audio is done professionally, just because it’s a lot more straight-forward and simple and easy for everyone.”
    * Video games that feature the U.S. military or are actually used by the military, and why he’s thinking about audio as part of his role in the Illinois Army National Guard.
    *  Where voice acting falls into the “sound design” umbrella, and what it’s like working with voice actors when working on audio for video games and related media.
    * The way students are approaching video game development and sound design differently than they did just a few years ago.
    * Nerding out over Heroes of the Storm and an indie game called The Cursed Forest.


    * Visit Elliot Callighan’s website, RamovaMusic.com
    * Check out his new project at UnlockAudio.com
    * Elliot’s DePaul University faculty bio
    * Hear Cody’s 2017 interview with Elliot on the Curiosity Podcast: “21st Century Composing: Scoring Music For Film And Video Games”
    * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with
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    46 mins
  • Author Blake J. Harris Talks Oculus, Facebook, and the Virtual Reality Revolution (Game/Life Balance U.S. Podcast Ep. 058)

    Author Blake J. Harris Talks Oculus, Facebook, and the Virtual Reality Revolution (Game/Life Balance U.S. Podcast Ep. 058)
    Apr 1 2019
    Blake J. Harris, the best-selling author of “Console Wars,” has turned his attention to virtual reality with a new book. In “The History of the Future: Oculus, Facebook, and the Revolution That Swept Virtual Reality” Harris dives into the dramatic, larger-than-life true story behind the founding of Oculus and its quest for virtual reality. In this podcast, he discusses how he got his hands on the story, the twists and turns he encountered, and what’s next for virtual reality.

    Show Notes:

    * Blake J. Harris, author of “The History of the Future: Oculus, Facebook, and the Revolution That Swept Virtual Reality,” discusses:

    * The changing nature of how we consume media like this epic story of Oculus Rift.
    * The extensive access he had to Oculus and Facebook in the course of writing the book.
    * How he expected the story of Oculus to unfold, how Facebook expected the story to unfold, and the differences in their expectations versus reality.
    * How Facebook and Oculus have responded to the book and why.
    * The magic of virtual reality and how people need to experience it before they can really describe it.
    * Future uses for virtual reality, from medical technologies to military applications.
    * Why this book is almost like the virtual reality version of the 2010 David Fincher film “The Social Network.”
    * One part of the story that really took him aback while writing the book and how it changed the course of Oculus.


    * Blake J. Harris’ official website
    * Pick up his other book, “Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle That Defined a Generation,” on Amazon
    * Follow Blake J. Harris on Twitter @blakejharrisNYC
    * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with permission
    * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com
    * Learn something new in just a few minutes every day on Cody’s daily podcast for Curiosity.com
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    16 mins
  • Favorite Video Games of 2018 (Game/Life Balance U.S. Podcast Ep. 057)

    Favorite Video Games of 2018 (Game/Life Balance U.S. Podcast Ep. 057)
    Dec 26 2018
    Cody and Jon go FULL GAMER and review their favorite video games played over the past year, in addition to discussing what they learned about balancing video games with real life. Plus: a look ahead at what’s to come in 2019!People can also check out here if they need help with video games.
    Show Notes:

    * Cody discusses Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, Undertale, 20XX, Timespinner, and more!
    * He and Jon both discuss Sid Meier’s Civilization VI and Heroes of the Storm.
    * Jon talks Darkest Dungeon, Endless Space 2, Final Fantasy XII: Zodiac Age, Dead Cells, and more!
    * Cody plugs the GonnaGeek Discord server, which you can join here to chat with Cody, Jon, and several other members of the GonnaGeek Network: https://discord.gg/yBBBtGT 
    * To nominate an SNES Classic game for them to review on their next episode, email unqualifiedpodcast@gmail.com or tweet at Cody @ProducerCody and/or Jon @eatplaygame
    * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more!
    * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with permission
    * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com
    * Learn something new in just a few minutes every day on Cody’s daily podcast for Curiosity.com



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    1 hr and 19 mins