Research & Respawn

A life simulation, but with friends and strangers, join Cody and Kit to discuss Second Life. From an economy where you can earn a virtual living to bondage and sex dungeons, this long lasting multiplayer virtual world probably has something to offer everyone.

In this episode, we discuss Paralives, the cozy indie contender bringing flexible building, community-first development, and fresh creative energy to a genre (and angry players) ready for something different in their life sim.

Step into the visually stunning world of InZoi, where realism, ambitious systems, and big questions about the future of life simulation take center stage. We’ll unpack one of the new successors to The Sims in allowing players to build, explore, and play with life itself.

Dive into the life-sim legend that made virtual families, dream homes, chaos, and creativity iconic. Join Cody and Kit to discuss why, despite player complaints, The Sims still sets the standard for sandbox life-play decades later.

Why do so many animal “facts” feel obvious even when they are incomplete, exaggerated, or based on animals in artificial settings? In this episode, Cody and Kit explore some of the common myths we’re told about animal intelligence and behavior.

Summary: Join Cody and Kit for a dive into Baldur’s Gate 3. In this episode, we explore why it captivated players, how it reshaped RPG expectations, and made choice, romance, identity, and consequences feel unforgettable.

Content note: Some discussion of BG3’s companion arcs involves trauma, consent, bodily autonomy, and coercion.

Why do your tastes feel personal when they’re shaped by class, upbringing, and power? In this episode, Cody and Kit unpack some theory: Bourdieu’s Distinction and the hidden social logic behind what feels natural, sophisticated, and “just your preference.”

Join Cody and Kit as they explore Night in the Woods, a game that balances humor, sadness, and economic turmoil. We follow Mae’s messy journey to the town of Possum Springs and discuss why it remains a favorite, 5/5 weird experience.

Fandom turns shared love into identity, meaning, and often also into real-world coordination. This episode explores how the same machinery that produces charity, joy, and community can also generate spirals, outrage, and backlash.

Today we explore the hidden work that keeps fandom communities running. From moderation to parasocial care, we unpack emotional labor in fandom and how platforms and AI are reshaping that work, often making it more intense and harder to see.