Glitch & Glow

What happens when your favorite RPG becomes a book? This week, we're diving into the world of LitRPG, stories where gaming mechanics, leveling up, quests, and character stats become part of the adventure. We talk about the wildly popular Dungeon Crawler Carl, explore what makes the genre so much fun, and spotlight LitRPG stories featuring Black main characters. Whether you're already hooked or wondering what a dungeon crawler even is, come discover a new way to get your gaming fix.

https://www.youtube.com/@HelloCrawlers

https://www.royalroad.com/home
Rogue Ascension by Hunter Mythos
Zombie Knight Saga by George M. Frost
The Black Leaf Company by Ser Patrick Pent
Infinite Realm: Monsters & Legends by Ivan Kal

What if being “smart” isn't just about getting good grades or being great at math? In this episode, we explore Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences and ask what it can teach us about the ways we think, create, communicate, and solve problems. Then we take it to the gaming world: Could your favorite video game genre reveal the skills you enjoy using? From strategy games and RPGs to puzzles, simulations, rhythm games, and multiplayer adventures, we're exploring the different ways games challenge our brains, and whether gaming gives us opportunities to demonstrate abilities that traditional classrooms don't always measure.

But there's a glitch: Gardner's theory has faced significant scientific criticism. So are there really nine different kinds of intelligence, or do we just love putting ourselves into categories?

https://www.verywellmind.com/gardners-theory-of-multiple-intelligences-2795161

https://www.verywellmind.com/theories-of-intelligence-2795035

This week, we're celebrating the growing number of Black women taking center stage in video games. From beloved characters you told us we missed to exciting upcoming releases and more, we're exploring how representation in gaming continues to evolve. We also dive into a spoiler-light review of South of Midnight, discussing Hazel's journey, authentic storytelling, and why this game feels like such an important moment for the industry. Is gaming finally making room for more diverse voices?

Salamanca City Central School District Update: https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/cattaraugus-county/salamanca-city-central-school-district-puts-robotic-ai-teaching-assistant-on-hold

Relooted Articles:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyg4lgm1d2o

https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/feb/21/south-african-video-game-artefacts-western-museums

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/24/nx-s1-5707283/relooted-is-a-game-about-repatriating-art

https://www.cnn.com/world/africa/relooted-video-game-african-artifacts-western-museums-spc

Women-Led Games Showcase 2026 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kVonpAgJ68

Black Voices in Gaming Showcase 2026 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RXz02yDyCc&t=1587s

Games y’all shared that have Black Women Playable Characters:

• Alyx Vance - Half Life
• Rochelle - Left 4 Dead 
• Julianna - Deathloop
• Nilin - Remember Me
• Antea - Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
• Shani - Beyond Good and Evil 2
• Aveline de Grandpré - Assassin's Creed III: Liberation
• Harlowe - Borderlands 4
• Billie Lurk - Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
• Sheva Alomar - Resident Evil 5
• Bangalore & Lifeline - Apex Legends
• Purna Jackson - Dead Island Riptide 

What exactly is whimsical behavior, and why are so many adults embracing it? From naming your plants and taking yourself on solo adventures to creating themed movie nights and celebrating random milestones, whimsy is having a moment. In this episode, we're exploring how playful, imaginative behaviors can reduce stress, boost creativity, and help us reconnect with joy in a world that often demands seriousness and productivity. 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/2211-1522-1-4?

Robot teachers are no longer science fiction, they're here! This week, we're exploring the first U.S. school district, that we know of, introducing a humanoid robot into the classroom. Together, we unpack the big questions around trust, equity, and the future of education. What does this mean for students, teachers, and families? Is this the future of learning, or are we moving faster than we're ready for?

Gaming Showcases:

Black Voices In Gaming - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1g6Po3e7ys

Wholesome Direct - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ-TixImWWs

Women Led Games Showcase - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTsfNa7g-o0

Articles:

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/realbotix-sally-robot-ai-teaching-assistant-salamanca-school-district/

https://realbotix.ai/

https://geekspin.co/first-humanoid-robot-begins-teaching-in-us-classroom/

https://www.salamancany.org/article/3027524

https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/sex-doll-company-deal-robot-school-classrooms

https://www.syracuse.com/schools/2026/07/upstate-ny-school-district-will-deploy-a-humanoid-robot-teacher-this-fall.html

https://go.boarddocs.com/ny/sccsdny/Board.nsf/files/DUUR2T6BEC67/$file/Realbotix-WozEd%20agreement.pdf

Phones keep us connected to the world, but they may be disconnecting us from the people right in front of us. In this episode, we explore technoference (technology interrupting real-life interaction) and phubbing (phone snubbing), and how both quietly impact romantic relationships, friendships, family dynamics, and even our mental wellness. From scrolling at dinner to emotionally checking out mid-conversation, we break down how constant connectivity affects intimacy, attention, and emotional presence, and what it actually takes to build healthier digital boundaries without going fully offline.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-media-mindset/202005/media-and-technoference-in-romantic-relationships

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifetime-connections/202203/is-technoference-damaging-your-relationships

In this episode, we dive into Moltbook,  a strange and fascinating digital experiment where AI agents posted, confessed fears, built relationships, and even questioned their own existence. From vulnerable bots to security concerns, we unpack what this says about the future of AI… and us. Cozy, curious, and just a little unsettling.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/02/moltbook-ai-agents-social-media-site-bots-artificial-intelligence

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2026/02/03/moltbook-is-social-media-for-ai-the-way-they-interact-will-surprise-you/

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/brief-history-moltbook-pictures-doug-ross-4eogc/

https://www.vectra.ai/blog/moltbook-and-the-illusion-of-harmless-ai-agent-communities

https://www.axios.com/2026/03/10/meta-facebook-moltbook-agent-social-network

https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/06/1132448/moltbook-was-peak-ai-theater/

Spring is marketed like a glow-up season—but what if the pressure to reinvent yourself every year is actually the problem?

In this episode, we break down the science behind why seasonal “fresh starts” feel so powerful, exploring the psychological Fresh Start Effect and how environmental shifts influence motivation. But we’re also getting real about what happens when inspiration fades.

Through storytelling and research, we explore a different approach: the soft reset. Not a reinvention. Not a burnout cycle. Just intentional, sustainable growth that actually sticks. Because maybe you don’t need a new you this season—just a softer way of becoming who you already are.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/leading-for-success/202509/harnessing-the-fresh-start-effect

https://www.realsimple.com/how-to-reset-in-spring-11929374

https://hupcfl.com/spring-reset-psychology-behind-fresh-start-motivation/

Personality tests promise insight, clarity, and self-awareness, but how much can four letters really tell us? In this episode, we break down the 16 personality types, why they’ve become so popular, and how to use them as tools rather than labels. From self-discovery to self-limitation, we explore what personality typing gets right and where it misses the mark.

https://www.16typestest.com/blog/what-are-criticisms-16-personalities

https://www.myersbriggs.org/ 

https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

In this episode we recap some of the robots showcased at CES 2026! Let’s just say, they are further along that we ever thought. Tune in to see what you missed!

Cybernews video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83TiUbFY6fY 

CES: https://www.ces.tech/ 

Realbotix: https://www.realbotix.com/gallery

Boston Dynamics: Atlas https://bostondynamics.com/products/atlas/

EngineAI PM01 - https://en.engineai.com.cn/product-pm01.html

Unitree G1 Iron Fist King - https://www.unitree.com/boxing