The Stage Select

It’s a big week for The Stage Select, because we booked our biggest guest to date! Come in and meet Stephanie Michelle. She’s a cosplayer, internet personality, YouTuber, adult content creator, and most of all, EXTREMELY geeky! We have a great getting to know you section with Stephanie and then get into processing grief with video games, the absurdity of the 90s TV show Night Man, and much more!

00:00 Introduction: How many sandwiches are too many; announcements

06:04 Getting to know Stephanie: Let’s start at the beginning

23:59 5 Questions for Stephanie Michelle

33:15 Julian has yet another plan, learning about Stephanie’s transformation

01:11:28 Playing video games to deal with grief

01:21:18 Battlestar Galactica, Night Man

01:43:56 Julian’s confusing movie experience

01:51:54 Final Destination: Bloodlines, Wanderstop, Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall

02:07:52 A quick update on The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy

02:13:19 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)

Follow Stephanie Michelle!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omystephaniemichelle/

Twitter: https://x.com/omystephanieirl?lang=en

Listen to Julian talk The Suicide Squad on Games My Mom

Found: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-pb9yb-18b1168

Listen to Justin get real nerdy about Skyrim on The Monarch’s

Tribunal: https://youtu.be/lV7Lxnxkoeo?si=auXIPayMO64s6cBe

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: [email protected]

Theme song lyrics:

What could this possibly be?

Seems a lot like a podcast…

Wonder what specifically?

Talkin’ bout video games,

With your hosts, you’re in good hands.

Not more of the same!

Now we’ll jump right in,

So expect the unexpected and more.  

Now we’ll get groovin,’

Never know who’s gonna walk through the door!

There just might be some treasure in this chest,

Having fun with our special guests,

Time for Stage Select!

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

This week’s episode of The Stage Select was so out of pocket that I was surprised when I was editing it, and I was there when we recorded! Enjoy some new game talk, some fun discussions, and a strangely long talk about the WWE Forceable Entry album, for some reason.

00:00 Giant Bomb made us liars

19:08 Julian has another plan

23:04 Justin is mad at WWE 2K25, Wanderstop, Wreckfest 2

43:59 The Precinct

01:05:17 Item Hoarders Anonymous

01:33:18 The Midnight Walk, where did the Switch 2 hype go?

01:54:37 Doom: The Dark Ages, Expedition 33

02:16:40 What’s going on with all the MIA superhero games?

02:33:33 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

We were light on games this week, mainly because Justin’s been busy and Julian hasn’t been able to put Expedition 33 down. BUT THAT’S OKAY. We had the new GTA VI trailer, the seemingly end of Polygon and Giant Bomb, and a lot of listener questions to help us along!

00:00 Introduction, people who text a lot

11:58 Julian has a plan

17:23 More Expedition 33, even though Julian has more problems with it the deeper he gets, Justin’s video game ennui

45:28 Metal Eden, Nintendo being a dick

55:21 That new GTA VI trailer looks HOT

01:07:35 Julian has another plan

01:28:13 The news about Polygon and Giant Bomb

02:03:45 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)

Check out Julian on the Street Fighter Alpha (series)

episode of Games My Mom Found: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-r6knk-189c769

Also listen to Julian talk about the Thunderbolts movie on

episode 635 of The Comic Conspiracy podcast: https://comicconspiracypodcast.com/

If you’re in New York around June you can check out John Gholson

in the horror film Man Finds Tape: https://www.tribecafilm.com/films/man-finds-tape-2025

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

After a month packed with incredible guests it’s time for Julian and Justin to take a breather and have a normal episode. Well, whatever “normal” equates to around The Stage Select studio, anyway.

00:00 Introduction

09:40 We have deeper thoughts on Expedition 33

54:34 The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, Persona 4 Golden

01:05:29 Tennis Angels EX

01:12:57 Thunderbolts

01:26:57 What the Xbox price increases mean for the future of gaming

01:46:12 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

We conclude this month-long block of guests for The Stage Select with Westen from Big Nerd Gaming! The last time we spoke with him was during the final week of Game of the Year deliberations, and we wanted to make sure there wasn’t any leftover beef from that contentious list. Plenty of games in this week’s episode, so let’s jump right in!

00:00 Introduction, muzak

06:23 Making sure Westen is okay after Game of the Year

14:06 Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy

29:05 Blue Prince, Promise Mascot Agency

50:54 Split/Fiction, an intervention for Westen

01:01:29 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

01:40:52 Clair Obscure: Expedition 33

02:21:01 Justin’s had a week, Westen’s Steam Deck thoughts

02:40:00 Closing thoughts on South of Midnight, and how Sinners is a great companion piece

02:49:59 Hololive graduations of Mumei and Gura

Follow Westen’s blog, Big Nerd Gaming: https://bignerdgaming.com/

If you only watch one piece of Hololive content let it be

Ash Again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twUFbqyul_M

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

We’re happy to finally have Eric Peacock from The Soundtracker podcast joining us! We last talked to him years ago when we were still doing Nerds Without Pants, so it was great to catch up with him after all this time. We hope you enjoy, and please check out Soundtracker!

00:00 Introduction, George Thoroughgood

13:18 Introducing Eric Peacock and Soundtracker for new listeners

29:32 5 Questions with Eric Peacock

43:19 Eric got a PS5 and has been catching up oncurrent gen in a big way (including Alone in the Dark, God of War Ragnarok,Blue Prince, and more)

01:09:18 Unbeatable demo

01:20:19 Julian’s week outside of gaming

01:40:00 Suikoden II, an update on South of Midnight

01:52:31 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)

Subscribe to the free feed of Soundtracker, and check them

out on Patreon too! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1840875

Listen to Julian on A Gamer Looks At 40! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1426576/episodes/16947386

Also check out Julian on The Monarch’s Tribunal! https://youtu.be/MPvrldQRptU?si=ReVF5zHIDGgYjlib

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

Unhinged. That’s probably a good way to describe this episode. Such will happen when James and JJ from RetroFits guest on the show. But things get even sillier when they get introduced to some of the more colorful members of The Stage Select staff. Enjoy!

00:00 Introduction, Nelly Furtado

13:00 RetroFits is back on the air!

22:03 Going deep on Suikoden HD Remaster

01:16:25 Space

01:44:33 South of Midnight, video game difficulty

02:11:55 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

02:22:53 Item Hoarders Anonymous

02:37:31 Justin’s short week, Star Wars Outlaws

Subscribe to RetroFits! https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroFitsShow

Listen to Julian on Games My Mom Found! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zc9e7-18727b0

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

Wow, it’s hard to believe that this is already the 50th episode of The Stage Select! It snuck up on us a bit, but we still went the extra mile for this milestone, including bringing fan favorite guest Mike Fallek back. We also had a ton to say about the Switch 2 presentation, and this episode has some surprises for you, as well! Next stop: episode 100!

00:00 Introduction, Ohio pizza

10:56 Random comic book talk out of nowhere

23:51 Ask Mike anything about Avowed

51:45 A little bit on Persona 3 Reload and Persona 4 Golden

01:11:37 Item Hoarders Anonymous

01:21:08 So, that Switch 2 Nintendo Direct sure happened…

03:26:34 Psychonauts 2

Check out Mike Fallek here: https://bigweasellilweasel.club/

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

Welcome back! We’ve got some hot new games this week, such as Inzoi and Mullett Madjack, plus Justin overshares for once! We also have some of your questions, and more, so GET INTO IT. Or don’t. That was a bit aggressive, sorry.

00:00 Introduction, trash food

11:13 A talk where we have about sports

17:38 Julian’s emulation journey

26:35 Myriad Death

32:45 Justin had a weird week

50:48 Inzoi

01:22:23 Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Mullett Madjack

01:38:26 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

Welcome back! After a couple low energy shows, this edition of The Stage Select feels normal. And by “normal” I mean “the kind of chaos you’ve come to expect”. We’ve got new games, updates on old games, movies, and more!

00:00 Introduction, celebrating a year of The Stage Select

11:33 Wanderstop

34:36 Closing thoughts on Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Tape 1)

48:00 Assassin’s Creed Shadows

01:18:33 Return to space

01:31:29 Julian’s day at the movies (Mickey 17, Monkey, Black Bag)

01:59:40 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions