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Nicole Leung passed away March 4 of this year, though I only learned so earlier this month. To work through my feelings, I wrote this personal essay about the person she was to me, and included some audio from her original interview that I was lucky to find.

I hate that this is what it took to get me back behind the microphone.

In this episode, host Spencer Tordoff reflects on what makes building or modifying a personal computer different from just getting one off the shelf. Cathie Harms, his mom, provides some perspective on his start in PC hardware, we check in on Sandra Gran as she builds her first PC, and YouTubers Tim and Ozi talk about how personal computers can be special.

Ozi of OzTalksHW and Tim of Green Ham Gaming reflect on their first builds, the computers that got them into PC hardware.

In episode 6, Auston Montville of Too DX talks about his lifelong dream of making games, and wonders -- is a life spent as an indie developer worthwhile? The answer will shock you!

No it won't. But it's a well-thought-out reflection. Give it a listen?

Musical selections for this episode:

"Wonder Cycle" by Chris Zabriskie
"Exploration" by Artificial.Music
"Sacrifice" by Robodub
"Silver" by Jahzzar
"Cable" by Son-Zu
"Part 1" by kimmyunghwan
"Seaside" by Lyvo

In episode 5, Dylan McCarthy talks about a childhood spent gaming, and how games helped him cope with his father's cancer and eventual death.

Warning: This episode is about coping, and is not particularly uplifting.

Musical selections for this episode:

"Sunset" by Evgeny Grinko 
"Summers Coming" by Dexter Britain 
"Winter Sunshine" by Evgeny Grinko
"Vintage Frames" by Kai Engel 
"It smells like Chamomile Tea" by Evgeny Grinko
"Melancholy Aftersounds" by Kai Engel
"Awaken From A Nightmare" by Silver Process 
"From Truth" by Dexter Britain
"Biology Slides" by Bleak House 

In Episode 4, Susi Stuart talks about the moral guidance she learned from the Ultima series, and how one rogue lawyer prompted her to change her entire life.

Musical selections for this episode:

"Be gentle" by Red Mass
"Flying Through Popcorn" by Wootson
"It Works" by Sven Meyer
"When The Lights Came On" by Kai Engel 
"All Noise No Signal" by Lyndon Scarfe
"Black Widdow" by Passionate Imperfection
"Tycho" by Massimo Ruberti
"Hailfire Peaks" by Thiaz Itch
"I To The 16th" by Andy Derryberry

In Episode 3, Kristen Andre and Sandra Gran have stories about how to cope with growing up in small, familiar towns – and how to handle the aftermath of coping.

Musical selections for this episode:

"Oceanus Procellarum" by Circle the Sun
"De Aqui Para Alla" by 52tercero
"Tumblin Down (cdk Mix)" by cdk
"Mera Jahaan" by manu shrivastava
"The Long Goodbye" by John Pazdan
"The Death of Adromeda" by Club 220
"Sanfona" by SailehB
"Vital Sign" by Friedlich Chiller
"Amigos Solo Guitarra" by 52tercero

In Episode 2, true stories from Nicole Leung, Alvaro Sarria, and Rebecca Jennings about family, games, and the intersection of the two. There's drama, humor, teen angst — something for everyone!

Musical selections for this episode:

“Slinky Blues” by Admiral Bob
“spinnin” and “you for uh…. ?” by grapes
“3 pound universe” by Jeris
“Invisible” by Drift
“Statia” by Gurdonark
“Another Girl (instrumental)” by duckett
“Silence Await” and “Good Bye Mr. Rogers” by cdk
“The Annual New England Xylophone Symposium” by DoKashiteru
“Goldeneye 007 ‘Controlled Jazz’” by Mustin / Scott Peeples

Your host, Spencer Tordoff, looks back on a youth spent at LAN parties -- and reflects on what he gets out of them now, at Emerald City LAN in March, 2013.

Musical selections for this episode by:
cdk
DoKashiteru
Drift
duckett
Gurdonark
J.Lang