This time around, Loud Friends is firmly in podcast potpourri territory as topics span from yet another slightly esoteric sport, to speculation on the future of the video game media space. Mike cautiously dips his toes back into the warm, comforting embrace of coffee, while Zac tells a fraught tale of doing furniture surgery to his desk, and last second Home Depot trips. Also discussed are the anxieties surrounding the post-covid adjustment period, as well as the recent changes over at GiantBomb.

You can read all the good writing about video games at Critical Distance.

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Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel

Zac's got a golf swing that won't quit

Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt

Music from Uppbeat

License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

Lights out, and away we go on Loud Friends: Autosport Edition. The duo talk about their mutual appreciation of Formula 1 racing and Mike tries to sell Zac on the ludicrous premise of Formula E. In addition, Mike’s world gets rocked by Final Fantasy 7, Zac starts a new unironic Stardew Valley farm, and the filthy little gamers swap covid shot stories.

Go get vaccinated, ya rascals.

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Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel

Zac has a double portion of the germ soup coursing through his veins

Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt

Music from Uppbeat

License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

Welcome back! This week Mike expounds on the creative motivations that led to him bringing back his vlogging channel, which leads into a discussion on the horrific existential wasteland of modern day workplace alienation. Aside from that delightful can of worms, Zac binges, and subsequently, goes to bat for Ted Lasso, Mike waxes poetic on finishing Hades runs, and we have a nice talk about our mothers’ baked goods pantheons.

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Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel

Zac's got a cool haircut and a song in his heart

Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt

Music from Uppbeat

License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

Hello! Welcome to the first episode of Loud Friends with Mike and Zac. In our debut, we inadvertently pay homage to our first podcast and mostly talk about video games. While we promise to cover broader topics in later episodes, we decided to stick with what we know this week and chat about what we’ve been playing.

Mike talks about his time with The Swindle and how his partner starting Hades has deepened his love for the game. Meanwhile Zac reflects on StarCraft 2 ladder anxiety and surviving the beautiful open world of Valheim. We also touch on Sony’s State of Play event as well as Nintendo’s Pokemon Direct.

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Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel

Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt

Music from Uppbeat

License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6

Hey, we're Mike and Zac, and welcome to Loud Friends!

Not to be too on the nose right out of the gate, but this podcast is mostly about our friendship. Every other week, we’ll hop on a call and just chat, and honestly, that’s the show.

We wanted to create a relaxed, low stakes project that we could work on together. Since the two of us are separated by approximately half a country, and we already have experience producing a podcast, we figured a show like this would do just the trick.

Truth be told, we’re basically making this podcast for ourselves. Don’t get us wrong, we’ll work to make it as listenable as possible, but if you’re looking for a show that’s a bit more structured or educational, this might not be for you. However, if you’re down for relaxed, honest conversations between two twenty-somethings fumbling through their lives and trying to make sense of everything, look no further.

So subscribe to Loud Friends anywhere you get your podcasts. We’ll be releasing an episode every other week as we slowly try to figure out more about the world, but more importantly, about each other.

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Important Stuff:

Mike’s got a Patreon and YouTube Channel

Podcast Art: Photo taken by Olly McDonagh and edited by Becca Hallstedt

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!)

License code: FHBEMH2JOZYUVZH6