84: We'll Make a New Home and Be Perfectly Fine Without You
Posted April 21, 2025
This week, Nate went to yet another amusement park- one not so dilapidated this time. Then, Ryan talks about a game that seems to have been designed for the venn diagram that is his entire personality. Afterwards, they have a KitKat cereal and a (better than usual) Calpis, only to discuss data backups. Then, they focus their discussion on the social implications of cloning, what makes up a soul, and one woman’s solution for dealing with people she just doesn’t like in their discussion of the book, Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty.
83: Everyone Had Bought Into His Leadership
Posted March 31, 2025
This week, Nate brings the perfect trifecta of “Nate topics” to discuss: He bought (yet another) Synology, expresses his concerns over Cross country event planning, and also talks about a new, old amusement park he visited. Then Ryan endures another Calpis (mango this time), before they discuss books that were influential for the young Nate and Ryan. They then wrap up the episode by discussing detail-oriented writing, being a decent person, and Ryan’s insidious plot to make his student read good books in their discussion of The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison.
82: Best Teammate Nate's Ever Had
Posted January 14, 2025
On this episode, Nate and Ryan have invited their friends Keith, Nash, Scott, and Shi to once again abuse the English language (and Ryan’s self-esteem) in a game of words and definitions that is definitely legally distinct from any other definition based game.
81: Not Important Enough to Have a Footnote
Posted November 25, 2024
And we’re back! After a (not so) short hiatus, Nate and Ryan resume their antics with a discussion of what makes a game, bread point inflation, and musical theatre. Then after judging Flan KitKats and sparkling juice, they turn their attention to the theatre. All this leads up to their main media discussion of the Sir Terry Pratchett novel Wyrd Sisters, where they talk about plot structure, breaking rules, and how to transplant a country.
80: I Want the World to Be Better
Posted May 26, 2024
It’s the end of the world as we know it. Or at least the end of the Stillness. This week Nate and Ryan reach the conclusion of the Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin. In the lead up to their discussion on the book they talk about the start and stop lifestyle of their school and some surprise car expenses for Nate. Then, they turn to discuss some of their favorite post-apocalypses to live (vicariously) in. Finally, they talk about a longing for justice, supporting your children, and the difference between cilia and a cat-bus in their discussion of The Stone Sky by N.K Jemisin.
79: Get to Know Death More
Posted March 28, 2024
Goals, clubs, and the undead! This week Nate and Ryan talk about their new year, new goals (and themes) including the difficulty of normal bedtimes. Then, they discuss informal groups and clubs while having Matcha KitKats and yet another Lemon drink. Finally, as they talk about Terry Pratchett’s “Reaper Man” they discuss how the death of civilization is a shopping center, the differences between a man-wolf and a wolf-man, and Death’s abhorrence of drama.
78: Energy Transfer and "Magic"
Posted January 31, 2024
Time and tide wait for no one. And so, another year has passed. As is their tradition, Nate and Ryan look back on everything that has happened in the past year and remember their favorite things about it. Then, turning their eyes from their favorite things of the past year, the two discuss a fantastic book with a slightly more troubled world. Picking up from where The Fifth Season left off, Nate and Ryan discuss carnivorous insects, fraught mother-daughter relationships, and long distance murder in N. K. Jemisin’s The Obelisk Gate.
77: Getting Close but Not Touching
Posted December 29, 2023
This week Nate and Ryan talk about summer, events, and robots. Nate went on a trip to Okinawa and got a new Synology. Meanwhile, Ryan went to Tokyo Game Show and got sick on a mountain. Then, they talked all about their favorite robots (and robot adjacent beings). After trying a Fanta roulette and a chunky peanut butter KitKat, they turned to their main media where they discussed post-capitalism, what constitutes a human failure, and the importance of a good satchel in their discussion of A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers.
76: Heat and Lava and the Movement of the Earth
Posted November 18, 2023
This week Ryan and Nate talk about vacations and trips and rocks. Specifically in that order. Nate tried to keep his children up later than the Tokyo government would allow and Ryan took a flight with a seat partner who was all elbows. After that, the two recall stories about rocks for all the geology nerds out there. Finally, the two discuss a beautiful, horrible world and the power of narrative in their discussion of The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin.
75: Slightly Supernatural Quality
Posted September 2, 2023
This week, it’s a listener pick episode. First, Nate and Ryan address the shotgun blast of mini topics: everything from bread points, recently read books, to graduation. Then, they try café au lait Kit Kats and… yet another Calpis. Finally, for the listener picked main media, they talk about monsters of the week, melding fantasy and realism, the mysteries found in America’s attic in their discussion of the TV show Warehouse 13.
74: Let’s Make a Part of the Movie Have Character Growth
Posted July 16, 2023
This week, Nate and Ryan have returned from a conference and on their return both engaged in some light consumerism. Then, after drinking a “milk and melon” drink and having some dark cacao Kit-Kats, they discuss the sequels that improved upon the original. Finally, for the main media they discuss cinematography, actors in airplanes, and where to find actual character development in Top Gun: Maverick.
73: Dragged Along Into Contentedness
Posted June 27, 2023
This week Nate talks sports and cameras and Ryan talks games (tabletop) and games (video). Then the two of them try some pomegranate juice and cassis KitKats before talking about places they’d like to visit and explore. Finally, for the main media of the day, they discuss immortality, identifying with characters, and what people need in the first Monk and Robot book, A Psalm for the Wild-built.
72: Arguments Are Uncomfortable, but Silence Is Worse
Posted May 20, 2023
This week Nate and Ryan talk tech. They address LearnerBuild, Synology RAIDs, and of course FileMaker of all things. Then Ryan talks about his experience escaping from the underworld in Hades before they have another C.C. Lemon offshoot. Then, they bring up the present… or rather some memorable presents. Finally in the discussion of the main media The Hidden Place, they talk about father/daughter projects, (mis)understanding and how to just talk about your problems, people!
71: Identifying His Own Self-Worth
Posted May 2, 2023
This week, Nate tells Ryan about his adventures in the snow while Ryan hid indoors. One of them came out with all their bones intact. Hint: it’s exactly who you think. Then, Ryan tells Nate about magic parkour before the two of them dream of having money and what they would spend it on. After some “interesting” drinks, they turn to their main media of the day, where they discuss the necessity of outside reading, character evolution, and quotes to be remembered by, in their discussion of the final book of era two of Mistborn, The Lost Metal.
70: Polar Opposites but Very Similar
Posted April 7, 2023
From the island of Okinawa, this week Nate and Ryan talk about escaping from nature and keeping up with their respective goals. Then Nate finally gets his chance to tell Ryan what it means to “rescue” animals in Disco Zoo. Afterwards they talk about hobbies and what they would do if sleep was no longer a necessity. Finally for the main media this week, they talk about myths, consequences, and learning the same thing from a different angle in the book the Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.
69: Many Nebulous Enemies
Posted March 23, 2023
This week, Nate and Ryan summarize their previous year. It was a rich, full year with a lot of different experiences. In their look back, they remember all the good things that stood out. Then, as it seems like a tradition at this point, Ryan had Nate read the next book in the Mistborn series. This time it was The Bands of Mourning. In their discussion, they talk about the evolution of characters, where to hide your mystical artifacts, and proper itemized lists of possible destruction.
68: It’s Interesting That You Noticed That
Posted February 17, 2023
Lured in with the promise of Japanese KitKats, the author Dan Moren is cornered by Nate, Ryan, and their friend Scott. As they do, they grilled him all about his Galactic Cold War series along with the newest book, “The Nova Incident“. In their discussion, they end up discussing everything from the commonwealth’s political structure, hard and soft Sci-Fi, and even the difference between foreshadowing and a fish.
67: Never Forget, You Guys Are #Blessed
Posted February 1, 2023
This week Nate and Ryan wrap up a final Christmas present, where they are joined by Keith, Nash and Zach as Nate experiences Dungeons and Dragons for the first time (this time with double the dragons). There are orcs, drums, legally-distinct characters that are strangely familiar in some way, and possibly a golden ring or five.
66: I Was Told There’d Be Dragons
Posted January 12, 2023
It’s Christmas all year ‘round here. Your present this year is to witness Nate’s first foray into a world of collaborative storytelling. Find out what happens when an owl, a cat, a saytr, and a robot walk into a bar. With heedless forward momentum, drunk tortles, and more birds than you can shake a stick at, Ryan along with special guests Keith, Nash and Zach introduce Nate to the world of Dungeons and Dragons.
65: Simple Can Have Power in Its Creativity
Posted December 6, 2022
This week, Ryan’s adventures with Obsidian and Nate’s overly accurate cross country maps created trouble for both of them. Also, Nate got a new iPhone and Ryan reminisced about Ni No Kuni. Afterwards, They tried Salty Lemon Kit-Kats and yet another Calpis before talking about some of their favorite pastries. Finally they talked about creative magic, a fourteen year old worldview, and evil gingerbread in their look at the book A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T Kingfisher.
64: Culty Vibes From the Perpetuity Wing
Posted October 31, 2022
This week, Ryan makes excuses for his “not-quite-so-productive-as-I-meant-it-to-be” summer (and Nate does the same). Also, Nate was able to make it to Disney (surprise, surprise). Afterwards, Ryan talks about the adorable critters wearing hats in Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Then, Nate and Ryan talk about various rewards they received from their work over the years, both tangible and not so much. Finally, for the main media this week, the two address the art of forgetting, break vs. break, non-personhood, and the best intentioned of “self-help gurus” in their discussion of the TV show Severance.
63: The Return of the Kandra
Posted October 15, 2022
This week, Ryan has been hiding from the summer heat and Nate was with his family on vacation. On his return, Nate uses this opportunity to finally announce his mysterious grading project LearnerBuild. Then the two talk return to a talk about games telling all about their favorite board and card games (at least of the ones they hadn’t mentioned before). For the main media this week they talk all about vigilante cleanup duties, team dynamics, and killing your darlings in the book Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson.
62: All Zhuri Are X, All Ororo Are Y
Posted September 21, 2022
This week, Nate and Ryan talk about a little bit of everything. First, they talk about their summer trips and what it would be like to have your brain severed. After that, they bring up about some of their favorite portable devices. Finally, after some seltzer for the taste of the week, Nate and Ryan turn to the main media. During which, they discuss gaslighting, the power of the creative arts and how everyone agrees about the book We’re Not From Here.
61: Rite to be a Wizard
Posted August 23, 2022
This week, Nate and Ryan talk about their summer plans and how they gracefully fall face first into their school’s summer break. Ryan then talks about games and storytelling in the 2018 God of War. Afterwards they both talk about a few stories and media with good female lead characters. Finally after eating whole grain KitKats and drinking a fruit cream soda, they talk about the space between worlds, how to find out a son is a daughter and silly gender norms in the book Equal Rites by Sir Terry Pratchett.
60: Research So That Humankind Can Grow
Posted August 2, 2022
This week, Nate and Ryan talk about how they consume media and the efforts they take to not mindlessly munch media. Ryan details what it means to work together and collaborate as instructed by a magical talking book from the game, It Takes Two. After that, they try yet another odd Calpis and Orange Chocolate Kit Kats before talking about some of their most memorable first impressions of new places. Finally they talk about the weight of experiences, decisiveness of characters, and trying to sleep through screaming slugs in their discussion of the main media, To Be Taught If Fortunate by Becky Chambers.
59: To Throw Violently
Posted July 19, 2022
This week Nate and Ryan invite some of their friends to commit some crimes against the English language and definitional indecency. With special guests Nash, Shi, Keith, and Scott.
58: A Bunch of Washed Up Actors
Posted June 25, 2022
Never give up, Never surrender! This week, Nate and Ryan are joined by their friend Terence as they watch one of the most lovingly created spoofs of Star Trek. Before they dive into that, the three decide it’s best to talk about all things sci-fi. Ryan starts by talking about a game with an overly-convoluted sci-fi story he just beat named 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Afterwards, the three gather and talk about other sci-if stories that they’ve enjoyed and wanted to share in one aspect or another. For the main media of the day, they talk about how Star Trek is real, “only having one job on this ship”, and the importance of having a last name in their discussion of the loving Star Trek spoof: Galaxy Quest.
57: Sherlock Holmes if Watson Was a Con Man
Posted June 6, 2022
This week, Nate and Ryan open by talking about Free Guy (with spoilers), Sing 2, and other things they did over their recent break. Later, Nate talks about some of his program fixes and Ryan talks about sad endings for characters in Elden Ring. After that, they talk about some of their favorite college classes and they try Asahi Higo Green Melon and salty white chocolate KitKats. For the main media of the day, they talk about good character pairings, low (or at least lower than world-ending) stakes stories and the sanctity of street slang in their discussion of The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson.
56: Seal the Respect for Each Other
Posted May 12, 2022
Nate and Ryan are happy with the Overcast updates, Nate is optimistic about some updates of his own and Ryan decides to talk about more sad games. The two of them also decide to tell vehicular stories that may lead to varying levels of concern. Then, after trying a craft Cola and peach KitKats they decide to talk about mutual respect, screaming walls, and the frightening nature of cheese in the final book in the Wayfarer’s series by Becky Chambers, “The Galaxy and the Ground Within”.
55: Humor Embedded in the Narration
Posted April 20, 2022
This week, Ryan kept Nate from catching up on the new Star Trek episodes and Nate talked about his journey to get his daughters introduced into Gene Roddenberry’s universe. Soon after that, Ryan ranted all about his journey to remake the Elden Ring. Afterwards, both of them shared some of their favorite pieces of media involving some form of military. Finally, they once more explored the world on the back of a turtle as they spoke about legal crime, dragon flatulence, and proper book-throwing in their discussion of Guards, Guards! by Sir Terry Pratchett.
54: The Second Book Made Me Angry
Posted April 3, 2022
This week, as a special treat, we have included one of our “not my hills” that are available to all of our members. On this one, Nate had Ryan watch Encanto, and Ryan gushes about how much he loves the music and lyrics to degree that might border on an existential crisis. In addition, this week they talk about their experiences with electricity and all it’s wonders. For the main media this week Nate had Ryan read two books and through it they discuss the importance of communication, well engineered cities, and ask themselves how are entire communities basing all their life decisions on the word of a 10-year old?
53: How Does His Beating Make Him the Kung Fu Master?
Posted March 22, 2022
This week Nate and Ryan look for a touch of levity in everything. Nate begins by talking about his software and the bug (or feature) that he found and fixed. Nate then talked about how he “pulled a Ryan” with health anxiety, and how he fell back in love with the Amazing Race. Ryan, stuck in a loop of looping games talked about loops and a looping narrative in the game he was playing, Returnal. Shifting their attention, they address times in their lives that they dealt with sharp objects in one way or another. Following all this, they turned their attention to the main media, Kung Fu Hustle, and talked about loony tunes combat, koto killers, and asked themselves does the plot really need to matter?
52: Here Comes the Borg Hexagon
Posted March 2, 2022
This week, Ryan shares about his life in quarantine, and Nate talks about his winter trip to the House of Mouse. Nate then goes into detail about his debugging process for his grading software and Ryan talks about his love of sad games. The two share some of their favorite hot drinks, and try some new flavors with a raspberry cider and “White” KitKats. For the main media of the day, the two talk about optimum spaceship design, Borg babies, and the most likable Q in the whole continuum in their discussion of the Star Trek The Next Generation Episode, “Q Who”.
51: Can You Just Add Some More Words?
Posted February 18, 2022
For this episode, Nate and Ryan decided to wrap up and say farewell to 2021. To do so, they reflected on the past year, their accomplishments, and favorite things from a year that, in all honesty, could have treated the world a bit better. In doing so, they talk about everything from the best book they read to the best (and worst) drinks they had on the show. As they wrapped up the year, they also wrapped up a book series they had been working their way through this year—Mistborn. In their discussion of the final book, Hero of Ages, they talk about Nate’s power of prediction, convenient solutions, and his desire for Sanderson to write longer books.
50: Abridgement of the Abridged Framing Device
Posted January 22, 2022
This week is our 50th Episode. It’s been quite a journey so far, and we’re looking forward to the next 50. For this episode Nate and Ryan gathered eight additional people who had previously appeared on the podcast at one point or another, trapped them in a room and asked them to talk about two things. First, Ryan asked them to tell him about some of their favorite comedy stories. Then, shortly thereafter the group discussed abridgments, cultural touchstones, getting involved in a land war in Asia, and of course, a MLT or mutton, lettuce, and tomato in the classic tale of true love and high adventure, The Princess Bride. With special guests: Nash Bridges, Scott Ponzani, Zach Smoker, Keith Kelleth, Angie Hall, Jamie Matsuoka, Nate Gibson, Terence Van Dam
49: Consigliere and Corn Salad
Posted January 1, 2022
This week, Nate finally talks about his mysterious side project. Following that, Nate and Ryan discuss Disney villains and how to do a prequel right. Then, Ryan breaks with tradition to use game corner to talk about some card games and the two talk about some small pranks they’ve pulled at one point or another. For the main media of the day the two talk about escalation, corn salad, and the pigeon mafia in their discussion of The Korean TV drama, Vincenzo.
48: Political Machinations
Posted December 18, 2021
This week Nate and Ryan have the attention span of a pair of squirrels. After a debate about the best Shrek and Nate recounting a sushi mistake, Ryan tells Nate all about escaping prison before they both try yuzu cider and Mont Blanc KitKats. After which, both of them remember some childhood accounts involving far too much water. For the main media of the day, they discuss realistic economic dependencies, hard made-up words, and ending wars with conversation in their discussion of Dune by Frank Herbert.
47: Wonders of Oral Hygiene
Posted November 25, 2021
Welcome back to the Wild West. The land of cowboys, shootouts and dentistry. This week, Nate finally reveals a bit (a tiny bit) about the project he’s been working on. Ryan talks about games - both video and board. Then looking back on their own pasts, they decide to talk about music they listened to when the were just a mite younger. After a snack time of regret, they move on to their main media of the day. During that discussion, they talk about A and B plots, humor being a group effort, unbelievable love stories and jokes from another time in their discussion of The Shakiest Gun in the West starring Don Knotts.
46: Still Trying to Make Something Good Happen
Posted October 14, 2021
Summer is officially over. Nate was (un)aware that the Olympics happened. Ryan thinks about his flight, his quarantine, and his return. They also both are reminded that 0 is equal to nothing.

For his game corner, Ryan talks about his not so honorable Samurai lifestyle in Ghost of Tsushima and as a period of reflection, the two think back on examples of great animated movies. After a chunky drink and an apple cinnamon KitKat they turn their attention to the main media of the day.

In it, they discuss curses, talking boars, morally gray characters, and giant blobs of death as they focus on Princess Mononoke.
45: Just Outside of Normal
Posted September 26, 2021
Fully vaccinated! Nate and Ryan celebrate their fully vaccinated status with a couple of small (masked) trips with their respective families. Then Nate talks about his struggle to organize his photos and Ryan talks about a game with creatures that are part bug and part snack — Bugsnax. After reminiscing about some of their most influential teachers and drinking a honey lemon cider with Mint Chocolate KitKats they turned their attention to the main media of the day, in which they talk about acceptance, being the odd kids, and getting emotions right in their discussion of Bridge to Terabithia.
44: Slowly Indoctrinate You With Good Fantasy
Posted August 29, 2021
Summertime in COVID-times is exactly as exiting as that sounds. Ryan talks about the minimal outside activities he was willing to do post-vaccination and Nate grieves over the nature of the rainy season in Japan. Thinking back, they reminisce on some of their favorite hiking journeys- both the successes and those that were... less so. For the snack corner, they brought forward a grape yogurt Fanta and raspberry Kit-Kats. Finally, for the main media, they talk about subverting expectations, a life of piracy, well-developed detail work, and the comic work of fratricidal royalty in the movie Stardust.
43: Pay Respect to the Klingon Culture
Posted August 6, 2021
Ryan is back in America and had to do his favorite activity - flying. So Nate and Ryan talk about his trip and the small thing of the ongoing pandemic, human nature, and vaccinations. Ryan also made a sudden splurging purchase in the middle of this episode as Nate reminded him of prime day. Then they talked about food from various cultures they loved before talking about the exertion of authority, how to show respect to a culture, and how gagh is best served live in their discussion of the Star Trek TNG episode, A Matter of Honor.
42: A Day in the Life of Vin
Posted July 16, 2021
Ryan is leaving on a jet plane. And the process hasn’t been kind. Ryan then introduces Nate to a life of crime in a tabletop RPG Blades in the Dark. After that, they both talk about some of their favorite strategy games, and ones they’d love to play more of in the future. Finally, they think about character development, unanswered questions and how everything is a lie in their discussion of The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson.
41: Solo Actor Aspect
Posted June 28, 2021
We all look hesitantly hopeful that the world is on it’s way back to a new sense of ‘normal’. As such, Nate talks about his most recent excursion to Disney and Ryan talks about his attempt to fly back to America to see his family. After that, Ryan objected to moving on before getting a chance to talk about Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney. Then, as they partook in a Grape Calpis and Maple Kit Kats, they decided to think back on some of their more difficult jobs. Finally, as they focused on the main media of the day, they talked about Ryan’s general distrust of large corporations, paperwork for approving your clones, lonely actors and a robot that decides not to go full H.A.L. in their discussion of Moon starring Sam Rockwell.
40: I'd ... Like to Lean In
Posted June 13, 2021
What happens when you mix a cobbler, a copper penny, a catfish, and a rosebush with no roses? Find out in this episode of My Hill To Die On, where Nate and Ryan have “invited” a few of their friends to play another parsely game with them. Even a Dragon can’t stop Nate Gibson, Zach Smoker, Angie Hall, and Nash Bridges from finding their true destiny and interacting with fully fleshed out, dynamic characters all found within Action Castle II.

As always, we’d like to thank Jared Sorensen of Memento Mori Theatricks for these wonderful games.
39: The Hero Is a Horrible Human Being
Posted May 30, 2021
If we told you we were trying to take over the world, would you believe us? No? Good.

Because instead of that, Nate and Ryan spent their time this week talking about doorbells, student loans, Moon-icorns, and Banana Caramel Kit-Kats. Then they turned their conversation to some of the best villains they’ve ever known. Finally, for the main media this week, they focused on one spectacular villain as they discuss Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog where they talked about blogging for your nemesis, supreme-stalker vibes, freeze rays, and being something great...like Bad Horse.
38: Character Observation Kind-of Story
Posted May 16, 2021
Nate and Ryan decide to reflect on some of the things happening in their own lives at this point in the year. Nate went to Fuji-Q for Spring Break with his family, where Ryan was able to get one of his videos posted to his 2-bit Storyteller YouTube channel, while he has also had some difficultly getting a ticket back to America for the Summer. After that, they decided to talk about some large world-shaping events and where they were on both September 11th 2001 and March 11th 2011. Then after the quite satisfactory snack time, they decide to talk about immigration, strength of characters, life-changing events and communism in space through Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers.
37: Falling In Love With Someone Over Letters
Posted April 26, 2021
This week we are looking to the future. At first, Nate and Ryan talk about their spring break. Then, Ryan talks a bit about his side project making a small channel to talk about games. Then after trying and orange cola and ume Kit-Kats, they discuss their dreams for the future. Finally, they turn the discussion towards their main media of the day, This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, where they focus on diverging timelines, poetic writing and falling in love through correspondence.
36: Sameness for a Safe Life
Posted March 27, 2021
There’s been quite a bit of looking back on memories lately eh? After some small updates about their side projects, Nate and Ryan think back on some of their memories that bring them some measure of happiness and joy in looking back on them. Then, after an actually decent Kit-Kat and an abnormally pink Cola, they moved onto the main media of the day. For the main media, they discuss dystopian futures, how much we lose in aiming for sameness and the life changing effect of sledding in The Giver.
35: Showing a Genuine Care for Your Fellow Man
Posted March 13, 2021
This week, Nate and Ryan took a trip back to their younger days. After talking about things happening in their lives, Ryan started by reminiscing about a game he played in his youth, Shadow of the Colossus. Following that, they drank a present from Scott which led to some rather strong feelings and divergent opinions. Then, Nate and Ryan thought about TV shows they watched as children. Finally, they discussed the dynamics of Father/Son relationships, showing care and kindness to other people, processing feelings and the whole Mister Rogers’ experience from the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
34: People and Being Nice to People
Posted February 17, 2021
This week, Nate challenged Ryan to watch a show related… to sport. Yes, feel free to show your shock and indignation along with us.

However, it is not at all a bad thing. In fact, due to the content of the main media, Nate requested the help of our special guest John Moltz (best known for his writing on Crazy Apple Rumors and several podcasts including The Rebound and Biff!) to explain why it was such an amazing show.

However, before they got into all that, Nate and Ryan asked John to reminisce a bit about his time in Japan. John used this opportunity to warn the world about the heat of Japan in the summer and the glory of Japanese vending machines. Then, the three of them talked about various sport related memories and stories from their own pasts. Finally, as they got to the main media, they discussed being genuine, kindness, Coach Beard’s chess affiliation and making an impact on people’s lives through the TV show Ted Lasso.
33: Don’t Question My Geekery
Posted February 1, 2021
2020 is over. Welcome 2021! We decided to play a game as our intro into the new year. As such, we gathered up a few friends and asked them questions from each of their own fandoms. Nate and Ryan are joined this week by Keith, Scott and Jamie for a lovely War of the Fandoms, which included questions from Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, Sci-Fi Literature and a few miscellaneous surprises.
32: Altruistic Heist
Posted January 14, 2021
We’ve reached the end of 2020 and it was… a year. However, it was also the first full year of My Hill To Die On and thus, Nate and Ryan have a lot to celebrate. First they decide to reflect back on their year thinking about all the many things that happened and the things they got to experience through the show. Then, they had a Premium Peach drink provided by Scott Ponzani (guest from a few episodes ago). Finally they wrap up the year by reading Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. In their discussion of the book, they talk about scientific magic, heists for freedom, belief, and the number of things that will be explained in more depth in future novels.
31: We Live to Enrich Ourselves
Posted December 31, 2020
“Outatime”. An iconic Delorian license plate. Also the center of most of Nate and Ryan’s discussions today. No, they are not talking about back to the future but other things that are “Out of time”. However, they first they talk about what is happening in their lives and try some rather interesting flavored foods. Then, Ryan talks about a game called the Sexy Brutale where a the player controls Lafcadio Boone, a preacher, trapped in a time loop where all the members of the party he is attending repeatedly die. After which, Nate and Ryan talk about some of the things in their own lives which seem to be out of time. Things that no longer fit in our modern society (at least not as much as they used to). Finally, for the main media, they discuss The Next Generation episode “The Neutral Zone” with the predominant side plot where three people from our time are woken up in the 24th century. Through the events of the show they discuss what makes human kind better than they are, the Borg vs. the Ferengi, Star Trek’s positive perception of the future, and why meddling passengers should just stay off the bridge.
30: Star Wars Meets the Muppets
Posted December 17, 2020
Nate loves Sci-Fi. However, Ryan found out that Nate had never seen Farscape. Seeking to remedy this, he decides to have Nate and a friend of theirs watch the first few episodes of it. In this episode, they introduce their friend, special guest Scott Ponzani, who among other things asks Nate for a conclusion to his Synology tale. Then, the three of them decided to talk about times in their own past experiences where they were like fish out of water (or made others feel that way). As a side note, we apologize for those among you who may find social awkwardness painful, as these stories are ripe with it. Finally, for the main media, they discuss the Farscape premiere episode and allude to the next few as they discuss, Translation Microbes, Dominar Rygel XVI (who is so very much like Rygel the First), what a “Peacekeeper” is and the not so surprising lack of Statler and Waldorf.
29: Window-view into Their Lives
Posted November 27, 2020
This week Nate and Ryan show off another look into their lives with a look at their home screens and how they organize their phone lives. Then they talk about various games and the new hip things all the younglings are playing these days. After that they had… an experience. An experience named Caramel Punch Pepsi. For the main media of the episode Nate had Ryan watch the Alfred Hitchcock movie, Rear Window. After watching it, they discuss proper housing community layouts, the art of showing not telling, and how long one has to stare at their neighbors for it to officially be considered creepy.
28: Humans Grow and Adapt
Posted November 12, 2020
The episode this week opens as Nate is grieving over the loss of his Synology and the hoops he is finding that he needs to jump through for it to come back to life. Since the main media today opens with a boy travelling to Tokyo looking for a job, Nate and Ryan decide to talk about a few of the jobs they’ve held down in the past. This includes everything from Web-development to working in a boiler room. After that glimpse into their past, Ryan brings up BioShock and what about it’s narrative choices made it a wonderful game. After all that, have a drink of a rather odd combo in Salt and Litchi Pepsi. For the main media this week, Ryan had Nate watch Weathering With You (also known as Tenki no Ko) a full length Animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai who also directed Your Name. In their discussion they talk about character likability, cameos, the benefits of watching movies in one sitting, the impact of decisions and what picnics would be like in a flooded city.
27: Writing in Your Purpose Text Field
Posted October 26, 2020
Returning to an illusion of normalcy, this week, Nate and Ryan are back with your regular programming. They start by deciding to not talk about politics all together. Having avoided that minefield, Ryan talks about the completely not contentious topic of his opinion on his favorite Final Fantasy game. Then they both talk about some of their favorite tasks and drink one of the more interesting sounding substances that they’ve subjected themselves to: wasabi ginger ale. For the main media this week, they return the Becky Chambers’ universe where they talk about about purpose, families, how to give a teenager space and how to rattle off academic sounding nonsense confidently.
26: We Love Friend Computer
Posted October 11, 2020
We played another game! This week, Ryan and Nate blackmailed a few of their friends into joining them to play a game called Space Station. Space Station is a Parsely game* made by Jared Sorensen of Memento Mori Theatricks. The members of this expedition show the world the resilience of a couple of red shirts with a save state. Through the adventure, they learn how pod bay doors work, the value of leaving notes for yourself, and how a robot dog is everybody’s best friend. Featuring special guests Terence Van Dam and Angie Hall.

*It should be noted that we are not sponsored in any way by Jared Sorensen or Memento Mori. We just really love his games.
25: The Liss Family Lexicon
Posted September 22, 2020
Japan. Our place of residence. There are many things that set it apart from other places. Together, with very special guest Casey Liss (one of the hosts of both the Accidental Tech Podcast and Analog(ue), and the creator of Peek-a-view app on the AppStore, all projects that are far more successful than this one), they discuss many things that are unique about Japan. First, they talk about how Nate and Ryan ended up in Japan in the first place (That’s right folks, it’s the backstory episode!). Then, they shift to the mouse who owns everything. Star Wars, Marvel and even Tokyo’s Land and Sea. The three of them talk about the parks and what makes them different from other Disney theme parks around the world. Finally, for the main media of the week, Casey had Nate and Ryan watch one of his favorite episodes of Top Gear, where the hosts race across Japan in a Nissan GT-R against Japan’s neigh on infallible public transit system, including the world famous bullet train.
24: Are We Having Fun?
Posted September 8, 2020
Summer was ending for everyone involved. In response to another season passing, Nate and Ryan talk about how their summers shaped up and the beginning of the school year. Then, they shift to the differences between American Disney+ and Japanese Disney+ Japan and Ryan talks about Kingdoms of Amalur, a game that starts with your death. They decide to pick two meals that fill them with some level of joy before partaking in an Orange-Vanilla Coke. For the main media of the day, Ryan forces Nate to face Death by reading the book Mort by Sir Terry Pratchett, a book that involves the rigors of apprenticeship, the nature of reality (at least a reality where the world rides atop the back of four elephants on a turtle), and how Death really just wants to be a dancing, short-order chef spending his offtime playing with cats.
23: Show-off the Tuchus of a Baby
Posted August 23, 2020
Time for the obligatory musical episode! Nate and Ryan start by talking about what has been happening in their lives— Nate’s vacation and Ryan’s attempt to find peace of mind. Then, Ryan introduces the change to the game corner and he discusses why he likes the Legend of Heroes games. Then, as an alteration on C.C. Lemon is drunk, they talk about some of their favorite musical numbers in movies, TV or broadway. For the main media of the day, they discuss what the doge did or didn’t do with the duchess and the tragedy of the chalice from the palace as they watched the Court Jester starring Danny Kaye.
22: Sixteen Different Insults
Posted July 28, 2020
Arrr!!! It finally be the time where Nate and Ryan talk about pirates. First those landlubbers talk about what be happening in their lives, including Nate’s programming projects and Ryan’s health anxiety. Then they revel in the past conquests of old computer games from when they were but lads. They drink a rather paltry replacement for grog and finally they talk about the main media o’ the day, “The Secret of Monkey Island”. Through which they talk about the exorcising power of root beer, insult fighting, asking a pirate about LOOM (“You mean the latest masterpiece of fantasy storytelling from Lucasfilms™ Brian Moriarty™?”)
21: Graphing Skills Are Gonna Save the Day
Posted July 9, 2020
It has been over a year since we started talking about our various hills to die on. This week, Nate and Ryan opened by talking about their impressions from WWDC. Then, after Ryan talked about his mountain of games he’s been playing and Nate talked about the mobile game that dragged him back in, they tried drinking a new drink called “Sparkle”. For the main media this week, Nate continues his trek through Star Trek: TNG with Season 1 Episode 23: The Skin of Evil. During which they talk about how one might skin evil, differences between TNG and original Star Trek solutions and how to update your holographic will to include the children of co-workers.
20: Sticking It to the Man in General
Posted June 23, 2020
This week, the show opens with a discussion of the global issues surrounding police brutality especially towards the black community in the United States. We stand with a wide community of people calling out for justice.

Shifting from global issues, the Seniors from the school Nate and Ryan work at graduated. They decided to talk about the process of graduation in a distanced world. After which, they talked about some of their “favorite” flight experiences before trying out Fanta Premium Grape. For the main media this week, Ryan chose to have Nate watch M*A*S*H Season 4 episode 1 “Welcome to Korea”, during which they discuss how to balance humor and seriousness, sticking it to the man and how to make a comedy about the Korean War.
19: Is There Gonna Be a Tapper Story?
Posted June 1, 2020
This week, Nate and Ryan are joined by a very special guest, Dan Moren the author of the Galactic Cold War series. Inviting him in to the usual routine, they talk about their current gaming trends, and their favorite espionage and heist scenes from books, television and movies. As a truly Japanese experience, the three of them eat Hi-Chew and follow it with a Calpis chaser. For the main media of the week, seeing as they had the author himself, the three talk about Dan Moren's most recent book, The Aleph Extraction. Having cornered the author, Nate and Ryan used this opportunity to talk to Dan about his early influences, writing process, character development, world building, and how every space luxury yacht clearly has a closet full of capes.
18: A Chosen Family
Posted May 25, 2020
This week is all about something we all haven’t done in a while, travel. First, Nate and Ryan talk about the art of dance, or at least games in that genre. Then, they both discuss times that they had... memorable trips. After partaking in some very realistic smelling Melon Soda, they move onto the main media. For the main media this week, they talk about acceptance, chosen families, sapience, and at what point humanity would acknowledge that we “had a good run”.
17: Everyone's A Policeman
Posted May 11, 2020
Ryan is moving apartments and has many strong feelings about that process. After complaining very thoroughly about that, he also tells Nate about Final Fantasy VII Remake and how much he has enjoyed that journey. Nate and Ryan then talk about how they have passed the time in this time of "Social Distance". They decide to try out a new drink this week in Pepsi Orange. Yes, you read that correctly, an Orange flavored Pepsi. For the main media this week, Ryan had Nate read "The Man who was Thursday: A Nightmare" by G.K Chesterton, through which they discuss allegories, anarchy, law, and how one can appropriately dress as a day of the week.
16: Attaboy!
Posted April 29, 2020
This week, Nate and Ryan continued to muse about their lives under the new normal of Coronavirus. Ryan takes the opportunity to talk about his experience being in debt to a raccoon. After that, they both discuss the variety of sources they receive news from. For the main media this week, they watched the Ghost and Mr. Chicken starring Don Knotts. In their discussion, they talk about small towns, believable characters, unbelievable accents, and the intrinsic dichotomy of calm and murder.
15: The Internet is Screaming At You
Posted April 10, 2020
This week was something completely different. For the 15th episode Nate and Ryan invited some of their friends and they played a game together on the internet. Using a base of Disney's Beat the Parents, Genus 1 of Trivial Pursuit and Scattegories they played a few rounds of trivia to find out who was the most Trivial. Featuring special guests Keith, Terence and Angie.
14: Little Doris Sleeps with the Fishes Now
Posted March 28, 2020
This week, Coronavirus is still a thing, so Nate and Ryan continue to talk about how they are working and teaching from an appropriate social distance. Ryan mentions how social distance is giving him more time to finish his backlog of games before Final Fantasy comes out. Then, as only appropriate in the middle of March, they bring up their personal yearly themes. This week they drink a pink-lemonade cider with a surprising amount of grapefruit flavor in it. For the main media, this week they watched Meet the Robinsons. Through which, they discuss forward momentum, quirky characters, the glory of checklists, and the importance of thinking through evil schemes.
13: Interdimensional Temporal Telephone
Posted March 17, 2020
The world is going crazy with coronavirus. This week, Nate and Ryan discussed doing school from a distance and the struggles that presents. Then, as always, they discuss what games Ryan has been playing and they try out a new drink. After that, they decide to talk about times in the past where they made especially big intercultural faux pas. For the main media this week, they talked about Arrival and the Story of Your Life. Through which, they talk about non-linear thinking, causality, and the eternal question: which is better, the book or the movie?
12: We Are All Deserving of the Same Respect
Posted February 24, 2020
A pretty Star Trek heavy episode this week. Nate and Ryan got a chance to meet Data and Riker in real life so they decided to talk about that experience and all it entailed. Then, they focus on it being a good time to be a Star Trek fan with two shows running right now in Picard and Discovery. They also reminisce about the past series as they bring up some of their favorite characters and ships from past series. For the main media this week, they chose to rewatch “The Measure of a Man” from season 2 of Star Trek: The Next Generation. As they watch the episode, they talk about on its relationship with future episodes and series, some great character development, and respect for one’s fellow sentient beings -- whether or not they have an off switch.
11: Wanting to Complete the Project
Posted February 15, 2020
Feeling a bit eclectic, Nate and Ryan discuss a wide variety of topics. They begin by talking about some of their favorite board games, and Nate realizes the apparent value of a 40-year old game peripheral. They then talk about the iPad’s anniversary and their own history with the device. Ryan talks about games he’s been playing and how one investigates the dead with a magic pocket watch. For the media this week, Ryan suggests that Nate read a novella from one of his favorite authors: The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson. Through the discussion about the book they talk about judgy grandfather figures, the true nature of things and the importance of seeing a project through to completion.
10: Do You Remember the Raccoon?
Posted January 29, 2020
Nate and Ryan are back from the Christmas break and brought stories from their trips and adventures. Nate also reminisces about some of the very thoughtful gifts he has given to his wife in the past. Ryan brings up his desire for this year to be a year of progress and Nate plans to have a year of the same. After commiserating about the lack of a modular Mac in their lives, they partook in a Double-thickness Strawberry flavored Calpis. For the Media this week they talk about a classic that Ryan somehow missed in his childhood, the Iron Giant, during which they discussed timing, being who you choose to be and why Iron Giants dream of electric sheep.
9: Second First Book of a Series
Posted January 3, 2020
This week Nate and Ryan decide to put 2019 to rest by talking about some of their favorite things from the past year. With a number of trips, movies, games, and a brand new (used) car; it has been an eventful one. Then, not learning from the disaster that was Ume Pepsi, they subject themselves to another new drink: Peach and Pear Tea Soda. The media this week was their pick of favorite book they read that was published in 2019 -- The Bayern Agenda by Dan Moren. In their discussion of the book, they talk about character development, world-building, and snark. Basically, everything that makes this an excellent second first book in a series.
8: Until It’s Very Perfect
Posted December 24, 2019
This week, Nate and Ryan take a trip down memory lane and discuss some of their favorite Christmas memories and traditions. Ryan then talks about the games he’s playing and the struggles one must endure in waiting for a fully translated RPG. Nate and Ryan then drink (and regret drinking) the Japan Special Zero Calorie Ume Flavored Pepsi. It tastes exactly how that sounds. For the media this week, Nate has Ryan watch Edge of Tomorrow, where they discuss the ideal state for perfectionists and why superpowers triggered by one’s death are just so inconvenient.
7: By the Power of Not Bickering
Posted December 1, 2019
This week, Nate and Ryan talk about why Ryan left Netflix to join the Magical Kingdom. After a long journey through Disney+’s catalog left them parched, they attempted another taste test with CC Lemon Honey, which they had strong feelings about. Afterwards, they talked about their favorite Japanese foods and Ryan discussed more games that he has been playing. For the media this week, Nate and Ryan revisit an old favorite, Mystery Men. In rewatching it, they discuss some terribly mysterious men (and women), the Herkimer battle jitney (finest nonlethal military vehicle ever made), and the most powerful disguise known to mankind -- glasses.
6: Let’s Not Wait, Let’s Burn It Now
Posted November 25, 2019
This week Nate and Ryan decided to bring out the sampler platter of content. First they celebrated the various ways eating out in Japan is extra convenient. Then, after Ryan gave a quick game update they sent a siren song out to their (as of yet) non-existent sponsors. For the media this week, they brought two mini topics to the table. They stepped into the overly-sarcastic Grue-cautioning shoes of a computer parser as they talked about their experiences playing the Parsely Games. They then asked themselves ‘what makes comedy’ and ‘what is a classic’ with Nate’s favorite moral teaching pyromaniacs with Jungle Jam and Friends.
5: Take the Script and Glue It on a Wall
Posted November 14, 2019
With both Nate and Ryan buying new iPhones, they attempt to defend the reasoning behind their own purchases, and share their impressions of their new devices. Then, Ryan went to Tokyo Game Show and decided to share the joy of queueing and getting a chance to play Final Fantasy VII Remake (among other things). For the media this week, they then focus on the need for clear instructions in our prophecies, real life troubles of dream-fasting and the long term benefits of Gelfling juice in our discussion the classic movie, The Dark Crystal.
4: The Persnicketiness of It
Posted October 14, 2019
Nate took a trip with his family to a community pool and thought he’d test out his phone’s waterproofing. He discovers first hand what apps he has to have on a phone. We speculate on what we might purchase if/when Apple releases new iPhones. Our hill to die on this week is the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Encounter At Farpoint. A show we both watched in our formative years. Please watch the episode first to enjoy our discussion.
3: Three months of Doom
Posted July 28, 2019
We both decide that exercise in the summer is a good thing (what are we thinking?) Then we go over our favorite things we can do in air conditioned rooms like reading and our recent trips to the movie theater. We obsess over our favorite podcast player and each try to claim our favorite podcasts for ourselves. Nate brings his hill to die on this week with the LeVar Burton Reads podcasts, especially episode 19: “Different Kinds of Darkness” by David Langford. Give it a quick listen and enjoy our discussion.
2: Normal teenage boy’s reaction
Posted June 23, 2019
We dive into the announcements of E3 and Ryan’s obsession with games. Then we take a well deserved break with a refreshing Coke Clear Lime (was it really refreshing?). Nate took a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort and tries to liberate himself from his tendencies towards efficiency. Our hill to die on this week is a Japanese anime film by Makoto Shinkai called Your Name. Another movie we both have picked and really enjoy. Please watch the movie first to enjoy our discussion.
1: I Sound a Lot Smarter When I’m Writing
Posted June 9, 2019
On our very first episode we introduce ourselves and our podcast. We discuss WWDC: our overall impressions, features for others, and features we’re looking forward to. In our health update Ryan tries to use his sickness as an excuse while Nate earned 600 points against him in our Apple Watch challenge. Our hill to die on this week is Passengers (2016), a movie both of us picked. Please watch this movie first to enjoy our discussion.