Breakfast in Beauclair

By Alyssa Esteban

Welcome to Breakfast in Beauclair, a global Witcher podcast. Every episode, host Alyssa of GoodMorhen sits with a new guest to discuss Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher Universe. Join our international ... more

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FAQs about Breakfast in Beauclair:

How many episodes does Breakfast in Beauclair have?

The podcast currently has 114 episodes available.

Breakfast in Beauclair episodes:

December 13, 2025Ep. 112 — Chapter 7 (Part 1) from "Tower of Swallows"
Madi from the US and Sophia from Australia join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Tower of Swallows, Chapter 7. Very important bits include: a first timer's thoughts on the book series, parallels to previous guest appearances, doing "too good of a job" on the Witcher audiobooks, the flaminika's request, Geralt's humility, first impressions of Avallac'h, being on your "Aragorn bullshit", Avallac'h's… fascinations and centuries-long grudges.

[0:00] Cold Open

[0:46] Introduction

[3:11] Guest Introductions

[13:38] Chapter Recap

[16:00] Overall Thoughts

[20:53] Geralt's Humility

[24:31] Avallac'h's First Impression

[29:43] Avallac'h's Cave Paintings

[34:00] Avallac'h, Lara, and Ciri

[43:16] End Credits

[43:59] Bonus: Booth Guests
...more
45min
November 30, 2025Ep. 111 — Chapter 6 from "Tower of Swallows"
Bolo from Poland and Kitty from the US join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Tower of Swallows, Chapter 6. Very important bits include: the chapter's epigraph, unhinged D&D tactics, Angoulême's backstory, Geralt and Cahir's evolving relationship, Cahir's motivations, and the burden of hope.

[0:00] Cold Open

[1:03] Introduction

[2:03] Guest Introductions

[8:01] Chapter Recap

[9:35] Overall Thoughts

[19:13] Monstrum

[23:44] Angoulême's Backstory

[26:26] Geralt and Cahir's Role Reversal

[35:42] Cahir's Motives

[48:19] Regis' Reunions

[51:54] Translation Questions

[54:20] Closing Thoughts

[1:02:11] Outro

[1:02:51] End Credits
...more
1h 4min
November 13, 2025Ep. 110 — Chapter 5 from "Tower of Swallows"
Brett from the US and Softie from the UK join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Tower of Swallows, Chapter 5. Very important bits include: lawful cruelty and corruption, Angoulême's arrival, the making of the hanza, courage and bravery, blind revenge, and prophetic dreams.

[0:00] Cold Open

[1:33] Introduction

[3:32] Guest Introductions

[10:28] Chapter Recap

[12:13] Overall Thoughts

[18:32] Vengeance v. Justice

[32:42] Angoulême's Arrival

[41:56] The Hanza's Dynamics

[49:51] Courage and Bravery

[54:58] A Witcher's Revenge

[1:02:23] Ciri's Dream

[1:03:40] Closing Thoughts

[1:07:14] Outro

[1:09:36] End Credits
...more
1h 11min
October 30, 2025Ep. 109 — Chapter 4 from "Tower of Swallows"
Charli from Austria and Softie from the UK join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Tower of Swallows, Chapter 4. Very important bits include: Season premiere rituals, unreliable narrators, nesting dolls of perspectives, progressive ideas in The Witcher, the literal sword of destiny, how Ciri's weaponization complicates her victimization, and how each chapter antagonist embodies a different kind of cruelty.

[0:00] Cold Open

[1:01] Introduction

[2:40] Guest Introductions

[8:16] Chapter Recap

[9:49] Overall Thoughts

[17:18] Alternate Perspectives

[22:57] Kenna's Psionic Torture

[26:14] Progressive Ideas in The Witcher

[28:39] Swallow & Destiny

[33:49] Ciri's Victimization v. Weaponization

[39:14] Ciri's Attempt & Bonhart's Cruelty

[43:32] "Would Ciri return home?"

[46:12] The Villains and Systemic Cruelty

[58:27] Closing Thoughts

[1:02:59] Outro

[1:03:26] End Credits
...more
1h 5min
October 16, 2025Ep. 108 — Chapter 3 from "Tower of Swallows"
Content warning: This episode discusses miscarriage and loss of pregnancy. Listener discretion is advised.

Kitty from the US and Kyle R. from the US join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Tower of Swallows, Chapter 3. Very important bits include: Sirens of the Deep/raunchy Little Mermaid retellings, the framing narrative and Half a Century of Poetry, Milva's grief following her miscarriage, Cahir's trustworthiness (and positive reinforcement over survival), "the waist is as low as we go," Gwent and the sprawling Nilfgaardian spy network, and Hannibal Lector, gynocologist.

[0:00] Cold Open

[1:16] Introduction

[3:11] Guest Introductions

[16:46] Chapter Recap

[18:39] Overall Thoughts

[24:22] Memoir Framing Narrative

[32:44] Milva's Miscarriage and Grief

[42:06] Geralt's Doubt and Cahir's Loyalty

[48::20] Yennefer's Fate

[53:24] Nilfgaardian Intelligence

[1:01:13] The Beekeepers and the Hanza

[1:06:23] Closing Thoughts

[1:10:58] Outro

[1:12:09] End Credits

Visit breakastinbeauclair.com for more.
...more
1h 13min
October 02, 2025Ep. 107 — Chapter 2 (Part 2) from "Tower of Swallows"
Abbe from Sweden and Softie from the UK join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Tower of Swallows, Chapter 2 (Part 2). Very important bits include: Nilfgaardian amnesty, the yuckiest single serving character, Bonhart's brutal slaughter, Ciri's journey, and Vysogota's role in it.

[0:00] Cold Open

[1:10] Introduction

[2:57] Chapter Recap

[4:29] Hotspurn & Nilfgaardian Amnesty

[16:07] Bonhart v. The Rats

[17:52] Bonhart's "Art"

[23:54] The Villagers' Perspective (from Abbe ~23 min)

[27:29] Ciri's Journey

[32:53] Closing Thoughts

[38:17] Outro

[38:50] End Credits

The full episode transcript, show notes, merchandise store, and access to our social platforms are available at breakfastinbeauclair.com.
...more
40min
September 18, 2025Ep. 106 — Chapter 2 (Part 1) from "Tower of Swallows"
Abbe from Sweden and Softie from the UK join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Tower of Swallows, Chapter 2 (Part 1). Very important bits include: ominous foreshadowing, groupthink and survival, transactions versus ideals, stolen identity, dreams of grandeur, and "that one little turd I have no feelings for, I'm afraid."

[0:00] Cold Open

[1:04] Introduction

[3:23] Guest Introductions

[11:08] Chapter Recap

[12:51] Overall Thoughts

[17:34] The Chapter Opening

[21:27] Hotspurn, The Rats, & Group Think

[28:54] Ciri's Imposter

[34:28] CIri & Mistle's Farewell

[39:23] Outro

[39:38] End Credits

The full episode transcript, show notes, merchandise store, and access to our social platforms are available at breakfastinbeauclair.com.
...more
41min
September 04, 2025Ep. 105 — Chapter 1 from "Tower of Swallows"
Ryan from the US and Sophie from Morocco join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Tower of Swallows, Chapter 1. Very important bits include: 'The Moment You Knew The Witcher Was For You'; how legends are born; first chapters throughout the saga; Vysogota, the raven, and fictional mentors; and where morality ends and survival begins.

[0:00] Cold Open

[1:18] Introduction

[4:07] Guest Introductions

[11:10] Chapter Recap

[13:00] Overall Thoughts

[15:37] The Beggar's Song and the Fable

[19:59] First Chapters Across the Saga

[29:32] Vysogota and Ciri

[34:05] Ciri's Distrust

[39:14] The Ethical Debate

[45:03] The Cruelty of Destiny

[53:18] The Book's Refrain

[57:14] Closing Thoughts

[1:01:28] Outro

[1:02:35] End Credits

The full episode transcript, show notes, merchandise store, and access to our social platforms are available at breakfastinbeauclair.com.
...more
1h 4min
May 15, 2025Ep. 104 — Chapter 7 from "Baptism of Fire"
Abbe from Sweden, Daniel from the Netherlands, and Softie from the UK join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Baptism of Fire, Chapter 7. Very important bits include: the epic conclusion to the book at the Battle of the Bridge, Witch-dudes and Witch-lads, CD Projekt Red's 'Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales', druidic time scales, framing narratives as foreshadowing, Vampiric tropes, identity and redemption, fantasy as satire, the meandering nature of the book (and what it provides to readers), turning Milva's pregnancy into a group project, and the ironic origin of 'Geralt of Rivia'.

[0:00] Cold Open

[0:55] Introduction

[2:35] Guest Introductions

[13:14] Chapter Recap

[15:56] Overall Thoughts

[26:18] Striborg's Framing Scene

[35:39] Breaking Vampiric Tropes

[42:39] Milva's Pregnancy

[1:02:59] Identity and Redemption

[1:07:39] Baptisms of Fire

[1:15:01] Closing Thoughts

[1:22:01] Outro

[1:22:37] End Credits
...more
1h 24min
April 24, 2025Ep. 103 — Chapter 6 from "Baptism of Fire"
Kitty from the US and Tracie aka Miss Magitek join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Baptism of Fire, Chapter 6. Very important bits include: international 'Baptism of Fire' editions, Peter Kenny's triumph, excitement for The Witcher 4, how Ciri fights for herself, the legend of Lara Dorren, our best Yzma impressions, perfect 10-year plans, parallels between the Lodge of Sorceresses and Dune's Bene Gesserit, the mustache-twirling kind of evil, the absence of good, and Hannibal Lecter, gynecologist.

[0:00] Cold Open

[0:48] Introduction

[2:46] Guest Introductions

[11:51] Chapter Recap

[14:25] Overall Thoughts

[23:36] The Legend of Lara Dorren

[28:06] Ciri's Isolation

[36:48] Yennefer's Choice

[43:16] The Lodge's Ends and Means

[53:13] The Villains

[1:00:01] Good v. Evil

[1:07:45] Closing Thoughts

[1:14:03] Outro

[1:16:18] End Credits
...more
1h 18min

FAQs about Breakfast in Beauclair:

How many episodes does Breakfast in Beauclair have?

The podcast currently has 114 episodes available.

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Breakfast in Beauclair

FAQs about Breakfast in Beauclair:

How many episodes does Breakfast in Beauclair have?

Breakfast in Beauclair episodes:

FAQs about Breakfast in Beauclair:

How many episodes does Breakfast in Beauclair have?

More shows like Breakfast in Beauclair

This American Life

The Ezra Klein Show