​We geek out with Dallas Morning News super nerds Britton Peele and Mike Merschel. First, ​the group chats with ​'​Ready Player One​'​ author Ernest Cline about his new book​, 'Armada,' ​and what it feels like to have Steven Spielberg anoint you to supreme nerd status. Next, ​we consider ​the new movie Pixels starring Adam Sandler. Are the film’s retro arcade characters attacking the earth or our intelligence? You’ll find out. Finally, it’s joysticks-off as we reminisce about the video games of our youth and assess the state of gaming today​.

Ep. 9 - 'Ready Player One' author Ernest Cline, 'Pixels', Britton Peele and Mike Merschel on video games - 7/22/15​

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

The Dallas Book Festival is Sat., April 30 at the Dallas Public Library. We discuss Lauren Smart's piece on the city's ongoing ambitions to become a literary city. Also, culture critic Chris Vognar and arts and culture editor Christopher Wynn chat with Lauren about a UT Arlington English class that uses analytics to study the work of Jay-Z. 

Ep. 41 — The Dallas Book Festival and a literary city in progress; Jay-Z in the college classroom

'Mixed Media' listeners get an exclusive first listen to co-host Christopher Wynn's new pop-up podcast, 'Strange.'  In this debut episode, four Texans tell their true stories of an encounter with the strange. Author Virginia Savage McAlester reveals for the first time her chilling brush with the Boston Strangler. Investigative journalist Jeff Guinn takes us “creepy-crawling” with Charles Manson’s deranged Family.  Novelist Merritt Tierce meets a very personal threat on her own front porch.  And Jeffrey Cranor, co-creator of the hit podcast and novel, 'Welcome to Night Vale,' reminds us why we fear the woods at night. Learn more and see exclusive photos at guidelive.com/podcasts or check out two of the featured authors in the new 'Dallas Morning News' #LiteraryDallas interactive: http://interactives.dallasnews.com/2016/literary-dallas/

Exclusive preview: New 'Strange' podcast

We dive into Ben Ratliff's new book 'Every Song Ever,' a listening guide for the age of musical plenty.

Ep. 40 — Every Song Ever: 20 Ways to Listen in an Age of Musical Plenty

Dallas Morning News pop music critic Hunter Hauk, DMN culture critic Chris Vognar and Dallas Observer arts & culture editor Lauren Smart talk shop with DMN arts and culture editor Christopher Wynn about the new music (and old acts) they loved or hated at South by Southwest 2016. 

Ep. 39 — Spring music preview and SXSW 2016 debrief with Hunter Hauk

Dallas Morning News culture critic Chris Vognar talks with 'Bernie' screenwriter and  'Texas Monthly' executive editor Skip Hollandsworth about Hollandsworth' new book 'Midnight Assassin,' the story of Austin's infamous serial killer.

Ep. 9 - 'Ready Player One' author Ernest Cline, 'Pixels', Britton Peele and Mike Merschel on video games - 7/22/15​

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Ep. 9 - 'Ready Player One' author Ernest Cline, 'Pixels', Britton Peele and Mike Merschel on video games - 7/22/15