The Calcopia Podcast

Joining our own book nerd Nate Evans on this literary episode is the esteemed Dr. Bernard Schweizer, writer, editor, and Professor Emeritus of English at Long Island University, as well as founder of Heresy Press, an imprint dedicated to “enduring quality standards, i.e. literary merit, originality, style, relevance, courage, humor, and intellectual rigor”, celebrating its third anniversary and going stronger than ever.

Listen as the two discuss the benefits of partnering with Skyhorse Publishing, the sweeping (and long overdue) changes taking place in the publishing world, the need for intellectual diversity among identity politics, the hyperbole (and hypocrisy) around the “Read Banned Books” campaign, the encroachment of – and backlash to – AI in literature and everywhere else, and so much more.

Also, don’t miss two of Heresy Press’ newest releases: Georgette Bennett’s Half-Jew―Full Life and Max Watman’s Tomorrow, the War, both now available.

Joining hosts Nate Evans and Cory Galliher on this episode is photographer Christian Wenk to talk about his new book, Trigger Happy: A Visual Celebration of Video Game Controllers, a dazzling visual encyclopedia that chronicles not just the evolution of popular and obscure game controllers, but it’s a testimonial to why we love these peripherals told through Christian’s stunning photography and meticulous research, with anecdotes from contributors John Romero (DOOM), Trip Hawkins (3DO), James Rolfe (Angry Video Game Nerd) and many others.

From Pong to Atari, Nintendo to Sony, Xbox to PC, and everything between, it’s an epic chat about the symbiotic relationship between controller and game development, memorable failures (hello, Power Glove and U-Force), what the future of interactive entertainment might look like, and so much more. Did your favorite controller make the cut? Grab your favorite joystick, gamepad, or whatever and find out now!

It’s the Consumer Electronics Show for 2026! The world’s biggest technology showcase has come and gone once again, but there’s still plenty of amazing (and some less so) innovations in the world of tech and gadgetry to fill up an entire episode, and that’s exactly what you’ll get in this extra-large (and extra-stacked) recap of tomorrow's technology...today!

Calcopia's Senior Tech editor Herman Exum and innocent bystander Nate Evans join forces with our favorite tech ally Ben Crossman from The Computer America Show for an epic chat about what fans and curious onlookers could see in a show overflowing with robot servants, OLED displays, wearables, kitchen appliances, AI companions, fixable laptops, bird feeders, simplified phones and so much more, it's the next best thing to actually being in Las Vegas (without actually being in Las Vegas).

Joining our resident science nerd Nate Evans on this episode is best-selling author and science popularizer Mary Roach, whose books have explored human cadavers, the afterlife, scientific sex, bringing readers from the edges of space to the deepest regions of the human colon. She’s here to talk about her latest, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy, an exploration of human augmentation and body replacement, now available at your favorite book store or local library.

Listen as they discuss limb replacements, artificial genitalia, plastic surgery fads, having journalistic standards, the importance of organ donation and much more. It’s a spirited, sometimes filthy, but never frivolous chat with one of today’s most passionate promoters of scientific literacy about the resiliency of human adaptability.

Joining Nate Evans and our own resident editor-slash-musician Besu Tadesse is the multi hyphenated composer, arranger, and ultimate game fan Daniel Jimenez-Wall, aka Rozen, to talk about his new album Ballads of Hyrule III, the third entry in his collection of reimagined themes and familiar melodies from Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda franchise, available now on digital and physical media from Mecha Dream Records. 

Listen as the guys harmonize about Rozen’s exquisitely arranged new album, as well as choice cuts from his previous albums totally worth buying. Also discussed are the continually blurred lines between scoring music for film and games, the interactive nature of game music, telling an effective story through sound, his original game soundtracks (Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Jade Order), and, of course, thoughts on the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. Director Wes Ball, if you’re listening… 

To listen, buy, or gift (wink, wink) Rozen’s Ballads of Hyrule III album digitally or on physical media, click HERE!

It’s Calcopia’s Movie Time! Podcast! Listen as movie nerds Ethan Brehm and Nate Evans deep dive into their favorite films and cinematic scenes for your listening delight.

On deck in 1987’s Spaceballs, comedy icon Mel Brooks’ loving homage to Star Wars, Star Trek, The Wizard of Oz, but mostly Star Wars. With an unforgettable cast of beloved comedy legends like Rick Moranis, John Candy, Dom DeLuise, and a double-helping of Mel Brooks himself, it’s gone from box-office disappointment to bona fide classic, especially for fans born into a world that couldn’t imagine a world without George Lucas’ space opera. There’s even a sequel planned to release sometime in 2027, a mere 40 years after the original. What could possibly go wrong?

Listen as Ethan and Nate gush over Brooks’ unmatched catalog of comedy classics, the joys of Jewish humor, why John Candy (RIP) remains so beloved, what makes a joke funny (spoiler: it’s the delivery, stupid), and how Brooks would set the standard for future comedy crafters like the Zuckers (Airplane!, The Naked Gun!), the Farrelly brothers (Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary), and even Judd Apatow (Freaks and Geeks, The 40-Year-Old Virgin).

Or you could just skip the podcast and watch the movie instead. We’d totally understand.

It’s Calcopia's Movie Time! Podcast, new and improved! Movie nerds Ethan Brehm and Nate Evans deep dive into their favorite films and cinematic scenes.

On today's episode they having a howling good time with two hairy and scary werewolf classics: The Wolf Man (1941) and American Werewolf in London (1981).