Advertise on podcast: Simple and Clean: A Kingdom Hearts Podcast

Can a copy ever be as real as the original? For the sake of our faves, we hope so - today we’re talking about Replicas! A vessel crafted with care to house memories and hearts… but aren’t we all? Specifically we’re talking about Even/Vexen’s Replica program, and how a noble pursuit of knowledge spun radically out of one scientist’s control and became a crucial weapon in the ultimate battle at the end of the world. But it also allowed characters we thought we’d lost forever a second life - in the cases of Roxas, Xion & Naminé, one arguably much better than their first! I guess it’s really true what they say: guns aren’t people, Replicas are people. Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part city, part spaceship, all vibes - today we’re talking all about The World That Never Was, the homebase world for Organization XIII. An empty facade of a world, reflecting the empty facades of its masters the Nobodies, it relies mostly on vibes to justify its existence at all. I mean, it’s got ordinary hallways with names like “Ruin & Creation’s Passage” - settle down a little! And then, when Xemnas populates it, he only does so with rage and suffering… which is maybe we’re not so sad to see it go, in the end. Should the World That Never Was ever should have been? Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Xion, the forgotten 14th member of Organization XIII, was originally a Replica made to absorb overflow power from Sora and Roxas (and replace them should they prove too willful and defiant). But Xion manages to take those scattered pieces and create something wholly new for herself. Her existence is a constant fight… one she, unfortunately, goes on to lose, so that Sora can be properly returned to the story. But despite all she goes through, Xion proves that we are more than the sum of our parts, and despite our origins we all deserve a place in this world together - and that’s both beautiful and heartbreaking. Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to the sleepover! We had a fantastic time recording our live show at PAX West 2026, getting comfy in our jammies with our friends Jenna Stoeber, Jasmine Bhullar & David Tilstra, talking all about playing games at sleepovers & how we discovered games in our youths. What makes a good sleepover game? What makes sleepovers so good for games? What CAN’T you find at the Thieves’ Market?? And what games should you bring to your next sleepover? Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Guests: - Guests: Jenna Stoeber, Jasmine Bhullar & David Tilstra - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Streamer & comedian Kelly Nicole joins us on top of the Twilight Town clocktower to recap the mind-bending mundanity of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days!  As if Roxas’s story in Kingdom Hearts 2 wasn’t tragic enough, 358/2 Days turns back the clock to show us how Roxas came to be part of Organization XIII in the first place, and what made him decide to leave them behind. When you’re killing the same creatures day in and day out, being an evil minion can be pretty mind-numbing! Especially when your thoughts and memories might be overflowing into a spare receptacle your bosses happen to have lying around. But Roxas, Axel & Xion truly learn how to make their downtimes special, meeting up every day atop the clocktower to eat their sea-salt ice cream. And so, as Naminé pieces the missing parts of the sleeping Sora back together and their continued existences are challenged, they learn to fight, not for a grand cosmic cause, but simply for the right to be. Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Guest: Kelly Nicole - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Land of Dragons, much like the fireworks that prominently feature in its source movie Mulan, makes a short but fiery impact on the series in its only appearance in Kingdom Hearts 2. At the time of its launch Mulan was still pretty recent, and much beloved! The art team did a great job translating Mulan’s model, her landscape, and her journey of mastery to video game form, and the world has some fantastic boss fights. But as time has stretched on and more Disney films have risen to the top of the crop, the Land of Dragons got left behind. Are there blossoms still left on the tree for this world? Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are joined today by historian & certified hater Dr. Claire Aubin! She hosts a podcast called This Guy Sucked, where she tears apart so-called “Great Men” from history. So we tried to find the Guy who Sucks the most, so she’d feel right at home!  Ansem the Wise was, once upon a time, the Sage-King of Radiant Garden. But when he takes in a powerful amnesiac and teaches him how to harness darkness, he is sent tumbling down into the depths of despair and the Dark Realm, and when he emerges his heart becomes calloused and consumed by revenge. And although he does eventually learn that perhaps his methods were not the nicest, it does take the vicious manipulation of several teenagers for him to figure that out. So we turned to Dr. Claire, to ask: Does Ansem the Wise suck?? Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Guest: Dr. Claire Aubin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week Disney held their annual D23 Expo in Anaheim, and to our shock and delight, they FINALLY treated the Kingdom Hearts series as the crown jewel we have always known it to be! We got an extended look at our first Disney world for Kingdom Hearts IV, previews of new gameplay mechanics, the reveal of several newly-playable characters (like Donald & Goofy), and confirmation of some of the details we’d gleaned from previous trailers - all while STILL leaving us with more questions about what exactly is going on with Sora in the world of Quadratum. All this, as well as the announcement of a new anime series, a beautiful performance by the voice cast, and a rare appearance by series creator Tetsuya Nomura, made this panel one any Kingdom Hearts fan absolutely needs to see. So in case you didn’t see it: don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe made secret endings into required reading, Kingdom Hearts was using cryptic, intense, bad-ass cutscenes to tease their future games, and blow child minds… but only those dedicated enough to reach them. Today we’re talking about the Kingdom Hearts series’ tradition of Secret Endings - what they are, where they come from, what they’re for, and perhaps most importantly, how they made us feel when our brains were still cooking. Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re going Under The Sea - darling it’s wetter, but is it actually better? Atlantica is a divisive world among the Kingdom Hearts fandom. In the first game, it’s a proper level - the only one where the Disney Princess actually joins you in combat! In Kingdom Hearts II… well, it’s a much-maligned rhythm game, with original songs that may not quite match the legacy of Howard Ashman’s original compositions. Why is it like this? Is it really as bad as we all remember? And what can we do to keep Ariel as a part of our world? Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s our 1st Anniversary! Making this show for an entire year has been a special joy and a blessing. We talk about how it’s going, what making the show has been like, and everything that’s changed for the KH fandom this year - actually a lot somehow! We’ll read some lovely listener messages from a special collection of our most frequent callers, and we’ll give each other the most beautiful anniversary gift: a long, luxurious discussion about what Disney worlds we’d like to see in a future game! Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Consider items: They are things! Useful tools & upgrades are a video game staple, and in our quest to 100%-completely explain the Kingdom Hearts series, we’ll go through them all. Where do potions come from? What are our most memorable Key Items in games? Why does Kingdom Hearts 3 get TWO crafting systems? And how can a keyblade design be sexy? We’ll throw the answers to all of these questions and more into a recipe, and hopefully synthesize some kind of coherent episode. Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we were setting up to record future episodes, we got a hot tip on a WILD new Kingdom Hearts scene that leaked online. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen to date, it may have huge implications on the future of the story, and it was released amidst a frenzied cyclone of internet drama - one which drew us to deeper places than we’re usually comfortable with. It’s just another day in the Kingdom Hearts fandom! Join us for this special minisode where we are reacting HOT to the Missing-Link leaks! For an even deeper dive, check out the full Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link Cinematic Intro! Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who’s the Monarch of the Realm who wields Kingdom Key D? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E! As is only befitting his station, King Mickey is a central player in the KH mythos. From humble beginnings, only being allowed to appear in a single moment in the first Kingdom Hearts game, we find Mickey at the center of every major conflict in the series, along the way passing on hard-won knowledge and wisdom to a new generation of Keyblade wielders. But with an air of such gravity and consequence, we may have to ask ourselves: is King Mickey the same character as the fun-loving & plucky Mickey Mouse we’ve known all along? Or is it true what they say: heavy hangs the head that wears the crown? Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Come frolic with us through the 100 Acre Wood, Kingdom Hearts’ safe haven world! It’s the only world where the Heartless never appear, and it’s a delight to Sora whenever he can find the time to return here for some chill minigames (provided you find the Torn Pages, and don't accidentally skip over them). But as the series matures more and more, the bright pastels and simple nature of Winnie the Pooh’s adventures seem more and more out of place. Is there still room along Sora’s increasingly-bitter journey for a little smackerel of sweetness? Credits - Created & hosted by: Mischa Stanton & Mayanna Berrin - Music: “Sunset Dew” by Lupus Nocte - A member of  Multitude - Support us on Patreon About Us Simple and Clean is a show where hosts Mischa Stanton and Mayanna Berrin (and friends) 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 hopefully to convince you that this weird little story deserves a place in your heart. Join us as we discuss the plot, characters, world building, music, fashion, fanbase, and societal impact of a thing that by all means, probably shouldn’t even exist. New episodes every Sunday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.