All that Christmas roleplay shenanigans is behind us, and it's a return for Kathleen in the co-hosts chair as she joins Cal in welcoming pioneering graphic novelist, illustrator, and cartoonist-historian Nicola Streeten to OH!Cast.

Over the course of this interview, Nicola recounts her experiences and highlights the importance of accessibility and inclusion. Her experiences have helped inform her writing, and there is an exploration of the impact of young adult comic books, particularly involving personal narratives and the catharsis that can be found in creativity. Similarly, the importance of diversity of voice, and representation are highlighted.

Nicola's website is HERE

Get all of our links here: https://taplink.cc/ohcast
Official OH!Cast Merch: https://oh-cast-shop.fourthwall.com
Email the team: [email protected]

Happy Christmas to the entire OH!Cast community.

Settle down by the fire, and pour yourself a drink of your choosing as we finish the thrilling tale of the Christmas adventure and find out how the team overcome the tragedy which befell them at the end of part two.

Can they make it to Tannenbaum on time? Are they filled with the spirit of Christmas, peace on earth, and goodwill to all men? Did you listen to the first two parts? Why are you asking these questions then?

Sincerely though, from the OH!Cast family to yours, we wish you the very best for the season and thank you for listening to all of our shows.

All of our links are here: https://taplink.cc/ohcast
Official OH!Cast Merch: https://oh-cast-shop.fourthwall.com
Email the team: [email protected]

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Christmas Special

02:41 Planning the Next Steps

05:31 Wisdom Checks and Tracking

10:02 The Scream in the Snow

11:35 Encounter with the Child

14:47 The Wolves Attack

17:48 Rescue and Trust Issues

20:33 Reindeer Antics and Adventurous Spirits

21:22 The Hungry Girl and Acts of Kindness

23:41 Navigating the Forest and Child Safety

24:24 The Dilemma of Abandoning the Orphans

26:29 Riding Through the Night: A Race Against Time

28:12 Guilt and the Weight of Choices

29:19 The Collapse of the Reindeer

32:12 Arrival at the Village: A Haunting Silence

35:59 Exploring the Abandoned Village

38:42 Following the Drag Marks: A New Mystery

38:52 Reindeer Rescue and Wagon Strategy

41:19 The Approach of Danger

42:50 Unconsciousness and the Call for Help

45:02 Barbarian Encounter and Initiative Roll

49:34 The Ceremony and the Tree of Heads

52:16 Confrontation with Vorgrik and the Barbarians

56:25 The Battle Begins

57:50 Barbarians Attack

01:00:21 Vorgrik's Incantation

01:00:40 Creative Spellcasting

01:02:57 The Epic Deer Fight

01:12:27

The Aftermath and Christmas Spirit

It's Christmas Eve, and our intrepid team of adventurers have (against the odds) finally managed to leave Ravenstone.

Their icy journey is fraught with danger, between the elements and the flora and fauna which inhabit the route between Ravenstone and Tannenbaum. As night falls, so too does tragedy.

Join us tomorrow for the conclusion of the story.

All of our links are here: https://taplink.cc/ohcast
Official OH!Cast Merch: https://oh-cast-shop.fourthwall.com
Email the team: [email protected]

• 00:00 Christmas Eve Adventure Begins

  03:00 The Journey to Tarnenbaum

  05:58 Challenges on the Icy Road

  08:46 The Mysterious Paw Prints

  11:30 A Break in the Snowstorm

  14:20 The Encounter in the Copse

  16:48 Decisions in the Snow

  19:31 The Journey Continues

  22:25 The Snowstorm Intensifies

  25:21 The Final Stretch to Tarnenbaum

  26:38 The Uniqueness of Snowflakes

  28:12 The Mysterious Presence

  29:51 Preparing for the Night

  32:35 Keeping the Fire Alive

  35:59 The Watch Begins

  41:29 The Attack of the Owlbears

  47:09 The Battle Begins: Engaging the Owlbear

  49:51 Tactics and Teamwork: Strategies in Combat

  52:36 The Turning Point: Critical Hits and Misses

  57:13 Desperate Measures: Sacrifices and Risks

  01:00:21 The Final Showdown: Overcoming the Owlbear

  01:09:16 Aftermath: Reflections and Future Adventures

Twas two nights before Christmas, and all through the house, the OH!Cast team were preparing to take on an adventure.

With a cast of characters made up of Erik the Cleric, Daian Otherday, Jan Hendrik oon der Velderhuis, Uriel, and his wife Leda, the GM (Hereward) looks to have his work cut out for him in not only dealing with silly voices and sillier character motivations, but also in corralling the hosts to stick to the mission - deliver a caravan of suppleis to the settlement of Tannenbaum in time for the winter festival.

All of our links are here: https://taplink.cc/ohcast
Official OH!Cast Merch: https://oh-cast-shop.fourthwall.com
Email the team: [email protected]

00:00 Introduction to the Adventure

02:52 Character Introductions and Backgrounds

05:59 Setting the Scene in Ravenstone

09:13 The Notice Board and Job Opportunity

11:57 Meeting Vodrick and Accepting the Quest

15:01 Preparing for the Journey

17:59 The Journey Begins

21:06 Navigating Challenges and Obstacles

23:57 The Wagon and Its Cargo

26:47 Encountering the City Guard

29:48 Setting Off into the Night

It seems like it's been ages since Hereward was on the show, but he's joining Cal for this chat with Atari legend, Howard Scott Warshaw.

Howard is a legendary game designer, creating some of the most acclaimed games of all time, but also one in particular which was blamed for the fall of Atari.

Over the course of an hour, Hereward, Cal, and Howard cover game creation, success, failure, and legacy, as well as looking at the homebrew community and how it keeps projects alive.

The only thing left to say is... 'Atari'.

All of our links are here: https://taplink.cc/ohcast
Official OH!Cast Merch: https://oh-cast-shop.fourthwall.com
Email the team: [email protected]

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Howard Scott Warshaw

02:11 The Making of Yars' Revenge

12:01 Yars' Revenge and Its Unique Appeal

20:56 The Challenge of Raiders of the Lost Ark

30:38 The Controversy of E.T.

31:44 The Mechanics of Game Design

34:17 Best and Worst Games on the 2600

36:34 The Rise of Activision and Imagic

37:58 Ironies of ET and Industry Pressure

42:11 The Urban Legend of Buried Games

46:21 Emotional Reactions to Game Legacy

47:49 The Homebrew Community and New Developments

50:14 Quickfire Questions and Final Thoughts

Brrrrrrrr... Amadou! Your time is up, our time is now!

It's the debut of OH!Cast's new wrestling show, the Hebridean Hammerlock, with Cal and Graeme welcoming James on to talk about the retirement of one of the greatest of all time, John Cena.

We get it, the internet is filled with geeks complaining about stuff they claim to love... the Hammerlock is trying to be positive in a sea of negativity as we give John Cena the Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect his career deserves.

All of our links are here: https://taplink.cc/ohcast
Official OH!Cast Merch: https://oh-cast-shop.fourthwall.com
Email the team: [email protected]

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hebridean Hammerlock

06:14 Cena's Early Career and Appeal

10:53 Cena's Career Highlights and Feuds

17:06 Cena's Transition to Face and Popularity

24:21 Cena in Film and WWE Studios

28:09 Bradshaw's Transformation and Feuds

30:56 The Changing Fanbase and Cena's Backlash

33:02 Dominic Mysterio: A Modern Parallel

34:31 Cena vs. CM Punk: A Rivalry for the Ages

37:38 The Five-Star Match and Cena's Style

39:55 Cena's Connection with Fans

41:24 Cena's Morality in Storylines

42:45 The Spinner Belt and Its Legacy

44:28 Edge's Cash-In and Cena's Divisive Era

46:19 One Night Stand: Cena vs. RVD

47:31 Cena's Adaptation to Crowd Reactions

49:10 Cena vs. Umaga: A Last Man Standing Match

50:16 WrestleMania Feud with Shawn Michaels

50:33 The Evolution of Shawn Michaels and John Cena

53:09 Injuries and Comebacks: The Resilience of John Cena

57:02 The Nexus: A Missed Opportunity in Booking

01:00:29 The Rock vs. John Cena: A WrestleMania Showdown

01:04:56 Cena's Role in Elevating New Stars

01:09:00 The Impact of Cena's Open Challenge

01:12:23 AJ Styles: A Clash of Wrestling Titans

01:13:43 The Evolution of John Cena's Matches

01:15:01 Reality TV and Cena's Public Persona

01:17:13 Cena's Film Career and Its Reception

01:19:26 The Firefly Funhouse Match: A Character Study

01:21:49 The Rock's Influence on Cena's Career

01:30:02 Cena's Legacy and the GOAT Debate

01:36:29 The Impact of Wrestling on Culture

01:38:34 The Evolution of Wrestling Heroes

01:41:41 Trivia and Fun Facts about John Cena

01:45:54 What If: Cena in WCW?

01:49:29 Future of Wrestling and Conventions

In a conversation as magical as the universe they're discussing, Cal, Fañch, and Kieran sit down with Dr Rayna Denison, Professor in Film and Digital Arts at University of Bristol. To quote Fañch, Dr Denison has one of the coolest specialties ever - Japanese animation.

Studio Ghibli is unique in both Japanese, and global cinema, with an instantly identifiable art style. In this interview, Dr Rayna Denison and the OH!Cast team discuss recurrent themes in Ghibli movies, specifically the role of food, and share their insights on the significance of female characters.

All of our links are here: https://taplink.cc/ohcast
Official OH!Cast Merch: https://oh-cast-shop.fourthwall.com
Email the team: [email protected]

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the World of Anime

01:22 The Journey to Ghibli: Dr. Reina Denison's Background

04:51 The Impact of Studio Ghibli on Global Animation

09:08 Exploring the Ghibli Effect and Its Cultural Significance

12:22 Miyazaki's Vision: The Art of Storytelling in Ghibli Films

17:02 Ghibli's Influence on Japanese and Western Cinema

19:46 The Unique Aesthetic of Ghibli Films

23:23 Cultural Inspirations in Ghibli's Storytelling

26:33 The Legacy of Miyazaki and the Future of Ghibli

30:31 Food in Ghibli: A Cultural Exploration

35:13 The Role of Female Characters in Ghibli Films

41:23 Ghibli's Feminist Narrative and Industry Dynamics

48:32 The Art of Collaboration in Animation

49:40 Exploring the Industrial Side of Anime

52:06 The Future of Anime and AI

54:11 Quickfire Ghibli Fun

01:02:50 Closing Thoughts and Future Engagements

Fañch, and Cal (or to give him his full name for this episode, Calum MacDhòmhnail) talk with Gaelic educator and YouTuber, Jason Bond https://youtube.com/@GaelicwithJason.

Jason was born in Maine, USA and fell in love with Gaelic while studying Celtic Studies in Nova Scotia. He previously worked as a teacher on the island of Islay (the southernmost isle of the Inner Hebrides) and it was this experience which taught him that the struggles he faced when trying to learn the language were the same as those that kids in a high school had - there was nothing to make it meaningful.

Since then, Jason has tried to make learning Gaelic engaging and fun, using storytelling in the form of geek culture franchises to help people of all ages learn.

Proudly Hebridean, OH!Cast is a champion of our native culture and language, and talking with someone like Jason who makes Gaelic more accessible and fun to learn is a privilege for us.

Jason's website, Gaelic With Jason, is here

All of our links are here: https://taplink.cc/ohcast
Official OH!Cast Merch: https://oh-cast-shop.fourthwall.com
Email the team: [email protected]

Your Hebridean Scoobies are back to dissect Season 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Season 2 is where our star-crossed lovers, Buffy and Angel, reach peak tragedy. It's also where everyone's favourite couple, Spike and Drusilla, join the show.

Loss and growth are two of the main themes of the season, with Angel reverting to Angelus, that season ending, Giles and Ms Calendar, and Willow starting down the path to becoming a witch.

In true Hebridean Scoobies style, the gang choose their favourite episodes, and aren't shy in discussing the worst of the season, including the more problematic elements which rear their heads this year.

Cult media reviews never sounded so good.

All of our links are here: https://taplink.cc/ohcast
Official OH!Cast Merch: https://oh-cast-shop.fourthwall.com
Email the team: [email protected]

Strap in for our longest episode yet, as Cal and Kieran take on the first four Seasons of Stranger Things.

The guys don't hold back as they discuss how the show managed to respectfully integrate geek culture and retro media references in a show which is targeted to a mainstream audience, but filled with Easter Eggs for people of a certain age.

Once they've finished looking at what has been shown, like all good nerds, Cal and Kieran speculate what the upcoming Season 5 might bring, and hope they don't Game of Thrones the ending.

All of our links are here: https://taplink.cc/ohcast
Official OH!Cast Merch: https://oh-cast-shop.fourthwall.com
Email the team: [email protected]