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Hey I know this doesn’t have anything to do with the podcast at all, but it was HOT today! I put a thermometer in our courtyard and it read 116 degrees in the sun! I stood outside for 45 seconds and could smell my own skin crisping up. Absolutely f****d up. Anyways, the boys got some video games to talk about I suppose. Like Zac always says, if you don’t Elden Ring, then you Smell(den Ring). Then Mike provides a nice little update on the nice little cheese brick console colloquially known as the PlayDate. Ya’ll ever try Pocari Sweat? It’s like flavorless gatorade, you should give it a spin. Could be helpful in this wicked summer heat we’ve mustered. -- Mike’s got a Patreon and too many side projects. Zac's drinking sweat now? This isn't the dystopia I signed up for. Send us email at [email protected] or don't, we don't care anymore. Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat

Howdy doody, folks! As you'll hear, we're trying something else this week. Something a little looser, and a little more for us. It's not perfect, but we're far from finished making this pod exactly what we want it to be. Even we don't know what that is yet! In any case, thanks for listening. This week, we have a meandering conversation that veers from staying cool in the summer, to movies, work, football, memories, feelings, and of course, what video games we're playing. Also, apologies for Mike's audio being very quiet, he's a dingus and so is Windows 10. -- Mike’s got a Patreon and a YouTube Channel Zac's drowning in Italian ice, and does not want to be saved. Send us email at [email protected] Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

The world is slowly heating. In a good way! It's not winter anymore, and we're all out doing things (in as safe a manner as possible). Zac is going to shows and skating his heart out, Mike is shooting everything in sight (with a camera), and we're both still...playing video games inside. It's in our nature. You can take the boy out of the video game, but you can't make him drink. -- Mike’s got a Patreon and a YouTube Channel Zac's been stun-locked by four dogs, unfortunately 😬 Send us email at [email protected] Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

Whew, man. You ever move before? Like, change the place that you live? It’s such an exciting time, you get the privilege to call somewhere new your home! But boy howdy, if you’re not mindful, all of that work will sneak up on you like a jungle cat, eager to make you its supper. If you’re diligent though, it’ll all come together just fine, and then you get to arrange furniture, hang art on the walls, learn the layout of a neighborhood. All the fun stuff that makes the agonizing box packing worthwhile. This week Mike got a root canal, and Formula One gets the fresh shot in the arm it certainly needs, and possibly deserves. Jury’s still out on that one. There’s also some nostalgia laced juice box discussion in there somewhere, you know how kids can get about their sugary drinks. Thanks as always for tuning in, and don’t forget to take a couple more walks as the weather’s warming up. Nothing quite like this time of year. -- Mike’s got a Patreon and a YouTube Channel Zac's got a new home and he just HAS to rub it in everyone's faces Send us email at [email protected] Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

It’s a shorter one this week, folks. Zac’s move is kicking into high gear, and its understandably eaten his brain. We’re a little bit all over the place, as you might imagine, but we manage to focus on a single topic long enough to talk about our experiences with two recent entries in the open-world video game space, Elden Ring and Pokémon Legends: Arceus. One of these games is very good. The other, maybe not so much. You’ll just have to listen to unravel that brain-teaser. Other topics of discussion: Moving, Our Podcast Birthday, Parades, City Regret, and whether Mike is just a performing monkey with no thoughts or ideas of his own. -- Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel Zac's got no time for you unless you're a box or something that needs to be put inside a box Please stop sending us email at [email protected], it's really too much now. There are too many of you. Please. The servers. Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat

Hey there, hope it’s starting to warm up ‘round your town this time of year. February feels like the brutal final stretch before we can enjoy being outside again, with the air not trying to kill us and all. The theme of this week’s episode inadvertently revolves around being pissed at the powers that be. The absolute soul-wrenching slog that is hunting for an apartment, devastation of art history at the hands of copyright worshiping game development companies, and how Spotify can go suck on a friggin’ lemon for all we care. What can we say, there were grievances that needed to be aired. Unrelated to any of that, we do briefly discuss how some Pokémon are just Guy Shaped by nature, and how haunting reality would be if they occupied the world with us. As always, thanks to everyone that takes even a spare moment to listen to us on this program. I hope you’ve got some early Spring plans you’re excited about. -- Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel. Zac's got a lot of boxes, but there could always be more. Send us email at [email protected]. Please. Mike just wants one. Just one email? Thank you. Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

Hey uh, quick question. How’s your town doing? Cuz the, uh… the boys are back in it. You see because we’re the boys in this– you know what? It’s fine. This week on the pod, Zac’s stocking up on wings and brews cuz that Big Game is a-comin’. After that, Mike tells the tale of how he definitely definitely did NOT get scammed. While in the realm of scams, the Friends delve into some NFT talk, and Zac shares a very good and long video that explains just why these non-fungible little bastards suck shit. Finally, Mike does not try but maybe slightly succeeds in selling Zac on the new Pokémon. Warm those ears up, folks, because we were feeling it this episode. Consistently. And thoroughly. You’ve been warned. LINKS: Why you can't fix your smartphone [zentouro] Line Goes Up - The Problem with NFTs [Folding Ideas] -- Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel Zac gets knocked down, but he gets up again. You're never gonna keep him down.  Send us email at [email protected] Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

We’re back! It’s been nearly a month since we last graced your ears with the exciting tales of our latest exploits. How have you survived, honestly? Well, with the holidays behind us, it’s time to — say it with me — talk about said holidays! Mike did more traveling than he has in a very long time, Zac caught an obscure little virus you may not have heard of, and we both talk about how New Year’s resolutions are complete b******t before giving you…our respective resolutions. We’re shaking off the rust this week, folks. Don’t expect nothing fancy. Also in this ep: Being Hooked Up to a Red Bull IV, AGDQ’s Millions, A 3-hour Video on Pac-Man, and Football Slime. Hope everyone’s holidays were enjoyable, and here’s to a fresh year of being friends…loudly. -- Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel Zac's got two thumbs and can't stop Smashin' SEND US EMAIL AT [email protected] PLEASE OKAY Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

Hello! Happy Holidays to you dear listener, from the Loud Friends Crew! Apologies for the episode being a day late, but there’s just so much to do as Christmas Day gets closer and closer. Ya’ll ever figure out how to wrap your presents properly? Like in a way that doesn’t make you feel like a grown up kindergartener in crafts class?? I just did for the first time this year, and let me tell ya, I feel unstoppable. Zac’s growing tired of some tried and true hobbies of his, and decides that becoming a big Super Smash Brother Melee dork is his only way out. Mike decides to enforce an end of the year deadline for a GOTY project, which, hey, good for him, a rigorous schedule can do wonders for a guy. We also both (mostly) watched the documentary Get Back and talk about how damn funny the Beatles are. Have a safe holiday break folks, and as always, thanks for listening to our little show. —— Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel Zac’s secretly Santa, I’m sure of it, but don’t tell anybody Send us email at [email protected] Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

This week on the pod, the friends are joined by special guest Lauren Heath! The group recounts their respective experiences over the Thanksgiving holiday before pivoting to a spirited discussion of the latest Animal Crossing update, the Happy Home Paradise DLC, and whether or not the game is just too dang slow! After that, Mike has been playing Inscryption, and he’s ready to spread the good word and preemptively declare it his GOTY pick for 2021. Get ready for a multi-faceted conversation about last name mispronunciations, video game origins, and multidimensional sense memory cubes! -- Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel. Zac's got a bounty on the head of Matt Nagy, all serious offers considered. Lauren's work can be found @laurenheathart on Instagram, and supported on Patreon. Send us email at [email protected] Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

Hey there! A sincere thank you for bearing with the interlude episode last week. Sometimes life catches up and we need to recoup. That, truly, is just the way. This week we have something a bit different planned! Mike proposed a very fun segment idea that we ran with for a majority of the show. We’re talking about our favorite television intro and outro sequences! We’re absolute suckers for nostalgia when it comes to this stuff, so if you’re looking to take a trip down memory lane to revisit some 90s Cartoon Network staples and early 2000s moody teen dramas, come on in and plop down in front of the CRT, because we got what you need. -- Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel Zac’s got some nice glasses, it's a shame you can't see them. Send us email at [email protected] Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

I'm gonna be honest with you, folks: we're tired. We've both been very busy this past month, and we just weren't feeling it this fortnight, so we're not going to force it! We'll be back in 2 weeks with some Brand Spanking New Doug. Remember that? I certainly don't. Even on an off week, the Friends manage to take a second and talk about that hot Animal Crossing DLC that's dropping in a few days, how they're feeling about the game, and the myriad ways that you, the listener, can force this podcast upon the ones you love, the ones you hate, and the ones about which you are indifferent. Also apologies for the quality of Mike's audio in this one. It's entirely unrelated to us taking a break, he's just a dingus and forgot to check which device his audio was coming through. Oops! Let's blame the new Adobe updates. See you again soon! -- Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel Zac has hidden 39 precious gems in remote locations around the world. See if you can decipher the clues in each of our episodes! Send us email at [email protected] Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt Music from Uppbeat License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6